Cover Story
How adult nights at Detroit’s roller rinks are keeping Black skating culture alive
On weeknights (read: work nights) when it would be hard to fill just about any other venue, roller skating rinks in metro Detroit are full of people. Skaters stroll in with backpacks, rolling bags, extra pairs of socks, sweat rags, loose quarters, and even headphones to enjoy adult night — the one night typically reserved…
Gabriel Hall pop-up brings Creole cuisine and Mardi Gras to Nancy Whiskey
Laissez les bon temps rouler! That’s Cajun-French for “Let the good times roll,” which is exactly what Mardis Gras is all about. While the carnival celebration ensues throughout the Big Easy, Nancy Whiskey’s will be throwing its own kick-brass party. Gabriel Hall will unleash a Creole pop-up featuring a la carte items such as shrimp…
Detroit Artists’ Test Lab to explores urban farming with free ‘Land Grab’ screening
In the latest installment of Detroit Artists’ Test Lab documentary series, the story of millionaire John Hantz and his efforts to create a huge urban farm on Detroit’s east side are explored in 2016’s Land Grab. Directed by Sean King O’Grady, Land Grab explores Hantz’s controversial and politically heated land acquisition. Hantz Farms president Michael…
Voice of an angel, James Blake, will fill the Royal Oak Music Theatre with feels
He’s been sought after by the likes of Beyoncé, Kendrick Lamar, and Frank Ocean, and his latest effort, 2019’s Assume Form, has been hailed as “dizzyingly romantic” and received perfect scores by several critics — and for good reason. Producer and singer-songwriter James Blake takes sweeping risks on what is his most balanced record to…
Sharpen your Japanese steel for midnight screenings of ‘Kill Bill Vol. 1’
Ever hear that saying “It’s a man’s world”? Well, that’s utter fucking bullshit (thanks in part to Uma Thurman, aka Beatrix Kiddo, aka The Bride, aka Black Mamba). Quentin Tarantino’s foray into samurai revenge cinema crossed with spaghetti westerns put sword-wielding, revenge-seeking babes center stage in Kill Bill Vol. 1. Though Thurman’s character seeks revenge…
Calling all ink addicts — the 24th Annual Motor City Tattoo Expo returns to Detroit’s riverfront
Almost everything in this life is temporary. You can always get divorced, and return policies exist for almost every purchase. Oh, and that regrettable Looney Tunes-NASCAR-ex-wife hybrid tribute tattoo can be covered up with more ink (if you want). What has real staying power, though, is the Motor City Tattoo Expo which is entering its…
British singer Jacob Banks brings cinematic soul to the Majestic Theatre
Last year found British singer-songwriter Jacob Banks basking in the release of his electronic soul-infused debut, Village. He’s supported tours for Sam Smith and Alicia Keys and in 2018 27-year-old Banks penned “In The Name of Love” for the film The Equalizer 2. Leading up to Village, though, the Nigerian-born artist released three EP’s, including…
Detroit EMS captain gets rank back after vile, racist social media posts
A Detroit EMS captain who posted nearly 200 vile, demeaning and sometimes threatening memes and comments on social media about Muslims, immigrants, African Americans, Asians, women, and gay people has returned to his supervisory position. Capt. Tim Goodman was demoted to lieutenant in late 2017 and given a second chance through binding arbitration. The arbitrator…
Outspoken folk great Loudon Wainwright III will air dirty laundry at the Ark
Loudon Wainwright III, the contentious patriarch of the Wainwright-McGarrigle folk dynasty, is best known for not holding back — even if that means exposing very personal relationships, familial dynamics, and experiences. If you need the CliffsNotes on the 72-year-old artist’s career and backstory, listen to “Meet The Wainwrights,” during which he calls out his famous…
