Cover Story
Michigan’s war on teen vaping is clouding the issue of deadly black-market cannabis
By the end of August, terrifying details of a mysterious respiratory illness began to emerge: Hundreds of otherwise healthy young people were admitted to hospitals across the country with life-threatening conditions. Some were dying. All reported vaping. As the public began to panic, Gov. Gretchen Whitmer declared a public health emergency on Sept. 4, and…
One, two, Freddy is coming to the Senate Theater with ‘A Nightmare on Elm Street’ screening
There’s something low-key sexy about Robert Englund’s portrayal of the boiler room-dwelling, knife-handed, dream creeper Freddy Krueger. Maybe it’s the scars or his distressed striped sweater moment, or it could be his handsy bathtub foreplay. Regardless of where he falls on the fantasy scale, Krueger has been disrupting our sleep since 1984’s A Nightmare on…
I.C.E. Breakers fundraiser at Detroit’s Marble Bar aims to defend immigrant rights
If it wasn’t painfully obvious when Donald Trump first descended down that golden escalator in 2015 and launched his presidential campaign by calling Mexican immigrants rapists, it should be by now: Trump is stoking fears of racial minorities to distract from real issues and his own corruption. To fight back, proceeds from Sunday night’s I.C.E.…
Detroit’s Devious Ones celebrate 100th show and new single at Outer Limits Lounge
We’re pretty stoked that the dudes of the Devious Ones have been inflicting us with quick-hitting garage-punk jams that call to mind ’90s movies where things are going according to plan until someone gets too fucked up and is too hungover, and suddenly everything unravels into delightful chaos — which is just how we like…
Massive theatrical cosplay event honors 40 years of ‘Mad Max’ at Detroit’s Tangent Gallery
You don’t have to watch the news to know that the world has gone mad. A reality TV president, global warming, and, like, Grey’s Anatomy is still on the air after 16 seasons. Before we entered The Twilight Zone, one rage-filled dude (a young, handsome, and seemingly un-anti-Semitic Mel Gibson) took matters into his own…
Golden Gays is the ‘Golden Girls’ drag show we need now — and it’s coming to Hamtramck
It’s been nearly 30 years since The Golden Girls went off the air, yet, Blanche, Rose, Dorothy, and Sophia have amassed even more fans since the series finale in 1992. And, like some of the world’s most purest joys, the gay community has found a way to make it even better. (Thank you, gays!) Enter…
No-wave cult fave Chandra to release a new 7-inch from Third Man Records at Detroit’s UFO Factory
Chandra is not your average child star. The daughter of conceptual artist Dennis Oppenheim, Chandra was immersed in New York City’s underground art scene from birth, eventually fronting a no wave band featuring members of The Dance and Model Citizens. Released in 1980 when Chandra was 12, the Transportation EP became a cult favorite (critic…
Kevin James, America’s favorite fake mall cop, is coming to Ann Arbor
Listen — Paul Blart: Mall Cop is not your punchline, OK? It’s a very serious and impactful documentary about the American dream, homeland security, and Segways, as well as a totally tired display of totally tired physical comedy. The man behind the badge — comedian, actor, and Will Smith’s in-need-of-a-confidence-makeover friend in the unforgettable 2005…
Southwest Detroit Restaurant Week begins Friday with exclusive ‘heritage dishes’
Taco Bell? Get the hell outta here! There’s so much more to see and taste in Detroit’s Southwest community, which welcomes the return of Southwest Detroit Restaurant Week. The event highlights the delectable array of Latin cuisine spanning Mexico, Honduras, Colombia, Cuba, Puerto Rico, and Venezuela — available right here in the Motor City. Each…
Advocate, artist, and local legend John Sinclair turns 78 with birthday bash at PJ’s Lager House
When Detroit poet and activist John Sinclair was 28, he was sentenced to 10 years in prison for offering two joints to undercover police. His arrest sparked nationwide outrage and garnered attention from the likes of John Lennon, who appeared at the John Sinclair Freedom Rally. To put it simply, Sinclair has lived lifetimes. To…
DeVotchKa and the Joy Formidable head to the Loving Touch in Ferndale
One landed a song on the Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn Pt. I soundtrack, the other scored a spot on the soundtrack for the Academy Award-winning dysfunctional dark comedy, Little Miss Sunshine. Colorado’s DeVotchKa and Wales-based outfit the Joy Formidable independently created their own brands of rolling, atmospheric cinematic moments that call to mind late-night desert driving…
Michigan State Police to begin roadside drug testing program that includes mouth swabs for oral screenings
