NEWS & VIEWS
Feedback
We received quite a few comments in response to our stories on the closing of the House of Pure Vin and the raid on Dr. Bob’s Psychedelic Healing Shack.
House of Pure Vin set to close Dec. 27
“Pure Vin was holding that block down. Most of that around came about much later. Businesses should get grandfather deals when they’ve been in a location originally.”
—Thejewelrybistro, Instagram
“Another small business gone due to Dan Gilbert’s price gouging. How depressing.”
—Whitneylro, Instagram
Pro-mushroom church leader sues Detroit’s top lawyer, citing religious freedom, defamation
“The shack is a beautiful improvement to that neighborhood. Dr. Bob is harmless. Leave him alone.”
—Janet Marie Dimeck-Eggen, Facebook
“Nobody wants this shit in the neighborhood or you and your crackheads, Bob.”
—Ridan Tella, Facebook
“Imagine being a predator so victimized that you hide behind the good message of psychedelic nature.”
—coolwatergreensky, Instagram
Sound off: letters@metrotimes.com
NEWS & VIEWS
Michigan appellate court smacks down right-wing fraudsters Burkman, Wohl
The Michigan Court of Appeals has upheld criminal charges against two right-wing operatives accused of orchestrating a voter suppression robocall campaign targeting Black voters in Detroit during the 2020 election.
The court affirmed a lower court’s decision to deny Jack Burkman and Jacob Wohl’s motion to quash the charges on Friday, finding sufficient evidence that their robocall was intentionally false, related to voting procedures, and designed to deter voter participation.
“Voter intimidation infringes upon the fundamental right to vote,” Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel said in a statement. “I am grateful the Court of Appeals saw this conduct for what it was — a gross misrepresentation of voting procedures meant to scare voters from participating in our elections. We look forward to continuing with the criminal case and bringing this matter to trial.”
Burkman and Wohl, notorious for their history of right-wing misinformation campaigns, were charged in October 2020 for allegedly orchestrating robocalls aimed at dissuading Detroit residents from voting by mail. The calls falsely claimed that voting by mail would allow personal information to be used by police to track individuals with outstanding warrants, by credit card companies to collect debts, and by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to enforce mandatory vaccinations.
The calls, sent to nearly 12,000 residents in Detroit with a 313 area code, named Burkman and Wohl as the creators of the message and closed with a warning: “Don’t be finessed into giving your private information to the man. Stay safe and beware of vote by mail.”
The Michigan Supreme Court had previously ruled that the state’s voter intimidation law applies to intentionally false speech about
voting requirements or procedures if it is made with the intent to deter or influence voters. On remand, the Court of Appeals determined that the evidence presented during the preliminary examination satisfied these criteria, upholding the charges.
“There can be no reasonable dispute that voting by mail is a voting procedure,” Judge Anica Letica, writing for the majority, concluded. “That is, voting by mail is ‘a particular way of accomplishing’ voting, which fits the definition of ‘procedure.’ The robocall was related to the procedure because it alleged that, if a voter used the voting procedure identified, certain negative events ‘will’ occur. Those events involved a creation of a database that ‘will be’ accessed by police and credit card companies to track down warrants and debts.”
Burkman, 57, of Arlington, Va., and Wohl, 25, of Los Angeles, Calif.,
face multiple felony charges, each of which carry a maximum penalty of five to seven years in prison. The charges include one count of election law – bribing or intimidating voters, one count of conspiracy to commit an election law violation, one count of using a computer to intimidate voters, and one count of using a computer to commit conspiracy.
This is not the first legal trouble for the duo. Earlier this year, they agreed to pay up to $1.25 million to settle a civil lawsuit brought by New York Attorney General Letitia James and the National Coalition on Black Civic Participation. That case also involved allegations of voter suppression through similar robocalls targeting Black voters in Michigan, New York, and Ohio.
The criminal case against Burkman and Wohl is expected to proceed to trial.
—Steve Neavling
Jacob Wohl and Jack Burkman were arraigned in 36th District Court in Detroit in October 2020.
36TH DISTRICT COURT
Spread the holiday cheer with Pleasantrees’ curated cannabis boxes
Michigan cannabis powerhouse Pleasantrees is lighting up the holiday season with five festive gift boxes packed with a variety of marijuana products.
“Enjoy More Highliday Boxes” are a creative twist on gift-giving and are designed to elevate the season with terpene-driven effects.
Whether you’re gifting a friend, family member, or treating yourself, these curated bundles aim to bring joy, relaxation, inspiration, restoration, or cozy vibes, depending on the theme of the box.
Each Highliday Box features Pleasantrees’ cannabis products, selected for their terpene profiles to provide specific effects, from energy-boosting citrus strains to soothing, sleep-inducing indicas.
The boxes feature 3.5 grams of flower, a one-gram preroll, a 0.5-gram live
Michigan disciplines 30 cannabis businesses for alleged violations in November
State regulators took disciplinary actions against 30 cannabis businesses in November, the Michigan Cannabis Regulatory Agency announced Thursday.
The complaints ranged from selling recalled products to failing to divulge the THC content on prerolls.
Eight of the businesses operate in Detroit and were fined a total of $38,000. No other metro Detroit businesses were cited.
Actions were taken against these Detroit business:
Empire Brands, a cultivator in Detroit, was fined $9,000 for allegedly failing to attach statewide monitoring tags to 141 clones.
Green Genie, a Detroit dispensary, was fined $500 for allegedly failing to include THC and CBD information on a pack of prerolls.
Muha Meds, a Detroit dispensary, was
hash rosin cartridge, a 0.5-gram live has rosin disposable, and a 30mg Pleasantea (available in lemon, raspberry, or peach).
The gifts are curated by effect, with each offering a unique experience and terpene profile. They are:
Snow Days: Perfect for a bright and celebratory mood, this box highlights limonene, a terpene known for its citrusy aroma and uplifting effects.
Snow Birds: Designed for those escaping to warmer climates — or wishing they were — this tropical-inspired box features humulene, bringing out earthy and woody vibes.
MistleStoned: With a focus on linalool, this romantic box leans into floral, calming effects. It pairs perfectly with cozy nights shared with someone special.
Fresh Baked: Inspired by Grandma’s holiday cookies, this box is rich in
caryophyllene, a terpene known for its spicy and sweet undertones and wellregarded for promoting relaxation and easing stress.
Long Winter’s Night: Unwind after holiday chaos with myrcene, a terpene known for its sedative and dreamy
effects. This box is built around the Strawberry Candy strain, ideal for relaxing into a winter wonderland slumber.
The boxes can be purchased at any Pleasantrees dispensary.
—Steve Neavling
The Michigan Cannabis Regulatory Agency has stepped up compliance enforcement
fined $13,000 for allegedly making unauthorized home deliveries, having surveillance cameras that included obstructed views of products, and failure to have the required information about poison control and dangers of adolescent use.
Nuggets Detroit, a dispensary, was fined $9,500, for allegedly selling a recalled cannabis-infused beverage.
The House of Mary Jane, a Detroit
dispensary, was fined $5,000 for allegedly failing to use a general ledger system in its annual financial statements.
Utopia Extracts, a Detroit cultivator, was fined $333.33 for allegedly failing to file its annual financial statements on time.
Utopia Gardens, a Detroit cultivator, was fined $333.33 for failing to file its annual financial statements on time.
Utopia Farms, a Detroit cultivator, was fined $333.34 for failing to file its annual financial statements on time.
The Michigan Cannabis Regulatory Agency has increased its compliance enforcement since September 2022, when Gov. Gretchen Whitmer appointed Brian Hanna, a former cop, to lead the department.
—Steve Neavling
Pleasantrees is offering five festive gift boxes for the holidays. PLEASANTREES
Account Manager - Power Liftgate Systems and Door Drives Customer Team, Brose North America, Auburn Hills, MI. Act as point of contact, w/ daily commn., for sales contracts, product prices, & technical product, prototype, & tooling costing negotiations w/ U.S.-based OEM vehicle maker Buyers/teams, for pwr liftgate syss & door drives assembled in U.S./global plants, for psngr/commercial vehicles. Define final door access syss product price based on eval of overhead & production costs to build products incl. cmpts, logistics, production (assy line eqpt layout & production cycle time; direct labor, steps for lines, labor cost, raw matls). Prepare Cost Breakdown (CBD) for OEM Buyers of quoted pwr liftgate sys & door drive parts to explain technical intricacies & costs associated w/ Direct Material Costs (DMC), assy processes, burden costs, machine cycle time (tm), labor cycle time (te), labor hrly rates w/ fringe benefits, no. of operators/line, line costs, interest applied, amortization calculations (project efforts, fixtures), Selling, General & Administrative (SG& A) expense, logistics, Engrg Design & Testing (ED& T), & profit. Bachelor, Mechanical, Industrial, Electrical, Mechatronics Engrg, or related. 24 mos exp as Engr, Acct Mgr, Deputy Mgr, Asst Mgr, or related, preparing CBD for OEM Buyers of quoted automotive parts to explain costs associated w/ DMC, assy processes, tm & te, amortization calculations, SG& A expense, logistics, & ED& T, or related. E-mail resume to Jobs@brose.com (Ref#569).
