Metro Times 05/29/2024

EDITORIAL

NEWS & VIEWS

Feedback

Hi Lee,

I read the article about this year’s Movement festival and felt the write up an out the group, Reference, was lacking to say the least. These two guys are not just DJs, but they produce some of the greatest techno and house music coming from Detroit today. Brian Kage just released his first full length album, Timeless Times, which people are raving about! Also, he’s responsible for the audio mixing on some other Detroit legends latest releases like Norm Tally, Delano Smith, and Moodyman. I highly recommend digging a bit further and adding more to your description of them in the article. I hope this is helpful. Warmest regards,

—Jacqueline

D, email

We also received feedback in response to Steve Neavling’s article, “Detroit’s population growth masks glaring racial disparities.”

Thank you for being among the few to report this unfortunate truth, Detroit Metro Times. The U of M study is misleading. I want someone to conduct a new study on the rapidly declining Black homeownership and how the commodification of housing here is destabilizing neighborhoods and driving residents out of the housing market.

Illegal foreclosures created conditions that made it easier and cheaper to turn massive numbers of affordable houses into rentals that will be sold and resold in bundles & may never go on the market again. We need more reporting that will lead to better policies.

—Dorothea Williams-Arnold, Facebook

NEWS & VIEWS

Police close University of Michigan protest camp

Close to 6 a.m. last Tuesday, officers from the University of Michigan’s Division of Public Safety and Security (DPSS) cleared a student encampment erected on the university diag last month in solidarity with Palestinians enduring Israeli military action.

In a statement released by university President Santa J. Ono, the safety of “students, faculty, employees, university visitors, and protesters” is described as “a paramount concern.”

Regent Sarah Hubbard echoes President Ono’s safety concerns.

“It really became an issue of safety for those on the campus and in the encampment,” Regent Hubbard says.

Officers dressed in riot gear used batons and pepper spray to drive protesters back from the encampment before tossing tents, supplies, and students’ belongings into trash containers.

Cora, a member of the UM chapter of Jewish Voices for Peace who was present at the encampment Tuesday morning and asked that her last name not be used, estimates that about 50

other protesters were present when DPSS officers arrived.

According to Cora, DPSS officers issued a 10-minute warning before beginning their raid of the encampment but failed to wait the full 10 minutes before instituting physical force.

At that point, Cora says, protesters were “pushed back … continuously pepper sprayed, pushed to the ground, beaten, [and] shoved” by DPSS officers.

“I wasn’t personally hit but I did see people pushed to the ground, shoved with batons, pushed onto other people, and generally met with excessive force [by DPSS officers],” Cora says.

She says, “They were spraying people who had already been hit and were on the floor.”

“Almost everyone was pepper sprayed,” Cora continues, herself included.

According to Regent Hubbard, “The police asked them to leave … If they can’t move along, then there are consequences for that.”

Cora says that as one contingent

of officers continued to push back against the protesters, another contingent stayed to sweep the encampment.

“As we were being [pepper sprayed] and being pushed to the ground, we were also watching them rip up our art, trash our tents, and throw them all into a couple of U-hauls that they had driven onto the diag,” Cora says.

Asked if she believed the use of pepper spray was an appropriate response to protesters, Regent Hubbard says, “I think it’s important for law enforcement to use whatever tactics meet their needs at the time. I fully support our law enforcement and I think they showed great restraint this morning.”

According to Cora, DPSS officers used so much pepper spray that “the entire air was just filled with it,” creating a “smog.”

Even those who hadn’t been directly sprayed were “definitely still having a hard time breathing,” Cora says.

Cora knew of at least two protesters who visited the Emergency Room as

a result of their injuries and said they were eventually discharged.

Deputy Chief of Police for DPSS Melissa Overton said in a prepared statement, “The encampment posed safety risks, both to participants and the community at large, and its presence was in violation of policies and regulations. Its removal was important to help maintain the safety and security of the U-M campus community.”

Deputy Overton confirmed that four protesters were arrested and then turned over to the Washtenaw County Sheriff’s Office; they have since been released.

According to Cora, those four protesters “were not provided any relief after being pepper sprayed,” and were held in a cell for approximately five hours “with that burning on their face.”

Deputy Overton declined to comment on this claim; the Sheriff’s office has not responded to a request for comment.

According to President Ono’s state -

The University of Michigan student protest encampment as seen in April.

DOUG COOMBE

ment, the order to clear the encampment was made after a university fire marshal “determined that were a fire to occur, a catastrophic loss of life was likely.”

Regent Hubbard also expressed concerns regarding fire safety and claimed that protesters had “brought in chicken wire to surround the encampment, and … a lot of plywood,” which posed a fire hazard.

Spokespeople for the Tahrir Coalition, the coalition of student groups responsible for the encampment, say that to their knowledge the fire marshal “never came” to the encampment.

“We did have multiple conversations around fire safety with university staff [and administrators],” those spokespeople claim, during which university staff did not express any concerns about fire safety.

Regent Hubbard says, “we had members of the university leadership ask the protesters to leave and take down the encampment … numerous times over the last couple of weeks.”

According to Regent Hubbard, before the encampment was cleared, protesters had been repeatedly told, “We have concerns about your safety. We have the fire marshal. We have this. We have that.”

On May 15, members of the Tahrir Coalition staged demonstrations at several private residences belonging to university regents, including Regent Hubbard.

According to Regent Hubbard, protesters showed up “just before 6 a.m., taped a three-page memo to my front door, and then proceeded to erect three tents on my lawn … trespassing across my property by leaving behind fake body bags, toys, and some other paraphernalia.”

“Shortly thereafter, they started chanting and marching with a bullhorn and a drum, and disrupted my very quiet neighborhood,” Regent Hubbard says. “Some of my neighbors have young children that were very fearful about what was going on.”

After officers from the Ann Arbor Police Department appeared on the scene, “the protesters left and left behind their property in my yard,” says Regent Hubbard.

Regent Hubbard adds, “The Board of Regents has been very clear in saying that we will not be changing our investment policy in relation to this request from the coalition.”

When asked if she had personally met with any members of the Tahrir Coalition to discuss the demand for

divestment, Regent Hubbard said, “I’ve met with a variety of students on a lot of different issues over my time on the Board of Regents. I don’t know that I’ve met specifically with them about this.”

When pressed, Regent Hubbard says, “I meet with students on a very regular basis about a wide variety of things. So some students have brought this up to me. Have I met with them specifically as a coalition effort? No, I have not. But I have met with them when they have come to Board of Regents’ meetings and provided a public comment.”

Earlier in the conversation, Regent Hubbard denied that students associated with the Tahrir Coalition had availed themselves of the opportunity to provide public comment regarding university divestment.

“We expressly invited them to attend our Board meeting and provide public comment last week. There are a few people that did provide public comment about the same theme of the protest, but nobody officially on behalf of the coalition signed up to provide public comment,” Regent Hubbard says.

Asked whether a meeting between regents, protesters, and President Ono might have helped to defuse a tense situation that resulted in the use of physical force by campus police, Regent Hubbard responds, “They continue to ask for the same thing. So I think until we can move this discussion to the next step, I’m not sure how fruitful that kind of an engagement would be.”

Regent Hubbard adds that she “can’t really define” what that next step might be.

“It’s up to them. They’re the ones requesting things of us,” Regent Hubbard says of protesters.

According to Cora, members of the Tahrir Coalition are “going to have to do a lot more thinking about what comes next on a broader scale.”

Cora describes the DPSS’s raid of the encampment as “really scary and horrible.”

Still, “It was really powerful and beautiful to see the way that people acted to support one another and hold the line for as long as we did,” Cora adds. “Even though we were all brutalized in really, really gross ways, we were successful in coming together, defending the camp, and using the power that we had to send a strong message about the need for the university to divest.”

—Natalia Holtzman

Protest camp erected at Wayne State

Pro-Palestinian activists set up an protest encampment at Wayne State University on Thursday evening and are making multiple demands, including that the school divest from companies with links to Israel.

About 200 protesters rallied outside the university’s Welcome Center on Thursday before some of them gathered in the encampment, where they pledged to stay until their demands are met.

Zaynah Jadallah, a Wayne State alumnus, listed numerous demands that include the university’s Board of Governors passing a ceasefire resolution that acknowledges “a genocide being carried out by the U.S. and Israel against the indigenous Palestinian population.” She also called on the university to apologize for campus police using “excessive force” to remove protesters from a Board of Governors meeting on April 26.

Other demands include creating scholarships and fellowships for Palestinians, fully disclosing all of the university’s investments, and ending the campus police department’s trips to Israel.

It’s not yet clear how police are going to handle the encampment.

Wayne State University spokesman Matthew Lockwood told Metro Times that police are monitoring the situation.

“A small encampment of proPalestinian protestors was set up on our campus,” Lockwood said in a written statement. “It is an evolving situation, with public safety on site to ensure that it is peaceful, safe, and non-disruptive to our campus operations.”

Inside the encampment on Friday morning, about 20 protesters sat peacefully under the shade of a tree, talking in hushed tones. The camp was ringed with signs that read, “Divest from Genocide,” “Fund Our Education Not Our Occupation,” “Enough,” and “From Palestine to the Philippines, Stop the U.S. War Machine.”

Dana, a WSU alumnus who declined to give her last name, said the encampment represents liberation.

“We are here continuing the efforts of the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor, and we have our liberated zone, and we’re continuing the student movement towards diversity,” Dana said.

—Steve Neavling

Detroit lieutenant suspended

An internal investiga-

tion into a Detroit lieutenant who told a protester to “go back to Mexico” uncovered other offensive comments he made during a recent pro-Palestinian demonstration, prompting his suspension last week.

In viral video footage posted on social media, Cole taunted a Palestinian activist outside Huntington Place on Sunday, saying “Why don’t you just go back to Mexico?”

The activist, Lexis Zeidan, grew up in Dearborn and now lives in Detroit, though according to investigators the “Mexico” remark was a reference to the fact that she had recently been on vacation. Investigators are focusing on Cole’s decision to disclose information from Zeidan’s social media page.

During the internal investigation, police also reviewed body camera footage that revealed Cole antagonizing a Black protester with a racially insensitive remark, according to two sources close to the investigation. Details of that remark have not yet been disclosed.

Detroit police commissioner Willie Burton calls for DPD Chief James White to demote Cole and demand better handling of protests.

