NEWS & VIEWS
Feedback
We received MANY comments in response to an article originally published on our website about how Atwater Brewery founder Mark Rieth acquired Velvet Peanut Butter and plans to bring production back to Detroit. (See the full article in this week’s issue.)
It was our household staple. JIF had so much sugar in it, LOTS of kids liked it better than velvet. I learned big words reading VELVET. Fresh pure, delicious, right? —Cynthia Thomas, Facebook
He should buy the Sanders’ brand and make the kind of chocolates they use to make. —@craiginstockholm, Instagram
This is what my parents bought. I wonder if it’s the same taste. —Nancy Seguin, Facebook
If they make it with fewer chemical additives I bet people will go nuts for a local, healthy option! —Christopher Cobb, Facebook
Good, hope they achieve economies of scale to be competitive... —Mark Pachla, Facebook
Peanut Butter and Beer? My magic combo! —@ttrala, Instagram
I need the 3 lb tub to come back. —Greg Keyzer-Andre, Facebook
Sound off: letters@metrotimes.com
NEWS & VIEWS
Atwater Brewery founder to bring Velvet Peanut Butter production back to Detroit
Velvet Peanut Butter has been acquired by Atwater Brewery founder Mark Rieth, who plans to bring the brand’s production back to Detroit, where it was established nearly 100 years ago.
In a statement, Rieth, a native Detroiter, says he loved Velvet Peanut Butter as a child.
“When I learned of the opportunity to acquire the company, it just felt like something I had to do,” Rieth says.
“There are lots of people like me who remember and loved that distinctive Velvet taste. With some aggressive marketing and prominent space on grocers’ shelves, I’m confident we
can return Velvet back to the level of popularity it enjoyed years ago. And we can do it here in Detroit, where it all began for the company.”
Velvet Peanut Butter was established in 1937 by Paul Zukerman, a Detroit truck driver who sold cases of it out of his trunk. Zukerman became known as the “Peanut Butter King,” and the jars were emblazoned with the slogan “Fresh, Pure, Delicious.”
Zukerman sold the company in 1985, and its new owners shut down Detroit operations before killing the brand entirely.
The company was revived in 2008 by Eric Bruce, who then sold it to Rieth.
“I was not planning to sell the brand until I met Mark,” Bruce said.
“It’s been a true labor of love to revive Velvet Peanut Butter and shepherd the brand for the past 16 years. Now is the perfect time for me to step away and turn this iconic brand over Mark for him to lead the exciting next chapter.”
Rieth founded Detroit’s Atwater Brewery in 1997 and sold it to Molson Coors in 2022. He later acquired Lansing Brewing Company and has founded other beverage-related business ventures. He says he plans to follow Velvet
Giant Kwanzaa kinara believed to be the world’s largest returns
Once again, Detroit will celebrate Black culture with the lighting of a giant Kwanzaa kinara downtown, believed to be the largest kinara in the world.
For the third year in a row, the 30-foot-tall monument will join the massive Christmas tree and giant Hanukkah menorah in Campus Martius Park.
The city will celebrate the beginning of Kwanzaa with a lighting ceremony starting at 4 p.m. on Thursday, Dec. 26, when city historian Jamon Jordan will deliver the keynote address.
The event is free and open to the public. Kwanzaa is celebrated from Dec. 26 through Jan. 1.
Detroit’s giant Kwanzaa kinara de -
buted in 2022 after City Councilman Scott Benson reached out to local business leaders to discuss the idea of building it in one of the largest Blackmajority cities in the U.S.
The holiday is celebrated by lighting each of the seven candles of the kinara, which each represent the Nguzo Saba, or the principles of African heritage. The first candle is
umoja, or unity.
“Everyone is welcome to embrace Kwanzaa’s principles,” the city announced in a press release, adding, “The Kinara’s candles are designed to light each day until the full Kinara is lit, representing the acknowledgement and activation of all principles for the coming year.” —Lee DeVito
Menorah in the D lighting celebration set for Campus Martius
Peanut Butter’s original recipe and increase distribution regionally and nationally.
“What I like about Velvet is its high-quality product and clear branding,” Rieth says. “Of course, it’s the company’s deep ties to Detroit [that] motivated me to move forward with the acquisition. I relish the opportunity to grow nostalgic Detroit brands and think the opportunity with Velvet will not only be a lot of fun, but also a profitable endeavor.”
More information about the company is available at velvetpeanutbutter.com.
—Lee DeVito
Thousands are expected to gather at Campus Martius in downtown Detroit on Dec. 25 for Menorah in the D, the city’s largest public celebration of Hanukkah.
The annual event, which begins at 5 p.m., promises an evening of light, unity, and joy, showcasing the strength and pride of Detroit’s Jewish community. Organizers say this year’s celebration will be more meaningful than ever, offering a powerful message of resilience and hope during the darkest season. The lighting of the menorah at sunset serves as a reminder that even in challenging times, the light shared within the community can dispel darkness, organizers say.
The evening’s schedule is packed with family-friendly activities, cultural traditions, and special tributes: 5 p.m.: Gates open and live broadcast begins.
5:30 p.m.: Speeches from community leaders and dignitaries, a fire show, and the honoring of eight “Lamplighters,” individuals who have made a positive impact in the community.
6 p.m.: Lighting of the Menorah. The event also features marshmallow roasting pits, hot soup and cider, glowin-the-dark giveaways, face painting, balloon sculpting, and strolling street performers.
Admission is free and open to all.
Rabbi Kasriel Shemtov, executive director of Chabad Lubavitch of Michigan, emphasized the significance of the celebration.
“Whether you’re live or online, this has become an event where the entire Jewish community comes together and celebrates our spirit and message of Judaism in a very special and unique way,” Shemtov said. “We will continue to bring everyone together, whether in-person or online to share in the traditions together.”
A highlight of the evening is the torch ceremony, which honors both local Detroiters and individuals from around the world.
“This Chanukah we will stand with
Jews around the world and state that darkness doesn’t stand a chance,” Shemtov said.
In addition to the in-person festivities, the popular lamplighter kits — complete with candles, a menorah, crafts, treats, and more — are available for those who want to celebrate at home.
“This is more than a celebration; it’s a demonstration of our community’s strength, unity, and pride,” organizers said in a statement, noting increased engagement in Jewish events throughout Detroit over the past year.
Guests are encouraged to RSVP at menorahinthed.com.
—Steve Neavling
Members of Detroit’s business community came together to make what is believed to be the largest Kwanzaa kinara in the world.
COURTESY PHOTO
LEFT: Michael Carian (Flickr Creative Commons). ABOVE: Mark Rieth has purchased Velvet Peanut Butter. COURTESY PHOTO
Supergood brings ‘Danksgiving’ to Detroit
A new dispensary focused on high-end cannabis flower in Detroit is celebrating with live music, comedy, and a private consumption event dubbed “Danksgiving” on Friday, Dec. 6 in Corktown.
Supergood is a full-scale recreational cannabis dispensary at 10 Eight Mile Rd. near the border of Ferndale, and it just opened this week. The dispensary sells hundreds of products, from deli flower and prerolls to edibles and concentrates.
Supergood is hosting Danksgiving at Brooklyn Detroit at 2000 Brooklyn St. with Slink Johnson, Devin the Dude, Willy J Peso, DJ Mo Betta, Sheefy McFly, Ronnie Jordan, and other performers.
Tickets are free and can be reserved at stonedlikewilly.com.
The event runs from 7 p.m. to midnight.
Before the event, some of the performers will be at Supergood to meet customers. During the Dec. 6 grand opening, customers receive a free eighth.
Supergood is the latest dispensary to open in Detroit since recreational cannabis sales became legal in the city in 2022. The city has provided licenses to 70 recreational dispensaries so far, and of those, 56 have been approved by the state, according to city spokesman John Roach.
Don’t wait to check out Supergood.
Everything is 40% off this month, and new customers receive a free eighth and preroll.
Supergood separates itself from a lot of dispensaries by focusing on toptier deli flower from companies like MI Loud. The highest quality flower in the deli sells for $21 an eighth this month, compared to $50 at a lot of dispensaries.
“We’re really focused on being a really good shop for flower at a very good price,” Supergood CEO Jim Haas tells Metro Times. “We’re building up our flower. I think that is going to separate us from the others — the high-end flower. If we can offer a tier or two above what other dispensaries are offering and provide it at the same price, I think that’s the sweet spot.” Supergood also has a dispensary in
Pentwater in West Michigan and one in Ohio. The company plans to open additional dispensaries in Michigan in Kalamazoo, Grand Haven, and New Buffalo.
“We just want to have a good relationship with the community, offer great prices and products, and make sure that everyone has a good experience,” Haas says.
—Steve Neavling
Supergood is the latest recreational dispensary to open in Detroit.
NEWS & VIEWS
Beatles ’64 , thoughtfully produced by Martin Scorsese for Disney+, is an evocative documentary that makes several brief and dutiful references to John F. Kennedy’s murder. This “historical context” cliché is often repeated because it’s true.
Less than three months after the presidential assassination of Nov. 22, 1963, gloomy Americans craved a jolt of joy. The Beatles brought it from England in February with three appearances on The Ed Sullivan Show one concert in Washington, and two more in New York City at Carnegie Hall.
“America had been in mourning,” Paul McCartney says in the film.
“Maybe America needed something like the Beatles.”
Wisely, the JFK framing device expands to a much larger scope of the era to explain the Big Bang explosion of cultural energy brought about by the Beatles. Musically, the whole of the group was even greater than the sum of their enormous, individual talents. That alchemy is obvious on film.
But the Beatles also enjoyed something historians (including Scorsese) rarely recognize: Generationally, they hit the demographic sweet spot.
The Baby Boom began in 1946 and lasted until 1964 as the “Greatest Generation” — grateful to have survived the Great Depression and World War II — settled down, married, and raised families,
So when the Beatles arrived, the oldest Boomers were turning 18 years old, and the youngest were just being born. In that decade, America’s middle class prospered and kids could find a way to come up with 49 cents or 59 cents or 69 cents to buy a vinyl 45 rpm record with one song on each side.
