EDITORIAL
NEWS & VIEWS
Religious leaders call for divestment at WSU
About three dozen religious leaders gathered at Wayne State University on Monday to demand the school divest from companies linked to Israel and to admonish campus police for resorting to violence after tearing down a pro-Palestinian encampment in May.
The group — which included Jewish, Christian, Muslim, and Buddhist leaders — held a news conference, sang, and prayed. All of them cited each of their religion’s beliefs in nonviolence, tolerance, and unity.
“Because of my faith and the gospel of Jesus Christ, there is no other place I could be than here this morning with my fellow faith leaders and members of faith communities across this community,” Rev. Paul Perez, lead minister of Central United Methodist Church in Detroit, said. “Together our traditions share in a common wisdom and truth — that there is no peace without justice.”
Perez criticized the university’s decision to forcibly remove proPalestinian activists from campus and destroy a protest encampment
on May 30.
“Students sanctified the land with their encampment, which was a courageous and beautiful embodiment of our beloved community and an inspiring witness for the peace, justice, and the sacred worth of each and every human being,” Perez said. “The university’s use of violence desecrated that witness and that space”
On June 26, more than 70 interfaith leaders signed a letter to the Board of Governors, WSU President Kimberly Espy, and Provost Laurie Lauzon Clabo, urging them to apologize to activists, meet with Students for Justice in Palestine, and “refrain from militarized use of force against students in the future.”
Bill Wylie-Kellermann, a nonviolent community activist and United Methodist pastor, says the university must stop investing in companies that aid in the bombings of Palestinians, saying the attacks on Gaza have exposed “the moral horror of these weapons.” He added that the encampments at universities across the country have enriched the lives of students and created a platform to call for peace.
“Here, as elsewhere, we have seen with our own eyes, these encampments as beloved communities organized as schools of nonviolence and conscience,” Wylie-Kellermann said. “We fully support them and their call for university financial transparency and divestment from weapons and war-making. … The financial foundation of this university must not be constructed on the obliteration and bombing of another city’s very foundation.”
Kellerman also criticized the university’s decision to not only tear down the encampments, but to violently confront anti-war activists who were peacefully supporting Palestinians.
“It’s possible to treat your own students and alumni, not as enemies or outsiders, but as learned people of conscience worth listening to,” Kellerman said, citing the nonviolent gospel of Jesus.
Steve Mustapha Elturk, imam and president of the Islamic Organization of North America, said the violence by Israel is immoral and unimaginable.
“As human beings, we express
our collective outrage at the ongoing genocide in Gaza,” Elturk said. “Nothing can justify Israel’s relentless campaign of genocide against Gaza, which has resulted in the tragic loss of at least 40,000 Palestinian lives, more than half of whom are women and children. This figure does not even account for those still trapped under the rubble. The situation in Gaza is dire.”
Faith leaders and students urged the university to sit down and earnestly listen to activists’ concerns.
In June, the WSU Board of Governors turned its back on pro-Palestinian activists and declined to hold its public meeting in person. For the first time since the COVID-19 pandemic, the Board of Governors met virtually and moved the public comment period from the beginning of the meeting to the end.
“We call for Wayne State University to come and sit and meet with these students and to demilitarize the police and to divest from companies that are profiting from the genocide that is happening in Gaza,” WSU student Ali Hassan said.
—Steve Neavling
Religious leaders gathered at Wayne State University to call for divestment from Israel and to admonish campus police for their treatment of pro-Palestinian activists. STEVE NEAVLING
Last-minute appeal halts demolition of Dabls MBAD African Bead Museum building
A large, colorful building that was intended to be incorporated into the Dabls MBAD African Bead Museum dodged a scheduled emergency demolition last Tuesday after the structure’s owner filed a last-minute appeal.
Artist Olayami Dabls, the 2022 Kresge Eminent Artist, made his case for saving the partially collapsed building before the Detroit Department of Appeals and Hearings last Wednesday.
Dabls filed the appeal on the previous Saturday, just in time to initiate a hearing.
A couple dozen protesters gathered outside the building last Tuesday at the corner of Grand River and Vinewood, begging the city to call off the demolition.
City officials said the appeal — not the
protesters — prompted a pause in the demolition.
Under the city’s charter, residents have a right to appeal administrative decisions.
If Dabls is unsuccessful, the city may move forward with the demolition. City officials could also reach an agreement with the Dabls to make quick repairs.
Dabls says a group has offered to make “emergency repairs” to save the building, which is adorned with beads, artwork, African symbols, and jagged mirrors. The building was intended to become a full-scale museum featuring a collection of African beads, some hundreds of years old, but unforeseen circumstances including the COVID-19 pandemic put the plans on hold, Dabls says. The building is adjacent to the main Dabls MBAD
African Bead Museum, and the demolition wouldn’t impact the main structure.
“We have had a massive plan that is 18 years in the making,” Dabls tells Metro Times. “We never had the chance to show that this building was part of a long-term development before it was interrupted by COVID and other things that took place that were out of my control.”
Dabls says the city decided to demolish the building without talking with him about his plans.
“They were so adamant about destroying the building,” he says. “We always had a plan, but they never entertained it.”
After receiving a $500 blight ticket, Dabls feared the building would be razed and launched a crowdfunding campaign to raise $400,000 for repairs.
BSEED Director David Bell previously
told Metro Times that the demolition was ordered following an inspection that found the building was dangerous.
“Since the issue was brought to our attention, we have inspected the building and determined it to be in a state of significant collapse and must be taken down immediately,” Bell said. “Based on our inspection, we have issued an emergency demolition order for this building.”
He added, “The building has deteriorated to the point it is no longer salvageable and poses an immediate threat to public safety. Our primary concern is the health, safety and welfare of residents and public who may visit the area.”
Dabls argues the building is indeed salvageable.
“We’re going to renovate it,” he says.
—Steve Neavling
Detroit’s flawed police commission is failing to hold cops accountable
Fifty years after Detroit
Mayor Coleman A. Young created a civilian oversight board to monitor the city’s police department, the commission has drifted far from its original mission, with members showing more allegiance to the administration than to public oversight.
The shift has raised concerns about the board’s effectiveness and integrity at a time when police oversight is so important.
The Detroit Board of Police Commissioners is supposed to have seven elected members and four mayoral appointees. The idea is to ensure a majority of the commissioners are accountable to the public and to minimize the role that appointees play since the mayor also appoints the police chief.
But Mayor Mike Duggan recently appointed a replacement for one of the elected members who resigned, and some of the other elected commissioners either fail to show up to meetings, giving the appointees a majority, or fall in line with the police administration.
Now, the mayor’s appointees are running the commission, holding the chair and vice chair positions.
“Police oversight is dead in America’s Blackest and poorest city,” Commissioner Willie Burton, who was elected, tells Metro Times. “The mayor’s appointees are running the board. If you’re appointed, you’re beholden to the mayor and the police chief. If you’re elected, you’re beholden to the people who elected you.”
Despite being established as an independent oversight body, the commission is largely functioning as a rubber stamp for the Detroit Police Department. Instead of scrutinizing con-
troversial decisions and asking tough questions, the commission’s members often offer congratulatory comments to police leaders and fail to hold the department accountable.
Critics argue that this lack of rigorous oversight undermines the commission’s role and erodes public trust in the accountability meant to ensure fair and just policing.
“The commission goes along with what the chief says,” Reginald Crawford, a former Detroit police commissioner, tells Metro Times. “They’re like cheerleaders for the police department. That’s the kind of commission you have.”
At a time when officer misconduct is a persistent problem and the use of controversial police surveillance technology is at an all-time high, even leading to false arrests, the commission
rarely challenges the department.
The commission’s role is significant. It’s tasked with establishing departmental policies, investigating citizen complaints, and holding abusive officers accountable. But some elected commissioners aren’t showing up to meetings, and those who do often bicker over minor issues instead of making difficult decisions.
What’s worse, some elected commissioners say, is that Duggan is meeting privately with some of his appointees and diluting the power of the independent oversight board.
“The problem is the mayor himself,” Commissioner Ricardo Moore, who was elected and often challenges the status quo, says. “He meets secretly with commissioners and staff. Whatever he wants them to do, he’s going to suggest it.”
Duggan’s spokesman John Roach denied the claim that appointed commissioners are acting as rubber stamps, calling the assertion “fiction.”
“A cursory review of the Board of Police Commissioners’ votes over the last year will show that the mayor’s appointees rarely vote as a block on controversial issues,” Roach says. “Their votes diverge just as frequently as the votes of elected commissioners.”
When the police commission had the opportunity to address public concerns about heavy-handed responses to protests and surveillance overreach with facial recognition technology, the camera network Project Greenlight, license plate readers, and the gunshot detection system Shot Spotter, the appointed members largely aligned with the mayor and police chief.
But so did some of the elected
Detroit Police Safety Headquarters in downtown Detroit.
STEVE NEAVLING
members.
Commissioners Willie Bell, a former Detroit cop, and Lisa Carter, a retired Wayne County Sheriff’s lieutenant, often fall in line with the administration and rarely show a desire to act as overseers. They’ve also missed a lot of meetings.
Perhaps not surprisingly, groups connected to Duggan have supported Bell and Carter in their elections. A dark money group linked to Duggan, Our Neighborhoods First, which is run by current and former mayoral appointees and was incorporated by a lawyer for Duggan’s campaign, sent out mailers urging residents to vote for Bell and Carter in 2021.
A political action committee called Powering the Economy, which is funded primarily by the Detroit Regional Chamber and received donations from Duggan, contributed financially to the campaigns of two police commissioners who weren’t speaking out against facial recognition technology in 2017 and 2018.
In simple terms, Moore says, Duggan is a “puppet master.”
