Cover Story
Reflecting on the life and career of Susanne Hilberry
In the late autumn of 2016, a large and mysterious body of water appeared inside the bright, expansive Susanne Hilberry Gallery in Ferndale. Artist Ivin Ballen’s “Reflecting Pool,” a 32-by-20-foot black tarp filled only about ankle-high with water, presented itself as the largest painting the gallery had ever installed. It was a portrait of the…
Celebrate John Lee Hooker’s 100th birthday with Canned Heat, here in Detroit
Detroit’s finest blues musician turns one hundred years old this year, in August. Sure, he was born in Mississippi. But John Lee Hooker became a musician in Detroit, after moving here to work for Ford in the 1940s like so many other thousands of black men from Mississippi. And it is here between 1948 and…
Isis Damil and Baker’s Keyboard Lounge created a lunchtime force
Isis Damil’s voice is reason enough to visit Baker’s Keyboard Lounge on Tuesday afternoons when the Detroit-based jazz vocalist takes the stage between noon and 3 p.m. In her third year of performing the weekly lunchtime set, Damil has hit her stride. She runs through sets of originals and jazz standards with her confident, powerful…
Five key takeaways from Mayor Duggan’s State of the City
Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan used his State of the City address Tuesday night to tout several new efforts meant to lift up the city’s neighborhoods and “build a Detroit that includes everybody.” Saying that “the recovery of Detroit is going to be defined by our neighborhoods,” Duggan rolled out a jobs training program that he says will…
Mighty Good Coffee plans new location in the soon-to-close Jefferson Cakery space
Ann Arbor’s Mighty Good Coffee will open a fourth location in an Old West Side space now occupied by the Jefferson Market and Cakery. According to a post on the Jefferson Cakery’s page, the shop is closing on Sunday and Mighty Good is moving in. “Please join us for a goodbye party this Friday, featuring…
Knowledge can fight ignorance: New speakers series will shed light on Yemen
Given all the protests against President Donald Trump’s travel ban last month, we at Metro Times are confused by one major disconnect: If arguments about Trump’s immigration bans concern protecting us from terror, why do they hurt the very people fleeing from terror, especially where U.S.-made bombs and bullets are flying around. It’s what you…
18 fun things to do in metro Detroit this week
Wednesday, 2/22 Garage Talk: The Other F Word @ TechTown Detroit What is the other “F word?” For entrepreneurs, it’s failure — and it should not be feared. The full name of this panel discussion is “How Successful Entrepreneurs Put Failure to Work,” which will include insights from local luminaries like Eric Thomas of storytellers…
Russell Industrial Center tenants pack up amid confusion over eviction notices
A day after Detroit building officials first posted eviction notices throughout a portion of the Russell Industrial Center, there was rampant confusion at the complex over how many of its more than 140 tenants would actually have to leave and whether they would be out for good. On Monday, the city’s Building, Safety Engineering and Environmental Department…
Hamtramck Music Festival schedule fractures amid controversy
If you follow local music at all, it’s been impossible to miss first the rumblings and then explosions about Hamtramck Music Festival reverberating across the Detroit Internet. Now in its fourth year, the Hamtramck Music Festival (which was a cover feature for Metro Times last year) brings together over 180 bands scattered across 20 Hamtramck bars,…
J. Cole will bring summer tour to the Palace in July
The rising hip hop star J. Cole announced a massive world tour and will be making a pitstop at the Palace of Auburn Hills on Sunday, July 23. J. Cole recently released his fourth studio album 4 Your Eyez Only to critical acclaim. The album debuted at Number 1 on the Billboard Hot 100. 4…
Just announced: Pixies at the Fillmore in October
The Pixies (supported by Sunflower Bean) return to Detroit on Friday, Oct. 6, to play the Fillmore Detroit. It’s an all ages show for the act (Joey Santiago/guitar, Black Francis/guitar & vocals, David Lovering/drums, and bassist Paz Lenchantin), and tickets will be available at the $35, $45, $65, and $75 price points. Tickets will go on sale…
‘Family Guy’ made a pretty awful joke about Flint’s water in latest episode
