25 things to do in Detroit this weekend (Feb. 9-11)

This weekend is great if you want to meet new friends, as there are many community-centered events happening that are perfect for mingling with like-minded individuals. Metro Detroiters are getting ready to host art exhibits, a book club, open mics, a clothing swap, parties, and more.

If you’re looking for even more to do every day of the week, see the Metro Times events calendar, which is free to use if you have something planned that you’d like to advertise to Metro Times readers.

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Black History Month Film Fest
When: Feb. 9 from 5:30-8:30 p.m.
Where: Centric Place, Farmington Hills
What: A film festival
Who: Award-winning Detroit filmmakers
Why: To celebrate the culture and creative talent of metro Detroit’s Black filmmakers and showcase diverse stories through the art of short films.
Google Maps

Black History Month Film Fest

When: Feb. 9 from 5:30-8:30 p.m.
Where: Centric Place, Farmington Hills
What: A film festival
Who: Award-winning Detroit filmmakers
Why: To celebrate the culture and creative talent of metro Detroit’s Black filmmakers and showcase diverse stories through the art of short films.

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Open Stage for a Ceasefire
When: Feb. 9 from 6-11 p.m.
Where: Drifter Coffee, Ferndale
What: A night of music, poetry, and speeches
Who: Community members and performers
Why: Support efforts to pass a ceasefire resolution in Ferndale.
Drifter/Facebook

Open Stage for a Ceasefire

When: Feb. 9 from 6-11 p.m.
Where: Drifter Coffee, Ferndale
What: A night of music, poetry, and speeches
Who: Community members and performers
Why: Support efforts to pass a ceasefire resolution in Ferndale.

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BLKLUV: The 10-year Anniversary Show
When: Feb. 9 at 8 p.m.
Where: Aretha’s Jazz Cafe
What: A show of poetry, music, comedy, and more
Who: Hosted by Joel Fluent Greene with beats by Drake Phifer
Why: Celebrate Black History Month and Valentine’s Day at once by supporting local Black performers and vendors alongside your lover.

BLKLUV: The 10-year Anniversary Show

When: Feb. 9 at 8 p.m.
Where: Aretha’s Jazz Cafe
What: A show of poetry, music, comedy, and more
Who: Hosted by Joel Fluent Greene with beats by Drake Phifer
Why: Celebrate Black History Month and Valentine’s Day at once by supporting local Black performers and vendors alongside your lover.

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Crazy in Love
When: Feb. 9 and 10 from 6-10:30 p.m.
Where: Eloise Asylum, Westland
What: A Valentine’s Day-themed haunted house
Who: You and your Valentine
Why: Celebrate Valentine’s Day with a scare at one of Michigan’s most famous haunted houses.
Courtesy photo

Crazy in Love

When: Feb. 9 and 10 from 6-10:30 p.m.
Where: Eloise Asylum, Westland
What: A Valentine’s Day-themed haunted house
Who: You and your Valentine
Why: Celebrate Valentine’s Day with a scare at one of Michigan’s most famous haunted houses.

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Dirty Show ’24
When: Feb. 9 and 10 from 7 p.m.-2 a.m.
Where: Russell Industrial Center
What: An international erotic art exhibition
Who: Many artists and burlesque performers
Why: Enjoy over 300 pieces of art by over 200 artists from around the country and across the globe, plus an awesome stage show.
Josh Justice

Dirty Show ’24

When: Feb. 9 and 10 from 7 p.m.-2 a.m.
Where: Russell Industrial Center
What: An international erotic art exhibition
Who: Many artists and burlesque performers
Why: Enjoy over 300 pieces of art by over 200 artists from around the country and across the globe, plus an awesome stage show.

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STUPOR: Disappearing Act & My Secret Sickness
When: Feb. 9 and 10 from 9-10:30 p.m.
Where: Planet Ant Theatre, Hamtramck
What: A unique performance and Zine release party
Who: Local writers and performers
Why: The event celebrates a new issue of STUPOR, the “longest-running zine in Detroit.”
Facebook, Planet Ant

STUPOR: Disappearing Act & My Secret Sickness

When: Feb. 9 and 10 from 9-10:30 p.m.
Where: Planet Ant Theatre, Hamtramck
What: A unique performance and Zine release party
Who: Local writers and performers
Why: The event celebrates a new issue of STUPOR, the “longest-running zine in Detroit.”