We still don’t know WTF a Shen Yun is but it’s coming to Detroit
When you hear that gong hit while attempting to watch a YouTube video, you just know that “5,000 years of civilization” is about to be re-the-fuck born. The incredibly persistent marketing behind the touring dance spectacle that is Shen Yun has been plastered on countless billboards across metro Detroit’s landscape, unsuspecting website banners, and even…
The Aces will bring unapologetic pop and girl power to El Club
If you’re easily seduced by the sisterly love of indie trio Haim, and fancy catchy hooks and melodies, and find yourself comparing heartbreak to a volcanic eruption, look no further than Utah foursome the Aces, comprised of sisters Alisa and Cristal Ramirez as well as longtime friends Katie Henderson and McKenna Petty. The Aces will…
Buddy’s Pizza announces first downtown Detroit location
The originator of Detroit-style pizza will soon have a home in downtown Detroit. Buddy’s Pizza announced on Twitter today that it will be taking over the former space of Angelina’s Italian Bistro near the intersection of Broadway and Witherell Street. We're coming downtown. It's official. pic.twitter.com/4x98CpLZ7V — Buddy's Pizza (@buddyspizza) February 26, 2019 This will…
Fiat Chrysler announces Jeep manufacturing facility coming to Detroit
Fiat Chrysler announced on Tuesday that it will be opening a Jeep manufacturing facility in Detroit as part of a $4.5 billion dollar investment in Southeast Michigan. The plan entails the creation of 6,500 new jobs, as well as the reopening of the Mack Avenue Engine Complex on the city’s east side, the Free Press…
All star cast of Detroit chefs are teaming up for charity dinners
Grey Ghost chefs John Vermiglio and Joe Giacomino are once again pulling together some of the city’s top chefs to raise money for the Detroit Prep elementary school. The two-day, six-course dinner called Chef’s Schoolyard is set for May 8 and May 9 at the Great Lakes Culinary Center in Southfield, with all proceeds going…
The Detroit Autorama ‘Smokey and the Bandit’ jump is definitely not happening
A planned stunt jump in Detroit that was to feature a replica of the car driven by the late Burt Reynolds in Smokey and the Bandit has officially been canceled, Autorama organizers confirm. Autorama had planned on jumping the black and gold 1977 Pontiac Firebird Trans Am on Friday outside Cobo Center in honor of Reynolds,…
Flowers Of Vietnam chef plans new Mexican restaurant
Flowers Of Vietnam owner and chef George Azar is planning a new Mexican restaurant on Michigan Avenue in Southwest Detroit. Crain’s reports that the new spot will focus on cuisine from regions that are underrepresented in Southwest Detroit’s Mexican community, like the Mexican state of Oaxaca (though Oaxacan cuisine is not impossible to find here). The…
Why marijuana sales on the black market are blooming in Michigan after legalization
Working as a cashier at a dead-end job, Jordan D. saw an opportunity to make piles of quick cash after recreational marijuana was legalized in December. The 25-year-old cobbled together enough money for a few ounces of top-shelf cannabis and began delivering his product to homes in metro Detroit. For a few hundred dollars a…
Detroit Public Schools to reclaim and upgrade former charter schools
Detroit’s crush on charter schools appears to be waning, one school at a time. The Detroit Public Schools Community District recently decided not to renew leases on four buildings currently occupied by charter schools, Chalkbeat Detroit reported last week. As the charter schools scramble to find new buildings, DPSCD officials announced an investment of more…
Vote now in the Metro Times Best of Detroit 2019 poll… before it’s too late!