Just when you thought that Seth MacFarlane and his writers at Family Guy reached the bottom of the barrel of tasteless jokes, we find out that the Flint water crisis is apparently not off-limits for the long-running cartoon. In Sunday’s night episode, Brian the dog and Stewie are seen trying to sabatoge Stewie’s grandfather by blinding…
Tenants ordered to vacate Detroit’s Russell Industrial Center following city inspection
The largest artist community in the Midwest was effectively shut down on Monday when tenants of Detroit’s Russell Industrial Center were ordered to vacate the premises. According to a notice shared with Metro Times, Detroit’s Building, Safety Engineering and Environmental Department determined the complex to be in violation of city code and ordered all tenants to…
Michigan Republicans are on a mission to de-fund Planned Parenthood
Michigan legislators have started the process to de-fund Planned Parenthood since two identical bills were introduced in the House and Senate and Senate last week. According to Michigan Radio, the bills would “prohibit the state from contracting with any healthcare service providers that perform abortions.” The bills would also prohibit the allocation of state or federal…
New tequila bar opens in former Sabor Latino space
A new tequila bar is up and running in the Ann Arbor space formerly occupied by Sabor Latino. MLive reported Monday morning that the Agave Tequila Bar, at 211 N. Main St., rolled out a concept that features a wide selection of tequilas and what the restaurant calls “scratch cooking with Latin flair.” Among its…
Coleman Young Jr. will likely challenge Mike Duggan for mayoral race
Detroit’s mayoral race will be here before you know it, and we’ve already had a few Detroiters toss their name in the hat for the job. One name that may sound very familiar is Coleman Young Jr., the state senator and son of former Detroit major Coleman Young. Young Jr. announced his bid for mayor…
Show review: Run the Jewels at ROMT Sat., Feb. 18
On Saturday night, Run the Jewels appeared for their second sold-out performance at the Royal Oak Music Theater since October of 2015 and – big surprise – they knocked it out of the park yet again. The show was absolutely filled with highlights and memorable moments. Especially when El-P accidentally shouted out Chicago, and then…
Detroit police officer who killed teen has violent past
The Detroit police officer who sources say shot and killed a teenager on Feb. 13 in what the department described as a struggle has previously faced accusations of inappropriate use of force. Two separate sources close to the department have identified the officer as Jerold Blanding, a longtime member of the 10th precinct whose Instagram…
Ted Nugent wants to throw his 10-gallon hat into 2018 Michigan Senate race
Just when your eyes came back to a normal position after hearing that Kid Rock’s name is floating around to run against current Michigan senator Debbie Stabenow, it seems that another Michigander wants a shot for a Senate seat, too. That’s right, folks. The Motor City Madman Ted Nugent himself is thinking about a possible…
Suicide is no laughing matter, except this Saturday
The work that the Livonia-based Six Feet Over non-profit undertakes is heavy and somewhat grim stuff. While most working on the suicide issue focus on prevention, Six Feet Over also helps with the aftermath, or “postvention.” Funerals are expensive, as is the cleanup of a suicide scene. At the low end, a funeral runs around $2,000,…
Study: Big Three vehicle owners are older, rural, and lower-income
In metro Detroit, it seems like you can’t spit without hitting someone who works for the Big Three automakers — or is a family member of someone who works for the Big three, or a supplier of the Big Three, etc. “Out of a job yet? Keep buying foreign!” bumper-stickers are a common sight, and…
Scenes from yesterday’s Detroit appear in Hamtramck photo exhibit
Some artists gain fame instantly. Others work quietly for years, building up a body of work that suddenly bursts onto the scene and gains all the acclaim it has long deserved. For the most part, photographer Bruce Harkness is one of those latter artists. Over the last several years, the talented lensman has been putting…
UPDATED: Katoi promises to reopen soon
