Cover Story
The miseducation of Betsy DeVos
The first thing you notice about Betsy DeVos — President Donald Trump’s choice to run the United States Department of Education — is that she is rich. Actually, the word “rich” doesn’t really do it justice. Cookie batter is rich. Betsy DeVos is wealthy in the way that Donald Trump wishes he was (and very…
Mexicantown exhibit elevates the art of black velvet paintings
If you grew up with Mexican relatives, someone in your family likely had a black velvet painting in their house. Maybe it was of a donkey pulling a cart. Maybe it was of Pancho Villa. Still others will remember Elvis, John Wayne, or Marilyn Monroe as the subject of these dark artworks. Black Velvet paintings…
Irish folk singer Glen Hansard will break your heart at Royal Oak Music Theatre
Irish folk singer-songwriter Glen Hansard has been breaking hearts since 2007 when he starred alongside former bandmate Markéta Irglová in the romantic musical drama Once, for which he won an Oscar for best original song. Ten years later and Hansard is flying solo with his third record Between Two Shores, which showcases a sweet balladeer…
Hamtramck event will pay tribute to early 2000s Kanye West
The year was 2004. Kim Kardashian was Paris Hilton’s over-tweezed assistant and lyrical legend Kanye West was simply Mr. West. A trip down hip-hop lane, I Miss the Old Kanye will cater to a shared longing of the Kanye of yesteryear. Long before Yeezy kicks there was “Jesus Walks,” and thanks to the bevy of…
Detroit remembers the Vietnam War on the anniversary of the My Lai massacre
On March 16, 1965, a German-born Detroit librarian and former Wayne State University educator named Alice Herz staged a protest against the escalation of the Vietnam War. That evening, she chose a spot outside the Federal Department Store at the corner of Oakman and Grand River avenues in Detroit, where she set herself on fire, the first American…
Former intelligence analyst Chelsea Manning explores DNA and art at Michigan Theater
Rarely are the words “cheek swab” and “hair clippings” associated with art. But when bio-political artist Heather Dewey-Hagborg teamed up with queer and transgender rights activist Chelsea Manning, the two collaborated on a sculptural portraiture project derived from Manning’s DNA. Manning, a former intelligence analyst for the U.S Department of Defense who is best known…
Stormy Daniels has postponed her Detroit appearance
Porn star Stormy Daniels has postponed the Detroit stop on her “Make America Horny Again” tour. The actress was set to perform alongside a Donald Trump impersonator at a strip club called Truth Detroit on Wednesday but called the event off Tuesday evening due to strep throat, the Detroit Free Press reports. A rescheduled Detroit date is expected…
Lady of the House chef Kate Williams will head up two concepts inside Wurlitzer building project
Kate Williams, the talented chef behind Lady of the House, is set to helm two new concepts heading to Detroit. Related According to the Detroit Free Press, Williams has a hand in shaping Candy Bar and Karl’s, two new restaurants opening inside the old Wurlitzer building. The Wurlitzer is being renovated and will reopen as…
Rising star Anna Burch will perform at Metro Times’ United We Brunch
You can’t have brunch without Burch. Well, you can, but it’s not nearly as good. Recent Metro Times cover girl and indie music angel, Anna Burch will perform at our very own United We Brunch on Saturday, March 24 at the Majestic Complex. There will be egg bennies, a plethora of bloodies, and waffle bites…
Mike Pompeo is a known Islamophobe, and he’s also Trump’s new Sec. of State
In the latest of many staff shakeups in President Donald Trump’s White House, Secretary of State Rex Tillerson was abruptly ousted Tuesday, to be replaced by CIA director Mike Pompeo. The decision was made so abruptly that Tillerson hadn’t even spoken to the president prior to the announcement, according to The Washington Post. Islamophobe But it’s…
The last of Detroit’s neglected rape kits are being tested
The Wayne County Prosecutor’s Office says it has sent in for testing the last of 11,300 neglected rape kits dating back to 1980. The 614 rape kits sent to investigators are the final batch of those discovered nearly a decade ago in a Detroit police storage facility. So far, the kits have led to the conviction…
Man arrested in Grosse Pointe Shores for driving illegally modified cop car
It’s totally fine to purchase a former police vehicle at auction, but modifying it to still appear as an active cruiser — that’s a hard NOPE. Grosse Pointe Shores police pulled over a man driving such a vehicle, and arrested him after discovering he’d even rigged a switch underneath the dashboard to operate emergency lights.…
Big Sean and Jhené Aiko want you to know they did not break up
On Monday night, Big Sean was a trending topic on Twitter amid rumors the rapper and his girlfriend Jhené Aiko had broken up after Sean was allegedly spotted canoodling with another woman — but the two quickly took to their own Twitter accounts to deny the rumors. The rumors started when a website called The Jasmine Brand…
