The show opens up with a celebration of reggae and dub on a beautiful day from Bob Marley & The Wailers, Lee “Scratch” Perry and King Tubby, before going on a sonic adventure with James Blake, Nilüfer Yanya, Curtis Mayfield, Gil Scott-Heron and MF DOOM.

Newer releases from Olivia Dean, The Marías, The Bug Club and Kurt Vile bring us home in the closing mix.

Check the playlist below and listen to the episode for two weeks after it airs using the player above.

In The Groove with Ryan Patrick Hooper playlist for October 13, 2026

• “No Woman, No Cry” — Bob Marley & The Wailers
• “Tom Drunk” — Hopeton Lewis
• “Tears of a Clown” — The Chosen Few
• “Cloud Nine” — Carl Dawkins, Lee “Scratch” Perry & The Upsetters
• “Take Five” — King Tubby
• “Love and Happiness” — Monty Alexander
• “Ice Cream (feat. Matias Aguayo)” — Battles
• “Rice” — Young Fathers
• “Sometime / Someplace” — Cornelius
• “Meu Amor” — Julio Secchin & Maria Luiza Jobim
• “Bye Bye Papaye (Lexx Mix)” — Antena
• “I Had a Dream She Took My Hand” — James Blake
• “A Couple Minutes (A COLORS SHOW)” — Olivia Dean
• “Bless the Telephone” — Labi Siffre
• “OSAKA” — Athletic Progression
• “Rising Son” — Takuya Kuroda
• “Kneel” — Nilüfer Yanya
• “Midnight Sun (King Krule Remix)” — Nilüfer Yanya & King Krule
• “Life Has Its Trials” — Dorothy Ashby
• “T.R.O.Y.” — Heroes Of Limbo
• “Little Child Runnin’ Wild” — Curtis Mayfield
• “Life Is Beautiful” — Larry June, 2 Chainz & The Alchemist
• “We Almost Lost Detroit (Live)” — Gil Scott-Heron
• “Make You Feel That Way” — Blackalicious
• “Doomsday (Instrumental)” — MF DOOM
• “A Place to Go” — DJ Day
• “Nobody New” — The Marías
• “Una Mañana” — Caramelo Haze
• “Be Thankful For What You’ve Got (Live)” — Orgone
• “See – Line Woman (feat. Dominique Fils-Aimé) [120bpm]” — Atjazz
• “Can’t Do Without You” — Caribou
• “Charmed” — Σtella & Redinho
• “Ann Wants to Dance” — Papooz
• “Jealous Boy” — The Bug Club
• “Julie’s Place” — Rolling Blackouts Coastal Fever
• “Zoom 97” — Kurt Vile
• “Too Many People (Remastered 2012)” — Paul & Linda McCartney
• “Can You Get To That” — Funkadelic

Listen to In the Groove with host Ryan Patrick Hooper weekdays from noon-3 p.m. ET on 101.9 WDET or stream on-demand at wdet.org.

This week on Rob Reinhart’s Essential Music, John Prine would have turned 80 today, so we’ll hear some Prine tunes, including a couple from the Acoustic Cafe archives.

Also, new tunes from Detroit’s Dames Brown, Kylee Phillips and Empty Houses… plus a single from Kevin Morby, a cool cover from Meshell Ndegeocello, another 1976 outtake from Stevie Wonder and more!

See the playlist below and listen to the episode for two weeks after it airs using the media player above.

