In Detroit’s Woodbridge neighborhood, front steps turn into mini concert venues. Think dozens of short sets, and neighbors wandering from stoop to stoop.

The sixth annual Woodbridge Porch Concerts returns with the same goal, connecting in real life.

The porch series is organized by Woodbridge Neighborhood Development. The nonprofit is working to keep the neighborhood eclectic and affordable. They want people to be connected, not just housed.

Jai Singletary is the executive director of the organization.  He says preserving a neighborhood’s sense of place means making room for both homes and harmony. Jason Rho is a musician who’s played every year at the porch concerts since their inception. 

Both join The Metro to talk more about the Woodbridge community and why its important to simply talk to you neighbor.

Hear the full conversation using the media player above.

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The City of Detroit reported a drop in juvenile crime this past summer, despite the so-called “teen takeovers” in the city.

Mary Sheffield is touting her Occupy the Summer Initiative as a major contributor to the drop in crime among young people.

In April, the mayor announced a six-point community safety plan that included the 10-week long initiative, neighborhood action teams and promoting safe gun storage.

Sheffield says she plans to bring the event back next year. “…the numbers really showed us that our strategy is working…that gives us more of a reason to advocate before the city council to make larger investments in our young people…we will have at least what we had this year and (will) continue to find ways to expand this project year-round.”

The city reports juvenile homicides dropped from nine last summer to one this summer. Nonfatal shootings among young people were down 22%.

Additional Headlines for Oct. 6, 2026

DTE to host energy assistance, customer-centric events throughout October

DTE Energy is hosting four resource events this month to help DTE customers apply for energy assistance, receive help with payment options, get shutoff protection and more.

Funding for state energy assistance programs became available Oct. 1.

The next resource event –the second of four – will be held Saturday, Oct. 17 at the Southfield Pavilion at 26000 Evergreen Road.

Obama in Detroit to support El-Sayed and Benson campaigns

Former President Barack Obama will be in Detroit later this month to campaign with state Democrats on the November ballot.

The Oct. 24 event will include Senate candidate Abdul El-Sayed and Jocelyn Benson, who is running for governor.

President Trump told reporters outside the White House on Monday, Oct. 5 that he plans to return to Michigan in about a week and a half. He previously rallied with Republican candidates before the August primary election.

Michigan health department launches app to assist with quitting tobacco

The state health department has launched an app to help Michiganders quit tobacco in collaboration with National Jewish Health. The QuitLogix app is an extension of the Michigan Tobacco Quitlink online program.

It offers encouraging messages, check-ins and goal reminders. It also lets users order Nicotine Replacement Therapy products.

Residents can call the Quitlink hotline 24/7 for help quitting at 800-784-8669 or 800-Quit-Now or go to Michigan.gov/quitlink. 

BLK GRL Conglomerate fundraises for Detroit People’s Food Co-op

The BLK GRL Conglomerate is hosting a Black Girl Cash Mob this weekend to support the Detroit People’s Food Co-op.

The goal is to get 100 Black women to spend at least $20 at the Black-led community grocery Saturday, Oct. 10 at 2 p.m. and to have them join as member-owners of the co-op.

The Detroit People’s Food Co-op has launched a membership drive as it faces financial challenges two years after opening. It is located at 8324 Woodward Avenue. 

Editors note: To become a member of Detroit People’s Food Co-op, patrons must pay a one-time $200 fee in lump-sum or spread out over 10 months.

Listen to the latest episode of the “Detroit Evening Report” on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, NPR.org or wherever you get your podcasts 

Listen to the latest episode of the “Detroit Evening Report” on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, NPR.org or wherever you get your podcasts.

Hamtramck’s last mayoral election is still disputed.

A judge has ordered that the 37 absentee ballots found in the former city clerk’s office must be counted, despite a year-long legal battle. The candidates are former Hamtramck city council member Muhith Mahmood and current Hamtramck Mayor Adam Alharbi.

The Wayne County Board of Canvassers originally decided not to count the 37 ballots, which were turned in days after the election.

Alharbi’s attorney says they are ready to challenge the ballots, even if they end up being counted, according to WXYZ.

They also plan to continue challenging Mahmood’s residency, despite a Wayne County judge dismissing a lawsuit over his residency last December.

