Cover Story
As Belle Isle’s Grand Prix hits a crossroads, gearheads and parkgoers tussle for its future
Imagine opening up a newspaper and reading the following news article: Brooklyn, MI — Gearheads are once again protesting outside the Michigan International Speedway as naturists begin setting up for the annual Michigan International Speedway Butterfly Show and Indigenous Bird Release. The three-month preparation for the event begins April 8, when a group of hippies…
Protestors to oppose ‘March Against Sharia’ in Lansing this Saturday
A week ago, we wrote about an Islamophobic protest planned for Lansing. The demonstration was part of a nationwide action called March Against Sharia, organized by ACT for America, consisting of two dozen such marches from Seattle to Boston to Orlando to San Bernardino. Which goes to show you how widespread fear and ignorance are…
It’s Prince’s birthday; how will you celebrate, Detroit?
Like you, we can still hardly believe that we live in a world without the musical genius Prince Rogers Nelson. But it’s his birthday, today, as he was born in 1958 in Minneapolis, Minn. on June 7. So naturally, we shall celebrate him all day. In addition to our own private remembrances and celebrations, we know…
That land bank official kept on talking — and there’s more
Unless you’ve been living under a rock for a few days, you and everybody else in town knows that Phil Stair, the now-former director of sales for the Genesee County Land Bank, said quite a lot when he was recorded by reporter Chelsea Lyons. He referred to Flint’s African-American residents using a racial slur, and…
Local DJ GRiZ comes out as gay in blog post
Metro Detroit native and rising EDM superstar GRiZ (also known as Grant Kwiecinski) wrote a blog post for the Huffington Post today detailing his journey with coming to terms with his sexuality. Turns out, the DJ is gay and wants you all to know about it. Kwiecinski writes about knowing that something was different about…
Detroit officials are flying a rainbow flag in honor of Pride Month for the first time
The City of Detroit has raised the LGBT rainbow pride flag over Hart Plaza for the first time to mark Pride Month. The Tuesday flag raising comes ahead of Motor City Pride Festival, which will be held at the outdoor event space this Saturday and Sunday. “Today’s LGBT pride flag raising is a small gesture…
Betsy DeVos defends Trump’s plan to slash education spending by 14 percent
Education Secretary Besty DeVos has defended President Donald Trump’s proposal to cut $9 billion in education spending, saying the budget request lays out a series of proposals that will “give parents more control over their child’s education, a right that has been denied for too long.” DeVos spoke on the issue Tuesday at a Senate Appropriations Subcommittee…
We need to talk about the metro Detroit native on ‘The Bachelorette’
Straight women, gay men, and bi-curious bros — we need to talk about the guy from The Bachelorette who is from Grosse Pointe Park. His name is Alex Bordyukov and he is a regulation hottie. But to fully understand why Alex is such a Grade-A hottie, we must look back at his performance on The…
Stalled Nexus pipeline to be subject of town hall meeting in Ann Arbor
Readers may recall our piece from March, about resistance to the proposed construction of the Nexus pipeline. The pipeline, in which DTE Energy is part owner, is essentially intended to carry natural gas fracked from the western Pennsylvania area to the Dawn Hub in Ontario for sale to Canadian buyers. Along the way, it would…
U2 to bring its ‘Joshua Tree’ tour to Detroit in September
This morning, we learned that an Irish band you might have heard of named U2 is extending its wildly heralded Joshua Tree Tour 2017, beginning with a date at Ford Field on Sunday, Sept. 3. Tickets for the big rock tour of the year (which celebrates the 30th anniversary of the band’s classic fifth album)…
A wealthy Birmingham businessman lost his fight to keep Hamtramck trashy
A judge has ordered wealthy Hamtramck businessman Henry Velleman to pay fines of $100 each on two tickets for littering that he initially fought. Velleman, who lives in Birmingham, is also Hamtramck’s largest downtown property owner. Of 35 Velleman-owned downtown district commercial properties identified in public records earlier this year, 25 are empty storefronts or…
A conversation with Wilco’s Nels Cline
Like most of us, guitarist Nels Cline remembers where he was on election night 2016. Unlike, well, all of us, he had just released Schmilco, his fifth studio record as Wilco’s emotively dexterous cultivator of catharsis just two months prior. “We were all together in Europe when that went down,” Cline recalls. “It was literally…
