Metro Times 05/27/26

Feedback NEWS & VIEWS

Readers react to a Michigan judge ruling that state police regulators can withhold the names of police officers under Freedom of Information Act exemptions, hampering our effort to make database of problematic “wandering cops.” Metro Times and the Invisible Institute plan to appeal (“Michigan court says you don’t have a right to know who your cops are”).

They’re literally paid with our taxes. This is not a private sector. Anyone that can read law would recognize how unconstitutional this is. I wonder how this judge has ruled on other cases and if it would warrant an investigation.

—Lynn Dee, Facebook

This is fucked! It is an attack on

Michiganders; each and every individual has the right to know who our civil servants are. It’s actually in the name “Freedom of Information.” I hope all you “back the blue” types are seeing this. These jackbooted thugs are coming for you.

—@MichiganWLMv2, X

“But it is an axiom of human nature that giving some people power over others entails a risk that this power will be abused. And to this end, our laws generally require that those who wield governmental power do their work in the sunlight.” Thank you, Dana Nessel.

—Madison Ootra

The only time I’ll ever side with the metro times.

—Erich Lassen, Facebook

NEWS & VIEWS

How Mike Duggan’s independent campaign for governor fell apart

Mike Duggan’s independent campaign for governor began as a bold experiment in post-partisan politics and ended Thursday with a thud.

The former Detroit mayor, who spent decades as a Democrat before running for governor as an independent, abruptly suspended his campaign after new polling showed him slipping badly in a three-way race against Democratic Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson and Republican U.S. Rep. John James.

In a letter to supporters, Duggan blamed national politics, President Donald Trump’s war in Iran, rising gas prices, and the difficulty of raising money outside the two-party system.

“By April, the mood of the country had shifted suddenly and dramatically,” Duggan wrote. “Democrats (and many Independents) were unified in anger as Trump’s war in Iran dragged on and gas prices rose above $5 a gallon.”

Duggan said internal polling showed that anger over gas prices and Iran was “boosting Democrats in every office nationally.” He also pointed to the latest Detroit Regional Chamber poll, which showed him 11 points behind Benson.

“If we were even in the polls and behind in fundraising, we have a path to winning,” Duggan wrote. “If we were behind in the polls and even in fundraising, we have a path. But we’re behind in both.”

He added, “It’s just not right to ask our volunteers, faith leaders, unions, elected officials and donors to continue in a campaign that, in my heart, I no longer feel good about our chances to win.”

But Duggan’s collapse was not just about Trump, Iran, or national fundraising.

For months, the former mayor struggled to explain his platform and what he actually stood for. He tried to court Democrats, Republicans, independents, unions, business leaders, Trump supporters, and Detroit voters all at once. In the process, he alienated key Democratic voters, embraced controversial Republican donors, sidestepped Trump’s most dangerous rhetoric, leaned into culture-war talking points, and carried the baggage of his own record in Detroit and at the Detroit Medical Center.

“I got into this race to try to change our politics, not to be a spoiler,” Duggan wrote.

Justin Mendoza, executive director of Progress Michigan, a progressive advocacy group, says Duggan’s campaign was flawed from the start because it misunderstood the voters he was trying to reach.

“He was trying to appeal to a MAGA base who proves every election that they follow Trump’s support,” Mendoza tells Metro Times. “That approach was doomed to begin with.”

Duggan spent much of the campaign trying to portray himself as the mayor who brought back Detroit after bankruptcy. But that message became harder to sell as critics focused on the parts of his record that complicated the comeback story.

“Over the last couple months, he has been attempting to define himself as a leader who revitalized Detroit,” Mendoza says. “I think the true story we hear from Detroiters, and that we’ve seen around his career, is that he has a history of scandals, cronyism, and alleged corruption. It’s just there under the surface.”

Duggan’s record gave critics plenty to work with. Over four decades in public life, investigations and controversies followed him from Wayne County government to the prosecutor’s office, then to the Detroit Medical Center and City Hall.

Duggan said he was rising above the two parties, but the campaign often seemed reluctant to take sides on controversial issues driving the election.

Back in February, Duggan appeared to be gaining momentum. A Detroit Regional Chamber poll showed Benson at 30.9%, Duggan at 30.3%, and James at 29.5%, making the race a virtual tie. Chamber president and CEO Sandy Baruah called Duggan’s rise “striking.”

By May, the picture had changed dramatically. A new Chamber poll showed Benson leading with 34%, followed by James at 29%, and Duggan at 23%.

The slide was especially damaging because the Chamber had endorsed Duggan. Even one of his most prominent institutional backers was releasing numbers that showed him falling behind.

In his letter, Duggan insisted that 23% support still represented “more than 1.6 million Michigan voters” looking for a governor who wanted to reduce partisan conflict. But in a winner-take-all race, that also meant he was on track to become exactly what he said he did not want to be, and that was a voter splitter.

As Duggan ran for governor, Detroit’s contaminated demolition dirt scandal kept growing. The city is now testing more than 650 sites and spending millions more to determine the scope of a crisis that was announced during the final days of Duggan’s administration.

The scandal is especially damaging because Duggan repeatedly touted Detroit’s demolition program as one of his signature achievements. But testing at some demolition sites found dangerous contaminants, including arsenic, lead, chromium, and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, toxic chemicals linked to cancer risk.

In December, just before leaving office, Duggan suggested the issue was relatively contained. Since then, the number of flagged sites has grown, Detroit increased its environmental testing contract by 350%, and city officials acknowledged delays in testing and remediation.

Mendoza says the toxic dirt scandal made it more difficult for Duggan to sell himself as the mayor who fixed Detroit.

“This whole situation of the failed oversight of this toxic dirt has a profound impact on Detroit families and on public safety,” Mendoza says.

Duggan’s record at the Detroit Medical Center also complicated his ability to win over labor voters. As Metro Times

reported, Duggan oversaw layoffs of union hospital workers while becoming a millionaire at DMC. While he was president and CEO of the eight-hospital system between 2004 and 2012, unions repeatedly accused the hospital system of aggressive tactics to stop organizing and weaken bargaining units.

In 2012, DMC laid off an entire class of unionized hospital aides at Hutzel Hospital and replaced them with non-union employees, prompting a federal labor complaint.

Duggan later brokered the sale of the nonprofit hospital system to Vanguard Health Systems, a for-profit hospital chain backed by private-equity investors. The system was later sold to Tenet Healthcare and faced years of federal scrutiny, safety violations, and labor disputes.

For a candidate trying to cast himself as pro-union, the record was a problem.

“His leadership at DMC, where he was part of an administration that held back unionized employees and tried to break up that union, was part of the story voters were learning,” Mendoza explains.

Duggan did secure endorsements from some unions, including one from the Sterling Heights Police Officers Association made public just an hour before he announced he was ending his campaign, and in his exit letter he said he “continued to pile up huge numbers of union endorsements.”

But his labor support was uneven. Benson had already won endorsements from major statewide unions, including the Michigan Nurses Association and the Michigan Laborers’ District Council. Duggan also turned off voters by embracing data centers, which critics say consume enormous amounts of water and electricity, drive up utility costs, and threaten farmland. He repeatedly said Michigan needed data centers to attract the jobs of the future, at one point saying the state needed them “whether you’re ready to accept it or not.”

But as residents across Michigan grew concerned about the enormous energy demands, water use, farmland loss, and secrecy surrounding data center deals, Duggan’s position became politically risky.

“This is not a slam dunk for anyone right now,” Mendoza says of data centers. “What we know is that when people know a lot about data centers, they don’t want them.”

A Progress Michigan poll released in December found that public opposition to data centers increases as voters learn more about their potential costs. The poll, conducted by Public Policy Polling, found that less than a third of Michigan voters supported bringing more data centers to the state. When voters were told opponents say data centers create mostly temporary construction jobs,

consume large amounts of energy and water, drive up utility bills, and risk water shortages, opposition grew even more.

Duggan later tried to soften his position, saying Michigan needed “a clear standard for data centers” and that he would back local communities. But his campaign still released a policy plan saying large data centers are “key to building a competitive economy that brings future tech jobs to Michigan and keeps young people here.”

That left him open to criticism that he was trying to soften a position that had become politically costly. It also reinforced concerns that his campaign was too closely aligned with corporate interests, utilities, and wealthy donors.

Adding to those concerns, voters weren’t likely to be enthused that Gerry Anderson, the former chairman and CEO of DTE Energy — Michigan’s largest electric utility and a supporter of data centers — was helping shape Duggan’s campaign policy proposals.

Money also became one of Duggan’s biggest vulnerabilities.

A Metro Times review of Duggan’s campaign finance records found that a sizable share of his fundraising came from Trump donors, Republican power brokers, and corporate executives with interests in state policy. Among them were billionaire Roger Penske, former Michigan GOP Chair Ron Weiser, charter school mogul J.C. Huizenga, former state GOP co-chair Jeff Sakwa, Compuware founder Peter Karmanos, the Nicholson family of PVS Chemicals, and other wealthy donors who have supported Trump, the GOP and conservative causes.

Duggan also received support from a dark money nonprofit, Put Progress First, which placed billboards praising him as “America’s most effective mayor” while shielding its donors from public scrutiny.

For a candidate who said he wanted to break the two-party system, the donor list and more conservative rhetoric told a different story. Duggan’s campaign increasingly looked like a vehicle for Republicans and corporate interests who saw him as a more acceptable alternative to a Democrat.

That perception deepened in October, when Duggan attended a high-dollar fundraiser co-hosted by Anthony Soave, a wealthy businessman who donated $100,000 to a Trump political action committee and has been linked to multiple Detroit corruption scandals involving city contracts.

The Michigan Democratic Party responded with billboards that read, “MAGA Money ❤ Mike Duggan.”

Duggan’s campaign dismissed the criticism, saying he was drawing support from both Democrats and Repub-

licans. But his political attacks were uneven.

Duggan, who had campaigned for Barack Obama, Hillary Clinton, Joe Biden, and Kamala Harris, suddenly began attacking Democrats far more often than Republicans. He accused Democrats of caring only about hating Republicans and Trump. He said “people are fed up with this Democratic Party in Michigan.” He parroted conservative language on undocumented immigrants. And he declined to directly condemn some of Trump’s most extreme rhetoric.