Additional Headlines for Monday, Oct. 5, 2026

Forgotten Harvest hopes for 1 million pounds of food before year’s end

Forgotten Harvest is hoping to harvest 1 million lbs of food by the end of the year to feed people in need.

Lori Setera is the assistant farm manager at the Forgotten Harvest Farms in Fenton, Michigan. She says a pound of food is equal to a meal.  

“Our food here goes farmers market style, just how you see it here in these crates. A lot of our brick-and-mortar pantry partners don’t have the equipment or the space to store these giant crates. Because of that, a lot of it ends up in mobile pantries.”  

The farm supplements nutritious foods the organization distributes. They grow about 20 different crops such as cabbage, corn, broccoli, and peppers.

Around 3,000 volunteers are needed annually to help plant, weed and harvest food. Forgotten Harvest Farms still needs more volunteers to meet their goal this year. 

Virtual summit addresses race-based medicine

The Collaborative to End Race-Based Medicine-Detroit and Wayne State University’s Office of Inclusive Excellence are hosting a virtual summit about race-based medicine.  

The National Institutes of Health defines race-based medicine as “treating race as a biological or genetic trait rather than a social construct.” This leads to misdiagnoses and poor health care outcomes for minority patients—especially for those in the Black community.  

The collaborative is made up of international clinicians, legislators,  industry leaders and community members working toward ending race-based medicine through education, research and advocacy. 

Panelists at the virtual summit will discuss how bias shapes health care and public health in an age of artificial intelligence.

They will talk about how technology can help identify bias and potentially prevent harm.  

The “Held to the Light: Race, Code & Consequence in the Age of AI” event takes place Oct. 29 from 3 – 5 p.m. Register for the event here.

InterFaith Council 

The InterFaith Council of Metropolitan Detroit is hosting a program highlighting coming-of-age traditions.

The Rites of Passage Coming of Age Across Religions event will feature a bar/bat mitzvah, a confirmation, a Hindu tradition and a Muslim rite of passage.

The program will talk about what it means for family, faith, identity and belonging.

It will be held Thursday, Oct. 8 from 7-8:30 p.m. at the North Congregation Church in Farmington Hills, Michigan. The event is free with registration.

Start out your spooky month with a myriad of events to choose from. Craving a dance night to shake off the work week? Head to Michigan Central for Fridays at The Station.

Looking to listen to amazing tunes? Choose from a Ghost Light benefit night or a performance by Battle Elf. Venturing for something family friendly? Stop by Warren to see Adam wa Mishmish and Waheed the Dinosaur or go wild at Zoo Boo! See all of this and more in this week’s events guide from The Metro.

Upcoming events (Oct. 1-8)

Elmwood Alight 

Elmwood alight 

Oct. 1-3 

$25  

Detroit’s historic Elmwood Cemetery showcases the site’s architecture, monuments, and towering trees in vibrant glowing colors alongside art installations and music. General admission leaves you free to wander at your own pace, but guided tours are available for an additional $10 at check out, with limited space available. 

Fridays at The Station 

Michigan Central Station 

Oct. 2 

$15 

This Friday kicks off the first weekend in October in style with a journey through six eras in music ranging from the 60s to the 2010s. Detroit musicians and vocalists will feature songs from each decade. It is up to you to dress the part! Whether it’s an era you’ve lived or one that features songs you adore, show up in style. Fridays at The Station run from 6-10 p.m. 

The Detroit Flea 

  9850 Rosa Parks Blvd. Detroit, MI 

Oct. 2 

Free 

Do you have a knack for knick-knacks? Are you an aficionado of all things vintage? In search of a Friday fall sweet treat? Look no further than The Detroit Flea! From baked goods to vintage clothes and analogue music, embrace an afternoon of finds. Parking for The Detroit Flea is available on Rosa Parks Blvd, Glynn Ct, and W. Boston Blvd. This is the second to last iteration of The Detroit Flea for 2026. It runs 4-8 p.m. 

Keep the Light On: A Benefit for Ghost Light 

Ghost Light 

Oct. 2
Donation-based starting at $10 

Keep the spirit illuminated! Do you frequent the live music scene in and around Detroit? Love local bands? Be a part of a saving effort for the iconic Hamtramck live music venue, Ghost Light! Across seven hours, you’ll have the opportunity to see 10 different local bands perform amidst the safe, supportive and spunky bar defined by Ghost Light. This Friday night benefit takes place from 7 p.m. to  2 a.m. Donations can be made via Eventbrite or at the door. 

