Cant make this up..Look who is among the who's -who of those born in Highland Park, Michigan
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Martin_Fridson

Welcome to the Historic Highland Park, Michigan Blog. I've created this  because of the many great stories...and the many not so great stories about a truly remarkable town.  I would argue that there is a slice of Highland Park, and Detroit too, in every urban setting.

So, I invite all pundits, prognasticators, urbanists, economists, and lovers of history to chime in ...we can attempt to explain why Historic Highland Park, Michigan, home of the first auto assembly line and birth of American industrial and manufacturing might and the greatest economy on earth.....is today...what it is.

http://www.indiegogo.com/ajscoffeetalk?c=home&a=637355

I've started a drive to raise awareness, and investment in my coffee company.  I want to employ Highland Park-ers and be located in Historic Highland Park.

Currently, Detroit Bold, my signature coffee  is roasted in Highland Park. The roasters of our coffee have been roasting in Highland Park since 1914! They've been roasting coffee for the US Army for 60 years, including WWII and Desert Storm. Starbucks...eat your heart out!

Since AJ's Cafe closed in March, I've had to run many operations of Detroit Bold from my home office in Hazel Park a couple of miles to the north.

After I reach a certain level of committment, I'll be able to transfer all duties to Highland Park.

I hope that in doing this, by starting a business in Highland Park and using the existing  great infrastructure...the people, the jobs...the facilities...others will join...and once again...an AJ's Cafe can provide a cool gathering spot for a bustling and lively town.

It will provide another springboard to the kind of revival and growth that others have inspired me to do! I see examples of that happening in Historic Highland Park and I hope we can become inspired  to change some preconcieved notions we may harbor about such an important and historic town.

That is what I am going to be devoting the next chapter of my life to. What's your Highland Park story? What's your connection? Please share them with us here!

Not all of Highland Park looks like this...but far too much does...I drive past this almost every day...

Just beyond this view are neighborhoods with people and families. They deserve to have dignity, just as anyone would have as members of a community. If this view is unnacceptable to you, just think of the people who live here.  It does not have to be this way!

One of the most inspiring people I know is Brandon Knight, co-founder of G.E.L.T (Green Economy Leadership Training ):

http://www.modeldmedia.com/inthenews/gelt081010.aspx

Brandon works and lives in Highland Park. He will team up with others from across the USA who will again converge on Highland Park for a six week summer series on global and self sustainability with residents.

Another inspiration is my good friend, Butch Hollowell. When I attended the commencement address that he gave for the class of '11 at Highland Park High School, I was so overcome with pride of these kids succeeding and earning their diploma, despite seemingly insurmountable odds...I knew that I would never want to leave the town of my birth behind again.

I am surely not alone. So many of us remember "back in the day," a great memory or time spent in Highland Park. I hear so many heartwarming stories....

Well the majority of the people who call Highland Park home today have the same hopes for their town, our town.

So lets begin a journey in what another inspiring friend, writer Bill Haney calls collegial publishing. Lets work, write, drink coffee together and inspire a new "back in the day," in Historic Highland Park..

I want to sit with you in a sidewalk cafe on Woodward Ave after a 20 minute wait for a table in Highland Park with you within 5 years, ok!