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Cranbrook Winter Plant Sale
When: Feb. 9 from 10 a.m.-3 p.m. and Feb. 10 from 10 a.m.-2 p.m.
Where: Cranbrook House & Gardens, Bloomfield Hills
What: A plant sale
Who: Plant lovers
Why: Brighten up your house with some greenery.
Eric Franchy/Cranbrook House & Gardens

Cranbrook Winter Plant Sale

When: Feb. 9 from 10 a.m.-3 p.m. and Feb. 10 from 10 a.m.-2 p.m.
Where: Cranbrook House & Gardens, Bloomfield Hills
What: A plant sale
Who: Plant lovers
Why: Brighten up your house with some greenery.

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Union Free Admission Day at Cranbrook Art Museum
When: Feb. 10
Where: Cranbrook Art Museum, Bloomfield Hills
What: A free museum day
Who: Union members
Why: To celebrate hardworking community members.
Shutterstock

Union Free Admission Day at Cranbrook Art Museum

When: Feb. 10
Where: Cranbrook Art Museum, Bloomfield Hills
What: A free museum day
Who: Union members
Why: To celebrate hardworking community members.

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Dilla Family Day
When: Feb. 10 from 10 a.m.-2 p.m.
Where: Alkebu-Lan Village
What: An annual celebration of musical legacy 
Who: Detroit comedian T Barb, Spin Inc., and J Dilla’s spirit
Why: Celebrate the life and legacy of J Dilla with workshops, performances, and more.
Courtesy photo

Dilla Family Day

When: Feb. 10 from 10 a.m.-2 p.m.
Where: Alkebu-Lan Village
What: An annual celebration of musical legacy
Who: Detroit comedian T Barb, Spin Inc., and J Dilla’s spirit
Why: Celebrate the life and legacy of J Dilla with workshops, performances, and more.

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Clothing Swap
When: Feb. 10 from 12-4 p.m.
Where: Spot Lite
What: A clothing swap
Who: Detroiters
Why: Bring up to 10 pieces of clothing you’re done with and get new clothing for your closet.
Layla McMurtrie

Clothing Swap

When: Feb. 10 from 12-4 p.m.
Where: Spot Lite
What: A clothing swap
Who: Detroiters
Why: Bring up to 10 pieces of clothing you’re done with and get new clothing for your closet.

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SMPLFD Warehouse Sample Sale
When: Feb. 10 from 12-8 p.m.
Where: SMPLFD
What: A warehouse sale
Who: Anyone who wants some new fits
Why: The Detroit clothing store is selling old inventory at affordable prices.
Courtesy of SMPLFD

SMPLFD Warehouse Sample Sale

When: Feb. 10 from 12-8 p.m.
Where: SMPLFD
What: A warehouse sale
Who: Anyone who wants some new fits
Why: The Detroit clothing store is selling old inventory at affordable prices.

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Black History Community Open Mic
When: Feb. 10 from 1-3 p.m.
Where: The District Detroit Opportunity Center
What: An open mic
Who: City Wide Poets
Why: Celebrate Black History Month with InsideOut’s Youth Advisory Board at this all-ages community open mic featuring award-winning Detroit poet Galaxy.

Black History Community Open Mic

When: Feb. 10 from 1-3 p.m.
Where: The District Detroit Opportunity Center
What: An open mic
Who: City Wide Poets
Why: Celebrate Black History Month with InsideOut’s Youth Advisory Board at this all-ages community open mic featuring award-winning Detroit poet Galaxy.

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Ray Gray art exhibition and reception
When: Feb. 10 from 3-5 p.m.
Where: The Congregation
What: An art exhibit
Who: Ray Gray
Why: Throughout February, former Golden Gloves boxing champion Ray Gray, who turned to art amid a nearly 50-year sentence he maintains was wrongful, is the featured artist at The Congregation. You can meet him at this reception.
Courtesy photo

Ray Gray art exhibition and reception

When: Feb. 10 from 3-5 p.m.
Where: The Congregation
What: An art exhibit
Who: Ray Gray
Why: Throughout February, former Golden Gloves boxing champion Ray Gray, who turned to art amid a nearly 50-year sentence he maintains was wrongful, is the featured artist at The Congregation. You can meet him at this reception.