Corktown’s new Thai-influenced restaurant, Katoi, caught fire early Friday morning, but details about what caused the flames or the extent of the damage are not yet clear, according to a Detroit News article. WDIV reports that there are no reported injuries due to the fire. The restaurant, located at 2520 Michigan Ave., opened in early 2016…
On sale now: English Beat at Magic Bag next month
Two-tone ska legends The English Beat perform with 1592 at the Magic Bag in Ferndale on Friday, March 17, at 7 p.m. Buy your tickets today for this gig next month; they are $25 in advance. What our colleague Eve Doster had to say two years ago for Metro Times remains true today: “The English Beat…
See which Michigan chefs/restaurants are James Beard semifinalists
Six Detroit-area chefs and restaurants are among the semifinalists in this year’s James Beard Foundation awards. The Beard Foundation is considered a top authority on all things culinary, and its prestigious awards recognize the work of the nation’s best chefs and restaurateurs. For a second straight year, Selden Standard’s Andy Hollyday and Forest’s Nick Janutol…
A safe space to talk sex and the female body in Ferndale this week
If Valentine’s Day left you full of questions about sex and the female body, one event that may appeal to you is the Pussy Party at the SheHive in Ferndale. It’s a women-only event offering a safe environment for a sex-positive discussion about female sexuality and the female body. Guests can expect a wide-ranging discussion…
‘A Day Without Immigrants’ shuts down much of southwest Detroit
Hundreds of people marched past rows of shuttered businesses in southwest Detroit Thursday as part of a nationwide strike meant to highlight the contribution of immigrants amid an apparent ramp up in immigration enforcement activity under President Donal Trump. Dozens of businesses in the majority Latino community had their lights off and rolling gates down for…
Centers for Disease Control finds link between Flint water and Legionnaires’ disease
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has reported the first genetic links between Flint’s water and patients diagnosed with Legionnaires’ disease, a bacterial outbreak that killed 12 people in 2014 and 2015. According to MLive, the CDC made the connection in late 2016 using a water sample taken from McLaren-Flint hospital in August and three…
We dare you to listen to Deadbeat Beat’s two new songs only one time
We’re in love with these two new tunes Deadbeat Beat just uploaded, a pair of previously unreleased songs recorded live in 2016 by audio engineer Chad Stocker (of the High Strung) at Lo and Behold! Records and Books in Hamtramck, MI for the Milo Show, the monthly local music YouTube series created by Jeff Milo…
Detroit Police Department leads investigation into its own officer’s killing of teen
The only living witness to Monday’s deadly police-involved shooting on Detroit’s west side is the officer who fired the shot that killed 18-year-old Raynard Burton. And the Detroit Police Department says that officer wasn’t wearing a body camera and was too far away from his dash cam at the time of the shooting for it…
I celebrated Valentine’s Day with Aaron Carter (and all I got was a hangover)
So while most you were hugged up with your boo thang celebrating the curse joys of monogamy, some of us were at the Valentine’s Day Party with Aaron Carter at The Loving Touch. No, not Nick Carter, that’s the older one, and no, not Nick Cannon, that’s the guy who impregnated Mariah Carey, Aaron Carter…
Detroit’s 19th annual Allied Media Conference is now accepting proposals
Have something you want to share with aspiring and working media professionals? The 19th annual Allied Media Conference, which focuses on bringing together a community of people who are using media, art, or technology to creatively address social justice issues, returns June 15-18 and they’re currently accepting session proposals for this year’s conference. Sessions can fall…
Sidetrack shows us how to make the perfect fried pickles
Fried pickles are one of those bar food dishes that, on the face of it, seems so foolproof. Take a pickle, batter it up, drop it in the deep fryer, and in a moment you get a salt, garlic, and vinegar bomb inside a crunchy shell. Impossible to do wrong, right? Well, not exactly. As…
Red Wings will sport special patch for Mike Ilitch
#RedWings to wear commemorative patch in honor of Mike Ilitch. pic.twitter.com/cbRgzs1DJh — Detroit Red Wings (@DetroitRedWings) February 15, 2017 The Detroit Red Wings announced on Twitter this morning that the players will were a commemorative patch on their jerseys in honor of Mike Ilitch. In case you missed it, Mike Ilitch died on Friday, February…
