Cover Stories
MT’s Brett Callwood gets inked
Mark Heggie, 40, the owner of the Big Top Tattoo shop in Utica and Signature Tattoo in Ferndale, believes that tattoos are like diary entries — when you look at them collectively, they tell the story of your life. Each individual tattoo is less important than the overall aesthetic. Of course, Mark Heggie (rhymes with…
Art shows celebrate the tattoo’s fine arts side
Despite the tattoo’s surging mainstream popularity in America — a recent Pew Research Center report indicated 40 percent of millennials fessed up to having at least one — body art still gets a bad rap. More often associated with punks and ne’er-do-wells, tattoos aren’t thought of as works of art the same way as, say,…
Body Piercing Goes from Taboo to Trendy
Body piercing has come a long way since Tiffany Diamond began her apprenticeship back in the mid-1990s. With 18 years in the art, Diamond, who was voted by Metro Times readers as the best body piercer back when she was working out of Lady Luck Tattoo in 2010, has just opened her own piercing shop…
Detroit barbecue’s choice cuts
1: Classic Detroit, west side Although metro Detroit’s barbecues are having quite a decade, the city has had excellent barbecue for generations, thanks to century-long stream of immigrants from the South. The west side abounds with a constellation of old-fashioned Detroit barbecue joints, such as Vicki’s and Uptown BBQ. Though you can expect a no-nonsense, mostly…
Film Review: The Wind Rises
The Wind Rises | B Hayao Miyazaki owes us nothing. At 73, the undisputed maestro of anime, and one of the world’s greatest cinematic artists, has announced that he’s done making pictures, and that this weirdly ethereal and oddly moving, fictional biographic tribute to the creator of the infamous Mitsubishi A6M “Zero” fighter planes,…
Man accidentally shoots himself in the head while demonstrating gun safety
An Independence Township man accidentally shot himself in the head last night while attempting to show his girlfriend a thing or two about gun safety. Apparently the man, who’d been slinging back adult beverages for much of the day, was demonstrating the safety features of his three handguns by holding them to his head and…
Detroit police chief responds to death threat: ‘We will find you’
Detroit police chief James Craig was the target of a social media death threat, and he responded with a message of his own: “We will find you.” The Free Press reports: He said criminals are not happy with him because of the raids that have taken place in Detroit since his arrival last summer. Shutting…
Detroit pension cuts contradict Michigan constitution
Well, the shoe finally dropped last week, and it was no surprise that Emergency Manager Kevyn Orr’s bankruptcy “plan of adjustment” includes cuts to Detroit pensions. Big ones, especially for those who aren’t retirees from the police or fire departments. Public safety officers would take a 10 percent cut. Everybody else: 34 percent, a little…
City Slang: Iggy Pop thanks the BBC for saving his love of music
According to Classic Rock Magazine, our man Iggy Pop has thanked the BBC for “helping rescue his love of music.” “Sorry, but what the fuck?” you might ask. Well, bless his heart, Iggy made a one-off appearance hosting a show on the BBC’s 6 Music radio station over Christmas, and he’s been confirmed as a…
Detroit’s unique architecture offers vintage chic to new businesses
Photo by Brian Rozman. A trend we’re really into is how new Detroit businesses are retaining some of the original buildings’ charming, if quirky, features. Detroit boasts some of the greatest examples of Art Deco architecture in the country, and it’s great to see these buildings get a new life. From the original zig-zag shaped…
Film Review: In Secret
In Secret | B- Emile Zola’s audacious 1867 novel Thérèse Raquin was absolutely scandalous in its day, a lurid tale ripe with lust, deception, greed and murder, so, you know, all the really good stuff. The controversial bestseller has been lauded as an early example of naturalism, but there is little natural about this weirdly…
Film Review: 3 Days To Kill
3 Days to Kill | C+ Ok, which one of you jokers asked for the Kevin Costner action hero revival? A twinge of nostalgia may ripple through folks at the memory of the former box office titan’s late ‘80s glory days, until you recall the joyless self-seriousness that crept into his performances after the success…
Film Review: Like Father, Like Son
Like Father, Like Son | B+ Lou Reed was once quoted as saying, “My shit is better than most people’s diamonds.” And while it would be hard to ever imagine Japanese director Hirokazu Koreeda (Still Walking, After Life) producing anything that could be called shit, Like Father, Like Son is, at its core, a startling sentimental…
Here is Detroit’s bankruptcy-exit plan
(Source: Wikimedia Commons) The City of Detroit filed its plan to restructure an estimated $11 billion in unsecured debt today, with expected cuts to fire and police pensions, as well as general retirees. The plan will likely be amended as the city continues to wend its way through the largest Chapter 9 bankruptcy proceeding in…
Film Review: Pompeii
Pompeii | C- It’s Titanic meets Gladiator, but not as good as either. If you don’t have time to read the rest of the review, that should do you just fine. For those who can’t help themselves, this marginally competent but crushingly predictable period disaster movie is what you get when you give a work-a-day…
