WEDNESDAY JULY 1
Tour de Troit Pre-Registration Kickoff
HEY, LANCE ARMSTRONG!
The annual Tour de Troit lets Motor City cyclists take over streets for a two-wheeled tour of historical sites and notable city scenery. This year's event — on Sept. 19 – is expected to attract 2,000 bikers, and early birds can get a jump on pre-registration at this kickoff event, which features a discounted registration fee — $25 instead of $30 — and tours of the T-Plex, the birthplace of the Model T (the site will receive $5 of every onsite registration). Afterward, cyclists can partake in a 10-mile spin through the D, ending at Cityfest. Registration is 5:30 to 7 p.m., with the bike tour immediately following at the Model T Automotive Heritage Complex, 461 Piquette St., Detroit; for info call 313-962-2425 or visit tour-de-troit.org.
WEDNESDAY-SATURDAY JULY 1-4
Salute to America
HEAR THE PATRIOTISM
The Detroit Symphony Orchestra performs its annual Fourth of July concert series at Greenfield Village, paying homage to the U.S. of A. with orchestral renditions of patriotic standards. The night culminates with fireworks accompanied by Tchaikovsky's 1812 Overture and the roar of cannons. Pre-concert, kids can enjoy 19th century lawn games and a visit by the Village's historic baseball teams. From 6 to 10 p.m. at the Henry Ford, 20900 Oakwood Blvd., Dearborn; 313-982-6001; thehenryford.org; tickets $12 to $50.
THURSDAY JULY 2
Dean & Britta: 13 Most Beautiful
FACTORY FILMS
Between 1964 and 1966, Andy Warhol shot a number of screen tests at his infamous New York City studio featuring the mélange of celebrities and hangers-on who frequented the Factory. In the 13 Most Beautiful ... Songs for Andy Warhol's Screen Tests, former members of dream pop outfit Luna, Dean Wareham and Britta Phillips (the voice behind '80s animated pop star Jem!), create a soundtrack for the silent film portraits of such celebs as Nico, Lou Reed and Dennis Hopper. Live, Dean and Britta perform with their band, as these rarely seen films are projected overhead. At 8 p.m. at the Power Center, 121 Fletcher St., Ann Arbor; info and tickets at 734-764-2538 or annarborsummerfestival.org; $20-$30.
THURSDAY JULY 2
White Rabbits
HOPPING DOWN THE INDIE TRAIL
With their 2007 debut, Fort Nightly, this New York City sextet caught the attention of critics with their cacophonous and unadulterated sound complete with dual drummers, dramatic choruses and tinkling piano underpinnings. Produced by Spoon frontman Britt Daniels, this year's follow-up, It's Frightening, features a more polished presentation of White Rabbit's darkly driven pop (insert not completely unwarranted Spoon comparison here), but you can hear the raw noise at 8 p.m. at the Crofoot's Pike Room, 1 S. Saginaw, Pontiac; 248-858 9333; thecrofoot.com; $8 advance; with the Subject and Zoos of Berlin.
THURSDAY-SUNDAY JULY 2-5
A Picasso
THE ARTFUL DODGER
One of the most hyped artists of all times gets more buzz in this Jeffrey Hatcher drama. Set in 1941 Nazi-occupied Paris, A Picasso is loosely based on numerous Nazi interrogations of the famous painter. The play consists of a single interrogation, with an unlikely Nazi agent, the beautiful Miss Fisher, pressing Picasso to authenticate three of his paintings. In return, two of the paintings will be saved, while the third will be destroyed at a Nazi art burning party. The drama boils down to a verbal sparring that provides revelatory glimpses into the characters' pasts, contemplates the meaning of art, and challenges the politics of power. 8 p.m. Thursday through Saturday with matinee performances at 3 p.m. Saturday and 2 p.m. Sunday. Running through July 12 at the Performance Network Theatre, 120 E. Huron St., Ann Arbor; 734-663-0681; performancenetwork.org.
FRIDAY JULY 3
Action <> Reaction
SCREEN PHYSICS
Newton's third law of motion (for every action there is an equal and opposite reaction, duh) is explored in the DIA's newest exhibit Action <> Reaction: Video Installations. The installation features five videos that investigate cause and effect, as well as demonstrating the evolution of video from the 1960s to the 1990s. The films document everything from the autonomic nervous system to Rube Goldberg-esque chain reactions, totaling two hours of footage that questions how A leads to B and why it matters to us. At the Detroit Institute of Arts, 5200 Woodward Ave., Detroit; 313-833-7900; dia.org; on display through Jan. 3.
