Cover Story
Welcome to ‘Springwells Village’ — a Southwest Detroit neighborhood most of its own residents have never heard of
If a neighborhood can be viewed as a brand, Southwest Detroit’s Mexicantown might be one of its most successful. A dense and vibrant community, it attracts visitors from across the metropolitan region with its many dining and retail options, and its proximity to the bridge to Canada makes it a destination for international travelers as…
Here’s a supercut of some of the best cars at NAIAS
Just can’t seem to find enough time to keep up with the latest unveilings at the North American International Auto Show? Or maybe you’re just not hyped about braving the cold this weekend to head downtown to see for yourself? Lucky for you, the folks at Verge have compiled a supercut of some of the…
How do you feel about cool, free things? Check out ‘Ghostly Swim 2.’
We’re just getting around to the imaginatively titled Ghostly Swim 2, as the free, downloadable mix dropped just before the holidays. It’s the second collaboration between the Ghostly International label and the Adult Swim folks, and did we mention that it’s free? I’m going to quote a press release, right now, OK. “The compilation features…
Law enforcement apparently beats handcuffed man in video
Video shows handcuffed man being kicked and punched by law enforcement officers.
Rock City discusses appearing on CNBC’s ‘Restaurant Startup’
Rock City Eatery and Campau Tower owners to appear on new CNBC restaurant reality show.
$28 million redevelopment of Strathmore Hotel in Midtown to create 129 apartments
For the last decade, the dilapidated Strathmore Hotel at 70 W. Alexandrine near Wayne State University has sat vacant, exposed to the elements, and appeared to be a lost cause. But on a frigid Tuesday, a consortium of groups along with Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan announced that $28 million in financing has been finalized to…
The psychology of dealing with winter in Detroit
Words to help you get through this MIchigan winter.
Lovely Haitian instrumental folk guitar music from 1954 by Frantz Casseus
This friend of a friend on Facebook just posted that this dude is his great-uncle, which then reminded me that this highly nifty record exists! It also reminds me that I need to finish unpacking my records so that I can dig this out. I bought a fabulous reissue of this Folkways 10″ late last…
Check out the Detroit Bus Company’s hilarious guide to Detroit
When we interviewed the Detroit Bus Company’s Andy Didorosi late last summer, he sent us home with a stack of brochures he made to promote his mass transit venture. Titled “We’re Not Sorry — Detroit and You: An Informative Guide,” the brochures cheekily counter popular depictions of Detroit as a lawless, wild dog-ridden food desert. …
Report: Flint emergency manager expected to take over Detroit Public Schools
When current Detroit Public Schools emergency manager Jack Martin’s tenure ends, Republican Gov. Rick Snyder will have a replacement lined up, according to Bridge magazine’s Chastity Pratt-Dawsey. Under Michigan’s emergency manager law, the Detroit school board, which is vehemently opposed to emergency management, could vote Martin out as early as Friday. Once Martin is gone,…
Detroit Bikes to be the first store inside Capitol Park retail establishment, The Albert
Detroit Bikes, a local company that makes about 50 bikes a week and employs about 16 locals, will open the flagship store at The Albert, a Capitol Park retail space. The store will also be the bike company’s very first retail space. The announcement was made on Friday, along with that for plans to include…
Where is the best place to go sledding in metro Detroit?
It’s wintertime in Detroit and as winds whips down Woodward Ave. and children huddle around their mobile devices to check the latest list of school closings, one question begs to be asked: Where is the best place to go sledding in metro Detroit? Back in 2008, folks voted Balduck Hill the best slope in town— do you…
Watch: Raw video of huge I-94 pileup a reminder to drive carefully this winter
Deadspin’s got some more raw video from the deadly 193-vehicle pileup that happened Friday o I-94 near Battle Creek, which killed one and injured about two dozen (and also saw trucks spilling acid and even lit fireworks). It’s a sobering reminder to drive carefully in inclement weather. Watch the video below, and read about…
More people care about the new Ford GT than last night’s episode of Girls
So, we don’t cover the auto beat around here that much, and during a few weeks when the whole auto journalism world is in Detroit for the North American International Auto Show, it’s hard to really offer much new. But we do like to gauge what stories emerge from that cloistered auto world into the larger…
Handbook offers young students lessons on fighting the system
New book shows disgruntled students in prison-like schools how to turn the tables on the institution.
