Metro Times, 04/15/2026

Feedback NEWS & VIEWS

Readers respond to last issue’s cover story package featuring analysis of the Detroit Tigers ahead of opening day.

Also, we forgot to credit Dave Mesrey, our resident sports editor, for the help. Thanks, as always, Dave!

Good Read Steve !⚾ ⚾⚾

—Bd Lindahl, Facebook

Nice article. 94 wins this season. — Mike Thomas, Facebook

I wish them the best, however I don’t see 2026 as being the year

—Claude Greiner, Facebook

There not winning anything history is

against them as is the curse!!!

—Peter Comstock Riley, Facebook

JV debut.... NOT so good...

—Andy Guzik, Facebook

Even in 2003, ALWAYS A TIGER!!!!!

—Iain Wilkie, Facebook

Even a Broken Clock is right every 20 years or so! ��

—Joe Tiboni, Facebook

Eat em up ��

—@juug.star, Instagram

I❤DETROIT TIGERS ��

—Deborah Peak, Facebook

Have an opinion? Sound off: tips@detroitmetrotimes.com

NEWS & VIEWS

Detroit’s Viola Liuzzo street sign honors white civil rights martyr

The city of Detroit unveiled a street sign Saturday honoring Viola Liuzzo, the white Detroit mother of five who was killed by Ku Klux Klan members in Alabama after responding to Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s call to support the Selma voting rights movement in 1965.

The sign was installed at Pembroke Avenue and Mansfield Street on the city’s west side during a public ceremony hosted by the Pembroke Academy National Blue Ribbon School Community and Detroit City Councilwoman Angela Whitfield-Calloway. Organizers say the event is meant to honor “the legacy of civil rights activist Viola Liuzzo” and invite the public to “commemorate a hero’s legacy and celebrate a shared commitment to justice and equality.”

The tribute adds to Detroit’s ongoing efforts to preserve Liuzzo’s legacy. In September 2023, the city partnered with the Viola Liuzzo Park Association to unveil a civil rights memorial monument at Viola Liuzzo Playground on the city’s west side, honoring Liuzzo, her friend Sarah Evans, and others connected to the struggle for voting rights.

Liuzzo was 39 when she drove from Detroit to Selma after watching the violence of Bloody Sunday, when voting rights marchers were beaten and tear-gassed by Alabama state troopers. Appalled by the brutality and inspired by King’s call for people to come south and help, she left behind her husband and five children and joined the historic march from Selma to Montgomery.

After the march, Liuzzo volunteered to

shuttle activists and fellow supporters between Montgomery and Selma. On March 25, 1965, while driving with Leroy Moton, a young Black activist, she was chased along Highway 80 in Lowndes County by Klansmen, who pulled alongside her car and opened fire, killing her. Moton survived by pretending to be dead and later testified against the men involved.

Her killing shocked the nation. Liuzzo is widely remembered as the only known white woman murdered in the South during the civil rights movement. Her death helped reveal how far white supremacy would go to silence anyone who challenged it

Her family later became the target of relentless racist harassment. A cross was burned on their lawn, bullets were fired into their home, and the Liuzzo children were taunted with slurs and had rocks thrown at them on their way to school.

In the days after her murder, the FBI spread false rumors about her character, helping to obscure the fact that a bureau informant, Gary Thomas Rowe, was in the car with the Klansmen involved in the killing. Years later, records obtained by Liuzzo’s children helped expose the campaign against her.

In the first criminal case stemming from the murder, Collie Leroy Wilkins Jr. was acquitted by an all-white jury in Alabama after the first state trial ended in a hung jury. Following the acquittal, the federal government took over the case and charged Wilkins, William Eaton, and Eugene Thomas with conspiracy to intimidate

African Americans under the 1871 Ku Klux Klan Act, a Reconstruction era civil rights statute. They were convicted and sentenced to 10 years in prison.

In the decades since her murder, Liuzzo has come to symbolize the moral courage of a white Detroiter who understood that the fight for Black freedom was also her fight.

That is part of why her story still resonates today, at a time when many white Americans have again been showing up alongside marginalized communities, including in protests over police brutality and aggressive immigration enforcement and detention plans. In recent years, racial

Another conviction tied to disgraced Detroit detective Barbara Simon tossed

A Detroit man whose murder conviction was based on coerced witness statements from a disgraced former homicide detective has been exonerated and freed after nearly 30 years in prison.

Roy Blackmon is at least the sixth person to be freed because of the misconduct of retired Det. Barbara Simon, whose coercive actions were reported extensively by Metro Times in 2024.

Roy Blackmon walked free Tuesday, March 31 — 27 years to the day after a jury convicted him of second-degree murder, felony firearm, and two counts of assault with intent to do great bodily harm in a 1998 Detroit shooting that left one man dead and two others wounded. The release is the latest development

in the controversy surrounding Simon, whose coercive tactics have been linked to multiple wrongful convictions, exonerations, and millions of dollars in legal settlements.

In March, George Calicut Jr. became the first person released after the Metro Times series ran. Blackmon is now the second.

Wayne County prosecutors agreed to vacate Blackmon’s conviction and dismiss the charges after a joint review by the Michigan Innocence Clinic and the Wayne County Conviction Integrity Unit found the case rested on false witness testimony gained by police threats and coercion. According to a court stipulation,

Blackmon was targeted after an April 12, 1998, shooting on Woodmont Street in Detroit, even though he had no criminal record and said he was home with his then-girlfriend at the time. The surviving male victim knew Blackmon, did not initially identify him as the shooter, and gave a description that did not match him.

Still, Detroit police secured statements implicating Blackmon, despite no physical evidence tying him to the crime.

At trial in 1999, prosecutors relied on witness testimony riddled with inconsistencies, including conflicting accounts about when the shooting happened and what witnesses could

justice demonstrations have also drawn large, multiracial groups.

Liuzzo’s life is a reminder that solidarity can come at a cost and that real change often requires people who decide that silence is not an option.

As MLK once said, “He who passively accepts evil is as much involved in it as he who helps to perpetrate it. He who accepts evil without protesting against it is really cooperating with it.”

Saturday’s ceremony honored that legacy in a city that understands struggle but has never given up on justice, equality, and a better life.

—Steve Neavling

actually see. One witness testified that police threatened to charge her as an accessory to murder if she did not implicate Blackmon. She also said the signed statement attributed to her had been written by Simon.

Simon has been accused in multiple cases of coercing false statements and confessions. In addition to Blackmon and Calcut Jr., her misconduct has led to the exonerations of Mark Craighead, Lamarr Monson, Justly Johnson, and Kendrick Scott, costing taxpayers millions of dollars.

Blackmon was convicted on March 31, 1999, and sentenced to 40 to 60 years in prison, plus two years for felony firearm. He had challenged the conviction for years. In 2010, a federal judge granted his habeas petition after finding problems with the prosecution’s portrayal of him as a gang member, and Blackmon

was released on an appeal bond. But in 2012, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit reversed that ruling, and Blackmon returned to prison.

The Michigan Innocence Clinic took up his case in 2021. Its investigation found that three Detroit police officers, including Simon, used coercive tactics that led to false written statements and testimony. The clinic also found that most eyewitness descriptions of the shooter did not match Blackmon’s height or build and identified a possible alternate suspect who did.

Olivia Vigiletti, lead counsel on the case and a clinical fellow with the Michigan Innocence Clinic, said Blackmon’s decision to return to prison after the 2012 appellate ruling showed how determined he was to clear his name.

“Our investigation simply confirmed what the witnesses in this case tried to tell the jury at trial back in 1999 — the police orchestrated a false narrative that Roy Blackmon committed this crime,” Vigiletti said in a statement. “A federal court rightfully ruled in 2010 that Mr. Blackmon was deprived of a fair trial. But after that decision was overturned

on appeal in 2012, Mr. Blackmon did the unthinkable and self-reported back to prison to continue to fight for his freedom from inside.”

The prosecutor’s office ultimately agreed to vacate the conviction and dismiss the charges.

“Though it took far longer than it should have, this time, Mr. Blackmon’s fight for his freedom is truly over,” Michigan Innocence Clinic student attorney Karissa Rendon said.

Blackmon now plans to continue his education and rebuild his life. He received an associate’s degree in faith and community leadership from Calvin University in 2025 and is pursuing a bachelor’s degree in applied leadership. According to the Innocence Clinic, he hopes to become a social worker and mentor young people who lack support and become targets of police.

“Coming home from prison after a nearly 28-year battle is not an easy transition, but Mr. Blackmon is a resilient man, and our growing community of re-entry allies are ready to welcome him home,” Vigiletti said.

The case adds to the growing pressure

on Wayne County Prosecutor Kym Worthy’s office to revisit convictions tied to Simon. After Metro Times published its investigation in July 2024, Worthy said

Metro Times seeks Detroit-area youth to feature in our 2026 Fiction Issue

Would you like your poetry, fiction, or art to be published in the Detroit Metro Times in print and online to over 700,000 readers? Would you like one of 20 opportunities to win a $100 VISA gift card? Are you a Metro-Detroit youth with something to say?

Detroit Lit is seeking art, poetry, and fiction from youth ages 13-19 to feature in the 2026 Detroit Metro Times Fiction Issue. This year’s theme is “Worthy of Our Eyes” and will feature 20 of metro Detroit’s most creative and innovative emerging voices.

“Worthy of Our Eyes” invites youth artists to uplift the dreams, desires, and concerns you most value. At a time when our attention is being pulled in so many directions, your voices are being neglected and silenced. What are the ideas and subjects that most occupy your intellect? What do you carry into your everyday life? Young artists are the voices that lead tomorrow’s society. We turn to you now to guide the conversation. Let us take a pause in the chaos of these times to focus our attention on the joys, the hardships, and the accomplishments of you!

Each year, Detroit Lit features outstanding fiction, poetry, and art from across the area in the Metro Times Fiction Issue. The publication highlights exceptional artists from the region, and this year, we’re featuring youth voices. Approximately 20 students across the Metro area will be chosen for publication in June. If chosen, your work will reach thousands of people, and you’ll be awarded a $100 Visa gift card

upon publication. Support for this year’s fiction issue comes from Detroit Lit, the Metro Times, and Arts Midwest.

Submission Guidelines

Submit a single poem, a short story, or a piece of visual art. All submissions should be original work by the student. No work created with the help of AI will be considered. Work can consist of something you’ve created previously, something you’ve been working on for a long time, or something that speaks to this year’s theme, “Worthy of Our Eyes.” We invite you to define the theme any way you like. Gift cards will be distributed after publication of the piece. All submissions need to be submitted electronically to the submission form. No submissions accepted via post or email. All submissions are due May 24, 2026. No late work will be accepted. If you have your work ready before then, you may submit it as soon as possible.

Eligibility

• All applicants must be:

• Currently 13-19 years old.

• Residing in Wayne, Oakland, Macomb, or Washtenaw counties.

Poetry

• Poems should be no longer than 30 lines. Shorter lines work best.

• Only Microsoft Word documents will be accepted. If you don’t have Microsoft Word, that’s OK. You can write your piece in a free Google Doc and

download an MS Word document. See instructions below.