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BLACK x Sharp Pens Poetry Showcase
When: Feb. 10 from 6:30-9 p.m.
Where: The Carr Center gallery at the Park Shelton
What: A poetry show in an art gallery
Who: Poetry and art lovers
Why: See the Carr Center’s current Black History Month art gallery, plus support local poetry group Sharp Pens.
Google Maps

BLACK x Sharp Pens Poetry Showcase

When: Feb. 10 from 6:30-9 p.m.
Where: The Carr Center gallery at the Park Shelton
What: A poetry show in an art gallery
Who: Poetry and art lovers
Why: See the Carr Center’s current Black History Month art gallery, plus support local poetry group Sharp Pens.

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Stripped: Brandon Altman Solo Exhibition Opening Reception
When: Feb. 10 from 6-9 p.m.
Where: Playground Detroit
What: An art exhibition
Who: Brandon Altman
Why: The art explores the concept of fragmentation leading to wholeness using painting, collage, and vintage source images from the late 1960s and early 1970s.

Stripped: Brandon Altman Solo Exhibition Opening Reception

When: Feb. 10 from 6-9 p.m.
Where: Playground Detroit
What: An art exhibition
Who: Brandon Altman
Why: The art explores the concept of fragmentation leading to wholeness using painting, collage, and vintage source images from the late 1960s and early 1970s.

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Art on the Riverfront
When: Feb. 10 from 6-9 p.m.
Where: Brix Wine
What: An art show
Who: Over 15 local artists curated by Geno Harris
Why: Support Detroit artists.
Instagram, @onegsirrah

Art on the Riverfront

When: Feb. 10 from 6-9 p.m.
Where: Brix Wine
What: An art show
Who: Over 15 local artists curated by Geno Harris
Why: Support Detroit artists.

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Ampersand Book Club: Dilla Time
When: Feb. 10 at 7 p.m.
Where: 27th Letter Books
What: A book club
Who: Anyone who has read Dilla Time
Why: Discuss the life and legacy of J Dilla and what you learned from Dilla Time, at this local bookstore’s monthly book club.

Ampersand Book Club: Dilla Time

When: Feb. 10 at 7 p.m.
Where: 27th Letter Books
What: A book club
Who: Anyone who has read Dilla Time
Why: Discuss the life and legacy of J Dilla and what you learned from Dilla Time, at this local bookstore’s monthly book club.

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Kawaii Land
When: Feb. 10 from 8 p.m.-midnight
Where: Trumbullplex
What: Music, fashion, food, and more
Who: Local artsy folks
Why: It sounds cool. It’s queer-friendly. There will be alternative rap and R&B music. Plus, you get to support a community organization while having fun.

Kawaii Land

When: Feb. 10 from 8 p.m.-midnight
Where: Trumbullplex
What: Music, fashion, food, and more
Who: Local artsy folks
Why: It sounds cool. It’s queer-friendly. There will be alternative rap and R&B music. Plus, you get to support a community organization while having fun.

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A Real Arab Blueprint
When: Feb. 10 from 8 p.m.-2 a.m.
Where: Spot Lite
What: An Arab dance night
Who: You and your friends
Why: Get lit to Arabic music. A portion of the proceeds benefit the Palestinian Children’s Relief Fund.
Viola Klocko

A Real Arab Blueprint

When: Feb. 10 from 8 p.m.-2 a.m.
Where: Spot Lite
What: An Arab dance night
Who: You and your friends
Why: Get lit to Arabic music. A portion of the proceeds benefit the Palestinian Children’s Relief Fund.

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BUDS: an Open Decks showcase
When: Feb. 10 from 9 p.m.-2 a.m.
Where: Paramita Sound
What: DJ sets
Who: Sc-Fi Deluxx, Sometimes Sound, and “SHAUNIE”
Why: Hear some new sounds spun by local DJs.
Instagram, Paramita

BUDS: an Open Decks showcase

When: Feb. 10 from 9 p.m.-2 a.m.
Where: Paramita Sound
What: DJ sets
Who: Sc-Fi Deluxx, Sometimes Sound, and “SHAUNIE”
Why: Hear some new sounds spun by local DJs.

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