They were perfectly priced for those with loose change from paper routes or babysitting. Scorsese and director David Tedeschi use interviews of some of the same fans — then and now — thanks to blackand-white film from the Maysles brothers, documentarians who
Another Beatles doc? Oh, heck yes!
By Joe Lapointe
accompanied the Beatles on that first tour.
With this, they mix in retrospective comments from recent interviews with artists like Smokey Robinson, Ronnie Spector, and Little Richard. Robinson tells Scorsese he was thrilled when the Beatles recorded his hit “You Really Got a Hold on Me,” happy to inspire white artists with Detroit’s Black Motown sound.
“They were between rock and pop, rhythm and blues, all together,” Robinson says of the Beatles. “Music is the international language. It’s the barrier breaker.” Then we see and hear Robinson singing a version of McCartney’s creation “Yesterday.”
A chilling moment comes from an elderly photographer named Harry Benson, who traveled with the Beatles down the East Coast that winter. He says John Lennon spoke often then with deep concern about Americans like Lee Harvey Oswald, who murdered Kennedy. Sixteen years later, Lennon would be assassinated in New York.
Another touching scene shows a group identified only as “The Gonzalez Family” watching the first Beatles appearance as it happened. As they perform, two sisters draw closer to the TV set and seem to melt into it as they enjoy the songs. A man sitting behind them seems to frown.
As for the Beatles and their music, the old footage shows them — while sheltering in New York’s Plaza hotel — listening to their records on transistor radios, watching themselves on NBC’s Huntley-Brinkley Report, and singing an impromptu version of “White Christmas.”
More serious singing includes McCartney belting out “Long Tall Sally” at the Washington show and McCartney harmonizing gorgeously with Lennon and George Harrison for the soft ballad “This Boy” in Miami. Ringo Starr’s goofy humor steals several scenes and keeps his mates loose.
Concert footage has been cleaned up visually and sonically enhanced by modern technology. Thanks to productions like this, historians in
future centuries will see these scenes and hear these sounds and say to one another, “Oh, OK, yes, we see — we kind of get it now.”
Sore winners
When two local football teams beat two regional rivals in their annual showdowns on a holiday weekend, it’s usually time for their fans to enjoy the sweet smell of success.
But two unpleasant odors lingered locally after Michigan upset Ohio State, 13-10, on Saturday, and the Lions survived the Chicago Bears, 2320, on Thanksgiving Day.
After their historic victory over the Buckeyes in Columbus, Wolverines players arrogantly tried to plant the Michigan “Block M” flag in the center of the field. That started a lengthy clash between both sides that included at least one police officer getting knocked over.
Cops then squirted players on both sides with pepper spray after a Buckeye tore down the maize-and-blue banner and threw it on the ground.
Fox TV cameras and amateur videographers showed large athletes fighting tears in their eyes. That scene will long mar the memory of this day.
Two days before, on Thursday at Ford Field, when the favored Lions barely beat the underdog Bears, the undisciplined wide receiver Jameson Williams again displayed his chronic immaturity by throwing a football in the face of a Chicago player who was watching without a helmet from the sidelines.
Williams may or may not have tripped over the foot of Chicago’s Tyrique Stevenson following a three-yard gain that took him out of bounds by the Bears bench. After an exchange of words, Williams flipped the ball and took a drive-killing, 15yard penalty for taunting.
It’s hard to overlook this sort of foolishness from Williams in that he’s already been suspended twice in three seasons — for gambling on team property and for using performance-enhancing substances. Earlier this season, he was handcuffed by
Detroit cops for having a firearm in a car, but he beat the rap.
This flippant flip of the football by Williams is the sort of blunder that can dishearten a team and cost it a chance for a championship. Yes, he runs fast. Yes, he jumps over opponents. Still, it’s not too soon to wonder what sort of package the Lions might get in return by trading this guy as soon as possible.
Another interregnum, long ago
If you have a Civil War buff on your holiday gift list, you could do worse than the current book The Demon of Unrest by popular history author Erik Larson. It’s hardly the definitive tale of that four-year bloodbath between 1861 and 1865.
But part of it echoes the mood of today’s transition of the presidency between Joe Biden and Donald Trump, in that Larson reports in minute detail the troubled shift from James Buchanan to Abraham Lincoln at a time when the nation was seething with division.
Back then, the interregnum between election day and the inauguration was longer. Lincoln was sworn in on March 4, not Jan. 20, as it is now. By then, the secession of slavery states had gained momentum.
Larson focuses intently on Charleston, South Carolina, the first state to leave the Union and the one that held the U.S.’s Fort Sumter, where the war began.
In particular, Larson examines the South Carolina gentry of planters and slavers, a plantation aristocracy that maintained a pretense of “honor” and Christian self-righteousness while using, breeding, buying, and selling kidnapped human beings as if they were livestock.
In a letter to Lincoln, former Georgia congressman Alexander H. Stephens — pro-slavery and prounion at the same time, before the war — warns the incoming president of the spirit that then gripped the Southern states.
“When men come under the influ-
ence of fanaticism,” he wrote, “there is no telling where their impulses or passions may drive them.” (Good thing we need not worry about such things today, right?)
Of course, Demon uses many lifts from Mary Chesnut, the wary Confederate diarist who contemplated the guarded thoughts of enslaved servants in those very mansions as the conflict brewed over that very institution (and not, for the record, over “states’ rights”).
“Not by one word or look can we detect any change in the demeanor of these negro servants,” Chesnut writes. “…They carry it too far. You could not tell that they hear even the awful row that is now going on in the bay … And people talk before them as if they were chairs and tables. And they make no sign. Are they solidly stupid or wiser than we are, silent and strong, biding their time?”
What to do with the RenCen?
Let’s talk about the elephant in the room, the Renaissance Center, because it is a white elephant. After dominating downtown Detroit’s skyline for almost half a century, its current owner, General Motors, is contemplating tearing some or all of it down. What a shame.
Part of the problem is the lessened demand for office space, ever since the pandemic showed companies that employees in the internet era could efficiently work from home. But the bigger problem is the basically wrongheaded, circular design of the towers and their limited access on the riverfront.
When it first opened in 1976, the RenCen reflected two cultural currents of its era: fear of urban violence in the streets and a retail obsession with shopping malls. It was projected
as a vertical city within a city, set in concrete, steel, and glass, difficult to approach for uninvited visitors.
But the circularity of the interior design of the towers made the place confusing to navigate and discouraged casual pedestrians from window-shopping or impromptu dining. It turned into the kind of place you tried to avoid unless you really had to be there.
The recent restoration of the train station — built in 1914 — shows that Detroit doesn’t necessarily destroy every civic edifice. The Penobscot and Guardian buildings are almost twice as old as the RenCen, yet nobody is threatening to tear them down.
Under a proposed $1.6 billion development plan, GM at the RenCen could potentially partner with Dan Gilbert’s real estate company, Bedrock Detroit LLC. They would eliminate two of the five towers cur-
rently standing and repurpose the rest for residential living, retail, and redesigned office space.
To make this come true, the public (taxpayer) contribution will be only $250 million! Where have we heard such optimism before? Oh, yes, from “District Detroit.” With help from public subsidies a decade ago, the Ilitches were going to rebuild the Cass Corridor.
Instead, they produced their new hockey arena, acres of parking lots, and not much else. Now, GM and Bedrock want public money or the whole RenCen might have to come down. Wouldn’t that be quite the implosion?
One final note: Due to assignment, I will be away from this column for a month but will return in January. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year. See you in 2025.
Martin Scorsese’s Beatles ’64 is now streaming.
A LYRICAL RAY OF HOPE
BY KAHN SANTORI DAVISON
Fat Ray is in Detroit’s New Center One building exuding an overwhelming abundance of positive energy. He’s dressed in black jeans and a Bruiser Brigade jacket, with a bucket hat sitting tilted on the back of his head.
“This is a special day,” he says. He pulls out his iPhone and goes straight to a social media post made by friend and fellow emcee Black Milk. The screen shows two audio snippets of a new album by both emcees. This is the first time the public has been made aware of this project and the first time since they’ve collaborated for a full album since 2008’s The Set Up “Me and Black Milk — we’re back in there! That’s why today is a special day … we’ve done little things here and there, but this is our first project in years,” he says.
Ray is a proud westside Detroit native and Cass Tech graduate. He was raised by a mother who sang gospel music and a father who was a recording engineer with a home-based studio. “My whole life I’ve been watching my dad write songs in his spare time,” Ray says. “It all just opened up my creativity to wanting to try and mess around with music and see what I could do.”
Much like Black Milk, Ray is a godson of Detroit’s famed Hip-Hop Shop era. It was a time period when fashion designer Maurice Malone sponsored hip-hop battles and showcases at the Rhythm Kitchen and his Hip-Hop Shop clothing store. Ray was too young to participate in the mid-’90s rap battles but old enough to stand outside and witness the greatness through the foggy Hip-Hop Shop window. By the time the Hip-Hop Shop moved to its second location, Ray was able to get behind the mic and make a name for himself.
“That was during the Slum Village era, when they had dropped Fantastic Voyage,” Ray says. “Bugz [from D-12] was still here, Swan and Undertaker were in a group … Proof was here — it was just special.”
By 2003, Ray had become a mainstay at clubs Lush Lounge, Millennium AD, and the Record Exchange, which had become the next generation of hip-hop spots. One night while performing at Lush, an emcee named Young RJ approached him about dropping a verse on B.R. Gunna’s album Dirty District, Vol. 2. Young RJ was not only an emcee but the son of R.J. Rice, founder of Barak Records, which was the label home of Slum Village. “That one feature turned into nine records,” he says.
Ray went on to sign a record deal with Barak, work with J Dilla on the song “Stupid,” and contributed on four different Barak releases. The label dissolved before he was able to put out a solo project, but he considers the opportunity a godsend.