In November, Duggan was asked on WXYZ’s Spotlight on the News whether Trump went too far when he accused Democratic lawmakers, including U.S. Sen. Elissa Slotkin of Michigan, of “seditious behavior” and suggested their actions could be “punishable by DEATH.”

Duggan dodged.

“I’ve stayed out of these national debates,” he said. “I’m not going to get involved in the national debate.”

For many voters, that answer raised a simple question: If Duggan refused to say whether a president threatening political opponents with death had gone too far, what exactly did his independent campaign stand for?

His campaign argued that he was running for state office, not federal office. But Trump’s policies and rhetoric have become state issues, affecting immigration enforcement, health care, public safety, federal funding, and political violence.

Duggan’s refusal to take a clear position looked more politically calculated than principled.

“The way he went after Democrats was inauthentic,” Mendoza says. “You can’t on one hand attack the efficacy of a major party and then also state that that party is only going negative and is not focused on real change. It’s hypocrisy.”

The political makeover was strange because Duggan had spent much of his career attacking Trump.

At the 2016 Democratic National Convention, Duggan mocked Trump’s bankruptcies and called him “the most phony party nominee” he had seen in his lifetime. After Trump falsely claimed voter fraud in Detroit in 2020, Duggan called the allegations “utter nonsense” and “a real threat to everything we believe in.”

As recently as 2024, Duggan praised Biden and Harris as “real partners” who helped Detroit recover and said, “The best thing that happened in Detroit was when Donald Trump left office.”

But as an independent candidate for governor, Duggan insisted he had not changed his views, only his party label.

Voters appeared unconvinced.

Duggan’s campaign depended on the premise that there was a large,

untapped bloc of voters who were tired of both parties and eager for a nonpartisan problem-solver. There may be.

But Duggan’s version of independence often meant refusing to answer hard questions, courting Trump donors while criticizing Democrats, and asking voters to overlook controversies from his long record in Detroit.

He also appeared to misread the moment.

By Duggan’s own admission, the political climate moved against him. But his campaign also made choices that narrowed his path.

He tried to win Democrats without sounding like one. He tried to win Republicans without Trump’s blessing. He tried to win unions while carrying the baggage of DMC and his ties to corporate donors. He tried to win environmental skeptics while embracing data centers. He tried to sell Detroit’s comeback while scandals over contaminated dirt, water shutoffs, overassessments, and downtown-focused development weighed down his campaign.

And he tried to run as an outsider after more than three decades as a government insider.

In the end, Duggan did not build a new political lane. He got squeezed between the two parties he said he wanted to transcend.

The Michigan Democratic Party, which spent months attacking Duggan, offered a gracious statement after he dropped out.

“We’re grateful to Mayor Mike Duggan for his service to the city of Detroit and our entire state,” Democratic Party Chair Curtis Hertel said. “While we’ve had disagreements, the Mayor brought crucial ideas to this race and we appreciate his commitment to bringing people together.”

Hertel added that Democrats welcome Duggan’s supporters “into our growing coalition.”

That may be the biggest consequence of Duggan’s exit. Without him in the race, Benson has a clearer path to consolidating Democrats and independents who feared Duggan would help elect a Republican. James, meanwhile, loses the chance to benefit from a fractured anti-Republican vote.

Duggan said he hopes his campaign will still have “a real long-term impact.”

Maybe it will. His candidacy exposed frustration with the two-party system and showed that a significant share of voters are open to something different. But it also showed that political frustration is not the same as a political base.

Duggan wanted to be the candidate who flew above politics. Instead, he became trapped by the politics he tried to avoid.

—Steve Neavling

OUR FEARLESS LEADER HAS FALLEN IN LOVING MEMORY OF THE OLD MIAMI OWNER, VIETNAM VETERAN & CASS CORRIDOR LEGEND

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Poll finds Abdul El-Sayed surging

Left-wing candidate Abdul

El-Sayed is now leading Michigan’s Democratic Party primary for U.S. Senate, according to a recent poll.

It finds El-Sayed has emerged as the race’s clear frontrunner with 28% support, ahead of U.S. Rep. Haley Stevens at 18% and state Sen. Mallory McMorrow at 17%.

El-Sayed, a former Detroit and Wayne County health official who unsuccessfully ran for governor in 2018, said the poll shows voters want change from the Democratic Party.

“For too long, too many Michiganders have felt like no one in our politics sees them, hears them, or is willing to fight for them. This campaign has always been about changing that,” El-Sayed said in a statement. “I am deeply grateful to every Michigander who has shared their story, come to an event, volunteered, or taken a chance on this campaign. This momentum belongs to the folks who built it.”

Previous polls showed the Michigan U.S. Senate Democratic Party primary in a dead heat. The new poll was conducted May 1-7 by MIRS and Mitchell Research & Communications.

It follows weeks of attacks from rivals, the centrist Democratic establishment, and the mainstream media over ElSayed’s decision to campaign with Hasan Piker — a popular left-wing streamer and vocal critic of U.S. support for Israel whom some have accused of antisemitism. (Piker has repeatedly denounced antisemitism.)

The attacks appear to have backfired spectacularly.

“It is very clear that one of the most important factors in El-Sayed’s movement up in the polls is the support he is receiving from far left progressives who very strongly oppose United States and Israeli intervention in both Gaza and Iran,” Steve Mitchell, CEO of Mitchell Research &

Communications, said in a statement.

“His support really bumped up after the endorsement by Hasan Piker. It will be interesting to see whether this is enough support to allow him to win.”

A recent Gallup poll found U.S. support for Israel waning.

Also during the polling period, the popular Vermont senator Bernie Sanders endorsed El-Sayed and U.S. House candidate Donnovan McKinney at a packed rally at Detroit’s Mumford High School, with some 1,360 supporters in attendance.

El-Sayed, who was born in Detroit to Egyptian immigrants, has criticized U.S. aid to Israel and its involvement in wars in the Middle East. A doctor and medical school graduate who attended the University of Michigan, he also supports the creation of a universal healthcare system in the U.S. known as Medicare for All. He has pledged to refuse corporate donations to his campaign, which has large grassroots support.

The poll found El-Sayed led across gender lines and dominated among voters ages 18-44, drawing 80% support — far ahead of Stevens (4%) and McMorrow (3%).

The same poll found McMorrow (26%) leading El-Sayed (23%) and Stevens (6%) among 45-64 year olds, and Stevens (26%) leading El-Sayed (18%) and McMorrow (16%) among voters ages 65 and older.

The poll also found voters backing Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson, a Democrat, for governor with 62% support and 30% undecided.

El-Sayed is campaigning for the U.S. Senate seat held by Democrat Gary Peters, who announced his retirement last year. Michigan’s U.S. Senate primary is Aug. 4, and the winner will likely compete with Republican Mike Rogers in the Nov. 3 general election.

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20 LGBTQ+ celebrations in metro Detroit and beyond

By Metro Times staff

ride season is here and queer.

From neighborhood block parties to massive downtown festivals, there’s no shortage of ways to celebrate, connect, and show up as exactly who you are. We’ve gathered the highlights below — and if we missed your event, let us know at tips@detroitmetrotimes. com and we’ll add it online.

Necto Pride

An institution since 1984, Necto’s Friday pride nights provide a welcoming and inclusive environment for the LGBTQ+ community to connect and celebrate with dance music. On the main floor, The Maestro DJ delivers a high-energy mix of top 40, club hits, queer pop, and dance anthems, while DJ DigiMark brings the same crowd-pleasing sound to the Red Room and hosts Chanel Hunter and Perry Dox keep the night moving. Special events planned for this summer include a performance from the drag queen Alaska on June 5, a Heated Rivalry-themed night on June 19, and an Ariana Grande tribute on June 26. Starts at 9 p.m. every Friday at Necto, 516 E. Liberty St., Ann Arbor; necto. com. Cover is $10.

Ferndale Pride

Michigan’s largest free pride festival draws thousands for a family-friendly

street fair with drag performers, musical artists, and more than 200 vendors.

From 12:30-10 p.m. on Saturday, May 30; downtown Ferndale; ferndalepride.com. No cover.

7th Annual Interfaith Ceremony

This annual tradition is welcome to everyone from across the LGBTQ+ and spiritual spectrums. With a theme of “Now More Than Ever,” this year’s event features speakers Ferndale Pride executive director Julia Music, Pastor Angela

Lippard of Detroit’s Metropolitan Community Church, and Rev. Ric Beattie from Unity of Royal Oak, with more to be announced.

Starts at 7 p.m. on Wednesday, May 27 at Affirmations LGBTQ+ Community Center, 290 W. Nine Mile Rd., Ferndale; ferndalepride.com.

Motor City Pride

Michigan’s largest pride celebration brings drag and musical performances, vendors, and more to downtown Detroit’s Hart Plaza, drawing tens of

thousands of attendees across two days. An annual parade kicks off at noon on Sunday, June 8, starting at Fort and Griswold Streets and ending at the festival.

From 1-7 p.m. on Saturday, June 6 and Sunday, June 7 in Hart Plaza, Detroit; motorcitypride.org. Cover is $5.99 for the festival each day.

Village Pride Detroit

Launched in 2024, this pride fest celebrates love in Detroit’s Indian Village and West Village communities with a block party. This year’s festivities are set to feature music from John Collins, Angela Baskets, Aidel, Amino, Garrison XR, a fashion show by Eugenie, and more, with proceeds donated to Detroit’s Ruth Ellis Center.

From 2-8 p.m. on Saturday, June 6 at 1420 Van Dyke St., Detroit; more information is available on Instagram at @village_pride_detroit.

Detroit Gay Pride Weekend

Hosted by Detroit Queer Women, this event series features four days of pride festivities in downtown Detroit including a rooftop rave, a wet “Super Soak-Her” party, Queer Carnival, and an all-white yacht party.

From Thursday, June 4–Sunday, June 7; multiple venues in Detroit; see detroitgayprideweekend for full schedule and tickets.

Warren Pride

A family-friendly pride festival in Michigan’s third-largest city with speakers, live music, drag performances, food trucks, vendors, and more.

From noon-6 p.m. on Saturday, June 13, at Warren Civic Library; warrencitypride.com. No cover.

