Cover Story
A closer look at compulsive shoplifters
In a Beverly Hills coffee shop, Terry Shulman is pouring his heart out about his life-changing battle with a dangerous compulsion. The topic is very difficult to discuss. It haunted him in his youth, and set him on a course to establish a practice to help with those who suffer from it. Even his closest…
The internet has no mercy for Bird-scootin’ Bill Schuette
The sun was out, the birds were chirping, and if you were lucky, you might have seen Bill Schuette scooting around Detroit this weekend. The Republican candidate for governor took to Twitter Sunday night to give a nice little plug for Detroit’s latest fad – Bird scooters. In the video, Schuette urges Detroit visitors to…
Planthropie to host tasting takeover at Detroit’s Willis Show Bar
Willis Show Bar is the new bar on the block — the upscale cabaret and cocktail bar has been recently revived and restored, continuing its legacy as a hotspot jazz club. For the Planthropie Tasting Takeover event, the plant-based couture small plates catering company will offer up a five-course small plate tasting (all vegan) and…
Where are you from? For some Detroiters, it’s hard to explain
The names are wrong, the boundaries are incorrect, or in the case of some of the city’s neighborhoods, there are no names at all. Earlier this month, the New York Times published an expose on Google Map’s mysterious practices of renaming neighborhoods in cities across the United States — to the bewilderment of the people…
Bad Reputation — the new Taylor Swift will slither through Detroit
Old Taylor can’t come to the stage right now because, well, she’s dead you guys, and new Tay-Tay is out for “Bad Blood.” At least this is what pop music’s number one heartbreaker (and seemingly eternally heartbroken) Taylor Swift claims on her latest record, Reputation, making her the reigning princess of bitingly self-aware revenge ballads.…
Face the strange with Detroit’s inaugural Weird Homes Tour this weekend
Beauty is in the eye of the beholder. The same can be said of the strange, offbeat, and totally weird homes of the Motor City. The inaugural Detroit Weird Homes Tour makes its debut by offering a tour to explore eight unique homes throughout the city, with homeowners standing by to show off and share…
Madonna dragged for not showing Aretha Franklin R-E-S-P-E-C-T
The Queen of Pop is getting heat for not paying enough respect for the Queen of Soul. During MTV’s Video Music Awards on Monday, Madonna honored Aretha Franklin, who died last week of pancreatic cancer, by telling a story about how she sang Franklin’s “(You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman” during an early audition. From…
Trumbullplex turns 25 and we’re all invited to celebrate
Since 1993, the T-Plex has hosted poetry slams, live music, drag shows, zine workshops, themed fundraisers, and thousands of international artists and wandering souls in addition to a revolving door of like-minded local residents. Now, the Trumbullplex is kicking off a two-day bash with Quix Women and Queers comedy night, followed by a ’90s-themed drag…
Whitmer leads Schuette in multiple Michigan gubernatorial polls
New polls suggest that Democratic candidate Gretchen Whitmer is the current frontrunner in Michigan’s race for governor. Strategic National and Gravis Marketing polled 700 and 647 likely voters, respectively, about their inclinations for or against Democratic candidate Gretchen Whitmer and Republican candidate Bill Schuette. Of the individuals polled by Strategic National, 45 percent of respondents…
A conversation with Justin Broadrick of Godflesh ahead of their Detroit performance
Godflesh, in a word, is intensity. This intensity is amplified and controlled by Justin Broadrick (guitar, vocals, programming) and G. C. Green (bass). The group coalesced in Birmingham, England in the early ‘80s, but didn’t release their first proper studio album — Streetcleaner — until 1989. It became an instant landmark of harsh, bleak, and oppressive…
