Cover Story
40 ways Metro Times changed Detroit (and beyond) over the past 40 years
As Metro Times founders and former owners Ron Williams and Laura Markham once recalled, when they set out to create an “alternative” weekly newspaper for Detroit in 1980 — one with an emphasis on art and culture, and also news — they were “armed with a business plan, a burning sense of idealism, a boundless…
Boston-based meal delivery service WECO Hospitality partners with Detroit’s Traffic Jam & Snug
There’s a new food pop-up in town. The Boston-based WECO Hospitality, which likens its service to “a private chef and meal delivery service,” will bring their sustainable pick-up and delivery service to Detroit after servicing more than 30 cities countrywide since launching last year. Starting Thursday, Jan. 14, metro Detroiters can get in on the action.…
Promind Complex Reviews: Does It Really Work?
Aging is believed to be the root cause of weakening brain health, alongside poor diet and health issues. But what if there are two sides to a coin? It could be the oral bacteria that cause you to forget things often – from simple cases like mobile phones and keys to the more serious ones…
Once ensnared by the War on Drugs, now he owns Grand Rapids’ first locally owned marijuana dispensary
Like plenty of people, Casey Kornoelje first fell in love with marijuana as an adolescent. He soon started experimenting with growing his own pot in the basement, but eventually came into what he calls “some hiccups” with law enforcement — including a felony charge for manufacturing narcotics in Grand Rapids in 2001. “That felony charge,…
Gage Cannabis Co. expected to open its first Grand Rapids location Friday
Gage Cannabis Co. is set to open a new location in Grand Rapids on Friday, Jan. 15. The 4,018-square-foot store is located at 3075 South Peregrine Rd., Grand Rapids. At this time, the store will only be open for business to medical marijuana cardholders, and orders will be available for curbside pick-up only. The store…
Washtenaw County says cases involving natural psychedelics will no longer be charged
You’re not tripping — newly appointed Washtenaw County prosecutor Eli Savit introduced two new policy directives Tuesday that detail why he’s no longer charging criminal cases involving marijuana, “magic” mushrooms, or other entheogenic plants. In a series of tweets, Savit cited the cost of cannabis criminalization as it relates to disproportionate consequences for people of…
Enbridge plans to defy Michigan’s order to shut down controversial pipeline
Enbridge Energy said it won’t comply with Michigan’s order to shut down a controversial pipeline in a channel connecting two of the Great Lakes. Gov. Gretchen Whitmer in November revoked the Canadian company’s 1953 easement agreement with the state and demanded it close the Line 5 oil and natural liquid pipeline in the Straits of…
Amazon plans to add 5 new centers in metro Detroit, spurring 2,000 permanent jobs
Amazon.com Inc. announced on Monday that it’s opening five new centers in metro Detroit that are expected to generate more than 2,000 permanent jobs. The expansion includes fulfillment centers in Detroit, Hazel Park, Pontiac, and Huron Township, and a sortation center in Plymouth. The full- and part-time jobs will pay a minimum of $15 an…
‘Jurassic Park’ to kick-off opening of temporary drive-in theater at downtown Detroit’s stalled Monroe Block site
If you’re into a leather-clad Jeff Goldblum, late-stage capitalism, and dino DNA, you’re in luck, metro Detroit. Emagine Entertainment has partnered with Bedrock to bring a temporary drive-in movie theater to the site of downtown Detroit’s delayed Monroe Blocks project at 32 Monroe Street. Monroe Street Drive-in’s family-friendly viewings start on Friday, Jan. 22 at…
Henry Ford hydroxychloroquine study abandoned after failing to find enough willing test subjects
Being a journalist covering misinformation in the era of President Donald Trump is an endless task. By the time you debunk one conspiracy, Trump supporters have already moved onto a new one. This goes on and on to the point where it’s hard to really even remember past conspiracy theories du jour, even ones that…
Rocket Companies and Ford join U.S. corporations halting political donations following Capitol riot
Dan Gilbert’s Rocket Companies and Ford Motor Co. are among a growing number of corporations suspending their political contributions in the aftermath of last week’s pro-Trump Capitol siege. Rocket Holdings Inc. PAC told Crain’s Detroit Business that it’s donating $750,000 to President-elect Joe Biden’s inauguration committee and then “suspending all political giving as we contemplate…