• A one-sentence bio that includes your age and school.

• A Publication Permission Slip for those under 18 years of age.

Fiction

• Short stories should be no more than 1,000 words.

• Only Microsoft Word documents will be accepted. If you don’t have Microsoft Word, that’s OK. You can write your piece in a free Google Doc and download an MS Word document. See instructions below.

• A one-sentence bio that includes your age and school.

• A Publication Permission Slip for those under 18 years of age.

Visual Art

• Any discipline (painting, sculpture, photography, fiber, multi-media, etc.).

• A high-resolution photo submitted through the form linked below. Do not send original work.

• Visual artists, please upload your file as a JPEG or PDF. No other formats will be accepted.

• A one-sentence bio that includes your age and school.

• A one-sentence description of materials used to create art.

• A Publication Permission Slip for those under 18 years of age. Award: $100 Visa Gift Card. Payments

will be paid after publication. You may elect to receive a physical card in the mail or an electronic card through email.

Due Date: May 24, 2026, at 5PM EST. Nothing will be accepted after this date (but we would love to receive it earlier).

Notification: Those who have been selected will be notified by June 6.

Theme: “Worthy of Our Eyes”

Publication Date: July 22, 2026, in print and online.

Legal: You will retain all rights to your work. This means you still own it and can use it however you see fit after publication, including selling it elsewhere.

Permission: For those under 18 years of age, your parent or guardian will need to sign the permission slip. The permission slip may be printed, signed, then uploaded to the submission form at the time of submission. You may take a photograph of the permission slip or scan the slip.

Where To Submit: Submit everything to the submission form found at bit.ly/4t6HBTn. No other form of submission will be accepted. You may only submit one piece for consideration. Duplicate submissions will be disqualified. Written pieces may receive light editing. All information must be complete and uploaded to complete the submission. No submissions accepted via post or email.

Questions may be emailed to: metrotimesfictionissue@gmail.com

Thanks! We hope you can participate and look forward to seeing your work!

—Drew Philp and Nandi Comer

In Michigan, you’re rarely far from a cannabis dispensary.

More than 825 weed retailers are spread across 234 communities, situated in strip malls, busy commercial corridors, downtown storefronts, tourist towns, and even old churches. In metro Detroit alone, there are 182 dispensaries.

Many of these provisioning centers are interchangeable. They look the same, carry the same mass-produced products, and charge the same prices.

But in the state’s crowded market, there are still one-of-a-kind dispensaries that

specialize in top-shelf cannabis or hardto-find rosin. Some sell their own slowcured, small-batch organic flower, and others have built a loyal following for their enormous selection of premium cannabis.

Since spring is almost here, it’s a good time to consider a road trip to some of Michigan’s best and most unique dispensaries outside of metro Detroit.

Here are 13 cannabis shops worth the drive:

WHAT’S GOING ON

LISTINGS

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

MUSIC

Wednesday Apr 15

Live/Concert

Cubist Agenda 8 pm-midnight; First Place Lounge, 16921 Harper Ave, Detroit; No Cover.

Detroit Symphony Orchestra:

Disney’s The Little Mermaid in Concert Live to Film 7-9 pm; Detroit Symphony Orchestra, 3711 Woodward Ave., Detroit;

The Function with DJ Dez

Andres 9 pm-2 am; Northern Lights Lounge, 660 W. Baltimore St., Detroit; no cover.

I Am, He Said 8 pm; Andiamo Celebrity Showroom, 7096 E. 14 Mile Rd., Warren;

A Night for Rights 8 pm; Ghost Light, 2314 Caniff St., Hamtramck; $15. Soul Blind, Split Chain, Downward, Dream Fatigue 6 & 7 pm; Sanctuary Detroit, 2932 Caniff St., Hamtramck;

THE MUSIC OF HANS ZIMMER & OTHERS – A CELEBRATION OF FILM MUSIC 8 pm; The Music Hall, 350 Madison Ave., Detroit; $34.90$84.90.

I Am, He Said 8 pm; Andiamo Celebrity Showroom, 7096 E. 14 Mile Rd., Warren;

Cubist Agenda 8 pm-midnight; First Place Lounge, 16921 Harper Ave, Detroit; No Cover.

The Function with DJ Dez

Andres 9 pm-2 am; Northern Lights Lounge, 660 W. Baltimore St., Detroit; no cover.

DJ/Dance

Planet Funk 7-10 pm; Spkr Box, 200 Grand River, Detroit;

Way Back Wednesdays w. DJ

Righteous 8 am-11:59 pm; New Dodge Lounge, 8850 Joseph Campau Ave., Hamtramck; 5. Karaoke/Open Mic

Continuing This Week Karaoke/ Open Mic

Hump Day Karaoke & Music Trivia 8 pm-1 am; Pronto! Royal Oak, 608 S. Washington, Royal Oak; No Cover.

Thursday Apr 16

Live/Concert

Diana Krall 8 pm; Caesars Palace Windsor - Augustus Ballroom, 377 E.

Critic’s pick

Former J. Geils frontman Peter Wolf returns to the Fillmore Friday night

The moment of truth has finally come. Former J. Geils Band frontman and Metro Times cover boy Peter Wolf, still riding the wave of his bestselling 2025 memoir, Waiting on the Moon, is ready to man the bandstand once again Friday night in the Motor City.

The Bronx native and former late-night Boston radio DJ known as “the Woofa Goofa” has long been a towering figure in the annals of Detroit rock ’n’ roll history.

From the Geils Band’s slew of high-energy shows at the Eastown in 1971 to their raucous 1972 gigs at the Grande Ballroom to their ever larger shows at Cobo Arena in the late ’70s and at Pine Knob in the early ’80s, Wolf has made an indelible mark on his adopted hometown over the last 55 years.

But it was 1972’s frenzied Full House album, recorded live over two sweat-soaked nights at Detroit’s Cinderella Ballroom, that really captures what the Geils Band was all about. To commemorate these storied shows, Rhino Entertainment earlier this month issued the much-anticipated vinyl re-release of Full House, which includes some new liner notes from the Woofa Goofa himself.

“This recording encapsulates the energy and spontaneity we always tried to give our audiences,” Wolf writes. “What you hear is the true, raw, unfiltered sound of the J. Geils Band, performing what we did every night.”

The Geils Band’s signature live album still rocks after all these years, and, man, does it roll. Or as Wolf told us last summer, “It just goes like a steamroller.”

Wolf fondly recalls the passion of Detroit rock ’n’ roll

Riverside Dr., Windsor; Diana Krall Ticket + Hotel Deals 8 pm; Caesars Palace Windsor - Augustus Ballroom, 377 E. Riverside Dr., Windsor; Dueling Pianos: An Interactive Entertainment Experience 8

audiences in the 1970s. “They got crazy, and we got twice as crazy,” he says. “We’d get twice as crazy, and they got three times as crazy — it was like a real love affair.”

Over the last year, Wolf has celebrated the release of his riveting memoir with well-received book events all along the East Coast, and his fans in the Motor City are hopeful that he’ll be back in town later this year for a proper Detroit book breakdown.

Now with a new solo album nearly complete, Wolf has been makin’ the rounds and sharing new sounds out east in recent weeks, but on Friday night he’ll be back onstage in Detroit, along with his unindicted co-conspirators, the Midnight Travelers.

Wolf and the band will be performing classic jams from yesteryear, as well as some of his heartfelt new material. And the frenetic frontman, who just celebrated his 80th birthday, is showing no signs of slowing down.

That’s only fitting because whenever Wolf touches down in Motown, he can’t help but put his pedal to the metal.

“Even if we were on the road for weeks doing one-nighters,” he says, “by the time we got to Detroit … our adrenaline just picked up. It was like makin’ love — once you start, you just didn’t wanna stop.”

—Dave Mesrey

Peter Wolf and the Midnight Travelers are set to blow your face out live Friday night at the Fillmore. Doors at 7 p.m., showtime at 8. The Fillmore Detroit is located at 2115 Woodward Ave., Detroit. Tickets are available at ticketmaster.com or stubhub.com.

pm-midnight; AXIS Lounge, 1777 3rd St., Detroit;

El Khat LIVE @ Blue LLama 8-10 pm; The Blue LLama Jazz Club, 314 S. Main St., Ann Arbor; $85 or $40. Lyfe Jennings 8 pm; Sound Board,

2901 Grand

Ave.,

WHAT’S GOING ON CONT’D

Bowl, 4120 Woodward, Detroit; Dueling Pianos: An Interactive Entertainment Experience 8 pm-midnight; AXIS Lounge, 1777 3rd St., Detroit; DJ/Dance

Curated Cool 7-10 pm; Spkr Box, 200 Grand River, Detroit;

I Love Steppin 18th Year Anniversary 6 pm-midnight; Ford Community & Performing Arts Center, 15801 Michigan Ave., Dearborn; Karaoke/Open Mic

Continuing This Week Karaoke/ Open Mic

Drag Queen Karaoke 8 pm-2 am; Woodward Avenue Brewers, 22646 Woodward Ave., Ferndale; no cover.

Elixer: DJs John Ryan and GEO 8 pm-midnight; Northern Lights Lounge, 660 W. Baltimore St., Detroit; No cover.

Friday Apr 17

Live/Concert

Celtic Woman Ticket + Hotel

Deals 8 pm; Caesars Palace WindsorAugustus Ballroom, 377 E. Riverside Dr., Windsor;

Celtic Woman: A New Era 8 pm; Caesars Palace Windsor - Augustus Ballroom, 377 E. Riverside Dr., Windsor; Charity Gayle 7 pm; Woodside Bible Church - Troy Campus, 6600 Rochester Road, Troy;

Daft Punk Night 8 pm; Pike Room, 1 S. Saginaw, Pontiac;

EMO NIGHT WITH ALL AMERICAN THROWBACKS - POP PUNK / EMO PARTY BAND 8 pm; District 142, 142 Maple St., Wyandotte;

Friday Night Jam — Live Music at The Wildermere Featuring The Jerome Clark Trio 8-midnight; The Wildemere Bar & Grill, 3143 W. Mnichols, Detroit, MI; Free.

Julio Iglesias Jr. 8 pm; Andiamo Celebrity Showroom, 7096 E. 14 Mile Rd., Warren;

Magic Bag Presents: The Mega 80s Prince Remembrance 7 pm; Magic Bag, 22920 Woodward Ave., Ferndale;

Monolithic Architecture, Angel

Of Mars and Stormfeldt 7 pm-midnight; Small’s, 10339 Conant St., Hamtramck; 10.00.

Peter Wolf 7 pm; The Fillmore, 2115 Woodward Ave., Detroit;

Shallow Truths, As We Divide, The Harbor Divide, Annexx Void 7 pm; The Loving Touch, 22634 Woodward Ave., Ferndale;

Street Angels - Michigan’s Steve Nicks Fleetwood Mac Experience 8 pm; The Token Lounge, 28949 Joy Rd., Westland;

Sunn O))) 7 pm; Russell Industrial Complex-Exhibition Center, 1600 Clay St., Detroit;

Wanted, Pageant, V*A*S*E, Savetta 7 pm; Sanctuary Detroit, 2932 Caniff St., Hamtramck;

Friday Night Jam — Live Music at The Wildermere Featuring The Jerome Clark Trio 8-midnight; The Wildemere Bar & Grill, 3143 W. Mnichols, Detroit, MI; Free.

