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VOL. 45 | NO. 28 | MAY 7-13, 2025
EDITORIAL
News & Views
Editor in Chief - Lee DeVito
Feedback ............................... 8 News .................................... 10
Investigative Reporter - Steve Neavling
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Cover Story
CREATIVE SERVICES
Motor City Comic Con
Creative Director - Haimanti Germain Graphic Designer - Aspen Smit
celebrates 35 years .............. 16 DETROIT METRO TIMES P.O. Box 20734
What’s Going On
Ferndale, MI 48220
Things to do this week ........ 20
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Copyright: The entire contents of the Detroit Metro Times are copyright by Big Lou Holdings, LLC. Reproduction in whole or in part without written permission of the publisher is prohibited. The 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 below. 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, P.O. Box 20734, Ferndale, MI, 48220. (Please note: Third Class subscription copies are usually received 3-5 days after publication date in the Detroit area.) Most back issues obtainable for $7 prepaid by mail. See metrotimes.comfir more information.
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NEWS & VIEWS Feedback We got comments in response to contributor Jeff Milo’s cover story about Space Dive, the annual Star Wars celebration held at Detroit’s Tangent Gallery. The event continues on Friday and Saturday this week, see spacedive313.com for more. 10 years already? Wow, time flies at lightspeed. —@detroitgoose.com, Bluesky If you haven’t “SPACE DIVE’d”, you’re lost in space! This years SPACE DIVE 2025 SPACE DIVE STRIKES BACK! is an intergalactic event that will blast your senses out of this world! Don’t be a Storm Trooper, cause if you miss this, you may just face the revenge of the fifth and be stuck on the
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wrong side of the force! May the 4th be with you! —Xaina Mulvihill, Facebook That was a lovely read, thank ya fer really capturin the spirit of it all! So much love goes into SD, and the crew can hardly wait ta open those doors and start adventurin with folks from all over the galaxy —@_insertfrognoises_, Instagram
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Not just Detroit fans! Last 2 years [I] was shocked at the amount of people I talked to that drove in from out of state. Why go spend all that money to get to corporate galaxies edge when you can do this!! —@mechorive, Instagram These are my people! —@ideafarm.store, Instagram
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NEWS & VIEWS
U.S. Rep. Shri Thanedar has placed billboards around Detroit calling for President Trump to be impeached.
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Michigan Democrats back Trump impeachment Last week, several Michigan House Democrats joined U.S. Rep. Shri Thanedar’s call to impeach President Donald Trump, accusing him of violating the Constitution and posing a threat to American democracy. State Rep. Dylan Wegela of Garden City introduced a resolution in the Michigan House supporting Trump’s impeachment, arguing the president’s actions have undermined the rule of law and put Americans in danger. “As state legislators, we are very close with our districts. People are scared, and for good reason,” Wegala said in a statement. “Our oversight on Trump is more limited than our colleagues in the U.S. House, but we can ring the alarm bell. Our communities are under assault by this administration, and members of Congress need to take this seriously.” Wegela specifically criticized Trump’s
refusal to comply with a unanimous Supreme Court ruling that ordered the government to facilitate the return of Kilmar Armando Abrego Garcia, a Maryland man who was mistakenly deported to El Salvador, where he remains imprisoned in a facility known for human rights abuses. “It is unthinkable that a president would send innocent people to a foreign country’s prison known for its human rights violations,” Wegela said. “The constitution is clear in regards to due process and the freedom of speech for residents of the United States. The foundation of our country is based on checks and balances, and it is unacceptable for Trump to ignore a unanimous Supreme Court ruling. That alone is an impeachable offense.” Wegela’s resolution was co-sponsored by several Democratic lawmakers,
including Reps. Jason Morgan of Ann Arbor, Laurie Pohutsky of Livonia, and Jimmie Wilson Jr. of Ypsilanti. “President Trump’s dangerous assault on the United States Constitution, our co-equal branches of government, and on the American people meets the high bar for impeachment,” Morgan said. “His actions are part of a coordinated plan to consolidate unchecked executive power and deny due process rights. This isn’t about Trump destroying our economy or political differences, it’s about standing up for our Constitution and the rule of law. If we do not stand up now, then when? Enough is enough. Donald Trump must be impeached.” Pohutsky said the president’s disregard for checks and balances makes him a danger to the country. “The constitution is the foundation for how our government operates and
safeguards the people who call the United States home,” Pohutsky said. “The President’s wanton disregard for it and our system of checks and balances demonstrates that he is dangerously unfit to lead this country.” Wilson said Trump’s dismantling of congressionally established agencies and cuts to key programs have hurt communities across the country. “Every district in congress has been affected by Trump’s dismantling of congressionally established agencies and Congressionally approved funding,” Wilson said. “This alone should cause every elected official across the country to call for this president’s impeachment immediately. He doesn’t care about children, seniors, or veterans and it shows by what has been paused or cut completely.” The resolution came a day after Thanedar, a Detroit Democrat, filed seven articles of impeachment against Trump in the U.S. House of Representatives. Thanedar accused the president of obstructing justice, dismantling government agencies, violating First and Fifth Amendment rights, creating an unlawful agency, and granting unconstitutional authority to billionaire Elon Musk. He also cited allegations of bribery, corruption, and political overreach. “Donald Trump has already done real damage to our democracy,” Thanedar said in a video posted on X. “It’s time we impeach Donald J. Trump.” This marks the third time Trump has faced impeachment proceedings. During his first term, Trump was impeached twice – first in 2019 for abuse of power and obstruction of justice, and again in 2021 for inciting the Jan. 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol. The Senate acquitted him both times. —Steve Neavling
MDOC accused of sexual abuse and retaliation A Michigan Department of Corrections employee has filed a federal lawsuit accusing the agency, its director, and its former media relations spokesperson of sexual abuse, harassment, and retaliation. The lawsuit, filed by Lisa Gass and announced Saturday by attorneys at Marko Law and Runyan Law Group, alleges that former MDOC Director of Media Relations Christopher Gautz sent Gass pornographic videos, coerced her into sex on multiple occasions, and later falsely claimed their relationship was consensual to protect himself from accountability. The complaint also names MDOC Director Heidi Washington, alleging the department retaliated against Gass after she came forward.
Gass was hired in September 2021 and reported directly to Gautz and Washington, according to the suit. Just three months into the job, Gautz allegedly sent her explicit videos of a female MDOC employee performing oral sex on him, along with the message, “my secretary trying to keep her job.” The lawsuit further alleges that on March 7, 2022, while en route to a prison facility, Gautz pulled into a secluded rest area and coerced Gass into oral sex. Two months later, during a work trip, he allegedly pressured her into sexual intercourse during work hours. According to the complaint, Gautz repeatedly implied that her job security and future with the department depended on complying with his demands.
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When Gautz became aware in mid2023 that his conduct might be exposed, he allegedly preemptively informed MDOC that he and Gass had a prior consensual relationship and falsely accused her of harassment. Rather than investigating Gautz, the department opened an investigation into Gass, the lawsuit says. Gautz was later permitted to quietly resign without facing disciplinary action. “Ms. Gass’s story is right out of the MDOC playbook,” said attorney Jon Marko. “Instead of protecting their employees from sexual harassment and abuse, they try to destroy the victims courageous enough to come forward.” Attorney Zach Runyan said the case is part of a larger pattern.
“No one should ever feel like they need to have sex with their boss to have a successful career,” Runyan said. “Gass is just one of countless female employees that has been sexually abused and harassed within the MDOC. It’s time for the MDOC to finally accept accountability and start supporting female employees that have been victimized under its watch.” The lawsuit also alleges ongoing retaliation by Washington and other department officials, who the attorneys say have tried to silence and punish Gass for reporting the abuse. Neither Gautz nor the MDOC immediately responded to a request for comment. —Steve Neavling
Detroit City Distillery’s new vodka is inspired by Flower Day Eastern Market’s Flower
Michigan Congresswoman Debbie Dingell, center.
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Dingell joins Sanders and Jayapal to introduce Medicare for All Act of 2025 Bernie Sanders is once again asking for something literally every other industrialized nation in the world has except for the United States — universal health care. The U.S. Senator was joined last Tuesday by Michigan’s U.S. Rep. Debbie Dingell and U.S. Rep. Pramila Jayapal of Washington to introduce the Medicare for All Act of 2025. “Every American has the right to health care, period,” Dingell said in a statement. “If you’re sick, you should be able to go to the doctor without being worried about the cost of treatment or prescription medicine. Too many families must decide between putting food on the table and getting medical care that they desperately need.” She added, “A health care system that ties coverage to employment will always leave patients vulnerable. It’s flat-out wrong and Medicare for All would put a stop to it. We’ve been fighting this fight since the 1940s, when my father-in-law helped author the first universal health care bill. It’s time to get this done.” Dingell is referring to John Dingell
Sr., who drafted the first legislation that ultimately led to the creation of Medicare in 1965. Her late husband John Dingell Jr. introduced a singlepayer health care plan every session he served in Congress until 2015, which Dingell has continued to do since winning his seat. A 2024 Gallup poll found 62% of Americans support universal healthcare. Despite this, the 2024 election was the first in decades where neither major party candidate campaigned on health care reform. That disconnect could explain the massive public interest in the case of Luigi Mangione, a 26-year-old man who allegedly murdered the CEO of UnitedHealthcare, a for-profit insurance company notorious for denying claims and blocking health care reform efforts. “The American people understand, as I do, that health care is a human right, not a privilege and that we must end the international embarrassment of the United States being the only major country on earth that does not guarantee health care to all of its citizens,” Sanders said in a statement.