It wasn’t a dream — tickets on sale for Roy Orbison Detroit hologram show
Last month, Metro Times reported that Roy Orbison, the same Roy Orbison who has been dead for nearly 30 years, would be making his grand re-entrance to the earthly stage as a fucking hologram because apparently in 2018 being dead doesn’t mean shit. Anyway, after a successful European debut earlier this year, In Dreams: Roy…
Vegetarian restaurant The Clean Plate forced to leave its location, launches GoFundMe
The future is unclear for The Clean Plate, a Shelby Township vegeterian restaurant that built up a customer base by being one of the area’s only options for healthy, plant-based cuisine. Owner Amber Poupore — who also owns Royal Oak’s Cacao Tree, consulted for GreenSpace, does vegan cooking demos at corporate events, and is a…
Bask in the eternal ‘Summer’ of lovers Jenny & Jackie
If you are a frequenter of Detroit’s karaoke scene, the unbelievable powerhouse pipes of Third Wave Music founder Jen David may sound familiar as her rendition of any number of Eminem classics to the rowdy stylings of Dolly Parton’s “9 to 5” have all been given the holy Jennyoke treatment. So, when she discovered that…
The Metro Times Best of Detroit 2018 party is this Friday
Back in April, Metro Times readers voted for the best that metro Detroit has to offer. Now, it’s time to celebrate with a night of bites from more than 20 restaurants and specialty cocktails. The evening’s festivities will be scored by headliners Rio & the Rockabilly Revival, the Beggars, and the Reefermen, and our readers’ pick…
Hamtramck’s Aladdin Sweets and Cafe catches fire
Hamtramck Bangladeshi restaurant Aladdin Sweets and Cafe caught on fire this afternoon. The fire started around 5:20 p.m., and firefighters appeared to have it contained to a vent running up the restaurant’s exterior north wall by 5:40 p.m. A commander on the scene told Metro Times that an investigation has to be conducted, but it…
This map shows all of the Detroit buildings owned by Dan Gilbert
We all know that Dan Gilbert is Detroit’s most prominent player, but did you know exactly how big? The founder of Quicken Loans and owner of the Cleveland Cavaliers has been a high-profile player in the revitalization of Detroit. His firm, Rock Ventures, includes more than 100 businesses and is the city’s largest employer, providing…
Chart-topping Travis Scott brings ‘Astroworld’ to Little Caesars Arena
Nicki Minaj might be openly pissed that rapper Travis Scott’s Astroworld beat out her anticipated album Queen for the top spot on the Billboard charts (even throwing a Twitter dagger at Scott’s wifey Kylie Jenner for using her social media superstardom to plug his record) but the numbers don’t lie — people really fucking love…
Michigan man flees police in a canoe during marijuana raid
Police in western Michigan went on an unusual chase after raiding a large-scale marijuana operation in Elmer Township. Personnel from the Sanilac Drug Task Force followed up on tips that marijuana plants were being grown in the area amongst crops, violating Michigan’s medical marijuana laws. When police arrived before noon on Aug. 9 at the 2000 block…
Brix wine bar to close, will re-open in 2019 in New Center
Brix Wine & Charcuterie Boutique’s West Village location will close at the end of the month and re-open in Detroit’s New Center area sometime in 2019. Owner Mikiah Westbrooks made the announcement Sunday evening on Facebook. Opening Brix was a real dream of mine and to be able to do it in a community that…
Supino owner is planning a pizza concept in New Center
