WDET’s CuriosiD series answers your questions about everything Detroit. Subscribe to CuriosiD on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, NPR.org or wherever you get your podcasts.

In this episode of CuriosiD, we answer the question:

“Why are cider mills so popular in Michigan?”

The short answer

Michigan’s cider mills are more than places to grab fresh cider and doughnuts; they’re steeped in tradition. Over 125 licensed mills dot the state, offering Michiganders and tourists alike an autumn ritual that connects them to the local land and community. And while cider mill season is all about that first crisp sip, there’s more at play here: each mill blends its own unique apple varieties, adding seasonal layers to each batch of cider.

But you’re probably wondering: Which Michigan cider mill is the best? Well, it depends who you ask – most locals have a favorite they swear by.

The essence of Michigan’s cider mills

Diane Smith, executive director of the Michigan Apple Committee, emphasizes the cultural significance of cider mills:

“It’s part of the heritage,” said Smith. “Being in Michigan and having that experience in the fall of going to a cider mill, getting your apples and doughnuts, it’s something people look forward to every year.”

These mills are more than seasonal attractions; they are integral to Michigan’s agritourism, providing families with opportunities to connect with local farmers and understand the origins of their food.

Crafting the perfect cider

Operating a cider mill involves meticulous processes to ensure quality and safety. Each mill must adhere to stringent licensing regulations, including food safety training.

A key aspect of cider production is blending various apple varieties to achieve a unique flavor profile that evolves throughout the season. Smith notes that the taste of cider can change dramatically from early September to late autumn, reflecting the diversity of Michigan’s apple harvest.

Read more: Apple growers wallop averages for the third year in a row

Michigan’s apple varieties: A bounty for cider-making

Michigan’s climate and soil conditions are ideal for apple cultivation, producing popular varieties such as Gala, Honeycrisp, Fuji and Ambrosia. These apples contribute to the distinctive flavors found in Michigan’s ciders.

The state’s apple industry is a significant economic driver, with apples being Michigan’s most valuable fruit crop. This industry supports not only growers but also packaging and allied sectors, underscoring its importance to the state’s agricultural economy.

A tradition that resonates

For many Michiganders, visiting a cider mill is a cherished fall activity, offering a blend of tradition, community, and the simple pleasures of the season. The state’s cider mills provide a unique experience that combines the enjoyment of fresh cider and doughnuts with a connection to Michigan’s agricultural roots. 

About the listener

This month’s question came from WDET listener Adam Danis. Danis is a Chicago native who currently lives in Midtown Detroit. After spending time in the mitten state, his curiosity grew about Michigander’s love for cider mills all across the state.

More from CuriosiD:

• Is the Main Branch of the Detroit Public Library haunted?
• Behind the Scenes: Celebrating 10 years of CuriosiD
• What is the history behind the Belle Isle Boathouse?

Coming into this week with a heavy heart as we say goodbye to Quincy Jones, a musician so massive in the American sonic landscape of music that just calling him a musician seems insulting. I loved what WDET’s own Chris Campbell wrote about Jones — you can read that here. For my part, I played original work from Jones, his arranging for Frank Sinatra, his early stuff with an equally young Ray Charles, his work with Sarah Vaughn and of course Michael Jackson, who he changed the landscape of pop music with.

On top of that, a spotlight on Cleo Sol, her remarkable voice and her new single “Fear When You Fly,” plus new releases from Friko, Royal Otis, Ezra Collective, Common Saints, Michael Kiwanuka and more.