Sober Tea

This alcohol-free dance party features NA mocktails, music from DJ Melo, go-go dancers, and performances from drag queens Laila Grace Couture, Emma Sapphire, Sirinity Sapphire, and Bubbalina, with proceeds going to Ferndale Pride.

From 4-8 p.m. on Sunday, June 14 at 215 West, 215 W. Nine Mile Rd., Ferndale; ferndalepride.com. Tickets are $10.

Downriver Pride

The theme for this year’s fest is “Graffiti: Color Outside the Lines.” Aside from that, details have yet to be announced.

From noon-11 p.m. on Friday, June 19 and Saturday, June 20; downriverpride.com.

Fourth Annual Livonia Pride

Family-friendly festival features vendors, live entertainment, food trucks, and activities for all ages.

From 11 a.m.-2 p.m. on Saturday, June 20 at Schoolcraft College (greenspace between Liberal Arts and Forum Buildings); 18600 Haggerty Rd., Livonia; schoolcraft.edu. No cover.

Grosse Pointe Pride

Now celebrating its 10th year in the Grosse Pointes, this year’s event kicks off with a march starting at the GP Central Library Branch and ending at the festival site at Maire Elementary. Family-friendly activities include drag performances, guest speakers, games, face painting, and more.

From 10 a.m.-12:30 p.m. on Saturday, June 20 at the corner of Cadieux Road and Waterloo Street in the Village of Grosse Pointe; wegp.org. No cover.

Howdy Fest

This annual event bills itself as a “y’all-inclusive, y’alternative cowboy party” with live music, burlesque, a mechanical bull, barbecue, vendors, games, and more. Live music includes perfor-

mances by Toronto’s Spurs Night Queer Line Dance, Nashville’s She Returns From War and VOLK, Chicago’s Olivia and the Lovers, Clover Lynn and the Hellfires from North Carolina and West Virginia, Pete Dio and the Old & Dirty from Indiana, the Bootstrap Boys from Grand Rapids, Detroit’s Winestoned

Cowboys, and more. The event is open to adults, with people ages 18 and young welcome until 8 p.m. with a parent or guardian.

Starts at 5 p.m., Saturday, June 20 at The Old Miami; 3930 Cass Ave., Detroit; eventbrite.com. Tickets are $23.18 advance.

Canton Pride OUTside

This annual pride event kicks off a Thursday Night LIVE Concert Series at the Heritage Park Amphitheater with family-friendly activities, speakers, performers including Taylor Swift cover band Love Live, vendors, local resources, and more.

From 6-8:30 p.m. on Thursday, June 25 at Heritage Park, 1150 S. Canton Center, Canton; cantonmi.gov. No cover.

Ypsi Pride

A decade in, Ypsi Pride isn’t slowing down. Founded in 2016 by two queer artists, the event has grown from a grassroots vision into one of Southeast Michigan’s most beloved LGBTQ+ celebrations, now drawing nearly 10,000 attendees each year. More details are expected to be announced soon.

From 2-10 p.m. on Saturday, July 18, Depot Town, Ypsilanti; firstfridaysypsi.com/ypsi-pride. No cover.

Flint Pride

The 16th annual FlintPride festivities feature music, performances, vendors, food, and more.

From 2-8 p.m. on Saturday, July 18 at Flat Lot, 125 E. Kearsley St., Flint; peopleschurchofflint.org. No cover.

Hotter Than July

A cornerstone of metro Detroit’s Black queer community, Hotter Than July is celebrating more than three decades. While a full schedule of events has yet to be released, activities typically include mixers, a picnic, speakers, and a candlelight vigil in Palmer Park. Various venues from Thursday, July

23-Sunday, July 26; see hotterthanjuly. org for full schedule of events closer to event date.

Pride Royal Oak

Royal Oak’s pride celebration has three stages of live performances, including drag queen Alyssa Edwards, American Idol singer Toderick Hall, and recent Metro Times cover boy DUANE, among many others.

From 1-11 p.m. on Saturday, July 25, Downtown Royal Oak; prideroyaloak. com. Tickets start at $5.

Ann Arbor Pride

Expected to draw tens of thousands of people, Ann Arbor’s pride festival has multiple stages of entertainment and family-friendly programming through 6 p.m. Hours TBA for Saturday, Aug. 1; more information available at annarborpride. com. No cover.

6th Annual Macomb County Pride

While details have yet to be announced, expect a family-friendly street fair at the intersection of Main Street and New Street.

From noon-6 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 8 in downtown Mount Clemens; macombcountypride.com. No cover.

Transgender Pride in the Park

This year’s meetup for transgender people and allies features a picnic, vendors, and more.

From noon-6 p.m. on Saturday, Aug. 22 at Martin Road Park, Ferndale; transgendermichigan.org/transgender-pride. No cover.

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 May 27

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.

Ryan Bingham w/ The Texas Gentlemen 7 pm; Royal Oak Music Theatre, 318 W. Fourth St., Royal Oak;

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 May 28

Live/Concert

Angel, Starz 7:30 pm; The Token Lounge, 28949 Joy Rd., Westland; DIRK KROLL BAND live! @ Goldner Walsh 7-10 pm; Goldner Walsh Garden & Home, 559 Orchard Lake Rd., Pontiac; $20.

Dueling Pianos: An Interactive

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

Pentagram, Today Is the Day 7 pm; Sanctuary Detroit, 2932 Caniff St., Hamtramck;

Steam Powered Giraffe 8 pm; Pike Room, 1 S. Saginaw, Pontiac;

TIED DOWN PRESHOW #1 6 pm; Edgemen, 19757 15 Mile Rd., Clinton Twp;

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; 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 May 29

Live/Concert

‘68 7 pm; TSDMAAC (Confessional), 15701 James Couzens Fwy., Detroit; Audrey Hobert 6:30 pm; Detroit

Masonic Temple Library, 500 Temple St, Detroit;

Bill Edwards, Kora Feder and Mike Ward at Trinity House 7:30 pm; Trinity House Theatre, 38840 W. Six Mile Rd., Livonia; $20.

Chrisette Michele Grounding Room Only Tour 7:30 pm; The Shelter, 431 E. Congress St., Detroit;

D.R.I. (Dirty Rotten Imbeciles) 7:30 pm; The Token Lounge, 28949 Joy Rd., Westland;

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.

Heather Headley 7 pm; Fisher Theatre - Detroit, 3011 West Grand & Fisher, Detroit;

Hogwarts House Party 8 pm; Pike Room, 1 S. Saginaw, Pontiac;

Lip Critic 6 pm; Sanctuary Detroit, 2932 Caniff St., Hamtramck; Magic Bag Presents: HAPPY HOUR DANCE CLUB - Ladies Only Dance Party 6 pm; Magic Bag, 22920 Woodward Ave., Ferndale; Saddle Up: Retro Surf Rodeo 8 pm; Diamondback Music Hall, 49345 S. Interstate 94 Service Dr., Belleville;

Summer Sounds at The Mall at Partridge Creek 5-8 pm; The Mall at Partridge Creek, 17420 Hall Rd., Clinton Township; Free.

Weird Nightmare 7 pm; Pike Room, 1 S. Saginaw, Pontiac;

Summer Sounds at The Mall at Partridge Creek 5-8 pm; The Mall at Partridge Creek, 17420 Hall Rd., Clinton Township; Free.

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.

Summer Sounds at The Mall at Partridge Creek 5-8 pm; The Mall at Partridge Creek, 17420 Hall Rd., Clinton Township; Free.

Summer Sounds at The Mall at Partridge Creek 5-8 pm; The Mall at Partridge Creek, 17420 Hall Rd., Clinton Township; Free.

DJ/Dance

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

The Seatbelts w/ Stomp Rockets + DJ Zak Frieling 9 pm; Bowlero Lanes & Lounge, 4209 Coolidge Hwy., Royal Oak; 0.

Saturday May 30

Live/Concert

Summer Sounds at The Mall at Partridge Creek 5-8 pm; The Mall at Partridge Creek, 17420 Hall Rd., Clinton Township; Free.

Cameron Whitcomb - Fragile Egos Tour 7 pm; Saint Andrew’s Hall, 431 E. Congress St., Detroit; Djangophonique Instrumental Quartet 8-9:45 pm; Ro Cham Beau, 3321 Michigan Avenue, Detroit; $30.

Gary Hoey 7:30 pm; The Token Lounge, 28949 Joy Rd., Westland; Glom 7 pm; Sanctuary Detroit, 2932

Caniff St., Hamtramck; K-POP Superstars 4:15 pm; The Fillmore, 2115 Woodward Ave., Detroit; LILY ROSE wsg Jake Banfield 7 pm; District 142, 142 Maple St., Wyandotte;

Magic Bag Presents: Hot In Herre - 2000s Dance Party 8 pm; Magic Bag, 22920 Woodward Ave., Ferndale; Saideira - The Santana Experience 7 pm; Pike Room, 1 S. Saginaw, Pontiac;

Stop Light Party 9 pm; Diamondback Music Hall, 49345 S. Interstate 94 Service Dr., Belleville;

Summer Sounds at The Mall at Partridge Creek 5-8 pm; The Mall at Partridge Creek, 17420 Hall Rd., Clinton Township; Free.

TIED DOWN - SATURDAY noon; Russell Industrial Complex-Exhibition Center, 1600 Clay St., Detroit; TIED DOWN DETROIT noon; Russell Industrial Complex-Exhibition Center, 1600 Clay St., Detroit; Triumph: The Rock & Roll Machine Reloaded Tour 8 pm; Michigan Lottery Amphitheatre at Freedom Hill, 14900 Metropolitan Pkwy., Sterling Heights;

Valaura, Taylor Derousse, Kissyourfriends 7 pm; The Loving Touch, 22634 Woodward Ave., Ferndale; Summer Sounds at The Mall at Partridge Creek 5-8 pm; The Mall at Partridge Creek, 17420 Hall Rd., Clinton Township; Free.

Summer Sounds at The Mall at Partridge Creek 5-8 pm; The Mall at Partridge Creek, 17420 Hall Rd., Clinton Township; Free.

