Cover Story
The Motor City as seen through the lens of documentarian Camilo Jose Vergara
Chilean-born Camilo Jose Vergara is the country’s premier photographic chronicler of the American inner city. He started out in New York City in the 1970s and 1980s, carefully re-photographing urban landscapes from the same position, creating a visual record of poor neighborhoods as buildings fell victim to disinvestment, arson, and demolition. Long before the term…
Op-ed: You don’t actually like the Red Hot Chili Peppers
Note: This story originally ran in Metro Times’ sister paper, the Riverfront Times. It is republished here with permission. The views expressed here do not necessarily reflect those of the Metro Times. Some of us like RHCP, OK? Friends, you are being fooled by your own brains. You don’t actually like the music of the…
This Detroit restaurant is serving some of Jamaica’s best flavors
Stepping into Jamaican Pot’s small carryout shop in a nondescript northwest Detroit stripmall puts one in a place that’s a bit of a rarity in the city. On a recent Saturday afternoon, the restaurant’s sound system pumped out reggae versions of pop hits like Cher’s “Believe” as the aromas of Jamaican curried chicken and ackee…
17 ways to spend your time in metro Detroit this week (Feb. 1-7)
Thursday, 2/2 Stewart Huff @ Small’s Bar Stewart Huff looks like a normal white guy. If you saw him at a diner you probably wouldn’t think he looks particularly funny — we’re still not sure if the flannel shirts and shaggy hair are ironic or not. But, the comedian does seem to have a knack…
Just announced: Omar Souleyman and Black Lips at El Club in May
Tickets just went on sale for this awesome show at El Club on May 12: The great dabke singer Omar Souleyman will play with Atlanta’s provocative post-garage rockers Black Lips. Admission is $26. You do not want to miss this show. Souleyman, an internationally beloved singer, hails from one of Syria’s poorest regions, in the…
State review finds $7M in improper Detroit demo billings
A state review of Detroit’s federally funded demolition program has found that the city improperly billed $7.3 million in expenses, though Mayor Mike Duggan is agreeing to only pay back just over a million of that. “The 1.3 million were mistakes that were made that, you know, were just flat-out wrong. They were first brought forward…
Yee Haw: Faster Horses releases 2017 lineup feat. Miranda Lambert and Luke Bryan
It’s time to bust out the pickup truck and the Bud Light because Faster Horses released their lineup today and it is a country music fan’s dream. The annual festival that takes place in Brooklyn, Mich. is boosting one of its best lineups yet. Miranda Lambert, Luke Bryan, and Dierks Bentley. Other notable performers include…
Detroit’s millennial mayoral candidate Myya D. Jones to speak at WSU
Myya D. Jones, the 22-year-old woman running for mayor of Detroit, will appear on Wednesday at Wayne State University as part of a speaker series presented by the college’s Black Student Union. The talk will be held from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. at the third floor Community Room at WSU’s Undergraduate Library, 5150 Anthony Wayne Dr., Detroit. While…
Panel OKs education secretary nominee Betsy DeVos for Senate vote
Despite getting read to absolute filth at her confirmation hearing earlier this month (seriously, “grizzly bears?”), a Senate panel on Tuesday morning narrowly approved Donald Trump’s nominee for education secretary, Michigan billionaire Betsy DeVos, to proceed to a full floor vote later this week. The U.S. Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions approved DeVos 12-11 in a vote along…
Coach Insignia, the restaurant in the sky, will shutter its doors by mid-February
You’ll have to find another way to see views of our lovely friends over in Windsor. After 12 years of serving food atop the Renaissance Center, Coach Insignia will be shutting its doors, reports Fox 2 Detroit. According to reports, the lease was up at the space and the restaurant group, Epicurean Group, are looking…
Michigan Attorney General Bill Schuette breaks days-long silence on ‘Muslim ban’ to side with Trump
Michigan Attorney General Bill Schuette has broken four days of silence on President Donald Trump’s executive order halting refugee admissions and curtailing travel from seven majority-Muslim countries to come out in favor of the move. Phones in Schuette’s office had been ringing off the hook Monday with callers urging him to take action after 16 state…
Lawrence Tech launches Detroit co-working space and incubator