“If it wasn’t for Barak, I wouldn’t have survived the music industry,” Ray says. “I would have been gone.”
For the next several years, Ray grinded independently. He released Bananas Vol 1 (2006), The Lunch Room (2010), and contributed to J Dilla’s posthumous Rebirth of Detroit release in 2012.
“I’ve done the things other artists aren’t gonna do,” he says. “I’ve done them hole-in-the-wall venues, I’ve been there in front of them [two-person] crowd shows that other artists aren’t gonna perform at.”
In 2013, Ray built upon a relationship he had with another Detroit allstar in Danny Brown and joined his Bruiser Brigade group. Musically, Ray and Brown had already collaborated on Brown’s 2011 XXX album. “Danny has always been a friend of mine,” Ray says. “We worked together on Elzhi’s project Prequel to a Classic.” Detroit hip-hop artists ZelooperZ, Quentin Ahmad DaGod, and Bruiser Wolf were also members of Bruiser Brigade, as Brown transitioned the imprint into a full-fledged record label in 2021. Ray has always prided himself on being an emcee’s emcee, so the label’s commitment to authenticity and individuality made it the perfect place for Ray.
“I never cared who bought my music, but I know when a person comes up to me and says, ‘Fat Ray, I’m a fan of your music’ — I know you cut way different because I went outta my way to make sure my music didn’t get in the hands of no suspects,” he says.
In 2021, he released his most critically acclaimed project to date, Santa Barbara. Ray calls it his favorite album, and lyrically he continued to show the lyrical boom-bap aggressiveness and wordplay that has built his fanbase.
“Shooter shit, sink yo’ battleship, plea the fifth/Presidential, flee the whips, eatin’ pita chips/Had to pay Paul, we took Peter shit/Had to play ball, Joe D shit, verbal Bruce Lee and shit,” he raps on “Flight Risk.”
Santa Barbara was one of Brooklyn Vegan’s top 24 independent hip-hop albums of 2021. The album was also added to superstar fashion designer Virgil Abloh’s “Imaginary Radio” Soundcloud page and even received a 5-star review in the Harvard Crimson (the nation’s oldest daily collegiate newspaper). Ray has been riding
the wave of the album for two years, and every time he thinks it’s run its course, a tweet or a mention sends the streams back into relevancy.
“Santa Barbara got me a response from people I never expected to talk to,” he says. “I was getting ready to put out another tape and it started going up again. And in the major scheme of things, a lot of people still haven’t heard it. The way I see it, at all times I’m always a new artist.”
Ray has been able to maintain his staying power by staying true to his boom-bap rawness. He’s old school but doesn’t close himself off to new techniques and flavors. He’s a proud wordsmith who still takes pen to pad but isn’t afraid to incorporate the punch-in method like many newer artists.
“I didn’t respect it until I got around Damedot and Cashout Calhoun,” Ray says. “It’s a method to it — it ain’t just hitting a thousand punches. It’s knowing where you left off at, knowing how to transition to the next place, just being a master of them and being clever and witty on the spot.”
As exultant and imposing as Ray’s music and career has been, his biggest flex is that he’s one of few people that can say he’s worked directly with Big Proof, J Dilla, and Danny Brown as both a peer and a mentee.
He credits Proof with being one of the first people to believe in his talent.
“Proof came and grabbed me, snatched me out the Hip-Hop Shop like, ‘This nigga with me,’” he says. Ray got to witness Dilla’s work ethic, professionalism, and craftsmanship firsthand while Danny Brown showed him the importance of individuality.
“Danny showed me how to be [myself], how to not care what everyone thinks. How to be creative beyond measure and how to trendset, and to have ideas good enough to be the first one to do them.”
Fat Ray and Black Milk’s album is titled Food From the Gods and it’s currently slated to drop later this month. Ray feels it’s some of his best work, and he’s excited for his fans to hear it. The project serves as a personal reminder that he’s getting better with time. And he scoffs at the notion that he should stop rapping simply because he’s getting older.
“Rapping is our thing,” he says.
“We’re the ones who created it — y’all should come up with something new. Hip-hop is something that belongs to me, and the way that it comes out of certain people — you don’t get to dictate what that is. It’s organic to who the beholder is.”
Emcees Fat Ray and Black Milk have announced a new album,
A star is (reluctantly) born
Detroit singer Isis Damil couldn’t escape her music destiny
By Veronica Johnson
November was an eventful month in vocalist Isis Damil’s burgeoning career. She performed the music of jazz vocalist Betty Carter at the Detroit Preservation Jazz Concert Series at Wayne State University. Fitted in a tight red dress with her natural hair pinned up, Damil belted beautifully classic tunes from Carter’s discography like “Tight,” “Make Him Believe,” and “Naima’s Love Song.” On November 22, she gathered with local songwriters at the Detroit Institute of Arts’ Friday Night Live! series, performing original music and doubling as a pianist. She ended the month at the Thanksgiving Day Parade, where she debuted her version of the “Go 4 It” theme song from WDIV-TV (Channel 4).
Last year, she won the WDIV local competition, beating out other vocalists from Michigan. The promo song from WDIV has been performed since the 1980s by iconic Detroiters such as gospel singers Karen Clark Sheard and Marvin Winans. Now, Damil’s voice will be heard in the new version of the promo commercial.
Over the last few years, Damil has built a name for herself in Detroit’s jazz and R&B scene. Echoing heartfelt lyricism with her mezzo-soprano vocals, you’d think being a vocalist was her lifelong dream. But it wasn’t until she was in her 20s that she stopped running from her true passion.
“What’s so funny is I felt like my parents forced me into music when I was younger,” Damil says. “So I rebelled. I was like, ‘I’ll do anything but music.’ I even went to school to be a dentist, so that’s how much I didn’t want to be a musician. But I’m a strong believer in when you’re called to do things, it just keeps coming back around, and musical opportunities just kept presenting themselves to me, and I couldn’t ignore it.” Damil’s parents are accomplished musicians. Her father, Zion Yisrael, is a jazz fusion pianist who has performed with the Enchantment, Billy Paul, Kenny Burrell, Marcus Belgrave, and Donald Walden. Her mother, Mecca Damil Lathan, is a retired music educator, multi-
instrumentalist, and vocalist.
Over the years, her parents have collaborated on many performances, notably a popular jazz series at Metropolitan United Methodist Church on Woodward.
Damil recalls tagging along with her parents and performing with them often at Bert’s Marketplace and Baker’s Keyboard Lounge. Working occasionally with her folks, Damil confesses she fought the idea of pursuing music, tricking her dad into giving her piano lessons so she wouldn’t have to take private lessons with a teacher and could avoid daily practice.
But the music wouldn’t go away. She was classically trained at Renaissance High School and played flute in the University of Detroit Mercy band. She studied dental hygiene but switched to communications, earning her bachelor’s degree in 2014. After graduating, she worked at the Aloft Hotel at the David Whitney.
In 2015, the music called her again. This time, she didn’t let go. At the Dirty Dog Jazz Cafe, her mom and guitarist Perry Hughes begged her to join her dad for one song. She wowed the crowd with the jazz standard “All the Things You Are.”
Shortly after that experience at the Dirty Dog, Damil quit her job at the Whitney to pursue music full-time. She secured a weekly residency at Baker’s Keyboard Lounge for six years, opened for R&B heartthrob Brian McKnight at Motor City Sound Board, performed with saxophonist Dave McMurray and bassist Don Was during the Concert of Colors, and sang at national music festivals.
While Damil doesn’t typecast herself as just a jazz vocalist, the genre is a part of her identity as an artist. But she’s working toward being regarded as a vocalist who can navigate any music genre with equal aplomb.
“I thought I needed to get away from jazz,” Damil says. “But then again, when you’re called to do certain things, it keeps returning. And jazz is very near and dear to my heart. It allows a lot of
space for creativity and is very reactive because I can throw things at the musicians I’m on stage with, and they can throw something back.”
Gospel is also an important part of Damil’s musical DNA. She grew up in the church as a preacher’s kid, singing in the choir. Her father is also a gospel pianist and minister at his church. She admits it was hard navigating both the spiritual and secular worlds.
“I felt like I was always tiptoeing around both,” she says. “I couldn’t let the church people know where I was, and the people at the club may or may not come to church. It was a conflict of interest, so I grew up having difficulty defining who I was. I love God, but I also love singing at the clubs.”
She also felt judgment from her father, although he was part of the religious and jazz worlds himself.
“I would get a double standard from my dad because he would say, ‘You can’t wear things like this because if the church people come here to see you, what will they think?’ But then also it’s like, you had me performing in these clubs with you.”
This spiritual conflict led Damil to
focus her music on empowering women to live out their true selves and not let them feel restricted on what they can do personally and professionally.
Damil is currently taking her career beyond her hometown onto a national level. For starters, she organized the Manifest Tour this year, which took her to places like Chicago and Columbus, performing her original music. She ends the tour this weekend with back-to-back performances at the new Miss Eva’s Detroit club in North Rosedale Park.
Next year, Damil plans to release her second project in the hopes of putting out new music consistently.
“That’s something that I was struggling with before,” she says. “But now, figuring out how to define myself and what kind of music I want to make, I’m like, I don’t care. You’re going to get the music — and at the end of the day, people have been asking for the music.”
Isis Damil will be performing at Miss Eva’s Detroit at 7 p.m. on Friday, Dec. 6 and Saturday, Dec. 7; 19566 Grand River Ave., Detroit. Tickets are available at isisdamil.com.
Isis Damil performs back-to-back shows this weekend at Miss Eva’s Detroit.
STEVE A. MOORE
WHAT’S GOING ON
Select events happening in metro Detroit this week. Be sure to check venue websites before all events for the latest information. Add your event to our online calendar: metrotimes.com/ AddEvent.
