Cover Story
Michigan’s female wrestlers have blazed a trail, and now they deserve a state championship
The school year hasn’t started yet on this August evening, and yet at 7 p.m. wrestlers start to trickle into the practice room at Fenton High School. It’s an open girls wrestling practice for school-age females interested in practicing with other girls, and it has drawn in about a dozen girls, aged 8 to 18,…
XXXTentacion brings his controversial tour to the Majestic on Thursday
19 year-old experimental rap artist Jahseh Onfroy, better known by his name XXXTentacion, was released from prison just over two months ago on charges stemming from a domestic dispute. But it was during his last few weeks locked up that one of his songs soared to the top of Soundcloud’s charts. Onfroy, now one of the streaming site’s biggest successes,…
The Grand Prix left Belle Isle’s grass a torn up mess, again
Belle Isle’s Grand Prix deconstruction has reached its final phases. The west side of the island reopened last week, which alleviated traffic complaints, and the majority of grandstands, fencing, and blockades are gone. All in all, that’s eleven weeks of construction. However, a quick drive around the island on Monday reveals large patches of dead…
Testa Barra Kitchen & Cocktails opens today in Macomb Township
Testa Barra, an Italian/new American eatery in Macomb Township that’s part of the Baldwin group of restaurants, opens today in Macomb Township. The lengthy menu is filled with modern takes on traditional pastas, pizzas, salads, seafood, meats, and more. It includes items like Salmon Verlasso with beet pappardelle, spinach, spiced pepitos, gremolata, and pesto cream…
Avalon will take over former Cafe Con Leche space in New Center
Avalon International Breads has long been considered one of the great companies born out of Detroit and the bread-making organization seems to be experiencing a surge in popularity as they today announced yet another Detroit location will open on West Grand Boulevard in New Center later this summer. The company hopes to capitalize on the…
Iconic Telway Hamburgers owner Earl Owens dies
Telway Hamburgers owner Earl Owens has died, an employee at the southwest Detroit slider joint confirmed on Tuesday. The employee said Owens died at his home on Sunday evening, but declined to provide anymore information. Telway opened in 1944 at 6820 Michigan Ave., and the 24-hour shop thrived through the decades with little alteration, steadily maintaining its…
Lake Michigan’s inflatable playground is four hours away, we’ll probably still make the drive
If you’ve always wanted to try parkour but the fear of falling to your death is deterring you, the Whoa Zone floating waterpark might be the place to try out your James Bond-induced fantasy. Construction started this week in Whiting, Ind. on the part-bounce house, part-obstacle course aquatic playground. News sources from Milwaukee to Detroit…
Eight state House Republicans want English to be Michigan’s official state language
House Bill 4053, which is being discussed in Michigan’s House today, was introduced by eight Republicans in Michigan’s House of Representatives. If passed, the bill would make English Michigan’s official language While the United States doesn’t have an official language, many states (more than 30) already have English as an official language, but their definition of…
All charges dismissed against the ‘Homrich 9’ Detroit water shutoff protestors
After nearly three years of dragged-out legal proceedings, all charges have been dropped against Detroit’s “Homrich 9” water rights activists. Judge Ronald Giles of the 36th District Court dismissed the charges on June 14, finding the defendants’ constitutional right to a speedy trial was violated by “numerous unexplained and unjustified delays.” “Three years of prosecution on a misdemeanor…
A Harry Potter bar crawl is coming to Royal Oak
With last month’s “Pottercon” that went down at the Masonic Temple and a Harry Potter-themed Escape Room headed to Novi, we weren’t too surprised to see that a Harry Potter bar crawl is happening in Royal Oak. Friends, it’s time to grab your wands and prepare to drink because downtown Royal Oak will basically turn…
Cottage Inn is offering $1 pizza for charity
Pizza is one of life’s greatest joys – perhaps second only to giving to charity. When the new Cottage Inn in Berkley opens on June 27, you’ll have the opportunity to enjoy both. From 2 p.m. to 6 p.m., the new store, at 3642 W. 12 mile Rd., will give away a $1 medium cheese…
Detroit Vegan Soul’s second location opens next month
Detroit Vegan Soul, a popular West Village vegan soul food spot, will open its second location in Grandmont Rosedale next month. Owners Erika Boyd and Kirsten Ussery tell the Detroit News that they’re planning to launch on July 22 at 19614 Grand River Ave. on Detroit’s northwest side. The 1,200-square-foot restaurant will seat roughly 36…
Make Music Detroit returns on the summer solstice