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 November 4, 2024

• “My Room” – Divorce
• “If I Am” – Friko
• “If Our Love Is Dead” – Royel Otis
• “Shaking Body” – Ezra Collective
• “Zanzibar” – Marcos Valle & Azymuth
• “Thirteen” – Big Star
• “Daisy and Joaquin” – Ball-Point Birds, Tim Bluhm & Greg Loiacono
• “Dance For You” – Dirty Projectors
• “Lilia” – Jonathan Wilson & Milton Nascimento
• “Dream On” – Common Saints & Taloula
• “Rebel Soul” – Michael Kiwanuka
• “Fear When You Fly” – Cleo Sol
• “Why Don’t You” – Cleo Sol
• “One” – Cleo Sol
• “Pulled Up (Alternate Pop Version)” – Talking Heads
• “Jumbo” – Underworld
• “100 years of Bill & Lil” – Joe Webb
• “Skimming Stone” – Beth Orton
• “Defense” – Panda Bear & Cindy Lee
• “Forever” – Mildlife
• “Scaled to Survive” – Leyla McCalla
• “Anything” – Adrianne Lenker
• “Everything Is Simple” – Widowspeak
• “The Big Idea” – Lily Talmers
• “Who Does She Hope To Be?” – Dave Easley
• “Pop-Jazz Structures” – Sven Wunder
• “Sounds From Below” – Lake Trout
• “Soul Bossa Nova” – Quincy Jones (tribute to Quincy Jones)
• “One Mint Julep” – Ray Charles (tribute to Quincy Jones)
• “Fly Me To the Moon (Live At The Sands Hotel And Casino/1966)” – Frank Sinatra  (tribute to Quincy Jones)
• “Come Fly With Me (Live At The Sands Hotel And Casino/1966)” – Frank Sinatra  (tribute to Quincy Jones)
• “Summer In the City” – Quincy Jones (tribute to Quincy Jones)
• “Misty” – Sarah Vaughan (tribute to Quincy Jones)
• “Rock With You” – Michael Jackson (tribute to Quincy Jones)
• “Wanna Be Startin’ Somethin’” – Michael Jackson (tribute to Quincy Jones)
• “Don’t Stop ‘Til You Get Enough” – Michael Jackson (tribute to Quincy Jones)
• “Sun Circles (John Beltran Project Remix)” – Gratts

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.

The first new music Friday of November with fresh cuts from Samora Pinderhughes, High Vis, Friko, Machinedrum, Leifur James and a triumphant return of Cleo Sol.

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 Nov. 1, 2024

• “Guided Tour” – High Vis
• “If I Am” – Friko
• “Pulga” – St. Vincent
• “Hey Bulldog” – Fanny
• “Gotta Get Up” – Harry Nilsson
• “Tenderness” – Parquet Courts
• “OK! (feat. Joekenneth Museau & Kota the Friend)” – Machinedrum
• “Slow Time” – Samora Pinderhughes
• “Higher” – Kokoroko
• “Willow (Birch Community Mix)” – Bryony Jarman-Pinto & Werkha
• “Without Us” – Melanie Charles
• “Gap In The Clouds” – Yellow Days
• “Balloon” – Crumb
• “Sun Circles (John Beltran Project Remix)” – Gratts
• “Proceed” – Speakers Corner Quartet
• “Magic Seeds” – Leifur James
• “Paper Trails” – DARKSIDE
• “Don’t Get Me Started” – The Smile
• “False Start Dub” – Kings of High Speed & JKriv
• “Repent” – JKriv
• “Another Star” – Stevie Wonder
• “Begin Again (Joe Goddard Remix)” – Jessie Ware
• “Cubano Chant” – Peggy O’Keefe
• “Fear When You Fly” – Cleo Sol
• “Les Fleurs” – Minnie Riperton
• “Olhos Coloridos” – Sandra de Sá
• “Esperar pra Ver” – Evinha
• “Le cœur au bout des doigts” – Jacqueline Taïeb
• “Road of the Lonely Ones” – Madlib
• “You Are Mine” – Jay Robinson
• “Apho” – Alfa Mist & Bongeziwe Mabandla
• “Dub Je Je” – Antibalas
• “Jealous Guy (Live)” – Donny Hathaway
• “Take Yo’ Praise” – Camille Yarbrough
• “Never Be Another You” – Lee Fields & The Expressions
• “Chantized” – Freddie Hubbard, Curtis Fuller And Yusef Lateef
• “Baltimore” – Nina Simone

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.

The city of Detroit is issuing an open call for a sculptor to create a new statue of Detroit legend Joe Louis.