DJ/Dance

Cinderellas on the Dance Floor 7-11 pm; 215 West, 215 W. Nine Mile Rd., Ferndale; $40.

Earlybirds Club - 21+ 6 pm; Garden Bowl, 4120 Woodward, Detroit; Fcukers 8 pm; The Metronome Studios, 1331 Holden, Detroit;

Lesbian Night Hosted by DJ Nouveau third Friday of every month, noon-2 am; Pronto! Royal Oak, 608 S. Washington, Royal Oak; NO COVER.

Meeting Street (Louisville), Simulation, The Hourlies + DJ Udenjoe 9 pm; Bowlero Lanes & Lounge, 4209 Coolidge Hwy., Royal Oak; 0.

Open Air Fridays 4-10 pm; Woodbridge Pub, 5169 Trumbull St., Detroit; 0. Karaoke/Open Mic

Opening

April Puppet Karaoke at Matrix Theatre 8-11:55 pm; Matrix Theatre Company, 2730 Bagley St., Detroit; $5-$15.

Saturday Apr 18

Live/Concert

I Am, He Said 8 pm; Andiamo Celebrity Showroom, 7096 E. 14 Mile Rd., Warren; 49 Winchester 8 pm; Garden Bowl,

4120 Woodward, Detroit; 49 Winchester with Wesko 7 pm; Magic Stick, 4120 Woodward Ave., Detroit;

Bugs Bunny at the Symphony 7:30 pm; Detroit Opera House, 1526 Broadway St., Detroit;

Co-bill: JENNY & ROBIN BIENEMANN and THE DANGLING PARTICIPLES 7:30 pm; MAMA’s Coffeehouse at the Birmingham Unitarian Church, 38651 Woodward Ave., Bloomfield Hills; $18-$20.

COLORS Presents: R&B ONLY (21+) 8 pm; Saint Andrew’s Hall, 431 E. Congress St., Detroit;

Curren$y (18+) 7 pm; The Crofoot Ballroom, 1 S. Saginaw St., Pontiac; Curren$y “The Winners Circle Tour” w/ The 747 Band + Special Guest Fendi P. + Jeff Skigh + J. Gueringer Presented by Jetlife + Clockwork Music 7 pm; Pike Room, 1 S. Saginaw, Pontiac; DETROIT x DETROIT XIV 7 & 8 pm; The Loving Touch, 22634 Woodward Ave., Ferndale;

Fleetwood Gold - America’s Fleetwood Mac Experience 8 pm; Emerald Theatre, 31 N. Walnut St., Mount Clemens;

Floetry w/ Raheem Devaughn 6:30 pm; Detroit Masonic Temple Library, 500 Temple St, Detroit;

I Am, He Said 8 pm; Andiamo Celebrity Showroom, 7096 E. 14 Mile Rd., Warren;

PUSCIFER: The Normal Isn’t Tour 8 pm; Fox Theatre, 2211 Woodward Ave., Detroit;

R&B ONLY LIVE - Detroit, MI 8 pm; Saint Andrew’s Hall, 431 E. Congress St., Detroit;

RAVE JESUS: RAVE REVIVAL TOUR 7-11:30 pm; Diamondback Music Hall, 49345 S. Interstate 94 Service Dr., Belleville; $20+.

State of the Race/ DABO “An Evening of R & B” 8 pm; The Music Hall, 350 Madison Ave., Detroit; The Ultimate IRON MAIDEN Tribute EYES OF THE NILE • OZZY Tribute SINS OF A MADMAN 7:30 & 8 pm; The Token Lounge, 28949 Joy

Rd., Westland;

Walter Smith III Trio 7-10 pm; The Blue LLama Jazz Club, 314 S. Main St., Ann Arbor; $95 or $50.

ZOSO - The Ultimate Led Zeppelin Experience 7 pm; District 142, 142 Maple St., Wyandotte;

Bugs Bunny at the Symphony 2:30 pm; Detroit Opera House, 1526 Broadway St., Detroit; DJ/Dance

Holi Rave Detroit 11:30 am-4 pm; Tangent Gallery & Hastings Street Ballroom, 715 E. Milwaukee Ave., Detroit; $10-$35. The Reefermen + DJ VEEB 9 pm; Bowlero Lanes & Lounge, 4209 Coolidge Hwy., Royal Oak; 0.

Saturday Grind 11 am-3 pm; Spkr Box, 200 Grand River, Detroit;

Saturday Grind 11 am-3 pm; Spkr Box, 200 Grand River, Detroit;

Sunday Apr 19

Live/Concert

Bugs Bunny at the Symphony 7:30 pm; Detroit Opera House, 1526 Broadway St., Detroit;

Bugs Bunny at the Symphony 2:30 pm; Detroit Opera House, 1526 Broadway St., Detroit;

Dearborn Community Chorus presents “The Wicked Wiz of Oz” 5-7 pm; Ford Community & Performing Arts Center, 15801 Michigan Ave., Dearborn; $6-$17.

Fishbone - In Your Face 40th Anniversary Tour 6 pm; The Shelter, 431 E. Congress St., Detroit; Gutpile, Bound By Vendetta, Seeding the Dead, Snare 6 pm; Sanctuary Detroit, 2932 Caniff St., Hamtramck;

Heckler w/ Stubborn Assholes and The Bores 6-11 pm; Parts & Labor, 17993 Allen Rd, Melvindale; 10.

Magic Bag Presents: FEAR 7 pm; Magic Bag, 22920 Woodward Ave., Ferndale;

Past Self With Special Guests TBA 7 pm; Small’s, 10339 Conant St., Hamtramck;

Phil Ogilvie’s Rhythm Kings 5-8 pm; Zal Gaz Grotto Club, 2070 W. Stadium Blvd., Ann Arbor; No Cover (tipjar for

the band).

STICK MEN featuring: TONY LEVIN, PAT MASTELOTTO & MARKUS REUTER 7 pm; The Token Lounge, 28949 Joy Rd., Westland; The Heartwork: Armani Monté with special guest Asaka The Renegade 8 pm; The Loving Touch, 22634 Woodward Ave., Ferndale; TREY SONGZ AND FRIENDS SPRING FORWARD 7 pm; Fox Theatre, 2211 Woodward Ave., Detroit; Undeath 6 pm; Edgemen, 19757 15 Mile Rd., Clinton Twp;

Phil Ogilvie’s Rhythm Kings 5-8 pm; Zal Gaz Grotto Club, 2070 W. Stadium Blvd., Ann Arbor; No Cover (tipjar for the band).

DJ/Dance

SPKR BRNCH 11 am-3 pm; Spkr Box, 200 Grand River, Detroit; Karaoke/Open Mic

Continuing This Week Karaoke/ Open Mic

Sunday Service Karaoke Hosted by Sister DJ Larry 8 pm-1 am; Pronto! Royal Oak, 608 S. Washington, Royal Oak; No Cover.

Sunday Service Karaoke | DJ Larry noon-1 am; Pronto! Royal Oak, 608 S. Washington, Royal Oak; No Cover.

Monday Apr 20

Live/Concert

Oh Wonder 8 pm; Royal Oak Music Theatre, 318 W. Fourth St., Royal Oak; Sky Covington’s Preservation of Jazz Monday Night Music Series, Tributes 7:30-10 pm; Aretha’s Jazz Cafe, 350 Madison St., Detroit; $35-$40. UADA, Mortiis, ROME., Wraith Knight 6 pm; Sanctuary Detroit, 2932 Caniff St., Hamtramck; Sky Covington’s Preservation of Jazz Monday Night Music Series, Tributes 7:30-10 pm; Aretha’s Jazz Cafe, 350 Madison St., Detroit; $35-$40. DJ/Dance

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

Tuesday Apr 21

Live/Concert

Sean Blackman’s In Transit 7-10 pm; Northern Lights Lounge, 660 W. Baltimore St., Detroit; no cover.

Sean Blackman’s In Transit 7-10 pm; Northern Lights Lounge, 660 W. Baltimore St., Detroit; no cover. Karaoke/Open Mic

Continuing This Week Karaoke/ Open Mic

Open Mic : Art in a Fly Space 7-10 pm; Detroit Shipping Company, 474 Peterboro St., Detroit; no cover.

VIP Tuesday Night Karaoke 9 pm-1 am; Pronto! Royal Oak, 608 S. Washing-

ton, Royal Oak; No Cover. Wednesday Apr 22

Live/Concert

Cubist Agenda 8 pm-midnight; First Place Lounge, 16921 Harper Ave, Detroit; No Cover.

The Function with DJ Dez Andres 9 pm-2 am; Northern Lights Lounge, 660 W. Baltimore St., Detroit; no cover.

An Evening With Band Of Horses 7 pm; The Fillmore, 2115 Woodward Ave., Detroit;

Cubist Agenda 8 pm-midnight; First Place Lounge, 16921 Harper Ave, Detroit; No Cover.

Fleshbore, Global Plague 6 pm; Sanctuary Detroit, 2932 Caniff St., Hamtramck;

The Function with DJ Dez Andres 9 pm-2 am; Northern Lights Lounge, 660 W. Baltimore St., Detroit; no cover.

Winard Harper & Jeli Posse 8 pm; 3Fifty Terrace, 350 Madison St., Detroit; DJ/Dance

Planet Funk 7-10 pm; Spkr Box, 200 Grand River, Detroit;

Way Back Wednesdays w. DJ Righteous 8 am-11:59 pm; New Dodge Lounge, 8850 Joseph Campau Ave., Hamtramck; 5.

Karaoke/Open Mic

Continuing This Week Karaoke/ Open Mic

Hump Day Karaoke & Music Trivia 8 pm-1 am; Pronto! Royal Oak, 608 S. Washington, Royal Oak; No Cover.

Thursday Apr 23

Live/Concert

Dueling Pianos: An Interactive

Entertainment Experience 8 pm-midnight; AXIS Lounge, 1777 3rd St., Detroit;

Dueling Pianos: An Interactive Entertainment Experience 8 pm-midnight; AXIS Lounge, 1777 3rd St., Detroit;

En Esch Dance Hall Putsch Tour with Unitcode: Machine and TBA 8 pm; Small’s, 10339 Conant St., Hamtramck;

Heavy Temple, Waxed 6 pm; Sanctuary Detroit, 2932 Caniff St., Hamtramck;

Joyce Manor w/ Militarie Gun 6 pm; Garden Bowl, 4120 Woodward, Detroit;

The Matt Stahl Band + The Dirk Kroll Band 9 pm; Bowlero Lanes & Lounge, 4209 Coolidge Hwy., Royal Oak; 0.

The Music of Billy Joel and Elton John 7:30-9:30 pm; The Berman Center for the Performing Arts, 6600 W. Maple Rd., West Bloomfield; $44-80.

