As part of their monthly small Business Development workshops, Ignite will be presenting four entrepreneur success stories. The meeting, which is free and open to the public, will take place on Thursday, March 10, 2011 at Go Comedy! at 261 E. 9 Mile from 5:30pm to 7:30pm.
The Ferndale Downtown Development Authority (DDA) was given a Special Achievement Award for winning the 2010 Great American Main Street Award, which spotlighted Ferndale at a National level. Other Awards included:
The Ringwald is managed by a board of five, that ultimately hopes the theatre can become a nonprofit organization. “We’ve got two Joes, two Jamies, and a Melissa,” Plambeck said. Jamie Richards, Jamie Warrow, and Melissa Beckwith take turns acting and directing the various shows…
Ferndale has proven to be a strong consumer of environmentally-conscious products, according to local food service products business Michigan Green Safe Products. Matt Naimi, General Manager of Michigan Green Safe, says that Ferndale is one of the best places to do business in, with Royal Oak, Ann Arbor and Midtown in Detroit also providing them with a good base of customers.
Within a week of the announcement that Motor City Pride is moving from Downtown Ferndale to Hart Plaza in Detroit, Ferndalians are engaging in constructive dialogue about the move. Some hope for alternative events in Ferndale, some are calling for a boycott of the event, while others speak of ways to share the Pride throughout the area. Event organizers and City Leaders have come forward with their explanations of the change as they take in the reactions of those who are affected in the community.
To try The Ferndale 115 Brain Freeze, or any of their other crazy ice cream flavors, stop in at 22965 Woodward. You can also find them online at http://www.treatdreams.com.
These wonderful people saw a problem, rolled up their sleeves and solved the problem. Where else but in Ferndale? Where else would you see such support? This is so Ferndale….I am humbled, thankful and absolutely awed.
The Salton Sea, an ecologically troubled and culturally abandoned region in Southern California inspired Wheaton to work in color. From rust-red water, to orange and purple sunsets over murky gray-muck beaches crusted with white salt crystals, to the subtle brown and silver tones of rotting fish carcasses, her work reflects the beauty and tragedy of a place that humanity has forgotten.
After ten years of calling Ferndale home, Motor City Pride has decided to move the annual LGBT (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender – and ally) event to Hart Plaza in Detroit.
The weather was crisp but sunny as two dozen activists – known as Women in Black Detroit – gathered in front of The Ferndale Public Library to organize for a silent march through Downtown Ferndale to bring attention to war and violence supported by America in other parts of the world.
Ferndale is full of small business success stories, and the Downtown Development Authority is hoping to create more with the re-emergence of their Ignite program. Ignite is a series of educational programs and networking opportunities for new entrepreneurs or those who are thinking of starting their own business.
The comedy spoof Jersey Show – Season 1(Abridged) will be joined by Ferndale’s newest musical sensation, the boy band show Menllenium beginning Thursday, February 17. Jersey Show -Season 1 (Abridged) will close February 27 while Menllenium will continue through the end of March. Sundays at Go Comedy! will welcome a new open improv jam, Sunday Sauce at 7pm beginning February 13
Painting with a Purpose will take place on Sunday, February 27 from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. The cost is $45, with up to 60 percent of class proceeds to CCSS. Participants will leave with a work of art done on a quality canvas, done well thanks to the help of step-by-step instructions. The featured painting is called “The Prayer” and has dark figures praying amid beautiful green foliage.
Joe Bailey returns to Ferndale’s Ringwald Theatre as Glenn Close in Fatal Attraction: A Greek Tragedy, opening February 18th and playing for an exclusive 4 week run through Monday, March 14th. Fatal Attraction: A Greek Tragedy, a parody of the quintessential ’80s film, is co-written by Alana McNair and Kate Wilkinson and is full of boiling bunnies, big hair, a dream ballet, and even a Greek chorus!
…The girls were also invited by organizer Dean Bach to set up a table and sell dog toys that they had made to raise money for K9 Club Cares. There were multi-colored chew toys made of fleece, and ceramic dogs tags available. Over 100 items were sold during the four-hour event. They expected sales to be $200, but a generous anonymous donor made their till double by the end of the day…
After a six month hiatus, Downtown Ferndale’s entrepreneur initiative is back on the front burner. Downtown Ferndale IGNITE re-launches Thursday, Feb. 10 at Go! Comedy Improv Theatre. Scheduled from 5:30 to 7:30 pm, the night’s presentation will focus on planning for your business, whether it is already open or still a dream.
The Annual Rib Burn Off was a huge success, with ribs running out before 4:00 despite the heavy snow and cold weather conditions. The event, part of the annual Ferndale Blues Festival, raises money for Ferndale Youth Assistance and Michigan AIDS Coalition.
The deadline to register for Sweetheart Date Night is Feb. 10. Sign up online at http://www.ferndalerecreation.org/Search.aspx?search=sweetheart&cn=4009&mode=all, or stop by The Kulick Community Center at 1201 Livernois between 10am and 3pm, Monday through Thursday.
Last November the Ferndale Film Festival attracted thousands of visitors to Downtown Ferndale to view 36 independent films at multiple venues along Woodward Ave. and 9 Mile Road. In addition to attracting customers into the restaurants, bars, and stores, The Ferndale Film Festival raised $3,000 for neighborhood charities.
The State Farm Hogs, led by Boss Hog Marty O’Neill, are getting them psyched up to defend their title in the fourth annual Rib Burn Off that takes place on Sat. Feb. 5, 2011, as the grand finale of the Ferndale Blues Festival.