“You don’t see him, but he’s always right there in the mix,” Moore says.
Moore says some police commissioners also accept gifts and favors, which creates conflicts of interest. For example, he says, some of them receive “baseball tickets, get taken out to dinner, and ask the chief for favors.”
Burton says citizen complaints against police are stacking up, but no one is joining him in raising the issue.
In April, a former top executive with the Detroit Board of Police Commissioners claimed in a lawsuit that she was discriminated against because of her gender and that “a clique” of commissioners “sabotaged” her attempts to resolve a backlog of hundreds of citizen complaints against cops. The lawsuit filed in Wayne County Circuit Court alleges Melanie White was unlawfully fired from her job as executive manager after she was tasked with eliminating a “massive citizen complaint backlog.”
Since then, the backlog of citizen complaints has more than doubled, Burton says.
At an important commission meeting on June 13, when members were tasked with appointing the new leaders, only three elected members attended the meeting — Burton, Moore, and Cedrick Banks. The other four attendees were mayoral appointees. With a majority at the meeting, the mayoral appointees selected two of their own to serve as chair and vice chair.
Darryl Woods, who spent 29 years in prison after being convicted of murder for his role in a 1990 drug-related robbery, was selected to serve as the chair, even though he had just been appointed by Duggan last year. He also has been criticized for falsely suggesting he was exonerated.
The new vice chair is Tamara Liberty Smith, who was appointed by Duggan last year to replace elected commissioner Bryan Ferguson and resigned
after getting arrested for allegedly getting a blow job from a sex worker in his truck on the city’s northwest side.
Burton tried to nominate an elected commissioner to serve in the leadership roles, but he was rebuffed.
For the position of vice chair, Burton nominated Cedrick Banks, who was elected to the commission. But Banks declined
“I’m not getting into that,” Banks responded at the meeting.
Then Burton tried to nominate Linda Bernard, but she didn’t show up to the meeting.
“The whole thing is sad,” Burton said at the meeting.
Under the city’s charter, an election must be held by November for Ferguson’s seat. But it’s unclear if that’s going to happen. To find out, Metro Times called the Detroit Bureau of Elections, which referred us to the Wayne County Bureau of Elections, which in turn directed us to the Detroit Bureau of Elections, which then insisted we talk to the Wayne County Bureau of Elections. We gave up.
Some of the appointed commissioners have also tried to shut down elected commissioners. In April, Woods urged the commission to censor Burton because “his posture and his demeanor is negative.” At the time, Burton was trying to pass a resolution that supported Palestinians and admonished the kinds of surveillance technology used by both Detroit and Israel.
Woods’s motions went nowhere
because the board no longer had a quorum after too many commissioners left the meeting early.
At other times, mayoral appointees shut off Burton’s microphone.
“You have people in these positions who don’t understand their roles,” Burton says. “They arrived on this board and are silencing me and the 100,000 people who live in my district. They are putting a rope around democracy.”
Activists and others say one solution is making the entire board elected.
“I was elected, not selected,” Crawford says. “That’s what democracy is about. The charter should be revised so that all the commissioners are elected. It should come from the people.”
Burton agrees.
“Police oversight is dead until we get rid of these rubber stamps and call on a charter amendment to ensure every commissioner is elected,” Burton says. “Residents want justice and accountability. The only way they’re going to get that is to vote on elected leadership.”
Even the commission’s website lacks basic information. For example, the newest available minutes for public meetings is from 2020.
Burton says residents must demand accountability.
“Go to city hall, put your fist in the air, and say, ‘You’re not going to take it no more,’” Burton says, his voice rising. “No justice, no peace. Stand up to injustice. Stand up to officer misconduct. That’s what democracy is about.”
—Steve Neavling
Metro Detroit embraces pickleball with new complexes
Pickleball, America’s fastest growing sport, is making its mark in metro Detroit.
Following the opening of Bash Pickleball Club in Warren in April, two more pickleball complexes are planned for the Detroit area.
PickleRage, a popular indoor pickleball club franchise, is holding its grand opening for its West Bloomfield facility on Aug. 3. The nearly 27,000foot building will have nine professional-grade courts at 7290 Orchard Lake Rd. The building is brightly lit and controlled for temperature and humidity.
Also announced, construction will begin this summer for the Northville Pickleball Club, which will be the largest complex of its kind in the state, with 16 state-of-the-art, climate-controlled courts on the campus of Ward Church at Six Mile
and Haggerty. The 50,000-square-foot facility is expected to open in 2025.
In April, Bash Pickleball Club, metro Detroit’s first pickleball-only complex, opened in Warren and has already become tremendously popular, with drop-in events regularly filling up. Bash has 10 professional-grade courts under bright lighting.
“We are excited to finally welcome the West Bloomfield community into our club,” David Smith, COO of PickleRage, said Thursday. “Our goal is to provide a welcoming and dynamic environment for players of all ages and skill levels. The grand opening event is a perfect opportunity for everyone to experience what PickleRage has to offer.”
PickleRage will be open 365 days a year and features a players lounge, beer and wine bars, free balls, and paddle loans. Players will have the
opportunity to video record and live stream matches.
One of the fastest-growing indoor pickleball clubs in the country, PickleRage plans to open an additional 500 locations over the next five years, the company said.
The Northville Pickleball Club will be open every day for court rentals, leagues, and skill-level sessions. It will feature a pro shop with pickleball equipment and clothing, locker rooms, a cafe, and meeting rooms for parties and gatherings.
Ward Church partnered with private investors to build the facility. Among the investors is Christy Howden, co-owner and CEO of Wolverine Pickleball, a popular complex with 12 indoor courts and beer on tap in Ann Arbor. The other partners are local residents Mike Schmitt and Mike Kowalczyk.
“We’ve been searching for the right location to do this project for some time, the Ward Church location was not only a perfect spot, but also represents an opportunity for us to bring world-class facilities for pickleball players in the community,” Scmitt said Wednesday. “There is nothing like what we are doing in the I-275 corridor and finally local residents and fellow pickleball enthusiasts of all levels and ages will have a place to call home.”
Kowalczyk said he and his partners researched other facilities across the country to offer the best possible experience.
“We’ve traveled around the country seeing other great places to play and how to make this the perfect place,” Kowalczyk said. “We think it will be one of the finest pickleball experiences in the country.”
—Steve Neavling
NEWS & VIEWS
Lapointe
On Fox News, Jesus saved Trump
By Joe Lapointe
It was Sunday morning on Fox News Channel, so it was time for a sermon. It was delivered by Rachel CamposDuffy, one of several anchors on the early show discussing the assassination attempt against former President Donald Trump on Saturday evening in Butler, Pennsylvania.
“He is under a special protection,” she said, “because of the millions of people who have been praying for him and praying to Jesus, praying to the angels, praying to the Holy Spirit, to put a shield around him.”
Later in the hour, reporter Lawrence Jones — on the scene in Butler for Fox — interviewed an eyewitness and concluded with his own blessing.
“If it wasn’t for the lord, Jesus Christ, our lord and savior,” he said, “we’d probably be talking about an obituary for the former President of the United States.”
These bulletins probably came as a surprise to American Jews, Muslims, Hindus, and members of other religions who choose to worship other versions of God.
But this was Fox, Trump’s right-wing propaganda channel that pushes white, Christian nationalism along with Second Amendment gun “rights” while spinning most political stories for maximum anger and fear.
Together, Trump, Fox, and other rightwing media outlets have raised the degree of anxiety and hatred in the United States to levels not felt since 1968, with its bloody political murders and rioting that led to the presidential election of the Republican Richard M. Nixon.
Trump has vowed vengeance against “vermin” he dislikes as well as those opposing his attempt to steal the 2020 election from President Joe Biden. And he has promised a “bloodbath” if he should lose this November’s election to Biden.
He consistently portrays his own nation as a hellscape of crime and treason. Trump’s swaggering braggadocio and foul mouth have brought us to the point where an assault rifle at a pep rally seemed deadly predictable. So what can we do now?
“Both sides need to tone down the rhetoric,” we were told all day Sunday on the somber talk shows by frowning experts. That is a bunch of bunk, classic both-sidesism. One side — Trump — is verbally courting violence. It is simpleminded and disingenuous to blame his targets for the current level of bile.
No liberal, Democrat, or progressive — for instance — launched a lynch mob to the Capitol to assassinate Trump’s vicepresident Mike Pence on Jan. 6, 2021. But that’s exactly what Trump did.
No liberal, Democrat, or progressive has portrayed themselves as hostile to our European allies in NATO and talked like a demagogue friendly with foreign dictators who are the enemies of the United States. But that is exactly what Trump does and continues to do.
No doubt, Trump will use this event to further portray himself as a victim and a martyr even as he campaigns as a convicted felon in New York state who was found guilty on 34 counts. In addition, he faces further federal and local charges in Florida, Georgia and Washington, D.C.
As Secret Service agents tried to cover him and remove him from the stage on Saturday, Trump kept moving his hands and head to thrust his bloody fist to his mob and to shout “Fight! Fight!” as the blood trickled down from his right ear to his cheek.
This impulsive reaction further exposed Trump to more harm had there been more shots. Expect him to use these photos to further his pose as a savior to his followers. He often says he stands between them and evil forces that will turn the United States into a “banana republic” and a “third-world nation.”
In case you don’t get his drift, that’s shorthand for “immigrants of color.”
It was ironic to see Trump with blood on his face, since the vital fluid of life and death is one of his favorite metaphors. In Clinton Township last year, he warned of the “blood-sucking globalist attack on U.S. auto workers.”