Sky Covington featuring Club Crescendo Brings Jazz to Detroit’s Newest Eatery and Entertainment Venue, The Prestige 8:15-9:15 & 9:45-10:45 pm; The Prestige Eatery & Entertainment, 22925 W 8 Mile Rd, Detroit, MI; $15.00.

The Growlers 7 pm; Saint Andrew’s Hall, 431 E. Congress St., Detroit; DJ/Dance

Curated Cool 7-10 pm; Spkr Box, 200 Grand River, Detroit; Karaoke/Open Mic

Continuing This Week Karaoke/ Open Mic

Drag Queen Karaoke 8 pm-2 am; Woodward Avenue Brewers, 22646 Woodward Ave., Ferndale; no cover.

Elixer: DJs John Ryan and GEO 8 pm-midnight; Northern Lights Lounge, 660 W. Baltimore St., Detroit; No cover.

Friday Apr 24

Live/Concert

Friday Night Jam — Live Music at The Wildermere Featuring The Jerome Clark Trio 8-midnight; The Wildemere Bar & Grill, 3143 W. Mnichols, Detroit, MI; Free.

Brother Cane 6:30 & 7:30 pm; The Token Lounge, 28949 Joy Rd., Westland; Clay Walker 8-9:30 pm; FIM Capitol Theatre, 140 E 2nd Street, Flint; Tickets start at $71 / $52 for Genesee County residents.

Drug Church + White Reaper 6 pm; Saint Andrew’s Hall, 431 E. Congress St., Detroit;

Friday Night Jam — Live Music at The Wildermere Featuring The Jerome Clark Trio 8-midnight; The Wildemere Bar & Grill, 3143 W. Mnichols, Detroit, MI; Free.

Gentlemen Prefer Blondes (The Movie) 6:30 pm; Flagstar Strand Theatre for the Performing Arts, 12 N. Saginaw St., Pontiac;

House of Heavy 7-9 pm; The Loving Touch, 22634 Woodward Ave., Ferndale; $22.12.

House of Heavy 7 pm; The Loving Touch, 22634 Woodward Ave., Ferndale; Magic Bag Presents: Van Hagar - A Van Halen Sammy Hagar Era Tribute 7 pm; Magic Bag, 22920 Woodward Ave., Ferndale;

Prince Again – A Tribute to Prince 8 pm; Emerald Theatre, 31 N. Walnut St., Mount Clemens; Saddle Up Y2K 8 pm; Diamondback Music Hall, 49345 S. Interstate 94 Service Dr., Belleville;

Taking Back Sunday w/ Bayside 7 pm; Royal Oak Music Theatre, 318 W. Fourth St., Royal Oak; Tyler Rich and James Barker Band 7 pm; District 142, 142 Maple St., Wyandotte;

Vacation Manor, Rhineland 6 pm; Sanctuary Detroit, 2932 Caniff St., Hamtramck;

Waxahatchee w/ MJ Lenderman 6:30 pm; Detroit Masonic Temple Library, 500 Temple St, Detroit; DJ/Dance

Beletrie w/ Touch The Clouds + DJ Kindle April 24, 9 pm; Bowlero Lanes & Lounge, 4209 Coolidge Hwy., Royal Oak; 0.

Open Air Fridays 4-10 pm; Woodbridge Pub, 5169 Trumbull St., Detroit; 0.

Saturday Apr 25

Live/Concert

Dark Tranquillity + Soen 6 pm; Saint Andrew’s Hall, 431 E. Congress St., Detroit;

Detroit Youth Choir To Perform Michael Jckson Songs At Select Emagine Theatre Locations 1:30 am-2:30 pm; Emagine Canton, 39535 Ford Rd, Canton;

Dylan Scott Ticket + Hotel Deals 8 pm; Caesars Palace Windsor - Augustus Ballroom, 377 E. Riverside Dr., Windsor;

Dylan Scott: Till I Can’t, I Will Tour 8 pm; Caesars Palace WindsorAugustus Ballroom, 377 E. Riverside Dr., Windsor;

Essenger, Echos 6 pm; Sanctuary Detroit, 2932 Caniff St., Hamtramck; Guns N Roses Tribute - PARADISE CITY , THE ZOO - Tribute to The SCORPIONS 8 pm; The Token Lounge, 28949 Joy Rd., Westland; IZAK w/ Tyler Chernoff + DJ Amy K 9 pm; Bowlero Lanes & Lounge, 4209 Coolidge Hwy., Royal Oak; 0. Jay Electronica: The Nineteen Day Reconnaissance Tour 7 pm; Pike Room, 1 S. Saginaw, Pontiac; Kuhnhenn Springfest 2026 Warren 12-8 pm; Kuhnhenn Brewing Co., 5919 Chicago Rd., Warren; Live and Let Die: The Music of Paul McCartney 8 pm; Andiamo Celebrity Showroom, 7096 E. 14 Mile Rd., Warren;

Magic Bag Presents: 80s vs 90s - MEGA vs CLASS 7 pm; Magic Bag, 22920 Woodward Ave., Ferndale; Magic Bag Presents: K-Pop Demon Hunters Kid’s Dance Party 1 pm; Magic Bag, 22920 Woodward Ave., Ferndale;

Saddle Up: Boots & Bandanas 8 pm; Diamondback Music Hall, 49345 S. Interstate 94 Service Dr., Belleville; THE PRINCE EXPERIENCE 7 pm; District 142, 142 Maple St., Wyandotte; Trauma Ray + Glixen, Her New Knife , Knifeplay 6 pm; The Loving Touch, 22634 Woodward Ave., Ferndale; Ty Segall 7 pm; Garden Bowl, 4120 Woodward, Detroit

Saturday Grind 11 am-3 pm; Spkr Box, 200 Grand River, Detroit;

Saturday Grind 11 am-3 pm; Spkr Box, 200 Grand River, Detroit;

Sunday Apr 26

Live/Concert

Phil Ogilvie’s Rhythm Kings 5-8 pm; Zal Gaz Grotto Club, 2070 W. Stadium Blvd., Ann Arbor; No Cover (tipjar for the band).

DAMAG3 Kill The Radio Tour with special guest Amber Ryann 7 pm; Small’s, 10339 Conant St., Hamtramck;

Fort Street Church & Artistic

Director Michael Malis Present: Jazz Concert Series 2-3 pm; Fort Street Presbyterian Church, 631 W. Fort St., Detroit; Suggested donation of $20/ person.

Hail The Sun 6 pm; Pike Room, 1 S. Saginaw, Pontiac;

Holy Fuck, Gus Englehorn 7 pm; The Loving Touch, 22634 Woodward Ave., Ferndale;

Jazz Brunch Featuring the Dave Bennett Band 11 am-1 pm; The War Memorial, 32 Lake Shore Drive, Grosse Pointe Farms; Starting at $80.

Kenny Wayne Sheperd “Ledbetter Heights 30th Anniversary Tour” 7:30 pm; The Music Hall, 350 Madison Ave., Detroit;

Phil Ogilvie’s Rhythm Kings 5-8 pm; Zal Gaz Grotto Club, 2070 W. Stadium Blvd., Ann Arbor; No Cover (tipjar for the band).

POET The Band, The Almas, Major Moment 6 pm; Sanctuary Detroit, 2932 Caniff St., Hamtramck; Rock ‘n’ Shop at Showtime! Last Sunday of every month, 2-6 pm; Showtime Clothing, 9704 Joseph Campau Ave., Hamtramck; Free.

DJ/Dance

SPKR BRNCH 11 am-3 pm; Spkr Box, 200 Grand River, Detroit;

Karaoke/Open Mic

Sunday Service Karaoke Hosted by Sister DJ Larry 8 pm-1 am; Pronto! Royal Oak, 608 S. Washington, Royal Oak; No Cover.

Sunday Service Karaoke | DJ Larry noon-1 am; Pronto! Royal Oak, 608 S. Washington, Royal Oak; No Cover.

Monday Apr 27

Live/Concert

Sky Covington’s Preservation of Jazz Monday Night Music Series, Tributes 7:30-10 pm; Aretha’s Jazz Cafe, 350 Madison St., Detroit; $35-$40.

Sky Covington’s Preservation of Jazz Monday Night Music Series, Tributes 7:30-10 pm; Aretha’s Jazz Cafe, 350 Madison St., Detroit; $35-$40.

DJ/Dance

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

Tuesday Apr 28

Live/Concert

Sean Blackman’s In Transit 7-10 pm; Northern Lights Lounge, 660 W. Baltimore St., Detroit; no cover.

Arkells 7 pm; The Shelter, 431 E. Congress St., Detroit;

Master Boot Record 7 pm; Sanctuary Detroit, 2932 Caniff St., Hamtramck;

Sean Blackman’s In Transit 7-10 pm; Northern Lights Lounge, 660 W. Baltimore St., Detroit; no cover.

The Toasters 45 Years of Ska 7 pm; Small’s, 10339 Conant St., Hamtramck; They Might Be Giants 7 pm; Garden Bowl, 4120 Woodward, Detroit;

Karaoke/Open Mic

Open Mic : Art in a Fly Space 7-10 pm; Detroit Shipping Company, 474 Peterboro St., Detroit; no cover.

VIP Tuesday Night Karaoke 9 pm-1 am; Pronto! Royal Oak, 608 S. Washington, Royal Oak; No Cover.

Wednesday Apr 15

Live/Concert

Cubist Agenda 8 pm-midnight; First Place Lounge, 16921 Harper Ave, Detroit; No Cover.

Detroit Symphony Orchestra: Disney’s The Little Mermaid in Concert Live to Film 7-9 pm; Detroit Symphony Orchestra, 3711 Woodward Ave., Detroit;

The Function with DJ Dez Andres 9 pm-2 am; Northern Lights Lounge, 660 W. Baltimore St., Detroit; no cover.

I Am, He Said 8 pm; Andiamo Celebrity Showroom, 7096 E. 14 Mile Rd., Warren;

A Night for Rights 8 pm; Ghost Light, 2314 Caniff St., Hamtramck; $15. Soul Blind, Split Chain, Downward, Dream Fatigue 6 & 7 pm;

Sanctuary Detroit, 2932 Caniff St., Hamtramck;

THE MUSIC OF HANS ZIMMER & OTHERS – A CELEBRATION OF FILM MUSIC 8 pm; The Music Hall, 350 Madison Ave., Detroit; $34.90-$84.90.

I Am, He Said 8 pm; Andiamo Celebrity Showroom, 7096 E. 14 Mile Rd., Warren;

Cubist Agenda 8 pm-midnight; First Place Lounge, 16921 Harper Ave, Detroit; No Cover.

The Function with DJ Dez Andres 9 pm-2 am; Northern Lights Lounge, 660 W. Baltimore St., Detroit; no cover.

DJ/Dance

Planet Funk 7-10 pm; Spkr Box, 200 Grand River, Detroit;

Way Back Wednesdays w. DJ

Righteous 8 am-11:59 pm; New Dodge Lounge, 8850 Joseph Campau Ave., Hamtramck; 5.

