Feedback NEWS & VIEWS
We got lots of comments in response to last week’s cover story, a roundup of local music releases. We’re considering making it an annual thing...
That’s awesome!! What a great idea. Thank you again for featuring us on the cover and thank you for showing love to so much local talent!! ��
—JonPaul Wallace, email
Hi Lee, I pray all is well! I’m contacting you to inform you on how honored I was being featured in your local artist article! I was so humbled in fact that I made a celebratory freestyle for the occasion! Here’s the link if you would like to check it out. (bit. ly/4i3cZg6) Once again, thank you so much
for taking the time out to feature my art sir, you’ve brought a lot of my loved ones to tears haha. Much love to you & yours!
—Solid Boy, email
Thank you for including me in your issue, and shining some light on the city’s local music✊
—Kovax Detroit, email
Detroit SHOWED UP for this call from the Detroit Metro Times! Check it.
—Michigan Music Alliance, Facebook
Damn, how did I miss hearing about this? Next time. But major salute to all artists mentioned. Very cool to see several of my peers.
—Leaf Erikson, Facebook
Sound off: letters@metrotimes.com
Erik Prince pitches mass deportation plan to Trump
The Michigan-born former CEO of the controversial military contractor Blackwater, Erik Prince, is pitching a sweeping plan to the Trump administration that would rely on private security forces and military bases to carry out mass deportations.
The proposal, which calls for processing camps and a fleet of aircraft to remove millions of undocumented immigrants, has raised alarms among civil rights advocates and immigration groups.
Prince, a Holland, Michigan native, is best known for founding Blackwater, the private military firm accused of war crimes in Iraq. He is also the brother of Betsy DeVos, the former U.S. secretary of education under Donald Trump.
The West Michigan DeVos family is one of the most powerful political donors in the country, pouring nearly $12 million into the 2024 election cycle to support conservative candidates and causes. The family also donated $2 million to America PAC, the political committee founded by Tesla CEO Elon Musk, whose “Department of Government Efficiency” is now gutting the federal government with little to no oversight.
The plan, outlined in a 26-page document obtained by Politico, envisions a network of temporary detention camps on U.S. military bases and the use of pri-
vately hired operatives to round up and deport 12 million people by 2026. The proposal claims the federal government is incapable of handling the operation alone and recommends outsourcing much of the work to contractors within Prince’s network.
Although it’s unclear whether the White House plans to embrace the proposal, it has been circulating among Trump allies since December, according to Politico. White House spokesperson Kush Desai said the administration is reviewing “various options” for accelerating immigration enforcement but did not confirm if Prince’s plan was under serious consideration.
The plan is certain to stoke fears in immigrant communities, particularly in metro Detroit, where the potential for Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) crackdowns has already created widespread anxiety. The idea of contractors carrying out mass deportations with camps only stands to deepen the fear and uncertainty in neighborhoods like Southwest Detroit, where many families are of mixed immigration status.
Prince’s proposal also raises serious legal questions. It suggests deputizing 1,000 private citizens, including former law enforcement and military veterans, to carry out arrests. The plan would almost certainly face constitutional
Business leaders rally behind immigration to boost economy
A new advocacy group is pushing for policies that recognize the critical role immigrants play in Michigan’s population growth and economic success.
The Businesses and People for Immigration campaign launched on Jan. 15 and has drawn support from more than 240 signatories, including the Detroit and Grand Rapids chambers of commerce, business leaders, and economic development organizations. With Michigan’s declining birth rate and population stagnation, supporters argue that immigration is essential to fueling key industries such as technology, health sciences, and manufacturing.
“Immigration is an absolutely critical component to our regional, state, and national economies,”
challenges.
The proposal also calls for bypassing traditional due process measures, replacing official court notices with an online database that would alert individuals of their hearings instead of requiring the government to notify them directly.
For the DeVos family, the political stakes in 2025 are high. Their history of bankrolling conservative causes has made them a major player in Republican politics.
Now that Prince is trying to inject himself into Trump’s immigration plans, new concerns are being raised about the family’s outsized influence.
As fears of deportation spread in Michigan, immigration advocates are urging people to know their rights. If approached by ICE, individuals are not required to answer questions or open their doors without a warrant signed by a judge. Advocates recommend that families have emergency plans in place, including legal representation and essential documents ready.
“No matter your immigration status in the United States, you have constitutional rights — very clearly you do,” Ruby Robinson, managing attorney for the Michigan Immigrant Rights Center, said at a news conference in late January. “Please stay informed.”
—Steve Neavling
Sandy Baruah, president and CEO of the Detroit Regional Chamber, said. “Nations and regions that are not growing in population shrink in their economic prosperity and competitiveness. Michigan, in particular, faces a population challenge and … we must rely upon immigration — from both other parts of the nation and other parts of the world — to fuel our key industries.”
The campaign calls for a “smart immigration policy” that would create “a strong, effective, and welcoming federal and state immigration system that offers freedom, opportunity, and security to immigrants whose talent, hard work, and entrepreneurship help us build a more prosperous America, and stronger Michigan.”
Global Detroit, an economic development group that advocates for immigrant inclusion, is leading the effort. Its executive director, Steve Tobocman, said immigration policy has been impacted by misinformation, leading to harmful policies.
“There are too many false narratives about immigrants and immigration that are clouding the facts and leading to harmful public policies and business decisions,” Tobocman said. “We can’t afford to get this issue wrong.”
The campaign highlights statistics showing that immigration
Erik Prince is calling for private security forces to run processing camps and carry out immigration raids.
GAGE SKIDMORE
has driven all of Michigan’s population growth over the past 25 years.
Without immigration, the state’s population would be about 100,000 lower than it was in 2020, according to the campaign.
Rich Baker, president and CEO of the Grand Rapids Chamber, said immigration is essential to Michigan’s business community.
“Talent and population growth are top issues for business, and simply put, the numbers don’t lie,” Baker said. “Immigration is a critical source to our state’s economic prosperity and our future growth.”
The campaign comes at a time when President Donald Trump is pledging to carry out mass deportations and immigrants are coming under attack by divisive, misleading Republican rhetoric. Fears of ICE crackdowns are paralyzing immigrant communities in
metro Detroit and beyond, prompting many undocumented adults to stay home from work and keep their children from school.
Since launching, the campaign has drawn support from chambers of commerce across the state, economic development organizations in the Upper Peninsula, and businesses such as Canine to Five, Good Cakes and Bakes, and J.C. Beal Construction.
Fred Beal, president of J.C. Beal Construction, said immigrants have long played a crucial role in Michigan’s construction industry.
“Our country should be open to accept immigrants from other countries for all of the benefits they bring and should encourage the creation of legal means to accept far more individuals than now accepted,” Beal said. “As Michigan’s downtowns are rejuvenated and we seek to build more housing to
address our housing crisis, ensuring a robust immigration system that accommodates legal migration is critical.”
Immigrants make up 6.9% of Michigan’s population but 8.4% of its working-age population. They are also disproportionately represented in high-demand industries. In 2022, immigrants held 18.6% of Michigan’s STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math) jobs and accounted for more than 46,000 entrepreneurs whose businesses generated $1.4 billion in income.
The campaign also highlights immigrants’ broader economic contributions. In 2022, immigrants in Michigan earned $31.3 billion, contributed $67.8 billion in the state’s gross domestic product (about 9.9% of the total), and paid $5.5 billion in federal taxes and $2.6 billion in state
Struggling WSU grads push for higher wages
Graduate student employees at Wayne State University have begun negotiations for a new labor contract, seeking better pay and improved working conditions amid rising living costs and concerns over campus facilities.
The Graduate Employees Organizing Committee (GEOC) — which represents more than 400 PhD and master’s degree students working as teaching and research assistants — is pushing for significant wage increases, employment protections, and improved maintenance of deteriorating labs and officers. Their current contract is set to expire in August 2025.
Many graduate employees earn as little as $21,627 a year, forcing some to rely on food banks and government assistance. At a January rally highlighting the financial struggles of graduate workers, GEOC bargaining committee member Alex Camarata described having to choose between buying groceries or gas to visit loved ones. The financial strain, he said, has taken a toll on his mental health.
“The unnecessary stress brought about by our low wages — I’ll be honest — has hurt my self-esteem sometimes,” Camarata said. “It’s made me question why I’m even here in the first place.”
The union’s demands come amid growing criticism of Wayne State’s financial priorities. The university increased administrative salaries by $16.8 million between 2021 and 2023, according to the Wayne Academic Union. As of November 2024, the university employed 31 non-academic vice presidents at a total cost of $8.1 million, excluding the univer-
and local taxes.
Michigan is also home to more than 38,000 international students, the eighth-highest total among U.S. states. Their spending on tuition, housing, and other expenses contributes $1.5 billion annually to the state’s economy.
“Immigrants are a critical component of any entrepreneurial talent recruitment and retention initiative,” said Jim Baker, senior associate vice president for research and innovation at Michigan Technological University. “They are proven leaders in the entrepreneurial community and essential team members of high-growth companies throughout the country.”
The campaign, backed by Global Detroit as its founding sponsor, is seeking more supporters. Individuals and businesses can sign the pledge at forimmigration.biz.
