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Metro Times NAIAS Journals
Four of us hop in a 2000 Saturn LS2 in the Metro Times parking lot early in the morning. It’s more difficult than it should be — the passenger side handle broke off during the Polar Vortex. This chariot rides on four wheels like other cars, but one of them happens to be a donut.…
Detroit Lions Score Carlin Isles, World’s Fastest Rugby Player
As SB Nation reports, the Detroit Lions have a new player signed to their practice squad with international Rugby player Carlin Isles. Check out the video below — Isles is really freakin’ fast: SB Nation wrote: He is so fast and talented that even the Detroit Lions scouts noticed him and signed him to their practice squad…
Deathlok to appear on Agents of Shield
News has emerged that Deathlok, the Marvel comics cyborg, will make his first live action appearance on the TV show Agents of Shield. This has us excited, not least because of the character’s Detroit connections. As we wrote in the cover story Dark Stars, Deathlok was co-created by Detroit native Rich Buckler. Since then, a…
Where’s Charlie LeDuff?
As Deadline Detroit points out, reporter Charlie LeDuff has gone silent since Dec. 17, when his last news report on Fox 2 aired. (UPDATE: Except for a Jan. 17 appearance on “Let It Rip,” LeDuff has been absent from his usual media outlets.) LeDuff’s disappearance also follows a big bump in publicity after GQ Magazine…
60 Retro Photos From Detroit’s Grande Ballroom
The folks over at Retro Kimmer have put together a post showcasing 60 retro photos of Detroit’s rock ‘n’ roll scene. The photos, which give off an authentic, pre-Instagram vibe, use the city’s Grande Ballroom as its backdrop and feature performers such as the Who, Jimi Hendrix, and the like. They’re really freakin’ cool. Check…
‘Passing’ (Feb 1-16 at the Charles H. Wright Museum)
Passing is a thought-provoking, poignant one-woman show (involving 10 characters), inspired by the true story of Minerva Roulhac and her remarkable decision NOT to “pass” for white. Touching the hearts of thousands of theatre goers, Passing started Off-Broadway, premiering to sold-out audiences and eventually touring to the Midwest and to the heart of the south. Minerva was…
Beautiful Footage of Detroit Showcased in Red Bull Ad, Set to Air at Grammy Awards
Hey, Detroit, our city is being featured in a Red Bull sponsored ad, set to air during the Grammy Awards on Sunday. The footage was curated by Detroit artist Tylonn Sawyer. Here’s a sneak peek, thanks to Deadline Detroit. Look for it tomorrow night.
12th Man Report: Stage Set in East Lansing
In a little more than 24 hours, No. 21 Michigan will square off on the hardcourt against the third-ranked Michigan State Spartans. And the first meeting this season between the instate rivals couldn’t come at a more riveting time. Saying the “stage is set” isn’t even doing this weekend’s matchup justice — it’s bound to…
Listening To: Child Bite & Phil Anselmo — Morbit Hits
You would be amazed at how much music can happen, can explode, in the space of five seconds. This might be the most refreshingly scary thing you listen to all year. Yes, I know it’s not even February. Child Bite teamed up with punk-legend Phil Anselmo to cover five songs originally only found on the 1993…
City Slang: The Whiskey Charmers Purr to a Chomping Few at O’Mara’s
It’s at times like this that you just want to get up and hug the band. On Thursday evening at O’Mara’s, a sort of Irish-themed restaurant in Berkley, Carrie Shepard and Lawrence Daversa of the Whiskey Charmers are pouring their hearts out on the mini-stage while, in front of them and separated by a partition…
Madonna University Brings the Hollywood Experience to Motown
Madonna University’s Broadcast & Cinema Arts Capstone Film Class has been raking in awards and accolades in recent years, and while the credit goes to the hard work of the students, it’s hard not to acknowledge the presence of adjunct professor Jennifer Champagne. Champagne draws on 19 years of award-winning experience in Hollywood, and currently…
Bret Michaels to Rock for Jobs in Detroit
Poison singer Bret Michaels will play a show at the Motor City Casino’s Soundboard on Sunday, February 16, dubbed “Rock for Jobs.” Proceeds from the concert will help to fund Goodwill Industries of Greater Detroit’s mission to put metro Detroiters back to work through job training and placement programs. Say what you want about the…
City Slang: American Idol is pure evil
Yes, I know. No surprises there. It’s a bullshit TV show designed to find the next banal pop star for the masses to salivate all over. Personally, I hadn’t watched the thing in years, if at all (I’ve seen one of the TV talent shows before, I just can’t remember which one). But on Wednesday…
Young, Educated and Leaving Michigan