Detroit’s North American International Auto Show canceled again due to ongoing pandemic
Detroit’s new warmer-weather version of its longstanding North American International Auto Show just can’t seem to catch a break. The 2021 version of the show has now been canceled due to the ongoing pandemic, following the same fate as last year’s show. Typically held in January, last year was supposed to be the first time…
Detroit techno artist Drummer B will stream a set from Belle Isle Aquarium
Detroit techno artist Drummer B found a way to plug his new record, help out Detroit’s Belle Isle Aquarium, and honor the astrological Age of Aquarius. Drummer B recorded a techno set inside the aquarium, which will be streamed by Movement music festival organizers Paxahau online at 6 p.m. on Thursday, Jan. 28 on twitch.tv/paxahau.…
Michigan commission bans open carry of firearms at state Capitol
The Michigan State Capitol Commission on Monday voted unanimously to prohibit the open carry of firearms in the state Capitol building following last week’s violent insurrection in Washington, D.C. The 6-0 vote marks a significant reversal for the commission, which deadlocked on a proposal to ban open carry in September. “We think this is the…
Detroit City Distillery’s limited-edition paczki-infused vodka is back
What do you get when you combine 1,300 raspberry paczki with gallons of 100% potato vodka from Poland? Well, you might get a hangover, a toothache, and, ultimately, a hedonist’s wet dream. Detroit City Distillery’s limited-edition Paczki Day Vodka is back, baby: emphasis on limited-edition … and paczki … and vodka. Just in time for…
Michigan’s recreational cannabis sales were up 482% in 2020, because what else were we going to do?
Our plans weren’t the only thing to go up in smoke last year. Michigan’s recreational marijuana sales reached more than $500 million in 2020 — proving that we smoked and dosed ourselves silly because, honestly, what else were we to do? New data from Headset, a company that analyzes cannabis consumer trends, revealed that recreational…
Mausoleums broken into at historic Woodmere Cemetery in Southwest Detroit
Would-be grave robbers struck the historic Woodmere Cemetery in Southwest Detroit on Sunday, breaking into at least one mausoleum and attempting to get into another one. Detroit police said the break-in occurred at about 4:50 p.m. “At this time, it does not appear that anything was taken,” police said in a news release. “This case…
Whitmer receives death threat in letter demanding $2M in Bitcoin
Send $2 million in Bitcoin or state employees will die, an anonymous letter threatened Gov. Gretchen Whitmer. The letter was sent from an Indiana address in mid-December. An investigation by Michigan State Police determined the threat was not credible, and no arrests have been made. “The Michigan State Police takes very seriously any threats made…
New council gives Michigan young parents a voice
The voices of expectant and parenting youths are being amplified by the first-ever Michigan Young Parent Advisory Council. Diamond Weakley is among the 13 teens on the council, which is based in Saginaw. She said the group is reducing the stigma and isolation she’s experienced as a young parent. “A lot of families don’t support…
Lawsuit accuses UM professor of racist, misogynistic behavior
A University of Michigan professor is accused of racist and misogynistic behavior directed at a female colleague who is Egyptian and Muslim, according to a federal lawsuit. The lawsuit filed in U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan alleges urology professor Mark L. Day relentlessly harassed Layla Fakhr El-Din El-Sawy while they worked…
Michigan man arrested for making bomb threat that closed Capitol Building
Felony charges have been filed against a man who made a phone call Thursday claiming there was a bomb at the Michigan Capitol building. The building was temporarily closed while authorities determined there was no bomb. Still, Michael Varrone, 48, of Charlotte, was arrested outside his residence on Thursday, and the office of Michigan Attorney…
Michigan native Ronna McDaniel re-elected as RNC chairwoman
Ronna McDaniel, a Michigan native and staunch supporter of President Donald Trump, was re-elected as Republican National Committee chairwoman on Friday — even after the GOP lost control of the White House and both chambers of Congress under her. McDaniel, whom Trump endorsed for another two-year term, has often spewed the kind of dangerous and…
Detroit’s historic Blue Bird Inn won’t be demolished after all
