CuriosiD

Detroit, Chicago, Milwaukee: which city has the best encased meat?

The Midwest shares a lot, including a love for specialized hotdogs. This CuriosiD collaboration with WBEZ Chicago and WUWM Milwaukee kicks off the Curious Midwest mini se

Who plays cricket in Detroit?

University of Michigan lecturer Fatema Haque asked WDET a question: who is playing cricket in Detroit? The British sport is immensely popular in Bangladesh, where Haque g

Which communities are considered “Downriver”?

Where did the term Downriver come from, and which communities are part of the region? In the latest episode of CuriosiD, WDET explores the history, boundaries, culture an

Why do Detroit Fire Stations have koi ponds?

A WDET listener noticed an interesting pattern: several Detroit fire stations have koi ponds. Is it mere coincidence, or is there a deeper reason? Russ McNamara toured so

What is Detroit ballroom and hustle style dancing?

Listener Katie Byerly wanted to know more about Detroit's dance scene. What separates Detroit ballroom and hustle-style dance, and what makes them both so Detroit? WDET R

Why is there a boat club and a yacht club on Belle Isle?

Max Spayde wanted to know why Belle Isle has both a boat and a yacht club. What's the distinction? Why Belle Isle? Reporter Sascha Raiyn waded through the history of both

Do the Detroit Red Wings and Red Wing Shoes have anything in common?

During the 100 years that the Detroit Red Wings have been playing hockey, their winged wheel logo has become iconic. So it may surprise you, like it did listener Scott De

Why is it called The Old Miami?

When Leah Warshaw first heard someone say they remembered when The Old Miami was The New Miami, she thought it was a corny joke. But nope, that was a real thing. That got

What happens to the Christmas tree in Campus Martius after the holidays?

Following the holiday season, what happens to all the pine trees cut for the occasion? Listener Deanna VanAtta wanted to know. WDET's Bre'Anna Tinsley digs into tree recy

Where do our Christmas trees come from?

Listener Deanna VanAtta wanted to know what happened to the big tree in Campus Martius after the holiday season... but first, we take a look at Michigan's Christmas tree

Why isn’t Lake St. Clair a Great Lake?

Having grown up right off shore of Lake St. Clair, listener Bryan Champine wanted to know why it isn't counted among the Great Lakes. WDET's Pat Batcheller set out to ans

What happened to the Chamberlain Bakery in Southwest Detroit?

Listener Martha Rotter asks, "What happened to Chamberlain Bakery?" In this episode of CuriosiD, reporter Nargis Rahman discovers what happened to the beloved Lithuanian

What is the origin of 'What up doe'?

When listener Peter Bloye began working in Detroit, he heard the common greeting "What up doe?" everywhere he went. But despite the phrase's popular use, no one he asked

Where in Detroit is the community known as Dogleg?

In the latest episode of CuriosiD, we discover the roots of the name Dogleg for the southernmost part of Southwest Detroit, and explore its other name: the most polluted

Did Detroit automakers sabotage public transit?

WDET listener Jennifer Kulczycki had heard for years that Detroit doesn't have a robust transit system because the city's Big Three automakers undermined the streetcar an

The untold history of Detroit's Fortune Records

WDET listener David Perry was perusing the stacks at Ann Arbor's Encore Records when he stumbled upon a three-disc compilation album with 60 tracks — ranging from R&B and

What happens to old fire trucks in Detroit?

Fire trucks are among the most recognizable vehicles on the road. They’re big, red, loud, and built to respond when lives are on the line. But what happens when these mac

How did Ann Arbor get its name?

Ann Arbor is known for its tree-lined streets and vibrant university culture. But how the town got its name is...a bit of a story. In this edition of CuriosiD, Amanda LeC

Does Gen Z know who Bob Seger is?

Bob Seger is a Detroit rock legend, but do younger generations know his music today? In this episode of CuriosiD, WDET's Madison Ganzak spoke with Seger fans, music exper

What's the oldest bar in Detroit?

In this episode of “CuriosiD,” WDET's Ryan Patrick Hooper goes on a quest to find the oldest bar in the city with the help of bar historian Mickey Lyons. This month's que