Cover Story
Nexus wants to use eminent domain to ram a pipeline through Michigan and Ohio — and you to help pay for it
Kathy Schoen is making one last visit to her elderly aunt’s house, packing up the final few things before a new owner gets the keys. That leaves plenty of room on the living room carpet for her to unspool a map of 50-odd miles of the proposed Nexus pipeline’s route — and the map shows…
Can’t-miss show of the month: The Feelies at El Club this Sunday, July 16
This is seriously the best news. I myself have seen this band live a dozen-plus times since 1985; they are one of the best live rock and roll music bands of ever. They will be performing two sets. Two sets, the fucking Feelies! Holy moley. With a few lineup changes at the start, and a…
An exploration of Hamtramck’s sweet side, from chom chom to cake cups
Metro Detroit knows all about the savory side of Hamtramck, but — with the exception of the famed paczki — the sweeter half of its menus are sometimes an afterthought, or not really known beyond the city’s borders. However, the sugary, syrupy sweets of Aladdin; the excessive but addictive cake cup at Mocha Cafe; the…
What’s wrong with a pavilion design contest in Roseville?
Best known recently as the city where police ticket you for warming up your car in the driveway, Roseville is also the site of a new design competition. The town’s DDA says it wants to enlist the help of architects and designers to help come up with a plan for a vacant site in along…
Who run the world — Girls: 36 local female-owned businesses to support on International Woman’s Day
On Wednesday March 8, the world will celebrate the political, economic, and social achievements of women as they have for over 100 years. But, this International Women’s Day is going to be a little bit different. With a pussy-grabbing president in office and a wildly successful Women’s March on Washington on the books, ladies everywhere…
Trump’s America: Eastern Market plot “reserved for future internment camp”
A sign bearing a presidential seal has been posted on a fenced-off plot in Eastern Market designating the area the site of a “Future Internment Camp.” Printed in dull government hues and scrawled with President Donald Trump’s signature, the sign citing “Executive order 9066” almost appears real. Fortunately, it’s not. But the street artist behind…
A French pastry chef created a chocolate showpiece dedicated to Eminem and it’s amazing
No, this three foot tall chocolate showpiece isn’t made of M&M’s, but it is dedicated to the one and only Eminem and it looks delicious as hell. Who is the mastermind behind this Eminem-inspired tower of chocolate? That would be pastry chef and diehard Eminem fan Guillaume Carbonnot of Troyes, France. The 27-year-old chef told…
Show review: The Lox at St Andrews Hall on Saturday, March 4
The show opened with a performance by a local emcee named Hatch Wiseguy, accompanied by Aaron Taylor, who played the part of hook crooner and hype man. Hatch had a well put-tougher set as he showed impressive rhyme skills and showmanship. He threw out t-shirts, played on the “another white rapper” sarcasm, and rapped material…
Detroit Institute of Arts seeking locals’ opinions on new galleries
The Detroit Institute of Arts is asking locals to do what they do best — give their opinion. The folks behind the Midtown stalwart are in the planning stages of redesigning the museum’s contemporary art galleries and they’re hoping the public can help shape their plans. They’re asking locals to complete a survey anytime between…
Michigan Democrats react to Trump’s travel ban 2.0
As we’re sure most of you have heard by now, President Trump signed another Executive Order on Monday that blocks citizens from six predominately Muslim countries from entering the United States for 90 days. While the new Executive Order was revised so an uproar wouldn’t happen like last time (Iraq was removed, exempts permanent residents…
Grassroots group is working to put gerrymandering issue on Michigan’s 2018 ballot
A grassroots group is proposing redistricting reform in an effort to resolve Michigan’s gerrymandered legislative and congressional districts. In short, it wants voters to approve an amendment to the Michigan Constitution that would bar politicians from drawing their own districts. Instead a nonpartisan redistricting commission would develop fair districts that are more representative of voters statewide. Such…
UPDATED: Without warning, Facebook deleted the Oak Park shop Book Beat’s page
UPDATE: The same night we ran this story, Facebook restored the bookstore’s page. We are keeping the original article up, because it’s a chance to extol the virtues of one of our finest local small businesses. Cary Loren writes that he was contacted by Facebook with the following message: “Hi, We’re reaching out to you about…