Michigan’s New Motto: “Buh-Bye.” The editorial board at the Detroit News just can’t stop congratulating Gov. Rick Snyder on how not-so-bad things are here in Michigan. In a overwhelmingly moderate editorial, the newspaper congratulated Snyder on the boatloads of somewhat good news coming in about Michigan’s economy. The piece, which was titled “Michigan Throws…
City Slang: There’s a new solo album from the MC5’s Wayne Kramer on the way
Wayne Kramer, guitarist with legendary Detroit band the MC5, is about to release a solo jazz record called Lexington. When asked about the album title, Kramer said, “I had buried my penitentiary experience in my psyche, but after a few years of sobriety I started looking inward into how I became who I am and…
Metro Times Blowout Dates Announced, Submissions Accepted
Now in its 17th year, Metro Times Blowout continues its run as one of the most legendary music events in metro Detroit. Thousands of bands from every genre imaginable have played everything from large music venues to the back rooms of dive bars. It’s in these places that music fans have unknowingly stumbled upon their…
Does Detroit Really Have 50,000 Stray Dogs? Not Likely, Study Says
Does Detroit have a stray dog problem? Anecdotally, this writer will sheepishly confess to having been chased by a pack of three rabid dogs after embarking on a selfie-taking expedition near CCS. (Related: Does Detroit have a “ruin porn selfie” problem?) But how many strays does Detroit have? Estimates have varied wildly. In a 2012…
Regional Transit Authority Loses CEO
Last week brought terrible news for transportation in our battered region — and virtually everyone missed the story. Ironically, this came just as we were all being deluged with all the feel-good coverage of the North American International Auto Show. Yes, there’s a spiffy new Corvette. Yes, the testosterone just slams through my spongy tissue…
Video: Motorbiking Through the Packard Plant
Exploring Detroit’s Packard plant on a dirt bike from cantini pictures ltd on Vimeo. Had enough Packard Plant yet? Never. And this video, at least, gives you the vacant king of Detroit ruin porn in a new form — via motorbike.
City Slang: This week at Trinosophes
This Friday, January 24, Trinosophes hosts Tony Holland with Djallo Djakate, Joel Peterson and Clarence Williams. They say, “A member of the front-line of Detroit’s legendary Griot Galaxy, saxophonist Tony Holland is debuting this new group as part of Friday avant-jazz series. A fiery player on all the saxophones, he has been featured on numerous…
Gary Grimshaw, RIP
We were saddened to learn that Gary Grimshaw, the poster artist best known for his work during the Grande Ballroom era and former White Panther Minister of Arts, died at noon on Monday, Jan. 13, having suffered with ill health for many years. Grimshaw’s work became synonymous with 1960s Detroit rock ’n’ roll and, in…
A Talk With Eminem Attorney Howard Hertz
Entertainment attorney Howard Hertz has represented numerous musicians, authors, screenwriters, recording artists, radio personalities, producers, etc., since 1976. Marilyn Manson, Elmore Leonard, George Clinton and the Insane Clown Posse have all been on his client list at one time or another. Most recently, he was sitting beside ICP at the press conference announcing their lawsuit…
Why Does My Vagina Hurt?
Q: I’m a straight 24-year-old female, and I just recently lost my virginity. I’ve had sex only three times (not with a monogamous partner) and have found each time to be incredibly painful — even when the guy’s just using his fingers. I’ve always been extremely sensitive. In the past, I’ve had guys run their…
Our Readers On Juggalos, Marijuana, Gary Grimshaw and More
A Juggalo’s Lament Re: “ICP vs. FBI,” I can relate to the Brandon Bradley, Scott Gandy and all the other Juggalos who find themselves targets of legalized discrimination because the FBI has labeled them gangsters. I am a member of a motorcycle club that is included in the gang threat assessment pretty much every year.…
Gracie See Is The Best Little West Side Pizzeria
Gracie See — and Hear — The best little west side pizzeria you’ve never heard of now has another reason to visit: live music. Every Wednesday, the front room of Gracie See Pizzeria gives way to a bluesy open mic, with pickup musicians bringing everything from electric guitar to horns to drums into the cozy…
100 Best Decorated Cookies
Food Thought 100 Best Decorated Cookies: Featuring 750 Step-By-Step Photos By Julie Anne Hession Robert Rose, $20, 256 pp. With all this Arctic air putting the freeze on us, it might be a good time to rediscover the joys of baking cookies. And there’s no reason to make the same, boring old sugar cookies. Julie…
‘Django Unchained’ Original Screenplay and ‘Sex Criminals’
Django Unchained Original Screenplay by Quentin Tarantino; adapted by Reginald Hudlin (featuring art by R.M. Guera, Jason Latour, Denys Cowan, Danijel Zezelj and John Floyd) $24.99, Vertigo Did we ever live in a world without on-demand video? Sure. It was called the 20th century. In those days, all you had was the theatrical experience and,…