Temple Bar survives collapse, set to reopen in Cass Corridor
The Temple Bar, a steadfast relic of the old Cass Corridor, refuses to fade away.
After a portion of the building collapsed on May 24, forcing the iconic watering hole to close, the Temple Bar was scheduled to reopen Tuesday, Dec. 17, as this issue was going to print.
The nearly 100-year-old bar passed its final state inspection Friday, and as of press time Tuesday, owner George Boukas was expecting regulators to release its liquor license from escrow.
Reopening was no easy task. Because the bar resides in the Cass Park Historic District, Boukas was required to rebuild using the same original material –heavy limestone from the 1920s.
“They wanted everything to be replicated, not only in the exact form, but the exact materials,” Boukas tells Metro Times. “Limestone had to be quarried and cut to specification.”
To help save the bar, Boukas raised more than $23,200 in a GoFundMe campaign.
The cause of the collapse isn’t entirely certain. A structural engineer determined that the collapse was not caused by the structure of the building. Boukas had worried that a 20-year-old sinkhole in front of the building played a role.
The structural engineer’s “unofficial determination” is that “because of all of the construction in the corridor, the vibrations from all the trucks just started the separation,” Boukas says.
The Temple Bar is just a block north of the Red Wings arena and its abundance of parking lots.
Boukas says he’s deeply moved by the outpouring of support following the collapse.
“My heart was trembling,” Boukas says. “The love that was given not only to myself but to my staff has been totally amazing.”
Boukas is also grateful that the collapse occurred early in the day when the bar was not crowded. Later that day, the Temple Bar was hosting a party with DJs to celebrate Movement Music Festival, a world-renowned celebration of electronic music and Detroit’s techno roots.
“It could have been catastrophic,” Boukas says. “I was cringing for a week thinking my friends could have died. It could have been a lot worse.”
Boukas’s father opened the Temple Bar in 1927. It has become a cultural institution that has served as a gathering place for artists, musicians, and creatives, reflecting the Cass Corridor’s identity as a hub for Detroit’s bohemian and alternative culture. Its longstanding presence has made it a cornerstone of the neighborhood’s nightlife and artistic expression.
The Temple Bar was often featured in the comedy TV series Detroiters
It’s also one of the last businesses to survive the gentrification of the Cass Corridor because Boukas has refused to sell to deep-pocket developers.
The iconic Temple Bar in Detroit’s Cass Corridor is set to reopen this week after collapsing in May. STEVE NEAVLING
General Motors and Dan Gilbert want up to $350 million from the public, or they’ll bulldoze the whole goddamn Ren Cen
By Bill Shea
It’s hard not to be cynical about this shit.
Yet again, obscenely wealthy corporations and billionaires are banging their little tin cups on the pavement, seeking handouts. And if they don’t get them, well, the public might just get fucked.
This time, it’s General Motors and real estate/mortgage tycoon Dan Gilbert partnering to ask for up to $350 million from the public for a $1.6 billion plan to raze and redevelop part of the Renaissance Center after the automaker relocates up Woodward Avenue to Gilbert’s new Detroit Hudson’s skyscraper.
And if they don’t get it, they just might take the wrecking ball to the whole fucking thing, ruining the heart of Detroit’s beloved skyline. That’s morally repugnant petulance
on a grandiose scale.
Traditionally, the most egregious examples of such wanton behavior have come from professional sports team owners who want the public to finance some or all of the construction of lavish new ballparks and arenas — dazzling cathedrals that can justify pricier tickets and trinkets — and if they don’t get taxpayer help then they might threaten to relocate their team to a city elsewhere that will give them whatever they want. And that has happened. Ask Cleveland Browns fans. And Oakland Raiders and Athletics fans. And St. Louis Rams fans. Etc., etc., etc.
The team owners make noise about the franchises being “community assets,” which, of course, is horseshit. They’re all as wealthy as cartoon sultans and keep the fresh profits
generated by the new venues that are packed with luxury suites and palatial members-only clubs that are priced far beyond the reach of typical fans. And their new palaces are often rigged to be off the property-tax rolls or they’re granted long-term exemptions that starve the local community of badly needed funding.
In return, the community is typically promised new jobs and payroll taxes. The jobs are temporary construction gigs, and the permanent roles are mostly janitorial, maintenance, and event-related, such as tickets and concessions, which are of genuine value to people that need them but certainly not at the enormous public expense demanded by the oligarchs.
Then the oligarchs fail to meet their promises. Oopsie! Maybe next
time. Or the time after that. Just keep the subsidies flowing.
Outside of our beloved gladiatorial bloodsports, we see the traditional business community use the same lofty civic pride rhetoric, job promises, and vague or overt threats, too. Gilbert’s Bedrock real-estate arm that built the Hudson’s Detroit building isn’t even expected to meet its subsidies-for-jobs promise — GM is merely moving up the street to it — and the Ren Cen plan is to raze two towers while making the others renovated office space and luxury residences. Jesus H. Christ, people. All they want is $250 million from the state, and maybe $100 million from the city.
It’s not like these entities are paupers. GM, which to its credit is promising to donate any of its future
On the waterfront: If Dan Gilbert and General Motors don’t get their way, argues columnist Bill Shea, they could demolish the heart of the city’s skyline. BOBNOAH / SHUTTERSTOCK
profits from the Ren Cen project to education nonprofits (for a succulent tax write-off, no doubt), finished last year with net income of $10.1 billion on $171.8 billion in revenue. That’s a shitload of Silverados and Sierras, and triple the annual GDP of the country of Belize.
Dan Gilbert, meanwhile, is estimated by Forbes to be worth almost $24 billion, meaning he and his business empire have easy access to astronomical sums of cheap cash. He’s the 85th richest of Earth’s 8.2 billion humans.
In 1996, GM paid $73 million for the Brutalist-style Renaissance Center that originally cost $350 million to build between 1973 and 1981. The automaker spent another $500 million to significantly renovate and expand it. Now it’s keen to shed an albatross of a building constructed as a literal
fortress for the Lords of Industry to safely print cash in post-1967 rebellion Detroit.
All that steel and concrete couldn’t protect the executive class from a pandemic’s ripple effects – remote work that turned Class-A corporate monuments to unrestrained, unrepentant capitalism into mausoleums.
State lawmakers today are making skeptical noises about handing over yet another check to these extremely wealthy entities, so there’s a charm offensive underway.
Here’s what David Massaron, GM’s vice president of infrastructure and corporate citizenship, told Crain’s Detroit Business last week: “At the end of the day, the pursuit of this option isn’t about GM making money. It’s about GM finding a way to responsibly and effectively situate the RenCen complex and the land for the future.”
Massaron also said this to Crain’s: “I don’t think it should be seen as do this (approve public subsidies) or the building comes down.”
Then why even mention it? Don’t bullshit us. The looming threat is part of the deal. The public and its elected leaders must be punished if they don’t obey the nobility.
In the same interview, longtime Detroit real-estate consigliere Matt Cullen also portrays the Ren Cen project as an example of Gilbert’s beneficence, saying they’re not going to make heaps of profit off of it and that it’s more of an “altruistic” endeavor.
“Will there be some money coming out of it? I mean, maybe. I hope so. But it won’t be anything commensurate with the scale of the investment, the risk of the investment and the time that’s going to take them to get
any return at all,” he told Crain’s
So Dan Gilbert is just a chill guy doing cool stuff because he loves Detroit so much. He’s proven his affinity for the city and certainly made risky investment gambles in Detroit when it was in shambles, but he’s no fool. He’s seeking more handouts because he keeps getting them. Nothing suggests that after a little performative political sturm und drang, he won’t get more. It’s how the game is played in our corrupt society.
If they don’t get to win the game, they’re going to demolish the heart of the city’s skyline. As a last resort, they assure us. But holy shit, what a dismal game this is for the rest of us.
The wealthy typically donate and vote Republican, loudly extol freemarket economics, and lambast entitlement spending as EVIL WOKE COMMIE SOCIALISM while shamelessly demanding space to feed at the public trough despite zero need. These Hayek-Friedman acolytes of the sacred and righteous free market are adamant about taxpayers socializing the risks of their extravagant schemes in that very same free market. Feeling bad about such greasy hypocrisy is for suckers, apparently. Oh, and remember when GM got a $50 billion bailout that soaked taxpayers? I do.
We have an incoming Trump administration that both General Motors and Gilbert have cozied up to over the years, even as Trump has promised his own repugnant brand of vengeance fascism, curtailing civil rights, and destroying vital safety nets like veterans care, Social Security, and Medicare. This serialbankrupt oaf is mindlessly businessfriendly (and lazy, so he’s outsourcing the dirty work to vicious dickheads like Elon Musk), which has corporate America and many of its courtier media toadies already preemptively genuflecting and kissing Trump’s gold-plated, cubic zirconia ass.