“The department must provide the board an updated review of their training procedures for officers dealing with protesters,” Burton tells Metro Times “This unacceptable incident is one of many that has cost taxpayers millions of dollars in lawsuits and eroded trust in the police out in the community.”

William Davis, a civil rights activist and former Detroit police commissioner, says Cole should be fired.

“His job is to de-escalate and not to antagonize anybody,” Davis, president of the Detroit chapter of the National Action Network, tells Metro Times “Anybody who abuses social media and says something like that doesn’t have the right demeanor to serve in the Detroit Police Department, especially in a leadership position. You should be unappointed from that position and go back to your suburban community and look for another job.”

Davis says these kinds of problems will continue because DPD is increasingly hiring white, suburban cops to serve in a predominantly Black city.

In a statement, White announced he was suspending Cole because “additional facts” about the case had surfaced.

“Having considered this new information, my concerns over the events of May 19 have worsened,” White said.

DPD declined to release more information.

—Steve Neavling

DTE Energy added to Zug Island lawsuit

DTE Energy is now entangled in a federal lawsuit that alleges its subsidiary, EES Coke Battery on Zug Island, violated the Clean Air Act by substantially increasing its sulfur dioxide emissions and jeopardizing the health of people who live in River Rouge and southwest Detroit.

U.S. District Judge Gershwin A. Drain granted the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) request to add DTE Energy as a defendant in the lawsuit filed against EES Coke in June 2022.

Environmentalists applauded the decision, saying the multibilliondollar energy company must be held accountable for the actions of its subsidiaries. During the discovery phase of the case, depositions with EES Coke and DTE employees have revealed that DTE and two of its subsidiaries were behind the decision that led to increased pollution at the plant, activists say.

“I am relieved that DTE will not be able to hide their illegal behavior from the court,” Ebony Elmore, a Sierra Club Executive Committee member who lives in River Rouge, said. “It’s important for everyone to understand what the court found: The emissions may come from EES Coke, but the orders come from DTE Energy.”

Over the past decade, the plant has emitted thousands of tons of sulfur dioxide, a dangerous air pollutant that can cause asthma, bronchitis,

and emphysema, according to the EPA. Short-term exposure can cause difficulty breathing, stomach pain, headaches, nausea, vomiting, fever, and irritation of the nose, throat, and lungs. Asthma is a chronic lung disease that disproportionately affects Black Detroiters.

The coal-powered plant manufactures coke, a key ingredient in steel production. During the process, it generates what the EPA refers to as “coke oven gas,” which can be used as fuel. When burned, this gas releases sulfur dioxide. The battery plant can utilize this fuel in other facilities, power its own operations, or burn it off in a flare.

In 2014, state environmental regulators issued a new permit to the facility, lifting the limit on coke fire gas combustion, a process that emits sulfur dioxide. This decision was based on the company’s assurance that the change “would not result in a significant increase in emissions,” according to the EPA.

However, the plant did significantly increase its emissions, and the company failed to obtain the necessary permits or implement required pollution controls, the EPA alleges.

Activists say DTE has been especially problematic for lower-income, predominantly Black communities, where an abundance of pollutionspewing plants tends to be located.

“In truth this is only one example in DTE’s long and ugly history of profiting at the expense of low-

Nessel joins Live Nation antitrust lawsuit

Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel supports the U.S. Department of Justice’s antitrust lawsuit against Live Nation and its subsidy Ticketmaster, which are accused of operating an illegal monopoly that critics argue stifles competition and drives up ticket prices.

“Michigan concertgoers deserve the chance to experience the thrill of seeing their favorite artist live, in a venue close to home, without breaking the bank,” Nessel said in a statement. “Unfortunately, this dream is out of reach for many because of Live Nation’s illegal monopoly. A truly competitive marketplace is essential to providing consumers with choice.

That’s why I, along with the Department of Justice and other states, are taking a stand against Live Nation’s practices that limit choice, hamper innovation, and unfairly inflate prices.”

income people of color,” Sierra Club organizer Bryan Smigielski said. “This ruling is an important step in a long road towards environmental justice for southwest Detroit.”

Zug Island is adjacent to Michigan’s most polluted ZIP code, 48217, located in Detroit. The community is inundated with a toxic stew of chemicals wafting from steel mills, coal-fired power plants, gas flares, billowing smokestacks, towering piles of coal and petroleum coke, a salt mine, wastewater treatment plant, and one of the nation’s largest oil refineries — all looming over schools, neighborhoods, parks, senior centers, and a recreation center.

A nauseating stench of rotten eggs, burnt plastic, and gasoline permeates the air, and heavy-duty trucks spewing harmful emissions rumble to and from factories all day and night, often carrying toxic chemicals and debris.

“We hope to move quickly and ensure that EES Coke and DTE end their illegal pollution and fix the damage they have caused,” Nick Leonard, director of the Great Lakes Environmental Law Center, said.

Earthjustice attorney Mary Rock says DTE can’t hide from what it has done.

“At DTE’s direction, EES Coke sought the removal of pollution limits that allowed the facility to burn more coke oven gas and emit sulfur dioxide pollution,” Rock said.

—Steve Neavling

The lawsuit, which was filed Thursday in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York, accuses the live music conglomerate of engaging in unethical behavior like pressuring venues into engaging in restrictive long-term agreements and threatening to withhold access to Live Nation-controlled tours if they work with rival ticket companies. These anticompetitive practices have “harmed fans through higher fees, lack of transparency, fewer consumer choices, and stifling innovation,” Nessel’s office said.

Live Nation and Ticketmaster merged in 2009 and according to the D.O.J. control 60% of concert promotions at major venues around the U.S. and roughly 80% of primary ticketing at major concert venues.

Live Nation has denied the allegations and claims that breaking up the company would not result in lower ticket prices or fees, pointing out that artists are primarily responsible for pricing tickets and surcharges go to venues. The lawsuit, a company spokesman said in a statement, “ignores everything that is actually responsible for higher ticket prices, from increasing production costs to artist popularity, to 24/7 online ticket scalping that reveals the public’s willingness to pay far more than primary tickets cost.”

Nessel is joined by the Attorneys General of Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, District of Columbia, Florida, Illinois, Maryland, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin, and Wyoming.

—Lee DeVito

Zug Island at sunset.

SHUTTERSTOCK

NEWS & VIEWS

Lapointe

This charming TV commercial is hard to ignore

By Joe Lapointe

Some television viewers greet commercials by grabbing the remote control and surfing other channels. Others just thumb-punch the mute button. Once in a while, we merely endure them. That’s because much commercial advertising can be annoying at best and offensive at worst. This means you, gambling, booze, and pickup trucks. You, too, fast food. And all you car-crash lawyers who sue, sue, sue everybody all the time all over Detroit TV.

But a rare and special ad currently airing in heavy rotation can lure a viewer into staying on channel, turning up the volume and staring at the screen for 30 charming seconds. It is the minidrama for Expedia Travel called “Northern Lights: Julie, Grace & Maya.”

The frosting on this particular cupcake is a 57-year-old song by the Velvet Underground called “I’ll Be Your Mirror.” The whole package is sentimental without being schmaltzy, a delicate

balance that is hard to achieve.

“Northern Lights” tells a plausible story touching on nature and nurture and female family ties. It honors intergenerational bonding over family values that are about more than material things.

Nevertheless, exotic-destination travel — what Expedia calls a “bucket-listtrip” — is a high-end product, not for those struggling financially. As another old song might have said: all you need is money.

“Lights” shows a working mother taking her daughter and her mother on an impulsive vacation to Norway to see the Northern Lights. As their story unfolds visually, the soundtrack plays a short clip from the 1967 song “I’ll Be Your Mirror.”

“I find it hard to believe

“That you don’t know

“The beauty you are

“But, if you don’t . . .

“Please put down your hands

“‘Cause I see you.”

The ethereal female singing voice is that of Nico and not Lou Reed, the usual front man of the V.U. If ever a commercial on TV can be called exquisite, this may be the one. It began to air on Super Bowl Sunday to promote specific, special tourism in the year of the aurora borealis.

Like many ads, “Lights” tries to include memorable visual “hooks” that viewers anticipate (sometimes unconsciously) on repeated viewing. One comes in the fifth shot of 16 camera cuts in 30 seconds.

It shows the working Mom (lawyer? executive?) having rushed home through the front door while still on her cell phone. She’s looking for her mother, who is baby-sitting for her daughter. This family appears to be matriarchal, if not matrilinear.

“Mom?” she says, an urgent edge to her tone.

By now, we see a personality, if not a

character. Single mom? Husband dead or away in the military? Divorce? They leave it vague, but force you to imagine this mother more fully. Her “mom” is the smiling, grayish woman playing in the next room on the floor by the bed with the little girl.

Their toy shows a pretend version of the Northern Lights projected in a dark room. The visual plotting here is clear even as a silent film. Then comes a pivotal shot. The camera swings left to right to meet the working mom as she comes to a sudden stop while entering through the doorway.

She gazes at her mother and daughter, open-jawed, slightly startled, her eyes with just a flash of regret — is my daughter growing up without me? But her look quickly softens and her lips close in a small smile because, after all, her daughter is safe with grandma. Still, a seed has been planted.

Despite a quiet feel, the “Mirror” music plays on, almost like a lullaby, which is appropriate for the next scene, after the grandmother puts on her coat and leaves. We see, through the mother’s eyes, the little girl sleeping on the sofa while mom works late at her home desk, burning the midnight electricity.

She works against the backdrop of two, big windows, dark against the urban skyscape. That’s a clue, too. They live in the sky but can’t really see it. The soft singing continues, a German accent, a voice once described as “a bewitching contralto.”

The camera then pans left-to-right and downward (from mom’s point of view) to the Northern Lights toy. This gives Mom a flash of inspiration. You can see it in her eyes. She pulls out her cell phone right away and books a trip for three to Norway to see the Northern Lights!

The second-last shot of the ad shows the three of them, in profile, transported to Norway, staring up at the dark, northern sky, and all those swirls and flashes of shimmering green light. You see, mom, this is your reward for all those late hours and all your success.

You’re not assuaging guilt; you’ve earned this. Gosh darn it, Julie (or Grace, or Maya), you’re a good mom. The song’s words are the only other dialogue besides “Thanks, Mom.” At conclusion, the lyrics blend into the voice of the Scottish actor Ewan McGregor. “You were made to dream about it for years,” he tells the audience. “We were made to help you book it in minutes.”