The second phase of Michigan State Police’s roadside drug testing begins on Tuesday, Oct. 1. The Oral Fluid Roadside Analysis Pilot Program calls for drivers that police suspect might be impaired by controlled substances to provide a mouth swab so their saliva can be tested. The test can detect cannabis (delta 9 THC), opiates, cocaine, amphetamines,…
Ann Arbor’s ‘The Bang!’ announces final dance party, ‘The Bang! Must Die’
After 18 years, Ann Arbor’s monthly mixtape dance party, The Bang!, is finally calling it quits. Perhaps it is time. As a press release announcing the party’s final installment says, “Countless couples have met at a Bang!, some spawning what are known as ‘Bang! Babies.'” The offspring of a hypothetical couple who met at the…
Detroit Zoo’s latest addition is a gray wolf named Renner and she’s a good girl
Just three months after the death of the Detroit Zoo’s beloved 11-year-old gray wolf, Wazi, a new companion has been introduced to keep the zoo’s lone wolf in mourning company. This week, the Detroit Zoo welcomed Renner — a 3-year-old female gray wolf who arrived from the Wildlife Science Center in Minnesota. She joins the…
Michigan’s ban on flavored vaping products faces last-minute challenge
Just hours before Michigan begins enforcing its ban on flavored nicotine e-cigarettes, a state judge may decide Tuesday whether to allow vape shops to continue selling their products while the case plays out in court. Court of Claims Judge Cynthia Stephens is holding a hearing in Petoskey at 3 p.m. to consider a vape shop’s…
Listing for century-old Lansing home goes viral for ‘Scream’-worthy photos
Do you like scary movies? What about a charming two-story home with four bedrooms, wood floors, historic architectural features, ample sunlight, and a totally clean, dry, non-murdery basement? A real estate listing for a home in Lansing’s Old Forest neighborhood has gone viral after realtor James Pyle decided to take a less than conventional approach…
Leafly has devised a new way of visualizing marijuana strain profiles
The marijuana flower can be a captivating sight with its crystalline trichomes, blend of earthy colors, and heady aromas. Well, now there’s a new kind of informational graphic to visualize marijuana flower and help explain what it all means to consumers. Leafly.com is rolling out a new Cannabis Guide this week with a new graphical…
House owned by critic of Detroit’s demolition program was mysteriously demolished
Remember last year when that photo went viral on Facebook, posted by someone who claimed their entire front porch was stolen from their Detroit home? It was too preposterous to be true, and indeed it was revealed to be a hoax. Well, it looks like something even crazier actually happened. According to The Detroit Free…
AG Nessel fights for 145,000 Michigan residents who could lose food assistance under Trump administration
Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel is joining the fight against the Trump administration’s proposal to reduce the number of people who are eligible for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). As many as 145,000 impoverished Michigan residents could lose food assistance and free school lunches under the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s plan. Currently, people who…
Icewear Vezzo and the Detroit Rappers Organization hosted a shoe drive in Detroit over the weekend
While the new school season may have rolled in smoothly for some families, Detroit rapper Icewear Vezzo wanted to make sure that people in the community received fresh pairs of kicks and bundles of healthy food on Saturday. Vezzo hosted the “Walk a Mile in My Shoe Drive” at the Kingz and Queenz Royal Palace on…
Porn video displayed on billboard over I-75
If you were driving down I-75 North between University Drive and M-59 in Auburn Hills Saturday night, you probably saw something out of the ordinary. According to multiple social media posts, a pornographic video was playing on a digital billboard over the highway between 11 p.m. and midnight. I called the city of Auburn Hills…
‘Napoleon Dynamite’ cast to host a screening and Q&A at Detroit’s Redford Theatre, gosh
Can we please just vote for Pedro in 2020? While a lot has changed since 2004 (smartphones, social media, and vaping come to mind) one thing is still totally accurate: “Girls only want boyfriends who have great skills.” More specifically, nunchuck skills, bowhunting skills, and computer hacking skills. The delightfully quirky and understated coming of…
Federal judge may decide Monday whether to halt Michigan’s vaping ban
As Michigan prepares to enforce its ban on flavored nicotine vaping products Wednesday, a new federal lawsuit is aimed at preventing the ban from going into effect. A federal judge may decide as early as Monday whether to grant a request for a temporary restraining order filed Friday by Mister E-Liquid, a Michigan-based maker of…
Detroit City FC announced it’s launching a women’s team