DJ/Dance

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 May 31

Live/Concert

Claypool Gold 7:30 pm; Meadow Brook Amphitheatre, 3554 Walton Blvd., Rochester Hills;

CMSC presents Schubert & Waghalter 7-9 pm; Scarab Club, 217 Farn-

sworth St., Detroit; $30 at the door, $25 in advance, $10 for students.

hemlocke springs: the apple tree under the sea tour 7 pm; Saint Andrew’s Hall, 431 E. Congress St., 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).

Rock ‘n’ Shop at Showtime! Last Sunday of every month, 2-6 pm; Showtime Clothing, 9704 Joseph Campau Ave., Hamtramck; Free.

Summer Walker: Still Finally Over It Tour 7:30 pm; Little Caesars Arena, 2645 Woodward Ave., Detroit; Tómarúm, Gudsforladt 6 pm; Sanctuary Detroit, 2932 Caniff St., Hamtramck;

TIED DOWN - SUNDAY noon; Russell Industrial Complex-Exhibition Center, 1600 Clay St., Detroit; DJ/Dance

Mietze Conte 7 pm; Pike Room, 1 S. Saginaw, Pontiac;

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 Jun 1

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 Jun 2

Live/Concert

Meet Me @ The Altar - The Worried Sick Summer Tour 7 pm; The Shelter, 431 E. Congress St., Detroit; Mrs. Nezbitt, No Vision, Almost Made The Mixtape, Bivouac Cabs 6 pm; TSDMAAC (Confessional), 15701 James Couzens Fwy., Detroit; Saving Vice, Roderik, Resider, Yayo, Metal Mustang 6 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.

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. Washington, Royal Oak; No Cover.

Wednesday Jun 3

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.

Asian Glow 6 pm; Pike Room, 1 S. Saginaw, Pontiac; Cani Sciorri, The Amino Acids, Stubborn Assholes 7 pm; Sanctuary Detroit, 2932 Caniff St., Hamtramck;

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.

Killswitch Engage 5:30 pm; The Fillmore, 2115 Woodward Ave., 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 Jun 4

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;

Entheos 6 pm; TSDMAAC (Confessional), 15701 James Couzens Fwy., Detroit; Gunshine 7:30 pm; The Token Lounge, 28949 Joy Rd., Westland; Internal Bleeding, Sworn Enemy 6 pm; Sanctuary Detroit, 2932 Caniff St., Hamtramck;

Kevin Morby 7 pm; Saint Andrew’s Hall, 431 E. Congress St., Detroit; Riding With Killers, Tidals, Heartsick, Never The Crash 6 pm; TSDMAAC (Confessional), 15701 James Couzens Fwy., 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 Jun 5

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.

Summer Sounds at The Mall at Partridge Creek 5-8 pm; The Mall at Partridge Creek, 17420 Hall Rd., Clinton Township; Free.

Summer Sounds at The Mall at Partridge Creek 5-8 pm; The Mall at Partridge Creek, 17420 Hall Rd., Clinton Township; Free.

Cozy Worldwide: Throwback and Current R&B / Hip Hop Party - 21+ 9 pm; Saint Andrew’s Hall, 431 E. Congress St., Detroit;

Devo Ticket + Hotel Deals 8 pm; Caesars Palace Windsor - Augustus Ballroom, 377 E. Riverside Dr., Windsor; Dixon’s Violin LIVE! 7-8:15 pm; Detroit Shipping Company, 474 Peterboro St., Detroit; $29.

Everyone I Owe 2 7 pm; The Loving Touch, 22634 Woodward Ave., Ferndale;

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.

Ignominious, Scab Hag, Snugglebunzzz, A La Carte 7 pm; Sanctuary Detroit, 2932 Caniff St., Hamtramck; Magic Bag Presents: D.M. vs NIN 7 pm; Magic Bag, 22920 Woodward Ave., Ferndale;

Napalm Death 6:30 pm; Pike Room, 1 S. Saginaw, Pontiac; Parker McCollum 7:30 pm; Michigan Lottery Amphitheatre at Freedom Hill, 14900 Metropolitan Pkwy., Sterling Heights;

RECKLESS MUSIC FEST 2026 6:30 pm; The Token Lounge, 28949 Joy Rd., Westland;

Smokedope2016 7 pm; Pike Room, 1 S. Saginaw, Pontiac;

Summer Sounds at The Mall at Partridge Creek 5-8 pm; The Mall at Partridge Creek, 17420 Hall Rd., Clinton Township; Free.

Summer Sounds at The Mall at Partridge Creek 5-8 pm; The Mall at Partridge Creek, 17420 Hall Rd., Clinton Township; Free.

DJ/Dance

Fiesta Friday | DJ Tony Toca & first Friday of every month, 10 pm-2 am; Pronto! Royal Oak, 608 S. Washington, Royal Oak;

Gimme Gimme Disco June 5, 8:3010:30 pm; Orchid Theatre, 141 W. Nine Mile Rd., Ferndale; $19.00.

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

Saturday Jun 6

Live/Concert

Summer Sounds at The Mall at Partridge Creek 5-8 pm; The Mall at Partridge Creek, 17420 Hall Rd., Clinton Township; Free.

Summer Sounds at The Mall at Partridge Creek 5-8 pm; The Mall at Partridge Creek, 17420 Hall Rd., Clinton Township; Free.

Summer Sounds at The Mall at Partridge Creek 5-8 pm; The Mall at Partridge Creek, 17420 Hall Rd., Clinton Township; Free.

Alex Isley - When The City Sleeps 7 pm; Saint Andrew’s Hall, 431 E. Congress St., Detroit;

Alison Krauss & Union Station Featuring Jerry Douglas 7:30 pm; Caesars Palace Windsor - Augustus Ballroom, 377 E. Riverside Dr., Windsor; Alison Krauss and Union Station Ticket + Hotel Deals 7:30 pm; Caesars Palace Windsor - Augustus Ballroom, 377 E. Riverside Dr., Windsor; EMO PUNK NIGHT 9 pm; Diamondback Music Hall, 49345 S. Interstate 94 Service Dr., Belleville; Forrest Frank: The Jesus Generation Tour 7 pm; Little Caesars Arena, 2645 Woodward Ave., Detroit; The Glamour Machine w/ Stormfeldt + DJ Sovain Sylvain ; Bowlero Lanes & Lounge, 4209 Coolidge Hwy., Royal Oak; 0.

House of Heavy 8 pm; The Loving Touch, 22634 Woodward Ave., Ferndale; House of Heavy 8-10 pm; The Loving Touch, 22634 Woodward Ave., Ferndale; $22.12.

Kaonashi 7 pm; Pike Room, 1 S. Saginaw, Pontiac;

Ladies Night Out 8 pm; The Music Hall, 350 Madison Ave., Detroit; Lansdowne 7:30 pm; The Token Lounge, 28949 Joy Rd., Westland; Magic Bag Presents: MEGA 80s 7 pm; Magic Bag, 22920 Woodward Ave., Ferndale;

Piss Ant, Backbiter, World Of Malice, Lie In Wait, Chop House 6 pm; Sanctuary Detroit, 2932 Caniff St., Hamtramck;

Summer Sounds at The Mall at Partridge Creek 5-8 pm; The Mall at Partridge Creek, 17420 Hall Rd., Clinton Township; Free.

TAYLORVILLE 2 & 7 pm; District 142, 142 Maple St., Wyandotte; DJ/Dance

Sanctuary: Pride Edition June 6, 10 pm; Menjo’s Nightclub, 928 W. McNichols, Detroit; $15-40.

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 Jun 7

Live/Concert

Corinne Bailey Rae 6 pm; Royal Oak Music Theatre, 318 W. Fourth St., Royal Oak;

Frank Pettis 85th Birthday party 5:30 pm; The Token Lounge, 28949 Joy Rd., Westland;

Magic Bag Presents: Vinyl Williams x HOTT MT 7 pm; Magic Bag, 22920 Woodward Ave., Ferndale; Spite 6 pm; Saint Andrew’s Hall, 431 E. Congress St., Detroit;

Tom Keifer of Cinderella 7 pm; District 142, 142 Maple St., Wyandotte; 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 Jun 8

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 Jun 9

Live/Concert

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

Augustana + Phantom Planet 7 pm; Saint Andrew’s Hall, 431 E. Congress St., Detroit;

Magic Bag Presents: Derya Yıldırım & Grup Ş im ş ek 7 pm; Magic Bag, 22920 Woodward Ave., Ferndale; Mt. Joy 2026: Celebrating 10 Years Of Mt. Joy 8 pm; Michigan Lottery Amphitheatre at Freedom Hill, 14900 Metropolitan Pkwy., Sterling Heights; Sean Blackman’s In Transit 7-10 pm; Northern Lights Lounge, 660 W. Baltimore St., Detroit; no cover.

Wet Leg 8 pm; Caesars Palace Windsor - Augustus Ballroom, 377 E. Riverside Dr., Windsor;

Wet Leg Ticket + Hotel Deals 8 pm; Caesars Palace Windsor - Augustus Ballroom, 377 E. Riverside Dr., Windsor; DJ/Dance

Soul Tone second Tuesday of every month, 9 pm-2 am; The High Dive, 11474 Joseph Campau Ave., Hamtramck; 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.

THEATER

Performance

Andiamo Celebrity Showroom

Aaron Caruso Friday June 5, 8 pm.

Detroit Repertory Theatre Spit in Your Face SPIT IN YOUR FACE by Paul Heller and Alberto Lomnitz, directed by Maurizio Rosas Dominguez and Leah Smith. A world premiere political satire. As the only Mexican-American in a San Francisco theatre company, Liliana finds herself in the thorny position of having to realize the vision of two men, each of whom thinks he knows better than she does how to speak to the audience they serve. This bombastic new work is a hilarious look at modern politics and absurd theater. $30 advance / $35 same day Fridays, Saturdays, 8-10 pm, Saturdays, 3-5 pm and Sundays, 2-5 pm.