Easily one of Detroit’s most storied clubs has narrowly escaped demolition thanks to a recent Historic District designation by the City of Detroit. The historic Blue Bird Inn — where jazz legends like John Coltrane, Miles Davis, and Elvin Jones regularly performed and honed their craft — will fly again after demolition chatter began in…
Michigan Democrats condemn D.C. violence and call for resignations
Michigan Democrats say those behind the election misinformation that is believed to have sparked the violence in Washington D.C. must be held accountable. Rep. Padma Kuppa, D-Clawson contended the ransacking of the U.S. Capitol is a sad reminder of April 30, when protestors with guns raided the Michigan Capitol galleries. She believes this week’s violence…
Betsy DeVos resigns just as talks of removing Trump via the 25th Amendment gain serious traction
U.S. Education Secretary Betsy DeVos was one of President Donald Trump’s longest-serving cabinet members, but it looks like she’s not making it to the final episode of this fucked up reality TV show. The Michigan native and GOP megadonor tendered her resignation Thursday night following the absolute shitshow on Wednesday, in which Trump incited a…
Here are the 3 Michigan Republicans who still voted to overturn election results, despite the attack on the U.S. Capitol
Yesterday, President Trump stood in front of thousands at the White House for the “Stop the Steal” rally and instructed his supporters to march to the U.S. Capitol, where they then attacked law enforcement officers and broke into the federal building. Incited by false allegations of a stolen election, the terrorist attack resulted in four…
Lying conservative activist who organized trip to Capitol poised to head Michigan Republican Party
Meshawn Maddock, a conservative activist who spread lies about election fraud and organized a trip of Trump supporters to the Capitol in Washington D.C. on Wednesday, is about to take the helm of the Michigan Republican Party. The leadership change was prompted by Laura Cox’s announcement Wednesday that she is not vying for a second…
You can reserve the entire Cranbrook Art Museum starting this month
Starting this month, Cranbrook Art Musuem is allowing visitors to reserve the entire museum for themselves. Every Wednesday, the museum is offering three, one-hour time slots for individuals or private groups of up to six to reserve the museum. This includes all galleries as well as the museum shop. Guests can register here. The cost…
The siege at the U.S. Capitol was similar to what happened in Lansing this spring
The extraordinary images of supporters of President Donald Trump storming the U.S. Capitol on Wednesday were shocking but not surprising, at least to us here in Michigan. It was basically a worse version of what happened in Lansing last year, when protesters gathered against Gov. Gretchen Whitmer’s pandemic orders at various points throughout the spring.…
U.S. Rep. Rashida Tlaib calls for Trump’s immediate impeachment for inciting violence at the Capitol — and she’s not alone
U.S. Rep. Rashida Tlaib of Detroit is doubling down on her 2019 commitment to “impeach the motherfucker” — the motherfucker, of course, being none other than the 45th President of the United States, Donald Trump. Tlaib’s most recent call for impeachment comes after Trump incited unprecedented violence at the U.S. Capitol building on Wednesday, which…
Michigan Capitol building temporarily closed amid threat
A threat has prompted the temporary closure of the Michigan Capitol building on Thursday morning, one day after a violent mob of President Donald Trump zealots stormed the U.S. Capitol. In a message to employees, the state House said the threat was received early Thursday morning, The Detroit News reports. Michigan State Police confirmed they…
Here’s a video of Mitt Romney casually getting heckled by Trump supporters
Who needs inflight entertainment when you have a conservative Senator being berated by delusional supporters of President Donald Trump? Pass the peanuts! On Tuesday, Senator Mitt Romney was confronted by a gaggle of Trump supporters who called the Utah politican a “traitor” and a “joke,” and it went better than you might think. While waiting…
#BlackHomesMatter advocates to call on Whitmer to compensate over-taxed Detroit homeowners
U.S. Rep. Rashida Tlaib is teaming up with prominent civil rights activists Cornel West and Rev. Dr. William Barber II to kick off a “#BlackHomesMatter” event to call attention to illegally inflated property taxes that led to a crushing wave of foreclosures in Detroit. The virtual event is scheduled for 6 p.m. on Jan. 13…
Jeff Daniels to emcee virtual Ann Arbor Folk Fest
The 44th Annual Ann Arbor Folk Festival may be downsized due to the pandemic this year, but it has enlisted a star of the big screen — and small — to emcee the annual fundraising event. Jeff Daniels — Emmy Award-winning actor, director, and singer-songwriter — has been selected to emcee this year’s folk festival…
