Why do Detroit Fire Stations have koi ponds?

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 series... with relish. Three reporters make the case for their city's signature sausage.

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 grew up before moving to Detroit. It turns out other Bangladeshis might have kickstarted this most recent surge in cricket playing, bringing the international passtime to fields across Southeast Michigan. Our CuriosiD series is fueled by questions about the region from listeners like you. Have your own question? Fill out the form here.

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 and identity of Downriver communities in southeast Michigan.

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 some local stations to find out how keeping koi ponds around helps fire fighters relax and go with the flow after stressful situations. 

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 Reporter Bre'Anna Tinsley went out and spoke to community dance instructors, including living legend Fast Freddy, creator of the Turbo Hustle. She found a thriving social scene that gives a everyone the chance to let go on the dance floor. Our CuriosiD series is fueled by questions about the region from listeners like you. Have your own question? Fill out the form here.

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 organizations with the guidance of Detroit Boat Club archivist Stephen Malboeuf and the Detroit Yacht Club's Mike Alberts to find out.  Our CuriosiD series is fueled by questions about the region from listeners like you. Have your own question? Fill out the form here.  

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 Deaner, that there is a shoe company that has a strikingly similar name and logo. In this episode of CuriosiD, reporter Alex McLenon looks into how the professional hockey team got its name and scarlet emblem—entirely independent of the shoe company. Our CuriosiD series is fueled by questions about metro Detroit from listeners like you. Have your own question? Fill out the form here.

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 her thinking, why the name change?  WDET's Ryan Patrick Hooper digs into the long—sometimes bloody—history of the dive bar to trace its journey across decades and several name changes, as well as what it means to folks today.  Our CuriosiD series is fueled by questions about metro Detroit from listeners like you. Have your own question? Fill out the form here.

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 recycling—just one of the ways the Campus Martius tree is repurposed.  She speaks to the Downtown Detroit partnership, Mid-Michigan Recycling, and the executive director of the Michigan Christmas Tree Association to get a good look into how Christmas tree's past their expiration date can be given new life.  Our CuriosiD series is fueled by questions about the region from listeners like you. Have your own question? Fill out the form here.

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 industry to gain insight into how the big evergreens are grown. WDET's Amanda LeClaire talks to Michigan Christmas Tree Tree Association President Tony Stefani at his family-owned and operated Hillside Christmas Tree Farm to learn more.  Stay turned for part two of the Christmas tree investigation, coming out in December!  Our CuriosiD series is fueled by questions about the region from listeners like you. Have your own question? Fill out the form here.