Have a creative idea for Detroit? Next month, Lawrence Technological University’s Detroit Center for Design + Technology will officially launch the DCDT Design Incubator. Located in Midtown, the space will provide workshops, a co-working space, a fellowship program, an in-house design studio, a gallery space, and a business incubator to help entrepreneurs utilize LTU’s resources. The program,…
A billboard in Kalamazoo proudly touting Trump was defaced over the weekend
While many people took to the streets to protest President Trump and his executive order to ban refugees from entering the country in seven Muslim majority countries, someone (or a group of people) decided to deface a billboard in Kalamazoo to tell an uneasy truth. The sign was paid for by Kalamazoo Republicans and shows…
U-M, MSU, and other Michigan universities oppose Trump’s immigration orders
In the wake of President Trump’s executive orders to ban refugees from seven majority Muslim countries, many universities in Michigan have spoken out against the President. University of Michigan released a statement on Saturday assuring international and undocumented students that they will be looking out for them. President of the university Mark Schlissel said that…
Mi Pueblo shows us how to make its bright, guajillo-spiced tortilla soup
Southwest Detroit’s Mi Pueblo long ago established itself as one of the town’s go to spots for Mexican fare. While the bulk of its trade is in tacos, the family restaurant now offers enough hot bowls that it’s worth a look to fight the soup season chill. In the hearty, bright tortilla soup, one encounters…
Ford is first major U.S. automaker to oppose Trump’s travel ban
While Ford CEO Mark Fields has been re-reading The Art of the Deal to better understand Trump, he has sharply criticized the executive order from President Trump banning travel to the U.S. from seven majority Muslim countries. Along with Mark Fields, Executive Chairman Bill Ford issued a joint statement Monday saying that they don’t support…
Why yesterday’s protest was delightful — and what it seemed to be missing
It was a nice day for a demonstration yesterday. Though skies were cloudy and it was chilly, a few hundred people gathered outside Hamtramck City Hall to listen to speeches opposing President Trump’s travel ban. It wasn’t the biggest protest in the country, but a notable one because, although Hamtramck is the most ethnically diverse…
Thousands gather across Michigan to protest Trump’s immigration ban
Hundreds of people gathered in front of Hamtramck City Hall on Sunday — joining thousands across the state and many more across the country protesting President Donald Trump’s executive order restricting immigration from seven Muslim-majority countries. The rally was organized by Metro Detroit Political Action Network, a group founded in the wake of the 2016…
This video of the kids from ‘Blackish’ rapping Big Sean is the best thing you’ll see all day
The world may be on fire right now, but at least we have the cast from Blackish to brighten our day. The star of the show, actual goddess Tracee Ellis Ross, posted a video on Twitter of her TV kids and co-stars Marsai Martin and Miles Brown goofing around in a trailer on set. In the…
Detroit police chief faced criticism from minority officers at his last job
Detroit Police Chief James Craig failed to “level the playing field” for minority officers seeking advancement as head of Cincinnati’s police force, according to a 2013 letter from that city’s minority police organization. The Sentinel Police Association, a group established to address “discriminatory practices” within the Cincinnati Police Department, issued the then-exiting police chief a…
You can add Madonna to the list of things Trump finds ‘disgusting’
What do Rosie O’Donnell, Bette Midler, the idea of Hillary Clinton using the bathroom, and Madonna all have in common? Oh, that’s right! They’ve all been called “disgusting” by our President. Lovely! Trump took a break from trolling the Internet (and our lives, frankly) to do an interview with his favorite station Fox News to…
How Babe Ruth’s birthday, back at Nemo’s this Feb. 4, became an institution
When something earns the moniker “a Detroit tradition,” it’s usually an event that celebrates something unique to Detroit. The March of the Nain Rouge, for instance, is rooted in Detroit’s founding mythology. The annual Thanksgiving parade’s origin is tied to Detroit’s historic department store. The Detroit Electronic Music Festival trades in a sound that saw…
Here’s the manifesto for the Insane Clown Posse’s Juggalo March on Washington, D.C.
