A Dearborn woman is on a mission to aid orphans in Iraq and Jordan

Iman Jasim is many things. She is an Iraqi immigrant and a mother of six. She’s a teacher, a humanitarian worker, and a wife. She has a message, and she’s spent more than 30 years sharing it with her community both locally and abroad. Jasim, 57, says her father instilled certain values in her early…

Meet Black Pig, Michigan’s first (legit) dry cure salumists

One of the best parts of eating in Michigan is that we have local, craft producers for just about everything, and often times there are more than one for specific foodstuffs. But when it comes to dry cured, fermented pig — or more specifically, salami — Michigan has lacked any real options But that recently…

Get inked at Motor City Tattoo Expo this weekend

The annual ode to ink returns to Detroit. This year’s event, now in its 23rd year, is set to feature 170 booths and more than 300 artists, including big names like Mike DeVries, Bob Tyrrell, Liz Cook, Scot Sinskye, Myke Chambers, Big Ceeze, and many more. The expo will also host live entertainment, tattoo seminars,…

The grit, grease, and muscle of Autorama returns this weekend

Ladies and gentlemen, start your engines. You can keep your glitz and glam at the North American International Auto Show: Give us the grit, grease, and muscle of the 66th Annual Autorama. Known as America’s greatest hot rod show, Autorama will feature more than 800 custom rides, with America’s favorite No. 88, Dale Earnhardt Jr.,…

The Music of Harry Potter brings Hogwarts to life at the Michigan Theater

Expecto patronum! Wingardium leviosa! Expelliarmus lumos! If this does not read as gibberish or a series of typos, then the Music of Harry Potter event is probably right up your Diagon Alley. The Ann Arbor Symphony Orchestra will bring the wonderful sonic wizardry of Hogwarts to life. The original score by the incomparable John Williams…

Michigan filmmaker releases trailer for Enbridge Line 5 documentary

A documentary on Line 5, the controversial aging gas and oil pipeline situated on the bottom of the Straits of Mackinac, is set to be released this summer. According to independent filmmaker Barton Bund, the documentary Line 5 will be released in two parts. Part One: The Threat, will be released sometime this spring, and the…

Master of chill, Jack Johnson, is coming to DTE Energy Music Theatre

Kick off your shoes and get down with some recycle and chill — surfer turned soft-rocker Jack Johnson is bringing his sustainable too-blessed-to-be-stressed vibes to DTE this summer. Johnson, best known for low-key hiking/makeout jams, has asked G. Love & Special Sauce along for his “All The Light Above It Too” world tour in support of…

Lansing bar cited after Juggalo downloaded Three 6 Mafia’s entire discography

Mac’s Bar in Lansing was hit with Digital Millennium Copyright Act violations after a Juggalo apparently used the venue’s WiFi to illegally download rap group Three 6 Mafia’s entire discography. Scotty Bell, the venue’s talent buyer, posted photos of the citations and shared them on Twitter last Thursday. According to an interview with Vice, Bell…

Eastern Market’s beloved Discount Candles is not closing

Discount Candles store owner Donna Adams confirms to Metro Times that her Eastern Market 7-day candle store will remain open, despite rumors the store would shutter when its lease ends in March. The store is located on the ground floor of 1400 Gratiot Ave. Last December, the building was sold to a new owner —…

Burger restaurant Lovers Only targets an early March opening

Long-awaited downtown Detroit burger and sandwich restaurant Lovers Only is approaching its opening. Eater reports the Capitol Park restaurant is set for health department inspections in early March, is expecting to receive its liquor license around the same time, and is already training staff. It’s the second restaurant for Eli Boyer, who launched the successful…

Meet the ‘Real House Reps of Detroit’ on March 5

State Rep. Leslie Love (D-Detroit) recently announced she will host a weekly town hall series next month. The “March 6 o’clock Town Hall Series” begins Monday, March 5 and will cover “Women’s Voices in the Political Process.” A promotional mailer for the March 5 town hall describes it as a chance for constituents to “join…

