Metro Detroit native Mike Posner turns 28 today
Southfield native Mike Posner turns 28 today.
Update: Kid Rock to play record-breaking 10 hometown gigs this summer
Even though we once crowned him “Boob of the Year,” we’ve got to hand it to Kid Rock for fighting the concert ticket-industrial complex. Just as he did in 2013, Rock announced a summer tour today that will feature $20 tickets.
Graffiti or mural? Detroit mulls over street art ordinances
Late last year, city officials issued thousands of dollars worth of fines before admitting they couldn’t tell the difference between vandalism and authorized artwork (they eventually dismissed the fines). To correct this, Councilmember Raquel Castañeda-López says the city is working on the seemingly Herculean task of creating a registry for all Detroit’s existing street art.
Charlie LeDuff will now contribute regularly to Vice
[image-1] Charlie LeDuff, the former New York Times and Detroit News reporter that every passerby on the streets of Detroit says “hi” to, will now regularly contribute to Vice News, the outlet’s editor-in-chief said Tuesday. LeDuff, a charismatic and boisterous dude who cuts powerful segments for his national Fox show “The Americans,” filed his first…
Hangover cures for Paczki Day
Hangover cures for those with the morning pain.
Guardian readers weigh in on images of Detroit
Camilo José Vergara’s photos are more accessible than ever, and prompting more commentary about our fair city.
Owner of downtown Detroit’s Roasting Plant sues parent company over $2 million in loans
The owner of Roasting Plant in downtown Detroit has sued the coffee shop’s parent company and its president, seeking repayment of nearly $2 million in loans. Elizabeth Rose, operator of the Roasting Plant location in Campus Martius, filed suit in U.S. District Court on Feb. 3 for repayment of a series of loans made between…
Help redesign the Pontiac Silverdome, win cash
The folks over at Triple Investment Group are seeking the public’s help in redesigning the Pontiac Silverdome, which has sat dormant and shuttered in Detroit’s northern suburb for years. The gist of the Silverdome International Design Competition is this: Architects, planners, engineers, or anyone who knows a thing or two about building design can submit a…
Competitive eating champ Matt Holowicki wins the paczki-eating contest
After winning the paczki-eating contest eight years in a row, Matt Holowicki retires.
‘Simpsons’ founding writer Al Jean weighs in on the Homer coma theory
‘Simpsons’ founding writer and metro Detroit native Al Jean weighs in on a recent fan theory.
For no reason at all, let’s listen to “Canada” by the band Low
I awoke with this song in my head, and it took me half an hour to remember the name of the song. It’s not Low’s best song by any means, but it is one of their sweetest, relatively fast songs. The repeated refrain that “you can’t take that stuff to Canada” might come from being…
Starting Paczki Day with sausage in Hamtramck
Fortify thyself, because the jezynowka is really going to pour today.
Hamtramck Music Festival announces 2015 lineup
Hamtramck Music Festival announced its 2015 lineup.
Lake Erie is almost completely frozen over
It’s been really freaking cold lately, and as a result 94 percent of Lake Erie is covered in ice— that’s the highest percentage among all of the Great Lakes and the second highest since 1996 when we were completely frozen over. Compared to last winter’s unforgiving polar vortex, though, this season’s been fairly mild; that…
Batch Brewing will be closed until at least Thursday, thanks to frigid temps
Batch Brewing is down for the count, thanks to chilly temps.
Culture Trip calls Southfield a “new foodie hot spot for those in the know”
Culture Trip just named Southfield the new foodie hot spot in metro Detroit.
