Cover Story
A first look at Abbott, Saladin Ahmed’s new comic book set in 1970s Detroit
As an author, metro Detroit native Saladin Ahmed has explored many fantastic settings. His debut novel, 2012’s Hugo Award-nominated Throne of the Crescent Moon, takes place in a fantasy world that owes more to Middle Eastern lore than the Medieval Europe typical of the genre. And last year’s Black Bolt, his debut Marvel comic series,…
Monster Jam will rev engines and break stuff at Ford Field this weekend
Monster Jam just celebrated its 25th anniversary and is bringing on some new acts for 2018 — and promising an exhilarating and loud ride from the stands of the stadium. Monster Jam features monster trucks racing against one another and crashing purposefully while flipping and spinning in the air at high speeds up to 100…
Abdul El-Sayed responds to claims he’s not eligible to run for governor
A professorship at Columbia University’s Mailman School of Public Health in New York may keep gubernatorial hopeful Abdul El-Sayed from office. Or at least, that’s what a recent Bridge magazine article suggests. The magazine interviewed several experts that say El-Sayed could be ineligible to run because he was too recently registered to vote in New York,…
More metro Detroit Bagger Dave’s locations abruptly bite the dust
The Bagger Dave’s empire continues to recede. The Traverse City-based restaurant chain announced two more metro Detroit locations have closed, and it shuttered five total around the state on Jan. 15. That follows the closure of its Greektown restaurant in 2015, the closure of seven restaurants in July/August, and leaves just 10 Bagger Dave’s operating…
Greektown becomes Detroit’s first ‘Project Green Light Corridor’
Visitors to Greektown will soon be subject to increased monitoring by police — but that doesn’t mean more cops will be dispatched to Monroe Avenue, they’ll be viewing citizens remotely from a surveillance center in Detroit police headquarters. According to media releases from the city and the Detroit Police Department, Greektown has become the first…
Westborn Market will offer special Bon Bon Bon chocolates this Valentine’s Day
If it’s not yet totally obvious, there is a special place in our hearts for chocolatier Alexandra Clark — the woman behind Bon Bon Bon. Related We love her chocolates so much, we featured them in our list of the best desserts of 2017. We described them in explicit detail in our annual Flavor issue,…
A Mount Clemens musician is distributing Narcan kits to Hamtramck Music Fest venues
Sex. Drugs. Rock ‘n’ roll. This has, no doubt, become a tagline for an entire culture. But, every day more and more stories emerge regarding the surge of drug overdoses and opioid-related deaths in America. Yet, the topic of prevention leaves many (even our own President) left without answers. One Mount Clemens rocker, however, is doing…
Why gubernatorial hopeful Abdul El-Sayed’s run might not be for real
Much has been made of Democrat Abdul El-Sayed’s bid to become Michigan governor. International and national media outlets have been drawn to him for his religious beliefs (if elected, El-Sayed would be the first Muslim governor in the U.S.), and his un-American name, charisma, and skin tone, appear to have prompted some to compare him…
J.L. Stone and Cash City Pawn are holding insane liquidation sales right now
Last week J.L. Stone and Cash City Pawn owner Sheldon Stone announced he was closing both of his longstanding stores in downtown Detroit in order to pursue retirement. Related Stone is selling the properties to Bedrock, and he says he approached the company about adding the buildings to their already large portfolio. Now, the stores…
Grosse Pointe officials point to benefits in plan to park garbage trucks in Detroit
Last week, we published a blog post based on an article in the Grosse Pointe Times that left us speechless. The reason we were rendered mute? The article covered a Grosse Pointe city council meeting where Grosse Pointe City Councilmember John Stempfle complained about the city’s Department of Public Waste site and called it an…
What time is it? Morris Day and The Time turn the clock back in Detroit this week
You might be paying to see Morris Day sing, but what you’re really witnessing is bigger than a musical act. When the man dipped his toes in acting in the ’80s and ’90s, he played the antagonist to Prince in movies. Since then, he hasn’t shaken the exaggerated vanity and strutting bravado he loves to…