—Steve Neavling
sity president’s salary of $875,100.
While GEOC hopes to reach an agreement through negotiations, its bargaining committee has signaled that graduate employees are prepared to take stronger action if necessary.
Wayne State’s contract negotiations come less than a year after graduate employees at the University of Michigan staged a months-long strike demanding higher pay and improved benefits. The Graduate Employees’ Organization
at U-M went on strike for five months, disrupting classes and sparking legal battles with the administration. The university initially sought to replace striking workers and even stopped deducting union dues in an effort to weaken the movement.
Ultimately, U-M graduate employees secured a three-year contract with salary increases, a $1,000 bonus, and expanded benefits. The agreement was ratified by 97% of voting union members.
At Wayne State, graduate workers argue that their contributions are essential to the university’s academic mission, and they should be compensated fairly.
Negotiations between GEOC and Wayne State’s administration are set to take place on Fridays at the university’s Faculty Administration Building. The union is urging students, staff, and community members to show support by signing a letter backing their demands.
—Steve Neavling
Graduate student employees at WSU held a rally in January.
COURTESY PHOTO
Mary Waters gives students gun locks
Detroit City Councilwoman Mary Waters is taking a unique approach to preventing more children from being shot by unsecured guns in the city.
Waters, a former teacher, is going to schools to provide gun locks to children who sign pledge cards promising to deliver the locks to households with unsecured firearms. On Thursday, Waters went to Carleton Elementary School on the city’s east side to talk to students about gun safety and provide gun locks that were distributed by teachers.
“There were so many hands that went up when we talked about guns in homes,” Waters tells Metro Times “It was pretty clear that some of these kids already know about guns in their homes. And that’s the scary part.”
After a student at suburban Oxford High School killed four people and injured seven in 2021, a Michigan law went into effect in February 2024 that requires gun owners to keep unattended firearms unloaded and locked away if a child is present at the home. But
the law isn’t stopping these preventable shootings.
The initiative comes as Detroit sees a troubling rise in accidental shootings involving children. Since September, at least five young children have shot themselves after finding unsecured firearms, including a 3-year-old who critically wounded himself in the face with his mother’s gun.
“Our children know where the guns are,” Waters says. “If adults won’t use locks, I’m asking kids to help me keep them safe.”
The idea behind the pledge cards, Waters says, is to get children to commit to their promise.
“If a child can say, ‘I promise to do that,’ and they do it in writing, it helps them seal the deal,” Water says.
Waters plans to expand the initiative to other schools in Detroit.
“This is about instilling in children what safety really means,” she says. “They can be a voice for themselves, an advocate for their own safety.”
Neavling
DPD sued again over arrest allegedly tied to false facial recognition
A Detroit woman has filed a federal lawsuit against the city and several police officers, alleging she was wrongfully arrested in front of her children and jailed based on a false match using facial recognition technology.
The lawsuit, filed in U.S. District Court, accuses Detroit police of violating the constitutional rights of 36-yearold LaDonna Crutchfield, a mother of three who was arrested at her home on Jan. 23, 2024, without a warrant. Crutchfield was held on an attempted murder charge despite no evidence linking her to the crime.
According to the complaint, officers falsely claimed to have a warrant, placed her in handcuffs, and transported her to the Detroit Detention Center, where she was questioned and told she had been identified through facial recognition technology.
If true, Crutchfield is at least the fourth person to be charged based on a false recognition match by Detroit police.
But Detroit police deny using facial recognition technology in Crutchfield’s case.
“I don’t know where our complainant got this information,” Detroit police Asst. Chief Charles Fitzgerald told reporters
last week. “It’s factually incorrect.”
Fitzgerald said “another person that matches her description” has since been charged.
Crutchfield, who also cares for her niece, was at home reading to her 5-yearold daughter when six cops arrived. Her niece answered the door and was told police were looking for Crutchfield, who was ordered to step outside barefoot, according to the lawsuit. Officers refused to tell her why she was being arrested.
The officers “engaged in extreme and outrageous conduct by arresting [Crutchfield] without probable cause, falsely accusing her of assault with attempt to murder, and misrepresenting the existence of a search warrant,” the lawsuit, filed by attorney Ivan Land, states.
Crutchfield was later allegedly told she was a suspect in an attempted murder case because of a recognition match. The lawsuit alleges the detective in charge failed to conduct an investigation before arresting her. When shown photos of the actual suspect, Crutchfield denied any involvement, pointing out that the woman in her image was not her. A detective later admitted she should not have been arrested, and she was released that evening after being forced to provide
fingerprints and a DNA sample, according to the lawsuit.
Detroit police have faced mounting criticism over their use of facial recognition technology, which studies have shown disproportionately misidentifies Black individuals. Nationwide, at least seven people have reported being falsely arrested based on flawed facial recognition matches. All have been Black.
Four of those cases were in Detroit.
In February 2022, Porcha Woodruff was eight months pregnant when six cops arrested her at her home in Detroit based on a false facial recognition match. She spent 11 hours at the Detroit Detention Center and was charged with robbery and carjacking. A month later, the Wayne County Prosecutor’s Office dismissed the case.
Robert Williams was arrested at his Farmington Hills home in front of his wife and young daughters in January 2020 based on a false facial recognition match. He was locked up for 30 hours in an overcrowded detention facility where he was forced to sleep on a cement floor. The technology also misidentified Michael Oliver in July 2019. Oliver was arrested and falsely accused of stealing a teacher’s cellphone and throwing it. He
also filed a lawsuit against the city.
In June 2024, civil rights activists announced they had reached a “groundbreaking settlement agreement” in connection with Williams’s lawsuit, which alleged the police department violated his Fourth Amendment rights and that his wrongful arrest was in violation of the Michigan Elliott-Larsen Civil Rights Act. As part of the settlement, Detroit police are prohibited from making arrests based solely on facial recognition results or conducting phone lineups without independent and reliable evidence linking a suspect to a crime. The agreement also bans the use of facial recognition leads as the primary basis for lineups, requires police training on the risks and biases of the technology, and mandates an audit of all cases in which facial recognition was used to obtain an arrest warrant since 2017.
Crutchfield’s lawsuit seeks unspecified damages for false arrest, imprisonment, emotional distress, and violations of Crutchfield’s civil rights.
The defendants in the suit are officers Marc Thompson, Anthony Williams, Dorian Hardy, Jeremy Morrow, Joshua Holder, Matthew McKinney and “Jane Doe,” an unknown cop. The city of Detroit is also a defendant.
—Steve Neavling
—Steve
The gun lock and pledge that students were asked to sign. COURTESY PHOTO
Thurs
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NEWS & VIEWS
A somber replica that feels all too real
By Joe Lapointe
NEW YORK — As you leave Anne Frank’s hiding place near the end of this immersive tour, you step into a room with a raised glass floor illuminated beneath your feet. It shows the map of Europe in World War II. Little flags mark sites of concentration camps and other places where Jews were massacred.
The effect is startling. You get a sterile overview of the Holocaust while standing on a surface that feels fragile and disorienting. For a moment, you are not quite sure of your footing. And this display is only the second-most jarring element in this particular room.
Even more disconcerting is a large video screen on one wall that shows a black-and-white photograph of Anne Frank’s Montessori kindergarten class in Amsterdam in 1935, with Anne in the middle, in the back of a room filled with about three dozen kids.
As a recorded voice reads their names, the images of 10 children dissolve — one by one — into dark silhouettes, Jewish victims of Nazi Germany and Adolf Hitler’s Third Reich. They were among six million Jews murdered.
This is one of five rooms of Anne Frank the Exhibition at the Center for Jewish History in Union Square in Manhattan. It is a reproduction of the secret annex used by Frank’s family (and four other persons) to hide from the Nazis in the Netherlands from the summer of 1942 through summer, 1944.
After their discovery and arrest, Anne died at age 15 in the BergenBelsen concentration camp. Her father, Otto Frank, survived, acquired her diary, and published it. Later, movies were based on the book as well as a play called The Diary of Anne Frank
Around that drama, her story remains current. When a production was staged late last year northwest of Detroit in Howell Township in Livingston County, protestors outside the building carried swastikas. Two similar demonstrations took place in the same county last summer.
It’s not only in Michigan. In Ohio, for instance, on Feb. 7, about a dozen
people dressed in black and wearing red face-coverings waved swastika flags over an I-75 overpass in Cincinnati near an historic Black area. When residents confronted them, police protected the protestors but urged them to leave.
After they departed, one of the local residents burned a swastika banner. Others gathered for a prayer circle. A similar rally took place in Columbus, the state capital, in November. According to a BBC report, antisemitic incidents increased by 200% in the U.S. last year.
Some came during demonstrations against Israel for its military response to Hamas in Gaza after Palestinian terrorists murdered at least 1,200 persons during an attack in Israel on Oct. 7, 2023. The Anti-Defamation League Center for Extremism told BBC there were 10,000 anti-Semitic incidents in the U.S. in the following 11 months.
But not all protests against Israel’s war response are necessarily antisemitic. The Gaza health ministry reports that nearly 50,000 Gazans have died in Israeli attacks. Advocates for their side say the Gazans lived even before the war in an open-air prison akin to apartheid.