Make Music Detroit is a free, annual live music celebration with city-wide concerts for all ages held at venues and outdoor public spaces every June 21, the longest day of the year. It’s going down for the second time ever here in Detroit this year. It’s part of an international event, and this year it…
Coleman Young Jr. calls for special prosecutor to investigate Detroit Mayor Duggan’s demo program
Last week, when news broke that a federal grand jury is looking into Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan’s demolition program and the possible misappropriation of federal funds, several local media outlets quoted anonymous sources close to the investigation as saying the mayor was not a target of the probe. Today, the man hoping to unseat Duggan…
Third Man Records celebrates ‘Icky Thump’ anniversary with special reissue
Not only has it been 10 years since the White Stripes’ Icky Thump was released into the world, but it was also the last album that Jack and Meg White released together as the White Stripes. To commemorate the 10th anniversary of the LP, Jack White’s Third Man Records is releasing a deluxe reissue called…
New music Monday: a fistful of killer new Detroit tracks
Nolan the Ninja, “14k” Nolan the Ninja is back with a fully stocked arsenal of melodic dopeness and boom-bap cuts. First out the chamber is “14k,” a keyboard-driven cut highlighted by Nolan’s consistent brand of spitfire lyrics. Playground Myu-zik and Kid Smitty, “After School Cypher Ep. 1” This is a straight old-school posse cut where…
Show review: Wilco at Meadow Brook Amphitheatre on Wednesday, June 7
Under an almost full moon, among the lush, bosomy trees of Meadow Brook Amphitheatre, the only thing missing was the soft twilight of a campfire for Jeff Tweedy to sing his songs of heartbreak and sad longing around. After burning through such Wilco classics as “Ashes of an American Flag,” “I Am Trying to Break…
Royal Oak tapas restaurant La Dulce is relocating to downtown Detroit
After several years of trading in tapas in its modern Royal Oak space, La Dulce is headed for the ever-expanding dining scene in downtown Detroit. Owner Luis Negrete announced on Monday via press release that his restaurant will close its South Main Street Royal Oak space. It will reopen on July 6 in a 7,000-square-foot,…
LCD Soundsystem headed to Detroit in November
It’s hard to believe that LCD Soundsystem hasn’t released a new record in over 7 years, but that drought will soon end when James Murphey and company release the highly anticipated America Dream on September 1. The new LP will be followed with an extensive North American and European tour with a stop in Detroit…
Zingerman’s James Beard award winning chef to open a new French bistro
Zingerman’s Roadhouse’s James Beard award winning chef Alex Young will open a new French bistro-style restaurant outside of Ann Arbor. MLive reports that Young, who was co-owner of Zingerman’s Roadhouse for 15 years, departed to open a space called The Standard Bistro and Larder in Scio Township’s former Creekside Grill. When ready in October, the building will hold the…
It took a Republican congressman getting shot to calm down Ted Nugent
No, hell hasn’t frozen over, but it got pretty damn close when Ted Nugent said in an interview with a New York radio station that he plans to cool it with his pro-gun rhetoric. If you’ve tried to block out anything Ted Nugent says or does (honestly we don’t blame you), here is a little…
Still like that old time rock ‘n’ roll? Bob Seger hits streaming services, finally.
Just in time for Father’s Day, Michigan’s own Bob Seger has finally allowed his music to be heard on streaming services like Spotify, and Apple Music, Amazon, iHeartRadio, Napster and something called Slacker Radio. Of course, a host of crucial early works remain unavailable, but that isn’t new for Seger’s catalog, as we discussed earlier this year.…
Thanks be to God: Lorde is headed to Little Caesars Arena in 2018
Lorde, the 20-year-old who is arguably cooler than all of us released her highly anticipated follow-up to her 2013 debut album Pure Heroine today, as well as the rest of the dates for her world tour. Luckily for us, Lorde will make a stop at Little Caesars Arena during the North American leg of the…
Michigan residents use this emoji more than any other
The President of the United States is under federal investigation, there is a very real possibility that Russians influenced the U.S. election, and each week it seems there is some new terrorist attack. I mean, the world’s not exactly on fire, but it’s getting close. So, when things get heavy, it’s nice to take a…
Tuition is now free for U-M Ann Arbor students whose families make less than $65k
In an effort to increase access amid soaring tuition costs, the University of Michigan announced a new program that will make tuition free for in-state students who come from families that make $65,000 or less a year. Dubbed the Go Blue Guarantee, the program will cover the full cost of tuition for up to four years…
Flint Eastwood’s new music video for ‘Push’ is a visual masterpiece