Rob Reinhart’s Essential Music Playlist for October 10, 2026

HOUR ONE:

• “Take Me As I Am” – Dames Brown
• “Never Can Tell” – Jake Bugg
• “PBJ” – Kevin Morby
• “Don’t You Want Me” – Meshell Ndegeocello
• “What Living’s Like” – Kylee Phillips
• “Bad Luck Hideaway” – The Rolling Stones
• “Who’s That” – Brother Wallace
• “Show You Love” – The Altons
• “Like A Ship” – Leon Bridges
• “Situation” – Johnny Blue Skies
• “That’s The Way That The World Goes ‘Round” – John Prine
• “Paradise” – John Prine (Acoustic Café in-studio performance, 1995)

HOUR TWO:

• “Summer Clothes” – Michael Kiwanuka
• “One And Only” – MT Jones
• “My Life Story Of Love” – Stevie Wonder
• “Tears Dry (demo)” – Amy Winehouse
• “Gravity” – Empty Houses
• “Used Copy of Monster” – Ryan Allen
• “What’s The Frequency Kenneth” – R.E.M.
• “Portland, Oregon” – Loretta Lynn & Jack White
• “Rated X ” – The White Stripes
• “Have You Ever Loved Somebody” – Freddie Jackson
• “I Ain’t Hurtin’ Nobody” – John Prine (Acoustic Café in-studio performance, 1995)

Listen to Rob Reinhart’s Essential Music every Saturday from 2-4 p.m. ET on Detroit Public Radio 101.9 WDET and streaming on-demand at wdet.org

It’s one of the most well-known and beloved sets of hand-painted signs in Eastern Market. 

With a new development of the building at 1401 Gratiot Avenue set to start this fall, however, a major question lingers:

Who will save the bees?

The cartoon bees on the former Busy Bee Hardware building are all that’s left of a century-old business that closed its doors in 2017. They were painted by Martin Hirchak as “MPH Signs,” although it’s unclear how long they’ve been there.

Today, despite being weathered and fading away, they’re still greeting folks heading to Eastern Market at one of the main entry points at Gratiot and Russell.

They’re also under threat. 

Changing habitat

Earlier this summer, Crain’s Detroit Business reported the former Busy Bee Hardware property is undergoing a $12.5 million redevelopment that’ll turn the main gateway into Eastern Market into 17 apartments and more than 6,000 square feet of retail space. It’s being spearheaded by developer Roger Basmajian. Construction is expected to start this fall.

Even in their current condition (and maybe because of their current state), the bee murals feel and look like the character of the market even as it evolves.

Old-school businesses have closed. Developers like Basmajian and others have moved in. The Eastern Market Corporation itself rides the line between embracing new development and maintaining the foundational meat and produce businesses that act as a backbone to one of the largest outdoor public markets in the country.

American folk art like these hand-painted signs are one of Detroit’s defining hallmarks. It’s been well documented in photographer David Clements’ excellent book “Talking Shops: Detroit Commercial Folk Art” from 2004. More recently, photographer Andrew Anderson built an online database of signs painted by Ron Miller (a.k.a. Ron Signs), known for his signature chrome-style hand-painted signs on myriad Detroit businesses.

You could make the argument that signs like these around the city and the Busy Bee Hardware bees themselves were in part the inspiration for Murals in the Market, the longtime mural festival in Eastern Market that brought large-scale murals into the neighborhood between 2015 and 2025. Detroit artist Kobie Solomon even painted a giant beehive on the back of the Busy Bee Hardware building as part of the mural festival, honoring the original bees.

In the same Crain’s article, developer Basmajian told the paper that he was going “restore the building back to its original glory,” adding that “all the artists that put murals on the building, once we do the tuck-pointing, we are going to ask them to come back and touch them up, if we can locate them.”

In a rendering featured in Crain’s, however, the murals — including the busy bees — are nowhere to be found.

Is that an oversight by the architectural firm helping to redevelop the property, or is it simply developer smooth-talk to promise on preserving this piece of Eastern Market’s character and failing to deliver?

As Eastern Market grows and changes, it’s inevitable that things will change. No one is against seeing the market expand and flourish in new ways.

There’s great artistic character to Martin Hirchak’s bees at 1401 Gratiot. It’s small tangible pieces of art like these and countless other hand-painted signs and murals around the neighborhood, however, that help make something a landmark and add to the cultural memory of thousands of patrons flocking to Eastern Market over the years.