Ann Arbor’s first poutinerie opens on South University
The highly anticipated Smoke’s opened its doors on Monday on South University Street in downtown Ann Arbor. Poutine – a Canadian dish that’s a jumbled mound of fries, gravy and cheese curds – is suddenly fashionable south of Canada’s border, and the new poutinerie is one of very few in southeast Michigan. Smoke’s is a Canadian…
Tuesday morning hearing offers chance to oppose toxic waste expansion
Activists opposed to the tenfold expansion of a hazardous waste facility in Detroit are urging people to join them in speaking out at a hearing on the plan tomorrow (Tuesday) afternoon. The plan to expand the facility owned by U.S. Ecology, based in Boise, Idaho, has been the subject of our coverage before. A few months…
Grosse Pointe celebrates Pride with first ever LGBTQ Pride March
The city of Grosse Pointe is getting in on the Pride celebrations this month with its first ever LGBTQ Pride March this Sunday, June 11. According to the Facebook page event, the parade was organized to show support to the LGBTQ community in Grosse Pointe, but also to let people outside of the community that…
Flint official resigns after blaming water crisis on black residents not paying bills
And you won’t believe what word he used to describe them … The Genesee County Land Bank says sales manager Phil Stair has resigned after water activists recorded him saying Flint’s problems were caused by black residents who “don’t pay their bills.” But he didn’t use the words “black residents.” He used a much more colorful…
UPDATED: Michigan leaders silent on Trump’s Paris withdrawal as others pledge to uphold agreement
Updated 10:17 a.m. on Monday, June 5: Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan has joined the growing list of mayors who say they will intensify efforts to meet climate goals outlined in the Paris accord. A spokesman didn’t immediately have additional information. A dozen Michigan cities had joined the list as of Monday morning. They include Grand Rapids,…
Flint’s Dr. Hanna-Attisha slams emergency management in TED talk
The pediatrician whistleblower who exposed the Flint water crisis criticized the “lost democracy” during the city’s emergency management in a recently released TEDMED talk. 2016 #TEDMED Speaker @MonaHannaA tells the story of Flint's fight for America's children: https://t.co/P8KXTNhaKO pic.twitter.com/p4wqI5VQdV — TEDMED (@TEDMED) June 1, 2017 Originally speaking in 2016, Dr. Mona Hanna-Attisha discussed how Flint’s…
New Joe Muer, Eddie V’s upscale seafood to open in the northern burbs
A new Joe Muer location opens this week in Bloomfield Township, while Eddie V’s – an upscale steak and seafood restaurant – debuts in Troy on June 19. Crain’s reports that Joe Muer was supposed to open in February at the former Kingsley Inn at 39475 Woodward Ave., but landlord-related issues delayed the project. Joe…
Arcade Fire announce new tour, show in Windsor
The indie rock gods Arcade Fire announced yesterday that they are coming back with a new album (their fifth studio album) and tour to the delight of their devoted fans. While the band is not playing a Detroit date (they played the Palace when touring their last record, Reflektor) they are playing in Windsor, our…
Ollie Food + Spirits is hosting a Twin Peaks brunch
It’s not quite The Double R Diner and Norma Jennings won’t be there, but Ypsilanti’s Ollie Food + Spirits’ Twin Peaks-themed brunch on Sunday is as close you’ll get to that in Michigan. The menu will include “a damn fine cup of coffee, a slice of cherry pie that’ll kill ya, and breakfast/brunch specials culled from Laura…
Can’t-miss benefit event: Help the Seraphine Collective out this Sunday, June 4
We’re big fans of feminist group Seraphine Collective at the Metro Times — their music festival, BFF Fest, now in its fourth year, is a highlight of the end of summer in the city, and Seraphine-affiliated post-punk band Casual Sweetheart graced the cover of this year’s annual winter issue, in which we chose them as…
Electric Forest reveals 2017 daily stage schedule, releases more tickets for first weekend
Odesza! Thievery Corporation! Kamasi Washington! My Morning Jacket! A-Trak! Of course, for the seventh year in a row, headliners String Cheese Incident! Dozens and dozens of other acts including Tycho! Two super loaded weekends of music go down out in the woods of Rothbury, MI with the biggest and baddest-ever Electric Forest festival later this…
Catching up with Sigur Rós founding member Georg Hólm
