EMPLOYMENT
EMPLOYMENT
Design Release Engineer, Farmington Hills, MI, Auto Kabel of North America Inc. Engr, dsgn, & release high voltage wiring harnesses for Rechargeable Energy Storage Systems (RESS), & low voltage wiring harnesses for 12V battery & engine cmprt, & pkg wiring harnesses & subcmpts incl. connectors, terminals, clips, & coverings, for psgr vehicles, using Siemens NX, Teamcenter, Vismockup, & Engrg Change Mgmt tools. Collaborate w/ internal/OEM Designers to define & pkg battery wiring harness routings in psgr vehicle engine cmprt, RESS, & retention/ covering cmpts. Reqrd travel 50 days P/A to OEM Tech Ctr (Warren, MI) & 10 days P/A to vehicle assy plants in U.S./CAN to review engrg changes, qlty issues, cable industrialization, & launch timing; & up to 24 days P/A to AK Juarez MEX plant for 1st piece signoff & assy board reviews, for total annual travel up to 84 days P/A. Bachelor, Industrial, Mechanical, or Electrical Engrg, or related. 36 mos exp as Engr or related, dsgng & releasing wiring harness, & pkgg wiring harness & subcmpts incl. connectors, terminals, & coverings, for psgr vehicle, using Siemens NX & Vismockup tools, or related. E-mail resume to pedro.yu@autokabel.com (Ref#5932).
Feedback NEWS & VIEWS
Readers respond to news of Karl Kurz handing Detroit’s Dakota Inn Rathskeller to Paddy Lynch, owner of The Schvitz and Dutch Girl Donuts.
So now you can have German food go down the road and get in the hot tub and then come back out and get your dessert donuts
—Keith Dibble, Facebook
Paddy buys everything cool.
—Chris McKenna, Facebook
I was a frequent customer there in better times.
—Paul Smith, Facebook I’m surprised the family sold it. I have
a great memory of going there around Christmas, watching the snow fall outside and talking to an older man about putting salt in your beer. The sincerity of a place is most important.
—Schenburn David, Facebook
Fantastic for both of these incredible individuals. Enjoy retirement Karl! Paddy, your continued investment into the city is a testament to your passion and belief of all things Detroit! Congrats.
—Brian Dilworth, Facebook
Cool old Detroit history, I went there years ago....we gotta save some of our history here. Prosit!
—Shawn Whalen, Facebook
Sound off: letters@metrotimes.com
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NEWS & VIEWS Whistleblowers sue Hamtramck, alleging corruption
Two Hamtramck officials have filed a sweeping civil rights lawsuit against the city, accusing top leaders, including Mayor Amer Ghalib and Police Chief Jamiel Altaheri, of corruption, retaliation, and abuses of power that they say silenced whistleblowers and shielded misconduct.
Filed by City Manager Max Garbarino and Officer David Adamczyk, the lawsuit claims the pair exposed serious misconduct by Altaheri and other officials, including election interference, retaliatory personnel decisions, and a purported scheme to secure a presidential pardon in exchange for millions of dollars.
The lawsuit, filed in federal court by Marko Law PLLC, alleges violations of the Michigan Whistleblower Protection Act, the Open Meetings Act, civil rights laws, and other statutes.
NBC’s Grosse Pointe Garden Society needs a streaming miracle to survive
Only you can save NBC’s Grosse Pointe Garden Society!
OK, that may be the grossest of gross exaggerations, granted. However, it does contain a kernel of truth.
In mid-May the Peacock Network swung a broad ax and canceled five of its prime-time series at once, in part to make room for its acquisition of NBA telecasts next fall. Gone are the first-year drama Suits LA, crime sagas Found and The Irrational (guess Jesse L. Martin can lose those facial scars now), and sitcoms Night Court and Lopez vs. Lopez. But it did not cancel Grosse Pointe Garden Society, the wild and risqué prime time soap-slashwhodunit set in Detroit’s oldest of old money suburbs.
It didn’t renew the series either.
Instead, in a programming move as modern as it may be confusing, NBC decided to hold off making a final decision on GPGS until it sees how its reruns fare on Peacock, the network’s streaming service, over the summer.
“Essentially, we weren’t canceled during that awful [May] bloodbath,”
exhales Bill Krebs, the Grosse Pointe Park native who, with his production partner Jenna Bans, created the series, served as co-executive producer, and had a hand in writing every one of the show’s 13 first-season episodes.
“However, we are not coming back to NBC. There just aren’t enough slots available in 2025-26 now that they have the NBA.”
Opening to solid ratings last fall but buried in the 10 p.m. Sunday time slot, the series was moved to 8 p.m. Fridays by NBC at midseason in hopes of attracting more visitors to Grosse Pointe
“We have had an uptick on Peacock,” Krebs reports, “so there has been talk of possibly moving us over to their streamer. We are using this month to gain as many eyeballs as possible.”
In some ways, moving to Peacock would be a blessing for Krebs, who had to write every episode of season one with Bans and the show’s writing team at breakneck speed while the series was being filmed after Grosse Pointe Garden Society was picked up by NBC. “You had to really commit to the sto-
ryline because there was no way to go back and change anything once it was shot,” he relates.
“It would be ideal to find a home on Peacock. We’d write all the episodes in advance and not fear getting caught by production breathing down our necks. We’d have all the scripts in front of us to make our story sing brighter and louder. But this month on Peacock predicts our fate.”
So, Krebs is issuing a personal appeal to all Grosse Pointers and metro Detroiters, past and present:
“Everyone should binge the show on Peacock,” he implores. “We are using this month to gain as many eyeballs as possible. Just start it and let it run! It’s the number of minutes that matter, not necessarily the number of episodes watched. But finishing the series counts. It would be great if people could watch until the end. Then watch again…and again…and again!”
Otherwise, sure as Birdie enjoys her occasional martini, Grosse Pointe Garden Society may have seen its final plot.
—Jim McFarlin
“Max Garbarino has honorably served Hamtramck for over twenty years,” attorney Jonathan Marko said in a statement last week. “Instead of rewarding his integrity, the lawsuit alleges that the City Council betrayed him and officer David Adamczyk, punishing them for standing up against corruption and misconduct at the highest levels. This lawsuit will hold Hamtramck accountable and send a clear message: public servants who protect their community from wrongdoing deserve support, not retaliation.”
The complaint paints a picture of dysfunction and retaliation on the nation’s first all-Muslim city council, detailing allegations that Altaheri abused his position to protect himself and his allies, including creating a fake police identification for a civilian tied to the alleged pardon scheme and using undercover police resources for personal purposes. Garbarino and Adamczyk also accuse Altaheri of interfering with local elections, driving city vehicles while intoxicated, and covering up domestic violence incidents.
Adamczyk says he reported Altaheri’s alleged misconduct to the Michigan State Police and the FBI. In response, Garbarino placed Adamczyk on leave to protect him and the integrity of the investigation. Days later, Garbarino suspended Alta-
The fate of this Detroit drama depends on how well reruns perform on Peacock.
STEVE SWISHER/NBC
heri, citing erratic and disturbing behavior. The lawsuit alleges the city retaliated by holding an illegal closed-door meeting to suspend Garbarino and launching a public smear campaign against both men.
Their co-attorney Reno Arabo said the men showed bravery.
“I hope there is a Max and David in every city,” Arabo said. “We need people who are brave enough to stand up, expose corruption, and protect their community, even when powerful forces try to silence them.”
The lawsuit names several city council members, including Abu Musa, Khalil Refai, Mohammed Hassan, Muhith Mahmood, Mohammed Alsomiri, and Muhtasin Sadman, as defendants. It also accuses city officials of suppressing election fraud investigations, retaliating against whistleblowers through suspensions and harassment, and attempting to obstruct criminal probes.
The lawsuit comes amid mounting scrutiny of Hamtramck’s government. On May 23, the FBI confirmed its agents were in Hamtramck “conducting law enforcement activities,” though the bureau has not provided details. Separately, the Michigan State Police and Monroe County Prosecutor’s Office are investigating alleged absentee ballot fraud and questions about whether two council members live in the city, as required by law.
Ghalib, who was picked by former President Donald Trump in March to serve as U.S. ambassador to Kuwait, has denied wrongdoing and said he welcomes FBI involvement and wants a fair and transparent investigation.
“I want to testify,” Ghalib said at a recent council meeting. He added, “We want the FBI to be involved.”
Garbarino, who served as Hamtramck’s police chief before becoming city manager, has insisted his actions were necessary to protect the city’s credibility and called on Ghalib to act ethically. In a statement, he said, “This moment demands moral courage and responsibility, not silence.”
Metro Times couldn’t immediately reach Hamtramck officials.
A released audio recording captures Altaheri telling a civilian volunteer to point a loaded gun at someone’s head, adding to the growing list of serious allegations against him and city leaders.
The recording, released last week by Marko, features a disturbing exchange between Altaheri and civilian volunteer Carol Rutkowski
during a conversation in the chief’s office on April 30. The conversation was recorded by Adamczyk.
In the audio, Rutkowski tells Altaheri that she needed to visit an eyeglass store to retrieve frames and money from someone.
“He wants the frames, and he wants the money,” she says.
“Here, take my gun,” Altaheri replies. “Point this at his fucking head and tell him, ‘Gimme the frame.’”
When Rutkowski appears to hesitate, Altaheri repeats: “Go put it in his head and tell him, ‘Gimme the frame.’”
Sgt. Naseer Golla, who was also in the room, then asks, “Is it loaded?”
Altaheri responds, “It is loaded.”
Rutkowski, who has volunteered with the department and was honored by the city with an “Excellence in Resilience Award” for her commitment during cancer treatment, appears to be the target of a flippant remark from Altaheri later in the recording.
“She ain’t getting shit,” he says. “She got fucking nine lives.”
“These are crazy and almost unbelievable allegations that are substantiated through evidence and through testimony of multiple people,” Marko said at a news conference last Tuesday. “It reads out of a season of The Sopranos.”
Altaheri has only been on the police force for a year.
According to the complaint, Adamczyk began documenting Altaheri’s conduct and reporting it to outside law enforcement. Garbarino, who was previously the city’s police chief, placed Adamczyk on leave to protect the integrity of the investigation and soon after suspended Altaheri for erratic and disturbing behavior. In response, the lawsuit alleges, city officials retaliated by suspending Garbarino and launching a smear campaign.
Garbarino said he was pressured to fire Black city employees and others for political or personal reasons, including the city assessor for displaying a Pride flag. He also says council members interfered with hiring decisions and demanded he ignore signs of election fraud, such as large drops of absentee ballots.
“The city has endured misconduct for far too long,” Garbarino said.
“These guys have been fixing elections for over a decade, and we have been begging for help all along. I thought it was my duty to make a stand and do what is right. I believe the people of Hamtramck deserve better.”