Art like that is also what ends up attracting developers to a neighborhood like this to begin with.

Here’s hoping a new development can honor the character of Eastern Market when construction is scheduled to wrap up in 2028.

 This article was originally published in Midbrow. 

This week on Rob Reinhart’s Essential Music, tickets for the Ann Arbor Folk Festival are on sale early this year as A2 is celebrating their 50th Folk Fest. In today’s show, we’ll check out some of the artists on the bill.

Also, new tunes from Michigander, new albums from Beck, Beabadoobee and some on the way from Sylvan Esso, Joy Oladokun as well as a couple leftover “guilty pleasure” songs from the fall fundraiser shows!

See the playlist below and listen to the episode for two weeks after it airs using the media player above.

Rob Reinhart’s Essential Music Playlist for September 26, 2026

HOUR ONE:

• “I’m Into Livin'” – Stevie Wonder
• “Our Year” – Tegan & Sara
• “The Way It Goes” – Leon Bridges
• “Have A Great Day” – Us3
• “10th Floor” – Apropos
• “Rock & Roll Never Forgets” – Bob Seger & The Silver Bullet Band (Oct 1976)
• “Tears Dry On Their Own” – Amy Winehouse (Oct 2006)
• “Naked Eye” – Lucious Jackson (Oct 1996)
• “Silencio” – U2
• “Reflection” – Jungle
• “MADitation” – Rodrigo y Gabriela
• “One And The Same” – Thee Sacred Souls
• “Everybody Have Fun Tonight” – Wang Chung (Oct 1986)

HOUR TWO:

• “It’s Easier” – Stevie Wonder
• “Ebony Eyes” – Stevie Wonder
• “X-panded Universe” – Father John Misty
• “Every Sorrow” – Nick Piunti
• “Grass” – XTC (Oct 1986)
• “All That I Got Is You” – Ghostface Killah (Oct 1996)
• “So Fine” – Electric Light Orchestra (Oct 1976)
• “Unconquered” – Tom Morello ft. KNEECAP
• “My Baby Loves Me” – Pokey LaFarge
• “Laughter & Tears ” – The Womack Sisters
• “Can You Get To That” – Funkadelic (new 2026 remastered)
• “The Monkees” – The Monkees (Oct 1966)
• “Love Rollercoaster” – Ohio Players (Oct 1976)

Listen to Rob Reinhart’s Essential Music every Saturday from 2-4 p.m. ET on Detroit Public Radio 101.9 WDET and streaming on-demand at wdet.org

The Michigan Arts and Culture Council is a state agency that distributes grants to creative and cultural projects. 

While the core components of the MACC include economic development, education, and engagement, the group also forms strategies on funding, leadership, resources, outreach and research. The MACC answers to The Michigan Economic  Development Corporation.  

Recently, the MACC cut three positions from its staff. According to Nafeesah Symonette, vice-chair of the MACC board, board members were not notified of any proposed staffing cuts. 

As the grant proposal application opened, the seven person team was reduced by three staffers. Four team members remain. Symonette says 17 people from neighboring states have volunteered to help read and process proposals for the 2027 fiscal year.

The MACC currently distributes $11 million in funding through grants.

Symonette, who is also executive director for Detroit Excellence in Youth Arts, is a leader of the Detroit Partnership for Arts Education.  She says the cuts will directly impact the MACC’s ability to process and distribute grants. We may also see smaller, grass roots and rural organizations shuttering due to the cuts.

She joins The Metro to discuss what happens behind the scenes and the waning interest of arts and culture in Lansing.

Hear the full conversation using the media player above.

Listen to The Metro weekdays from 10 a.m. to noon ET on 101.9 FM and stream on-demand. Never miss an episode — subscribe to The Metro on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, NPR, or wherever you get your podcasts 

More stories from The Metro

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.