He said immigration is “destroying the blood of our country.” And he ripped “the corrupt, political class that has spent decades sucking the life, wealth, and blood out of this country.” Of course, there is his “bloodbath” promise which Trump pretends was a mere metaphor for auto jobs. OK, sure.
Trump probably won’t mention that his blood-streaming wound came from a legal assault rifle fired by a registered Republican. Before Secret Service snipers shot him dead, the would-be assassin fired several rounds from the top of a nearby building, killing one man and critically wounding two others.
This again proved that semi-automatic rifles are efficient for gun massacres, with or without bump stocks. But don’t look for Trump to call for gun-safety legislation. Along with abortion abolitionists, the gun groomers are among his most faithful followers. Life and death. Ironic, huh?
The violence ended another rancid week in this political campaign, part of it with a Michigan angle. A few days before, first-term Rep. Hillary Scholten from West Michigan became the first Democratic House member to urge Biden to resign due to doubts about his mental acuity at age 81.
She was among the missing when Biden visited Detroit for a feisty speech
at Renaissance High School on Friday night.
Also AWOL were power Democrats like Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, Sen. Gary Peters, Sen. Debbie Stabenow, and Rep. Elissa Slotkin, the Democratic candidate for Stabenow’s vacated seat. Late Sunday night, Biden spoke again, this time from the White House.
Immediately after it ended, Fox News jumped on his verbal gaffes because he called his predecessor “former Trump” and twice referred to the ballot box as the “battle box,” perhaps a Freudian slip. The president referred to the “need for us to lower the temperature in our politics.”
In referring to political violence, along with citing the Trump shooting, Biden spoke vaguely of the Jan. 6 riots and the plot in Michigan for right-wing radicals to kidnap and possibly murder Gov. Whitmer. Biden cited the overall tone of general debate.
“The political rhetoric in this country has gotten very heated,” he said. “It’s time to cool it down . . . Hate must have no safe harbor.”
Oh, but it does. So — unless the party conventions or outside events bring major changes — these are the two choices facing us in November.
One is a mildly successful incumbent and sincere Catholic who is gradually losing his grip and the support of his own party.
The other is a cynical Bible salesman of no particular faith with a martyr complex who is worshiped by followers with Messianic delusions.
Therefore, as any believer in any religion might pray: God help us all.
The toxic rhetoric is not from “both sides.”
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By Metro Times staff
The humble hamburger is a staple of American food culture, and metro Detroit’s burger scene is sizzling with choices. When you’re in need of a greasy pick-me-up or searching for a hearty, delicious meal, sometimes a simple juicy burger will do just the trick.
The delicacy is served at places from gas station eateries to no-frills diners to high-end restaurants. Sometimes, it can be hard to know where to find the best bite. So, we compiled a list of 50 of our favorite burgers in the Detroit area that are packed with flavor. If you haven’t tried these yet, you’re missing out on some of the best things you can eat between sliced bread.
Bates ’ Burgers
33406 Five Mile Rd., Livonia | 22291 Middlebelt Rd., Farmington Hills | batesburgers.com
Bates is among the old-school whitetile corner burger joints in metro Detroit that cropped up in the 20th century, imitating the successful White Castle chain. It opened its Five Mile location in 1959 and a second location on Middlebelt in 1976 and boasts hordes of satisfied fans to this day.
Bar Pigalle
2915 John R. St., Detroit | 313-497-9200 | barpigalle.com
A French-inspired spot in Brush Park that serves a signature Pigalle Burger with Dijonnaise and house American
17-23, 2024 | metrotimes.com
cheese on a brioche bun, available as a single or double.
Brome Modern Eatery
22062 Michigan Ave., Dearborn; 313-996-5050 | 5250 Auto CLub Dr., Suite 150, Dearborn | bromemoderneatery.com
A local halal burger chain with an expansive and inventive menu, whose options include the spicy “Dante’s Heaven” and the One Eyed Brome served with a fried egg on top.
Bronx Bar
4476 2nd Ave., Detroit | bronxbar-detroit.site
This dive bar has turned into a popular hipster hangout, but the burgers are
still pretty underrated, and a great option for when you’re in Midtown.
Burger Shack
8606 N. Telegraph Rd., Dearborn Heights | getburgershack.com
This spot has a build-you-own-burger menu with a slew of options. Chef and owner Ali Aljoom won Eastern Market’s 2023 Detroit Burger Battle and its $1,000 prize.
Burgrz
3204 Walton Blvd., Rochester Hills | 248-375-3060 | burgrz.com
Given its name, it’s unsurprising that this place has such an extensive burger menu, including a Coney fusion burger with chili, mustard, and onions.
Burgers are the name of the game at Detroit’s Mercury Burger Bar.
MICHELLE GERARD
The Butcher’s Grille
22713 Michigan Ave., Dearborn | 313-436-0055 |thebutchersgrille.com
This halal restaurant offers a selection of burgers that are packed with flavor. Its Lebanese burger includes an Angus beef patty topped with fries, coleslaw, American cheese, tomatoes, pickles, and ketchup. The other burger options offer something for everyone, whether you’re in the mood for a bite that’s unique or usual.
California Burgerz
12045 Conant St., Hamtramck | 28508 Dequindre Rd., Warren | californiaburgerz.com
Inspired by the famous West-coast chain In-N-Out Burger, this eatery brings a taste of California to Michigan. The burgers merge greasiness with slightly-elevated fast-food quality for a much-needed addition to the local burger scene.
CK Diggs
2010 W. Auburn Rd., Rochester Hills | 248-853-6600 | ckdiggs.com
Metro Times readers crowned this Best Burger in Oakland County in 2023.
The Charlevoix
14927 Charlevoix St., Grosse Pointe Park | 313-458-8448 | thecharlevoix.com
Available only on Monday nights, the Charlevoix serves a classic smashburger with lettuce, onions, and American cheese on a sesame seed bun.
The Coach Grille 26685 Dequindre Rd., Madison Heights | 248-398-4411
This sports bar has an entire menu of wagyu beef burgers, including an All American Burger, a Coach Burger with Tillamook cheddar and Smiths bacon, and an eyebrow-raising “Suicide Burger” with ghost pepper cheese and chipotle mayo.
Comet Burgers
207 S. Main St., Royal Oak | cometburger.com
This old-school diner has been serving in downtown Royal Oak since 1995, and plans to open a Saint Clair Shores location.
Conor O’Neill’s
318 S. Main St., Ann Arbor | conoroneills.com
An Irish-style pub that serves up traditional fare, Conor O’Neill’s also offers a formidable “Big House” burger.
Cutter’s Bar & Grill
2638 Orleans St., Detroit | cuttersdetroit.com
Located in Eastern Market, this longstanding business is beloved for its burgers and other bar fare. All of the basics are available and do not disappoint.
El Bigote’s Tacos & Burgers
988 Vinewood St., Wyandotte | 313-610-4274
This downriver spot tucked away inside a market does not only serve Mexican food — it’s a great burger place, too.
Frank’s Eastside Tavern
126 Avery St., Mount Clemens | 586-463-4223 | frankseastsidetavern.com
This authentic basement speakeasy has been open since the prohibition era and is one of the oldest bars in the Detroit area. Its burger is famous for being one of the best in Macomb County.
Ford’s Garage
21367 Michigan Ave., Dearborn | 313-752-3673 | 44175 W. 12 Mile Rd., Novi; 248-274-3673 | fordsgarageusa.com
The buns here are emblazoned with the logo of this Ford Motor Co.-inspired chain. What could be more American than that?
Frita Batidos
117 W. Washington St., Ann Arbor | 66 W. Columbia St., Detroit | fritabatidos.com
Metro Times readers voted this spot Best Burger in Washtenaw County in 2021 and 2022. The Cuban-inspired joint is heavy on the spices and flavor, but friendly on your wallet.
The Great Commoner
22001 Michigan Ave., Dearborn | 313-403-1200 | greatcommoner.com
An upscale eatery that combines French, Middle Eastern, and American influences. Its Prime Double-Double comes with two four-ounce prime beef patties, lettuce, tomato, pickle, bacon onion jam, smoked provolone, and “fancy sauce” served on a sesame brioche.
Green Dot Stables
2200 W. Lafayette Blvd., Detroit | greendotstables.com
This long-standing Southwest Detroit watering hole reopened under new management in 2012 with a fun, inventive slider menu that includes a rotating “mystery meat” special. Even better, prices remain low, with most sliders between $2 and $5.
Greene’s Hamburgers
24155 Orchard Lake Rd., Farmington Open since 1957, this spot oozes with nostalgic charm, from the jukebox to the simple menu of diner favorites. Don’t hold the onions!
Grey Ghost
47 Watson St., Detroit | greyghostdetroit.com
While this restaurant is the epitome of trendy, the hype is warranted. The drinks are unique and the burger is delicious.
The Detroit favorite was even featured on Yelp!’s annual Top 100 U.S. Restaurants list in 2022.
Gus’ Snug
38 S Main St., Clawson; 248-607-3631 | gussnug.com
This Irish tavern’s burger offerings include a one-pound Pub Burger, a low-fat Piedmontese Burger, and a Waygu Bacon Cheese Burger.
Honest John’s
488 Selden St., Detroit | honestjohnsdetroit.com
This bar is loved by many for its inviting atmosphere, good food and drinks, and overall vibe. The exceptional burgers are just the cherry on top.
HopCat
Multiple locations | hopcat.com
This Michigan-born chain serves up great food and drinks. On Thursdays from 3-6 p.m., you can get a burger alongside their famous Cosmik Fries and your choice draft beer for just $9. One fun option is the Hangover Helper, which is topped with two patties, garlic aioli, American cheese, applewood smoked bacon, a hash patty, and a sunny-side up egg served on a pretzel bun.