Michigan’s incarceration rate tops Guam and Thailand
The incarceration rate of the United States boggles the mind: One out of every 100 American adults are currently locked up, according to the Economist — and, according to the American Civil Liberties Union, the U.S. locks up one-quarter of the entire world’s prisoners. Those stats tee-up a story last week on the Boston-based online…
Two hours of Jamaican gospel music, just for you
When I first heard Jamaican gospel music in the living room of longtime gospel radio show host and label guy Kevin Nutt about seven years ago, I was pretty sure I hated it. But I had to immediately hear it again. And then again, until I could only listen to it for a few weeks…
Detroit Water Brigade reflects on Ireland trip, looks forward to 2015
Last year, a global spotlight shined upon Detroit’s financial woes with the utmost attention paid to the city’s massive municipal bankruptcy. Perhaps an equal amount of focus was paid to the Detroit Water and Sewerage Department’s (DWSD) ramped up campaign to shut-off water service to delinquent customers. The water shut-offs drew an enormous response worldwide,…
Suggested soundtrack for Ferndale’s Main St: ‘Reign in Blood’
Longtime area residents often adopt a confused look when I tell them that I recently moved to Hazel Park, on purpose. “Oh! Well, that’s close to Ferndale, isn’t it?” is a common response. And yes, it’s true, I do reside close to sweet little Ferndale with its cozy Main St., excellent bookstores and confectionery shops.…
MLK peace walk planned for Jan. 19
The 30th annual peace walk that celebrates Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. is planned for next Monday, Jan. 19. The walk will feature keynote speaker civil rights attorney Fred Gray and a special appearance by Aretha Franklin. Gray worked with MLK during the Civil Rights movement as well as other prominent figures during that time and…
Here are three live videos of the Bronx’s great 1980s funk act ESG
A funk band from the South Bronx, ESG recorded for 99 Records and Factory back in the early 1980s. Their stripped-down but deeply polyrhythmic tracks have always crossed over between white and black audiences — from being covered by Unrest to being sampled by Wu-Tang and Gang Starr. I love the band but I didn’t…
Detroit’s tent cities, then and now
A tent city is moved on just as the auto show begins to glitter. But the truth is Detroit and tent cities go way back.
New Magic Stick format doesn’t mean rock is dead — just the Cass Corridor
With the Magic Stick announcing last week that they would be changing formats to a dance club, we’re left looking back and wondering what it all means. It’s true that the Stick has seemingly fallen out of favor as the go-to place for rock shows in town. After enjoying the publicity of the “garage rock” boom…
Alien Ant Farm to play HopCat’s Huma Room tonight
Annie, are you okay? Alien Ant Farm, a band made famous by their 2001 cover of Michael Jackson’s “Smooth Criminal,” will perform tonight at HopCat Detroit’s second-story music venue, the Huma Room. This show comes on the heels of their halftime performance at the Piston’s game last night. They’ll play alongside metro Detroit rockers Kaleido.…
Warm yourself up with this rare 1964 ska documentary
This is my first Michigan winter. I’ve lived in cold-ish climates before; I was a kid in Cleveland, and spent eight years in the New York City area as an adult. But the last sixteen years were spent in the much more temperate climes of the Pacific Northwest, so I’m not used to this real…
Detroit to receive 80 new buses this year; launch smartphone app to track arrival times
News about public transit in this region typically doesn’t draw a positive response, but this should, especially considering the frigid plunge in temperatures we’ve experienced in recent days: Over the coming months, the Detroit Department of Transportation (DDOT) will receive 80 new buses to upgrade its antiquated fleet; the first seven are expected to arrive…
Supreme Court could decide today if it will hear Michigan same sex-marriage case
April DeBoer and Jayne Rowse, a lesbian couple of Hazel Park that first sued Michigan over the state’s same-sex marriage ban in 2013, recently sought a review of their lawsuit from the U.S. Supreme Court. Now, as early as Jan. 9, the high court could decide if it will hear the couple’s case. If the…
New study links male circumcison to autism
A controversial study was published today linking the circumcision of males under the age of 10 to the Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD). The study followed over 340,000 boys in Denmark and results showed that the chances of developing ASD increased by 46 percent if males were circumcised before the age of 10 and doubled if…
A new series of Detroit historical tours starts this month
The city of Detroit is a trove of historical landmarks, facts, and events. For over three hundred years, stories about race, diversity, women, and innovation have been percolating both behind the scenes and in the public eye. Now, a new tour series will explore the city’s rich history, starting this month. Detroit History Tours start…
The “bizarre rituals” of ’90s rave in Detroit… exposed
Why on Earth did Fox 2 need to call their 1990-something undercover investigation into the evils of youth culture “Crave the Rave”? Just see for yourself. This approach to crazy things kids today do is, of course, timeless. Just like rave culture itself! Also, how could they be stopped?
