hello
We’re a space between – that thought you couldn’t quite put down in a notebook. We’re where you never knew you needed to be – but once you’ve arrived, you never want to be anywhere else. We’re your idea incubator, your creative commons, your place to let your wild things run.
In the flesh, we’re a huge space in Ferndale (and soon to expand elsewhere) that’ll get you and your idea where you’re going – wherever that may be. Take a second, look around and peek at our facilities. If you’d like to be kept up on all we’re doing, click here to sign up for our email list. If you’d like to jump right to it and have a chat with us we’ve got you covered. Anyways, welcome home.
facilites
Our Facilities
Private Offices
We rent small private offices for business and creative uses. Clean and affordable.
Go nuts, it’s yours.
Cubicles
For those wanting to get down to business but don’t need a whole office, you’re down with cubes. Only $200/mo for 24/7 access.
Private Workshops
Sometimes getting things done gets messy – we get that. We’ve got workshops for you to tinker, cut, weld, braze or to do whatever else you desire in.
Coworking
Sitting by yourself at home or sulking in the corner of a coffee shop is boring. Here, you’ll meet the most brilliant folks Metro Detroit has to offer and work alongside them.
Auto Lab
We’re hard at work on building a stocked auto-lab with lifts, air tools, dyno and other equipment. We’ll also be hosting classes on all sorts of whiz-bang auto subjects.
Photo Studios
Soon, we’ll have a handful of photo studios, a digital darkroom, a huge digital display wall to show off your work and photo classes. Soon.
Digital Media Center
A room stuffed with Macs is much mightier than the pen. We’ll be holding digital arts, web design and all other sorts of classes when this is done.
Woodworking Lab
Table saws, band saws, hand tools, sanders, huge workspaces and a mighty dust collector. Be it artisan furniture or 18′ trebuchets you’re after, you can build it all here.
Jewelry Studio
Workstations for working with tiny, little things, a production kiln and many of your jewelry making comrades all in one tidy spot.
Metalworking Lab
Welding stations, plasma cutters, CNC machines bandsaws, breaks, shears, clamps, hand tools and more. It’s all very exciting; color this one of our most anticipated labs.
Free Ice Cream
It’s rare to come across a soul that doesn’t get picked up from sweet bite of ice cream – any time of the year.
Free Printer/Copier/Fax
We’ve heard plenty of reasons why we shouldn’t offer this – but damn the consequences. Free printing, copying and faxing for all members!
Free Coffee
Huge international decisions and many a term paper were decided over a steaming cup of magic. For instant inspiration, late nights and Hail Marys, take a sip. We serve BIGGBY brand coffee.
classes
Learning is life. We’ve built an ecosystem consisting of the best teachers, the most exciting subjects and the right setting to get you to the next level in your art, business and projects without the tethers that hold you back in a traditional learning environment. Get straight to what you want to know.
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Featured Class:
Don’t Fear The Dial: Take Your Camera Off Auto and Take Control Of Your Photos
The Class: This class is for anyone who wants to learn the basics of controlling light and wants insight into the decisions their camera makes when they take a photo.
This class is for: Aspiring photographers. Moderately experienced photographers that have learned bad habits. Spray and pray photographers looking to learn what works the first time. Best Buy employees who don’t want to be embarrassed when they’re asked tough questions.
This class isn’t for: The Amish. Tribespeople not interested in having their souls stolen.
What’s required for the class:
You should bring a DSLR with you to class. If you don’t have one, you can learn alongside other students and the instructor. Many of the topics covered can be applied to film SLRs and smaller cameras like many of the new micro 4/3 systems or “pro-sumer” cameras like the Powershot Pro. You likely need this class if your camera cost more than $400 – but everyone is welcome. Make sure to come with a charged battery and space on your memory card. While not required, bring a tripod if you have one.
What topics will be covered:
We’ll go over what the different scene modes mean, how to use shutter and aperture priority, talk about the theory and practice behind controlling motion blur, depth of field, ISO (and noise), file formats, metering modes, reading histograms, and more.
What skills you will leave with:
You’ll be able to make more artistic photos by adding or removing motion blur when you want to. You’ll learn about depth of field and know how to take better portraits. You’ll be able to get better photos in lower light with and without using your flash. You’ll learn about reciprocity and how to take beautiful night shots. You’ll be able to control or at least anticipate noise in your photos. You’ll learn how to get accurate exposure readings in difficult lighting situations that tend to confuse your automatic scene modes (like water with sun glare, snow, ect.). You’ll know when and why to use JPG or RAW and you’ll be able to impress your friends with better photos.
You’ll be using each other as models, and you’ll leave with professional-looking portraits of yourself. (You can opt out if you really want to…)
When: This class is January 18th at 6:30pm.
Class Cost: $30 if paid online before January 17th. $40 at the door. Limited space available.
Instructor: Alan Languirand is a professional photographer and graphic designer, he grew up in Rhode Island and the suburbs of DC, has lived in MI since 2005 and has been working in downtown Detroit since 2008. He’s the lead photographer for the Detroit Regional Chamber of commerce and he contributes to Ambassador magazine and dozens of other projects, shoots freelance under his brand 13protons and has a degree in photography from Eastern Michigan University.