Hunter House
35075 Woodward Ave., Birmingham | hunterhousehamburgers.com
This spot won Best Sliders in the suburbs in the Metro Times 2023 Best of Detroit reader’s poll.
Ice-Burg
22145 W. Outer Dr., Dearborn | iceburgdearborn.com
This spot has an extensive menu of juicy, halal burgers, like the HashBurger with a hash brown and beef patty topped with a fried egg on top and the IceBurger with Ice-Burg sauce.
Jolly Pumpkin
Multiple locations | jollypumpkin.com
The signature JP Burger comes with a hand-pattied house beef blend topped with cambozola cheese, smoked bacon, cremini mushrooms, and fresh tomato on a bakery roll.
Kelly’s Bar
2403 Holbrook Ave., Hamtramck
A pair of young new owners took over this long-standing biker bar in 2021, adding a smashburger to the menu that is among the best in the region: two thin patties smashed into the grill and charred to perfection.
Kozy Lounge
150 E. 10 Mile Rd., Hazel Park | kozylounge.com
The Kat Burger at this spot is award-
Your stomach should be growling: Detroit Burger Week is back in 2024, and it’s almost here.
From Monday, July 22, to Sunday, July 28, you can enjoy $8 burgers at restaurants in and around the city. Each participating spot will create a specialty burger for the week, and the event is both omnivore and vegetarian friendly. Plus, it’s not only a delicious event but a game with a serious prize — $250 in restaurant gift cards.
To enter the contest, download the new Detroit Burger Week app. Check in for every burger consumed, and once you have five recorded, you’ll be entered to win that grand prize. In addition, whoever has the most points at the end of the week will also be entered in the drawing.
And even if you don’t win, the app is well worth your while. On it, you can view the list and a map of the participating restaurants. As of right now, that includes CK Diggs, Gus’ Snug, Ice-Burg, Kelly’s Bar, Kozy Lounge, McVee’s Pub and Grub, O’Connor’s Public House, Pine Coast Cafe, The Old Shillelagh, The Rock on 3rd, Royale with Cheese, and Comet Burger. (This list is subject to change.)
To get the most out of your Burger week Experience, remember the event’s commandments:
• The restaurants could run out of the special — this is a popular event.
• There might be waits — see above!
• Tip like a pro — figure your burger costs the restaurant at least $10.
• Buy other drinks and food — not a requirement, but it’s nice for the participating restaurants.
• Check social media — keep up with the Burger Week Facebook and Instagram.
Double check for dine-in or carryout — most places will only be doing the former. Check the app to confirm if you want to pick up.
For the most up-to-date information, go to burgerweekdetroit.com.
winning, topped with fresh jalapeños, crispy bacon, Swiss cheese, and honey. They’ve got many other burger options too, and they’re all delicious.
Little Brothers Burgers
201 W. 4th St., Royal Oak | 248-414-4541 | 28840 Harper St., St. Clair Shores | littlebrothersburgers.com
A tiny Royal Oak spot with mainly counter service that also happens to make great burgers, fries, and shakes. It recently opened a St. Clair Shores location that also serves frozen custard.
Luxe Bar & Grill
115 Kercheval Ave., Grosse Pointe Farms | 313-924-5459 | 525 N. Old Woodward Ave., Birmingham | luxebarandgrill.com
This spot is beloved for its burgers, served on a house-made brioche bun.
Marcus Hamburgers
6349 E. McNichols Rd., Detroit | 313-891-6170 marcus-hamburgers.business.site
The burgers here are served on hot dog buns for some reason, which is already enough to prove that the place is unique. The family restaurant has been open since 1929, so it’s basically a historical landmark to folks who have been visiting it for decades.
Marrow
8044 Kercheval Ave., Detroit | marrowdetroit.com
This restaurant is connected to a butcher shop, so it makes sense why its burger is so good. The Smash Bacon Burger comes with two well-done beef and bacon patties, American cheese, local greens, and housemade Kerch sauce.
McVee’s Pub and Grub
1129 E. Long Lake Rd., Troy| 248-817-2980 | mcveespubandgrub.com
Voted Oakland County’s Best Burger by Metro Times readers in 2022, McVee’s “Famous Burgers” includes a signature style with sautéed onions, jalapeños, green olives, crumbled bleu cheese, and Grey Poupon.
Mercury Burger Bar
2163 Michigan Ave., Detroit | mercuryburgerbar.com
At this spot, burgers are the name of the game, so there’s many choices and they’re all delicious.
Miller’s Bar
23700 Michigan Ave., Dearborn | millersbar.com
Some bars are the best secret food spots — and when it comes to burgers, many say that Miller’s takes the cake. Open since 1941, Dearborn residents got lucky with this one, with what some say makes the best burger in the area.
Motor City Sports Bar
21231 Mound Rd., Warren | 9122 Joseph Campau, Hamtramck
Founded by two Albanian brothers who quit their auto industry jobs to go into the bar business, this spot’s half-pound, char-grilled burger is considered among the best in Michigan.
Motz’s Burgers
7208 W. Fort St., Detroit | 27010 Plymouth Rd., Redford | motzsburgers.com
In Southwest Detroit, this cozy spot is known for its mini burgers, chill atmosphere, and community focus. While there have been some name changes throughout the years, the restaurant has served the same famous sliders since opening in 1929.
Nemo’s
1384 Michigan Ave., Detroit | nemosdetroit.com
This spot opened in 1965 across the street from the former Tiger Stadium. While the old ballpark is long gone, Nemo’s has kept its customers thanks in large part to its famous burger made from a special blend from Dearborn’s Rex Packing for more than 50 years. It’s considered one of the best burgers in the city.
O’Connor’s Public House
324 S. Main St., Rochester | 248-608-2537 | oconnorsrochester.com
The burger menu features five offerings, including a fiery Brawler Burger with house-made barbecue sauce.
The Old Shillelagh
349 Monroe St., Detroit | oldshillelagh.com
Greektown’s long-standing Irish bar has a Michigan craft beef burger menu including a Spicy Jalapeño, Mushroom Swiss, Bacon Cheddar, and the classic Shillelagh.
28 July 17-23, 2024 | metrotimes.com
Olin Bar & Kitchen
25 E. Grand River Ave., Detroit | 313-774-119 | olindetroit.com
This Mediterranean-influenced restaurant serves a short rib burger with caramelized onions, Dijonnaise, and Boursin and American cheese.
One-Eyed Betty’s
175 W. Troy St., Ferndale | oneeyedbettys.com
The Ferndale fave’s signature “Betty Burger” comes with pecan smoked bacon, sharp cheddar, garlic aioli, greens, tomato, and onion, served on a brioche bun.
Red Coat Tavern
31542 Woodward Ave, Royal Oak | 6745 Orchard Lake Rd., West Bloomfield Twp. | redcoat-tavern.com
This spot is renowned for its big, juicy burgers, an American classic somewhat subversively sold in place with a British pub theme.
Rock on 3rd
112. E. 3rd St., Royal Oak| 248-542-7625 | rockon3rd.com
This watering hole features a number of burgers on the menu, including a Lava Burger topped with sautéed onions, three cheeses, and a special lava sauce.
Royale with Cheese
4163 Cass Ave., Detroit | 25034 Ford Rd., Dearborn Heights | royalewithcheese.menu
Metro Times readers voted this spot Best Burger in Wayne County in 2022. At the restaurant, you can customize your own burger or choose from a handful of signature options. Plus, Royale with Cheese has its own unique sauces to elevate the flavor even more.
Shamrock Pub
7715 Auburn Rd., Utica; 586-731-6886; shamrockpubutica.com
This spot opened in 1935 and its website boasts, “Serving Utica since before you were born.” That longevity is largely thanks to its burger, elegant in its simplicity and perfection.
Slapbox
9532 Conant St., Hamtramck; slapboxfoodtruck.com
This food truck is already making a name for itself thanks to its smashburgers, served with a signature “Slap Sauce.”
Smashburger
1735 E. Big Beaver Rd., Troy | 6919 Orchard Lake Rd., West Bloomfield | smashburger.com
This national chain launched in Denver, Colorado in 2007, even creating its own proprietary custom-forged burger smashers in its quest for the perfect smashburger.
So Cheesy
15010 W. Warren Ave., Dearborn; eatsocheesy.com
After launching as a food truck less than a year ago, this kitchen is already making a name for itself. Its Brisket Truffle Burger was recently crowned the best burger in the 2024 Detroit Burger Battle in Eastern Market.
Taystee’s Burgers
Multiple locations; taysteesburger.com
Although Taystee’s now boasts locations across metro Detroit, its journey began humbly out of a Dearborn gas station in 2014. It offers fresh, halal, juicy beef patties with a variety of different versions, including a Hawaiian with pineapple and Pepper Jack cheese, a spicy “Volcano,” a pizza version, and more.
Telway Hamburger System
6820 Michigan Ave., Detroit | 27000 John R Rd., Madison Heights
Out of all the greasy white-tiled diners in and around Detroit, this one may be the most beloved. The burgers are cheap and perfect for a late-night craving.
Tommy’s Detroit Bar
624 3rd Ave., Detroit | 313-965-2269 | tommysdetroit.com
This long-standing downtown spot has an extensive burger menu, made from fresh meat from Eastern Market.
Union Joints
Multiple locations | unionjoints.com
This regional restaurant group has grown to include its flagship in Clarkston, Bunk House Burgers (also in Clarkston), Berkeley’s Vinsetta Garage, Fenton Fire House, and more. All have a variety of burgers on their menus that keep fans coming back for more.
Under new owners, Kelly’s Bar in Hamtramck boasts an excellent smashburger. TOM PERKINS
WHAT’S GOING ON
Select events happening in metro Detroit this week. Be sure to check venue website before events. Add your event to our online calendar: metrotimes.com/AddEvent.