Subscribe to the Detroit Evening Report on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, NPR.org or wherever you get your podcasts.

The statue, which will be located alongside the Joe Louis Greenway, aims to highlight the iconic boxer’s life outside the ring.

Known as one of the greatest boxers of all time, Louis was a national hero who broke racial barriers in the sport. But some may not know that he also broke racial barriers in golf.

Louis played golf in the mid 1930s and became a major supporter of the United Golf Association. He was the first African American to play in a PGA sanctioned event.

“In Detroit, we celebrate the contributions Detroiters have made to the city and to the world, and Joe Louis is one of our greatest examples,” said Mayor Mike Duggan in a statement.  “It’s only fitting that a statue reflecting his accomplishments outside of boxing grace the magnificent greenway being built in his honor.”

The new Joe Louis statue is just one of many public arts projects led by the City’s Office of Arts, Culture and Entrepreneurship (Detroit ACE) to highlight Detroit’s rich Black history.

Artists interested in applying for the statue commission must send a packet of their work to Detroit ACE by Monday, Nov. 11. A selection committee made up of community members, artists, members of the Louis family and business owners will choose the artist, and the statue will be unveiled in August 2025.

For more details on how to apply, visit detroitmi.gov.

Other headlines for Friday, Nov. 1, 2024:

• Election day is coming up on Tuesday, Nov. 5, and the city of Detroit is putting in extra work to ensure that the election is secured.
• “Candlelight: The Best of Han Zimmer” — a live, multi-sensory musical experience featuring music from “Inception,” “The Lion King,” “Interstellar” and more — is coming to Christ Church Detroit on Saturday, Nov. 2 for two shows.
• The 2024 All Things Detroit Holiday Shopping Experience & Food Truck Rally is taking place from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Sunday, Nov. 3, in Sheds 3, 4 and 5 at Eastern Market.

Do you have a community story we should tell? Let us know in an email at detroiteveningreport@wdet.org.

The term “devil’s night” has been dead in Detroit for some years… but I do reference it because it went on for such a long time in this city (hence for the photo for this post). This show was a precursor to Halloween, when I’m really going to dive into music that feels like Halloween without actually being a Halloween song. You helped with these — huge thanks to your voicemails! I’ve noted which tracks are listener picks below.

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 30, 2024

• “Uriel” – Mary Jane Dunphe
• “Method Actor” – Nilüfer Yanya
• “Crossbow” – Tamar Aphek
• “Nothing Can Surprise Me” – Tamar Aphek
• “Svefn-G-Englar” – Sigur Rós *listener pick*
• “Cherry Sunshine” – somesurprises
• “Talk For Hours” – High Vis
• “Mind’s A Lie” – High Vis
• “Crazy for You (Alternative Version – Demo Version)” – Slowdive
• “Suns of Gold” – Leifur James
• “Let Your Hair Down (feat. Hutch the Great)” – Max Sinal
• “Firestarter (Jitwam Remix)” – The O’My’s
• “i ain’t scared of no devil (feat. dj godfrey ho)” – Jitwam
• “Mad Man” – Mike Nyoni and Born Free
• “Coffin Maker” – Chrissy Zebby Tembo & Ngozi Family
• “Lazy Bones” – WITCH
• “Frankenstein” – The Edgar Winter Group *listener pick*
• “7/4 (Shoreline)” – Broken Social Scene
• “New York” – Cat Power
• “Hey” – Pixies
• “All Over The World” – Pixies
• “Somebody Was Watching” – Pop Staples
• “Searching (feat. Sam Gendel)” – Tristan De Liege & Bryony Jarman-Pinto
• “Graucha Max (In The Groove Song of the Week)” – DARKSIDE
• “X Ray Eyes” – LCD Soundsystem
• “100 Yard Dash (Nicky D Remix)” – Derobert & The Half-truths
• “Lucid Girl” – Thee Sacred Souls
• “Hurting Lies (feat. Allysha Joy)” – EX GENERATION
• “Mind Playing Tricks on Me” – Geto Boys *listener pick*
• “Easy Easy” – King Krule
• “Road Head” – Japanese Breakfast
• “Black Cow” – Steely Dan

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.