In the wake of the recent Women’s March on Washington, D.C., the Insane Clown Posse will lead a Juggalo March on the nation’s capital in September in protest of the FBI’s designation of their fans as a “gang.” After previously announcing the march, the hip-hop duo have released further details for their event, which will include a free…
Annual Fathers Conference to hold workshops on raising LGTBQ youth and more
“Stereotypes about childcare are changing on their own, we’re just trying to change them faster,” says Leon Walker, an executive director of the Annual Father’s Conference to be held in Waterford tomorrow afternoon. While there’s no doubt there’s great disparity and some seriously divisive gender roles involved in parenting, Walker says many modern dads are…
Spotted: Mayor Duggan dines with gubernatorial candidate Gretchen Whitmer
Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan has met with the only candidate to so far formally enter the race for governor just days after putting the kibosh on speculation over his own potential gubernatorial bid. Duggan and former Michigan Senate Minority Leader Gretchen Whitmer (D) were spotted eating breakfast with a third person at the Hudson Cafe in downtown…
Rejoice: You can stream the first episode of ‘Detroiters’ before it premieres
After trailers and teasers have kept us on the edge of our seats, Comedy Central’s new show, Detroiters, is finally here. The show officially debuts on Tuesday, Feb. 7, but the powers that be at Comedy Central have #blessed us with the first episode before it even debuts. You can stream the episode here. Look…
Mobsteel heads to the History channel in ‘Detroit Steel’
You may have seen Adam Genei and his Detroit-based car customization shop Mobsteel on NBCSN’s 2015 reality TV show of the same name. This year, the show — once the network’s most-watched original series — has now made the move to the History channel. Now titled Detroit Steel, it’ll premiere on History at 10 p.m. on Saturday, Jan.…
Just announced: Guided By Voices at the Magic Stick in May
We have just learned that Guided by Voices will perform at the Magic Stick on May 5. The new lineup lacks Tobin Sprout, but it looks promising for fans of big rock sound: GBV veterans Doug Gillard and Kevin March, virgins Bobby Bare Jr and Mark Shue, and of course, ringleader Robert Pollard. That’s right,…
You can stream Stef Chura’s debut album before it comes out tomorrow
We may or may not be obsessed with Stef Chura (okay yeah, we totally are) and we’re really stoked that her debut album Messes comes out tomorrow. Stef did a really cool interview with Noisey where they are exclusively streaming the new record. The new songs sound so great, and the interview is pretty awesome,…
Local restaurants wade into the immigration fight with ‘sanctuary restaurant’ status
Look no further than the nearest stack of pastrami to find the latest flash point in the immigration debate. Zingerman’s, Russell Street Deli, and COLORS are the first Detroit-area eateries to establish themselves as “sanctuary restaurants.” They join a budding national movement designed to offer refuge from Donald Trump’s depressing, dangerous, and fear-inspired immigration policies…
This historical map of Michigan shows what it looked like before statehood
In case you missed it, Michigan turned the big old 180 today. That’s right folks, 180 years of the Great Lakes and living in a state that looks like a mitten and a rabbit. But Michigan didn’t always have its iconic look. This historic map of Michigan from 1825 (before Michigan officially became a state)…
DTE compiles list of 180 reasons to love Michigan in honor of state’s birthday
It’s Michigan’s birthday. Happy birthday, Michigan. On Jan. 26, 1837 —180 years ago — Michigan became the 26th state in the Union and while that info is inherently boring, what is not boring is this list of 180 reasons to love Michigan, which was compiled by DTE. Some of the best reasons include that Michigan…
Two companies involved in Detroit demo probe donated thousands to mayor
Leaders of two of three demolition companies who were reportedly afforded “uncommon accommodations” as they secured most of the work early into Detroit’s blight-busting initiative donated thousands of dollars to Mayor Mike Duggan, campaign finance records show. The companies— Adamo, MCM Management and Homrich— were among four that attended an invitation-only pre-bid meeting in 2014, as the city…
Billboard for new movie is getting its message across whether you like it or not
If you’ve drove near Eight Mile Road and the Lodge Freeway recently, you may have noticed a new billboard with a very simple message: “Black people are being pushed out of Detroit.” BLAC first reported about the new billboard and pointed out that Detroit is still 80 percent black, but downtown seems to be a…
Detroit rapper Tee Grizzley signs to 300 Entertainment
A super big ups to local emcee, Tee Grizzley. Word is out that he has officially singed a deal with 300 Entertainment. 300 Entertainment is a record/management label founded by Def Jam alums Kevin Liles, Todd Moscowitz, and Lyor Cohen. The company is also the home to artists Migos, Young Thug, Famous Dex, and Fetty…
Effects of the gluten-free bandwagon
How does a celiac sufferer feel about the millions of faddists who have neither celiac disease nor gluten sensitivity but who’ve jumped on the gluten-free bandwagon? Marie Hjermstad, who grew up eating pizza, cookies, and all things glutenous on Detroit’s east side, was diagnosed with celiac disease at 27. On the one hand, she’s thrilled…