Embassy Suites by Hilton Detroit

Troy Auburn Hills The Magic Soireemagic and comedy dinner show We host 2 Magic Soiree’s 5.15pm and 7.15pm The fun starts when you are shown to your table in The Atrium Bar and Grill. Closeup magic will be happening at your table. During this time dinner and drinks are available to purchase. Please order as soon as you arrive, so our fabulous magicians can work their mind-blowing magic right before your eyes. Then, step into our intimate 50-seat theater for an evening of astonishing illusions, hilarious entertainment. Our incredible stage show is guaranteed to leave you mesmerized! $40 and VIP tickets $45 Saturdays, 5:15-10 pm.

WHAT’S GOING ON CONT’D

Meadow Brook Theatre Always a Bridesmaid Wednesday 7:30 pm, Thursday 7:30 pm, Friday 7:30 pm, Saturday 6 pm, Sunday 2 & 6:30 pm, Wednesday June 3, 2 & 7:30 pm, Thursday June 4, 7:30 pm, Friday June 5, 7:30 pm, Saturday June 6, 2 & 7:30 pm and Sunday June 7, 2 & 6:30 pm.

Royal Oak Music Theatre Small Town Murder Saturday 7 pm.

The Inspired Acting Company Ugly Lies the Bone Ugly Lies the Bone by Lindsey Ferrentino follows Jess, a young veteran returning home from Afghanistan while coping with severe injuries and emotional trauma. Through an experimental virtual reality therapy program, she struggles to reconnect with family, friends, and herself. Funny, intimate, and deeply human, this contemporary drama explores resilience, identity, healing, and the complicated process of coming home. Presented by The Inspired Acting Company in an immersive black box setting in Downtown Walled Lake. $38 General Admission | $32 Seniors (65+) and Under 30 Fridays, Saturdays, 8-9:30 pm.

Ypsilanti Performance Space (The YPSI) Much Ado About Nothing Presented by Brevity Shakespeare Beatrice and Benedick: the original rom-com. They hate each other, they love each other, they hate each other, they come around. There’s something wrong with this play, though. Hero never takes Claudio to task, and he really deserves it. This production addresses that, with additional text from Canadian playwright Erin Shields. You won’t want to miss this special production directed by Lydia Carey and starring Efe Osagie and Cameron Graham. Performance held in the stained glass glow of the historic Ypsilanti Performance Space. $15 Standard Admission; $10 Senior/Student Friday 7:30-8:50 pm, Saturday 2:30-3:50 & 7:308:50 pm and Sunday 2:30-3:50 pm.

Musical

Christ Church Grosse Pointe The Marriage of Figaro Opera de Metro’s second season concludes with an English-language presentation of Mozart’s iconic comic opera, The Marriage of Figaro. Join us May 30th and 31st at Christ Church Grosse Pointe for a show filled with mistaken identities, quick wit, and unforgettable music. This timeless opera follows one chaotic day of love, jealousy, and clever schemes as Figaro and Susanna outsmart their employer in pursuit of their happily every after. Tickets are available at operademetro.org, or can be purchased at the door via cash or Venmo. $30 General Admission, $20 Student Saturday 7-10 pm and Sunday 3-6 pm.

Flagstar Strand Theatre for the Performing Arts Lights, Camera, Pride! - Rent (The Movie) Saturday June 6, 7 pm.

Theatre NOVA The Last Wide Open by Audrey Cefaly The Last Wide Open by Audrey Cefaly Michigan Premiere A love song in three movements. Over the course of three brief acts, the lives of weary waitress Lina and immigrant dishwasher Mikolaj play out in parallel universes—each a variation on a theme of longing, chance, and connection. With echoes of fate and flashes of magic in the mundane, this tender, time-bending story asks: what if love is less about destiny, and more about timing? Directed by Diane Hill. May 22 – June 14, 2026 Tickets: General $30 / 65 & Over $25 / Students $15 General $30 / 65 & Over $25 / Students $15 Fridays, Saturdays, 8 pm, Sundays, 2 pm and Saturdays, 3 pm.

COMEDY

Improv

Go Comedy! Improv Theater

Pandemonia The Allstar Showdown is a highly interactive improvised game show. With suggestions from the audience, our two teams will battle for your laughs. The Showdown is like “Whose Line is it Anyway,” featuring a series of short improv games, challenges and more. Fridays and Saturdays 7:30pm & 9:30pm 25.00 Fridays, Saturdays.; $20 Every other Friday, 8 & 10 pm.

Stand-up

Eastern Palace Club Nicole Melnyk LIVE @ Eastern Palace Club | The Smoke Show Comedy Show Nicole Melnyk is a Michigan-based comedian raised outside Grand Rapids and comedy-born in Lansing. A three-time Lansing Best Comic winner, Nicole has performed across the Midwest at clubs and theaters including Mark Ridley’s Comedy Castle, Ann Arbor Comedy Showcase, Dr. Grins, Laugh Factory Chicago, Royal Oak Music Theatre, The Majestic Theatre, and more. Known for her sharp wit, huge energy, and chaotic charm, she has featured for Hannah Berner, Emma Willmann, Brad Wenzel, Esther Povitsky, and opened for Kyle Kinane. $5 Thursday June 4, 8:30-10 pm.

Flagstar Strand Theatre for the Performing Arts Jay Pharaoh Thursday 8 pm.; From SNL’s impression-legend to host of FOX’s hit game show “The Quiz With Balls,” Jay brings his signature high-energy storytelling and unstoppable momentum to Pontiac, MI for one night only. Best known for his spot-on impressions, Pharoah spent six seasons as a cast member on NBC’s Saturday Night Live. In 2017, he shifted to his first leading role as ‘Floyd Mooney’ in Showtime’s White Famous, executive-produced by Jaime Foxx. Pharoah continues to headline comedy clubs across the country throughout the year. $37.35 Thursday 8-11 pm.

Fox Theatre Ali Siddiq: The Custom Fit Tour Saturday June 6, 7 & 9:30 pm. MGM Grand Detroit Terry Fator Saturday 8 pm.

BITES

Bites

Popular pastries coming to downtown Ann Arbor

Fans have been waiting in line at a refurbished barn outside of Ann Arbor for pastries from The Boro, a cafe inside The Dixboro Project. The pastries have become so popular that it’s set to expand with a new bakery in downtown Ann Arbor this summer.

Orijin Bakery is a partnership between The Boro’s pastry chef Jin Capobianco Gorian and Sava Farah of The Pulpo Group hospitality. It will be located near Farah’s first restaurant, Sava’s, at 617 East Liberty St. and is set to open this July.

“Anyone who has been to The Boro knows that Jin is a world-class pastry chef who brings an unparalleled level of care and artistry to every baked good she creates,” Farah said in a statement. “While I’m so proud of the culinary excellence we’ve built together in Dixboro, I couldn’t be more excited to bring her incredible talent to a larger stage in a part of

the city that means so much to me.”

At The Boro, Capobianco Gorian was known for her laminated pastries — a culinary technique used to create flaky, airy pastry by folding and rolling layers of dough and butter together — and other sweet baked goods. She says she plans to expand her offerings at Orijin Bakery.

“I’m so thankful to fans of The Boro both near and far who have been critical to its continued success,” Capobianco Gorian said.

“Opening my own bakery is a dream come true, and I can’t wait for you to experience what we’ve been cooking up.”

In addition to The Dixboro Project, Sava’s, and Orijin Bakery, The Pulpo Group also runs Aventura in Ann Arbor.

More information will be available at orijinbakery.com.

—Lee DeVito

160 years of Vernors ginger ale

Pharmacist James Vernor

started selling his ginger ale in Detroit in 1866 — making it the oldest American ginger ale brand.

That means this year marks Vernors’s 160th anniversary, and a big birthday bash is in the works.

The daylong celebration is set for Sunday, June 14 in Detroit’s Eastern

Rooftop cocktail bar Topa opens in Brush Park

Late-night smashburgers in Berkley

Market district, featuring Vernors floats (better known as Boston Coolers), historical exhibitions, its mascot Woody the Gnome, and a toast planned for 3:30 p.m.

Chef Noelle Prater of Marrow in the Market is even planning a Vernors-themed brunch menu that will be served throughout the day.

Detroit got a swanky new rooftop bar just in time for Memorial Day weekend.

Topa opened last week on the 11th floor of the AC Hotel Detroit at the Bonstelle in Brush Park. Its menu features drinks like the Kalimotxo, a popular Spanish cocktail made from red wine and, in this case, cola spritz. There’s also the mezcal-based Cyprus and the Coastside, made with white wine, rum, peach, pineapple, and citrus honey.

The bar, whose name means “to toast” in Basque, also features a menu of Mediterranean- and California-inspired small plates by executive chef Jorge Morales, of Puerto Rico.

Dishes include seared halloumi cheese, crispy bacalao croquettes, fish and chicken skewers, and lamb chops, among others.

“Topa represents the next chapter of the hospitality experience at the AC Hotel Detroit at the Bonstelle,” James Van Dyke, president of parent company the Roxbury Group, said in a statement. “Our vision was to create a space that feels transportive, a place where guests can slow down, connect and enjoy an atmosphere inspired by the California coast while still being surrounded by the energy of Detroit.”

The space also draws from influences closer to home, built from reclaimed wood from the historic Cadillac Hotel in Lexington, Michigan.

The AC Hotel Detroit at the Bonstelle is located at 10 Eliot St., Detroit. More information is available at instagram.com/topadetroit.

—Lee DeVito

“Everyone from the Detroit area has a Vernor’s story to tell. It’s a part of our culture,” organizer Keith Wunderlich says in a statement. “Everybody’s mother gave them Vernor’s if they were feeling sick. And we knew it was officially summer when our moms gave us Vernor’s with vanilla ice cream in it.

The Vernor’s 160th Anniversary celebration gives us all a chance to relive a little bit of our childhood and, hopefully, show the next generation that some

The smashburger craze has come to downtown Berkley with a new late-night spot.

Buns & Patties opened its doors earlier this month, with opening hours as late as 3 a.m. on Fridays and Saturdays and 1 a.m. from Sunday-Thursday.

Smashburgers have been having a moment in recent years. Made from ground beef patties pressed flat on a hot griddle until the edges are char and crisp, the burgers have found a real home in Detroit, from Kelly’s Bar in Hamtramck to Just Smash It, a local chain that counts Detroit rappers among its most loyal regulars.