Sudani Shaah is a multi-dimensional artist based in Detroit. A graduate of College for Creative Studies and Detroit School of Arts, Sudani is following in the footsteps of her family. 

Her mother is multi-interdisciplinary artist Sabrina Nelson and her brother is visual and sculptural artist Mario Moore. 

In this episode, we learn how textile artist Sudani is creating her own lane. Let’s get behind the tsunami waves of Sudani and how her work ripples out to tell complex stories.

CONTAINER On The Metro is a WDET produced storytelling series that brings Detroit’s creative heartbeat to the airwaves. 

CONTAINER is a program created by The Love Building. Its goal is to showcase Detroit’s creative talent across music, fashion, fine arts and food. Done in collaboration with WDET Public Radio with major support from the Gilbert Family Foundation.

Subscribe to Container on The Metro on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, or wherever you get your podcasts. 

This week on Rob Reinhart’s Essential Music, tickets for the Ann Arbor Folk Festival are on sale early this year (NOW!), celebrating their 50th Folk Fest… we’ll check out some of the artists on the bill.

Also, new tunes from Michigander, new albums from Beck, Beabadoobee… and some on the way from Sylvan Esso, Joy Oladokun + a couple leftover “guilty pleasure” songs from the fall fundaraiser shows!

See the playlist below and listen to the episode for two weeks after it airs using the media player above.

Rob Reinhart’s Essential Music Playlist for September 26, 2026

HOUR ONE:

• “Tumbthumping” – Chumbawumba
• “I Am You” – Prince
• “Sledge” – Sylvan Esso
• “Easy Company” – Joy Oladokun
• “Why You Got Me Crazy” – Dames Brown
• “This Is My Country” – Mavis Staples (A2 Folk Fest, 2027)
• “Tear Stained Letter” – Richrd Thompson (A2 Folk Fest, 2027)
• “High Heels” – The War & Treaty (A2 Folk Fest, 2027)
• “Red Eye To Memphis” – Bob Seger
• “Main Street U.S.A.” – Grace Potter
• “Did Ya Know?” – The Sinseers
• “Parade Of The Loons” – Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers

HOUR TWO:

• “Proxy” – St. Paul & The Broken Bones
• “Sun And Moon” – Danielle Ponder
• “Falling Through My Hands” – Beck
• “Radio” – Beabadoobee
• “Rebel Eve” – The Rebel Eves (A2 Folk Fest, 2027)
• “If We Were Vampires” – Dupont-Phillips (A2 Folk Fest, 2027)
• “Soon I Might Be Going” – Neil Young
• “Freaking Out” – Michigander (Acoustic Cafe in-studio performance)
• “Taxi” – Michigander
• “Soul Wandering ” – Paul Weller
• “All Around” – The Womack Sisters
• “You Could’ve Been A Lady” – Hot Chocolate

Listen to Rob Reinhart’s Essential Music every Saturday from 2-4 p.m. ET on Detroit Public Radio 101.9 WDET and streaming on-demand at wdet.org

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.

Detroit, Chicago, Milwaukee – each of these Midwest cities takes pride in its signature encased meat.

For this CuriosiD… we’re partnering with WBEZ and WUWM to explore our Midwest connections in the limited series, Curious Midwest.

In this episode of CuriosiD, listener Jen Greenwood asks the question:

“Why are these hyper-specific encased meats associated so strongly with those three cities?”

Jen Greenwood loves a good encased meat. 

“I joke that I’m a half hot dog. I am not a vegetarian,” she said. 

Greenwood grew up in Evanston, Illinois, spent summers in Michigan and attended college in Milwaukee. She’s eaten more than her fair share of hot dogs and recognizes each region’s unique take on encased meats. 

In Chicago, it’s the Chicago dog; in Milwaukee, the brat; in Detroit, the coney dog.  

A Shared Origin

The sausages share an origin story in Germany. 