Karaoke/Open Mic

Continuing This Week Karaoke/ Open Mic

Hump Day Karaoke & Music Trivia 8 pm-1 am; Pronto! Royal Oak, 608 S. Washington, Royal Oak; No Cover.

THEATER

Performance

Tipping Point Theatre Gene & Gilda

| A play by Cary Gitter A charming and witty comedy about the relationship of Hollywood legends, Gene Wilder and Gilda Radner. Tipping Point Theatre presents the Michigan Premiere of “Gene & Gilda” by Cary Gitter. It’s Hollywood in the late 1980’s and Gene Wilder is giving his first interview after the death of his beloved Gilda Radner. Although he states any discussion of Gilda is off limits, Gilda has other ideas and crashes the interview. The famous couple come to vivid life as we follow them from their first meeting through their personal and professional ups and downs, all the way to their poignant farewell. $25 - 47 2-3:30 pm, 7:30-9 pm and 7:30-9 pm.

Musical

Fisher Theatre - Detroit Suffs (Touring) - Recommended Ages 10 and Up 7:30 pm, 7:30 pm, 7:30 pm, 2 & 7:30 pm, 1 & 6:30 pm, 7:30 pm, 7:30

pm, 7:30 pm, April 24, 7:30 pm, April 25, 2 & 7:30 pm and April 26, 1 & 6:30 pm.

The Music Hall Lord of The RingsThe Hobbit: The Concert $34.90-$84.90 4 & 4:30 pm.

Performance art

The Vinyl Society Vibes & Verses Spoken Word Poetry Night What to Expect: An inspiring space for poets and artists to shine Electrifying music sets that set the perfect backdrop A lively open mic segment encouraging community participation Spotlight features from top local talent Produced by B Cyde Broadcasting Network (www.thebcyde.online), Vibes & Verses aims to foster a safe, welcoming environment where creativity flows freely and voices are amplified. Whether you’re a poetry enthusiast, a casual listener, or an aspiring artist, this night is designed for everyone eager to experience the power of spoken word. Join us every Wednesday evening at Vinyl Society and be part of Detroit’s thriving arts Free 7-10 pm.

Art Exhibition

Anton Art Center Michigan Annual LIII January 31st through February 28, the Center’s first floor gallery will host the 53rd annual statewide fine art competition and exhibition, Michigan Annual II, juried by Grace Serra. Serra is the Art Collection Curator at Wayne State University and serves as the Exhibition Curator at the University of Michigan’s North Campus Research Complex. With 30+ years in Public Arts, she has coordinated many major art installations in the Detroit People Mover, Detroit Receiving Hospital, and Children’s Hospital. Free 10 am-5 pm.

Cranbrook Art Museum Constellations & Affinities: Selections from the Cranbrook Collection “Constellations and Affinities: Selections from the Cranbrook Collection” is now open at Cranbrook Art Museum! Sampling from the Cranbrook Collection, this ongoing exhibition gathers a broad and eclectic sampling of objects made by artists, architects, and designers associated with Cranbrook Academy of Art. Arranged like a contemporary curiosity cabinet, the works on view span numerous media and represent a broad range of practices taught at the Academy. Works have been arranged in various constellations to compare and contrast certain affinities in materials, processes, and approaches among the artists while acknowledging the singular artistic vision of each maker. Museum Admission, Free on Thursdays 11 am-5 pm.

LET’S GO PISTONS, RED WINGS & TIGERS! VISIT US ON GAME DAY

ONE MILE FROM STADIUMS/MINUTES FROM QLINE NEW! EVERY TUESDAY! OPEN MIC IN THE D HOSTED BY JAH LION

Thurs 4/16

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, KEVIN DANIEL!

Fri 4/17

SHACK UP! FEAT. DJ ROSIE (DANCE VIBES) DOORS@9P/$5COVER HAPPY BIRTHDAY, HAKIM!

Sat 4/18

HEAD FULL OF GHOSTS/OF HOUSE/ NIGHT SKY ALUMNI (GRUNGE/ALT ROCK/DREAM POP/INDIE ROCK) DOORS@9P/$5COVER

Sun 4/19

A VERY HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO VIETNAM VETERAN & FATHER OF THE OLD MIAMI, DANNY OVERSTREET!

Mon 4/20

FREE POOL ALL DAY

Tues 4/21

OPEN MIC IN THE D FEAT. MUSIC/POETRY/TALENT HOSTED BY JAH LION

8PM-MIDNITE

Thurs 4/23

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, CHERYL LARSON!

Fri 4/24

BRANDON Z SMITH & THE WARDROBE/ANI MARI/ MADDY RINGO (FOLK ROCK/AMERICANA) DOORS@9P/$5COVER

Detroit Institute of Arts (DIA) The Big Picture Guided Tour Free 1 pm, 6 pm and 3 pm.

Hellenic Museum of Michigan

#WeAreGreekWarriors: From the Greek Revolution to Today – The Power of the Heroines of 1821 Lives in Every Woman

#WeAreGreekWarriors brings the heroines of 1821 into today’s cultural conversation through bold contemporary art and modern storytelling. These fighters and champions of freedom helped shape history, yet many remain unknown. Now their stories come alive at the Hellenic Museum of Michigan in a groundbreaking exhibition featuring original campaign prints alongside works by contemporary artist Ramona Pintea. Reclaiming history through a fearless lens, the exhibit honors the women of the Greek Revolution while connecting their strength to women today through dynamic programming, cultural events, and interactive experiences. For more information, visit www.hellenicmi. org. Free 11 am-3 pm.

WELLNESS

Self-care

Nurture and Nourish ~ Love Letters to You: Galentine’s Day Flower Bar Celebrate the love you have for yourself. Join us for an afternoon of self-expression, creativity and blooms. But here’s the twist~ As you arrange your flowers, you’ll also be writing a love letter to yourself. Taking this opportunity to reflect on your journey, celebrate your growth, and acknowledge the incredible person you’ve become. ongoing, 2-4 pm; CenterPeace Healing and Events Center, 33750 Freedom Road, Farmington; $60.54; 7347725426; www.eventbrite. com/e/nurture-and-nourish-love-lettersto-you-galentines-day-flower-bar-tickets1980129511673?aff=ebdssbdestsearch.

Benefit

Sat 4/25

WINDS OF NEPTUNE/THE MUGGS/ SOLAR MONOLITH

(DETROIT STONER ROCK/BLUES ROCK/DOOM ROCK) DOORS@9P/$5COVER

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, DENNIS NEVILLE!

Mon 4/27

FREE POOL ALL DAY

Tues 4/28

OPEN MIC IN THE D FEAT. MUSIC/POETRY/TALENT HOSTED BY JAH LION

8PM-MIDNITE

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, XAVIER MANALO!

Coming Up:

5/01 Echo Pilot/Solar Monolith/StaggoLee

5/02 Hourlies/Marshall Luna Blue

5/02 KENTUCKY DERBY DAY

5/05 Jenny Don’t&The Spurs/Pete Dio&The Old Dirty/ Iris Marlowe

5/08 Endless Mike and the Beagle Club/ Brook Pridemore(NYC)/Isak/Joe Duprey/Dan

5/09 DIVAS vs DIVAS (monthly dance party)

5/14 BELL’s BREWERY TAKEOVER

5/15 & 5/16 TIMMY FEST! (Detroit Punk legend Timmy Vulgar)

5/24 TONY NOVA’S DETROIT PARTY 2026 (thedetroitparty.com)

5/25 HAPPY MEMORIAL DAY! WE ARE OPEN

5/28 WDET COMEDY SHOWCASE SEASON 6 KICKOFF

5/29 Angie Hartley & The Boys/The Broken Strings/ Leigh Rydell

5/30 SHORT’s BREWERY REVEAL feat: Caveman Bam Bam/ Space Skull/Imaginatron

6/06 PARTY UP 5! PRINCE ERA MUSIC ALL NIGHT

6/12 FOUL MOUTH (D12)

6/20 HOWDY FEST by Howdy Saloon Detroit (Tiks @ EVENTBRITE.com)

BOOK YOUR PARTIES: theoldmiamibarevents@gmail.com

Old Miami T-shirts & Hoodies Make Great Gifts

Oakland County International Airport Aviation Impressionism, Acrylic on Canvas “Fly high , take chances “ A collection of impressionist Aviation works by local Greg Upshur. Runs through May.. Free In the lobby at Oakland County International Mon thru Fri 9 to 5 free.

University of Michigan Museum of Art Unsettling Histories: Legacies of Slavery and Colonialism Trace the fascinating and sometimes. troubling stories behind the world’s most desired ceramics. The technology and taste for blue and white porcelain originated in China in the fourteenth century, and quickly set off a worldwide craze that lasted five hundred years. Installed across four different galleries at UMMA, this exhibition explores that history and tracks the influence of blue and white ceramics across the globe. free.; Following years of research into the Museum’s and University of Michigan’s relationships with Africa and African art collections, We Write To You About Africa is a complete reinstallation and doubling of the Museum’s space dedicated to African art. free.; This exhibition proactively engages with debates about restitution and the ethics of museums’ owning African heirlooms collected during the era of colonization. The investigation and research into 11 works of African art will be conducted publicly — visitors will have access to documents, photographs, and correspondence that will help UMMA develop a better understanding of each object’s history, grappling in real time with questions surrounding legal and ethical ownership of these artworks. Though complex, this project presents exciting opportunities for museum transparency and creating new pathways for relationship-building with partners in Africa and its diaspora. free.; “Unsettling Histories” rejects the simple narratives of our collection’s past and forces us to examine whose history we prioritize and why. Organized as a response to the Museum’s recent acquisition of Titus Kaphar’s “Flay (James Madison),” this reinstallation of one of our most prominent gallery spaces forces us to grapple with our collection of European and American art, 1650-1850. free.

Gabrielle Wilson City Sweat Club: Running A Wellness Revolution In The City Join our Detroit Community Run, a 5K challenge through the city starting in the Nike Community Store! Meet us every Wednesday this summer at 6:00 PM. We’ll start with a warm-up in-store and explore a new route each week. Whether you run, jog, or walk, all fitness levels are welcome. This event is FREE and aims to foster community connection through movement. After the run, we’ll celebrate and socialize at Gilly’s Clubhouse & Rooftop. Still thinking about signing up? Just do it! See you at the Nike Community Store every Wednesday, starting 6/26! Register to run on Eventbrite. FREE 6-8:30 pm.

Support

group

Ross Medical Education Center Ross Education New Student Orientation Student Orientation Session for newly enrolled students: We’ll cover everything you need to know for a great start, including Academics, Attendance, Dress Code, and our Learning Management System. We’ll also give you a tour of the campus and classrooms so you know exactly where you’re going, and we’ll help you set up your new laptop. We try to have some fun, too! As one of the largest cities in the region, Warren is a hub for healthcare and wellness services. Local providers offer advanced medical care and wellness programs. The city’s parks, recreational activities, and community events foster an active 3-4 pm.