We aim to blow the lid off this caper! The city has its secrets, and we’re going to share them all. Maybe you can help. You can vote for your favorite food, drink, music, arts, and more in the 2019 Best of Detroit poll by 11:59 p.m. on March 22. After that, it’ll be too…
Black-owned bodega in Detroit promises to #MakeTheHoodGreatAgain
Raphael Wright is the Detroit entrepreneur who’s behind an effort to open the city’s only black-owned grocery store, which will be called Neighborhood Grocery. He’s still in the process of securing land in the Islandview neighborhood for that project, so in the meantime, he and a partner are converting a vacant party store in Russel…
Royal Oak’s Bistro 82 celebrates anniversary with five dollar specials
Bistro 82 in Royal Oak is celebrating their five-year anniversary by offering a five dollar menu for their appetizers, entrees, and desserts. The winner of Hour Detroit’s 2017 Restaurant of the Year is offering this special to diners on Wednesday, Feb. 27. The Royal Oak Daily Tribune reported that the anniversary celebration is happening soon…
Wu-Tang Clan include metro Detroit date for ’36 Chambers’ anniversary
Legendary east coast hip-hop crew Wu-Tang Clan are celebrating the 25th anniversary of the release of their breakthrough debut album Enter the Wu-Tang (36 Chambers) with a special metro Detroit performance. It was revealed Monday via Wu-Tang Clan’s Facebook that they will take the stage at Michigan Lottery Amphitheatre in Sterling Heights on Friday, May 31.…
Report: 40 Michigan families spent $56M in 2018 elections
In case you forgot that the wealthy have an excessive amount of influence over politics, a new report from the Michigan Campaign Finance Network reveals that Michigan’s wealthiest families spent $56 million on political contributions ahead of the 2018 election. As MCFN’s Craig Mauger notes, the totals don’t include contributions made to dark money nonprofits,…
New management takes over El Club after founder accused of wage theft and racial discrimination
A new managing partner is in place at Southwest Detroit music venue El Club after allegations of wage theft, racial discrimination, and abuse leveled by a former employee against co-owner and founder Graeme Flegenheimer. The charges were made a by a former employee, Chanel Kincaid, in a November Facebook post. In the allegations’ wake, artists…
Oscar-winning ‘Green Book’ director thanks Shinola for ‘saving Detroit’
Detroit got a surprising shoutout during the Oscar ceremony Sunday night when Green Book director Peter Farrelly plugged Shinola in his thank you speech for Best Original Screenplay. Though it had been panned by critics for its tone-deaf depiction of race in America, the film swept the Oscars for Best Picture, Best Original Screenplay, and…
‘Creem’ doc gets new trailer ahead of Detroit premiere
Boy Howdy! — the upcoming documentary about the irreverent former Detroit-based music magazine Creem — has a new trailer ahead of its premiere at the Freep Film Festival in April. In the clip, the likes of Metallica’s Kirk Hammett, the Black Keys’ Patrick Carney, and actor and musician Jeff Daniels discuss what was so great…
GM greenlights production at Hamtramck plant until early 2020
General Motors announced on Friday that it would be extending production at its Detroit-Hamtramck factory until early 2020. The plant was originally slated to stop production in June of 2019. The company now says that production of the Chevrolet Impala and Cadillac CT6 will extend through early January 2020, AP reports. Related In November, General…
Detroit bar crawl organizers respond to criticism over offensive ‘Mexican’ photo
The organizers of a “Tacos N’ Tequila Crawl” planned for May 4 in Greektown have responded to criticism of their marketing material. As Metro Times reported on Thursday, Bar Crawl Live’s Facebook and Twitter photos used to promote the event showed white women dressed up “Mexican” stereotypes with finger mustaches and sombreros. That ignited a…
MI could benefit from huge public-lands bill in U.S. House
Hundreds of Michigan parks, beaches, campgrounds, piers, public pools and wilderness areas have been created or improved through the Land and Water Conservation Fund. The program could be extended permanently if a huge public-lands package in Congress becomes law. The Natural Resources Management Act already passed the Senate overwhelmingly and is expected to get a…
Close to 15,000 pieces of undelivered mail found in home of Warren mail carrier
A Warren mail carrier is facing federal charges after nearly 15,000 pieces of undelivered mail were found in her home last month. WJBK-TV reports that Tiara Vann, 30, was issued a search warrant after a pest control worker serviced Vann’s Clinton Township townhome. Upon discovering the hoarded mail, the property manager contacted the authorities. A…
Is Pie-Sci’s Salami Kilpatrick the best pizza in Detroit?