There might even be a young Palestinian girl hiding in a shelter with her family, keeping a diary of what happens when tribalism trades up from hate to bombs. Once a war starts, there is plenty of grief to go around and it can get petty and stupid.
For instance: Last month in Florida, The Guardian reported, “a Jewish man in Miami Beach is facing charges of attempted murder following accusations that he opened fire on two men he believed were Palestinians but reportedly turned out to be Israeli visitors.” Both survived.
This is why the Holocaust must be taught again and again, and why an exhibit about Anne Frank is still necessary. Because, 80 years after the end of World War II, some people either deny the Holocaust, or they approve of it or they know virtually nothing about it.
My personal awareness was jolted 50 years ago when I lived in the mid1970s in the north Chicago suburb of Evanston. To work downtown (or to
go to Cubs’ games at Wrigley Field) I’d take a bus on Howard Street to the train station and catch the elevated train, called the “El.”
The eastbound bus was called the “97 Skokie” because it began in the suburb of Skokie, right next to Evanston’s western border. Having moved there that spring, I noticed something different when the weather warmed and men wore short-sleeved shirts. Their forearms bore blue tattoos with numbers, not the artistic “ink” seen on skin today. It was instead the permanent identification the Nazis forced on them in the camps in Europe. Skokie, I soon learned, included many Holocaust survivors. This was just 30 years after the war. Some of these people were of Anne Frank’s generation.
In the summer of 1977, on a trip to Europe, I visited the real Anne Frank house in the Netherlands. Unlike the replica on display in New York, it has no homey touches like beds and desks, only bare walls. When I returned enlightened to Chicago, I learned the local Nazis planned to march in Skokie. That led to months of bitter debate and court battles with the American Civil Liberties Union supporting the Nazis on First Amendment grounds of free speech. Eventually, the marchers won their case but staged only a brief and minor demonstration at a federal building in Chicago, not Skokie.
If this episode sounds dated, consider something from President Donald Trump’s first term, when Trump discovered “very fine people on both sides” after a “Unite the Right” rally in Charlottesville, Virginia, where mostly
young, white, male marchers carried torches and chanted “Jews will not replace us!”
A counter-protestor died when she was intentionally run over by a car. The Frank exhibit and this sort of demonstration remind us of where this stuff can lead. Its stay in New York has been extended through October, but also has been designed to travel.
No future destinations have been announced. Along with replicas of the annex rooms, other parts show the context of the family’s life and the political changes that consumed them. There is a board game. There’s the Torah of Anne’s mother, Edith, in German and Hebrew. The family had moved from Frankfurt, Germany, to Holland to get away from the Nazis. A picture shows Otto Frank in a German uniform in World War I; another photo shows German-Jewish soldiers observing Yom Kippur. On a wall there hangs a bicycle.
More sinister artifacts of the era include photos of Nazi rallies, the damage to synagogues after Kristallnacht, book burnings, and Jews rounded up wearing yellow stars. In a glass case rests a large dagger from the Sturmabteilung, the paramilitary organization also known as the Brownshirts that played a significant role in Hitler’s rise to power. Inscribed in the gleaming metal is the motto “Alles fur Deutschland”: “Everything for Germany.” By mixing family items with photos of the terror building outside, the exhibit shows how a sophisticated and civilized culture quickly became barbaric. Had Anne survived, she might still be alive. How many books might she have written? Her 96th birthday is June 12; her written words live on.
Anne Frank the Exhibition personalizes the Holocaust.
JOHN HALPERN
The Straight Dope THC chasers are ruining good weed
“Super potent” weed isn’t the secret to a better high. Here’s what is.
By Steve Neavling
Welcome to The Straight Dope, a weekly series that explores the cannabis industry in Michigan.
Walk into any dispensary in Michigan, and you’ll see the THC chasers. They’re the ones holding up the line, scanning the menu for the highest THC percentages like they’re shopping for an investment portfolio. If it’s not hitting 30% or higher, they’re not interested.
And that’s a problem.
For one, it’s hurting the market. Dispensaries are under constant pressure to stock “super-potent” flower to satisfy these customers. That means cultivators are chasing inflated lab results, sometimes shopping for testing facilities that will push out bigger THC numbers instead of accurate ones. It’s a broken system.
But the bigger issue is this: THC alone is not the best indicator of good weed.
Why chasing THC percentage is a waste of time
The best cannabis experiences don’t come from THC alone. If they did, we’d all be smoking pure THC distillate and calling it a day. Instead, what contributes to making a strain great is the “entourage effect,” which is the interaction of cannabinoids, terpenes, and other compounds in the plant that work together to enhance the high.
Think of it like alcohol. Ever had a
high-proof vodka that burned like jet fuel? Now compare that to a well-aged bourbon at a lower proof. Which one delivers a better experience? The same applies to cannabis.
You’ll miss so much high-quality weed if you’re just chasing high THC content.
Why high THC can mean less of everything else
Strains that consistently test over 30% THC often lack a diverse range of other cannabinoids like CBD, CBG, and CBN. That’s because cannabis plants have a genetic cap on how much total canna-
binoid content they can produce. When a strain is bred specifically for sky-high THC, there’s little room left for the supporting cannabinoids that help round out the high.
This is why many “lower THC” strains with richer cannabinoid profiles can feel just as strong — if not better — than their counterparts with 30% or higher. Strains with balanced cannabinoid content provide a smoother, longer-lasting experience, often without the paranoia, burnout, or harsh crash that can come from THC-heavy flower.
“The reality is, when someone is chasing a THC percentage, they think that is
going to get them the biggest bang for their buck,” Tyler Hall, COO of Michigrown, a high-quality cultivator in west Michigan, tells me. “But the reality is, a lower THC percentage can get you higher than 35% because the room for altering compounds is only so high. When you reach high THC thresholds, it’s very likely that the percentage of other content is very low. It has been bred and selected specifically for the high THC percentage. When you make those kinds of selective choices, you are losing a lot of other content. That other content is what contributes to that complexity.”
Terpenes are the real MVP
One of the biggest things THC chasers overlook are terpenes.
Terpenes are the aromatic compounds in cannabis that shape the flavor and smell of a strain, as well as influence its effects. That citrusy, piney, or skunky smell? That’s terpenes. But they do much more than just make weed smell good.
Take myrcene, for example. Found in strains like Granddaddy Purple and Permanent Marker, myrcene has a deeply relaxing, almost sedative effect. It’s also found in mangoes, which is why some old-school stoners swear that eating a mango before smoking makes the high hit harder. (Yeah, I was one of them in college.)
Then there’s limonene, a terpene that gives strains like Pure Michigan and Gel-
Cookie Breath is flavorful and potent without excessively high THC. STEVE NEAVLING
onade their bright, citrus-forward aroma. It’s known for its mood-boosting, antianxiety effects, making it a great choice for an energetic, uplifting high.
Caryophyllene, found in strains like Runtz and Zoap, has a spicy, peppery kick and is unique because it interacts directly with CB2 receptors in the body, which are tied to inflammation and stress relief. That’s why many medical cannabis users turn to strains high in caryophyllene for pain relief and relaxation without excessive sedation.
These terpenes, along with many others, are what separate an average high from a fuller, more complex one. When you chase THC alone, you’re missing out on the rich complexity of these compounds.
Garrett Carter, general manager of Utopia Gardens, a popular dispensary in Detroit, sees what happens when customers demand excessively high THC percentages.
“People will come in and ask if we have anything over 30% THC,” Carter tells me. “If we don’t, they’ll often walk out the door.”
And that’s a shame because Utopia Gardens has unique, high-quality flower that is rich in terpenes and flavor.
Don’t overlook the best weed If you’re only hunting for THC numbers,
you’re missing out on the best-tasting weed in Michigan.
Cultivators in Michigan, from caregivers to large-scale growers, are pushing the boundaries of cannabis flavor. Breeders are fine-tuning strains to bring out pungent layers of fruit, gas, cream, and candy-like terps that fill your nose as soon as you crack open a jar or mylar bag. But THC chasers are skipping past these gems because they’re fixated on numbers.
A perfectly grown Lemon Cherry Gelato can taste like a bowl of fresh fruit and vanilla ice cream. A proper GMO will smack you with funky, garlicky diesel. Strains like Tropicana Cookies, Blueberry Crumble, and Rainbow Belts are bursting with citrus, berries, and candy sweetness. There is an abundance of flavorful weed, but only if you’re paying attention.
If you’re still not convinced, try these strains under 30% THC that outperform the “big numbers” every time.
When 30% THC doesn’t matter Rainbow Belts by Michigrown (23% THC)
A cross of two very flavorful strains — Zkittlez and Moonbow — Michigrown’s Rainbow Belts proves that THC isn’t everything. The moment you crack open the jar, you’re hit with a fragrance of
sweet candy, floral diesel, and fresh soap. The taste is just as unique, with spicy berries and a smooth, herbal finish. The high is initially euphoric and uplifting before settling into a calming, almost dreamlike buzz. At 23%, Michigrown’s take on this strain delivers a more complex, well-rounded experience than most 30% strains ever could.