Happy Halloween, everyone! This week, on MI Local, I dedicated the latter third of the show to play some songs that aren’t conventionally Halloween-themed, lyrically speaking, but they just have a certain vibe about them that feels frightfully fitted to the spooky season.

Leading off that set is the theremin-centric soundscapes of Via Mardot, with a song called “Portals.” This is a slightly older song by the multi-instrumentalist, singer and composer, but you can follow her on Instagram and find more information about her latest album, Higher Higher Burning Fire.

Along with these “eerie-Halloweeny,” or, as I dubbed them, “…music to carve pumpkins to…,” I also played new music from Kalamazoo-based singer/songwriter Elisabeth Pixley-Fink and Detroit-based artist Na Bonsai. We were also to exclusively premiere new tracks from Ypsilanti singer-songwriter Chris DuPont and Detroit-based indie-rock band Speed Circuit, the latter of which has an album release party THIS SATURDAY at Bowlero Lanes Lounge!

I’m off next Tuesday, as NPR presents live coverage of the presidential election, but I’ll have another power-hour showcase of all-local music ready for you on Nov. 12 — Tune in!

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

Jonathan Peregrino never thought the reaction to his shop would be so warm.  That was until Filipinos and others from around southeast Michigan flocked to his bakery —  JP Makes and Bakes. 

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

They were craving his ube cookies and other baked goods they remembered from their childhood. The Metro’s Producer Sam Corey sat down with Peregrino in his shop along Woodward in New Center. 

Peregrino is a first generation Filipino American and he went to the Philippines to learn the art of pastry . 

“I was just looking for somewhere to study pastry for a little bit of a shorter program, that was also financially feasible for me,” Peregrino said. “But with my parents and my grandparents all being from the Philippines, I’m first generation Filipino American, so I wanted to sort of go back as an adult and sort of see how it was.”

Use the media player above to hear the full interview with Peregrino.

More headlines from The Metro on Oct. 24, 2024: 

• A new innovation is helping Detroit tackle a public health problem. University of Michigan Professor and co-founder of BlueConduit Eric Schwarts joined the show to discuss how his company is using artificial intelligence to find lead service lines in the city.  
• Black Tech Saturdays, in partnership with Rocket Community Fund, recently passed out $120,000 in grants to help close the digital divide. The goal is to make sure everyone has access to the internet and other technologies. That money is also meant to bolster the growing tech field and help local residents create their own jobs. CEO of Ecosphere Organics Brittanie Dabney, one of the grant recipients, and Co-founder of Black Tech Saturdays Johnnie Turnage joined the show. 
• The election is two weeks out and today on the show, we bring you a conversation with 36th District Court candidate William Burton Jr. It’s the second of three conversations you’ll hear on the show this week with candidates running for the two open seats in the court.

Listen to The Metro weekdays from 11 a.m. to noon ET on 101.9 FM and streaming on-demand.

London’s Matt Johnson has released records as The The since the early 1980s.

After a 25-year hiatus, he has returned to the studio to produce his first full The The album. Ensoulment sounds as relevant as ever, cinematic, and lyrically in tune.

Johnson joined me on In The Groove during my week as guest host, just as he arrived in Georgia to prepare for the United States’ leg of his current world tour. We discussed the new album, the life-threatening circumstance that led to The The’s first improvised song, “Linoleum Smooth to the Stockinged Foot,” and the meaning behind “Cognitive Dissident” — the first song released from Ensoulment.

We also spoke about the use of his music in films, including “Guardians of the Galaxy” and the new Francis Ford Coppola film, “Megalopolis.” Closing out the conversation is a thoughtful reflection on the role nostalgia plays in moving life forward.

The The will perform two sets at the Masonic Cathedral Theatre in Detroit on Wednesday, Oct. 23. The first set features the new album, and the second set is a retrospective of songs throughout The The’s discography until now.

Use the media player above to hear my entire conversation with Matt Johnson.