Review: The Conserva offers rich, inventive menu
If it’s the little things that make the difference, Conserva chef and owner Matthew Baldridge is making sure to cover those small bases that make diners and drinkers want to return. Purse hooks are installed underneath the bar. Servers leave the menus on the table so you can remind yourself what you asked for and…
Kehinde Wiley exhibit comes to Toledo
Detroiters may likely already be familiar with fine artist Kehinde Wiley’s work. His painting “Officer of the Hussars” hangs prominently in the hallway of the Contemporary Art section at the Detroit Institute of Arts. It features a young black man wearing jeans and Timbs, heroically holding a sword on the back of a galloping horse,…
Feedback (Feb 8-14)
Reader Susan Newell of Detroit writes: Violet Ikonomova’s blog post “Detroit police official on racial tensions with the department: ‘Get over it” implies that the DPD routinely makes light of complaints of racism and discrimination in the department. Although I can’t speak to the overall conclusions of her article, I’m familiar with the incident that…
Higher Ground: Marijuana fighters
One of the reasons the state legislature changed the rules to help keep the question of legalizing marijuana in Michigan off the ballot was because legislators believed voters would approve it. Results of a new EPIC-MRA statewide survey pretty much double down on that sentiment. The poll found that support for legalization leads with 57…
Horoscopes (Feb 15-21)
ARIES (March 21- April 20): Balancing things is less about going up and down than it is about finding your center. You bring more to this situation than anyone in it. If you are thinking in terms of balance, you might start by leveling off with the need to overdo everything. And if this has…
Humons presents an atypical dance evolution
El Club in Southwest Detroit is littered with glow sticks, blow-up palm trees, and balloons. A pair of DJs with skipper hats on are warming up the room with tech-house jams. A few people are already dancing. Unaware this was a themed party, I’ve got a tiny umbrella in my gin and tonic. The vibes…
Killer Mike and El-P argue that the post-political is the most political
When we last left our heroes, hip-hop duo Run the Jewels had appeared at the Royal Oak Music Theater in support of their entirely reluctant, crowdsourced remix of RTJ2 set to cat sounds, Meow the Jewels. Michael Render aka Killer Mike had embarked on a national media tour, making appearances on numerous mainstream media outlets…
Mike Dutkewych celebrates 7 years of his Downriver dance night
Mike Dutkewych is a tall and well-sideburned gentleman who you’ve seen around town — at shows, at record stores, or perhaps DJing your friend’s wedding. He also runs a down and dirty monthly soul dance party in Wyandotte. Soul Deep happens every third Friday at the Rockery. Last month, the night celebrated its lucky seven-year…
Politics & Prejudices: Sick leader, healthy community
I crawled out of bed Saturday morning to discover I had a flat tire, courtesy this time not of potholes, but a roadside nail. I had a meeting, but wasn’t worried. I knew George would save me, and he did. George, who owns Henley Auto Service on 11 Mile Road in Berkley, has been fixing…
Savage Love: Pair of aces
Q: I’ve been reading your advice column in the Coast in Halifax for a while, and it seems that most solutions to relationship problems revolve around sex. Everyone wants it or needs it, we should fuck before dinner, or we can spice up our sex life in this certain way to be happy. What about…
Side Dish: Meet the guy delivering meat to your favorite Detroit restaurants
Bite into a slider at Green Dot Stables, nibble the beef carpaccio at Wright & Co., nosh on the curry lamb at Standby, and you’re tasting meat sourced by John Muster. The longtime Detroit meat man has procured the Motor City’s proteins for over two decades for Quality Meats, thus witnessing from the inside the…
19 ways to entertain yourself in metro Detroit this week.
Thursday, 2/16 SonReal @ The Shelter There’s a lot of rap and hip-hop coming out of Canada, and SonReal is an example of the nation’s most determined up-and-comers. He built up a loyal fan base thanks to the wonders of the internet, and SonReal released his first mixtape in 2011. After the release of 2012’s…