Donny Burger by 710 Labs (22.8% THC) Because of its diverse terpene profile, this GMO x Han Solo Burger cross from 710 Labs packs a unique, funky aroma that reeks of garlic, onion, pine, and skunky rubber, with a burst of zesty citrus. The high starts with a euphoric lift before settling into a deep, full-body relaxation. When grown well, it’s a toptier strain that hits hard on flavor and effect without needing inflated THC numbers.
Cookie Breath (25% THC)
A cross of Thin Mint Girl Scout Cookies, Forum Cut Girl Scout Cookies, and OG Kush Breath, Utopia Farms’ take on Cookie Breath is flavorful and potent without the excessively high THC content. Cookie Breath brings the signature doughy, earthy aroma of cookie strains, but it includes hints of grape and wine that set it apart. The frosty buds deliver a balanced high that starts with a tingling cerebral buzz before easing into a heavy,
full-body relaxation. If you think you need 30% THC for a potent high, Cookie Breath is another strain that will prove you wrong. Cookie Farms is available at Utopia Gardens.
Stop chasing numbers for a better experience Michigan’s cannabis market is packed with phenomenal flower that gets ignored because it doesn’t have excessively high THC content. But THC chasers are missing out on some of the best weed available.
If you really want the best high, start paying attention to terpenes, cannabinoids, and the entourage effect. Ask your budtender about the strains with rich terp profiles, balanced effects, and complex flavors. When it comes to good cannabis, the real magic isn’t the THC. It’s in everything else.
While dispensaries and cultivators are trying their best to turn people on to terpenes and other cannabinoids, it has been an uphill battle.
“Consumer education is expensive,” Hall says. “A lot of the people who have the knowledge don’t necessarily have the budget to spread awareness.”
If you want us to sample your cannabis products, send us an email at steve@metrotimes.com.
All of these strains are under 30% THC, and they better than their “super potent” counterparts.
STEVE NEAVLING
WHAT’S GOING ON
Utah Hockey Club @ Detroit Red Wings
The Red Wings look to right the ship against a feisty Utah Hockey Club. Coyotes no more, this marks the first time the Red Wings have hosted Utah since their move from Arizona. The move, along with the development of former high draft picks Logan Cooley and Dylan Guenther and really solid goaltending from Karel Vejmelka, has breathed some life into the franchise that was a perennial bottom feeder for a decade. The Wings cling perilously to the final wild card spot in the East — can they put the Stadium Series fiasco behind them and start racking up some wins down the stretch?
—Josh Cohen
Starts 7 p.m. on Thursday, March 6; Little Caesars Arena, 2645 Woodward Ave., Detroit, ticketmaster.com. Tickets start at $30.
Week of the Dude
Here’s some The Big Lebowski trivia for you: According to oddball comedy’s lore, the titular character Jeffrey “The Dude” Lebowski has Michigan ties. “I was one of the authors of the Port Huron Statement,” he claims in the film, referring to the seminal 1962 left-wing political manifesto written at a United Auto Workers retreat that shaped left-wing student activism for decades to come. “The original Port Huron Statement,” he adds. “Not the compromised second draft.”
Given The Dude’s affinity for bowling, Bowlero Lanes & Lounge is celebrating the anniversary of the Coen brothers’ 1998 cult classic with a “Week of the Dude.” Thursday is the “Day of the Dude” with a 6 p.m. screening of the film, followed by live music from the Beggars, Dirty Copper, and DJ Ryan Patrick Hooper
look-alike” costume contest at 9 p.m. (Bathrobes encouraged.) On Sunday, Bowlero will hold Big Lebowski Trivia hosted by Scott Zumberg from 2-4 p.m. The Royal Oak bowling alley is also serving $9 white Russians, The Dude’s favorite cocktail, all week. The Dude abides.
—Lee DeVito
See full schedule on venue website; Bowlero Lanes & Lounge, 4209 Coolidge Highway, Royal Oak; bowlerodetroit.com. No cover.
Bernie Sanders ‘Fighting Oligarchy’ tour
While the Democratic Party seems to be at a loss as to how to respond to President Donald Trump and his billionaire buddy Elon Musk’s rapid (and likely unconstitutional) dismantling of the federal government, U.S. Senator Bernie Sanders is calling it like he sees it. The Vermont independent has hit the road for a national “Fighting Oligarchy: Where We Go From Here” tour, rallying against what his office calls “the takeover of the national government by billionaires and large corporations, and the country’s move toward authoritarianism.” A self-described democratic socialist and two-time candidate for U.S. president, Sanders has been sounding the alarm about corporate greed for decades. This tour has drawn overflow crowds in early stops in Omaha and Iowa City, so clearly his crusade is still resonating. Detroit hardcore collective The Armed has been tapped to open the show. The campaign says no bags, signs, or firearms are allowed.
—Lee DeVito
Doors at 2:30 p.m., Saturday, March 8; Lincoln High School, 22900 Federal Ave., Warren. No cover, but RSVP at bit.ly/4boaOl1.
Rick Ross.
Elvis Costello and Steve Nieve
Rock ’n’ roll icon Elvis Costello has hit the road with Steve Nieve, his longtime collaborator and member of the Attractions. The two-man show format creates fertile soil for Costello to breathe a stripped down art-rock energy into tracks we’ve heard a million times — but haven’t ever heard quite like this. Still one of rock music’s most prodigious raconteurs, Costello sounds fired up, agitated, restless; the songs might not sound the same, but he’s still operating in the emotional territory that made the songs work in the first place.
—Josh Cohen
Starts 8 p.m. on Saturday, March 8; Michigan Theater, 603 E. Liberty St., Ann Arbor, ticketmaster.com. Tickets start at $45.
Rick Ross afterparty
Following his appearance at Little Caesars Arena’s big “Millennium Tour” hip-hop show on Saturday, Rick Ross will host an afterparty at Legends, where the rapper and music mogul will host and do a few songs as part of the club’s 10-year anniversary festivities. Ross is set to perform as part of the Millennium Tour alongside other early 2000s hip-hop and R&B acts including Trey Songz, Omarion, Bow Wow, Plies, Boosie, Ying Yang Twins, Ray J, Sammie, Bobby V, Pleasure P, and Nivea. The Little Caesars gig starts at 8 p.m. and Ross is expected to arrive at Legends following the show. VIP tables are available and the kitchen is open until 2 a.m. for anyone looking for a post-show bite — and, of course, three floors of entertainment featuring some of Detroit’s hottest strippers.
—Lee DeVito
SELECTIONS
Legends Detroit; 415 E. Congress St., Detroit; legendsindetroit.com.
Kash Doll
Kash Doll has been on an incredible run ever since she dropped her debut mixtape in 2015. Since then she’s become not only one of Detroit’s top emcees but a 360-degree celebrity in her own right — collaborating on tracks with the likes of Big Sean, Summer Walker, and Pusha T; partnering with brands like FashionNova; and pursuing an acting career with roles in hit shows like BMF, Empire, and Diarra in Detroit. Oh, and somewhere in all there she managed to become a mother to two children. She
last year, featuring Tee Grizzley, Yung Bleu, Tink, and others. “Ain’t no bitch from the D that got more motion than me,” she raps on track “Nothin New.” We won’t disagree with that.
—Lee DeVito
Starts at 7 p.m. on Sunday, March 9; Masonic Temple Cathedral Theatre; 500 Temple St., Detroit; themasonic. com. Tickets are $83-$399.
Washington Wizards @ Detroit Pistons
Surreal times for Pistons fans. Just last season, the Wizards were the Pistons’ cellmate in the NBA penitentiary of awful teams. The Pistons lost a record-tying 28 games in a row, while
the Wizards countered with two separate 16 game skids. While the Pistons have turned it around and appear ready to skip the play-in tournament by grabbing a top 6 seed, the Wizards are spinning their tires and stuck in neutral, turning in another abysmal bottom of the table effort in 20242025. They visit the Pistons Tuesday as something of a Ghost of Christmas Past, a stark reminder of how far the Pistons have come. Pistons will be heavily favored — surreal indeed.
—Josh Cohen
Starts 7 p.m. on Tuesday, March 11; Little Caesar’s Arena, 2645 Woodward Ave, Detroit, ticketmaster.com. Tickets start at $16.
Apparently plenty of people are still feeling the Bern.
VIOLA KLOCKO
WHAT’S GOING ON CONT.
Select events happening in metro Detroit this week. Be sure to check venue websites before all events for the most up-to-date information. Want to get listed? Add your event to our online calendar: metrotimes.com/AddEvent.
MUSIC
Wednesday, March 5
Live/Concert
Black Widows, Fishgutzzz, Carmel Liburdi 9 p.m.; Bowlero Lanes & Lounge, 4209 Coolidge Hwy., Royal Oak; no cover.
Folkfest of the North with Korpiklaani & Ensiferum, Trollfest, and NiNi 5:30 p.m.; Pike Room, 1 S. Saginaw, Pontiac; $30.
Kickstand Productions Presents: Pom Pom Squad, Caroline Kingsbury 7 p.m.; Magic Bag, 22920 Woodward Ave., Ferndale; $20.
