Welcome back to all things culture and community.

On the docket this week: Budding designers dream up the cars of the future, 10 Detroit artists receive much-needed funding and a local breakfast eatery halts deliveries due to alleged theft. We also chatted with a couple of reclaimed furniture makers about their glossy, forthcoming coffee table book.

Keep reading to catch up on your culture news in Detroit. 🌞

Community highlights

🏘️ One person’s trash … : Ever look at elevator doors and think they could become a nice set of cabinets? No? Well, founders Bo Shepherd and Kyle Dubay of Woodward Throwbacks in Hamtramck see opportunities for reuse every day, and their creativity is on display in their debut book “Throwbacks Home Interiors.” The book dives into home salvaging, guiding readers through a photographic journey of using reclaimed materials for interior design. The duo aren’t native Detroiters, but in the years they’ve lived here, they have developed a love of historical materials found “on the streets” of the city.

“I feel like Detroit has had such a negative image for a long time, so we’re trying to be an advocate and show just how amazing the architecture is and how creative Detroiters are,” Shepherd told Outlier Media.

One of their favorite projects shared in the book? A once-abandoned, fire-damaged house in the North End that they renovated with recovered materials from various historical buildings. And they’re partial to those brass-and-cast-iron elevator doors, salvaged from a downtown building (They’re still deciding what to do with them, if you’re interested …). Not up for the DIY of it all? Woodward Throwbacks offers interior design services. “Throwbacks Home Interiors” will be released on March 12. (Woodward Throwbacks, Penguin Random House, Detroit Free Press)

🚗 Students take the wheel: The future of transportation design just might be in the hands of some College for Creative Studies students. The college recently unveiled designs from its latest series of sponsored projects , an opportunity for students to get hands-on experience and face time with auto companies like Ford Motor Co. Students created renderings for all-new vehicle designs, taking into account how materials could be reused after vehicles go out of service. The students retain ownership of their designs for their portfolios, and some compete for cash prizes. We were particularly stoked about an idea from students Ian Shafer and Anurag Kurapati , who designed a tour vehicle that could transform into a mobile concert station so a band can play wherever they want. The vehicle’s design could also be used as a mobile blood bank or ambulance.

“The students (get a) different perspective on transportation, while also preparing for what could be different in the future,” the college’s Chair of Transportation Design Paul Snyder told Outlier. “So we’re preparing them for a lot of different potentialities as the evolution of the industry continues.” (College for Creative Studies)

🎨 💰 Starving artists, take note: Ten Detroit artists who are Black, Indigenous or people of color will each receive $150,000 over three years to help grow their artist-run businesses and organizations in the city. The Gilbert Family Foundation and philanthropic nonprofit United States Artists launched the inaugural Seed and Bloom: Detroit program last week, committing $1.5 million to support artistic entrepreneurs. Alongside funding, the artists will participate in a cohort program to help them create paths to sustainable and successful businesses. The inaugural grantees are jes allie of Bulk Space , Juanita Anderson of Indija Productions , Halima Afi Cassells of the Free Market of Detroit , Amelia “Fiera” Duran of Garage Cultural , Asia Hamilton of Norwest Gallery of Art , Danielle Eliska Lyle of Neighborhood Bodega , Michael Manson of House of Jit , Tiff Massey of Tiff Massey Studios , Ryan Myers-Johnson of Sidewalk Detroit and Yvette Rock of Live Coal . (Gilbert Family Foundation)

One quick recommendation

🏀 🍸 Sports fans and cocktail lovers, this one’s for you. When you enter the old brick building with the orange-and-black awning downtown, you’re walking into a staple of Detroit: Tommy’s Detroit Bar and Grill . The latest basketball games blast from the TVs as customers munch down on deep-fried ‘shrooms, jalapeño poppers, and pizza sticks reminiscent of middle-school lunches (but better). Wash it all down with some Faygo (obviously). For our more curious, daring bar fans, ask owner Tommy Burelle to venture into the basement of the old bar — it was a Prohibition-era speakeasy. Tommy’s Detroit Bar and Grill is open weekdays 11 a.m.-1 a.m. and Saturday 4 p.m.-1 a.m.

Dine and dash

🍗 Chick-fil-A is coming to Detroit . A new location of the chain fast-food spot with a history of anti-LGBTQ+ giving is set to open downtown in the First National Building just before summer hits. (Freep, Vox)

🥚 Downtown breakfast and lunch spot Iggy’s Eggies announced last week it is temporarily halting deliveries because of DoorDash drivers allegedly stealing orders. But hey, the jammy-yolk egg sandwiches are better in person anyway. (Iggy’s Eggies, WDIV)

Culture quick hits

📹 Four young Detroiters, Cleveland Gregory , Oscar Callahan , Sy’Aire Liddell and David Winkler , are starting a talk show for and by kids to explore careers in the arts. “ Mixture of Four ” will air on the forthcoming Detroit Broadcasting Co. site. (Chalfonte Foundation, Metro Times, Detroit Broadcasting Co.)

💿 Detroit DJ Ron Johnson , also known as DJ Jungle 313 , is offering free mixing classes to middle- and high-school kids. (WXYZ)

🏈 Detroit Lions released a short film recapping the team’s historical Cinderella season. Cue the dramatic score and bittersweet tears. (Metro Times)

The post Woodward Throwbacks’ design book, $1.5 million for Detroit artists and more culture highlights appeared first on Outlier Media .