—Steve Neavling
Health officials warn of rise in nitrous oxide use
The recreational use of nitrous oxide, commonly known as “laughing gas,” has led to an alarming surge in emergency medical incidents across Michigan, prompting a warning from state health officials on Wednesday.
Calls to the Michigan Poison and Drug Information Center (MiPDC) involving adverse effects from nitrous oxide misuse rose 533% between 2019 and 2024, while emergency medical service responses increased by 553% over the same period. Emergency department visits linked to the drug jumped 757% from 2019 to 2023, according to the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS).
“The drug landscape is constantly changing and the increases in nitrous oxide misuse are concerning, given the widespread availability of the product and the increase in multiple substance use,” Dr. Natasha Bagdasarian, the state’s chief medical executive, said. “It is crucial that individuals who use nitrous oxide are aware of the risks of chronic use and take steps to reduce its harms.”
Although nitrous oxide is commonly used as a sedative in medical settings as well as a propellant in whipped cream dispensers, it has become increasingly popular as a recreational drug because of its easy availability and euphoric effects. The gas can be purchased at grocery stores, convenience shops, vape stores, and online retailers, often in
flavored products that appeal to young people.
“This is a serious public health problem,” said Dr. Varun Vohra, senior director and clinical toxicologist at MiPDC. “At the MiPDC, our consultants are encountering a significant increase in cases involving neurological and cardiovascular effects related to the recreational use of nitrous oxide. Individuals who use nitrous oxide and clinicians who treat them should be aware of the symptoms and long-term risks associated with chronic recreational misuse.”
Those risks include serious neurological and psychiatric damage. Symptoms of chronic use may include numbness, tingling, limb weakness, memory issues, delusions, depression, and mood swings. In more severe cases, users may experience oxygen deprivation or even asphyxiation.
State law now bans the sale of objects specifically intended for recreational nitrous oxide use. MDHHS urges anyone experiencing negative symptoms after using nitrous oxide to stop immediately and seek emergency medical care. Residents can also call the MiPDC’s 24/7 hotline at 800-222-1222 for expert consultation.
Substance use disorder services are available throughout the state. More information can be found at Michigan. gov/SUD.
—Steve Neavling
There’s nothing funny about laughing gas. SHUTTERSTOCK
Activists urge officials to help student facing deportation
Teachers, students, and parents across Detroit are urging elected officials to intervene in the case of Maykol Bogoya-Duarte, an 18-year-old junior at Western International High School who was detained by immigration authorities last month and faces deportation before completing his diploma.
Bogoya-Duarte, who immigrated from Colombia two and a half years ago, was pulled over by Rockwood police on May 20 while driving with three classmates to Lake Erie Metropark for a school field trip, Chalkbeat Detroit reported on Friday. He did not have a driver’s license, only a city of Detroit ID card. Although none of the other students were arrested, police contacted U.S. Border Patrol, and Bogoya-Duarte was taken into ICE custody.
Federal officials have confirmed that a judge had previously issued a deportation order against him. He was held at Chippewa County Correctional Facility in the Upper Peninsula, but his current location has not been disclosed.
Now a growing coalition of supporters is calling on Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, U.S. Sens. Gary Peters and Elissa Slotkin, U.S. Reps. Shri Thanedar and Rashida Tlaib, and the Detroit Public Schools Community District to publicly condemn the detention and help secure BogoyaDuarte’s release. The group is urging the student’s supporters to sign a petition, which has already collected
893 signatures.
“Since his arrival as a minor, he has proven himself to be an intelligent and caring individual, loved by students and staff alike,” the petition reads. “He is very polite and strives to always do his best - an ideal student for teachers, and a reliable friend for his peers. His detention has shaken our community’s core.”
The arrest has shaken the school community, especially at Western International, where more than 60% of students are English language learners and many are enrolled in the school’s newcomer program, which supports families recently ar-
riving in the U.S.
According to Detroit Public Schools Community District Superintendent Nikolai Vitti, the student did not have permission to attend the field trip and was not considered under the district’s protection at the time of the arrest. District police later contacted authorities to ensure Bogoya-Duarte’s safety and to advocate for him, but officials said they were following federal procedures.
Supporters are urging officials to demand a stay of deportation so Bogoya-Duarte can complete the three credits he needs to graduate from Western International. They’re
also calling for broader protections for immigrant students and families, including expanded “Know Your Rights” training for students, staff, and families; stronger sanctuary school policies; continued investment in English as a Second Language (ESL) and newcomer programs; mental health and trauma support services for students; and better compliance with service-hour requirements for English learners.
The petition (tinyurl.com/ y9yvt3zv) is backed by groups that include 482Forward and MIStudentsDream.
—Steve Neavling
Hip-hop festival planned for Juneteenth in Hart Plaza
A festival that aims to celebrate both Juneteenth and Detroit’s hip-hop music scene is planned for Hart Plaza.
The inaugural “Hart of Detroit Summer Fest” is set to kick off at 6 p.m. on Thursday, June 19.
“We’re doing this event because Detroit does deserve the platform,” says festival organizer Chanel Domonique. “We see a Movement [Festival] come to town, we see all of these other festivals come to town, but we have an urban market here that really highlights urban culture, Black culture, hip-hop culture.”
The Hart of Detroit Summer Fest would join other music festivals of a variety of genres held throughout the summer at downtown Detroit’s riverside park including the Movement electronic music festival in May, African World in July, Ribs and R&B in August, and Detroit Jazz Festival in May.
It’s set to feature performances by Detroit rappers including Icewear Vezzo, Peezy, Baby Money, Payroll, Sada Baby, Babyface Ray, Veeve, 2100 Bagz, Pretty Brayah, DBCO, 1UpTee, Ghetto Baby Boom, Babyfxce E, Krispylife Kidd, Snap Dogg, Allstar JR, 22 Da Boat, GT, Samuel Shabazz, and Cash Kidd, plus a few surprises, Domonique says.
Prior to the concert there will be a free block party starting at noon curated and sponsored by the upcoming AfroFuture festival featuring music by afrobeats DJs Cookie, Blakito, and Yungo in addition to performances from Detroit artists Ain’t Afraid, Bruiser Wolf, and Drey Skonie. The experience is also set to include yard games, jit dance classes, vendors, prizes, and giveaways.
“[AfroFuture] has really done a great job tapping in with the city and working with us,” Domonique says of the interna-
tional African music festival, set to make its U.S. debut in Detroit on Aug. 16-17 at the site of the former Brewster-Douglass Housing Projects. Nigerian singer Asake, Kaytranada, Brazilian singer-songwriter Ludmilla, and Congolese rapper Gims are also on the bill, in addition to local acts like rapper Tee Grizzley, among others.
Domonique is also the primary organizer for “313 Day,” a Detroit hip-hop concert series held in 2022 and 2023. After taking a year off, 313 Day was scheduled to be expanded into a multi-day festival at the Masonic Temple this past March but was canceled just hours before showtime due to a breakdown in the agreement between the organizers and the venue.
Domonique says she plans to reformat 313 Day into a different experience and says she will be more discerning about which venues and entities she partners with moving forward.
“I can’t be too quick to assume that a company is ready to really partner and bring 40 Detroit artists into the building,” she says. “And I’m not ready to eliminate slots to please a venue. And then you just gotta be completely truthful about why you don’t want this show to go on, so for me, yes, it’s made me move different.”
“Hart of Detroit Summer Fest” is also sponsored by Detroit vs. Everybody, Stock Platinum Professionals, and Financial Partners. Dominique says she is working with the Detroit Police Department, the Detroit Fire Department, and Detroit City Council on logistics.
“It is my goal to make sure we highlight our artists in the same manner, in the same light, with the same type of respect,” as others, Domonique says. “I hate to be FUBU about it, but it’s for us, by us.”
Tickets are available at eventbrite.com.
—Kahn Santori Davison
A Western International High School junior was on his way to a field trip when a traffic stop led to ICE detention. SHUTTERSTOCK
Detroit summers are truly something special. Maybe it’s just because it’s so cold and gray here for much of the year, but it almost feels like a completely different city with the sun shining, people walking around, the warm humidity of the evening air, and the chirping song of insects at night. So without further delay, it’s time to seize the season. Consider these activities for your Detroit summer bucket list.
Catch a Detroit City FC game Detroit’s pro soccer team has come a long way since it was founded by beer league friends in 2012, playing at Cass Tech before taking over Hamtramck’s Keyworth Stadium in 2016. Le Rouge recently purchased a sprawling property in Southwest Detroit, about 17 acres, with plans to expand mightily for the 2027 season. Until then, let’s enjoy the final games at Keyworth, where the rowdy Northern Guard fan club keeps the energy going with boisterous cheering and colorful smoke bombs.
Keyworth Stadium; 3201 Roosevelt St., Hamtramck; see detcityfc.com for full schedule.
Enjoy the better Belle Isle
Going a summer in Detroit without ever visiting Belle Isle is just unthinkable, and if you haven’t been in a while there are even more reasons to go this year. The Anna Scripps Whitcomb Conservatory recently emerged from a two-year, $10 million restoration that saw the installation of new window panes, the repair of steel trusses, updated exterior limestone
panels, and a new concrete flooring and planter walls filled with colorful flora. In 2021, the nearby Belle Isle Aquarium reopened after $1.2 million in renovations, including the addition of aquatic creatures like garden eels, endangered Mexican axolotl salamanders, and an octopus dubbed Sir Ringo Woodward. The Belle Isle Aquarium; 3 Inselruhe Dr., Detroit; belleisleconservancy.org; no cover. Anna Scripps Whitcomb Conservatory, 4 Inselruhe Dr., Detroit; belleisleconservancy.org; no cover.
Kayak down Detroit’s canals
For a more intimate view of the Detroit River, try kayaking or paddle-boarding. Here’s a fun way to do so: Neighboring businesses Detroit River Sports and Coriander Kitchen & Farm offer “Paddleto-Table” tours of the Jefferson-Chalmers canals — a charming residential neighborhood dubbed the “Venice of Detroit” by some. The tours go for about an hour and a half and end with a delicious dinner at an acclaimed riverside restaurant. Detroit River Sports and Coriander Kitchen & Farm; 14601 Riverside Blvd., Detroit; detroitriversports.com. Tickets are $180 per person and includes a tour, a four-course meal, beer and wine, and tip.
Take a pedal pub tour of Detroit
Look, it’s hard to be too critical of these silly contraptions that have exploded in popularity in U.S. cities over the past decade or so. Ignore the hypocrisy of drinking alcohol while exercising, the goofy pop music they blast into the
ing experience paired with modern-day blockbusters. This is a perfect Motor City summer activity for a date night, family outing, or just a slice of summer. Tip: Bring lawn chairs and a battery-operated radio to serve as a speaker.
The Ford Wyoming Drive-In; 10400 Ford Rd., Dearborn; forddrivein.com. Tickets are $29.75 per vehicle with two or more occupants or $15 with a single occupant.