The owner of one of Detroit’s favorite — and busiest — pizzerias will soon send pies out of a new restaurant in New Center. Supino Pizzeria owner Dave Mancini tells Metro Times that he purchased a building on the same block on which Selden Standard’s owners and Baobab Fare are planning their eateries, and it could…
Whitmer tries to pull in progressives with Gilchrist pick
As expected, Democratic gubernatorial candidate and East Lansing resident Gretchen Whitmer has tapped a black Detroiter as her running mate as she tries to shore up support among Democrats and minorities in southeast Michigan. But in selecting Garlin Gilchrist II over the better known, more popular people on her shortlist (think Wayne County Sheriff Benny…
Video shows Westland police tase father holding baby
The Westland Police Department is under fire after an officer was caught on witness video apparently tasing a father holding his baby in his arms. The incident occurred Friday when police say they came to Ray Brown’s house on a report that a man had physically assaulted a woman and damaged her vehicle. Brown, who…
Premiere: Deadbeat Beat return with double track ‘Tree, Grass & Stone’
Detroit trio Deadbeat Beat has a penchant for forcing us out of our bleak day-t0-day bullshit, with heavy doses of sunshine and painfully real self-awareness. Last year they made their contribution to the stalker pop genre with the big city, small town track “See You All The Time” (with a Baby Spice-spiced companion video) and…
Kwame and Carlita Kilpatrick have quietly divorced
Former Detroit mayor Kwame Kilpatrick and his wife Carlita have quietly divorced, according to a Facebook message posted by Kilpatrick on Wednesday. “Honestly, I loss [sic] my marriage on January 24, 2008,” Kilpatrick wrote, in reference to the day his affair with chief of staff Christine Beatty became public. “Certainly it languish and limp along…
Holy Moly donuts opens second location, new sandwich shop planned for West Village
The Holy Moly Donut Shop — partly famous for excellent doughnuts, partly known for executing a stroke of genius by opening next door to a pot shop on Eight Mile Road — has its second location up and running. It made its name with flavors like Devil’s Food Cake (“airy devil’s food cake donut topped…
Ariana Grande took to ‘The Tonight Show’ for a moving Aretha Franklin tribute
The passing of Detroit legend Aretha Franklin was felt far and wide yesterday. Last night, pop sensation Ariana Grande’s appearance on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon was originally intended to promote her new album Sweetener. However, while she was there she made sure to pay tribute to the recently departed Queen of Soul with a touching rendition…
Fox News eulogizes Aretha Franklin with a photo of Patti LaBelle
Fox News eulogized Detroit soul singer Aretha Franklin on Thursday afternoon. But there was one problem with the tribute — the brainiacs over at our favorite fair and balanced network used a photo of another black singer, Patti LaBelle, performing at the White House. Hmmm… I wonder how that happened. Making it even worse is…
Drugs killed more Michiganders than guns and traffic combined in 2017
An estimated 2,662 Michiganders died from drug overdoses in 2017, according to a new report released this week from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The figure marks an 82 percent increase over the past five years and an 8 percent jump from 2016. That means that last year, more Michigan residents died from drug…
Anyway, here’s a video of Iggy Pop eating a hamburger
For their latest video, L.A.-based band Death Valley Girls enlisted Iggy Pop to eat a hamburger. That’s it. Just four minutes of the Godfather of Punk eating a burger, set to the band’s “Disaster (Is What We’re After).” OK, that’s not all there is to it. Directed by Kansas Bowling, the video is a pretty spot-on…
Detroit Rep. Bettie Cook Scott on Asian opponent: ‘Don’t vote for the ching-chong!’
