VOL. 39 | ISSUE 39 | JULY 3–9, 2019
ore sh it ro et D n o d ve ri ar s at o b i ik T s) re tu n ve ad l ca ti au n er th o d n (a
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Vol. 39 | Issue 39 | July 3-9, 2019
News & Views Feedback/Comics ................. 8 Informed Dissent ................ 10 News Hits ............................ 12 Feature: The Boat Issue Aloha Tiki Tours ................. 14 A tour of local islands ......... 18 They tried to ban alcohol from Manistee National Forest... 20 Boat guide ........................... 22 Food
Publisher - Chris Keating Associate Publisher - Jim Cohen
EDITORIAL Editor in Chief - Lee DeVito Digital Editor - Sonia Khaleel Investigative Reporter - Steve Neavling Dining Editor - Tom Perkins Music and Listings Editor - Jerilyn Jordan Proofreader - Dave Mesrey Contributing Editors - Michael Jackman, Larry Gabriel Editorial Interns - Faith Janet Coleman, Bridget Ekis, Christopher Emrich, Alexander Harring, Diamond Jones, Amanda Sinishtaj, Jessica Tituskin
ADVERTISING Associate Publisher - Jim Cohen Regional Sales Director - Danielle Smith-Elliott Senior Multimedia Account Executive Jeff Nutter Multimedia Account Executive Jessica Frey Account Manager, Classifieds - Josh Cohen Marketing Intern - Mallary Becker
BUSINESS/OPERATIONS
Review: Shield’s ................. 24
Business Support Specialist - Josh Cohen Controller - Kristy Dotson
What’s Going On ............... 26
Graphic Designers - Paul Martinez, Haimanti Germain
CREATIVE SERVICES
Livewire: Local picks ......... 32 Fast Forward ....................... 33 Music Weird Al............................... 34 Earthwork............................ 36 Arts & Culture Review: The Last Black Man in San Francisco .................. 38 Higher Ground .................... 40 Savage Love ........................ 44 Horoscopes .......................... 50
CIRCULATION Circulation Manager - Annie O’Brien
EUCLID MEDIA GROUP Chief Executive Officer - Andrew Zelman Chief Operating Officers - Chris Keating, Michael Wagner Creative Director - Tom Carlson VP of Digital Services - Stacy Volhein Digital Operations Coordinator - Jaime Monzon euclidmediagroup.com National Advertising - Voice Media Group 1-888-278-9866 vmgadvertising.com Detroit Metro Times 30 E. Canfield St. Detroit, MI 48201 metrotimes.com Editorial: 313-202-8011 Advertising: 313-961-4060 Circulation: 313-202-8049 Got a story tip? Email editor@metrotimes.com or call 313-202-8011 Get social: @metrotimes
On the cover: Photos by Noah Elliott Morrison
Detroit distribution: The Detroit Metro Times is available free of charge, limited to one copy per reader. The Detroit Metro Times is published every Wednesday by Euclid Media Group.
Printed on recycled paper Printed By
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248-620-2990
EUCLID MEDIA • Copyright - The entire contents of the Detroit Metro Times are copyright 2019 by Euclid Media Group LLC. Reproduction in whole or in part without written permission of the publisher is prohibited. Publisher does not assume any liability for unsolicited manuscripts, materials, or other content. Any submission must include a stamped, self-addressed envelope. All editorial, advertising, and business correspondence should be mailed to the address listed above. Prior written permission must be granted to Metro Times for additional copies. Metro Times may be distributed only by Metro Times’ authorized distributors and independent contractors. Subscriptions are available by mail inside the U.S. for six months at $80 and a yearly subscription for $150. Include check or money order payable to - Metro Times Subscriptions, 30 E. Canfield St., Detroit, MI 48201. (Please note - Third Class subscription copies are usually received 3-5 days after publication date in the Detroit area.) Most back issues obtainable for $5 at Metro Times offices or $7 prepaid by mail.
metrotimes.com | July 3-9, 2019
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coming soon:
coming soon concert calendar:
7/8– pouya w/ ramirez & boobie lootaveli
7/13 – sebadoh @ the shelter w/ eleanor friedberger
7/14 – miss may I & the word alive
@ the shelter w/ thousand below, afterlife & art of the fallen
july 12 kash doll & friends st. andrew’s
sept. 7
st. andrew’s
saved by the 90’S - 18+
7/18 – cro-mags jm @ the shelter 7/19 – chase atlantic 7/25 – steve earle & the dukes seated show
7/29 – summer salt @ the shelter
w/ dante elephante and motel radio
8/3 – the acacia strain acacia strain mahalia aug. 322 the sept. w/ kublai khan st. andrew’s the shelter
w/ jvck james
@ the shelter w/ kublai khan, chamber and judiciary
oct. 8
st. andrew’s
at the gates
8/4 – the cybertronic spree @ the shelter
8/6 – joyce manor & saves the day
w/ awakebutstillinbed
8/17 – the alarm
w/ modern english and jay aston’s gene loves jezebel
8/19 – spencer sutherland @ the shelter
nov. 9
knocked loose
w/ rotting out, candy,
st. andrew’s seeyouspacecowboy
dec. 9
the shelter
mongol horde
featuring frank turner
8/20 – matt maeson
moved up to st. andrew’s hall
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NEWS & VIEWS Feedback Readers react to stories from the June 26 issue We got a number of comments in response to Jeffrey Billman’s Informed Dissent column “Original sin.” The column was was about H.R.40, the first-ever Congressional hearing on reparations, and how people like Mitch McConnell — and all White people — benefit from White supremacy, even if their ancestors never owned slaves. Harry Palmer: You forgot to mention the Tuskegee Airmen experiments, too. Yes, America twice elected the first
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Black President and “Hollowed-Out Husk of a Human” McConnell spent eight years trying to sabotage him (and the country as a whole) solely based on his race (prove me wrong). The current president, “Individual 1,” spent months accusing Obama of being “illegitimate” based solely on his race. You can pretty easily dismiss the GOP argument that reparations is a dead issue and that racism is something from a long, long time ago based solely on the fact that these two turds are the leaders of that party, that alone should tell you all you need to know. Actually, it’s another good point in favor of reparations... Have an opinion? Of course you do! Send feedback to letters@metrotimes.com.
metrotimes.com | July 3-9, 2019
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NEWS & VIEWS Informed Dissent
Watching democracy die, part 1 By Jeffrey C. Billman
As it turns out, it was a bad
week to be reading a book called How Democracies Die. The 2018 tome by Harvard political scientists Steven Levitsky and Daniel Ziblatt presents case studies of how democratic governments throughout history have fallen to authoritarian regimes as a warning that the 243-yearold American experiment is more fragile than we think. To my mind, two recent events reinforced the book’s premise. But more than that, they made me wonder if we’ve not just reached the precipice but, in fact, already jumped. Before we get there, we need to fully understand what that premise is. And, try as I might, 305 pages on two centuries of political history proved im ossi le to e ecti el s mmari e in a paragraph or two. So instead, I’m splitting this column into two parts. This week, we’ll look at how we got here. Next week, we’ll explore the two stories that have left me uneasy about the fate of our democracy. Ready? Here we go. A sim lified ersio o e its a d Ziblatt’s premise goes something like this: There’s nothing magical about the U.S. Constitution. Other countries have copied it, sometimes word for word, and collapsed. Indeed, in its early days, when political factions arose that were deeply distrustful of each other, the U.S. almost did, too. What held us together was a set of informal norms, an unspoken agreement that the two political parties would share power and the branches of government wouldn’t exploit the Constitution’s ambiguities to their own ends. That worked (for the White ruling class, anyway) until the Civil War, and again after Reconstruction. Parties competed for power, but they weren’t ideologically coherent. Democrats included Southern White supremacists as well as New Deal progressives. Republicans included Northern liberals as well as Midwestern conservatives. Evangelical voters split between parties.
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METRO TIMES PHOTO-ILLUSTRATION/SOURCE PHOTOS: SHUTTERSTOCK.COM
Parties squabbled over taxes and spending, but rarely anything guttural. Congress was collegial. Filibusters were almost unheard of, judicial appointments rarely blocked. And voters often split their tickets. Then came the Civil Rights Act and the Voting Rights Act, which, over the next generation, drove Southern Whites to the GOP and racial liberals to the Democrats; a subsequent wave of immigration from Latin America and Asia made the Republicans even more reliant on White votes. Around the same time came Roe v. Wade and other culture wars, and the religious right became a central part of the Republican majority. Politics was now linked to worldview, not banal issues like taxes. It didn’t take long for the Party of Lincoln to become a White, evangelical, increasingly conservative movement radicali ed the reinforcing methamphetamine of Fox News and talk radio. o all o that o with stat s a iet a idea first descri ed i by historian Richard Hofstadter, in which a once-dominant group is losing its ma orit stat s, leadi to a o erheated, oversuspicious, overaggressive, grandiose, and apocalyptic” style of politics — and what’s transpired over the last 30 years has been predictable. Led by Newt Gingrich and Tom DeLay, Republicans played hardball against Bill Clinton, eventually impeaching him o er a relati el mi or o e se when other investigations proved fruitless. When George W. Bush won a disputed election, he eschewed bipartisanship and abandoned oversight
of disastrous wars; Senate Democrats began retaliating by jamming Bush’s judicial appointments. American politics has always had its kooks, both left and right. But they’d always been kept to the fringes. Until, that is, Barack Obama came to power, and the Republicans fully embraced the Tea Party. The inmates took over the asylum, and the GOP was all too happy to tr to dele itimi e its o o e t e was a Marxist, a Muslim, a terrorist s m athi er, a a ti America , ma e not even an American at all. Obama, of course, was none of those things. He was a centrist Democrat who i herited a fi a cial crisis. t the Republicans who were in power, listening to their base, refused any attempt to address the recession. Then they tried to block health care reform — and everything else. They held up judges. They tolerated no compromise among their ranks. They shut down the government and nearly led the country into a default. And they discovered that being the art o o was oliticall e ecti e. Again, the Democrats retaliated, breaking their own norms. Throughout his second term, Obama governed largely by executive order; Democrats elimi ated the e ate fili ster or most judicial appointments. he , i e r ar , A to i calia died, and the escalation continued. Mitch McConnell decided that the Senate wo ld t allow ama to fill his seat o the reme o rt, the first time since Reconstruction that a president had ee de ied the cha ce to fill s ch
a vacancy. his was, i e ect, a declaratio that norms were irrelevant and winning was everything. The opposing party wasn’t just a rival; it was an enemy. The ends stified the mea s, a d mai tai i power was all that mattered. That attitude was on display last week in Oregon, where the state’s e lica se ators ed, some to the protection of armed militia, to deny the Democratic majority a quorum to pass a cap-and-trade bill; more on that in part 2. Then came Donald Trump, a man with no use for norms or even the rule of law. Even with evidence of corruption and obstruction of justice well surpassing that which toppled Richard Nixon, McConnell’s Senate — and for the first two ears o r m s admi istration, the GOP-led House — has refused to conduct meaningful oversight. stead, c o ell ditched the filibuster on Supreme Court nominees — a other orm o e to co firm two right-wing justices who last week gave Republican legislatures carte blanche to keep gerrymandering themselves into power; more on that in part 2, as well. As e its a d i latt t it he mounting assault on norms of mutual tolerance and forbearance — mostly, though not entirely by Republicans — has eroded the soft guardrails that long protected us from the kind of partisan fi ht to the death that has destro ed democracies in other parts of the world.” As we’ll see, the journey from eroded to e ti ished mi ht ot e that ar o .