Cheer on the Detroit Tigers
The Tigers have been on a hot streak ever since the team snapped out of its decadelong postseason drought a year ago, and are enjoying one of the best starts in franchise history this season. As of Friday, the team had the best record in MLB and was the only team in baseball with at least 40 wins. The energy in the entire city changes when Detroit’s major sports teams are winning. For the past two seasons it was the long-suffering Detroit Lions, and at least for now it seems it’s the Tigers’ turn.
Comerica Park; 2100 Woodward Ave., Detroit; mlb.com/tigers
Sip adult beverages on a beautiful patio
streets, or the awkwardness of sharing the roads with these slow-moving outdoor roving bars — because the people who go on them seem to be having a genuinely fun time. We’re not going to yuck anyone’s yum — just remember to tip your bartender generously.
Detroit Rolling Pub, 2208 Cass Ave., Detroit; detroitrollingpub.com; from $295.
The Michigan Pedaler, 1460 Michigan Ave., Detroit michiganpedaler.com; from $300.
Watch a movie at the Ford Wyoming Drive-In
This beloved metro Detroit landmark has been lighting up the night sky with double features since 1950, offering a nostalgic, under-the-stars moviego-
Step out of those dark, dingey dive bars and into the sunshine. Detroit has plenty of beautiful patios for al fresco drinking, with some of our favorites being the Old Miami (3930 Cass Ave., Detroit), the rooftop Monarch Club (33 John R Rd., Detroit; monarchclubdetroit.com), and Corktown’s Motor City Wine (1949 Michigan Ave., Detroit), among many others.
Tour the river by boat
Here’s a fun way to learn about the U.S.Canadian history. This family-owned tour business offers sightseeing tours four days a week, Thursdays-Sundays, highlighting notable and historic attractions along the Detroit River.
1340 Atwater St., Detroit; diamondjack. com. Tickets are $25.
Detroit River Sports offers tours of the charming canal district. COURTESY PHOTO
Walk the RiverWalk
Detroit’s ongoing transformation of its riverfront is flipping decades of industrial privatization into a public amenity, connecting key pieces of the city like never before. The RiverWalk now offers an scenic, uninterrupted 3.5-mile walk from the former Joe Louis Arena site to Belle Isle, with landscaped paths, fishing piers, gardens, bike lanes, and public art, and more parks on the way. While the larger plans unfold, every day is a good day to stroll, bike, fish, or simply linger along the completed stretch.
See detroitriverfront.org for more information
Ooh and aah at the Ford Fireworks
The annual Ford Fireworks is the unofficial start of the summer and one of the largest fireworks shows in the nation, with more than 10,000 pyrotechnic effects launched from three barges in the river — delighting both Detroiters and our Canadian friends across the border. Arrive early to find a good viewing spot, or find a rooftop party for a fun viewing experience, and be patient and courteous of others — the event draws hundreds of thousands of spectators, so expect heavy traffic. Hart Plaza; starts at 9:55 p.m. on Monday, June 23; no cover.
Cruise Woodward Avenue
For decades, this late-summer tradition of driving classic and unique cars down the Woodward corridor has garnered both fans and haters. If you fall into the latter camp, consider embracing the chaos this year: It’s the 30th anniversary of the Woodward Dream Cruise, which started as a fundraiser to build a soccer field in Ferndale and now lays claim to being the largest one-day automotive event in the U.S. Maybe we should just enjoy it while
it lasts, because who knows — perhaps in the near future all vehicles will be electric and autonomous, and this event will seem like a strange dream. (And if it really just ain’t your thing, seek alternate routes!)
From 9 a.m.-9 p.m. on Saturday, Aug. 16; along Woodward Avenue from Ferndale to Pontiac; woodwarddreamcruise.com. No cover.
Enjoy a concert at the Aretha Franklin Amphitheatre
Detroit’s riverside amphitheater is celebrating 40 years of concerts this summer. Formerly known as Chene Park, the venue was renamed in 2019 after Detroit’s late Queen of Soul and recent improvements saw the installation of LED screens, including some facing the Detroit River for the boaters that often anchor during summer nights. If you have access to a boat, taking in a concert that way at the Aretha might be one of the most Detroit experiences you could possibly have. Upcoming concerts include country singer Jamey Johnson on June 13, an “I Love The 80’s” show with A Flock of Seagulls and Bow Wow on June 21, and Kem on July 25, among others.
2600 E. Atwater St., Detroit; thearetha. com.
Go
shopping at Eastern Market
Detroit’s historic market district, one of the oldest and largest in the country, is open year-round — but it really comes alive in the summertime. On Saturdays, the sheds buzz with vendors offering fresh produce, meats, cheeses, flowers, and locally made goods, as well as music and street performers. It’s a beautiful cross-section of the city.
2934 Russell St., Detroit; easternmarket. org.
Beat the heat at Detroit’s museums
When the summer heat gets unbearable, there are plenty of ways to cool off indoors. It’s the perfect opportunity to visit Detroit’s museum district: the Detroit Institute of Arts has Guests of Honor: Armor as Fashion on exhibition, the Michigan Science Center recently reopened its popular Kids Town exhibit thanks to a generous anonymous donor, the Detroit Historical Museum has an exhibit on the Motor City’s understated comic book history, and the Motown Museum is celebrating its 40th anniversary before it expands with a much larger campus.
The Detroit Institute of Arts; 5200 Woodward Ave., Detroit; dia.org. Michigan Science Center; 5020 John R St., Detroit; mi-sci.org. Detroit Historical Museum; 5401 Woodward Ave., Detroit; detroithistorical.org. Motown Musuem; 648 W Grand Blvd., Detroit; motownmuseum.org.
Take a road trip to Cedar Point
For many metro Detroiters, a road trip to this popular amusement park — considered one of the best in the U.S. — is a classic summertime vacation, and you can be there in around two hours. Opened in 1870, it’s the second-oldest park in the U.S. and its wild roller coasters include some record-breakers, like this year’s revamped Top Thrill 2, which now lays claim to being the world’s tallest.
1 Cedar Point Dr., Sandusky, Ohio; cedarpoint.com. Tickets start at $49.99.
Attend metro Detroit’s fun festivals
Festival season is upon us. In addition long-standing favorites like Detroit’s
Concert of Colors global music festival (July 16-20; concertofcolors.com), new events this year include a Hart of Detroit Summer Festival in Hart Plaza with rappers Icewear Vezzo, Peezy, Babyface Ray, and Veeze (June 19) and AfroFuture (Aug. 16-17; afrofuture.com) with acts like Nigerian singer Asake, Canada’s Kaytranada, and Brazilian singer-songwriter Ludmilla, among others, to be held at the grounds of Detroit’s former Brewster-Douglass Housing Projects.
Hike the Potawatomi Trail
This 40-mile trail is a great taste of the outdoors for hiking or mountain biking. Located in the Pinckney Recreation Area, the trail is a 17.4-mile loop with a mix of terrain, winding through forests, lakes, and streams.
Pinckney Recreation Area; 8555 Silver Hill Rd., Pinckney; michigandnr.com. No cover.
Enjoy the city’s murals
Detroit’s streets are packed with stunning works of arts murals turn the city into an open-air gallery, with murals districts in the Eastern Market, Southwest Detroit, the North End, and the Dequindre Cut — a former railroad line turned into a scenic greenway. This year, the city announced the creation of nine “Art Alleys” across Detroit that will feature nearly 50 artists.
Get a taste of
Detroit’s food trucks
The Downtown Street Eats program is bringing more than 80 food trucks to the Campus Martius Park area this summer from 11 a.m.-3 p.m. weekdays. You can take your meal to Campus Martius and pretend you’re in a tropical getaway, where you’ll find an ersatz beach with imported sand, lounge chairs, a cocktail bar, and Cabana 313, a two-story lounge with 360-degree views of the city.
Celebrate Independence Day with the Salute to America
Here’s a fun way to celebrate Independence Day, steeped in U.S. history. A collaboration between The Henry Ford Museum and the Detroit Symphony Orchestra, the annual Salute to America takes guests back in time through our nation’s history with costumed performers in period attire, rides on a 1913 Herschell-Spillman carousel, vintage automobiles, and the climax — an orchestral performance of Tchaikovsky’s “1812 Overture” complete with firing cannons and fireworks. From 5-10 p.m. on Wednesday, July 2-Saturday, July 5 at Greenfield Village; 20900 Oakwood Blvd., Dearborn; thehenryford.org
More than 80 food trucks are coming to downtown Detroit.
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WHAT’S GOING ON
Jamey Johnson
As part of its 40th anniversary celebrations, Detroit’s Aretha Franklin Amphitheatre is branching out into other genres of music. This show is headlined by the Alabama-born and Grammy-winning country singer Jamey Johnson, whose deep baritone and raw songwriting have drawn comparisons to other outlaw country acts. Local artist Audrey Ray opens.
—Lee DeVito
Doors at 7 p.m. on Friday, June 13 at the Aretha Franklin Amphitheatre, Tickets are
2600 Atwater St., Detroit; $39-$139.
Warren City Pride
For the second year, an official Pride Month celebration is coming to Michigan’s third-largest city. The free, familyfriendly event includes music, drag performances, vendors, food trucks, and more.
—Lee DeVito
From noon-6 p.m. on Saturday, June 14; Warren City Hall, 1 City Square, Warren; warrencitypride.com. No cover.
The Verve Pipe
Saturday’s concert by Michigan rock band the Verve Pipe is a special one for local fans. Not only are we rounding this up to a hometown show of sorts (the band was founded in East Lansing), but the show serves as a release party for the vinyl version of the Verve Pipe’s 1992 debut I’ve Suffered a Head Injury, which includes an early version its biggest hit, the ’90s alt-rock anthem “The Freshman.” In an Instagram video, frontman Brian Vander Ark said this will be the only
chance to grab this disc for a while.
Doors at 7 p.m. on Saturday, June 14 at Royal Oak Music Theatre
Royal Oak Music Theatre, 318 W. 4th St., Royal Oak; https://www.royaloakmusictheatre.com. Tickets are $43-$79.
The Wiz
Beginning June 17, fans will be easing on down the road to watch the newest
—Lee DeVito
The Verve Pipe.
COURTESY PHOTO
iteration of the Tony Award-winning musical The Wiz at the Fisher Theater.
Charlie Smalls’s musical adaptation of L. Frank Baum’s 1900 children’s novel The Wonderful Wizard of Oz has evolved into a mainstay in contemporary African American culture as it celebrates its 50 anniversary.
“I think it’s one of the first national and international successes of being seen in Black culture in general,” says Brandon Waddles, a Detroit native who serves as the associate music director and pianist for the production.
The musical is directed by Schele Williams (The Notebook, a revival of Disney’s Aida), choreographed by JaQuel Knight (Beyonce’s “Single Ladies”), and Joseph
chestrations, and music arrangements.
