Cover Story
Detroit’s dank gourmet
With Michigan making medical marijuana legal in 2008, the dispensary industry is still in its early stages. The some 150 establishments in the city of Detroit can mostly be found on Eight Mile Road, as well as Gratiot Avenue on the city’s east side. Many of them are marked by no more than a green…
Updated: ‘Plagiarism’ controversy a sign of a larger problem at the Free Press
Is the controversy surrounding Free Press reporter Drew Sharp par for the course at the paper?
Caught on camera: Marcus Market clerk puts the smack down on would-be laptop thief
#Detroit #knockout at Marcus Market.
Detroit is suddenly a ‘food mecca’: Washington Post
Swap out “culinary oasis” for “food mecca” and you have a whole new story, right?
Mark your calendars: First Third Man Books event in Detroit next Thurs., Jan. 14
We’re extra stoked about this varied and fun event. We’ll be writing a proper preview of it in next week’s paper, but for now just wanted to be sure you had the info, so yes this is just a cut and paste direct from Third Man. We’re particularly excited about the readings by Jen Nelson,…
Watch Rachel Maddow push the Flint issue further
Rachel Maddow is officially on the Flint beat.
Is local emcee Elzhi getting sued for not delivering a crowdsourced album in time?
Dear fellow backers: I’m preparing a class action lawsuit against Jason Powers aka Elzhi for failure to deliver the album we funded, rewards and failure to refund,” wrote a fan who contributed to his Kickstarter.
Former Gov. William Milliken calls for Line 5 to be decommissioned
Milliken says he doubts the construction of Line 5 would be approved under today’s standards, as the Great Lakes are too precious of a resource.
What are your predictions for Detroit in 2016?
Speramus Meliora, Resurget Cineribus.
From ‘yebra’ to Yep Roc: Detroit’s Slim Gaillard turns 100
Did a Middle Eastern dish in Detroit inspire Yep Roc Records?
Bon Bon Bon’s Alexandra Clark makes Forbes’ ’30 Under 30′ list
Bon Bon Bons are taking over the world.
The Hateful Eight is now showing at Cinema Detroit and that’s kind of a big deal
You can watch a first-run film in the city now, duh.
Former Macomb County PR flack charged with child porn possession
Philip William Frame, 61, a former spokesman for Macomb County, the Detroit International Bridge Company and the Cobo Center, was arraigned Monday afternoon on charges related to child pornography.
Bob Ficano finds new gig on AM dial
We don’t have high hopes for this show. Here’s why.
Judge dismisses Quicken Loans lawsuit against DOJ
Last week a federal judge tossed a lawsuit filed by Dan Gilbert’s Quicken Loans against the Department of Justice. The recently-dismissed suit was filed last April days before the DOJ sued Quicken Loans for allegedly “improperly originating and underwriting mortgages insured by the Federal Housing Administration.” A week before the DOJ’s suit Quicken proactively filed…
Hamtramck’s new city council ready to be seated
Too bad all the people screaming about “sharia law” didn’t see the dignity and peacefulness of this inauguration.
Updated: you have one month to create an original video for NPR’s Tiny Desk Contest
Dan Auerbach, Son Little and the Lucius ladies involved as judges. The submission window opens on Jan. 12, and your submission should be an original video prepared just for the contest.
Event preview: Short ‘Afrofuturist’ films at DIA this Thurs., Jan. 7
This looks incredibly good: A selection of short films as part of the DIA’s Afrofuturism film series, which itself is connected to the excellent ’30 Americans’ show, which is still up for another two weeks. It’s the final program in the series.
‘Orbit’ anthology makes Library of Michigan’s 2016 Notable Books list
The MNB list features books published the previous year, which are about Michigan or written by a Michigan author.
Dave Mancini’s La Rondinella announces new opening date
I’m working up an appetite just thinking about this place.
Entering 2016 with a bang!
Listen to the guns of Brightmoor erupt for 30 ear-shattering seconds at midnight.
TRAVEL ADVISORY: Getting ready for that NYE party? Let this lawfirm pick up your designated driver tab
You’re getting ready to ring in the New Year. Get that designated driver situation locked in.
Here are the lyrics to ‘Auld Lang Syne,’ because we know you don’t really know them
The lyrics to “Auld Lang Syne,” with a little help from Dan Gilbert.
Happy New Year! Here are five different versions of Tyvek’s “Mary Ellen Claims,” by Tyvek
I could listen to this early gem by Tyvek —one of Michigan’s finest musical ensembles of all time— “Mary Ellen Claims,” far more than five times in a row, myself.
The Detroit News says Emergency Managers work
WTF Detroit News editorial team!
WHAT’S FOR LUNCH: Rubbed’s updated lunch menu features lower prices, fewer sandwich offerings ahead of dinner expansion
Make a resolution next time you’re on lunch break to add Rubbed’s lower-priced lunch menu to your rotation.