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NEWS & VIEWS
SHUTTERSTOCK.COM
To ban or not to ban
Mounting public pressure puts brakes on Detroit’s facial-recognition technology By Steve Neavling
As Congress and a rising number of cities contemplate banning facial-recognition technology, the City of Detroit is trying to expand
News Hits Nessel files lawsuit to shut down Line 5: Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel filed a lawsuit last week asking a court to shut down an aging oil pipeline that partly runs through the Great Lakes. At the same time, Gov. Gretchen Whitmer’s administration directed the Michigan Department of Natural Resources to issue an opinion on whether the pipeline’s owner, Canadian oil giant Enbridge, is in compliance with a 1953 easement that allows it to operate the line. That opinion could ultimately strengthen Nessel’s case. The governor and attorney general’s steps are the latest in what’s shaping up to be a multifront effort to shut down Line 5 and derail Enbridge’s plans for a replacement line. The 66-year-old natural gas and oil pipeline runs through a 4.4-mile section of the Straits of Mackinac between the Upper and Lower peninsulas. Stretches of the
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its controversial and constitutionally murky system. But mounting, last-minute pressure persuaded the Detroit Board of Police
line, which pumps oil from Wisconsin to Sarnia, Ontario, have already spilled 1.1 million gallons of oil, though none of that in the lakes. Environmentalists point out that about 90 percent of the oil pumped through the line lands in Ontario, though Michigan assumes all the environmental risk. Nessel noted a 2018 incident in which an anchor struck Line 5 as strong evidence of the pipeline’s threat to the lakes, which hold 90 percent of the nation’s fresh water. “The continued operation of Line 5 presents an extraordinary, unreasonable threat to the public because of the very real risk of further anchor strikes, the inherent risks of pipeline operations, and the foreseeable, catastrophic effects if an oil spill occurs at the Straits,” Nessel wrote. —Tom Perkins Amash teases third-party bid against Trump in 2020: U.S. Rep. Justin Amash — the “lowercase ‘L’ libertarian” from Michigan who is the only Republican in Congress
Commissioners to delay a vote Thursday on approving the use of the technology and expanding it to cameras being installed at intersections. That
so far to call to impeach President Donald Trump — has teased that he could mount a third-party presidential campaign in 2020. “I haven’t ruled anything out,” 39-year-old Amash told The Hill last week when asked about a possible third-party bid. Such a move could siphon tens of thousands of votes from Trump in the Rust Belt, which Trump narrowly won in 2016 in a surprise upset. But Amash said he wouldn’t be interested in merely “playing spoiler.” “When I run for something, I run to win,” he told The Hill. Amash is one of the highest-profile Republicans to speak out against Trump. Last month, after he finished reading the 400plus page Mueller report, Amash became the first Republican to call for Trump’s impeachment, joining Michigan congressional Democrats like Rep. Rashida Tlaib, who vowed to “impeach the motherfucker” on her first day on the job, and Rep. Andy Levin, who changed his mind in support of
same da , elected o cials i omerville, Mass., became the second city to ban the technology. The Metro Times revealed last week that the city of Detroit had been using facial-recognition technology to arrest people for two years without the mandated approval of the police commission. A day later, during a hastily prepared press conference, Detroit Police Chief James Craig was evasive and dismissive when asked about constitutional concerns and documented racial bias. “How come we never talk about the criminals,” the chief said when asked how he balances privacy rights with crime fi hti . Detroit’s $1-million face-scanning system enables police to identify and track residents captured on hundreds o ri ate a d lic hi h defi itio cameras installed at parks, schools, immigration centers, gas stations, churches, abortion clinics, hotels, apartments, fast-food restaurants, and addiction treatment centers. Police can identify people at any time using databases containing hundreds of thousands of photos, including mugshots, driver’s licenses, and images scraped from social media. The software can tap into police body cams and Detroit’s controversial Project Green Light, an initiative that began in 2016 with surveillance cameras at late-night locations like gas stations and fast-food restaurants. It has since expanded to include parks, schools, health clinics, hotels, apart-
impeachment earlier this month. For the most part, the GOP has marched in lockstep with the president, despite the many gaffes, atrocities, and otherwise decidedly anti-Republican big government policies that come out of the White House. Rep. Doug LaMalfa (R-Calif.) openly acknowledged the hyper-partisanship logic when speaking to The Hill. “I respect Libertarians, I like them a lot. But it doesn’t take away from the Democrats. It will take away from the conservative viewpoint and that hurts our side,” Rep. Doug LaMalfa (R-Calif.) told The Hill. “I don’t have anything against him, but when people do this stuff, all it does is tear down the ability of Republicans to unite,” he said. Amash, however, says it’s not about loyalty to party, but rather loyalty to the Constitution. “I didn’t run for office to sell out my principles to the party or to any one person,” he
ments, lower-income housing, and churches. There are now more than 500 Green Light locations. Mayor Mike Duggan, who played an i e tial role i si the s stem, has refused to talk about the technology. At a commission meeting earlier this month, Police Commissioner Willie Burton called for a ballot initiative so residents can decide whether they want the city to use facial recognition technology. The commission rejected his proposal and also declined to support his call for a public hearing on the issue. “The public has a right to weigh in,” Burton tells the Metro Times. “This is being forced on people. The public was e er otified. On Thursday, Burton’s microphone was t r ed o a ter he com lai ed about a lack of transparency on the commission. The commission is expected to take up the issue again this week. On Monday, U.S. Rep. Rashida Tlaib blasted the city’s use of the technology. “When is it okay to scan people’s faces without public notice & input?” Tlaib tweeted. “What is worse is the fact that studies have shown that the technology makes false IDs because it doesn’t recognize Black & Brown faces. But a city with over 85% Black population decided to use it anyways.” During recent congressional hearings, experts said Detroit and Chicago are the first cities i the atio to se facial-recognition technology that is
told The Hill. “I’ve promised the people of my district I would operate in a certain way, uphold the Constitution, uphold the rule of law, fight for limited government and liberty, and that’s what I’m doing.” —Lee DeVito Charges dropped against Sheefy McFly: Detroit artist Sheefy McFly will not face charges following his recent arrest by Detroit Police. McFly, whose real name is Tashif Turner, was arrested on June 19 after being mistaken for vandalizing a viaduct east of Seven Mile Road and John R when in fact the 29-year-old artist was completing a mural, his first of 10 commissioned works by the City of Detroit as part of City Walls — a beautification initiative launched in 2017 that aims to deter graffiti. “After further review and investigation of the totality of the circumstances, we decided to not move forward with the submission of the warrant,” DPD spokeswoman Sgt. Nicole Kirkwood said in a
capable of working in real time. Similar systems are being used by the FBI and other federal agencies at border crossings and airports. “With little to no input, the city of Detroit created one of the nation’s most pervasive and sophisticated surveillance networks with real-time facial-recognition technology,” Tlaib said during the May 22 hearing. “Policing our communities has become more militari ed a d awed. ow we ha e or rofit com a ies shi so-called technology that has never been tested in communities of color, let alone been studied enough to conclude that it makes our communities safer.” Tlaib, whose district includes Detroit, added, “People’s freedom is at stake.” Congressional members and legal experts said the technology may violate the fourth and 14th amendments, as well as threaten free speech. Police use the surveillance tool without search warrants, and the technology is faulty and most inaccurate when scanning people of color, experts say. “We need to start this process over from the beginning so the public can weigh in on it,” Burton says. Community activist Tom Choske said the public was blindsided by the technology. “We want to let the community know about this policy and the pitfalls of it, and to ensure that the public has their voice heard,” Choske says.
statement to The Detroit Free Press. The arrest followed an encounter with police during which Turner failed to present a copy of the City Walls-provided permit, a document he had already shown to inquiring police officers on his first day of work. When Turner went to retrieve his bag in search of the permit to present to the new set of officers, police attempted to cuff him. The arresting officers called for backup and, when requested by Turner, they reached out to City Walls coordinator Zachary Meers who had approved the artist’s permit. However, police had already drudged up a pre-existing warrant for Turner’s arrest stemming from a year-old traffic violation. Turner spent 24 hours in a detainment facility following his arrest. According to the Free Press, he is scheduled to appear in court this week to resolve the outstanding traffic violation. —Jerilyn Jordan
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I
t’s summertime, so you know what that means: It’s time to crack open a cold o e, do
o r fi est
Hawaiian shirt, and climb
aboard for our second annual Boat Issue.
Why are we doing this again? i e we said last ear, it s asicall pointless to live in Michigan and ot e o the reat a es
a d
the best way to do that is by boat. ast ear, we ra ed the lo standing annual aquatic party ow as o
ie oo er to s i
the Wheel of Destiny (and lived to
Tropic
tell the tale), explored our region’s ma
mari as, di ed at the fi -
est waterfront restaurants, and e e we t ma
et fishi
. his
year, we’ve got a calendar of more
nautical events to look forward to, as well as all the places where you can rent a boat (in case you can’t BYOBoat). We’ve also explored the region’s notable uninhabited islands, and looked into an attempt to ban alcohol on rivers i the
Tiki boats have arrived on Detroit’s shore
By Jerilyn Jordan
a istee atio al orest.
Also, did you know you can now charter o r ow
ri ate oati
tiki party right out of the Detroit i er Yo totall ca .
e tried it.
Anchors away, etc. —Lee DeVito
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This just in: Detroit has achieved peak kitsch status. We have privately chartered tiki boats now and they’re actually really fucking fun. Of course, this is coming from a small sta o scree addicted o r alists who as i the a diced low o oresce t li hti li e c ical salama ders, and whose shared idea of fun involves debating the cultural si ifica ce o il as s ld ow oad o er a midda smo e sesh. erio sl , tho h. i i oats. Detroit-based Aloha Tiki Tours joins a growing trend of mobile drinking activities made recently available to metro Detroiters. Detroit’s Aloha Tiki Tours are the brainchild
of Nick Blaszczyk, owner of Pedal Bar Detroit and Detroit Cycle Boats, who was inspired by a visit to Keywest where various tiki boat tours have already taken off. Each octagon-shaped boat comes equipped with bar stools, a cooler, and a Bluetooth speaker, and guests are encouraged to bring their own food and beverages, save for glass bottles and kegs. Tours take two hours and depart out of two locations: Four boats launch out of Sindbad’s Restaurant and Marina, and two more are located at St. Clair Shores’ Blossom Heath Park and Pier. While each boat can accommodate up to six people, larger parties are welcome
hot
’ like it s PHOTOS: NOAH ELLIOT MORRISON
to harter ulti le boats or a rovin oatin eet o drunken buffoonery. sin le tour ill ost you onday throu h hursday and riday throu h unday. here the loha iki ar differs ro its boo y eddle o ered brother is that nothin is hysi ally asked o you. here s no need to eddle ush or steer. i ly take a seat o a ine ooler or t o but never three), and take to the hi h seas at a di yin iles er hour. here is one thin to onsider hen a reein to e bark on a tiki adventure ith loha iki ars ou da n ell better like the o any o eo le you are ith otherise t o hours an stret h into eternity and eternity should not be s ent on a oatin tiki bar i y uett be da ned unlike ith the land based eddle ubs here i needed you ould u off and es a e athy the lose talker ro or had your sister s ener y drink s onsored boy riend ho still thinks dubste is lit . o ith the tiki tour it s ust you and u to ve additional sea arin uests on the etroit iver.
lookin at his hone. t as our lan to e lusively listen to a ya ht ro k laylist or the duration o the tour or no reason other than to os lay as retired eo le. he en ine a eared to s utter a ain. his ti e a tain erry snapped into problem-solving action and li ted a door in the oor to reveal the as tank. s it turns out hoever had last lled the tank s re ed the lid on too ti ht. ot sin e the a aii episode of The Brady Bunch has such tiki the ed dra a un olded. e ould not die today. nstead a tain erry ointed out the ba kyard vie s o the anoo ian ansion hi h ayor ike u an ay or ay not urrently live in and its nei hbor one o id o k s any ho es this one boastin a lar e arden statue that ay or ay not be ade in the ull od s likeness and or a o k n oll esus. lon the ay e assed a returnin tiki tour one o etroit s ater treat ent to ers an ancient structure that rises out o the etroit iver and a arently u s ater ro an under round a ui er to servi e etro etroit elle sle bea h the harred re ains o the oblo sland boat and a ariti e as station here durin the tri s hal ay oint assen ers are able to take a brief bathroom break and sto k u on sna ks and ater i
or our voya e hi h e ust so ha ened to e bark on durin ar uably the ost ideal day in a ild su er so ar e ould rely on the servi es and uidan e o erry ollis re hter ara edi and no an estee ed tiki boat a tain. a tain erry re ers sli htly over ast rainy days on the ater en oys ost usi thou h he ites so ethin a recent tour group introduced him to that he calls “grunge rap” as being the sonic equivalent of intercourse), and ithout ords appeared to disa rove o our va in . orry a tain. t s ariti e la baby. nd it s le al no erry. Chill. n ase o an e er en y ell ust listen to e and e ll get through it,” Hollis said moments before the engine s uttered and a slate olored ani o entarily ashed over his a e. ell that as eird he said. his is unrelated but ho do you onne t the luetooth?” Metro Times editor in chief Lee DeVito asked,
needed. ro ti rink all the ater be ause a t o hour boat ride is not enou h ti e to sober yoursel ro t o not three ine oolers. y the ti e e returned to land e had a de ent bu a ne ers e tive of life along the Detroit River, and a rene ed a re iation o our horrible o orkers thanks to bondin over ine oolers. otally orth it.
Aloha Tiki Tours are available 10 a.m.-4:45 p.m. out of Sindbad’s Restaurant & Marina, 100 Saint Clair St., Detroit, and Blossom Heath Park and Pier, 24800 Jefferson Ave., St. Clair Shores; alohatikitours.com. Tours are $200 per boat Monday through Thursday and $300 Friday through Sunday.
metrotimes.com | July 3-9, 2019
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metrotimes.com | July 3-9, 2019
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Land ho!
Goose Bay.
TOM PERKINS
The best of Michigan’s uninhabited and underrated islands
By Tom Perkins If one were to put together an A-list of excellent islands around metro Detroit and Windsor, a few choices are obvious — Belle Isle, Grosse Ile, Walpole Island, Harsens Island, and even the industrial Zug. But there are more than 20 islands in the Detroit River, another 11 in the St. Clair River delta that empties into Lake St. Clair, and many more scattered throughout the region’s 18 July 3-9, 2019 | metrotimes.com
waterways. Most aren’t inhabited, so they don’t get much thought. However, that’s what makes them worth a visit — serenity and an escape from the craziness of metro Detroit are just a short boat or kayak trip away from any shore. Here are some of the top uninhabited islands that are only accessible by boat:
Humbug Island, lower Detroit River
Long before the nuclear power plant, Ambassador Bridge, Caesars Windsor,
the Renaissance Center, Zug Island, and other developments lining the Detroit River cropped up, its shores were a vast patchwork of marshland and oldgrowth and second-growth forests. The 41-acre Humbug Marsh at the Gibraltar and Trenton border represents the last mile of natural shoreline on the U.S. side of the Detroit River (about 97 percent of the river’s original shoreline has been destroyed), and Humbug Island is part of that. The marsh and 32-acre island are also a piece of the Detroit International Wildlife Refuge, and the island serves as an important stopover location for migratory birds. That includes 17 species of raptors, like falcons and hawks, and in recent years bald eagles have nested on
the island. Diving ducks live on Humbug’s shoreline and in its waters, which also hold s ecies o fish, i cl di rare reeds o ass, walle e, a d catfish. In 2004, the federal government bought the property for $4.1 million, ending an eight-year battle between preservationists and developers who wanted to build a golf course and condominium complex on the site. Humbug isn’t far from other islands in the area that are part of the Detroit International Wildlife Refuge, and each o er a similar e erie ce.
Peche Island, Detroit River
Peche Island is to Belle Isle as Windsor is to Detroit. The Rose City sits in the shadow of the Motor City; it’s smaller,
Peche Island.
it’s quieter, and not quite as exciting. But it’s really cool in its own way once o fi re o t what s ha e i there. imilarl , eche sla d, a cit o i dsor ar , is a smaller, ieter, isla d tha elle sle that o the s r ace is t ite as ha e i as its ei h or, which sits st so th o eche. owe er, there s more to the i ha ited acre isla d ar tha a ears o the s r ace. t s ot totall ow ed at re, as the cit o i dsor laid dow wal i aths, ilt a wash ho se, a d dro ed a ew ic ic ta les thro ho t the isla d, while the ca als wi di thro h eche s i terior ca e sed or a a i . t also holds the r i s o the s mmer home o whis e mo l iram al er, whose ra d li es o alo the i dsor shore o the etroit i er. e alle edl li ed there a h dred ears e ore hie o tiac, t o o e li es o eche which tra slates to each i re ch ow, a d relati el ew eo le isit com ared to its m ch lar er ei h or, a d that s what ma es it a awesome lace to isit. he cit o i dsor last ear rchased a o too oat to err isitors to the ar .
