Cover Stories
Photographer Eric Hergenreder gave Detroit kids disposable cameras for a new art show
As a photographer of all things Detroit, Eric Hergenreder knows summertime in the city showcases some of the most beautiful moments Detroit has to offer. His photographs, often accompanied by the stories behind the photos, highlight the raw and most unique aspects of the city. Hergenreder believes that access to art should always be free…
Noir City film fest expands to two iconic Detroit venues
Eddie Muller, the Los Angeles-based, self-proclaimed “Czar of Noir,” has dedicated his life to not just keeping the legacy of Hollywood’s film noir movement alive — those cinematic odes to hardboiled anti-heroes, enchanting femme fatales, and the gritty underbelly of society — but of preserving America’s old-school movie palaces as well. That’s why linking up…
Hearse Fest has outgrown Hell this year
Ronnie Duke fell in love with hearses when he was just a boy. “I really can’t explain where the fascination came from,” says Duke. “I can remember as a small child walking into a hobby shop and there was a model — just a plain model of a hearse, you know, a glued-together kind of…
Puppet karaoke? Yes, this year’s Fringe Festival has puppet karaoke
Another local festival that has continued to grow is the Detroit Fringe Festival, which is celebrating its sixth year, kicking off on Thursday with four days of performances. The festival is run by executive producer Carrie Morris through her organization CMAP, who says this year’s event is on track to be the biggest yet, featuring…
MOCAD is gearing up for its fall arts season with a twisted, whimsical holiday display
Since early August, artist Kenny Irwin Jr. has been tirelessly working to transform the lawn of Mike Kelley’s Mobile Homestead at the Museum of Contemporary Art Detroit into a winter wonderland — with a Detroit twist. There are cone-shaped Christmas trees made out of old computer parts. Nearby are more in-progress trees, these ones made…
Murals in the Market has gone off the walls — but its future is uncertain
Perhaps Ben Hall will have the last laugh after all. The Russell Street Deli restaurateur closed down his longrunning Eastern Market shop last month following a bitter public dispute with his new landlord, Sanford Nelson, a young developer who has acquired more than 20 buildings in the district in the past two years. On his…
Every living thing dies alone, yet, ‘Donnie Darko’ lives on in our millennial hearts and at Ann Arbor’s State Theatre
An eccentric teenage outcast, Donnie Darko, befriends Frank, a man in a bunny costume while pining for the new girl at his private school amid oppressive parents, teachers, and the popular kids. How will Donnie navigate the pressures of young adulthood when conflicted with doing what’s right versus doing what he’s told? Well, he doesn’t.…
Detroit’s Olivia Jean returns to home for record release show at Third Man Records
It should come as no surprise that retro-goddess Olivia Jean got wrapped up in Jack White’s web. (Hell, they even look alike.) The Detroit-bred, Nashville-based singer first hit the scene when White curated a gothy all-girl rock band in 2009 under the name the Black Belles, which Jean was elected to as guitarist. Though the…
LGBTQ+ filmmakers celebrated with the return of Trans Stellar Film Fest at Cinema Detroit
During this year’s Detroit Art Week, a billboard created by Jonah Welch appeared at E. Seven Mile Road and Kempa Street as part of a collaborative public exhibition, reading “Trans People Are Sacred.” The message may be simple but rarely is it expressed in such powerful terms. Returning to Cinema Detroit is the third annual…
Affirmations in Ferndale celebrates the work of LGBTQ artist and writer Charles Alexander
For the better part of Charles Alexander’s 83 years, the metro Detroit native has dedicated himself to making the world not only a more beautiful place but a better one. Artist, writer, and LGBTQ+ advocate Alexander, who came out as a gay man sometime during Dwight D. Eisenhower’s presidency, has seen it all: gay club…
New exhibition at Irwin House Gallery reflects on Detroit history — and what it means for the future
