Cover Story
Is Charlie LeDuff really a philistine, or one of the savviest media personalities of our time?
Charlie LeDuff is in the news again. The Fox 2 reporter is, of course, on the news, and has been since he took that post in 2010, but his particular brand of on-air performance art tends to blur the line between reporting the news and being the news. This time LeDuff didn’t set out to…
Concert review: Shana Cleveland at UFO Factory
WHO: Shana Cleveland & The Sandcastles WHEN: Sunday, May 31 WHERE: UFO Factory
Watch: T-Baby cuts new version of ‘It’s so cold in the D’
It’s still so cold in the D.
New pop-up restaurant planned in Pontiac
New pop-up, incubator to open in Pontiac.
Celebrate Jackie Wilson’s birthday with these six clips
The great singer Jackie Wilson was born on this day in 1934, here in Detroit. He passed away on January 21, 1984. Wikipedia says that he was “known as a tenor with a four octave vocal range, he was nicknamed “Mr. Excitement”, Wilson was important in the transition of rhythm and blues into soul. He…
Diners can try Kate Williams’ cuisine in Hamtramck
Kate Williams sells out a dinner at Revolver in, like, three seconds.
Big Sean helped donate a recording studio to Cass Tech
As he noted in a video posted by WDIV, Anderson’s rapping career started when he would hawk his own CDs during school hours.
Study: Detroit auto insurance plan could save motorists up to $2,300 annually; state legislators say other options should be explored
Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan’s plan to lower auto insurance costs in the city would save residents upwards of $2,300 a year on their premium, according to a feasibility study released Tuesday — but state legislators say it’d treat Detroit residents like “second-class citizens.” The plan called “D-Insurance” was first floated in 2013 by Duggan. The proposal requires…
Detroit Punks’ hour long Gories documentary is essential
This hour long documentary rules. They really are the best Detroit band from the entire 1980s, if not beyond — and they just finished up another successful European tour, so it all ends super happily, yayyyy.
Campbell Soup to buy Garden Fresh for $231 million
Calling it an “American success story,” Campbell Soup said Tuesday it has purchased local salsa and hummus giant Garden Fresh Gourmet for $231 million. Garden Fresh, which was founded in 1998 and has since grown to the No. 1 branded refrigerated salsa in the U.S., will become a part of the company’s Campbell Fresh division,…
Watch: BMX rider Tyler Fernengel explores the Pontiac Silverdome
Red Bull and BMX rider Tyler Fernengel figured the ruins of the Silverdome would make a gnarly BMX course. And by the looks of this newly released video, they were right.
EAA teacher who was fired for using broom to break up fight sues district
A teacher in the Education Achievement Authority (EAA) who made headlines last year after she was fired for using a broom to break up a fight at a high school in Detroit has filed a lawsuit against the school district. According to the federal complaint filed Friday by Tiffani Eaton-Davis, the EAA failed to warn…
Last minute Pixies show just added: Saint Andrew’s Hall June 9
Pixies have decided to not cancel themselves and play a Detroit show instead, at Saint Andrews Hall. It is the same night as originally scheduled, Tuesday, June 9, at Saint Andrews Hall, and the show starts at 8 p.m.
Robert Plant’s June 9 show rescheduled to Sept. 10 due to laryngitis
“Sunday morning I woke up with a flu that’s developed into laryngitis. I’m really disappointed as I’ve only missed 1 gig in 15 years and now here’s two in a row. It’s heartbreaking. I’m furious, frustrated and silent.”- Robert Plant
Detroit Tigers show support for US Women’s National Team
In anticipation of the women’s World Cup, the tigers now don the US Women’s National Team’s white and black look.
ICYMI: Lydia Lunch talks ‘no wave’ history at MOCAD
In this video from June 2014, the always enchanting Ms. Lunch talks about no wave in NYC in the late 1970s with Weasel Walter.
I-94 reconstruction, widening may begin in 2019; project will take 20 years to complete
There’s recently been an uptick in news about a proposed reconstruction of I-94 in Detroit, along a 6.7-mile stretch between Conner Avenue and I-96. The project has been on the table since the 1990s, and it has a bountiful share of vocal opponents. Perhaps in an attempt to quell some of those concerns, the Michigan…
Watch: ’50s Detroit Police Department promotional video
Check out this 1950s Detroit Police Department promotional video.