What all this suggests is an America that’s a sleazy hothouse for the ruling class to more easily divert tax money to itself and away from helping the poor, sick, elderly, veterans, etc. It’s like we looked at Weimar Germany and decided that’s a great template to emulate, but in much dumber ways. Like embracing ruinous tariffs and rejecting life-saving vaccines.
Unlike the gloriously decadent and ill-fated Weimar Republic, today we have history to (allegedly) learn from, and experts to warn us about bad policy.
Those whose job it is to suss out the genuine economic benefits and
costs of corporate subsidies have said for decades that their research — the independent kind, not the sort paid for by moguls and industrialists seeking handouts — proves that using taxpayer dollars for these sprawling private projects is poor public policy. Sports and business both use similar tactics to get their handouts because they work. The experts, naturally, get ignored.
“I’m not sure which came first, sports or business, but they are definitely using the same playbook,” says J.C. Bradbury, who has researched and written about subsidies as a professor of economics at Kennesaw State University.
“I believe sports have an advantage at getting subsidies, because they are generally viewed more positively than businesses, but businesses get more of the perks by far because there are so many more incentives handed out to industry.
“There is some sort of confusion about businesses needing a leg up from government, but that’s not really the case,” Bradbury adds. “The expected ROI on these deals is negative, but executives have learned that if they ask, they will normally receive. It helps that the people approving the deal are normally part of the economic development industrial complex that believes incentives are an important tool for promoting local growth, even though that is not the case.”
Detroit has long been a poster child for the subsidy game. It has used a complex system of overlapping downtown tax-capture districts since the 1980s to help finance private projects such as the Millender Center, Riverfront Towers, One Detroit Center, and 150 West Jefferson. More recently, Little Caesars Arena and the Ilitch family’s grandly promised/glacially delivered District Detroit mixed-use project has benefited from enormous sums of public financing from the city, county, and state. And the state’s Transformational Brownfield incentives are a gargantuan tax giveaway to the wealthy, even if they’re slow to deliver the promised buildings. More such handouts are coming.
The public has largely come to accept that the rich and powerful get whatever the fuck they want. Look at Ford’s Michigan Central Station renovation in Corktown. It’s great that the automaker brought that unfortunate eyesore back to life, after the infamous Moroun family left it to decay for decades.
But did Ford really need an incentive? The state gave Ford a 30-year tax abatement in 2018 to offset its renovation of the derelict train sta-
tion, saving it almost $7 million a year in taxes.
It’s wonderful that the train station is revitalized, and hopefully it fuels more progress around it. There’s real value in feel-good civic pride stories and shedding ugly symbols of the past. But it’s also easy to wonder what an oxidized Rust Belt city could do with $207 million over three decades in places other than the central business district and high-profile corporate projects, no? But we’ll never know because the car company that took in $4.3 billion in profit last year on $176 billion in revenue is getting a discount on its taxes.
For those curious about the math, $6.9 million is 0.003 percent of $176 billion.
One can reasonably argue that the role of government is to grease the rails for the private sector to create a thriving economy, and there’s truth to that. We all need streets, water and sewer service and utilities, cops and firetrucks and ambulances, schools producing an educated workforce, trash service, libraries, and public recreation spaces. Taxes are the price of civilization. And it’s nice to have a safe, thriving downtown. Not every business in the city is a billionaire’s enterprise. The little businesses can benefit from basic government infrastructure spending, too, even if the system is gamed for the wealthiest.
Are all those aforementioned public services in good working order in Detroit while the business community gets welfare checks and tax discounts? Services are better than they were, certainly, and private investment has helped, but good lord they were monstrously shitty for all the reasons we well know, and they still need help. So should we have been handing over or forgoing so much tax money to the unelected, unaccountable private sector?
Were they not going to do anything in the city without taxpayer subsidies? Must they be bribed? That doesn’t seem like genuine altruism. These are the opportunity cost questions that will never be answered.
It’s thorny because of Detroit’s unique post-industrial and racial history. Businesses absolutely have invested huge sums of their own in the city for profit-minded and altruistic reasons, but it sets my teeth on edge when they expect endless subsidies in return, and my skin crawls at the notion of the ruling class continually coming back to demand more and then hint ugly threats if they don’t get what they desire.
I told you it’s easy to get cynical about this shit.
VISIT HAMTRAMCK THIS HOLIDAY SEASON!
EATS
6 Balkan House 3028 Caniff
7 Hello Shawarma Restaurant 3124 Caniff
8 Delite Cafe & Deli 3135 Caniff
9 Royal Kabob 3236 Caniff
10 Dose of Sugar Cafe 3630 Caniff
17 New Medina 11917 Conant
18 Aladdin Sweets & Cafe 11945 Conant
60 California Burgerz 12045 Conant
23 Cafe 1923 2287 Holbrook
25 Kitab Cafe & Bookstore 2727 Holbrook
27 Boostan Restaurant 3470 Holbrook
31 Yeman Cafe 8740 Jos Campau
36 Srodek’s 9601 Jos Campau
43 Amiccis Pizza 9841 Jos Campau
47 Oloman Cafe + Gallery 10215 Jos Campau
49 Dos Locos Tacos 10337 Jos Campau
50 Fat Salmon Sushi 11411 Jos Campau
51 Remas Restaurant 11444 Jos Campau
53 Maine Street Restaurant 11650 Jos Campau
58 Polonia Restaurant 2934 Yemans
59 Polish Village Cafe 2990 Yemans
BARS
2 Ghost Light 2314 Caniff
5 Sanctuary Detroit 2932 Caniff
11 Outer Limits 5507 Caniff
12 Trixie’s Bar 2656 Carpenter
14 Club Coyotes 9711 Conant
15 White Star Night Club 9819 Conant
16 Small’s 10339 Conant
19 Polish Sea League 2601 Edwin
20 Suzy’s Bar 2942 Evaline
21 Black Salt 2764 Florian
24 Kelly’s Bar 2403 Holbrook
26 Bumbo’s 3001 Holbrook
28 Painted Lady 2930 Jacob
30 HenriettaHaus 8609 Jos Campau
32 New Dodge Lounge 8850 Jos Campau
33 Port Bar 9420 Jos Campau
42 Baker Street 9817 Jos Campau
52 High Dive 11474 Jos Campau
55 PLAV Post & 6 9545 Mcdougall
56 Polka Dot Bar 2363 Yemans
57 Whiskey In The Jar 2741 Yemans
DISPENSARIES 1 Quality Roots 2024 Caniff 22 Pleasantrees 2238 Holbrook 54 Puff Cannabis 11941 Jos Campau VENUES 3 Planet Ant 2320 Caniff
The Independent Comedy Club 2320 Caniff 13 Fowling Warehouse 3901 Christopher Street
GALLERIES 34 Polish Art Center 9539 Jos Campau
61 Atomic Cafe 10326 Joseph Campau
64 Ukrainian American Archives and Museum 9630 Joseph Campau
SHOPPING 29 Campau Clothing 9643 Jos Campau 35 Tekla Vintage 9600 Jos Campau 37 Shooz Club 9629 Jos Campau 38 Aladdin Jewelry 9701 Jos Campau 39 Showtime Clothing 9704 Jos Campau 40 Alameer Furniture 9708 Jos Campau 41 V.I.P. Clothing 9734 Jos Campau 44 G Mart Clothing 10012 Jos Campau 45 Lo & Behold! 10022 Jos Campau 46 Rat Queen Vintage 10031 Jos Campau
48 Detroit Threads 10238 Jos Campau
62 Record Graveyard 2610 Carpenter Ave
63 Book Suey 10345 Joseph Campau Ave
65 Gold & Glitter Jewelry 10000 Joseph Campau
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 18
Live/Concert
Magic Bag Presents: Squirrel Nut Zippers Christmas Caravan 7 pm; Magic Bag, 22920 Woodward Ave., Ferndale;
Matt Lorusso Trio & Special Guests 8-11 pm; Northern Lights Lounge, 660 W. Baltimore St., Detroit; no cover.
Rocky Mountain High Experience: A John Denver Christmas 8 pm; The Music Hall, 350 Madison Ave., Detroit; $58-$68.
The Blood Brothers – U.S. Tour 2024 7 pm; Magic Stick, 4120 Woodward Ave., Detroit; $36-$70.50.
TIKI NIGHT w/ Dead Isla, DJ Peter Croce + DJ Cuvée 8 pm; Bowlero Lanes & Lounge, 4209 Coolidge Hwy., Royal Oak; 0. Karaoke/Open Mic
Continuing This Week Karaoke/ Open Mic
Offbeat KARAOKE with Robby Rob 9 pm; Third Street Detroit, 4626 Third St., Detroit;
Thursday Dec 19
Live/Concert
Bert’s Music Cafe & The Preservation of Jazz ft 2nd Thursdays, ft. The Jerome Clark Trio 6-10 pm; Bert’s Music Cafe, 2458 Brush St., Detroit, MI; $15.00.