Singles event

Shields Pizza NOT ONLINE DATING PRESENTS - SPEED DATING & SINGLES

MIXER: AGES 35 - 55 Get ready for a night that’s way more fun than swiping. Our speed dating event is a high-energy, in-person experience hosted by a professional comedian who keeps the laughs (and nerves) in check. You’ll meet a series of great people in relaxed 4–5 minute mini-dates—just enough time to spark a connection or share a laugh before moving on. No pressure, no awkward pauses, just good vibes and real conversations. Whether you meet someone special or simply make new friends, you’ll leave smiling, energized, and glad you came. Come for the dates, stay for the fun! $40 7-10 pm.

MUSIC

Where Detroit grit meets rock ’n’ roll

Tommy Clufetos’s unbreakable pulse

By Christina Fuoco-Karasinski

Former Ozzy Osbourne drummer Tommy Clufetos plays with the same forces that shaped his hometown of Detroit — pride, grit, and resilience.

“Detroit is where rock ’n’ roll is really true,” Clufetos says. “Detroit’s approach to rock ’n’ roll is in my blood. The edge of Detroit is in my blood. I’ve lived in Los Angeles, and now I live in Nashville, but the approach to music is unto itself.

“In Detroit, it’s known for its hard, fast, driving rock ’n’ roll. That is really what gets to me. I can play with energy when the music calls for it. I can play with energy at a whisper. I can play with intensity in a quiet setting. I always work hard and try to give the audience the best I can.”

A veteran of Black Sabbath, Dead Daisies, and Ted Nugent’s band, the Rochester Adams High School alum is sharing this musical message with Tommy’s RockTrip. He’ll bring the band — which also includes guitarist and lead vocalist Max Frye, bassist JT Shea, and guitarist Kyler Brinker — to Westland’s Token Lounge on Thursday, April 23.

“They’re long-haired skinny dudes, and I’m just a drill sergeant to them,” Clufetos says without missing a beat.

“I’m like, ‘This is what rock ’n’ roll is supposed to be.’ You gotta get your hands dirty. You’re going to cut yourself. You’re going to bleed.’ I rehearse the hell out of them. I won’t take their second best. It’s not good enough for me.”

Clufetos grew up on Detroit’s west side, where music was the family business. His father, Tommy Sr., was a working drummer who ran a music school out of the house. His mother handled the business side. As a youngster, Clufetos sat behind a kit, learning the craft the old- school way: by doing it nightly.

His big break came from a fellow Detroiter, the Motor City Madman Ted Nugent, after meeting him through Bob Seger’s sax player, Alto Reed. Clufetos has since joined Alice Cooper and Rob Zombie, alongside fellow Detroiter John 5. He

left Zombie’s band for Ozzy Osbourne in 2009, replacing Mike Bordin, who reunited with Faith No More.

Clufetos is aware that many bands mellow with age. He’s determined not to.

“Whenever you watch bands, you watch the videos from when they were 22, and they were great, but then you go see them years later, and they lost that charge,” he says. “I don’t want to lose that charge.”

He points to Osbourne as the model.

“He had all the money in the world, and he could have just quit, but he always went up there with that grit. I’m here to carry that torch in my own little way.”

That said, he recently detoured from his RockTrip to honor Osbourne during the Brit Awards. Joining him on the song “No More Tears” were his former Ozzy bandmate, guitarist Zakk Wylde, as well as English pop singer Robbie Williams, and Metallica bassist Rob Trujillo.

“You want to come off great for him and for his legacy,” Clufetos says about the tribute. “It was nice to see everyone again, Mrs. Osbourne, all the band guys, and the people in the organization.

“It was a nice moment. When you’re on tour, you’re always traveling. We went to dinner the night before, and we talked about Ozzy. It was a little calmer and,

personally, maybe a little more interactive, which was nice. It came off great on TV. He deserves all of it and more.”

He admits, however, “No More Tears” was difficult to play without the Prince of Darkness.

“Everything was the same,” he says. “You’re getting on the plane. You know you’re gonna see this guy. You know you’re gonna see her. You’re gonna see him — but he wasn’t there. It’s sad, but it’s part of life.”

Clufetos holds onto the way Osbourne went out: triumphant, adored, and unmistakably himself at the July 5, 2025, “Back to the Beginning” benefit concert at Villa Park in Aston, Birmingham, England. Metallica, Yungblud, Gojira, Pantera, and Guns N’ Roses were among those hitting the stage.

The night ended with a set by Black Sabbath’s original lineup — Osbourne, guitarist Tommy Iommi, drummer Bill Ward, bassist Geezer Butler — performing together for the first time since 2005.

“What a great last gig he had in Birmingham [England],” Clufetos says. “He went out like a king… the outpouring of happiness he brought people after that gig was so wonderful to see.”

Tommy’s RockTrip is a new challenge:

leading a band from behind the drums. The band has been recording in Nashville, working on a new album rooted on Clufetos’s no -tricks philosophy. So far, the act has recorded five “all-organic rock songs, written by us, that are rootsy, straightahead rock ’n’ roll.”

“No electronics besides amps, drums, and speakers. No click tracks. We don’t even wear headphones in the studio. We play all together as one group,” Clufetos says.

“What comes through the speakers is what’s on tape. I like getting the feel of a live band, and you try to get that one take. It doesn’t have to be perfect, because perfect isn’t perfect. It’s got to be ‘perfect’ where it has the vibe and the edge. Rock ‘n’ roll is supposed to be in the moment. I once had this famous producer say to me, while listening to Ozzy, ‘Oh, man, you guys play that song fast.’ Is said, ‘Yeah, we sure do, don’t we?’ At the Token, we will rock your block off. I guarantee it.”

Tommy’s RockTrip performs Thursday, April 23, at The Token Lounge, 28949 Joy Rd., Westland; tokenlounge.com. Doors open at 7 p.m. Tickets start at $18.73.

A festival favorite comes downtown

Downtown Street Eats has officially launched this season, bringing dozens of food trucks to Detroit’s Cadillac Square.

This year’s program includes Island Noodles, a popular vendor at music festivals across the U.S., including Movement and Electric Forest in Michigan. The brand was founded in the 1990s in Montana and has become beloved for its Hawaiian-style wok-fired stir fry noodles. The food truck is also known for its smoothies.

“Downtown Street Eats has built an incredible reputation, and we’ve heard nothing but great things about the program and how much it’s grown over the years,” said Kelley Rowe, co-owner of Island Noodles. “We’re excited to introduce our noodles to a new lunchtime crowd in Downtown Detroit and be part of a program that celebrates so many great local food vendors.”

Island Noodles is among more than 80 food trucks and vendors that will rotate through Downtown Street Eats, which is open from 11 a.m.-3 p.m. on weekdays through Oct. 9.

The event bills itself as “Michigan’s largest weekly food truck experience,” drawing some 2,500 people daily, according to Downtown Detroit Partnership.

Newcomers to the food truck rally this year include the Italian-themed Detroit

Panzerotti Co. The food truck was founded by Paul Buscemi of metro Detroit’s Buscemi’s chain of party stores after a cancer diagnosis in 2016.

“After going through cancer, I realized life is too short not to build something meaningful with my family,” Buscemi said in a statement. “We saw a niche for De-

troit-style pizza and calzones in the food truck industry, and Downtown Street Eats is the perfect place to share it with people working and visiting downtown.”

A full schedule is available at downtowndetroit.org/events.

—Lee DeVito

The Hungry Black Man goes from critic to restaurateur

After years of growing a following by reviewing Black-owned businesses across the U.S., popular social media food influencer Starex Smith — better known to many as the Hungry Black Man — is opening a restaurant of his own in Detroit.

Located at 1428 Gratiot Ave. in Detroit’s Eastern Market area, Smith & Williams is set to hold its grand opening on May 1 following a preview earlier this

month.

The restaurant is named after Smith and his business partner Devante Williams and will feature a soul food-inspired menu. The duo also opened a Smith & Williams restaurant in Toledo.

Originally from Miami, Smith says he was drawn to Detroit’s culture during his travels.

“People in Miami always ask about the cold. I tell them the truth: Miami has

the sun, but Detroit has the warmth,” Smith wrote on social media. “Not the kind you measure in degrees, the kind you feel when a city embraces you, feeds you back.”

Built in the early 1930s, the building is known for its elegant geometric Art Deco architecture and was the former home of the Antietam and Le Culture Cafe restaurants in recent years.

—Lee

DeVito

The Motor City is about to get Michelin stars

The respected Michelin Guide has dispatched its anonymous “Inspectors” to scout Detroit restaurants.

Announced last week, the Michelin Guide American Great Lakes edition will also cover the cities of Cleveland, Indianapolis, Milwaukee, Minneapolis, and Pittsburgh.

“The Michelin Guide is committed to fostering a culture of travel and dining by helping people discover unforgettable culinary experiences in new destinations,” said the Michelin Guide’s international director, Gwendal Poullennec. “We are excited to finally be putting a stake in the ground in the Great Lakes region, spotlighting the talent and food cultures across these six great cities. Our anonymous Inspectors have begun canvassing these cities for impressive culinary talent and are eager to share their experiences with you in the inaugural selection next year.”

The selected restaurants will be revealed in 2027.

In a statement, Claude Molinari, president and CEO of Visit Detroit, the city’s visitors bureau, celebrated the news.

“Being named a Michelin Guide destination is a milestone moment for Detroit and Southeast Michigan,” he said. “It reinforces Detroit’s emergence as a premier culinary destination in the United States, known for its diverse dining scene, world-class chefs and authentic food culture. This recognition puts us on a global stage, attracting new visitors, elevating our chefs and restaurateurs, and reinforcing food as a driver of tourism and economic growth. We’re incredibly excited about what this means for the future of our destination.”

Yes, Michelin is that tire company. It started publishing a restaurant guide in 1900, awarding restaurants up to three of its coveted stars for culinary excellence.

—Lee DeVito

Midtown’s Jolly Pumpkin to be replaced by ‘Mediterranean-ish’ concept

Jolly Pumpkin has closed its location in Detroit’s Midtown area.

The local pizza and beer chain announced its closure on social media, writing, “After 11 incredible years, JP is closing its doors. We are so grateful for the love, support, and memories you’ve shared with us over the years, it has truly meant everything.”

Jolly Pumpkin says it plans to reopen somewhere else in the city.

“This isn’t goodbye, just see you soon,” the post continues. “JP will be back in Detroit, and we can’t wait to share what’s next. Stay tuned here for updates.”

Jolly Pumpkin also has locations in Ann Arbor, Dexter, East Lansing, and

Traverse City.

The space, located at 441 W. Canfield St., won’t be empty for long. Brad Greenhill of popular Thai-inspired Detroit restaurant Takoi says he is moving in with his Spiedo concept. Described as a “Mediterranean-ish” concept, Spiedo opened its first location at 307 S. Fifth Ave., Ann

Arbor, in 2023.

“The Detroit one will be a little bit different in that it’s in a much larger space and we’re going to expand the menu a little bit, at least for dinner,” Greenhill said, according to The Detroit News , adding that he is aiming to open this summer.

