Cover Story
Metro Times endorses Bernie Sanders for president
While recently flipping through our stacks of back issues of Metro Times, we did a double take when we came across a headline: “MR. SANDERS GOES TO WASHINGTON.” Next to it, there was a photo of Democratic 2020 presidential candidate Sen. Bernie Sanders, recognizable with his signature mop of white, disheveled hair — but about…
Bernie Sanders failed to repeat his surprise 2016 Michigan upset. Why?
Sen. Bernie Sanders spent much of the past week campaigning hard in Michigan ahead of Tuesday’s primary, holding rallies and town halls that drew thousands of supporters and even canceling a Mississippi rally to stay longer. Yet it wasn’t enough for the one-time Democratic Party frontrunner to repeat his surprise 2016 performance, which saw him…
Dizzy Hotel, Super Birthday, and Scott Masson team up to play Detroit’s Outer Limits Lounge
This one’s a bit of a deep cut, which is why you should probably check it out. Dizzy Hotel is comprised of Drew Bardo, formerly of Questions (2003-2011) and the Glass Orphans (a band that performed, like, twice in 2009), as well as Dave St. John, Patrick Leonard, and Benny Johnson. The band is gearing up…
PEN America is hosting a free interactive news literacy workshop at the Detroit Public Library
Update: This event has been postponed due to Coronavirus concerns. In 2018, a CNN analysis revealed that President Donald Trump tweeted the word “fake” 400 times since his 2017 inauguration, often in reference to the “crooked” liberal media. Contrary to what you might think, Trump did not coin the phrase “fake news,” a term popularized…
Author Gabriel Bump to visit Detroit Public Library with his debut coming-of-age novel, ‘Everywhere You Don’t Belong’
The concept of belonging becomes a fixture in our lives from the moment we make eye contact with our parents or ask to share a spot in the sandbox at the playground. We might not understand the role belonging plays in the bigger picture of our lives until much later, but the sensation of not…
Thundercat is headed to Detroit to funk some shit up
It’s Thundercat’s world, and we’re just doing the nasty in it. Stephen Bruner, who performs funk-drenched, acid jazz-influenced, and — if we’re being real — sexy time tunes as Thundercat, most recently dropped the first taste from his upcoming record It Is What It Is (April 3) via the hilarious jam “Dragonball Durag,” that could…
Chicago duo Drama will make dance music you can cry to at Detroit’s Marble Bar
Update: This event has been canceled/postponed due to coronavirus concerns. Drama, not to be confused with the British rock band, or, for that matter, the 1980s Norwegian boy band, or the ’90s rapper or the DJ all of the same name, is sort of blowing up and has been selling out tour dates left and…
French pianist Hélène Grimaud hopes to jog your ‘Memory’ at Ann Arbor’s Hill Auditorium
Update: This event has been canceled/postponed due to coronavirus concerns. While those of us who subjected ourselves to the CGI nightmare that was the big-screen mega-flop Cats are still trying to harness that Men In Black technology to erase the memory of Jennifer Hudson’s snot-covered rendition of “Memory” from our brains, French pianist Hélène Grimaud…
There’s only one Adam Green — and he’s bringing his paradise to Detroit’s Deluxx Fluxx
Update: This event has been canceled/postponed due to coronavirus concerns. A moldy peach no more, New York antifolk polymath Adam Green has spent the better part of the last 20 years creating a paradise all his own. In the past two decades, he’s done the following: made The Wrong Ferarri, a feature film and “screwball…
Michigan high school finally retires ‘Redskins’ name after voting to keep it several years ago
The Paw Paw Redskins are no more. Following pressure from school district superintendent Rick Reo, the southwestern Michigan high school’s board decided to ditch its Native American mascot. It voted 6-1 on Monday to retire the Redskins name by the end of the school year. Reo said that while the name was originally conceived to…