“Germans, when they came over here, brought their sausage culture with them, and there’s a very heavy German influx into the Americas in the 19th century,” said Bruce Kraig, professor emeritus of history at Roosevelt University and author of “Hot Dog: A Global History.”

From there, each city made the sausage its own. 

So, who does it best? As much local pride as Chicagoans, Detroiters and Milwaukeeans boast, the answer depends on where you’re from. But Joe Grimm, co-author of “Coney Detroit,” says maybe it’s not about figuring out which is the best.

“Eating only Chicago dogs or coneys would not be balanced,” he said. “If you mix it up … the Chicago, Milwaukee, Detroit way, it’s going to be a lot ‘healthier.’”

Check out each city’s unique encased meat and how its history led to these recipes.

Disclaimer: These signature sausages can be found all over each city. We only name a few eateries.

A Detroit delicacy

Origins: Local lore says Greek immigrants passing through New York’s Coney Island adopted the name for their dog. 

“Greeks arrived from Greece, mostly at Ellis Island. And on the way, they went through Coney Island, already thinking, ‘How am I going to support myself here?’” Grimm said. “Seeing people eating — not coneys, but eating hot dogs — and [they] said, ‘Okay, these people eat hot dogs. I can do that.’”

In 1917, Gus Kero opened the famed American Coney Island in Downtown Detroit. Eventually, he brought his brother William to the city to open Lafayette Coney Island next door. Both have remained open ever since. 

Ingredients and preparation:  Steamed bun with beef and pork dog in natural casing, topped with an all-meat beanless chili sauce, sprinkled with diced white onions and a drizzle of yellow mustard. The sauce is the key: It’s believed to be a variation of a similar sauce made in Greece, though the exact recipe is a mystery. 

Why it’s the best: The bold flavor in the sauce, the snap of the dog and the brightness from the onion and mustard makes the meal most satisfying. 

Where to find it: American and Lafayette remain the most widely known locations for the coney dog. The rivalry between the two restaurants is mostly a debate for tourists, though. Ask a native Detroiter and they’ll point you to a number of Coney Island establishments around the city, like L. George’s, Zorba’s and Nicky D’s. 

Chicago’s ‘garden on a bun’

Origins: Germans brought their pork sausage culture to Chicago in the 1840s and ’50s. Four decades later, Jewish immigrants entered the hot dog business, but they didn’t eat pork. 

“The all-beef hot dog [comes] when Jews took up hot dog stands around Maxwell Street and Roosevelt Road, the epicenter of hot doggery,” Kraig said. 

As more immigrants settled in Chicago, the list of ingredients got longer. For instance, the relish is an old English recipe, while the sport pepper came from Mexico. The “garden on a bun” definitively appeared after World War II, when Americans still recovering from Great Depression scarcity wanted bigger dishes with more fixings.

Ingredients and preparation: All-beef frankfurter with natural casing, boiled or steamed. Served in a steamed poppy-seed bun and topped with yellow mustard, bright green sweet pickle relish, chopped white onions, tomato wedges, a dill pickle spear, pickled sport peppers and a dash of celery salt. 

Why it’s the best: The “seven holy condiments.” Not only are they fresh, refreshing and aesthetically pleasing, but they tell a unique story of immigration and culture in Chicago. “You’re looking at Polish, German, Austrian, Mexican, Italian and Greek,” said Chicago food journalist Steve Dolinsky, naming the communities where each ingredient originated. 

Where to find it: The Wiener’s Circle, Superdawg and Fatso’s Last Stand are among the most popular spots. Portillo’s is also a go-to for many Chicagoans.

A Wisconsin staple

Origins: Just like beer, brats came to Wisconsin with the massive number of German immigrants in the 1800s. Milwaukee was at one time known as the “German Athens” because of its huge German population.  