City Slang: Gary Quackenbush kicks off New Way Thursdays
Gary Quackenbush was (and kinda still is) the guitarist with Grande-era Detroit rockers the SRC. The Scot Richard Case was around from ’66 to ’72, putting out an excellent self-titled debut in ’68, and following it with two cultish and cool records. They were Grande Ballroom regulars throughout that period, though they didn’t go on…
RANKED: Michiganders Have Some of the Longest Sex in the Nation
New data from the sex-tracking app Spreadsheets suggests that Michiganders have some of the highest stamina in the nation when it comes to romping between the sheets. We clocked in at sixth place and at a respectable 4:14 which put us almost three minutes above last place Alaska (a sorry 1:21) and three minutes below…
Recycled Treasures calls on artists to make chairs
Recycled Treasures, a Hamtramck non-profit resale shop, is looking for artists to donate art to auction for their Second Annual Chair Affair event on March 28. Proceeds go to the non-profit’s Beds for Kids Project, which hooks needy children living in the 48212 zip code up with mattresses. Recycled Treasures is looking for artists to submit…
Ben’s Encore – a model charity
The Ben’s Encore charity came into being as a tribute to Ben Borowiak, the fallen friend of some local musicians. Ben was also a musician. This organization is intended to help the Detroit music scene in many ways. You can visit their website at bensencore.com. Their mission statement states their aims quite concisely: “To ensure…
Time magazine honors Ferndale’s Treat Dreams for Funkiest Ice Cream Flavor in the World
Photo via Yelp Ferndale’s own Treat Dreams Bakery and Microcreamery was recognized in 2013 by Time magazine for boasting one of the funkiest ice cream flavors on planet earth: Michigan Salad. via Time: Michigan Salad. With this one, Treat Dreams in Ferndale, Mich. delivers all the fixings of the green tossed Detroit area favorite except…
VICE whines because they can’t do drugs in 1217 Griswold anymore
We already wrote about how the Dan Gilbert-owned Bedrock Real Estate Services is evicting the artist community out of Capitol Park’s 1217 Griswold — ironically destroying an organically-grown collective of artists to make way for … hmmm, more artists’ spaces. While we’re happy to see investment in the city, we’re bummed to see gentrification rearing…
Whirlwind Heat’s ‘Do Rabbits Wonder?’ gets reissued
Remember Whirlwind Heat? Third Man Records will reissue the the band’s Do Rabbits Wonder?, originally released nearly 11 years ago, for Record Store Day. Since the record’s songs are all the names of colors, TMR will release a limited edition on 12 different colors of vinyl — with a plain ol’ black vinyl general release slated for later…
Detroit City FC hires full time general manager
Soccer team Detroit City FC has announced that it has hired Donovan Powell as general manager. Powell is the first ever Detroit City full time employee. So here’s what we’ve been told about the guy: “After graduating from Clay High School in 2001, Powell became a member of the United States Marine Corps. He was…
Source: Detroit News, Free Press to move to Mexico
This is not actually happening. This is a joke. (Source: Wikimedia Commons) The DetroitNews and the Detroit Free Press, as well as their business agency, will relocate to Mexico later this year, likely outsourcing the majority of editorial positions to the Mexican city of Silao, according to a source who spoke to Metro Times on condition of “serious” anonymity. [EDIT: The…
City Slang: New Carl Lundgren book
Detroit poster artist Carl Lundgren has a new book out this July, called The Psychedelic Rock Art of Carl Lundgren, through Hermes Press. You can find it here. The official description is, “Music inspired, science fiction and fantasy combined in a way that revolutionized poster art of the Psychedelic 1960’s-era. Famous for his rock posters,…
Ted Nugent calls Detroit a ‘cesspool’ during Texas campaign stop
(Source: Wikimedia Commons) Ted Nugent, the washed up flagrant asshole from Michigan who tends to say stupid things, brought Detroit into the fold during a campaign stop Wednesday in Texas. While stumping for Texas Republican gubernatorial candidate Greg Abbott, he spent a few moments weeping about why he left the city. “I left Detroit because…
10 Signs You’re a Bad Customer
“That’s right, customers. Sometimes, you’re wrong as fuck.” ‘The customer is always right.’ —Service industry proverb If you’ve ever worked in customer service, you’ve heard the phrase above time and time again, and by this point you probably just grit your teeth and bear the rude, uncouth and downright creepy behaviors that these…
City Slang: Rock Hard Film Fast music video competition coming soon
Rock Hard Film Fast, Detroit’s first ever music video competition, will take place June 6-8. More information can be found at the Facebook page, and entry forms are available at the official website. Here’s what they had to say: “Rock Hard Film Fast is not just another film or music video competition. Our mission is…
Raw Radio X: Live from the Russell Industrial Center
Photo courtesy of Jennifer Jiminey’s Facebook. Yes, Raw Radio X can be quite raw and X-rated — that is part of the allure. The shows aren’t formatted about sex, but when the subject comes up it is explored in all of its glory. Typically, their shows feature a marvelously eclectic bunch of Detroit musical artists and…
Is this Detroit’s largest selfie?