Hope College student quarantined, tested for coronavirus in Michigan
A student at Hope College is being quarantined and tested for coronavirus after exhibiting flu-like symptoms, school officials said Tuesday. The student notified the college that he had “a possible off-campus exposure to the virus,” according to a message from college President Matthew Scogin. The student was quarantined and will be tested “out of an…
Not a presidential ticket but Blood Orange and Tei Shi get our vote — and they’re headed to Detroit
Update: This event has been canceled/postponed due to coronavirus concerns. Dev Hynes’ 2013 sprightly debut as Blood Orange, Coastal Grooves, revealed an artist running in a million different directions, at various speeds, all at once. Formerly of short-lived dance-punk outfit Test Icicles, Hynes has had a hand in producing tracks for Solange Knowles, FKA twigs,…
Detroit rapper 42 Dugg charged for using gun at a gun range
42 Dugg has racked up tens of millions of views on his singles, “Dog Food” and “You Da One,” featuring Yo Gotti. But this week, the 25-year-old Detroit rapper appeared in federal court for a gun possession charge. The case dates back to November, when Dugg, née Dion Marquise Hayes, fired a 9mm Glock at…
This is not a drill — Detroit’s cult-status punk band of the 80s, the Pathetx, will release its only record at UFO Factory
Fact: If you haven’t heard of elusive and short-lived Detroit punk band the Pathetx, you’re, well, pathetic. OK, maybe we’re being a little unfair. Formed in 1980 by singer Mark Leavitt and guitarist Greg Kutcher, the Pathetx only had one record — and it was shelved. The band’s 1981 18-minute self-titled record never saw the…
Joe Biden lashes out at Detroit autoworker: ‘You’re full of shit,’ then hushes aide
Vice President Joe Biden lashed out at a pro-gun worker in Detroit on Tuesday, telling him he’s “full of shit” before hushing an aide who tried to intervene. Biden was speaking at an auto plant when a worker in a hard hat claimed the presidential candidate was “actively trying to end our Second Amendment rights.”…
Women-owned businesses in New Center area host spring open house to celebrate Women’s History Month
For Laura Horwath, collaborating with her fellow female business owners has been imperative. Her business, Ferne Boutique, sits between The Kitchen by Cooking With Que, which is owned by Chef Quiana Broden, and Urbanum Detroit, a home goods store owned by Brigid Beaubien. “We really focus on collaborating together as a unit to draw customers…
Michigan native directed the new Pixar movie ‘Onward’
For Dan Scanlon, the story behind the new Pixar film is a deeply personal one. Onward is the story of two elf brothers who lost their father at a young age. When they find his magical staff, they embark on a mission to see him — one last time. Scanlon lost his own father when…
International Nazi hunt leads to Farmington Hills
A continent-spanning search for a heinous war criminal ends in conviction at Operation Finale: The Capture and Trial of Adolf Eichmann. Now on exhibit at the Holocaust Memorial Center in Farmington Hills, this one-of-a-kind experience tells the story of the Mossad agents who broke international law to capture and bring Adolf Eichmann — the architect…
The Greenhouse of Walled Lake brings a homey touch to the recreational marijuana industry
There seem to be a maelstrom of emotions inside Jerry Millen, co-owner of the Greenhouse marijuana store in Walled Lake, as he gears up for the grand opening of recreational sales at the store. “I’m excited, a little scared,” he says. “You never know what to expect. You know when you have a party and…
How Michigan is bracing for a coronavirus outbreak