“It is not acceptable to me, nor to the American people, that over 85 million people today are either uninsured or underinsured. Today, there are millions of people who would like to go to a doctor but cannot afford to do so. This is an outrage. In America, your health and your longevity should not be dependent on your wealth. Health care is a human right that all Americans, regardless of income, are entitled to and they deserve the best health care that our country can provide.” The Medicare for All Act would expand Medicare, currently eligible only for those age 65 or older and younger people with certain disabilities, to cover every person in the United States — including primary care, vision, dental, prescription drugs, mental health, reproductive health care, and more. The legislation also calls for the freedom for patients to choose care without worrying about the provider being in-network, as well as streamlining the health care system to negotiate drug prices and reduce the administrative waste that drives up costs.
Day is one of those beloved Detroit celebrations, and Detroit City Distillery is toasting the occasion with a new vodka. The Eastern Market-based distillery is releasing a limited-edition Flower Day-inspired vodka, made from Michigan corn vodka and infused with lavender and lemon flavors. “We have always wanted to create a spirit to honor this time of year,” the company said in a statement. “After a lot of experiments, we arrived at a simple blend of lemon and Michigangrown lavender to create a crisp vodka with citrus and floral notes perfect for a bright spring cocktail.” The bottles sell for $35 on detroitcitydistillery.com/shop and at DCD’s Eastern Market Tasting Room at 2462 Riopelle St., Detroit. The labels feature artwork by local artist Ivan Montoya. Sales start at 8 a.m. on Friday, May 9 at the Tasting Room and include an opportunity to build your own flower bouquet for $20. (Hint, hint: Mother’s Day is Sunday, May 11.) According to the company, the vodka is best served over ice with lemonade and evokes the classic French 75 cocktail. —Lee DeVito
The legislation was endorsed by President Shawn Fain of the United Auto Workers labor union, among others. “Health care should be a human right,” Fain said. “But every time we negotiate with a boss for the right to see a doctor, they nickel and dime us until people have to choose between their health and putting food on the table. We’re sick of having to go on strike just to have decent health care.” He added, “We’re sick of corporate America asking us to give up raises, retirement security, or work-life balance at the bargaining table so working-class people can avoid medical bankruptcy. Our current health care system is a con job that only works for the billionaire class. Medicare for All is common sense, and it’s what the working class needs. The UAW is proud to support this bill.” —Lee DeVito
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A pro-Palestine protest at the University of Michigan in May 2024.
DOUG COOMBE
Nessel drops charges against University of Michigan protesters Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel on Monday
unexpectedly dropped all charges against seven pro-Palestinian protesters accused of resisting police during the May 2024 clearing of an encampment at the University of Michigan, following months of mounting political pressure from the progressive wing of her own party. The decision came during a preliminary examination hearing in Washtenaw County District Court, where attorneys for the defendants had prepared to make closing arguments. Instead, Nessel’s office dismissed the charges, citing growing controversy, delays, and concerns about judicial impropriety. “These distractions and ongoing delays have created a circus-like atmosphere to these proceedings,” Nessel said in a statement Monday. “While I stand by my charging decisions, and believe, based on the evidence, a reasonable jury would find the defendants guilty of the crimes alleged, I no longer believe these cases to be a prudent use of my department’s resources, and, as such, I have decided to dismiss the cases.” The move came as a surprise — and a victory — to the roughly 100 protesters who rallied outside the courthouse on Monday demanding the charges be dropped. It also marked a sharp
shift from Nessel’s prior stance that the felony resisting and obstructing charges were justified for protesters who allegedly made physical contact with officers or interfered with arrests. Nessel, the state’s first Jewish attorney general, has faced growing criticism from progressive Democrats and civil rights advocates who accused her of cracking down on political dissent. The backlash reached a boiling point in February at the Michigan Democratic Party Convention in Detroit, when Nessel was met with boos and chants of “Drop the charges!” during a congressional district meeting. While many applauded, others jeered loudly, forcing U.S. Rep. Debbie Dingell to pause as she tried to introduce Nessel. In her statement Monday, Nessel called the allegations of bias “baseless and absurd.” “When my office made the decision to issue charges of Trespassing and Resisting and Obstructing a Police Officer in this matter, we did so based on the evidence and facts of the case,” Nessel said. “I stand by those charges and that determination.” But, she said, delays have halted the case for months. “Despite months and months of court hearings, the Court has yet to make a determination on whether probable cause was demonstrated that the defendants committed these
crimes, and if so, to bind the case over to circuit court for trial, which is the primary obligation of the district court for any felony offense,” Nessel said. “During this time, the case has become a lightning rod of contention.” The AG’s decision also comes amid broader scrutiny of her handling of pro-Palestinian protests. Her office continues to pursue a separate investigation into politically motivated vandalism incidents tied to the movement, including broken windows, graffiti, and chemical damage at U-M buildings, private homes, and businesses. Authorities estimate the damage at roughly $100,000. Though no charges have been filed yet in those cases, students and activists have decried the investigation as overreach. In April, Nessel’s office led a series of raids in Ann Arbor, Ypsilanti, and Canton, targeting nine people connected to the movement. FBI agents and local police confiscated phones, computers, and even DNA swabs from students — none of whom were charged. Attorneys called it a “fishing expedition,” accusing law enforcement of suppressing political speech and selectively targeting young, academically successful activists. “This is a clear criminalization of free speech,” attorney Amir Makled told Metro Times. “The tactics that have been used — felony charges, raids, and
a strong showing of force — are intimidation tactics to stop pro-Palestinian speech happening across Michigan campuses.” Makled also filed a motion asking a judge to disqualify Nessel’s office from a related case, arguing that her public comments and selective charging decisions demonstrate political bias. Critics have noted the contrast between Nessel’s aggressive response to the U-M protests and her silence during other large-scale disruptions, such as the University of Michigan football celebrations in January, which caused extensive property damage but resulted in no arrests. Meanwhile, other prosecutors have taken a more restrained approach. Following a nearly identical encampment sweep at Wayne State University on May 30, Wayne County Prosecutor Kym Worthy declined to file any charges, citing First Amendment protections. Civil rights groups say Nessel’s actions have undermined trust and sent a chilling message to young organizers. “This looks like an effort to scare students and young people into silence,” said John Philo, legal director of the Sugar Law Center for Economic and Social Justice. “It’s not about vandalism anymore. It’s about suppressing political speech.” —Steve Neavling
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35 years of
Pop culture icons descend on metro Detroit for Michigan’s biggest fan event By Jim McFarlin alin Åkerman has a soft spot in her heart — and her filmography — for Detroit. “We filmed a movie there called The Giant Mechanical Man,” the striking, Swedish-born actress remembers. “It was so much fun. It was years ago [2012], but we had a blast making it. And it still sits dear to my heart. I loved that little movie and that cast we had. It was a lovely experience. So this will be my third time in Detroit.” The third time should be charming, as Malin (MAH-lin) returns here next week not to make a movie, but to dissect one: her starring role as Silk Spectre II in the 2009 superhero epic Watchmen, being discussed and screened beginning at 7:30 p.m. Friday, May 16 at Emagine Novi Theatre, and followed by an an exclusive after-hours party. It’s just one of the myriad events, attractions, and contests for fans of all ages with the 35th Motor City Comic Con next Friday through Sunday, May 16-18. Centered inside the 300,000 square-foot Batcave that is Novi’s Suburban Collection Showplace, Comic Con has long been Southeast Michigan’s fantasy empire for pulp fiction, anime, cosplay, panel discussions, and one-on-one encounters with pop culture celebrities. So much so that the event has expanded to twice a year, in May and November.
“We started doing two shows consistently after COVID, in October of 2021,” explains Beth Burland, whose brother Tom launched Detroit’s first comic book extravaganza at a VFW Hall here in 1990 and who, with Samantha Yankee, serves as co-manager of Comic Con. “We’re a week away from the May show, and we’re already working on November,” Yankee divulges. “We’ve been working on it for a little while. It is a lot, but the community demands it, so we will provide it.” The work they did arranging the movie screening promises to be a highlight of the May extravaganza, however, and Åkerman says she can’t wait to watch(men). “It’s the best,” she enthuses. “I love doing the screenings because you have real fans who come and want to see the film, and it just feels like a really warm welcome. Most likely they’ve seen it before so they know what they’re in for, and they’re excited.” She muses, “It’s sort of like getting on stage when you’re a musician,. You do all the work behind the scenes, and then you get to be there with your fans, present it, and be part of it and feel the energy. I love it.” As Robin might exclaim, however, “Holy (Fill in the Blank), Batman!” That’s only the beginning. While Åkerman is dazzling opening-night
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Malin Åkerman.
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moviegoers at Emagine, back at Suburban Collection Showplace the WWE and TNA tag team pro wrestling champs Jeff and Matt Hardy, better known as The Hardy Boyz, will emcee a live podcast at 7 p.m. Friday, followed by Jeff performing a live music concert. Among the nearly three dozen other luminaries scheduled to appear at next week’s Comic Con are: • Legendary actor Martin Sheen (The Amazing Spider-Man) • Bill Nye (you know, the Science Guy) • Christina Ricci (Yellowjackets, The Addams Family) • Sean Astin (Lord of the Rings, The Goonies) • Laura Prepon (Orange is the New Black, reportedly appearing at her first-ever Comic Con) • Garrett Hedlund (Troy, Tron: Legacy) • Bryce Dallas Howard (Jurassic World, The Mandalorian) • Famke Janssen (X-Men, GoldenEye) and • Robert Picardo (Star Trek: Voyager) However, arguably the most intriguing celebrity slated for Novi will be two-time Oscar nominee Jeremy Renner, he of Hawkeye in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Renner is back in public and on the road after recovering from the horrific New Year’s Eve 2023 accident in which he was crushed by a seven-ton snowplow, breaking more than 38 bones in his body. Hawkeye is hawking the details of his near-death experience and physical and emotional recovery in his new memoir, My Next Breath. In addition, there will be cosplay
Ghostbusters Detroit will be on hand at this year's Motor City Comic Con.
contests, including one for kids coordinated by the 501st Legion — Great Lakes Garrison, the premier Imperial Star Wars costuming group in the world; anime screenings; “Slime Time and Marshmallow Man Making” sessions hosted by Ghostbusters Detroit, a pop culture interactive game show called Fandomadness, and much more. Among the new features this May is an attraction called “You Are a Voice Actor,” with the facsimile of a profes-
Motor City Comic Con has grown popular over the years.