MUSIC
Wednesday, Dec. 4
Live/Concert
FISHGUTZZZ & The Lost & Found Orchestra w/ Matthew
Teardrop, 9 p.m.; Bowlero Lounge, 4209 Coolidge, Royal Oak; no cover.
Red Leather, 7 p.m.; Magic Bag, 22920 Woodward Ave., Ferndale; $17.
Matt Lorusso Trio & Special Guests, 8-11 p.m.; Northern Lights Lounge, 660 W. Baltimore St., Detroit; no cover.
OMEGA X 6 p.m.; St. Andrew’s Hall, 431 E. Congress St., Detroit; $65. Karaoke
Offbeat KARAOKE with Robby
Rob 9 p.m.; Third Street, 4626 Third St., Detroit; no cover.
Thursday, Dec. 5
Live/Concert
Christmas with Chris Tomlin, 7 p.m.; Northridge Church, 49555 N. Territorial Rd., Plymouth; $29.95-$80.
Christmas with The Tenors, 8 p.m.;
Caesars Palace, 377 E. Riverside Dr., Windsor; $34-$79.
Dueling Pianos: An Interactive Entertainment Experience 8 p.m.midnight; AXIS Lounge, 1777 3rd St., Detroit
K. Michelle, 8 p.m.; Sound Board, 2901 Grand River Ave., Detroit; $57-$69.
John Moreland with Joelton Mayfield 7 p.m.; Magic Bag, 22920 Woodward Ave., Ferndale; $26. 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, Ferndale; no cover.
Friday, Dec. 6
Live/Concert
3rd Annual Toys for Tots Benefit Concert 6:30-11:59 p.m.; Tangent Gallery, 715 E. Milwaukee Ave., Detroit.
Allison Laakko & Sean Blackman – French Pop ‘n’ Jazz Quartet + DJ Sanford 9 p.m.; Bowlero Lounge, 4209 Coolidge Hwy., Royal Oak.
Ben Portsmouth 8 p.m.; Andiamo Showroom, 7096 E. 14 Mile Rd., Warren; $35-$89.
Christian Death 7 p.m.; Sanctuary Detroit, 2932 Caniff St., Hamtramck; $20.
The Cotton Club Music Series, ft. Sky Covington & Friends, 7-11 p.m.; Little Mary’s River Inn, 7741 Grand River Ave., Detroit; $20.
Devastation on the Nation Tour, 5 p.m.; Pike Room, 1 S. Saginaw, Pontiac; $35.
Magic Bag Presents: ‘80s vs. ‘90s MEGA vs CLASS, 7 p.m.; Magic Bag, 22920 Woodward, Ferndale; $20.
Whitey Morgan & the 78’s, Erin Viancourt 7 p.m.; St. Andrew’s Hall, 431 E. Congress, Detroit; $29.50.
Ben Portsmouth 8 p.m.; Andiamo Showroom, 7096 E. 14 Mile Rd., Warren; $35-$89.
Saturday, Dec. 7 Live/Concert
Ben Portsmouth, 8 p.m.; Andiamo Showroom, 7096 E. 14 Mile Rd., Warren; $35-$89.
Bad Bloom, Clubdrugs, Speed Circuit 8 p.m.; Small’s, 10339 Conant St., Hamtramck; $12.
Dylan Schneider, MaRynn Taylor 7 p.m.; District 142, 142 Maple St., Wyandotte; $40.
Ladies Night Out: Dru Hill, Ginuwine, 112, Next, Playback 8 p.m.; Fox Theatre, 2211 Woodward Ave., Detroit; $39-$159.50.
Magic Bag Presents: Re-Cure 7 p.m.; Magic Bag, 22920 Woodward Ave., Ferndale; $25.
The Jesus Lizard 7 p.m.; St. Andrew’s Hall, 431 E. Congress St., Detroit; $35.
The New Old, Elspeth Trembly & The Treatment, The Nasties, Violet Daybed 7:30 p.m.; The Token Lounge, 28949 Joy Rd., Westland; $15. Tiny Moving Parts, Action/ Adventure, Greywind 7 p.m.; The Loving Touch, 22634 Woodward Ave., Ferndale; $25.
DJ/Dance
ALLEYCVT Dec. 7, 9 p.m.; Elektricity Nightclub, 15 S. Saginaw St., Pontiac.
Casey Sparks’ English Disco: A
Junkshop Glam, Bubblegum & Power Pop Dance Party! Dec. 7, 8
p.m.-2 a.m.; Kelly’s Bar, 2403 Holbrook Ave., Hamtramck; no cover.
LP Giobbi 9 p.m.; Magic Stick, 4120 Woodward Ave., Detroit; $26-$31.
Saddle Up Country Dance Party!
8 p.m.; Diamondback Music Hall, 49345
S. Interstate 94 Service Dr., Belleville; $10-$15. Karaoke
Live Band Karaoke w/ Eastside
Still Alive + DJ Tony Drake Dec. 7, 9 p.m.; Bowlero Lounge, 4209 Coolidge Hwy., Royal Oak. Sunday, Dec. 8
Live/Concert
96.3 WDVD Presents Blaine & Lauren’s Not-So-Silent Night 6:30 p.m.; the Fillmore, 2115 Woodward Ave., Detroit; $69.50-$125.
Lemon Bucket Orkestra at Cliff Bell’s 5:30-6:30 & 7:30-8:30 p.m.; Cliff Bell’s, 2030 Park Ave., Detroit; $25. Manor Gates, Of Two Minds, Sincerely, Adventurer 6 p.m.; Sanctuary Detroit, 2932 Caniff St., Hamtramck; $15.
Phil Ogilvie’s Rhythm Kings
5-8 p.m.; Zal Gaz Grotto Club, 2070 W. Stadium Blvd., Ann Arbor; no cover (tip jar for the band).
Rahsaan Patterson 7:30 p.m.; Sound Board, 2901 Grand River Ave., Detroit; $37-$50.
Songwriter Series: Folk singer Nick Juno, 2-4 p.m.; Ferndale Public Library, 222 E. Nine Mile Rd., Ferndale; no cover, all ages.
UNIFORM, Pharmakon, Wolf Eyes, True Body 7 p.m.; Small’s, 10339 Conant St., Hamtramck; $20.
Monday, Dec. 9
Live/Concert
No/Mas, Violencia, Moral Pollution 6:30 p.m.; Sanctuary Detroit, 2932 Caniff St., Hamtramck; $18.
DJ/Dance
Adult Skate Night 8:30-11 p.m.; Lexus Velodrome, 601 Mack Ave., Detroit; $5. Tuesday, Dec. 10
Live/Concert
A Night with Matteo Bocelli 7 p.m., The Fillmore, 2115 Woodward, Detroit; $64.
Brett Eldredge - GLOW: Welcome to the Family Tour 8 p.m.; Fox Theatre, 2211 Woodward Ave., Detroit;
$54.50-$139.50.
Channel 95.5’s Jingle Ball: Jack Harlow, Teddy Swims, Jason Derulo, Madison Beer, Saweetie, NCT Dream, Isabel LaRosa, and Wonho 7:30 p.m.; Little Caesars Arena, 2645 Woodward Ave., Detroit; $35-$300.
Global Sunsets, Blackman & Arnold Trio 7-10 p.m.; Northern Lights, 660 W. Baltimore St., Detroit; no cover.
Justin Hayward: Blue World Tour 8 p.m.; Sound Board, 2901 Grand River Ave., Detroit; $37-$50.
Obscene, Warp Chamber, Centenary, Phyrxian Sun 7 p.m.; Sanctuary Detroit, 2932 Caniff St., Hamtramck; $15.
DJ/Dance
B.Y.O.R Bring Your Own Records Night 9 p.m.-midnight; The Old Miami, 3930 Cass Ave., Detroit; no cover.
Open Mic
Open Mic: Art in a Fly Space 7-10 p.m.; Detroit Shipping Company, 474 Peterboro St., Detroit; no cover.
THEATER
Performance
Max M. Fisher Music Center Detroit Symphony Orchestra; Friday, Dec. 6, 10:45 a.m.; Saturday, Dec. 7, 11 a.m. & 8 p.m.; and Sunday, Dec. 8, 3 p.m.
Meadow Brook Theatre A Christmas Carol; $50; Wednesday, Dec. 4, 2 p.m.; Thursday, Dec. 5, 7 p.m.; Friday Dec. 6, 8 p.m.; Saturday, Dec. 7, 2 p.m. & 6:30 p.m.; and Sunday, Dec. 8, 2 p.m. & 6:30 p.m.
The Music Hall Who Brought The Humbug; $15-$25; Sunday, Dec. 8, 4 p.m.
Planet Ant Theatre The Christmas Collection: A Planet Ant Original Sketch Comedy Show; $30 advance, 35 at the door; Thursdays, 8-10 p.m. and Fridays, Saturdays, 8-10 p.m.
They Say The Murder Mystery Co.’s Dinner Theater Show; $59; Friday, Dec. 6, 7-9:30 p.m.
Tipping Point Theatre Little Women $25-$55; Wednesday, Dec. 4, 2-4 p.m.; Thursday, Dec. 5, 7:30-9:30 p.m.; Friday, Dec. 6, 7:30-9:30 p.m.; Saturday, Dec. 7, 2-4 & 7:30-9:30 p.m.; and Sunday, Dec. 8, 2-4 p.m.
Musical
British Commonwealth Club A Welsh Christmas featuring the work of Dylan Thomas; $20; Sunday, Dec. 8, 2:305:30 p.m.
Fisher Theatre - Detroit Les Miserables (Touring); Wednesday, Dec. 4, 7:30 p.m.; Thursday, Dec. 5, 1 p.m. & 7:30 p.m.; Friday, Dec. 6, 7:30 p.m.; Saturday
Dec. 7, 2 p.m. & 7:30 p.m.; Sunday, Dec. 8, 1 p.m. & 6:30 p.m.; Tuesday, 7:30 p.m. COMEDY
Improv
Ann Arbor Marriott Ypsilanti at Eagle Crest The Dinner Detective Comedy Mystery Dinner Show. America’s largest interactive comedy murder dinner theatre show. Solve a hilarious mystery while you feast on a fantastic dinner. Just beware! The culprit is hiding in plain sight somewhere in the room, and you may find yourself as a prime suspect before you know it. $69.99; Saturdays, 6-9 p.m.