Detroit is a surprisingly deep pizza town. Loui’s is among the nation’s best pizzerias, while Cloverleaf, Buddy’s, and other Detroit-style pizzamkers trade in what seems to be the nation’s trendiest pie. Supino’s thin crust pizzas are always excellent, and Mootz’s carryout component is now serving solid NY-style slices. PizzaPlex does Neapolitan by the book, while…
AG Nessel to Catholic churches: The era of hiding misconduct is over
Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel delivered a stern message to Catholic churches in Michigan: The era of hiding sexual misconduct is over. “We can, and will, follow the abuse where it’s occurred,” Nessel said during her first press conference Thursday. “Our team has seized, and is now continuing to review, hundreds of thousands of pages…
Detroit man who threatened ‘massive shooting’ in Michigan arrested, authorities say
A Detroit man accused of threatening “a massive shooting” in Michigan has been arrested in Youngstown, Ohio. U.S. Marshals said 28-year-old Cameron White posted on Facebook that he was “planning a massive shooting real soon.” Authorities on Wednesday arrested White in Youngstown, where they believed he was hiding out before planning to carrying out the…
Former Detroit Lion Calvin Johnson awarded license for medical marijuana dispensary
Former Detroit Lions star Calvin Johnson received some pot-positive news Thursday. The Michigan Medical Licensing Board voted 4-0 in favor of Johnson and his wife Brittney’s prequalification to pursue a Michigan medical marijuana license, Freep reports. This is Johnson’s second attempt to obtain licensing to open a dispensary after being denied all four preliminary license applications…
Detroit Police can’t seize your property just for committing a crime, Supreme Court rules
A U.S. Supreme Court’s unanimous ruling Wednesday is expected to curb local and state law enforcement’s ability to take ownership of cash, cars, homes and other private property used to commit a crime. In 2017, police in Michigan seized more than $13 million in property from drug dealers under the state’s civil forfeiture laws, according…
Michigan employers can discriminate against medical marijuana users, court says
Employers in Michigan can terminate an at-will employee or refuse to hire an applicant for using medical marijuana, the Michigan Court of Appeals has ruled. The decision on Tuesday clashes with recent court rulings in Connecticut, Massachusetts and Rhode Island, where judges have sided with employees’ rights to use medical cannabis. The Michigan case stems…
Eminem isn’t happy that Netflix canceled ‘The Punisher’
Marshall Mathers recently shared a few thoughts on Twitter after learning about the cancellation of Netflix’s Marvel series The Punisher. And needless to say, he wasn’t happy. DEAR @NETFLIX, REGARDING YOUR CANCELLATION OF THE PUNISHER, YOU ARE BLOWING IT!! SINCERELY, MARSHALL — Marshall Mathers (@Eminem) February 21, 2019 Although fans of the Marvel show may…
Detroit bar crawl organizers criticized for using photo of partygoers dressed up as ‘Mexicans’
A New York City-based party organizer apologized on Wednesday after receiving criticism on social media from Southwest Detroit community leaders over its use of offensive marketing material that showed a group of white women dressed up as “Mexican” stereotypes. The material is part of Bar Crawl Live’s Facebook event page for its May 4 “Tacos…
Downtown Detroit is getting its very own surrealist beach
Life’s a beach. In the case of Detroit’s latest art installation, life is a super surreal beach ball — lots of them. “The Beach Detroit” is an interactive art installation by New York art house, Snarkitecture and the latest to wash up on the shore of Detroit’s playful art scene thanks to Library Street Collective.…
Marathon Petroleum responds to history of environmental violations in Southwest Detroit
Marathon Petroleum Corporation has long had a tenuous relationship with the residents of Southwest Detroit. The zip code that Marathon’s Detroit oil refinery calls home, 48217, remains occupied by more than 7,000 Detroiters who suffer from higher rates of asthma and cancer than most of the country. Earlier this month, a malfunctioning flare at Marathon’s…
Cobo Center will no longer be named after a racist mayor
Detroit’s premier convention hall, Cobo Center, will no longer be named after a racist mayor who pledged to remove black people from white neighborhoods. The announcement was made Wednesday morning in a press conference held by Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, along with Detroit city officials and the Detroit Regional Convention Facility Authority. It follows months of speculation…
Icewear Vezzo and Big Sean drop new single ‘Balance’ on Motown Records