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sional sound booth. “I think this will be really cool,” says Burland. “They’ll have over 60 different scripts for what you want to record. You record your lines, then they are edited with music and sound effects.” But of course, the bedrock of any Comic Con is the assemblage of graphic novel and comic book artists from around the globe, united with the fans who adore their work. Few know this better than Detroit’s own pioneer of the comic panel pen,
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Arvell Jones, who worked for both Marvel and DC Comics in his storied career and assisted on early editions of Black Panther. He’s scheduled to be at Comic Con next week, and while he’s appeared at countless such events over the decades he says he still shares Åkerman’s enthusiasm. “Before the pandemic I was doing at least 10 a year,” Jones says. “I was enjoying it so much. I said, ‘Man, everybody loves what I give them.’ People ask me, ‘What was it like to work with Stan Lee? What was it like when you first got introduced to the Black Panther?’ I enjoy people coming up and telling me all their weird circumstances. One guy told me, ‘I met my wife while buying one of your comic books!’” While the Comic Con celebrates a milestone in its 35th year, Burland and Yankee barely have had time to acknowledge it. “I can’t tell you who, but we’ve already sent out contracts for next May,” Yankee discloses. “As soon as one show ends, we get two days of rest, hang out at home, then we’re back at it. We definitely need some sleep after a show just to close out the real world and eat potatoes.” Motor City Comic Con takes place Friday, May 16-Sunday, 18 at the Suburban Collection Showplace, 46100 Grand River Ave., Novi. Hours are noon-7 p.m. Friday, 10 a.m.-8 p.m. Saturday, and 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Sunday. Tickets are available starting at $35 for adults and $5 for children from motorcitycomiccon.com.
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WHAT’S GOING ON Converge
Detroit’s Lincoln Factory opened in the Dreamtroit complex last year during Movement Festival weekend, and while the warehouse-like space has been known for hosting DJs and electronic music, it’s been steadily expanding its programming, too. This weekend, Massachusetts metalcore band Converge headlines a heavy lineup that includes The Armed, Harms Way, Candy, Cloud Rat, Dead
Heat, and Moral Pollution. Remember to bring earplugs! Doors at 5 p.m. on Saturday, May 10 at the Lincoln Factory, 1331 Holden St., Detroit; ticketweb.com. Tickets are $40.
Space Dive
For this annual Star Wars fan event, the creative minds behind Detroit’s cult favorite Theatre Bizarre Halloween party transform the Tangent
Sturgill Simpson, right, and his band.
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Gallery into a convincing replica of Mos Eisley Cantina, the diviest dive bar in a galaxy far, far away. But it’s the energy that the fans bring to this party that truly takes it to hyperspace. Instead of cosplaying as characters from the films, people dream up their own with elaborate backstories. While the main events are for adults (this is a bar, after all), younglings are welcome to come to the daytime family days to enjoy the
movie magic as well. Space Dive main events start at 7 p.m. on Friday, May 9 and Saturday, May 10, with all-ages family day from 11 a.m.-4 p.m. on Saturday; Tangent Gallery, 715 E. Milwaukee Ave., Detroit. Pre-sale tickets available at spacedive313.com or at the door for $52.50.
Sturgill Simpson
With his 2014 breakthrough Metamod-
SEMI SONG
SELECTIONS ern Sounds in Country Music, Kentucky-born Sturgill Simpson helped rejuvenate the genre with a neo-outlaw sound. He’s spent the rest of his career gleefully defying expectations: tapping Amy Winehouse’s former backing band the Dap-Kings for the Grammywinning A Sailor’s Guide to Earth, soundtracking an anime film with the hard-rocking Sound & Fury, and releasing a suite of bluegrass albums in 2020 and 2021. When a vocal chord injury seemed like it might end his career, Simpson once again pivoted. Released under the moniker Johnny Blue Skies last year, Simpson’s Passage du Desir exists somewhere between Jimmy Buffet and Pink Floyd, but the live shows are on another level. Simpson and his tight band draw from his entire catalog, interspersed with long stretches of improvisational noodling to give his voice a rest — delighting fans of jam bands. And somehow, it’s still very country. Starts at 8 p.m. on Saturday, May 10 at Meadowbrook Amphitheatre, 3554 Walton Blvd., Rochester Hills; ticketmaster. com. Tickets start at $59.50.
44th Annual Art Birmingham
Here’s some plans for Mother’s Day weekend. Now in its 44th year, this free fine art fair is hosted by The Guild of Artists & Artisans and the Birmingham Bloomfield Art Center and features 150 jury-selected artists, live music, kids activities, food trucks, and craft cocktails. Attendees can explore paintings, jewelry, ceramics, and more work from both new and returning artists in scenic downtown Birmingham, with proceeds benefitting the BBAC. From 10 a.m.-6 p.m. on Saturday, May 10 and 10 a.m.-5 p.m. on Sunday, May 11 at Shain Park, downtown Birmingham; artbirmingham.org. No cover. Take ma to Art Birmingham.
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LET’S GO TIGERS! JOIN US BEFORE & AFTER THE GAME ONE MILE FROM STADIUMS/MINUTES FROM QLINE/ FREE STREET PARKING ON SUNDAYS
Fri 5/09
3 THE HARD WAY/GERBER & THE BABIES/PALMER/ BARBRA JEAN MACHINE (rock’n’roll/punk/alt punk) Doors@9p/$5cover Sat 5/10
DIVAS VS DIVAS MONTHLY DANCE PARTY W/ DJ AIMZ & DJ EM MIXING 90’S & 00’S Doors@9p/$5cover Sun 5/11
HAPPY MOTHER’S DAY! HAPPY BIRTHDAY, ALEX BATTESTILLI! Mon 5/12
FREE POOL ALL DAY Coming Up: 5/16-17 PANIC IN DETROIT VOL 1 5/23 TECHNO CHRISTMAS 2 w/NICK SPEED 5/24 Werkout Plan/Dre Lorenz/ Raedy Lex/Shef/Leg Werk 5/25 4th Annual Detroit Party w/ TONY NOVA 5/27 Taco Tuesday: MOVEMENT After Party 5/30 Salem’s Childe/Bloodletter/ Sabertooth Gary 5/31 Chirp/Candid Antics/ Deadbeat Dad (fka Lipstick Jodi) 6/06 4th Annual Party DownPRINCE Party w/djkage 6/07 FLOPHOUSE WRESTLING 6/15 DAD BRAINS: Father’s Day Patio Show Book Your Parties: theoldmiamibarevents@gmail.com Old Miami T-shirts & Hoodies for Sale!
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WHAT’S GOING ON CONTD 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.
Ferndale; $28.
MUSIC
The Australian Pink Floyd Show: Wish You Were Here 50th Anniversary 8 p.m.; Caesars Palace Windsor - Augustus Ballroom, 377 E. Riverside Dr., Windsor; $28-$68.
Wednesday, May 7
Live/Concert Fontaines D.C. 7 p.m.; The Fillmore, 2115 Woodward Ave., Detroit; $36.50. Isabel LaRosa, Mercer Henderson, Thomas Larose 6 p.m.; The Shelter, 431 E. Congress St., Detroit; $29.50. Lambrini Girls, Party Dozen 7 p.m.; Sanctuary Detroit, 2932 Caniff St., Hamtramck; $20. Magic Bag Presents: Gang of Four: The Long Goodbye Tour 7 p.m.; Magic Bag, 22920 Woodward Ave., Ferndale; $33. Mereba, Anaiis 7 p.m.; Magic Stick, 4120 Woodward Ave., Detroit; $25. Obituary, Nails, Terror, SpiritWorld, Pest Control 5 p.m.; Magic Stick, 4120 Woodward Ave., Detroit; $29.50-$79.50. Matt Larusso Trio and guests 8-11 p.m.; Northern Lights Lounge, 660 W. Baltimore St., Detroit; no cover.
DJ/Dance Line Dancing Lessons at Diamondback Music Hall! 6:30-10 p.m.; Diamondback Music Hall, 49345 S. Interstate 94 Service Dr., Belleville; $10-$15. Nightcap Detroit 10 p.m.-2 a.m.; Spkr Box, 200 Grand River, Detroit.
Thursday, May 8
Live/Concert CHAOS & CARNAGE: Dying Fetus, Cradle of Filth, Fleshgod Apocalypse, Ne Obliviscaris, Undeath, Vomit Forth, Corpse Pile, Anhedonia, BVRIED, Chorus Of Demons, Convulsis, Darkeater, Living Dissection, Shadow People, Syphoned, Visceral Autopsy 4 p.m.; Pike Room, 1 S. Saginaw, Pontiac; $39.50. George Clanton, Slater 7 p.m.; The Lincoln Factory, 1331 Holden St., Detroit; $30. Mac Sabbath, The Angry Samoans, Flummox 7 p.m.; The Loving Touch, 22634 Woodward Ave.,
Penny Wells - Jazz in the Streets of Old Detroit Concert Series 6-9 p.m.; Detroit Historical Museum, 5401 Woodward Ave., Detroit; $40, $30 Detroit Historical Society Members.