International bridge that hasn’t been built yet wins prestigious award
Just the other day, we were laughing about a commercial designed to sell a neighborhood that doesn’t exist. But, hey, maybe that’s normal now. After all, we hadn’t considered it much, but didn’t former President Barack Obama get a Nobel Peace Prize after being in office for a week or so? (You know, before he…
Popularity alert: Chris Rock adds third show at Fox Theatre
We suppose that when you’re Chris Rock and don’t tour for nearly a decade, the demand to see the legendary comic must be pretty high. Case in point: Rock has added a third date to his string of shows at the Fox Theatre for his “Total Blackout Tour 2017.” Rock originally announced only one date…
VIDEO: The stars of ‘Detroiters’ discuss TV ads, metro Detroit vs. Detroit, and Outback Steakhouse with Seth Meyers
For those watching the Comedy Central show Detroiters every Tuesday night, you may have noticed that the commercials that Sam Richardson and Tim Robinson’s characters make resemble some other commercials that we sometimes view in metro Detroit. Perhaps “sexy specs” will ring a bell? The duo was one Late Night with Seth Meyers last week to talk…
National Geographic explores the corruption that led to Michigan’s water crises
Michigan sits in the center of Great Lakes region, the world’s largest fresh water source, and yet the state is now infamous for water crises in which its poorest residents are left to drink poison water, or no water at all. How exactly does that happen? The National Geographic Channel explores the deeper origins of…
District Detroit: Want to sell a neighborhood that doesn’t exist? No problem!
We thought we’d seen the limits of audacity in marketing. That was two years ago, when we first read the exciting copy regarding the neighborhoods falling under the District: Detroit umbrella. This was just about the most remarkable marketing effort we’d ever seen, using a website packed with prose aimed at your average millennial all…
Days left to comment on plan to store radioactive waste near Lake Huron
In the United States, we’ve become accustomed to thinking of Canada as sort of our responsible cousin. Despite the fact that both countries enjoy the tremendous defensive advantage of a North American location, we spend 40 times what they do on their military. They have a single-payer health care system while illness is the single…
Don’t forget: Carl Craig plays the Grasshopper Friday, March 10
In case you didn’t know, Carl Craig is playing the Grasshopper in Ferndale next Friday, March 10. We highly recommend you buy tickets in advance for this rare chance to see the techno originator in such an intimate setting. Carl Craig has a lot going on of late. First off, there is his new album…
Flint Eastwood’s new music video for ‘Queen’ is a dystopian masterpiece
No, you haven’t watched the trailer for a new dystopian young adult book-turned Hollywood blockbuster, but it sure as hell feels like we just did. You just watched the new music video for “Queen,” by Detroit’s very own Flint Eastwood and we are obsessed. The video (which was filmed in Detroit) has a lot of…
Trump wants to cut Great Lakes funding by 97 percent and people are not happy
It comes to no surprise that that the White House is going to cut funding from the Environmental Protection Agency since Scott Pruitt was appointed the Administrator of the department, a person who doesn’t really seem to care about global warming and climate change. One of those cuts from the EPA is coming down on…
Rejoice: Detroit-area water boil advisory lifted
The water boil advisory for Hamtramck, Highland Park, and a large swath of Detroit that has been in effect since Tuesday has officially been lifted, according to the Detroit Water and Sewerage Department. The department received a statement from Great Lakes Water Authority this morning indicating that the second round of testing showed no bacterial contamination. Customers…
First Look: Prime + Proper will be Detroit’s first ‘interactive’ steakhouse
Chat with Prime + Proper’s executive butcher Walter Apfelbaum for a few moments and it quickly becomes apparent that his love and passion for meat is only matched by his desire to share his knowledge of the art of butchery. He’s one part butcher, one part meat prof, and oozes passion for both. That’s the…
Mark’s Carts will add Himalayan food, wood-fired pizza to its food truck roster
Mark’s Carts customers will get to choose from two new options this year as the food truck court is joined by Everest Momo and wood-fire pizzamaker Wood Fired Up. Mark’s released the news via its Facebook page along with word that Simply Spanish, Great Grilled Sandwiches, Pita Cruiser, Hut-K Nutrilicious and El Manantial A2 will…
Beneath the boil: It’s just an ‘equipment malfunction’ — or is it?