Gull Island, Lake St. Clair.
o o li e eer, a es, eaches, oom o es, a d o s with o r oat o o li e the wa the sa d eels o o r c les as o dra them across the warm each he ll sla d is the s ot or o . t s est ow as the isla d that ser es as the locatio or the otorio s o ie oo er the a al ardi ras o the idwest that attracts to , oats a d more tha
TOM PERKINS
, eo le aro d ll sla d. t the art mostl does t sto thro ho t the s mmer, as the isla d is a s ot where oaters li , o r iller ite i o e a other s eer o s, a d ee i the t r oise waters.
Islands in Goose Bay, Lake St. Clair
mi i a es, eer o s, a d oatis t o r thi , co sider headi ortheast rom ll sla d to oose a , where the t. lair i er s orth cha el em ties i to a e t. lair. his is where the isla ds are a little ieter a d ca as ac d c s ar o t mer eo le. he clea , t r oise, shallow waters ha e white, sa d ottoms, a d whe a ri ate little ma eshi t each ets hot der the ichi a s mmer s , it s o e o the ew laces i ichi a that ca ma e o thi o re i the ari ea . he t. lair i er delta that oose a is a art o is the atio s lar est reshwater delta, a d its isla ds are mostl filled with ree trees a d r sh that sh to the water s ed e. e ca sim l dro a chor ear the shore, or t a little more e ort i to fi di a s ot or each o shore that s s ita le or a ic ic or a lace to rela . aw i s oi t, which is the fi al arrier etwee the ri er a d the wide o e l e la e, holds o e s ch secl ded s ot. i e the rest o the isla ds a d waterwa s aro d etroit, it s a e celle t lace to irdwatch. A estimated , irds ass thro h the delta area a all , amo them os re s, hero , a d ald ea les. i
metrotimes.com | July 3-9, 2019
19
Going overboard SHUTTERSTOCK.COM
Forest service backpedals on alcohol ban
By Mickey Lyons It’s a rite of passage: grab some
six packs, load up the car, and head up north for a weekend of tubing, ca oei , fishi , or a a i . re ichi a . l o o e seems to ha e i ormed the A orest er ice o the cr cial im orta ce o the first art o the e atio . e . , , the . . orest er ice iss ed a ress release. ormall , that s a aw er o a ed esda mor i . his release, tho h, a o ced a a o alcohol se o or withi eet o the A a le, a istee, a d i e i ers thro h the a istee atio al orest. e alties o to , a d si mo ths i ail were threate ed. redicta l , all hell ro e loose. ithi da s, more tha , eo le had si ed a o li e etitio . si ness owners reported dozens of campground cancellations, and the mo e was see as a serio s threat to
20 July 3-9, 2019 | metrotimes.com
the to rism i d str , ot to me tio i di id al reedoms. rai hom so , ow er o i chma a oe i er o the A a le, sa s the ews ca ht him a d other comm it leaders s r rise. t ca ht s o ard, he sa s. asicall it was do e ehi d e er o e s ac s. t st a ew da s later, the orest er ice retracted the a , romisi a re iew o the olic after consulting with businesses and co ser atio ro s alo the ri ers. stead, the orest er ice is roll ing out an action plan that, according to a stateme t, e co ra es eo le to be cognizant of their fellow citizens, ha e alit recreatio al e erie ces, a d mai tai o r at ral reso rces. he orest er ice will ow wor with comm it , co ser atio a d to rism leaders to ed cate ri er sers o sa et a d res o si ilit o the ri er. this so ds li e it sho ld o witho t sa i , that is sadl ot the case. rres o si le eha ior some dow ri ht da ero s has la ed
ichi a s ri ers or decades a d co tributed to the state’s ranking as one of the deadliest in terms of drowning deaths. , eo le died o the reat a es the state s worst ear o record. here is o data calc lated or the state s ri ers, t with record le el water le els i the etroit a d other ri ers, sa et e erts war that this ear is shaping up to be a dangerous one for oater a d swimmer sa et . hristo her arcia, o er dale, who re larl fishes the A a le, sa s he understands the need for restraint but does t wa t it ta e too ar. thi what the orest er ice were oi a ter was the cra ids who ri a e on their canoes and toss empties into the ri er, he sa s. et where the re oi it is a sa et iss e a d a iss e o eo le s ad eha ior. itteri is a i ro lem, so ca dersta d the eed to limit it. thi a a o erall mi ht e oi a little o er oard. ora eslie, who also s e ds time cam i a d fishi o the a istee and Au Sable, thinks an alcohol ban is ridic lo s. As lo as o o e s ma i a mess, the sho ld e a le to dri as m ch as the wa t, she sa s. m a
person who is not a fan of camping, so the o l thi that ma es it tolera le is co io s amo ts o alcohol. hom so sa s that, a ter the i itial o tcr a d retractio o the a , the orest er ice has ee wor i closel with reside ts a d si ess ow ers. As art o the comm it art er shi etwor , he sa s the first meeti started o t a little te se. t o ce e er o e ot their eeli s o their chests, it we t a lot etter. e all st want to make it a clean and welcoming e iro me t or all. he a has ee li ted or the s mmer seaso , t the . . orest er ice does reser e the ri ht to rei state it or , e di res lts rom the comm it actio art ershi . o, while the threat o a dr tri dow ichi a s sce ic ri ers ma appear a looming threat for residents acc stomed to rioto s arties, hom so is co fide t that it will wor o t. e thi s that moderatio , coo eratio a d ed catio are the e s to mo i orward. e do t wa t to see a a o alcohol o the ri er, he sa s, t we wo ld li e to see less o the rowd eha ior.
metrotimes.com | July 3-9, 2019
21
Get your boat on
How to make waves this summer, even if you don’t own your own ride
detroitoutpost.com The Motor City is Kayak City. Detroit t ost o ers two ho r a a tri s. Bonus: they also host weekend barbecues by Bert’s.
By MT staff
Stony Creek Metropark
Rent a boat Riverside Kayak Connection
4016 Biddle Ave., Wyandotte; 734-2852925; riversidekayak.com If you’re looking for a fun way to enjoy Belle Isle or the Detroit River, Flynn Memorial Pavilion has an array of rental options, including canoes, pontoon pedalboats, solo kayaks, and stand-up paddle boards that can be rented by the hour. Bicycles for two or four people are also available.
Kensington MetroParks
4570 Huron River Pkwy., Milford; 810227-8910; metroparks.com There are both swan- and rubber ducky-shaped pedal boats available for re t here. said.
Detroit River Sports
Algonquin Park Dr., Detroit; 313-9080484; detroitriversports.com etroit i er orts o ers a e ert e erie ce i sta d addle oard or kayak tours around the Detroit River. Tour group sizes vary, but customers who want a more intimate tour can reserve a private tour online.
Skip’s Huron River Canoe Livery
3902 E. Delhi Rd., Ann Arbor; 734-7698686; paddlethehuron.com More of a night owl? Not a problem at Skip’s. This year they’re featuring low i the dar ca oei . he o er canoe and tube rentals located in Delhi Metropolitan Park. In addition, they o er t i alo the ro i er, also new this year.
That’s WasSUP
141 E. Walled Lake Dr., Walled Lake; 248-345-3223; thatswassupdetroit.com hether o re a e erie ced addle oarder or a first time rider, all can agree this stand-up paddleboard shop has a great name.
22 July 3-9, 2019 | metrotimes.com
Simple Adventures
31300 Metropolitan Pkwy., Harrison Twp.; 844-935-2925; simpleadventures. net im le Ad e t res o ers a a , canoe, stand-up paddleboard, and bike rentals. Additionally, classes and ri ate lesso s are o ered with certified kayak and paddleboard instructors.
Game On Paddleboarding
2433 W. Predmore Rd. Oakland Charter Township; 248-690-6241; gameonpaddleboarding.com ame addle oardi o ers paddleboard yoga, group tours, and more. For people unfamiliar with addle oardi , the also o er lesso s for people of all ages.
Great Lake Surf Shop
23517 Nine Mack Dr., St. Clair Shores; 586-359-6951; greatlakessurf.com In addition to rentals, Great Lakes r ho o ers wets its, addle boards, accessories, and anything else you may need for a summer of fun in the water. The shop also participates in races for people looking for a little competition with their paddleboarding.
Clinton River Canoe and Kayak
37328 Utica Rd., Sterling Heights; 248421-3445; clintonriverkayak.com Clinton River Canoe and Kayak is the perfect outdoor adventure for families or thrill see ers. he ri er o ers class or III rapids for serious adventurers or more family-friendly tours.
4300 Main Park Rd., Shelby Township; 586-781-4242; metroparks.com The park hosts an abundance of outdoor acti ities li e swimmi , fishi , and boat rentals of all kinds. The park also o ers a cam ro d or eo le trying to get a taste of “up north” down here in southeast Michigan.
EZ Kayak River
208 N. Bridge St. Linden; 810-241-1195; ezkayakrental.com Located on the banks of the beautiful Shiawassee River, EZ Kayak and Canoe e tal o ers all i ds o tri s or down the river. Open Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, this weekend adventure is the perfect getaway from the city.
Independence Oaks County Park
10089 Sashabaw Rd. Clarkston; 248-6250877; oakgov.com Boat rentals are available at the Independence Oaks County Park, as well as paddleboat, canoe, and paddleboard rentals, among others. As the largest Oakland County Park at 1,286 acres, it’s an ideal spot for a weekend escape or after-work wind-down.
Lake St. Clair Metropark
31300 Metro Pkwy., Harrison Charter
Twp.; 586-463-4581; metroparks.com Lake St.Clair Metropark is a 770acre unit located 20 miles northeast of downtown Detroit. Enjoy a 1,600-foot boardwalk, or a variety of activities such as boating, bird-watching, winds rfi , ite oardi , a d ic cli .
Addison Oaks County Park
1480 W Romeo Rd., Leonard; 248-6932432; oakgov.com Open year-round (and only closed on Christmas Day), this multi-purpose park provides archery, boat, canoe, and kayak rentals, disc golf, picnic pavilions, playgrounds, hiking trails. and more.
Seven Lakes State Park
14390 Fish Lake Road, Holly; 248-6347271; michigandnr.com Located in Oakland County, this public recreation area is a combination of farmland, rolling hills, and forests, accompanied by a 230-acre body of water sed or swimmi , fishi , a d boat rentals. Visitors can also have picnics or hit the hiking trail.
Willow Metropark
23200 S. Huron Rd., New Boston; 734697-9181; metroparks.com You can rent boats to enjoy Willow Metropark’s 17-acre Washago Pond and the ro i er.
Boat rides Detroit Sails
601 Port Dr., Detroit; 313-574-5684;
Argo Park/Cascades
1055 Longshore Dr., Ann Arbor; 734794-6241; a2gov.org he Ar o ar i er o ers a a , canoe, paddleboard, tubes, and other rentals to enjoy the water. The park hosts various water trails of varying distances and allows families with their own tubes to bring them and enjoy a oat dow the ri er.
Detroit Outpost
11000 Freud St., Detroit; 313-422-3618;
Kayaking in Milford.
BARBARA KALBFLEISCH / SHUTTERSTOCK.COM
detroitsails.com etroit ails o ers a saili e erie ce or ro s o to o r eo le. ests ma ri their ow oo e o the tri a d e o the rela i a d l rio s sail oat or acht ride. ri s last two ho rs, a d ests are as ed to ri their ow ice. Yo ca oo o r tri o li e.
Diamond Jack’s
1340 Atwater St., Detroit; 313-843-9376; diamondjack.com iamo d ac s i er o rs o ers si htseei to rs o the etroit i er o r da s a wee .
Detroit Princess
1 Civic Center Dr, Detroit; 877-338-2628; detroitprincess.com omewhat o a ho sehold ame or metro etroiters who ha e see its ma commercials a d ad ertiseme ts o er the ears, the Detroit Princess has ee doc ed o the shores o art la a or ears. here are cr ises a aila le m lti le times a wee , as well as the o tio or hosti ri ate e e ts.
Infinity Ovation Yacht Charters
4400 Jefferson ve, St. Clair Shores 586-778-9060; summercruiseseries.com fi it atio is ow or its hi h row e c rsio s with c stom ilt moder acht to rs o a e t. lair a d the etroit i er. he s mmer series o ers themed oat rides, s ch as the s a d ew rlea s. he coma is also ow or its weddi a d cor orate e e t ac a es. oats ca e oarded thro ho t etroit with la i , tho h the call e erso ari a home.
Ducky Baby Charters
28821 East River Rd., Grosse Ile; 7344 - 000 duckybabycharters.com a tai lie leads this oat cr ise o the etroit i er. ro s o to si are e co ra ed to ho a oard or this amil e erie ce, a d o ids, welcome. ests ha e the o tio to ta e a sta d addle oard o t o the water rom the oat, tho h there is o swimmi rom the oat. he doc is located o the so theast isla d o rosse le.
Boat events Jobbie Nooner
The last riday of June ull Island, Lake St. Clair; jobbienooner.com i ce the s, it is c stom or metro etroiters to la hoo o the last rida o e or a all o t oo e soa ed accha al tho h this is t o r dad s o ie. As a tai im told
Raft Off.
si , he retired the heel o esti a s i i wheel desi ed to e co ra e emale artici a ts to a t dit , t that has t t a sto to the de a cher . ach ear, o ie oo er attracts tho sa ds who tie , stri dow , a d oo e awa or this si le da s mmer cele ratio .