He loves to photograph, and wants to share his knowledge so we can all have better photos in our lives. Alan says, “the technology is so cheap that anyone can get a powerful DSLR for ~$600, and a little knowledge about how to use that type of camera can make worlds of difference when it comes to how often you take photos and the quality you get.”
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Coming Up:
Start Up: Plan Your Own Business So You Can Make The Rules
The Class: Tom Nardone is a local entrepreneur that made it big by learning the rules of business and then forging his own path. In his class you’ll learn to create your own business plan. This business plan will be the roadmap to guide your ideas to success. It will cover your product, marketing, pricing, competitors, finance, legal status, industry, and people. Everything you will need to consider will be contained in this plan, with nothing left remaining. Sign up and learn to launch the right business at the right time, with very little experience or capital.
Attendees may bring their own booze.
This class is for: Anyone looking to start a successful business.
This class is not for: People who are happiest in a cubicle. People who don’t like making money. Trust fund babies. Politicians.
You’ll Leave With: An 8-step process that you can use to launch any business. Advice that will be simple and useful.
When: February 1st at 6:30pm. Class will take place in two sessions, with two weeks between them so you can move forward. The second session will be February 15th at 6:30pm.
Class Cost: $69 if paid online before January 31st. $89 at the door. One price covers both sessions. Very limited space available.
Instructor: Tom Nardone is the CEO of PriveCo Inc. – The World’s Most Private Company. He is an experienced speaker: frank, funny, and he swears a lot. He also knows a thing or two. His company, has made the Inc. 5,000 list of the fastest growing companies in America for 5 straight years. He’s been mentioned in The Wall Street Journal as well as profiled in Success magazine. He is also a best-selling author and has been on Conan O’Brien, Regis & Kelly, Good Morning America, MTV, The Rachel Show, CNN, and others.
events
Paper Street hosts everything from rock shows and ripping afterparties to art functions and photo galleries. With this many untethered creative people in such a big space, there’s always something going down.
Featured Event:
It’s delicious soup meets microgrants! Show up, pay $5 for some great soup and bread and listen to the pitches made by your local community members looking to earn your voting stone. The pitch with the most votes gets all of the money.
Our next Ferndale SOUP is February 19th and every third Sunday after that.
Doors are at 6:30PM and the presentations start at 7:30PM at Paper Street Ferndale.
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From our friends at Detroit SOUP:
Tell your friends; SOUP is…
a collaborative situation
a public dinner
a platform for connection
a theatrical environment
a democratic experiment in micro-funding
a relational hub bringing together various creative communities
a forum for critical but accessible discussion
an opportunity to support creative people in your neighborhood
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Submit project proposals for micro-grant funding using the form below. Project proposals are due on January 10th.
—Apply To Be A Funded Project—
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An FAQ mostly used from the wonderful Detroit SOUP with minor changes:
What date is Ferndale SOUP?
Mark the 3rd Sunday of the month as SOUP night!
Where is Ferndale SOUP located?
At Paper Street Ferndale – 1511 Jarvis, Ferndale, MI 48220. It looks like an old warehouse, because it is! But we promise you it’s full of wonderful and creative things.
You can park on Jarvis St. or park in our parking lot around back.
How much does the dinner cost?
$5 get you soup, salad, bread, pie, and a vote.
Do I need to RSVP for the event?
SOUP does not take reservations for the dinner. It is first come first seated.
Do I need to buy a ticket?
Nope! You pay at the door!
What is the dinner seating arrangement like?
Our dinners happen on old tables, benches and other suitable surfaces in an old but friendly warehouse. We also have some tables with chairs, but they are limited. Feel free to bring a pillow to sit on or something more comfortable for your booty, most likely you will be on the floor.
What is the schedule for the evening?
We open the doors about 6:30 and start hearing proposals at 7:30 (give or take a minute or two but it really does begin at 7:30) The proposals last anywhere between 25-40 minutes. We eat when the proposals are finished and the diners are able to vote on what project would best benefit from the collected money. Around 9:00 voting closes, ballots are counted, and the winner is announced.
What will I expect to hear from the proposers/grant seekers?
You will hear a presentation no longer than 3-4 minutes from each grantee. The floor is then opened for 3-4 questions from diners.
I have an amazing idea that I think could really benefit from the Ferndale community, how can I submit my idea?
Answer the questions below. We ask that each applicant keep their answers short and concise. No longer than one page. Applicants must be present to pitch their project proposals during the meal. Proposals are due January 10th using the form above.
My idea works really well on power point, do you have the capabilities to be able to use this presentation device?
While technology is helpful in many of our daily lives those involved in SOUP believe you can share your proposal without it. We do make exceptions every once in a while (like showing a movie trailer) but we highly encourage you to leave the laptop at home. You are more than welcome to bring in visuals to enhance your idea.
My idea is a work in progress, should I submit?