Tracey Morris fills her shopping basket to the brim with hand sanitizer, soap, tissues, fruit snacks, nutrition bars, sanitary pads, and a thermometer. With her free hand, she grabs a large package of toilet paper. “I’m stocking up. You can’t be too careful,” Morris tells Metro Times during a recent shopping excursion at CVS. “I…
Lesbian prison workers sue over workplace discrimination
Two female corrections officers who are in a romantic relationship are suing the Michigan Department of Corrections over allegations that they were subjected to a hostile work environment while working at Lapeer’s Thumb Correctional Facility. In a lawsuit filed Monday in Wayne County Circuit Court, Officer Michelle Wood alleged that she was called homophobic names,…
Noose found hanging in Hillsdale public library
The sleepy town of Hillsdale has been hit with a rash of disturbing vandalism occurrences at its public library in recent months. Five people have been arrested in five separate incidents ranging from verbal altercations with employees to a man lighting a small fire in a restroom. On Monday morning, Hillsdale Community Library staff found…
Local all-star chefs unite to raise money for Detroit Prep
Grey Ghost Detroit chefs Joe Giacomino and John Vermiglio are teaming up with 20+ local chefs to raise money for Detroit Prep. The tuition-free charter elementary school was previously located in the basement of a church, and fundraisers like Chef’s Schoolyard helped it find its forever home in the Pingree Park neighborhood. The new Detroit…
Lauren Speed of ‘Love Is Blind’ talks love, marriage, and real life
Love Is Blind has been a breakout reality hit for Netflix. The show, which debuted last month on the streaming service, has made superstars out of two of its participants: Lauren Speed and her husband Cameron Hamilton. Audiences fell in love with Speed’s down-to-earth personality and her relationship with Hamilton, whom she met and married…
As coronavirus spreads, Detroit to restore water to thousands of households, offer moratorium on shutoffs
Fears of a coronavirus outbreak have prompted the city of Detroit on Monday to begin restoring water to thousands of households and offer a moratorium on water shutoffs. Mayor Mike Duggan and the Detroit Water and Sewerage Department (DWSD) made the announcement at noon Monday as the coronavirus rapidly spreads across the globe and U.S.…
Biden holds significant lead over Sanders in new Michigan poll
Former Vice President Joe Biden continues to surge ahead of Tuesday’s primary election in Michigan, where he now holds a 24-point lead over Sen. Bernie Sanders, according to a new poll. The EPIC-MRA survey shows Biden leading 51% to 27%, his biggest margin over Sanders since both candidates entered the race. In a Detroit News/WDIV-TV…
MI Rx task force rolls up its sleeves
High costs are preventing nearly 1 in 3 Michigan adults from taking needed medication. However, solutions to help bring down the price of prescription medication could be around the corner. The new Prescription Drug Task Force established by Gov. Whitmer is starting its investigation into the scope and cause of the rising cost of prescription…
Habibi embraces Middle Eastern influences on long-awaited second LP
Habibi first hit the scene nearly a decade ago with a scrappy, lo-fi sound born out of bedroom jam sessions between Rahill Jamalifard and Lenny Lynch that mixed garage rock, Middle Eastern, and girl-group influences and quickly turned the Detroit-via-Brooklyn, New York band into indie rock darlings. One of the songs from those first jams…
Recreational marijuana sales start in Oakland County at Hazel Park’s Breeze
Breeze Provisioning Center, a sleek new store located at 24517 John R. in Hazel Park, says it’s allowing recreational marijuana sales ahead of schedule. The store will open to the public for recreational sales at 9 a.m. on Sunday, March 8, for adults age 21 and older. It opened earlier in February for medical marijuana…
Voting for the Best of Detroit 2020 poll is now open!