—Lee DeVito

CULTURE

Film

A pixel-deep franchise keeps cashing in

By Jared Rasic, Last Word Features

The Super Mario Galaxy Movie

Rated: PG

Run-time: 98 minutes

I’m not sure what to say about The Super Mario Galaxy Movie, but one thing is for sure: I don’t know that I like Chris Pratt that much anymore. I find that strange because his character on Parks and Recreation, Andy Dwyer, is one of my all-time favorite sitcom schlubs and he was one of the funniest characters on the show. I still somewhat like him in the Guardians of the Galaxy movies (although I’m finding Peter Quill to be a somewhat dramatically stagnant superhero over his last few MCU appearances), but his attempts at “heroic badass” in the Jurassic World movies don’t work for me at all. What does that have to do with The Super Mario Galaxy Movie? Probably not much because it’s somewhat easy to ignore Pratt’s vocal work as Mario, an Italian American plumber from Brooklyn who, along with his brother Luigi (voiced by Charlie Day) and Princess Peach (Anya Taylor-Joy), saved the Mushroom Kingdom from the evil Koopa Bowser (Jack Black) back in 2023’s The Super Mario Bros. Movie

As someone who thought he was the target demographic for a Super Mario animated adventure, I found the 2023 original to be somewhat deflating at the time, as my problems with it made me sound like an old man yelling at the clouds. In fact, my Letterbox review only said, “It’sa me, a middle-aged man, wondering why this wasn’t FOR me and then slowly realizing that it never could be. That all we are is dust in the wind and that age is a slowly creeping necrophile defiling all that we once loved.” I was 6 when Super Mario Bros. came out for the NES, so I selfishly hoped the first animated adventure would scratch that nostalgic itch I was searching for and dial me back into that kid discovering video games for the first time.

Instead, the non-stop barrage of action, jokes, and hyper-colorful imagery felt designed more for the TikTok generation than for my elder millennial ass. Somehow, The Super Mario Galaxy Movie is even faster paced than the last, with frenetic editing, more references, more jokes, and endless chases. Still, it worked better for me than the last one simply because I knew what to expect. While the animation is always gorgeous (and honestly more impressive than the unimaginative designs from the newest

Pixar film, Hoppers), there’s no substance to the story, which I suppose isn’t needed if kids are just looking for chases, jokes, and characters they recognize from their Switch.

Filmmakers Aaron Horvath and Michael Jelenic bring the same non-stop adventure vibes they brought to the first one, but also a quicker wit reminiscent of the work they did on Teen Titans Go!

While I missed the presence of Seth Rogen’s Donkey Kong (from the last one), I fell for Benny Safdie’s adorable Bowser Jr. and Donald Glover’s goofball dinosaur Yoshi. In fact, there’s a sequence of Yoshi strutting around to Biggie’s “Hypnotize” that was easily my favorite moment of the franchise so far.

What’s the plot? Bowser Jr. kidnaps Princess Rosalina to impress his father, so Princess Peach and Toad head to rescue her while Mario and Luigi meet Yoshi and team up to rehabilitate Bowser and protect the Mushroom Kingdom in Peach’s absence. The film is insanely convoluted yet under-plotted, but Jack Black’s work as an emotionally conflicted Bowser is pretty classic, giving the relationship between him and Bowser Jr. an affecting heart I wasn’t expecting. The character work is surprisingly much better here than in the first one, even as the hollow weightless-

ness of the storytelling is more glaring. The film also introduces Glen Powell as Star Fox in such a blatantly obvious attempt to set up a spin-off movie that it reminded me of why it’s so easy to be cynical about this type of franchise filmmaking. As much as I love the character of Star Fox and would probably enjoy a series of movies about the cocky space pilot, all I could think of is how much cooler Star Fox would be if voiced by Sam Rockwell. Powell’s range seems to only encompass self-deprecatingly smug over to obnoxiously smug fighter pilot and I’m curious if we’re ever going to see (or hear) the actor try something different. Still, The Super Mario Galaxy Movie was entertaining and visually impressive, if exhausting in its desperation to keep the audience from checking their phones. Seeing it in 3D ScreenX kept my eyeballs constantly overwhelmed, even as my brain checked out whenever I heard Pratt attempt his lazy Brooklyn accent. Kids will get exactly what they want out of this and I’m sure the Super Mario Cinematic Universe will earn billions and billions more. Cynical? Absolutely. Let me turn on my Nintendo 64 and search for that sense of wonder once more.

Grade: C-

CULTURE

Savage Love

Show and Tell

by Dan Savage

: Q I’ve been married to my wife for nine years and we share a beautiful life together with our two young children. I came out to her as bi late last year after working through some major intimacy issues that are still ongoing. She accepts me and the issues are getting better. We are monogamous and I feel like we are still not as intimate as I would like. I don’t blame her — our lives are chaotic. Needless to say, sex is very important to me. Working with a therapist, I think I’m hypersexual due to past sexual trauma with men. I’ve never stopped fantasizing about my assaults, and I recently attended an all-male sex gathering where I masturbated in front of thirty men without my wife’s knowledge. It was cathartic being in a respectful environment where I was able to communicate my boundaries — which included not allowing anyone else to touch me — and consent was so clearly defined. I was able to find my voice, rewrite some past trauma, and fulfill a voyeurism/exhibitionism kink in a queer safe space. This was definitely just a one-off experience, and I don’t intend to move forward with any other same-sex play without communicating with my wife about it. I deeply love her, and I would never want to harm her health. Still, I feel so selfish, and a part of me feels like I really messed up badly, but I can’t shake how empowered I felt after it happened and how empowered I still feel. I’m extremely conflicted. My question is this: Should I tell my wife about it and risk ruining our amazing marriage? Or can I just let this truly be a one-off experience and forget about ever mentioning it?

—Jerking Off Somehow Enabled Significant Healing

A: “I don’t think JOSESH messed up badly,” said Dr. Joe Kort, a psychotherapist who has worked with many male survivors of childhood sexual abuse. “He didn’t put his health at risk or his wife’s health at risk — and he didn’t risk legal issues that could have had consequences for his wife and family.”

In other words, JOSESH, unlike some men who are drawn to voyeurism and exhibitionism, you didn’t risk arrest by pulling your dick out in a public place or by peering through a window and observing someone without their

awareness, much less their consent.

“JOSESH found men who provided him with informed consent and respected his boundaries about not being touched,” said Dr. Kort, “and created a corrective emotional experience for himself, one that helped him resolve part of his childhood trauma. We just don’t like to talk about this, but it is normal for a person to fantasize about childhood assaults. Clients come to me feeling very shamed about this and I tell them it is normal. The idea is that we were not in charge of it happening to us as a child, but we are in charge of the fantasy now. And taking charge like JOSESH did can be very empowering, so his feelings make sense.”

As for the wife…

“I always ask my clients facing similar decisions, ‘What is the reason to tell?’ Is it for you? Or is it for her? If a client says it’s for her, I ask, ‘How will being told benefit her?’ In JOSESH’s case, I don’t think being told about this oneoff experience will benefit his wife. Therefore, I would advise him not to tell his wife.”

While you cut moral corners, JOSESH, and while you definitely stepped outside of your zone of erotic autonomy, you didn’t do anything that put your wife at risk. If you’d done something riskier — if you’d gotten fucked in the ass by all those men — your wife would need to get tested and/or wait until you were in the clear before having sex with you again. If your wife needed to get a full STI screening, she would “benefit” from knowing why (she would demand to know why); if you couldn’t have sex with her while you waited for your STI screening to come back, she would likewise benefit from and/or demand to know why.

“I do like the idea of JOSESH running the idea by her about doing it again in the future,” said Dr. Kort. “She knows her husband is bisexual, so the conversation about how he might want to act on it makes sense. Then he can decide based on her reaction — whether he might want to tell her about what he did.”

Dr. Kort wanted to address one other thing in your letter: your use of the term “hypersexual” to describe yourself.

“I’d be cautious with that label,” said Dr. Kort. “What JOSESH describes may be less about excess and more about unintegrated sexual energy tied to trauma, shame, and identity. This wasn’t random acting out — it wasn’t “hyper” — it was organized, contained, and meaning-driven.”

Dr. Joe Kort is the author of Is My Husband Gay, Straight or Bi: a Guide for Women Concerned About Their Men, among other books. You can follow him on Instagram @DrJoeKort and learn more about his work at www. joekort.com.

: Q My wife and I have been together for thirty years. Our sex life has been up and down throughout that time. Our sex life has been trending down for the past five years. We can go months without any sexual interaction. We have two teenagers at home and one of our kids has severe anxiety issues, where she always has to be with either me or my wife. So, my wife and I have not been alone together outside the home for close to two years. No dates, no dinners, no weekends away. It has been hard on both of us. Our kid is in therapy, and is definitely on an upward trend, which is great.

I have voiced my displeasure about our sex life, and she hardly engages back. She blames perimenopause and the current situation with our kid, which is understandable. About five months ago, she decided to sleep in a separate room and sleeping apart has made things even worse. The manner in which she switched rooms was abrupt. There was no discussion.

Over the past five years, she has gone away by herself to hang with friends or on non-mandatory work trips. She takes lingerie, sex toys, and “going out on the town” clothes on these trips. I have asked to participate in these excursions via phone or video chat — I’ve also suggested we get sex toys that can be controlled remotely — but she never wants me to participate in these activities with her, not even remotely. I want her to be happy, and I know getting away does that. Earlier this year, I voiced my concerns about her hooking up with other people on these trips when our own sex life is in such a dismal state. She insists she’s not hooking up and added that she wants me to be happy “whether that’s with me, with someone else, or a combination of the two.” I really don’t want to be with anyone besides her. When she says she doesn’t hook up with other people, I want to believe her, but I have doubts. Honestly, why wouldn’t she hook up?

My questions:

1. Is she hooking up with other people?

2. If I do start hooking up with other people — per her suggestion — what would be the best method? I have never been on a dating or hookup app. I know some people in my area who are single, but I am unsure if it would be wise to ask one of them to be my “sex partner.” Is that a thing people do?

3. What is the best way to have more frequent sex with my wife? I have tried many things over the years. We went to a counselor one-time decades ago and it didn’t really help our sex life or marriage, and she refuses to see another counselor.

—Husband Upset By Situation

A: 1. I don’t know whether your wife is fucking other people — I couldn’t possibly know that — but your wife is definitely fucking other people. Packing lingerie and “going out on the town” clothes for her solo trips is a tell, HUBS, because she wouldn’t need crotchless panties and a cocktail dress if she was just ordering room service and having a wank. Another tell: When someone in a monogamous relationship urges their spouse to start fucking other people, HUBS, it’s often a sign they’ve already started to fuck other people themselves. 2. Unless a single person in your area has unambiguously expressed an interest in fucking you, hitting on a single friend, neighbor, coworkers, etc., would be highly unwise. And by “unambiguously expressed an interest in fucking you,” I don’t mean a single laughed at one of your jokes. I mean a single literally looked you in the eye, HUBS, and said, “I want you to fuck me.” Any attempt on your part to interpret non-verbal cues as a sign someone wants to fuck you — acting on anything short of a clearly and unambiguously expressed desire to fuck you — will be tainted by dickful thinking and highly likely to end in disaster. To find a single person who wants to fuck you, get on the apps, post some current photos, and be honest about your situation: you’re in a sexless marriage and — with your wife’s consent — you are looking for other partners. You should also be open to fucking married women who are also in sexless marriages.