Detroit rappers Icewear Vezzo and Big Sean have finally teamed up on a new single “Balance,” showcasing some of the best rap talent that the Motor City has to offer. The single, which was released by Vezzo on Motown Records, features strong lyrical flexing from Big Sean, who is currently signed to Jay-Z’s label Roc…
The Lonely Island is coming to Detroit and we just jizzed in our pants
Once in a generation does a band come along that completely changes the way we experience music. The Beatles. Nirvana. Ashlee Simpson’s Saturday Night Live performance. And the Lonely Island. The comedic trio behind classics “I’m On a Boat” (feat. T- Pain) and “I Just Had Sex” (feat. Akon) and “Jack Sparrow” (feat. Michael Bolton)…
New beer hall planned for Royal Oak
Brown Iron Brewhouse is planning a new location in a development taking shape at 13 Mile Road and Woodward Avenue. Plans for the Washington Township-based restaurant and beer hall include 64 taps of Brown Iron and other American craft beers, and a food menu centered around meats that are smoked for 14 to 16 hours.…
State police won’t pursue extortion charges against Duggan for Bob Carmack
Michigan State Police won’t pursue charges against local businessman Bob Carmack for allegedly trying to extort Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan. The mayor called for a state police investigation in November, days after Carmack paraded around Detroit in a truck displaying a video in which the mayor is shown driving to a woman’s house. Duggan claimed…
Detroit hip-hop group Clear Soul Forces prove they’re no flash in the pan
Back in 2012, Clear Soul Forces burst onto the scene with the release of their first album, Detroit Revolution(s). The four members in the group — Noveliss, L.A.Z., E-Fav, and Ilajide — hit the ground running with hard-hitting beats and endless punchlines, and were lauded as the next generation of Detroit’s storied underground hip-hop community.…
Nevermind the Oscars — here’s what we think are the year’s best flicks
Every winter, when word finally arrives of the previous year’s Oscar nominees, we tend to go through familiar rituals. Even those of us who skip the ceremony can feel obliged to catch up on a spread of nominees selected for no good reason — they’re the movies the Academy thinks will help it show its…
Savage Love: Consider the extra lobster
Two weeks ago, a longtime reader challenged me to create a new sexual neologism. (Quickly for the pedants: You’re right! It is redundant to describe a neologism as “new,” since neologisms are by definition new: “ne·ol·o·gism noun a newly coined word or expression.” You got me!) “Neo-Neologisms, Please!” was too polite to point it out, but my two…
Hypnotist Misha Tuesday puts us under his spell for Mystic Nights
Within minutes of meeting Misha Tuesday, I become a human magnet. My hands meld together, my arm refuses to bend, and my mind is surprisingly OK with what felt like relinquished control. With a few strategic snaps of his fingers while under the instruction of his soothing yet authoritative voice, my posture softens and suddenly…
Detroit musicians have an opportunity to learn about copyright law this week
It’s certainly tough out there for musicians. With diminishing support from record labels, musicians are tasked with navigating the music industry on their own — which can be hard to do on top of buying instruments and equipment, finding time for rehearsals, booking gigs, and, of course, writing good songs. Then there’s also another aspect…
Review: Delphine Jamaican Restaurant brings Caribbean flavors to Warren
Warren’s Delphine Jamaican Restaurant is basic and designed for carry-out. There are five eat-in tables, with a tabletop design featuring happy space families, kin to the Jetsons. Even eat-in-ers are served on (or really, in) Styrofoam. The walls are bright yellow with stripes of black and green, a la the Jamaican flag. Four guys in…
Where can we get high in Michigan?
The question of where to get high has always dogged marijuana users. It’s been crucial: Marijuana has been illegal for most of our lives, and nobody wanted to get caught using it. The smell of marijuana smoke is distinct and it floats around pretty freely. Now that medical and adult-use marijuana are legal in Michigan,…
Horoscopes (Feb. 20-26)
ARIES: March 21 – April 20 Your “Get Out of Jail Free” card is ready and waiting for you to cash it in and move on. Any sense of trepidation needs to be weighed against what it has cost you to remain chained to this post. External issues make you wonder if it’s the right…
Trump’s fake emergency, real threats, and marks for the con
On Friday morning, Donald Trump walked into the Rose Garden to declare that, while he’d done a better job of border security than anyone ever had, there was now an unprecedented emergency that required diverting funds from actual military projects to build a southern border wall that Congress had explicitly refused to pay for. Here,…
