Dana McMahan

Esquire

EDWINS in Cleveland Is Teaching Former Inmates How to Run a Restaurant

The first glimmer of the idea that became EDWINS came with Brandon Chrostowski's arrest. He was 18 years old, just a kid in Detroit, charged with fleeing when they couldn't get him on a drug dealing charge. The judge offered him a second chance–but only if he got a job.

NBC

I hired a stylist — and learned so much more than how to dress

We learn to dress ourselves around, what, kindergarten? It's not hard. You put garments on the parts that you don't want to get cold and that's it. Back then we didn't give much thought to how we looked in our clothes — or maybe it's that we didn't give much thought to what other people thought.

The Kitchn

Essential Detroit: 15 Places Everyone Should Eat in the Motor City

Sometimes food is about artisan ingredients, beautiful plating, and a chef's brilliance; sometimes food is about soul-soothing nourishment. That's not to say it can't be both, but the latter is one of the reasons I fell in love with an unlikely Midwestern city. In fact, I fell so hard I bought a big, old house that had plenty of soul, but needed a lot of TLC.

Architectural Digest

What—and How—to Eat During a Kitchen Reno (Beyond PB and J!)

Once while renovating a big, old house in Detroit, I subsisted on pizza, Pringles, peanut butter and jelly, and M&Ms. (And bourbon.) My body did not thank me. Which is why, looking ahead to my next project—a kitchen refresh in my new place in Louisville, Kentucky—I turned to Jess Dang, a professional Bay Area meal planner who recently completed a major kitchen reno herself, for tips on not only surviving, but thriving.

foodrepublic.com

Edward Lee Has An Idea To Help Solve The Chef Shortage | Food ...

The nation's inner cities are full of bright youngsters — all they need is a chance, acclaimed chef says.

courier-journal.com

Seriously rookie mistakes to avoid if you want to list your home on Airbnb in Louisville

It's time to start letting your house pay for itself, so you've set up your Airbnb listing and are ready to start watching the cash and good reviews roll in, right?
Hold on.
If you're new to this whole home rental thing, there are pitfalls lurking that will cost you money and ratings

CNN

Things to do in Louisville: The can't-miss spots

Locals may debate whether this river city is the South or the Midwest, but everyone can agree that Louisville, Kentucky, is an exciting place to be.

Crowds pack the 'Ville for the Kentucky Derby the first weekend in May, but bourbon-fueled delights await year-round.

NBC

Buh-Bye, Hipster: Why the Friendly Bartender Is Making a Comeback

Whatever happened to the friendly bartender?

courier-journal.com

I went shopping at Omni's Falls City Market. Spoiler alert: I left with nothing

The short version: I left empty-handed.
The rest of the story: I went to Falls City Market inside the new Omni Louisville Hotel to pick up fixings for dinner recently. Knowing they might not have everything I might need, I had a plan B.
I should've had a plan C.

apartmenttherapy.com

This Super-Common Real Estate Tip is Actually Terrible Advice

We've all heard it. If you're looking to buy, you should always go for the worst house in the best neighborhood. But have many of us ever stopped to question that conventional wisdom?

apartmenttherapy.com

I Traded a Compact Bungalow For a Sprawling Victorian (& Here's What I Miss About Small Living)

When I lived in a small bungalow, I sung its virtues to all who'd listen. Anytime a family member living in a more typically sized American home might question how we made do with two people and two dogs in "only" 900 square feet I was quick with a retort: We can only be in one room at a time!

Condé Nast Traveler

From Motor City to Cycle City: How Bikes are Changing Detroit ...

There's a new spin on the Motor City—and it's on two wheels. Long synonymous with American auto manufacturing (and its demise), Detroit is now home now to a scrappy start-up determined to bring handmade American bikes to the world.

apartmenttherapy.com

The International Obsession With Cozy — More Than Just a Fleeting Trend?

What does cozy mean to you? I'm writing this story wrapped in a wool tartan blanket, my big dog at my feet, wearing a fuzzy sweater (hand knitted by a Norwegian, I kid you not).

Pacific Standard

The Secret Lives of Fixers

They may not get any credit for the final product, but good fixers are integral to television, film, and journalism produced abroad. WorldFixer.com is trying to make the best ones easier to find.

The Kitchn

The Only Thing That Really Matters When Buying Bourbon | Kitchn

What on earth is a Bottled-in-Bond, Single-Barrel, 10-Year Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey, anyway? Trust me — there's a method to the mad libs.