“What you will experience is this conglomeration, this amalgamation of the original, is every piece of Black music that has been surfacing since The Wiz’s original iteration,” Waddles says. “So you’re going to hear some hip-hop, some R&B, some Donny Hathaway ’70s R&B.
But you’ll hear some New Orleans second line, some HBCU marching band — there’s a lot packed in in a very respectful way.”
The cast features Dana Cimone (Dorothy), Alan Mingo Jr. (The Wiz), D Jerome (Tin Man), Elijah Ahmad Lewis (Scarecrow), and Cal Mitchell (Cowardly Lion). Waddles says that modern jargon and cultural phrases have been implemented,
sion of The Wiz will definitely meet the expectations of fans from all generations.
“When we are able to see ourselves in these spaces of larger art and culture where we have not been in a major way,” he says, “I think that visibility is why it continues to be accessible to generation after generation.”
—Kahn Santori Davison
Show runs from June 17-29 at Detroit’s Fisher Theatre; 3011 W. Grand Blvd., Detroit; broadwayindetroit.com. Tickets are $46.80-$169.65.
The Midwest Wiener Fest
Celebrate the funniest-looking dog
Dachshund Club and Detroit Shipping Co. have teamed up for the Midwest Wiener Fest, which serves as a fundraiser for Dachshund Haus and Corgi Rescue (DHACR) — a non-profit rescue based in Sterling Heights specializing in corgis and dachshunds. Expect vendors, DJs, a flash tattoo tent, and food and drinks from the food hall, with a portion of sales benefiting the DHACR. Well-behaved doggos are welcome.
—Lee DeVito
From 6-10 p.m. on Saturday, June 14 at the Detroit Shipping Company, 474 Peterboro St., Detroit; detroitshippingcompany.com.
The wonderful The Wiz is coming to Detroit’s Fisher Theatre.
COURTESY PHOTO
WHAT’S GOING ON CONTD
Select events happening in metro Detroit this week. Be sure to check venue websites before all events for the latest information. Add your event to our online calendar: metrotimes.com/AddEvent.
MUSIC
Wednesday, June 11
Live/Concert
CLASSIC LOUNGE SOUNDS w/ KESHTKAR & CO. second Wednesday of every month, 8-11 p.m.; Bowlero Lanes & Lounge, 4209 Coolidge Hwy., Royal Oak; no cover.
Cubist Agenda 8 p.m.-midnight; First Place Lounge, 16921 Harper Ave, Detroit; no cover.
Great Lakes Chamber Music Festival June 21; Seligman Performing Arts Center, 22305 W. 13 Mile Rd., Beverly Hills;
Mei Semones 7 p.m.; The Loving Touch, 22634 Woodward Ave., Ferndale; $18.
Norman Brown 7:30 p.m.; The Aretha Franklin Amphitheatre, 2600 E. Atwater St., Detroit; $15-$70.
Matt Larusso Trio and guests 8-11 p.m.; Northern Lights Lounge, 660 W. Baltimore St., Detroit; no cover.
Winter Lantern, Baazlvaat 7 p.m.; Sanctuary Detroit, 2932 Caniff St., Hamtramck.
Great Lakes Chamber Music Festival June 21; Seligman Performing Arts Center, 22305 W 13 Mile Rd., Beverly Hills.
Great Lakes Chamber Music Festival June 21; Seligman Performing Arts Center, 22305 W 13 Mile Rd, Beverly Hills; Matt Larusso Trio and guests 8-11 p.m.; Northern Lights Lounge, 660 W. Baltimore St., Detroit; no cover.
Thursday, June 12
Live/Concert
Completely Unchained - The Ultimate Tribute to Van Halen 7:30 p.m.; The Token Lounge, 28949 Joy Rd., Westland.
Great Lakes Chamber Music Festival June 21; Seligman Performing Arts Center, 22305 W 13 Mile Rd, Beverly Hills; Lane 8 - (16 & Over) 8 p.m.; Detroit Masonic Temple Library, 500 Temple St, Detroit.
Karaoke/Open Mic Drag Queen Karaoke 8 p.m.-2 a.m.;
Woodward Avenue Brewers, 22646 Woodward Ave., Ferndale; no cover.
Elixer: DJs John Ryan and GEO 8 pm-midnight; Northern Lights Lounge, 660 W. Baltimore St., Detroit; no cover.
Friday, June 13
Live/Concert
Ann Arbor Summer Festival: Top of the Park 5-11 p.m.; Ann Arbor Summer Festival, 767 N University Ave, Ann Arbor; no cover
Beneath The Beat Summer Slam 6:30 p.m.; Pike Room, 1 S. Saginaw, Pontiac.
Boney James 8 p.m.; The Music Hall, 350 Madison Ave., Detroit; $59-$69.
Eric Gales 8 p.m.; The Token Lounge, 28949 Joy Rd., Westland.
Gipsy Kings 12-9:30 p.m.; FIM Capitol Theatre, 140 E 2nd Street, Flint; $80, $56 for Genesee County residents.
Hatebreed: SUMMER SLAUGHTER TOUR 2025 7 p.m.; Harpos, 14238 Harper Ave., Detroit.
Jamey Johnson 8 p.m.; The Aretha Franklin Amphitheatre, 2600 E. Atwater St., Detroit.
John Wiese, Lana Del Rabies 7 p.m.; Sanctuary Detroit, 2932 Caniff St., Hamtramck.
Kickstand Productions Presents: Horse The Band with special guests 7:30 p.m.; Magic Bag, 22920 Woodward Ave., Ferndale; $27.50.
Kyle Dion 7 p.m.; The Loving Touch, 22634 Woodward Ave., Ferndale.
mike. Upside Down Tour Pt 2 8:30 p.m.; Michigan Lottery Amphitheatre at Freedom Hill, 14900 Metropolitan Pkwy., Sterling Heights; $29.75-$69.75.
Saddle Up Country Dance Party! 8 p.m.; Diamondback Music Hall, 49345 S. Interstate 94 Service Dr., Belleville; SIXTIESMANIA 8 p.m.; Andiamo Celebrity Showroom, 7096 E. 14 Mile Rd., Warren; $35-$60.
Sorry Papi - The All Girl Rave 9 p.m.; The Fillmore, 2115 Woodward Ave., Detroit.
Summer Sounds 5-8 p.m.; The Mall at Partridge Creek, 17420 Hall Rd., Clinton Township; no cover.
United We Dance: The Ultimate Rave Experience (18+) 8 p.m.; Saint Andrew’s Hall, 431 E. Congress St., Detroit.
Ann Arbor Summer Festival: Top of the Park 5-11 p.m.; Ann Arbor Sum-
mer Festival, 767 N University Ave, Ann Arbor; no cover.
DJ/Dance
Ann Arbor Ecstatic Dance second Friday of every month, 7:30-10:30 p.m.; Ringstar Studio, 3907 Varsity Dr, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48108, Ann Arbor; $25-40 ($5 discount for cash).
Crusy 9 p.m.; Garden Bowl, 4120 Woodward Ave., Detroit.
Open Air Fridays 4-10 p.m.; Woodbridge Pub, 5169 Trumbull St., Detroit; no cover.
Saddle Up Country Dance Party! 8 p.m.-2 a.m.; Diamondback Music Hall, 49345 S. Interstate 94 Service Dr., Belleville; no cover for ladies with RSVP.
Karaoke/Open
June Puppet Karaoke 8 p.m.midnight; Matrix Theatre Company, 2730 Bagley St., Detroit; $5-$15.
Saturday, June 14
Live/Concert
Ann Arbor Summer Festival: Top of the Park 5-11 p.m.; Ann Arbor Summer Festival, 767 N University Ave, Ann Arbor; no cover.
Bear Vs. Shark 7 p.m.; Saint Andrew’s Hall, 431 E. Congress St., Detroit; $30.
Close Enemies featuring Tom Hamilton of Aerosmith 7:30 p.m.; The Token Lounge, 28949 Joy Rd., Westland.
Death & Memphis with The Black List + Moronic Device 8 p.m.; Sgt. Pepperoni’s Pizzeria & Deli, 4120 Woodward Avenue, Detroit.
Diana Krall 8 p.m.; Fisher Theatre - Detroit, 3011 West Grand & Fisher, Detroit.
Frankie Scinta 8 p.m.; Andiamo Celebrity Showroom, 7096 E. 14 Mile Rd., Warren; $35-$65.
Gavin DeGraw 8 p.m.; Sound Board, 2901 Grand River Ave., Detroit; $35-$55.
J. HOLIDAY | RnB & Hip-Hop After Dark 8 p.m.-2 a.m.; Diamondback Music Hall, 49345 S. Interstate 94 Service Dr., Belleville; PRE-SALE: $20.
J. HOLIDAY | RnB & Hip-Hop After Dark 8 p.m.; Diamondback Music Hall, 49345 S. Interstate 94 Service Dr., Belleville.
Ledisi: love you too, the tour 8 p.m.; The Aretha Franklin Amphitheatre, 2600 E. Atwater St., Detroit; $34.50-$200. Love, War and Jazz 7-8:30 p.m.; Marygrove College Theatre, 8425 West
McNichols Rd., Detroit; $25.
Magic Bag Presents: MEGA 80s 7 p.m.; Magic Bag, 22920 Woodward Ave., Ferndale; $20.
Magic Bag Presents: MEGA 80s vs SQUARE PEGZ 7 p.m.; Magic Bag, 22920 Woodward Ave., Ferndale.
Russell Dickerson 7 p.m.; Michigan Lottery Amphitheatre at Freedom Hill, 14900 Metropolitan Pkwy., Sterling Heights; $25-$69.50.
Smino 7 p.m.; Detroit Masonic Temple Library, 500 Temple St, Detroit.
Summer Sounds 5-8 p.m.; The Mall at Partridge Creek, 17420 Hall Rd., Clinton Township; no cover.
Wounded Touch, World Of Malice, Cult Therapy, Drop Rate, Insearchofbastila 6 p.m.; Sanctuary Detroit, 2932 Caniff St., Hamtramck.
Ann Arbor Summer Festival: Top of the Park 5-11 p.m.; Ann Arbor Summer Festival, 767 N University Ave, Ann Arbor; no cover.
DJ/Dance
Saturday Grind 11 a.m.-3 p.m.; Spkr Box, 200 Grand River, Detroit.
Sunday, June 15 Live/Concert
Ann Arbor Summer Festival: Top of the Park 5-11 p.m.; Ann Arbor Summer Festival, 767 N. University Ave., Ann Arbor; no cover.
Summer Sounds 5-8 p.m.; The Mall at Partridge Creek, 17420 Hall Rd., Clinton Township; no cover.
Enuff Z’Nuff 5:30 p.m.; The Token Lounge, 28949 Joy Rd., Westland. Evil Army, Nuke, Weird Angel, Mrsa 7 p.m.; Sanctuary Detroit, 2932 Caniff St., Hamtramck.