Review: Daniel Cicchelli’s ‘Inside Out’ exhibit at the Heidelberg Project
Cicchelli’s work is angry and imperfect, almost frantic; not the kind of art you would hang in your living room.
Detroit Pistons reportedly may seek arena on incomplete Wayne County jail site; organization has ‘no plans’ yet to move
Update (12:45 p.m., Monday, June 8): Apparently the Pistons organization is over this shit. In a statement to the News, an associate of Gores said the team has “no plans” to move away from Auburn Hills. So, there’s that. ______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Original Post (11:55 a.m., Monday, June 8): The headline making rounds this morning — well, yesterday…
Detroit’s Music Hall currently restoring canopy to original Art Deco splendor
The new canopy will hark back to the original design, but employ modern, cost-efficient materials.
‘Chill on the Hill’ fest announces Weezer-headlining lineup
The complete lineup is as follows:.Saturday, Sept. 12: Weezer, Panic at the Disco, Andrew McMahon and the Wilderness, Thousand Foot Krutch, Night Riots, Vinyl Theatre, Coleman Hell, Arkells, Kaliedo and two more big acts will be announced soon for Saturday’s lineup..Sunday, Sept. 13: Cage the Elephant, Coheed & Cambria, Cold War Kids, Dale Earnhardt Jr.…
Charlie LeDuff and postmodernism: a primer
In reference to this week’s cover story, here’s a list of how LeDuff’s work relates to postmodernism.
Torino abruptly announces it is closing forever on Saturday
After being named 2015 restaurant of the year, Torino announces it will close forever.
Deal of the week: original, sealed LPs on the Indian Records label
The peyote record, sung by Grover Turtle and Arthur Madbull and recorded in Fay, Oklahoma, is the clear winner of this bunch. The music is perfectly minimal and zoned out, while the rhythms employed are weirdly similar to those employed on the first record by the great synthpunk act Suicide. the label is still an…
Motor City Pride comes to Detroit
What to expect at this year’s Motor City Pride.
Stream the new track “Paper” by Detroit emcee NameTag here
Detroit emcee NameTag has come through again with a shrewd new single called “Paper.” This is an excellent follow up from “A.L.A.R.”, his single that was released in early May. NameTag strategically targets the blameless and corrupt ways we let money control our lives. He raps, “Back to the paper chase, gotta’ make them investments,…
ICYMI: Watch Charlie LeDuff chase down the Coney Island cellphone thief
Watch Charlie LeDuff and Grace Keros chase down the alleged cellphone thief.
Group pushing failed Proposal 1 spent $9 million on campaign
The coalition that pushed Proposal 1 — which sought to raise $1.2 billion in additional funds for road infrastructure, and failed miserably — burned through $9.2 million on the effort, according to recently filed campaign finance reports. The campaign committee Safe Roads Yes spent about $26 per vote in the race, which culminated in one…
It’s National Doughnut Day — here’s where you can find one for free
Do you live for doughnuts? It’s a great day to be you, then. Today is National Doughnut Day, and chain shops across Metro Detroit will give you one for free. Yes, free. Check it out: Dunkin’ Donuts says you can get a free doughnut with the purchase of any drink. Tim Hortons will give you…
Food Truck Event: Haggerty Corridor Corporate Park on June 25
It’s summertime which means the majority of our meals are coming from concession stands at various concerts and sporting events or from food trucks, those ingenious kitchens-on-wheels that rally and park all over the city during warm weather months. Later this month, hungry locals will have a formal opportunity to sate their food truck cravings…
Check out the Hollywood designs of new CCS department head Tim Flattery
Flattery will bring his Hollywood expertise to Detroit’s College for Creative Studies as the new department head for the school’s Entertainment Arts program.
Sweet, sweet harmony in Lansing
Roads, shrouds. Lansing would rather vote to establish a Barbershop Harmony Day.