Two Detroit chefs square off on next season of Gordon Ramsay’s Hell’s Kitchen
Two Detroit-area chefs are facing off with Gordon Ramsay in Hell’s Kitchen’s 15th season.
Five questions for Detroit emcee Nametag Alexander
“I decided to add my government name, Alexander, as part of my stage name to represent growth— and because I think it looks dope.”
Video: Aretha Franklin brings down the house
One of the finest artists “Made in Detroit.”
MDEQ spokesperson Brad Wurfel resigns too
The two resignations comes on the heels of a Snyder-appointed Flint Water Advisory Task Force’s findings that DEQ was “primarily responsible for failing to ensure safe drinking water in Flint.”
Advocates say Dan Wyant’s resignation from MDEQ isn’t enough
““I’m glad that someone is sorry and someone is being held accountable but Dan Wyant would not be at the top of my list — or even on the list.”
The Dirty Show seeking entries for inaugural film festival
The Dirty Show has expanded to include a film festival, and has just put out a call for entries.
ICYMI: Jett Plastic released ‘Bantam Rooster with Ko’ 7″ last month
Garage heads, rejoice: This excellent 7″ record, which was originally set to be released on Italy Records 15 years ago, was finally issued by Jett Plastic last month. It’s propulsive, fun, and an essential release for Detroit rock and roll fans.
Our list of the top 15 albums by Detroit artists
First off, there are a ton of great records not on this list, from the sleek and fantastic sounds on Charles Manier’s American Manier to the thrillingly updated Americana noir of the Whiskey Charmers’ debut. Additionally, a slew of cool releases (among them Duane the Brand New Dog’s CD-R, Shigeto’s Intermission, and Jamaican Queens’ Bored…
The year in hip-hop
We asked our favorite Detroit hip-hop scribe for his top local tracks from the year. Each of these is easily heard via Soundcloud, Bandcamp, and YouTube. Happy listening! 1. MAHD “Got Damn” The lyrical tale of how a love interest can turn into baby mamma drama is super relatable for many people. 2. Supa Emcee…
Stir it up: No one is to blame for Flint but Snyder
I knocked on Mulenga Harangua’s door early one day between Christmas and New Year’s Day. I was doing a little post-holiday shopping and thought I’d get a couple of those “Detroit, comme ça” T-shirts he was selling. He was slow getting to the door and I banged on it a second time. “Hold on a…
Politics and Prejudices: Farewell to a low, dishonest year
Well, politically, this has been a fairly disastrous year in terms of democracy in Michigan. This may well be the worst and most undemocratic legislature we’ve ever had. And that’s saying something. In the final weeks of the session the Republican leadership rammed through bills designed to give their party even more of an unfair…
Savage Love: Other dicks, other doms
Q: I am a 30-year-old straight man and I’ve been with a 28-year-old bisexual woman for a year. Early in our relationship, after much discussion, we established that it would be open. I would have the liberty to see other women and so would she. We just had to be safe and always keep each…
2015 was a pivotal year in Detroit’s art scene
The arts scene in Detroit has hit a turning point. For decades, the city seemed stuck with a reputation of being a post-industrial cultural wasteland. But in recent years, Detroit seems to have achieved a certain hip factor in the art world at large. Of course, the Motor City wasn’t actually a cultural wasteland. In…
Drink Up
Not Your Father’s Ginger Ale 5.9% ABV If you’re any kind of connoisseur of craft beer, you’ve heard of Not Your Father’s Root Beer. The alcoholic sassparilla caused quite a sensation over the summer and folks clamored to grab highly coveted six packs when the botanical beer became available in liquor stores and supermarkets. Small…
Weekly reader responses
Water warriors We received a number of comments on a recent news story by Curt Guyette regarding a group of activists who resorted to civil disobedience in an attempt to draw attention to Detroit’s water shut-off crisis (“Judge calls Detroit’s prosecution of water shut-off protesters a ‘disaster,'” Dec. 23). Reader “dmarde0441” said: Just pay the…
Horoscopes (Dec. 30-Jan. 5)
ARIES (March 21-April 20): You can’t wait for things to move one way or another. As the force of fate waves its hand over your reality, you have everything invested in a situation that is about to meet its climax. At times like this there is not a whole lot one can do. It’s like…
Greensky Bluegrass keeps a sound alive
It wasn’t that long ago that Paul Hoffman was gigging with a few tents in the back of the van. Tight budgets and small checks from booking agents forced his band, Greensky Bluegrass, to camp when they toured. “We’d get to a venue, maybe they would be good enough to give us dinner, then we’d…
Retail Detail: Downtown deli offers more than just meat
These days new businesses are popping up weekly in Detroit. Expensive watch shops, leather goods stores, custom suit tailors, dentists, you name it. And while that’s all fine and good, it’s important to remember that some shops have been thriving in downtown for years. City Market has been operating in downtown Detroit, near Saint Andrew’s…