Dueling Pianos: An Interactive Entertainment Experience 8 pmmidnight; AXIS Lounge, 1777 3rd St., Detroit;
Engrave 6:30 pm; The Shelter, 431 E. Congress St., Detroit; $17.
Frankie Scinta 8 pm; Andiamo Celebrity Showroom, 7096 E. 14 Mile Rd., Warren; $35-$60.
Ladies Night Music Series ft. Sky Covington at The Blue LLama 6-10:30 pm; The Blue LLama Jazz Club, 314 S. Main St., Ann Arbor; $20 (prepay).
Samara Joy 7:30 pm; Fisher Theatre - Detroit, 3011 West Grand & Fisher, Detroit;
Sky Covington ft. November
Fourth performs Jazz on Ladies Night at Blue LLama 7-10 am; The Blue LLama Jazz Club, 314 S. Main St., Ann Arbor; 50.00 - 100.00.
Swifties Holiday Party 7 pm; The Bull & Barrel Urban Saloon, 670 Ouellette Avenue, Windsor; $9.96-$49.40.
TB & The Detroit Holiday Rockestra with Soul Hustler Benefitting Gleaners Community Food Bank 7 pm; Magic Bag, 22920 Woodward Ave., Ferndale; $20-$40.
Karaoke/Open Mic
Opening
THE LOCAL VARIETY SHOW 7-10 pm; Syndicate Ferndale, 140 Vester Ave., Ferndale; $25-$30.
Continuing This Week Karaoke/ Open Mic
DARE-U-OKE 9 pm-midnight; Northern Lights Lounge, 660 W. Baltimore St., Detroit; no cover.
Drag Queen Karaoke 8 pm-2 am; Woodward Avenue Brewers, 22646 Woodward Ave., Ferndale; no cover.
Friday Dec 20
Live/Concert
A Magical Motown Christmas 7:30 pm; The Music Hall, 350 Madison Ave., Detroit; $29-$74.
Candlelight: Featuring Vivaldi’s Four Seasons & More 6:30-7:45 pm; First Presbyterian Church of Ann Arbor, 1432 Washtenaw Ave, Ann Arbor; $26.00.
Candlelight: Holiday Special Featuring “The Nutcracker” & More 8:45-10 pm; First Presbyterian Church of Ann Arbor, 1432 Washtenaw Ave, Ann Arbor; $26.00.
Every Avenue with Boys of Fall 6:30 pm; Pike Room, 1 S. Saginaw, Pontiac; $20.
A Night of Christmas Music Featuring Krissie Reardon and Abi Tipton 6-11 pm; Cpl. Walter F. Bruce VFW Post 1146, 28404 Jefferson Ave, Saint Clair Shores; 0.
PT’s Revenge, Suburban Delinquents, Norcos Y Horchata, Slopoke 7 pm; Sanctuary Detroit, 2932 Caniff St., Hamtramck; $13.
The Reefermen LIVE + DJ Nitroh 9 pm; Bowlero Lanes & Lounge, 4209 Coolidge Hwy., Royal Oak; 0. Studiotone 25-year All-Ages Show with All Over The Shop and Woolly! 7 pm-midnight; Small’s,
22 December 18-24, 2024 | metrotimes.com
10339 Conant St., Hamtramck; $10.
The Best of BILLY JOEL & ELTON
JOHN Tribute 8 pm; The Token Lounge, 28949 Joy Rd., Westland; $20$120.
The Gabriel Brass Band 8 pm; The Shelter, 431 E. Congress St., Detroit; $15.
The Louie Lee Show 9 pm; Diamondback Music Hall, 49345 S. Interstate 94 Service Dr., Belleville; $20-$60.
The Polish Muslims 7 pm; The Loving Touch, 22634 Woodward Ave., Ferndale; $15.
The S’Aints 8 pm; Caesars Palace Windsor - Augustus Ballroom, 377 E. Riverside Dr., Windsor; $30.
DJ/Dance
Detroit & A2 Ecstatic Dance at Detroit Yoga Lab 7:30-10:30 pm; Detroit Yoga Lab, 69 W Forest Ave, Detroit; $25-40 ($5 discount for cash).
Disco Lines - Disco Boy Tour 8 pm; Magic Stick, 4120 Woodward Ave., Detroit; $25-$65.
TieDye Ky + Potions 8 pm; Tangent Gallery & Hastings Street Ballroom, 715 E. Milwaukee Ave., Detroit; $ 30.
Saturday Dec 21
Live/Concert
CAPTAIN FANTASTIC - The Tribute to Elton John & 52nd STREET
- The Music of Billy Joel 7 pm; District 142, 142 Maple St., Wyandotte; $18-$28.
Finvarra’s Wren Winter Solstice Concert 7:30 pm; MAMA’s Coffeehouse at the Birmingham Unitarian Church, 38651 Woodward Ave., Bloomfield Hills; Admission $17 ($15 student/ senior) Cash or check at door only.
Ho Ho Hot Mulligan 2 pm; Russell Industrial Complex-Exhibition Center, 1600 Clay St., Detroit; $49.99.
Holiday Pops 7-9 pm; The Whiting, 1241 E. Kearsley St., Flint; Tickets start at $18; Genesee County Residents save 30%.
Magic Bag Presents: The Insiders - A Tribute to Tom Petty 7 pm; Magic Bag, 22920 Woodward Ave., Ferndale; Ogemaw County, Flood The Desert, Blood Rune Sigil, Loss of Life, HAG 7 pm; Sanctuary Detroit, 2932 Caniff St., Hamtramck; $15.
The Gasoline Gypsies, Leilani Kilgore, Billy Gunther & The Midwest Riders 7:45 pm; The Token Lounge, 28949 Joy Rd., Westland; $20-
$180.
DJ/Dance
Imanu + Moody Good 8 pm; Pike Room, 1 S. Saginaw, Pontiac; $20.
Moonlit Night: Winter Solstice Masquerade 7-10 pm; New Baltimore Trade Center, 35248 23 Mile Road, New Baltimore; $25.
Sunday Dec 22
Live/Concert
A Motown Christmas Starring the Motortown All-Stars 7 & 8 pm; Diamondback Music Hall, 49345 S. Interstate 94 Service Dr., Belleville; $40-$450.
Detroit Big Band Express: Seventeen Piece Holiday Show 3-5 pm; Saint John’s Resort, 44045 Five Mile Rd., Plymouth; $20-$125.
Kickstand Productions Presents: Greet Death with Prize Horse 7 pm; Magic Bag, 22920 Woodward Ave., Ferndale; $17.
Nick Cannon Presents: MTV Wild ‘N Out Live 8 pm; Little Caesars Arena, 2645 Woodward Ave., Detroit; $30-$225.
Phil Ogilvie’s Rhythm Kings 5-8 pm; Zal Gaz Grotto Club, 2070 W. Stadium Blvd., Ann Arbor; no cover (tip jar for the band).
Planet D Nonet 4 pm; Cadieux Café, 4300 Cadieux Rd., Detroit; $10.
Monday Dec 23
Live/Concert
Out of the Mouth of Babes:A Tribute to the Youth That Love Jazz 7-10 pm; Aretha’s Jazz Cafe, 350 Madison St., Detroit; 25.00.
The Preservation of Jazz Monday Night Music Series Presents “Tribute to Prince starring ft. The M.U.T.H.A.F.U.N.K.A.’s 7-10 pm; Aretha’s Jazz Cafe, 350 Madison St., Detroit; 35.00.
The Preservation of Jazz Monday Night Music Series Presents: A Tribute to Reggae Music Featuring Roots Vibrations 7-10 pm; Aretha’s Jazz Cafe, 350 Madison St., Detroit; 35.00.
DJ/Dance
Adult Skate Night 8:30-11 pm; Lexus Velodrome, 601 Mack Ave., Detroit; $5.
Tuesday Dec 24
Live/Concert
Global Sunsets, Blackman & Arnold Trio 7-10 pm; Northern Lights Lounge, 660 W. Baltimore St., Detroit; no cover.
DJ/Dance
B.Y.O.R Bring Your Own Records Night 9 pm-midnight; The Old Miami, 3930 Cass Ave., Detroit; no cover. Sky Covington’s “The Preservation of Jazz” Returns to WJZZ Detroit Radio with a New Day and Time! 2-5 pm; WJZZ Radio Station, 2187 W. Grand Blvd, Detroit, MI; Donation.
Karaoke/Open Mic
Continuing This Week Karaoke/ Open Mic
Open Mic : Art in a Fly Space 7-10 pm; Detroit Shipping Company, 474 Peterboro St., Detroit; no cover.