Detroit-based beauty giant The Lip Bar rebrands as TLB as it expands catalog and reach
Melissa Butler started out nine years ago making lipstick in her kitchen. The Detroiter was famously featured on the television show, Shark Tank, in 2015, where she was denied any funding for her colorful lipsticks. In fact, the show’s Kevin O’Leary called the products “clown makeup.” Just five short years later, The Lip Bar is…
Downtown Farmington’s John Cowley & Sons Irish Pub fined for violating pandemic orders
Downtown Farmington’s John Cowley & Sons Irish Pub was one of 13 restaurants fined for violating pandemic orders, which prohibit indoor dining, according to a statement put out by the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) on Tuesday. But co-owner Greg Cowley says they weren’t openly defying the epidemic orders — unlike other…
Family Video to close all remaining stores, cites lack of foot traffic and new movie releases
There’s no pushing rewind on this one. After 42 years, Family Video announced Tuesday night that it would be closing all of its remaining locations across the U.S., including more than 50 stores in Michigan. The video rental chain — which, at its height, had more than 800 locations nationwide — cites a lack of…
Heated ‘luminarias’ will bring wintertime outdoor dining to Southwest Detroit restaurants
With the pandemic still putting a stop to indoor dining at restaurants, many are turning to heated patios and outdoor enclosures to create safer dining experiences. The Southwest Detroit Business Association (SDBA) is bringing more to its neighborhood’s many restaurants — with a Mexican twist. “The Luminarias of Southwest Detroit” project will bring 15 custom-built heated…
Savage Love: European adventures
We’re an adventurous, bisexual, non-monogamous, opposite-sex couple with a teenage kid living in Europe. We don’t really struggle with finding and trying new and interesting stuff in bed. However, we do have a problem, and it’s getting worse. Having sex is, well, weird, when the kid is at home. We can’t be loud, we can’t…
Free Will Astrology (Jan. 6-12)
ARIES (March 21-April 19): The pandemic has made it challenging to nurture our communities. In order to make new connections and keep our existing connections vibrant, we’ve had to be extra resourceful. I hope you will make this work one of your holy quests in 2021, Aries. In my astrological opinion, you should be ingenious…
‘Esquire’ names three metro Detroit spots on list of ‘100 restaurants America can’t afford to lose’
Many restaurants nationwide are going hungry, while others have been starved off altogether. Perhaps even your favorite breakfast joint or sushi spot has been among the past year’s casualties. In an effort to dish out some praise and draw attention to many of the country’s esteemed and beloved eateries that are, against all odds, still…
Investigative reporter M.L. Elrick is running for Detroit City Council seat
Pulitzer Prize-winning investigative reporter M.L. Elrick, who spent nearly three decades exposing misdeeds, dirty politicians, and wasteful spending in Detroit, is running for a seat on the Detroit City Council. Elrick announced his bid for council on his podcast ML Soul of Detroit on Tuesday afternoon. “For 28 years now I’ve been a reporter trying…
Michigan Marijuana Regulatory Agency offers guidelines for cannabis-infused beverages
Cannabis-infused drinks are coming to Michigan. The Michigan Marijuana Regulatory Agency issued a bulletin on Monday that offers guidelines “for the submission and approval of a marijuana-infused beverage.” In 2019, Michigan bars and restaurants briefly experimented with CBD-infused beverages before healths officials prohibited them. The new guidelines make it clear what’s allowed and what isn’t.…
Gov. Whitmer kills bill that would clear records for one-time DUI offenders
No dice for first-time drunken drivers in Michigan looking to clean their records, as Gov. Gretchen Whitmer has quashed Senate Bill 1254, which would have expunged public records for eligible DUI offenders. Senate Bill 1254, which was introduced to the governor on Dec. 21 after passing 96-8 in the House and 32-5 in the Senate,…
Dan Gilbert and his company’s PAC donated to Georgia GOP Senate candidates
Billionaire Dan Gilbert, his family members, and the political action committee for one of his Detroit-based companies have thrown money into the Georgia Senate race to help the Republican incumbents win Tuesday’s election. Gilbert, who relies on Democratic cities like Detroit and Cleveland for tax incentives, donated $2,800 — the maximum allowable amount — to…