W.I.T.T.: 2015 Michigan record store guide
WHAT IS THAT THING?: 2015 Michigan record store guide This was the brainstorm of Windy Weber from Stormy Records in Dearborn, and is a collaborative effort with Ferndale’s Found Sound record store. The story of the extremely helpful pamphlet is as follows, according to Windy: “I tired for YEARS to make that happen. One shop…
Chef Zachary is back, and popping up at St. Cece’s
We’ve become used to the pop-up scene as making a space for new chefs trying to make their name before they get to head up their own brick-and-mortar kitchens. But the scene is getting so established, with several venues, ranging from Yemans Street and Revolver in Hamtramck to St. Cece’s in Corktown and the weekly…
Detroit’s famous ‘Grandma Techno’ to exhibit photography
They call Patricia Lay-Dorsey “Grandma Techno.” She’s nearly 73 years old, and she’s has been a fixture at detroit’s Movement Electronic Music Festival since she first attended on a lark in 2005. She can almost always be spotted with her motorized scooter and a camera. The younger festivalgoers have seemingly welcomed her with open arms.…
Papa Weeze shows off unique mission statement by combining fashion and stand-up comedy
New production company Papa Weeze will be holding an event that combines two seemingly mismatched art forms: fashion and stand-up comedy.
Concert review: Father John Misty, Alabama Shakes @ Masonic Temple
WHO: Alabama Shakes, Father John Misty WHEN: Wednesday, June 3 WHERE: Masonic Temple, Detroit
Concert review: Hot Chip explore the joy in repetition at the Majestic Theatre
15 years and six albums into their career, the band has arguably emerged as the masters of the 2000s dance-rock scene.
Meijer to open second Detroit store next week
This week in Detroit grocery store news we learn that the city’s second Meijer supermarket is slated to open next week. The new retail space, which is located at Grand River and McNichols, is being advertised as a “neighborhood store,” reports MLive, one that will sport locally-sourced produce and create some 270+ new jobs for local residents.…
Do things in Detroit, win prizes
DXF is hosting their checklist challenge again.
What if Detroit had a parking garage for 5,000 bicycles?
A 5,000-bike parking garage could work in Detroit — if it were ever considered for more than a moment.
ACLU of Michigan launches app to record police officers
The American Civil Liberties Union of Michigan (ACLU) says a new smartphone app will allow anyone to quickly record and report police misconduct. “It’s every citizen’s right to film the police, and we believe that accountability is essential to building trust between communities and law enforcement and to creating confidence that the criminal justice system…
How are you celebrating Suzi Quatro’s 65th birthday today?
Born Susan Kay Quatro in 1950 in Detroit, Quatro grew up in a musical family of Detroiters. Her father, Art, was a semi-professional musician who saw that she was classically trained in piano and percussion, and she played drums in her father’s jazz act, the Art Quatro Trio, at a very young age. Several of…
WATCH: A young Detroit Tigers fan has the perfect reaction after catching a grand slam
A young Detroit Tigers fan was reduced to tears when he nabbed a grand slam ball during yesterday’s Tigers vs. A’s game after he realized the hit had come from Oakland’s Ben Zobrist, giving the visiting team the lead. The catch is beautiful, really, and so is his reaction. It’ll be alright, little fella.
Light Up the Riverfront is tomorrow night
Dogs are welcome, too.
Royal Oak’s Office Coffee Shop offers an alternative to the traditional work space
Everyone knows it can be a chore to hunker down at work, particularly during the summer months when long lunches and early happy hours beckon us away from our desks. But one local coffee shop a solution: A work space away from work. The Office Coffee Shop, located at 402 South Lafayette Ave in Royal…
Ask a Juggalo: What is the origin of the Psycho Bitch apparel for Juggalettes?
