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Argus Eyes for Victory
It is hard to overstate the breadth and speed of the transition to defense manufacturing that occurred in the United States during World War II. America went from building cars to tanks, farm equipment to bazookas, three-piece suits to combat uniforms. Locally, companies like American Broach, Ford Motor and Killins Gravel took on defense contracts and hired thousands of workers to support the "Arsenal of Democracy" that was Michigan in the 1940s. Argus Camera had a unique role, inventing and manufacturing new optical equipment that sighted guns, photographed enemy installations and recorded the war. Argus became one of the largest employers in Washtenaw County, bringing an unprecedented number of women into the skilled labor force and creating a social fabric within the company and the community that would last for generations. This video, produced after World War II, recounts the "miracle of production" that earned Argus several E Awards for excellence in design and manufacture of war-related materiel. The video captures the post-war economic optimism while paying tribute to the soldiers, inventors and labor that became known as the Greatest Generation. Visit AADL's Argus Camera online exhibit or take a walk over to the Argus Museum for even more Argus.
19:11 min.
c. 1945
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AADL Talks To Heritage Business Owner David Vogel of Vogel's Lock & Safe
Four generations of Vogels have been giving Ann Arbor what they want and need since 1913, changing the business with the tastes and tempo of life in the town. We talked to David Vogel, the 3rd generation of Vogel's Lock & Safe, who retired and handed over the business to the 4th generation, Rob and Denise Vogel, some years back. Dave has done a lot of research on the family's coming to Ann Arbor area over a hundred years ago and has collected a trove of documents, photos and family stories and shares them with us in this podcast.
The Vogel's began fixing, building and re-building "anything and everything mechanical" that farmers and businesses brought to the shop. Dave gave us a tour of the building's back rooms that house some of the equipment used back then and we've put a selection of those images up with the podcast. The business eventually changed to safes and locks and Dave talks about the "dividing line" in the 1960s, when the townspeople and students at the University of Michigan began asking for locks and deadbolts instead of sporting goods and bicycles. Dave has some interesting stories to tell about raids with the FBI and opening safes with the U.S. military.
The family is one of the older Ann Arbor "townies" and Dave keeps up with the other families that built the businesses, homes and neighborhood that define Ann Arbor. Dave talks about hunting where Pioneer High School now sits, living through World War II in Ann Arbor and the way local heritage businesses still depend on each other for support and growth.
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Tilian Farm Development Program
Tilian is a local business incubator, where the businesses are four-season farms! It has helped launch five new successful farms in its first two years of operation. Learn how Tilian, a 44-acre campus for new farms on Pontiac Trail (just north of the City of Ann Arbor) was formed, about their mission to assist new farmers in starting and establishing farm business during the critical first years, and their "farmer residency" training programs. Bring your questions and hear how this new initiative helps strengthen the local farming and food movements.
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Motawi Tileworks 20th Anniversary with Nawal Motawi
Motawi Tileworks is a 20-year-old Ann Arbor-based artisan tile manufacturer and retailer that has won local and national awards for both its tile and its workplace culture. Owner and founder Nawal Motawi started out in 1992 with a dream and a booth at the Ann Arbor Farmer's Market. Today, she presides over a 30-person staff in a 12,000 square foot studio that produces over $2 million in annual sales. Nawal will discuss the history of Motawi Tileworks and the design process. This event is held in conjunction with the Downtown AADL exhibit, Motawi in the Making: The History and Science Behind The Art, on display July 25 - September 5.
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Chef Brian Polcyn Of Birmingham's Forest Grill And Milford's Cinco Lagos
Award-winning chef Brian Polcyn, nationally recognized for his creativity and culinary talents, is the visionary behind some of Detroit's most acclaimed restaurants (including Birmingham's Forest Grill and Milford's Cinco Lagos) and is the author of two books: "Charcuterie: The Craft of Salting, Smoking and Curing" (nominated for a James Beard award) and the upcoming "Salumi: The Craft of Italian Dry Curing." Join us as he prepares an incredibly delicious sample dish and discusses his life and his books. This event, cosponsored by the Culinary Historians of Ann Arbor, includes a book signing and books will be on sale.Chef Polcyn's numerous awards include three gold medals and a silver medal from The American Culinary Federation. The Hiram Walker Corporation recognized him as a Rising Star in American Cuisine. In 1990, he was first runner-up in the semi-annual American Culinary Gold Cup Bocuse d'Or, a competition that seeks America's top native-born chefs. He was also nominated for Best Chef Midwest in 2006 by the James Beard Foundation. The Culinary Historians of Ann Arbor (CHAA) is an organization of scholars, cooks, food writers, nutritionists, collectors, students, and others interested in the study of culinary history and gastronomy. Their mission is to promote the study of culinary history through regular programs open to members and guests, through the quarterly newsletter Repast, and through exchanges of information with other such organizations.
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Culinary Adventures With Eve Aronoff Of Frita Batidos
Learn about the culinary journey of Ann Arbor's own Eve Aronoff: her latest venture, Frita Batidos, her time on "Top Chef", and what's next for her. She'll even bring food to taste!Chef Eve Aronoff was born in New York and raised in East Lansing, Michigan. A graduate of Brandeis University, she attended Le Cordon Bleu in Paris and graduated with diplomas in French Cuisine and Wine and Spirits in 1999. Eve has worked in the restaurant industry for 20 years- progressing from prep cook to line cook, from sous chef to chef de cuisine and executive chef.
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The Art of Chocolate Making: From Cacao Bean to Bar
Mindo Chocolate Makers of Dexter, MI and Ecuador will present this fascinating and tasty program showcasing their organic and handmade chocolate. One of the few chocolate makers who start right with the bean, Mindo will talk about their bi-country chocolate making, see a demo of how cocoa powder and chocolate are made and of course give tastes, too!
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Making it Happen in Ann Arbor: Local Makers Discuss Their Projects And Businesses
This year's Summer Reading program theme is Make It Happen - encouraging everyone to DIY (Do It Yourself) and celebrate arts, crafts, science projects and the DIY mindset. Makers are people who make things, for fun, for science, or for a living, and Ann Arbor is a great town for makers. Hear several 5-minute talks from local makers about their projects, from the geeky to the freaky, and find out about what cool stuff is being made in the garages, basements, and workshops of our community.
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Incredible Art of Cake Making With Cake Artist Heather Anne Leavitt
Fans of TV shows such as Ace Of Cakes and Food Network Challenge are in for a treat. Cake artist extraordinaire Heather Anne Leavitt will make a return appearance to discuss her artistic process and demonstrate her unique cake painting. Fans of TV cooking shows will recognize her as an assistant to Courtney Clark of Cake Nouveau on several Food Network Challenges. Heather trained in sculpture at the University of Michigan, and her cakes show it.
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Local Small Businesses: How Did They Start?
If you want to know more about your local neighborhood business, are curious about how a business gets started, or want advice on how to start your own business from people who have found success - this is the event for you.The panel will include several business owners - including: Scott Huckestein- Schakolad Chocolate Factory, Ann Arbor; Kevin Riley- New Chelsea Market, Chelsea; Breanne Stuart- Home Watch Caregivers, Ann Arbor. Each panel member will give a summary of how they got their ideas, followed through with them, and where there business is now. They will discuss their struggles and triumphs and also what effect the difficult economy has had on them. There will be ample time for audience questions.