Duggan appoints new planning director for Detroit
Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan announced on Monday he has appointed Maurice Cox, associate dean for community engagement at Tulane University’s School of Architecture, as Detroit’s planning director — and his chief focus will be on revitalizing the city’s neighborhoods. Cox, a native of New York City, received his bachelor’s degree in architecture from the Cooper…
Hey Ronnie! A few Reagan-era songs to honor the great and noble President
Before you head out to purchase a new mattress, or try to mail a package only to discover the P.O. is closed (Presidents Day!), why not celebrate the legacy of our most beloved modern president, a certain Ronald Reagan? Life in the first Reagan-Bush era might have been tough, especially if you were not a…
A Westland man has been arrested after repeatedly viewing child pornography at local public libraries
52-year-old Dean Morrow is behind bars after he was picked up for allegedly viewing and printing child pornography at the Westland Public Library earlier this month. Apparently, a group of teenagers caught him in the act and alerted library employees who, in turn, notified police. A search of his home yielded hundreds of items associated…
Detroit native Philip Levine, former U.S. poet laureate, dies at 87
Philip Levine, a former United States poet laureate and Detroit native whose work encapsulated the life of blue-collar, manual labor work, died this weekend at his home in Fresno, Calif. He was 87. Poet Christopher Buckley, a longtime friend of Levine, told the New York Times the cause was pancreatic cancer. Levine served as poet laureate…
Here’s the new Sufjan Stevens single, “No Shade in the Shadow of the Cross”
Sufjan Stevens’ new album, ‘Carrie & Lowell,’ drops March 31. Its first single is “No Shade in the Shadow of the Cross,” which you can listen to right here.
Get these paczki from Sister Pie this Fat Tuesday
Sister Pie is offering special paczki this Fat Tuesday.
Jack White directly addresses Guacamole-gate, in lengthy and non-diva-like email
Just as we were sitting down to a meal which included no avocado-based foods, we received this missive over the wires from the PR company for Jack White. We felt compelled to share it with you, in full. In it, Mr. White spills the beans (HAH) about this ridiculous non-story. So glad it was a…
Help needed in archiving the music of Cranbrook alum & noted sculptor Harry Bertoia
Here’s a Kickstarter that might be worth your time: Fancypants record label Important is seeking funds to help archive the complete sound recordings made by Cass Technical and Cranbrook alum Harry Bertoia (1915-78). You might know Bertoia’s work because of his mid-century modern “diamond chair.” If you’re a record nerd, you might already own some…
Flint’s Halo Burger lands on list of nation’s ‘best drunk foods’
Flint-based Halo Burger has gradually expanded into Metro Detroit in recent years, which is excellent news for those occasionally in need of a greasy meal to stave off a nasty booze-driven stomachache: If you want to take Thrillist’s word for it, Halo’s beefy double cheeseburger is one of the “best drunk foods” in the nation.…
Get ready for President’s Day with this toe-tapping disco “song poem” about Jimmy Carter
President’s Day is Monday. It’s not that much of a holiday; banks and the post office are closed but who else gets the day off? I have to work; you do too, I’m guessing? In observance of the day, I’ll do a couple posts about songs honoring a few of those guys, and this is…
Don’t forget to catch His Name Is Alive’s 25th anniversary show tomorrow night
This week, we posted our lengthy interview with Warren Defever regarding his reluctant celebration of the 25th anniversary of his musical project His Name Is Alive. They play tomorrow, Saturday, February 14. Doors at 8 p.m., and the show is at the Magic Stick, 4120 Woodward Ave., Detroit; 313-833-9700; majesticdetroit.com; $15. The following interview bit, which…
Show off your your inner ‘Frida-nesse’ at the DIA’s new opening
Next month, the DIA will unveil its long-planned exhibition based on the time the Mexican artists Diego Rivera and Frida Kahlo spent in Detroit. The exhibition looks at photos, anecdotes, and the artwork the two created over the course of April 1932 to March 1933. While Rivera spent his time painting his famous “Detroit Industry” murals and…
The psychology of metro Detroit competitive eating
Competitive eating challenges abound in metro Detroit.
You better get Afro-Harping this frigid weekend
Whether you plan to cuddle with another warm body or just hang by yourself this incredibly cold weekend, we’ve got the ideal soundtrack for you right here: Detroit’s harp-playing jazzist Dorothy Ashby. Ashby was the original genius of the harp in jazz , paving the way for the also-Detroit-born Alice Coltrane. We’re particularly enamored with…
Run a 5K— Get free paczki and beer
In the winter, we tend to do as little physical activity as possible, preferring to wait out the cold, dark days curled up on the couch, binge-watching episodes of the Walking Dead and eating leftover pizza, but this weekend’s Tour de Troit Paczki Run has invigorated us with new life, or at least enough energy to…
Telephone scam hitting Detroit residents
The City of Detroit is warning telephone scam targeting residents. The city says some residents have received calls from individuals who say they work for Detroit, according to a press release. “The caller asks that you allow them into your home to give you an estimate on flooring, roofing repair, and other possible home repairs,”…
Shop this market tonight to get something unique for your valentine
Vlntnsdaymrkt will open at 5 p.m. tonight at Eight & Sand.