Matt Nathanson 7 pm; Royal Oak Music Theatre, 318 W. Fourth St., Royal Oak; $30-$221.
Modern Color, Webbed Wing, Milly, Garage Sale 6 p.m.; Sanctuary Detroit, 2932 Caniff St., Hamtramck; $20. Neriah, Izza 7 p.m.; The Loving Touch, 22634 Woodward Ave., Ferndale; $40.
Matt Larusso Trio and guests 8-11 p.m.; Northern Lights Lounge, 660 W. Baltimore St., Detroit; no cover.
Thursday, March 6
Live/Concert
The Jerome Clark Trio 6-10 p.m.; Bert’s Music Cafe, 2458 Brush St., Detroit; $15.
Day of the Dude: The Beggars, Dirty Copper, DJ Ryan Patrick Hooper 8 p.m.; Bowlero Lanes & Lounge, 4209 Coolidge Hwy., Royal Oak; no cover.
Gareth Emery 8 p.m.; Royal Oak Music Theatre, 318 W. Fourth St., Royal Oak; $39-$99.
Hide, Mission To The Sun, Cy M.M.R. Tulip 7 p.m.; Small’s, 10339 Conant St., Hamtramck; $12. Mackenzy Mackay, Savanna Leigh 7 p.m.; The Shelter, 431 E. Congress St., Detroit; $17.
The Whispers 8 p.m.; Sound Board, 2901 Grand River Ave., Detroit; $48-$62. Karaoke
Drag Queen Karaoke 8 p.m.-2 a.m.;
Woodward Avenue Brewers, 22646 Woodward Ave., Ferndale; no cover.
Introduction: DJs John Ryan and Geo 9 p.m.-midnight; Northern Lights Lounge, 660 W. Baltimore St., Detroit; no cover.
Friday, March 7
Live/Concert
The Beat Goes On (Cher tribute featuring Lisa McClowry) 8-10 p.m.; Andiamo Celebrity Showroom, 7096 E. 14 Mile Rd., Warren; $35-65.
Catch 22, St. Thomas Boys Academy, Boy Detective, The Write Ups 7 p.m.; Sanctuary Detroit, 2932 Caniff St., Hamtramck; $25.
The Cotton Club Music Series ft.
Sky Covington & Friends 7-11 p.m.; Little Mary’s River Inn, 7741 Grand River Ave., Detroit; $20.
Ganja White Night, Boogie T, LYNY, Jaenga (16+) 7 p.m.; Detroit Masonic Temple Library, 500 Temple St., Detroit;
Handsome Dick Manitoba, The Strains 7 p.m.; Small’s, 10339 Conant St., Hamtramck; $16.
Intervals, Vola, Arch Echo 6:30 p.m.; Saint Andrew’s Hall, 431 E. Congress St., Detroit; $29.50.
Magic Bag Presents: Ana Popovic 7 p.m.; Magic Bag, 22920 Woodward Ave., Ferndale; $36.
Twistin’ Tarantulas, DJ Marcie Bolen 9 p.m.; Bowlero Lanes & Lounge, 4209 Coolidge Hwy., Royal Oak; no cover.
DJ/Dance
Saddle Up Country Dance Party! 8 p.m.; Diamondback Music Hall, 49345 S. Interstate 94 Service Dr., Belleville; $0-$15.
Saturday, March 8
Live/Concert
Big Wreck & Thornley 7 p.m.; Caesars Palace Windsor - Augustus Ballroom, 377 E. Riverside Dr., Windsor; $28-$73.
Chris Collins (John Denver tribute), Boulder Canyon Band 8 p.m.; Emerald Theatre, 31 N. Walnut St., Mount Clemens; $20-$220.
Daniel Donato’s Cosmic Country 7 p.m.; Saint Andrew’s Hall, 431 E. Congress St., Detroit; $25.
Ganja White Night, Boogie T, Mr. Bill, Thred (16+) 7 p.m.; Detroit Masonic Temple Library, 500 Temple St., Detroit; $34-$55.
28 March 5-11, 2025 | metrotimes.com
Magic Bag Presents: MEGA 80’s 7 p.m.; Magic Bag, 22920 Woodward Ave., Ferndale; $20.
Major Dudes (Steely Dan tribute) 7-10 p.m.; Marquis Theatre, 135 E. Main St., Northville; $20.
Neverender, Darkeater, At Water, Gutpile, Dying Under The Influence 6 p.m.; Sanctuary Detroit, 2932 Caniff St., Hamtramck; $15.
Overloaded, Face, Blasternaut, Mighty Jones 7:30 p.m.; The Token Lounge, 28949 Joy Rd., Westland; $15. Ride The Wind (Poison tribute), Psychotic Paradise (Tesla tribute) 6:30 p.m.; Diesel Concert Lounge, 33151 23 Mile Rd., Chesterfield; $15-$20.
Shamrock Tenors 8 p.m.; Fox Theatre, 2211 Woodward Ave., Detroit; $25-$65.
The Millennium Tour: Trey Songz, Omarion, Bow Wow, Plies, Boosie, Ying Yang Twins, RSVP (Ray J, Sammie, Bobby V, Pleasure P), Nivea, and Rick Ross 8 p.m.; Little Caesars Arena, 2645 Woodward Ave., Detroit; $69.75-$169.75.
This Wild Life Presents: 10 Years of Clouded, Belmont, Young Culture 6:30 p.m.; The Loving Touch, 22634 Woodward Ave., Ferndale; $25.
Trans-Pacific Trio performing music of living composers 2:30-4 p.m.; Steinway Piano Gallery, 2700 E. Maple Rd., Commerce Township; no cover (donations encouraged to help cover cost of recital hall).
DJ/Dance
Heartbreak Beats 80s New Wave Dance Party: DJs Zumby & Josh March 8, 8 pm; Bowlero Lanes & Lounge, 4209 Coolidge Hwy., Royal Oak; no cover.
Proper Techno: T. Linder, DJ I.V., Hardin, Tommie Cool (21+) 8 p.m.; Northern Lights Lounge, 660. W Baltimore St., Detroit; no cover.
Saddle Up Country Dance Party! 8 p.m.; Diamondback Music Hall, 49345 S. Interstate 94 Service Dr., Belleville; $0-$15.
Sunday, March 9
Live/Concert
Andy Frasco & The U.N., Melt 7 p.m.; The Loving Touch, 22634 Woodward Ave., Ferndale; $101.
Bayberry String Quartet and Harp & Soprano 3-5 pm; Scarab Club, 217 Farnsworth St., Detroit; $30 at the door, $25 in advance, $10 for students.
Jack Kays, Remo Drive 7 p.m.; Saint Andrew’s Hall, 431 E. Congress St., Detroit; $25.
Kash Doll 7 p.m.; Cathedral Theatre at the Masonic Temple, 500 Temple St., Detroit; $125-$231.
Phil Ogilvie’s Rhythm Kings 5-8 p.m.; Zal Gaz Grotto Club, 2070 W. Stadium Blvd., Ann Arbor; no cover (tip jar for the band).
Karaoke
Sunday Karaoke in the Lounge 5-9 p.m.; Bowlero Lanes & Lounge, 4209 Coolidge Hwy., Royal Oak; no cover.
Monday, March 10
Live/Concert
Disturbed, Three Days Grace, Sevendust 6:30 p.m.; Little Caesars Arena, 2645 Woodward Ave., Detroit; $39.50-$149.50.
The Lunar Quartet 7-9 p.m.; Harrison’s Speakeasy, 39504 Jefferson Ave., Harrison Township.
DJ/Dance
Adult Skate Night 8:30-11 p.m.; Lexus Velodrome, 601 Mack Ave., Detroit; $5.
Tuesday, March 11
Live/Concert
Daniel Cafferty 6:30-7:30 p.m.; Alpino, 1426 Bagley St, Detroit; $10.
Morgan Wade, Elizabeth Cook 7 p.m.; Saint Andrew’s Hall, 431 E. Congress St., Detroit; $30.
Sean Blackman’s In Transit 7-10 p.m.; Northern Lights Lounge, 660 W. Baltimore St., Detroit; no cover.
Thievery Corporation, Flamingosis 7 p.m.; Royal Oak Music Theatre, 318 W. Fourth St., Royal Oak; $39-$259. Whores, Facet, Gusher 7 p.m.; Sanctuary Detroit, 2932 Caniff St., Hamtramck; $20.
Karaoke/Open Mic
Continuing This Week Karaoke/ Open Mic
Open Mic : Art in a Fly Space 7-10 p.m.; Detroit Shipping Company, 474 Peterboro St., Detroit; no cover.
Tuesday Karaoke in the Lounge 8 p.m.-midnight; Bowlero Lanes & Lounge, 4209 Coolidge Hwy., Royal Oak; no cover.