When your editor says you’re going to interview one of the most enigmatic post-rock bands of the past 20 years, you sweat a bit. Then when you Google “Sigur Rós interview” and the first 10 results are articles detailing what might be the most painstakingly awkward, almost completely silent interview since the dawn of digital…
Motor City Muckraker just went HAM on Mayor Duggan after his ‘one city for all of us’ speech
As part of an ongoing election-year push back on the “Two Detroits” narrative, Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan yesterday at the Mackinac Policy Conference outlined an inclusive guiding principal for the city’s redevelopment: “One city. For all of us.” The mayor spent the bulk of his nearly hour-long address speaking on development and displacement, and how the city would continue…
The congressman who said God would ‘take care of’ climate change is from Michigan
U.S. Rep. Tim Walberg said last week that God alone could fix climate change — not humans. Congressman Walberg is a Republican and represents Michigan’s 7th district and said the baffling statement during a town hall meeting in Coldwater, MI. In Walberg’s defense, he did admit that he believes climate change is a real thing,…
VIDEO: Jack White and Elton John teamed up for an epic duet
It’s always a special treat when two musical legends come together for a one of a kind duet, so imagine our excitement when we learned that Elton John and Jack White teamed up to duet for White’s new doc series. Elton John invited Jack White to duet on John’s new song “Two Fingers of Whiskey”…
Your chance to be an extra on ‘Detroiters’ is now
Always dreamt about that 15 minutes of fame? Well, my friends, your chance to see yourself on the small screen has finally arrived. Comedy Central’s Detroiters is holding an open casting call for extras while they film the second season here in Detroit. If you didn’t see the show when the first season debuted this…
‘DeVos Watch’ site promises to hold U.S. education secretary accountable
Sen. Elizabeth Warren is no friend to Education Secretary Betsy DeVos. In fact, she’s been a vocal opponent of the Michigan billionaire since before her shameful confirmation hearing, when it appeared that she lacked cursory knowledge of the U.S. education system. In the months that have followed DeVos’ narrow confirmation, Warren has continued to speak…
Torpedo turkeys and trying to sleep on the road: A chat with Chris Farren at Bled Fest
Chris Farren is back to work – another Antarctigo Vespucci Record on its way. Metro Times caught up with Chris Farren before his solo set at BLED Fest last weekend, and asked him about his latest solo record, working with Jeff Rosenstock in their project together Antarctigo Vespucci, and advice on DIY touring. Here are…
A Yemeni/Middle Eastern restaurant is planned for the former Clock Fine Food in Hamtramck
The Clock – a once popular 24-hour diner and post-bar stop in downtown Hamtramck – will soon serve Middle Eastern and Yemeni fare. The owner of a company listed as Magic Property in city documents told the MT that the renovation is moving along quickly, but he declined to provide more details until the restaurant is…
Detroit’s Northwestern High School was a factory for producing gifted athletes
Today we received a hardcover copy of journalist, academic, and music lover Herb Boyd’s new book, Black Detroit: A People’s History of Self-Determination. It’s near the top of our summer reading list, but it’s worth sharing with our readers before we dig in, for many reasons. Boyd’s name should ring out with many of our…
How two Southwest residents are cleaning up metro Detroit
Carolina Torres was searching for guitar lessons for her son when she stumbled upon the Southwest community organization Grace in Action. The group is a start-up church of sorts and they offer free programming to local kids, guitar lessons included. Torres has been an active member of the group ever since. A native of Venezuela,…
Shake Shack will open a second Michigan location
A new Shake Shack location is in the works for 888 W. Big Beaver Road in Troy, according to The Detroit News. The fast food restaurant’s downtown Detroit location opened to a great deal of fanfare in February, and lines out its doors still aren’t uncommon. Shake Shack fancies itself a “roadside burger stand” and…
Detroit artist Charles McGee debuts new mural alongside exhibition
Hunched over a walker, Charles McGee scoots around the ground floor of 1505 Woodward Avenue, overseeing the installation of his new artist exhibition ahead of its June 1 opening reception. It’s a large body of work by the 92-year-old artist, including paintings, drawings, and sculptures. But don’t call it a retrospective. That’s partially because the…
Mayor Mike Duggan says city will board up all of Detroit’s vacant houses in two years