Tyree Guyton to speak at U-M
Next week, artist Tyree Guyton will make his first major public appearance since the Heidelberg Project arsons started with a lecture at the University of Michigan-Ann Arbor.
Random Acts of Kindness Day is Tuesday, which is also Paczki Day
Do something nice
Wind chills in metro Detroit could bottom out at -30 this weekend
Keep close to your significant others this Valentine’s Day: Subzero temperatures, wind chills as low as -30, and an additional inch of snow could drop across metro Detroit this weekend, according to the National Weather Service. A windchill advisory is in effect across Wayne, Oakland, and Macomb counties this evening, with low temperatures dropping below…
Study: Michigan needs more college graduates in the workforce by 2020
The cost of paying for a college degree has reached insane proportions, but according to a study released this week, by 2020, roughly 70 percent of available jobs in Michigan will require an education beyond a high school diploma. The report from Business Leaders for Michigan says 34 percent of the state’s residents currently have…
A talk with Jeffrey Ross, the ‘Roastmaster General’
We caught up with “Roastmaster General” Jeffrey Ross, in town for a gig at Andiamo as he prepares to roast Justin Bieber.
Green Dot Stables is serving up veal heart this Valentine’s Day
Detroit’s Green Dot Stables is widely known across the region for its rotating selection of “mystery meats,” served hot ‘n fresh each week from its West Lafayette Boulevard headquarters. But this week, the eatery is offering up something a little more, er, festive, in honor of Valentine’s Day: heart. Veal heart, to be exact, with…
All Dolled Up: For Armageddon Beachparty, this is ‘business casual’
Detroit street fashion.
A sneak peek at Brew Detroit, which opens tonight
Brew Detroit’s tasting room to open later today.
Your super motivational song for the week is “He’s Frank” by the Monochrome Set
Today the song I can barely get out of my head is called “He’s Frank,” by the Monochrome Set, a shuffling, rhythm guitar-driven midtempo song from 1979, by a group whose sound has always been eclectic and hence fairly tough to characterize. I’m not even going to look up the facts to see if I’m…
University of Michigan study finds people holding beer look less intelligent
A new study released by the University of Michigan and the University of Pennsylvania claims that just holding a beer in hand can make you seem less intelligent, and less hireble. Via Science Direct: Across five studies, we find that in the absence of any evidence of reduced cognitive performance, people who hold an…
The best part of having your car broken into in Detroit is the way people help out
Jackson resident had his car window smashed in and property stolen, but loves Detroit and will be back.
Deceased Detroit narcotics cop reportedly tied to FBI probe is named in pot lawsuit
A Detroit police officer who committed suicide last month while he was reportedly being investigated for corruption is named in a civil lawsuit filed Wednesday that alleges he — and several other officers — unlawfully seized marijuana plants from a Warren grower. Timothy and Hatema Davis, of Warren, say members of the Detroit Police Department’s…
A new website for Faygo
Faygo has updated its website. And it’s kinda cool.