THEATER
Performance
Emerald Theatre Turning Point presents The Vagina Monologues. An episodic play that was written in 1996 by Eve Ensler in response to her passion to end gender-based violence. The performance
is based on real-life stories that explore consensual and non-consensual sexual experiences, body image, genital mutilation, direct and indirect encounters with reproductions, vaginal care, menstrual periods, prostitution, and several other topics through the eyes of women of various ages, races, sexualities, and other differences. The stories are used to raise awareness, give a voice, and show others they are not alone. $35; Friday, 6 p.m. Meadow Brook Theatre The Angel Next Door; $43; Wednesday, 2 p.m. and 8 pm; Thursday, 8 p.m.; Friday, 8 p.m.; Saturday, 2 p.m. and 8 p.m.; Sunday, 2 p.m. Music Hall Center for the Performing Arts Je’Caryous Johnson presents Jason’s Lyric. Brace yourself for the electrifying stage adaptation of one of the most iconic love stories of our time. Celebrating the 30th anniversary of its release, award-winning playwright and visionary producer Je’Caryous Johnson is transforming the beloved film into an immersive theatrical experience. Based upon the Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios motion picture written by Bobby Smith. $87; Thursday, 7:30-9:30 p.m.; Friday, 8-10 p.m.; and Saturday, 8-10 p.m.
The Back Office Studio The Hotel Del Gado: An anthology play composed of four different short plays that all take place in the same dingy hotel in the late 1970s. This play takes place in the Huron Valley Universe. (These plays are rated R for language and adult themes including drug use and domestic violence.) Saturday, 8 p.m.; Sunday, 2 p.m. Musical
Ferndale High School Ferndale Theatre proudly presents Disney’s Newsies, the high-energy, Tony Award-winning musical inspired by the real-life Newsboy Strike of 1899. Featuring an electrifying score by Alan Menken (Beauty and the Beast, Aladdin) and Jack Feldman, with a book by Harvey Fierstein (La Cage aux Folles), this beloved production follows Jack Kelly and his fellow “newsies” as they take a stand against powerful newspaper publishers. Performances run this March. $15; Saturday, 7:30-10 p.m. and Sunday, 3-5:30 p.m.
Fisher Theatre Kimberly Akimbo; Sunday, 1 p.m. and Tuesday, 7:30 p.m. Fisher Theatre Parade; Wednesday, 7:30 p.m.; Thursday, 7:30 p.m.; Friday, 7:30 p.m.; Saturday, 2 p.m. and 7:30 p.m.; Sunday, 1 p.m. and 6:30 p.m.
Fox Theatre Peter Pan; $25-$70; Tuesday, 7:30 p.m.
Pandemonia The Allstar Showdown is a highly interactive improvised game show. With suggestions from the audience, our two teams will battle for your laughs. The Showdown is like Whose Line is it Anyway, featuring a series of short improv games, challenges and more. $20; Friday, 8 p.m. and 10 p.m. hear.say brewing + theatre StandProv: An improvised Standup Comedy Show. Improv comedians riff scenes based on the material from standup comedians. You the audience provide topics for comedians to riff on in this fully improvised standup comedy show! $15; Saturday, 7:30-9 p.m.
Podcast: Live podcast
Fox Theatre Crime Junkie Podcast
Live: Life Rule #10 Tour. $34.75-$94.75; Friday, 7:30 p.m. Stand-up
Ann Arbor Comedy Showcase with Mary Santora The slightly dark, incredibly quick, observational style of Mary Santora’s comedy is one that is uniquely her own. Drawing from real life experiences, Mary takes the audience on a storytelling driven ride, while seamlessly weaving in and out of crowd interactions, leaving a lasting impression on anyone who sees her. Santora’s debut album, Hillbilly Boujee hit No. 1 on both iTunes and Amazon, No. 5 on Billboard, and can be heard regularly on SiriusXM. $25; Friday, 7:15-8:45 p.m. and 9:45-11:15 p.m., and Saturday, 7:15-8:45 .pm. and 9:45-11:15 p.m.
Batch Brewing Company Best Batch Comedy Best Batch: An International Women’s Day Comedy Show. Celebrate International Women’s Day featuring some of Detroit’s funniest and boldest comics, live at Batch Brewing Co. Craft beers, killer jokes, and a crowd of people who know how to have a good time — get your tickets before they’re gone! $15; Saturday, 8-9:30 p.m.
Blind Pig: Tree Town Comedy Festival Chad Daniels; $25, Thursday, 7 p.m. Gianmarco Soresi; $30, Friday, 10 p.m. Sabrina Wu; $25; Saturday, 7 p.m.
Eastern Palace Club The Smoke Show Comedy Show: Kristin Lytie; $5; Thursday, 8:30-10 p.m. Bailey Pope; $5; Thursday, 8:30-10 p.m.
Flagstar Strand Theatre for the Performing Arts Colin Mochrie & Brad Sherwood. $30-$70; Saturday, 8 p.m.
Fox Theatre Adam Ray is Dr. Phil Live. $39.50-$79.50; Thursday, 8 p.m.
Little Caesars Arena We Them One’s Comedy Tour. $65.50-$249.50; Friday, 8 p.m.
Mark Ridley’s Comedy Castle Isabel Hagen. $20-$25; Thursday, 7:30 p.m. Friday, 7:15 p.m., and 9:45 p.m. Saturday;
7 p.m. and 9:30 p.m. Mick Foley; $40$150; Sunday, 7 p.m..
Pike Room Comedy Night. $15; Saturday, 7 p.m.
The Congregation Detroit Comedy at the Congregation Bailey Pope is a New York based comedian, writer, and pigeonholed actress. She’s been featured on Prime Video, Roku Comedy Network and at festivals including New York Comedy Fest, Limestone and World Comedy Expo. Osama Basal is a Syrian stand up comedian who uses his quick wit and sharp observational humor to paint a picture of what it is like being a refugee living in America. $20; Friday, 7-9 p.m. Continuing This Week Stand-up
Blind Pig Blind Pig Comedy FREE Mondays, 8 p.m.
The Independent Comedy Club at Planet Ant The Sh*t Show Open Mic. A weekly open mic featuring both local amateurs and touring professionals. Doors open at 8:30 p.m. and the show begins at 9 p.m. $5 suggested donation; Fridays, Saturdays, 11 p.m.-1:30 a.m.
DANCE
Dance performance
Marlene Boll Theatre Detroit Dance Collective: Collage Concert. $25, $15 (student); Saturday, 7:30 p.m. Dance lessons
Diamondback Music Hall Wednesday Line Dancing Lessons taught by Amanda and Ashley. You don’t need any prior experience — just bring your enthusiasm and get ready to have a blast! This class is perfect for everyone, whether you’re a beginner, intermediate, or advanced dancer. Plus, we’ll have open dancing as well! $10 advance, $15 at the door. Wednesdays, 6:30-10 p.m.
Dance Lessons: Continuing This Week
First United Methodist Church of Troy Join us for line dancing and contra dancing each month! Warm up, exercise, meet new people, and have fun! Singles, couples, and families welcome. No experience needed: all dances taught. $10 suggested donation (no cover under 12). Saturday, 2-4:30 p.m.
The Commons Ballroom Dance Lessons; $5; Friday, 6-7 p.m.
ART
Artist talk
Artist Talk Vernard Rubens (abstracts), Ron Rutherford (pencil), Inez Brown (charcoal/acrylic). Saturday, 1-3 p.m.; MAC Galleries, 18943 Livernois Ave., Detroit; no cover.
Art Exhibition Opening
ArtClvb Space / Newlab Detroit
Sheefy McFly (Tashif Turner) is a proud Detroiter, multidisciplinary artist, rapper, DJ, and producer who fearlessly carves his own path while representing his city in everything he does. His bold, vibrant visual style draws inspiration from cubism and pop art, infused with a distinct Detroit energy. No cover; Friday, 5-7 p.m. Cranbrook Art Museum Family Workshop: Wearable Art. Looking for a fun and creative family activity? Join us on the second Saturday of each month for an interactive tour of the museum or Collections Wing Plaza Vault, followed by an artist-led workshop! On March 8, let’s make some noise with sound suit artist Nick Cave! Our workshop will be a mixed-media exploration of wearable art. There are two sessions to choose from: 11 a.m.-12:30 p.m. and 2-3:30 p.m. $15 per participant, intended for families with children 4-12, pre-registration is required. Saturday, 11 a.m.-12:30 p.m. and 2-3:30 p.m.
KickstART Gallery & Artisan Shop Opening Reception for Notes From A Blackbird. View the art, meet the artists, make new friends, and enjoy food and drinks. The exhibition features work by seventeen artists presented by Blackbird Gallery, including Jide Aje, Gil Ashby, Raji Mohammad Babtunde, Cheryl Barill, Gigi Boldon, Andra Daans, Mikel Elam, Lori Ellsworth, Cheryl Haithco, Richard Halprin, Henry Heading, Nicole Josette, Robert Ketchens, Sheefy McFly, Steffanie Samuels, Dawn Stringer, and Shirley Woodson. Friday, 5-8 p.m.
Continuing This Week
801 W Fort Street Hip Hop Evolution: Celebrating 50 Years of Hip Hop. Photography Renowned photojournalist Andre Smith invites the community to experience “Hip Hop Evolution: Celebrating 50 Years of Hip Hop Photography.” The exhibit is set to open on February 19, 2025 at Wayne County Community College District’s Downtown Art Gallery, and celebrates hip hop’s rich history. Featuring rare and iconic images of the legends of the industry like DJ Kool Herc and Queen Latifah to the pioneers who shaped the industry, visitors will explore the energy, resilience, and artistry that turned hip hop into a global phenomenon.