MUSIC
Wednesday, July 17
Live/Concert
33rd Annual Concert of Colors
Various venues; see concertofcolors.com for full schedule; no cover.
Lil Poppa 7 p.m.; El Club, 4114 W. Vernor Hwy., Detroit; $47.50.
Matt Lorusso Trio & Special Guests 8-11 p.m.; Northern Lights Lounge, 660 W. Baltimore St., Detroit; no cover.
Peabo Bryson, Oleta Adams 7:30 p.m.; The Aretha Franklin Amphitheatre, 2600 E. Atwater St., Detroit; $15-$60.
Texas Hippie Coalition tour with Kurt Deimer, Samhain Saints 6 p.m.; District 142, 142 Maple St., Wyandotte; $20.
Invalids, Sincerely, Snooze, Clout Chaser 7 p.m.; Sanctuary Detroit, 2932 Caniff St., Hamtramck; $18.
Open Mic
Jazz Open Jam Session in the Lounge! 8-11 p.m.; Bowlero Lanes & Lounge, 4209 Coolidge Hwy., Royal Oak; no cover.
Thursday, July 18
Live/Concert
33rd Annual Concert of Colors
Various venues; see concertofcolors.com for full schedule; no cover.
Def Leppard, Journey, Steve Miller Band 6 p.m.; Comerica Park, 2100 Woodward Ave., Detroit; $49.50$549.50.
Jamey Johnson, Drake White 7:30 p.m.; Michigan Lottery Amphitheatre at Freedom Hill, 14900 Metropolitan Pkwy., Sterling Heights; $40.50-$86. Mizmor, Amarok, Pillar of Light, Dunamis 7 p.m.; Sanctuary Detroit, 2932 Caniff St., Hamtramck; $18. Poolside Performance: Vespre 6:30-7:30 p.m.; Cranbrook Art Museum, 39221 N. Woodward Ave., Bloomfield Hills; no cover.
Walter Trout, Eric Johanson, Jim McCarty 7:30 p.m.; The Token Lounge, 28949 Joy Rd., Westland; $25-$140.
Yuno Miles 6:30 p.m.; The Shelter, 431 E. Congress St., Detroit; $50.
Karaoke
DARE-U-OKE 9 p.m.-midnight; Northern Lights Lounge, 660 W. Baltimore St., Detroit; no cover.
Drag Queen Karaoke 8 p.m.-2 a.m.; Woodward Avenue Brewers, 22646 Woodward Ave., Ferndale; no cover.
Friday, July 19
Live/Concert
33rd Annual Concert of Colors Various venues; see concertofcolors.com for full schedule; no cover.
Bass On The Block: RL Grime, NGHTMRE, Flux Pavillion, Moore Kismet, Jon Casey, Control Freak, SADRN, Cheska, Flats
Stanlie 1 p.m.; The Crofoot Ballroom, 1 S. Saginaw St., Pontiac; $79.99.
Chris Botti 8 p.m.; The Music Hall, 350 Madison Ave., Detroit; $59-$79.
Faster Horses: Jelly Roll, Cody Johnson, Tyler Hubbard, Jackson Dean, Zach Top, and more 1:50 p.m.; Michigan International Speedway, 12626 U.S. Highway 12, Brooklyn; $289-$785.
Gabriel & Dresden, Sherif, Aledro 9 p.m.; Magic Stick, 4120 Woodward Ave., Detroit; $10-$25.
Icon For Hire, SkyDxddy, Wanted, Altered Thoughts 6
p.m.; Sanctuary Detroit, 2932 Caniff St., Hamtramck; $22.
Josh Clemens, soundslikeotto, The Vig Arcadia 7 p.m.; The Loving Touch, 22634 Woodward Ave., Ferndale; $15.
Monet/Zaander/Milk, Margaret’s Apartment, Mezzanine Swimmers, DJ Princess Mothmothymothmoth 7 p.m.-midnight; Moondog Cafe, 8045 Linwood St., Detroit; $10.
The Reefermen LIVE + DJ BForeman 8 p.m.-1 a.m.; Bowlero Lanes & Lounge, 4209 Coolidge Hwy., Royal Oak; no cover.
Saved by the 90s 7 p.m.; District 142, 142 Maple St., Wyandotte; $15-$20.
Head Games (Foreigner tribute), Sticky Sweet (Def Leppard tribute) 8 p.m.; Emerald Theatre, 31 N. Walnut St., Mount Clemens; $20-$240. Unwound 7 p.m.; El Club, 4114 W. Vernor Hwy., Detroit; $50.99.
DJ/Dance
The Unspoken: Techno Fashion Show 7:30 p.m.-Midnight; Six-Eleven, 611 W. Philadelphia St., Detroit; $45-$95.
Saturday, July 20
Live/Concert
33rd Annual Concert of Colors Various venues; see concertofcolors.com for full schedule; no cover.
Bass On The Block: Ganja White Night, Sullivan King, Zingara, Whale, Heyz, Notixx, Computa, AceMyth, Tarrow 1 p.m.; The Crofoot Ballroom, 1 S. Saginaw St., Pontiac; $69.99-$119.99.
Emo Night Brooklyn with Dave Stephens 8 p.m.; Saint Andrew’s Hall, 431 E. Congress St., Detroit; $13-$18.
Few And Far Between, Buried Lights, Shindig Machine 8 p.m.; Small’s, 10339 Conant St., Hamtramck; $15.
Konrad Lee’s ‘MadHouse Eclective’ 8:30-11 p.m.; Batch Brewing Company, 1400 Porter St, Detroit, Detroit; $15 in advance, $20 at door.
Let’s Sing Taylor (Taylor Swift tribute) 7 p.m.; Royal Oak Music Theatre, 318 W. Fourth St., Royal Oak; $25-$55.
Magic Bag Presents: 80s vs 90sMEGA vs CLASS 7 p.m.; Magic Bag, 22920 Woodward Ave., Ferndale; $20.
Marcus King 6 p.m.; The Fillmore, 2115 Woodward Ave., Detroit; $37.50$67.50.
Rusty Cage (Soundgarden tribute), Dirt (Alice in Chains tribute) 7:30 p.m.; The Token Lounge, 28949 Joy Rd., Westland; $15-$80.
Southern Soul on the River: King George 8 p.m.; The Aretha Franklin Amphitheatre, 2600 E. Atwater St., Detroit; $50-$200.
Zimbabwe band Mokoomba performs Friday at the Charles H. Wright Museum as part of the Concert of Colors. COURTESY PHOTO
Strange Witch, Junior Varsity
Senior, Warble 8 p.m.; Ghost Light, 2314 Caniff St., Hamtramck; $10.
SWIFT (Taylor Swift tribute) 7 p.m.; District 142, 142 Maple St., Wyandotte; $25-$35.
The Queers, Sloppy Seconds, The Raging Nathans 7 p.m.; Sanctuary Detroit, 2932 Caniff St., Hamtramck; $25.
Tobey Keith tribute (dinner and show) 7-11 p.m.; New Baltimore Trade Center, 35248 23 Mile Rd., New Baltimore; $50.
Warren Haynes Band, Dreams & Songs Symphonic Experience 8 p.m.; Meadow Brook Amphitheatre, 3554 Walton Blvd., Rochester Hills; $29.50$169.50.
Mountain Grass Unit, Connor O’Shea 7 p.m.; El Club, 4114 W. Vernor Hwy., Detroit; $24.48.
Flowers: A tribute to the Queens of Soul 7:30 p.m. and 9:30 p.m.; Aretha’s Jazz Cafe, 350 Madison St., Detroit; $25.
DJ/Dance
SORTED! MOD Club: DJs Mike Trombley & ALR!GHT 8 p.m.-1 a.m.; Bowlero Lanes & Lounge, 4209 Coolidge Hwy., Royal Oak; no cover.
Sunday, July 21
Live/Concert
33rd Annual Concert of Colors
Various venues; see concertofcolors.com for full schedule; no cover.
SWIFT (Taylor Swift tribute) 7 p.m.; District 142, 142 Maple St., Wyandotte; $25-$35.
Albert Castiglia, Brendan Linsley Band 8 p.m.; The Token Lounge, 28949 Joy Rd., Westland; $15-$120. Earth Tones Concert at the Cabin: Ian Finkelstein, opening act: Ataraxia 4-7 p.m.; Palmer Park Log Cabin, Merrill Plaisance St, Detroit; Free.
Emo Prom Night 7 p.m.; Sanctuary Detroit, 2932 Caniff St., Hamtramck; $13-$20.
Sad Summer Festival 2024: Mayday Parade, The Maine, The Wonder Years, We The Kings, Real Friends, Knuckle Puck, The Summer Set, Daisy Grenade, Diva Bleach, and more 1 p.m.; The Crofoot Festival Grounds, 1 S Saginaw St, Pontiac; $59.50.
Bktherula 7 p.m.; El Club, 4114 W. Vernor Hwy., Detroit; $33.99.
Monday, July 22
Live/Concert
33rd Annual Concert of Colors
Various venues; see concertofcolors.com for full schedule; no cover.
Jazz and Cocktails ft. Sky Covington & Friends 6 p.m.; Aretha’s Jazz Cafe, 350 Madison St., Detroit; $20.
Chief Keef 7 p.m.; The Fillmore, 2115 Woodward Ave., Detroit; $47.50-$83.
Nico Vega, Finish Ticket, In Rhythm 6:30 p.m.; The Shelter, 431 E. Congress St., Detroit; $25.
DJ/Dance
Adult Skate Night 8:30-11 p.m.; Lexus Velodrome, 601 Mack Ave., Detroit; $5.