The ad was directed by Hiro Murai, Expedia said. The website campaignlive.com reported that the ad was created by Yo Umeda and Michael McCommon.

A TV spot for Expedia Travel shows a family play with a toy that simulates the Northern Lights.

COURTESY OF EXPEDIA

PRiDE GUiDE

25+ WAYS TO CELEBRATE QUEERNESS IN METRO DETROIT

BY METRO TIMES STAFF

Summer’s here and Pride

Month is around the corner. Throughout June, LGBTQ+ Pride festivals and festivities are happening all around Detroit, and some continue throughout the season.

We’ve compiled a list of the best upcoming events where you will be surrounded by love and can celebrate your authentic self. If we missed anything, feel free to let us know at tips@ metrotimes.com and we’ll add it to the online version of this article. Happy Pride!

MIGHTY REAL/ QUEER DETROIT

May 31-June 30; various locations; mrqd. com

This biennial exhibition, now in its second iteration, explores the theme

I’ll Be Your Mirror: Reflections of the Contemporary Queer through work by over 150 LGBTQ+ artists. The art will span numerous Detroit galleries, with programming such as performances, panels, and screenings happening at other institutions in conjunction with the exhibitions.

THE LESBIAN SOCIAL: PRIDE EDITION

May 31, 10 p.m.-2 a.m.; Orchid Theatre, 141 W. Nine Mile Rd., Ferndale; eventbrite.com

If you want to get lit with local lesbians as you head into Pride Month, this pre-Ferndale Pride party is for you. The Orchid nightclub will feature local DJs Pressure and Stardust and the event will be hosted by Domo the Princess.

29-June 4, 2024 | metrotimes.com

PRIDE MONTH AT FIVE15

Five15, 600 S. Washington Ave., Royal Oak; five15.net/reservations

This spot has LGBTQ+ events happening every week year-round, but the fun is next-level during Pride Month. You can head to Five15 for Drag Queen bingo and brunches, RuPaul’s Drag Race viewing parties, and many other queer-centered shows and performances.

FERNDALE PRIDE

June 1, noon-10 p.m.; downtown Ferndale; ferndalepride.com

One of Michigan’s gayest towns is kicking off Pride Month with a big festival of music, food, vendors, and more. Headliner Wreckno will perform a genre-bending show of

DJing, choreography, and electronic pop dance music. The event is free of charge and open to all ages.

PRIDE DRAG BRUNCH

June 1, 10:30 a.m.; The Emory, 22700 Woodward Ave., Ferndale; eventbrite. com

Kick off Pride Month at this drag brunch with iconic queens, comedy, and food. The two-hour show promises laughter, good energy, and fabulous entertainment.

PRIDE PATIO TAKEOVER

June 1, 4-7 p.m.; Syndicate, 140 Vester Ave., Ferndale; eventbrite.com

Music from DJ Daria and performances from Kourtney Charles and surprise guests. The event is free and there will be happy hour specials.

PRIDE PARTY!

June 1, 8-11:30 p.m.; The Loving Touch, 22634 Woodward Ave., Ferndale; eventbrite.com

This unofficial Ferndale Pride afterparty will feature music, dancing, drag, burlesque, and more. With drink specials and Mimi SouthWest as the host, it’s sure to be a night of nonstop fun.

A NIGHT OF QUEER CINEMA

June 6, 7 p.m. ; Detroit Institute of Arts, 5200 Woodward Ave., Detroit; dia.org/ events

Inspired by the themes of this year’s Mighty Real Queer Detroit exhibition, this evening is a program of LGBTQ+ documentary shorts curated by filmmaker Adam Baran. Drawn from films produced during the COVID-19 pandemic, I’ll Be Your Mirror assembles an intergenerational portrait of queer lives, visiting early rights rebellions in Los Angeles and San Francisco, a punk rock fairytale in Florida, three elders grappling with their place in the world, and firsthand lives filled with beauty, joy, and hard-fought freedoms, balanced against backgrounds of isolation, climate catastrophe, racism, and transphobia.

PRIDE BINGO AND BRUNCH

June 8, 9:30 a.m.; Cambria Hotel, 600 W. Lafayette Blvd., Detroit; eventbrite.com

Celebrate pride with food, games, music, and great Detroit drag entertainment. The event is hosted by Kourtney Charles and music will be spun by DJ Daria. Featured drag queens include Monica Devereaux LaMonico, Roberta Charles, Infestasia, and Emma Sapphire. Ticket sales will benefit the Ruth Ellis Center.

YPSI PRIDE

June 7, 5-10 p.m.; East Cross St., Depot Town, Ypsilanti; ypsireal.com

Expect drag, burlesque, and theater performances, alongside queer-owned local vendors and organizations that support the community. There will also be family-friendly activities, interactive art spaces, music, and other fun.

MOTOR CITY PRIDE

June 8-9; Hart Plaza, 1 Hart Plaza, Detroit; motorcitypride.org

Michigan’s biggest Pride celebration and parade is returning to Hart Plaza, promising to cover downtown with rainbows and love. This year’s full lineup of festival performers has yet to be announced, but R&B artist Kyle Dion will be one of the headliners. As usual, local baddies can expect tons of

great vendors, talented entertainment, and good vibes.

GIRLS JUST WANNA HAVE FUN BLOCK PARTY

June 8, 4-10 p.m.; The Belt, Detroit; eventbrite.com

Lesbian Social’s fourth annual block party in conjunction with Motor City Pride promises to be hot asf. All of the gays and allies are welcome to indulge in drinks from multiple bars in the downtown alley.

SIREN PRESENTS: PRIDE MONTH BALL

June 8, 9 p.m.-2 a.m.; UFO Factory, 2121 Trumbull St., Detroit; ra.co

To celebrate Pride Month on the first night of Motor City Pride, Siren is hosting this event to honor ballroom and Club Kid culture, two influential queer nightlife movements. Sounds will include vogue, techno, and electro, spun by Alu Alruna, Sapphyree, Døn, and Afi. There will also be drag and burlesque performances by Oshun, Luna Tixxx, and Artemiss. Hosted by Auntie Chanel, the night will also feature a categorized costume contest with themes of Club Kid, Avant Garde, camp, and drag. Three winners will get a cash prize, and a portion of ticket sales will benefit local queer community center Affirmations.

THE LESBIAN SOCIAL

June 9, 6-10 p.m.; The Godfrey Hotel, 1401 Michigan Ave., Detroit; eventbrite.com

Join the Lesbian Social at the Godfrey Hotel’s I|O Rooftop Lounge to meet, mingle, and connect with women in the community. Enjoy food and cocktails, plus take photos during Lesbian Social’s complimentary photo hour.

PRIDE + ALLIES

OPEN MIC

June 14, 6-7:30 p.m.; Next Chapter Books, 16555 E. Warren Ave., Detroit; bit.ly/ cwpopenmic

The 2024 InsideOut Youth Advisory Board is presenting an open mic hosted by Detroit poet La Shaun phoenix Moore. The event is free and open for youth and adult poets to perform one piece. Advanced sign-up is preferred, but a few walk-in spots will be available. A food truck and coffee vendor will be also on site.

GROSSE POINTE PRIDE

June 15, noon–2 p.m.; St. Clair St., Grosse Pointe Village; wegp.org

This year’s Grosse Pointe pride event will feature a short march, a drag performance, activities for the kids, a selfie station, and more. Bring pride signs and friends and have a good time.

DOWNRIVER PRIDE

June 21-22; Downtown Wyandotte; downriverpride.com

This year marks the first ever that there will be a Downriver Pride festival. The event is coordinated by Conz Productions and will feature live entertainment, vendors, and fun activities for all.

HOWDYFEST III

June 22, noon-2 a.m.; Old Miami, 3930 Cass Ave., Detroit; eventbrite.com

A kid-friendly “y’all-inclusive” honkytonk-themed event features bands, pony rides, a petting zoo, food, games, and prizes. The event is all ages until 5 p.m. and kids under 12 get in free. Tickets are $20 advance or $25 at the door.

2024 OFFICIAL PRIDE BAR CRAWL

June 22, 3-10 p.m.; Various locations; eventbrite.com

During this LGBTQ-centered bar crawl, the Detroit bar scene will come alive with drag shows, highlighting the talents of local performers. Partnering bars include Level Two Bar & Rooftop, The Don Bar, Mix Bricktown (M!X) Nightclub, and more. People with a birthday in June or July get a free ticket.

HOTTER THAN JULY

June 26-28; Motor City Casino, 2901 Grand River Ave., Detroit; lgbtdetroit.org/ hotterthanjuly

This three-day event is the world’s longest-running Black Pride celebration. Hosted by LGBT Detroit, North America’s largest Black-founded and LGBTQ+ nonprofit organization, this signature summertime event features a candlelight vigil honoring the lives of queer community members, a worship service, health screenings, and a special musical performance. In celebration of the organization’s 30th anniversary, LGBT Detroit will offer the Hotter Than July Gospel & Soul Concert featuring Grammy-nominated artist B. Slade.

MEMORIES OF A SUPERNATURAL AIDS CRISIS

June 29, 7-8 p.m.; Hilberry Gateway, 4715 Cass Ave., Detroit; encoremichigan.com This performance explores the AIDS pandemic by combining fiction with history, asking “What would happen if HIV conferred supernatural powers?” The queer sci-fi drama is set a century in the future, taking place in Detroit when the city stands as Earth’s final stronghold after the ravages of global warming. Written and directed by Marc Arthur, an artist and Assistant Professor at Wayne State University, known for his groundbreaking work combining performance and

social justice. After the show, audience members will be invited to a roundtable discussion about performance and HIV/ AIDS in Detroit.

CORKTOWN PRIDE BAR CRAWL

June 29, 5-11 p.m.; Various locations in Corktown, Detroit; eventbrite.com Celebrate love, diversity, and unity at four Corktown bars for the Official Pride Bar Crawl. Each stop will feature specialty pride-themed cocktails and lively entertainment for queer people and allies.

THE EXTRAORDINARY STEPHANIE CRAWFORD

June 30, 7-9 p.m.; the CARR center, 15 E. Kirby St., Detroit; mrqd.org/events Award-winning Black jazz vocalist Stephanie Crawford, who was born in Detroit, will return home to present her one-woman show. The show is the last event for Mighty Real Queer Detroit’s month-long LGBTQ+ arts programming for Pride month.

