What's Going On: 11 ways to escape boredom in metro Detroit this week

Thursday, June 2 - Greektown at Sundown kickoff @ Greektown - Greektown is home to bars like the Old Shillelagh, Delux, Exodos, and Firebird Tavern, plus restaurants like Santorini, Five Guys, Fishbones, and the Golden Fleece. Oh, and we can’t forget about that casino. Celebrate the vibrant Greektown neighborhood and the beautiful summer season during this series that runs until Sept. 2. Every Friday, Saturday, and Sunday evening, Monroe Street between Beaubien and St. Antoine will be bustling with live entertainment, alfresco dining, activities, hands-on art, music, and more. Runs from 5 p.m. to 2 a.m. Thursday-Sunday from June 2 until September 6; free.

Thur-Sun, 5/2-5 - 26th Annual House and Garden Show @ Pewabic Pottery - Spring has sprung, friends, and it already feels like the dog days of summer. Pewabic Pottery is getting into the swing of Michigan’s warm season by holding its annual House and Garden show this weekend. The whole thing starts with a preview fundraiser on Thursday night, which grants patrons an exclusive look at Pewabic’s newest ceramics, plus live entertainment, appetizers, and drinks. Friday through Sunday the house will be open for tours and drop-in workshops. Plus, there will be a biergarten! The preview party runs from 6:30 to 9 p.m. and tickets are $75. The garden party runs from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Friday and Saturday and noon to 4 p.m. on Sunday; 10125 E. Jefferson Ave., Detroit; 313-626-2002; pewabic.org.

Fri-Sun, 5/3-5 - Riverdance @ Fox Theatre - Riverdance — you know, that Irish dancing phenomenon with the fancy footwork — is celebrating its 20th year. The show hasn’t toured the U.S. in four years, meaning we’re pretty lucky to be one of the stops on this year’s circuit, which boasts new costumes, new lighting, and new projections. Is this Riverdance on steroids? Could be, there’s only one way to find out. Showtimes vary; 2211 Woodward Ave., Detroit; olympiaentertainment.com; tickets are $25-$75.

Saturday, 5/4 - 12th annual Pleasant Ridge Home and Garden Tour @ Pleasant Ridge - Pleasant Ridge is this itty-bitty town that barely takes up half a square mile next to Ferndale. The town has about 2,500 residents, if that gives you a better idea of just how small this city is. What it lacks in size, however, it makes up for in beautiful homes. And many of those beautiful homes are historic. This tour will take guests through eight of those beautiful homes, giving both residents and visitors an insiders’ view as well as a renewed appreciation for custom architectural details and a fresh perspective on imagining interior design possibilities. Runs from 10 a.m.-4 p.m.; 248-541-2901; cityofpleasantridge.org; tickets are $15 in advance and $20 the day of the tour.

Saturday, June 4 - Peacefest @ L.A. Cafe - When an event’s big draw is being a mecca for weirdos, we’re in. And that’s exactly what the poster for Peacefest promises. There will also be 100 local artists, 12 bands, and lots of fun at this outdoor art festival. This year’s featured artist is Mark Arminski, who has made quite a name for himself in the local art scene. There will also be a beer tent and paddleboarding, because what goes better with art than beer and paddleboarding? Runs from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.; 5815 Dixie Hwy, Waterford; 248-623-1648; entry is free.

Saturday, June 4 - Cocktail Confidential @ Royal Oak Farmers Market - Every time we think the craft cocktail craze is going to die down it … doesn’t. This event celebrates our love of strong, well-made cocktails and brings a slew of them to one place as well as the talented mixologists who make them. That makes it easy for you taste classic cocktails as well as new flavors, innovative drinks, and unique recipes. It also makes it easy to get plastered. General admission entry comes with a keepsake glass, a photo from the photobooth, and 10 samples. VIP entry comes with all the same stuff plus early entry and five more samples. Runs from 6:30-11 p.m.; 316 E. 11 Mile Rd., Royal Oak; 248-543-1000; cocktailconfidential.detroitsocialevents.com; tickets are $30 for general admission or $45 for VIP.

Sat-Sun, 5/4-5 - Art on the Grand @ Downtown Farmington - Yet another one of the delicious summer art fairs that take place every summer in every city in Michigan, the Art on the Grand is Farmington Hills’ grand art show on Grand River. There will be sidewalk shopping, hands-on art for kids, alfresco dining, and 100 artists showcasing (and selling!) their works in every medium imaginable. Think: painting, pottery, jewelry, metal, sculpture, mixed media, photography, glass, and more. Runs 10 a.m.-7 p.m. Saturday and 11 a.m.-5 p.m. on Sunday; downtownfarmington.org; free entry. Photo via Facebook.

Saturday, June 4 - St. Albertus Summer Art and Beer Garden at the Rectory @ St. Albertus Church - If you’ve always dreamed of drinking inside a historic rectory inside a Polish Catholic church established in 1872, you’re weird, and here’s your chance. This special event is being put on by Fuzzy Tripod Art and will feature art and beer (duh) plus live music by local musicians. The beer will be from Atwater Brewery and Motor City Brewing Works. Srodek’s Campau Quality Sausage Co. will provide food. Art will be by Moosey Moose Art, Happy Hookers Detroit, Dave Messy Art, Drift Wood Productions, and others. There will be music will be by the People Movers, Darrin James and Friends, and DJ Kyle Cole. There will also be a fire performance (ooooh) by Stephanie Latham. Runs from noon to midnight; 4231 St. Aubin, Detroit; 586-945-7282; tickets are $5 at the door.

Sunday, June 5 - Finders Keepers Vintage Market @ Woodhaven Civic Center Park - If you missed the Vintage Market at Elizabeth Park, here’s your shot at redemption. This outdoor market will feature all the chippy paint, upcycle furniture, vintage decor, homemade jewelry, clothing, and rustic finds you can handle. It’s going to be like your Pinterest page just came to life. Runs from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.; 23101 Hall Rd., Trenton; finderskeepersvintagemarket.com; entry is free. Photo via Facebook.

Tuesday, June 7 - Chicken Shack 60th Anniversary @ All 20 Chicken Shack locations - Iola and John Sobeck opened the first Chicken Shack in Royal Oak in 1956, which means the restaurant chain is now celebrating its 60th birthday. What does that mean for you? Well, to commemorate this occasion, they’re offering patrons a very special offer. On Tuesday, June 7 from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. they’ll be offering a broasted chicken dinner (a breast, wing, leg, thigh, and shack potatoes) for the original price of $1.45. Special runs from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. at all 20 locations; check chickenshack.com for more info.

Wednesday, June 8 - Good Rainbow Genes @ Scarab Club second floor gallery - Between the Lines columnist and Metro Times contributor Charles Alexander has exhibited his art at Detroit Institute of Arts, the Birmingham/Bloomfield Art Gallery, the Detroit Artists Market, the Hatch Gallery, and the Affirmations LGBT Art Gallery. His work has been seen on the cover of this paper and in the Detroit Free Press, The Detroit News, Ann Arbor Press, A&U, and Detroiter magazines. Now his work is being put on display at the Scarab Club for a special LGBT pride month display. The exhibit opens on June 8, but there will be a meet-the-artist reception with refreshments will be held in July. Gallery open from noon to 5 p.m. Wednesday through Sunday; 217 Farnsworth St., Detroit; 313-831-1250; scarabclub.org.