The Ghost Club, The Burkharts 7 p.m.; Sanctuary Detroit, 2932 Caniff St., Hamtramck; $16. The Wrecks, Quarters of Change, Benjamin Carter 6:30 p.m.; Saint Andrew’s Hall, 431 E. Congress St., Detroit; $31.
Karaoke/Open Mic Drag Queen Karaoke 8 p.m.-2 a.m.; Woodward Avenue Brewers, 22646 Woodward Ave., Ferndale; no cover. Elixer: DJs John Ryan and GEO 8 p.m.-midnight; Northern Lights Lounge, 660 W. Baltimore St., Detroit; no cover.
Friday, May 9
Live/Concert Ichiko Aoba 6:30 p.m.; Cathedral Theatre at the Masonic Temple, 500 Temple St., Detroit; Joe Kay, Donavan Glover 9 p.m.; Magic Stick, 4120 Woodward Ave., Detroit; $132.50. Magdalena Bay, Sam Austins 7 p.m.; Saint Andrew’s Hall, 431 E. Congress St., Detroit; $31. Magic Bag Presents: 80s vs 90s MEGA vs CLASS 7 p.m.; Magic Bag, 22920 Woodward Ave., Ferndale; $20. Pre-Mother’s Day R&B Jam feat. Tyrese, Kelly Price & Keke Wyatt 8 p.m.; Fox Theatre, 2211 Woodward Ave., Detroit; $69.75-$250.
Stick, 4120 Woodward Ave., Detroit; $18.75-$30. Dukes & Boots 8 p.m.; Diamondback Music Hall, 49345 S. Interstate 94 Service Dr., Belleville; $0-$15.
Open Air Fridays 4-10 p.m.; Woodbridge Pub, 5169 Trumbull St., Detroit; no cover.
Liquid Stranger, Dr. Fresch, TVBOO, Smoakland, OkayJake 8 p.m.; Detroit Masonic Temple Library, 500 Temple St, Detroit; $34-$50.
Saturday, May 10
Live/Concert Amyl and The Sniffers 7 p.m.; Royal Oak Music Theatre, 318 W. Fourth St., Royal Oak; $104. Black Violin 8-9:30 p.m.; FIM Capitol Theatre, 140 E 2nd Street, Flint; $40 / $28 for Genesee County residents. Converge, The Armed, Harms Way, Candy, Cloud Rat, Dead Heat, Moral Pollution 5 p.m.; The Lincoln Factory, 1331 Holden St., Detroit; $30-$35. German Spring Beer Festival Kuhnhenn Brewing Clinton Twp. 12-8 pm; Kuhnhenn Brewing Co., 36000 Groesbeck Hwy., Clinton Twp; no cover. Lalah Hathaway 8 p.m.; Sound Board, 2901 Grand River Ave., Detroit; $45-$60. Magic Bag Presents: Re-Cure 7 p.m.; Magic Bag, 22920 Woodward Ave., Ferndale; $25. Major Dudes (Steely Dan tribute) 7-10:30 p.m.; The HUB Stadium, 44325 W. 12 Mile Rd., Unit H-160, Novi; $25. MEGA 80’s - The Retro Party Rages On! 7 p.m.; District 142, 142 Maple St., Wyandotte; $20.
Sunday, May 11
Live/Concert Breathe, Owl, Breathe 3-5 p.m.; The Hawk Theatre, 29995 W 12 Mile Rd., Farmington Hills; $25 in advance $30 at the door. Jimmy Vivino 7:30 p.m.; The Token Lounge, 28949 Joy Rd., Westland; $15. Lucius, Victoria Canal 7 p.m.; Majestic Theatre, 4140 Woodward Ave., Detroit; $25. MJ Lenderman, This is Lorelei 7 p.m.; Detroit Masonic Temple Library, 500 Temple St, Detroit; $29-$80. Mother’s Day Celebration: Marvin Winans, Marvin Sapp, Jekalyn Carr, Donald Lawrence, Latrice Pace, and hosted by comedian Small Fire 6 p.m.; Fox Theatre, 2211 Woodward Ave., Detroit; $54-$125. Phil Ogilvie’s Rhythm Kings 5-8 p.m.; Zal Gaz Grotto Club, 2070 W. Stadium Blvd., Ann Arbor; No Cover (tip jar for the band). Raveena, Renao 7 p.m.; Magic Stick, 4120 Woodward Ave., Detroit; $83.05.
Ministry, The Squirrely Years, Nitzer Ebb, Die Krupps 6:30 p.m.; Cathedral Theatre at the Masonic Temple, 500 Temple St., Detroit; $49$250.
Sir Woman, Oh He Dead, Niko Noir 7 p.m.; The Loving Touch, 22634 Woodward Ave., Ferndale; $25. Volcandra, Saidan, Illusion of Fate 6 p.m.; Sanctuary Detroit, 2932 Caniff St., Hamtramck; $15.
Pet Symmetry, Pony, Jimmy Montague 6 p.m.; Sanctuary Detroit, 2932 Caniff St., Hamtramck; $20.
DJ/Dance
Sturgill Simpson 8 p.m.; Meadow Brook Amphitheatre, 3554 Walton Blvd., Rochester Hills; $59.50-$149.50.
SPKR BRNCH 11 a.m.-3 p.m.; Spkr Box, 200 Grand River, Detroit.
Karaoke/Open Mic
Teen Mortgage, Upchuck 7 pm; Sanctuary Detroit, 2932 Caniff St., Hamtramck; $18.
Taylor Deroussse 7 p.m.; The Loving Touch, 22634 Woodward Ave., Ferndale; $15.
Sunday Karaoke in the Lounge 5-9 p.m.; Bowlero Lanes & Lounge, 4209 Coolidge Hwy., Royal Oak; no cover.
The Rasmus 7 p.m.; The Loving Touch, 22634 Woodward Ave., Ferndale; $25.
WE UP NOW vol. 2: BossMan Dlow, Kash Doll, Yung Miami, Veeze 7:30 p.m.; Fox Theatre, 2211 Woodward Ave., Detroit; $69.
Monday, May 12
Three American Troubadours 8 p.m.; Andiamo Celebrity Showroom, 7096 E. 14 Mile Rd., Warren; $35-$60.
DJ/Dance Ann Arbor Ecstatic Dance second Friday of every month, 7:30-10:30 p.m.; Ringstar Studio, 3907 Varsity Dr, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48108, Ann Arbor; $2540 ($5 discount for cash).
Live/Concert
WRIF Presents: Pop Evil, Devour the Day, Oni 7 p.m.; The Fillmore, 2115 Woodward Ave., Detroit; $35-$69.50. Jimmy Vivino 7:30 pm; The Token Lounge, 28949 Joy Rd., Westland;
DJ/Dance ACRAZE, Versace James, Dino Munaco, Gina Maria 9 p.m.; Magic
Corpus Offal, Mephitic Corpse, Trespass, Hematoma 7 p.m.midnight; Parts & Labor, 17993 Allen Rd., Melvindale; $15. FOZZY, Liliac, The Nocturnal Affair 6:30 p.m.; District 142, 142 Maple St., Wyandotte; $25-$35. Magic Bag Presents: Moon Walker 7 p.m.; Magic Bag, 22920 Woodward Ave., Ferndale; $20.
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Melvins, Napalm Death, Dark Sky Burial, Titans to Tachyons 6:30 p.m.; Saint Andrew’s Hall, 431 E. Congress St., Detroit; $35. Out of the Mouth of Babes: A Tribute to the Rising Stars of Jazz 7-10 p.m.; Aretha’s Jazz Cafe, 350 Madison St., Detroit; $25. Slackjaw, Razorgrave, Zanzibar, Torn Away 6 p.m.; Sanctuary Detroit, 2932 Caniff St., Hamtramck. The Magnetic Fields 7 p.m.; Royal Oak Music Theatre, 318 W. Fourth St., Royal Oak; $40.50-$130.50.
DJ/Dance Adult Skate Night 8:30-11 p.m.; Lexus Velodrome, 601 Mack Ave., Detroit; $5.
Tuesday, May 13
Live/Concert Badbadnotgood, Baby Rose 7 p.m.; Cathedral Theatre at the Masonic Temple, 500 Temple St., Detroit; $34-$119. Hippie Sabotage, Carpetman 7 p.m.; Saint Andrew’s Hall, 431 E. Congress St., Detroit; $29.50. Matt Pless, Little Foot, Swamp Rats, Elephantom 7 p.m.; Sanctuary Detroit, 2932 Caniff St., Hamtramck; $15. Sean Blackman’s In Transit 7-10 p.m.; Northern Lights Lounge, 660 W. Baltimore St., Detroit; no cover. Superheaven, Glare, Spy, Prize Horse 6 p.m.; Majestic Theatre, 4140 Woodward Ave., Detroit; $27.50. The Magnetic Fields 7 p.m.; Royal Oak Music Theatre, 318 W. Fourth St., Royal Oak; $40.50-$130.50.
DJ/Dance 6arelyhuman 7 p.m.; The Loving Touch, 22634 Woodward Ave., Ferndale; $25. Soul Tone second Tuesday of every month, 9 p.m.-2 a.m.; The High Dive, 11474 Joseph Campau Ave., Hamtramck.