Barbers on a Boat Cruise
Sunday, July 21, eventbrite.com etroit s ewest oati e e t is a c t a o e the rest. ar ers o a oat r ise i ites some o metro etroit s leadi cosmetolo ists a d ar ers to attle or ri es a d ra i ri hts a oard the Detroit Princess. osted the otow ar er Associatio , the cr ise o ers com etitio s i ario s ade cate ories, as well as attles etwee ma e artists. he tic eted e e t also o ers e dors, ree ood, a d a cash ar.
OABI
Canceled adl , it a ears that A , or ce Aro d elle sle a se e ear traditio o sta d addle oard races aro d elle sle sched led or earl A st was a r tl ca celed. e t or a i ers osted a otice o their ace oo a e last wee sa i the set a sa e the date or the e e t, ho i to i a deal to sell the e e t a are tl the ros ecti e er ac ed o t i the th ho r. or the ast ears we were thrilled to carr the awesome res o si ilit o rod ci a e e t that li ed to s ch reat e ectatio s,
ALEX BOGE
the or a i ers wrote. owe er, mar et orces co led with e e limitatio s a d other actors led s to this er di fic lt decisio . ere s to ho i a er comes orward or e t ear.
Raft Off
Saturday, Aug. 10; Muscamoot Bay, Lake St. Clair, muscamoot-bay.com teri its th ear is a t the world s lar est oat tie o . ell, uno cially. ast ear the a t , which ta es lace i a e t. lair s scamoot a , attem ted the iess orld ecord or the lar est oat tie o . ho h last ear s e ort ell short o cli chi the record, the art still ra ed. ach A st, a estimated , l s eo le atte d that s a lot o oats to create what is called he a tlet a mile lo ormatio a d art are a.
Hydrofest
Saturday, Aug. 24 and Sunday, Aug. 25; Detroit River, detroitboatraces.com a e o e er watched a A A or orm la race a d tho ht, ee, this wo ld e a lot cooler i it were o the water ell, bam. elcome etroit s dro est a tic eted raci e e t alo the etroit i er eat ri some o the world s astest a tomoti e owered h dro la es. his ear s e e t the rd will oc s o se eral di ere t races, i cl di ra d ri dro la es, dro, erse s eed s i s, s erchar ed dros, as well as li e m sic, e tertai me t, a d a hot rod show.
House Music Boat Rave Party
Saturday, ug. 0 Jefferson Beach Marina, St. Clair Shores eventbrite.com a i the soa o a d the ra e to the sea is the first e er ichi a eeds a ree ew eal o se sic oat a e art . osted resti e etroit e ts a d as iri co ressma A tho ar o aro, A will ta e o er a three stor acht a tl amed Ovation or a i ht o limited ood, dri , a d da ci i s ort o a more ecolo icall s stai a le eco om , as well as the co omic ill o i hts which rotects the ri ht to a si le a er healthcare s stem, li i wa es, a d a orda le ho si a d t itio . he Ovation will cr ise the ma si hts o the etroit i er with si ho se s across two sta es with limited ood a d oo e all i cl ded i the tic et rice .
Summer Beer Tasting Boat Cruise
Saturday, Aug. 17; 20 Civic Center Dr., Detroit; motorcitybrewtours.com ow ma eers ca o dri i . ho rs t s ot a estio as m ch as it is a challe e rese ted otor it rew o rs latest o a e, the mmer eer asti oat r ise a oard the e er ro al Detroit Princess Riverboat. he tic eted tasti e e t i cl des dri sam le tic ets that s o ce o rs er sam le, ood oddam or eer, hard cider, a d s i ed selt er, as well as le t o a eti ers to soa it all .
metrotimes.com | July 3-9, 2019
23
FOOD
The classic Detroit-style pizza.
BRIDGIT EKIS
Hip to be square By Jane Slaughter
If anyone can overcome the
jinx that’s haunted the intersection of Woodward and Warren, it should be Shield’s, which can boast a history o leasi first etroiters a d the suburbanites since 1937. Since 2017 restaurants under successive owners have bombed in the historic acca ees ildi the ailed about wildly, trying three concepts in their fi al mo ths talia , a o e so l ood Asia e ore s rre deri . he ildi s Al ert ah desi and its place in the National Register of Historic Places have apparently not been enough to tempt customers to taste the food. Will deep-dish square pizza, now gaining a reputation nationwide as etroit st le, t r the tric he mo ed to etroit i the s, restaurant choices were limited. You we t to hield s or dd s, si loc s apart on the near East Side, for their fabulous crisp-edged pizza, invented at Buddy’s but spread to Shield’s, legend had it, whe the dd s che wal ed down the street after a dispute with the owner. There is no Mr. Shield, by the way — the name comes from the restaurant’s original cross street, Shields, with an apostrophe thrown in just because etroiters li e to t e er thi i the ossessi e. wor at hr sler s . Shield’s left the city long ago, but what’s now a chain has been serving
24 July 3-9, 2019 | metrotimes.com
m ch more tha i a i o thfield, ro , a d acom ow shi . t s o e o those itche si America a d we welcome immi ra ts me s, with r ers, ri s, a d chic e t also quesadillas, nachos, and hummus. The we site sa s omethi or er od it s a A le ee s t e me t with a few Middle Eastern favorites, since this is metro etroit l s i a. My advice: go for the pizza. Pizzaphiles will of course dispute till the editerra ea alo come home about which is best, with the thin-crust advocates having the advantage of home co tr a the ticit . t lo e etroit st le. hose micro thi cris edges standing up above the body of the bready, but not too bready, crust are miracles o cr ch a d a or. here s a reason the pizza’s got to be rectangular — oh, the corners! New franchise owner Norman Mourad, who also owns a Big Boy, says the tomato sauce he’s using is identical to Shield’s original; cream sherry is one of its secrets. e o ers a ild o r ow i a with a to o o tio s es, a choies, a d es, i ea le . ecialties are $12 or $13 for four slices, and at least some are available on a hand-tossed ro d cr st, too t wh . he e etaria s ecialt rea s the mold in that you can actually taste the mushrooms, a mean feat, as well as the lac oli es. the eat o er s, the
e el o the talia sa sa e o ershadows the other three meats. My favorite was the Gold Medal, which adds oma o to the traditio al ric cheese and uses sweet peppers and banana peppers for a little bite. But the best art is thic talia ear tomatoes re sautéed in garlic. They melt beautifully into the cheeses, creating a taste-island of sweetness and nuttiness. Other options involve barbecue sauce a d heddar, chic e s ri led with Parmesan, or the new round Margherita, with far more ingredients than the traditional. As to the rest o the me it s middle-of-the-road fare in gargantuan portions. You can get better ribs at any one of a dozen places; these are way slathered i sweet sa ce. lam chowder a d chili are thic , meat , a d meh. asa a is sweet a d hea , with se e layers of pasta, and tomato sauce both between the layers and on the side. li ed the mild dr r ed wi s, er meat , a d the chic e esadilla — four big triangles — though it has little or no relationship to Mexico. a e it was the mi ed cheeses that caught my fancy, or the grilled tortilla. told them to hold the so r cream. Yo see what i d o ood m tal i a o t There are eight salads, some of them loaded with fattening and crowdpleasing ingredients. My companion noted, “My favorite part of fattoush is
Shield’s 5057 Woodward Ave., Detroit 313-262-6087 shieldspizza.com Wheelchair accessible Noon-10 p.m. Sunday, 11 a.m.-10 p.m. Monday-Tuesday, 11 a.m.-11 p.m. Wednesday, 11a.m.-10 p.m. Thursday, 11 a.m.-midnight Friday-Saturday Appetizers $6-$12, sandwiches $10, dinners $12-$17, four-square pizza $9-$13
the cro to s. h. he cro to s are everyone’s favorite part of fattoush. They’re the reason you order fattoush. id o thi it was the c c m ers Shield’s goes it one better by using thic ree ita i stead o the thi st , a d c tti it i c es. he are a lo s soa ed i secret dressi . hield s has a ll ar. did t li e a high-potency Midtown Mule made with maraschino liqueur — it had a confused taste — and a Pinot Noir was so r did t fi ish it. hose are st two of many choices, though; a trieda d tr e eer li e ell s will do o st fi e. le e ichi a eers are o ta . wee da s hield s o ers a e ress l ch a sim le i di id al i a with soup or salad for $8, or pizza plus soda for $5. But you’ve been wondering: Which is etter, dd s or hield s ha e to give the nod to Buddy’s, and not just eca se a reciate the act that their a shi store remai s i the same s ot o o a t that it s alwa s ee . he Buddy’s crust is crisper; that’s all.
metrotimes.com | July 3-9, 2019
25
THIS WEEK
Tal National, Trinosophes, July 9.
FRI., 7/5-SUN., 7/7 Toni Morrison: The Pieces I Am @ Detroit Film Theatre
FILM “She’s a friend to our minds,” Oprah says of Toni Morrison in the new documentary, Toni Morrison: The Pieces I Am — a reference to her seminal 1987 novel, Beloved. Filmmaker Timothy ree field a ders Lou Reed: Rock and Roll Heart, The Trans List) provides an intimate look at the evolution of the rolific ico oclast, o elist, a d the first African American to win the Nobel Prize i iterat re. he film acts as a com el ling mosaic of Morrison’s remarkable li e sa e or the the tra ic loss o her so lade with whom she ota l co authored a series of children’s books), including the construction of her earli est works, 1977’s Song of Solomon and Beloved, as well as her time as an editor at Random House and when she recieved the Presidential Medal of Freedom from President Barack Obama in 2012. Screening begins at 7 p.m. on Friday, July 5, 1 & 7 p.m. on Saturday, July 6, and 2 & 4:30 p.m. on Sunday, July 7; 5200
26 July 3-9, 2019 | metrotimes.com
JASON CREPS
What’s Going On
road trip through mortality, fate, and mo tel rooms not unlike the feelings conjured eo ard ohe o his fi al record, 2016’s You Want It Darker. hica o ased si er so writer a d ellow ra it artist Bill MacKay is also on the bill.
his band have been providing smooth mainstream jam band funk. Truthfully, summer wouldn’t be the same without an appearance from the ensemble that plagued us with one of the most infa mous mondegreens of all time with s rash i to e. t s i e o r skirt a little more” and not “Hack up your s irt o little o , Y . will to r in support of a massive catalog of music that encompasses nine studio albums i cl di s Come to Me which debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard charts), and dozens of live cuts.
Doors open at 7 p.m.; 4454 Woodward Ave., Detroit; 313-832-6622; mocadetroit. org. Tickets are $25.
Event begins at 8 p.m.; 33 Bob Seger Dr., Clarkston; 248-377-0100; 313presents. com. Tickets are $45+.
A week’s worth of things to do and places to do them. Woodward Ave., Detroit; 313-833-7900; dia.org. Tickets are $9.50 or $7.50 for seniors, students, and DIA members.
MONDAY, 7/8 Bill Callahan @ MOCAD
MUSIC There are some voices that have emerged from the various corridors of the labyrinthian underground rock scene that just…do it for you, you know? e it o atha ichma s s ltr matter o act ess or the soothi lo fi to es behind Guided by Voices’ Robert Pollard or the plush contemplative velvet of Bill Callahan, the revered solo artist and pen/ oice ehi d mo . his ear fi ds the ear old er ma o lo fi ol ac ing Shepherd in a Sheepskin Vest — his first record i si ears. allaha s ret r serves as a sparse and emotionally direct
TUESDAY, 7/9
TUESDAY, 7/9
Dave Matthews Band
Tal National
@ DTE Energy Music Theater
@ Trinosophes
MUSIC If she doesn’t remember the time whe a e atthews a d s s driver dumped 800 pounds of human waste on an unsuspecting boat tour while driving over a bridge in Chicago, then she’s too young for you, bro. For more tha ears, a e atthews a d
MUSIC If you, like us, at one point thought West Africa may not be instantly recognized as a rock ’n’ roll breeding ground, get that bullshit out of your head eca se the lar er tha li e o tfit al a tional is doing the damn thing. Hailing from Niger, West Africa, Tal National has
Saturday 7/6
NiVrAnA:
TrIbUtE To NiRvAnA
Tuesday 7/9
MaGiC BeAnS WsG Ma BaKeR
Wednesday 7/10
ThE FuNkY KnUcKlEs Friday 7/12
Toni Morrison: The Pieces I Am, Detroit Film Theatre, July 5.
slowly built a reputation for energetic live performances — sometimes spanning fi e ho rs er set starti with s debut, Apokte. he e sem le, which has ee ow to tra el with er ormers, has scaled dow to st si mem ers to deli er the am itio sl la ered arra eme ts, all o which rst with ti es o wester i die roc . s aa i mar ed ot o l the a d s third record t also gained international traction. Billed as a s er show, al atio al will e oi ed by Brazillian musician, Sessa. Doors open at 8 p.m.; 1464 Gratiot Ave., Detroit; 313-737-6606; trinosophes.com. Tickets are $15-$20.
WEDNESDAY, 7/10
TIMOTHY GREENFIELD-SANDERS/MAGNOLIA PICTURES
illiams is as m ch o a character as the tooth a imatro ic a ta o ist, r ce the shar . i the each a d eel the terror as the etroit m ho rchestra er orms the e tire score i s c with a screening of Jaws. Screening and music begin at 7:30 p.m.; 3711 Woodward Ave., Detroit; 313-576-5111; dso.org. Tickets are $40+.
WED., 7/10-SAT., 7/13 58th Annual Wyandotte Street Art Fair
Saturday 7/20
a dotte. et r i or its th ear is the a dotte treet Art air. ollowi s it with ears re io s, more tha , isitors are e ected to er se the wares o fi e artists rom all o er the co tr while di i o delicio s eats rom more tha resta ra ts as well as e erie ce other e dors a d er orma ces rom local artists. he ree o r da esti al will fill the streets o dow tow a dotte a d will i cl de er orma ces ar ieme s i, a e ews, isteria, oo ie omite, a d the acclaimed co er a d, ra a ies e o r e.