Organizers of an initiative dubbed #DetroitWeek held “Detroit’s biggest selfie” on the steps of the DIA today, which amounts to a photo of people taking photos of themselves simultaneously. We’re dubious of the use of the word “selfie” here — by definition, a selfie is a singular activity, the operative word being “self” — but…
Great Lakes Myth Society
Ten years ago, the Great Lakes Myth Society were already looking back at “the bands that you loved” and exposing them as “just haircuts and jackets.” Those are lyrics from the Ann Arbor-born quintet’s song “Heydays,” and few local releases would ever outdo its succinct poignancy in capturing the capricious (or fickle) cultural climate of…
Olympia arena promises additional development
THE FOOTPRINT OF the proposed $650-million Detroit Red Wings arena and entertainment district near downtown has been widely described as an economic dead zone in need of rejuvenation. And, most have argued, Olympia Development of Michigan’s full proposal — a $450 million new arena for the Red Wings and $200 million of additional spinoff development…
See Robocop concept art
OK, so we didn’t give the RoboCop remake a very good review. Still, we’ll always have a soft spot for the Detroit-based crime fighter. Comicbookmovies.com has published a whole lot of concept art from the new movie, and a lot of it looks really good. Shame about the shoddy rehash, then. Follow @City_Slang
WSU professor takes issue with ‘Future City’
Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan’s development chief recently said Detroit Future City, a 347-page document proclaimed as a blueprint for the city’s future, is his “bible.” Wayne State law professor Peter Hammer has a different take. Hammer tells MLive that full implementation of the plan would be a “deathblow” to the city, that it would “re-organize…
New Work Field Street Collective’s New Paradigm
Just making it through the winter of 2014 could mark a major victory for the members of the New Work Field Street Collective. The group, now numbering about 10 members — six of whom live together in the house on the corner of Field and Vernor streets — moved into the three-floor, 17-room edifice on…
Patterson Responds to ‘New Yorker’ Profile
The grumpy Oakland County volcano known as Mount Brooks Patterson erupted last month after some controversial remarks the county executive made about Detroit in a New Yorker profile made the rounds. Patterson, it seems, was surprised people actually read issues of The New Yorker instead of piling them on the back of the toilet to…
Restaurant Review: CAYA Smokehouse Grill
CAYA Smokehouse Grill 1403 S. Commerce Rd., Walled Lake 248-438-6741 Sides, starters and soups: $3-$9 Salads and sandwiches: $5-$13 Smoked food and entrées: $5-$26 Brunch: $7-$13 Open 4:30-10 p.m. Tuesday-Thursday, 4:30-11 p.m. Friday and Saturday, 4:30-9 p.m. Sunday; brunch 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. The sign along a dark stretch of Commerce Road, just…
Dan Savage delves into the cuckold fetish
Q: I am a straight male, married to a woman for 25 years. Our marriage started to go sour about 14 years ago. Sex was infrequent and stultifying. Finally, when the kids were old enough, I made plans to separate. When my wife got wind of these plans, she finally agreed to work on our…
American Coney Island owner sets us straight
We blew it. A few weeks ago, when we were writing our bucket list of the 100 things every Detroiter should do, we incorrectly stated that Lafayette Coney Island was founded in 1917, and that American Coney Island was the younger one, founded in 1924. American owner Grace Keros got on the horn and gave…
Film Review: Endless Love
Endless Love | C Young, beautiful idiots are always falling hopelessly in love, and teen romance is the ultimate renewable resource. A fresh crop of kids comes along every few years, foolishly believing that they are the only generation to experience the agonies and ecstasies of first lust. There is precious little chance that the…
Right-Wing lunatics, congrats to Jack, how to use Google and more
Michigan’s Yahoo Republicans I read with interest Jack Lessenberry’s Feb. 12 article, ”Republicans snub Obama on Michigan visit” and it got a chuckle out of me. I guess Jack expected the Republicans to roll out the red carpet, have trumpets blare and a offer a 21-gun salute. The Republicans in Michigan are members of the same…
Sïck as a Dog
You have to be a special kind of cocky to name your band Sïck. You have to be completely confident in your ability to rope in fans, despite the fact that your name conjures images of vomit. These four men, all in their early 20s, came up with the moniker due to their overuse of…