Updated at 9:50 p.m. on Thursday, Aug. 16: Rep. Bettie Cook Scott has issued an apology for her remarks. Find her statement here. Originally posted at 11:09 a.m. on Thursday, Aug. 16: More than a dozen community groups have called on Rep. Bettie Cook Scott (D-Detroit) to apologize for a series of racial slurs sources…
Michigan representative apologizes for racial slurs against Asian opponent
Rep. Bettie Cook Scott (D-Detroit) has issued an apology after hurling a series of anti-Asian slurs at her opponent, Rep. Stephanie Chang (D-Detroit), during last week’s primary election. More than a dozen community groups and the Michigan Democratic Party called on Scott to apologize after she was heard referring to Chang and her campaign volunteers…
Celebrities, presidents, take to Twitter to pay their R-E-S-P-E-C-T to Aretha Franklin
On very rare occasions, Twitter isn’t so bad. On a day where theatre marquees are displaying the image of the late icon, radio stations have switched over to wall-to-wall Aretha songs, her hits are topping the iTunes charts, and people all over the world are celebrating the remarkable life and legacy of Detroit’s Queen of Soul,…
Marchionne was investigated in scheme that reads like some Italian mob shit
The late Fiat-Chrysler CEO Sergio Marchionne was grilled by federal agents as part of an investigation into an alleged scheme to keep union bosses “fat, dumb and happy” by giving them expensive gifts, according to a new report. According to The Detroit News, Marchionne, who died in July, did not tell the FBI that he…
Taxpayers will likely cover up to $250M of Ford’s Corktown campus project
Every big Detroit development comes at a cost to the public, and Ford’s much ballyhooed plan to rehab the old Michigan Central Station is no different. The Dearborn-based automaker revealed this week that it expects its 1.2 million-square-foot Corktown campus to cost $740 million. According to The Detroit News, the company hopes to pull a…
Remember Aretha Franklin with these 10 celebrated hits
In the wake of Aretha Franklin’s passing at age 76 after a battle with pancreatic cancer, few words can be said to truly give credit to the groundbreaking contributions made by Queen of Soul. As we collectively mourn the loss of one of Detroit’s greatest cultural figures, we’ve curated a collection of some of Aretha’s…
Detroit Punk Archive Project wants your stories to document Bookie’s Club 870 scene
If you think you love Detroit music, you probably don’t. See, author and journalist Robert St. Mary really fucking loves Detroit music. With the Detroit Punk Archive Project, St. Mary hopes to spotlight the hidden history of Detroit’s music scene starting in 1979 — specifically, that of Bookie’s Club 870, which St. Mary equates as…
Author of upcoming book on Aretha Franklin celebrates her life
As Aretha Franklin’s legion of fans mourn her recently announced death, we can anticipate all sorts of career retrospectives to hit. Oldies radio stations are already airing some relatively deep cuts, and you can bet that dozens of writers from local to national publications are examining the vocalist’s career in articles, think pieces, and obituaries.…
Aretha Franklin dies surrounded by loved ones at age 76
The Queen of Soul, Aretha Franklin died Thursday evening surrounded by family and friends. The “Respect” singer had been “gravely ill” for some time, and was under hospice care after being diagnosed with pancreatic cancer, according to TMZ. The long-time Detroit resident and pop culture icon passed at the age of 76, survived by her…
Outrageous Cherry premieres new single from final album
With their unmistakable psychedelic art rock sound, filtered through folk and bubblegum pop without sacrificing the power of sick guitar solos, Outrageous Cherry is an underground Detroit music institution. We’ve been covering the band since the early days; you can even get lost in this short list (1988-2005) of records that founder Matthew Smith has…
Review: Drake and Migos filled Little Caesars Arena with hits at first of two nights
With three of the biggest acts in music performing on back-to-back days, Detroit has been at the center of pop and urban music for the last 72 hours. Detroit music fans had to expeditiously recuperate from the Carters’ visit to Ford Field on Monday in order to get ready for “The Aubrey & the Three Amigos…
‘Uncle Joe’ Biden endorses Gretchen Whitmer for Michigan governor
Former Vice President Joe Biden has endorsed Gretchen Whitmer for Michigan Governor. In a statement sent by Whitmer’s campaign Wednesday, Biden says he supports the Democratic nominee because “Michigan’s middle class families need a governor who knows how to get things done.” “Gretchen has spent her whole life getting real results for the middle class,…
Greta Van Fleet’s new video is very Greta Van Fleet
