{"id":670916,"date":"2026-05-28T22:25:10","date_gmt":"2026-05-28T22:25:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/670916\/"},"modified":"2026-05-28T22:25:10","modified_gmt":"2026-05-28T22:25:10","slug":"best-of-detroit-2026-community-sports","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/670916\/","title":{"rendered":"Best of Detroit 2026: Community & Sports"},"content":{"rendered":"

CommunityAuthor
\nWinner: Mitch Albom; mitchalbom.com<\/a><\/p>\n

Finalists: Brian Bartes, Josh Malerman, Kristy Robinett, Nandi Comer, Stephen Mack Jones, Viola Shipman (Wade Rouse)<\/p>\n

Bartender
\nWinner: Asher Miller (Grey Ghost); greyghostdetroit.com\/team\/asher-miller<\/a><\/p>\n

Finalists:\u00a0Ann Howard (Rudy\u2019s Prime Steakhouse),\u00a0Joel Grabenstein (Victoria\u2019s Bistro),\u00a0Johnny Boyce (FIVE Steakhouse),\u00a0Max Schikora (Echelon Bar & Kitchen),\u00a0Soonie Itawi (Sexy Steak), Tina Bellomo (Weiss Distilling Co.),<\/p>\n

Chef
\nWinner: James Rigato (Mabel Gray), Hazel Park; mabelgraykitchen.com<\/a><\/p>\n

Finalists: Andy Hollyday (Selden Standard),\u00a0Anthony Lombardo (SheWolf Pastificio & Bar),\u00a0Colin Campbell (Alpino),\u00a0Cory Barberio (San Morello),\u00a0Ernesto Antopia (Caf\u00e9 Cortina),\u00a0Garrett Lipar (Dixboro Project),\u00a0Jared Gadbaw (Oak & Reel), Javier Bardauil (Barda), Joseph VanWagner (Echelon Kitchen and Bar), Josh Stockton (Rudy\u2019s Prime Steakhouse)<\/p>\n

Community organization
\nWinner: Women of Tomorrow Mentor & Scholarship Program, Detroit; womenoftomorrow.org<\/a><\/p>\n

Finalists: 1 Mother 2 Another,\u00a0Chaldean Community Foundation,\u00a0Easterseals MORC,\u00a0Elmwood Blessing Box,\u00a0Guiding Harbor,\u00a0Impact 100 Oakland County,\u00a0United Community Family Services<\/p>\n

Fundraising gala
\nWinner: Detroit Zoo\u2019s Sunset at the Zoo, Royal Oak; detroitzoo.org\/events\/sunset-at-the-zoo<\/a><\/p>\n

Finalists: Anton Art Center\u2019s ArtParty, Chaldean Community Foundation\u2019s Annual Gala,\u00a0Detroit Auto Show Charity Preview,\u00a0Dynami Foundation\u2019s Uncork for a Cure,\u00a0Eastern Market Harvest Gala,\u00a0Grace Centers of Hope\u2019s Night of Hope,\u00a0Hob Nobble Gobble presented by Ford Motor Co.,\u00a0KIDSgala, a David C. McKnight Foundation,\u00a0Living and Learning Enrichment Center\u2019s Hopes & Dreams Gala,\u00a0On The Wings of Angels Annual Fundraising Gala,\u00a0U Can-Cer Vive\u2019s Evening for the Cure<\/p>\n

Local music act \u2013 original material
\nWinner: Ebony \u201cKARMA\u201d Dior; ebonykarmadior.bandcamp.com<\/a><\/p>\n

Finalists: Annemarie Jo, Bluhm, CHOFF,\u00a0Coffin Jockeys,\u00a0George Montrelle,\u00a0Jackamo,\u00a0Panda House,\u00a0Sean Blackman,\u00a0Songsmith<\/p>\n

Local music act \u2013 covers
\nWinner: Mega 80\u2019s; mega80s.com<\/a><\/p>\n

Finalists: Chit!, RockStar,\u00a0Vavoom,\u00a0Your Generation In Concert<\/p>\n

Organization for people with disabilities
\nWinner: Friendship Circle, West Bloomfield; friendshipcircle.org<\/a><\/p>\n

Finalists: Easterseals MORC, Jarc, Judson Center, Living and Learning Enrichment Center, Paint A Miracle<\/p>\n

Radio host
\nWinner: Mojo (Mojo in the Morning); mojointhemorning.iheart.com<\/a><\/p>\n

Finalists: Dave & Chuck \u201cThe Freak\u201d,\u00a0Jay Towers (Jay Towers in the Morning),\u00a0Paul W. Smith (WJR),\u00a0Ryan Patrick Hooper (101.9 in the Groove),\u00a0Scott Randall (Screamin Scott Randall)<\/p>\n

