By Margaret Myers, 2019 SFJ president

Calling out around the world!

Join us Sept. 18-21 in the Motor City for our annual conference as we network, share knowledge, and celebrate our craft.

As always, we have invited some of the best in the business to share their wisdom with us. This year we will feature Pulitzer Prize winner Tom Hallman of The Oregonian, and we are planning to have frank conversations about culture and identity and how it shapes our coverage. We are also excited to feature a panel on innovations in podcasting and how audience research can inform your storytelling. See the full list of speakers and panels here! 

Oh, it doesn't matter what you wear, just as long as you are there!

We will be staying at the Element Detroit at the Metropolitan, a newly opened Marriott in a refurbished 100-year- old building in the heart of the Downtown’s vibrant city center, within walking distance to several “best of” bars and restaurants.

Book your room now using this link, for a special rate of $179 per night, which includes a hot breakfast.

There'll be swinging and swaying and records playing …

We’ll gather Wednesday evening, Sept. 18, at the hotel for a welcome reception! And later, who knows, we may sample some of the nearby delights, from the speakeasy-inspired cocktail joint tucked into the alley across the street, to the velvet-drenched old Hollywood lounge around the corner.

They'll be dancing, dancing in the street.

To register for the conference, click here. To get the $100 early bird discount, please register by Aug. 21!

We will be updating the website with more details. Follow us on Facebook for updates, and don’t forget to renew your 2019 membership!

For questions, pitches and ideas, email me, your dance captain for this party: Margaret Myers, mmyers@atlantic57.com.

Now here are a few stories to whet your Detroit appetite:

• My 18 best metro Detroit restaurant dishes in 2018 — Mark Kurlyandchik, Detroit Free Press
• The Hottest Restaurants in Detroit Right Now—Brenna Houck, Eater
• 10 things to know about visiting Detroit—Aaron Foley, Detroit’s official storyteller, writing for CNN