Karaoke/Open Mic Open Mic : Art in a Fly Space 7-10 p.m.; Detroit Shipping Company, 474 Peterboro St., Detroit; no cover. Tuesday Karaoke in the Lounge 8 pm-midnight; Bowlero Lanes & Lounge, 4209 Coolidge Hwy., Royal Oak; no cover.
THEATER Performance Detroit Opera House The Central Park Five: Anthony Davis, composer of X: The Life and Times of Malcolm X, won the 2020 Pulitzer Prize for Music for this true story adaptation of systemic
discrimination. This gripping opera follows the wrongful convictions of five African American and Latino teenagers in the assault of a white female jogger in Central Park. Despite racial injustice, resilience and redemption emerge as the five men fight for freedom. $30-175; Saturday, 7:30 p.m. FIM Dort Music Center Flint Youth Theatre Presents: James and the Giant Peach. $10; Friday, May 9, 7-8 p.m. and Saturday, 2-3 p.m. Marygrove College Theatre Enemy in My House: Successful journalist and mom-to-be Monique Daniels has a picture-perfect life with her husband, Denard. But the Daniels household is unaware they are on the path of a storm named Harmony. $35-$45; Saturday, 6-8:30 p.m.
a truly moving and thought-provoking meditation on love, responsibility and the fragile balance of existence. $25-$55; Wednesday, 2-3:30 p.m.; Thursday, 7:30-9 p.m., Friday, 7:30-9 p.m., Saturday, 6-7:30 p.m.; and Sunday, 2-3:30 p.m.
Musical
to have “facts”, laughs, and a whole lot of chaos. Featuring: Brett Mercer, Andy McFarland, LaLa Harrison, Myles De Leeuw, Parker Hammon and hosted by Scott Sviland. Doors at 8:30 p.m., show begins promptly at 9 p.m.; $10 advance, $15 at the door.
Birmingham Village Players The Music Man: $30; Fridays, Saturdays, 8-11 p.m. and Sundays, 2-5 p.m.
Blind Pig Blind Pig Comedy FREE Mondays, 8 p.m.
Meadow Brook Theatre The Rat Pack Lounge; $39; Wednesday, 2 p.m. and 8 p.m., Thursday, 8 p.m.; Friday, 8 p.m.; Saturday, 6 p.m.; and Sunday, 2 p.m. and 6:30 p.m. Planet Ant Theatre Jurassic Park The Musical: A hilarious, high-energy parody of the beloved 1993 classic film. $30-$40; Fridays, Saturdays, 8-10 p.m.
The Inspired Acting Company A Doll’s House by Amy Herzog: A modern adaptation of Henrik Ibsen’s classic play, bringing new life to its timeless themes in a concise and contemporary 110-minute production. The story follows Nora Helmer, a devoted wife and mother who believes she has a perfect life — until her husband’s impending promotion exposes the unforeseen consequences of a desperate choice she made years earlier. As Nora faces the truth about her marriage and her own identity, she is forced to make a lifealtering decision. This enduring classic explores freedom, individuality, and selffulfillment, offering a compelling and thought-provoking experience for today’s audiences. $30-$35; Fridays, Saturdays, 8-10 p.m. and Sundays, 2-4 p.m.
The Back Office Studio The Stranger in My Breakfast Nook: A ’90s Lifetime Original Musical Parody: Judith, Milton, and their daughter Andrea moved to Shouting Oaks in 1972 to start a new life after the hospital lost Andrea’s twin brother Andrew. Now, 23 years later Andrea has met the love of her life, Mat. Judith’s intuition can’t help but cause suspicion about this new man and his family. Based on the 1995 Bangs Magazine article “The Stranger in My Breakfast Nook” by Etna Pompeii. This show is rated PG. Student $12; general $15; Friday, 8-10 p.m.; Saturday, 8-10 p.m.; and Sunday, 2-4 p.m.
Theatre NOVA Eclipsed: The Sun, The Moon, and Gladys Atkinson Sweet by D.L. Patrick: On the night of September 9, 1925, Gladys Atkinson Sweet was arrested and charged with first-degree murder, along with her husband, Dr. Ossian Sweet, his two brothers and seven other African Americans following the attack on her home. Although much has been written about Dr. Sweet and the two Sweet trials, litigated by Clarence Darrow, this play imagines the perspective of Gladys Sweet and the women who populated her life. $30; Fridays, 8 p.m., Saturdays, 3 .m. and 8 p.m., and Sundays, 2 p.m.
Go Comedy! Improv Theater Go Comedy! All-Star Showdown: A highly interactive improvised game show. With suggestions from the audience, our two teams will battle for your laughs. The Showdown is like Whose Line is it Anyway, featuring a series of short improv games, challenges, and more. Fridays and Saturdays, 7:30 p.m. and 9:30 p.m. $25.
Tipping Point Theatre Lungs: This smart, funny, thought-provoking play explores the life cycle of a relationship with all the hope, betrayal, pain and humor that exemplifies our modernday love. Lungs centers around a couple grappling with the decision to have a child in a world fraught with environmental and ethical dilemmas. Presented as a continuous dialogue, the narrative unfolds in real-time, creating an immersive experience for theatergoers;
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COMEDY Improv
Stand-up Andiamo Celebrity Showroom Tom Dreesen; $35-$75; Saturday, 8 p.m. Mark Ridley’s Comedy Castle Drew Lynch; $25; Thursday, 7:30-9 p.m.; Friday, 7:15-8:45 p.m. and 9:45-11:15 p.m.; and Saturday, 7-9:30 p.m. and 9:30-11 p.m. The Independent Comedy Club INDIEx: A PowerPoint guided comedy show. With this interactive and new comedic experience, you will see PowerPoint presentations on topic, like: “Why Sharks Aren’t Real,” “Does Size Really Matter,” and “Fat Earth Theory: A Synopsis.” What ever the presentations may contain, they are sure
Continuing This Week
DANCE Dance performance Flagstar Strand Theatre for the Performing Arts REACH Drama Presents: Children of the Night; Thursday, 7 p.m.; Friday, 7 p.m.; and Saturday, 4 p.m.
FILM Film festival Arab American National Museum Arab Film Festival: The Arab American National Museum proudly hosts its annual Arab Film Festival (AFF), featuring fascinating new titles from one of the most prolific and creative set of filmmakers on the planet. AFF is one of the Museum’s longest-running programs, dating back to its inception in 2005. AFF showcases Arab and Arab American films for fans of Arabic-language movies and adventurous art-film lovers seeking new perspectives and outside-the-box thinking. Many of these films by both Arab world and Arab American artists are, with few exceptions, unlikely to reach traditional American commercial theaters. $5-$15 per screening; May 7-11, 7 p.m.
ARTS Artist talk Grandmothers of America book release Detroit photographer John Hanson presents Grandmothers of America, a stunning hardcover book featuring portraits and stories of grandmothers from all 50 states. This special book release event includes a signing and artist talk, offering a behind-the-scenes look at the crosscountry journey that inspired the project. From the bayous of Louisiana to the mountains of Montana, the book captures the warmth, strength, and spirit of grandmothers across America. Join us in celebrating this heartfelt tribute to family, heritage, and human connection. Books will be available for purchase and signing at the event. Free admission with registration. Thursday, 4-8 p.m.; Gold and Grit Studio, Gold and Grit Studio 1535 Spruce St., Detroit; no cover.
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FOOD
Mythy Huynh holds up a tray of dumplings.
COURTESY PHOTO
Metro Detroit’s Little Saigon
Kim Nhung Superfood expands in Madison Heights while keeping Vietnamese culture at its core By Tony Vu
Fifty years ago, Saigon fell —
and with it, the world shifted for millions of Vietnamese families. What followed wasn’t just exile. It was a resurrection, drawn from the grit and determination of a people who had lost everything but their own lives. From the ruins of war came everyday efforts to hold onto something sacred in a foreign land: bowls of steaming hot pho in cold Midwest kitchens, backyard herb gardens seeded from memory, and pantries stocked with the faint smell of a faraway home. In metro Detroit, these acts of preservation were made possible by places like Kim Nhung Superfood, the heartbeat of a community that refused to forget where they came from, even as they learned how to survive somewhere entirely new.