Back when we found out that Flint Eastwood teamed up with Tunde Olaniran for a banging new song, we thought we had died and gone to heaven and life could possibly not get any better. Well, my dear, dear friends — as of today, life has gotten even better. Flint Eastwood released a stunningly beautiful…
It’s been 10 years since the White Stripes released their last album, ‘Icky Thump’
On June 15, 2007, Jack and Meg White released arguably the best White Stripes album to date, the killer Icky Thump. Little did we know that the White Stripes would go on hiatus indefinitely, and that Icky Thump would be the last time we hear Jack and Meg riff off one another. Looking back 10…
Detroit poets seek to saturate the world in verse, host open mic night
Sheezy Bo Beezy is a lot of things. Among them, he is the co-founder of the Detroit Poetry Society, but his artistry extends far beyond the written word. “I’m a musician first,” he says. “Before I was anything, I was a musician. But, I’m a dancer, I’m a community builder, I am a link to…
Charges of collusion and other drama at Hamtramck City Council last night
In a stormy meeting last night, Hamtramck City Council approved the hiring of a new city manager by a slim majority. The meeting appeared to be the culmination of a long-running campaign by a majority of the city council to unseat City Manager Katrina Powell and replace her with somebody more to their liking. The…
Your chance to audition for ‘Survivor’ is today in Auburn Hills
Full disclosure: this writer used to be so obsessed with the reality TV show Survivor back in the day that his parents got him an authentic buff from the show so he could wear it while watching the show. Unfortunately, I don’t have the will power to audition myself, but that doesn’t mean that you…
Viral: LeBron James consoles himself with Tee Grizzley’s music at the gym
Detroit’s breakout hip-hop star Tee Grizzley may have been left off the famed XXL “Freshman Cover List” of 2017, but I bet none of those other emcees can claim LeBron James as a fan. Here we have footage of LeBron James dancing about in his gym as LeBron raps the hit single, “First Day Out.” Who…
Just announced: Queens of the Stone Age to visit the Fox in October
Today we learn that not only do Queens of the Stone Age have a new album imminent, called Villains, out August 25 on Matador, but that QOTSA is playing the Fox Theatre on Oct. 17. (And don’t forget, Homme’s compatriots Eagles of Death Metal play the El Club on Monday, June 26.) Tickets are not yet on sale,…
Artisans wanted: Detroit officials will accept business proposals for downtown transit hub
For years, people waiting for a bus at the Rosa Parks Transit Center in downtown Detroit have had few ways to satiate their hunger or quench their thirst. Save for a gumbo spot’s several year stint as a tenant in the eight-year old facility, there have been no businesses for riders to patronize. There’s not even…
Myya Jones, Detroit’s millennial mayoral candidate, now running as a write-in
It appears that the campaign of Myya D. Jones, the 22-year-old woman running for mayor of Detroit, has hit a bit of a snag. According to a press release, Jones’ name will not appear on Detroit’s primary ballot. Although the campaign says she collected enough signatures, Jones is ineligible to appear on the ballot for…
Did Steve Harvey really tell a Flint resident to ‘enjoy your nice brown glass of water?’
According to MLive, yes. Yes he did. Even just logging on to Twitter and doing a quick search of Harvey’s name will show you that many, many people are not happy with the TV personality. Harvey was discussing the NBA Finals on his morning radio show when one caller told Harvey that Cleveland didn’t “deserve…
Why you should see Mango Lane at Loving Touch Friday, June 16
Mango Lane is a groovy four-piece based out of Detroit, and this Friday, June 16, they’re having a record release show at the Loving Touch. Admission is free and it will totally be worth the trip. Austin Carpenter and Jack Engwall have been writing and recording tunes for seven years, and now their live jams…
Local arcade groups partner to open creative space and art gallery
Nostalgic arcades have been a hot trend in Detroit for the past few years, but we’ve yet to see a fully dedicated space survive. Offworld Arcade tried it for a while, but found it more sustainable to host intermittent pop-ups and a spot called Ready Player One seems poised to open soon. But, nerds may…
Conyers leads massive emoluments lawsuit against Trump
Nearly 200 Democrat members of Congress filed a lawsuit against President Donald Trump today, alleging that he is violating the Constitution’s foreign Emoluments Clause by accepting foreign payments without legislative consent. The lawsuit is led, in part, by U.S. Rep. John Conyers of Detroit, along with Sen. Richard Blumenthal of Connecticut. With 196 congressional plaintiffs, the lawsuit has the “greatest…
Multiple Michigan congressmen were at charity baseball game during shooting