THEATER
Performance
Diamondback Music Hall A Motown Christmas Starring the Motortown All-Stars $20-$200 Saturday 7 pm.; Get ready for an unforgettable night as the magic of Motown meets holiday cheer! Join us on December 22nd for an evening of Motown’s greatest hits and timeless holiday favorites performed live by the legendary Motortown All-Stars and a full orchestra. Event Highlights: • Doors Open at 6 PM • The Motortown All-Stars — A powerhouse lineup featuring members from iconic Motown groups like The Contours, The Miracles, and former members of The Temptations. Their performances capture the soul and style of Motown with every note! 40 Sunday 6 pm-midnight.
Meadow Brook Theatre A Christmas Carol $50 Wednesday 7 pm, Thursday 7 pm, Friday 8 pm, Saturday 2 & 6:30 pm and Sunday 2 & 6:30 pm.
The Music Hall Holiday Detroit Thursday 7:30 pm.
Planet Ant Theatre The Christmas Collection: A Planet Ant Original Sketch Comedy Show The Planet Ant Home Team is back with a brand new holiday-themed sketch comedy show. Once the beating heart of Suburban City Township, Plaza Place Mall is going out of business but not before hosting its final Christmas Collection celebration. There’s no shortage of shenanigans when it comes to the staff, performers and shoppers of all generations. Find everything on your last minute list and more in The Christmas Collection, an all-new sketch show coming to Ant Hall December 5th-21st. $30 online / $35 at the door Fridays, Saturdays, 8-10 pm.
Royal Oak Music Theatre Luann de Lesseps Friday 7 pm.
They Say The Murder Mystery Co’s Dinner Theater Show Prepare to unravel the secrets of a thrilling murder mystery, where every twist and turn leads you closer to uncovering the truth.
The Independent Comedy Club at Planet Ant
The Sh*t Show Open Mic: Every Friday & Saturday at The Independent A weekly open mic featuring both local amateurs and touring professionals. Doors open at 8:30 p.m. and the show begins at 9 pm.. The evening always ends with karaoke in the attached Ghost Light Bar! Doors and Sign up 8:30 p.m. Show at 9 p.m. $5 suggested donation. Attached bar Ghost Light opens at 7 p.m. $5 Suggested Donation Thursdays, 9-10:30 pm.; A late night, heckle encouraged, show up, go up stand-up open mic featuring both local amateurs and touring professionals. Sign up starts at 10:30 and the show begins at 11p. Doors and Sign Up 10:30p | Show at 11p | $5 Suggested Donation* Attached bar Ghost Light opens at 7p The independent Comedy Club is a comedy club run by comics for comics inside Planet Ant Theatre. The club runs Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays, offering independently produced comedy shows from 8p-12a. Presented by Planet Ant *Planet Ant Theatre, Inc. is a 501c3 nonprofit organization; no ticket or reservation is required $5 Suggested Donation Fridays, Saturdays, 11 pm-1:30 am.
Put your sleuthing skills to the test as you examine clues and mingle with suspects, all while enjoying a delectable three-course meal. But beware! You might find yourself a suspect in this gripping tale. Secure your tickets now for an evening you won’t soon forget! $59 Friday 7-9:30 pm.
Tipping Point Theatre Little
Women This familiar, beloved classic novel by Louisa May Alcott is presented in an entirely new way; a whimsical and adventurous play that’s perfect holiday fare for the whole family. Imagination abounds as four actors in an attic play several roles, yet the voices of Jo, Meg, Beth and Amy remain true and clear. The story unfolds as the sisters experience the Christmas holiday, family
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! Join us for an event that is very different from a traditional mystery dinner show. Our actors are not dressed in costume and are hidden in the audience! This results in a fun, social and interactive evening suitable for all adults. $69.99 Saturdays, 6-9 pm.
Embassy Suites Troy The Dinner Detective Comedy Mystery Dinner Show - Detroit, MI America’s largest interactive comedy murder dinner theatre show is now playing! 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! Join us for an event that is very different from a traditional mystery dinner show. Our actors are not dressed in costume and are hidden in the audience! This results in a fun, social and interactive evening suitable for all adults. Each ticket includes our signature awardwinning mystery dinner theatre show, along $69.99 Saturdays, 6-9 pm.
Go Comedy! Improv Theater
Go Comedy! All-Star Showdown The Allstar Showdown is a highly interactive improvised game show. With suggestions from the audience, our two teams will battle for your laughs. The Showdown is like “Whose Line is it Anyway,” featuring a series of short improv games, challenges and more. Fridays and Saturdays 7:30pm & 9:30pm 25.00 Fridays, Saturdays.
Mark Ridley’s Comedy Castle
hardships, artistry, love and loss. “This stage adaptation is a master class in storytelling” (The News Herald). $25 - $55 Wednesday 2-4 pm, Thursday 7:30-9:30 pm, Friday 7:30-9:30 pm and Saturday 2-4 & 6-8 pm.
Musical
Fisher Theatre - Detroit A Beautiful Noise (Touring) Tuesday 1 pm.
COMEDY
Improv
Ann Arbor Marriott Ypsilanti at Eagle Crest The Dinner Detective Comedy Mystery Dinner Show - Ann Arbor, MI America’s largest interactive comedy murder dinner theatre show is now playing! Solve a hilarious mystery
Brett Hayden’s 7th Anniversary Comedy Rumble 30 COMEDIANS 90 SECONDS EACH 1 WINNER It’s the Comedy Rumble! How it works: 30 comedians do up to 90 seconds each. Sets are scored on a scale of 1-to-5 points by a panel of comedian judges. The 4 highest scoring comedians do up to another 90 seconds each. The highest scoring finalist is declared the winner. $20.00 Sunday 7:30-9 pm.
Stand-up
Mark Ridley’s Comedy Castle
Comedy Rumble 7th Anniversary Show 30 COMEDIANS 90 SECONDS EACH 1 WINNER Comedy Rumble celebrates 7 years with an all-star competition featuring 20+ past winners including comedians featured on Comedy Central, Kill Tony, and more! $20 ONLINE $25 IN-PERSON Sunday 7:30-9 pm. Continuing This Week Stand-up Blind Pig Blind Pig Comedy FREE Mondays, 8 pm.
Critic’s Pick
MUSIC
It was a good day
Ice Cube brings his “Grand Finale” tour to the Fox
By Kahn Santori Davison
’90s hip-hop continues to be the gift that keeps on giving. 2024 has seen hip-hop artists Missy Elliott, Busta Rhymes, Nelly, LL Cool J, and members of the Wu Tang Clan sell out theaters and arenas in Detroit. That energy continued Saturday night as Ice Cube, Scarface, EPMD, and MC Eiht brought their “Grand Finale” tour to Detroit’s Fox Theatre.
“Real fans of the music, and to me if you were able to make it in the ’90s then it was no accident,” Ice Cube told Metro Times by phone last week before the big show at the Fox. “People that were extremely lucky might have a hit song here and there, but the ones with the staying power — I just think they made their mark and made an impression.”
Ice Cube, now 55, has been one of hiphop’s biggest artists and entertainment
moguls. The South Los Angeles native has penned 15 solo and group albums, acted in and produced over 40 movies, and owns the Big3 basketball league.
But despite all these successful endeavors, music remains where his heart is.
“I’m a b-boy at the end of the day. I did hip-hop for fun — I didn’t know I was going to make no money off of it,” he says with a chuckle.
“I love to do records,” he adds “It satisfies me creatively. With a movie, you’re with so many people to create a big big piece of content like that. But with a record, a producer and engineer can knock it out.”
With his new album, Man Down, Cube gives a mix of classic ’90s West Coast G-funk and newer 2020 vibes.
“I just try to give people quintessential Ice Cube,” he says. “If you’ve been a
Day One fan, I wanted to serve you. … I want to give you a record that you can love and take you back to those feelings in the ’90s.”
Led by Kendrick Lamar, West Coast hip-hop has gained a renewed interest this year. His Juneteenth “Pop Out” concert has garnered nearly 62 million combined streams and introduced hip-hop fans to a plethora of new West Coast emcees.
“It’s beautiful,” Cube says. “It’s definitely perfect for what I’m doing. And the pendulum swings — it goes east, west, south … everybody gets their run.”
Cube says he’s always admired how passionate Detroit fans are about his music and has several memorable stories about rocking Detroit stages. But the famed 1989 NWA concert at Joe Louis Arena that was impeded by Detroit po-
lice officers will always be his favorite.
“It’s cool — they just had to prove their point: You can’t come to Detroit with that kind of song,” he says. “But they still love us in Detroit.”
Last night’s show was all ’90s nostalgia and without any police interference. Cube took the stage in a blue mink coat and performed material from his entire discography, including “Check Yo Self,” “Jackin’ for Beats,” “Friday,” “We Be Clubbin’,” and many more.
His friend and fellow emcee WC played the role of hype man as scenes from Cube’s films were shown in the background. After teasing the crowd, saying, “I’m going to do one more song” toward the end, Cube closed out the night with “It Was a Good Day,” his first song to amass a billion streams on Spotify.