Macomb County restaurant Terry’s Terrace announces a new vegan menu
Terry’s Terrace joined the growing number of metro Detroit restaurants that offer a wide selection of vegan options. Chef TJ Newington tells Metro Times the Harrison Township spot is now offering a 15-item vegan menu after receiving some customer requests, and its sister restaurant — Ale Mary’s Beer Hall — successfully launched a vegan menu. “We…
Mexican restaurant Dolores opens today in Ypsilanti’s former Elbow Room
A long-awaited Mexican restaurant run by husband and wife Andrew Epstein and Marcela Rubio opens today in the former Elbow Room in downtown Ypsilanti. In a press release, Dolores describes its menu as offering authentic Mexican specialties including tacos, tostadas, flautas, and a variety of mezcal and tequila. Epstein and Rubio previously lived in Los Angeles for…
Detroit area women candidates featured on cover of Time
Earlier this month, Time magazine featured several dozen women candidates on its cover, all of whom the magazine says are running for office for the first time and were inspired to do so by last year’s Women’s March. It was hard to tell at the time, but a Detroit housing activist and Metro Times opinion contributor…
Detroit Piston Andre Drummond featured on new rap track
Most of us know Andre Drummond as the center for the Detroit Pistons. He’s an all-star caliber player who is a monster on the boards, currently leading the NBA in rebounding, and has become the face of the franchise. In the midst of injury setbacks, a losing record, and a move to Little Caesars Arena,…
Michigan Court of Appeals officially ruled :P emoticon denotes sarcasm
Emojis and emoticons are becoming an increasingly prevalent part of our American vernacular. The small icons belong to a visual language expressed through text messages and emails — and they’re not going anywhere. But the tiny icons can also be a bit perplexing to lawyers and legal experts, who are apparently spending a lot of time…
Consequences loom for MSU after Larry Nassar scandal
Over the weekend, a friend due to start business school later this year at the University of Michigan uttered a phrase that reflected a sentiment sure to plague Michigan State University, at least in the short-term: “I’m so glad I’m not going to MSU.” As the Larry Nassar scandal engulfs the university and investigators from…
Drifter Coffee is planning a brick-and-mortar shop in Ferndale
A new coffee shop is in the works on Woodward Heights in Ferndale. Eater reports that mobile coffee shop Drifter Coffee is planning a permanent space that will offer pour overs, espressos, homemade syrups, smoothies, and kombucha on tap, as well as bagel sandwiches, salads, soups, and baked goods. A coffee roasting program is also…
Jennifer Hudson tapped to play Aretha Franklin in new biopic
The 2018 Grammy Awards were full of surprises, but one of the biggest revelations was announced before the ceremony even began. During a pre-award show party, producer and music industry executive Clive Davis announced that singer and actress Jennifer Hudson has been cast to play Aretha Franklin in an upcoming biopic about the “R.E.S.P.E.C.T.” singer’s life.…
White supremacist Richard Spencer will speak in metro Detroit in March
White supremacist Richard Spencer will be among a panel of far right wing and neo-Nazi speakers at the Foundation for the Marketplace of Ideas conference on Sunday, March 4 in metro Detroit. Guests at the event, which is private and limited to 300 people, will then travel to Michigan State University to hear Spencer speak on March…
Jim Gaffigan, the palest man in comedy, is heading to DTE Energy Music Theatre
Balding, chubby, and pale — very pale. For actor, writer, two-time New York Times best-selling author, and multi-platinum-selling comedian Jim Gaffigan, being on the receiving end of these observations is far from insulting — in fact, it’s his prime source material. The delightfully out of shape, alabaster-skinned observational humorist (And father of five!) is hitting the…
Mabel Gray will host an upcoming Top Chef audition
Top Chef alum James Rigato will host a casting call at Mabel Gray for the Bravo show’s upcoming season. The Detroit News reports the event will take place from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Thursday, Feb. 1 at the Hazel Park restaurant, but it’s not yet known which city will host the next season. Producers will…
