Cover Story
35 years of Motor City Comic Con
Malin Åkerman has a soft spot in her heart — and her filmography — for Detroit. “We filmed a movie there called The Giant Mechanical Man,” the striking, Swedish-born actress remembers. “It was so much fun. It was years ago [2012], but we had a blast making it. And it still sits dear to my…
Hidden Georgia Beaches: What I Discovered on the Coast
It started with a conversation in a sleepy beachside café in Savannah, where the salty breeze carried stories from seasoned travelers. One story led to another, and soon, I sketched a rough itinerary along the Georgia coast, a region I’d always appreciated but never fully explored. This wasn’t just any coastal escape. I was on…
The Ultimate Way For You to Visit Minneapolis This Year
The first time I considered planning a Minneapolis vacation was thanks to a friend I met on a group hiking trip in Banff. She had grown up in Minneapolis, MN and described it as a place where modern culture meets Midwest hospitality, where world-class art is just as easy to find as a giant mall…
A Complete Guide to Traveling During Autumn in Australia
There’s something unforgettable about booking a trip to the other side of the world when your hometown is just starting to thaw out. While my neighbors were cleaning off their patios for spring, I planned an escape into the cool, colorful embrace of autumn in Australia. Over the years, conversations with friends who had been…
Walking Through History at Old Alabama Town, Montgomery
There’s a certain charm to places that seem frozen in time, where each creaky floorboard and weathered porch has a story to tell. When a friend of mine told me about Old Alabama Town during a late-night conversation over sweet tea in Savannah, I knew I had to see it for myself. Some places call…
Things to Do in Minnesota: Nature, Culture and Food
I’ve always had a soft spot for places that fly just slightly under the radar. You know the ones; overlooked in favor of flashier destinations, but quietly brimming with personality, beauty and stories waiting to be uncovered. Minnesota was one of those places for me. Over the years, I’d heard bits and pieces from fellow…
5 Hidden Alabama Beaches: Sun, Sand and Sweet Surprises
Reflecting on my most memorable travel moments, a few unexpected places always float to the top. My recent trip exploring Alabama beaches is now one of them. I’ll admit, when I started planning, I wasn’t sure what to expect. “Does Alabama have beaches?” was the question that popped up more than once when I told…
Campgrounds in Minnesota: From Backpacking to Cabins
A certain stillness only exists under a canopy of pines at dusk. MN state parks camping has consistently held that kind of magic for me. Whether it was summers visiting family in Duluth or road-tripping with college friends through the Iron Range, this state has quietly become a place I return to when I need…
Finding Magic at Every Pink Lake Australia Has to Offer
It was a single photograph of blush-colored land framed by endless blue sky that first convinced me I needed to see a pink lake in Australia with my own eyes. I had always been enchanted by travel spots that seemed too magical to be real, and the idea of visiting Australia’s pink lakes felt like…
The Top Things to Experience on Quiet Dauphin Island in Alabama
Some places simply pull you in with a whisper. Dauphin Island, Alabama, did just that. I’d heard about this sleepy island in Alabama from a couple I met while backpacking in North Georgia. They couldn’t stop talking about its laid-back charm, secret stretches of Dauphin Beach’s Alabama sands, and how time seemed to slow down…
11 Places to Visit in Europe in 2025: List for Every Budget
Europe has always held a kind of magic for me. It started with a well-worn travel book about Malta I found in the back of my grandmother’s closet, filled with handwritten notes and recipes she’d jotted down during her time there. Since then, I’ve spoken with fellow travelers, swapped stories in hostels and cafés, and…
Best Cruises in Baltimore – Seeing the Sights by Water & Exploring Nature
There is something about a breeze off the water, and the sound of lapping waves makes me feel instantly grounded. Maybe it stems from childhood summers spent at the Jersey Shore, or perhaps it’s just the magic of being near the sea – but whenever I visit Baltimore, I head straight to the harbor. No…
Wandering Through Botanical Gardens in Atlanta
When I stepped through the leafy gates of the Atlanta Botanical Garden, I already knew this trip would be memorable. It wasn’t just another check on my travel list; it was a slow, intentional walk through color, scent and serenity. I’d always heard fellow travellers rave about the botanical gardens in Atlanta (also known as…
Scenic Lakes Around New York to Explore This Season
Something about the stillness of a lake always brings me peace. Growing up, my family would take spontaneous weekend drives to find quiet waterside spots to fish or picnic, and those simple moments became some of my fondest memories. I’ve carried that love into adulthood, always looking out for places to reconnect with nature and…
Fear and loathing at the opera
My chest felt heavy, bearing the weight of my blackness, as foreboding music began to fill the Detroit Opera House. I sat fidgeting in my seat as the fear channeled by the orchestra penetrated my bones. But by the second act of The Central Park Five, the fear was quelled and entangled with perplexion and…
May 2025 movie roundup
Cinema is robust enough to feel almost limitless as an art form. Although movies are nearly 130 years old, a few filmmakers continue to push the medium forward every year, finding innovative and groundbreaking new ways to tell stories. While it’s rare to come across a film that feels wholly singular, I still find joy…
Progressive Prosecutor Eli Savit launches campaign for attorney general
