Eastern Market’s Savvy Chic to open new menswear shop, ‘Savvy Gents’
Those jonesing for menswear staples like bow ties, trousers, blazers, accessories, and more are in luck — Eastern Market’s Savvy Chic will soon open a menswear store named “Savvy Gents.” Heading up this venture is Randal Jacobs (who you may have recently spotted in All Dolled Up). Originally from New York, Jacobs has worked with…
Willy’s hosts a new pop-up shop starting tomorrow
Willy’s, Shinola’s new neighbor and sister store, will host a new pop-up shop starting tomorrow. Women’s wear label Edith A. Miller designers Nancy Gibson and Jennifer Williams will be on-hand Wednesday, Sept. 17 from 6-8 p.m. to discuss the creations made in their old Pennsylvania mill out of 100 percent American cotton. Cocktails will be…
Air Sex: The Movie
You might remember when we wrote about the Air Sex Championships. You might also remember when we went to the Air Sex Championships and photographed the whole thing. Well, now there’s an Air Sex movie and you can watch a trailer for it here.
Detroit DDA approves $450 million bond sale for new Red Wings arena
The Detroit Downtown Development Authority (DDA) today approved the convoluted sale of $450 million in bonds to finance the construction of new Detroit Red Wings arena near downtown. The financing plan calls for a revised structure unlike the preliminary proposal approved last year; for instance, the cap on state school taxes that can be captured…
If LATFH were a fashion company, it’d be Frank & Oak
The Canadian online men’s apparel company Frank & Oak seems to target hipsters with its catalog featuring clothes for men that capitalize on the aggressively bewildering looks that says, “Hey, I might have a trust fund and endless leisure time, but that doesn’t mean I need to learn to dress myself or even learn to…
Rival Satanic factions feud in Detroit
Apparently, all is not well in the realm of Satanism. Following news that the Satanic Temple will be setting up their first chapter house here in Detroit, a rival group — the Temples of Satan — told the Free Press their list of grievances about those other Satanists. The problem, according to Temples of Satan,…
‘Gonzo’ in Detroit today seeking the best neighborhood bar
OK, so this guy, John “Gonzo” Gonzalez is entertainment reporter for Mlive, and he’s touring the state looking for the best neighborhood bars. (Sounds like a familiar pursuit. We’ve been doing that in Detroit for years, without benefit of a chauffeured bus or expense account!) Today he touches down in metro Detroit, and he’ll be…
Study: Proposed $1.8 billion widening of I-94 in Detroit a ‘boondoggle’
The proposed nearly $1.8 billion widening of I-94 in Detroit between I-96 and Conner Avenue has its share of detractors — those who vehemently disagree with the idea that adding an additional lane on each direction of the highway will resolve, among other things, traffic congestion. It’s something we’ve highlighted here time and time again. The…
Detroit Garment Group Guild launched Michigan’s first Industrial Sewing Certification Program
Detroit Garment Group Guild (DG3), a local nonprofit headed by StyleLine editor Karen Buscemi, is launching an industrial sewing program, the first of its kind in the state of Michigan. The DG3 partnered with The Makers Coalition, Henry Ford College MichiganTechnical Education Center, SEMCA, Michigan Works!, Lear Corporation and others to form the Makers Coalition DG3 and bring…
Detroit’s Earl Klugh turns 61
What about the softer side of our fair city? Take smooth jazzman Earl Klugh, who’s closer to a pop guy these days than the jazzer who played with Lateef back in the day. But there’s a kind of sweetness to Klugh: the soft-spoken manner, the gentle guitar phrasing, the loose V-neck sweater.
Avant-garde pianist Matthew Shipp plays Wednesday
Heavyweight avant pianist Matthew Shipp comes to Trinosophes, Detroit’s home for improvisational and experimental music, on Wednesday.