Is Detroit a comeback city? Or does it take more than another Starbucks and a streetcar to bring a city back from the brink of destruction? While the global conversation toggles between these polarizing narratives, one thing remains true: all eyes are on Detroit. But what does that mean for its future and the future…
Jessica Hernandez to perform at Founders Brewing all-day party to benefit Gleaners Food Bank
Giving back is way cooler than throwing one back, so for Hunger Action Month the first-ever Founders Detroit Outer Limits Party will raise funds for Gleaners Community Food Bank. The all-day party will offer a specially curated tap list, as well as music from some local trailblazers. Headlining the hoppy soiree is Detroit-born, L.A.-based shimmering…
Deluxx Fluxx welcomes KOKOKO! — the Congolese band that turns trash into techno
One man’s junk is another man’s Roland MC-707. At least that’s the case for yellow boiler suit-clad Congolese five-piece KOKOKO!, who have gained an international audience for their inventive, resourceful, and frenetic dance music created with upcycled instruments made from debris found in the streets of their hometown of Kinshasa. After a stunning showcase at…
‘Evil Dead: The Musical’ returns to Detroit for five-week run
If the word “Boomstick” means anything to you, then it’s likely you know that Evil Dead season is upon us. After nearly four decades, the campy cult horror classic Evil Dead is revered as a hallmark of the horror genre — and so is its musical adaptation. Detroit’s annual fall-time engagement, Evil Dead: The Musical,…
Royal Oak’s ‘70s-inspired Bowlero Lanes & Lounge holds all-day grand opening celebration
Beach Boys co-founder (and the band’s only actual surfer) Dennis Wilson made a lot of friends during his life, cut short by an accident in which he drowned at the age of 39. One of those, uh, friends, was cult creep Charles Manson (and it was the residence of Wilson’s friend, producer Terry Melcher’s that served…
‘Last Podcast on the Left’ will bring occult-comedy to Detroit’s Masonic Temple
Have you ever wondered why Jeffery Dahmer resorted to cannibalism? Or what the hell drove L. Ron Hubbard to create a space religion based on a galactic overlord named Xenu? Or maybe you’re more interested in the surprising origins of Swedish pop group Ace of Base? Well, there’s a podcast for that. OK — sure,…
‘Evil Dead’ daddy Bruce Campbell returns to metro Detroit for evening of storytelling
Horror and humor are but two sides of the multi-faced die that make up hometown dude Bruce Campbell. The Michigan native best known for his portrayal of the ever-so-babely Ash Williams from the campy, gory Evil Dead franchise will dive into stories from his life and career during a special appearance. The event will feature…
Michigan cop caught with Confederate flags says he just really likes ‘The Dukes of Hazzard’
A Muskegon cop who was fired after racist memorabilia was found in his house, including Confederate flags, maintains that this is all a big misunderstanding — and says he is just a history buff and fan of the classic action-comedy television series The Dukes of Hazzard. Officer Charles Anderson was fired earlier this month after…
Cigar festival Smoke on the River is coming to Detroit’s West Riverfront Park on Saturday
A cigar-sampling event benefiting the Detroit Riverfront Conservancy is set for this weekend. The first-ever Smoke on the River festival is planned for 2-8 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 28 at Detroit’s West Riverfront Park. Aside from a selection of top cigar brands curated by La Casa Cigars, the fest also includes cocktails, a casino gaming tent sponsored by Soaring…
Guitar heroes Umphrey’s McGee return to Detroit with back-to-back shows at the Fillmore
The ever-touring Umphrey’s McGee is back on the road next year. The long-running jam band announced a 2020 tour that includes a two-night stop at the Fillmore in Detroit on Friday, Jan. 31 and Saturday, Feb. 1. Tickets go on sale at 11 a.m. on Friday, Sept. 27. Tickets are available for the Friday show,…
Marijuana has long been part of Ann Arbor’s brand. The city should embrace this.