In the 1950s, Milwaukee County Stadium started selling brats at baseball games, and they became a staple ballpark food. The Milwaukee Brewers embraced the brat even more in the 1990s, when the Racing Sausages came off the scoreboard animation and took to the field as in-game entertainment. 

Brats are ubiquitous at tailgates and can be found on backyard grills across Wisconsin. 

Ingredients and preparation: There are lots of variations, but Fritz Usinger, president of Usinger’s Famous Sausage, says they usually sport a combination of ground pork, veal or beef in a natural casing. The meat is mixed with spices like pepper, sage, nutmeg and coriander. 

Toppings vary depending on personal tastes. Lots of Wisconsinites parboil brats in beer and onions before cooking on the grill. Usinger prefers to put them directly on the grill, though beer is still involved.

“I have what’s called the two-beer method,” he said. “By the time you drink two beers, leisurely, your brat will be done [grilling].”

Why it’s the best: The sausage itself is the star, not the toppings. The flavor of the brat is what makes it special.  

 Where to find it: The Vanguard, Milwaukee Brat House and Von Trier are known for their brats. You can also buy fresh brats from a grocery store (Wisconsin brands include Usinger’s and Johnsonville) or specialty butcher and grill it yourself. 

About the Listener

Jen Greenwood is an artist and encased meat enthusiast. She recently created a Chicago hot dog puppet and owns paraphernalia like a ceramic hot dog charm and a beaded hot dog purse.

“I have a quirky sense of humor and I love food, and I’m a little fixated on encased meats lately,” she said. “Hot dogs make me happy, so every time I go to Chicago, if I’m flying into O’Hare Airport, I will stop at Superdawg on my way to either see my mom in Downtown Chicago or my sister in Milwaukee.” 

Greenwood has spent much of her life between Illinois, Wisconsin and Michigan, but she currently lives in Los Angeles. She said she’s disappointed every time she tries encased meats there — they pale in comparison to those in the Midwest. 

“They don’t quite get it. Crossing the Mississippi, it just gets lost,” Greenwood said.

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Have a question about Southeast Michigan’s history or culture? Send it our way at wdet.org/curious or fill out the form below. You ask, we answer.

More CuriosiD

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. 

Listen to The Metro weekdays from 10 a.m. to noon ET on 101.9 FM and streaming On-demand. Subscribe to The Metro on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, or NPR or wherever you get your podcasts.

More stories from The Metro

This week on The Shake Out, high energy soul and rock’n’roll 45s, memorial tributes to Rosalind Ashford-Holmes of the Vandellas and Jerry Green of the Contours, the cover of Jolene you didn’t know you needed, plus a spotlight on Montreal psych rockers Elephant Stone and Matthew Smith of Outrageous Cherry, who will both be playing together in Hamtramck this week.

One hour of soul and rock’n’roll on vinyl, every Tuesday at 8 p.m. with host Dave Lawson, The Shake Out on 101.9, WDET.

The Shake Out Playlist for Sept. 23, 2026

• “Twistin’ Beat” – Phil Flowers
• “Hey Sah-Lo-Ney” – Mickey Lee Lane
• “Meditation” – Sam and the Soul Machine
• “Said I Wasn’t Gonna Tell Nobody” – Sam & Dave
• “Somebody New” – Chuck Jackson
• “How Could It Be” – The Esquires
• “Thompin” – Rufus Jr
• “I’m Holding On” – Betty La Vette
• “Watts Breakaway” – The Johnny Otis Show
• “Boss Sauce” – The Buena Vistas”
• “Maryann” – Rockin Robin Roberts
• “Wild As You Can Be” – Mary Ann Fisher
• “Ooh Little Girl” – Floyd Dixon
• “Swingin’ and Surfin'” – Les Brown Jr
• “Come and Get These Memories” – Martha and the Vandellas (RIP Rosalind Ashford)
• “Just a Little Misunderstanding” – The Contours (RIP Jerry Green)
• “A New Day Dawning” – Bobby Smith
• “The Rabbit Got the Gun” – The JBs
• “Our Love Will Change the World” – Outrageous Cherry
• “Love the Sinner, Hate the Sin” – Elephant Stone
• “The Sea of Your Mind” – Elephant Stone
• “Jolene” – Strawberry Switchblade
• “Hero Takes a Fall” – Bangles
• “Up Above the Rock” – Ray Bryant