Discounted Annie tickets will raise money for Michigan Humane Society
Tony-award winning musical Annie is coming to the Fisher Theatre and in celebration of the title character’s special relationship with a terrier named Sandy, Broadway in Detroit is helping to raise money for furry friends at the Michigan Humane Society. Tickets purchased for the 7:30 p.m. showing on Saturday, Sept. 27 will be discounted $10,…
Your community can host reproductions of DIA paintings for the upcoming Inside|Out season
For the past six years, the Detroit Institute of Art’s Inside|Out program has brought art to the people, transforming Detroit and the suburbs into an open-air art gallery. It’s a a nice reminder that there’s a whole building filled with these things downtown (and admission is free if you live in Wayne, Oakland, or Macomb…
Detroit’s newest unwanted savior: Dome Homes
The latest contender for the role of Detrosavior is a fellow who goes by the name David Apollo, and he proposes to save the city of Detroit with dome architecture. In fact, he’s a finalist in National Geographic’s Expedition Granted, despite the fact that his video pitch apparently has no audio, and no description of…
NoCirc protested in Lansing today, will protest in Royal Oak tomorrow
NoCirc of Michigan, an organization that protests the act of male circumcision, marched on the state’s capitol today, hoping to impress on both doctors and the public their opposition to the practice of removing a male infant’s foreskin. They were joined by the Bloodstained Men and Their Friends, a group that dresses in white with…
Tonight: Support local LGBTQ youth at CCS
Tonight you can support local LGBTQ young people at VOICES, an event held at the College for Creative Studies benefiting the Ruth Ellis Center in Highland Park. The 2014 Ruth Ellis Center annual event VOICES brings together the combined philosophies of positive youth development and social justice while bringing awareness to the epidemic of homelessness…
The Funky Ferndale Art Fair starts today at 3 p.m.
DIY Street Fair and the Funky Ferndale Art Fair are both going on this weekend. While DIY focuses on local crafters, local bands, and local foods, the Funky Ferndale Art Fair brings together funky fine artists who work in just about any medium you could think of. DIY starts at 5 p.m. today and Funky…
Native Detroiter Richard Kiel, aka “Jaws,” dead at 74
Richard Kiel, best known for his performances as “Jaws” in the 1970s James Bond movies, is dead at 74. He was born in Detroit in 1939. Though he moved away at age 9, we’ve always liked the fact that he had Detroit roots. And we just wrote about him a few weeks ago, in our…
Stevie Wonder to perform ‘Songs in the Key of Life’ live
Stevie Wonder performed his classic 1976 album Songs in the Key of Life live for the first time at an L.A. benefit concert late last year. Now, he will take the performance on an 11-date tour that stops at the Palace of Auburn Hills on Nov. 20. Wonder told Rolling Stone that fans shouldn’t expect…
Lawyers: Documents show Detroiters were blindsided by faulty water department billing
This just in: According to documents obtained by civil rights attorneys, Detroiters were unfairly hit with six years’ worth of retroactive sewerage fees totaling more than $100 million.
Satanic Temple’s devil statue won’t be Detroit’s first
Holy rollers are rocked by news that the Satanic Temple will open an outpost in our fair city, complete with a statue of the horned one. The group peddles its humanistic “religion” as a way to challenge the cretinous brand of Christian exceptionalism that has swept the country over the last few decades, and we…
Throwback Thursday: That time Keith Olbermann called the DEGC & George Jackson the “World’s Worst”
Our recent unveiling of the thick and shifty nature of the DEGC has inspired readers to take a careful read and remind us of past DEGC travesties, such as when they sold out the old Tiger Stadium (Navin Field). Check out this gem from MSNBC:
Lessons for Detroit from Grand Rapids’ not-so-rapid BRT system
Metro Detroit’s leaders and transit-watchers should take notice of the brand-spanking new transit system in Grand Rapids — if only because it uses “Bus Rapid Transit,” the same model planned for metro Detroit in coming years.