Q: What is the origin of the Psycho Bitch apparel for Juggalettes? A: Well, there’s tons of ‘lettes out there, and these Juggalettes need to have the fucking clothing as well. And Psycho Bitch is just another very fresh coin trademark that is just another one of the many unique ideas coming out of Hatchet…
Savage Love: The affairs
Q: I’m a 35-year-old divorced man. I’ve been on plenty of dates since my marriage ended, but I invariably get asked this question on or before date No. 2: “Why did you get divorced?” This is where everything goes to shit. I’m honest: “We got divorced because I cheated on my wife. A lot.” This…
Drink Up
Three Olives Blueberry 35% ABV A few weeks ago we profiled London’s iconic vodka brand, Three Olives, and their flagship premium vodka. Since its launch in 1998, the brand has seen exponential growth, expanding their line to include staple flavors like orange, vanilla, cherry, grape, watermelon, and chocolate along with more innovative flavors like bubble,…
Co-curator Diane Irby talks up the ‘INK 2’ art and tattoo spectacle
The second INK art show event, with visual art influenced by and relating to tattoo imagery, is upon us this weekend. It looks to be more international in scope, and just bigger and more fabulous in general than the first, which went down two years ago also in the Tangent Gallery. Over 140 artists have…
Detroit’s Republic Tavern serves up house-made goodness
For any longtime Detroiter, the renovation and resurrection of the Grand Army of the Republic building must count as a triumph: that weird triangular castle, owned (at least in rumor) by various non-development-minded landlords, sitting in the shadow of Foxtown off the Woodward corridor. It was for too long an empty reminder of the fact…
A track-by-track breakdown of Jamaican Queens’ excellent new LP, ‘Downers’
Jamaican Queens just dropped Downers, the follow-up to Wormfood, their 2013 debut. Recorded off and on over the past two years, Downers is an intense mashup of Motown, MGMT, and acid house that has to be heard to be believed. We sat down with JQ frontman and primary songwriter Ryan Spencer before the band (which…
Supa Emcee continues to move forward, after 20 years in the game
Supa Emcee walks in front of the storefront of the shuttered Shantinique Records, at Harper and Holcomb avenues. The building is a vacant shell of peeling paint, with old hip-hop posters staring desperately through the broken windows. “This was the spot right here. I got a lot of good memories about this spot,” he says.…
Lettuce turnip the beet at the Whitney’s garden party series
Metro Detroit is ripe with opportunities for outdoor drinking and dining. The city itself holds an untold number of patios, decks, and rooftops outfitted with tables and bars and plied with cuisine and cocktails. Arguably, though, none is better than the gardens at the Whitney. The historic mansion on Woodward Avenue is opulent. The opportunity…
Stir it up: A life incomparable
I came across a post on Facebook that I found pretty interesting not long ago. Elayne Sikelianos, on the occasion of her 72nd birthday, posted: “Now that I’m long-in-the-tooth … I’ll share some amazing things I’ve done.” What first attracted me was the freedom that she exuded because of her age — the sense of…
A dozen things not to miss in metro Detroit dining
Trailer treasure — You may remember last year’s story on Meiko Krishok of Detroit Guerrilla Food. Every week, she makes healthful and appealing food in a trailer on a vacant lot on Vermont Street between Temple and Spruce streets. If you haven’t tasted her original creations before, you should line up after work starting at…
A chat with Cinetopia’s Elliot Wilhelm
Elliot Wilhelm watches something like 15 films a week. It’s part of his job at the Detroit Film Theatre, where he’s the curator of film and video. While he’s watching, he isn’t just thinking about which films make sense to screen at the DFT, he’s also keeping in mind which will work for Cinetopia. Now…
Detroit’s water tug-of-war
With the city of Detroit poised to shut off water to as many as 25,000 residential customers beginning this week, the philosophical divide remains wide between advocates who want an income-based affordability plan and officials who steadfastly insist an assistance plan that provides some relief is the only feasible solution. Here’s the difference: Assistance programs…
Harper Woods vintage boutique Mercury Retropolis takes us back
Over a year ago partners Michelle Winstanley and Jenna Talia opened a little vintage boutique in Harper Woods. Talia is known for being an original member of local rock group Glitter Trash, but she and Winstanley also have a love for all things midcentury. They bought the building at 20602 Harper Avenue in Harper Woods…
Horoscopes (June 3 – 9)
ARIES (March 21-April 20): Spinning straw into gold is an alchemical feat, and you’re spinning through a section of your life where you are being required to make it happen. On every possible level it’s about honing what’s left of your mistakes into something precious. The sum total of who you are is being put…
Readers respond to photographer’s representation of Detroit
The REAL Detroit Our intern Lexa Prokopetz posted a blog and slideshow with photos taken by 20-year-old Sam Sklar, a West Bloomfield native who’s attending college in Boston. Some folks were perturbed as the way Sklar is representing the city. Reader “drbpor” says: “Rich kid from Bloomfield snapping photos for social media. Gimme a fucking…
Politics and Prejudices: Tale of two cities
Budapest, Hungary – The last time I was in Hungary was in 1986, three years before the Berlin Wall came down and European communism collapsed with a thud. Detroit had plenty of problems back then, and Budapest was possibly the best place to live in the entire Soviet empire. But nobody in his right mind…
‘Love & Mercy’ delves into the psyche of Brian Wilson
Love & Mercy: B+ Most biopics suck. Oh, sure, the history of Oscars is littered with actors who have taken home the statue for playing real-life individuals whose lives were worthy of cinematic treatment. But how many folks actually put films like Ray, Walk the Line, or J. Edgar in their Netflix queue? The problem…