It’s that time of the year again! Pick your favorites in the Best of Detroit poll. You can vote now at metrotimes.com/BestOfDetroit. Voting closes at 11:59 p.m. on March 27. We’ll share the winners in our Best of Detroit issue, due on newsstands April 29. Stay on top of Detroit news and views. Sign up…
Regional conference on diabetes education coming to Novi
For 25 years, an annual event has been providing people who live with diabetes, their loved ones, and medical professionals with potentially life-saving information. Taking Control of Your Diabetes, a national nonprofit organization, will present the TCOYD Conference and Health Fair at the Diamond Center at Suburban Showplace at 46100 Grand River Ave., in Novi,…
Sen. Lucido ordered to take sexual harassment sensitivity training after allegedly sexually harassing woman during sensitivity training
Republican Sen. Peter Lucido of Shelby Township was disciplined after multiple women came forward alleging sexual harassment — including Democrat Sen. Mallory McMorrow from Royal Oak, who said Lucido made inappropriate comments to her during an orientation that included sexual harassment sensitivity training. According to an investigation, Lucido engaged in an “unfortunate pattern” of “inappropriate workplace…
ATF really wants to prevent marijuana users from buying a gun in Michigan
Michigan gun dealers are now required to conduct federal background checks on all unlicensed firearm buyers to prevent “habitual marijuana users” and other disqualified residents from obtaining guns. Although Michigan residents legalized marijuana in November 2018, pot is still illegal on the federal level. It’s a felony punishable by up to 10 years in prison…
Bernie Sanders adds rallies in Dearborn and Ann Arbor ahead of Michigan primary
Democratic 2020 presidential contender Bernie Sanders, who was endorsed by Metro Times this week, has added two more Michigan rallies ahead of the state’s primary election. Sanders added the rallies in Dearborn and Ann Arbor, for a total of four upcoming events: • 7 p.m. on Friday, March 6, at Detroit’s TCF Center (Hall C…
Olga’s Kitchen will give women free Snackers on International Women’s Day
Any ladies in the mood for some Olga’s Snackers? In honor of International Women’s Day, Olga’s Kitchen will commemorate it’s late founder Olga Loizon by sharing her beloved creation, the Snacker, with women customers. On Sunday, March 8, women can stop in to any of the 25 Olga’s Kitchen locations across the state and receive…
How to spoil your ballot in Michigan if your candidate dropped out
On Thursday, Sen. Elizabeth Warren officially dropped out of the 2020 presidential race, joining other former contenders Mike Bloomberg, Amy Klobuchar, and Pete Buttigieg. Since this was the first election since Proposal 3 was enacted, which allows Michiganders to vote absentee ballot for any reason, many voters have already cast a ballot — which also…
Did millennials kill Art Van Furniture?
What started as a small retail store on Gratiot Avenue in 1959 grew to the biggest and most popular furniture retailer in the Midwest — but now, Art Van is shuttering its doors for good. “Despite our best efforts to remain open, the company’s brands and operating performance have been hit hard by a challenging…
Michelle Obama brings voting participation rally to Detroit after Michigan primary
Yes, you can see Michelle Obama in Detroit. Well, maybe. Former first lady Michelle Obama is coming to Detroit on behalf of When We All Vote, a nonpartisan voter participation group, for which Obama serves as co-chair. Obama will headline the free ticketed When We All Vote rally, which is the group’s first this year.…
Gov. Whitmer changes mind, endorses Biden before Michigan’s primary race
Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, who recently said she would not endorse a presidential primary candidate, announced Thursday morning she’s supporting former Vice President Joe Biden. Whitmer’s announcement on MSNBC’s “Morning Joe” comes less than a week before the state’s primary election and one day after former Michigan Gov. Jennifer Granholm endorsed Biden, who has surged after…
Jose’s Tacos opens in Detroit’s Eastern Market
After a lengthy delay, Jose’s Tacos has finally opened its second location in Eastern Market. The family-owned taqueria has served up authentic Mexican flavors at 218 E. Grand River since 2014. The Orozco family announced their plan to open their second location in May of last year but the opening was delayed. Related The new…
Biden ahead of Sanders in Michigan primary, but there are reasons to distrust recent poll
