"Spooky Breakfast" Series Each October

 Now In Fifth Year for Atlanta Father

"Spooky Breakfast" has become a tradition for an Atlanta family whose father and husband, Derek Eiler, for the past five years has created a daily new concoction of breakfasts for children Ryan, now 10, and Kelsey, now 8. Derek's wife, Sarah, often provides ideas based on the reactions friends and family.

"I do it daily in preparation for Halloween," says Derek Eiler, a partner in Fermata Partners, a branding and positioning firm he formed in Atlanta with three partners two years ago. "The idea just came to me one day and now friends are giving me new ideas for colorful and healthy breakfasts." Derek is also known for his gourmet meals for family events.

Each morning's breakfast appears more creative. The ingredients are organic and prepared by Derek for the children's breakfast before taking them to school each day.

"I really love learning what Daddy has concocted each day," enthuses Kelsey, a student at the Arbor Montessori School. Ryan, who also attends Arbor Montessori, thinks "the spookier the better especially just before Halloween."

To view CBS morning show on Spooky Breakfast

Click here 

To see Spooky Breakfast on Facebook click here 

Black Note Graffiti to hold CD release party at Woodruff's in Depot Town this Friday, November 1

Local Ann Arbor,progressive rock band, Black Note Graffiti will host its national CD release party at Woodruff's in Depot Town Friday November 1st, 2013. Doors open at 9 pm with the show at 10.

The band, which has been featured on TLC's L.A. Ink and other indie films, worked with Kid Rock's engineer, Al Sutton, and Grammy nominated Brad Gilderman, taking what they've learned to create their first record.

Black Note Graffiti features Ricardo Ortiz on vocals and guitar, Kurt Keller on percussion, Adam Nine on bass guitar and Kris Keller on guitar and vocals. Kris Keller owns and operates Noteborn Music Company in Ann Arbor. Bob Foran of Ann Arbor provides photography for Black Note Graffiti and Noteborn.

"The name came from the solid dark rhythm section Adam, Kurt and myself being the Black Note and the singer Ricardo bringing his fresh and funky songwriting being the Graffiti," said Keller. "The album, entitled Volume 1, has 10 recorded tracks with titles including 'Space Funk' and 'Mr. Masochist.'

The record will be available nationally in November. To listen click here   

Michigan's University Research Corridor continues to produce entrepreneurs set on reviving Detroit.

Each newspaper article and news story reminds us of Detroit's woes and seemingly reinforces the notion of many non-Michigan residents that Detroit is a dying city; bankrupt, uninhabited, and with no way out. But what many Detroit and Michigan residents have to say is, don't give up on us yet.

No one can downplay Detroit's financial hardship but stories of Kevin Orr, city council, and pensions hog the headlines when behind the scenes, in Midtown and across the city, there is a buzz of innovation and resilience. Students and alumni from Michigan's University Research Corridor (URC) are creating businesses and generating ideas to revitalize and reinvigorate Detroit.

The URC is made up of the state's three major research institutions-Michigan State University, University of Michigan, and Wayne State University-and they have become major players in shifting Detroit to a knowledge economy. According to a recent Huffington Post blog, written by presidents of the three universities, "the universities have invested in Detroit in many ways. Wayne State's extensive police presence in Midtown Detroit has cut crime by 50 percent to Michigan State University's Community Music School for residents of all ages and the partnerships and understanding forged through the University of Michigan's Semester in Detroit program."

A May 2013 survey of URC alumni "revealed that they've started or acquired businesses at double the national average rate among college graduates since 1996 and have been 1.5 times as successful as the average U.S. business owner at keeping those start-ups and acquisitions alive in the past five years."

The presidents point out examples of alumni who have come back to Detroit and made an impact. They include Dan Gilbert, president and CEO of Quicken Loans, graduate of Michigan State University, and Andrew and Ryan Landau, founders of Chalkfly.com, graduates of Michigan State University and the University of Michigan. Gilbert has invested at least $1 billion dollars in the city of Detroit and his venture, "Opportunity Detroit" has recently partnered with the University of Michigan to bring students to work in downtown Detroit each summer.

These are just a few examples of entrepreneurship in Detroit. With the help of URC students and alumni, Detroit continues to come back and show its resilience. A walk through downtown Detroit gives a sense of hope and wonderment as an abandoned city continues to show the country and the world that it is here to stay.

To read the full Huffington Post blog, click here 

To read the full University Research Corridor report, click here 

Katie Joly