Moondog Cafe The Straits: A photography exhibition by Andrew Petrov. Influenced by the narrative painting of Jacob Lawrence and Diego Rivera and the fiction of John Dos Passos and Sinclair Lewis, The Straits employs 21st-century digital imaging techniques to tell the story of a city in motion. Through March 9.
CULTURE
Film
A pro wrestling pioneer
By Jared Rasic, Last Word Features
Queen of the Ring
Rated: PG-13
Run-time: 130 minutes
I had never heard of Mildred Burke before settling down to watch Queen of the Ring. As a fan of professional wrestling both past and present, there’s really no excuse for that, as she was one of the pioneers of the art form and came up at a time where it was damn near impossible to be a self-made and successful woman. In a just world, this film should reignite her legacy for anyone interested in the sport, just as The Iron Claw reminded everyone about the tragic history of wrestling’s Von Erich family.
Burke was the first millionaire female athlete in history, putting her body on the line in the early days of professional wrestling when they would have to fight the marks at carnivals for a quarter a bump. While professional wrestling (or as it’s also called in 2025:
“Sports Entertainment”) has a scripted storyline and finish, a lot of the moves are still physically taxing at best and insanely dangerous at worst. When a wrestler like Burke had a match against someone she wasn’t familiar with, the possibility of injury rose exponentially. There was a level of fearlessness to Burke that’s hard to even imagine, especially now.
Just as I’m hoping Burke becomes more well-known after the film, I’d be delighted if that carried over to the actress inhabiting her, Emily Bett Rickards, who has been a force of nature for years. Across eight seasons of the superhero show Arrow, Rickards was the heart of the entire series, stealing almost every scene she played. As Mildred Burke, Rickards brings that same warmth, but layers in a steely resolve and determination that gives Burke a depth that a lesser actress wouldn’t come close to finding.
Rickards’s performance makes Queen of the Ring, while the direction by Ash
Avildsen (son of John G. Avildsen, the director of Rocky) is fine, if workmanlike. The lack of any noticeable style means we spend more time noticing a script that sometimes leans heavily into melodrama and cliché. In a biopic, that is sometimes to be expected, but some of the screenwriting shortcuts are so pronounced (like Burke watching a single wrestling match and then it becomes her entire life’s passion) that it’s hard not to roll the eyes a bit.
Queen of the Ring follows the arc of a traditional biopic like gospel: starting at the early days when the subject begins her journey shrouded with adversity, then discovering her passion in life, training to be the best, being underestimated by the world, having a brief and ill-advised romance, personal growth, overcoming a great obstacle, and then triumph. Following this blueprint can be fine (especially in a sports biopic), but the films that slyly subvert the tropes are the ones we remember.
Even at its worst, Queen of the Ring
mostly still works based on its mesmerizing lead performance by Rickards and a great supporting cast with Josh Lucas leaning into his patented smug bravado, Cara Buono and her winking maternal warmth, Walton Goggins’s bottomless charisma, Deborah Ann Woll’s electrifying luminosity, and a star-making turn by Francesca Eastwood as the legendary Mae Young. In fact, the supporting cast is so stacked that Queen of the Ring probably would have worked better as a miniseries.
Still, the film is a lot of fun to watch, if for no other reason than to spend two hours in such a vividly realized world with this stunning cast playing these fascinating people. While there are many little things that could have made Queen of the Ring a stronger movie, the story itself is such an important and forgotten bit of sports history that getting to watch Rickards and company bring it all to life is still a blast.
Grade: B-
Arrow star Emily Bett Rickards shines in her portrayal of the first millionaire female athlete.
THP
CULTURE
Savage Love HUMP! Quickies
By Dan Savage
Dear Readers: The twentieth anniversary HUMP! Film Festival — the world’s biggest and best festival of short porn films — kicked off in Seattle, Portland, and San Francisco over the last two weeks. Our amazing new collection will be touring to more than 40 cities over the next few months. (Go to humpfilmfest.com to find out when HUMP! is coming to you!) We had a big party in Seattle to celebrate HUMP!’s twentiethth birthday — big thanks to Naomi Price-Lazarus and Breona Mendoza from Seattle Sex Trivia for hosting the party — and I took questions from the crowd. There are a few questions about HUMP!, which I’ll answer first, some good sex questions, and a few personal ones that I normally wouldn’t answer but I’m making an exception for this very special Quickies. —Dan
: Q Congrats on twenty years of HUMP! Did you know it would be such a big success when it started?
A: We did not see it coming. When we made our first call for submissions twenty years ago — when we invited people in Seattle to send us their amateur porn — we weren’t sure we would get any submissions. I mean, were people in Seattle going to send us homemade porn to be screened for Seattle audiences that could include their friends, neighbors, and coworkers? The answer to that question was yes we got tons of submissions that first year — so, we booked a theater and announced the First Annual HUMP! Film Festival. Then we wondered if anyone would show up. I mean, would people come to a theater and sit next to strangers in the dark and watch pornography the way their grandparents used to? The answer to that question was also yes — tickets for the first HUMP! Film Festival sold out within hours — and a few years later we were taking HUMP! to other cities.
We get so many great submissions for HUMP! that last year our dirty little film festival came out as biannual: HUMP! Part One tours in the spring and HUMP! Part Two tours in the fall. For the full list of cities HUMP! 2025 Part One is coming to this spring — along with the trailer, ticket info, and everything you need to know about submitting your porn for HUMP! 2026 — go to humpfilmfest.com!
: Q What was the most surprising
submission to HUMP! this year, why was it surprising, and did it make it into the festival?
A: HUMP! audiences love surprises as does every member of the HUMP! jury — so the most surprising submissions almost always get accepted. My favorite surprise in HUMP! 2025 Part One: an original live-action movie musical starring a horny gooner and a sentient cum sock. Little Sock of Whores is surprising, sexy, laugh-out-loud funny, and gloriously pornographic. The kind of film you can only see at HUMP!
: Q What is the single most likely thing to get a HUMP! submission rejected?
A: Length. We reject a lot of films that would’ve been great — and would’ve made it into the festival — if they were two- or three-minutes long but wear out their welcomes/premises at five minutes. If you’re thinking about making a film for HUMP!, remember that five minutes is the maximum running time, not the minimum!
: Q What is the most useless thing you know how to do?
A: I know how to find the clitoris — useless for me, useful for most other men.
: Q What is the one way that sex has changed over the last twenty years that has surprised you?
A: I’m surprised by how much less sex people have these days. We’re entering the second decade of a sex recession that shows no sign of abating, and I don’t think the efforts of “pro-natalist” Republicans to renormalize sexual assault, ban abortion, restrict birth control, and make abusive marriages harder to escape are going to turn things around. I’m also surprised by the growing number of hyper-online queer incels way more outraged by sex scenes in movies, age-gap relationships, and kink at pride than they are by attacks on LGBT civil rights.
: Q One tip for keeping a relationship fun and adventurous?
A: New relationships feel effortlessly adventurous because — at the start — you’re the adventure they’re on and they’re the adventure you’re on. To recapture that sense of adventure in a long-term relationship, you need to go on adventures together. Now, I can’t assign you an adventure — my idea of an exciting adventure might be your worst nightmare — but so long as you make a conscious effort to keep doing new things with, for, and to each other, your relationship will remain fun and adventurous.
: Q What is your opinion of 69ing?
A: It’s fine as an appetizer — it’s fine
when you’re rolling around with someone, it’s fine when you’re transitioning from one position to another, it’s fine if you have a little time to kill before the next episode of White Lotus — but it’s a lousy main course.
: Q What was your first kiss like?
A: My first kiss that really mattered my first kiss from a boy — was wonderful. I was gay and closeted, he was bisexual and closeted, and we were each pretending to be the kind of straight boy who was super secure in his heterosexuality… which is how I wound up with my head on his lap as we sat on the couch in his apartment talking about politics late one night after his girlfriend went home. Things got really quiet for a second and then he said, “What would you do if I kissed you?” Praying it wasn’t a trap, I said, “I would kiss you back.” And then he kissed me, and then I kissed him back. My first kiss — which was quickly followed by my first blowjob and my first faltering attempts at PIB — was problematic in a couple of ways. He was 23, for starters, and I was 16; he was the boyfriend of one of my girlfriends, who was also 16, and she accused me of seducing her boyfriend (who clearly had a thing for teenagers and teenager drama) and the whole thing was a mess. But what I took away from that experience — in addition to a badly bruised heart — was the realization that being asked for consent (“What would you do if I kissed you?”) was a thousand times sexier than being lunged at.
: Q How did you become a sexpert?
A: By accident. I started to write an advice column thirty years ago as a joke because wouldn’t it be hilarious if a gay man gave sex advice to straight people? — and immediately started getting real questions that required me to come up with real answers. And here’s one of the dirty little secrets about advice columnists: even if we had to look something up and/or consult an expert before answering a question, we like to pretend we knew the answer all along. By looking things up and consulting actual experts over the years, I learned a few things along the way… like where to find the clitoris. But I wouldn’t describe myself as a “sexpert,” as I hate that word almost as much as I hate the word “nipple.” (Just call it a tit, people.)