Stories and Songs with Phil Leslie 

Book Suey 

Oct. 3 

Free 

Spend an hour of the weekend at neighborhood co-op staple Book Suey in Hamtramck with Phile Leslie’s silly stories and entertaining skits! This free and open to all ages event runs from 2:30-3:30 p.m.  

We See You, Girl! – The Ultimate Political Girl Brunch 

The Vinyl Society 

Oct. 3 

$15 

Former Michigan Representative Brenda Lawrence will be a guest speaker at this event alongside current City of Detroit Civil Rights, Inclusion & Opportunity Director Jade E. Mathis Esq. Are you a natural born leader, campaign professional, nonprofit organizer or advocate in your community? Engage in critical political conversation and celebrate the women in politics that uphold the foundation of democracy. This event runs Saturday from 2-3p.m. Food and drinks are provided with the purchase of a ticket. 

Adam wa Mishmish and Waheed the Dinosaur

Larsa Palace

Oct. 3

$25

The Arabic-language children’s series Adam wa Mishmish comes to town! The voices behind the series bring characters to life through music, storytelling and shared family experience celebrating Arabic language, culture and childhood. There are two showings on Saturday: one at 12:30 p.m. and one at 3 p.m.

Battle Elf Music Collective 

Mike Kelley Mobile Homestead
Oct. 3
Free

As celebration of the Sounding Room residency, music collective Battle Elf performs live in the garage of the Mike Kelley Mobile Homestead. Battle Elf will be performing a blend of krautrock and psychadelia to mark the vinyl release of Sounding Room artists from this past year, printed by Third Man. Former WDET DJ Shigeto is one of the featured artists. Get immersed in the experience of experimental sound from 3-4 p.m. 

Paula Poundstone

Flagstar Strand Theatre

Oct. 3

$40+

Wait! Wait! Don’t Tell Me’s Paula Poundstone is on tour, and one of her next stops is in Pontiac this Saturday. Join her for a night of laughter and plenty of personality starting at 8 p.m.

Detroit Harvest Fest 

Ralph C. Wilson Memorial Park 

Oct. 3-4 

$5 advance / $8 at the door 

Get festive this fall at the Detroit Harvest Fest! Kids can play throughout the park, gathering candy from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. both days. Meanwhile, can adults enjoy live entertainment and full bars. Food trucks are also on-site to make sure everyone has a bite to eat, plus there are costume contests and Halloween movies playing.

Zoo Boo

Detroit Zoo 

Oct. 3-4, 9-11, 16-18, 23-25

$21-27 

This family friendly event grants full access to the zoo until dusk (around 6 p.m.) to visit your favorite animals before Halloween displays light up the night. Walk the brand new Fred and Barbara Erb Discovery Trails, gather some goodies at Trick or Treat stations, and do some hands-on learning. Not to mention Halloween face painting and live entertainment with magic, puppets, and more. Zoo Boo goes from 3-8:30 p.m. Parking for the event is $8 per vehicle. 

Sketch Sessions 

The Scarab Club 

Oct. 8 

Free for members / $17.85 for non-members 

Spend the evening amongst other artists fine tuning your sketching skills! Thursday sessions focus on gesture drawing, capturing poses and motions. Engage in the 98-year-old space while mastering your craft in drawing to your heart’s content from 6-9 p.m.

View the best of Black visual arts at the annual Detroit Black Film Festival or maybe spend your weekend amongst the weird at the Funky Ferndale Art Fair.

Feel the chill in the air? Enter the Festival of Darkness or welcome fall at Midtown’s Fall Harvest Garden Party. View all that Detroit has to offer from Sept. 24 through Oct. 1.

Upcoming events (Sept. 24 - Oct. 1)

Detroit Black Film Festival

Various locations

Sept. 23-27

 $35 one day screening ticket

The seventh Detroit Black Film Festival offers a lineup of documentary and narrative films centering Black perspectives. Other events surrounding the curated list of thought-provoking films include an awards ceremony, panels, and after parties. Look out for the Taste of Black Spirit event on Friday at the Belle Isle Casino!