FRIDAY JULY 3
ArtBLAST
BEACH BLANKET BENEFIT
The Birmingham Bloomfield Art Center's annual fundraiser serves up summer-themed sweets for the whole famdamily, including a grilled picnic dinner, make-and-take beach-themed art projects and musical entertainment. Attendees are also privy to a prime viewing location for the city of Birmingham's fireworks, followed by a screening of a totally groovy retro beach movie. At 7 p.m. at the Birmingham Bloomfield Art Center, 1516 S. Cranbrook Rd., Birmingham; 248-644-0866; bbartcenter.org; tickets range from $30 to $300.
SATURDAY-SUNDAY JULY 4-5
Soupy Sales Summer Film Series
GOLDEN TELEVISION OLDIES
In conjunction with the exhibit Detroit's Classic TV Personalities, the Detroit Historical Museum will screen classic episodes of Soupy Sales' original television series. A popular children's show host and comedian, Sales worked locally in Detroit for seven years, eventually appearing on WXYZ for eleven hours of pie-in-the-face and puppet fun every week. And there's no better time to revisit the museum, which is offering free admission throughout the entire month. Screenings at 1 p.m. every Saturday and Sunday through Aug. 30, at the Detroit Historical Museum, 5401 Woodward Ave., Detroit; 313-833-1805; detroithistorical.org.
TUESDAY JULY 7
Can You Go Out, Detroit?
HIGH FIVE
Detroit's best-dressed power-popping stalwarts the Singles are spearheading this five-night, five-venue local music showcase. Two different bands will join the Singles each night, who will act as emcees and show openers Tuesday through Friday before headlining Saturday's gig, a CD release party and video premiere for the Singles' new single (wah wah wah), "Can You Go Out Tonight?" The kickoff features I, Crime and Four Hour Friends at PJ's Lager House, 1254 Michigan Ave., Detroit; 313-961-4668. Other shows feature Spitting Nickels and Cameron McGill & What Army at the Belmont on Wednesday, the Satin Peaches and Mick Bassett & the Marthas at the Corktown Tavern on Thursday, Friendly Foes and Those Transatlantics at Northern Lights Lounge on Friday, and the Handgrenades and the Wall Clocks wrap things up Saturday at the Magic Stick.
WEDNESDAY JULY 8
Coney Island Tour
GASTRONOMIC EXPLORATIONS
Lovers of Detroit's iconic Coney dogs should dig this delish Detroit Tour Connections walking tour which visits a number of downtown eateries famous for dishing up hot dogs slathered in chili and onions. Stops include Plaka, Leo's, Lafayette and American, where attendees can enjoy a complimentary dog (but of course!) and pop. Interested carnivores should meet at 6 p.m. near the Washington Blvd. entrance of the Westin Book-Cadillac, 1114 Washington Blvd., Detroit; info at 313-283-4332. Tours cost $10 and reservations are required for groups of eight or more. Coneys ain't your thing? DTC offers a variety of tours every Wednesday and Sunday (including another Coney romp on July 12) through September. Visit detroittourconnections.com for info.
ONGOING
There Goes the Neighborhood
RETURN TO SLAWVILLE
The world revealed in the new paintings of Detroit artist Slaw in the exhibit There Goes the Neighborhood: Return to Slawville...but it's Dark Now is a slightly skewed take on a 1950s upper-class milieu, where ladies in evening gowns sip martinis with suave, tuxedo-clad men. Black humor runs beneath it all, as demonstrated by paintings of sinister-looking dentists, sneering lunch ladies and smarmy lotharios in smoking jackets. The exhibit is on the wall through July 31, and you can check out Slaw doing real, live painting outside the gallery during the Wyandotte Street Art Fair, July 8-11. At River's Edge Gallery, 3024 Biddle Ave., Wyandotte; 734-246-9880; artatthedge.com.
ONGOING
Jazz at Harbor House
A NEW SPOT FOR SWINGERS
Older fans remember great music in this downtown spot when it was Tiffany's — and the great, tinted glasswork still sets a mood. Wednesday nights, vocalist Sky Covington and saxophonist Scott Reiter head up a crack ensemble that's been building a sound for months now. When we stopped by the other night, Covington reminded us of her roots in Nina Simone and flair for high drama on "Summertime," in particular. And after Covington-Reiter and company have their say, the final sets of the night are given over to a lively jam session. More recently, drummer Keith Glass has settled into Saturday nights with his group Nostalgia, putting an emphasis on, as he puts, on the days before the beat blotted out all else and music was about melody. But note that Nostalgia takes melody as something to play with rather than revere. The regular saxophonists are Tony Holland (formerly of Griot Galaxy) and Cassius Richmond (a onetime Jackie McLean student), and the other night the similarly inclined James Carter stopped by to make sure the volcano kept spewing lava. Harbor House, 440 Clinton St., Detroit; 313-967-9900; cover $5 on Wednesday, no cover on Saturday.