Last week the Ann Arbor City Council drafted ordinances to allow cannabis micro-businesses, places where one can purchase and consume cannabis, and temporary permits to allow cannabis sales at one-time events. All these are in line with the new state regulations for adult-use recreational marijuana, a market that’s expected to take off in 2020. And…
Hooray for despair! Andrew Bird brings ‘finest work yet’ to Detroit’s Masonic Temple
If there were a class titled Andrew Bird 101, it might be best to study backward, starting with his modest 2019 release, My Finest Work Yet — which might just very well be his finest work of the past decade. For his latest, the 46-year-old journeyman known for lush chamber pop, distinct pronunciation, use of…
Kanye West looking for Detroit singers for upcoming ‘Sunday Service’
Looks like Kanye West intends to bring his “Sunday Service” event to Detroit, and the rapper is looking for local singers to help out. Related A publicist confirmed that the event is slated to happen this weekend, though a a final date and location have not yet been set. There’s a call out for local…
Lawmakers renew call to impeach Trump following Ukraine scandal, including all Michigan U.S. House Democrats
There’s a new chorus of calls to impeach the motherfucker already following reports alleging that President Donald Trump called on Ukraine to investigate his Democratic presidential rival, Joe Biden. On Tuesday, U.S. Rep. Haley Stevens joined the calls for impeachment, becoming the last of Michigan’s seven U.S. House Democrats to sign on. “Over the last several days,…
Savant, the restaurant with ‘bumps’ of caviar, opens in Detroit
Detroit, you’ve finally done it. You can now do a “bump” of caviar with edible gold and a champagne chaser. Savant, the modern French-inspired eatery and one of the year’s most anticipated restaurants will open its doors at 51 W. Forest Ave. on Tuesday, Sept. 24 and will offer half-off pricing for its entire menu…
Happy fall, y’all — Short’s Brewing releases Pure Michigan Autumn IPA made with all local ingredients
Announced Monday, on the first day of fall, Pure Michigan and Short’s Brewing Company released details of their new seasonal collaboration: a Michigan-made, autumn-themed craft beer. The Pure Michigan Autumn IPA is said to be a celebration of Michigan’s respected craft beer culture and its natural beauty. According to Short’s website, the Autumn IPA is…
Beto O’Rourke calls for end to the war on drugs, while the House considers cannabis industry banking bill
Most of the many Democratic candidates for president have a fairly positive line on legalizing marijuana nationally. However, former Texas U.S. Rep. Beto O’Rourke took it a step further last week with an announcement that not only do we need to end the war on drugs, “we need to actually start to repair the damage…
Southfield clerk Hawkins charged with tampering with absentee ballots
First-term Southfield City Clerk Sherikia L. Hawkins is accused of election fraud for allegedly tampering with absentee ballots. Hawkins was charged Monday with felony counts of falsifying returns, forgery of public records, misconduct in office, and using a computer to commit a crime. The charges were announced during a joint news conference by Michigan Attorney…
Tim & Eric will bring their world tour to Detroit — and attendance is ‘mandatory’
Have you ever taken acid? What about child clowns — have you ever rented one? Do you like making your bub bubs bounce? Do you own an Ed Begley Jr.-endorsed Cinco Phone? If you’ve answered yes to any of these questions and/or have no idea what we’re talking about, comedians Tim Heidecker and Eric Wareheim are…
‘Person of interest’ arrested after suspicious fire at Heidelberg Project
A woman was arrested after a suspicious consumed a two-and-a-half story brick house at the Heidelberg Project in Detroit on Monday morning. The blaze gutted the “You House” at the world-renowned outdoor art exhibit on the city’s east side. Authorities arrested a person of interest in connection with the fire. Her role in the fire…
Southwest Detroit Restaurant Week returns in October
The second annual Southwest Detroit Restaurant Week will take place on Friday, Oct. 4, through Sunday, Oct. 13. The event, which began in 2018, is designed to showcase the Latin cuisine in the area. The event was founded and organized by Monica Echeverri Casarez and Juan Carlos Dueweke-Perez, and it’s sponsored by the Southwest Detroit…
Health officials warn Michigan residents to be cautious of mosquito-borne diseases
Health officials are asking residents to be especially vigilant about protection from mosquito bites after seven cases of Eastern Equine Encephalitis have been confirmed in Michigan. EEE is a disease carried by some types of mosquitoes, and it can infect both humans and animals. While most people who are infected with EEE will have no symptoms,…