Ice Cube performed material from his entire discography Saturday night, including “Check Yo Self,” “Jackin’ for Beats,” “Friday,” and “We Be Clubbin’.”
KAHN SANTORI DAVISON
FOOD
House of Pure Vin set to close Dec. 27
Detroit’s House of Pure Vin is closing its doors.
The beloved wine shop and cultural hub downtown on Woodward Avenue started by entrepreneurs Regina Gaines, Andrea Dunbar, and Terry Mullins in 2015, announced in a post on social media last week that its last day open to the public will be Friday, December 27.
“House of Pure Vin has been more than just a wine shop — it’s been a space for connection, culture, and celebration,” HOPV’s management said in a statement. “Together, we’ve created so many unforgettable memories, and none of it would have been possible
without your love and support.
By Dave Mesrey
“To our family and friends, we kindly ask for privacy at this time — Regina has promised to reach out when she is able. Please keep her in your thoughts and prayers. Thank you for your support.”
In the wake of the announcement, there’s been an outpouring of appreciation for HOPV and its legacy in the city.
“Sometimes people don’t realize how important something is until it’s gone,” said local musician and bandleader Will Daniels, of At-Will Enterprise, in a post on social media.
“House of Pure Vin impacted the cultural landscape by providing a safe
space for the community to go to learn about wine [and] to elevate themselves,” he said. “[It’s] a place where people can just kick back and feel like family. As soon as you walk through the doors, you just understand the vibe.”
Daniels expressed his appreciation for HOPV’s cultural impact as a Blackowned, woman-owned business and its influence on music in downtown Detroit.
“Community is not necessarily an area or a location,” he said. “It is within our souls. … I think it’s so important that the community supports each other because, at the end of the day, that’s all we have.
“People like Regina [and the House of Pure Vin] help cultivate that community. … You’ll see people come from different states, different countries. As soon as you stepped in the door, you become part of the community.”
Now through December 27, the shop plans “a non-stop celebration of HOPV’s culture and life. From wine tastings to community events, there’s something happening every day.”
For updated business hours during its last call, follow House of Pure Vin on social media.
House of Pure Vin is located in downtown Detroit at 1433 Woodward Ave.
After nine years in business in downtown Detroit, the House of Pure Vin is closing its doors later this month.
FACEBOOK
CULTURE
Arts Spotlight
Detroit artist Austen Brantley chosen to sculpt new Joe Louis statue
The City of Detroit has selected local artist Austen Brantley to design a new statue honoring sports legend Joe Louis.
The sculpture, titled “Outside the Ring,” will commemorate Louis’s trailblazing contributions to golf and will be placed along the Joe Louis Greenway.
The unveiling is scheduled for August 2025, marking the anniversary of the first Joe Louis Open Golf Tournament.
Brantley, a self-taught figurative sculptor from Detroit, was chosen from a pool of applicants that included artists from Grand Rapids, Kalamazoo, Minneapolis, and Walnut, California. Known for his work inspired by African
By Steve Neavling
and classical art, Brantley recently created the sculpture of Lt. Col. Alexander Jefferson for Jefferson Plaza in Rouge Park.
The panel of judges that selected Brantley include prominent figures, such as Joyce Barrow Henderson, daughter of Joe Louis; Dr. Hubert Massey, a master muralist; Taylor Childs, a Detroit artist; Karen Burton, an architect and co-founder of Spacelab Detroit; Arnold Boyd, a transportation executive; Joe Hooks, a professional golfer; and Akua Hill, director of arts and culture at the Gilbert Family Foundation.
The new statue will focus on Louis’s
life beyond boxing, particularly his efforts to desegregate American golf.
In 1935, Louis began playing golf and soon became a major supporter of the United Golf Association, a platform for African American golfers.
In 1941, he launched the Joe Louis Open, a tournament that provided exposure for Black golfers and elevated the sport within the African American community. Over the next decade, the tournament drew top talent and national attention to Detroit.
The “Outside the Ring” statue is part of the city’s larger efforts to celebrate Detroit’s rich African American history and enhance public spaces. It will
join a growing collection of public art along the 30-mile Joe Louis Greenway, which connects neighborhoods from the Detroit riverfront to Highland Park, Dearborn, and Hamtramck.
The project is part of Mayor Mike Duggan’s Blight to Beauty initiative, which aims to transform neglected spaces into vibrant community hubs.
Brantley, who has described his artistic mission as continuing the traditions of the Harlem Renaissance, expressed his excitement about the project.
The Office of Arts, Culture, and Entrepreneurship (ACE) and the Joe Louis Greenway Planning Team are spearheading the project. In addition to public art, ACE is working on several neighborhood beautification initiatives, including transforming residential and commercial alleys into gathering spaces.
Detroit ACE partners with organizations across the region to promote fine and performing arts, culture, and history. The agency also supports the city’s creative workforce, offering programs focused on artistic entrepreneurship. Follow Detroit ACE on social media at @ detroitcityarts for updates.
Austen Brantley’s “Outside the Ring” statue will join a growing collection of public art along the Joe Louis Greenway.
CITY OF DETROIT
Hytek and the Refinery are building a cannabis legacy in Detroit
By Steve Neavling
Welcome to The Straight Dope, our new weekly series that explores the best cannabis products in Michigan.
On a block just south of I-96 in west Detroit, a remarkable transformation has taken place: What was once a stretch of burned-out homes and abandoned lots is now a thriving hub of activity, thanks to Hytek, a high-quality cannabis grow facility, and its sister dispensary, the Refinery.
Together, they’ve revitalized a neglected area of the city while making their mark as leaders in Michigan’s oversaturated cannabis industry.
The grow facility produces some of the most consistently potent, terpenerich, and pungent cannabis in the state, and the Refinery offers it – and so much
more – at the best prices, with a selection that rivals just about any dispensary in Michigan.
At Hytek, cannabis cultivation is both an art and a science. The company, owned by Bill “Chocolate” Anderson, has run 60 to 80 strains of flower since it started growing medical marijuana in 2020.
But even as Hytek’s reputation grew, it was slow to enter the recreational cannabis market because of the city of Detroit’s oft-criticized, delayed approval of adult-use marijuana businesses. Despite its late start in the recreational industry, Hytek has established itself as one of the top growers in the state, with more than 100 dispensaries – some as far away as the Upper Peninsula – carrying its products.
Part of the reason for Hytek’s success is that Anderson puts passion above profit. He began growing weed in his 20s, long before it was legal, and so he has far more experience – and guts and resilience – than the green-rush profiteers who hoped to rake in profits with subpar cannabis.
“We know what the market is asking for,” Anderson tells Metro Times. “We smoke it, we like it, we run it.”
In addition to offering one-gram prerolls, Hytek recently launched its first line of live rosin, a solventless, terpene-rich concentrate popular for its purity and potency. The rosin comes in one-gram jars and includes three different strains: Zkittlez, Dulce De Uva, and Chem Sour.
Hytek’s attention to detail is evident
in every bud, hand-trimmed and glistening with a snowy layer of trichomes.
The flower is packaged in vibrant, whimsically designed jars and mylar bags that are among the most eye-catching in Michigan.
With 13 grow rooms – 11 of them to produce buds – Hytek harvests about 500 pounds of cannabis a month and employs 60 people — more than half of whom are from Detroit.
For this review, I sampled five Hytek strains: Los Muertos, Candy Float, Sherb Cream Pie, Stankbreath, and Gelonade. Each delivered a potent high, with smooth hits and outstanding aromas and flavors.
Los Muertos
The standout was Los Muertos, a loud,
The Straight Dope
Hytek in Detroit is one of the leading cannabis cultivators in Michigan. STEVE NEAVLING
funky indica-dominant hybrid bred by Hytek that features creamy, spicy, and gassy notes.
A cross between Motorbreath 15 and Project 4516, it’s the kind of strain that sets a cultivator apart in a market with an abundance of growers.
The buds are dense, perfectly manicured, and covered in sticky trichomes.
The flower was hard-hitting and euphoric, eventually giving way to a soothing high that melted away all my stress and tension.
The THC content is 30.3%.
Sherb Cream Pie
Sherb Cream Pie is a treat for the senses and combines the genetics of Ice Cream Cake and Sherb Bx1 to create an indicadominant hybrid with a candy-sweet aroma.
A popular strain in Michigan’s market, Hytek’s batch stands out with a bold vanilla, creamy, and citrus flavor profile that’s as rich as it is potent.
One whiff, and you’re in. The soothing body high delivers bliss and deep relaxation, making it a perfect companion for unwinding and escaping the day’s stresses.
The buds are dense, sticky, and thickly frosted.
This strain offers a rich terpene blend led by caryophyllene, widely recognized
for promoting relaxation and easing stress.
Candy Float
One of the sweetest strains you’ll find in Michigan’s legal market, Candy Float is a combination of Cherry Float and Ritz.