Please join me in tripping over these snapshots of the Who playing at Southfield High in 1967
In 1967, the Who were at the height of their powers. By 1969, they’d start to slide towards the moldy morass of rock operas and super serious anthems. But in ’67 and ’68? They were without doubt one of the most amazing pop groups in the world. The Who Sell Out might be the best…
10 Michigan sites have been added to the National Register of Historic Places
The Michigan State Historic Preservation Office said on Wednesday that 10 sites from across the state have been added to the National Register of Historic Places, an official list of historic places in the U.S. deemed worthy of preservation. “Preserving Michigan’s historic resources enriches communities by protecting tangible connections to our past,” said Wayne Workman,…
Ford pulled an awesome Valentine’s Day prank and captured it all on video
You may have already seen this hilarious V-Day prank that Ford Motor Company pulled as it’s been floating around cyberspace for a few days now; but then you’d also know that the video absolutely merits a second watch. If you haven’t seen it, we won’t spoil any of the details for you. Just watch. Please,…
Kenny G, who personally murdered jazz music, also killed your family by giving them diabetes, thanks to his help in inventing the Frappucino
Kenny G has made millions of people hate jazz music with his twaffling sludge, music exactly as exciting and sexy as the act of gently closing your eyes to intricately picture your own parents having sex. Via Stereogum (who got the dope straight from a fanzine called People) we learned yesterday that the curly-haired Seattle native, who…
The convoluted history of Paczki Day
On Tuesday, Detroit-area residents will converge on the streets of Hamtramck for a daylong celebration involving music, drinks, and confections called “paczki.” The Hamtramck Paczki Day Festival is a fun tradition that precedes the Christian season of Lent, and celebrants listen to music, carouse from bar to bar, and stuff themselves silly. Basically, it’s about…
The Lust Poll: Our reader’s 100 naughtiest words
We asked for it, and you told us, in this case, your least favorite words for some of our favorite body parts. Just to keep this outburst of lewdness as quick as possible, here below are your answers. Surprisingly, vagina beat penis this year for variety. Try reading the offerings for penis really fast, though,…
DDays: News from HopCat, Vodka Vodka, Café 78, and more
Cherry picking at HopCat Detroit On Saturday night, effervescent music and drinks drew metro Detroiters to the Huma Room at HopCat Detroit for New Belgium’s release party of Lost in the Woods 2015. The brewery unveiled its two newest Belgian-style beverages, La Folie, a mouth-puckering sour ale that is perhaps best described as an “acquired…
Drink Up
Jack Daniel’s Tennessee Fire 70 Proof When it comes to American whiskey, there are only a few names that stand out — and Jack Daniel’s is usually first on that list. In fact, in 2012, the brand was named the highest selling American whiskey in the world. Made in Lynchburg, Tenn., Jack Daniel’s mash is…
Dearborn’s Frida Mexican Cuisine takes Mexican food off the beaten path
Too bad Frida the restaurant isn’t close at hand to the DIA. When the museum’s blockbuster Diego Rivera and Frida Kahlo in Detroit exhibition opens March 15, a restaurant with that name could have attracted hordes of fans. The restaurant owned by Ricardo and Salvador Gutierrez is trying mightily to lift itself above the usual…
Hot Shotz: Kat Paled serves up a jalapenofest
When Zeke’s BBQ opened a couple weeks ago on Nine Mile Road in Ferndale, it was obvious that the place was going to be popular. Business was so good, they ran out of food during their first week, but recovered quickly. Paled, just one of their all-star bartenders, says the first few days were crazy,…
Artist Terri Thomas makes her hometown Detroit debut
Originally from Detroit’s suburbs, Terri Thomas is now a fine artist in Austin, Texas. When she was invitated to participate in this year’s Dirty Show, she couldn’t refuse (she has an affection for John Waters). We spoke with Thomas by phone to learn more about her paintings before she headed back home. Metro Times: How’d…
Feedback: Weekly reader responses
Less walking, more talking I walk Belle Isle approximately five miles per day, every day, not because I have to, but because I want to. The Free Press had a Feb. 4 front-page article called “Heart and Sole” by Bill Laitner. I saved that article for a few reasons: For one, the subject of the…
Ask a Juggalo: What’s the difference between ‘much clown love’ and ‘much family love’?