Southwest Detroit’s El Club to offer free COVID-19 testing through April
Metro Detroiters can soon get a COVID-19 test where acts like Billie Eilish, Graham Coxon, and the Melvins performed in a pre-COVID world. On Tuesday, Southwest Detroit music venue El Club announced a partnership with Henry Ford Health System to offer free COVID-19 PCR tests from 10 a.m.-3 p.m. every Friday through April starting Friday,…
Michigan legislators debased themselves to humor Trump — and his campaign is still harassing them anyway
Michigan state Sen. Mike Shirkey and former Rep. Lee Chatfield rightfully earned criticism for agreeing in November to fly to Washington, D.C. to meet with President Donald Trump, who has been pressuring public officials to change the election results ever since he lost his re-election campaign. At the time, the Republican legislators said they met…
21 questions for 2021: The answers will define what kind of year this will be, for better or worse
With the annus horribilis 2020 finally in the rearview, we cast our gaze forward, if not to a sunnier future — I’m not that naïve — then to a time when we don’t have to check each morning to see if the president tweeted a nuclear attack order because of a Hannity segment. We don’t…
Gov. Whitmer denied clemency for Temujin Kensu, a murder convict who claims innocence
While Gov. Gretchen Whitmer recently made waves for granting clemency for four men locked up for marijuana charges, including Michael Thompson, who was sentenced in 1996 to up to 60 years in prison after selling marijuana to an undercover cop, she denied clemency to another longstanding prisoner who supporters contend is innocent. Temujin Kensu, née…
Popular Republican Candice Miller says she won’t run for Michigan governor
Candice Miller, a former congresswoman and one of the most popular Republicans in Michigan, said Monday she won’t be running for governor in 2022. Her announcement on Facebook comes less than a week after The Detroit News reported Miller, who is the Macomb County public works commissioner, was a favorite among Republicans to challenge Democratic…
Michigan pet owners can now discuss cannabis treatments for their pets with veterinarians
Good news for our four-legged fur children comes by way of a new bill signed by Gov. Gretchen Whitmer last week, which allows Michigan veterinarians to discuss cannabis-based treatment options like CBD use with pet owners. Bill 5085, introduced in 2020 by Rep. Gregory Markkanen (R), reads “a veterinarian may consult with an owner on…
Michigan’s health department is distributing 3.5 million free masks as part of its ‘Mask Up, Mask Right’ campaign
As Michigan officials work toward flattening the curve of a second COVID-19 surge, the state’s health department announced it’s distributing 3.5 million free masks as part of a “Mask Up, Mask Right” campaign. Free KN95 masks will be provided by the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) to community organizations, including local MDHSS…
A second marijuana dispensary is opening in Hamtramck
Despite opposition from some in the community, Hamtramck is getting a second marijuana dispensary this week. It’s also the second dispensary for Quality Roots, which opened its first dispensary in Battle Creek last year. Quality Roots is expected to open its Hamtramck location on Thursday at 2024 Caniff St. for recreational adult-use customers. Quality Roots…
Beloved arcade Pinball Pete’s launches GoFundMe, raises $90k in over a week
It may not be game over for Pinball Pete’s arcade, thanks to a recent crowdfunding campaign to save the legacy business. Pinball Pete’s, which operates two locations in Ann Arbor and East Lansing, has been serving the community with wall-to-wall games for more than 40 years. Due to the pandemic and on-again, off-again closures per…
Trump repeats baseless claims about Detroit’s election in call with Georgia officials
President Donald Trump continued to make baseless, easily refutable claims about Michigan’s election in a recorded phone call in which he urged Georgia officials to “find” him enough votes to overturn Joe Biden’s win in the state. In the hourlong phone call with Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger on Saturday, Trump falsely alleged more…
Michigan hated 2020 more than any other state, according to Twitter data
We’ve been saying this: FUCK 2020. And it looks like in Michigan, we’re not alone with that sentiment. According to geotagged Twitter data, Michigan hated 2020 more than any other state. That’s according to the folks at Someka, who tracked more than 900,000 tweets from the last six months, including phrases like “I hate 2020,”…