Buns & Patties serves its signature BNP Smash Burger with two patties, American cheese, pickles, and a house sauce. Its menu also includes chicken sandwiches, a short rib grilled cheese sandwich, a vegetarian falafel burger, and breakfast sandwiches served all day.

The menu is rounded out with fries and custard sundaes.

“We wanted a menu you don’t have to overthink,” co-owner David Pinkhasov said in a statement. “It’s the food that people actually want — burgers, fries, chicken sandwiches, sundaes — done right and ready whenever you need it.”

Pinkhasov is joined in the endeavor by his childhood friends Mark Isakov and Vlad Shamayev, who come with experience working in local restaurants.

“We’ve been talking about opening a place like this for years,” Isakov said. “Now it’s real. We’ve built a spot that people will want to come back to, especially late at night.”

“We’re thrilled to be opening, so we can finally show everyone what we’ve been working so hard on,” Shamayev added.

Buns & Patties is located at 2375 Coolidge Hwy. The space is 1,400 square feet and seats around 27 diners, featuring a mural by Detroit-based artist Jesse Kassel.

More information is available at bunsandpatties.com.

—Lee DeVito

of the simple things in life are the best.” Vernors was long produced in Detroit and served at soda fountains throughout the city, but after the Vernor family sold the brand in the 1960s, production in the Motor City ceased in the 1980s. The brand is now owned by the Keurig Dr Pepper conglomerate, though its packaging is still emblazoned with the message, “A Michigan Original.”

—Lee DeVito

CULTURE

The sequel nobody asked for … but the one we needed

The Devil

Wears Prada 2

Rated: PG-13

Run-time: 119 minutes

As someone who has dressed like a color blind retiree since childhood, I know next to nothing about couture, modern fashion, or why one designer brand outranks another. Watching The Devil Wears Prada all the way back in the year of our lord 2006, I knew the film really wasn’t “for me,” yet I still enjoyed it as a rare glimpse into a world I will never know. Rewatching it ahead of the release of The Devil Wears Prada 2, I still found a lot to like, but also a healthy dose of annoyance.

The original story is familiar: Andy Sachs (Anne Hathaway), a “serious” journalist, lands a job at Runway magazine, a glossy, high-fashion monthly focused on the latest designers and couture. She becomes the second assistant to Miranda Priestly (Meryl Streep), the cruel and cold editor-in-chief. Along the way, she falls for the fashion world, navigates a complicated frenemy relationship with first assistant, Emily (Emily Blunt), and finds a true mentor in Nigel Kipling (Stanley Tucci).

Twenty years later, the four central

By Jared Rasic, Last Word Features

performances shine. Streep disappears into Miranda — the hushed cadence of her voice, the chilly delivery — even if her relentless monstrousness is exhausting by the end. Despite the film’s attempts to humanize her, she remains objectively a terrible person; the way she treats the people around her (especially Nigel) makes it hard to sympathize with her, even when we do get those flashes of humanity.

But the real era-specific frustration lies in Andy’s personal life. The 2006 script treats her intelligence as a journalist and her emotional maturity as secondary to her mediocre boyfriend, Nate. Played by the pretty charisma vacuum Adrian Grenier, Nate is a mopey chef who constantly runs the gamut between annoyed, jealous, and confused by Andy’s success, yet the script treats him sympathetically. He genuinely, profoundly sucks as a partner, yet the movie highlights his moral compass. When Andy contemplates moving to Boston with him at the end, I found myself silently screaming for her to run away from the handsome boy with the slow, cow eyes.

Don’t even get me started on Christian (Simon Baker), the blonde, well-dressed, slimy-chic journalist she’s immediately attracted to in Paris. He’s startlingly misogynistic, most assuredly a fuck boi,

but Andy seems all in. After an ill-advised tryst, Andy acts surprised that he’s a scumbag in the light of day. She’s smarter than that and if the movie had been made today, she would have seen him coming from a mile away.

Luckily, here we are two decades later with The Devil Wears Prada 2, a film that not only fixes the original’s flaws, but also tells a thoughtful story about the death of print media and the internal rot of populist journalism.

Andy returns to Runway after two decades to serve as the features editor after the magazine fails to vet a puff piece on a brand using sweatshop labor. Miranda is still the tyrant-in-chief, but she’s now struggling to keep Runway relevant in an era of TikTok influencers, where glamour has been replaced by algorithms. Nigel remains her long-suffering-in-silence right-hand man and Emily is now a senior executive at Dior.

Every character has lived decades of life since the last film and returning writer Aline Brosh McKenna’s script is intelligent and human enough to treat them like complicated people. Along with returning director David Frankel, The Devil Wears Prada 2 feels less like a legacy sequel designed to pick your pocketbook and more like a reckoning with the state of modern pop media. It’s still catty and

filled with more costume changes than a Taylor Swift show, but it truly shines through those same four characters. Hathaway brings an effortless, weary intelligence to Andy. Blunt finds a softness in Emily, now a mother, that makes her desperation for genuine friendship truly endearing. Tucci remains the “fairy godmother” of our dreams, radiating a winking warmth. But again, it’s Streep who steals the show. She makes Miranda three dimensional in a way the first film didn’t have time for, showing us the loneliness and drive beneath the ice. She’s still awful, but we finally understand why. There is more to the “Devil” than just horns and a pitchfork. I hate to say it, but I liked “The Devil Wears Prada 2” more than the original. It’s smarter, goofier, and has more on its mind than just Fashion Week. The film abandons some of the glitz that made the original so beloved, which might be a dealbreaker for those looking for glamor rather than a movie that spends much of its runtime on modern job insecurity for writers.

While the film still suffers when it focuses on Andy’s personal life (at least there’s no Nate!), The Devil Wears Prada 2 is one of the few sequels that seems to understand its own legacy. It doesn’t try to recreate the early aughts; instead — the moment we see Miranda realizing she can’t be her typical draconian self because of human resources — it mourns those years while looking directly into the cold, glowing screen of the future.

Rating: B+

The

Straight Dope

Ice Kream Hash Co. scoops up loyal following

By Steve Neavling

Ice Kream Hash Co. didn’t buy its way into Michigan’s cannabis market with celebrity endorsements, deep-pocketed investors, or plans to fill shelves with cheap weed.

Instead, the Dimondale-based brand began with a small grow operation and focused on quality, flavor, and consistency.

Three years later, Ice Kream Hash Co’s award-winning products are sold in about 300 dispensaries, and the brand has become one of Michigan’s most reputable names in live rosin, an increasingly popular solventless concentrate that is fresh, flavorful, and potent.

Ice Kream Hash Co. is a brand created by Lake Life Farms, a vertically integrated cannabis company that began cultivating flower and hash for the recreational market. But demand for the aromatic hash products grew so quickly that Ice Kream Hash Co. shifted entirely to growing for extraction.

“It has been explosive growth,” Kendra Godette, COO of Lake Life Farms, tells Metro Times of the popularity of the

brand’s live rosin. “It got to a point where we couldn’t grow for flower anymore.

Our first location is now all indoor grown for extraction. That was after just a year.”

To build on its success, Lake Life Farms is developing a new 16,000-square-foot hybrid greenhouse in Dimondale, next to its existing 34,000-square-foot facility.

The expansion gives the company more room to grow hash-washing cultivars, increase production, and bring flower back to its menu.

“Getting this greenhouse will help us open the doors to continue putting out live rosin, but also so we can have flower back on our menu,” Godette says. “We used to have really good flower.”

The expansion comes during a turbulent period for Michigan’s cannabis industry, where falling prices and oversupply have squeezed cultivators, processors, and retailers. But Lake Life Farms says it has continued to grow year over year by focusing on efficiency, direct consumer engagement, and unique and high-quality products that stand out in a crowded market.

is a sticky, fresh, flavorful, and potent goo. Once considered a niche product for connoisseurs, rosin has increasingly moved into the mainstream as consumers become more discerning.

Godette says IKHC’s crew saw that shift coming.

The head rosin-maker “has been making hash for a very long time,” she says. “He knew the market was going to turn in a different direction, and rosin was going to be the thing. You just had to wait for it.”

The company started small, with hand-washed hash and small-batch drops and a handful of employees. Today, the company has 23 employees working in cultivation, packaging, and rolling, and the brand has built a library of 35 hash-washing strains.

The growth, Godette says, has been driven largely by word of mouth, events, and a loyal consumer base.

“It’s all been organic growth,” Godette says. “It’s been a very natural growth because it’s a great product at affordable prices.”

The balance between quality and reasonable pricing is part of what gives the brand its identity. Its motto, “Solventless scoops for all,” is a play on both the company’s name and its affordability.

“I want it to be accessible and affordable and the best bang for your buck,” Godette says. “What people see is quality and affordable value. That’s where we positioned ourselves in the market. I don’t want to be the most expensive brand out there. I don’t want our stuff to sit on shelves.”

The Ice Kream Hash Co. name came from the team’s love of the product, Godette says.

The new greenhouse will combine natural sunlight with environmental controls, a model the company says will reduce energy use compared with traditional indoor cultivation while maintaining consistency and terpene expression.

Lake Life Farms also expects the expansion to create jobs in the greater Lansing region in cultivation, post-harvest work, packaging, and operations.

“This move marks an important milestone for our team and our longterm vision,” Godette says. “The new hybrid greenhouse will allow us to scale thoughtfully while continuing to focus on quality, innovation, and craftsmanship that our customers and retail partners expect from Ice Kream Hash Co. products.”

That focus on quality is what makes the brand so popular. Live rosin is difficult to make well, but Ice Kream Hash Co. has an experienced and passionate team that has nailed the process.

Live rosin is made without solvents, using fresh-frozen cannabis, heat, and pressure. The result, when done right,

“We all loved the creamy beauty of rosin, and we were into ice water bubble hash,” she recalls. “We thought it was a super fun name and gave us a way to have a lot of creativity with the branding.”

That creativity shows up in the company’s product names, packaging, and especially its prerolls, which are unlike much of what’s on the market.

Ice Kream Hash Co. sells its rosin in one-gram pucks, vaporizers, prerolls, and edibles.

The rosin-infused prerolls have become a major part of the brand. In one month, the team hand-packs about 50,000 prerolls, Godette says. The prerolls range from half-gram minis to the 2.5-gram Neapolitan, a layered preroll with three strains of flower and three strains of rosin with flavors designed to complement each other.