Embassy Suites Troy The Dinner Detective Comedy Mystery Dinner Show America’s largest interactive comedy murder dinner theatre show. Solve a hilarious mystery while you feast on a fantastic dinner. Just beware! The culprit is hiding in plain sight somewhere in the room, and you may find yourself as a prime suspect before you know it. $69.99; Saturdays, 6-9 p.m.
Go Comedy! Improv Theater Go Comedy! All-Star Showdown; $25; Fridays, Saturdays. Stand-up
Caesars Palace Windsor - Augustus Ballroom Giggly Squad Live: Club Giggly; $33-$88; Saturday, Dec. 7, 8 p.m.
Diamondback Music Hall Joe Devito; $25; Friday, Dec. 6, 8 p.m. & 9 p.m.
The Fillmore Sarah Silverman: Postmortem; $47.50-$77.50; Friday Dec. 6, 7 p.m.
Mark Ridley’s Comedy Castle 101 Comedy Class Showcase; $10; Wednesday, Dec. 4, 7:30-9 p.m.
The Detroit Masonic Temple Immortal Comedy: Johanna Medranda, Patty Rooney, Jacqui Marpa, Kyle Forsyth, T.Barb, Johnny Mocny, Scott Sviland; $10 advance, $15 at the door; Tuesday, 8:30-10 p.m.
Continuing This Week Stand-up
Blind Pig Blind Pig Comedy FREE; Mondays, 8 p.m.
The Independent Comedy Club at Planet Ant The Sh*t Show Open Mic; $5 suggested donation; Fridays, Saturdays, 11 p.m.-1:30 a.m.
Supernatural Brewing and Spirits Supernatural Brewing Comedy Night; $10; Thursday, Dec. 5, 7-9 p.m.
DANCE
Dance Performance
Detroit Opera House Complexions Contemporary Ballet: 30th Anniversary
Critic’s Pick
The 50th Annual Noel Night
Noel Night brings the spirit of the season to the Midtown and Cultural Center districts with numerous holiday events sprawling around Woodward Avenue. From Ferry to Charlotte and from St. Antoine to Third Avenue, this wintery festival features a variety of cultural experiences and live musical performances. Check out Wayne State’s Hilberry Gateway for student-led theater/dance showcases, visit the Garden Theater and see the inspiring Detroit Youth Choir, or catch Detroit’s queen of the blues, Thornetta Davis, at the First Unitarian Universalist Church. Multiple local businesses and organizations will host holiday promotions and programming during this cheerful yearly celebration, all free of charge and open to the public.
—Kara Frank
Tour Making their Detroit Opera House debut, Complexions Contemporary Ballet has awakened audiences to a new, exciting genre with their singular approach of reinventing dance and contemporary ballet. Featuring live music from the Detroit Opera Orchestra, dancing to Bach, Beethoven, Vivaldi, and Helbig. Completing the program in act two is Love Rocks, set to the music of Lenny Kravitz. $30-175; Saturday Dec. 7, 7:30 p.m. and Sunday Dec. 8, 2:30 p.m.
Fox Theatre NUTCRACKER! Magical
Continuing This Week
Christmas Ballet; $31-$101; Sunday Dec. 8, 12, 4 p.m. & 8 p.m.
Seligman Performing Arts Center Eisenhower Dance Detroit Youth Ensemble presents The Nutcracker; $20-$40; Saturday, Dec. 7, 7-8:30 p.m. and Dec. 7-8, 2-3:30 p.m.
The Whiting The Nutcracker; Saturday, Dec. 7, 7:30-10 p.m., and Sunday, Dec. 8, 3-5:30 p.m.
Dance Lessons
The Commons Ballroom Dance Lessons; $5; first Friday of every month, 6-7 p.m.
FILM
Screening
Emagine Novi Detroit: The City of Chefs premiere. The film explores Detroit’s culinary heritage since the 1900s. $200; VIP tickets for a “Chef Extravaganza Celebration” include a pre-reception from 5:30 to 6:45 p.m. with a grand buffet created by the chefs and students at Schoolcraft and OCC’s culinary programs and preferred seating for the 7 p.m. film. $20 general admission tickets include visiting “Chef Alley” featuring local culinary companies and local chef authors signing copies of their books. $20 general admission; $200 VIP; Monday, Dec. 9, 7-9 p.m.
FIM Capitol Theatre Napoleon Dynamite LIVE! 20th Anniversary Celebration. A Very Special Evening with Jon Heder, Jon Gries, Efren Ramirez. Event is BYOT (Bring Your Own Tots). The beloved indie classic Napoleon Dynamite was released 20 years ago. Since then, much has changed; but the characters, as enduring as they are endearing, stay in our hearts. Tickets start at $25, $18 for Genesee County residents. Thursday Dec. 5, 7-10 p.m.
First United Methodist Church of Troy Line Dance, Saturday, Dec. 7, 7 p.m.
Michigan Theater Daddy Michigan premiere featuring a post-film discussion from directors Neal Kelley and Jono Sherman, graduates of the University of Michigan. Set in a dystopian society where the state has the power to determine who can and cannot father children. Four men attend a governmentmandated retreat in the remote mountains of California. When they arrive, there’s no guide or instructions waiting for them. So left to their own devices, they must prove to themselves that they have what it takes to become fathers. $11.75; Thursday, Dec. 5, 7:30 p.m.
ARTS
Artist talk
Captured Moments Join us for a gallery talk by Captured Moments artist Jay Anderson and view this exhibition of his drawings and mixed media paintings. The talk is free, and you’ll have the opportunity to meet Jay and hear about his artwork in person. Light refreshments will be available. Exhibition runs through Dec. 21. Sunday Dec. 8, 2-3 p.m.; Color & Ink Studio, 20919 John R Rd., Hazel Park; no cover.
FOOD
Savory seafood that stands out
By Jane Slaughter
Savoy
17131 E. Warren Ave., Detroit
313-469-7558
savoydetroit.com
Entrées $28.95-$45.95
East English Village and Morningside, two neighborhoods on Detroit’s east side, are sprucing up majorly: newish coffee shops, Next Chapter Books, and now a fine-dining seafood restaurant with live jazz, all on a revitalized East Warren Avenue. Eastsiders have long looked further east to the Pointes or west to downtown when seeking a date-night place to eat; now they can stick closer to home.
The Savoy name was suggested by co-owner Jai-Lee Dearing, who wanted guests to “put on their best,” says daughter, co-owner, and chef Melba Dearing. “It has a ring to it. You know it’s not just a fish-and-chicken place.”
The Dearings’ approach to “affordable fine dining” focuses on seafood, though the menu is long and includes plenty of choices, such as meatloaf, roast chicken, wings, sandwiches, salads, steaks, and lamb chops.
I liked the look of Savoy the minute I walked in: the long lines of tables with comfortable armchairs and the fact that you could see everyone in the one rectangular room — somehow that made it stylish and yet welcoming. It was also out of the ordinary to be greeted by a doorman in a top hat.
Professional waitstaff are a big enhancer of the Savoy experience. IMO, the best server is non-servile and clearly knows the business. He does not address the clients as “you guys.” Savoy’s servers checked all those boxes, with personality. It was the first time I’d heard water offered as “God’s Kool-Aid.”
Savoy is not cheap, but that’s just saying it’s in line with every other restaurant these days, and of course seafood is always pricier. Special deals, such as $25 for a whole lobster on Wednesdays; $75 for an appetizer, two entrées, and dessert on Thursdays; and $29.95 for two whole pounds of crab legs on Tuesdays soften the pain.
Plus you get live music. Marty Ballog croons standards and plays piano on
Wednesdays and Thursdays. Chiara and Elevation perform R&B on Fridays, Nate Topo and the 313 Group hit some soft jazz licks on Saturday night. Joe Smith plays guitar for Sunday brunch.
Another classy note is Savoy’s complimentary bread, almost a lost tradition. One night the warm triangles came with garlic butter.
My favorites at Savoy were seafood pasta dishes, probably because of their calorific and creamy sauces. The Frutti di Mar Feast (“fruits of the sea”) is listed with a tomato sauce, but the astute waiter offered the choice of Alfredo. I couldn’t discern Parmesan in the sauce but didn’t mind— it was so buttery luscious, though the sauce did tend to overwhelm the mussels, shrimp, and scallops. There was so much sauce, in fact, that after slurping the linguine I was able to take some home to brighten a gloomy day.
Roasted salmon ravioli were also enjoyable; the big ravioli are cheese-filled, and the salmon is tossed in the abundant red chipotle cream sauce. Savoy’s New England clam chowder is equally rich. I was less impressed with the crabcakes, which weren’t showing a lot of flavor inside the perfect crisp crust, or a special lobster corn dog — who could resist such a concept? I tasted more corn dog than lobster, and if the lobster had asserted itself, the honey-mustard sauce seemed wrong for it.
Salmon over risotto, especially porcini risotto, is a sure winner, and this salmon was grilled just right. It’s served with lemon-herb compound butter. The humble Fisherman’s Feast — essentially fish and chips — was done to perfection, the walleye in flawless balance with its beer-batter crust. The beer was Atwater’s Dirty Blonde, but how would you know? East-side loyalty, though.
A couple of dishes I found a bit salty: a scallops-and-wild-rice special and a massive serving of Mama Shirley’s Meatloaf. The meatloaf is topped with pepper gravy, all over garlicky mashed spuds.
The desserts at Savoy shone. Crème brûlée achieved the requisite crackly crust with just a hint of the blow-torch. Pumpkin cheesecake avoided the sea-
sonal spice cliché in favor of maple and cinnamon notes.