Doodle Days by Neighbor x Folk

Michigan Central Station

Sept. 24
Free

Unwind and engage in a community coloring event! From 12:30-4:30 p.m., participants will be able to color the artwork of workshop host Leah Barnett while taking in the architectural sights of the South Atrium in Michigan Central Station. Supplies are included with event attendance.

Note: There is a possibility that event attendees will be photographed for Neighbor x Folk promotional material. If you wish to not be photographed, please notify staff present at the event.

Funky Ferndale Art Fair / DIY Street Fair

Nine Mile and Woodward in Ferndale

Sept. 25-27

Free

You’ve been to some art fairs, but none offer the same spunk. The Funky Ferndale Art Fair prides itself on curating a show of quality artists that create beyond the ordinary. Just across the street is the DIY Street Fair, with more artists on site, plus live music and refreshments for sale.

Friends of the Detroit River National Public Lands Day

Belle Isle
Sept. 26
Free with State Recreation Passport

As a part of National Public Lands Day, Friends of the Detroit River is hosting an educational event with Wilderness Inquiry and Detroit Outdoors located at Lake Okonoka on Belle Isle from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m..  Attendees can explore on-land booths and paddle the lake on Wilderness Inquiry’s 10 person ‘Canoemobile’. A State Recreation Passport is required for entry into Belle Isle. This event is open to all ages, though those under 18 should be accompanied by an adult.

Hispanic Heritage Month: ¡Baila! Beginner Latin Dance Series

Detroit Public Library Conely Branch
Sept. 26
Free

Celebrate Hispanic Heritage month by learning to dance in traditional Latin styles. Taught by Troy Dance Studio instructors, from 3:30-4:30 p.m. beginners can learn how to step in a celebration of culture and movement. Though geared towards teens and adults, this event is open to all ages.

Festival of Darkness

Redford Theatre

 Sept. 26

$10

This annual trek into the dark side of cinema celebrates 5 years running with another round of independent films that gaze into the tangled depths of the human experience. The night features 13 short films and a total run time of around 100 minutes. Doors open at 7 p.m., with showtime at 8 p.m. Half of all ticket sales go to keeping the historic 1920s theater going. With the content leaning heavy on dark, introspective horror, this event is recommended for mature audiences only.

We Tell These Truths: Music is a Universal Language (A Pan-Asian Cultural Celebration)

Detroit Shipping Company

 Sept. 26

 Free

Visit Detroit’s historic Chinatown and hear exceptional Pan-Asian music. Hear the erhu played by Xiao Dong Wei, the pipa played by Min Xiao-Fen and a taiko performance by the Great Lakes Taiko Ensemble. Outside of these sets, rock and hip-hop band Madame XD will be performing. DJ Thomas Xu of “Steady Flight Circle” is also present and will be spinning tracks. See and listen to this cultural display for free and for all from 2-4:30 p.m.

Decks on Deck

Detroit Princess Riverboat

 Sept. 27

 $65, $60 for WDET members

Join WDET for a dance party on the water. DJ sets are being played by Waajeed, host of The Boulevard and Liz Warner, host of Alternate Take. Light bites are provided, and a cash bar is available. Guests have an hour to board the Detroit Princess before it sets sail at 6 p.m., returning after sunset at 9 p.m. Tickets are going fast, so reserve your spot today.

Fall Harvest Garden Party

North Cass Community Garden

Sept. 27

Free

Welcome the start of fall at the Fall Harvest Garden Party hosted by Midtown Detroit. From 1-4 p.m. on Saturday, enjoy your afternoon with bites and drinks available from local Midtown businesses, a natural indigo dye workshop hosted by Rosemarine Textiles, pumpkin decorating and music played by DJ Adriel Thornton. There will also be a Sashiko workshop – traditional Japanese hand-stitching and embroidery – taught by Bit of Denim. This family-friendly event is open to all!

Nail Art Workshop

The Congregation
 Sept. 29
 $25

Spend your Tuesday evening honing your nail art skills! Led by Redd Curry-Wilkerson of REDD’s Nails, supplies will be provided to craft your perfect nail sets. Featuring a design inspired by the work of Highland Park artist Miriam Uhura, Redd also has press-on set available to use at the event for an additional $35. Purchases of the press-on set must be made at least 24 hours prior to the event. No experience required. The event runs from 6-9 p.m.