CaRvIn JoNeS BaNd
WsG DoCtEr DeTrOiT
Saturday 7/27
JaCkIe VeNsOn Thursday 8/1
ThE JaUnTeE Thursday 8/8
GoOsE
@ Downtown Wyandotte
ART + MORE o t derestimate the ass mi dow ri er tow o
Event begins at 10 a.m. each day; 3200 Biddle Ave., Wyandotte; wyandottestreetartfair.org. Event is free.
WsG PaJaMaS
now serving
Jaws in concert
brunch
@ DSO
MUSIC + FILM Yo re oi to eed a i er stri sectio . e ha e te e iel er s shar mo ie to tha or ears o irratio al ears o c i shar s lurking in, like, every possible body of water st waiti to o le o r s secti asses . A so ic airi with a li e s m ho orchestra sho ld ease the a iet a little, ri ht ro . he films ico ic score rom the i com ara le oh
SaM BuSh
FoR TiCkEtS & DiNnEr ReSeRvAtIoNs
ViSiT OtUsSuPpLy.CoM 345 E 9 MILE RD
Jaws, Detroit Symphony Orchestra, July 10.
COURTESY PHOTO
FeRnDaLe
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27
THIS WEEK
Dave Matthews Band, DTE Energy Music Theatre, July 9.
MUSIC Wednesday, July 3 An Evening with 38 Special 8 p.m.; MGM Grand, 1777 Third St., Detroit; $49.50-$59.50. Béla Fleck and the Flecktones 7
28 July 3-9, 2019 | metrotimes.com
p.m.; Michigan Theater, 603 E. Liberty St.,, Ann Arbor; $35-$70. BUMP NITE 9 p.m.; Deluxx Fluxx, 1274 Library St., Detroit; No cover. Loose Ends & Rahsaan Patterson 7:30 p.m.; The Aretha Franklin Amphitheatre, 2600 E. Atwater St., Detroit;
DANNY CLINCH
$13+. Melissa Etheridge 8 p.m.; Power Center for the Performing Arts, 121 Fletcher St., Ann Arbor; $48.50-$103.50. SETI .m. li ells, enue, Detroit; $10.
ar A -
The Beths 7 p.m.; El Club, 4114 W. Vernor Hwy., Detroit; $12-$14. YES 6:30 p.m.; Meadow Brook Amphitheatre, 3554 Walton Blvd., Rochester Hills; $29.50+.
Friday, July 5 Cosmic Knot 8 p.m.; Blind Pig, 208 S. First St., Ann Arbor; $5-$8. Dirty Heads and 311 5:45 p.m.; DTE Energy Music Theatre, 33 Bob Seger Dr.., Clarkston; $26+. ENTER THE DUNGEON 8 p.m.; TrumbullPlex, 4210 Trumbull Ave., Detroit; $10. The Jeff Cuny Trio .m. li Bell’s, 2030 Park Ave., Detroit; No cover. Jennifer Lopez: It’s My Party Live Celebration Tour 8 p.m.; Little Caesars Arena, 2645 Woodward Ave., Detroit; $49.95+.
Ferndale; $10-$15. Project 28 Presents: Rap Trap 8 p.m.; Royalty, 16424 East Warren Avenue, Detroit; $10. Renegade Fest 2 p.m.; The Crofoot Ballroom, 1 S. Saginaw St., Pontiac; ROVR, Paramaxx, Ant Braze 8 .m. host i ht, a i A e., Hamtramck; $7-$10. Stef Chura 7 p.m.; Deluxx Fluxx, 1274 Library St., Detroit; $10. Sublime with Rome 7:30 p.m.; Michigan Lottery Amphitheatre at Freedom Hill, 14900 Metropolitan Pkwy., Sterling Heights; $33-$53. Tank 8 p.m.; The Aretha Franklin Amphitheatre, 2600 E. Atwater St., Detroit; $36-$100.
Sunday, July 7
The
Old
Miami
OUR PATIO NIGHTLY BONFIRES ON
WISHING YOU A SAFE AND FUN HOLIDAY WEEKEND!!!
THURSDAY, JULY 4TH
HAPPY INDEPENDENCE DAY!
FRIDAY, JULY 5TH
WOLF EYES, END, DR. PETER LARSON 9PM DOORS / $5 COVER
(ANIMAL NOISES WITH BRASS INSTRUMENTS, AMBIENT SPACE-SOUNDS)
~ HAPPY BIRTHDAY, RUBINO! ~
LiUNA! Bluesfest Windsor 6 p.m.; Festival Plaza, Kercheval and St. Clair, Grosse Pointe; $40-$325.
The Temperance Movement and Tyler Bryant & the Shakedown 6 p.m.; The Shelter, 431 E. Congress St., Detroit; $25.
Prince Night 8 p.m.; Boogie Fever Cafe & Disco, 22901 Woodward Avenue, Ferndale; $10+.
The Kenny Hill Group, Gotcha 5 p.m.; Token Lounge, 28949 Joy Rd., Westland; $10.
Rod Williams Quartet 8:30-11 p.m.; Trinosophes, 1464 Gratiot Ave., Detroit; $10.
Walter Trout Band, Mike Wheeler Band 6 p.m.; Token Lounge, 28949 Joy Rd., Westland; $25+.
Snoop Dogg 8 p.m.; The Aretha Franklin Amphitheatre, 2600 E. Atwater St., Detroit; $100+.
Monday, July 8
MONDAY, JULY 8TH
Froth/ Versing - Detroit 8 p.m.; UFO Factory, 2110 Trumbull Ave., Detroit; $10.
TUESDAY, JULY 9TH
The New ft. Elzhi, Monica Blaire, Eboi Crazy 9 p.m.; El Club, 4114 W. Vernor Hwy., Detroit; $15-$20. TY, Glassflowers, Olive 8 p.m.; host i ht, a i t., amtramc $7-$10.
Hymn 4 Her 8 p.m.; Ghost Light, 2314 a i t., amtramc . John Maus 8 p.m.; El Club, 4114 W. Vernor Hwy., Detroit; $20.
Weird Al Yankovic 8 p.m.; Meadow Brook Amphitheater, 3554 Walton Blvd., Rochester Hills; $30+.
Pouya - Liquid Sunshine Tour 7 p.m.; Saint Andrew’s Hall, 431 E. Congress St., Detroit; $25.
Saturday, July 6
Tuesday, July 9
85 South Show Live 8 p.m.; The Fillmore, 2115 Woodward Ave., Detroit; $55-$120.
The Alexis Lombre Trio 8 p.m.; li ells, ar A e e, etroit Free.
Clear Soul Forces, Kooley High 7 p.m.; El Club, 4114 W. Vernor Hwy., Detroit; $15-$20.
Dave Matthews Band 7 p.m.; DTE Energy Music Theatre, 7774 Sashabaw Rd., Clarkston; $45.50+.
Detroit Lines 10:30 p.m.; El Club, 4114 W. Vernor Hwy., Detroit; $10-$15.
Dennis Coffey 8 p.m.; Northern Lights Lounge, 660 W. Baltimore St., Detroit; Free.
Float Here Forever, The Mighty Ded Woods, Blackmail, Suburban Medicine 8 p.m.; The Loving Touch, 22634 Woodward Ave., Ferndale; $10. Kill Frenzy 9 p.m.; The Grasshopper Underground, 22757 Woodward Ave., Ferndale; $10-$15. The Lionyls II 9 p.m.; Phog Lounge, 157 University Ave. West, Windsor; $8. Nivrana - Tribute to Nirvana 9:30 p.m.; Otus Supply, 345 E. Nine Mile Rd.,
Magic Beans 7 p.m.; Otus Supply, 345 E. Nine Mile Rd., Ferndale; $12-$15.
SATURDAY, JULY 6TH
DOTIA, BLACK WIDOWS (MN SURF), KONG BARKER 9PM DOORS / $5 COVER (INDIE NEW WAVE GOTH, DARK QUIRKY SURF SOUNDS)
~ HAPPY BIRTHDAY, DAN TWOMEY! ~ FREE POOL
~ HAPPY BIRTHDAY, CRASH! ~
FRIDAY. JULY 12TH
JAKDD, HUNG UP, BILLIE & THE HAINT, NATE BOOTYJACKSON
SATURDAY, JULY 13TH NOTHING ELEGANT
(LADY DJ DANCE PARTY)
FRIDAY, JULY 19TH
THE SUGAR BOMBS, DAISYCHAIN (CHICAGO), MOLLO RAILLA (CLEVELAND)
SATURDAY, JULY 20TH
LOLLY GAGGER (CHICAGO), EASERS, (TBA)
THEATER American Buffalo by David Mamet Friday, 8 p.m.; The Shadowbox Theater, 103B - 1501 Howard Ave, windsor; $25. Mo Amer Saturday, 7 p.m.; Royal Oak Music Theatre, 318 W. Fourth St., Royal Oak; $74+.
OPEN EVERY DAY INCLUDING HOLIDAYS INSTAGRAM & FACEBOOK: THEOLDMIAMI CALL US FOR BOOKING! 313-831-3830
The Old Miami
3930 Cass • Cass Corridor • 313-831-3830
metrotimes.com | July 3-9, 2019
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THIS WEEK
Bill Callahan, MOCAD, July 8.
Welcome To Paradise MondaysSundays.; Purple Rose Theatre, 137 Park St., Chelsea; $16+.
COMEDY All-Star Showdown Fridays, Saturdays, 8 & 10 p.m.; Go Comedy! Improv Theater, 261 E. Nine Mile Rd., Ferndale; $20. Andy Beningo Friday, 7:15 p.m. and Saturday, 7 p.m.; Mark Ridley’s Comedy Castle, 310 S. Troy St., Royal Oak; $18. Fresh Sauce Sundays, 9 p.m.; Go Comedy! Improv Theater, 261 E. Nine Mile Rd., Ferndale; Free. Name This Show Fridays, Saturdays, 11:45 p.m.; Go Comedy! Improv Theater, 261 E. Nine Mile Rd., Ferndale; Free. Open Mic Wednesdays, 7:30 p.m.; Mark Ridley’s Comedy Castle, 310 S. Troy St., Royal Oak; $5. Pandemonia Every other Friday, 8 & 10 p.m.; Go Comedy! Improv Theater, 261 E. Nine Mile Rd., Ferndale; $20. Sunday Buffet Sundays, 7 p.m.; Go Comedy! Improv Theater, 261 E. Nine Mile Rd., Ferndale; $10. The Capitol Steps Thursday, 4 p.m.; Power Center for the Performing Arts, 121 Fletcher St., Ann Arbor; $40-$55. Thursday Night Live! Thursdays, 8 .m. A t all, a i t., amtramck; $5;.
30 July 3-9, 2019 | metrotimes.com
COURTESY PHOTO
ART Drawing in the Galleries Fridays, 6 p.m., Saturdays, noon and Sundays, noon; Detroit Institute of Arts, 5200 Woodward Ave., Detroit; Free. Eddie Martinez: Fast Eddie Through Aug. 4. Wednesdays-Sundays. Museum of Contemporary Art Detroit (MOCAD), 4454 Woodward Ave., Detroit; $5 suggested donation. From Camelot to Kent State: Pop Art 1960-1975 Tuesdays-Sundays.; Detroit Institute of Arts, 5200 Woodward Ave., Detroit; Museum admission. Global Glass: A Survey of Form and Function Through September. Mondays-Wednesdays, Fridays, 9 am-5 p.m.; Alfred Berkowitz Gallery, U of MDearborn, Dearborn; Free. KAWS: Alone Again Through Aug 4. Wednesdays-Sundays; Museum of Contemporary Art Detroit (MOCAD), 4454 Woodward Ave., Detroit; $5 suggested donation. Nicolas Lobo: Wellness Center Through Aug 4. Wednesdays-Sundays, Museum of Contemporary Art Detroit (MOCAD), 4454 Woodward Ave., Detroit; $5 suggested donation. Ruben & Isabel Toledo: Labor of Love Tuesdays-Sundays.; Detroit Institute of Arts, 5200 Woodward Ave., Detroit; Free. The Big Picture Guided Tour
Tuesdays-Sundays, 1 p.m., Fridays, 6 p.m. and Saturdays, Sundays, 3 p.m.; Detroit Institute of Arts, 5200 Woodward Ave., Detroit; Free. Thursdays at the Museum: Highlights of the Permanent Collection Thursdays, 1 p.m.; Detroit Institute of Arts, 5200 Woodward Ave., Detroit; Free. Unboxing: Doublespeak Through Aug. 4, Wednesdays-Sundays; Museum of Contemporary Art Detroit (MOCAD), 4454 Woodward Ave., Detroit; $5 suggested donation.
FUN FOR ALL Cody Kresta Winemaker’s Dinner Monday, 6:30 p.m.; Michigan By The Bottle Tasting Room, 3384 Auburn Rd., Auburn Hills; $65. Tanya Solomon: Truth Assassin — A night of magick Sunday, 7 p.m.; A t all, a i t., amtramc $11-$15.
SPORTS Play Ball! Transforming the Game, 1876–2019 Tuesdays-Sundays, 10 am; Detroit Institute of Arts, 5200 Woodward Ave., Detroit; Admission is free for residents of Macomb, Oakland, and Wayne counties. Get listed: Submit your event online at metrotimes.com/AddEvent or send it to calendar@metrotimes.com.
metrotimes.com | July 3-9, 2019
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THIS WEEK
Name a more Ann Arbor-sounding experience than watching local prog-funk favorites Chirp at the Blind Pig. We’ll wait. While y’all recover from the meandering funk of Electric Forest, there’s the Wilcomeets-the Marcus King Band stylings of Jay Fryndenlund, Brian Long, Ken Ball, and John Gorine of Chirp. Formed in 2015 a d ow or er ormi their asses o (more than 200 shows in three years), the melodic foursome released the long overdue jammy and jazzy debut album earlier this year along with three live-recorded EPs. Funk Worthy and Liquid Thickness will also perform.