My friends and I weren’t thrilled with our cocktails; a margarita lacked lime and kick. My Moscow Mule, though served in the iconic copper mug, had a chemical undertaste. Perhaps I should’ve tried the Mexican, Tennessee, or Irish mules instead. A miniature bottle of sparkly Cava Codorníu Brut, though, was perfect with the highly
flavored, though delicate seafood. Savoy has a respectable list of reds and whites and, unlike many places, offers all of them by either the glass or the bottle. Savoy is open every day for lunch and dinner and for brunch on weekends: seafood omelet, catfish and grits, shrimp and grits, salmon hash. To make sure it hangs on to those professional servers, management adds an automatic 18% gratuity.
Lamb chops served with Savoy’s signature zip sauce. COURTESY PHOTO
CULTURE
Film Wicked casts poignant emotional spell
By Jonathan Keilholz
Wicked
Rated: PG
Run-time: 160 minutes
Grade: A
Green-painted girls and tutu-wearing teens granted Wicked (2024) a wish that had nothing to do with its rumored massive marketing budget: an organic TikTok trend in which fans recorded themselves saying, “This is me before seeing Wicked,” followed by, “This is me after seeing Wicked.” Almost every time, in the second half of their videos, they were sobbing. Trembling. Moodified, as Ozians say.
Nothing is more convincing than proof of an emotional impact. But the story is not new. Oz has been around since 1900. So why is Wicked affecting us this way?
Let’s start with the powerful visual.
It’s simply epic on the big screen. As we’ve come to expect from director
Jon M. Chu (In the Heights Crazy Rich Asians), each scene is immersive, vibrant, and colorful eye candy. The
91 makeup artists, 228 artists, and 260 visual effects producers construct an Oz that stunningly integrates and builds upon the worlds we saw in 1939’s Oscar-winning The Wizard of Oz, one of the world’s most-watched movies, and the sister story told on Broadway in 2003’s Wicked a cultural, Tonywinning phenomenon that attracted non-theater fans to the stage. Both are based on books that provide more than ample — and perhaps overwhelming — source material.
This film is — hands down — Chu’s best so far. But rejoicing is also in order for Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande, who do the seemingly impossible: portray a duo just as iconic as Idina Menzel and Kristin Chenoweth from the original Broadway version. Their strength is not just their performances and pipes; it’s their intimate chemistry, most notably when Glinda (Grande) tricks Elphaba (Erivo) into wearing a black, pointed hat to the Ozdust Ballroom. Chu knows we couldn’t experience this onstage. As the crowd laughs at an ashamed Elphaba, Glinda’s face drops in regret. Tight shots capture anguish becoming affection in pure,
universal humanity. Put simply, we’ve all been there.
Now to the “overwhelming” piece that’s getting the biggest pushback. Yes, you’re staring down a runtime of 2 hours and 40 minutes. And sure, some are going to call Wicked an overly long, overly glossy theater nerd’s wet dream. But if you have any emotional depth, trust me: It’s worth it. Use the little munchkin’s room before you get seated. You’ll want to pee before the movie so you don’t miss anything.
Speaking of timing, the yellow brick road to opening night was long and windy. Universal Studios slated the original opening for Dec. 20, 2019. COVID-19 delays, writers on picket lines, and scheduling conflicts delayed the release by nearly five years. Nobody saw Nov. 22, 2024, in their crystal ball. Fortunately, the timing ended up being serendipitous, and I believe the biggest reason this film resonates the way it does.
Although the themes in Oz are timeless, Wicked meets a poignant moment. Animals are used as scapegoats to Ozian issues and targeted by the powers that be. The Wizard uses propaganda to prevent these animals from teaching,
speaking, and carrying on with their lives. It’s not hard to draw stark comparisons to the so-called “otherism” that exists in our sociopolitical landscape, less than three weeks after a presidential election that pointed fingers and weaponized marginalized groups.
With that in mind, during the climax of Wicked, Elphaba faces a choice between right and wrong. She can speak truth to power or get in line with the status quo. She chooses the former. In a scene of selflessness and sacrifice, Elphaba draws danger away from her best friend, Glinda, and starts her final descent (or ascent, I suppose) into the Wicked Witch of the West.
During this struggle, Elphaba sees a child version of herself, which gives her the strength to persevere, knowing that she’s choosing integrity — and the little girl she once knew. She must do this for herself.
“Everyone deserves the chance to fly,” Elphaba sings in “Defying Gravity.”
“And if I’m flying solo, at least I’m flying free.”
Republished from our sister paper Cincinnati CityBeat.
Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande star in Wicked out in theaters now
UNIVERSAL PICTURES
WEED
sorts the buds by size to ensure every jar has similarly sized flower. Only large and medium-sized buds are used.
The flower is packaged in classy, minimalist jars that set it apart from the bold, flashy designs of other brands.
Smaller buds are sold as Bodega, a sister brand that offers even better prices. If you’re on a budget, this is a great way to indulge in premium cannabis.
The company also operates a dispensary called Bodega in Muskegon, which offers hundreds of products, from flower and pre-rolls to live rosin and edibles.
The dispensary is contemporary and well-organized, and the staff is friendly and helpful.
With one of the largest genetic libraries in the Midwest, Michigrown houses a whopping 281 strains. Creating new strains is one of Hall’s passions. And he’s unwilling to take any shortcuts.
“We just cracked 800 seeds, and 30 to 50 will be selected from this,” Hall says.
“It takes nine to 12 months to isolate the right strains. We’re very selective.”
For Hall, premium marijuana is all about the terpenes, which contribute to the aroma, flavor, and effects. Terpenes work alongside cannabinoids to enhance or modify the effects of THC, CBD, and other compounds. For instance, a strain high in myrcene may enhance relaxation, while limonene may promote an uplifting feeling.
The Straight Dope
Michigrown is building a legacy of top-tier cannabis that goes beyond high THC content
By Steve Neavling
Welcome to The Straight Dope, our new weekly series that explores the best cannabis products in Michigan.
As Michigan’s cannabis industry matures, few brands manage to balance innovation, quality, and affordability quite like Michigrown.
From its Muskegon grow facility, the company is proving that premium flower can still stand out in a saturated market.
With 15,000 square feet of grow space, Michigrown is a major cultivator that is growing some of the best flower in the state. The buds are dense, pungent, welltrimmed, and coated in a frosty layer of glistening trichomes.
Since its first sale on April 20, 2021, Michigrown has sold more than 100 strains and is constantly developing exceptional new crosses.
“Because of all the technology that has been developed and the new feeding, the capability of almost everybody to grow
good weed has become substantially easier,” Michigrown COO Tyler Hall, who took over cultivation in November 2023, tells Metro Times. “That being said, there is still a substantial difference between good weed and great weed, but without a little education, it’s not as clear and apparent to the average consumer.”
Hall, 32, has been a part of the weed industry since he was a teenager in West Michigan. For him, growing premier cannabis is more than a job — it’s a labor of love.
Before Hall ended up at Michigrown, he worked as a cultivation consultant for growers in states such as Colorado, Arizona, California, and Alaska. His expertise has won him awards.
“We’re legacy guys,” Hall says. “We care about the crop first and maintaining the integrity of the craft. Everything is about quality. We are very selective. We really shifted the quality and freshness standards.”
Hall has been a critical part of Michigrown’s success. Before his arrival last year, the quality of the company’s flower suffered in the midst of an internal dispute that left Michigrown without one of its knowledgeable growers.
Now, Michigrown is once again one of the top cultivators in Michigan, producing consistently unique, potent, and flavorful flower.
“We’ve been tweaking everything,” Hall says. “What I care about is that people are very happy when they open the jar. Quality is always the focal point when I grow. I’m always striving to improve.”
Once again hitting a stride, Michigrown is on pace to sell 6,500 pounds this year — “double what it ever was,” Hall says.
“We’re doing better month to month,” Hall says. Despite the top-tier quality, the prices are relatively low, ranging from $25 to $30 an eighth and $5 to $10 a preroll, depend-
ing on where you get it. The ounces vary in price from roughly $140 to $200. At those prices, it’s difficult to find weed this good.
Michigrown’s cultivation facility is high-tech, clean, and well-organized. There are five flower rooms (where the plants begin to grow buds), and two veg rooms (where the plants begin to grow), with at least six strains in each room.
That kind of output is why Michigrown is able to offer a large variety of flower.
The plants are in a controlled environment with technology to monitor and control lighting, temperature, and CO2. The floors, walls, and equipment are spotless, reducing risks of contamination or pests.
All of the flower is hand-trimmed, which is important to minimize damage to the trichomes and maintain the characteristic structure of the plant. When the flower is ready, a machine
Michigrown’s jars of flower aren’t hard to find. Many dispensaries in metro Detroit carry them, including Quality Roots in Hamtramck, Berkley, and Madison Heights; GreenCare in River Rouge; 420 Dank in Detroit; King of Budz in Detroit and Ferndale; Green Buddha in Ferndale; Good Vibes Cannabis in Ecorse; NOXX Cannabis in Pleasant Ridge; Love Cannabis in Detroit; and Dreams Canna in Southfield (among many others). Check Weedmaps for more locations.
I was very excited to sample five strains. This was my experience:
Face Meltz
My favorite of the strains I tried, Face Meltz is an indica-dominant hybrid that combines the genetics of Face Off OG and Grimace OG.
The big, dense buds have an impeccable structure and are gleaming with trichomes.
The pungent aroma is a funky medley of lemon, pine, and fuel — the hallmark bouquet of OG Kush strains. And this has one of the most intense aromas of any OG strain I’ve ever experienced.
The body-melting high was like riding a dopamine wave. It was potent, tensiondissolving, and euphoric. One minute I was intensely focused, only to forget what I was doing a minute later. It was like a full-body hug that I didn’t know I needed.
Printed on Michigrown’s bottles is, “Terpene rich cannabis flower.”