Kid Rock will be inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame and only god knows why
If you saw Kid Rock trending on social media last night, you probably thought he was appointed U.S. Secretary of State, or maybe that he died. Neither is true. As it turns out, you don’t have to be a professional wrestler to be inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame — you just have to…
‘Fancy hot dog’ and Frito pie maker Doggy Style opens in Waterford
Gourmet hot dog peddler Doggy Style, A Red Hot Joint is now serving “fancy dogs,” Frito pies, hot dog egg rolls, high-end sausages, and comfort foods in Waterford. The shop is the latest project from Bread Basket Deli/Al’s Famous Deli empire founder Al Winkler, who tells Metro Times he set out to fill a hole…
13 super easy ways to celebrate 313 Day in Detroit
In any other city, March 13 is just another day. But here in the Motor City, we take any excuse to show our civic pride. To celebrate 3/13, here is a list of 13 iconic activities to prove your love for Detroit. 1. Eat a Coney Dog Nothing says Detroit quite like a hot dog…
Detroit to invest $250 million in affordable housing as rental costs rise
Detroit officials have announced the creation of a $250 million fund to preserve 10,000 affordable housing units at risk of expiring and build 2,000 new affordable units over the next five years. The move comes as rental costs rise throughout the city and developers look to flip buildings with expiring low-income housing tax credits to…
You can buy Founders KBS at Michigan Meijer stores right now
Beer lovers, take heed! This morning Michigan-based grocery store chain Meijer announced it will carry Founders Kentucky Breakfast Stout in stores while supplies last. The bourbon barrel-aged chocolate coffee stout is released once a year and is available for a limited amount of time. Meijer will sell four-packs, but only until supplies run out, after…
Detroit is officially the unhappiest city in America
Despite Detroit’s never-ending “Comeback City” narrative, it seems we can’t quite escape the doldrums of depression. This morning, WalletHub released a list of the 182 happiest cities in the United States and of the 182 American cities researched, Detroit came in dead last. We are officially the unhappiest city in the country. The study was…
Everything we know about Stormy Daniels’ Detroit strip club appearance
Related As previously reported, Stormy Daniels — the porn actress alleged to have had an extramarital affair with President Donald Trump — is set to make a Motor City appearance on Wednesday, March 14 at the strip club Truth Detroit as part of her national “Make America Horny Again Tour.” According to Truth general manager Steve (he…
Eminem puts NRA on blast during iHeartRadio Music Award performance
Eminem added a powerful opening verse to his performance of “Nowhere Fast” alongside Kehlani during Sunday night’s iHeartRadio Music Awards — and it was aimed at the National Rifle Association. “This whole country is going nuts/and the NRA is in our way/they’re responsible for this whole productions/they hold the strings, they control the puppet/And they…
Richard Spencer rethinking college tour after shitshow visit to MSU
White supremacist Richard Spencer says he plans to rethink his public speaking strategy in light of the violent clashes that marred his visit to Michigan State University last week. In a video uploaded to AltRight.com’s YouTube account on Sunday, Spencer says he expects future public events to involve a greater element of secrecy in order…
Just announced: The Beyoncé and Jay-Z tour is coming to Detroit
Who runs the world? Well, Beyoncé, mostly. But the rumors of a joint tour are true — Beyoncé and her husband Jay Z are on the run and they’re coming to Detroit. A follow-up to 2014’s On The Run Tour (which excluded Detroit), On The Run II is slated for 36-cities, and will kick off in Cardiff,…
We should all be embarrassed by Betsy DeVos’ 60 Minutes interview
Michigan native and U.S. Education Secretary Betsy DeVos endured an exceedingly pointed interview on 60 Minutes last night and let’s just say she did not fare well. Related DeVos, a staunch advocate of school choice, says that relinquishing funding from public schools would actually make them operate better. She said that. She believes that. Journalist…
Everything we learned from Jack White’s Rolling Stone cover story
Jack White is gearing up to release his third solo record, Boarding House Reach on March 23, and he’ll kick off a sold-out tour at Little Caesars Arena on April 19. In the upcoming cover story for Rolling Stone Magazine, writer Brian Hiatt gets White to dish candidly about nurses, exercise, and that Beyonce collab. Here’s what…
Taste of Ethiopia is opening a new vegetarian restaurant in Birmingham