Detroit’s roughly 25,000 unsecured vacant houses could soon all be boarded up under a plan Mayor Mike Duggan announced today at the Mackinac Policy Conference. Most of the blighted houses that would be secured in the two-year long effort are due to be torn down under an ongoing demolition program that Duggan’s office says is…
Pride Night returns to Comerica Park June 6
Baseball will be a little gay when Pride Night returns to Comerica Park on Tuesday, June 6. The Detroit Tiger will take on the L.A. Angels. The event is put on by the Detroit Regional LGBT Chamber and not the Tigers Organization/Comerica Park, so thanks Detroit Chamber for being inclusive as hell and making sure…
Reminder: Ween plays ROMT this Friday, June 2
OK, so this Friday is June 2, which means ohhhh fuck, the rent is due tomorrow. Did you pay the rent yet? Where the heck is that checkbook? Did you remember also that none other than Ween is playing a very special reunion type show (this last hiatus lasted four years) at the Royal Oak…
New Center Park announces summer film and theater series
New Center Park has released the schedule for its summer outdoor film series, which includes screenings on Wednesday and Friday nights. Wednesday’s programming includes 8 Mile, Hidden Figures, Manchester by the Sea, La La Land, The Wiz, and Rogue One: A Star Wars Story, and more, while Friday’s family friendly programming includes Zootopia, Moana, The…
Livernois Tap opens in Ferndale on Saturday
The northern burbs newest brewery, Axle Brewing Co.’s Livernois Tap, opens on Saturday. According to a release from the company, it will feature a rotating list of 12 to 15 beers on draft including their flagship beers along with seasonal pours and tap room exclusive releases. In addition to draft pours, 32-ounce Crowlers will be available…
Rejoice, for there is a new Soft Location album
Kathy Leisen lives in a former bait shop on an East Side canal street, has perfect teeth, and might be Detroit’s last best-kept musical secret. An interdisciplinary visual and performance artist as well as a musician, she is not in fact from California, despite everyone thinking she is all the time — from both alleged…
Cinetopia Film Festival returns with an international marathon of top-notch flicks
It seemed like a no-brainer: Other Midwestern cities like Chicago, Cleveland, and Indianapolis all had world-class film festivals — so why not Detroit? That was the original premise behind Cinetopia Film Festival, which will celebrate its fifth year of bringing some of the best movies from festivals around the world to metro Detroit. The fest…
Horoscopes (May 31-June 6)
ARIES (March 21- April 20): God knows what it looks like where you are. The way I see it, the long awaited dream is about to hatch. My crystal ball is filled with images of love and success. What sounds too good to be true is contingent upon your ability to give everything you’ve got…
Savage Love: Looking
Q: I’m a middle-aged homo trying to figure out Grindr. Is it impolite to go on Grindr if you’re not looking for an immediate hookup? My preferred form of sexual relationship is the friend-with-benefits situation. I go on Grindr looking to make friends who could, at least potentially, be sex partners, but I like to…
Mulenga and the chickens
There I was, bouncing around in the passenger seat of a borrowed pickup truck with a blindfold over my eyes. Mulenga Harangua was at the wheel driving us through a maze to his new secret spot. I was wearing the blindfold because he didn’t want me to know exactly where it’s at. The back of…
Detroit officials aim to prevent displacement at Midtown apartment building slated for upgrade
Another Midtown apartment building known to offer cheap units has fallen into the hands of big-name developers and is about to get a face — and rent — lift. But while Detroit officials say they’ve reached a first-of-its-kind deal with the new owners of 40 Davenport that would keep some units affordable in an effort…
Governor Abdul?
Let’s say you had a young politician named Adam Elliot who is handsome, charismatic, and whose string of degrees and accomplishments sounded like those of a spy fiction hero: Three-letter athlete in high school (Bloomfield Hills’ Andover High School), star lacrosse player, and academically, at the very top of his class at the University of…
Review: Get cultured at Hamtramck’s Sheeba
Back in the olden days, if you went to a restaurant whose ethnicity you were not, the servers might warn you away from certain dishes. That stopped happening a while ago, as more white-bread people started seeking out interesting cuisines and small restaurant owners began to look for a larger audience. So it was a…