Too many cannabis consumers are obsessed with high THC content, while ignoring the more nuanced, complex, and robust effects of terpenes, Hall says. Because of that, many growers focus on THC at the expense of terpenes.
“The reality is, when someone is chasing a THC percentage, they think that is going to get them the highest for the best bang for their buck,” Hall says. “Those high THC strains have been bred and selected specifically for the high THC percentage. When you make those kinds of selective choices, you are losing a lot of other content. That other content is what contributes to that complexity.”
The focus on terpenes is why Michigrown’s flower is so pungent, flagrant, and satisfying.
When it comes to prerolls, Michigrown does not compromise on quality, like many cultivators. I opened up one of the joints, and it was stuffed with sticky, high-quality flower and did not include shake or trim.
Each preroll is one gram, and Michigrown makes an average of 3,000 of them a day.
I found Michigrown prerolls for just $5 at King of Budz in Detroit, which had five of the company’s strains — Runtz, Frieza, Gelatti, Super Nova, and Hypnostank.
the Michigrown flower I tried, they pack one hell of a punch.
This strain delivers a unique flavor experience, balancing fruity sweetness and creamy vanilla with sour lemon and woody undertones.
Frieza is another well-balanced hybrid that delivers a blissful, euphoric, and relaxing high. Take a toke of this before hanging out with friends or embarking on a creative adventure.
But be careful. This is not a strain for beginners.
The THC content is 31.8%. Based on the strain’s lineage, the terpene profile is likely dominated by caryophyllene, which is said to promote relaxation and ease stress.
Hubba Bubba
Hubba Bubba is a powerful, flavorful blend of Gelato #41 x Jealousy #9, which is similar to Frieza, but the flavor profiles and highs are different.
The sticky, pungent buds are purple and dripping with shimmering trichomes.
It has a rich, well-balanced aroma that is both sweet and earthy, with hints of lavender and pine.
The high is where this strain truly shines. While not quite as potent as Frieza, it’s uplifting, tranquil, and carefree — a trifecta of comfort. It was also euphoric and inspired creativity.
This strain is perfect for relaxing at home in the evening.
Face Meltz has the lowest THC content of all the strains I tried — 25.9% — which is further proof that terpene-rich weed can create a far more pleasurable experience than super high THC content.
While THC is the primary psychoactive compound in cannabis, the experience of consuming marijuana is far more nuanced, and that’s where terpenes come in. Terpenes interact with cannabinoids like THC and CBD to influence how marijuana affects your body and mind. This interaction is known as the “entourage effect,” where terpenes and cannabinoids work together to create a more complex and tailored experience.
Myrcene, which is known for its sedative effects, is typically the abundant terpene in OG strains, followed by limonene (mood-boosting), and caryophyllene (anti-anxiety).
This strain was a face-melting knockout.
Frieza
Frieza is a potent, flavorful combination of Gelato #41 and Jealousy #4, two strains known for their rich terpene profiles.
The buds are lush, colorful, and resinous, with bright green leaves, deep purple hues, and fiery orange pistils. While the buds are smaller than most of
Michigrown really hits the mark on this strain.
The nugs are coated in a frosty layer of glistening trichomes, giving the purple and green leaves and orange pistils a frosty, luminous appearance. The flower exudes an intensely fruity aroma, reminiscent of a bag of sugary candy with the same name. With its creamy, fruity undertones, Runtz offers a dessert-like experience that’s both smooth and satisfying to smoke.
Runtz is an evenly balanced hybrid. The high is initially uplifting, euphoric, and focused, followed by a more relaxing body high, but not couch lock. Known for its mood-boosting properties, this strain can turn a rough day into a joyful one.
The THC content is 32.1%. Caryophyllene is the dominant terpene, followed by limonene and myrcene.
The straight dope
With a committed and passionate grow team and the resources to deliver highquality flower, Michigrown is set up to continue harvesting top-tier cannabis for a long time, and it will be fun to see what they come up with next.
The company is already looking for more space to expand.
The THC content is 30%. The dominant terpene is likely caryophyllene.
Banana Hammock
One of my favorite deeply relaxing strains, Banana Hammock is an indicaleaning hybrid made from a cross of Banana OG and Sprinklez.
The perfectly manicured buds are dense and resinous, with bronze pistils and excellent bag appeal.
What sets Banana Hammock apart is its captivating flavor profile: It’s pungent and smells like banana bread with a hint of vanilla.
The taste is fruity and creamy.
The effects are remarkably calming, melting away stress and tension. It’s perfect for unwinding after a long day, listening to music, or mindlessly scrolling through social media.
But don’t let its relaxing effects fool you. The high is robust and can send you to another planet.
The THC content is 27.2%. Based on this strain’s parents, Banana Hammock is likely rich in limonene and caryophyllene.
Runtz
One of the most popular strains in Michigan’s cannabis market, Runtz is a seductive cross between Zkittlez and Gelato and was named Leafly’s Strain of the Year in 2020.
“We’re at the point where we don’t have enough weed to sell,” Hall says. For Hall and the Michigrown team, it’s not just about producing cannabis; it’s about fostering an elevated experience. By focusing on the nuanced interplay of terpenes and cannabinoids, they’re educating the market on the complexities of cannabis and shifting the focus from THC percentages to a more holistic appreciation of the plant.
Michigrown’s affordability also makes its premium products accessible to a broader range of consumers, ensuring that quality doesn’t come at a prohibitive price. Whether it’s through their flagship jars, budget-friendly Bodega brand, or terpene-rich flower, the company’s focus is on delivering exceptional value.
As Michigrown continues to expand its genetic library and refine its techniques, it’s clear they’re not just growing cannabis; they’re cultivating a legacy. With a foundation built on integrity and a passion for the craft, Michigrown is setting the bar for what cannabis in Michigan can — and should — be.
“We want the absolute best product in the market, and that takes a lot of time and energy,” Hall says. “If a harvest is grown and doesn’t come out right, it’s not Michigrown. It has to be profound and an elite product to be Michigrown.”
If you want us to sample your cannabis products, send us an email at steve@ metrotimes.com.
Michigrown is one of the most popular cannabis cultivators in Michigan and consistently harvests high-quality flower. STEVE NEAVLING
CULTURE
Savage Love
Quickies
By Dan Savage
: Q What’s the sexiest holiday food to eat off someone’s body?
A: While food can be sensuous, you don’t eat food off someone’s body unless you’re fucking or about to fuck … and fucking on a full a stomach is uncomfortable, which is why I’m always urging people to #FuckFirst” on Valentine’s Day (and their wedding days, birthdays, anniversaries), and fucking on a slowly filling stomach really isn’t much better.
Like many people, I made the mistake of incorporating food into foreplay when I first became sexually active. Putting whipped cream on our tits made me and my first boyfriend feel like we were doing something naughty and sophisticated without either of us having to make ourselves vulnerable, e.g., without either of us having to open up about our actual kinks. And as we both quickly learned, whipped cream quickly liquifies as it rises to body temperature, and then you look and smell like an infant barfed all over you — which is not something anyone you wanna fuck could find sexy. Anyway, everyone should enjoy holiday food and holiday sex — but not at the same time, and not in that order.
: Q No question here, Dan, just wanted to say we fucked first and ate later. Thanks for that great piece of advice!
A: You’re welcome!
: Q How can I come hands-free? I’m a cis male.
A: Like squirting or rolling the edges of your tongue to make a little tube, coming “hands-free” is not something everyone can do. And most of those “hands-free” orgasms you’ve seen in porn? They weren’t entirely “hands-free.” Most of those guys are brought to the edge of orgasmic inevitability with a hand — their own or someone else’s — before being fucked over the edge.
: Q Any tips for quickly preparing your butt for anal?
A: You could do what we used to do
before douching became standard: take a dump and cross your fingers. It wasn’t a perfect system (douching caught on for a reason), but it worked reasonably well meaning, it succeeded more often than it failed. You should also prep with lube — lots of lube — and prep with PrEP. And remember: In addition to protecting you from all the sexually transmitted infections PrEP doesn’t (PrEP only protects you from HIV), condoms also keep shit off your dick!
: Q How do we sneak in some quick sex while we’re staying with the whole family?
A: You offer to do a coffee run for the whole family, you head to the nearest “drive-through” Starbucks in the miserable suburb where you were raised, you park your car and go inside. You place your order at the counter, you head for the restroom — which is empty and clean, as very few people get out of their cars — and then you have sex (quickly!) standing up while your family’s enormous coffee order is being prepared.
: Q Please keep this anonymous: I’m a gay 41-year-old man. I enjoy hookups but lose sexual interest when there’s affection and a connection. Am I doomed?
A: If you want a committed relationship that’s romantic and sexually exclusive or romantic and sexual but not necessarily sexually exclusive — you’re probably doomed, as it doesn’t sound like you’re wired for that. You could attempt to rewire yourself, of course, but the attempt could take years and there’s no guarantee the attempt would be “successful.” (And if you’re not broken — if this is just how you’re wired, i.e., how your sexuality functions — then there’s nothing about you that requires fixing.) But if you could be happy in a committed romantic relationship that’s intimate and loving but not sexual — because the man you’re with is wired the same way you are or he’s asexual but homoromantic — then you’re not doomed.
: Q What are the best Christmas-themed positions?
A: Christmas isn’t sexy. You can have sex on Christmas — because of course you can (and not just in the bathroom at Starbucks) — but mistletoe shouldn’t be hung over ballsacks, and Santa hats shouldn’t be worn at swingers parties. And just as we all eventually learn that whipped cream isn’t a sex toy, we all eventually learn that mixing up “positions” isn’t adventurous or kinky. We find
the positions that work for us and our partners — the ones that hit just right and they become our go-tos. (Ideally, they become our work-up-towards after a lot of foreplay.) So, whatever positions work for you and your partner when it’s not Christmas are the same positions that will work for you and your partner when it is Christmas.