Southfield’s Taste of Ethiopia is planning a new vegetarian and vegan restaurant in downtown Birmingham Owner Meskie G-Yohannes tells Metro Times the new 2,200-square-foot space at Old Woodward and Hamilton could open as soon as April, though there’s not yet a firm date. Though G-Yohannes offers meat dishes at the Southfield location, she plans to keep…
Review: Miguel makes entirety of Royal Oak Music Theatre blush
As expected, Miguel Pimentel offered an hour and a half of pure sonic ecstasy to a sold-out Royal Oak Music Theatre Friday night. But what was a bit unexpected was the revelation that Miguel is actually pretty fucking metal. Backed by a full band and alternating between thrasher headbanging and smooth, sensual movements inspired by the King…
Mexicantown’s Detroit Farm and Garden will close in April
Mexicantown landscaping, gardening, and feed store Detroit Farm and Garden will close in April. Co-owner Brian Allnutt tells Metro Times the shop grew and evolved over the years, but it didn’t grow fast enough, and “the economic reality of the situation forced our hand.” The community-focused shop at 1759 21st St. just east of I-75 opened…
DIA, Avalon, and Third Man want you to put the damn phone away for National Day of Unplugging
It’s time for a tech nap. You have until sundown today to get some precious phone time in if you want to take part in National Day of Unplugging. From sundown today, March 9 through sundown March 10, National Day of Unplugging challenges people from all over the world to take a break from the…
Pot legalization group backs Michigan attorney general candidate Dana Nessel
Michigan voters who care about marijuana legalization and criminal justice will be presented with some unique opportunities at the ballot box this November. Not only does it look like there could be a pot legalization initiative to vote on, but the clock has run out for anti-pot Attorney General Bill Schuette, and the leading Democrat…
Nain Rouge will make his yearly Detroit appearance on March 25
It might not feel like it, but spring is on the way. The equinox is Thursday, March 20, marking our transition out of winter and into warmer weather. But, many Detroiters mark spring by a different ruler. And that ruler is a little red devil we call the Nain Rouge. The legend of Nain, who…
Find your new favorite brunch spot at Metro Times’ United We Brunch
Is there a meal more beloved than brunch? Your answer should be an emphatic “No!” The weekend feast is the perfect time to stuff your face with eggs Benedict and Belgian waffles in an effort to overcome that righteous hangover you earned the night before. Sipping a little hair-of-the-dog is also typically a requisite. Seriously, what…
WSU Christian group reinstated after suing for discrimination
A Christian student group at Wayne State has been reinstated after the university de-certified the group in October. The InterVarsity Christian Fellowship, an organization that has operated at WSU since 1941, was notified last October that its group was in violation of the university’s non-discrimination policy because the group required its leaders to be Christian. Wayne…
Detroit Fire Department receives 800 pet oxygen masks
Thanks to generous donations, the Detroit Fire Department is better equipped to save your pet during an emergency. The Detroit Public Safety Foundation announced the donation of 278 oxygen kits containing more than 800 masks on Thursday. “The Detroit Fire Department now has enough kits for every piece of fire apparatus to be outfitted with…
Bill Gelineau files signatures for Michigan’s first-ever Libertarian Party primary
Libertarian candidate Bill Gelineau filed his campaign’s petition signatures for Michigan’s gubernatorial race on Thursday, becoming the first candidate to qualify for the first-ever Libertarian Party primary election to be held alongside the state’s Democrat and Republican primaries on Tuesday, Aug. 7. According to a press release, the Grand Rapids businessman delivered 21,187 signatures to the Bureau…
Imperial and Public House owners move forward with new Ferndale restaurant
Ferndale’s Working Class Outlaws — the group behind Imperial and Public House — are moving forward on what appears to be a Japanese-related concept called AntiHero. The project has been discussed for several years but the restaurant group hasn’t offered many details beyond the location — next door to Public House. However, an employee previously…
Michigan House of Representatives passes bill targeting ‘whip-its’
On Thursday, March 8, Michigan’s house of representatives passed a package of bills limiting the sale and distribution of nitrous oxide containers. The legislation would make it more difficult for minors to purchase the substance, also known as “laughing gas,” an inhalant that induces a mild, temporary euphoria. How does it work? You put the…
This political outsider is now the best-known Democrat in Michigan’s race for governor