The Buzzcocks… I Believe
All the fussing and fighting goin’ on in the world has us thinking about punk rock, and since we recently interviewed Steve Diggle of the Buzzcocks, we thought we’d pull out our favorite, once-forgotten Buzzcocks tune, “I Believe”:
StyleLine magazine will fold after October issue
Karen Buscemi, editor of Detroit-based fashion magazine, StyleLine, announced today on her Facebook page that the glossy’s October issue will be its last. The magazine launched just seven years ago, in 2008, and is owned by the Detroit Media Partnership, a Gannett company. Buscemi says the company that owns the magazine is “moving on to…
Crave Ferndale is now accepting applications
You may have read in this week’s issue that Dearborn’s upscale sushi lounge, Crave, is opening a new location inside the old John D Bistro on Woodward in Ferndale. Well, they’re also doing some hiring right now for the new location. If you consider yourself to be a “friendly, well-groomed, hard-working, and intelligent” person send…
Johnny Noodle King opens Friday
A couple months ago, we had a nice long chat with Jacques Driscoll of Green Dot Stables. At that time, Jacques was hard at work on opening his new place, Johnny Noodle King on Fort Street. He had already test-marketed the craft ramen-style concept with one-off events, and told us, “We did three pop-ups and…
VIDEO: Watch this epic wedding dance-off between a Royal Oak father and son
This video has been making the rounds online this summer, but surely if you’ve seen it you know it warrants multiple viewings. Watch below:
Shout-out to the historic Detroit Yacht Club
A tip of the hat to the Detroit Yacht Club: The 146-year-old club in it 91-year-old building marks a relatively minor anniversary today. Forty years ago, the club was registered as a historical site by the state of Michigan, and had its state historical marker erected.
Pontiac residents, business owners, want to save the Phoenix Center, a well-known Pontiac ampitheater and parking structure
Will Rogers, an old silent film actor from the 1920s, once mused that “politics ain’t worrying this country one-tenth as much as where to find a parking space.” In Pontiac, that’s not entirely the case: Between 2008 and 2013, the city of 60,000 was run by three state-appointed emergency managers, a move that drew an…
The Buzzcocks are still rocking after nearly four decades
Steve Diggle isn’t exactly a founding member of the Buzzcocks, but he’s been around since the beginning. He was recruited by Pete Shelley and Howard Devoto early on after a couple of the band’s members left the group and he played with the Buzzcocks when they opened for the Sex Pistols in Manchester in 1976.…
All Dolled Up: Martin Michalek loves books, dust, and dusty books
Martin Michalek was spotted looking fashionable while waiting in line recently for Theatre Bizarre tickets at the Rust Belt Market. He hails from Detroit and is a talented poet. He also writes songs, studies languages, and says “chill” quite often. Martin likes to collect dust, books, dusty books, records, trinkets, and art. He really enjoys…
Modern Love showcase brings arty electronic musicians Andy Stott and Demdike Stare to Detroit
It’s not that local electronic music aficionados Drew Pompa, Soren Kenny, and Walter Wasacz think there’s a void in Detroit’s music scene, per se. We meet to talk about a showcase of the U.K. electronic label Modern Love that the three have helped organize at MOCAD. “There’s no finger-pointing,” Wasacz says. “In this kind of…
Garage Cultural is expanding consciousness and horizons for kids in Southwest Detroit
To drive down Livernois Avenue south of Six Mile, past the “Avenue of Fashion,” is to realize that Detroit’s ongoing revitalization is not a reality for many neighborhoods in the city. Even the ubiquitous liquor stores and car washes — for many stretches, the only establishments still in business — have a post-apocalyptic quality about…
Royal Oak’s Self Esteem Shop has something for everyone (as long as everyone has anxiety)
Under a highlighter-yellow awning on Woodward Avenue in Royal Oak is the Self-Esteem Shop. It’s been there for almost 20 years, so you’ve probably driven by it hundreds of times, wondering all the while what this little store contains. Inside is a collection of therapeutic texts and self-help books, along with resources for parents, counselors,…
Detroit welders, fabricators, and blacksmiths are coming together for ‘Scrap’ at Traffic Jam and Snug
Scrap: Revolve is a new event being held in the lot across from Traffic Jam & Snug on West Canfield in Cass Corridor. The folks who run the restaurant and microbrewery are putting on the event with the help of Recycle Here!, a grassroots recycling program that's donated a heap of scrap metal so that…
News on Ford Field’s latest fare, Detroit restaurant week, and more.