This parking job is pure Michigan
One downside to winter in Michigan is the issue of parking. (Who are we kidding — there are countless downsides to winter in Michigan, but we’ll just focus on the issue of parking here.) Parking lots need to be plowed, that snow needs to go somewhere, and what that usually means is you’re down at…
Detroit police officer killed in line of duty remembered as ‘positive,’ ‘humble’
A Detroit police officer shot in the head while responding to a domestic violence call on the east side Wednesday night has died. Officer Glenn Doss, Jr., 25, succumbed to his injuries Sunday afternoon after four days in the hospital. His father, Glen Doss Sr., also a Detroit police officer, offered a few words on…
Why a new coalition is calling for election reform in Michigan
A coalition made up of the League of Women Voters, the ACLU of Michigan, and the Michigan and Detroit branches of the NAACP filed ballot language last week calling for a constitutional amendment that would enact comprehensive election reform in Michigan. Titled Promote the Vote, the campaign aims to align Michigan’s voting laws with 40…
East side butcher shop and restaurant Marrow targets early summer opening
A butcher shop and restaurant with a kitchen helmed by former Republic chef Sarah Welch could be open as soon as May or June. Crain’s reports the build out on Marrow will start in February in the West Village neighborhood’s Garland Building at 8044 Kercheval Ave., 1B. The restaurant will likely hold 70 seats with another…
ACLU will demand justice for Flint students hurt by lead levels at Monday court hearing
A class-action lawsuit brought against local and state education officials by the Michigan ACLU on behalf of Flint children exposed to lead is scheduled to begin at 8:30 a.m. Monday in federal court in Detroit. The hearing in the court of Judge Arthur J. Ternaw could last for several days. It will include testimony from…
A list of easy ways to appreciate Michigan on its 181st birthday
Today is a special day for Michiganders — it’s the Great Lakes State’s birthday! On this day in 1837, the state was officially admitted to the Union, making it the 26th state to join the good old U.S. of A. Almost two centuries later, Michigan remains a place of both natural beauty and industrial might.…
New York’s City Bakery opens in Fisher Building on Monday
Popular New York City pastry peddler City Bakery will open its first Detroit location in the Fisher Building’s arcade on Monday morning, according to a press release sent by the Platform. The location will be the chain’s first outside of New York and Japan. The bakery made its name on its hot chocolate and signature…
Brooks & Dunn, Blake Shelton, and more announced for 2018 Faster Horses Festival lineup
Hey, y’all! Get your “Boot Scootin’ Boogie” shoes ready — the biggest country and campin’ music festival in the whole U. S. of-friggin’ A. returns to Michigan this summer. In its sixth incarnation, the lineup for the 2018 Faster Horses Festival will include newly reunited headliners Brooks & Dunn alongside Florida Georgia Line, and Gwen Stefani…
Jack White releases ‘Corporation,’ a third track from his upcoming solo record
Jack White dropped “Corporation” — the third track from his upcoming third solo record, Boarding House Reach, due March 23 — on Friday. The track is on the longer side, clocking in at 5 minutes and 40 seconds. It’s nearly instrumental; it’s only lyrics are White ad libbing about “thinking about starting a corporation. Who’s…
Elton John schedules second Detroit date for farewell tour
On Wednesday, Jan. 24, Sir Elton John announced his final tour, a three-year trek around the globe encompassing over 300 stops — including one at Detroit’s Little Caesars Arena. Related Now, the prolific “Rocket Man” singer is adding a second date to his stay in Detroit. He’ll be in town on Friday, Oct. 12 and…
A new taqueria is in the works for Hamtramck’s Campau Tower
Some might say the Hamtramckans Facebook group is a page full of dramatic hipster trolls, and their case would be strong. But you also can’t deny that it’s sometimes a potent economic development tool. Case in point is a somewhat absurd Aug. 25, 2015 thread in which rumors of a new Taco Bell planned for the…
Missouri’s answer to Trump takes a wild swing at Detroit