Washtenaw County Prosecutor Eli Savit announced Tuesday he’s running for Michigan attorney general in 2026, casting himself as a champion for civil rights and working people in a campaign rooted in progressive legal reform. “Our constitutional rights are under attack, and we can’t afford to back down,” Savit said in a statement. “As attorney general,…
Michigan cracks down on 40 cannabis businesses for alleged violations in April
State regulators fined 40 cannabis businesses in April for violations ranging from selling bags of edibles with cartoons on the packaging to growing marijuana in buildings that failed safety inspections. Nine of the businesses operate in metro Detroit and one in Ann Arbor. Together, those 10 were fined a total of $98,500. The Cannabis Regulator…
5 Spots to See the Northern Lights Minnesota is Known For
“Will I see the Northern Lights in Minnesota today?” I asked myself on the first night. When I saw them ripple across the sky, I nearly forgot how cold my fingers were. It was just after midnight in northern Minnesota, and the Aurora Borealis was dancing: green, purple and faint streaks of pink twirling overhead…
Tlaib snubs Thanedar, backs primary challenger in rare rebuke
U.S. Rep. Rashida Tlaib is endorsing a primary challenger to fellow Democratic Congressman Shri Thanedar, an unusual move that highlights ideological divisions among Michigan Democrats. Tlaib on Monday threw her support behind state Rep. Donavan McKinney, who is running against U.S. Rep. Shri Thanedar in the 13th Congressional District. The endorsement marks the first time…
Shinola releases product line inspired by J Dilla
The late Detroit hip-hop producer J Dilla was beloved for his unique sense of rhythm and time feel (explored deeply in Dan Charnas’s aptly named recent biography Dilla Time), so perhaps it’s no surprise that he would be honored by Shinola with a new line of luxury watches. The Detroit-based luxury watchmaker announced on Monday…
Michigan Rattlers bring new synth-rock sound to Saint Andrew’s Hall
In recent years, Michigan Rattlers have earned a following with a rootsy, folk-rock style. But for its latest full-length album, the Petoskey-based band of longtime friends — singer and guitarist Graham Young, Adam Reed on upright bass, Christian Wilder on keys, and drummer Tony Audia — decided to mix things up a bit. “I think…
Nessel defends prosecutions of pro-Palestinian protesters with false claims, attacks on fellow Democrats
Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel lashed out at critics and made a series of inaccurate or misleading claims during a Wednesday town hall on hate crimes and extremism in West Bloomfield Township, where she defended her handling of pro-Palestinian protesters and vowed to aggressively pursue new cases tied to the movement. Nessel’s 16-minute talk marked…
Broadway nerd heaven
Forbidden Broadway: Merrily We Stole a Song Fisher Theatre Detroit May 3, 2025 Love it or hate it, musical theater provides ample material for lampooning, lovingly highlighted by Forbidden Broadway. Started in 1982 by Gerard Alessandrini, the touring off-Broadway show features a simple cast of four plus a pianist in a revue of show tune…
Medicaid cuts could strip health care from 750,000 Michiganders
Proposed federal Medicaid cuts could strip health care from 750,000 Michiganders and drain billions of dollars from the state’s hospitals, threatening access to care for pregnant women, people with disabilities, and residents in rural areas, according to a new report from the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services. The report, released Friday by Gov.…
Family of Patrick Lyoya to keep fighting after jury deadlocks in trial
The family of Patrick Lyoya pledged Thursday to continue fighting for justice after a Kent County jury failed to reach a verdict in the criminal trial of former Grand Rapids Police Officer Christopher Schurr, prompting a mistrial. At a press conference hours after the mistrial was declared, Lyoya’s parents expressed disappointment and pain, saying Schurr…
State Sen. Moss launches U.S. Congress bid outside his home district
State Sen. Jeremy Moss, a Democrat and staunch supporter of Israel, announced Thursday he’s running for U.S. Congress — but not in the district in which he lives. Moss lives in Southfield, which is part of the 12th Congressional District — a seat held by U.S. Rep. Rashida Tlaib, the only American Palestinian serving in…
Michigan prison population hits 30-year low as parole expands, recidivism drops
Michigan’s prison population has fallen to its lowest level in more than three decades, and state officials say the decline is no accident. The Michigan Department of Corrections (MDOC) reported that 32,778 people were incarcerated statewide at the end of 2024, down more than 18,700 from a peak of over 51,000 in 2007. The decline…
Dearborn Heights cops say supervisor coerced them into sex, sent dick pics over Snapchat
Two police officers are suing the Dearborn Heights Police Department, alleging their former supervisor used his position of power to sexually harass, coerce, and assault them — sometimes inside the station — while top brass ignored repeated red flags. In a lawsuit filed Monday in Wayne County Circuit Court, Officers Maxwell Bearden and Hashim Zrien…
Michigan permanently bans cannabis businessman Youssef Barakat, accused of serious violations
State regulators have permanently banned Youssef Barakat from working in or owning any licensed cannabis business in the state, citing a series of serious violations at two marijuana dispensaries he co-owned and operated. The Michigan Cannabis Regulatory Agency (CRA) found that Barakat violated numerous cannabis laws and administrative rules while employed at Big Rapids Tree…
Free Will Astrology (May 7-13)
ARIES (March 21-April 19): Just for now, you might benefit from moderating your intensity. I am pleased to see how much good stuff you have generated lately, but it may be time to scale back a bit. At least consider the possibility of pursuing modest, sustainable production rather than daring to indulge in spectacular bursts…