FRIDAY, 7/5 Zeelooperz, Black Noi$e, and Jay Daniel @ Deluxx Fluxx
Christmas in July isn’t really a thing but we’re feeling this gift of a lineup: Zeelooperz (the noted member of Danny Brown’s Bruiser Brigade), emerging electronic producer Jay Daniel, and Black Noi$e (a Metro Times artist to watch who just so happens to roll deep with Earl Sweatshirt) — all of whom are riding the wave of fresh releases. The most recent of the releases is from Zeelooperz, who dropped his Shigeto collaborative followup with Dyn-o-mite and Wild Card, both o which fi d the ecce tric ra er shing his unconventional stream-of-consciousness style. But don’t sleep on the low-roll of grind-worthy beats via Black Noi$e’s most recent “Fader Mix,” either. Doors open at 7 p.m.; 1274 Library St., Detroit delu u .com. Tickets are .
SATURDAY, 7/6 Clear Soul Forces @ El Club
In the seven years since Noveliss, L.A.Z., E-Fav, and Ilajide released their debut record Detroit Revolution(s) as Clear Soul Forces, they’ve toured Europe and garnered love from the world’s hip-hop community all while keeping it close to their Detroit roots. CSF returned this year with Still — 11 tracks of Detroit hip-hop that furthers the boom-bap tradition and is packed with comic book references (a signature of Noveliss’ “nerdy” songwriting) and seething jabs at white privilege. Produced entirely by the artists own Ilajide and released on Fat Beats Records, Still mar s a ew cha ter or the o tfit as it take a more hands-on approach to their brand. North Carolina-based Kooley High is also on the bill.
Doors open at p.m. 0 S. irst St., nn rbor 4blindpigmusic. com. Tickets are 0.
WEDNESDAY, 7/10
Stef Chura, Deluxx Fluxx, July 6.
CHLOE SELLS
Livewire
Local music picks By Jerilyn Jordan formidable triple threat,” while itchfork called her presence on the new record as being as “self-assured as PJ Harvey and as liberated as Alanis Morrisette.” The recent MT cover girl and punk cheerleader — if you had any doubts, just watch her latest visuals for “Scream” — might moonlight as a karaoke host, but it’s her singular controlled rock howl and candid songwriting that has national outlets joining us in praising her as one of the most fier oices i m sic. or this home-
town record release show, Chura will be joined by Johnny Ill as well as L.A.-based post-punk foursome, French Vanilla. Doors open at 7 p.m.; 1274 Library St., Detroit delu u .com. Tickets are 0.
SATURDAY, 7/6 Chirp @ Blind Pig
Extra Arms, Devious Ones, and Hidebehind in support of Big Eyes @ Loving Touch
Extra Arms is both a new and old band that is technically on its fourth record. Formerly called Ryan Allen and his Extra Arms, the former Thunderbirds Are Now! singer decided to join forces with Sean Sommer, Michael Gallacher, and Ryan Marshall for Headacher — a collection of elevated pop-punk. Teaming up with Extra Arms to support Big Eyes, gritty power pop out of New York, are Detroit’s harmony-heavy Devious Ones and Ferndale’s Hidebehind, who will celebrate the release of their debut self-titled EP. Doors open at 7 p.m.; 22634 Woodward ve., erndale 4 - 0thelovingtouchferndale.com. Tickets are .
Doors open at 7 p.m.; 4114 W. Vernor Hwy., Detroit; 313-279-7382; elclubdetroit.com. Tickets are - 0.
SATURDAY, 7/6 Stef Chura with Johnny Ill and French Vanilla @ Deluxx Fluxx
When reviewing her sophomore record Midnight, Rolling Stone called metro Detroit indie rock babe Stef Chura “a
32 July 3-9, 2019 | metrotimes.com
Clear Soul Forces, El Club, July 6.
COURTESY OF ARTIST
Avril Lavigne Fox Theatre, Sept. 28, 7 p.m., $29.50+
Fast-Forward The Raconteurs The Masonic Theatre, July 12-13 8 p.m., $45+ Carly Rae Jepsen The Fillmore, July 13, 7 p.m., $36+ Jeff Lynne’s ELO Little Caesars Arena, July 20, 8 p.m., $49.50+ Alice Cooper and Halestorm DTE Energy Music Theatre, July 20, 7 p.m., $29.50 Mary J. Blige, Nas DTE Energy Music Theatre, July 28, 8 p.m., $30.99 Mo Pop Festival West Riverfront Park, July 27-28, noon, $85+ Adam Lambert + Queen Little Caesars Arena, July 27, 8 p.m.; Sold-out John Mayer Little Caesars Arena, Aug. 2, 7:30 p.m., $59.50+ Beck, Cage the Elephant DTE Energy Theatre, Aug. 3, 6 p.m., $29.50+
A Flock of Seagulls, the Motels, Wang Chung The Aretha Franklin Amphitheater, Aug. 9, 8 p.m., $35+ Carlos Santana DTE Energy Music Theatre, Aug. 11, 7 p.m., $47+ Gladys Knight The Aretha Franklin Amphitheater, Aug. 11, 7 p.m., $46+ Backstreet Boys Little Caesars Arena, Aug. 12, 8 p.m., $59.50+ The Smashing Pumpkins and Noel Gallagher’s High Flying Birds DTE Energy Music Theatre, Aug. 14, 7 p.m.; $39.50 Meek Mill, Future DTE Energy Music Theatre, Sept. 1, 7 p.m., $35+ Lenny Kravitz Fox Theatre, Sept. 5, 8 p.m., $39.50+ Jonas Brothers Little Caesars Arena, Sept. 7, 8 p.m., $149.50+
Bryan Ferry Fox Theatre, Aug. 3, 8 p.m., $39.50+
Blink-182 and Lil Wayne DTE Energy Music Theatre, Sept. 10, 7 p.m., $44.50+
21 Savage Michigan Lottery Amphitheatre at Freedom Hill, Aug. 4, 8 p.m., $29.50+
The B-52s, OMD, Berlin Meadow Brook Amphitheatre, Sep. 14, 7 p.m., $29.50+
Heart, Joan Jett & the Blackhearts DTE Energy Music Theatre, Aug. 5, 7 p.m., $29.50+
Patti Smith Royal Oak Music Theatre, Sept. 16-17, 6:30 p.m., $45+
metrotimes.com | July 3-9, 2019
33
MUSIC
COURTESY OF THE ARTIST
Stranger things
Weird Al Yankovic dials it back — but he’s still weird By Jerilyn Jordan
News flash: Weird Al Yankovic changed his Twitter bio. Under any other circumstance, this would hardly be newsworthy. But the accordion-wiedling Prince of Parody changed his Twitter bio last week to re ect his lic decisio to dista ce himself from the dethroned King of o , ichael ac so , a d the m sic that hel ed solidi the rolific la er s res ecti e lace i m sic history. His bio, which once read “You know… the at t ow reads, Yo ow the weird o e. Ya o ic s latest tre , d ed the tri Attached o r, fi ds the celebrated curly-haired humorist backed a ll orchestra, com lete with cost mer , medle s, torm roo ers, a d a e wa . he hit ac ed set, howe er, has a larger-than-life void — there are o ichael ac so so s. do t ow i that s oi to e erma e t or ot, Ya o ic told Billboard o his decisio to dro at t a d at rom the set, t we st elt that with what s ha e ed rece tl with the doc me taries, we did t want anybody to feel uncomfortable. I felt I had enough fan favorites in the show that co ld et awa with it. t ma come as some s r rise that courting controversy was never the 34 July 3-9, 2019 | metrotimes.com
oal or the fi e time ramm Award wi i ear old ra d ather o YouTube (a title he admittedly lays no claim to, though he says he has read a ew thi ieces that credit him or the surge of DIY artists) whose career, rom the o tside, a ears as tho h it was ilt o the o datio o issi eo le o . he o osite is tr e o Yankovic, who is for all intents and r oses a reall i i ice who, at this sta e, eels little ress re to maintain a mantel of strange. do t eel a ress re to e weird, he sa s. weird ess comes rett at rall . erha s what ee s Ya o ic weird in 2019 is his lack of shock-and-awe tactics. re, cle er word la desi ca e s r risi , t Ya o ic sa s his e cha t or ee i his comed clea is not as much of a conscious choice as it is a e te sio o his erso alit . e sa s ro a it is t art o his dail vocabulary and his mind rarely travels down blue corridors though, sometimes he chec s himsel as to ee his m ltigenerational following in mind. thi ro a l that started whe was a tee a er, he sa s o his comed . did t wa t to release a thi that wo ld o e d m are ts. Yo do t wa t to e la eled sa e. a i said that, my material falls under the
m rella o amil rie dl , t still sh the e elo e e er ow a d the to see how far I can go to get to the oi t where it s st ot oi to e o e si e or o o er ids heads. A d at the same time, it s ot the i les. tr to ma e it so that o re ot oi to traumatize your 5-year-old if he accide tall hears it. or more tha ears, Ya o ic has sed his e etic weird ess to sh the ited tates air se octri e a d its arod cla se to the limit. ho h the details of the clause do not require someone like Yankovic to receive ermissio rom the ori i al recordi artist, he seeks it out anyway, which is how we know both Prince and Paul c art e t r ed dow Ya o ic s itches. c art e s ested a less e etaria edit to his hic e ot ie itch to ho or his dietar elie s. Ya o ic decli ed. t s also how we ow a o t oolio s lo standing beef with Yankovic following Amish aradise which has si ce ee t to rest . etroit s ow lim had t the i osh o a m sic ideo or o ch otato Ya o ic s arod o mi em s Academ Award wi i ose Yo rsel . e e er s o e to or met the ma . here s certai l o hard eeli s o m art, he sa s o m. e t r ed
me down for the video, but allowed me do the song for the album, which was more critical. ad a a re erred to the Ya o ic treatme t as ei li e a rite o assa e, a ter he o ed at mama mo ster i s er orm his a . A d it s how we ow rt o ai amo sl a e his blessing to Yankovic for his marblemo thed mells i e ir a a a ter a ho e call to the Saturday Night Live studio where Nirvana readied themsel es to er orm eart ha ed o a d a e e o atio al tele isio . is first thi was, s it oi to e a o t ood Ya o ic sa s. said, o, it s oi to e a o t how o o e ca dersta d o r l rics. h s, mells i e ir a a was or . ater, o ai wo ld attri te Ya o ic s arod or the s r e i Nevermind sales. t s odd to e li e a oot ote i m sical histor . i e o ic a rt o ai io ra h a d o ll loo i the i de a d there am, Ya o ic sa s. m art o their le ac i a odd wa . e alwa s tho ht o m sel as a o tsider o i o the eo le o the i side. m ot i the i er circle, t m somehow still attached to all these ico ic fi res. t s a i arre thi . ore tha a oot ote i someo e else s i i edia a e citatio s, Ya o ic has made history of his own. Though he has s e t the etter art o his career la di so s at the to s ots o the comed charts, it was t til s Mandatory Fun that he had himself his first o. al m. he record, which s oo s hamillio aire s idi with hite erd , a d i es A alea s a c the a d treatme t while i i harell illiams a i to all thi s ac , mar ed the first comedy album to reach No. 1 since Alla herma s My Son, the Nut in 1963. Yankovic says it was never a dream of his to go No. 1 because it seemed unattainable, like much of his career. e er tho ht d e a le to ma e a li i doi this, he sa s. he was a id, mi ht e had a tasies o a career i o m sic, t e er reall tho ht d e a le to ma e it. A d m career exists thanks to a number of ha accide ts, ess o co ld sa . “Once I signed my record deal, I e er tho ht, h, m oi to e doi this or the e t ears. t was alwa s st li e, ell, this is . et s see what ha e s. o o od s more s r rised tha me that e ee a le to ee doi what do or as lo as ha e. Weird Al Yankovic will perform on Friday, July 5 at Meadow Brook Amphitheatre; 234 Festival Dr., Rochester Hills; 248-377-0100; 313presents.com. Tickets start at $30.
metrotimes.com | July 3-9, 2019
35
MUSIC Art can open up doors. Music
can motivate the masses. And experiencing both music and art live — as an audience, as a community — can cultivate compassion, advancing causes and expanding our perspective. If that sounds lofty to you, then you’ve never been to an Earthwork event. The Earthwork Harvest Gathering is an annual music festival that started up near Traverse City 18 years ago, orchestrated by singer-songwriter Seth Bernard to be a conversation-starting summit of diverse artists, activists, and community organizations. And now, Earthwork is now laying down roots in Detroit with an inaugural festival on July 10, with artists like Nique Love Rhodes, Will See, Audra Kubat, and Wayne Ramocan (as Juuni) performing live at the Dequindre Cut’s Campbell Terrace Stage for a free, all-ages, all-day event. The Earthwork Detroit Music Festi al ri s to ether se eral o rofit organizations that embrace and utilize creative practice, such as D.Cipher (co-founded by Rhodes and Ramocan), as well as Title Track, a very new, albeit
Nique Love Rhodes.