CCS Shows Off New Student Work at NAIAS
If seeing the latest cars is your bag, there’s no better place to do that than the North American International Auto Show. But the NAIAS is also a chance to get a glimpse of the newest car designers, as Detroit’s College for Creative Studies uses the event to showcase the work of its latest crop…
Reviews of New Releases By Dum Dum Girls, Jerry Sprague and More
Dum Dum Girls Too True Sub Pop On early singles, Dum Dum Girls seemed determined to out-scuzz and out-fuzz contemporaries like Vivian Girls and Best Coast, as if they were locked in a lo-fi race to the bottom. The lyrics were indistinguishable and the production was shit. But at some point (actually, right before being…
Nice Hooves To Play Punk Rock Winter Formal
It’s Pig & Whiskey 2013, the annual Metro Times event that sees folks from all over metro Detroit gather in Ferndale to drink whiskey and eat barbecue in the sunshine while listening to great music. On Saturday, the sun has been beating down hard for hours, but it has relented a little by the time…
El Barzón Mixes Mexican and Italian
El Barzón 3710 Junction St., Detroit 313-894-2070 Handicap accessible Mexican entrées: $18-$33 Italian entrées: $18-$30 Pastas: $15-$30 Open 11 a.m.-2:30 p.m. and 5-9 p.m. Tuesday-Thursday, 11 a.m.-2:30 p.m. and 5-10 p.m. Friday, 4 p.m.-10 p.m. Saturday, noon-9 p.m. Sunday If you’re a frequenter of Southwest side Mexican restaurants, as I am, El Barzón may give…
Everybody Seems to Know Just How to ‘Fix’ Detroit
Over the last several years, the city of Detroit has suffered a plague of experts descending upon it, which is just a notch more pleasant than locusts on the scale of plagues. It seems everybody knows just what it takes to “fix” Detroit, and they’re not shy about offering their pearls of wisdom to us…
Lawsuit Alleges Insurance Racial Discrimination
Insurance company practices based on racial discrimination have a long history in Detroit and other big cities. Detroit residents pay twice as much for car insurance as those in surrounding communities. These higher rates contribute, along with high taxes, to what some consider the prohibitive cost of living in the city. Those practices will be…
Watch a Detroit Police Officer Take Down a Woman in this Wild Arrest Footage
We’ve seen our fair share of wild arrest footage, but this clip from Sunday, originally posted on WXYZ, goes above and beyond the norm. Security cameras from a party shop on 7 Mile capture what at first appears to be a routine traffic stop (later reports suggest the driver had no seatbelt, no registration, no…
12th Man Report: Lombardi named new Lions offensive coordinator
Well, Detroit’s new offensive coordinator isn’t Hall of Famer Vince Lombardi — though it is a close second. ESPN is reporting that New Orleans Saints quarterback coach Joe Lombardi, grandson of the legendary Packers coach, will be Detroit’s next offensive coordinator. While Joe Lombardi has never been an offensive coordinator in the league, he has experience…
Video: Mitt Romney Starts Writing His Concession Speech
Netflix will debut MITT the documentary on Friday, January 24. There are already a couple of video excerpts out there teasing the in-depth, behind-the-scenes flick that followed the Detroit native around during his presidential run, and Netflix dropped another one. Here’s when Mitt starts asking what should be included in a concession speech.…
Here’s why every Motor City techno-head should know about Geektown Detroit
Sandra Leidecker, a graphic design and illustration student, has a book project called Geektown Detroit, which sees her creating prints inspired by the early Detroit techno scene. You can find it all here. According to her website, “For her diploma thesis at Bauhaus Universität Weimar she did interviews with DJs, producers and label owners from…
Get Your Detroit Lions “Conference Participants” T-Shirt
Hey now, that’s low. But fair. At least we’re not Cleveland. The fabulous “Conference Participants” shirt comes from the masochistic minds at Alternative Hero. Buy it here.
Detroit Bikes Gears Up For U.S. Distribution
A vehicle exported from Detroit? It seemed like those days were ending. Yet that’s exactly what Detroit-based Detroit Bikes will accomplish thanks to a new partnership with one of the nation’s largest bicycle distributors, Bicycle Technologies International. The company, which has been selling it’s “A-Type” model built in its west side factory since 2013, will now…
City Slang: Weekly music review roundup
Send CDs, vinyl, cassettes, demos and 8-tracks to Brett Callwood, Metro Times, 1200 Woodward Heights, Ferndale MI 48220. Email MP3s and streaming links to bcallwood@metrotimes.com. Steve Scott Country’s Those Tears I’ve Cried (Bona Vita) comes with the tag line “Made in Detroit: Rustbelt country Americana at its best!” Sorry sir, but this is not Americana…
