Cover Story
Detroit soul man J.J. Barnes looks back on his career ahead of what he says could be his final live performance
Recorded and released in early 1967, this pleading and plaintive chorus was about a love affair gone wrong, but in the year 2022, it’s more of a love letter to the incredible 60-plus-year singing career of Detroit soul man J.J. Barnes: “Darling your chains of love won’t set me free/ your chains of love won’t…
The 6 Best Assignment Services of 2022
The post-Covid learning environment is marred with stressors and distractions that could deter any student’s academic success and redirect their focus. Although the world is slowly returning to normalcy, the financial implications of the pandemic and the Russia-Ukraine war are immeasurable. Learners are now grappling with rising food prices arising from the growing inflation and…
Detroit City Council strikes down food grading ordinance largely opposed by restaurant owners
Is Detroit ready for a color-coded system alerting potential diners whether restaurants are up to code with the health department? The answer is a resounding “nope.” Detroit City Council rejected council member Scott Benson’s proposed food grade ordinance 6-3 on Tuesday afternoon. During the public comment period, more than two dozen residents and restaurant owners…
Activists slam Detroit for missing deadline to fund right to counsel for low-income renters
Mayor Mike Duggan’s administration missed the deadline to begin providing lower-income residents with free legal representation when facing eviction, drawing criticism from housing advocates on Tuesday. The Detroit City Council approved the right-to-counsel ordinance on May 10, and it was supposed to go into effect on Oct. 1. At a council meeting Tuesday, activists called…
SMART bus to offer free rides on Election Day
SMART bus will offer free rides on Election Day. Riders will be able to use the services between Macomb, Oakland, and Wayne County beginning at 12 a.m. on Nov. 8. The rides will be offered across SMART services ADA service, Connector, Fixed Route, and the rideshare service SMART Flex and will cease at 11:59 p.m.…
Taylor Swift is coming to Detroit on her ‘The Eras’ tour
Time to freak out: Taylor Swift is coming to Detroit. Here’s everything Swifties need to know about Tay Tay’s upcoming stadium tour. Swift will play Ford Field on June 10, 2023 as part of her “The Eras” tour. Presale tickets will be released at 10 a.m. Nov. 15, with special Capital One cardholder presale starting at 2…
This old silent film is playing in Detroit — and the actors steal the show
Clarence Brown’s Flesh and the Devil is nearly a century old now, but its story is even older. Starring John Gilbert, Greta Garbo, and Lars Hanson as a trio joined and placed at odds by friendship and by romance, the 1926 silent film (playing at the Senate Theater this Saturday, Nov. 5, as well as…
New Detroit brewery launches DJ Father Dukes residency
Got a Detroit music tip? Send it to music@metrotimes.com. Father Dukes launches DJ residency: DJ Father Dukes has fired up a new bi-weekly residency. “Block Club” is hosted at Tenacity Craft, a relatively new bar and brewery in Detroit’s Piety Hill neighborhood. Originally hailing from Flint, Tenacity has established quite the cozy little space at…
Detroit brunch spot See You Tomorrow is finally opening
For the past three years, a glowing “See You Tomorrow” sign has enticed passersby on Woodward Avenue in Detroit’s New Center neighborhood. We’d always drive by and wonder who are you, and what makes you think you’ll see us tomorrow? It turns out it’s a fast-casual brunch cafe, and after several delays, See You Tomorrow…
Obama rallies with Michigan Democratic ticket, speaks out against political division
In the packed gymnasium of Detroit’s Renaissance High School, the Michigan Democratic ticket rallied alongside former president Barack Obama on Saturday, asking supporters to bring their friends, family and neighbors to the polls. With 10 days until the election, the candidates and officials emphasized the importance of voting rights, abortion and other key policy issues.…
Grand Rapids cop who shot Patrick Lyoya in back of head to stand trial
The Grand Rapids cop charged with second-degree murder for shooting Patrick Lyoya in the back of the head following a traffic stop was ordered Monday to stand trial. District Court Judge Nicholas Ayoub said there was sufficient evidence to warrant a trial for Christopher Schurr, who was fired by the Grand Rapids Police Department in…
St. Clair County siblings charged with entering U.S. Capitol during Jan. 6 riot