Tuesday, July 23
Live/Concert
Charley Crockett, Drayton Farley 7 p.m.; Royal Oak Music Theatre, 318 W. Fourth St., Royal Oak; $34.50-$75.
Global Sunsets, Blackman & Arnold Trio 7-10 p.m.; Northern Lights Lounge, 660 W. Baltimore St., Detroit; no cover.
Jazzy Tuesdays on the Rooftop with the Denise Edwards Trio 8-11 p.m.; Godfrey Hotel, 1407 Michigan Ave., Detroit; no cover.
Lyle Lovett and his Large Band 7 p.m.; Cathedral Theatre at the Masonic Temple, 500 Temple St., Detroit; $59.50.
Private Mind, Last Laugh, Ratmatia 6:30 p.m.; Pike Room, 1 S. Saginaw, Pontiac; $12.
Seun Kuti, Jive Colossus 7 p.m.; The Shelter, 431 E. Congress St., Detroit; $30.
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
Fisher Theatre My Brother, My Brother, and Me; $63.50; Thursday; 7 p.m.
The Inspired Acting Company
It’s Only Life (A Musical Revue); $40-45; Friday, 8-10:30 p.m.; Saturday, 8-10:30 p.m., and Sunday, 2-4:30 p.m.
Theatre NOVA Doctor Moloch; $28; Thursday, 8-10 p.m.; Friday, 8-10 p.m.; Saturday, 8-10 p.m.; and Sunday, 2-4 p.m.
Tipping Point Theatre Mrs. Kelly’s Journey Home; $35; Wednesday, 2-3:15 p.m.; Saturday, 6-7:15 p.m.; and Sunday, 2-3:15 p.m.
Musical
The Berman Center for the Performing Arts Nicely Presents Guys
32 July 17-23, 2024 | metrotimes.com
and Dolls; $40; Friday, 7:30-10:30 p.m. and Saturday, 7:30-10:30 p.m.
COMEDY
Improv
Go Comedy! Improv Theater
Go Comedy! All-Star Showdown; $25; Fridays, Saturdays.
Stand-up
85 South, Karlous Miller, Chico Bean, DC Young Fly 7 p.m.; Little Caesars Arena, 2645 Woodward Ave., Detroit; $30.75-$245.75.
Caesars Palace Windsor - Augustus Ballroom Kevin Herrera & Anthony Rodia; $33-$78; Thursday, 8 p.m.
Mark Ridley’s Comedy Castle Josiah Jones; $20; Wednesday, 7:30 p.m.
Mark Ridley’s Comedy Castle Sam Tallent; $20-$25; Thursday, 7:30 p.m.; Friday, 7:15 p.m. and 9:45 p.m.; Saturday, 7 p.m. and 9:30 p.m.
Mark Ridley’s Comedy Castle Life with General Hospital’s Steve Burton; $49; Monday, 7-8:30 p.m.
Sound Board DL Hughley; $45-$57; Sunday, 7:30 p.m.
The Independent Comedy Club Tales From The 313: Party Animals — Live with Kyle Forsyth, Detroit Red, Kay Baratti, Kevin Key, Michael McChesney, Victor Paredes, Scott Sviland; $10 online, $15 at the door; Friday, 9-10:30 p.m.
Continuing This Week Stand-up
Blind Pig Blind Pig Comedy FREE Mondays, 8 p.m.
The Independent Comedy Club at Planet Ant Tonight vs Everybody: Open Mic Comedy; $5 suggested donation; Fridays, Saturdays, 11 p.m.
Detroit Shipping Company 313 Comedy Show; no cover; 7-8:30 p.m.
ARTS
Fashion show
Artist Village Detroit The Hair Wars Party & Strolling Hair Show; $25; Saturday, 6:05 p.m.
Opening this week
Downtown Ann Arbor Ann Arbor Art Fair; no cover; Thursday, 10 a.m.-9 p.m.; Friday, 10 a.m.-9 p.m.; and Saturday, 10 a.m.-8 p.m.
Continuing this week
Cranbrook Art Museum Constellations & Affinities: Selections from the Cranbrook Collection; museum admis-
sion, Wednesdays-Sundays, 11 a.m.-5 p.m.
Habatat Galleries 52nd Annual International Glass Show (GLASS52); no cover; through Aug. 30.
PARC Art Gallery The Light Show; no cover; through Aug. 1.
Stamelos Gallery Center, UMDearborn Piece by Piece: Recent Work from Regional Fiber Artists; no cover.
University of Michigan Museum of Art Unsettling Histories: Legacies of Slavery and Colonialism ; no cover.
WELLNESS
Self-care
City Sweat Club Join our Detroit Community Run, a 5K challenge through the city starting in the Nike Community Store! Meet us every Wednesday this summer at 6 p.m. We’ll start with a warm-up in-store and explore a new route each week. Whether you run, jog, or walk, all fitness levels are welcome. No cover; Wednesdays, 6-8:30 p.m.
MISC.
Community event
Clark Park Clark Park Culture and Arts Festival Come join the party! This event featu; no cover; Saturday, 1-4 p.m.
Singles event
Shield’s Restaurant Bar Pizzeria of Troy Not Online Dating Presents: Speed Dating And Singles Mixer (Ages 21-29). $40; Thursday, 6:45-10 p.m.
Drink
Chelsea Whiskey Club The Chelsea Whiskey Club convenes every 4th Monday of the month at Robin Hills Farm. Each month a new group of fine whiskies are tasted. Members score the whiskey as they taste them and are then treated to a fifth pour of their favorite. Fourth Monday of every month, 7-8:30 p.m.; Robin Hills Farm, 20390 M-52, Chelsea; $45.
Eat
Detroit Burger Week
Detroit Burger Week returns in a conquest to bring savory burgers to salivating mouths in the Detroit area with $8 burger deals all week long. During July 22-28, 2024, enjoy seven days of $8 burgers, now with even more options! Meat-lovers to vegetarians alike can unite for an entire week of delicious burgers to devour, while supporting local restaurants. The all new Detroit Burger Week app is launching this year to make the burger journey even more fun! The more points earned, the more opportunities to win prizes!
FOOD
Good mornings
By Jane Slaughter
See You Tomorrow
7740 Woodward Ave., Detroit 313-262-6151
sytdet.com
Eggs $7.95-$14.95, brunch entrées $11.75$26.50, sandwiches $12-$14.50
It’s always my goal not to be noticed or remembered in a restaurant, but for normal people, it’s sweet when it happens. Julian Hill, co-owner of Detroit brunch spot See You Tomorrow, not only came out to greet my party on our first morning visit but thanked us for coming again, on the second time. It’s that kind of attentive service that makes people feel there’s a place for them in this cold world, and brings them back for No. 3. A “See You Tomorrow” kind of vibe.
See You Tomorrow is the brainchild of Hill and wife Lisa, open on the site of a former North End gas station since November 2022. They chose to focus on breakfast because they saw few morning options in Detroit, unlike in Oakland County, where they abound. Saturday and Sunday are their biggest days, although the service is so quick that it should work well for those on the morning commute.
At home, I’m in a breakfast rut, so it’s pure delight to let someone else cook something a lot more elaborate. There’s almost too much to choose from if you’re in a morning fog or a morning rush: six scrambles, eight entrée-type dishes like filet of salmon and a BLT bagel, a half dozen sandwiches, plus lots of a la carte items such as sautéed
kale and spinach or a tall biscuit so drenched in honey you’ll want a fork. There’s even alcohol: Moscato, sweet red, merlot, Champagne and traditional brunchtime tipples — mimosa, Bloody Mary, screwdriver, Tequila sunrise. To me it feels like an incongruous setting for Veuve Clicquot — the place is quite informal and you order at the counter; Hill calls it “fast casual” — but if that’s what floats your early morning boat, bottoms up.
The menu is a mix of soul food classics — chicken and waffles, salmon croquettes, wings — and dishes from further afield: lox and bagel, a Reuben, a caprese sandwich. Dessert is one of those delectable honeyed biscuits over vanilla ice cream, based on a dish Julian Hill’s father used to make at home.
Very little salt is used and nothing is fried per se. Instead, SYT marinates chicken for 24 hours, then pops it into a “broaster” that pressure-cooks the bird “from the inside out,” Hill says. Potatoes get the same treatment, for less grease and less cholesterol.
Portions are more than generous for the most important meal of the day. A bagel from Ferndale’s New York Bagel is served open-face, both halves heaped high with Nova lox and schmeared with liberal cream cheese, plus red onion, capers, and dill. An entrée of three salmon croquettes, made the traditional way with tinned salmon, is dished up with plenty of garlic-rosemary broasted potatoes. The smallest size soup is enough for a meal.
I liked a shrimp gumbo with andouille and rice. Chef Marichona Berta af-
firms that it has everything it needs to be a gumbo: the holy trinity of onion, pepper, and celery and a dark roux for the base.
Salads are also hefty. A kale quinoa toss (“that’s the best salad,” opined the counter worker) included bits of buffalo mozzarella for a good mouthfeel, with a thick, sharp white balsamic vinaigrette. Kale is also used in a Caesar and the simple mixed greens salad is boosted with cheese-garlic croutons. You can add bacon, chicken, or salmon to any of the salads.
You may be surprised to learn that croissants don’t have to be shaped like a crescent. Hill explains that “a true croissant is too flaky and pliable to travel with. We had to find something in the same family but softer and lighter, and buttery.” So the bun for my crab and smoked salmon croquette burger was a round croissant, glistening with the pastry’s signature ingredient.
Parisian it was not, but it didn’t pretend to be. The seafood was appropriately soft within with a bit of crisp on the exterior.