Courtland Sykes is an enigma. The outspoken political newcomer is running for Missouri’s Senate seat, hoping to catch some of the tidal wave of populism that Donald Trump rode all the way to the White House. He’s got an endorsement from former Trump strategist Steve Bannon, and says point-blank in his campaign video, “if you…
Michigan Rep. seeks Congressional investigation into USA Gymnastics amid Nassar fallout
The U.S. Representative whose district includes East Lansing has submitted a letter requesting that Congress open a wide ranging investigation into the U.S. Olympic Committee and USA Gymnastics in the wake of Larry Nassar’s abuse of scores of young gymnasts. Nassar molested more than 150 girls and young women in his capacity as doctor for the…
Grosse Pointe will fight rat problem around its DPW site… by moving it to Detroit
We had two different people forward us this story from Grosse Pointe, and when we were done reading it you could have knocked us over with a feather. The article is that weird. No, that’s not to say that Grosse Pointe Times reporter K. Michelle Moran got anything wrong or goofed in any way. It’s…
Lydia Lunch’s ‘Oral Fixation’ EP was recorded at the DIA 30 years ago today
Lately, I’ve been writing a number of blogs noting anniversaries of shows people can’t forget. Readers responded with their own memories to a blog marking 30 years since WrestleMania III at the Pontiac Silverdome, or another blog marking 40 years since KISS appeared at Olympia Stadium. But the other day I was stopped cold by…
In response to Trump’s ‘shithole’ comments, The Conserva offers Haiti benefit dinner
President Donald Trump recently included Haiti in his list of “shithole” countries, because, well, that’s the world in which we now live. Just as Ferndale’s Livernois Tap responded to a batshit Trump Twitter rant, in which he asserted that he’s a “very stable genius,” with a beer named such, The Conserva is responding to Trump’s…
Lynyrd Skynyrd farewell tour will include a stop in Detroit
After 45 years in the Southern rock business, Lynyrd Skynyrd announced this morning that their final tour, The Last of the Street Survivors, will kick off on May 4 in West Palm Beach, Florida. The Rock and Roll Hall of Famers will roll through DTE Energy Music Theatre on Aug. 10. Best known for their…
Wyandotte City Council votes to prohibit pedal pubs from downtown
Love them or hate them, pedal pubs are cropping up all over metro areas as a touristy way to see the city, drink booze, and bar hop. In Detroit, several companies — including Detroit Rolling Pub, The Michigan Pedaler, and the Handlebar Detroit — operate the slowly rolling covered wagons, escorting buzzed riders on a…
The Doomsday Clock is now the closest to the apocalypse since the Cold War
Well, shit. The Doomsday Clock — an annual assessment by the Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists that analyzes how close humanity is to global catastrophy — has been moved closer to midnight, the symbolic hour of the apocalypse. The hands were moved 30 seconds forward and are now positioned at just two minutes to midnight —…
Meridian Winter Blast returns to Campus Martius this weekend
[image-1] It’s hard to believe anyone would want to willingly go outside in a Michigan winter, but we make an exception for Winter Blast. Originally brought to life to coincide with Superbowl XL in 2005, the annual indoor and outdoor event is fun for the whole family. From ice skating, live music, s’mores, and a…
Ann Arbor therapy dog gets ‘bone voyage’ retirement party catered by Grizzly Peak
After retiring in December 2017, a therapy dog named Alpine will be celebrating her six-year career with a party at Arbor Hospice on Feb. 3 from 1 to 3 p.m. Alpine, an 8-year-old golden retriever, began working at the caregiving facility called in 2011. She spent her days visiting with residents and their family members, both…
What the latest federal court rulings on gerrymandering mean for Michigan
Federal courts in North Carolina and Pennsylvania ruled in recent weeks that the GOP in each state illegally drew Congressional maps and districts along partisan and/or racial lines. The two courts ordered the respective state’s lawmakers to redraw the lines in a way that’s fair before the next election. Related In Michigan, state Democrats and…
Dan Gilbert blames Detroit’s Amazon HQ2 loss on ‘reputation,’ not reality