Detroit City Football Club announced the creation of a DCFC women’s team during Saturday’s match against Napa Valley 1839 FC at Keyworth Stadium. “It’s something we’ve always had on our mind,” Detroit City FC CEO Sean Mann tells Metro Times. DCFC hosts a number of youth teams, and Mann emphasized the importance of having female…
Detroit’s River Bistro calls it quits
After two years of business, Grandmont-Rosedale Park’s Caribbean-soul restaurant River Bistro is no more. The restaurant announced it was closing Friday afternoon in a press release, citing “several contributing factors, not the least of which include ongoing construction along Grand River Avenue impacting foot traffic.” “Regretfully, and after sincere thought and consideration, we’ve decided to set…
Cannabis vaping — not nicotine — is primary cause of lung illness, CDC finally says
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention finally acknowledged Friday that a vast majority of a recent spate of mysterious, vaping-related lung illnesses are linked to black-market cannabis products — not nicotine. The outbreak has confused consumers, largely because politicians have placed most of the attention on vaping nicotine. On Sept. 4, Gov. Gretchen Whitmer…
Olga’s Kitchen offering Strike Relief program to UAW employees
Olga’s wants to support those impacted by the General Motors strike. The restaurant is offering a Strike Relief program from now through Oct. 8. Through the program, UAW workers can present their employee badge to get $5 off any dine-in order of $20 and up. The offer is valid at all locations beside MGM Grand Detroit,…
Billie Eilish is coming to Detroit — duh
Peak #AestheticQueen, Billie Eilish isn’t here to steal your girl, or your boy, or your daddy. The 17-year-old trailblazer is trying to create an eco-friendly environment and, you know, achieve world domination or whatever. It was announced on Friday that The Office superfan and low-key cultural icon (and according to Elle, the answer to a…
Ann Arbor’s Cuban-inspired Frita Batidos to open its Detroit location
More than two years after owner and chef Eve Aronoff revealed plans to bring her Cuban-inspired fare to Detroit, the long-awaited outpost of Ann Arbor’s beloved Frita Batidos is finally opening next week. Located at 66 Columbia St., the 2,400-square-foot Frita Batidos is the first eatery along the newly constructed Illitch-owned mixed-use promenade between the…
Report: Water-pollution laws poorly enforced in communities of color
Low-income communities of color — such as Flint or Newark, New Jersey — are much more likely than white, more affluent towns to suffer with polluted water for years, according to a new report. The study, called Watered Down Justice, analyzed Environmental Protection Agency data for 200,000 violations of the federal Safe Drinking Water Act.…
After treating my dog’s cancer with cannabis, he’s still alive — more than three years after a vet said he’d die
Ever since I wrote about using cannabis to treat my dog’s cancer last year, people have continued to ask about him. I’m happy to report Kai is still alive — three and a half years since a vet said he would be dead. Back in April 2016, Kai had some big tumors on his body…
Rep. Tlaib’s re-election campaign is selling ‘Impeach the MF’ T-shirts
U.S. Rep. Rashida Tlaib’s re-election campaign is getting a jumpstart with T-shirts displaying her now-famous pledge to “impeach the motherfucker,” a reference to President Donald Trump. With the House of Representatives moving forward with impeachment proceedings, the $29 T-shirts are certain to be popular among Democrats, independents, and maybe even some Republicans. “Lean in with…
Michigan Rattlers announce holiday show at Ferndale’s Magic Bag
Michigan Rattlers have had a busy year. The made-in-Petoskey alt-country band was handpicked by Bob Seger himself to open his final shows at DTE Energy Music Theatre, performed at Metro Times’ Pig & Whiskey festival, and is now on the road with folk-infused jam band Greensky Bluegrass. In December, the band will celebrate the year…
‘Give Me Liberty’ producer discusses why a movie about the disabled community changed his life
For the better part of Give Me Liberty — the quiet and chaotic independent film based on director Kirill Mikhanovsky’s real-life experiences as a medical transport driver in Milwaukee starring unknown actors and real people — the viewer, and many of the film’s characters are bound to a van. Give Me Liberty, which reportedly received a…
Lawsuit aims to stop flavored vaping ban in Michigan, saying Gov. Whitmer overstepped her authority
Gov. Gretchen Whitmer overstepped her authority by banning flavored nicotine vaping products without the approval of state lawmakers, an Upper Peninsula vape shop owner argues in a lawsuit filed Wednesday. The suit seeks to stop the state from enforcing the ban, which goes into effect Tuesday. Mark Slis, the owner of 906 Vapor in Houghton,…
Kanye West’s free Detroit ‘Sunday Service’ show is coming to the Aretha on Friday