SYT doesn’t emphasize eggs. Scrambles are available just till 11 on weekdays, and they’re the only egg dishes on the menu; no over-easy to be found — save that for a restaurant that fries. On a Scramble Baguette, the eggs were as light and fluffy as one could wish, with rounds of turkey sausage adding interest.
Potatoes are served with most dishes, always broasted, no hash browns; again, no greasy spoon references here. A 16 oz. bowl of such potatoes is swathed in melted cheese and bacon sprinkles for $11.25.
Julian Hill believes that “see you tomorrow” is “a wonderful group of words to say when you’re leaving a loved one.” He’s trying to create that energy in the restaurant.
ALEJANDRO UGALDE FOR FEATHERSTONE
MUSIC
Lake effect
At Faster Horses festival, a full-circle moment for rising country artist Sadie Bass
By Lee DeVito
Sadie Bass was a teenager when she first attended Michigan’s Faster Horses country music festival, around the time she was getting serious about her own career.
“I remember going there and watching people on stage and being like, holy crap, I really want to do this one day,” she tells Metro Times. “And I can’t believe that I actually am.”
Now 27, Bass is set to perform at this weekend’s three-day fest, sharing a bill with big acts like Jelly Roll, Lainey Wilson, and Hardy. Bass is scheduled for 1:50 p.m. on Saturday at the “Next From Nashville” stage.
While Bass moved to Music City in 2020 to pursue her country dreams, she originally hails from a town called Bath, located just outside of Lansing, where she says she enjoyed living a rural lifestyle.
“My dad had a couple acres,” she says. “I miss being in Michigan. We had a little bit of everything out there. We got to fish. We got to hunt in the fall.”
Bass says she listened to classic rock and pop growing up, with some of her favorite artists including the Beatles, Britney Spears, and Eminem. But she
says she really started getting into country music in the 2010s, a transformative period that saw the genre expand into other styles and grow in popularity.
“It was Miranda Lambert for me,” she says. “I was like, wow, I really relate to her writing, I can sing her songs, the style. … I love so many different artists, but she stuck out to me the most.”
Bass says her mother encouraged her to sing but she was too shy to perform on her own, though she found it less intimidating to sing along with others whenever someone pulled out an acoustic guitar at a bonfire. “I started to learn some of the songs that my family would do, so we could play and sing together,” she says.
At 19, she dropped out of Lansing Community College, which she attended on a scholarship for softball, to make music instead.
“I cannot believe I quit at that time, because I wasn’t even vocally or even songwriting ready, but I did,” Bass recalls. “And I’m glad I did, ’cause I ain’t getting any younger.”
She says she believes it was God’s plan for her to become a country music singer.
“What I’ve learned with my relation-
than a decade, Wilson reached superstar status in recent years thanks to her breakout single “Things a Man Oughta Know,” her flair for fashion, and appearing on the neo-Western TV drama Yellowstone
Bass adds, “She just stuck with it, and I truly think all those years she put in — the struggles, everything — I think that’s why she’s so good now.”
While Bass says being in Nashville has improved her own songwriting, one of her biggest tracks so far was written here in Michigan. Released last year and cowritten with her friends Drake VonKohn and Paul Wrock, Bass’s “Wake N’ Bake” describes getting stoned at a lake on a perfect summer day.
The track tells a tale familiar to many Michiganders, where lake culture is cherished and cannabis is legal, but Bass claims some of her shows in other states have been canceled over the stillsubversive subject matter. (“It’s about tanning in the sun, you sicko!” she says with a laugh.)
This year, Bass has played to some of the biggest crowds of her career supporting Lambert, Kid Rock, Jason Aldean, and Gretchen Wilson on the Rock the Country Festival. Looking forward, Bass says she plans to keep the momentum going by releasing a string of singles in the coming months.
ship with God and the Holy Spirit is you might dream something, but unless it’s his plan for you, those doors probably aren’t going to open,” she says. “When I went to Faster Horses festival, I just had this feeling like I could be up there one day, and I kept looking at the artists and thinking they had to start somewhere, to put in the work if God keeps opening the door.”
She adds, “There’s so many times that have been setbacks that I could have just totally let it make me stop doing it. But I think God uses a lot of those things to help me become who I am, and I would have nothing to write about if I didn’t go through all of this. It’s all part of his plan.”
Bass says she visited Nashville for several years before deciding to take the plunge. During that time, she was inspired by Lainey Wilson, who she had met at a songwriters’ round, where artists collaborate and test out new material before a live audience.
“She’s absolutely killing it,” Bass says. “I remember watching her at these rounds, and I thought, oh my god, she’s so good ... if she can’t do it, I’m screwed!”
After toiling in Nashville for more
“I have been stockpiling songs for so long,” she says, adding that she believes releasing singles is the best route for rising artists, though it can be hard to save money from her waitressing job to selfrelease music. “If you’re independent it’s really hard to do it alone, especially if you’re funding it,” she says.
Bass says she primarily performs as a three-piece band with drummer Aaron Larsen and guitarist Zach Hayes, who is also from Michigan and has been with Bass since the beginning.
“God bless them because I’m changing my set every show,” she says.
But no matter where her country music career takes her, Bass says she will never forget her Michigan roots.
“It is hard to stay true to yourself, and you get around all kinds of people,” she says of the Nashville music industry. “So that has been something that I’ve tried to pray about every day, to keep me the same person that I was when I started.”
She adds, “I just had to trust [God] to keep getting me opportunities, but I’m so glad that I’ve gone through it all because if it happened overnight, I don’t know if I’d be the same person that I am.”
Faster Horses festival is Friday, July 19-Sunday, July 21 near Michigan International Speedway; 12626 U.S. Highway 12, Brooklyn. See fasterhorsesfestival.com for the full schedule and ticket information.
Michigan native Sadie Bass’s single “Wake N’ Bake” celebrates getting stoned at a lake on a perfect summer day. COURTESY PHOTO
CULTURE
Savage Love
Solo Survivor
: Q Literally the only sex I’ve had is being raped. The only person who ever expressed any passion for me — the only person who ever made me feel sexy and desirable — was my rapist. While other people get to look back on great and terrible sex, all I have is a sex crime. A big part of why I was raped in the first place was because I was so desperate to find a partner that I went on a date with someone I shouldn’t have and got into a life-threatening situation. I do not blame myself, but that is how it happened.
I don’t know how to find a partner who wants me and who I want. Compounding the problem, I’m a niche interest in the best of circumstances. I’m a straight submissive male. Dominant women are all but impossible to find. I’ve tried joining clubs and going to events, but the people I meet are invariably too old or already coupled. I’ve tried personal ads and only received responses from gay men. Dating coworkers is out of the question for obvious reasons, and speed dating results in bust after bust. Escort services and prostitution are financially, legally, professionally, and ethically unacceptable to me.
“Make a FetLife account and go to munches!” is the usual advice, but I’ve done that for a year with no results. Personals sites are littered with M4F posts with zero replies, and in all the events I’ve attended I haven’t met a single dominant woman. Masturbation wasn’t doing it for me anymore even before I got raped and now it is much harder to touch myself. I suppose there are toys to try, techniques to experiment with, but at a certain point nothing can replace an actual sex partner.
I’m sorry if I sound a bit ranty. I just feel like I’ve hit a dead end in a sex life that never even got started. I have no idea what to do.
—Sexually Stillborn Submissive
A: I can offer you some practical advice and some encouragement in this space, SSS, but I can’t help you work through your lingering trauma. So, if you aren’t already seeing a therapist — if you haven’t spoken to
someone who specializes in working with male rape victims — you need to find one. The American Association of Sexuality Educators, Counselors and Therapists has a database of therapists you can search by location and specialty, SSS, and the Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network (RAINN) helps run online support groups for male survivors in partnership with 1in6, an organization that advocates for men who have been raped or sexually assaulted.
OK, so…
There are a lot more straight male subs out there than there are dominant women, SSS, which is why women can make a living as professional dominants and men can’t make a living as professional submissives. So, what do you do? You keep going to munches and events (you don’t give up after a year), you show up in good working order, you remind yourself you’re playing a long and sometimes frustrating game, and you try your best — maybe with the help of your kink-positive therapist — to be Zen about it. You can and should continue to date women you meet outside of munches and kink events and then lay your kink cards down on the table after establishing mutual interest but before things get serious.
I would encourage you to play with some of the couples you’ve met — I’m assuming we’re talking about opposite-sex couples here — and that you play nice, you play responsibly, and that you show gratitude after you play. Play with a partnered woman may not be what you ultimately want, but it’s better than no play at all. And a couple who has gotten to know you as a person and a player and who likes you — which they’re unlikely to do if you’re seething with resentment and/or trauma dumping all over them — will be able to vouch for you as a person and a player if one of those rare single and dominant women should show up at a munch or a play party.
Some other tips: some of the best dominants are frustrated subs, SSS, and some women who are dominant now were submissives at the beginning of their kink explorations. And I’ve met lots of submissive straight men over the years whose partners were vanilla but GGG and came to really enjoy D/s sex play. So, don’t rule out vanilla women, just be honest with them about who you are and the kind of sex you’re interested in having.
Finally, SSS, I’m going to emphasize again the importance of seeing a kink-positive a therapist who specializes in male victims of rape. You’ve been dealt an unfair hand, and you have every right to feel aggrieved and a right to rant. But working through your anger, hurt, and disappointment with a qualified therapist — ranting at a professional — will set you up for success with your first dominant girlfriend, however she comes into your life. Good luck.
P.S. Some of the smartest, kindest, and most emotionally intelligent women I’ve ever met were professional dominants. There are terrible people in every field, of course, but the best professional dominants view their clients as people with needs, not as walking wallets, and many have helped their clients move more comfortably through kink spaces, which enabled their clients to meet and date other kinky people.