Starting the day by boiling a kettle of water is no strange thing to us: That’s how we make our pour over coffee and start the day. But today, waking up smack in the middle of the boil-water-advisory zone comprising much of Detroit, Highland Park, and all of Hamtramck, we had to reach onto the…
Sen. Debbie Stabenow wants to see Trump’s tax returns now, please
With the recent news that Attorney General Jeff Sessions lied under oath when asked if he had any contact with Russia during the 2016 campaign, it has brought up many questions about Donald Trump’s team and their relations with Putin and Russia. Michigan Senator Debbie Stabenow appeared on the Morning Joe show Thursday morning to…
UMS to livestream Steve Reich’s ‘Music for 18 Musicians’
A milestone in the history of contemporary classical music, Steve Reich’s subtle, constantly shifting “Music for 18 Musicians” will not only be performed in Ann Arbor on Saturday, March 18 — but folks not lucky enough to attend will get the chance to livestream it. Of course, as anyone with a device that connects to…
Just announced: Hall and Oates and Tears for Fears will co-headline the Joe in May
Talk about a throwback Thursday kind of announcement! The music Gods have blessed us with a co-headlining tour of Hall and Oates and Tears for Fears, and they will be making a stop of Joe Louis Arena on May 17. “I am very excited to be touring with Tears for Fears,” Daryl Hall told Rolling…
Gilbert’s Bedrock ignored Detroit area water boil alert for some reason
On Tuesday, authorities issued a boil water alert for a large portion of Detroit, including Hamtramck and Highland Park. The alert advised residents and businesses south of McNichols, east of Linwood, and west of Connor to boil water for drinking and cooking until at least Friday. As can be seen from the department’s map, it’s a…
Celebrate International Women’s Day at Tangent Gallery
It’s not easy being a woman. Between being on the business end of a wage gap, the victim of male violence, and having a reproductive system half the country treats like their own personal battleground, no wonder if feminists sometimes seem defensive: They have their work cut out for them. Everybody, including feminists themselves, question…
Speaker lineup for Ypsi’s TEDx talks announced
Whatever you think of TED Talks, that brand of visionary speech as performance art, you can’t deny the appeal of having a group of experts in the field unpack an issue that’s important to them in a presentation that fits the traditional 15-minute YouTube clip limit. And, frankly, the soaring, big ideas of the national…
Japanese Girl’s Day celebrations to take over the DIA this Sunday
Come November 2017, the Detroit Institute of Arts plans to open a Japan Gallery and in order to create some hype around that stupendous news they’re celebrating the traditional Japanese holiday of Hinamatsuri this Sunday. Hinamatsuri — AKA Girl’s Day, AKA Doll’s Day — is historically celebrated by displaying ornamental dolls that represent the emperor…
Is a new Babo a sure sign that Ypsilanti is gentrifying?