Updated 11:52 a.m.: Tickets are allegedly dropping at noon. (Yes, we just got this news.) Updated: 10:30 a.m.: A publicist for the venue says that tickets did not actually get released at 10 a.m. as previously reported. The venue is still waiting for confirmation from Kanye’s team. We’ll update this post when more information becomes…
Longtime friends Bad Magnets take creative approach to catchy, atmospheric electro-pop
If this is the first you’re hearing of Bad Magnets, it’s because they don’t have a social media presence. That’s on purpose. “Yeah, that’s all bullshit,” is not only a candid indicator of their stance on that, but it’s also the melodically coiled one-line wording to the chorus of the first song on their new…
Two state bills would thwart Michigan’s ban on flavored nicotine vaping
Two bills in the state House of Representatives are aimed at reversing all or part of Gov. Gretchen Whitmer’s controversial ban on flavored vape liquid. On Tuesday, state Rep. Steven Johnson, R-Wayland, introduced a bill that would permit the sale of flavored nicotine that has a nicotine level of 20mg/ml or less. Most e-liquids range…
Blake Baxter returns to Detroit’s Urban Bean Co. for a DJ set — the former home of his record store
Back in the 1990s — long before the revival of Detroit’s Capitol Park neighborhood — DJ Blake Baxter ran Save the Vinyl, an influential record store in the city’s techno scene. So when Josh Greenwood later bought the building and transformed it into the bright-orange Urban Bean Co. coffee shop, he built a DJ booth…
Steam spewing from Detroit’s manhole covers is subject of new lawsuit
Twenty people who said they were burned by steam spewing from manhole covers in Detroit have filed suit against the company responsible for the sultry mist. The lawsuit, filed Tuesday, targets Detroit Thermal, the company that operates the underground steam pipes that provide power to buildings in downtown and Midtown. According to the suit, the…
Detroit is the perfect host for re:publica, Europe’s largest annual internet conference
Andreas Gebhard founded the Berlin-based re:publica, billed as Europe’s largest annual “digital society conference,” in 2007 — the year the iPhone came out and the way people experienced the internet had drastically shifted. “It was a [pivotal] year,” he says. “It was a good time for a discussion about all the changes we have in…
Horoscopes (Sept. 25-Oct. 1)
ARIES: March 21 – April 20: You have to figure out what your motives are. It’s one of those times when your higher self is waiting to find out if you’re here for love or here for the beer. It would be so easy for you to get sucked in by the lust for money,…
UAW workers demand to regain concessions as part of largest GM strike in more than a decade
Walking out of work was “scary and uplifting at the same time,” says Shawn Edwards, as she pickets General Motors’ Detroit-Hamtramck assembly plant as part of the United Auto Workers that started on Monday last week. “It’s scary because we have lives to maintain and we don’t know how long we’ll be out,” she says.…
If Democrats won’t do something about Trump’s corruption, they’re complicit in it
I don’t think Joe Biden is the most electable candidate in the Democratic primary, and I doubt he’ll be the nominee. But his double-digit polling leads over Donald Trump have remained remarkably durable, despite the gaffes and poor debates and concerns about his age and inability to generate excitement among the base. And Trump, it…
Grandma Bob’s is among Detroit’s most expensive pizzas. Is it worth it?
For many, the crust is the dry, bummer conclusion to joyful bites of melted cheese, red sauce, and toppings that makes up pizza. Sad pieces of nibbled crust with a few dried sauce stains are so often left discarded on the plate — “pizza bones,” as my sister calls them. For years, pizzerias have sought…
Why pop-punk princess Avril Lavigne is still the real deal — and grateful to be alive
Despite internet-bred conspiracy theories, Avril Lavigne is not dead. She’s not a fan-turned-Avril-replacement clone, either. Sure, a side-by-side comparison of Lavigne circa 2002 on the heels of her star-making debut release, Let Go, and Lavigne in 2019, who has returned to music after a five-year absence, might reveal that she hasn’t aged much, if at…
Why Grand Rapids’ electronic duo Pink Sky is meditating on global chaos
When the story of how married duo Angelica and Ryan Hay came to be the computerless electronic act Pink Sky, it’s almost impossible not to mention the time Ryan almost died. In 2012, while on his way home from his first day at a new teaching job, Ryan found himself stopped on I-69 when a…
Hamtramck nightclub Small’s goes big for 20th anniversary
Mike Mouyianis is celebrating a profound moment in his personal history: his beloved Hamtramck bar and music venue, Small’s, is celebrating 20 years of business. Mouyianis and his wife, Natalie, have owned Small’s bar for 15 of the venue’s 20 years, and operate alongside managing partners Melody Malosh, a Detroit News journalist, and husband Dave…