Well here’s a somewhat surprising finding from a recent poll on Michigan’s field of candidates for governor: The outsider with the hard-to-pronounce name, Shri Thanedar, has more name recognition than both Michigan’s lieutenant governor and the Democrat frontrunner. He also has the highest favorability rating of any leading Democrat in the race, according to a recent…
Nick Jonas will make us sweat at Meadow Brook in April
Wait, is Nick the hot one? Or is it Joe? There is no wrong answer when questioning the hotness of any of the three Jonas Brothers. But, Nick, is hot and he is coming to Oakland University’s Meadow Brook Amphitheater on Saturday, April 14 Since disbanding from his super sexy brethren, Nick Jonas has flown…
Lovers Only opens tomorrow in Detroit’s Capitol Park
Long-awaited downtown Detroit burger and sandwich restaurant Lovers Only opens tomorrow in downtown Detroit’s Capitol Park. It’s the second restaurant for Eli Boyer, who launched the successful Voyager seafood spot in Ferndale last year. He’s again teaming up with Voyager chefs Justin Tootla and Jennifer Jackson for this project. A release from the restaurant says…
New report reveals 30,000 Detroiters do not have access to healthy food
Eight years ago we were told Detroit was considered a “food desert” and then about six years ago, we learned that Detroit was “not a food desert.” According to data found in the Detroit Food Policy Council’s 2017 Detroit Food Metrics Report, there are still healthy food gaps throughout the city despite 74 full-line grocery stores (shops…
A St. Clair Shores restaurant owner wants to put a food truck on the roof
If you follow local politics at all in any city anywhere, then you know someone like Mike LeFevre: a small town guy with wacky, big time ideas. And he makes them happen. LeFevre owns St. Clair Shores’ popular Mike’s On The Water restaurant, which sees a good portion of its customers arrive by sea during…
Metro Times astrologer Cal Garrison has a new book out this spring
You may not recognize the name Cal Garrison, but if you’ve ever read our weekly horoscopes, it’s her words you’re consuming. Garrison’s simple, easy-to-read predictions are often touted by readers as frighteningly accurate or “spot-on,” and she’s managed to amass a dedicated following who eagerly anticipate their weekly release. Garrison, who also plies her income…
Forbes says companies like Nike, Whole Foods, and Shinola are rebuilding Detroit
An article in Forbes makes a few claims that might raise eyebrows for some of the city’s longtime residents. As a piece of business journalism, it’s pretty overblown, essentially implying that the way to revitalize cities is to turn the downtowns of collapsing Midwestern towns into miniature replicas of elite coastal cities (no mention needed…
Trim your bangs and get ready to scream — Paramore is headed to DTE this summer
From “Misery Business” to “Fake Happy” pop-punk priestess Hayley Williams and her Paramore crew have proved themselves to be the ultimate musical mood ring. Embarking on their “After Laughter” summer tour with Foster The People (AKA the band behind that “Pumped Up Kicks” earworm), Paramore will bring their pop riot through DTE Energy Music Theatre on June…
Gretchen Whitmer unveils first ad for Michigan gubernatorial race
In her first online ad, Democratic gubernatorial candidate Gretchen Whitmer aims to introduce herself to a wider audience. Dubbed “In Your Corner,” the one and a half minute-long spot features Whitmer talking directly to the camera while walking through various locations — touting her hard-working roots, laying out her priorities as governor, and even getting her family…
Court rules Michigan woman was unlawfully fired for being transgender
Funeral home director Aimee Stephens says she was fired from her job with RG & GR Funeral Homes after telling her boss she would begin transitioning from male to female. Stephens, who worked for the funeral home for six years prior to being fired, is transgender. But, two weeks after asking for support as she…
Crowdfunding effort aims to cover bail for anti-fascist demonstrators arrested at MSU
A fund has been set up to help cover the cost of bail for anti-fascist demonstrators arrested Monday as they attempted to shutdown a speech by white supremacist Richard Spencer at Michigan State University. Two dozen protesters were arrested after a confrontation with a group of neo-Nazis trying to enter the speech turned violent. About…
Small plates restaurant Asaysia set to open near Harmonie Park
Three new restaurants are planned for a building near Harmonie Park, and the first is set to open March 22. Asaysia Plates to Share announced via press release it will launch its “tapas-style” restaurant in 5,000 square feet of the 16,500-square-foot building at 1452 Brush St. A separate “high-end wine and dine restaurant” is slated…
Unsurprisingly, students are disappointed with Betsy Devos’ visit to Parkland