ROYAL OAK PRIDE

July 26-27; Washington Ave. between Fifth & Seventh Streets, Downtown Royal Oak; royaloakpride.com

While June is Pride month, some local cities are holding their festivals later in the summer, so you can celebrate all season long. Royal Oak Pride will feature family-friendly activities and entertainment, along with local LGBTQ+ artists and vendors. Royal Oak Pride returned in 2022 after a 20-year absence, drawing a turnout of some 20,000.

ANN ARBOR PRIDE

August 3; Main Street, Downtown Ann Arbor; annarborpride.com

Ann Arbor is hosting its pride in August, bringing the community together in the hot weather with entertainment, vendors, and lots of fun. Ann Arbor Pride works heavily with the Jim Toy Community Center, a local LGBTQ+ advocacy group that works to protect the rights of the queer community. Have fun and support a good cause.

TRANSGENDER PRIDE IN THE PARK

August 24, 12-6 p.m.; Martin Road Park, 1615 E. Lewiston Ave., Ferndale; transgendermichigan.org

To end off the summer, Transgender Michigan is holding its 25th annual Transgender Pride in the Park. The bring-your-own picnic-style event features speakers and a vendor area with organizations and businesses serving the trans community, along with a virtual vendor mall.

WHAT’S GOING ON

Select events happening in metro Detroit this week. Be sure to check venue website before events for latest information. Add your event to our online calendar: metrotimes. com/AddEvent.

MUSIC

Wednesday, May 29

Frank Turner & The Sleeping Souls, Amigo The Devil, Bridge City Sinners, Micah Schnabel, Vanessa Jean Speckman 5:30 p.m.; The Fillmore, 2115 Woodward Ave., Detroit; $34.50-$54.50.

Lauren Daigle, Ellie Holcomb 7 p.m.; Little Caesars Arena, 2645 Woodward Ave., Detroit; $24.50-$124.50.

NEEDTOBREATHE, Judah & the Lion 7 p.m.; Michigan Lottery Amphitheatre at Freedom Hill, 14900 Metropolitan Pkwy., Sterling Heights; $29.95-$69.95.

Thursday, May 30

Dear Dario, The Hourlies, Heat Above 7 p.m.; Small’s, 10339 Conant St., Hamtramck; $15.

Harry Taylor Jazz 7-9 p.m.; Detroit Contemporary, 487 W. Alexandrine St., Detroit; $10.

Hello Detroit! An Evening with Vanessa Carr 6:30-9:30 p.m.; Aretha’s Jazz Cafe, 350 Madison St., Detroit; $45. Hunxho 7 p.m.; The Majestic Theatre, 4120 Woodward Ave., Detroit; $125.

Little Big 7 p.m.; Saint Andrew’s Hall, 431 E. Congress St., Detroit; $23.

Mr. Big, Drew Cagle & the Reputation 7 p.m.; District 142, 142 Maple St., Wyandotte; $35.

Parliament Funkadelic Featuring George Clinton 8 p.m.; Sound Board, 2901 Grand River Ave., Detroit; $57-$67.

The Allman Betts Band 7 p.m.; The Fillmore, 2115 Woodward Ave., Detroit; $33-$148.

Tied Down preshow #1: E.Town Concrete, Gridiron, Eyez Wide Shut, Spirit Of Vengeance 6 p.m.; Edgemen, 19757 15 Mile Rd., Clinton Twp; $35.

DJ/Dance

The Groove Theory: Willis Show Bar 6 Year Anniversary 10 p.m.; Willis Show Bar, 4156 Third St., Detroit; $10-$120.

Drag Queen Karaoke! 8 p.m.-2

a.m.; Woodward Avenue Brewers, 22646 Woodward Ave., Ferndale; no cover.

Friday, May 31

Ashley McBryde, Harper O’Neill

7 p.m.; The Fillmore, 2115 Woodward Ave., Detroit; $28-$63.

The Boreouts, Dark Red, Dirty Copper, Checker 7 p.m.; Small’s, 10339 Conant St., Hamtramck.

Bulletboys, Most Wanted, Gangway, Frontline Lead 7:30 p.m.; The Token Lounge, 28949 Joy Rd., Westland; $20-$80.

The Seatbelts, The Stomp Rockets, Hydrogen Jukebox 8-11 p.m.; The Old Miami, 3930 Cass Ave., Detroit; 5.00.

Joey Fatone & AJ McLean: A Legendary Night 8 p.m.; Caesars Palace Windsor - Augustus Ballroom, 377 E. Riverside Dr., Windsor; $33-$78.

LP Vinyl’s ESCAPE (tribute to Journey) 7 p.m.; District 142, 142 Maple St., Wyandotte; $18.

That Arena Rock Show featuring the music of Led Zeppelin, Aerosmith, AC/DC, Bon Jovi, Guns N Roses, and more 8 p.m.; Emerald Theatre, 31 N. Walnut St., Mount Clemens; $20-$200.

Tied Down preshow #2: Ceremony, No Warning, Fury, Bracewar, D Bloc, Build & Destroy, Haywire, Back 4 More 5 p.m.; Magic Stick, 4120 Woodward Ave., Detroit.

Timothy Monger State Park, Phased Out, DJ Chadwick 9 p.m.; Bowlero Lanes & Lounge, 4209 Coolidge Hwy., Royal Oak; no cover.

Totally 80’s Dance Party with 1985 Band! 8 p.m.; Diamondback Music Hall, 49345 S. Interstate 94 Service Dr., Belleville; $15.

Willis Show Bar 6 Year Anniversary: Versions 7 and 10 p.m.; Willis Show Bar, 4156 Third St., Detroit; $15 advance, $20 day of show.

Youth Fountain, Action / Adventure, Carpool, Escape Plan 6 p.m.; Sanctuary Detroit, 2932 Caniff St., Hamtramck; $20.

DJ/Dance

Shrek Rave (18+) 8 p.m.; Saint Andrew’s Hall, 431 E. Congress St., Detroit; $15-$30.

Saturday, June 1

Ginuwine, Dru Hill 8 p.m.; The Music Hall, 350 Madison Ave., Detroit;

$50-$90.

Glass Beams 7 p.m.; Saint Andrew’s Hall, 431 E. Congress St., Detroit; $23.

Hot Summer Nights: car show, live music (The Atomic Bombcatz), food, and more noon-9 p.m.; VFW 9885 “Bova” - Westland, 6440 N Hix Rd, Westland; no cover.

Live Music on the Porch: Jasper Dean, EV Bennett 7-9 p.m.; Detroit Contemporary, 487 W. Alexandrine St., Detroit; no cover.

LUCY 7 p.m.; The Block, 3919 Woodward Ave., Detroit; $50-$200.

Magic Bag Presents: Re-Cure (The Cure tribute) 7 p.m.; Magic Bag, 22920 Woodward Ave., Ferndale; $25.

Nekromantix 7 p.m.; Small’s, 10339 Conant St., Hamtramck; $20.

Peso Pluma: Exodo Tour 8 p.m.; Little Caesars Arena, 2645 Woodward Ave., Detroit; $39.50-$599.50.

The Voices of the Streets: Moneybagg Yo, Rob49, Skilla Baby, JT 7:30 pm; Fox Theatre, 2211 Woodward Ave., Detroit; $74-$184.

Tied Down Detroit with Have Heart, Drain, Youth Of Today, Terror, No Pressure, Killing Time, and more 11 a.m.; Russell Industrial Complex-Exhibition Center, 1600 Clay St., Detroit; $139.99.

Sunday, June 2

Live/Concert

101 WRIF presents Autumn Kings, Shallow Truths, Crashing Cairo 7 p.m.; The Shelter, 431 E. Congress St., Detroit; $18.

An Evening With Don (tribute to Bob Dylan) 7:30 p.m.; The Token Lounge, 28949 Joy Rd., Westland; $20$200.

Death To All, Cryptopsy 7 p.m.; Magic Stick, 4120 Woodward Ave., Detroit; $35.

Detroit Youth Choir 7:30 p.m.; The Music Hall, 350 Madison Ave., Detroit; $30.

Liturgy, Vermin Womb, Sissy Spacek, Body Void 7 pm; Sanctuary Detroit, 2932 Caniff St., Hamtramck; $20. Tank, Keri Hilson, Carl Thomas 7 p.m.; The Fillmore, 2115 Woodward Ave., Detroit; $37.50-$167.50.

Tied Down Detroit with Have Heart, Drain, Youth Of Today, Terror, No Pressure, Killing Time, and more 11 a.m.; Russell In-

dustrial Complex-Exhibition Center, 1600 Clay St., Detroit; $74.99.

Wanted, Faded, Savetta 6 p.m.; Pike Room, 1 S. Saginaw, Pontiac; $15. Winger, StrengthBeyondYou 7 pm; District 142, 142 Maple St., Wyandotte; $25-$45.

Monday, June 3

Masacre, Sadistic Ritual, Sauron 7 p.m.; Sanctuary Detroit, 2932 Caniff St., Hamtramck; $20.

DJ/Dance

Adult Skate Night 8:30-11 p.m.; Lexus Velodrome, 601 Mack Ave., Detroit; $5.

Tuesday, June 4

Anonimuss Rose 7 p.m.-midnight; Detroit Shipping Company, 474 Peterboro St., Detroit; no cover.

Khruangbin, John Carroll Kirby 7 p.m.; Detroit Masonic Temple Library, 500 Temple St, Detroit; $45-$313.

Orville Peck, Durand Jones, Debii Dawsson 7 p.m.; Meadow Brook Amphitheatre, 3554 Walton Blvd., Rochester Hills; $35-$75.

Sebastian Bach, Classless Act 7 p.m.; Saint Andrew’s Hall, 431 E. Congress St., Detroit; $33.

DJ/Dance

B.Y.O.R Bring Your Own Records Night 9 p.m.-midnight; The Old Miami, 3930 Cass Ave., Detroit; no cover.

THEATER

Performance

AXIS Lounge Dueling Pianos: An Interactive Entertainment Experience The AXIS Lounge at MGM Grand Detroit features ‘Dueling Pianos’ interactive performances, taking center-stage every Thursday night from 8 p.m. to midnight. With its combination of audience participation and top-class entertainers at the keyboards, the Dueling Pianos experience is never the same show twice, and audiences are encouraged to bring their suggestions to the floor to make each evening’s playlist the centerpiece of a unique entertainment experience. There is no admission fee for performances and events at AXIS Lounge, All attendees must be 21 and over and will be required to provide identification. Thursdays, 8 pm-midnight.