Michigan Jazz Festival Father’s Day Brunch noon-2:30 p.m.; VisTaTech Center at Schoolcraft College, 18600 Haggerty Rd., Livonia; $60.
Phil Ogilvie’s Rhythm Kings 5-8 pm; Zal Gaz Grotto Club, 2070 W. Stadium Blvd., Ann Arbor; no cover (tip jar for the band).
SLEEP THEORY - THE AFTERGLOW TOUR 6 p.m.; Saint Andrew’s Hall, 431 E. Congress St., Detroit; $25. Summer Sounds 3-6 p.m.; The Mall at Partridge Creek, 17420 Hall Rd., Clinton Township; no cover.
Taj Mahal w/ Keb’ Mo’ 7 p.m.; Cathedral Theatre at the Masonic Temple, 500 Temple St., Detroit.
DJ/Dance
Mara & Sando Present: Daddy Issues 4 p.m.; Garden Bowl, 4120 Woodward, Detroit.
SPKR BRNCH 11 a.m.-3 p.m.; Spkr Box, 200 Grand River, Detroit.
Summer House Sundays 3-7 p.m.; Dequindre Cut - Freight Yard, 3019 Orleans St., Detroit. Karaoke/Open Mic
Sunday Karaoke in the Lounge 5-9 p.m.; Bowlero Lanes & Lounge, 4209 Coolidge Hwy., Royal Oak; no cover.
Monday, June 16
Live/Concert
Hot Mulligan 7 p.m.; Sanctuary Detroit, 2932 Caniff St., Hamtramck.
A Tribute to Jazz ft. Sky Covington, Pamela Wise, Man & Friends 7:30-10 p.m.; Aretha’s Jazz Cafe, 350 Madison St., Detroit; $35. DJ/Dance
Adult Skate Night 8:30-11 pm; Lexus Velodrome, 601 Mack Ave., Detroit; $5.
Tuesday, June 17
Live/Concert
Ann Arbor Summer Festival: Top of the Park 5-11 p.m.; Ann Arbor Summer Festival, 767 N University Ave, Ann Arbor; no cover.
Civic 7 p.m.; Sanctuary Detroit, 2932 Caniff St., Hamtramck.
Counting Crows: The Complete Sweets! Tour with The Gaslight Anthem 7:30 p.m.; Michigan Lottery Amphitheatre at Freedom Hill, 14900 Metropolitan Pkwy., Sterling Heights; $39.50-$200.
Greer 7 p.m.; The Loving Touch, 22634 Woodward Ave., Ferndale.
Janis Siegel with Jeremy Kahn 8 p.m.; 3Fifty Terrace, 350 Madison St., Detroit.
Live at Saint John’s: Peter & Brendan Mayer 6:30-8:30 p.m.; Saint John’s Resort, 44045 Five Mile Rd., Plymouth; $20.
Santigold 7 p.m.; Saint Andrew’s Hall, 431 E. Congress St., Detroit.
Sean Blackman’s In Transit 7-10 p.m.; Northern Lights Lounge, 660 W. Baltimore St., Detroit; no cover.
Ann Arbor Summer Festival: Top of the Park 5-11 pm; Ann Arbor Summer Festival, 767 N University Ave, Ann Arbor; no cover.
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.
Wednesday, June 18
Live/Concert
Cubist Agenda 8 p.m.-midnight; First Place Lounge, 16921 Harper Ave, Detroit; no cover
Matt Larusso Trio and guests 8-11 p.m.; Northern Lights Lounge, 660 W. Baltimore St., Detroit; no cover.
Ann Arbor Summer Festival: Top of the Park 5-11 p.m.; Ann Arbor Summer Festival, 767 N University Ave, Ann Arbor; no cover.
Band Of Brothers - Interfusion of Jazz - A Tribute You’ve Never Heard Before! 7-10 p.m.; Aretha’s Jazz Cafe, 350 Madison St., Detroit; $30.
Birds From Dinosaurs with Speed Circuit + The Lowcocks 8 p.m.; Sgt. Pepperoni’s Pizzeria & Deli, 4120 Woodward Avenue, Detroit.
Games We Play - Hello Ladies Tour 7 p.m.; The Shelter, 431 E. Congress St., Detroit; $23.
Insect Ark, Forn 6 p.m.; Sanctuary Detroit, 2932 Caniff St., Hamtramck.
Najee 7:30 p.m.; The Aretha Franklin Amphitheatre, 2600 E. Atwater St., Detroit; $15-$70.
Matt Larusso Trio and guests 8-11 p.m.; Northern Lights Lounge, 660 W.
June 11-24, 2025 | metrotimes.com
Baltimore St., Detroit; no cover.
ZZ Top 8 p.m.; Caesars Palace Windsor - Augustus Ballroom, 377 E. Riverside Dr., Windsor; $53-$118.
Thursday, June 19 Live/Concert
Ann Arbor Summer Festival: Top of the Park 5-11 pm; Ann Arbor Summer Festival, 767 N University Ave, Ann Arbor; no cover.
Billy Corgan and The Machines of God: A Return to Zero Tour 6:30 p.m.; Saint Andrew’s Hall, 431 E. Congress St., Detroit.
Black Lips, Danny Kroha 7 p.m.; The Loving Touch, 22634 Woodward Ave., Ferndale.
Brett Young 8 p.m.; Caesars Palace Windsor - Augustus Ballroom, 377 E. Riverside Dr., Windsor.
Get Dead wsg Middle-Out, Cascade Riot + Duk Butter 7 p.m.; Small’s, 10339 Conant St., Hamtramck.
Hart of Detroit Summer Festival and Block Party Hart Plaza, 1 Hart Plaza, Detroit.
Knumears, Othiel, Abuse Repression, Sapona 6 p.m.; Sanctuary Detroit, 2932 Caniff St., Hamtramck.
Nordic Daughter at Trinity House 8 p.m.; Trinity House Theatre, 38840 W. Six Mile Rd., Livonia; $20. Karaoke/Open Mic
Drag Queen Karaoke 8 p.m.-2 a.m.; Woodward Avenue Brewers, 22646 Woodward Ave., Ferndale; no cover.
Elixer: DJs John Ryan and GEO 8 p.m.-midnight; Northern Lights Lounge, 660 W. Baltimore St., Detroit; no cover.
Friday, June 20
Live/Concert
Ann Arbor Summer Festival: Top of the Park 5-11 pm; Ann Arbor Summer Festival, 767 N University Ave, Ann Arbor; no cover.
Ben Folds w/ Detroit Symphony Orchestra 8 p.m.; Max M. Fisher Music Center, 3711 Woodward Ave., Detroit.
Brand New 7 p.m.; Detroit Masonic Temple Library, 500 Temple St., Detroit.
Broadway Rave 7 p.m.; The Loving Touch, 22634 Woodward Ave., Ferndale.
Bug Hunter, The Narcissist Cookbook 6:30 p.m.; Sanctuary Detroit, 2932 Caniff St., Hamtramck; $30-$65.
Gregg Turner of Angry Samoans 9 p.m.; Bowlero Lanes & Lounge, 4209 Coolidge Hwy., Royal Oak; no cover.
Instant Alter / Jonathon MuirCotton Trio 8-11:30 p.m.; Moondog
Cafe, 8045 Linwood St #2, Detroit; $20. Luis R Conriquez 8 p.m.; Fox Theatre, 2211 Woodward Ave., Detroit. Maddie & Tae 8:30 p.m.; District 142, 142 Maple St., Wyandotte.
Murder By Death - Farewell Tour 6 p.m.; Saint Andrew’s Hall, 431 E. Congress St., Detroit; $30.
Pigeon Pit wsg tba 7 p.m.; Small’s, 10339 Conant St., Hamtramck.
Squonk: Brouhaha 5:45 & 8 p.m.; Ann Arbor Summer Festival, 767 N University Ave, Ann Arbor; no cover.
Stop Starving Gaza Benefit 7-11:30 p.m.; Ghost Light, 2314 Caniff St., Hamtramck; $10.
Summer Sounds 5-8 p.m.; The Mall at Partridge Creek, 17420 Hall Rd., Clinton Township; no cover.
The Roots 8 p.m.; Caesars Palace Windsor - Augustus Ballroom, 377 E. Riverside Dr., Windsor.
The Science Fair with Endless Vacation 9 p.m.; Sgt. Pepperoni’s Pizzeria & Deli, 4120 Woodward Avenue, Detroit.
Will Sexton and Amy LaVere at Trinity House 8 p.m.; Trinity House Theatre, 38840 W. Six Mile Rd., Livonia; $25.
DJ/Dance
Open Air Fridays 4-10 p.m.; Woodbridge Pub, 5169 Trumbull St., Detroit; no cover.
Saturday, June 21
Live/Concert
Ann Arbor Summer Festival: Top of the Park 5-11 p.m.; Ann Arbor Summer Festival, 767 N University Ave, Ann Arbor; no cover.
Brand New 7 p.m.; Detroit Masonic Temple Library, 500 Temple St, Detroit. Squonk: Brouhaha 5:45 & 8 p.m.; Ann Arbor Summer Festival, 767 N University Ave, Ann Arbor; no cover.
Summer Sounds 5-8 p.m.; The Mall at Partridge Creek, 17420 Hall Rd., Clinton Township; no cover.
5th Annual Bunny Benefit 2-6 p.m.; FOXGLOVE, 257 Leicester Ct., Detroit; $5.
Arif Lohar & The Lohar Boys 8 p.m.; The Music Hall, 350 Madison Ave., Detroit.
Big Bubble Rave 9 p.m.; Pike Room, 1 S. Saginaw, Pontiac.
Dare to Dream - A City Lights Chorus Concert 7-9:30 p.m.; Hilltop Church of the Nazarene, 21260 Haggerty Rd., Northville; $20.
business thousands of new social media followers and a surge in curious customers.
FOOD Dakota Inn Rathskeller has new owner
“The internet can be funny,” Ali said. “But they are doing us a favor. All publicity is good publicity.”
The Chicken Coupe responded to the falsehoods by posting a funny, lighthearted video on social media showing someone looking for the bathrooms, only to find delicious food.
The Chicken Coupe is known for its juicy chicken tenders, along with other menu items like the World-Famous Chicken Tender Basket and the overthe-top Peace, Love, & Loaded Fries — a mountain of fries smothered in melted cheese, topped with chopped tenders and your choice of sauce. Feeling fancy? Try the Mama’s Chicken & Waffles, pairing crispy tenders with a hot Belgian waffle, or the Papa’s Coupe Sliders, loaded with Firebird sauce and pickles.
Nope, the Belle Isle bathrooms aren’t a fried chicken joint
Some rumors just don’t hold water. Or, in this case, chicken grease.
