As 2013 is winding down, we took a dive into the archives to compile Deadline Detroit's 50 most interesting, unique, and/or trafficked stories this year. Over the next five days, we'll count down our own "best of" list, and throw in some honorable mentions along the way.
Today, we review stories 50-41 on our Best of 2013 list.
50. Detroit Is America's Purplest City, According To Study I Just Made Up; 12/5/13
Depending what list you consult, Detroit is either the most miserable or most amazing city in the whole wide world. That's because these city-ranking lists from assorted publications (especially those named for the late Malcolm Forbes) are arbitrary click-bait with all the authority of a Little Orphan Annie decoder ring. That's why we declared Detroit as the purplest city and called it a day.
49. Radio's Dave And Chuck The Freak Are Coming Back -- In A Video Game App; 3/6/13
In between the time they left 89X and joined WRIF, Dave And Chuck The Freak kept themselves in the public mind of with videogame app. According to developer Red Piston’s Jakub Koter: "In the game, [radio show sidekick] Lisa is captured by an evil mayor of Detroit. You go to different levels and fight evil characters. It’s similar to Mario."
48. New Billboard Proves Joumana Has Another Look; 12/13/13
Say what you will about local lawyer's Joumana Kayrouz ubiquitous marketing efforts, but people certainly pay attention. When we posted this short piece about her firm's new-look billboard campaign, it quickly became one of our most popular stories in December.
47. Eddie Logix and Doc Waffles: The Dada Rapper And Detroit’s Beat Maker; 11/15/13
Detroit musicians Eddie Logix and Doc Waffles released a new album this year, entitled "Paintings of Cats," and they apparently have a fan in Tom Hanks. If the fat heads in Hollywood ever get around to making a "Turner & Hooch" sequel, maybe these guys will be on the soundtrack.
46. Kenneth Thomas: Local DJ Has National Reputation; 10/4/13
Kenneth Thomas used to be Clutch Cargo's house DJ. Now, he's playing gigs all over the world.
45. Detroit's Newest Urban Farming Trend is Pretty Fishy; 6/3/13
Urban farming has captured the local imagination like few other redevelopment ideas floated for Detroit. Two organizations, Food Field and Central Detroit Christian Farm and Fishery, hope to raise tilapia, catfish and blue gill in local aquaponics.
44. Pro Tip: Always Assume The Mic Is On (F'ing Always!); 11/13/13
WDIV's Lauren Podell was having trouble with her earpiece while on location for a story and, unbeknownst to her, she was live on the air when she dropped an F-bomb. Accidental TV news profanity really is the best kind of profanity.
43. Quirky, Memorable Detroit Sports Moments; 9/18/13
When he wasn't stiffing the pizza guys on a tip, former Lions wide receiver Roy Williams would get overly excited about first downs. In fairness to Williams, Lions first down were kind of rare during the Joey Harrington/Matt Millen era.
42. The Phony Rabbi: 'She Was Not Truthful With The Clergy, Leadership And Congregation'; 11/23/13
We should all agree, regardless of our differing faiths and theological distinctions within our faiths, that a rabbi, priest, or minister should go through the proper educational process. Keren Alpert dissented from this consensus and tried to play rabbi at a West Bloomfield synagogue without rabbinical training.
41. A New Detroit Coffee Shop Uses Bots And Looks Like a Laboratory; 1/28/13
The Roasting Plant coffee shop, in downtown's First National Building, is one of the city's more unique new retail businesses. We got the scoop on this high-tech coffee shop before it opened its doors earlier this year.
HONORABLE MENTION: Detroit Thieves Rip Off World-Famous Photog Christopher Morris Twice; 12/5/13
Christopher Morris has photographed presidents and war zones. He became part of the story earlier this month when thieves grabbed $1,500 worth of camera equipment while Morris was on assignment on Detroit's east side.
