I was born in Livonia and lived in Farmington Hills until I was 18. I gravitated to Detroit’s nightlife scene as soon as I could drive a car. I spent 3-4 nights a week downtown checking out music and exploring the city.

I went to college up north for a semester at CMU in Mt. Pleasant. I hated it, it was over an hour for a city of a decent size (East Lansing) and I ended up going back home for a few years.

Being back in Detroit gave my creative spirit the drive it needed and I got involved in the film scene, which to this day, Detroit has the greatest brotherhood of creative types I have ever seen.

I finished college on the west side, at GVSU in Allendale/Grand Rapids. I liked G.R. a lot, it has a great scene but as soon as I could get back to Detroit, I went. This was 2000, I again involved myself in the creative scene shooting video and film for various music festivals and car commercials.

As the job market began to plummet I went to Chicago to work for 14 months.

Chicago is the crown jewel of the midwest, so of course it is a hub of art and architecture. I love Chicago and I was sad to leave but again, the midwest job market is plummeting.

I have always been a fan of New York City and it was only natural for me to move here next. I landed a job at one of the hottest animation studios in the world and I do love every day of my life in that it’s always something different and technically challenging.

When I moved from Chicago to Brooklyn I really began to miss Detroit the most. It wasn’t a big deal being in Chicago, I could go to Detroit on short notice on a Friday or Saturday and get back in time to work Monday. Now it’s a big deal, it’s a flight, it’s advance notice.. I can’t just be a part of my Detroit friends lives anymore.

I will move back to Detroit but not for a few years, it’s the only place I could ever see building a family or roots… until then I just satisfy my wanderlust with frequent roadtrips and New York adventures.

The Motor City will always be home.

I have made a bunch of LOBs for Michigan, architecture, art, counties, restaurants, light houses, lakes, you name it.. I think my favorite name for a list is “Say Yah To Da U.P. eh?” hehe

http://www.listsofbests.com/tag/michigan