The Chicken Coupe, a beloved fried chicken joint that’s been serving crispy goodness from a food truck on Belle Isle since 2018, recently moved into the park’s old concession stand. The transition should’ve been business as usual. But then the internet did what the internet does best.
A flurry of social media posts falsely claimed that the Chicken Coupe had set up shop inside Belle Isle’s notoriously stinky public bathrooms. Videos flooded Instagram and TikTok, warning patrons of alleged health code violations and even suggesting the Chicken Coupe was slinging chicken in a restroom stall.
“I want to warn all my new friends that be hanging out on Belle Isle: Baby, don’t you eat this chicken, baby,” comedian @ iamtbarb proclaimed on Instagram. “I
know it’s a health code violation. The bathroom used to be nasty, and now we’re frying chicken and french fries. Baby, I would never trust it.”
The internet dubbed the restaurant the “Chicken Poop.”
But here’s the real scoop: The Chicken Coupe is operating out of the park’s old concession stand, which is a completely separate building, although it shares an awning with the restrooms. The bathrooms are next door and have been significantly cleaner since the Michigan Department of Natural Resources took over park maintenance in 2014.
“The reality is, the DNR really keeps up on those bathrooms,” Sam Ali, owner of the Chicken Coupe, tells Metro Times “They do a phenomenal job.”
Ali isn’t mad about the flap. In fact, he’s thrilled. The false claims have given his
Detroit City Distillery teams up with Achatz
What do you get when you mix Detroit City Distillery’s Two-Faced Bourbon and Achatz Handmade Pie Company’s Michigan 4-Berry Pie filling?
The two beloved local brands collaborated to make a new bottled cocktail they’re calling Michigan 4-Berry.
“We’re all huge fans of Achatz’s pies at DCD — the fresh ingredients, the craftsmanship, and the fact that they’re made right here in Michigan, just like our spirits,” Detroit City Distillery coowner J.P. Jerome said in a statement.
“When we asked ourselves what would happen if we combined our bourbon with their pie filling, the result was Michigan 4-Berry. It’s a berry-forward cocktail balanced by the smoothness of our bourbon, with notes of vanilla and spice. It’s perfect by itself or with a delicious slice of Achatz’s Michigan 4-Berry pie.”
“Collaborating with Detroit City Distillery has been an incredibly fun and creative process,” Zack Achatz added. “Pie and bourbon are both heritage
There’s also the Groovy Deep-Fried Brussels Sprouts, or if you’re feeling bold, the Firebird Mac-Stack — a bowl of mac and cheese stacked high with crispy chicken and slathered in Firebird sauce.
The air around the Chicken Coupe smells more like sizzling tenders than questionable plumbing.
“I was just there, and I gotta tell you it smelled good,” one person said on Instagram. “And I’ve seen a bunch of people eating it. I would’ve tried it if I didn’t have a picnic basket already with me.”
Ali’s got big plans for the location too. He’s adding lighting, outdoor seating, and landscaping to make the spot even more inviting. Soon, JJ’s Custard Co. will join the space, serving up sweet treats.
“This is going to become very big food news in the city,” Ali says. “Now all of the sudden we’re trending, and the timing is perfect.”
So, rest assured, Detroit: the Chicken Coupe is serving up hot, crispy chicken — not urinal cake nuggets.
The Chicken Coupe is open from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. seven days a week and hopes to extend its season to year-round.
—Steve Neavling
The Dakota Inn Rathskeller, a nearly century-old German style restaurant and beer hall in Detroit that has been owned by the Kurz family since 1933, has a new owner.
The restaurant is now owned by Paddy Lynch, a funeral directorturned-developer who has also acquired projects around Detroit in recent years, including The Schvitz, Convent Detroit, and Dutch Girl Donuts.
According to a press release, Lynch has tapped Les Molnar of popular restaurants Johnny Noodle King and Green Dot Stables to serve as culinary director, and Jarred Gild of The Schvitz and the Pash & Glou wine store in Rochesterwine store as beverage director and special programs manager.
In the release, Lynch said that “little to nothing will change in the Dakota Inn’s main dining room,” but plans to breath life into the underutilized downstairs Rathskeller bar room with private parties, wine tastings, and other events.
“I’ve loved the wines of Germany and Central Europe for years and local wine drinkers have shown they do too,” Gild said in a statement. “This will be the best place to explore the diverse styles of the region, from centuries old traditional estates all the way to the hippest natural wine upstarts. There is going to be something for everyone here, and so many cool wines that you can hang out with us every week. Being a regular here is going to be really rewarding.”
foods — people have deep emotional ties to them. Our focus is always on quality and tradition, but what really excites us is the way these products bring people together and create lasting memories. That’s what this collaboration is all about.”
The limited-run 200 ml bottles go on sale at 4 p.m. on Friday, June 13 at the Detroit City Distillery Tasting Room in Eastern Market (2462 Riopelle St., Detroit) for $25 each.
—Lee DeVito
The new owners say they also want to better utilize the Dakota Inn’s backyard for a year-round biergarten. Other plans include a gift shop, a specialty market, and “even overnight accommodations in the vintage apartments upstairs.”
While the Dakota Inn typically closed in July, the new owners say they want to keep the backyard biergarten open all summer and reopen the dining room for an anniversary party in the first week of August.
The Dakota Inn is located at 17324 John R St, Detroit. Operating hours are 4-11 p.m. Thursday-Saturday, with plans to expand hours in the fall.
—Lee DeVito
Belle Isle’s Chicken Coupe went viral on social media. STEVE NEAVLING
CULTURE
Film
A24’s newest films double down on weird, raw cinema
Bring Her Back
Rated: R
Run-time: 104 minutes
Friendship
Rated: R
Run-time: 97 minutes
I can count on one hand the number of times a corporate production company or distributor logo excited me for whatever film they were releasing. As a kid, if New Line Cinema had their logo in front of a horror movie, I was there for it. (They get a lifetime pass from me for Evil Dead, A Nightmare on Elm Street, The Texas Chainsaw Massacre, and so much more.)
As an adult, if a film were added to the Criterion Collection, I would immediately check it out because their curation is unmatched in the history of home cinematic releases. But as a cinephile, nothing piques my interest more than that sexy logo for producer-distributor A24 because I know that whether the film is brilliant, hot garbage, or something ephemerally floating in between, it’s at least going to be interesting. When they first started releasing movies, A24 had a particular mission in my eyes: to champion auteur filmmaking that wouldn’t be financially success-
By Jared Rasic, Last Word Features
ful anywhere else. Their advertising has a very specific aesthetic and their branding and marketing feel designed for people after a singular and post-modern vibe from their media. Since A24’s first release in 2013, they’ve released over 180 films (not including TV shows) and the sheer breadth of the work is astonishing. A lot of their movies don’t even make any money, but they still push artistry over a quick and easy buck.
Once I realized that A24 was behind some of my favorite movies of the 21st Century (A Ghost Story, Marcel the Shell with Shoes On, Past Lives, and a half dozen more), I made it my mission to watch every film released since 2013 adorned with their logo. As of this week I’ve watched 135 of them (I still have around 40 or so to go) and I’d say I only outright despised around a dozen or so. That’s a pretty incredible ratio when you think about it.
Since their output has increased exponentially over the past couple of years (especially since winning a ludicrous number of Oscars for Everything Everywhere All At Once), the quality has dipped somewhat, but A24 is still leading the pack when it comes to championing genuinely challenging films and trying to market them to a mass audience that would prefer a little less arduous uncomfortability with their popcorn.
of myself. It’s a powerful film, led by a never-better Hawkins, and one I’m not sure I will forget soon. If the final few minutes weren’t so messy with plotting and character, this would be an instant classic, but it still manages to be very, very good.
If you’ve ever seen an episode of I Think You Should Leave with Tim Robinson, you know exactly the level of cringe you’ll get with Friendship Robinson plays Craig, an exceptionally average American male who struggles with making friends, being a present husband and father, as well as the range of his own fragile masculinity. When he strikes up a friendship with his neighbor (played by the perfectly cast Paul Rudd), he realizes the extremely minuscule amount of joy he was taking out of life is no longer enough to sustain him, and when that friendship sours, he refuses to go back to the man he was before finding a bro.
The past week saw the release of two new A24 weirdos: the sophomore feature from Danny and Michael Philippou, Bring Her Back, and the first starring vehicle for the deeply uncomfortable comic stylings of Tim Robinson, Friendship. While both have their share of issues, at the end of the day they both (typical of A24) champion a very specific artistic viewpoint and will remind audiences that movies are capable of being profoundly strange and uncomfortable. Bring Her Back is a complete tonal shift from the spooky stylings of the Philippou Brothers’ earlier film, Talk to Me. While their last film had the vibe of a spooky story told by a group of friends late at night, Bring Her Back is more interested in using horror as a metaphor to explore trauma, abuse, and grief. With an Oscar-worthy performance from the great Sally Hawkins (she made this instead of Paddington in Peru), the film charts the story of a woman whose blind daughter drowned in their pool and has decided to take drastic measures to, ahem, bring her back. While the movie isn’t as frightening as I had hoped, I still went back to the theater twice to soak in all the menacing atmosphere. Bring Her Back is a hard one to let go of, and the more I think about it, the more it hollows out the piece of me that’s always figuring out the best ways to address the broken parts
Writer-director Andrew DeYoung takes the film in directions I genuinely couldn’t predict and left me covering my eyes more than once. Robinson is fearless in his ability to humiliate himself and Friendship weaponizes that in a way I could hardly bring myself to watch. As the film gets sadder and darker, it simultaneously becomes so much funnier, giving me deep belly laughs with a side of guilt and self-loathing.
Your mileage may vary here. If you can’t handle the cringe of The Office or Curb Your Enthusiasm, then Friendship will break you. Every single piece of desperation for friendship and connection that we repress in ourselves is a raw nerve for Craig. He has no self-awareness, no ability to calibrate emotion, and no filter for his impotent rage. He is the loser we are afraid we are to our coworkers and all we can do is laugh in horror at our own funhouse reflection.
Both movies have their issues, but are such singular works that it’s hard not to just be happy A24 is still throwing their money at uncompromising outsider art. Take a look at a list of their films and watch the first one that sounds interesting to you. You might not like it. Hell, you might hate it and end up uncomfortable and in a bad mood, but that’s an acceptable outcome sometimes. Let A24 take the wheel. You won’t regret it.
Bring Her Back Grade:
B+
Friendship Grade: B+
Tim Robinson’s first leading film role is here — and it’s as excruciatingly awkward as you’d hope. A24
MUSIC WEED
The Straight Dope
The best cannabis for Michigan summers
By Steve Neavling
Summer is approaching, and there’s no better time to stock up on fresh, flavorful cannabis.
Whether you’re planning a long day at the lake, heading to a music festival, or just trying to stay cool indoors, the right strain can help you make the most of Michigan’s short but vibrant warm season.