Siblings from St. Clair County face up to 10 years in prison after they were charged with storming the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021. Deborah Kuecken, 67, of Ira Township and Gary Smith, 71, of Casco Township are among 19 Michigan residents to be charged so far in connection with the insurrection. The FBI…
Michael Thompson opens up about being Michigan’s longest serving non-violent offender
Michael Thompson never imagined that selling marijuana would have landed him in prison for decades. But that’s what happened after he was caught selling three pounds of weed to a confidential informant in Genesee County in 1994. While he languished behind bars, his parents and only son died. His daughters grew up without him. Michigan’s…
Southwest Detroit businesses honor the dead with public ofrendas for Día de Los Muertos
As the seasons change from summer to autumn, it is said, the veil between our world and that of the undead wanes. This allows the souls of the departed to travel back to the physical plane to visit their loved ones during holidays like Día de Los Muertos (Day of the Dead). As part of…
Debunking myths about Michigan’s Proposal 3
On Tuesday, Nov. 8, Michiganders will head to the polls to vote on what is one of the most important issues this election season — the right to abortion. The United States Supreme Court’s decision to overturn Roe v. Wade earlier this summer left the decision for reproductive freedoms and rights in the hands of…
Goodbye to Detroit’s vegan coney dogs and hello to hip-hop-infused yoga: The top 10 Metro Times headlines
Detroit’s favorite vegan coney island, Chili Mustard Onions, announced that it would be closing for good — and our readers were interested in the details. It seems our readers also might be looking for peace these days as many were interested in our story about Trap Yoga, a yoga class with a hip-hop edge. With…
House of Dank Monroe Holds Official Grand Opening Celebration
The new retail location will cater to Michigan and Ohio residents with one of the largest selections of top cannabis products in the state. House of Dank welcomes a new location to the family; H.O.D. Monroe will hold their official Grand Opening celebration on November 5th at 14750 Laplaisance Road from 9am to 10pm. Adding…
Tlaib urges Biden admin to rein in ‘ghost guns’ linked to violent crime
U.S. Rep. Rashida Tlaib is calling on President Joe Biden to rein in the use of untraceable, home-assembled firearms — “ghost guns” that have been linked to murders and violent crimes nationwide. In a letter to Biden sent on Thursday, Tlaib said a legal loophole enables people to easily assemble a ghost gun by using…
Jason REVOK gears up for first solo museum exhibition at MOCAD
Jason REVOK creates a mechanical mandala of repeating shapes as he guides an elliptical gear around in an eight-foot circle. It’s like watching a dance of sorts — like a gladiator moving a boulder in some strange physical rite of passage. As paint drips down the canvas, the once-perfect geometrical shapes become imperfect, and more…
What the public can teach pundits (and politicians) about saving democracy
Last week, a New York Times/Siena poll set Democratic hearts racing, showing a four-point advantage for Republicans — a five point swing since the summer. The shift represented the political fallout of continued inflation, looming recession fears, and the president’s limited approval. Republican wins in key battleground states in November could be catastrophic for the…
Ferndale’s Tiger Lily elevates metro Detroit’s sushi game
Try to find a sushi roll in metro Detroit that’s richer and more umami-packed than Tiger Lily’s Shikotsu. Chef Chris Vasquez rolls and tops it with A5 wagyu beef, cucumber, marrow butter, fried shallots, scallion, spicy garlic sauce, and egg yolk. It might also be hard to find a better presentation. The name “Shikotsu” was…
Don’t believe the lies about Michigan’s voting rights ballot initiative, election expert begs
Few people know the ins and outs of Michigan’s elections more than Chris Thomas. As the state’s former longtime elections director, Thomas spent nearly four decades protecting the ballot box and ensuring the accuracy of the count. During his tenure, elections were secure, trusted, and stable. But, he said, access to the ballot box could…
Say it ain’t so — Detroit’s vegan Coney Island Chili Mustard Onions to close