Detroit Sushi Festival will roll into Eastern Market this summer

Last week, we brought you news that a new festival dedicated to all things vegan will take over Eastern Market this summer. Now, we have news that’s going to maki you crave your favorite Asian dishes. Related Detroit Sushi Festival, a sushi-tasting event featuring maki, sashimi, nigiri, and plenty of wasabi, will set up shop…

A Swahili coney island pop up is coming to Detroit this Sunday

Just after we get done wiping the crumbs of the coney paczki from our mouths the next coney fusion dish is here — the East African Swahili coney. The dish will be offered as part of the Swahili Coney pop up planned for Sunday, March 4 at El Club in Detroit. Though it’s something novel,…

Hamtramck’s Al-Haramain grocery store is planning a second location, new restaurant

More than any other grocery store or market in Hamtramck, Al-Haramain International Foods represents the cuisines you’ll find in the city’s kitchens. It’s filled with Yemeni, Bangladeshi, Polish, Ukrainian, and traditional U.S. groceries. Also just like the surrounding the city — which is Michigan’s densest — it’s packed tight. And let’s not even get started…

Michiganders love to complain about potholes, according to this map

Since the great thaw of mid-February 2018, potholes have been an omnipresent talking point for Michiganders — perhaps because they’re worse than usual this year. Related On the whole, the state’s — and Detroit’s in particular — infrastructure is a problem, but potholes are a particularly big issue because they can cause both vehicular and…

Big Boy sign face-plants in northern Michigan

Looks like yesterday’s high winds have given this Big Boy a case of the Mondays. The National Weather Service reports the Big Boy sign outside a Kalkaska location of the restaurant chain blew over around 1:30 p.m. yesterday as the northern part of Michigan’s lower peninsula experienced winds with gusts of up to 50 miles…

EPA: Black and poor neighborhoods more likely to have high air pollution

It ain’t exactly rocket surgery, as they say. Turns out scientists from the EPA’s National Center for Public Health back up what the environmental justice movement has been decrying for years: That “people who live, work, and play in America’s most polluted environments are commonly people of color and the poor.” Published Feb. 22 by…

Metallica will close out their upcoming tour with a stop in Grand Rapids

Calling all local thrash metal heads — Metallica is returning to Michigan. The band announced the “World Wired Tour” today on Twitter. The 34-date tour is in support of their latest album Hardwired…To Self-Destruct and is planned for fall 2018 through March 2019. The tour ends with a stop at Van Andel Arena in Grand…

Detroit Police Chief James Craig advocates for arming teachers

The police chief known for expressing controversial views that once landed him on the cover of a National Rifle Association magazine is at it again. Detroit Police Chief James Craig now says he supports arming some teachers in the classroom. Craig took to the airwaves of WWJ-950 last week to convey his support for the idea that…

Andrew W.K’s new album is streaming and yes he sings about parties

It might be easy to peg Michigan-native Andrew W.K as a one-trick party pony, but his latest record You Are Not Alone (March 2) is equal parts party jam and thoughtful self-help motivation—and it’s streaming for your party pleasure. “If you ever feel like something is very, very wrong — wrong with life, wrong with…

Why the Grand Prix’s $58M economic impact claim is mostly bullshit

In the ongoing debate over whether the Detroit Belle Isle Grand Prix’s organizers should be allowed to convert the city’s one-of-a-kind island park into a private raceway, gearheads typically fall back to one point — the annual event provides a huge economic boost to the city. This year, billionaire Grand Prix founder Roger Penske is…

NBC’s Good Girls premieres tonight featuring suburban Michigan moms

Get ready to see suburban Michigan moms gone wild. Well, sort of. Tonight NBC’s Good Girls premieres, a series following three moms-turned-bank robbers after deciding they’re ready to stick up for themselves. Get it? Stick up? Sorry, mom joke. Starring Christina Hendricks (Mad Men, Another Period), Retta (Parks and Recreation, Girlfriends’ Guide to Divorce), Mae Whitman (Parenthood, Arrested…