With hundreds upon hundreds of strains available in Michigan, you should have no trouble finding the right one for the summer.
The ideal summer weed should match the energy of the season. It should be uplifting and social, with fruity, citrusy, or minty flavor profiles that keep you alert, social, and relaxed. Some strains are better for daytime adventures. Others help you wind down after hours in the sun. And a few are perfect for passing around at a cookout or bonfire.
After sampling more than 200 strains from dozens of cultivators in the past year, I landed on a short list of standouts that feel just right for this beautiful time of the year.
For morning bike rides and other early adventures
Peels by Michigrown is a citrus-forward hybrid that is energetic and uplifting. A cross between Tangerine Skunk and Dosidos, the lemon terpenes are refreshing, and I found the high to be perfect for staying focused and motivated without the heart-in-a-vice feeling that often comes with energetic strains.
Whether you’re taking the bike out for a ride or going on a road trip, Peels is the perfect strain for feeling light, upbeat, and adventurous.
For staying energized during a hot day
Despite its sophomoric imagery and high price tag, Super Dope is legit. Its Lemon Popperz, a cross of Lemon Tree and Gelato #41, is a perfect summer strain for staying charged and ready to move, without feeling overamped. The aroma bursts with fruity
citrus and vanilla.
This is the kind of strain that pairs well with long, active days, whether you’re swimming, biking, walking the city, or just running errands in the heat. The high is upbeat and focused, making it a solid choice for staying engaged and enjoying the sun.
For a backyard barbecue
Sun Cake by Freshy Fine is a fruit-heavy hybrid that balances relaxation with an upbeat mood. A cross of Sunset Sherbet and Wedding Cake, this strain practically screams summer.
The high is smooth and euphoric, offering comfort without the couch lock. It’s perfect for grilling with friends as the sun sets.
If you’re after a chill summer day, this is a great strain.
For staying cool on the hottest days
Watermelon Zkittlez by Pro Gro is a sweet, fruity hybrid that hits like a splash of cold water on a long, hot day. A cross of Zkittlez and Watermelon, the aroma blends grape candy and fresh watermelon.
The high starts with a bright, euphoric lift before settling into a mellow, body-focused calm. It’s refreshing and euphoric and just might be the ideal strain to stay cool.
For concerts, outdoor movies, and social nights
Electric Peanut Butter Cookie by Peninsula Gardens is a balanced hybrid with a citrusy, nutty, and floral aroma. The high is upbeat, euphoric, and cerebral.
More than most strains I’ve tried, this heightens my senses, making concerts and social gatherings more vibrant and captivating. It’s perfect for staying present without zoning out.
For
social summer nights
710 Labs may be known for its live rosin, but their flower deserves more attention. The Colorado-based company only uses colas for their flower, and it shows. The SB36 buds are large and covered in thick trichomes, and the flavor is delicious — a sweet combination of orange, Starburst candy, and funk. This cross between Starburst OG and ’97 KC36 keeps me chatty, relaxed, and energized, perfect for long summer nights with music, friends, and maybe a bonfire.
For slow, sunny days with no plans
Forgive the name, but Suga Tits by Favrd is one of my go-tos when time doesn’t matter. A cross of Halle Berry and Obama Runtz, this strain is soothing and cozy, making it an ideal choice for relaxing.
It’s also delicious, with strong notes of berries and vanilla. A solid choice for lounging outside, catching up with a friend, or putting on a record and letting the afternoon drift by.
Wojo’s flavorful, energizing strains for the summer
One of the fastest-growing ways to consume cannabis is by dabbing or vaping live rosin, a high-quality, solventless concentrate known for its purity, potency, and robust flavor profile. Some of the best live rosin I’ve come across is produced by Wojo, a Pinconning-based company founded by a group of friends committed to providing clean, top-tier cannabis.
Tangerine Limousine is an uplifting combination of Malibu Marshal and Tropic Driver, and the crisp flavor is champagne, creamy orange, tangerine, and grapefruit.
The Juice Man is an energizing strain
that bursts with a citrus flavor and a hint of papaya. It’s an ideal choice for a daytime high.
Sundae Driver is one of Wojo’s bestselling strains, and for good reason. With a creamy grape flavor, this strain provides a soothing, but uplifting and clear-headed high.
Strawberry Candy is another delicious, uplifting strain from Wojo. A combination of Orange Skittlez and Strawberry Guava. The sativa-dominant strain has a fruity, candy-like flavor.
binske, a Colorado-based brand that first arrived in Michigan in March, also offers high-quality live rosin. This summer, I will be breaking out their Lemonberry Parfait, a potent, balanced, and almost psychedelic strain. The aroma is a complex mix of raspberry frosting and sugared lemons with an earthy, herbal undertone.
It’s a great choice for doing something creative or immersing yourself in music or an outdoor movie.
An increasing number of cannabis businesses are producing live rosin. For some summer sun, I also recommend Mandarin Zkittlez by Information Entropy, Space Guavaz by Eastside Alchemy and Tip Top Crop, Sour Tangie Persy Sauce by 710 Labs, Pierene by MiLoud, and Awesomesauce by Peachy Hash & Co.
Michigan summers don’t last long, so don’t take the time for granted. The right strain can brighten your day, whether you’re heading to a festival, strolling the Detroit RiverWalk, or hanging out on your patio.
Make the best of it. And don’t forget the sunscreen.
If you want us to sample your cannabis products, send us an email at steve@ metrointhed.com.
Lazy summer days are perfect for enjoying cannabis.
STEVE NEAVLING
CULTURE
Savage Love
Quickies
By Dan Savage
:
Q Queer boy in an open relationship here with a silly question. I’ve started seeing someone recently. Theyre cute and I enjoy their company, but they use a lot of cologne and it’s really hurting my desire to be physical with them. I don’t know this person well and the trajectory we’ve been on has been towards a friends-with-benefits sort of situation at best, so I’m not sure what I owe them here. Should I say something or back away?
A: Asking someone to use less cologne is like asking someone to use less cocaine: they’re going to react defensively, deny using too much, and accuse you of being the one with a problem. So, unless this person is someone you’re hoping to get serious about — and it doesn’t sound like they are it’s not worth it.
: Q I need a girl in my life.
A: Good luck with that.
: Q Is it unethical to preemptively block people on Grindr who I know I would never consider fucking?
A: A man gets on Grindr because he’s looking for dick and/or ass right now and if your dick and/or ass isn’t available to him, blocking him is a courtesy, as it frees up room on his grid for guys whose dicks and/or asses are available.
: Q What book do you recommend for someone just beginning to explore the Dom/sub relationship?
A: I would recommend Playing Well with Others by Lee Harrington and Mollena Williams, both volumes of The Funny Dom’s Guide to Kink by The Funny Dom, and Dossie Easton and Janet Hardy’s The New Topping Book and The New Bottoming Book. You could also follow — and learn a lot from — the Lina “Ask a Sub” Dune, who hosts a podcast and writes a newsletter (where you can find her terrific advice columns), and Alesandra of Dom/Sub Living, who blogs, memes, and teaches courses on Dom/sub relationships.
: Q I am a (mostly? formerly?) straight man in a blue city in Texas. Six years ago, I got Peyronie’s disease, which contributed to the dissolution of my marriage. It has been rough — xaiflex treatments, a hematoma that only three percent get, an ER visit, delays — but I finally got surgery and a month later was cleared for sexual activity after a checkup. But since that day my sexuality and kinks have been changing
every day. One day Latinas, one day short girls, one day girls into impact play. Then a 5’1” femboy messaged me on Reddit about being my sub. So, where do I find these short and feminine adult boys that are into Daddies? I feel like I can finally be honest about my want and need without shame now.
A: You can meet plenty of people who claim to be 5’1” femboys on the internet they’re all over Reddit, they’re all over hookup apps, they’re even on Instagram fixing cars and on Twitter making swords — and while some of the femboys on Reddit and hookup apps might be who they claim to be and willing to meet up with a hot daddy, some are probably 6’2” masculine dudes or 5’2” cis women who fantasize about being femboys and won’t want to meet up with you in real life.
: Q I “safeworded” out of a kink scene and my Dom pouted for two days. Is that a red flag?
A: Doms who pout after subs use a safeword want their subs to hesitate to use their safewords in future scenes — which is a definite red flag. Basically, any Dom who responds to the use of a safeword with anything other than an expression of genuine concern, an openness to constructive feedback, and an immediate offer of ice cream isn’t a Dom you want to see again.
: Q I have always been aroused by the idea of watching two men make love to each other. Not porn fucking, but two men who adore each other. I don’t necessarily need to be invited to join, but it would be pretty amazing. How should I safely ask for this? (I am queer AFAB.) How can I find a couple to date in this fantasy? Life is short, and I’d like to live it.
A: Seeing as the ultimate version of your fantasy involves being invited to join in be honest: you wanna watch for a while, then wind up in a pile — you should seek out bisexual guys who are into each other and into you.
: Q My boyfriend’s ultimate fantasy is “forced bi,” which is literally the only kind of porn he masturbates to. I feel like a hypocrite because I’m a bisexual woman who isn’t attracted to bisexual men at all and I don’t want to “make” my boyfriend give some guy a blowjob. Am I a hypocrite? Are we doomed?
A: You (singular) are, you (plural) are.
: Q How do you fuck like you have a dick if you don’t have a dick — like, how did lesbians do it before the strap?
A: Dildos go way back — tens of thousands of years — and I imagine lesbians were improvising “straps” long before “the strap,” i.e. dildo harnesses, became commercially available in the early 1990s. Also, oral and digital stimulation aren’t
sad consolation prizes for many lesbians, but actual sex that lesbians actually enjoy, which means lesbians have always been able to do it, with and without straps.
: Q How do I navigate having a kink life while also having a public-facing career?
A: After seeing the Glenn Greenwald tape this weekend… maybe resist the urge to document the atrocities?
: Q What does a CNM/poly relationship look like when you’re older or truly elderly?
A: Doctor appointments crowding out play parties on the Google calendar.
: Q Is it still called pegging if I use my fingers instead of a strap-on?
A: Putting your finger in someone already has a name — so, no, fingering someone was never called pegging.
: Q Is it safe to suck someone’s dick after it’s been in my hole?
A: Depends on the thoroughness of your douching, the state of your health, the robustness of your immune system, and how soon you’re going to be kissing your mother with that mouth.
: Q I got on Ozempic a year ago and lost a bunch of weight. Men who weren’t attracted to me at my old weight are suddenly attracted to the new and much lighter version of me. I had crushes on some of these guys and, if I’m going to be honest, the whole point of getting on Ozempic was to make myself more attractive. But I resent these guys so much for rejecting me fifty pounds ago (!) that I can’t bring myself to date them now. What do I do?
A: Meet some new men — men who didn’t know (and reject) you at your heaviest, and fuck those guys instead.
