Cover Stories
Metro Detroit 2025 concert guide
Catch some live music this summer! Here’s a selection of upcoming events. Aretha Franklin Amphitheatre 2600 Atwater St., Detroit; thearetha.com 5/23: October London, Tamar Braxton, Ro James 5/24: David Mann, Tamela Mann, Erica Campbell, Tye Tribbett, Karen Clark Sheard, Kierra Sheard 6/4: Samara Joy 6/11: Norman Brown, Avery Sunshine 6/13: Jamey Johnson 6/14: Ledisi, Rahsaan…
The Aretha Franklin Amphitheatre celebrates four decades of concerts
In the 1980s, Detroit mayor Coleman A. Young decided he wanted to establish an outdoor amphitheater on Detroit’s riverfront. He wanted something that city residents could enjoy, and hoped it could rival the Pine Knob amphitheater in suburban Clarkston. “You know, the pitch was to create more access to the river for the citizens,” says…
California Sports Betting Sites in 2025: Top CA Sportsbooks
The best California sports betting sites let you wager on your favorite teams, their rivals, and even ones you’ve never heard of. Whether you want to back LeBron, ride with the Warriors, or take a shot on the Dodgers, these sportsbooks have you covered, with plenty of bonuses. Case in point, BetOnline offers a 50%…
The Best Beaches in Texas: Hidden Gems Along the Texas Gulf Coast
The first time I dipped my toes into the Gulf of Mexico, I was a kid visiting South Padre Island with my family. The salty breeze, the rhythmic crash of the waves, and the warmth of the Texas sun left an imprint on me. Back then, I thought it was a dream location for a…
My Adventure Through the Wonders of Wisconsin Dells
I grew up with family vacations that mostly involved getaways that centered around cramming into a station wagon and heading to grandma’s. Thus, when my cousin spent an entire dinner raving about her weekend trip to the Wisconsin Dells, I couldn’t help but be intrigued. Her voice lifted when she described riding a horse-drawn carriage…
A Road Trip to the Most Breathtaking Waterfalls in Wisconsin
There’s something irresistible about the sound of rushing water that just makes me feel happy. Maybe it’s the echo of childhood road trips, when my family and I would race down forest trails, chasing the roar of hidden waterfalls before they burst into view. Or maybe it’s just the chase of finding those secret, storybook…
The Ultimate Pacific Coast Highway Road Trip Itinerary
The Pacific Coast Highway has always held a mythic pull on me. I grew up listening to stories about its wild cliffs and ocean views from my aunt, who drove it solo in the early ’90s and came back transformed. When I finally got to chart my course along the California Pacific Coast Highway (PCH),…
Top Things to Do in Kansas for Nature, Food, and History
I hadn’t planned to fall in love with Kansas. It started as a stopover; one of those middle-of-the-map detours you would pencil into a road trip itinerary because someone once said, “You’ve got to see the Tallgrass Prairie.” That someone was a traveler I met in Montana, and how she described the breeze weaving through…
Plan the Ultimate Adventure to the US Virgin Islands
There’s something magnetic about the US Virgin Islands, a trio of sun-kissed Caribbean jewels where nature, culture, and history converge. Comprising St. Thomas, St. John, and St. Croix, each island offers its own personality (in my opinion, there really is no best USVI to visit, as they’re all amazing). St. Thomas beckons with lively harbors…
Ohio Travel Highlights: The Fun Things to Do and See
The thing about Ohio is that it sneaks up on you. I didn’t grow up vacationing there, and I’ll admit it wasn’t always on my radar. Over the years, I kept hearing about the wide range of things to do in Ohio through conversations with fellow travelers, glowing recommendations from food-obsessed friends, and a growing…
Best Online Reputation Management Companies: Your Ultimate 2025 Guide
Looking to protect your reputation online and amplify your digital image? This guide highlights the best online reputation management companies that excel at turning your online presence into your greatest asset. Whether you need to suppress negative content or elevate positive visibility, these top-rated firms deliver proven strategies to ensure your brand or personal name…
JARS Cannabis to launch downtown Detroit pop-up during Movement Festival
In a first for Detroit, JARS Cannabis is opening a licensed retail cannabis pop-up just two blocks from Hart Plaza during Movement Music Festival weekend. The pop-up, dubbed The Trap, will operate Saturday through Memorial Day from noon to 10 p.m. each day at 154 W. Larned St. Adults age 21 and older are welcome.…
Migrant workers say they were lured into forced labor in Michigan
A group of Guatemalan farmworkers is accusing a Michigan labor contractor of human trafficking, wage theft, and coercion in a federal lawsuit set to go to trial later this month. The workers say Purpose Point Harvesting, LLC lured them to the U.S. with promises of legal employment and fair pay, only to trap them in…
My Ski Trip to Wisconsin’s Sunburst Ski Hill Sports Park