Café Ollie’s reboot will bring finer dining and a new bakery to Ypsilanti
There is, perhaps, no more underrated food scene in the region than that budding in Ypsilanti. In downtown, find the flavors of Hanoi, Mixco, Mexico, the South, and much more. Depot Town sets the standard in elevated bar food, yet also offers real choices for the healthy veg-heads. But while Ypsi is an increasingly interesting…
Environmental group demands Nestlé hearings in Flint and Detroit
As we mentioned earlier this month, Michigan Citizens for Water Conservation — one of the key groups opposing Nestlé’s plans to pump more water out of Michigan for its bottling operations — want to ensure that the state’s Department of Environmental Quality holds hearings on the matter all over the state. The group says that,…
Frontier Ruckus’ adorable new music video focuses on its only female member
Detroit-based Frontier Ruckus just released a new music video for “Our Flowers are Still Burning,” a track off their forthcoming record, Enter the Kingdom. The track, while cheery, has solemn origins. Matthew Milia, the band’s lead singer, was inspired to craft the tune based on a particularly difficult period in his life when his father lost…
Radio station in Texas has banned Madonna songs ‘indefinitely’ from their station
We’re sure that Madonna could care less that an obscure radio station in Texas won’t play her music anymore because they think she is “un-American,” but we can’t help but wonder if they put a ban on Ted Nugent’s music when he threatened former President Obama back in 2012? In case you missed it, Madonna made…
The DIA unveils pioneering augmented reality-enabled exhibition
A trip to the art museum can be a great excuse to put the phone away for a few hours, a break from the omnipresent screens that have come to dominate life in the 21st century. But now, the Detroit Institute of Arts has given us another reason to stare a screen — though it’s…
Gluten-mania: Dispelling the myths behind a food fad
We all have friends who blanch at the sight of a bread basket. “Oh, I’m trying to cut down on gluten,” they say. Gluten is this decade’s boogeyman of nutrition. One survey showed that a third of American adults are trying to eliminate it from their diets. Gluten, a protein component of wheat, barley, and…
‘Changer’ is a scrapbook of uncomfortable memories
You probably know Fred Thomas from his early work in Ann Arbor’s experimental indie pop band Saturday Looks Good to Me. Although the band was retired at one point (but has since reformed), Thomas never stopped making music in some shape or another, including numerous collaborations with other musicians (Failed Flowers, Swimsuit, Mighty Clouds) as…
Savage Love: ITMFA!
Q: I am quite the follower on social media — Facebook and Twitter in particular. I make no trolling comments, no #MAGA hashtags; I just look with my male gaze. Like Laura Mulvey says, the male gaze is only natural. I’ve lost interest in pornography, so I use everyday pictures of women, typically selfies. It…
The origins of Detroit cult hit Asian Corned Beef
If the rest of America knows Detroit food at all, they’ll mention our coneys, our square pizza, our shawarma shops, and maybe (if they’re really cool) our slider joints and ham shops. And then there’s the Asian Corned Beef, a westside creation with a specific origin story. The local take-out chain has fed East and…
Horoscopes (Jan 25-31)
ARIES (March 21- April 20): It’s hard to know what to say to you all. Many of you are feeling the fire of new life and a desire to reinvent yourself. Others have just about had it and are feeling totally unwilling to go along with things that never seem to work out. Between the…
Cherry Glazerr’s 19-year-old frontwoman doesn’t need your validation
Clementine Creevy fronts the Los Angeles-based rock band Cherry Glazerr. She’s 19 years old but you’d never guess that based on her powerful vocals, ferocious skills on lead guitar, and her ability to craft addicting tracks. She’s aware she’s talented. She knows what she wants. And she’s here to get it. Onstage, Creevy passes for…
Five acts you can’t miss at the Ann Arbor Folk Festival
The Ann Arbor Folk Festival is celebrating 40 years with a killer lineup stacked with lady power. Here are five acts that you won’t want to miss if you’re heading to the fest. Jenny Lewis The former Rilo Kiley lead singer and general queen of indie rock, Jenny Lewis, is quite possibly the most intriguing…
Politics & Prejudices: Good luck retiring … ever
Well, we now have a vulgar, brawling carnival barker sitting where Thomas Jefferson and Abraham Lincoln once did. “May none but honest and wise men ever rule under its roof,” John Adams wrote to his wife Abigail when he became the first president to move in, back in 1800. Much later, one of the best…
Review: A Detroit mainstay, Avalon, comes to Ann Arbor
It’s not a good sign when you see both a Sysco truck and a US Foods truck double-parked outside a downtown restaurant, as I did recently. Mass-produced food, anyone? (Actually, Sysco calls itself the global leader in distributing “food products,” not food.) Jackie Victor’s new Avalon Hearth and Soul Café goes the other direction, of…
Stir It Up: Mulenga for Mayor
I went down to check out the refurbished David Whitney Building after I heard they put the sign back on top. It caught my attention because the Metro Times office used to be there in the late 1980s. Back then they kept a grand piano in the lobby and had jazz pianists play during the…