“The Neapolitan has almost a gram of rosin,” Godette says. “It’s extremely potent. It’s an experience. We’re trying to bring experience to cannabis consumption.”

Godette says the company uses quality flower in its prerolls, not trim or shake,

and each one is hand-packed and handweighed. The smaller rosin-infused prerolls are 40% rosin, she says.

“There’s a lot of rosin in that preroll,” Godette says. “We spent years smoking prerolls before getting these on the market. We create what we would consume.”

Ice Kream Hash Co. also works closely with True Organics, a small grower that helps with breeding, seed selection, and pheno hunting. True Organics also focuses on sustainability and organically produced cannabis grown in living soil beds.

“They have a very small mom-and-pop grow,” Godette says. “They do all the breeding with us, and they vet all the seeds. Then we run it in our building at scale.”

Ice Kream Hash Co. also uses flower grown by True Organics for its prerolls.

That kind of collaboration, she says, matters in a market where small growers are struggling to compete with large operators.

“It’s hard to survive with giant conglomerates,” Godette says. “True Organics is so small, and it’s all tender love and care. They are so good at breeding and genetics.”

For this review, I sampled Ice Kream Hash Co.’s jarred live rosin, disposables, edibles, and its creative lineup of rosin-infused prerolls.

Super Boof is a prime example of how

Ice Kream Hash Co. does it better than others. Named Leafly’s strain of the year in 2024, Super Boof is one of the most popular strains on the market and is grown by countless cultivators. But when it comes to rosin, Ice Kream Hash Co.’s Super Boof is fresher and more flavorful than any others I’ve tried.

The funky orange and cookie aroma comes through, and the effects are euphoric and uplifting. The badder is creamy with a whipped, glossy finish.

Rainbow Guava is an energizing strain with a candy and fruit nose. A cross of Rainbow Belts and Strawberry Guava, the rosin tastes like rotten guava (in the best possible way) and candy with a hint of sour citrus. The badder was fresh, moist, and easy to work with, and the dabs were smooth and flavorful.

If you’re looking for a daytime strain, Rainbow Guava will keep you motivated. Just be careful because it packs a punch.

The award-winning Neapolitan is the company’s most elaborate preroll, and with nearly a gram of rosin, it’s meant to be enjoyed in a group. The 2.5-gram joint is layered with three strains of flower (Slap N Tickle, Jokerz, and Frosted Cherry Cookies) and rosin (Double Baked Cake, Tally Mon, and Bananaconda).

The oversized preroll is a collaboration between Ice Kream Hash Co. and Plant Nerd, Guerilla Grown, and Pharmhouse Wellness. It took a few friends and more

than an hour to finish this beast, and the flavors were perfectly paired and moved from sweet cake and banana funk to bright cherry and gas.

“We build it layer by layer,” Godette says. “In each layer is one strain of flower with one strain of rosin, then another strain of flower and rosin, and then another. It’s three different strains of flower and three different strains of rosin.”

At about $35, it’s not an everyday joint. But for a get-together or celebration, it’s a unique and memorable experience.

If you want a less expensive, smaller option that still hits hard, Ice Kream Hash Co. offers unique rosin-infused prerolls that weigh just 0.5 grams, making them ideal for one or two people.

But don’t let their size fool you. About 40% of the preroll is rosin.

I’ve tried three different kinds, and all burst with complementary flavors. For just $9 to $12, these are a steal. Threepacks go for less than $30.

Ice Kream Hash Co. also produces one-gram rosin-infused prerolls that are perfect for sharing with a friend or two. Each preroll contains a generous serving of rosin with flower grown by different cultivators.

Some of my favorites were Sherb Tropic Twist, which includes Sherb Cream Pie flower and Tally Mon rosin, and Gold on Gold, a combination of Acapulco Gold flower and Egyptian Gold rosin. Each

strain pairs well with the other, offering complementary flavors in one preroll.

If you’re new to rosin or want to dab on the go, Ice Kream Hash Co.’s live rosin cartridges are a convenient choice. Unlike most brands, Ice Kream Hash Co. uses carts, rather than all-in-one vapes, because they reduce the risk of wasting rosin when disposable hardware clogs or malfunctions. The carts provide smooth and clean hits.

The Double Baked Cake, a cross of Layer Cake and Wedding Cake, is high in terpenes – 7.84% – and tastes like sugary vanilla cake. The effects are strong, soothing, and euphoric. Ice Kream Hash Co. offers numerous flavors for their carts, and I’ve been impressed with every one I’ve tried.

When it comes to edibles, what’s inside matters. Ice Kream Hash Co. doesn’t cut corners, using rosin to create delicious gummies. Rosin-infused edibles offer a better edible experience than standard distillate gummies. The high tends to feel fuller and more balanced, with less of the generic, one-dimensional effect that makes some edibles feel interchangeable.

I tried the Sour Blue Raspberry gummies, which include Oishii rosin, a sweet and flavorful cross of Flavor Pack #7 and Moonbow, and they were delicious, with each gummy delivering 20 milligrams of THC, enough to feel substantial without overdoing it.

CULTURE

Savage Love Border Crossings

By Dan Savage

: Q How do you feel about the rise of “passport bros”? A friend of mine rearranged his life after his divorce and now spends about half the year overseas dating. He insists it’s not exploitation or colonialism — just a life hack — since his income goes three times as far abroad. He’s basically able to live like a one-percenter when he’s overseas. You’ve often advised callers to move to cities or countries to start fresh, and he argues that status matters everywhere, so why not live where your money and status stretch further? He says he’s honest with women, in that he tells them he’s not looking for anything serious, but I still think he’s lying to himself about the power imbalance — especially in Southeast Asian countries he visits. He’s anti-MAGA, which complicates the stereotype he claims most passport bros fit. He argues that Los Angeles has a huge imbalance between women and men, and that women naturally gravitate toward status, such as education, career, or finances — so why not flip the status equation overseas? Dan, is he an asshole lying to himself, or has he found the ultimate life hack?

— Dude Unrigs Dating

A: Your friend isn’t flying off to Southeast Asia because he wants to eat in nicer restaurants, DUD, he’s going there because his “status” rises along with the relative poverty of local women. The worse off they are, the better off he is. So, while your friend can vote Democratic and be honest with the women he’s fucking about his intentions, he knows — and you don’t have to pretend not to know — that he’s exploiting the women he “dates.” While some women may only want him for his body (and I’d need to see some shirtless photos before signing off on that), poor and/or much poorer women fuck him because he lives locally like a member of the 1%... and so do, however briefly, the women who fuck him when he’s abroad. He can argue the exploitation is mutual — he’s after their bodies, they’re after his money — and insist, again, that he’s being honest about his intentions, but many of the women who fuck him no doubt hope they’ll be the exception,

i.e. the woman who convinces him to commit, and that he’ll lift them out of their (relative) poverty permanently. And there’s a good chance your friend behaves in ways that lead each woman he “dates” to think she just might be the exception. So, yeah. I’m putting my money on “asshole lying to himself” and not “dude who found the ultimate life hack,” DUD.

P.S. I’m pro sex work, DUD, which means I’m not opposed to sex that is strictly transactional. But I’m anti bullshit, and your friend is bullshitting himself (and you) when he claims that he’s “dating” these women. He’s employing them, DUD, but paying them less than an honest john would pay an honest sex worker.

P.S. The Economist did a deep (and very disturbing) dive into the culture, intentions, and attitudes of passport bros.

: Q I am in a happy marriage. My husband is an attractive, creative, good person that I love to talk to. We are best friends and he’s a great father to our two kids. We’ve been together for fifteen years and married for thirteen. We are both openly bi, but I’ve never been in a relationship with a woman. About eight years ago my libido sank and I just assumed it was because of PCOS and getting older. I had no crushes or desires. The only time we really have conflict is when we talk about me not being affectionate or not wanting to have sex. We were having sex maybe once a month. Recently, I started working with a woman. The first time she talked to me, Dan, my body exploded. Exploded. Like my libido was pounding in my pants stronger than it did when I was twenty. I’ve gotten to know her more hoping it would fade away and we would just end up friending up. It didn’t fade away, it got stronger. The more we hang out, the happier I am, and the hornier I am. My revived libido has translated into me and my husband having tons of sex. It’s also made me realize maybe I’m more gay than I am straight and I’m wondering if I should leave my beautiful marriage and stable family life for the total risk of a new life. I would love to be with the work woman, but she is more of a catalyst for a revelation that I should be with women. But maybe I’m being dramatic. What should I do?

— A Whole New World

A: At the risk of letting the mask slip and exposing myself as a conservative plant… I don’t think running away and joining the lesbian circus would be fair to your kids. Your marriage sounds like a happy one, your husband sounds like a gem, and it sounds like you and your husband are fucking again. While I don’t mean to privilege heterosexual

relationships over lesbian ones — or, God forbid, instrumentalize sapphic desire in the service of straight marriage — I think your improved/ improving sex life with your husband and, more importantly, the children you had together argue against ending your beautiful marriage. While you describe you and your husband as openly bisexual, AWNW, you don’t describe your marriage as open. If it’s not and you’re in a risk-taking mood, maybe a conversation with your husband about opening up your marriage — as opposed to ending it — will satisfy your need to take a risk. He knows you’re bisexual. Does he know you have a crush on a woman from work? Does he know he has this woman to thank for all the pussy he’s getting? If not, maybe you should tell him? If he’s as wonderful as you say he is, and if he’s always been supportive of your bisexuality — and interested in acting on his own — you might be able to have it all: a wonderful husband, a stable home life, and a girlfriend.

: Q My husband and I just started swinging after twenty years together. We found another couple recently that’s compatible with us. They are also new-ish to the lifestyle, but they’ve had more experiences than us. We have hooked up twice so far, everything went awesome. Except I have noticed both times that neither of the men — not my husband, not the other woman’s husband — finished (ejaculated) even though we went on for several hours both times. I had three orgasms last time! And the wife is a squirter, so that was fun to watch. I brought up the subject via text when we were making plans for another playdate. Basically, I asked if there was an unspoken agreement I wasn’t aware of where the men agreed not to come. With my husband, I know he had a harder time because of the condom, but I make him come at home all the time. So, now I’m on a mission to make the other guy come. I think it’s gratifying to see a man come. He gives a lot (oral), I think it should be reciprocal, but he says he enjoys giving me organisms more than getting them. Also, to make it worse, the other woman says she doesn’t actually have orgasms during playdates either even though she squirts?!? Should I just leave this alone? Or make it a personal mission to make everyone else come? — Completing Orgasmic Mission Eventually!