According to multiple reports, a gunman opened fire at a GOP charity baseball team practice early Wednesday morning in Virginia. Three Michigan congressmen were present and have all been reported safe, according to WDIV. Reps. Mike Bishop (8th District), Jack Bergman (1st District), and John Moolenar (4th District) were all in attendance. Rep. Mike Bishop…
Michigan health director charged with involuntary manslaughter in Flint water crisis
The head of Michigan’s health department has been charged with involuntary manslaughter in the Flint water crisis, according to media reports. The Free Press and AP report that Nick Lyon is accused of failing to alert the public about an outbreak of Legionnaires’ disease in the Flint area, which some experts say stemmed from poor…
Amy’s Shoes brings bargain styles to Southwest Detroit
When she was young, Amy Valadez didn’t get to wear a lot of expensive on-trend clothes. Her mother abandoned the family, leaving her father to raise Valadez along with her sisters and brother on his own. Growing up in Southwest Detroit, Valadez says they didn’t have a lot of shopping options. Their best bet was…
Tadd Mullinix reprises his Charles Manier alias to get noisy and Teutonic
Ann Arbor-based electronic music producer, DJ, and prolific abstract expressionist painter Tadd Mullinix is a man of many musical personas and interests. Like any good crate-digging former record store employee and producer, his musical tastes are all over the musical spectrum. Instead of letting these genres run amok on albums, he tends to hone in…
Pavement’s Spiral Stairs winds his way back to music and the Americas
Who will replace Chicago, Styx, and Toto on the summer county fair circuit when no original members remain? A nation’s lonely eyes turn to the ’90s. While grunge has kept medical examiners busy, many onetime indie rockers are still kicking — if they can be lured away from their slacker slumber. “Someone has to fill…
Detroit Comix Party is your anti-comic con
We have probably reached peak geek. After a generation of Marvel and D.C. turning superhero comics into hugely successful film franchises, comic books have arguably never been more mainstream. That’s good news for diehards and new fans alike, who can look forward to plenty of Avengers sequels and spinoffs well into the immediate future. But…
Savage Love: Virgin territory
Q: I’m almost 30 and I’m a virgin. I’m an overweight, straight-ish guy (I’m attracted to a few men, but those cases are exceedingly rare). I’ve also gone through an absolute hell life thus far, losing a testicle to cancer and having an abusive father who threatened a teenage me into celibacy by invoking the…
On the N-word
Ah the N-word. A six-letter combination so toxic that almost no publication will print it. A word that has been buried and thrown on the trash heap of time many, many times, yet it still rises like a zombie undead thing creeping across the countryside. A word that has destroyed careers for those uttering it,…
As tax foreclosures give Wayne County a short-term financial boost, is there incentive for an overhaul?
It’s that time of year again: A redemption deadline for Wayne County property owners facing foreclosure for failing to pay three years’ worth of taxes has passed, and those living at places where a homeowner did not make arrangements to start paying off those back taxes now run the risk of losing the roof over…
Lt. Gov. Brian Calley: The statesman and the shrimp
You’ve got to hand it to Lt. Gov. Brian Calley, who many of us thought was a youthful-looking non-entity. He has now come up with a plan to do something I doubted was possible. He’s found a way to make our truly awful system of state government worse — and is pledging to work hard…
Review: Detroit’s La Lanterna goes modern
The latest outpost of the Barbieri family’s Da Edoardo Italian restaurant empire is making the most of its 60-year-old downtown roots. A portrait of patriarch Edoardo Barbieri, clad in a V-neck-sweater, pipe in hand, adorns a wall. A framed April 1958 copy of Michigan Restaurateur headlines, “A Rigid Standard of Quality at La Lanterna Pays…
Make Music Detroit returns on the solstice
A fete for music itself Make Music Detroit is a free, annual live music celebration with city-wide concerts for all ages held at venues and outdoor public spaces every June 21, the longest day of the year. It’s going down for the second time ever here in Detroit this year. It’s part of an international…
Why it’s important for black farmers to take the lead on Detroit’s urban farms
Located near the intersection of Livernois and Fenkell Avenues, the Neighborhood B.U.G. spot is in an area where function and dysfunction exist side by side. Businesses and active warehouse buildings are mixed in with empty storefronts and broken-down homes. There’s a burned-out house on one side of the garden that Orlando Thorpe from B.U.G. says…
Horoscopes: June 14-20)
ARIES (March 21- April 20): You aren’t sure that you can do this because you’ve never had the chance to take your life this far. Up until this moment it didn’t matter how things went. Now all of a sudden the whole show depends on whether or not you’re ready to step out of the…