Think through what kind of project you are submitting. About 125-150 people show up each month to share ideas and resources with one another. The last few months we have had about 8-10 proposals from the community. If you don’t think you can pull together the idea, be able to implement this with the community, or be able to share (whether it succeeds or not) how the progress of the idea is coming along, than please wait a few months. We don’t like telling some groups yes and then having them drop out at the last minute. It’s a fairness thing. Cool? Cool.
How many proposals do you accept for the dinner each month?
We only have time for three proposals per dinner. Much more than that it is hard to have a constructive dialogue about each proposal as we are eating, as well as having short attention spans!
What if there are more than four proposals submitted for the dinner?
We have the deadline a week before the dinner to ensure that the executive SOUP committee votes on the project. This is a small group of active participants who help put on the dinner. There are about 13 people who get to read the proposals and vote through the online survey collection program Survey Monkey. Whatever proposals have the most votes get the stage to share at the SOUP dinner.
Where do I send my proposal?
Use the form above, please.
When are the proposals due?
A week before the SOUP dinner. Exceptions are allowed for especially spectacular projects.
I want to make a soup or a salad, what do I need to do?
Awesome! Thank you so much for thinking about this. Please email hello@welovepaperstreet.com and let us know what you want to do. We ask that the soup be vegan or vegetarian so that all can enjoy. Each soup/salad needs to serve about 75 people and so we ask for four volunteers each month. We hope that your soup or salad making abilities would be donated. Individuals, restaurants or businesses are welcome to share.
I am a local artist and I would love to share my work, can I?
Please inform hello@welovepaperstreet.com that you are interested in sharing. We are often looking for local artisans to share their work. Painters, sculptors, designers (interior and graphic), writers, poets, etc. are encouraged to share. We do not have a budget at this time for materials but we could talk about what that means after inquiry.
I want to volunteer with setting up before the dinner, can I?
Booyah! Awesome! YES YES YES!!! Please email hello@welovepaperstreet.com and let us know you have some time beforehand to lift some tables onto crates and help with set up!
[PSST! Ferndale SOUP has its own Facebook Page!]
faq
Frequently Asked Questions.
Q: What’s this whole “Paper Street” thing about? What is this? Where am I? Who are you?
A: We’re Metro Detroit’s Idea Incubator and Creative Commons. Think of us like the Menlo Park of Detroit (The East coast one). We’re aiming for the creative campus feel of Google without the corporate doldrummery. We’re an innovation center where good ideas just seems to spring from your head and into the world. Our goal is to give you all the vittles you need to make your incredible machinations something tangible, something real.
Q: Yeah, so the rent and memberships are cheap. But you’re going to make up for it on utilities or some other fees, right?
A: Actually, when you rent an office, workshop or cube from us, everything is included in your rent. Heat, power, water, air conditioning, WiFi, coffee, ice cream and more. You get the whole kit and kaboodle with one flat rate – already included with your space rental. No surprise bills so you can get to running your ideas running faster and cheaper. As for the memberships, everything is listed plain as day in our membership area. No tricks.
Q: What kind of access do I get? I’m a night owl and love working when the sun isn’t.
A: If you rent a private office, workshop or cubicle, you’ll get your own wireless RFID card to access the facility 24 hours a day, seven days a week. We work late and we welcome you to, too! Although, all of the labs are only open during regular business hours.
Q: Can anybody rent from Paper Street?
A: We have an application process by which we evaluate each tenant as to their personal and professional background and what they have to contribute to the collective good. Most interested parties are acceptable tenants – if you have a big idea, small business, creative vision or a neat hobby, we want you!
Q: Will I have access to a common area to hold meetings, parties or ice cream enthusiast gatherings?
A: Yes! There is a large common area with tables, vending machines, chairs and a neat robotic coffee machine. This common area is available to all office, cubicle and workshop tenants. Any active tenant is able to sign up to reserve the room for a few hours to give company presentations or hold a meeting. We also welcome all interested events to contact us and see if we can host your event, free of charge. We do it for the kids.
Q: What about my friends? Can they come over to my swanky new spot? How about employees?
A: Absolutely! It’s your space, do what you want with it. We’re big on creativity and flexibility here – and what’s a good project without your homies? Go nuts. If you’re going to be working in any of the labs, they’ll need to be a member as well and pay whatever drop-in fees are applicable. Check the membership chart for more information.
contact
This is a great tab to be on.
This means that you’re about to get in touch with us and we can’t help but feel that’s a really excellent idea.
We’d love to give you a tour of our space and show you what we’re up to lately. Come by even if you don’t need a super swanky spot for yourself just yet – we welcome all tire kickers, test drivers and wander-in’ers!
Maybe you’ve got a question. Maybe you’ve got a rant. Maybe you just need a bit of a chat. For whatever you need, you’ve got plenty of choices:
The Location: 1511 Jarvis, Ferndale, MI 48220
The Telephone: 248-270-TACO
The Twitter: @paperstreetinc
The Facebook: Paper Street Ferndale
The Email: Hello@WeLovePaperStreet.com
To pop us a quick note, you can also use the contact form below. This blasts out to all of our cheeky workers and we’ll get back to you fast:
"Eagles may soar, but ferrets don't get sucked into jet engines."