Petition launched to make 24-hour dance venues legal in the Motor City
While many people associate the futuristic sounds of techno music with European clubs and drugged-out white dudes wearing all black, the sound of techno was pioneered right here in Detroit. After Detroit duo Cybotron released its album Enter in 1983 to international success, the new techno sound found fans a world away — in Berlin.…
Project Clean Slate will assist Detroiters with criminal record expungement applications next week
Any Detroiter who is interested in getting their record expunged can learn about it and get started at the Project Clean Slate clinic on Saturday, Sept. 28. A program of the City of Detroit, Project Clean Slate will have folks there to help anyone who qualifies to get started on their expungement application. The clinic…
New bill would automate process of criminal record expungement for certain convictions
Michigan might soon join a short list of states that automatically expunge criminal records for individuals with some kinds of convictions. A bill recently introduced into the state legislature would automate the process of record expungement, which is currently a multi-step, expensive process. Dubbed the Clean Slate Bill, it’s one in a collection of bipartisan…
Don’t go back to cigarettes. There’s a loophole in Michigan’s e-cigarette ban
Michigan’s ban on flavored e-cigarettes provides a loophole for people worried about reverting back to cigarettes. Gov. Gretchen Whitmer’s ban only applies to flavored nicotine. That means people may still buy vape liquids and pods that are free of nicotine. And for about $5, they can buy a flavorless nicotine packet and dump it into…
Smith & Co. is now serving in Midtown
Smith & Co., a New American restaurant occupying the 102-year-old former Smith Welding Supply & Equipment Company building in Midtown, is slated to open to the public on Friday. The menu features a “deliciously Detroit vibe,” including locally made ingredients from the likes of Detroit’s Corridor Sausage, Avalon International Breads, McClure’s Pickles, Chelsea’s Fluffy Bottom Farms, Ypsilanti’s…
Groups slam Feds’ move to lower vehicle emissions standards
Groups that fight for clean air are speaking out against the Trump administration’s move to force states to follow a uniform set of lower vehicle-emissions standards. Yesterday the Environmental Protection Agency revoked the Clean Air Act waiver that allowed California and 13 other states plus D.C. to set higher standards. Paul Billings, national senior vice…
Facial recognition technology approved in Detroit despite mounting opposition
The Detroit Board of Police Commissioners approved a new policy governing the use of facial recognition technology on Thursday, despite mounting opposition from the public and civil rights groups. But the fate of the technology hangs in the balance because Detroit City Council and the Michigan House and Senate are considering imposing a moratorium on…
Amazon wants to turn Pontiac Silverdome site into a distribution center
Jeff Bezos’ Amazon is seeking to secure the Pontiac Silverdome for the site of a distribution center as part of a $250 million project that brings 1,500 jobs, city officials said Wednesday. The proposal was revealed at a Pontiac Planning Commission, along with the first steps in the plan to develop the 127-acre site. The…
Detroit rapper drops track about the GM strike
Shit, that was fast. G’Mac Cash, Detroit’s self-proclaimed “King of Parody Rap,” is back with a new timely track, this time weighing in on the United Auto Workers’ strike of General Motors. The strike started late Sunday night. In the video, Cash grabs a picket sign and joins strikers, declaring, “We goin’ on strike/ til…
Michigan lawmakers urged to address infrastructure and education budget shortfalls
As the Michigan Legislature continues to negotiate the state budget Thursday, lawmakers are being urged to address the need to create revenue to tackle shortfalls in areas such as infrastructure and education. In fiscal year 2019, Michigan had less money coming into its coffers than it did 50 years ago, according to Gilda Jacobs, CEO…
Summit pushes for water justice in Great Lakes
Great Lakes residents concerned about water justice are gathering in Ontario next week. The 2019 Water Is Life Alliance Summit is on Sept. 28 and this year’s theme is “Water Justice in a Climate Emergency.” Diane Weckerle, a board member with Michigan Citizens for Water Conservation, says water shutoffs in Detroit and the Flint water…
Anti-abortion group sues Detroit, says free speech rights violated by police