This week’s Metro Times cover girl — Michigan native, and U.S. Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos — visited Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Fla. today, three weeks after a gunman killed 17 people during a Valentine’s Day shooting. It was students’ first full day back on campus since the massacre took place. Related The visit, which included a news…
Yet another disgusting Michigan funeral home has been shut down
A Petoskey funeral home has been shut down after investigators reportedly found a rusty machete on the counter inside an embalming room, along with a possible worm infestation, unrefrigerated bodies, overflowing garbage, and bloody wooden coffins in what sounds like a real life house of horrors. The Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs (LARA)…
Stef Chura announces Record Store Day collaboration with Car Seat Headrest’s Will Toledo
Detroit’s Stef Chura has announced a new seven-inch for Record Store Day. The record features two tracks, “Degrees” and “Sour Honey,” which were cut from her 2017 debut, Messes. The songs were produced by Will Toledo of Seattle-based indie darlings Car Seat Headrest, who also plays guitar and bass on the record. As Chura recounted…
The Mo Pop Festival line-up has been announced and holy shit it’s good
HOLY. SHIT. You guys, Mo Pop Festival is back for year six and we have died and gone to indie heaven. Indie overlords Bon Iver, who have not made a Michigan appearance in over a decade, are headlining the festival. The National, Portugal. The Man, and St. Vincent are also top-billed with support by the likes…
Michigan’s 2018 infrastructure report card is in and it’s not looking good
The American Society of Engineers gave Michigan a D+ grade its latest scorecard of the state’s infrastructure. The annual report ranks 13 sections of infrastructure, from aviation to rail, dams to energy. By the report card’s definition, a score of “D” means “the infrastructure is in poor to fair condition and mostly below standard, with many…
Michigan’s mental health scandal
Back in the ’60s, everyone knew what happened if you “went nuts.” The guys in the white coats came and took you away to Eloise, which was a big scary insane asylum somewhere out there. I didn’t worry much about that as a teenager, even though my parental units may have threatened me with it…
After 13 years, Hot Snakes are back
After a long break from recording, Hot Snakes guitarist John Reis said it “literally took a minute” for the band to get reacquainted in the studio while working on their latest album. “It wasn’t exactly like riding a bike, but, c’mon. We’ve been doing this a long time,” Reis says by phone. “We’re super pros.…
Savage Love: Zaps
I’m an 18-year-old cis hetero girl from Australia and I’ve been listening to your podcast and reading your column since I was 13. Thanks to you I’m pretty open-minded about my sexuality and body. Having said that, I do have a few questions. I started watching porn from a youngish age with no real shame…
Horoscopes (March 7-13)
ARIES: March 21 – April 20 It’s now or never — at least that’s what it feels like. After an endless round of challenges, it’s time for the waters of the Red Sea to part and grant your wish. How this goes will vary from person to person. If you have learned your lessons, and…
Performance art on steroids —the mind-bending visual theater of Momix
Contemporary dance seems too stodgy and generic a label, yet mere eye candy is far too trite to describe Momix. It’s been a while since they have toured, and fans (which would include most anyone who has ever seen them before) have no doubt already snatched up their seats. There is an excitement felt throughout…
Why nationally celebrated creatives ‘the Whlgns’ returned to Detroit
The Whlgns live in a three-story house on a street where the snow is slow to get plowed and the neighbors are quick to wave. Located in the North End, their neighborhood is in the center of Detroit, a great place to house a group that has its eyes on homegrown success. What is a…
Freeing the POWs of the War on Drugs
The notion that this coming season will be the marijuana election in Michigan got a boost recently when gubernatorial candidate Shri Thanedar made a curious statement. He announced that if voters legalize recreational marijuana in November’s election, then people imprisoned for low-level marijuana offenses should be released. The notion seemed to come out of nowhere…
Detroit’s best soup dumplings are in Windsor
There’s something exotic about Windsor. It’s a town that’s technically only a mile or so away from my humble Hubbard Farms abode, yet it seems a world away. Perhaps if crossing the border wasn’t such a hassle, then I would have known more about our friendly neighbors to the south — like the fact that…
Ty Dolla $ign talks J Dilla, parental controls, and Instagram trolls
When you research the rise of Ty Dolla $ign, the contemporary R&B mastermind from South Central L.A., you’ll learn that no matter how much he opens up, he cannot be pegged. Both pure and perverse, Dolla $ign (real name Tyrone William Griffin Jr.) offers a complex narrative that blurs the line between the message and…