For decades, the Madison Heights business has been more than just a grocery store. It’s been a cultural beacon and gathering place for generations of Vietnamese families across Michigan. When Hang Phonrath and her family took over Kim Nhung Superfood in 2007, they were unknowingly stepping into a legacy — one built out of necessity, resilience, and a deep love for the taste of home. That legacy began decades earlier in Garden City, Kansas, a town best known for meatpacking plants powered by its immigrant workforce. Long before Phonrath took over, it was her aunt and uncle, Kim Le and George Nguyen, who built the region’s only Asian grocery store. It became a magnet for Vietnamese workers from all over Kansas. “People from Topeka, Wichita — they’d drive hours just to get
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their groceries there,” Phonrath recalls. Eventually, the family moved north to Michigan and brought the store with them. They named it after the two girls in the family: Phonrath’s aunt, Kim, and her daughter, Nhung. And like its Kansas predecessor, Kim Nhung Superfood quickly became more than just a place to buy rice noodles and rau răm in a region without a formal “Little Saigon.” “You always heard people say, ‘Let’s go to Chợ Việt,’” Phonrath says, using the phrase for the ‘market’ that is central to Vietnamese life. “Then one day, we realized — Kim Nhung is Chợ Việt.” Phonrath hadn’t planned on running a market. She grew up in Colorado, where her entrepreneurial parents, Ba and Điệp Le, ran a lawn service and once owned a restaurant. At the time her aunt and uncle
offered to sell the business, Phonrath was running a nail salon. But something in the timing felt right. “I was 29,” she says. “We thought, ‘What do we have to lose?’” So they packed up and moved to Michigan — and stepped into something much bigger than they expected. Phonrath and her siblings didn’t just keep the store alive. They helped it evolve. Tapping into suppliers in L.A., Houston, and Florida, they expanded product offerings and made sure their community didn’t have to hop on a plane to find the flavors of home. “We wanted to make sure people here weren’t limited by what they could get in the Midwest,” Phonrath says. “We brought what we knew.” But it wasn’t the variety that made Kim Nhung indispensable. It was the people. Customers brought in mail for translation. Dropped off packages. Shared stories. Leaned on the store for far more than groceries. “We were the middlemen for everything,” Phonrath laughs. “It was more than a business. We became part of people’s lives.” And sometimes, those lives would cross in unexpected ways. “I remember a moment when two elderly friends ran into each other in the aisles and exclaimed, ‘Oh my god, I haven’t seen you in ten years!’” Phonrath says. “And I’d be standing there thinking, I see you both every week — but they just kept missing each other. This place brought people back together.” And now, that spirit has only grown — along with the store itself. The new Kim Nhung Superfood opened in April just down the road, in a space at 29411 John R Rd. originally slated for Amazon Fresh. Now, it’s something far more meaningful: 25,000 square feet of market space, a fresh seafood section, a bakery, and a beer and wine license. What’s coming next is a 10,000-squarefoot food court with seven independent vendor stalls. Each will spotlight a different culinary tradition, turning the market into a full-blown cultural destination. “We want this to be a place where people feel welcome — where they can explore,” Phonrath says. “Not just Vietnamese people, but everyone. We want this to be your neighborhood grocery store, where you can also learn and celebrate.” She’s even considering keeping one of the stalls open as a flexible space — for chef demos, pop-ups, or first-time food entrepreneurs. Something that could double as a launchpad and incubator. “There’s so much potential,” she says. “We just need to make it accessible.” That idea — that food can be both a tool and a bridge — isn’t new. But in the hands of Vietnamese refugees and their children, it becomes something deeply rooted and radically resilient. It’s survival, turned into flavor. Memories, served hot. I know that firsthand. As a kid, I grew
up making hour-long drives from the tiny farm town of Millington to Kim Nhung with my family. For us, it wasn’t just a shopping trip — it was a pilgrimage in a big station wagon powered by dried squid and Pocky sticks. My mom’s face would light up the moment we walked through the doors. She knew exactly which herbs to pick through for each dish and which brands of rice paper and noodles she trusted. She was in her element, the air buzzing like birdsong, reveling in the weekly opportunity to be unapologetically Vietnamese at Chợ Việt. For me, it was where the seeds of belonging were planted. That sense of connection wasn’t just mine. Mythy Huynh, a chef and food creator known as @mightyinthemitten, found herself in Kim Nhung after moving to Michigan from California. In a place where she often felt like the only Asian person in the room, Kim Nhung became her tether to home. “I didn’t know where to find my community when I moved here,” she says. “In California, it’s everywhere — you don’t have to search for it. Here, it was like searching for a piece of myself,” she adds. “It reminded me of the tiny Vietnamese-Chinese market across from my elementary school in Northridge. The owner used to slip me coconut buns after school. Walking into Kim Nhung felt like stepping into that same kind of love and familiarity with tight aisles, fresh herbs, and the auntie at the register that knows your name.” Huynh eventually deepened her ties by holding pop-ups, hosting dumpling classes, and sharing her love for Vietnamese cooking with others from the aisles of flavors she grew up with. For her, the store wasn’t just about stocking up on pantry essentials. It was about reclaiming a sense of belonging — about finding a place where the smells, the sounds, and even the small talk felt like home. Today, as a chef and founder of MaMang in Flint and The Good Bowl in Traverse City, I can trace everything I do back to those early trips to Kim Nhung. It gave my mom — and eventually me — the tools to keep our culture alive. Through her food, I found my purpose. I’ve spent my life carving out spaces where food tells our stories, where tradition becomes menu, and where identity is something you can taste and fight for. Without places like Kim Nhung, a whole generation’s memories could’ve been swallowed by everything we lost. Thankfully they weren’t, and the story keeps unfolding. Phonrath’s daughter now runs the front of the store: a new generation, holding down the register, greeting aunties and
With a new home, this long-standing grocery store is the heart of metro Detroit’s Vietnamese American community.
uncles with the same warmth we grew up with. There’s a young woman working the cash wrap who was literally in the womb when her mother used to shop there pregnant. There are teenagers stocking shelves who once came in on strollers. That’s legacy. That’s survival. That’s home. April 30 marked 50 years since the fall of Saigon. It’s a heavy anniversary — one
that weighs on every Vietnamese American household. For many, it was a tragic end. For those who made it to places like Madison Heights, it was a lifeline, and the opportunity to make it mean something. “We want to give the next generation something to be proud of,” Phonrath tells me. “This store — it’s not just ours. It’s everyone’s.” She’s right. What they’ve built was more than shelves and stocked produce.
COURTESY PHOTO
It was a north star — quietly guiding a scattered community home. Over time, it became a cultural anchor. A launchpad. A community stronghold where memory and identity live, breathe, and grow. Where kids like me could feel connected to something bigger. And where now, as an adult, I can say thank you — not just for the groceries, but for the life, the flavors, and the future they helped make possible.
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CULTURE
Alex Garland’s latest film lacks a satisfying narrative by design.
A24
Film
War pigs By Jared Rasic, Last Word Features
Warfare Rated: R Run-time: 95 minutes
If we made a list of some of the most underrated writers/filmmakers currently working, somewhere near the top of that (fairly long) catalog would be Alex Garland. While he has had a few massive successes, most of his work is barely noticed by general audiences. And even though he has gotten wide critical acclaim for most of his working life, he hasn’t had the career he has earned. Let me break down his oeuvre for a second. Garland started as a novelist, writing The Beach (which would eventually get adapted into a decent Leonardo DiCaprio movie by Danny Boyle), The Tesseract, and The Coma: all three novels being flawed, but compulsively readable. It’s his screenwriting work, though, that really introduced him to the world, especially after writing the zombie classic 28 Days Later. He then wrote the scripts for the unsung sci-fi head-trip Sunshine, the gorgeous adaptation of Kazuo Ishiguro’s Never Let Me Go, and the comic book bloodbath Dredd. The only thing these
three movies have in common (aside from crystallizing Garland as a defiantly singular writer who metastasizes high-concept ideas into character-driven science fiction) are their failures at the box office. Still, his directorial work is where we start to see how fathomless Garland’s imagination can be. With Ex Machina, Annihilation, Men, and Civil War, he weaponizes our familiarity with cinematic conventions and subverts them into films that can hardly be called crowd-pleasing. From the quiet, cold desperation of Ex Machina to the New Weird wasteland of Annihilation, to his fearlessly inventive limited series Devs, and then around the bend to the properly disturbing Men and the presciently haunting Civil War, Garland consistently finds the dark center of our cultural moments and unspools them like experimental, grown-up fairy tales. In a way, his newest film (along with co-writer and co-director Ray Mendoza) Warfareis his most experimental so far. It follows the true story of Mendoza and a team of Navy Seals in Ramadi that take control of a house in enemy territory, become surrounded by combatants, and
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get into a wildly ugly firefight as they desperately wait for rescue. That’s the whole movie: this small group of Seals in the middle of a protracted battle, waiting for exfiltration. Filmed in almost real-time, Warfare exists almost as a rebuttal to anyone who thinks films should have a normal narrative structure and all that entails. While the performances are strong across the board (especially from Cosmo Jarvis, D’Pharaoh Woon-A-Tai, Charles Melton, and Michael Gandolfini), the film is more an exercise in technical filmmaking than a stereotypically “satisfying” war movie. With immersive sound design and propulsively intense filmmaking, Garland and Mendoza have created what amounts to more of a sensory experience than an actual story. By completely removing the context of why the Seals are there and the specific purpose of their mission, we’re only left with the visceral horror of violent death and war. There is heroism without false equivalencies to jingoistic patriotism. There are constant gunfights that, instead of being thrilling, are designed to look like the beginnings of a lifetime of PTSD. The men are brave, cowardly,
callous, insane, broken, and terrified in equal measure, but it all feels built from the specificity of Mendoza’s memories of the incident and not from what some screenwriter in Burbank thinks war is like. In a way, Warfare is one of the finest war films ever made simply for the fact that it makes military engagement look like a pointless hell that can only ever destroy life. Is the movie compelling? Very much so. Satisfying narratively? Not remotely. This isn’t Garland and Mendoza trying to make a movie that people actually enjoy. Instead, it’s cinema as a witness, saying, “This is what happened and what kind of people we were when it did. We fought, we died, we laughed, and we screamed for our families for reasons unclear and we did it in a time where war was all we knew how to do and we should never do it again. Ever.” It’s a heartbreaking statement of purpose to create something so ugly and authentic, and the film exists as another of Garland’s black mirrors, reflecting one or two of our greatest traits as humans through the prism of our worst impulses. Grade: B+
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WEED MUSIC The Straight Dope
The future of Michigan cannabis depends on what you buy By Steve Neavling
Cannabis prices in Michigan have been in free fall over the past five years, and it’s taken a serious toll on the industry. Wholesale flower now goes for as little as $500 a pound, and the average price for an ounce has dropped to about $65 in the recreational market. That’s a long way from the $512 people were paying when adult-use sales began December 2019. Cheaper weed, more options, more access – sounds like a win for consumers, right? Not really. The race to the bottom has consequences. As prices dropped, cultivators were forced to tighten margins or risk going out of business. About 10% of the grow operations have closed, and many more are barely hanging on. In that scramble to stay alive, a lot of growers have turned to high-yield strains, bulk production, and speed over quality. Many are harvesting plants before they’re ready and failing to properly cure their flower. As a result, much cannabis looks the same, smells the same, and burns like it has been sitting in a warehouse for six months. But in the middle of this price war, some Michigan cultivators are still putting out remarkable flower and live hash rosin, a growingly popular solventless cannabis concentrate. The success of these cultivators and the dispensaries that carry their products is essential to ensuring the struggling market still has good weed. There are still growers who refuse to fold or compromise, even when the economics are stacked up against them. While others are chasing volume and cutting corners, these growers care about quality. They truly understand the plants, pay attention to detail, and take the time to cure it right. They don’t chase high THC numbers or just grow high-yield plants. They hunt for phenotypes to ensure their weed is flavorful, consistent, and effective. Good flower and rosin create a dif-
Demand for budget weed is squeezing out high-quality marijuana.