Detroit Public Theatre Clyde’s Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright Lynn Nottage serves up a savory story of resilience, redemption, and the healing powers of food in Clyde’s. The formerly incarcerated kitchen staff of a truck-stop sandwich joint are on a mission to create the perfect sandwich—and to move forward from past lives that were far from

perfect. The Washington Post called this Pulitzer Prize-winning play a “highly entertaining comedy of kitchen nightmares”. $47 Through June 2, 1 pm.

Detroit Repertory Theatre

Between Riverside and Crazy City Hall is demanding more than his signature, the Landlord wants him out, the liquor store is closed — and the Church won’t leave him alone. For ex-cop & recent widower Walter “Pops” Washington and his recently paroled son Junior, when the struggle to hold on to one of the last great rent controlled apartments on Riverside Drive collides with old wounds, sketchy new houseguests, and a final ultimatum, it seems the old days are dead and gone. Winner of the 2015 Pulitzer Prize for Drama. The theatre lobby opens 1 hour before showtimes for food & drinks. $25 in advance, $30 general admission Fridays, 8 pm, Saturdays, 3 & 8 pm and Sundays, 2 pm.

Plowshares Theatre The House That Will Not Stand THE HOUSE THAT WILL NOT STAND is a spellbinding drama set in New Orleans in the early 1800s. In the heat of the summer, Louisiana passes from France to the United States. On the eve of the transfer, in a house in mourning, freedom hangs in the balance for Beartrice Albans, a steely widow, and her three eligible daughters, all free women of color. Inspired by Federico García Lorca’s The House of Bernarda Alba, Marcus Gardley‘s lyrical, nuanced play, navigate the complexities of race, power, and desire in a society where freedom ain’t free. THE HOUSE THAT WILL NOT STAND Tickets range from $15 -$49. Thursday 7:30-9:30 pm, Friday 7:30-9:30 pm, Saturday June 1, 8-10 pm and Sunday June 2, 2-4 pm.

Musical

Meadow Brook Theatre Ella, First Day of Song $46 Wednesday 8 pm, Thursday 8 pm, Friday 8 pm, Saturday June 1, 6 pm and Sunday June 2, 2 & 6:30 pm.; $46 Wednesday 8 pm, Thursday 8 pm, Friday 8 pm, Saturday June 1, 6 pm and Sunday June 2, 6:30 pm.

COMEDY

Improv

Go Comedy! Improv Theater Pandemonia The All-Star 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 Fridays, Saturdays, 7:30 & 9:30 pm.; 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. Fridays and Saturdays 7:30pm & 9:30pm 25.00 Fridays, Saturdays.; $20 Every other Friday, 8 & 10 pm.

Mark Ridley’s Comedy Castle

Open Mike Night Think you’ve got a killer set? On select Wednesdays, newbies get a chance at the Castle mic. Sign up is on Wednesdays (from 11am-6pm) for the following week! (We can’t promise everyone a spot, but we’ll do our best to get you on!) To sign up call 248-542-9900 SHOWTIME 7:30pm Tickets to watch will be available at the door. Admission $5 $5.00 Wednesday 7:30-9 pm.

Podcast: Live podcast

The Fillmore An Evening With All the Smoke $27.50-$67.50 Monday June 3, 7 pm.

Harpos Therapy Gecko Live: The Lizard Agenda Tour Need help? This is the therapy you’ve been waiting for!

Come get Gecked at Harpos Music Theatre in Detroit June 1st! Exodus Entertainment x National Entertainment Group Presents: Therapy Gecko Live: The Lizard Agenda Tour <0x1F98E><0x1F98E><0x1F98E> 06/01 Doors 7pm Show 8pm Harpos Concert Theatre <0x1F98E><0x1F98E><0x1F98E>

Tickets available on Eventbrite TL: bit.ly/ THGH24 30 Saturday June 1, 7 pm.

Stand-up

Andiamo Celebrity Showroom

Andrew Dice Clay $35-$110 Saturday June 1, 8 pm.

Diamondback Music Hall Comedy at Diamondback Music Hall $35 Sunday June 2, 6 pm.

Mark Ridley’s Comedy Castle

Kristina Kuzmic “The Lies I’ve Told Myself” Tour Stand up comedy veteran Steve Byrne has done it all in the world of comedy. From his multiple stand up comedy specials, including his 5th, an homage to Johnny Carson, streaming now at Amazon Prime called “The Last Late Night”, to his own sitcom that got 3 seasons on TBS “Sullivan & Son” and to writing/directing his own feature film, the indie success “The Opening Act” about his early years in stand up, he has always continued to tour and work on new material. $25.00 Thursday 7:30-9 pm, Friday 7:15-8:45 & 9:45-11:15 pm and Saturday June 1, 7-8:30 & 9:3011 pm.; Kristina Kuzmic is a cheerleader for her fellow humans. It’s not something she ever anticipated doing, but after immigrating to America from Croatia during the war in her homeland and later facing more challenges (divorce, single parenting, poverty, mental health challenges), Kristina’s goal became clear: to be for others what she needed when she was at her lowest.

$35.00 Saturday June 1, 2:30-4 pm.

Continuing This Week

Blind Pig Blind Pig Comedy FREE Mondays, 8 pm.

The Independent Comedy Club at Planet Ant Tonight vs Everybody: Open Mic Comedy A late night, heckle encouraged, show up, go up stand-up open mic featuring both local amateurs and touring professionals. Sign up starts at 10:30 and the show begins at 11p. Doors and Sign Up 10:30p | Show at 11p | $5 Suggested Donation* Attached bar Ghost Light opens at 7p The independent Comedy Club is a comedy club run by comics for comics inside Planet Ant Theatre. The club runs Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays, offering independently produced comedy shows from 8p-12a. Presented by Planet Ant *Planet Ant Theatre, Inc. is a 501c3 nonprofit organization; no ticket or reservation is required $5 Suggested Donation Fridays, Saturdays, 11 pm-1:30 am.; A weekly open mic featuring both local amateurs and touring professionals. Doors open at 8:30 p.m. and the show begins at 9 pm.. The evening always ends with karaoke in the attached Ghost Light Bar! Doors and Sign up 8:30 p.m. Show at 9 p.m. $5 suggested donation. Attached bar Ghost Light opens at 7 p.m. $5 Suggested Donation Thursdays, 9-10:30 pm.

ARTS

Performance Art

They Say The Murder Mystery Company Presents: “Death of a Gangster” Prepare to unravel the secrets of a thrilling murder mystery, where every twist and turn leads you closer to uncovering the truth. Put your sleuthing skills to the test as you examine clues and mingle with suspects, all while enjoying a delectable three-course meal. But beware – you might find yourself a suspect in this gripping tale. Secure your tickets now for an evening you won’t soon forget! Rating is PG-10 without curse words or gore, but there are some loud noises that may frighten young children. $59 Friday 7-9:30 pm.

Art Exhibition

Boyer Campbell Building Petrichor Experience a large-scale immersive art exhibition from botanical artist lisa waud, producer of 2015’s flower house. petrichor is the earthy scent produced when rain falls on dry soil. experience the sensation when, for three days, the 16,000 square foot interior ground floor of detroit’s historic boyer campbell factory floor is landscaped with green, lush grass. the installation offers a temporary public space, outside-in. 30.00 Friday 6

am-10 pm, Saturday June 1, 6 am-10 pm and Sunday June 2, 6 am-10 pm.

Cranbrook Art Museum Drink & Draw Poolside at Cranbrook Sip and sketch at Cranbrook Art Museum’s beautiful grounds for Free Thursday! Drink & Draw is a laidback environment that encourages you to have fun and connect through drawing. All levels of artists are welcome, no experience is necessary! Basic drawing materials and drawing boards will be available for checkout at the Museum’s front desk or bring your own! Beer and wine are available for purchase (accepting cash and all major credit cards) on Knoll Walkway from 4:30-7:30pm. While picnicking is allowed near Cranbrook Art Museum, alcoholic beverages must be purchased from the designated bar. Outside alcohol is not permitted. Free Thursday 4:30-7:30 pm.

Detroit Institute of Arts (DIA)

The Making of ‘Regeneration’ Public Lecture Regeneration: Black Cinema 1898 – 1971 explores the rich history of Black participation in American cinema, from its beginnings to just past the civil rights movement and the dawn of the so-called Blaxploitation era. Join the exhibition’s co-curators Doris Berger and Rhea L. Combs as they discuss behind-the-scenes insights into their five-year journey of archival research and conversations with artists and filmmakers to create this groundbreaking exhibition, which seeks to revive lost or forgotten films, filmmakers, and performers for a contemporary audience. Free with registration Wednesday 6-7 am.

Palmer Park Palmer Park Art Fair The Palmer Park Art Fair includes the juried artists you expect as well as dozens of artists who don’t generally participate in fine art fairs. This includes groups ranging from the Detroit Fine Art Breakfast Club to the National Conference of Artists celebrating 50 years. This year we include a section of indigenous artists, including music, dance and workshops. Our authors tent includes 20 some writers in many styles for every age group with a slight leaning towards children’s books. Food trucks, art activities and surprises. Free Saturday June 1, 10 am-7 pm and Sunday June 2, 11 am-5 pm.

Continuing This Week

Cranbrook Art Museum Constellations & Affinities: Selections from the Cranbrook Collection “Constellations and Affinities: Selections from the Cranbrook Collection” is now open at Cranbrook Art Museum! Sampling from the Cranbrook Collection, this ongoing exhibition gathers a broad and eclectic sampling of objects made by artists, architects, and designers associated with Cranbrook Academy of Art.

MUSIC

Moment of Proof

Rapper NASAAN talks

about his new album, establishing his own identity, and his father’s legacy

By Kahn Santori Davison

Rapper NASAAN, his girlfriend Tiva Fox, and CEO of Assemble Sound Garret Koehler are sitting in a semi circle talking about all things hip-hop. The conversation ranges from early Detroit boom bap and West Coast gangsta to who’s on tour, and who’s dropped what.