It’s been a week since word came that Amazon passed over Detroit as the possible home of its planned second headquarters, and most everyone has walked away with an understanding of which of the region’s shortcomings are to blame for the loss. A lack of talent and uncertainty over whether the region could attract it…
MSU President Lou Anna K. Simon has resigned
Hours after the weeklong hearing of former MSU doctor Larry Nassar’s sexual abuse scandal came to a dramatic end on Wednesday, the college’s President Lou Anna K. Simon tendered her resignation to the Board of Trustees, ending a position she has held since 2004. The move, first reported on Wednesday evening via an anonymous source to MSU’s…
Hepatitis A case confirmed at Downriver Coney Island
Wayne County health officials have confirmed that a food service worker at Downriver Coney Island in Southgate has been diagnosed with Hepatitis A. The health department reports they have inspected the property and the restaurant is open for business. However, anyone who ate at the popular diner between Jan. 2 and 14 is urged to…
Larry Nassar gets up to 175 years in prison, judge calls sentencing him an ‘honor’
Former Michigan State University and USA Gymnastics team doctor Larry Nassar has been sentenced to prison for 40 to 175 years, capping a week of court proceedings in which more than 150 of his female victims came forward to describe how he sexually abused them. Nassar pleaded guilty to seven counts of criminal sexual conduct in Ingham County.…
Elton John will play in Detroit during farewell tour
Today, Elton John announced his “Farewell Yellow Brick Road” tour, a 300-date victory lap to cap off a nearly 50-year career. John will make a stop at Little Caesar’s Arena in Detroit on Friday, Oct. 12, just over a month into a tour that will span three years. “Performing live fuels me and I’m ecstatic…
Here’s where you can score free bagels next week
As the old saying goes, “There’s no such thing as a free lunch.” Well, it turns out there is such a thing as free bagels? On Thursday, Feb. 1, Bruegger’s Bagels locations across the country will celebrate 35 years of business by giving away three free bagels to each customer from store opening until 11…
Axle Brewing taps Trump-inspired ‘Very Stable Genius’ beer tomorrow
Axle Brewing Co.’s Livernois Tap will tap its Very Stable Genius beer, an 8.5 percent ABV Imperial Wheat, on Thursday, Jan. 25. President Donald Trump inspired Axle when he absurdly declared on Twitter earlier this month that he is a “very stable genius” following the release of journalist Michael Wolff’s book Fire and Fury: Inside the Trump…
Duggan, Fouts, and other Michigan mayors summoned to meet with Trump
What do Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan, who helms a majority-black city that gave Trump a resounding “fuck no” in 2016, and Warren Mayor Jim Fouts, an alleged racist who runs a city where 43 percent of voters supported Trump, have in common? They’re both reportedly paying a visit today to President Donald Trump! According to the…
Greta Van Fleet add third Detroit show after selling out two dates
Well, that was fast. As Metro Times reported last week, Frankenmuth rockers (and recent Rolling Stone magazine favorite), Greta Van Fleet will perform two shows at the Fillmore on Tuesday, May 22 and Wednesday, May 23, both of which are sold out. Today, due to high demand, the band heard the fleeting cry and announced a…
Ferndale Library will host fake news discussion panel
“Fake news” — both the belief that fake news articles are real, and that real news articles are fake — has real consequences. In December, 2016, a man opened fire in Washington, D.C. pizza restaurant Comet Ping Pong, convinced by fringe right-wing reports that it was the hub of a Hillary Clinton-run pedophile sex ring.…
How to stop Mark Zuckerberg from taking Metro Times out of your Facebook news feed
In the old days we got our news from these tangible objects we called “newspapers.” They were literally delivered to our doors every morning. Printed upon these paper products were stories that hardworking journalists had slaved over, working countless hours to ensure every detail was accurate. Because once you print it, there’s no going back.…
Jack White bans cell phones on upcoming tour for ‘100% human experience’
Jack White, the king of analog technology (who likely still owns and uses a fax machine), has banned the use of phones during his upcoming tour. This begs the question — does Jack White even own a cell phone? “We think you’ll enjoy looking up from your gadgets for a little while and experience music…