ferent experience. They burn more smoothly. They taste better. And their effects are more pronounced. But supporting high-quality cultivators isn’t cheap. I’m not saying everyone should be dropping $50 on an eighth. Most people can’t. But if you can afford to treat yourself, skip the budget ounces and go straight for the top shelf. For flower, my favorite cultivators are 517 Premier, 710 Labs, Binske, Favrd, Flos Cannabis, Freshy Fine, Ghostbudsters, Hytek, Kai Cannabis, Mi Loud Flower, Michigrown, Peninsula Gardens, Pro Gro, The Hive, Tip Top Crop, Vanilla Sunshine, and Voyage Bloom. They stand out because their flower is consistent, covered in trichomes, and flavorful. They don’t take shortcuts, and it shows in the burn, the smoothness, and the effects. These growers care about the full experience, from how it looks and smells to how it hits and lasts. Depending on the cultivator, the price of an eighth ranges from $20 to $50. Another popular product in the state’s recreational market is rosin, the crème de la crème of concentrates. And the gap between high-quality and low-quality rosin is arguably even wider than it is with flower. Some standout producers of live rosin are 710 Labs, Information Entropy, Eastside Alchemy, Known, Ice Kream Hash Co., and Wojo.
STEVE NEAVLING
Good rosin matters because it captures the full essence of the plant — its flavor, aroma, and effect. When it’s done right, it delivers a clean, powerful experience that reflects the quality of the flower that produced it. When it’s not, you’re left with something harsh and flat. Another way to find high-quality cannabis is to go to dispensaries that carry the best brands. My favorites are the Refinery, Pure Options and Utopia Gardens in Detroit, Nature’s Remedy in Ferndale, Noxx in Pleasant Ridge, The Hive in Hazel Park, Information Entropy in Ann Arbor, Releaf in Wayne, and Liberty Cannabis in Detroit and Madison Heights. If you want to support small cultivators with local roots, head to West Coast Meds & Rec in Detroit. The Black-owned dispensary carries an impressive array of deli flower from small-batch cultivators. Lastly, when it comes to finding quality cannabis, there’s a saying: “Your nose knows.” When you go to a dispensary, ask the budtender to open the deli jars so you can smell the buds. If it smells good, there’s a good chance it’s high quality. Unless consumers support the higher-quality cultivators, Michigan could lose them and be left with budget weed that smells like hay and hits like sawdust. In an oversaturated market where price wars are the norm, buying from quality cultivators is one
way to vote with your wallet. Support the ones who are still trying to elevate the standard, even when the economics make it tough. The industry has responded to the oversaturation of the market by calling on lawmakers to impose a moratorium on new grow operations. Over time, the number of growers will eventually decline enough to bring prices to a reasonable point, industry insiders say. In the meantime, some of the state’s early cannabis pioneers, the ones who helped usher us from the legacy market to recreational, are calling it quits. It’s hard to survive when the market’s drowning in mediocre products. For every top-shelf cultivator, there are dozens pumping out mid-tier or budget flower and rosin that all look and smoke the same. Some of it might test high in THC, but it’s often dry, flavorless, and forgettable. In the end, it comes down to this: If we want better weed in Michigan, we have to support the people growing it. That means skipping the flashy THC numbers and focusing on flower and rosin that actually deliver. It means buying from growers and dispensaries that care about the craft, even if it means spending a little more money. If we don’t, we’ll be stuck with large corporations cranking out dry, harsh weed grown in warehouses. And it’s safe to say this isn’t what we wanted when we voted to legalize recreational cannabis.
metrotimes.com | May 7-13, 2025 31
CULTURE Savage Love Quickies By Dan Savage
Q:
I’m a heterosexual woman married to a heterosexual man, and we’ve been together fourteen years. We have two kids. We met in our late 20s, we’re now in our early 40s, and needless to say we are WILDLY different people — from who we used to be, and from each other, frankly. After having two kids, I only just got my libido back at the age of 41. But my husband and I have also been going through marriage therapy and working on a number of issues. My point is, I really want to open a discussion with him about being non-monogamous but I’m terrified and nervous about how to bring this up with him. I need some help!
going to fuck up their relationship. The only thing that separates you from people who aren’t still virgins is a willingness to take “yes” for an answer when people find you attractive. Also helpful: accept that you’re going to do and/or say something stupid — more than once. In most cases, the person you’re seeing will laugh it off the stupid things you say and do, just as you’ll laugh it off when the person you’re seeing says or does something stupid. Now, saying or doing something seriously stupid will definitely fuck up your relationship, of course, but not all fuck ups are fatal. Get on the apps (breaking the ice over DM is easier than face-to-face), be honest about your inexperience, and don’t settle for someone who isn’t giving off generous, patient, and kind vibes.
Q:
I love having my tits groped but how do I communicate this to guys I hook up with in a way that is sexy? I feel so much shame around communicating my inner slutty desires.
A: Just say it — but say it in the presence A: If you can’t bring yourself to use your of (and with the assistance of) a sex-positive couples’ counselor. Figuring out how to tell you’re ready start fucking again… just not him or not just him (which he’s likely to hear as “just not you”)… is going to be tricky and you’re gonna need a professional assist.
Q: My partner and I were traveling in
Thailand. She got a vaginal discharge and asked me if I had slept with anyone else since I last saw her. I lied out of fear she would break up with me and said, “No.” I’ve now lost her. I apologized, sent flowers, and offered to go to counseling with her and she is giving me the silent treatment. Is there anything I can do to retrieve the relationship?
A: Nope. Q: I’m a queer woman in her senior year
of college, who’s still a virgin. On one hand, I know people are ready for sex at different times, and I didn’t come out of the closet until college, so I feel like I should be more patient with myself. On the other hand, I want to get it over with. But I don’t even know how to go about hooking up with someone. I have a hard time talking to people. I’m insecure about my body, I worry I’ll say or do something stupid, and I worry I’ll fuck up any relationship I enter. What do I do?
A:
Everyone is insecure about something related to their bodies, everyone worries about saying or doing something stupid, and everyone worries that they’re
words — if you can’t bring yourself to ask for what you want — take the hands of the guy you’re hooking up with and place them on your breasts. Put your own hands over his hands and show him exactly how you how much pressure you enjoy — show him how you like to be groped — by applying that same pressure to your breasts using his hands.
Q:
Is there a way to tell a partner what you want in the moment while keeping it sexy?
A: If it’s something that’s easily incor-
porated into the action — you want your partner to call you something specific or you your partner to hold you down or spit in your mouth — confidentially asking your partner to do that thing is sexy. (“Spit in my mouth, please.”) If it’s something that can’t easily be incorporated into the action — you want your partner to tie you up in an elaborate way or fuck you in front of a room full of strangers or experiment with fisting you — initiate a little dirty talk with your partner about this hot-but-complicated thing you wanna do with them at some point down the road.
Q:
Middle aged trans woman from Denmark here. So, when will you be talking about the show Dying for Sex? I have been ugly crying my way through all eight episodes and it’s still working its way around my subconscious. It’s a show about reclaiming sexuality, working through sexual trauma, sexual incompatibility (and compatibility), how to talk about
32 May 7-13, 2025 | metrotimes.com
boundaries and desires, D/s dynamics and, well, facing death. I cannot recommend this show highly enough, and I have been looking forward to hearing you talk about it since it came out.
Q:
remove the D from your mouth whenever you’re done — and you may finish before he does. But if someone is fucking your face — with your enthusiastic consent — then guy who’s fucking your face removes the D when he’s done with your face/throat and not a moment before… unless something goes wrong and/or you’re not feeling it anymore and you withdraw your consent, the D should be immediately removed.
A: Hate this show.
Should bathroom hookups become normalized outside of bar/club settings?
Q:
A: Part of the thrill of hooking up
A: Love this show — Jenny Slate or
Michelle Williams are both brilliant. Four stars.
So, Kanye West and his cousin — thoughts?
My partner’s wife treats him like shit. How can I support him without just saying “leave”?
A: Be the greener pasture.
P.S. You’re allowed to say, “leave,” of course, and that may the message he needs to hear — but you may not be the best messenger. Also, have you seen your partner’s wife treat him like shit with your own eyes or do you only have his word to go on?
Q:
I’m a cis woman in her forties who fantasies about having a dick. Does that mean I’m trans?