The news that Ann Arbor juice and health food purveyor Babo Market is opening a new location in Ypsilanti’s Depot Town seems, on a first glance, like a development that most in the city could support. Depot Town and Ypsi take pride in the strong core of unique, independent restaurants and businesses that make up…
You can sign a petition to allow a mural of fallen WSU Officer Colin Rose on campus
Back in November, the Wayne State University community faced an extreme hardship when WSU Officer Colin Rose was fatally shot while responding to a call just outside of campus. To honor the beloved Officer, the Detroit Lacquer Club wants to paint a mural on Wayne State’s campus, but they need your help. The group has…
Don’t forget: GZA plays El Club tonight
Are you properly excited? Because GZA plays the El Club tonight, Wed., March 1. Doors are at 8 p.m. GZA, cousin of RZA and the spirit behind the exalted Wu Tang Clan, has of course left an impact on rap music that only a choice few have matched. Born Gary Grice, the 50 year-old had two…
Bummer: King Sunny Adé’s April 21 Michigan Theater show canceled
Well, this sucks. But we should definitely expect that any tour from a group of international musicians to get canceled at any point these days, thanks to the hate-mongering and factually-incorrect policies of p45. Not saying that is precisely what happened here, with this cancelation. But if female Tibetan soccer players get denied a brief…
Review: Gold Cash Gold gets new chef, keeps old favorites
We first visited Gold Cash Gold shortly after it opened in 2015. We fell in love with the extensive use of pork throughout the menu, the unique and welcoming decor, and the incredibly attentive and professional service. Through the ownership’s strong efforts to maintain an identity and a vision, Gold Cash Gold has seen success…
Lizzie Borden talks about her scrappy, feminist magnum opus, ‘Born in Flames’
Since its release in 1983, Lizzie Borden’s Born in Flames has stood as a landmark of indie cinema. Shot sporadically on a shoestring budget over five years, the film creates an energetic, complex, post-Godard, post-punk collage of feminist factions, who work together to disrupt the messages of an oppressive, patriarchal government. Its cult following includes…
Horoscopes (March 1-8)
ARIES (March 21- April 20): The whole story is changing. Who knows how long this will last or where it will go? You’re keeping up with it as best you can. Secondary players in your life are there for you or not. Whoever’s there needs to be on top of their own stuff, and able…
Higher Ground: Pot and post-fact
There is a lot of inaccurate information about marijuana in circulation. For instance, during a recent conversation with an older friend, she said that that marijuana itself isn’t so bad, but “it leads to hard drugs.” That’s the oft-cited gateway drug theory that claims many “hard drug” users smoked marijuana before they moved on to…
11 acts to look out for at Hamtramck Music Festival 2017
Hamtramck Music Festival 2017 has stuffed itself into nearly two dozen venues with 180 musical acts. In its third year, the festival, which runs from Thursday, March 2 to Sunday, March 5, has grown to become the premier locals-only music festival in metro Detroit. The festival celebrates Detroit’s varied and vibrant local scene, while also…
Savage Love: Come now
Q: Fortyish, straight, white dude here. I have this weird (possibly misogynistic) belief that, when it comes to sex, I can’t win. Actually, I think men in general can’t win. Thoughtful, well-meaning men at least. It comes down to this: During sex, if the man doesn’t come, it’s the man’s fault, because he clearly has…
Robert Sestok debuts a new mural with the opening of Third Man Records’ production floor
Cass Corridor artist Robert Sestok is perhaps best-known for his welded sculptures assembled from scrap metals, which can be seen along the Detroit Riverfront Conservancy, adorning residential properties in Woodbridge, and of course, at City Sculpture — the Cass Corridor sculpture park that Sestok organized and opened in 2015, adjacent to his longtime studio space.…
Politics & Prejudices: This really could destroy our state
Leonard Cohen, whose hypnotically alluring songs just kept getting better and better, released his final album, You Want It Darker, just before Halloween. On Nov. 7, battling a host of ailments, he died in his sleep in the middle of the night following a fall. The next day Donald Trump was elected president of the…
Retail Detail: One local’s journey to becoming a boutique owner in Detroit
Alana Rodriguez’s path to becoming a boutique owner is unusual. The Southwest Detroit native didn’t start her career working in management or merchandising, but rather as an intelligence specialist in the Navy. “I had an arts scholarship, so it was totally random. On a whim I took the exam and they told me I had…
First look: Gather owners talk about ‘campfire’ concept ahead of the restaurant’s March opening in Eastern Market
Detroit diners generally love small plates and shared some wonderful dishes over the last few years as more local eateries trading in the concept cropped up. But it’s refreshing to learn that Gather, a new restaurant preparing to open next month, will head a different direction with the sharing idea. Instead of small plates, it’s…