: Q I am gay and in love. I’ve been in a non-traditional monogamous relationship for the last three years. We’ve had a few threesomes during our time we’ve been together, and we have attended a few sex parties. Recently, we had to spend time in different places and experienced things with other guys separately. Now we are back in the same place and redesigning the terms of our relationship. I am wondering if it’s justifiable to have sex with other people just to satisfy certain aspects of our desires that are not currently fulfilled within the relationship? Or is that the easy way out? Are we escaping a duty to adapt ourselves sexually to each other more fully in the hopes of achieving perfect sexual satisfaction together? Or should we assume that we are never going to fulfill each other completely and it’s natural to look for other people to fill certain gaps?
—Binging On Your Show
P.S. I’m a new listener and reader from Lisbon! English is not my first language. Thank you for your work!
A: If you and your boyfriend wanna have sex with other people and you’re in agreement about it — and you’ve had and open and honest conversation about rules, limits, boundaries, and safety — you don’t have to come up with a justification for opening your relationship (or keeping it open). “We talked about this, we’re in agreement, this is what we both want,” is all the justification you need.
With that said…
While allowing your partner to explore kinks you don’t share is one
reason many couples open their relationships — sometimes just a crack — stepping outside your sexual comfort zones for each other is a good idea. If neither of you is willing to give something the one want to explore a try, BOYS, you boys wind up missing out on sex acts and/or kinks you might discover you enjoy. Additionally, sexual exploration with/for a partner can benefit and improve your emotional connection. Being GGG (“good, giving, and game for anything — within reason”) was some advice I pulled out of my ass, but Dr. Amy Muise at York University actually studied people who were “motivated to meet a romantic partner’s sexual needs.” And what Dr. Muise found was that people who explored their romantic partners’ sexual interests and kinks reported high levels of relationship satisfaction and strength as a result of those explorations, i.e., getting kinky together brought them closer together. (You can read Dr. Muise’s paper on what she dubbed “communal sexual motivation” here. But be sure to clock the title of her paper.)
So, I would advise you to give the things your partner wants to try a shot, BOYS, and I would advise your partner to do the same for you — barring, of course, anything either of you finds disgusting, appalling, or triggering. If you’re into feet and he’s not, he should be able to let you go to town on his feet. If he’s into fisting and you’re not, allowing him to explore fisting (and maybe fisting only) outside your relationship may be the better option. No one should do anything in the bedroom or darkroom or dungeon or wherever that they don’t wanna do — of course — but there’s a difference between “this is something sexual that turns me off and I don’t wanna do” and “this is something sexual that wasn’t my idea but I might be willing to try.”
Don’t think of it as adapting to each other — and don’t think of it as an obligation to do anything and everything your partner wants — but rather as a willingness to explore and grow together sexually.
P.S. You describe your relationship as monogamous, BOYS, but it sounds likes it’s been open pretty much the entire time you’ve been together. Sticking with what you already know works is also a good idea.
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
Have you ever been given a Starbucks gift card but then neglected to use it? Many people fail to cash in such freebies. Believe it or not, there are also folks who buy lottery tickets that turn out to have the winning number — but they never actually claim their rewards. Don’t be like them in the coming weeks, Aries. Be aggressive about cashing in on the offers you receive, even subtle and shy offers. Don’t let invitations and opportunities go to waste. Be alert for good luck, and seize it.
TAURUS: April 20 – May 20
The coming weeks will be a favorable time to enhance your relationship with food. In every way you can imagine, be smart and discerning as you plan and eat your meals. Here are ideas to ponder: 1. Do you know exactly which foods are best for your unique body? 2. Are you
sufficiently relaxed and emotionally present when you eat? 3. Could you upgrade your willpower to ensure you joyfully gravitate toward what’s healthiest? 4. Do you have any bad habits you could outgrow? 5. Is your approach to eating affected by problematic emotions that you could heal? 6. Are you willing to try improving things incrementally without insisting on being perfect?
GEMINI: May 21 – June 20
that the earth is drying out and land is nearby. Dear Leo, your adventure isn’t as dire and dramatic as Noah’s, but I’m happy to tell you it’s time for you to do the equivalent of sending two doves out to explore.
VIRGO: August 23 – Sept. 22
According to an ancient Chinese proverb, “An ant on the move does more than a dozing ox.” I will add a corollary: An ant may be able to accomplish feats an ox can’t. For instance, I have observed an ant carrying a potato chip back to its nest, and I doubt that an ox could tote a potato chip without mangling it. Anyway, Virgo, this is my way of telling you that if you must choose between your inspiration being an ant or an ox in the coming days, choose the ant. Be meticulous, persistent, and industrious rather than big, strong, and rugged.
paid for it. It depicted a Roman military leader named Drusus the Elder. I foresee similar themes unfolding in your life, Sagittarius. Possible variations: 1. You come into possession of something that’s more valuable than it initially appears. 2. You connect with an influence that’s weightier than it initially appears. 3. A lucky accident unfolds, bringing unexpected goodies. 4. A seemingly ordinary thing turns out to be an interesting thing in disguise.
CAPRICORN: Dec. 22 – Jan. 19
Hybridization could be a fun theme for you in the coming weeks. You’re likely to align yourself with cosmic rhythms if you explore the joys and challenges of creating amalgamations, medleys, and mash-ups. Your spirit creatures will be the liger, which is a cross between a lion and a tiger, and a mule, a cross between a horse and a donkey. But please note that your spirit creatures will not be impossible hybrids like a giroose (a cross between a giraffe and a moose) or a coyadger (a cross between a coyote and a badger). It’s good to be experimental and audacious in your mixing and matching, but not lunatic delusional.
CANCER: June 21 – July 22
In 1986, Cancerian singersongwriter George Michael released his song “A Different Corner.” It was a big hit. Never before in British pop music had an artist done what Michael accomplished: wrote, sang, arranged, and produced the tune, and played all the instruments. I foresee the possibility of a similar proficiency in your near future, Cancerian — if you want it. Maybe you would prefer to collaborate with others in your big projects, but if you choose, you could perform minor miracles all by yourself.
LIBRA: Sept. 23 – Oct. 22
“If it sounds too good to be true, it always is,” said stage magician Ricky Jay. I only partially agree with him. While I think it’s usually wise to use his formula as a fundamental principle, I suspect it won’t entirely apply to you in the coming weeks. At least one thing and possibly as many as three may sound too good to be true — but will in fact be true. So if you’re tempted to be hyper-skeptical, tamp down that attitude a bit. Open yourself to the possibilities of amazing grace and minor miracles.
SCORPIO: Oct. 23 – Nov. 21:
My childhood friend Jeanine used to say, “The best proof of friendship is when someone gives you half their candy bar. The best proof of fantastic friendship is when they give you even more than half.” And then she would hand me more than half of her Snickers bar, Milky Way, or Butterfinger. In accordance with astrological omens, I invite you to give away at least half your candy to those you care for in the coming days. It’s a phase of your astrological cycle when you will benefit from offering extra special affection and rewards to the allies who provide you with so much love and support.
AQUARIUS: Jan. 20 – Feb. 18
We know this is the best part of summer; however, when you take a break from up northing, boating and outdoor venues, stop by your favorite watering hole for an ice cold beer. YOU BETTER FREE YOUR MIND
LEO: July 23 – August 22
In the Biblical allegory of Noah and the Ark, God warns Noah about an impending flood and commands him to build a giant lifeboat to save living things from extinction. Noah obeys. When the heavy rains come, he, his family, and many creatures board the boat to weather the storm. After 40 days and nights of inundation, they are all safe but stranded in a newly created sea. Hoping for a sign of where they might seek sanctuary, Noah sends out a dove to reconnoiter for dry land. But it returns with no clues. A week later, Noah dispatches a second dove. It returns with an olive leaf, showing
What is the largest thing ever sold in human history? It was a 530-million-acre chunk of land in North America. In 1803, the French government sold it to the American government for $15 million. It stretched from what’s now Louisiana to Montana. Here’s the twist to the story: The land peddled by France and acquired by the U.S. actually belonged to the Indigenous people who had lived there for many generations. The two nations pretended they had the right to make the transaction. I bring this to your attention, Scorpio, because the coming weeks will be an excellent time for you to make a big, important purchase or sale — as long as you have the authentic rights to do so. Make sure there are no hidden agendas or strings attached. Be thorough in your vetting.
SAGITTARIUS: Nov. 22 – Dec. 21
An antiques dealer named Laura Young bought a marble bust of a distinguished man at a thrift store in Austin, Texas. Later she discovered that it was over 2,000 years old and worth far more than the $35 she had
If you’re a teacher, it’s a favorable time to enjoy a stint as a student — and vice versa. If you’re a healthcare worker trained in Western medicine, it’s an excellent phase to explore alternative healing practices. If you’re a scientist, I suggest you read some holy and outrageous poetry, and if you’re a sensitive, introverted mystic, get better informed about messy political issues. In other words, dear Aquarius, open a channel to parts of reality you normally ignore or neglect. Fill in the gaps in your education. Seek out surprise and awakening.
PISCES: Feb.19 – March 20
Jane Brunette, a writer I admire, uses the made-up work “plurk” to refer to her favorite activity: a blend of play and work. I have always aspired to make that my core approach, too. I play at my work and work at my play. As much as possible, I have fun while I’m doing the labor-intensive tasks that earn me a living and fulfill my creative urges. And I invoke a disciplined, diligent attitude as I pursue the tasks and projects that bring me pleasure and amusement. I highly recommend you expand and refine your own ability as a plurker in the coming weeks, Pisces. (Jane Brunette is here: flamingseed.com)
Homework: What is hard but not impossible to change about your life?
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