Over the last few months NASAAN has been on an impressive press run to promote his album ERROR 404, slated for a May 31 release, including appearances on Way Up with Angela Yee, Ebro in the Morning, and The Joe Budden Podcast

“It’s been pretty surreal, because I’m such a hip-hop nerd, like a rap nerd,” he says. “I go to sleep watching these people so being on their platforms almost felt like breaking a fourth wall in a way. I was super nervous.”

NASSAN is dressed in a buttondown white shirt, black tie, shorts, and a caramel-colored sweater. He has on black Prada shoes, and a diamond-encrusted grill fills his mouth while three star-shaped stickers are spread over his face.

“I’m taking on this character, a

young guy who wants to be a part of this tech company ERROR 404,” he says. “The insignia of those who have been accepted into the company is the brown cardigan. The stickers represent being employee of the month at the company.”

NASAAN is as creative an emcee as you’ll ever meet, but he’s not just a rapper. His YouTube channel is full of comedic skits, abstract content, and whitty freestyles — just think Childish Gambio meets Joyner Lucas. But he’s also the 21-year-old son of legendary emcee DeShaun “Big

Proof” Holton. For those outside, Detroit Proof was simply the frontman to hip-hop group D-12, a fierce battle rapper, and the Robin to Eminem’s Batman. But for Detroiters, Proof was one of the best to ever step behind the mic, the quintessential lynchpin within Detroit hip-hop. From the Goon Squad to 5-Ela, from the Hip-Hop Shop to the Shelter at Saint Andrew’s, Proof was an ambassador of Detroit hip-hop who helped lead it to its most significant wave of global notoriety. He died April 11, 2006 when NASAAN was 7 years old.

NASAAN, the 21-year-old son of legendary emcee DeShaun “Big Proof” Holton, is also a hip-hop artist.

KAHN SANTORI DAVISON

“After he passed we moved down south,” NASAAN says. “We moved to Florida for a year or two and then moved to Atlanta because my grandma stayed there. So I pretty much grew up in Atlanta.”

The move was an economic and a cultural shift. NASAAN says his family experienced financial hardships after his father died and his appreciation of hip-hop was influenced by Atlanta’s evolving trap music scene.

“My stepfather was Jeezy’s bodyguard so that’s all I would listen to,” NASAAN adds. “It molded my taste and my palette to trap music and the Atlanta sound in general.”

Along with Atlanta trap music, the mid-2000s were very diverse years for hip-hop. Detroiters Big Sean and DeJ Loaf were making their mark while seasoned veterans like Jay-Z and Pusha T were still dropping music, and Chicago drill had become the newest sound to take hip-hop by storm.

“The first person I ever ‘stanned’ in my life was Chief Keef,” he says. “I think he had a crazy grip on my generation, period. I remember wearing a big-ass fake designer belt my mom had bought me from the flea market to try and embody what he had going on,” he adds through a laugh.

NASAAN says he started actively writing rhymes in 8th grade and by 9th grade he was recording songs daily (although he only released one song), and was a student of the craft who was more interested in quality over quantity.

“I used to [read] Complex every day and they had this list of best albums of every year by rappers,” he says. “And I just went through it and studied it all … I was so mesmerized.”

In 2017, a 16-year-old NASAAN entered the Fresh Empire’s The New Wave Competition. The contest featured six emcees, three rounds, and included a DJ and live band. NASAAN finished second to Batltimore rapper Lil Key, but his notoriety skyrocketed. It appeared that NASAAN’s proverbial breakout moment had arrived.

“Sway hosted it. Marshall and Big Sean posted me and it got super big,” he says. “I got 50,000 [Instagram] followers overnight.”

However, what appeared to be a big step forward was used to take a step back. NASAAN felt he wasn’t ready for the adulation as he wasn’t giving the public the best representation of who he was as an artist.

“When that happed I kind of got scared because all these eyes were on me and I didn’t wanna fuck up,” he says. “I didn’t want to make the wrong move. I didn’t know myself as

“When that happed I kind of got scared because all these eyes were on me and I didn’t wanna fuck up,” he says. “I didn’t want to make the wrong move. I didn’t know myself as an artist.”

an artist. I felt like I had to do this rappity rap shit because of the legacy and what people associated me with.”

NASAAN retreated back to his bat cave where he continued to iron out his style, his approach, and grow his lyricist super powers. About a year later he popped up on the radar of Eminem’s manager Paul Rosenberg, who had become chairman and CEO of Def Jam Recordings in 2018.

“While I was in high school he caught wind of me because I would do features with someone who was a fan of me in London,” NASSAN says. “His name is Kid Bookie, a very great rapper. He had a lot of motion going on overseas.”

Rosenberg signed NASAAN to Def Jam of that same year and the union seemed to be a match made in hip-hop heaven. What could be more perfect that Proof’s son inking a record deal with Paul Rosenberg and Def Jam, the most historic hip-hop label ever? NASAAN released a fivesong EP Kiss of Karma highlighted by the creative single “Ben/Frank,” though it would be NASAAN’s only release through Def Jam as he left the label after Roseberg stepped down in 2020.

“Everybody left,” he says with a shrug. “I don’t even think staying was an option.”

NASSAN didn’t stay unsigned for too long, however. He had already been on the radar of Koehler, who founded Assemble Sound in 2015 and had inked a joint venture with Atlantic Records in 2021.

“Drew [Drialo] told me about NASAAN before he signed to Def Jam and was like, ‘Just keep your eye on him,’ and he told me about his background,” Koehler says.

Koehler did just that. He kept up with NASAAN’s content and drops. About a year after NASAAN parted ways with Def Jam he released the single “R.I.P. FRESH” in January of 2022 and Koehler was so impressed that he knew it was time to reach out to him.

“After he dropped ‘R.I.P. Fresh,’ that’s when I saw art that felt reflective of the artist,” he says. “It was the

29-June 4, 2024 | metrotimes.com

first video he directed and put out himself.”

After several months of conversations Koehler signed NASAAN to a record deal on Assemble Sound in August 2022. In dramatic fashion NASAAN signed the contract while riding the Magnum XL-200 roller coaster with Koehler at Cedar Point.

He was the first artist to officially sign to the imprint. Koehler calls him “the one,” and firmly believes that NASAAN has the skill set to become a world renowned hip-hop artist.

“He could be a superstar,” Koehler says. “He has the energy that could fill an arena and I say that because of his charisma, his lyricism, which is both technically good and also widely creative. It embodies a very unique perspective.”

NASAAN incorporates

a variety of tools to create music. He utilizes voice notes and voice memos to store ideas for later dates, and punches in his rhymes but also writes his bars down when he wants to evoke certain feelings and articulate certain thoughts. In February of this year NASAAN set the hip-hop sound waves a blaze with a mesmerizing “On The Radar” freestyle.

“That freestyle, it was so much pressure,” he says shaking his head. “I was in L.A., I had to fly back and do it that same morning.”

That was followed up a month later with the bass-heavy “Cullinan Gang” which featured the melodic trap vocals of one of Detroit’s favorite emcees, Icewear Vezzo.

“Vezzo had came up to the studio one day and we was talking, kicking it … We linked up at the 50 cent show, he was showing mad love,” he says.

NASAAN’s most recent release is “Goated” featuring Royce da 5’9”. Within the video for the single NASAAN recreates the MTV News freestyle session between his father and Eminem. The song was released on April 11, eighteen years to the day that Proof passed away. NASSAN has also partnered with ESPN with a

licensing deal for “Goated’’ to be featured during the 2024 NBA playoffs.

“It was in tribute to my father,” he says. “The last line right before the first hook is and my daddy like, boy don’t blow my assist.’ I feel like he laid all this out for me man and I just gotta lay it up.”

For NASAAN the bond he’s been able to forge with Eminem and Royce is priceless. They both were his father’s friends and fellow emcees. The waters of the music business can get nasty and complicated, so having access to veterans that have already reached their GOAT status is a game changer.

“Royce is like super close to me,” NASSAN says. “He’s an OG, I damn near see him everyday. He has nothing but game to give me. I’ve learned so much … And Marshall is like this big presence and inspiration. I take from him artistically, subconsciously, like without even trying. Just someone I can touch and talk to because he’s somewhere I want to be one day.”

This is the most comfortable NASAAN has ever been in his own skin and he feels it will show in his body of work. NASAAN is not the first emcee who has a father known for being a top-tier rapper. Lil Blade (Blade Icewood), Chris Rivers (Big Pun), are just two of the many emcees to follow in the famous father’s footsteps. With NASAAN, he’s found a way to embrace his father’s legacy without feeling threatened by it, and he’s no longer worried about people feeling like he’s undeserving of his opportunities.

“My father’s legacy was something I ran from and shied from for so long,” he says. “For my own reasons, I didn’t want people to discredit me. I took pride in doing the work, I didn’t want people to take that from me. I didn’t want people to think I got shit handed to me or wanna be my friend for different reasons.”

He also has a foot in every aspect of ERROR 404. He mapped out and co-directed all of his music videos, the sequencing of songs on the project, and says he’s confident that he’s developed the version of his craft that he wants to give the world.

“At Def Jam I was trying to be everything I was influenced by versus using my influences to paint me as the picture,” he says. “I think I’ve just grown as a person and a human first … I always say this project to me is my ‘what’ and not my ‘who.’ It’s what I am sonically. It’s the fun shit, it’s the off the wall randomness, it’s all those things when you think of NASSAN.”

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Temple Bar closes

The Temple Bar in Detroit is closed until further notice after a portion of the building collapsed Friday morning.

A bar employee said that a part of the wall and roof collapsed around 10 a.m., sending debris tumbling down onto the sidewalk. The falling blocks also damaged the overhang above the business’s front door.

When a Metro Times reporter arrived around noon, access to the building was blocked off with yellow caution tape.

The worker says the wall “just fell over” for no apparent reason. Nobody is believed to be hurt.

The owner of the beloved LGBTQ+ dive bar could not be reached for comment.

Known as a DJ night hotspot, Temple Bar had plans for a Friday evening party to coincide with that weekend’s Movement Music Festival. The event, a fundraiser for the Underground Music Academy, was to feature sets by Shigeto, Beewack, DJ Caro, Kandylion, and more.

The bar opened nearly a century ago in 1927 by the father of the current owner. A longstanding business in a part of Detroit that has seen rapid development in recent years, it had freshened up its facade with a fresh coat of red paint last year.