Creamy, fruity, and pungent, with strong notes of cherry, Candy Float is a mouthwatering hybrid that delivers a smooth, blissful experience.
It’s the perfect choice for flavor enthusiasts craving a relaxing escape.
The nugs have vibrant purple streaks and shimmering trichomes.
It’s no wonder candy strains are so popular, and Hytek nails this one.
Stank Breath
Stank Breath is a potent, zesty combination of Sharks Breath x OG Kush.
True to its name, Stank Breath is a pungent hybrid with a funky medley of lemon, pine, and fuel.
The buds are so sticky and frosty, it looks like they were rolled in sugar crystals.
But my favorite part was the high – a powerful, body-dominant buzz that made me tranquil and forgetful. Perfect for an evening of staying at home, zoning out, and letting go of stress.
Gelonade
The most energizing of the strains I tried, Gelonade has been one of my favorites this year, and more than a handful of Michigan cultivators grow it.
But Hytek has crushed its Gelonade, a flavorful combination of Lemon Tree and Gelato.
The gooey, resin-packed buds have a refreshing aroma of sweet fruit, citrus, and a hint of vanilla.
Unlike many strains, Gelonade won’t lock you to the couch. It produces an invigorating, clear-headed high that may inspire you to clean the house, go out with friends, or do something creative. Or write this column, for instance.
The Refinery
Next door, the Refinery has gained a reputation as a destination dispensary. With a warm, inviting environment, the dispensary has hundreds of products, from flower and prerolls to edibles, live rosin, and vape pens.
The flower deli is enormous, stretching the length of the store, and features fresh Hytek strains, as well as many other cultivators, including Favrd, Local Grove, Tip Top Crop, and Voyage Bloom.
The Refinery also offers belowmarket prices on everything – a deal that has raised its appeal. All eighths from the deli are $25 or under. Some
are as low as $8.
And to draw customers in, the Refinery offers a generous promotion: Spend $50 or more, and you get a free eighth of any deli flower on your first four visits.
“We sell weed to the everyday person,” Anderson says. “I wanna sell weed at an affordable price.”
The Refinery’s motto, “Where the culture shops,” is reflected in its approach to keeping cannabis accessible and fresh. The dispensary uses humidifiers to maintain the quality of its flower and focuses on running a lean operation to ensure products are constantly turning over.
What sets Hytek and the Refinery apart isn’t just the quality of the cannabis or the competitive pricing — it’s the community-driven approach. With deep roots in Detroit and a commitment to hiring locally, Anderson and his team have created more than just a business. They’ve built a destination that embodies the city’s resilience and creativity.
“We’re just normal guys,” Anderson says. “We’re all blessed. We get to fuck with weed every day.”
For Detroit’s cannabis culture, that’s a blessing worth celebrating.
If you want us to sample your cannabis products, send us an email at steve@ metrotimes.com.
CULTURE
Savage Love
Crop
Top
By Dan Savage
: Q My boobs began to get bigger — apropos of nothing — in my early 30s. A lot bigger. No weight gain, they just started growing and didn’t stop. I hated it. I’m very active, and they were heavy and miserable and got in the way. So I had a breast reduction and had never been happier. It was freedom … for three years. Then my breasts started growing again. I’m five years out from the reduction, and it’s only getting worse. I hate it. I cannot abide it. I want to fix the problem.
Repeated breast reductions aren’t an option. It’s an expensive major surgery with a long recovery time, and if there’s breast tissue remaining there’s no reason to expect it won’t just grow back again. Top surgery isn’t my favorite solution — I would much rather have the small, perfect tits I had post-reduction — but my realistic options are huge tits or top surgery. I’ve chosen top surgery.
I feel great about the prospect; it’s taken two years of dedicated work to get to the point where I have a surgeon and a surgery date and everything’s in line. The hiccup is my husband — my wonderful, feminist, kind, supportive husband — who is baffled and distressed by my choice.
This is very reasonable! He’s straight, and he’s worried he won’t be physically attracted to me anymore. He says it’s different than needing a double mastectomy for something like breast cancer, as it’s an elective surgery. He’s supportive of my happiness and would never tell me not to do it, but as we get closer to the surgery date, I can see that the prospect is weighing on him. Do you have any advice for him? Or me? Or us both?
—Soon-To-Be Boobless In Seattle
A: A: Your body, your choice.
That’s the only thing I can say in response to your question — that’s the only thing I’m allowed to say in response to your question — and luckily enough for me, STTBIS, that’s exactly what I believe. You get to make your own decisions about what you do with your body. Period. Full stop. Five stars. No notes.
But I also believe — and I’m gonna risk saying — that for those of us in long-term, committed, romantic and sexual partnerships, STBBIS, the choices we make for and about our bodies impact the people
we care about and can have consequences for our relationships. If I were to get breast implants, say, or some other radical-tosemi-radical elective body modification that it was absolutely within my rights to get — getting my tongue split or my face tattooed or my penis bisected — my husband and my boyfriend would definitely have feelings about that choice. And while they couldn’t stop me from making whatever choice I felt was right for my body in the end, STTBIS, the impact those choices might have on my relationship(s) would factor into my decision-making process.
So if I wanted breast implants and my husband and/or boyfriend told me he’d be less attracted to me if I got them, that would argue against me getting the boobs of my dreams, STTBIS, because being wanted by my boyfriend and my husband is important to me, too.
Still and again: your body, your boobs, your choice. And your reasons for getting your breasts removed — physical comfort, active lifestyle, not wanting to undergo breast-reduction surgery every five years for the rest of your life — are sound. But your husband’s body is his body, STTBIS, and he’s telling you his body might not respond to yours in the same way if you get your breasts removed. And this issue isn’t just how your body is going to look after you get your breasts removed, STTBIS, but what your body is going to say:
“I knew you wouldn’t like this — you tried to tell me this choice would negatively impact our sexual connection, but I did it anyway.”
A couple of other points…
You use the term “top surgery” to refer to the procedure you want — an elective double mastectomy removing all breast tissue — and that term is usually associated with the kind of masculinizing procedures trans men and non-binary AFAB folks need to affirm their gender identities. Is this about feeling comfortable in your female body or are you expressing a desire to inhabit a more androgynous/nonbinary body? You may be using the term “top surgery” because it sounds kinder and gentler than “double mastectomy,” STTBIS, but when you say “top surgery,” your husband may hear “first step toward gender transition.”
If your gender identity isn’t in flux, STTBIS, hearing that from you — emphatically — may relieve some of your husband’s stress about his sexual attraction to you. I assume he already knows your reasoning (this is about addressing a physical burden that’s made you miserable), but he may need to hear — he may need to hear again and again — that your sexual connection matters to you and that this isn’t the first step toward a masculine gender presenta-
tion or identity that won’t work for him. And finally, STTBIS, have you considered breast implants? While they’re not without their risks, they may be worth it. At the same time you have your breast tissue removed — which can, indeed, grow back after breast reduction surgery — you could get breast implants that resemble or re-create the “small, perfect breasts” you once had, i.e., the breasts you both loved.
: Q Q: My little sister lives in the Bay Area, and she’s been dating a man who works in tech and lives in the Bay Area. My sister’s been dating him for nearly four years. He’s from India, and his parents strongly believe in arranged marriage. This guy led his Indian ex-girlfriend on for seven years! My sister is white, and he kept her secret from his parents for three years. Every ultimatum she gives him, the deadline comes, and he asks for more time. He’s delaying a potential engagement/proposal and keeps changing his mind about if he wants to marry my sister or if his parents will want him to marry her. I fucking hate this guy. I want her to DTMFA. My sister is bold, funny, beautiful, intelligent, independent, vibrant, and successful. Her boyfriend is evasive, cheap, completely unremarkable, and a momma’s boy. What can I say to convince my sister to move on? Any advice or thoughts?
—Seething in SF
A: A: There are no magic words. There’s nothing I can tell you to say that you probably haven’t already said, SIS, and no spin I can put on things you’ve probably already said that will convince your sister to do what she knows she needs to do. You’ve done your duty as a sibling you’ve pointed out the red flags, you’ve highlighted shitty patterns, you’ve hyped your sister up — and now all you can do is wait for the inevitable to happen. The wait could be longer than you’d like, SIS, or it could be shorter than you expect. Either way, when this shitty relationship finally ends — which it almost certainly will — show up at your sister’s door with a few pints of ice cream, a couple of boxes of wine, and a nice selection of pot gummies. P.S. Resist the overwhelming temptation to say “I told you so” to your sister when it ends. She knows you told her so, SIS; no need to rub it in. And trust me: Hearing someone say “You told me so” is so much better — it’s so much more satisfying — than saying, “I told you so,” ever could be.