: Q My partner told me she does “vabbing” before she fucks other people. Is this a real thing?
A: And today I had to look up “vabbing”: “the application of vaginal secretions as a perfume; [the term] was popularized on TikTok in 2022 as a way of attracting men.” First: #NotAllMen. Second: even if only your partner was doing this, it would be a real thing. But seeing as “vabbing” has its own Wikipedia entry, it’s safe to say your partner is not the only woman doing this.
: Q Do you ever feel jealous about Terry having another primary partner? If so, how do you navigate that?
A: My husband doesn’t have “another primary partner,” since we practice — unapologetically — a hierarchical form of polyamory. So, I’m Terry’s husband, Tom’s Terry’s boyfriend. I’m the primary, Tom’s the secondary. I’m Miss America, Tom’s First Runner Up. And we navigate jealousy like any other couple: we yell and scream, we go to bed angry, we talk it out in the morning.
: Q I can only come to dark fantasies and they’re getting darker. How can I make this sustainable without running out of material? I’m a little scared of where this might take me.
A: If you can’t realize your fantasies for ethical reasons… never act on them. If you can’t share your fantasies without scaring people off… keep your mouth shut. If you run out of material… use your imagination. If you’re worried you might be a danger to yourself or others… seek professional help.
: Q I was in a relationship for two years and I still miss her. How do I get over her?
A: The fastest way to get over someone is by getting under someone else that’s what people have always said, and now we know it’s true.
: Q Who is your hall pass?
A: Who isn’t my hall pass? P.S. Hall passes are something people in monogamous relationships give their partners; someone in a monogamous relationship who’s in possession of a hall pass has permission to fuck a celebrity if they ever get the chance, which of course they never will. Since I’m not in a monogamous relationship, I don’t need a hall pass. But here’s a partial list of male celebrities I would wanna fuck if I ever had the chance, which of course I never will: Michael Urie, Charlie Barnett, and Mike Faist.
: Q What advice would you give to someone who is just starting to feel freer in their sexuality in their forties?
A: Don’t waste another minute.
: Q How do middle-aged people meet more fun and sexy people — not for romantic connections.
A: To meet fun and sexy people you gotta go where the fun and sexy people are — and since “fun” and “sexy” are subjective categories, that can mean anything from going to fetish clubs, sex parties, and HUMP! screenings to going to political protests, pickleball courts, and pretrial hearings. So, however you define “fun and sexy,” go hang out where people are doing those things.
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CULTURE Free Will Astrology
By Rob Brezsny
ARIES: March 21 – April 19
The world’s darkest material is Vantablack. This super-black coating absorbs 99.96% of visible light, creating a visual void. It has many practical applications, like improving the operation of telescopes, infrared cameras, and solar panels. I propose we make Vantablack your symbol of power in the coming weeks. It will signify that an apparent void or absence in your life might actually be a fertile opportunity. An ostensible emptiness may be full of potential.
TAURUS: April 20 – May 20
Among their many sensational qualities, rivers have the power to create through demolition and revision. Over the centuries, they erode rock and earth, making canyons and valleys. Their slow and steady transformative energy can be an inspiration to you in the coming months, Taurus. You, too, will be able to accomplish wonders through the strength of your relentless persistence — and through your resolute insistence
that some old approaches will need to be eliminated to make way for new dispensations.
GEMINI: May 21 – June 20
Centuries before European sailors ventured across the seas, Polynesians were making wide-ranging voyages around the South Pacific. Their navigations didn’t use compasses or sextants, but relied on analyzing ocean swells, star configurations, cloud formations, bird movements, and wind patterns. I bring their genius to your attention, Gemini, because I believe you are gaining access to new ways to read and understand your environment. Subtleties that weren’t previously clear to you are becoming so. Your perceptual powers seem to be growing, and so is your sensitivity to clues from below the visible surface of things. Your intuition is synergizing with your logical mind.
CANCER: June 21 – July 22
frivolous, rude, or unreasonable. You have permission to ask for bigger and better privileges that you have previously felt were beyond your grasp. You should assume you have finally earned rights you had not fully earned before now. My advice is to be discerning about how you wield this extra power. Don’t waste it on trivial or petty matters. Use it to generate significant adjustments that will change your life for the better.
LIBRA: Sept. 23 – Oct. 22
you go to Puerto Rico’s Mosquito Bay, you may also spy the glimmer of marine plankton known as dinoflagellates. The best time to see them show what they can do is on a cloudy night during a new moon, when the deep murk reveals their full power. I believe their glory is a good metaphor for you in the coming days. Your beauty will be most visible and your illumination most valuable when the darkness is at a peak.
CAPRICORN: Dec. 22 – Jan. 19
Real Mick’s and Paddy’s don’t need practice…on a similar note, ‘Car Bombs’ are slightly annoying; however, ‘pickle backs’ border on blasphemy.
The Maeslant Barrier is a gigantic, movable barricade designed to prevent the flooding of the Dutch port of Rotterdam. It’s deployed when storms generate surges that need to be repelled. I think we all need metaphorical versions of this protective fortification, with its balance of unstinting vigilance and timely flexibility. Do you have such psychic structures in place, Cancerian? Now would be a good time to ensure that you have them and they’re working properly. A key factor, as you mull over the prospect I’m suggesting, is knowing that you don’t need to keep all your defenses raised to the max at all times. Rather, you need to sense when it’s crucial to assert limits and boundaries — and when it’s safe and right to allow the flow of connection and opportunity.
LEO: July 23 – August 22
In North America, starlings are an invasive species introduced from Europe in the 19th century. They are problematic, competing with native species for resources. They can damage crops and spread diseases that affect livestock. Yet starlings also create the breathtakingly beautiful marvel known as a murmuration. They make mesmerizing, ever-shifting patterns in the sky while moving as one cohesive unit. We all have starling-like phenomena in our lives — people, situations, and experiences that arouse deeply paradoxical responses, that we both enjoy and disapprove of. According to my analysis, the coming weeks will be prime time to transform and evolve your relationships with these things. It’s unwise to sustain the status quo. I’m not necessarily advising you to banish them — simply to change your connection.
SCORPIO: Oct. 23 – Nov. 21:
Capricorn-born Shah Jahan I was the Emperor of Hindustan from 1628 to 1658. During his reign, he commissioned the Taj Mahal, a magnificent garden and building complex to honor his wife, Mumtaz Mahal. This spectacular “jewel of Islamic art” is still a major tourist attraction. In the spirit of Shah Jahan’s adoration, I invite you to dream and scheme about expressing your devotion to what you love. What stirs your heart and nourishes your soul? Find tangible ways to celebrate and fortify your deepest passions.
AQUARIUS: Jan. 20 – Feb. 18
Over 2,100 years ago, Greek scientists created an analog computer that could track astronomical movements and events decades in advance. Referred to now as the Antikythera mechanism, it was a unique, groundbreaking invention. Similar machines didn’t appear again until Europe in the 14th century. If it’s OK with you, I will compare you with the Antikythera mechanism. Why? You are often ahead of your time with your innovative approaches. People may regard you as complex, inscrutable, or unusual, when in fact you are simply alert for and homing in on future developments. These qualities of yours will be especially needed in the coming weeks and months.
PISCES: Feb.19 – March 20
I’M NOT PLAYING CARDS
The authentic alchemists of medieval times were not foolishly hoping to transmute literal lead and other cheap metals into literal gold. In fact, their goal was to change the wounded, ignorant, unripe qualities of their psyches into beautiful, radiant aspects. The coming weeks will be an excellent time for you to do such magic. Life will provide you with help and inspiration as you try to brighten your shadows. We all need to do this challenging work, Leo! Now is one of your periodic chances to do it really well.
VIRGO: August 23 – Sept. 22
Cosmic rhythms are authorizing you to be extra demanding in the coming days — as long as you are not
Buildings and walls in the old Incan city of Machu Picchu feature monumental stone blocks that fit together precisely. You can’t slip a piece of paper between them. Most are irregularly shaped and weigh many tons. Whoever constructed these prodigious structures benefited from massive amounts of ingenuity and patience. I invite you to summon some of the same blend of diligence and brilliance as you work on your growing masterpiece in the coming weeks and months. My prediction: What you create in 2025 will last a very long time.
SAGITTARIUS: Nov. 22 – Dec. 21
Bioluminescence is light emitted from living creatures. They don’t reflect the light of the sun or moon, but produce it themselves. Fireflies do it, and so do glow-worms and certain fungi. If
No cars drove through London’s streets in 1868. That invention was still years away. But the roads were crammed with pedestrians and horses. To improve safety amidst the heavy traffic, a mechanical traffic light was installed — the first in the world. But it had a breakdown a month later, injured a police officer, and was discontinued. Traffic lights didn’t become common for 50 years after that. I believe your imminent innovations will have better luck and good timing, Pisces. Unlike the premature traffic signal, your creations and improvements will have the right context to succeed. Don’t be shy about pushing your good ideas! They could revamp the daily routine.
Homework: What’s a need you have that you shouldn’t be embarrassed about but are?
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