Radio News or Sports Reporter
\nWinner: Ryan Ermanni (WJR); fox2detroit.com\/person\/e\/ryan-ermanni<\/a><\/p>\n

Finalists: Charlie Langton (WWJ), Dan Leach (WHMI),\u00a0Dan Miller (97.1 The Ticket),\u00a0Jeff Riger (97.1 The Ticket),\u00a0Jerome Vaughn (WDET),\u00a0Mike Stone (97.1 The Ticket),\u00a0Pat Batcheller (WDET)<\/p>\n

TV anchor or host
\nWinner: Ryan Ermanni (FOX 2); fox2detroit.com\/person\/e\/ryan-ermanni<\/a><\/p>\n

Finalists: Alicia Smith (WXYZ\/Channel 7), Glenda Lewis (WXYZ\/Channel 7), Jay Towers (FOX 2), Kimberly Gill (WDIV\/Local 4), Maurielle Lue (FOX 2), Rhonda Walker (WDIV\/Local 4),\u00a0Roop Raj (FOX 2)<\/p>\n

TV News or Sports Reporter
\nWinner: Brad Galli (WXYZ\/Channel 7); wxyz.com\/brad-galli<\/a><\/p>\n

Finalists: Charlie Langton (FOX 2), Dan Miller (FOX 2), Faraz Javed (WXYZ\/Channel 7), Jennifer Hammond (FOX 2), Jessica Dupnack (FOX 2), Lauren Kostiuk (WDIV\/Local 4), Ruta Ulcinaite (WXYZ\/Channel 7), Ryan Ermanni (FOX 2)<\/p>\n

SPORTSPrivate golf course
\nWinner: Detroit Golf Club, Detroit; detroitgolfclub.org<\/a><\/p>\n

Finalists:\u00a0Oakland Hills Country Club, Red Run Golf Club,\u00a0Shenandoah Country Club,\u00a0Wabeek Club<\/p>\n

Professional sports team
\nWinner:\u00a0Detroit Lions; detroitlions.com<\/a><\/p>\n

Finalists: Detroit City Football Club, Detroit Pistons, Detroit Red Wings, Detroit Tigers<\/p>\n

Professional sports team athlete
\nWinner:\u00a0Aidan Hutchinson (Detroit Lions); detroitlions.com\/team\/players-roster\/aidan-hutchinson<\/a><\/p>\n

Finalists:\u00a0Amon-Ra St. Brown (Detroit Lions), Cade Cunningham (Detroit Pistons),\u00a0Dylan Larkin (Detroit Red Wings),\u00a0Jahmyr Gibbs (Detroit Lions),\u00a0Jared Goff (Detroit Lions),\u00a0Moritz Seider (Detroit Red Wings), Tarik Skubal (Detroit Tigers)<\/p>\n

Professional sports team coach or manager
\nWinner: \u00a0Dan Campbell (Detroit Lions); detroitlions.com\/team\/coaches-roster\/dan-campbell<\/a><\/p>\n

Finalists: A.J. Hinch (Detroit Tigers), Danny Dichio (DCFC), J.B. Bickerstaff (Detroit Pistons),\u00a0Todd McLellan (Detroit Red Wings)<\/p>\n

Professional sports team venue
\nWinner:\u00a0Comerica Park (Tigers); mlb.com\/tigers\/ballpark<\/a><\/p>\n

Finalists: Ford Field (Lions),\u00a0Keyworth Stadium (DCFC),\u00a0Little Caesars Arena (Pistons, Red Wings), UWM Field\/Jimmy John\u2019s Field (Four USPBL Teams)<\/p>\n

Public golf course
\nWinner: \u00a0Shepherd\u2019s Hollow, Clarkston; shepherdshollow.com<\/a><\/p>\n

Finalists: Fox Hills, The Cardinal,\u00a0The Links at Hunter\u2019s Ridge<\/p>\n

This story originally appeared in the June 2026 issue of Hour Detroit magazine<\/a>. To read more, pick up a copy of Hour Detroit at a local retail outlet. Click here to get our\u00a0digital edition<\/a>.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"CommunityAuthor Winner: Mitch Albom; mitchalbom.com Finalists: Brian Bartes, Josh Malerman, Kristy Robinett, Nandi Comer, Stephen Mack Jones, Viola…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":670917,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[65],"tags":[363,99],"class_list":["post-670916","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-mlb","tag-mlb","tag-sports"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/670916","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=670916"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/670916\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/670917"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=670916"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=670916"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=670916"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}