Gabriel and Amy Craig, owners/founders of Smithshop in Corktown, seem to have metal in their blood, which you’d think would be kind of painful until you take a look at how that particular condition has affected their artwork. You never quite knew what metal could do until you see what the two of them can …
When I began working at the El Moore last March, its sustainable renovation was nearly 90 percent complete. Its three floors of annual residential apartments were already beginning to receive many of their finishing touches. I began by participating in early policy building, aesthetic group design sessions and happily helping out with decisions on things as varied as: What …
Neither fish nor foul, October has always been like a stepping stone into the jaws of winter. And so it was on that dreary Friday afternoon as the El Moore stood silently against the gray sky, an echo of a much grander once-upon-a-time buried out of sight and out of mind in the memories of …
Now that we have landscaping, we’re enjoying watching their foliage through the seasons. Here are a few photos from this fall. In addition, I’ve included a photo of the foundation for our bench outside of the elevator tower, and of one of our rain barrels.
We’ve been working to furnish our main floor hostel rooms with period furniture. We’ve begun acquiring some beautiful pieces, some of which I photographed last week. Here are some more. One piece requires a bit of explanation. The headboard with the top rollers comes from the Green Garage. It was an old rolling door that …
With all of the recent discussions about the “new” businesses and residents now populating Detroit, often overlooked are the “old” businesses and business people that have been here in Detroit for decades, fighting, striving, surviving, and even thriving against great odds. Some of those odds have very little to do with Detroit per se, but …
Voices of Detroit: Janet Webster Jones, Owner, Source Booksellers Read More »
It seems really strange to be talking about solar energy and the 1898 El Moore building. It’s especially strange when you consider that the building was originally built for both electric and gas lighting…they were not sure electric power would be reliable enough, so the backup was gaslights. But 21st Century renewable power is …
Last week, the travel section of the New York Times ran this “two days in Detroit” feature that includes mention of the El Moore (among other neighborhood things we love, like the Dally in the Alley and Robert Sestok’s new sculpture park). The Grey Lady concisely describes us as a “gorgeous 1898 building recently reopened as sustainable, community-oriented apartment building …
“In Detroit, Cheap Eats, D.I.Y. Art and the Charm of Locals” Read More »