I still remember the first time someone mentioned Sunburst Ski Hill to me. It was over a shared après-ski cider in British Columbia, and a group of Midwest visitors were raving about a place “just outside Milwaukee” that had the world’s largest tubing hill and a pretty solid set of ski runs to boot. At…
Nessel finds Benson violated state law when she launched gubernatorial campaign, but can’t be disciplined because of ‘loophole’
Michigan Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson violated the state’s Campaign Finance Act by using a public building to launch her campaign for governor, but will not face any penalties because of a “loophole” in the law, Attorney General Dana Nessel concluded in a letter released Monday. Both Benson and Nessel are Democrats. Under state law,…
Two former Tigers elected to Baseball Reliquary’s Shrine of the Eternals
Two former Detroit Tigers known for their improbable journeys and unforgettable moments on the field were named Monday to the Baseball Reliquary’s Shrine of the Eternals, a hall of fame that celebrates baseball’s most memorable, offbeat, and inspirational figures. Kirk Gibson, the hard-charging outfielder who helped lead the Tigers to a World Series title in…
What I learned binge-watching all six ‘Final Destination’ movies
I watch so many movies. If you knew the sheer number of films I consume weekly, you would wonder if I ever sleep or just slip into rest mode for a few minutes here and there so I can keep filling my brain with high-brow art, low-brow schlock, and everything in between. Because of the…
Bev’s Bagels is now open 7 days a week in Detroit’s Core City
Bev’s Bagels, the new shop announced to fill the former Detroit Institute of Bagels space in Core City, is now open for business every day of the week. The shop is led by Max Sussman, who launched Bev’s Bagels as a pop-up in Ann Arbor before opening the brick and mortar location. The new space…
Friends behind Terple Gang and Northern Lights bring craft and care to Michigan cannabis
Before Terple Gang became a rising name in Michigan cannabis, it was just a group of friends chasing a shared passion for growing flower and making edibles during the early days of the caregiver era. One of those friends, Mike Thackeray, began experimenting with edibles around 2011 in a commercial kitchen in his basement. He…
Wildwood Amphitheater brings tribute acts to Oakland County
With families expected to be tightening their belts this summer, Oakland County’s Wildwood Amphitheater is touting its outdoor concert series as a cheaper alternative for live music. “What’s a Taylor Swift ticket these days?” says Brian Major, the executive producer for Orion.Events, which operates the venue in a partnership with Orion Township. “Ours were $20,…
Detroit Thermal lacks green light for steam project in historic Lafayette Park — for now
Detroit Thermal must wait at least a little longer before moving forward with a controversial steam project through Lafayette Park’s historic residential area. On Wednesday, the Detroit Historic District Commission stopped short of approving or rejecting the proposal, instead requesting more details from the company before making a decision. The delay means Detroit Thermal still…
Fourth annual Royal Oak Taco Fest details announced
Royal Oak Taco Fest will return July 3-6. Now in its fourth year, this year’s event is set to feature more than 50 food trucks, live music, lucha libre wrestling, a Kids Zone, and more in downtown Royal Oak. New this year is a mechanical bull attraction, while JARS Cannabis will return with a cannabis…
Detroit mayoral candidates to face off at forum focused on community issues
Detroit residents will get a chance to hear directly from mayoral candidates this week at a community forum aimed at addressing some of the city’s most pressing issues. The “Run the City: Detroit Mayoral Forum” will take place from 5:30-8:30 p.m. Thursday at the Boys & Girls Club at 16500 Tireman Ave. Hosted by a…
Poignant play takes aim at America’s out-of-control gun violence
Something is off about the characters in Soft Target. Why is Jonah shuffling awkwardly across the floor? What’s up with Molly’s Barbie hands and legs that don’t bend? And why does Di have sticky notes on her back with pants that look like they’ve been scribbled on by a child? Once you realize that they…
The Whitney releases full Garden Party series lineup
Al fresco concerts are returning to the scenic patio of The Whitney mansion in Detroit. The longstanding restaurant announced the lineup for the 36th season of its Whitney Garden Party outdoor music series, featuring local acts like the Orbitsuns, the Whiskey Charmers, the Firewalkers, and more. The shows start at 5 p.m. on Thursdays, with…
Detroit families still seeking answers in wake of police misconduct scandal
Nearly a year after a Metro Times investigation exposed the widespread misconduct of former Detroit Police Detective Barbara Simon, families of men still imprisoned because of her tainted cases are growing increasingly frustrated. Despite public promises, protests, and mounting evidence of wrongdoing, Wayne County Prosecutor Kym Worthy has yet to meet with victims’ families or…