DAN MCDOUGALL
Nourishing cultural resilience
Inaugural First Earthwork Detroit Festival features Youth Workshops and advocates for social justice By Jeff Milo very energized umbrella-like association of artists and activists led by Bernard, and Collective Wisdom Detroit, which is Will See’s network-building project of cooperative resource-sharing between artists in cities across the country. Earthwork Detroit’s festival kicks o at .m., starti thi s o with a series of workshops geared toward youth and teens designed to illuminate the importance of agriculture, as well as providing them access into forms of expression like poetry and songwriting. There will be music throughout the day, continuing into the evening, past sunset: it’s a free event, but donations will e e co ra ed, which will e efit the Detroit Black Community Food Security Network. “We want this to be a free event that promotes accessibility and has universal appeal, and is something the whole family can enjoy,” says Will See. “We’ll have workshops early in the afternoon,
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and there will be several community organizations on site, as well as a few who will do some speaking between songs. t was a co le ears a o that we first talked about starting (an Earthwork event) here in Detroit, and (this year) Seth (Bernard) connected me to Wayne (Ramocan).” Will See is an emcee and social activist who first a eared aro d the local music scene back in the early 2000s with the Long Hairz Collective. He was first i s ired to e lore hi ho as well as spoken-word performances) back in the late ’90s by his younger brother, who has since passed. Will See, (a.k.a. William Copeland) released his debut solo album in 2013 (The Basics) and followed that up recently with Detroit Diplomat. He’s also worked with the East Michigan Environmental Action Council, the Clean Water Campaign for Michigan, and has programmed a Detroit-centric showcase of hip-hop artists at the Lake City-based Earth-
work Harvest event for four consecutive years. After attending several Earthwork Harvest events, it wasn’t long before Will See aspired to establish a Detroit event — but it accelerated toward reality when See hooked up with Ramocan and Rhodes of D.Cipher. “Nique and I connected with Seth in Austin in 2016,” says Ramocan. “We held a Cipher down in SXSW, and (Bernard) was one of the featured artists at the Michigan House. Since then, we’ve continued connecting parts of the state like this, with D.Cipher making more intentional connections to artists in Kalamazoo and Grand Rapids. Collaboration has been one of D.Cipher’s pillars to amplify Detroit music and Michigan music, strengthening the Detroit music economy and reaching beyond the city.” Earthwork has “obviously been a successful festival outside of Detroit,” Ramocan acknowledges, “and I was able to attend, in Lake City, last year’s
event, and we loved their energy. Since our second season of the Dequindre Cut Summer Concert Series was coming up with the Riverfront Conservancy, we were able to connect (for Earthwork Detroit).” Rhodes considered the opportunity to participate in Earthwork Detroit to be “amazing… because it aligns with what I believe as an artist: that we have a social responsibility to use our art to bring not only positivity, but also social change, social justice... and advocate or im orta t iss es. he first heard about this, I felt we absolutely had to do this.” Rhodes and Ramocan, along with hip-hop artist Insite the Riot, founded D.Cipher six years ago, forged out of a shared frustration for the lack of artists’ rehearsal spaces. Rhodes had just fi ished her de t al m at that time and was forming her backing band, The NLR Experience, while Ramocan was, at that point in time, part of two
ensembles (including OneFreq). They started hosting “Ciphers” at Rhodes’ studio, and they soon “grew to be a knowledge-sharing kind of gathering,” says Ramocan. “In hip-hop, the ‘cipher’ is a freestyle circle where emcees bring their best and latest lyrics. Other hiphop elements, beat-boxing and break dancing are also present. Similarly, D.Cipher brings a variety of musical artists to build together. Even our workshops are framed as knowledge ciphers, not trainings.” Just as Will See has joined and supported several causes over the years, amoca s r s m a lies the fitti title of “artpreneur,” with lead roles for the Osborn Neighborhood Alliance and the Build Institute, the former of which enlightened him to the rewarding work of “place-making and place-keeping,” which Ramocan says “are shorthand terms for a lot of the things we did in Osborn. Being able to bring in art with the work of community development, was a great way to activate the physical spaces and welcome a lot of people that might not otherwise think about these parts of the neighborhood.” Extending from “place-keeping,” Ramocan says that the theme for this year’s Summer Concert Series (which takes place on every Wednesday, start-
ing with Earthwork Detroit), is “highlighting the place we’re in, which is the Black Bottom neighborhood. The stage is actually within the eastern border of the original Black Bottom neighborhood, so we’re highlighting how ‘Black Bottom Lives’ — it ‘lives’ with us, physically, and we’re paying homage to the people that came before us.” Another aspect in which the artists featured here go beyond the typical music industry pursuits is Rhodes’ Rise Up Higher initiative, arranged to use music as a tool for positive social change and to impact youth. Rhodes, who fuses her hip-hop lyricism to arrangements of rock, funk, and soul with her band, admits that she had to attain an extra-motivated entrepreneur-mindset from day one in order to survive and thrive as an independent artist. “But,” she said, “everything has to have a purpose; it all should serve the greater good — that’s always been an extension of who I am as an artist. Hip-hop is about being authentic to who you are, so I feel a deep sense of obligation and purpose.” During Will See’s time with the Long Hairz Collective, the majority of their performances wound up being at rallies and community events. “So our gigs became less music industry driven
Wayne Ramocan. ANA RAMOCAN FOR AMAR MEDIA
and more about grassroots gatherings. My M.O. became more about why are people gathered together, rather than just the art itself, or trying to make money. So (community activism) has always been interwoven with the music I’ve made. I started making songs that could inspire a broader audience who may or may not be engaged in that activism.” And so, in the early 2000s, the Long Hairz went up to Lake City for an Earthwork gathering, where Will
See met Bernard. Fifteen years later, we now have the Earthwork Detroit Music Festival. There will be several speakers addressing issues of social justice and the importance of recognizing social ecologies, but, as Will See said, the majority of the day’s programming will be live music, including the Aadizookaan, BRYCE DETROIT, Audra Kubat, Spirits Rising, as well as sets from Will See, the NLR Experience, Seth Bernard, and Wayne Ramocan’s solo project, Juuni, utilizing analog and digital instruments augmenting his rhythmic arrangements. The Earthwork Detroit Music Festival is sponsored by Avalon International Breads, along with etroit aces, etroit s i ere t (with Piper Carter, of the Piper Carter Podcast), Hanging Out in the D, and the Halle Social Justice Fund (which is part of the School of Social Work at Eastern Michigan University.) Earthwork Detroit Festival will be held from 1 p.m.-9 p.m. on Wednesday, July 10 at the Dequindre Cut’s Campbell Terrace Stage at Lafayette Street and St. Aubin Street); Event is free (donations encouraged); titletrackmichigan. org. Speakers include Malik Yakini and Monica Lewis-Patrick, and Audra Kubat is planning a songwriting workshop.
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CULTURE
Jonathan Majors and Jimmie Fails in The Last Black Man in San Francisco.
Gentrification blues By George Elkind
Maybe it’s because I catch
a lot of matinees, but it’s rare for me to hear a movie interrupted by a long succession of oblivious snores. Alas, such was the case this weekend in my screening of The Last Black Man in San Francisco, a movie which the normally energetic friend who accompanied me also couldn’t stay awake for. I survived. As belabored as its mouthful of a title, The Last Black Man in San Francisco is meant to be a romantically allegorized and faintly surreal elegy for a San Francisco that more kinds of eo le co ld a ord to li e i o e that feels a long way back now. Despite director Joe Talbot’s best intentions, it lacks political teeth or convincing texture and becomes instead a kind of satire of itself. With its exasperated, agreeable politics (agreeable at least to lifelong lefties, the primary arthouse and festival audience, who bumped this movie up to its relatively wide state of distri tio , it seems tailored s ecifically for the NPR crowd. Starring Jimmie Fails in a story he co-wrote based in part on his own life, Jimmie (the character) spends most of the movie fawning over an old house he claims his grandfather built in the ’40s (a narrative that is repeatedly re-
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examined). A great and meticulously realized beauty photographed well enough here, the house has been lost or sold o sometime i the mid s and is now held by an older (and, as it’s implied, gentrifying) white couple who frequently shoo Jimmie away as he lingers nearby. Even as they live in it, he works to pretty it up and retouch its paint, suggesting that he appreciates it to a de ree the e er co ld seeming to hope that by caring for it, that by some miracle of karma, he might be restored to his place as its rightful owner. When the couple leaves while disputing an inheritance, Jimmie and his close but more level-headed and artistic friend Mont (Jonathan Majors) move in as squatters and proceed to work on the house. In depicting the characters working to restore the home, director Joe Talbot is weirdly shy about the process (possibly because of trouble with shooti ermits . As a rece t first time homeowner, I was shocked to see a depiction of renovation that involved lazily swinging a hammer at the same place, lovingly dragging a brush over the same trim, and (with devastating sloppiness) cleaning out some gutters. The gutters, a synecdoche of the movie’s devotion to retti ess, are filled with risti e, dr ,
A24
and unrotted leaves. If only rehabbing could be so easy! Or at least so free of charge as the movie makes it look. The depiction of their work is as impossible a fantasy as their stay within the house itsel a d it s hard to wa t to i est in either of the two. I kvetch about this oversight not just because it’s irksome personally but because it’s aesthetically telling; Talbot’s direction foregrounds the house as a charged romantic object at the expense of all else. In what’s ostensibly a love letter to a city, the streets are nearly empty, women are virtually (troublingly) absent, persons onscreen exist s ecificall as co s i a crawli stor , and the cast hardly ever goes to work. I’m not sure anyone eats or drinks. In a story nominally concerned with the violence that displacement, eviction, a d e trificatio do to the artic larly Black) lives of individuals and comm ities i so ma words, the near-genocidal destruction of cities and their lo term reside ts the fi er grained (but less sexy) features that so dehumanize workers in our present are missing, if they register at all. Wealth consolidation, the gig economy, the tech boom, the second job, the i ated ho si mar et the re ot just unarticulated but invisible and unimplied, things a viewer is supposed to infer without feeling even secondary e ects o . he actors here are more tha fi e,
The Last Black Man in San Francisco Rated: R Runtime: 161 minutes particularly those who play Jimmie and Mont, but it’s hard to save a script this thin with acting. It’s a shame given so m ch a o t this film s setti , loo , a d cast that it ca t do etter all the more so when Oakland, with its supply of both better (Sorry to Bother You) and recent (Blindspotting) movies set there and its greater (to my mind) wealth of real-life stories like this, lies just east across the water. Film has a unique property of capturing and immortalizing places, moments, communities, and textures, but here that’s sadly underutilized even as it’s culturally and politically vital to do so. Talbot seems strenuously conscious of this eed, ma i his ail re to lfill it seem more a matter of some missing vision than of care or good intent. Movies are made of what’s onscreen, though, and without them doing a better job of capturing the life and texture o a a ra cisco or a a la d, or a er ele , or a etroit it s im ossible to believe any viewer taking in this film s stor mi ht fi d a ta i le connection with what has been or is being lost.
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CULTURE
SHUTTERSTOCK.COM
Higher Ground
The power of a symbol By Larry Gabriel
Images of marijuana leaves are on just about anything these days. They’re on T-shirts, hats, cigarette lighters, underwear, posters — you name it, and somebody somewhere has slapped a marijuana leaf on it. The leaf has entered the realm of iconography that goes well beyond marijuana culture. And plenty of folks are getting busy with it. I spotted marijuana leaves on a couple of items at Cirilla’s in Ferndale a few months back. The attendant at the store, which specializes in erotic items, said that the leaf wasn’t a major part of their product line, but from time to time articles came through with that design on them. The marijuana leaf is one of those universal symbols that goes everywhere that people go. Cannabis enthusiasts have made it recognized pretty much everywhere in the world. That green leaf with serrated edges and seven lea ets a ed o t li e a ha d with its fi ers o e reachi toward the s is a worldwide icon. “You can recognize the marijuana leaf wherever you go the same way you recognize the Coca-Cola can,” says Christeen Landino, a retired designer in the automotive industry. “No matter what language it’s written in, you know it’s Coca-Cola.” The cannabis leaf implies so much more than the simplicity of its visual presentation. It represents getting high. It represents rebellion against authority. It establishes cannabis friendliness. The simple leaf implies nature and 40 July 3-9, 2019 | metrotimes.com
safety and somehow seems like it could be part of the environmental green future. The ecology movement also uses leaves in its imagery. Leaves are cool. The leaf can also raise the hackles of those who are not cannabis-friendly. “It depends on the person looking at it,” says Landino. “The leaf is much more powerful than the bud in the fact that more people recognize the leaf. People within the marijuana community recognize the bud. The leaf is powerful; it’s powerful in both ways that when some people see it they get all spastic over it, and others are like ‘gimme, gimme.’ It catches your eye.” The leaf is not even the most crucial part of the plant. Buds are the main source of cannabinoids that get you high or soothe your ills. The bud has its ow lace i the ima er firmame t. A place mat at a recent reception for he row eat red othi t images of buds. Several print magazines, most notably High Times, have made marijuana buds central to their presentation. he owers ca e so e tici i their emerald glory, shimmering with cannabinoid crystals. They can be fascinating and otherworldly, but they are an insider thrill. Their intricacy doesn’t lend itself to the bold image that can make a design sing. Artists or scientists can appreciate the architecture of a mature bud, but they mean little as a symbol to nonusers. That’s the leaf. The leaf works well in marketing to easily let the public know what you’re a o t witho t all the oofi ess a d
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CULTURE outright stereotyping that can be attached to marijuana imagery. Roberta King, founder of Canna Communication in Grand Rapids, recently posted a blog about “Marijuana memes and messages in social media.” She discusses businesses passing by the “stoner image” when presenting themselves to the public. She used the example of a stoned SpongeBob SquarePants comic that’s been making the rounds which was wrong in so many ways, including copyright infringement and advertising to children. But the leaf — that’s just fi e. “I don’t think it’s appropriate in the business of trying to present an image and to be taken seriously,” says King of the stoner stereotype. “I think using a leaf is a good thing. We’ve overused that emerald green color quite a bit. I advise to lean away from that. Versions of the leaf and a sort of nod to the leaf — it’s the sort of an icon that speaks to exactly what it is. I think that’s a good symbol. It’s powerful and it’s iconic. People are not going to confuse it with an oak leaf or a maple leaf.” That whole emerald green thing
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became a point of contention in Detroit a few years back. Before the city or the state were bothering to regulate provisioning centers, numerous of these storefronts were decorated with green Christmas tree type lights so that customers would recognize them as provisioning centers. However, this “marijuana green” drove the anti-marijuana crowd crazy. One rule that was pushed by the shut-em-down group was that store ro ts sho ld fit i with the existing decor of the neighborhood — and hopefully not with green. It was amazing how just the color green set ol s o . Despite its color, the leaf could be a good reminder to the public of where mari a a came rom i the first lace. More and more, the marijuana products people use just don’t look like plant materials. Creams, salves, oils, isolates, shatter, wax, and gummies look pretty much like the same kinds of products you could pick up at a local strip mall. It’s not a bunch of leaves and sticks and seeds in a baggie. The plant itself elicits amazement and joy among users. The sight of a
The sight of pounds and kilos of marijuana bring joy to one’s heart like an orgy of leafiness. field or a room filled with mari a a plants is inspiring, as is the sight of leaves freely waving in the wind. Maybe the sight of so much marijuana in one place amazes people who have become accustomed to buying a few grams at a time. The sight of pounds and kilos of marijuana bring joy to one’s heart, like a or o leafi ess. Going forward we’ll see less and less of the actual marijuana plant, but we’re going to see that leaf image everywhere. I have an ugly sweater, the kind people wear on TV shows around Christmas that were supposedly knitted by grandma, bedecked with marijuana leaves. Mine was a Christmas present from my brother-in-law, who doesn’t se the st , t he s ot all sti a o t the subject. Could it be that the marijuana leaf will be the ambassador that reaches
across the divide of users and nonusers? Will a leaf cartoon someday dance across the screen to explain cannabinoids at the retirement home? Will an adventuresome cannabis leaf be the star of a new video game? While marijuana sifts into the fabric of daily life, the leaf may be taking on a life of its own.