: Q I was a sex worker for over a decade. Lately though, I’ve thought about a client from my past who always stuck with me, and I’m now wondering what I should do. We had the most incredible night. It was absolutely mind-blowing sex, as I felt like finally someone perfectly matched my energy and technical ability. That kind of chemistry is rare, but he was married and getting
divorced, and the one requirement his wife had of him was that he couldn’t see me again. Knowing we can’t be together, what should I do? I fantasize about him, I think about contacting him, and I wish I could see him again. How do I forget about him? Or should I reach out? Lately it’s all I can think about, even though I have many other opportunities for partners. He’s a fan of yours, so there’s a good chance he’ll read this. —Chemistry Like I’ve Never Gotten Since
A: A: Seeing as you just reached out to this former client in my column — assuming this former client of yours is still a reader of mine — telling you not to reach out to him would be equal parts pointless and hypocritical. By running your letter, CLINGS, I’ve enabled this act of reaching out. I own my complicity.
Anyway, CLINGS, even if your former client sees this, he’s under no obligation to respond. My hunch is that this man someone you shared one amazing night of transactional sex with many years ago — has either reconciled with his wife (if not, her feelings about who he sees wouldn’t matter) or had other reasons he didn’t want to see you again after the divorce that he didn’t share with you. If you didn’t hear from him after their divorce (assuming it happened), CLINGS, it’s possible the chemistry wasn’t as intense for him as it was for you (which happens) or the sex was amazing for him because it was transactional (also happens) or he has hangups about your line of work (also happens). If he’s the kind of guy who looks down on the sex workers he hires, CLINGS, you wouldn’t wanna be with him. Chemistry or no chemistry, you wouldn’t be safe with him, emotionally or physically. Intense chemistry is hard to forget, CLINGS, and I understand why you would wanna reach out to this man years later — there’s this Dutch boy I spent a single night with decades ago that I still think about but sometimes an amazing connection runs its course in a single night. The belief that one perfect night could or should become one perfect lifetime is a logical fallacy that prevents us from fully appreciating good memories, which are all we ultimately have. An obsession with what could’ve been — you with your client, me with my Dutch boy — can prevent us from appreciating what actually was.
So, give it a couple of weeks. If you don’t hear from your old client, CLINGS, you’ll know it’s time to jump on one or two of those new opportunities.
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!
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CULTURE Free Will Astrology
By Rob Brezsny
ARIES: March 21 – April 19
If you worked eight hours per day, seven days a week, it would take you 300 years to count to the number one billion. I don’t recommend you try that. I also discourage you from pursuing any other trivial tasks that have zero power to advance your long-term dreams. In a similar spirit, I will ask you to phase out minor longings that distract you from your major longings. Please, Aries, I also beg you to shed frivolous obsessions that waste energy you should instead devote to passionate fascinations. The counsel I’m offering here is always applicable, of course, but you especially need to heed it in the coming months.
TAURUS: April 20 – May 20
In 1951, minister and author Norman Vincent Peale was working on a new book. As he wrote, he would regularly read passages to his wife, Ruth. She liked it a lot, but he was far less confident in its worth. After a while, he
got so discouraged he threw the manuscript in the trash. Unbeknownst to him, Ruth retrieved it and stealthily showed it to her husband’s publisher, who loved it. The book went on to sell five million copies. Its title? The Power of Positive Thinking. I hope that in 2025, you will benefit from at least one equivalent to Ruth in your life, Taurus. Two or three would be even better. You need big boosters and fervent supporters. If you don’t have any, go round them up.
GEMINI: May 21 – June 20
I love how colorfully the creek next to my house expresses itself. As high tide approaches, it flows south. When low tide is on its way, it flows north. The variety of its colors is infinite, with every shade and blend of green, gray, blue, and brown. It’s never the same shape. Its curves and width are constantly shifting. Among the birds that enhance its beauty are mallards, sandpipers, herons, grebes, egrets, and cormorants. This magnificent body of water has been a fascinating and delightful teacher for me. One of my wishes for you in 2025, Gemini, is that you will commune regularly with equally inspiring phenomena. I also predict you will do just that. Extra beauty should be on your agenda!
CANCER: June 21 – July 22
so. In addition, or as an alternative, you might also choose to focus on deepening the relationships you have with existing companions and confederates.
VIRGO: August 23 – Sept. 22
Uncle Tom’s Cabin was the bestselling novel of the 19th century. It was written by a Virgo, Harriet Beecher Stowe. Her story about the enslavement of African Americans in the U.S. was not only popular — it awakened many people to the intimate horrors of the calamity — and ultimately played a key role in energizing the abolitionist movement. I believe you are potentially capable of achieving your own version of that dual success in the coming months. You could generate accomplishments that are personally gratifying even as they perform a good service for the world.
LIBRA: Sept. 23 – Oct. 22
you may have to be extra resourceful and resilient as you find ways to carry out your best work. I have faith that you can do it!
SAGITTARIUS: Nov. 22 – Dec. 21
What is the perfect gift I could offer you this holiday season? I have decided on a large square black box with nothing inside. There would be a gold ribbon around it bearing the words, “The Fruitful Treasure of Pregnant Emptiness.” With this mysterious blessing, I would be fondly urging you to purge your soul of expectations and assumptions as you cruise into 2025. I would be giving you the message, “May you nurture a freewheeling voracity for novel adventures and fresh experiences.”
CAPRICORN: Dec. 22 – Jan. 19
One of my paramount wishes for you in 2025 is this: You will deepen your devotion to taking good care of yourself. You will study and learn more about the sweet secrets to keeping yourself in prime mental and physical health. I’m not suggesting you have been remiss about this sacred work in the past. But I am saying that this will be a favorable time to boost your knowledge to new heights about what precisely keeps your body and emotions in top shape. The creative repertoire of self-care that you cultivate in the coming months will serve you well for the rest of your long life.
AQUARIUS: Jan. 20 – Feb. 18
Merry Christmas our brothers and sisters in drink!! Time is more important than stuff, call or talk to a friend you haven’t in a long while. It’s part of that whole ‘Goodwill toward men’ thing.
Just 81 billionaires have commandeered half of the world’s wealth. Even worse, those greedy hoarders are usually taxed the least. That’s hard to believe! How is it even possible that such a travesty has come to pass? I also wonder if many of us non-billionaires have milder versions of these proclivities. Are there a few parts of me that get most of the goodies that my life provides, while other parts of me get scant attention and nourishment? The answer is yes. For example, the part of me that loves to be a creative artist receives much of my enthusiasm, while the part of me that enjoys socializing gets little juice. How about you, Cancerian? I suggest you explore this theme in the coming weeks and months. Take steps to achieve greater parity between the parts of you that get all they need and the parts of you that don’t.
LEO: July 23 – August 22
Anthropologist Robin Dunbar theorizes that most of us have limits to our social connections. Typically, our closest circle includes five loved ones. We may also have 15 good friends, 50 fond allies, 150 meaningful contacts, and 1,500 people we know. If you are interested in expanding any of these spheres, Leo, the coming months will be an excellent time to do
According to my reading of the astrological omens, you will be teased with an abundance of invitations to grow in 2025. You will be encouraged to add to your current skills and expertise. You will be nudged to expand your understanding of what exactly you are doing here on planet Earth. That’s not all, Libra! You will be pushed to dissolve shrunken expectations, transcend limitations, and learn many new lessons. Here’s my question: Will you respond with full heart and open mind to all these possibilities? Or will you sometimes neglect and avoid them? I dare you to embrace every challenge that interests you.
SCORPIO: Oct. 23 – Nov. 21: Scorpio-born Rudolf Karel was a 20th-century Czech composer who created 17 major works, including symphonies and operas. His work was interrupted when Nazi Germany invaded and occupied his homeland. He joined the Czech resistance, but was eventually arrested and confined to Pankrác Prison. There he managed to compose a fairy-tale opera, Three Hairs of the Wise Old Man. No musical instruments were available in jail, of course, so he worked entirely in his imagination and wrote down the score using toilet paper and charcoal. I firmly believe you will not be incarcerated like Karel in the coming months, Scorpio. But
To fulfill your life mission, to do what you came here to earth to do, you must carry out many tasks. One of the most important is to offer your love with hearty ingenuity. What are the best ways to do that? Where should you direct your generous care and compassion? And which recipients of your blessings are likely to reciprocate in ways that are meaningful to you? While Jupiter is cruising through Gemini, as it is now and until June 2025, life will send you rich and useful answers to these questions. Be alert!
PISCES: Feb.19 – March 20
Mysteries of the past will be extra responsive to your investigations in 2025. Persistent riddles from your life’s earlier years may be solvable. I encourage you to be aggressive in collecting previously inaccessible legacies. Track down missing heirlooms and family secrets. Just assume that ancestors and dead relatives have more to offer you than ever before. If you have been curious about your genealogy, the coming months will be a good time to explore it. I wish you happy hunting as you search for the blessings of yesteryear — and figure out how to use them in the present.
Homework: Get yourself a holiday gift that’s beyond what you imagine you deserve. Newsletter.FreeWillAstrology.com
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