The 2018 Movement Music Festival lineup is here
Techno Christmas is upon us, folks. Only 121 days until one of the longest-running electronic music events in the world recommences in the birthplace of techno — Detroit. For the first time ever, Movement planners Paxahau — who are celebrating 20 years as the festival’s organizers — are releasing the full lineup in one fell…
Detroit’s first vegan coney island, Chili Mustard Onions, plans an April 1 opening
Chili Mustard Onions, Detroit’s first vegan coney island, is now planning an April 1 opening in Brush Park. Chef/co-owner Pete LaCombe, aka “Vegan Chef Pete,” says to expect everything one might find at a standard coney island along with some items not traditionally on a coney menu. But all dishes will be meat- and animal-product…
Hostiles’ white guilt
You know what the real white man’s burden is? Living with the guilt of the colonialism, oppression, and genocide you are party to. I mean, look at North America. Sure, there are millions of Native people dead and ancient cultures destroyed, but who has to live with that? All the good soldiers who were just…
The man campaigning to derail marijuana legalization in Michigan makes his case
By many indications, this could be the year Michigan voters legalize recreational marijuana. The group trying to get the issue on the November ballot, the Coalition to Regulate Marijuana Like Alcohol (CRMLA), is backed by the might of the national organization responsible for the majority of successful state-level legalization initiatives and has shown it can run…
Why Michigan State University is a mess
Update: Lou Anna K. Simon resigned on Wednesday, Jan. 24, 2018. Read more here. You have sat too long for any good you have been doing lately… depart, I say; and let us have done with you. In the name of God, go! — Oliver Cromwell No, no, old Ollie didn’t have anything to do…
Mulenga and the meteor
I had to do a double take as I was standing out on Vernor Avenue near Clark Park. There was Mulenga Harangua walking along as big as day. He wasn’t wearing a disguise or doing one of his usual look-over-there antics. “Hey, Mulenga,” I hollered to him. “What are you doing in my old stomping…
Savage Love: Mother love
My father left my mother abruptly when I was 14 years old, and he hasn’t contacted either of us since. It was a crushing blow for her, and she retreated from the world. She was never bitter about it, but it was devastating. She lost the love of her life for no apparent reason and…
Sleigh Bells to perform their unapologetically dark record, Kid Kruschev
After 10 years of collaboration, Alexis Krauss and Derek Miller of Sleigh Bells are still pushing themselves to create incendiary pop music that challenges the way people view the genre. The duo’s latest album, Kid Kruschev, is its most politically, emotionally, and sonically forward record to date, and finds Krauss (songwriter and lead vocalist) finding…
Alex Luciano of Diet Cig talks growing up, bath time, and Guy Fieri
Don’t tell Alex Luciano to calm down. And honestly, why would you? If given the chance, the uncompromisingly blunt and bubbly singer of indie band Diet Cig will gush about the time she waited two hours to meet Guy Fieri and will divulge in existential wisdom you might not expect from a 22-year-old. “I use…
This Pakistani restaurant is literally a hole in the wall — and it’s awesome
Yes, Karahi Korner is a hole in the wall. Pretty much literally so. There’s a hole in a wall in the back of a small, basic Indian and Pakistani grocery store at 12 Mile and Middlebelt. It’s essentially a carryout window, so when it’s time for fragrant Pakistani cuisine from Karahi Korner, you walk through…
Horoscopes (Jan. 24-30)
ARIES: March 21 – April 20 You could be changing your mind (and your tune) about more than a few things. Jumping prematurely into actions that had more to do with what you thought was expected, than with anything that has to do with you, has landed you in a bit of a pickle. The…
Tiya Miles to discuss Detroit’s slaveholding days at the Detroit Public Library
In metro Detroit, we’re used to thinking of slavery as something that took place far away among the plantations of the antebellum South. After all, Detroit was the last stop on the Underground Railroad, a magnet of the Great Migration, and eventually the sophisticated Motown of the civil rights era. But it wasn’t always that…