Physical Limitations Can’t Stop Brad Lawrence
Brad Lawrence was in the midst of completing a giant drawing commission when he started feeling shocks of pain in his forearms. It was the diagnosis that anyone who makes a living relying on his or her hands dreads: tendinitis. Only a year after graduating from the College for Creative Studies’ Fine Arts program and…
Film Review: About Last Night
About Last Night | C Remakes in Hollywood are as inevitable as potholes in mid-winter, but romantic comedies are generally less susceptible to “rehash syndrome,” because there’s nothing that original about the endless war of the sexes. There is precious little need to repeat material, when the majority of the genre is, like the Taco…
Super Happy Funtime Burlesque
Grand Rapids, our pious un-neighborly neighbors to the west, is known for strict conservatism and hard-line religion. It’s not necessarily the obvious birthing place for a troupe like Super Happy Funtime Burlesque. Then again, perhaps it’s a natural fit. After all, didn’t we want to drink alcohol all the more when our parents forbade it?…
Elaine Stritch says ‘fuck’ on live TV
(Source: Wikimedia Commons) Elaine Stritch dropped by the set of NBC’s Today show this morning to promote the release of her documentary Shoot Me. During the interview, Stritch flustered hosts Hoda Kotb and Kathie Lee Gifford in a beautiful moment of national television. Stritch, who turned 89 this month, dropped an F-bomb in response to…
City Slang: ICP’s Gathering relocated but not canceled
Psychopathic Records and the Insane Clown Posse have announced that the annual Gathering of the Juggalos has been forced to change locations yet again, though it has definitely not been canceled. As we wrote in our January cover story ICP vs. FBI, the Gathering had already relocated from Illinois after low attendance over the past…
Snyder’s true colors
“Hi, I’m Dave Agema. Satan may have told you to call for my resignation, but don’t listen to him. He’s crazy.” I want to begin by saying that I really don’t have a whole lot of respect for Dave Agema. The Republican National Committee member from Michigan seems to have a bizarre fear and loathing…
Map Details History of Detroit by Building Age
Image via WDWOT The Michigan-based real estate site WDWOT (Why Don’t We Own This) recently published a map on its site, detailing a history of Detroit via building age. It’s a pretty interesting depiction of our city’s architectural background, dating all the way back to the 1800s. And, like WDWOT points out, you can notice…
Report: 5 percent of Michigan kids unvaccinated for non-medical reasons
It’s fairly easy for parents in Michigan to avoid getting their kids vaccinated. An objection here (basically) amounts to, “Eh, not interested.” That, in part, is why we have the country’s fourth-highest rate of religious or philosophical waivers to vaccine requirements — roughly 5.5 percent of Michigan’s 125,000 kindergartners, according to The Associated Press. It’s not…
Film Review: Winter’s Tale
Winter’s Tale / C- There’s something dunderheaded-ly admirable about Akiva Goldsman’s Winter’s Tale, a movie so unashamedly sincere, so swooning with romantic gestures, that it makes you wish it were a better movie. It isn’t. In fact, it’s pretty much a disaster. But there’s nobility in its intentions. As his feature debut, Goldsmith (who scripted…
UAW fails in Chattanooga
A dozen or so years ago, I criticized the United Auto Workers union for some boneheaded move or other. Doug Fraser, one of the union’s legendary leaders, circled my harshest comment and sent the column to Millie Jeffrey. Fraser was then a professor of labor relations at Wayne State University, where I teach. Jeffrey, for…
City Slang: DSO and EarShot launches New Music Readings for African-American Composers
The Detroit Symphony Orchestra has announced that it will launching the first-ever New Music Readings for African-American Composers by the DSO, in conjunction with EarShot (a nationwide network of readings and composer-development programs administered by New York-based new music-focused American Composers Orchestra). Four African-American composers will participate in this year’s readings: Jonathan Bailey Holland of…
CCS student creates interactive virtual Michigan Central Station
Last year, College for Creative Studies student Jake Walter created a detailed, interactive 3D model of Detroit’s infamous Michigan Central Station for his senior thesis, titled “15th and Dalzelle,” which we recently stumbled upon. The level of detail is truly impressive, from the graffiti on the walls to the sunlight pouring through the ceiling —…