Q: Is there a difference between “much clown love” and “much family love”? A: No. I would consider them both the same thing. I would look at “much family love” as a more recent or a more current way of showing your affiliation or appreciation. I personally choose “much clown love,” and still, to this…
The zen of the strip club bathroom attendant
Outside, a seemingly endless parade of barely legal girls take turns gyrating to a playlist of top 40 and cock rock. Inside the men’s room, though, Gary the bathroom attendant (he prefers the term “valet”) offers a calm from the storm. Standing at the ready with a squirt of hand soap and a fresh paper…
All Dolled Up: Zoot suit riot
Where would you spot a gentleman in a cobalt blue zoot suit, you ask? Stop by a ska show at Royal Oak Music Theatre and you’ll run into Toth. We caught this Reel Big Fish fan sporting an eye-catching getup and just had to ask him about his outfit. While Toth was quite a man…
Side Dish: Five things going on in Detroit dining this week
A solid foundation — We all know that a Paczki Day full of eating paczki and downing shot after shot of jezynowka can take it right out of you. That’s why Hamtramck Moose Lodge #1670, the little lodge with the big heart, is offering the right way to start the day with a special Paczki…
Film Review: 50 Shades of Grey
Fifty Shades Of Grey / C- Pop quiz: You’re an English literature major about to graduate from college. You have never heard the words “butt” and “plug” used in conjunction with one another. How hard would it be for you to figure out how said butt-plug, ahem, works? Because for Anastasia Steele (call her Ana),…
Dom Divas turn in provocative performances at the Hustler Club
In August 2014, when we noted that burlesque was returning to the stage at Cliff Bell’s, we spoke with promoter Bobby Ray about his Bobby Ray’s Blues & Burlesque Show. We’ve been covering burlesque for years, and it’s always a fun scene to report on, full of funny, articulate people. You see, burlesque is a…
Michigan-based Lover’s Lane has plenty to offer that’s both sexy and sensual
Valentine’s Day is coming, and you’re probably thinking about what to buy that special someone in your life. Don’t think you’re relegated to chocolates, flowers, and teddy bears. Michigan-based intimate apparel store Lover’s Lane has plenty to offer that’s both sexy and sensual. Browse through a Lover’s Lane catalog and you’ll find anything from demur…
How Jerry Vile got John Waters to make this year’s ‘Dirty Show’ a little filthier
View 19 (NSFW) works of erotic art from the Dirty Show here. The essayist Robert Anton Wilson famously remarked that “it only takes 20 years for a liberal to become a conservative without changing a single idea.” But Jerry Vile’s Dirty Show proves that number might actually be closer to 16. Now a Detroit institution,…
Higher Ground: This Detroit high school senior wants to open a marijuana dispensary
DeMarius “DJ” Tidwells is a not unusual 18-year-old Detroiter. He is a senior at Covenant House Academy on the west side and expects to graduate this June. He’s wondering about his future — thinking about college or possibly starting his own business. His interests haven’t settled on any one thing, but he talks about possibly…
Warren Defever reluctantly celebrates the 25th anniversary of His Name Is Alive
“I’ve done a lot of weird things in the last 25 years; I can’t explain everything,” Warren Defever writes via Facebook, the day after we meet in his spacious downtown Detroit loft to try to discuss his musical legacy. I’d sent a message to see if he really believes in UFOs — and, speaking of…
10 songs about masturbation, in honor of all the solitary valentines out there
Music and masturbation go together like — well, just. They go together very well, OK? Let’s skip this part and talk about the songs. “Pictures of Lily,” The Who, 1967 Undoubtedly the best song on this list, so it has to go first. The lyrics to this lovely song about jerking off to photos of…
A unique, interesting, and otherwise odd Valentine’s Day Gift Guide
If every Valentine’s Day you find your eyes rolling to the back of your head at the thought of buying red roses, a corny card, and chocolates for your beloved, we’ve got something to tell you: Not all Valentine’s Day gifts have to be so bland, so vanilla, and so boring. In fact, there are…
Politics and Prejudices: The way to fix the roads
Think our roads are bad now? Well, of course they are! But soon, we may think of these as the good old days. After this winter, the roads will be worse. There’s a statewide election May 5 in which we will be asked to boost the sales tax to fix the roads … but voters…
Horoscopes (Feb. 11 – 17)
ARIES (March 21-April 20): You are caught between so many things. You thought you had it all figured out, and now you’re kinda wondering if you even have a clue. New influences, along with a lot of new information, have arrived to give you something else to think about. The need to reconsider, along with…
Savage Love: The ethical sadist
Q: My 15-year-old son has been watching sadistic porn — and ONLY sadistic porn — for a couple of years. He also tells us (husband and me) that, though he’s not had sex (which he defines as penetration), he’s had oral sex, handjobs, etc., and that he didn’t “flash on” violent images at those times.…
Mr. J is a person just like you, but he’s got better things to do
Thirty-year-old David Johnson has released three acclaimed CD mixtapes under the name Mr. J. His flow is solid and his tracks are hard, yet catchy enough to be radio-ready. What really sets Johnson apart in the world of rap is that he defines himself as straight edge. Every Saturday, Mr. J performs at the Bullfrog…