Know your states
In case you’re traveling this summer, it’s a good thing to know the status of marijuana where you are. At this point, adult-recreational use of marijuana is legal in Alaska, Oregon, Washington state, Washington D.C., California, Nevada, Colorado, Illinois, Michigan, Vermont, Massachusetts, and Maine. And if you wander across a border, marijuana is legal in Canada and Mexico. Enjoy your summer.
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CULTURE
Savage Love By Dan Savage
Q:
I’m a man from a very liberal background. Recently, a girl I started dating — a girl from a similar background — mentioned that she has “a thing for Black guys.” She also met my childhood best friend, a man of Korean descent, and commented to me that she found him handsome despite not typically being attracted to Asian guys. The position that I’ve always held is that we’re attracted to individuals, not types, and it’s wrong to have expectations of people based on race — especially when it comes to sexualizing/fetishizing people. I think we should date and have sex with whomever we want and not carry prejudiced expectations into our relationships. I am worried she sees Black men as stereotypes of athleticism, confidence, and the other complicated constructions we’ve made about the Black body, like Black men having bigger dicks. I also worry that she might see me as less masculine and less wellendowed because of my race. I eventually asked her about these issues, and we had a tense conversation. I tried to ask if she had ever checked herself for possible prejudice where her sexual desires are concerned, and she shut the conversation down by accusing me of trying to control her. I reassured her that I wasn’t trying to control her, but it is possible I was projecting the insecurity her comments stirred into the conversation. I’m trying to balance two components: my own insecurity and the possibility that she’s holding a legitimately prejudiced opinion that makes me uncomfortable. Any advice? —Seeking To Interrogate Newish Girlfriend’s Statements
A : It’s a big leap from “I have a thing
for Black guys” to “White guys aren’t masculine or well-endowed,” STINGS, and you made that leap on your own. So in addition to confronting your new girlfriend about her attitudes and assumptions… you might want to give some thought to your own? That said, the things your girlfriend has said about Black and Asian men are legit problematic. When someone describes their attraction to a certain group, racial or otherwise, as “a thing,” that usually means they see members of that group as things — and in a society that dehumanizes Black people, White people can easily come to see Black people as objects. As for her comment about your Korean friend: Prevailing beauty standards shape our ideas about attractiveness, and those standards are shaped by our rabidly racist culture. A
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person socialized to only recognize the beauty of men or women of European descent may not even consider — they may not even be able to perceive — the attractiveness of people who aren’t White. And then when someone of a di ere t race does ma a e to ma e a blip on their sex radar, it comes as a surprise. But instead of reconsidering their ideas about attractiveness, a dumb fucking White person — even one from a liberal background — is likelier to say something stupid like “I don’t s all fi d Asia s hot, t o r Korean friend is attractive,” rather than rethinking their assumptions about their desires. Declaring one Asian guy an exception allows someone like your girlfriend to have her racist cake (“I do t fi d Asia s hot a d eat it too (“But this Asia is hot . It’s a shame your girlfriend reacted defensively when you tried to bring all this up, STINGS, but sometimes people react defensively in the moment and then keep thinking about it. My advice: Keep bringing it up — but it would help if you owned your own shit during these conversations (and o ha e some shit o o r ow rather than just self-righteously going after your girlfriend for her shit. I have to say, though, I disagree with you on one thing: People do have types, and there’s nothing wrong with having types. It’s a good idea to ask ourselves whether our “types” are actually ours and not just assigned to us by conventional standards o ea t hite, slim, o or a thoughtless/fetishizing reaction to those standards (a desire to transgress with o white, lar er, or older ol s .
pretty much whenever I’m home, I’m naked while walking around my apartment. A young White couple moved in across the street, and they have an unobstructed view into my apartment. t first I would notice the woman standing at the window looking my way as I toweled off. Then the male as well. nd when I masturbate, which I sometimes do after a shower, I noticed them both making several passes by their windows to look. Later I noticed the male coming out late in the evening when the view into my apartment is at its optimum to watch me masturbate. He seems very interested. The woman will come outside and sit on the steps in the morning and look directly into my apartment at me while drinking her coffee. More than once she has run her hand up the inside of her thigh as she’s watching. Also I’ve noticed that their shades, which used to be closed most of the time, are always wide open with lights on so I can clearly see them in their apartment. I’m sure the woman knows that I want her — and the male seems to be exhibiting bi tendencies (something I’m not interested in at all). In your opinion, are these two a voyeur couple or a submissive cuckold couple? How should I approach to seduce? If she’s sitting on her steps, can I go over and say “Good morning” to break the ice? The other day, I left just as she was going out, and we walked past each other. I thought about saying something, but I don’t want to appear to be chasing her. —Display Attracts Neighbors’ Glazed Looks Everyday P.S. What do you make of the male’s behavior?
Q:
A : I once dated a guy who was ar-
I’m a middle-aged African American man. I’m single, I dress well, I’m fit, I cycle to work, I eat healthy, etc. I live in a basement apartment on a narrow street in a large city. My only window faces the street. After showering, and
rested in his own apartment at 10 in the morning for masturbating in front of an open window. Granted, he lived across the street from a school (a uniersit , ot a middle school , a d that
may have had something to do with it. But he was a White guy, DANGLE, and considering all the ways African American men are targeted by the police, I feel obligated to warn you — well, I feel obligated to warn you about something you already know: Cops are always looking for an excuse to arrest or harass a Black man, and your exhibitionism could attract the attentions not just of horny neighbors, but also the authorities. That said, DANGLE, if everything is as you describe it — if this isn’t a case of dickful thinking on your part — it sounds like this couple is interested. “Interest” is a spectrum, of course, and the co ld fi d it i teresti to li e across the street from a hot, in-shape e hi itio ist, a d di c lt to loo awa , without actually wanting to be fucked her or e c c olded him o . But if they’re staring into your apartment while you walk around naked and throwing open the curtains so you can stare into theirs, I’d say the ice has already been broken. So say hello the next time you run into them on the street. ee that first co o li ht, neighborly, and nonsexual, and see where it leads. t i d ri that first convo they invite you over for a beer sometime… well, that’s a Yahtzee. But even then, don’t make any assumptions or sudden moves: Use your words, draw them out, make sure everyone is on the same page. P.S. Maybe he’s bi. Maybe he’s a cuck. Maybe he’s the woman’s gay roommate. here s o l o e wa to fi d o t what s up with him: Say hello and get to know them. On the Lovecast, it’s the one-minutewonder show: savagelovecast.com. Question? mail@savagelove.net. Follow Dan on Twitter @fakedansavage. Oh god I can’t believe we still have to say this: ITMFA.org.
metrotimes.com | July 3-9, 2019
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metrotimes.com | July 3-9, 2019
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CULTURE ARIES: March 21 – April 20 You’re in the midst of a situation that could go either way. If you’re too stubborn to meet people in the middle, thi s will so th. ss es that re ol e around the inability to be truthful are messi e er thi . e ore life can turn out for the best, you’re going to need to sit down and hash o t ro lems that ha e o e rom ad to worse. It’s always hard to face the truth. Get real enough to look it in the e e. Yo ha e e er ri ht to e a raid of what will happen when you do, but what choice do o ha e othi will im ro e til o fi d a wa to ret r to integrity.
LEO: July 21 – August 20 Your well-being depends on the extent to which you are willing/able to embrace your purpose. Some of you may confuse that with following the tried and true route, when in fact, your purpose has more to do with a reaso or li i that is i el o r ow . hose o o who ha e held the stat s o, whether it e ie a d arriet, or a i ie ersio o the same thing, need to come to terms with what’s real for you. All of this may re ire o to wal awa rom thi s that ha e ee art o o r deal ore er. he estio is are o ra e e o h to ta e that lea
TAURUS: April 21 – May 20 Two arms and two legs don’t seem to be enough; where is that dia deit whe we eed him Yo e got to Kung Fu your way through this. It would be so much easier if you had some help, or a way to call up the strength that you need to make it thro h the e t co le o wee s. a ing a spiritual mast to tie yourself to is e er a ad idea. Yo e ot e o h o your plate to warrant the presence of a personal assistant. Calling upon your Angels, or the spirits of the departed, or all of the Ascended Masters will help you to turn all of this straw into gold.
VIRGO: August 21 – Sept. 20 he mecha ics o li i ha e made you forget that there’s more to life than this. My God! It’s so clear that o ha e to fi d a wa to ret r to somethi more i tesse tial a d real. When the ordinary no longer c ts it, where ca we o oi ts wouldn’t be a bad idea — but you know what that gets you. Maybe it’s time to think about where you want to go and who you want to be when you grow up because nothing stays the same; and you’re at a point where security is no longer about sticking to the plan or being anything other than the person you came here to be.
GEMINI: May 21 – June 20 If it feels like something is missing, you might want to look twice at your situation. It does no good to look o tside o rsel or whate er o thi o do t ha e whate er that is will ot materialize until it comes from within. e o d the eed to re ect more dee l o rett m ch e er thi , o e ot it made. As you contemplate issues that will ultimately turn your life around, a other reaso or li i will emer e. Look for this to happen within the next six months. What it looks like and how it comes to ass is irrele a t. he est thi s i li e ha e themsel es. CANCER: June 21 – July 20 Yo ha e a lot o estio s a o t why you are here. Part of you thinks that you were cut out for more than this. o ma o s ha e the idea that we should be “more” than we are, when in fact, if we knew enough to bring all o who we are to whate er we are doi , we could change the world. It might help to see yourself as a Lighthouse. he l mi osit o o r i er ei fills e er thi i o r s ace with a desire to li e a d row. Yo co ld e a cashier. You could be splitting the atom. here er o ha e to e, o ha e the ower to shi e li ht i to the li es o others.
50 July 3-9, 2019 | metrotimes.com
Horoscopes
LIBRA: Sept. 21 – Oct. 20 You guys are going nuts trying to fi re o t what all o this is etti o . It could be life, your relationship, your job, your crazy ideas about what is “allowed, a d e er tho ht o e e er held a o t what o deser e that s got you on the ropes of wondering who you really are. Life is strange. All of us get to this place. When nothing makes sense and there’s too much going on to sto lo e o h to fi d o rsel i it, the only thing to do is slow down and realize that you’re always being led, and there is plenty of guidance for those who ow e o h to i o e it. SCORPIO: Oct. 21 – Nov. 20 hi s ha e reached the oi t where o e had e o h o whate er it is that’s kept you going until now. You could stay here, but something calls you to o searchi or a di ere t i d o life. Many constraints, real or imagined, ha e co i ced o that o eed to keep on keeping on. The truth is — all o that st is i o r head. it s o r money issues, or the fact that “the kids need you,” or the idea that it’s always best to stick to the plan, start tossing aro d the idea that starti all o er again could turn out to be the door that opens your heart to a miraculous life.
By Cal Garrison SAGITTARIUS: Nov. 21 – Dec. 20 If you could clear up one last thing, it would be so much easier for you to get on with your life. Literally or metaphorically, you are a hair’s breadth awa rom ha i it all to ether. he nothing is black-and-white, and belief ee s s rom tr sti the i er oice, it’s hard to know what to do. Don’t thi that o ha e to ee a reei to anything that isn’t working for you — a d do t thi that other eo le s st eeds to o erride what it will ta e to get this to work for you. PS: You’re here, too! Think about it; this time the choice co ld er well e to o . CAPRICORN: Dec. 21 – Jan. 20 o ma thi s ha e iled to hit you like a ton of bricks. If you wonder whe it s oi to it, e atie t a d i e it time. hese iss es ha e either totally disillusioned you, or they ha e ho ed a fi er a d more real ersion of who you came here to be. The need to continue to look yourself in the eye is paramount. Those of you who keep rocking your ego at the expense of your heart and soul will pay dearly at the end of the day. It’s time to reel in the tr th a d it oc si all o o r energy on external things. Real power lies i the willi ess to ser e o r Higher Self. AQUARIUS: Jan. 21 – Feb. 20 o o e sees thi s more clearl than you. It’s interesting that you get to be the one who bears witness. At this point, you’re a bit out of sorts because what o ha e or wit ess to has le t you wondering why others are in denial about things that are beyond belief. You will see more o this e ore o lea e this Earth. What people are made of is often hard to reconcile with what we e ect rom them. e said it e ore you can’t change people — all you can do is lo e them. Yo do t ha e to let disappointment obscure the fact that e er o e is doi the est that the ca . PISCES: Feb. 21 – March 20 You are weighing your options in a sit atio that re ires the isdom of Solomon. More than anything, it matters who you choose to trust and whose ad ice o decide to ollow. ith e er thi ridi o o r decisio , there is a le el o ear th m i away in the background. This energy could be calling up worst-case scearios that are o mea s i e ita le. From what I can see, the need to take a ma eric a roach will ield ositi e results. If you can dig up the strength to elie e that o ha e the ower to heal anything, what seems impossible will become real.
metrotimes.com | July 3-9, 2019
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