Detroit native Chanté Adams stars in upcoming Netflix film

Roll out the red carpet for Chanté Adams. The actress’ first feature film, Roxanne Roxanne, is set to debut on Netflix on March 23 and is earning the Detroit native some serious buzz.  The 22-year-old had recently graduated from Carnegie Mellon University’s drama school when she tried out for the lead role in the hip-hop biopic and…

Diana Ross’ sister is running for a Michigan House seat

Elections for the state’s House of Representatives will take place this year, and all 110 seats are up for grabs. In the 5th district, which encompasses much of Southwest Detroit, there’s one candidate with a bit of star power in the running. Rita Ross, the youngest sister of famed singer Diana Ross, entered the race…

Detroit chillwave darling Vespre premieres new single, ‘Lovers’

Still thinking about the one that got away? Well, you’re not alone. The latest sonic musing from chillwave darling Vespre will have you dragging the past well into the future — and it’s not nearly as heavy as you might think. The musical project of multi-instrumentalist and artist, Kaylan Waterman, Vespre’s new single “Lovers” channels an…

Sam Austins premieres new Rihanna-themed single, ‘Fenty’

Hate to say we told you so — so we’ll let Sam Austins step up instead. Detroit’s own and one of the artists featured in Metro Times’ “Bands To Watch in 2018,” Austins just dropped his first single since 2017’s Angst EP and it’s an ode to Bad Girl Ri Ri herself — Rihanna and her…

Michigan House approves divisive bill to make English official state language

With a national debate centered around gun control reaching a fever pitch, Michigan’s Republican-led House of Representatives has decided now is the time to address what they seem to feel is a very urgent and important issue: Making English Michigan’s official language. Without warning, Republicans rammed House Bill 4053 through on Thursday. The vote passed 62-46, mostly…

Farmer’s Hand owners announce offshoot cafe, Folk, to open in Corktown

A popular Corktown cafe and market will soon have a sibling, according to a press release sent this afternoon. Related The Farmer’s Hand has quickly gained esteem as a spot to get all Michigan-made products, including fresh produce, and wine, along with pre-made sandwiches. Related Farmer’s Hand owners Kiki Louya and Rohani Foulkes announced today they will…

Freep business writer: Fewer jobs could be new normal

Our attention was drawn to an interesting piece in today’s Detroit Free Press. It had business writer John Gallagher kicking the tires on Michigan’s economy. Though the paint job is great and the numbers look impressive, Gallagher lifts up the hood and shows that the engine is sputtering, and can’t keep up with other states.…

Ted Nugent seems to think Parkland shooting survivors are ‘actors’

So much for that kinder, gentler Nuge we were promised. As reported by Media Matters, the “Motor City Madman” posted an article on his Facebook page pushing a right-wing conspiracy theory alleging survivors of Florida’s Parkland school massacre were “coached” actors. The article, from noted fake news purveyor Natural News, claimed the students “were coached to repeat scripted lines, just like…

Detroit’s only campground to reopen after more than a decade

Starting this spring, Detroit youth will be able to once again camp in the city when Rouge Park’s Scout Hollow, Detroit’s only (official) campground, is set to reopen after more than a decade. According to a press release sent Thursday, the 17.4-acre site will be renovated with a $200,000 grant from the Kresge Foundation. It will be run by Detroit…

Zingerman’s Coffee Company relaunches this week

Zingerman’s Coffee Company is celebrating the grand re-opening of its Ann Arbor-area shop on Feb. 24 and 25. The reconfiguration of its space at 3723 Plaza Dr. #5 in Pittsfield Township will provide more table seating, espresso bar seating, and banquette seating. But more exciting is the addition of a new “toast bar,” which will…

Legends of Wrestling to powerslam Fraser Hockeyland Arena this spring

Iron your spandex, prepare your battle cries, and get ready to smash some folding chairs — the Legends of Wrestling tour is bringing the heat to metro Detroit. Legends of Wrestling will deliver live matches and ringside smackdowns inside of the Fraser Hockeyland Arena on Saturday, April 21. Ric Flair, Sting, Mick Foley, Jimmy “Mouth…