—Lee DeVito

PUMA has soft opening

Coinciding with activities throughout the city for last week’s Movement Music Festival, Argentine restaurant PUMA opened its doors for the first time over weekend with a soft opening.

Located at 4725 16th St. in Detroit’s Core City neighborhood, PUMA is a more casual sister brand to Chef Javier Bardauil’s upscale Barda restaurant. By night, PUMA will transform into COUGAR, a full-service cocktail bar featuring live DJ sessions.

The new space was originally scheduled to open in November 2023, but these business launches are always up in the air.

This initial food offerings include the Argentine staple choripán — pork sausage grilled over a wood fire, served with chimichurri on a baguette from the Detroit Bagel Institute — and aguachile de camaron, a refreshing dish of shrimp, cucumber, corn, and citrus in a cilantro and jalapeño broth.

An official grand opening date has yet to be announced but is expected soon.

—Layla McMurtrie

A Jackson Pollockinspired restaurant

A new restaurant inspired by the work of abstract expressionist painter Jackson Pollock is set to open in Rochester Hills next month.

Dubbed The Jackson, the highend restaurant will open in The Village of Rochester Hills shopping center at 104 N. Adams Rd. It’s coowned by Michael Mauro and chef Justin Vaiciunas, and marks the duo’s first foray as restaurant owners and operators.

According to a press release, “The Jackson will draw inspiration from Jackson Pollock’s iconic splatter paintings, capturing the essence of Pollock’s unique and innovative artist’s approach through the menu and design elements in the restaurant.” They say the decor is heavily influenced by Pollock’s groundbreaking work “Number One,” and Mauro and Vaiciunas have even created their own large-scale

21-foot-by-7-foot interpretation of a Pollock painting for the restaurant.

The interior design is handled by Pop House, the Detroit-based design firm owned by Jennifer Gilbert, Dan Gilbert’s wife. One wall is also adorned with a custom wallpaper design inspired by the abstract faces of Pablo Picasso made by Bloomfield Hills-based luxury wallpaper company Verna Velin.

Details on the menu were not provided, other than to say that “the dishes that will be served at The Jackson will represent edible masterpieces, each one a bold and daring interpretation of Pollock’s abstract style.” (At least one photo of a dish on the restaurant’s website shows sauces splattered on a plate in a manner that could be described as Pollackian.) The menu is set to change periodically.

The restaurant’s bar program is helmed by Michael Mauro of East Lansing, who will curate a selection of wines and craft a cocktail menu utilizing locally sourced ingredients.

The Jackson is set to open sometime in June. More information will be available at thejacksonrestaurant. com.

—Lee DeVito

Damage at Detroit’s Temple Bar on Friday morning.

MASON SULTANA

Bites

CULTURE

Arts spotlight

A timeless survey of Charles McGee’s legacy

By Randiah Camille Green

Library Street Collective’s Little Village campus opened last week, and at the center of it all was Charles McGee.

The late Detroit artist, who blessed us with abstract and figurative paintings, sculptures, and public installations, passed away in 2021 but the time for his legacy is now. Little Village is anchored by an exhibition and event space in a former church dubbed The Shepherd. For its inaugural exhibit, Library Street Collective partnered with the Museum of Contemporary Art Detroit (MOCAD) to present a survey of McGee’s work at The Shepherd called Charles McGee: Time is Now. It features a range of McGee’s sculptures, paintings, archival materials, and drawings, many of which have never been shown before.

Tucked into the East Village neighborhood, the former Good Shepherd Church where Library Street Collective has set up its newest gallery feels like a container for both past and present with many historic elements preserved and reimagined.

McGee speaks to visitors when they first enter the space through a display of his Kresge Eminent Artist video from 2008 and Mike Ellis’s short film on him from 2006.

Stained glass windows of saints line the walls of the dimly-lit church while a

room of stark white seems to shine from the inside out. This is the first part of the gallery where visitors will find Time is Now

Mixed media paintings are displayed here alongside one of McGee’s most recognizable pieces, “Play Patterns II.”

Seeing it up close reveals a combination of textures, colors, and movement that feel musical as the serpents and human figures in the piece seem to dance around each other. In the same room are early concept sketches for the figures that would come to appear in his larger works.

“So rarely do we get to peer inside the early stages of a work. And so, although the famous gigantic piece anchors the show, for us curatorially, it’s these works that have influenced the entire thing,” says MOCAD Artistic Director Jova Lynne, who curated the exhibit.

She adds, “I never like to call an artist a godfather of anything, but I will say, this is an exceptional artist who did a lot around abstraction, figurative work, and sort of thinking about Black artists across the city, impacting his total practice as both an artist and a curator.”

Time is Now is separated into three rooms, marking the evolution of McGee’s work across his six-decade career. The first room showcases the layers of

his art practice, the second serves as an archive, and finally, he is positioned as a contemporary American artist in the third, Lynne explains.

“I think there’s a lot of time when we talk about Black artists as though we’re not American,” she says. “The evolution of this artist’s work is really something that I think framed the contemporary art scene.”

MOCAD Assistant Curator Abel González Fernández echoes Lynne’s thoughts.

“He went through a lot of creative chapters in his work,” he says about McGee. “He started in the early 1960s with impressionist work after he graduated from the school that is now [the College for Creative Studies]... But then he traveled to Europe, he came back, [and] he opened a gallery to foster and champion Black abstractionists from the ’60s to ’79. And then he consolidated his style that we’re seeing right now in this piece, ‘Play Patterns’ in the ’80s that is in dialogue with his [‘Noah’s Ark: Genesis’] piece that is at the [Detroit Institute of Arts].”

The archival section includes a Detroit News article from 1979 when McGee founded the Detroit New School for Black Artists along with Gallery 7, which he ran from 1969 to 1979 focusing on Black artists. A copy of the Emmet

Cohen Trio’s 2019 album Dirty in Detroit on vinyl, for which McGee did the cover art, is also displayed in the archive. The MOCAD crew gathered a lot of the materials here from McGee’s daughters.

“There’s a term that I’ve learned recently, which is ‘camouflage classrooms,’” Lynne says. “And camouflage classrooms have this idea that you don’t have to be institutionally taught to be an artist. You don’t have to be a part of certain structures in order to be successful. And I think the wonderful thing about Gallery 7 is that it was like a camouflage school, but also really a place that fostered artists at a time when other galleries were not showing Black artists, even considering Detroit’s very Black population.”

Time is Now is up until July 20 but the Charles McGee Legacy Park just outside The Shepherd, showing his first figurative work in public sculpture, is permanent. The outdoor sculptures are the last thing McGee worked on with Library Street Collective founders Anthony and JJ Curis before his passing.

A companion show to Time is Now called Kinship: The Legacy of Gallery 7 will run at MOCAD from June 28 to September 23. While Time is Now focuses on McGee’s work, the MOCAD exhibit is a group show highlighting the legacy of McGee’s Gallery 7 and his way of bringing artists together. Kinship will feature work by Lester Johnson, Gilda Snowden, Allie McGhee, Charles McGee, Harold Neal, Robert Stull, Elizabeth Youngblood, and Naomi Dickerson.

The Shepherd is located at 1265 Parkview St., Detroit. More information is available at lscgallery.com/the-shepherd.

The Shepherd’s inaugural exhibition honors the evolution and impact of a late Detroit artist.

CULTURE

Savage Love

Slick Moves

By Dan Savage

: Q I’m frustrated. I’m transmasc and use silicone “attachments.” My partner is AMAB. Also relevant: We have very old hardwood floors, non-laminated. For YEARS, I have expressed frustrations about the careless ways my partner handles silicone lube. Multiple times, he has created dangerous slippery spots on the floor by spilling it. Our old hardwood floor absorbs it and it won’t come out. (I have slipped while getting out of bed because it’s now slippery there. Also, mildly annoying, stains on sheets, blankets, etc., including the brand-new sheets that we began using a month ago. Also, even more frustrating, I have REPEATEDLY pointed out that my (very expensive) silicone parts can be damaged and have a shorter lifespan if silicone is used directly on them.

I have gone to great lengths to make sure we always have an assortment of silicone, hybrid, and water lubes, as well as non-lubricated condoms that can be placed over my silicone dicks with the option to put silicone lube on the outside. I have purchased cheap plastic trays to leave lubes on so excess lube doesn’t run down the outside of the bottle. I have bought a few cheap towels that can be kept nearby so lube bottles that are tossed don’t wind up on the sheets, couch, floor, etc. And yet he keeps putting the silicone lube directly onto silicone parts and being careless about spilling on the floor, bed, couch, etc.

I am at my wit’s end. The worst part is that he is usually the one who handles cleaning floors and bedding, so he should definitely understand this! I completely lost my libido recently because he was about to put silicone lube directly on a new silicone vibrating butt plug and then accidentally spilled it on the living room floor, which I immediately scrubbed by hand. Suddenly, instead of feeling turned on, I was imagining the next time one of our elderly mothers walks into the living room and falls down. This is no longer just about lube. This

is about a total disregard for things that aren’t that difficult to manage, and if I reach the point where I have to get pedantic and say, “I don’t feel comfortable with you handling silicone lube anymore,” it’s a huge turnoff. Advice?

—Sexy Partner Lacks Listening Skills

A: If your partner can’t be trusted to use the right lube for the right toy and/or the right lube for the right act, SPILLS, and if your partner can’t manage to get the lube out of the bottle and onto a toy and/or hole without getting the lube all over the floors and the sheets and the furniture and your moms, then your partner shouldn’t be allowed to handle the lube. You shouldn’t have to apply the lube every time you have sex — you shouldn’t have to do all lotional labor in this relationship (forgive me) — but for your peace of mind and the safety of your elderly mothers, SPILLS, you might wanna do it. Zooming out for a second… There are really two different issues here. The first is practical: your partner is making staining the sheets, creating safety hazards, and damaging expensive toys, some of which you acquired (and wear) more for his enjoyment than yours. The second issue is symbolic: he’s not listening. He’s not taking your concerns seriously, to say nothing of your sheets, and that makes inability or his refusal — to do something as simple as use the right lube or return place the bottle on a tray or a towel despite your repeated requests ten times more upsetting. Seeing as partner was AMAB, and seeing as you used he/him pronouns when talking about him, I’m going to go out on a limb here and guess that he’s one of those dudes who has a hard time thinking/reasoning/remembering when his dick is hard. Calling

off sex when he can’t remember to use the right lube or set the bottle down on a tray or a towel might do the trick — it might break through but if it doesn’t, SPILLS, I would suggest making the silicone lube less handy. Keeping the water-soluble lube on top of your nightstand and the silicone lube in the drawer wouldn’t just add an extra step when he wants to use the silicone lube, it would require him to make a conscious decision that required him to think about what lube he was using. P.S. Your letter made me think of gay men I’ve known and loved who took a hit of poppers, put the cap back on the bottle, and then opened their hand and dropped the bottle on the bed… even though it meant they wouldn’t be able to find the bottle five minutes in the future when they wanted another hit because it was lost in the sheets.