Scrumptious scrimmages | Football fans may notice that the offerings at Ford Field are … kicked up a notch? It’s true: The culinary choices available in the luxury suites and dining establishments at the home of the Detroit Lions are not your grandfather’s hot dog and Coke. You can thank Joe Nader, the executive chef,…
Ask a Juggalo: What does the little hatchet guy symbol mean?
Q: What does the little hatchet guy symbol mean? A: First off, he’s not a hatchet guy, he is a hatchetman, and he is the symbol for Psychopathic Records and its artists, though most feel it’s just the symbol of the Insane Clown Posse. It is a symbol of loyalty, and looking out for the…
Politics and Prejudices
We love our goddamn guns. Many of us love them more than our children, some of whom we are constantly allowing to be killed by guns. Want to see hysterical, bleating maniacs? Just talk about putting some slight restrictions on our ability to take weapons into daycare centers, etc. Instantly, the gun nuts begin foaming…
Burger Quest: Motz’s Burgers is one of those places where people come for a burger and leave with a T-shirt to prove it
One of our tests of a great burger joint is the smell that wafts through the air from the grill vents. And anybody walking from a parking spot toward the door of Motz’s Burgers will feel that delightful sense of anticipation creeping over them, given the aromas of cooking beef and masses of grilled onions.…
Now Hear This: Greensky Bluegrass
Since 2009, Greensky Bluegrass has played between 160 and 175 shows a year. With that kind of frantic touring, it’s remarkable they even find time to make it into the studio, let alone record a quality album. But they did, and If Sorrows Swim, the Kalamazoo outfit’s fifth studio album, is even better than its…
Hearse Fest returns for its thirteenth year to Hell, Michigan
Ronnie Duke owns two hearses. Andrew Mosier has just one. Frank Hedeen has three (down from seven). These guys aren’t in the funeral business. They’re not even necessarily goths — though Duke, with his multiple tattoos and piercings, seems to have a penchant for the dark side. They’re all members of Just Hearse N’ Around,…
Nix’s Hearse Fest Playlist
When we heard that a meetup for hearse enthusiasts (known as Hearse Fest) was coming to the lovely Livingston County community known as “Hell” on Sept. 20, we figured we’d ask MT alum Robert “Nix” Nixon for a playlist of hearse-inspired jams to go along with a convoy of coffin carriers. “The Dead Sled” |…
DDays: Gossip on Dally in the Alley, Sean Forbes, John’s Carpet House, and more
Ddays On Hiatus | DDAYS took a leisurely four-day vacation in honor of Labor Day two weekends ago, but managed to hit up a concert with Linkin Park, 30 Seconds to Mars, and AFI; the Renaissance Festival; Arts, Beats & Eats; and the first-ever Dirtybird BBQ in Detroit. Jared Leto was a dream, we ran…
Raise the Bar: Mr. Steven’s Bar is like a bizarre dream
When we pull up in front of Mr. Steven’s Bar, we know we’re going to be the only ones in the bar, but we don’t know what a truly bizarre experience is about to unfold. We park in front of Sweetwater Tavern, pour four quarters into the meter, and head across the street. Mr. Steven…
These flashcards from the Self Esteem Shop speak louder than words
You probably know a couple of people in your office who need these flashcards. You can never tell if they’re being sincere or sarcastic, and they often leave you feeling you’ve been bamboozled by their bad mood. After a short conversation near the coffee pot, you don’t know whether to weep, laugh, or stick your…
Seasonal cocktails you should try
As the days get shorter and the evenings get chillier, you might grab that cold one only to find yourself wanting something to warm you up inside. This is the time of year when people turn to mulled wines, spiced and buttered rums, hot toddies, and other comforting adult beverages. But you don’t need to…