Check out this rare live footage of Ali Farka Touré
The Malian guitarist Ali Farka Touré was often compared by Western writers in the 1980s and ’90s to blues greats like John Lee Hooker or Mississippi Fred McDowell for his repetitive droning style and the hypnotic, bluesy heaviness of his work. Here in these two videos, he appears to be performing in London for ex-pats…
‘Charlie Hebdo’ terrorist act is an attack on all Muslims
Aw, fuck, here we go. Another terrorist act committed in the name of Allah. Another terrorist act committed on behalf of Islam. Another terrorist act that I have to apologize for. As an Arab American raised in a Muslim household, I don’t enjoy the luxury of only feeling appalled and sympathetic for families of victims…
Crave Ferndale grand opening planned for Jan. 12
Dearborn’s Crave is known for its upscale atmosphere, it’s fusion cuisine, and its delicious drinks. Now, an additional location means more sushi, more brunch, and more Asian staples fused with Mediterranean herbs and spices. Found in the former location of John D Bistro, the new restaurant promises to be every bit as classy and sophisticated…
‘Jekyll & Hyde: The Musical’ opens tomorrow
Royal Oak’s Stagecrafters is staging Jekyll & Hyde: The Musical.
New show at Detroit Repertory Theatre
Every January, the Detroit Repertory Theatre’s stage is given over to a play with important social or political content.
Escape a room with a zombie
New entertainment asks audiences to try to escape room with a brain-eating zombie.
Magic Stick: Rock is Dead
According to a report in the Freep, legendary local club the Magic Stick will cease hosting rock bands in the spring: “It was a matter of surviving,” [David] Zainea said of the move to electronic dance music, quietly in the works for more than a year… Rock bookings will move to the adjacent Majestic Theatre —…
Flint continues to struggle with water issues
Last August, MT published a cover story that focused on the issues surrounding a harmful algae bloom in Lake Erie, and, in general, the problems numerous cities across Michigan have faced with the basic necessity of water. In particular, the city of Flint has continually dealt with concerns over discolored water, ever since Flint switched…
Call for Art: Ink. 2 Detroit is looking for art and artists
Tattoos are a form of art. Now more mainstream than ever, the practice of permanently imbuing ink into a person’s skin is part of our culture, lifestyle, and even history. Ink. 2 Detroit is an art show that hopes to celebrate the beauty of tattooing and being tattooed. Local, national, and international artists are asked…
Obama touting auto industry resurgence today at temporarily shuttered Ford plant
This came to our attention after we posted a brief item earlier this week about Barack Obama’s visit to metro Detroit today. The president, as we noted, is in town to tout the auto industry’s rebound, following the federal government’s bailout in 2008-2009. The stop, part of a three-city tour, is meant to serve as a…
In case you need transcendent, mewling, distorted, crashing hippie communal noise music today
Today, I need something propulsive, strange, and angry, with a hint of shall we be old school and call it beauty? Yes, some beauty poking though. I’d like the music to either be without words or in words I don’t know the meaning to because I don’t want to get too hung up on “meaning,”…
Danny Brown declares himself Grinch, writes Seussian book inspired by his daughter; Internet applauds
Both Pitchfork and FACTmag are tripping over the fact that Danny Brown is writing a Sessian children’s tale inspired by his daughter. This was revealed in an interview with Australian radio station Triple J. As Pitchfork transcribed the interview, “‘It’s been taking me forever to finish. It’s really about self-esteem in black girls, I guess,’…
Detroit cartoonist draws ‘Charlie Hebdo’ tribute
Following the news this morning that 12 are dead in Paris after terrorists attacked the offices of French satirical magazine Charlie Hebdo, Detroit cartoonist Doug Dearth posted this tribute on his Facebook page. A contributor to satirical magazines Fun and Orbit, Dearth drew their’ mascots Winky and Orby wearing berets and bowing their heads in mourning, with…
Civil rights biopic ‘Selma’ is especially relevant today