Michigan electoral votes expected to be challenged in Congress
It appears the drama over Michigan’s presidential election results will carry over into 2021. A group of House Republicans and Sen. Josh Hawley, R-Mo., have said they plan to challenge the Electoral College votes from key battleground states on Jan. 6, when Congress meets to validate the results in a joint session. Robert Yoon, a…
Supino Pizzeria’s New Center location is almost ready to open
Dave Mancini, owner of Eastern Market’s popular Supino Pizzeria, says a second location is expected to soon open its doors. The new spot, located at 6519 Woodward Ave. in Detroit’s New Center, is pending final inspections. Manicni tells Metro Times he hopes to open next month, but cautions that these things take time: he originally…
New legislation allows Michigan college athletes to receive compensation for the first time
For the first time in Michigan history, college athletes can financially benefit from the countless hours they put into their sports. Governor Gretchen Whitmer signed bipartisan legislation on Wednesday that allows athletes to use their own name and image for financial compensation. “For years we have all enjoyed the incredible talent of young athletes across…
Metro Times article about the late Doug Hopkins of rock band Gin Blossoms is being adapted into a feature film
An award-winning article by former Metro Times editor Brian Smith about his relationship with Doug Hopkins, the late founding member of rock band Gin Blossoms and writer of hits “Hey Jealousy” and “Found Out About You,” is being developed into a feature film. Smith tipped us off a few weeks ago to make sure he…
Report finds no wrongdoing in Michigan contact tracing contract
An investigation into a firm linked to Governor Gretchen Whitmer’s re-election campaign that was briefly contracted by the state to develop a COVID-19 contact tracing program found no evidence of criminal conduct, according to a new report from Attorney General Dana Nessel. In April, as the coronavirus pandemic exploded in Michigan, Whitmer came under scrutiny…
A Review of the 5 Best Male Enhancement Pills to Buy in 2020
Are you feeling like maybe you’re not performing as well in the bedroom as you could be? Are you having issues getting it up and keeping it up? Or, maybe, your libido and stamina have taken a hit due to falling testosterone levels? Whether you wanna hear it or not, with age comes a slew…
Whitmer vetoes provision to allow hazardous materials on Ambassador Bridge
A Republican plan to sneak language into the state’s COVID-19 bill to allow trucks to transport hazardous and toxic materials across the Ambassador Bridge has backfired after Gov. Gretchen Whitmer vetoed the potentially dangerous provision on Tuesday. The line-item veto delivered a blow to the billionaire Moroun family, which owns the Ambassador Bridge and wants…
The best films of 2020 — a year when we couldn’t go to the movies
It’s no secret that the film industry this year — and film coverage with it — has been upended by the same foul events as just about everything else. The good news is that many a smaller distributor has risen to the challenge, making works available both directly and in partnerships with countless theaters’ Virtual…
Four lessons from a year we’d rather forget
If you’d told me on Jan. 1, 2020, that Donald Trump would lose, I’d have been relieved. If you’d told me it took 300,000 deaths and more than 20 million lost jobs to get that result — and that Trump would come within 50,000 votes of winning the Electoral College anyway — I’d have been…
The best new music that got us through the worst fucking year ever
The year is 2020. It’s February and all eyes are on two dazzling, age-defying, and very bendy Latina women at a football game. Of course, we’re referring to Shakira and J.Lo’s Super Bowl LIV performance, in which the “Hips Don’t Lie” singer and Jenny from the block appeared in shimmering, barely-there costuming as they tapped…
Free Will Astrology (Dec. 30-Jan. 5)
ARIES: March 21 – April 19: Author Jorge Luis Borges (1899–1986) carried on a long love affair with books. He read thousands of them, wrote more than 20 of them, and further postulated the existence of numerous imaginary books that were never actually written. Of all the writers who roused his adoration, a certain Russian…
Savage Love: Lesbian drama
One of my very close friends, a lesbian, has been married for a couple of years now. It’s been nothing but drama since the day they met. My friend had a terrible home life growing up and doesn’t understand stability. She also has zero self-confidence. My friend and her wife are constantly calling the cops…