Drink up
Russell’s Reserve: 10 Year Old Bourbon Named after Jimmy Russell, Wild Turkey’s master distiller, and his son and associate distiller Eddie Russell, this small-batch Kentucky whiskey was created to reflect the 86 years of combined experience in whiskey-making and the unique expertise that comes along with such knowledge. A 90-proof whiskey, it pours a deep…
Horoscopes (September 10 – 16)
ARIES (Mar. 21-Apr. 20): The desire to keep your head above water is taking a million different forms. It’s all good. No matter how frantic or crazy things look, there is so much more to this than meets the eye. Your needs for certainty won’t be met any time soon. As far as that goes,…
Restaurant review: Pickles & Rye Deli is an institution
The delicatessen is an institution, beloved by a legion of devoted customers, and reviled by the customers of a rival. The owners of the new Pickles & Rye Deli are taking a big chance, moving in to the old Deli Unique location, and seeking to reclaim a clientele that may well have fled across the…
WTF is TIF?
Tax-increment financing is a redevelopment tool that allows increased property taxes generated because of new development to be captured by a separate legal taxing authority like the Detroit Downtown Development Authority (DDA). How it works can be a bit difficult to follow. The DDA captures property taxes in its district on the increased value of…
Detroit officials give John’s Carpet House the blues
It would be an understatement to say that Albert “Big Pete” Barrow is into the blues. Barrow, 71, is a lifelong Detroiter living on the northeast side who put in 43 years at General Motors. He’s also the owner of the city’s most unusual blues venue, John’s Carpet House. The “house” in this case is…
Detroit’s dealers
Metro Times investigative reporter Ryan Felton examines the convoluted quasi-public corporation known as the DEGC.
Feedback: MT readers say we’re turning into FOX News, warn of the impending apocalypse, and more
MT = FOX News? A number of readers responded to a Sept. 1 blog post about the mess following an appearance by Vice President Biden and gubernatorial candidate Mark Schauer at the site of old Tiger Stadium that the citizen group Navin Field Grounds Crew had to clean up. Facebook user “Mary Francis” wrote: Your…
Sitting and drinking with Evan Dawber of Detroit City Distillery
Eastern Market’s newest drinking establishment, Detroit City Distillery, is an out-of-the-way place that’s a little hard to find. Off the main market, down a narrow stretch of Riopelle Street, it’s a little piece of urban density untouched by the 20th century’s wrecking ball, across the street from E&H Packing. Aside from the music drifting out…
Food Focus: 7 Greens Detroit Salad Co.
Tucked behind the Skillman Library in downtown Detroit, 7 Greens is a great spot for a quick, yet satiating lunch. Salads are the star of their menu, but these are thoughtful combinations of greens, with satisfying portions packed with both fresh and roasted vegetables. Local cheeses, nuts, and distinctive homemade dressings round out the meals,…
Higher Ground: The marijuana train has left the station, and it’s not turning around
Marijuana has become pretty normal in America. That doesn’t mean that people aren’t still getting dragged off to jail for possession. According to FBI estimates, about 750,000 people were arrested for marijuana-related offenses in 2012. The vast majority of them were for simple possession, and although marijuana use is approximately equal among both groups, young…
MT Staff’s Favorite Food Porn Flicks
Ratatouille (2007) | Remy is cartoon rat. He also has pie-in-the-sky dreams of becoming a chef. Due to traumatic circumstances (typical Disney), he finds himself in the sewers of Paris, not far from Auguste Gusteau’s famous French restaurant. Gusteau is dead, and his devious sous-chef has taken over, hoping to create a food packaging business.…