3. I can’t know for sure whether your wife will ever fuck you again, HUBS, but your wife is never going to fuck you again. So, if you want to have sex again sometime, you will have to get over only wanting to fuck her. And even if she does fuck you again someday, it’s better to be pleasantly surprised on the day it happens than to be devastated every single day that it doesn’t.

: Q Gay cis man married to another gay cis man for a decade with three young kids that we had together. We both experience low desire, but his desire for sex has always been lower than mine. Things were going well when I was initiating but I needed to feel desired and wanted. So, I left it to him to initiate but we ended up in bed with our backs to each other every night. Now we have no sex and no intimacy. I want to stay married, and I don’t want to cheat. But I don’t want to be trapped in a sexless marriage either. I signed up for monogamy and not abstinence. What’s the best way to approach him to ask for some sexual freedom without losing him or his trust? I am really struggling and feeling very lonely in my marriage. —Sexless Marriage And Spousal Happiness

A: I think we can rule out perimenopause, SMASH, as you and your husband are both cis men. (I got quite rightly dinged in the comments last week for failing to tell husbands in sexless marriages to read up on perimenopause before asking to open their marriages.) The issue is most likely exhaustion — three young kids is a lot of fucking work and the fallout from your decision to stop initiating sex.

So, SMASH, did you tell your husband you were going to stop initiating — did you tell him initiating was his job now or did you just stop? If you didn’t tell him, your exhausted husband (who is not a mind reader) might’ve assumed you were just as exhausted as he is and that things would return to normal, i.e. that you would start initiating again when things got less hectic. If you told him you were going to stop initiating sex, SMASH, he might feel like you’re withholding sex to punish him for being who he’s always been, e.g. the one with the lower libido, the one who never initiated.

You say you don’t want to get divorced or cheat, SMASH, and you say that you signed up for monogamy. So, I don’t think your first move here is a request to open your marriage. Your first move is (or should be) telling your husband you miss sex and intimacy, SMASH, and then asking him to work with you on reviving your sexual connection. He’s unlikely to become someone he’s not —initiating sex might remain your job — but if you can set aside your resentment, SMASH, you might be able to recognize the ways in which your husband has been demonstrating his desire for you all along. If he was enthusiastic about sex when you initiated it — if he was almost always down to fuck, if he inhaled your cock once you got things started, if he was happy about the pounding he got — you could interpret his enthusiasm as proof he’s always wanted and desired you and wants and desires you still.

P.S. Is there someone who can watch your kids for a weekend? Siblings? Grandparents? Trusted friends? Because a weekend away in a cabin on the Oregon coast — just me, my husband, and some MDMA — saved my marriage. I know, I know: drugs are bad and parents need to set a good example for their kids. But MDMA allowed me and my husband to talk through some difficult issues without losing sight of our love for each other. Might be the right second move.

Got problems? Yes, you do! Email your question for the column to mailbox@savage.love!

Or record your question for the Savage Lovecast at savage.love/askdan!

Podcasts, columns and more at Savage.Love.

PSA

Cellco Partnership and its controlled affiliates doing business as Verizon Wireless (Verizon Wireless) proposes to collocate wireless communications antennas at centerline heights of 44 feet and 39 feet on a 47.5-foot pole communications structure at the approx. vicinity of 1191 West Seven Mile Road, Detroit, Wayne County, MI 48203; Lat: 42-25-54.192, Long: -83-7-44.616. Additionally, Verizon Wireless proposes to build two (2) 43-foot pole communication structures at the approx. vicinity of 272 Arthur Street, Plymouth, Wayne County, MI 48170; Lat: 42-22-29.784, Long: -83-28-27.408, and 44401 Ann Arbor Trail, Plymouth, Wayne County, MI 48170; Lat: 4222-17.868, Long: - 83-28-53.148. Public comments regarding potential effects from this site on historic properties may be submitted within 30 days from the date of this publication to: Trileaf Corp, Edward Reynolds, e.reynolds@trileaf.com, 1515 Des Peres Road, Suite 200, St. Louis, MO 63131, 314-997-6111.

Hiring sexy women (& men). Highly Paid Magazine, Web, and Movie/TV work. No experience needed, all sizes accepted. 313-289-2008.

CULTURE

Free Will Astrology

By Rob Brezsny

ARIES: March 21 – April 19

Anthropologist and author Clifford Geertz loved to use “thick description.” He wrote detailed reports that captured not just the surface level of what happened but the deeper levels of meaning. Here’s an example of thin description: “He winked.” Thick description: “He quickly closed and opened his right eyelid in a culturally specific gesture of playfully conspiratorial communication.” In the coming weeks, Aries, I invite you to enjoy the sumptuous pleasures of thick description. Unleash your wild curiosity as you dig down into the rich, complex truths about everything. Gleefully explore how the cultural, personal, and historical contexts give each moment its specific, nuanced significance. (PS: This approach will enhance your options for responding.)

TAURUS: April 20 – May 20

New beginnings and final chapters will be overlapping in the coming weeks, and they’ll push you in the direction of robust growth. It won’t always be obvious which is which, though, so you’ll need to sharpen your discernment to read the signs. Here are two contemplations to steer you: 1. Which long-running sagas in your life have finally played themselves out? 2. Which struggling, half-forgotten dreams are yearning to rise again and blossom as if they were brand new? Once you’ve listened deeply enough to answer those questions, move boldly: Feed and protect whatever is being born, and actively assist in the graceful dismantling of whatever is ready to end.

GEMINI: May 21 – June 20

One of your go-to tools or assets is still functioning, but now is exactly the time to repair or refurbish it—before it breaks. Furthermore: A power outage of sorts may be looming unless you move to head off an impending overload. Wait, there’s even more! The monster in your closet is still deeply asleep, which is why now is the perfect moment to summon an exorcist or exterminator, before it stirs. Are you getting the picture, Gemini? The very fact that you’re reading this horoscope gives you all the advance warning you need to sidestep potential glitches and diversions.

CANCER: June 21 – July 22

According to my reading of the astrological omens, asking the BIG questions is highly advisable right now. Why? Because you are unusually likely to get really good answers to those BIG questions. Want a nudge to get started in this noble enterprise? Here are three recommended queries: 1. “What is the wild meaning of my precious life?” 2. “Who the #@$%&!* am I, anyway?” 3. “Where is this so-called ‘God’ I hear so much about?” Dear Cancerian, I will also urge you to formulate humorous, satirical BIG questions that inspire life to be playfully revelatory with you. Here are three: 1. “How can I fine-tune my friends and loved ones to perfection?” 2. “Are there shortcuts to getting absolutely everything I want?” 3. “How do I sign up for a life of nonstop pleasure, free from all discomfort?”

LEO: July 23 – August 22

When people finally grasped just how radical Einstein’s theory of relativity was, a journalist asked him how he had arrived at such a breakthrough. Einstein said it was simple: He had utterly ignored supposedly fundamental truths. Dear Leo, please notice what that might imply for you in the coming weeks. Einstein didn’t dismiss a mere opinion or fashionable theory; he set aside theories so deeply accepted that everyone treated them as obviously factual. He didn’t waste energy fighting them, but simply proceeded as if they didn’t exist. Consider doing the same: Set aside at least one seemingly incontestable assumption and be alert for the new realities that then become possible.

VIRGO: August 23 – Sept. 22

The International Space Station orbits Earth every 90 minutes, so astronauts see 16 sunrises and sunsets every 24 hours. It’s a challenge to maintain their circadian rhythms. They must be disciplined as they stick to a sleep cycle that human bodies are accustomed to. But there’s a wonderful trade-off: the rare privilege of witnessing the rapid cycling of total darkness and brilliant light, which provides a visceral sense of life’s deep cadences at work. Your routine may seem similarly unsettled these days, Virgo. Transitions are coming faster than feels natural. But I suspect this disruptive blessing is giving you access to patterns that aren’t intelligible when you’re moving more slowly. You’re beholding the way things change as well as the changes themselves. This is a valuable gift. The insights will be worth the disorientation.

LIBRA: Sept. 23 – Oct. 22

You Libras sometimes get accused of indecision, as if your careful weighing of possibilities were a weakness. But I

see a different truth: You aspire to be fair-minded as you honor all the legitimate claims on your attention. So the problem isn’t your capacity for considering multiple sides of each story. Rather, I find fault with the culture you live in, which is obsessed with one-dimensional certainty. If I were your coach or therapist, I would give you permission to take your time and resist the rush to resolution. The most honest thing you can say may be, “I’m still deciding,” or “Both of these feel true.”

SCORPIO: Oct. 23 – Nov. 21

You’re not a flaming expert at turning tension into treasure, but you have modest skills at that art. And now I’m predicting you will grow these skills. Before you jump to conclusions, though, please know that I’m not implying you will be immersed in stressful melodrama. I’m suggesting you will handle differences of perspective with increasing aplomb and curiosity. Instead of treating conflict as a debilitating hassle, you’ll try to find value in it. Some debates may even feel stimulating and fun rather than tiring. To take maximum advantage, enjoy the controversies as exploratory missions rather than as showdowns you must win at all costs.

SAGITTARIUS: Nov. 22 – Dec. 21

I hope and predict that you will be wildly resourceful as you wisely experiment with love in the coming weeks. I hope and predict that you will research the art of tender, inspiring intimacy in new frontiers. Reinvent passion, you subtle intensity freak! Be a bold explorer who breaks the boring old rules! Dare to break open new varieties of sweetness and companionship that require you to innovate and improvise!

CAPRICORN: Dec. 22 – Jan. 19

If you were on a walk and spied a dime on the ground, would you bend down to grab it? Probably not. Would you feel differently about a quarter? Maybe you have decided that nothing under a dollar is worth your effort. But in the coming weeks, you will be wise to break such rules. Symbolically speaking, the act of stooping down to pick up a dime will set off a chain reaction that ends with you acquiring a hundred-dollar bill. By saying yes to small, unexpected blessings, you’ll position yourself to receive larger ones down the line.

AQUARIUS: Jan. 20 – Feb. 18

The coming weeks will be an excellent time to begin a building project on the scale of Egypt’s Great Pyramid or India’s Taj Mahal. You should at least initiate work toward some magnificent masterpiece or creation, Aquarius. According to my analysis, there’s a chance you could coax an armada of helpers to work on your behalf. And as you set out to accomplish your labor of love, I bless your quest.

PISCES:

Feb.19 – March 20

Artists who specialize in origami can create structures far stronger than the flat paper they’re folded from. The weakness of being made from thin, fragile material is overcome through strategic creasing. Engineers now use origami principles to design everything from solar panels to artificial blood vessels. Let’s extrapolate these facts into a lesson for you in the coming weeks, Pisces. We’ll assume that your flexibility is a strength, not a liability. You will wield your pliability to produce a high degree of structural integrity.

Homework: You know what to do and you know when to do it. So do it!