A: You’re new to swinging (are people still calling it that?) — welcome to the lifestyle! (are people still calling it that?) — and it sounds like you’re carrying a perfectly reasonable partnered sex assumption into group sex.

Namely, that everyone needs or wants to orgasm every single time and that a good partner makes sure their partner gets off.

First: lots of men —men who are new to swinging, men who are more experienced swingers — don’t necessarily need or want to come during group playdates. Some men can’t because condoms make it harder, some newbies can’t come due to performance anxiety issues (that will resolve themselves in time), and some men find it harder to come when they’re being watched. For others, trying not to finish too fast backfires and they “miss their window” and wind up not being able to come at all. Remember: while many women can have more than one orgasm during a session — you had three last time — very few men can have more than one orgasm during a single playdate. Since your husband and this other guy are likely to crash out after they come, it makes sense they’d choose to pace themselves, even at the risk of not coming at all.

Second: it’s always good to be invested in your partner’s pleasure there wouldn’t be an orgasm gap if all straight men everywhere were as invested in their partners’ pleasure as you are — but “making” everyone else at your playdate come come because you regard their orgasms as proof they’re having fun and/or proof that you’re a good fuck isn’t the vibe you want to carry into a group sex situation. If you need proof this couple had a great time and that you’re a good fuck, COME, the fact that this couple showed up for a second playdate and wants to schedule a third should suffice. (As a general rule, swingers don’t keep swinging with people they had a bad time with to be polite.)

TLDR: leave this alone.

Or look at it this way: mission accomplished. You let everyone know you let your husband know, you let this other couple know — that you’re ready, willing, and able to get them off, COME, which makes you an excellent play partner. If someone wants your help getting off, they’ll let you know. If they don’t, you can relax and enjoy your orgasms without guilt.

P.S. Pressure — the sense that your partner is going to be disappointed if you don’t come — has never made it easier for someone to get off.

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

Or record your question for the Savage Lovecast at savage.love/askdan! Podcasts, columns and more at Savage.Love

CULTURE

Free Will Astrology

By Rob Brezsny

ARIES: March 21 – April 19

In the weeks ahead, simply being right won’t necessarily lead to success. Having strength, intelligence, wealth, or connections might help, though not as much as usual. But a different approach will work well as you strive to overcome challenges: a blend of cleverness and integrity. I invite you to be cunning while remaining honorable. Practice subtle strategy in service of higher aims. And here’s one more secret to ensure victory: Let go of any need to receive full recognition for your efforts.

TAURUS: April 20 – May 20

“Dear Horoscope Guy: Two astrologers have assured me that as a Taurus, I’m a natural-born money magnet. So why am I broke? I keep begging the Divine for cash miracles, and I buy lottery tickets twice a week. Still nothing! Please tell me when I’ll finally hit the jackpot. Better yet, give me the winning numbers. –Taurus Desperate for Dollars.” Dear Desperate: The “luck” you crave will arrive as you diligently pour yourself into building your sweetest dreams, spurning shortcuts and enjoying yourself as much as possible. The Divine prefers to fund eager co-creators, not wishful thinkers. I predict that a slow-motion jackpot will ultimately arrive through your devoted attention to doing what excites you.

GEMINI: May 21 – June 20

Among the Dogon of Mali, Sigui so is a secret language. It’s used in a sacred ritual when people gather to retell their beginnings and patch up strains in tribal harmony. I’m borrowing “Sigui so” here as a symbol for a way of talking that I hope you will specialize in during the coming weeks: language that eases tensions, soothes friction, and fosters unity. Start like this: Unleash your trademark wit but spike it with sly blessings and tactful probes. Wield your fluency to burn away confusion and uncover unspoken feelings. If you’re in an extra-bold mood, give everyone tacit permission to be their idiosyncratic selves instead of their polished personas.

CANCER: June 21 – July 22

What’s the holiest, most healing trouble you could rustle up right now? I mean trouble that freshens what’s stale

but doesn’t scorch the earth. Maybe it’s a buoyant disruption, like telling wild truths you usually tend to soften. Or maybe it’s asking for what your future self pines for instead of what your past self regards as polite and reasonable. As a Cancerian soul myself, I dare both you and me to give ourselves permission to rumble. Let’s be brazen as we instigate creative upheavals in service to our cheerful vigor. Let’s instigate at least one concrete action that will rattle the stagnant pattern just enough to make life more interesting.

LEO: July 23 – August 22

Sea otters are a keystone species. Their presence is essential to the health of their entire ecosystem. As they eat sea urchins, the kelp forests flourish. Without otters, the urchins overgraze, and kelp forests may collapse, which in turn affects hundreds of other species. One creature’s appetite helps regulate an entire undersea neighborhood. I suspect you’re serving a similar function, Leo. You’re having more impact and wielding more influence than you realize. No pressure! But please act accordingly: with maximum integrity and robust responsibility.

VIRGO: August 23 – Sept. 22

A Dutch woman who died left her grand-nephew an inheritance of 220,000 euros. The only problem is that he’s homeless and constantly on the move, so the executors haven’t been able to find him. This echoes a recurring pattern in your life. Even now, sources of blessings are searching for ways to reach you, but you are slow to notice their approach or to magnetize yourself to their arrival. My prayer: May you figure out what needs to be done to make yourself fully available for these gifts—and then ingrain that capacity in your habit mind.

LIBRA: Sept. 23 – Oct. 22

Visualize your fears. Consider how few of them rest on a genuine likelihood that the scary events could ever take place. Then ask yourself how much of your uneasiness springs from vivid fantasies or from a practiced tendency to fret. You might also ruminate on how you absorb the background worry that’s amplified by mass culture. After reflecting on all that, I invite you to take one concrete action to lower the level of tension you have come to treat as normal. Take another action to weaken the grip of your deepest dread. The current planetary patterns suggest you now have the bold, creative power necessary to shrink your baseline anxiety.

SCORPIO: Oct. 23 – Nov. 21

Even more than usual, you have a sacred duty to celebrate your poignant sweetness and dark intelligence. For the

sake of your emotional health, you should pay wild reverence to your deepest, most mysterious yearnings. To be the person we all you need you to be, you must tenderly nurture the parts of your inner world that resemble the aurora borealis. I want to support you in these sublime sacraments, which is why I suggest you memorize the following prayer by Rainer Maria Rilke: “Be attentive to what is arising within you, and place that above everything you perceive around you. What is happening in your innermost self is worthy of your entire love.”

SAGITTARIUS: Nov. 22 – Dec. 21

Linguists use the term “false friends.” These are words in different languages that seem similar but don’t have the same meaning. For example, the Spanish word embarazada resembles “embarrassed” to English speakers but actually means “pregnant.” I suspect you’re dealing with another type of false friend, Sagittarius: people or situations that turned out to be at variance with what you initially imagined. But rather than feeling unsettled by these revelations, I suggest you treat them as a prod to see with fresh eyes. Your disorientation could be the beginning of more interesting understandings.

CAPRICORN: Dec. 22 – Jan. 19

An ISBN (International Standard Book Number) is a code assigned to a book for commercial and cataloging purposes. It contains key information and includes a built-in error-detection notation. If you transpose two numbers when entering an ISBN, the last digit will tell you something’s wrong. In this spirit, Capricorn, I heartily recommend that you build more mistake detection into your life. Invest in extra safeguards. Add verification steps. Build in double-checks. The goal is to create systems

robust enough to survive oversights and gaffes. I very much want you to give yourself the gift of safety nets that will empower you to take smart risks and intriguing gambles.

AQUARIUS: Jan. 20 – Feb. 18

You may not yet grasp how richly creative you are right now, nor how much more abundant your generative powers could become. So it’s auspicious that you are reading this horoscope now. Consider this your advance notice: Your capacity to originate ideas, projects, and connections is surging, and it’s crucial to choose with care which possibilities you nurture and which you decline. If you are selective and intentional about what you sow, then about six months from now, you will be far more likely to gather lush, beautiful harvests instead of wrestling with overgrown, unruly tangles.

PISCES: Feb.19 – March 20

Ethnobotanist Wade Davis documented how different cultures perceive entirely different realities despite inhabiting the same physical world. It means that two people can stand in the same forest and see different forests through their cultural lens and personal mythology. This is simultaneously the problem and the opportunity you face, Pisces. You and others in your orbit are inhabiting divergent realities that superficially seem the same. If you hope to reconcile the differences, you must first acknowledge them as real. You’re dealing with fundamentally different ways of constructing meaning, not just small misunderstandings. requires soulful completion.

Homework: If you knew you would live to 100, what would you do differently in the next five years?

EMPLOYMENT

Voyager Express Inc is looking for a Transportation Logistics Analyst for its office in Detroit, MI. Reqmts: Bachelor’s degree in Transportation, Logistics or rltd (foreign degree equiv accepted) & 1 yr of exp as Dispatcher or rltd. Qualified candidates please mail resumes to Adrian Roman, 4111 Central Ave, Detroit, MI 48210.

CARS FOR KIDS DONATIONS

DONATE YOUR VEHICLE to fund the search for missing children. FAST FREE PICKUP. 24 hour response. Running or not. Maximum Tax Deduction and No Emission Test Required! Call 24/7: 877-266-0681.

FEARLESS LEADER HAS FALLEN IN LOVING MEMORY OF THE OLD MIAMI OWNER, VIETNAM VETERAN, & CASS CORRIDOR LEGEND, DANIEL “DANNY” OVERSTREET 4/19/1948 - 5/01/2026 OUR DEEPEST GRATITUDE FOR ALL YOUR CONTINUED SUPPORT AND LOVE FOR DANNY AND HIS OLD MIAMI FAMILY! For upcoming shows and events see our other ad in this issue and please visit our social