Leave it to Frankenmuth retro-rockers and recent Metro Times cover dudes Greta Van Fleet to harness the powers of cloaked wizards and a friggin’ digital aurora borealis with a touch of Urban Outfitters summer catalog for their latest video for “When The Curtain Falls.” The single, which the flower-power wielding foursome released last month, has…
Detroit Institute of Arts to screen ‘Black Panther’ for free
Whether you have yet to see Marvel’s instant classic Black Panther or you’re a comic book die-hard who has seen it, like, a billion times already, you’re in luck — the Detroit Institute of Arts will offer free screenings of the film this month. The museum will show it at 3 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 28 and Wednesday,…
This new Michigan political action committee would make Juvenile proud
There’s the Blue Cross PAC, the Duggan Leadership Fund PAC, the Protecting Auto No-Fault PAC, and now, there’s PAC That Thang Up. A political action committee with a name resembling the censored version of everyone’s favorite Juvenile song was registered last week with the state of Michigan. Not surprisingly, it’s based right here in Detroit.…
With Lisa Posthumus Lyons pick, Bill Schuette can have his cake and eat it too
After more than a week of teasing that he would pick a woman to be his running mate, Republican gubernatorial nominee Bill Schuette officially announced that he picked a woman to be his running mate. That woman is Lisa Posthumus Lyons, the Kent County clerk who served in the Michigan House of Representative and whose…
Kaku Sushi & Poke opens a Birmingham location
A new Kaku Sushi & Poke location is up and rolling in downtown Birmingham. It’s the restaurant’s second location, the first of which opened around a year ago on West Long Lake Road in Blomfield Hills. Owner Kaku Usui — who previously rolled at spots like Sharaku, Oslo, and Ronin — trades in sushi, nigiri,…
Savage Love: Secret perving
I’ve been enjoying consensual nonmonogamy for the past two years, in part thanks to your column and podcast. I have a delightful young lover, and our connection has evolved into a kind of Master/slave relationship. I “allow” her to fuck other men and women, and she delights in asking my permission and recounting the details…
Horoscopes (Aug. 15-21)
ARIES: March 21 – April 20 You’ve got irons in the fire and things are shaping up to make you believe in yourself again. The stuff that you never thought you’d get to do is all about to happen and now your head trips have you wondering if you’re going to be able to get…
Emily Rose faces the future on latest record
Emily Rose admits she’s a perfectionist. Not that everything has to be perfect, but her songs, and even more specifically the stories in her lyrics, need to feel just right — they each need to find and address a truth, or a struggle, or an ineffable urge of the soul. That struggle isn’t always resolved…
Rapper Willie Mac Jr. wants to school you
Born Jalen Crawford, Willie Mac Jr. didn’t always know he was destined to be a musician. The 26-year-old Detroit native was raised with basketball in his DNA — his two older brothers were both drafted to the NBA, and he was well on his way down that path before fate had different plans. After losing…
Will the real John Sinclair please stand up?
James Partridge — the East Coast-bred attorney and blues guitarist who relocated here, wondered aloud, “Why doesn’t Ann Arbor have a blues festival?” and then set about recreating one of America’s most legendary musical celebrations — says he had heard of John Sinclair. Of course he had. Everyone’s heard of John Sinclair. Only Partridge thought…
Motor City Muscle festival merges two top Detroit exports — muscle cars and rock music
It’s one of those ideas that’s so obvious it’s a wonder nobody thought of it before: Extend the Woodward Dream Cruise, our annual celebration of classic cars, beyond Oakland County and into, you know, the actual Motor City. The inaugural Motor City Muscle festival aims to do just that. The free, three-day festival is part…
Michigan’s future is female
“We hired a white guy once but he didn’t work out, so we haven’t hired any white guys since then.” You’re probably not going to hear this statement in the upcoming gubernatorial race, but you’re going to hear a version of it that attacks Gretchen Whitmer for being a woman… just like Jennifer Granholm. I…
Review: Detroit’s Folk is a good start
As I sat down to write this review, I decided I really needed to go back to Folk for more “research.” Didn’t I owe it to my readers to inform them how long of a wait there might be at 1:30 p.m. on a Monday? And wasn’t it 92 degrees, and didn’t Folk have air…
Will Michigan’s National Parks soon get some much needed TLC?
National parks in Michigan and around the nation could get some much needed TLC if Congress acts to provide much needed financial support. U.S. Secretary of the Interior Ryan Zinke is promoting bipartisan legislation that would address the $12 billion maintenance backlog at parks across the country, and recently attended an event with lawmakers supporting…