P.S. When people talk about “positions,” they mean positions for penetrative sexual intercourse (usually PIV, sometimes PIB), e.g., missionary, doggy, wheelbarrow, cowgirl/boy/hand, etc. So, if you’re the kind of person who thinks about sex as a range of possible “positions” for penetrative sex, taking PIV and PIB off the menu — doing something else for once — is the single best way to discover something new.
: Q My partner has a fantasy of us with a trans woman. We want to be totally respectful, but it’s not a dating situation. (He wants to try it, but only as a one-time thing.) So, we thought it would be best to do this with a professional. A friend suggested we might have some luck by posting [on] Grindr. We have no real idea how to make this happen without being jerks or getting arrested! Help!
A: Please don’t approach random trans women on Grindr and offer to pay for sex. There’s nothing wrong with doing sex work, of course, and there are trans women out there who do it, but trans women — even some trans sex workers resent the assumption that all trans women are sex workers. Instead, follow trans women who are open about being sex workers on social media and then, after getting a sense for who they are as people, respectfully approach them — as people — and inquire about their availability and interest.
: Q A sub wants to drink allllll of my pee. And not just a little taste — he wants to drink every drop, over a few hours. I’m on an SSRI and while I assume he’d be getting a negligible dose of my meds, I don’t actually know that for sure because WebMD just isn’t cutting it this time. Can you help?
A: I don’t know for sure that your sub has nothing to worry about trace amounts of SSRIs can be detected in urine samples — but I feel confident stating that if trace amounts of SSRIs in urine posed a health a risk to piss drinkers… yeah, I would’ve heard about it by now. Also, you’re not talking about that much piss — you can produce at most 24 ounces in three hours — which makes your sub about as likely to overdose as he is to drown.
: Q Can you get hemorrhoids from rough vaginal sex?
A: “Hemorrhoids are a natural part of our anatomy and it’s only when they become inflamed or start to protrude that they become noticeable,” says Dr. Rachel Gelman. “Typically, things like constipation or anything else that places a lot of downward pressure on the pelvic floor is associated with hemorrhoid dysfunction. And while linking vaginal sex with hemorrhoids is bit of a stretch — pun intended — if someone had underlying pelvic floor dysfunction and penetrative sex was aggressive enough, that could over time result in rectal issues or bowel dysfunction and lead to hemorrhoids.”
Dr. Rachel Gelman is a pelvic floor specialist and a sexuality counselor. You can follow her on Instagram and Threads @ pelvichealthsf and learn more about her work — and pelvic health in general — at her website pelvicwellpt.com.
: Q Being around family is a turn-off for me. Any suggestions?
A: Don’t move back in with mom and dad, if you can help it, and head to the nearest drive-through Starbucks when you’re feeling desperate.
: Q How do I get my boyfriend to eat out another girl in front of me? He says he doesn’t think he can do it unless we do it together. But that’s not exactly what I’m looking for. (It’s what I want for Christmas.)
A: I’m guessing you’re a straight woman you wanna watch your boyfriend go down on “another woman” but you don’t wanna go down on that woman yourself — which means there’s a chance your boyfriend doesn’t wanna go down on another woman and setting “after you” as a condition allowed him to say no without seeming like an unadventurous prude. There’s also a possibility he thinks this is a trap — he might worry you’ll be angry if he seems too eager to take you up on this offer — and he’ll modify his position if you keep asking.
: Q How do you navigate dating exes for friends or friends of exes in a healthy and respectful way?
A: You owe a friend the courtesy of a heads up after you start dating one of their exes. If you’re friends with an ex, you owe your ex — as a friend — that same courtesy. But that’s all you owe them.
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
Blaming others for our problems is rarely helpful. If we expend emotional energy focusing on how people have offended and hurt us, we diminish our motivation to heal ourselves. We may also get distracted from changing the behavior that ushered us into the mess. So yes, it’s wise to accept responsibility for the part we have played in propagating predicaments. However, I believe it’s also counterproductive to be relentlessly serious about this or any other psychological principle. We all benefit from having mischievous fun as we rebel against tendencies we have to be dogmatic and fanatical. That’s why I’m authorizing you to celebrate a good-humored Complaint Fest. For a limited time only, feel free to unleash fantasies in which you uninhibitedly and hilariously castigate everyone who has done you wrong.
TAURUS: April 20 – May 20
What you are experiencing may
not be a major, earth-shaking rite of passage. But it’s sufficiently challenging and potentially rewarding to qualify as a pivotal breakthrough and turning point. And I’m pleased to say that any suffering you’re enduring will be constructive and educational. You may look back at this transition as a liberating initiation. You’ll feel deep gratification that you’ve clambered up to a higher level of mastery through the power of your intelligent love and feisty integrity.
GEMINI: May 21 – June 20
You are now about halfway between your last birthday and next birthday. In the prophecy industry, we call this your Unbirthday Season. It’s usually a time when you receive an abundance of feedback — whether you want it or not. I encourage you to want it! Solicit it. Even pay for it. Not all of it will be true or useful, of course, but the part that is true and useful will be very much so. You could gather a wealth of information that will help you finetune your drive for success and joy in the months to come.
CANCER: June 21 – July 22
Legend tells us that the Buddha achieved enlightenment while meditating beneath the Bodhi Tree in Bihar, India. He was there for many weeks. At one point, a huge storm came and pelted the sacred spot with heavy rain. Just in time, the King of Serpents arrived, a giant cobra with a massive hood. He shielded the Buddha from the onslaught for the duration. Now I’m predicting that you, too, will receive an unexpected form of protection and nurturing in the coming weeks. Be ready to open your mind about what help looks and feels like. It may not be entirely familiar.
LEO: July 23 – August 22
In written form, the Japanese term oubaitori is composed of four kanji, or characters. They denote four fruit trees that bloom in the spring: cherry, plum, peach, and apricot. Each tree’s flowers blossom in their own sweet time, exactly when they are ready — neither early nor late. The poetic meaning of oubaitori is that we humans do the same: We grow and ripen at our own unique pace. That’s why it’s senseless to compare our rate of unfoldment to anyone else’s. We each have our own timing, our own rhythm. These ideas are especially apropos for you right now, Leo.
VIRGO: August 23 – Sept. 22
I hope you will hunker down in your bunker. I hope you will junk all defunct versions of your spunky funkiness and seek out fresh forms of spunky funkiness. In other words, Virgo, I believe it’s crucial for you to get as relaxed and grounded as possible. You have a mandate to explore ultimate versions of stability and solidity. Shore up your foundations, please. Grow deeper roots. Dig down as deep as you can to strengthen and tone your relationship with the core of your being.
LIBRA: Sept. 23 – Oct. 22
Every one of us is a hypocrite, at least some of the time. Now and then, we all ignore or outrightly violate our own high standards. We may even engage in behavior that we criticize in others. But here’s the good news for you, Libra: In the coming weeks and months, you may be as unhypocritical as you’ve ever been. According to my analysis of the astrological omens, you are likely to be consistently faithful to your ideals. Your actual effects on people will closely match your intended effects. The American idiom is “Do you practice what you preach?” I expect the answer to that question will be yes as it pertains to you.
SCORPIO: Oct. 23 – Nov. 21:
Author George Orwell advised us that if we don’t analyze and understand the past, we are likely to repeat the mistakes of the past. Alas, few people take heed. Their knowledge of our collective history is meager, as is their grasp of recurring trends in their personal lives. But now here’s the good news, dear Scorpio: In the coming months, you will have exceptional power to avoid replicating past ignorance and errors — if you meditate regularly on the lessons available through a close study of your life story.
SAGITTARIUS: Nov. 22 – Dec. 21
In his song “Voodoo Child,” Sagittarian musician Jimi Hendrix brags, “Well, I stand up next to a mountain / And I chop it down with the edge of my hand.” I encourage you to unleash fantasies like that in the coming days, Sagittarius. Can you shoot lightning
bolts from your eyes? Sure you can. Can you change water into wine? Fly to the moon and back in a magic boat? Win the Nobel Prize for Being Yourself? In your imagination, yes, you can. And these exercises will prime you for an array of more realistic escapades, like smashing a mental block, torching an outmoded fear, and demolishing an unnecessary inhibition or taboo. To supercharge your practical power, intensify your imagination’s audacity.
CAPRICORN: Dec. 22 – Jan. 19
The name of my column is “Free Will Astrology” because I aspire to nurture, inspire, and liberate your free will. A key component in that effort is to help you build your skills as a critical thinker. That’s why I encourage you to question everything I tell you. Don’t just assume that my counsel is always right and true for you. Likewise, I hope you are discerning in your dealings with all teachers, experts, and leaders, especially in the coming weeks and months. You are in a phase of your cycle when it’s even more crucial than usual to be a good-natured skeptic who poses exuberant, penetrating questions. To serve your soul’s health, refine your practice of the art of creative rebellion.
AQUARIUS: Jan. 20 – Feb. 18
Be like a beautifully made fountain that people love to visit, Aquarius. Not like a metaphorical geyser or stream or waterfall out in the natural world, but a three-tiered marble fountain. What does that entail? Here are some hints: The water of the fountain cascades upward, but not too high or hard, and then it showers down gently into a pool. Its flow is steady and unflagging. Its sound is mellifluous and relaxing. The endless dance of the bubbles and currents is invigorating and calming, exuberant and rejuvenating. Be like a fountain.
PISCES: Feb.19 – March 20
Around this time of year, persimmon trees in my neighborhood have shed their leaves but are teeming with dazzling orange fruits. Pomegranate trees are similar. Their leaves have fallen off, but their red fruits are ready to eat. I love how these rebels offer their sweet, ripe gifts as our winter season approaches. They remind me of the current state of your destiny, Pisces. Your gorgeous fertility is waxing. The blessings you have to offer are at a peak. I invite you to be extra generous as you share your gifts with those who are worthy of them — and maybe even a few who aren’t entirely worthy.
Homework: What can you make or do in 2025 that you have never made or done before? Start dreaming.
ADULT
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JAMES NOELLERT
