Molly Abraham
Although the restaurant scene is Abraham’s primary beat, she likes to keep an eye out for the latest trends, and there are two such sightings this month: the revival of the classic cocktail served in a retro-style setting and the emergence of olive oil- and vinegar-tasting bars. “I was surprised to learn that tasting bars are turning up all around the country, including here in Michigan,” she says. “And the new cocktail lounge, with its speakeasy aura, is certainly something just a little different for Ferndale.” Abraham, a Detroit native whose writing appears in every issue of Hour Detroit, is a regular contributor to The Detroit News. She’s also an avid sports fan, especially baseball at Comerica Park.
Patrick Dunn
After attending his first Moth StorySLAM for a piece on the monthly storytelling event, Dunn says he has become a convert to the cult of the Moth. “The stories are incredible,” he says. “There are funny stories, sad stories, and shocking stories.” Dunn now considers himself a regular at the event, although it’s uncertain whether he’ll ever gather the courage to follow in the footsteps of the three brave souls he profiled and get on stage to tell a story himself. Dunn is a graduate of Wayne State University’s journalism program. In addition to freelancing for Detroit publications, he has also written and directed a popular online sitcom, Public Access.
Michael Byers
Byers, a Canada-based illustrator and frequent Hour Detroit contributor, cites his “small-city” upbringing as one of the greatest influences on his work. Byers, who received a bachelor of applied arts degree in illustration from the Sheridan Institute of Technology and Advanced Learning, has done work for The Wall Street Journal, The New York Times, Family Circle, and Runner’s World. This month, he illustrates a story on the new wave crime-fighting techniques. “The idea was to combine the use of ShotStopper technology with good ol’ police work,” he says. “I had a lot of fun drawing an angry dog.”
Roy Ritchie
This month, Ritchie, a regular contributor to Hour Detroit, had the task of photographing the annual Best of Detroit feature. During the shoot, Ritchie was able to get some real-life inspiration when Thomas Hearns made an appearance at the Kronk. “He was always a real cool boxer to me because he was from Detroit,” Ritchie says. “It was a real honor to meet him.” Of his photographic subjects, Ritchie says everyone “did an amazing job playing the roles and getting into the boxer psyche.” Ritchie has done commercial and editorial work for Bloomberg, Bon Appétit, and ESPN The Magazine.
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