America’s first vegan coney island is getting ready to shut its doors. Detroit’s Chili Mustard Onions will be closing by the end of this year. Owner Pete LaCombe was busy pumping out orders when we called on Thursday morning but he did confirm the restaurant’s unfortunate fate. “I don’t have an exact date yet, but…
Michigan educators urge action to reverse low student test scores
Educators are deeply concerned but not surprised with newly released test results showing how far behind Michigan students have fallen during the pandemic. Results from the National Assessment of Educational Progress showed fourth- and ninth-graders scored significantly lower in math and reading skills this year than they did prior to the COVID crisis. Data from…
Third party candidates vie to be Michigan’s governor with long-shot campaigns
Earlier this month, history was made in Michigan when Democrat Gov. Gretchen Whitmer debated her Republican challenger Tudor Dixon ahead of the Tuesday, Nov. 8 general election. For the first time, the two major-party candidates are both women. But they’re not the only women — or men — running for the office. There are candidates…
Local buzz: Neu Blume, Theo Parrish, the Stools, and more Detroit music news
Welcome to a new column about Detroit’s music scene. Got a tip? Hit us up at music@metrotimes.com! That new Neu: Here comes fresh, hot, and dreamy sounds, with a tinge of indie folk, from fresh, hot, and new band on the block Neu Blume. Folks might recognize band member Mo Neuharth from her popular design…
Best CBD Gummies for COPD – Overview 2022
When dealing with COPD symptoms, CBD gummies are of a helping hand, too. It’s not news anymore that herbal wonders, like CBD gummies, are used by most to relieve symptoms of various illnesses and common sicknesses. Many people use it to improve their sleeping habits, increase their appetite, boost exercise endurance, and even maintain overall…
Tlaib introduces bill aimed at curtailing environmental racism
U.S. Rep. Rashida Tlaib introduced a bill intended to protect communities that are overburdened by air and water pollution, which are often concentrated in communities of color. The Cumulative Impacts Act, introduced on Friday, would require the Environmental Protection Agency to analyze the total effect of permitting decisions under the Clean Air Act and Clean…
Whitmer kidnapping supporters convicted by jury
A jury on Wednesday convicted three men of aiding a plot to kidnap Gov. Gretchen Whitmer. Following a three-week trial, Paul Bellar, Joseph Morrison, and Pete Musico were found guilty of providing support for a terrorist act. As members of the Wolverine Watchman militia, they were also convicted of being in a gang. They were…
Opinion: Michigan military bases put environment at risk
For decades, the U.S. army’s improper use, storage, and disposal of chemical hazards in and around its bases have represented a severe environmental risk that irreversibly impacted scores of unsuspecting service members. In cases such as North Carolina’s infamous Camp Lejeune Marine Corps Base, contamination went undetected for over thirty years, incurring a heavy toll…
Detroit bees helped make this honey-infused bourbon and barrel-aged honey
All summer long, buzzing bees have kept busy, collecting nectar from flowers to make sweet honey in their beehives. And now, it’s time to enjoy the fruits of their labor. Bees in the D is a Detroit-based beekeeping nonprofit that manages more than 200 honeybee hives in and around the city, including on the rooftop…
Royal Oak HopCat eyes winter reopening
You can finally get your Cosmic Fries fix in Royal Oak when HopCat reopens this winter. HopCat’s parent company Project BarFly announced the expected winter opening on Tuesday, but did not give an exact date. The gastropub is opening its new doors at 430 S. Main St. — a space combining what was previously BD’s…
Joe Biden wants everyone to know he’s not pardoning pot dealers
Even though cannabis reform advocates praised President Joe Biden for finally making good on his promise to expunge pot records, the president evidently wants folks to know that clemency doesn’t apply to dealers. During a speech last week at Delaware State University, Biden trumpeted his record on weed but pointed out that the pardon doesn’t…
Free Will Astrology (Oct. 26-Nov. 1)
ARIES (March 21-April 19): Of all the rich philanthropists in the world, Aries author MacKenzie Scott is the most generous. During a recent 12-month period, she gave away $8.5 billion. Her focus is on crucial issues: racial equality, LGBTQ+ rights, pandemic relief, upholding and promoting democracy, and addressing the climate emergency. She disburses her donations…