An anti-abortion group is suing the city of Detroit, claiming police violated their free speech rights during the Democratic presidential debates in July. In a lawsuit filed in U.S. District Court, the group, Created Equal, alleges police imposed “speech restrictions” near the Fox Theatre downtown. “From the moment we arrived, Detroit Police harassed and mistreated…
Don’t blame the GM strike for the impending recession
As of Wednesday, the United Auto Workers’ strike of General Motors that started Monday became the union’s longest in more than a decade. And there’s no end in sight, as negotiations have reportedly made no progress so far. Experts are already warning that the loss of production — one analysis estimates the strikes could cost…
Michigan officially becomes first state to ban flavored nicotine vape products
Michigan just became the first state to officially ban flavored nicotine vape products. Gov. Gretchen Whitmer announced Wednesday that vape retailers have 14 days to comply. “I’m proud that Michigan has been a national leader in protecting our kids from the harmful effects of vaping,” Whitmer said in a news release. “For too long, companies…
Nazi flag erected at elementary school in Michigan
Battle Creek police are investigating after a Nazi flag was raised on a flag pole at an elementary school over the weekend. The flag was spotted by crews working construction at Riverside Elementary School at 7 a.m. Saturday. “The flag represents beliefs that in no way reflect our values as a district,” Lakeview Schools Superintendent…
North Carolina Republicans proved that cheaters prosper
Last Monday, President Donald Trump flew into Fayetteville, North Carolina, for a rally ahead of a special congressional election. There, in support of Republican Dan Bishop — a state senator who sponsored the notorious anti-LGBTQ “bathroom bill” that led to months of protests and boycotts in 2016 before it cost the governor his re-election and…
Brad Pitt’s star is bright in ‘Ad Astra’
Gazing out of a spaceship porthole like a living David Bowie lyric, longing for his home and his wife, Brad Pitt is a man of the future who also perfectly embodies the uneasy politics of the moment, desperate to move forward to something new and greater, but also anxious to return to the comfort of…
Savage Love: My 12-year-old son is using toy handcuffs for self-bondage
My son has always liked handcuffs and tying people up as a form of play. He is 12 now, and the delight he finds in cuffing has not faded along with his love of Legos. He lobbied hard to be allowed to buy a hefty pair of handcuffs. We cautioned him strongly about consent —…
Horoscopes (Sept. 18-24)
ARIES: March 21 – April 20: Things are at a reset point. If you haven’t figured that out yet, take a look around. There are signs in your environment that are screaming for something to change. In some cases the catalyst for this has shown up as grief, or, in a situation that has you…
Detroit’s Monarch Club is a room with a view
The rooftop Monarch Club is a blast, and if it’s a bit pricey, it’s no pricier than a lot of other downtown spots that don’t have an eye-opening view. The PR pablum on the Club’s website (“where refined relaxation meets the mystique of rediscovered grandeur”) is at least accurate about “views of a downtown metropolis…
On the 21st night of September, songwriter Allee Willis will celebrate her hit song in Detroit
Do you remember? The 21st night of September? Detroit native Allee Willis can never, ever, ever forget it. Because despite all her other impressive accomplishments, this Grammy Award-winning notorious party hostess and recent inductee into the Songwriters Hall of Fame — she wrote the theme song for Friends, for goodness’ sake — may still be…
Cult artist Steve Wynn discusses J Dilla, the legacy of Dream Syndicate, and why they were never destined to be the Beatles
The same year that the Dream Syndicate — the West Coast psychedelic-pining founding fathers of the Paisley Underground — released its low-budget debut record, The Days of Wine and Roses, Rocky Balboa had it out for Mr. T, Michael Jackson’s Thriller was the theatrical petit four for a crippling nationwide recession, and the personal computer…
‘Workaholics’ star Erik Griffin shoots the shit before headlining the Motor City Comedy Festival
Comedian Erik Griffin is about to begrudgingly wander out of his Boston hotel room to dine on overpriced breakfast foods. The actor best known for his portrayal as Montez Walker — the mustachioed sexual healer, smoothie lover, and husband to Colleen on the Comedy Central series Workaholics — says in real life he is indifferent…
‘Podfather’ Marc Maron on the ‘act of desperation’ that changed his life
Marc Maron had nothing left to lose. A stand-up comic and recovering addict in 2009, Maron was out of a job and in his mid-40s. He was compulsive, bitter, and depressed. That’s when Maron launched his twice-weekly WTF podcast out of his garage. “The podcast was just an act of desperation that came during a…