For some, poetry or the spoken word isn’t their thing. For Rose Marie Wilson Byrd AKA One Single Rose, it changed the course of her life. She began poetry as a way to express grief and heartbreak. Through her writings, she found a sense of freedom.

The topics quickly changed, turning her words into uplifting lessons versus words of a woman scorned.  She now creates to make the written and spoken art form resonate with all audiences. 

CONTAINER On The Metro is a WDET produced storytelling series that brings Detroit’s creative heartbeat to the airwaves. 

CONTAINER is a program created by The Love Building. Its goal is to showcase Detroit’s creative talent across music, fashion, fine arts and food. Done in collaboration with WDET Public Radio with major support from the Gilbert Family Foundation.

Subscribe to Container on The Metro on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, or wherever you get your podcasts. 

The night comes alive with Eastern Market After Dark, and the Great Lakes Association of Astronomy Clubs is ready to show you the stars in all their glory. Check out all the ways you can spend your time in metro Detroit in the coming week.

Upcoming events (Sept. 17-24)

Eastern Market After Dark

Eastern Market Shed 2
Sept. 17
Free

The Eastern Market lights up at night to host artisan vendors, demonstrations and more as a part of Detroit Month of Design. Nearby, the Detroit Riverfront Conservancy hosts an activation on the Dequindre Cut, shops and restaurants extend their hours, and Slow Roll hosts an evening bike ride.

Astronomy on the Beach

Island Lake State Park
Sept. 18-19
Free

Great Lakes Association of Astronomy Clubs marks  30 years of Astronomy on the Beach. This year’s theme is Artemis II – returning to the moon in honor of the recent space exploration mission. In addition to peering at the expanse of space, guests can listen to keynote speakers, demonstrations and presentations, and enter a mini telescope raffle. Both nights end with a laser tour of the night sky.

Frankenfest

 Historic Fort Wayne
Sept. 19
Outdoor attractions free / indoor entry $5

A monstrous mashup of art and the paranormal takes over historic Fort Wayne this Saturday from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Expect electrifying entertainment (including aerial shows every hour), over a hundred artists on site, and the chance to explore the fort. Indoors, Michigan-based podcasts give presentations on local hauntings and the macabre. Frankenfest runs from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Note that some featured artwork is unsuitable for children.

Folk Festival

 Staebler Farm County Park
Sept. 19
Free 

The Michigan Folk School welcomes all to a free showcase of folksy-skills, from gardening to blacksmithing to handweaving and more. Food and beverages are available for sale on site, and guests can listen to live music at two stages; one will be hosting a vintage string band, and the other features vocalist Kandy Fredrick and Irish Band Lochanna Mora. Lastly, there’s a silent auction of artisan goods crafted by school staff and instructors to keep the folk school going. 

Recovery and Resilience Music Festival

 Downriver Council for the Arts
Sept. 20
Free

This family friendly, sober event brings together artists, advocates and recovery organizations for a day of community. Attendees can enjoy food, coffee, creative workshops, resource meetings and live music. Plus, Lol Tolhurst from The Cure gives a keynote address. Stop by from noon to 10 p.m.

Adult Spelling Bee Fundraiser

 Jam Handy
Sept. 24
$50

Hosted by Stephen Henderson and Maxie Jones, the 8th Annual Spelling Bee Fundraiser raises funds for the Dominican Literacy Center’s teaching and community outreach needs. Along with the spelling contest, guests can expect good music with DJ La’Roc, food and drink, and good vibes. Bee there or bee square.