A: There’s nothing stopping you, a cis
woman, from having a dick whenever you want one. And the existence of so many trans men (who are men) who love their pussies indicates that transition, for many trans men, wasn’t motivated solely by fantasies about having male genitalia. And while trans men are relatively rare, cis women who fantasize about having a dick — cis women who are curious about what it feels like to have one (which you can, again, whenever you want) — are fairly common. So, unless there are other things about being a man feels right in a way that encompasses and transcends dick at the same time, odds are good you’re experiencing something that affirms your cisness, not something that points to transness.
Q: Which is worse: bad sex with some-
one you love, or great sex with someone you can’t stand? Bad sex with someone you love is worse… because if you love someone and the sex is bad that either means the relationship isn’t going anywhere (because you’re not gonna settle for bad sex) or it means you’re gonna be having bad sex for the rest of your life (because you already settled for bad sex). If you had great sex with someone you can’t stand, on the other hand, you can walk away without feeling regret… and circle back whenever you’re feeling weak.
Q:
How long do you wait at the end of a BJ before removing the D from your mouth?
A: If you’re giving a BJ, you’re free to
Q:
someplace you’re not supposed to — like a toilet at a bar or a club (no one is taking baths at bars and clubs) — is that you’re not supposed to be hooking up there. And while normalizing toilet hook ups bars and clubs and airports and locker rooms and hotel lobbies and university libraries might lead to a spike in people hooking up in the toilets of bars and clubs and airports, etc., normalizing toilet hook ups would effectively eliminate a big part of what makes those hook ups a thrill in the first place, and people would quickly tire of them. So, if you wanna keep toilet hook ups hot, you should fight against their normalization, not for their normalization — tell your friends people who hook up toilets are disgusting, complain to the bartender about people hooking up the toilet right after you’re finished hooking up in the toilet, etc.
Q:
Is there a term that encompasses all the types of non-monogamy in the same way “queer” encompass everything that’s not straight? “Non-monogamy” is kind of unsatisfying, both because it sounds negative and is only defining what it is not. You’re good with terms. Got one for me?
A: I like “multiamory,” which isn’t a term I coined. Credit goes to Emily Matlack, Dedeker Winston, and Jase Lindgren, the hosts of the Multiamory podcast.
Q:
Should you tell your partner if their dirty talk is actively turning you off?
A: You could attempt to steer the dirty
talk in a direction that works for you — to spare your partner’s feelings, reward their efforts, and satisfy their desire for some sort of dirty talk — but if they don’t take the hint, tell them whatever they’re saying isn’t working before your go soft or dry up.
Read the full column online at savage.love. Got problems? Yes, you do! Email your question for the column to mailbox@ savage.love! Or record your question for the Savage Lovecast at savage.love/ askdan! Podcasts, columns, and more at Savage.Love.
metrotimes.com | May 7-13, 2025 33
CULTURE Free Will Astrology
a job painting camouflage on military airplanes. This enabled him to conduct artistic explorations and experiments. The metal hulls became his canvases. I am predicting a comparable opportunity disguised as an obstacle for you, Sagittarius. Just as the apparent constraint on Klee actually advanced his artistic development, you will discover luck in unexpected places.
By Rob Brezsny ARIES: March 21 – April 19 Just for now, you might benefit from moderating your intensity. I am pleased to see how much good stuff you have generated lately, but it may be time to scale back a bit. At least consider the possibility of pursuing modest, sustainable production rather than daring to indulge in spectacular bursts of energy. In conclusion, dear Aries, the coming days will be a favorable time for finding the sweet spot between driving ambition and practical self-care. Your natural radiance won’t have to burn at maximum brightness to be effective. TAURUS: April 20 – May 20 Classical ballet dancers often seek to convey the illusion of weightlessness through highly stylized movements. Innovative Taurus choreographer Martha Graham had a different aim, emphasizing groundedness. Emotional depth and rooted physicality were crucial to her art of movement. “The body never lies” is a motto attributed to her, along with
PATRICIO SAYS: It’s easy to become jaded and cynical as we struggle through life. Often it is said that we are born alone and die alone. The latter is uncertain; however, mom was there for the former, and probably a while longer. We should remember that.
SPOIL MOM
FOR A DAY
“Don’t be nice, be real.” I recommend you make those themes your guides for now, Taurus. Ask your body to reveal truths unavailable to your rational mind. Value raw honesty and unembellished authenticity over mere decorum. GEMINI: May 21 – June 20 Gemini photographer Margaret Bourke-White (1904–1971) was a trailblazer. She was the first American woman war photojournalist, the first professional photographer permitted into the Soviet Union, and among the first to photograph a Nazi concentration camp. She was consistently at the right place at the right time to record key historical moments. She’s your role model in the coming months. You, too, will have a knack for being in the right place and time to experience weighty turning points. Be vigilant for such opportunities. Be alert and ready to gracefully pounce. CANCER: June 21 – July 22 “Each negative word in a news headline increases click-through rates,” writes Joan Westenberg. “Negative political posts on social media get twice the engagement. The system rewards pessimism.” She wants to be clear: “Doomsayers aren’t necessarily wrong. Many concerns are valid. But they’ve built an attention economy that profits from perpetual panic. It’s a challenge to distinguish between actionable information and algorithmic amplification, genuine concern and manufactured outrage.” Westenberg’s excellent points are true for all of us. But it’s especially important that you Cancerians take measures to protect yourself now. For the sake of your mental and physical health, you need extra high doses of optimism, hope, and compassion. Seek out tales of triumph, liberation, pleasure, and ingenuity far more than tales of affliction, mayhem, and corruption. LEO: July 23 – August 22 Bees are smart. The robust and lightweight honeycombs they create for their homes are designed with high efficiency, maximizing storage space while using the least amount of resources. Let’s make the bees’ genius your inspirational role model for the coming weeks, Leo. It will be a favorable time to optimize your own routines and systems. Where can you reduce unnecessary effort and create more efficiency? Whether it’s refining your schedule, streamlining a project, or organizing your workspace, small adjustments will yield pleasing rewards.
34 May 7-13, 2025 | metrotimes.com
JAMES NOELLERT
VIRGO: August 23 – Sept. 22 In 1971, Virgo poet Kay Ryan began teaching English at a small community college. Though she wrote steadily, working hard to improve her craft and publish books, she never promoted herself. For years, she was virtually unknown. Finally, in 2008, she flamed into prominence. In quick succession, she served as the U.S. Poet Laureate, won a Pulitzer Prize, and received a $500,000 “genius grant” as a MacArthur Fellow. Why am I telling you about her long toil before getting her rightful honors? Because I believe that if you are ever going to receive the acclaim, recognition, appreciation, and full respect you deserve, it will happen in the coming months. LIBRA: Sept. 23 – Oct. 22 Libran author Diane Ackerman combines an elegant poetic sensibility and a deft skill at scientific observation. She is lyrical and precise, imaginative and logical, inventive and factual. I would love for you to be inspired by her example in the coming weeks. Your greatest success and pleasure will arise as you blend creativity with pragmatism. You will make good decisions as you focus on both the big picture and the intimate details. P.S.: If you immerse yourself in the natural world and seek out sensory-rich experiences, I bet you will inspire a smart solution to an achy dilemma. SCORPIO: Oct. 23 – Nov. 21: Scorpio-born Sabina Spielrein (1885–1942) was one of the earliest woman psychoanalysts. In the 21st century, she is increasingly recognized as a great thinker who got marginalized because of her feminist approach to psychology. Several of her big contributions were Scorpionic to the core: She observed how breakdown can lead to breakthrough, how most transformations require the death of an old form, and how dissolution often serves creation. These will be useful themes for you to ruminate about in the coming weeks. For best results, be your deep, true, Scorpio self. SAGITTARIUS: Nov. 22 – Dec. 21 In the middle of his art career, Sagittarian painter Paul Klee (1879–1940) was drafted into the German army as a soldier in World War I. Rather than fighting on the front lines, he managed to get
CAPRICORN: Dec. 22 – Jan. 19 “To live is so startling it leaves little time for anything else,” wrote poet Emily Dickinson. I often feel that truth. As much as I would love to devote 70plus hours a week to creative writing and making music, I am continually diverted by the endless surprises of the daily rhythm. One of these weeks, maybe I’ll be brave enough to simply give myself unconditionally to ordinary life’s startling flow and forget about trying to accomplish anything great. If you have ever felt a similar pull, Capricorn, the coming days will be prime time to indulge. There will be no karmic cost incurred. AQUARIUS: Jan. 20 – Feb. 18 David Bowie was a brilliant musical composer and performer. His artistry extended to how he crafted his persona. He was constantly revising and reshaping his identity, his appearance, and his style. The Ziggy Stardust character he portrayed on stage, for example, had little in common with his later phase as the Thin White Duke. “I’ve always collected personalities,” he quipped. If you have ever felt an inclination to experiment with your image and identity, Aquarius, the coming weeks will be an excellent time. Shape-shifting could be fun and productive. Transforming your outer style may generate interesting inner growth. What would be interesting ways to play with your self-expression? PISCES: Feb.19 – March 20 The Voynich manuscript is a famous text written in an unfamiliar script filled with bizarre illustrations. Carbon-dated to the early 15th century, it has resisted all attempts at deciphering its content. Even Artificial Intelligence has not penetrated its meaning. I propose we make this enigmatic document an iconic metaphor for your life in the coming weeks. It will symbolize the power you can generate by celebrating and honoring mystery. It will affirm the fact that you don’t necessarily require logical explanations, but can instead appreciate the beauty of the unknown. Your natural comfort with ambiguity will be a potent asset, enabling you to work effectively with situations others find too uncertain. Homework: What’s your worst excuse for not being completely devoted to your dreams?
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metrotimes.com | May 7-13, 2025 35