DDays: Detroit gets lit up, we almost get kicked out of the Detroit Athletic Club, and a gay bar closes for good

MT editor Valerie Vande Panne attended the Jewish Community Relations Council's annual luncheon for Detroit media at the Detroit Athletic Club last week, wearing jeans. We note they were nice, stylish jeans, but according to the DAC's dress code, totally against the rules. Despite numerous attempts to get Vande Panne to change into polyester slacks (provided by DAC and meant for a lady a size or two larger and 20 years older) or leave the premises, she was able to stay and listen to the speaker, Rebecca Shimoni-Stoil, the Washington correspondent for The Times of Israel. Also in attendance were The Detroit News' Nolan Finley and James Dickson, WDIV's Devin Scillian, and Fox 2's Huel Perkins, among dozens of other local media luminaries. The salmon, Vande Panne says, was delicious.

DDays, along with thousands of other metro Detroiters, braved the cold, cold night last Friday to watch as the city's Christmas tree was illuminated with 19,000 sparkling multi-colored lights and glistening (and might we add enormous) festive bulbs. American Idol runner up Jena Irene performed, along with Olympic gold medalist skater Ekaterina Gordeeva. We sipped spiked hot chocolate, watched ice skating performances by locals, and generally battled the enormous crowd. We even caught a sneak peek of the guest of honor, Old Saint Nick.

Detroit gay bar the R&R Saloon abruptly closed this weekend. The news came to us last Thursday night from a Facebook post by Michael Trombley, who was supposed to DJ there as part of Macho City on Saturday, Nov. 29. Last Saturday, Nov. 22, was the bar's last night open.

The bar has been fraught with problems ever since owner Ruby Niphoratos died last April. Apparently, Ruby was behind on her taxes and her sons Billy and Eddie were unable to sort things out, with the bar losing its liquor license and advising patrons to BYOB this month. (Phone calls to R&R Saloon Thursday night went unanswered.)

Trombley says within minutes of learning the news, Menjo's management called to offer to host Macho City (see our interview with Trombley in this week's music section). The time and date remains the same — 10 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 29 — but it will now be held at Menjo's, located at 928 W. McNichols Rd., Detroit. According to Trombley, Macho City will resume as a monthly DJ night after Nov. 29 at the newly renovated Olympus Hall nearby, which is also owned by Menjo's.

Earlier, DDays reported that Kid Rock cut a check for $20,000 to author Rob St. Mary to help realize his planned Orbit magazine anthology, to be released on Wayne State University Press next fall. St. Mary had set up a crowdfunding campaign to raise money for the project with various prizes for different donation levels, including Niagara's 1994 painting "Hot Box #1" for someone with an extra $20,000 burning a hole in his or her pocket. Suffice it to say, Kid Rock is now the proud owner of a Niagara original.

Apparently, Rock was so enamored of his new painting that he decided to use it as the cover art for his new album, First Kiss, slated for a Feb. 24 release. The image, which features Niagara's signature lips and cigarette, has also been emblazoned on his backing band's bass drum, as photos posted on the Facebook page for Tennessee diner Snow White Drive In indicate. According to the diner's page, Kid Rock filmed his new music video there on Nov. 15.

According to Rick Manore (publicist for Niagara, among many other titles), the painting was "inspired by Ron Asheton, who would always say to Niagara, 'Don't hotbox that cigarette' on cig-sharing etiquette."

DDays wishes the happiest birthday to Jody Haddad. For all those who wish to celebrate with him, a special party will take place at V Nightclub on Saturday, Nov. 29 at 10 p.m. — mt

Got some gossip? Send DDays the word on the street to [email protected].