Selma | B+ For those who do not know recent history — which is, sadly, far too many Americans — March 9, 1965, marked a pivotal moment in our country’s ongoing struggle to establish equal rights. Racial segregation had been outlawed one year earlier, but black Americans had yet to find justice when it came…
Politics and Prejudices: To make Detroit a place where middle-class families can make a rational choice to move, look at Southfield
Well, the days of emergency management and bankruptcy are over. Detroit is back on somewhat shaky feet, shorn off a lot of debt, and with a plan to put more money into services. But does the city really have a prayer of success? Yes, some young urban pioneers are moving there, and two or three…
Feedback: Overused words our readers want to see die in 2015, and other reader responses
GOP’s ‘Class Warfare’ Re: Jack Lessenberry’s “What do Democrats Stand For?” (Dec. 17), G.M. Ross of Lowell writes: Professor Lessenberry is spot-on about Republicans “scream[ing] class warfare.” Whenever I hear such an allegation, it inevitably comes from a right-wing mouth. They would not dream of class-consciousness, regular guys they depict themselves to be. However, the…
Detail: Book sees collaboration with Boggs School students and novelist Dave Eggers
A collection of original, funny stories from 14 students between the ages of 6 and 10 that supports a good cause, Where Is This Coming From? is the result of a collaboration between students at the James and Grace Lee Boggs School and novelist Dave Eggers. The book dates back to May 2014, when Eggers…
Raise the Bar: Angelina’s Italian Bistro has a robust selection of wines
This hot spot is located in the old Madison Theatre building, right across the street from the Detroit Opera House. While it’s known for its hearty Italian fare (much of which can be served gluten-free!) it also has a stocked bar with ample seating, perfect to grab a drink before or after a show. While…
DDays: Detroit rings in the New Year with ‘10 solid minutes of gunfire,’ and more gossip
Happy New Year! At midnight, DDays was in Detroit and rushed to the window to listen in on the celebration, which involved about 10 solid minutes of gunfire. We even heard a few automatic weapons, which is a bit unusual amid the “pop-pop-pop” of handgun fire. We know it’s an ancient tradition, but, come on,…
Stir It Up: Coaching carousel’s final spin for Detroit teams
I only write about sports about once a year, and the Harbaugh mania that dominated the media last week brought this one on. All things U-M seemed to revolve around the hiring of new football head coach Jim Harbaugh. Wolverines fans’ Christmas list, wish list, to-do list, long list and short list all had one…
Hot Shotz: PJ’s Lager House bartender pours us a ‘Blue Steel’
Paul Maiale has been at Corktown’s PJs Lager House for six years, on and off. He started doing maintenance there when PJ Ryder first bought the bar. From there he picked up hours bartending, taking over the Sunday day shift. At the time he was also working at Grosse Pointe Farms’ Dirty Dog Jazz Café.…
Drink Up
Accumulation White IPA | 6.2% | 70 IBU While it’s been cold since October, winter is only a few weeks old. On Dec. 21 the solstice brought the shortest day of the year and with it the official commencement of the coldest season of the year. So, instead of wishing it were spring already, let’s…
Cities & Coasts’ shine on debut ‘Postcards from the Great Lakes’
A few years back, the Cleveland, Ohio-based Cities & Coasts’ singer-guitarist Nathan Hedges was signed to a small Virginia label and released a solo album. He met Welshly Arms’ drummer Michael Gould when he needed to put a backing band together, and Gould helped him recruit singer-bassist Jimmy Weaver. Earlier this year, they started recording…
Montreal’s Myriam Gendron works poetry in to her latest album
Montreal-based singer/songwriter Myriam Gendron made the loveliest record in 2014, by taking poems written by Dorothy Parker and making them into these killer, sweet songs. I only knew of Parker as the Algonquin Table satirist famous for her quick wit and had no idea she wrote poems at all. The arrangements are stripped down, subtle,…
Savage Love: A brief inquiry about wearing briefs
Q: I have been wearing bras and panties with stockings for so long now, it’s become a part of me, and I was wondering if you have heard of this before. —Sent From Samsung Mobile A: People wearing bras and panties and stockings — that is something I’ve heard of before. A quick programming note:…
Ask a Juggalo: What did J and Shaggy think about the city of Windsor?