Vandals keep dumping pizza all over a Troy man’s Jeep

There is no sight more horrendous that than of wasted pizza. But, a Troy man has woken up to that unspeakable tragedy three times this month. According to a story on WDIV, a Troy resident told police he woke up around 4 a.m. on Monday morning to the sound of vandals dumping pizzas and their boxes…

Mitch Albom wrote another book and oh please god make it stop

Mitch Albom, a Detroit Free Press columnist who should have been fired in 2005 when he indisputably made shit up in one of his sports columns, continues to work in media, and we cannot figure out why. Despite saying we shouldn’t write about school shootings anymore and also feeling he has the right to tell rape…

Imagine Dragons are coming to Detroit and they have a new song

Imagine Dragons spit some major fire by announcing the details of their forthcoming major North American tour and dropped a new and totally text-your-ex worthy single “Next to Me” on the same day. The “Evolve World Tour” will bring the Grammy Award-winning, multi-platinum “Radioactive” pop-rockers to DTE Energy Music Theatre on Thursday, June 21. Tickets…

Michigan Democrats love Linda Belcher — no, not that one

Imagine our surprise when seeing retweets from the Michigan Democrats announcing that Linda Belcher had won a seat in the Kentucky House of Representatives. Linda? From’s Bob’s Burgers? Has fictional television actually made its way into our American politics? Well, yes, — but in this case, there is a living, breathing, non-cartoon Linda Belcher. A…

Savage Love: Bi and biphobia

I’m an 18-year-old female. I’m cisgender and bisexual. I’ve been in a monogamous relationship with my cisgender bisexual boyfriend for about a year. I’m currently struggling with a lot of internalized biphobia and other hang-ups about my boyfriend’s sexuality. I don’t know if I’m projecting my own issues onto him or if I’m just being bigoted toward…

Why Michigan needs the ‘law of the jungle’

Want to serve in Congress? Want a chance to snag a seat — even though you don’t have much in the way of cash or connections? Don’t despair! Now’s your chance, and you may never have a better one. Back In December, John Conyers, who had served in the House of Representatives for more than…

The drunken dichotomy of Deer Tick

Deer Tick appears to have made it through the thick of it. The band has survived a decade of self-destruction, self-sabotage, and the pretentious menagerie of indie rock. For the rowdy, dysfunctional rockers, survival has little to do with luck or right place, right time happenstance and everything to do with having maintained their reputation…

Detroit chooses to overrule the people and fight pot proposals

The city of Detroit has played coy on the issues of Proposals A and B, which voters approved in November, but on Friday struck a decisive blow against them — and liberal zoning for marijuana businesses — in Wayne County Circuit Court. Chief Judge Robert Colombo, who in September ruled against the city and forced…

Annihilation challenges notions of identity and perception

Virginia Woolf had something to say about lighthouses. In her 1927 novel, To the Lighthouse, she addressed the object’s status as a beacon and guiding force. And just as Richard Burton and Elizabeth Taylor proved that there might be something to fear from Woolf, writer-director Alex Garland has shown, with his new sci-fi brainteaser Annihilation,…

Horoscopes (Feb. 21-27)

ARIES: March 21 – April 20 Dealing with “the lowest common denominator” could be a theme. This will show up on any number of levels. It can mean that you’re hanging out with lowlifes and scumbags whose ways and means of getting by are impacting your attitude and behavior. It can also indicate that you…

Artist Chico MacMurtrie, U-M students build robot that could cross Mexican wall

On Friday, Feb. 16, artist Chico MacMurtrie gave a couple demonstrations in Ann Arbor of an inflatable, 40-foot robotic sculpture designed to cross the U.S.-Mexico border. The robot was designed over the course of five weeks with 16 U-M students from across different departments, including robotics, engineering, art, and design. An exhibition of MacMurtrie’s drawings…


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