: Q Playing with a guy into SPH — small penis humiliation — and that’s fine and I’m game. But his dick isn’t small. It’s big. Objectively speaking, it’s huge and, as dicks go, it’s beautiful. What am I supposed to say to a guy into SPH whose dick is bigger than mine?
A: Whatever he wants to hear.
: Q My wife and I just started exploring prostate play. I used to do some of it via the perineum during solo masturbation, but asked my wife if she would participate. She enthusiastically said yes. I’ve found pleasure in perianal and perineal play during oral, but the couple times we’ve attempted penetration (single finger, lube used, fully consented), it’s been meh. It hasn’t been painful or uncomfortable, just not what I’ve read about. Are there any tips and tricks to making it more effective? At what point do I just chalk it up to “not for me?”
A: I know guys who love dicks, dildos, and plugs but hate fingers. The only way to find out if you’re one of those guys — one of those guys — one of those guys who enjoys girthier things — is to experiment with girthier things. It’s counterintui-
tive, I realize, because “start small” seems like such good advice where anal play is concerned, but something thicker than a finger — something less bony than a finger might not just feel better, it also might do a better job of hitting your prostate. So, before you decide anal penetration isn’t for you, try again with something that intimidates you a little. Go slow, use lots of lube, and remember to breathe.
: Q Audra vs. Patti — choose your fighter.
A: I’m not going to choose, as I love both equally. (As performers; I don’t know either personally.) But I will say this: just as we need age limits for Members of Congress and Supreme Court justices, we need age limits for New Yorker profiles.
: Q Who makes the best bougie condoms that smell/taste good and are still just as effective?
A: No one has ever managed to create a condom, bougie or otherwise, that tasted better than dick — and they’ve tried. But who knows? Someone might be out there working on a Tom-Holland-flavored condom right now.
: Q What’s the best way to deal with your own jealousy?
A: By remembering that jealousy isn’t a character failing — so long as it’s not being weaponized to control and/or terrorize, jealousy is a normal human emotion. Sometimes we can work through feelings of jealousy on our own (sometimes we talk ourselves off the ledge), but at other times we need our partners to reassure us.
: Q I’m a woman who’s new to sending nudes. What do straight guys want when it comes to sexy pics?
A: Different straight guys want to see different things — an ass man wants ass pics, a boobs guy wants boobs pics, a foot perv wants feet pics, etc. So, if a straight guy asks you for pics and you feel safe sharing pics with that straight guy, ask him what he would like to see.
: Q How do I send sexy foot pics?
A: Someone who can’t figure out how to send pictures of their feet to people who wanna see them… shouldn’t be sending pictures of their feet to anyone.
: Q I don’t have a foot fetish, but my honey does — no idea what they are looking for from me.
A: Your feet. Your honey is looking for your feet… and if your honey can’t manage to find your feet on his own, your honey’s kink is the least of your worries.
Read the full column online at savage.love.
Got problems? Yes, you do! Email your question for the column to mailbox@ savage.love! Or record your question for the Savage Lovecast at savage.love/askdan! Podcasts, columns, and more at Savage.
CULTURE Free Will Astrology
By Rob Brezsny
ARIES: March 21 – April 19
Your definition of home is due for revamping, deepening, and expansion. Your sense of where you truly belong is ripe to be adjusted and perhaps even revolutionized. A half-conscious desire you have not previously been ready to fully acknowledge is ready for you to explore. Can you handle these subtly shocking opportunities? Do you have any glimmerings about how to open yourself to the revelations that life would love to offer you about your roots, your foundations, and your prime resources? Here are your words of power: source and soul
TAURUS: April 20 – May 20
Do you have any frustrations about how you express yourself or create close connections? Are there problems in your ability to be heard and appreciated? Do you wish you could be more persuasive and influential? If so, your luck is changing. In the coming months, you will have extraordinary powers to
innovate, expand, and deepen the ways you communicate. Even if you are already fairly pleased with the flow of information and energy between you and those you care for, surprising upgrades could be in the works. To launch this new phase of fostering links, affinities, and collaborations, devise fun experiments that encourage you to reach out and be reached.
GEMINI: May 21 – June 20
I’ve always had the impression that honeybees are restless wanderers, randomly hopping from flower to flower as they gradually accumulate nectar. But I recently discovered that they only meander until they find a single good fount of nourishment, whereupon they sup deeply and make a beeline back to the hive. I am advocating their approach to you in the coming weeks. Engage in exploratory missions, but don’t dawdle, and don’t sip small amounts from many different sites. Instead, be intent on finding a single source that provides the quality and quantity you want, then fulfill your quest and head back to your sanctuary.
CANCER: June 21 – July 22
Let’s talk about innovation. I suspect it will be your specialty in the coming weeks and months. One form that innovation takes is the generation of a new idea, approach, or product. Another kind of innovation comes through updating something that already exists. A third may emerge from finding new relationships between two or more older ways of doing things — creative recombinations that redefine the nature of the blended elements. All these styles of innovation are now ripe for you to employ.
LEO: July 23 – August 22
VIRGO: August 23 – Sept. 22
In the coming weeks, you will have chances to glide deeper than you have previously dared to go into experiences, relationships, and opportunities that are meaningful to you. How much bold curiosity will you summon as you penetrate further than ever before into the heart of the gorgeous mysteries? How wild and unpredictable will you be as you explore territory that has been offlimits? Your words of power: probe, dive down, decipher
LIBRA: Sept. 23 – Oct. 22
When traditional Japanese swordsmiths crafted a blade, they wrapped hard outer layers around a softer inner core. This strategy gave their handiwork a sharp cutting edge while also imbuing it with flexibility and a resistance to breakage. I recommend a similar approach for you, Libra. Create balance, yes, but do so through integration rather than compromise. Like the artisans of old, don’t choose between hardness and flexibility, but find ways to incorporate both. Call on your natural sense of harmony to blend opposites that complement each other.
comes through incremental steps. The Sagittarian part of my nature wants total victory and comprehensive results NOW. It would rather not wait for the slow, gradual approach to unfold its gifts. So I empathize if you are a bit frustrated by the piecemeal process you are nursing. But I’m here to say that your patience will be well rewarded.
CAPRICORN: Dec. 22 – Jan. 19
“Sometimes I’ve got to pause and relax my focused striving, because that’s the only way my unconscious mind can work its magic.” My Capricorn friend Alicia says that about her creative process as a novelist. The solution to a knotty challenge may not come from redoubling her efforts but instead from making a strategic retreat into silence and emptiness. I invite you to consider a similar approach, Capricorn. Experiment with the hypothesis that significant breakthroughs will arrive when you aren’t actively seeking them. Trust in the fertile void of not-knowing. Allow life’s meandering serendipity to reveal unexpected benefits.
AQUARIUS: Jan. 20 – Feb. 18
In this topsy-turvy chaotic world, it is judicious to have a little consistency in one’s life. Perhaps a comfortable, reliable place with cold beverages and warm conversation is in order. Familiar, but not predictable, with friendly faces, that enjoy your company.
“I GOT 35 SUMMERS LEFT,ABOUTTHINK IT, 35 SUMMERS.” T WAITS.
Leo psychotherapist Carl Jung was halfway through his life of 85 years when he experienced the ultimate midlife crisis. Besieged by feelings of failure and psychological disarray, he began to see visions and hear voices in his head. Determined to capitalize on the chaotic but fertile opportunity, he undertook an intense period of self-examination and self-healing. He wrote in journals that were eventually published as The Red Book: Liber Novus. He emerged healthy and whole from this trying time, far wiser about his nature and his mission in life. I invite you to initiate your own period of renewal in the coming months, Leo. Consider writing your personal Red Book: Liber Novus
SCORPIO: Oct. 23 – Nov. 21: Scorpio journalist Martha Gelhorn (1908–1998) was an excellent war correspondent. During her six decades on the job, she reported on many of the world’s major conflicts. But she initially had a problem when trying to get into France to report on D-Day, June 6, 1945. Her application for press credentials was denied, along with all those of other women journalists. Surprise! Through subterfuge and daring, Gelhorn stowed away on a hospital ship and reached France in time to report on the climactic events. I counsel you to also use extraordinary measures to achieve your goals, Scorpio. Innovative circumspection and ethical trickery are allowed. Breaking the rules may be necessary and warranted.
SAGITTARIUS: Nov. 22 – Dec. 21
My spirit guides enjoy reminding me that breakthrough insights and innovations may initially emerge not as complete solutions, but as partial answers to questions that need further exploration. I don’t always like it, but I listen anyway, when they tell me that progress typically
Are you interested in graduating to the next level of love and intimacy? If so, the coming weeks will be a favorable time to intensify your efforts. Life will be on your side if you dare to get smarter about how to make your relationships work better than they ever have. To inspire your imagination and incite you to venture into the frontiers of togetherness, I offer you a vivacious quote from author Anais Nin. Say it to your favorite soul friend or simply use it as a motivational prayer. Nin wrote, “You are the fever in my blood, the tide that carries me to undiscovered shores. You are my alchemist, transmuting my fears into wild, goldspun passion. With you, my body is a poem. You are the labyrinth where I lose and find myself, the unwritten book of ecstasies that only you can read.”
PISCES: Feb.19 – March 20
What deep longing of yours is both fascinating and frustrating? To describe it further: It keeps pushing you to new frontiers yet always eludes complete satisfaction. It teaches you valuable life lessons but sometimes spoofs you and confuses you. Here’s the good news about this deep longing, Pisces: You now have the power to tap into its nourishing fuel in unprecedented ways. It is ready to give you riches it has never before provided. Here’s the “bad” news: You will have to raise your levels of self-knowledge to claim all of its blessings. (And of course, that’s not really bad!)
Homework: What mediocre satisfaction could you give up to make room for a more robust satisfaction?
JAMES NOELLERT
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Cellco Partnership and its controlled affiliates doing business as Verizon Wireless (Verizon Wireless) proposes to construct a 43.2-foot utility pole communications structure at the approx. vicinity of 8323 Holmur Street, Wayne County, Detroit, MI 48204. Lat: [42-21-44.244]
Cellco Partnership and its controlled affiliates doing business as Verizon Wireless (Verizon Wireless) proposes to construct a 43.2-foot utility pole communications structure at the approx. vicinity of 8323 Holmur Street, Wayne County, Detroit, MI 48204. Lat: [42-21-44.244] Long: [-83-6-55.98]. Public comments regarding potential effects from this site on historic properties may be submitted within 30 days from the date of this publication to: Trileaf Corp, Alec Nimkoff, a.nimkoff@trileaf.com, 66 South Logan Street, Denver, CO 80209. 203.856.1011.
Long: [-83-6-55.98]. Public comments regarding potential effects from this site on historic properties may be submitted within 30 days from the date of this publication to: Trileaf Corp, Alec Nimkoff, a.nimkoff@trileaf.com, 66 South Logan Street, Denver, CO 80209. 203.856.1011.