Former Vice President Joe Biden is leading U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders in the most recent poll of likely Democratic primary voters in Michigan. The Detroit News/WDIV-TV survey shows Biden edging out Sanders, 29% to 22.5%. But there are a few significant reasons to be skeptical of the poll. First, former New York Mayor Mike Bloomberg,…
Iconic fashion designer Dapper Dan to speak in Detroit
The College for Creative Studies’ Toyota Lecture Series in Design and the Woodward Lecture Series will present Dapper Dan, legendary Harlem couturier, on April 7. Known primarily as the originator of urban streetwear and a legendary hip-hop designer in the ’80s, Dapper Dan found his career revitalized in the mid-2000s when his designs were celebrated…
A second free payphone is coming to Detroit
Ah payphones, technological relics of times gone by. Or are they? Portland, Oregon-based Futel has installed 10-plus free-to-use payphones in urban centers across the country. And now it is bringing a second one to Detroit. To be located outside of the Detroit Bus Company in Corktown, the second Futel phone follows a payphone installed in…
Former Gov. Granholm endorses Biden ahead of Michigan primary election
Former Michigan Gov. Jennifer Granholm on Wednesday announced she’s joining the Democratic establishment in endorsing former Vice President Joe Biden after his impressive Super Tuesday victories. Granholm, a CNN contributor, made the announcement on the network’s “New Day,” saying Biden has been a strong advocate for the auto industry. “Who was the person inside the…
The coronavirus’s biggest threat might be the Trump administration’s insistence that there’s no threat at all
In September 1918, hundreds of men stationed at an overcrowded U.S. Army base 30 miles west of Boston began showing up at the hospital. Their faces, the director of the surgeon general’s Office of Communicable Diseases, would report, “wore a bluish cast; a cough brought up the bloodstained sputum.” Experts recommended that no one from…
With Val’s Delicatessen, a new Jewish comfort food institution rises in West Bloomfield
Metro Detroit’s Jewish delis are arguably some of the best under the sun, and for decades, Steve’s Deli has stood as an institution. Yeah, there’s something of an ongoing debate over whether Steve’s or Stage Deli is king, but there’s no denying its place in the mix. Part of the reason for Steve’s ongoing success…
Frances Ma of Detroit band Don’t has anxiety, but not about their debut record, ‘Lightning Slow’
Frances Ma has only ever written one diss track. The song, “Pretty Knife,” doesn’t target an unfaithful ex or a scorned former bandmate, nor is it aimed at a general group of people with whom Ma ideologically disagrees with. The target is someone she knows better than anyone else: herself. If that isn’t telling of…
The camaraderie of the Codgers and the importance of ‘place’
It can objectively be said that the Codgers create some particularly magnificent music. There is genuine luminescence on these strummy, rustling, richly melodic folk ballads. And much of that authenticity springs from each member assessing equal measures of gratitude for any extended intervals where all seven members can align. There’s even a song on the…
Metro Detroit twins Zach and Michael Zakar on why you can’t pray the gay away
For 27-year-old gay Iraqi twins Michael and Zach Zakar, receiving a pint of Kroger brand rainbow sherbet for their birthday from their mom, Iman, is major progress. “It might not sound significant, but it’s very significant,” Michael says. “I was like, Oh, you’re so cute. It was so little, but you know, she’s trying.” Zach…
Rock ’n’ roll photog-turned-director Autumn de Wilde’s ‘Emma.’ is a queen bee with a sting
Oh, before smartphones and Instagram, there were influencers … and they could be as shallow, as overconfident, and as pejorative as they are today. This new adaptation of Jane Austen’s Emma — the feature debuts of photographer and music-video director Autumn de Wilde and Man Booker Prize-winning novelist turned screenwriter Eleanor Catton — brings that…
Savage Love: Is giving blowjobs bad for my sleep apnea?
I’m a middle-aged gay man, and I was recently diagnosed with sleep apnea. This is a disorder caused by the soft tissue in the throat collapsing during sleep. On top of making me feel tired and awful all the time, sleep apnea is associated with a long list of health complications. I’m writing you because…
Horoscopes (March 4-10)
ARIES | March 21 – April 20: With everything under control, you’re doing an excellent job in a situation that ordinary beings could not handle. Perched in the catbird seat, it’s as if you’re the cream that’s risen to the top. As 100% of your attention continues to be called to task, the human side…
