Images from the Rust Belt

Photographer Chris Franko shares imagery from his journey home to Western Pennsylvania. While the steel industry has all but left the area, auto manufacturing has helped keep the region afloat, up until recently, where plant closures have further contributed to the loss of jobs. Franko captures the region with the sensibility of a native. “The Rust Belt isn’t the most uplifting place but you can’t change where you’re from and it was good to be home and... Read More

Toyota’s Free Yr Radio broadcasts radio free

A million years ago when dinosaurs ruled the earth (okay it was the mid- ’90s,) my college boyfriend hosted a radio show on Impact 89FM (shout-out MSU Spartans.) His deep voice and radio persona added considerably to his cool factor for me, a music geek already in the making. It was the era of the mixtape (cassette) in the car stereo, and he consistently delighted me with grand new cuts from bands like the Makeup, or favorite De Le Soul beats and Carl Craig’s latest... Read More

VITAMIN-3D: invoking energy into modern scultpure

VITAMIN-3D: New Perspective in Sculpture and Installation (Phaidon Press 2009) bursts onto bookstore shelves in September, unveiling 117 of the most iconic three dimensional works in the contemporary sculptural movement. But first there’s the packaging to hanker with — I pulled and prodded, imagining that this was a box containing a book. My optical illusion bad — it’s a sculpture within a book with kelly green page trim and a thick cardboard like cover,... Read More

Check out the Gotryke Driveway: Aston Martin DBS Volante and Jaguar XFR

We sure had a wild weekend with these beauties. Stay tuned for the skinny on fast blast: Tweet This Post Read More

Lee Quinones is on the 2010 BMW X6

Our art-car critic Lee Quinones takes it from the wall to the streets. At 84k, there better be a whole lot of turbo in this pup for that much coin. And Turbo with a capital T it has. Bark or bite, take your pick behind door number four. Which one will it be? Bite it has, indeed. Yet, there is no noticeable bark in this Bimmer. Initially, I was surprised that it was packing twin turbo screws in it because you’ll never hear that tattletale spooling and turbo lag common with... Read More

Detroit Dispatch: Ford gets a (eco) boost

Ford Motor Company rolled out the blue carpet for their annual product drive at the Dearborn Development Center today, just down the road from company world HQ, highlighting the pizazz of it’s ecoboost engine. The 2.0 liter 4-cylinder ecoboost engine is a marked improvement from the V6 made to rival the V8. Sticking to short term, mid-term and long term goals, Ford executives outlined a rough sketch of their plan to make leaner performers that are still drive-centric.... Read More

Detroit Dispatch: Jeep Commandering It.

A Jeep Commander on the Lodge Freeway was the perfect setting for fresh music reviews on a crisp July evening. Inside the cozy, tawny-colored cabin was a track bonanza of Dudley Perkins and his beat offerings, the 500 Days of Summer soundtrack (loving the Hall & Oates and Smiths throwbacks), the cheeky band the Verbs and more. Commander’s sophisticated electronics have been slept on – UConnect is self explanatory and easy to use — the hallmark of practical... Read More

Detroit Dispatch: 11th Annual Allied Media Conference

Live from Detroit, we caught a glimpse of the Allied Media Conference after party at the Furniture Factory on Saturday night with Monica Blaire, DJ Dez from Slum Village and DJ Sicari providing a down and dirty Detroit funk celebration for the attendees from around the country. The infectious energy was palpable with hundreds of mostly 20-somethings partying after engaging discussions about social justice and alternative media conducted in panels that ran throughout the weekend... Read More

Land Rover goes off the beaten path to ESPYs

We love sports. We love the thrill of competition. We love a battle down to the last one standing. Blood, sweat and tears, and then the glory. With the barrage of bad news clouding sports of late, it’s good to be reminded that most players are actually down-to-earth, hard working individuals. Players that have unresolved personal issues that come with too much fame and money too young, or a lack of personal family structure often overshadow the down-to-earth nature of... Read More

Bentley is almost as old as my grandfather

My grandfather is 98-years old, on the heels of 99. When he was born, the assembly line wasn’t yet invented. (That happened in 1914.) It was before Prohibition and World War I. The Titantic hadn’t yet set sail. Needless to sya, he provides personal context for what is true vintage. In other fine, mature news, Bentley Motors turned 90 last week. And they’re not showing any sign of slowing down, here’s another money shot of the new Bentley-in-the-works.... Read More