Q: Growing up in Detroit, what did J and Shaggy think about the city of Windsor? A: Wow. You know, that’s a question that would probably be best put right to them. This is what I can speak on, though: They must not have disliked it too much, because, in the very beginning, some of…
Retail: Literati bookstore holds down in the wake of Borders closing in Ann Arbor
Following the departure of Borders, and its giant flagship store at the corner of East Liberty and State streets, Literati has played a significant role in keeping downtown Ann Arbor stocked with a general interest, new bookstore since it opened in early 2013. Carrying a variety of fiction, nonfiction, poetry, children’s books, and more, the…
Michigan on the leading edge of craft distilling trend
One of the big success stories of the last decade has been craft distilling. Figures from the Distilled Spirits Council of the United States show that the growth of distilled spirits outpaced that of wine and beer from 1999 to 2012, and the highest annual sales growth occurred among premium craft distillers at an annual…
The changing face of Cuban food
I recall my trip to Cuba a decade ago and ruminate on what the new policy shift could mean for Cuba's food and agricultureEleven years ago on New Year's Day, I arrived in Cuba with a group of students from the University of Montana. We were there on a hard-to-get educational permit. Our goal was…
The five singles from Electric Light Orchestra’s epic ‘Out of the Blue’ LP, ranked in order of excellence
My first real musical love was a man from Birmingham, England, clad in an eccentric, extended frizz of hair, hand-embroidered satin jackets with planets on them, and California motorcycle cop sunglasses. This man was special to me, as he wrote all the disco songs the Beatles never got to write, then soaked them in string…
All Dolled Up: ‘Female power promoter’ Janel Stone balances a busy schedule and style
If Janel Stone looks familiar to you, we wouldn’t be surprised. The Detroit-based businesswoman has had her hand in a few of our biggest local musical acts. In fact, way back when, she picked Kaleido’s Christina Chriss out of a Westland bar and knew the blonde beauty had star potential. Now Stone is the owner…
Gold Cash Gold is on the money
Gold Cash Gold’s website uses the phrase “Conscientiously sourced, carefully crafted, uniquely Detroit farmstead fine food with a nod to the South, rooted in Old World tradition” as their description for their restaurant. It’s a lot to consider, but in the end, it’s simple. Chef Josh Stockton often works with local farmers, as well as…
Timmy’s Organism receives deluxe reissue treatment
That guy up on the stage covered in silver paint, shouting indecipherable words into a reverb-drenched mic, with handmade eyeballs hanging off his open vest? His name is Timmy Vulgar. He’s been in bands around here for over 18 years now, excellent and genre-redefining kind of bands — Clone Defects, Epileptix, and Human Eye. He’s…
Horoscopes (January 7 – 13)
ARIES: March 21 – April 20 All of us are playing Truth or Consequences. You are either totally OK with the way you’ve played it, or you’re living with the things that come up whenever we decide to compromise. At this point, the choices you make are more significant than you can imagine, and you…
Drink Up
Drink UpBell’s Hopslam Ale | 10% ABV: This winter seasonal employs six different hop varietals brewed together for a massive, face-puckering heaping helping of bitter. It’s massively dry-hopped using Simcoe hops, giving it the most complex hop schedule of Bell’s entire portfolio. Aside from those nearly overwhelming hops, seasoned beer lovers will also pick up…
Hot Shotz: Public House’s Pearl is a ‘100 percent booze’ White Russian
When Public House first opened, we fell in love with Ike, Mavis, Estelle, and Roy, cocktails that were as classic as their names. Public House’s small but well-curated drink menu was made up of boozy yet fruity beverages that transported us from the 21st century way back to the ’60s. Over the seasons, Public House…