: Q

I’m a 42-year-old white cis woman. I own a small business and I’ve been living on credit cards since the pandemic. My business is struggling, and I may have to close it. The thought of going back to work for someone else after being my own boss for so long is too sad. Here I am, in middle age, contemplating bankruptcy, and the possibility of losing everything. When trying to find a silver lining, I remember I am not married and do not have children. I don’t even have nieces or nephews. So, when I think about things from a different angle, I am free to start a totally different life. In weighing my possible options, some unexpected things have come to mind. Since I was a teenager every woman I have ever been with — every single one — has remarked on my oral sex talents. I don’t get bored or tired, and I seem to be better than most at reading subtle physical cues and responding correctly. My current lover is an OB/ GYN in her late sixties and has told — over and over through the years that the majority of women do not ever experience the pleasure I give her when I go down on her. And this woman had many lovers, men and women, before I came along. I’ve never had a moral problem with sex work, but I can’t envision a life fulling the fantasies of men. I have no interest in men at all. However, going down on women for cash sounds like the best job in the whole entire universe. When I was a pervert teenager, looking in the back of free papers for colorfully worded personals for jerk-off fodder (which is also where I first found you), I saw ads that men placed to give oral sex to women. Is

there a market for this? I live in the San Francisco area. Should I just place an ad somewhere? Can I visit a resource center for sex workers to ask some basic questions about safety as a potential sex worker? Or are these questions moot because this — women servicing women for money — isn’t a thing and there’s no market?

—Screwed After Pandemic Harms Income Chances

A: People argue about why there are so few sex workers out there serving women exclusively. One reason frequently mentioned: women are paid less than men and therefore don’t have the expendable income needed to pay for sex. (Other reasons: women are socialized to feel less entitled to the sex they want; the negative consequences of sex — from pregnancy to STIs to sexual violence — disproportionately impact women, which makes women more risk-averse than men; women are likelier to have moral and/or political problems with sex work.) But while the pay gap remains a fact of life (and the orgasm gap remains a fact of life for straight women), the pay gap has narrowed significantly over the years. One result of the growing economic clout of women: the closing of the infidelity gap. While we used to think women were less likely to cheat because women were better people — because they were better at honoring monogamous commitments — we now know women were more vulnerable. It was the devastating financial consequences of divorce that kept women who from fucking around and not a lack of desire. But even as the infidelity gap has narrowed along with the pay gap, the paying-for-it gap doesn’t seem to have narrowed at all.

Which is a long way of saying… you’re gonna need a different backup plan, SAPHIC. And I have an idea: You’ve been dating a doctor for years you’ve been going down a doctor for years — so close your business, declare bankruptcy, and tell that doctor she’s gonna have to marry your ass if she wants you to keep eating her pussy.

P.S. Really sorry about your business going under — that sucks.

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.Love.

CULTURE Free Will Astrology

By Rob Brezsny

ARIES: March 21 – April 19

Welcome to the future of your education, Aries! Here are actions you can take to ensure you are exposed to all the lush lessons you need and deserve in the coming months. 1. Identify three subjects you would be excited to learn more about. 2. Shed dogmas and fixed theories that interfere with your receptivity to new information. 3. Vow to be alert for new guides or mentors. 4. Formulate a three-year plan to get the training and teachings you need most. 5. Be avidly curious.

TAURUS: April 20 – May 20

Poet Emily Dickinson was skillful at invoking and managing deep feelings. One scholar described her emotions as being profoundly erotic, outlandish, sensuous, flagrant, and nuanced. Another scholar said she needed and sought regular doses of ecstasy. Yet even she, maestro of passions, got overwhelmed. In one

poem, she wondered, “Why Floods be served to Us — in Bowls?” I suspect you may be having a similar experience, Taurus. It’s fun, though sometimes a bit too much. The good news is that metaphorically speaking, you will soon be in possession of a voluminous new bowl that can accommodate the floods.

GEMINI: May 21 – June 20

All of us periodically enjoy phases I call “Freedom from Cosmic Compulsion.” During these times, the Fates have a reduced power to shape our destinies. Our willpower has more spaciousness to work with. Our intentions get less resistance from karmic pressures that at other times might narrow our options. As I meditated on you, dear Gemini, I realized you are now in a phase of Freedom from Cosmic Compulsion. I also saw that you will have more of these phases than anyone else during the next 11 months. It might be time for you to get a “LIBERATION” tattoo or an equivalent new accessory.

CANCER: June 21 – July 22

Bold predictions: 1. Whatever treasure you have lost or are losing will ultimately be reborn in a beautiful form. 2. Any purposeful surrender you make will hone your understanding of exactly what your soul needs next to thrive. 3. A helpful influence may fade away, but its disappearance will clear the path for new helpful influences that serve your future in ways you can’t imagine yet. 4. Wandering around without a precise sense of where you’re going will arouse a robust new understanding of what home means to you.

LEO: July 23 – August 22

Breeder or Bender makes no difference to us. We are all in this together and the better you treat your fellow man or woman, the better they will treat you. Cheers!!

Denmark’s King Canute IV (1042–1086) wasn’t bashful about asserting his power. He claimed ownership of all the land. He insisted on the right to inherit the possessions of all foreigners and people without families. Goods from shipwrecks were automatically his property. But once, his efforts to extend his authority failed. He had his servants move his throne to a beach as the tide came in. Seated and facing the North Sea, he commanded, “Halt your advance!” The surf did not obey. “You must surrender to my superior will!” he exclaimed, but the waters did not recede. Soon, his throne was engulfed by water. Humbled, Canute departed. I bring this up not to discourage you, Leo. I believe you can and

should expand your influence and clout in the coming weeks. Just be sure you know when to stop.

VIRGO: August 23 – Sept. 22

Virgo-born Irène Joliot-Curie craved more attention than she got from her mother, Marie Curie. Mom was zealously devoted to her career as a chemist and physicist, which is one reason why she won Nobel Prizes in both fields. But she didn’t spend sufficient time with her daughter. Fortunately, Irène’s grandfather Eugène became his granddaughter’s best friend and teacher. With his encouragement, she grew into a formidable scientist and eventually won a Nobel Prize in chemistry herself. Even if you’re not a kid, Virgo, I suspect there may be a mentor and guide akin to Eugène in your future. Go looking! To expedite the process, define what activity or skill you want help in developing.

LIBRA: Sept. 23 – Oct. 22

I have a fantasy that sometime in the coming months, you will slip away to a sanctuary in a pastoral paradise. There you will enjoy long hikes and immerse yourself in healing music and savor books you’ve been wanting to read. Maybe you will write your memoirs or compose deep messages to dear old friends. Here’s the title of what I hope will be a future chapter of your life story: “A Thrillingly Relaxing Getaway.” Have you been envisioning an adventure like this, Libra? Or is your imagination more inclined to yearn for a trip to an exciting city where you will exult in high culture? I like that alternative, too. Maybe you will consider doing both.

SCORPIO: Oct. 23 – Nov. 21:

An Instagrammer named sketchesbyboze advises us, “Re-enchant your life by making the mundane exciting. You are not ‘going to the drugstore.’ You are visiting the apothecary to buy potions. You are not ‘running an errand.’ You are undertaking an unpredictable adventure. You are not ‘feeding the birds.’ You are making an alliance with the crow queen.” I endorse this counsel for your use, Scorpio. You now have the right and duty to infuse your daily rhythm with magic and fantasy. To attract life’s best blessings, you should be epic and majestic. Treat your life as a mythic quest.

SAGITTARIUS: Nov. 22 – Dec. 21

I invite you to invite new muses into your life in the coming months. Give them auditions. Interview them. Figure out which are most likely to boost your creativity, stimulate your imagination, and rouse your inspiration in every area of your life, not just your

art form. Tell them you’re ready to deal with unpredictable departures from the routine as long as these alternate paths lead to rich teachings. And what form might these muses take? Could be actual humans. Could be animals or spirits. Might be ancestral voices, exciting teachings, or pilgrimages to sacred sanctuaries. Expand your concept of what a muse might be so you can get as much muse-like input as possible.

CAPRICORN: Dec. 22 – Jan. 19

The Japanese have a word for a problem that plagues other countries as well as theirs: karoshi, or death from working too hard and too much. No matter how high-minded our motivations might be, no matter how interesting our jobs are, most of us cannot safely devote long hours to intense labor week after week, month after month. It’s too stressful on the mind and body. I will ask you to monitor yourself for such proclivities in the coming months. You can accomplish wonders as long as you work diligently but don’t overwork. (P.S.: You won’t literally expire if you relentlessly push yourself with nonstop hard exertion, but you will risk compromising your mental health. So don’t do it!)

AQUARIUS: Jan. 20 – Feb. 18

Typically, human fertility is strongest when the temperature is 64 degrees Fahrenheit. But I suspect you will be an exception to the rule in the coming months. Whether it’s 10 below or 90 in the shade, your fertility will be extra robust — literally as well as psychologically and spiritually. If you are a heterosexual who would rather make great art or business than new babies, be very attentive to your birth control measures. No matter what your gender or sexual preference is, I advise you to formulate very clear intentions about how you want to direct all that lush fecundity. Identify which creative outlets are most likely to serve your long-term health and happiness.

PISCES: Feb.19 – March 20

Here’s a key assignment in the coming months: Enjoy fantasizing about your dream home. Imagine the comfortable sanctuary that would inspire you to feel utterly at home in your body, your life, and the world. Even if you can’t afford to buy this ultimate haven, you will benefit from visualizing it. As you do, your subconscious mind will suggest ways you can enhance your security and stability. You may also attract influences and resources that will eventually help you live in your dream home.

Homework: What would you most like help with? Ask for it very directly.

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