The nonprofit group LGBT Detroit is opening a new health and wellness center on the city’s West side.

LGBT Detroit Health offers services including fitness and nutrition classes, mental health screenings and chronic care management.

The group’s Chris Sutton says the new facility provides a safe space for the LGBT community to receive care. “You don’t have to worry about not feeling seen. You can really just come into a space where you can be focused on your health in a full and holistic way. That’s kind of one of our biggest goals with this space.”

LGBT Detroit Health is also partnering with Oakland County Health, the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services and others to provide testing clinics and vaccinations.

The facility is funded through state grants and membership fees.

Additional Headlines for Thursday, Sept. 24, 2026

Wayne County judge Cusick dismisses Detroit Tenants Union lawsuit

A Wayne County judge has sided with Detroit’s 36th District court and dismissed a case with the Detroit Tenants Union. The group sued the district court claiming that its judges allow landlords to illegally collect rent or evict tenants when their properties lacked city-issued certificates of compliance.

The lawsuit was centered around the issue that only 14% of rental properties have a certificate of compliance. The Tenant’s Union says the district judges should bear the burden of proof on whether these properties were up to code. The District Court said that’s not their job and Wayne County Judge Paul J. Cusick agreed.

The dismissal comes after Detroit Mayor Mary Sheffield announced a plan to bring thousands of rental properties up to code within a year.

The Detroit Tenants Union plans to appeal Judge Cusick’s decision. 

Arab American group ACCESS aims for a 2027 Dearborn mental health facility opening

A new facility is opening in Dearborn that aims to help people with substance abuse and mental health challenges. The $25 million recovery center is being built by the Arab American-focused group Arab American Community Center for Economic and Social Services (ACCESS). The building will open in phases starting in 2027.

Funding to build the center came from a combination of state, federal and county grants and private donors. The center will offer outpatient behavioral health treatment, urgent care, withdrawal management, beds for residential treatment and more. The center will also have an on-site food pantry. 

Coffee celebration starts Friday in Dearborn

Dearborn’s third Annual Coffee Week kicks off tomorrow. The celebration highlights local coffee culture, art, and community in the city. The kickoff will take place at PEACE Park West on 22271 W Village Dr.

The event will feature local coffee shop tastings, mug painting, caricatures, henna tattoos, music and more.

Events will follow the rest of the week through Oct. 2, with a drip coffee party, an appearance from Jalasat (a pop-up performance series from the Arab American National Museum) and coffee pop-ups throughout the week.

Listen to the latest episode of the “Detroit Evening Report” on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, NPR.org or wherever you get your podcasts.

Detroit’s Chinatown, at one point in time, was a bustling neighborhood that often marked the first stop in the states for so many immigrants. 

According to the 2025 census, 1.7% of Detroit’s population identify as Asian American. An effort is underway to restore Detroit’s Chinatown.

In partnership with the International Institute of Metropolitan Detroit (IIMD), Concert of Colors Neighborhood Programs will host a celebration in old neighborhood.

We Tell These Truths: Music is a Universal Language (A Pan-Asian Cultural Celebration) is Saturday, Sept. 26, 2-4:30 p.m.

It’s happening at Detroit Shipping Company in Detroit’s Cass Corridor.

Roland Hwang is a lecturer of Asian, Pacific Islander History at the University of Michigan. Hwang is an attorney and a former state assistant attorney general. He is a supporter of Concert of Colors and MC for the event.

The concert will feature virtuoso erhuist Xiao Dong Wei, and her alter-ego, Madame XD.

Wei’s musical journey began in China at the tender age of 5. Her work has taken her across the globe and landed her in the Detroit area.  She blends traditional Chinese music with contemporary genres. From jazz, rock, and orchestral performance, Xiao plays over 20 instruments. 

Additional performers include well is virtuoso pipaist, Min Xiao-Fen. As well the Great Lakes Taiko Ensemble, and Thomas Xu “Steady Flight Circle” as the DJ for the afternoon.

Wei and Hwang joined The Metro to talk more about the concert and Detroit’s Chinatown. 

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