This week on MI Local, I received another visit by a local artist/musician, so that they could personally share a new song with our listeners! R&B singer-songwriter C3 stopped by to premiere his latest song, “The Other Man,” which he spoke about during our interview.

“I really just wanted to write a record for the good guys,” C3 said. It’s about finding “a good-hearted individual” who can “protect you and love you, forever.”

It’s also a song that’s quite danceable, while also showcasing C3’s vocal talents.

Along with this premiere, we heard brand new music from Detroit rock trio Shadow Show, and Ypsilanti-based singer-songwriter Kylee Phillips. We also previewed WDET’s Rock ‘n’ Roll Horror Show II, hosted by Jon Moshier next weekend at the Cadieux Cafe.

Stream the whole show and you’ll also hear some great local tracks that capture a quintessentially autumnal vibe, including Kalamazoo-based artist Jordan Hamilton and Detroit’s own Zilched.

• “The Good Parts” – Kylee Phillips
• “Baba Yaga” – Shadow Show
• “The Other Man” – C3 (In-Studio Guest)
• “Graveyard Rockin'” – The 3-D Invisibles
• “The Morning After (The Monster Mash)” – Norcos Y Horchata
• “Dark Dance” – Detroit Riddim Crew
• “Mezcal” – Duende
• “Sun” – Windy & Carl
• “Like The Dead” – Carmel Liburdi
• “Halloween” – Misty Lyn & the Big Beautiful
• “Believe In” – Jordan Hamilton
• “Radio Tower Blues” – Raw Honey
• “Loveless” – Zilched

It’s the last day of Hispanic Heritage Month, and to celebrate, The Metro was joined by a Detroit musician, activist, historian, and educator who has dedicated his career to improving the lives of Latino residents in southeast Michigan. 

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

Osvaldo “Ozzie” Rivera currently teaches at Wayne State and the University of Michigan. He also writes for “El Central” newspaper, serves on Detroit’s Historic Designation Advisory Board and is the former director of Southwest Solutions. He was instrumental in the creation of the Wayne State Center for Latino/a American Studies, established 1971. 

Rivera was born on the island of Puerto Rico but is a lifelong Detroiter. His father was a musician and early in life, Rivera became interested in both music and activism. If you attended this year’s Concert of Colors, you might’ve seen Rivera perform with his band Rican Struction, a Bomba music ensemble. 

Rivera joined the show to discuss the importance of Latino culture in southeast Michigan and work done to support the community. One of the issues in the Detroit Latino community that Rivera fought against was systemic racism in public schools.

“There’s some broad brushes to discuss in terms of just acknowledgement and civil rights, but specifically as it related to the Latino community in Detroit, there were issues with the lack of bilingual education,” Rivera said. “Actually, many students were funneled into special-ed classes only because they spoke Spanish. So La Sed … also put in a successful lawsuit against the Detroit Public School system for funneling, directing Spanish speaking students and some who weren’t even Spanish speaking, they were put in special rooms and some would say some closets. And so you have to fight for bilingual education and against standardization or delegitimizing Latin students.”

Use the media player above to hear the full conversation with Rivera.

More headlines from The Metro on Oct. 15, 2024: 

• A new early childhood educator workforce index shows that child care wages remain low in Michigan and across the United States. Director of Multi-State and International Programs at Berkeley’s Center for the Study of Child Care Employment Caitlin McLean joined the show to discuss the new report.
• There are a lot of issues voters care about, but depending on your party, voter priorities are very different. We’re less than a month away from the presidential election, and that leaves us wondering what might turn out the vote most for either party. Joining us to discuss the upcoming election and what’s on voters’ minds, The Atlantic staff writer Tim Alberta joined The Metro. He’s covered politics with a close eye on both the white, evangelical christian movement in this country and the shifts happening in the Republican Party. He will also be speaking at an event called “Democracy at a Crossroads” at 4:30 p.m. Wednesday on Michigan State University’s campus.

Listen to The Metro weekdays from 11 a.m. to noon ET on 101.9 FM and streaming on-demand.

This week on Visions, my playlist is all over the board. Between 1965 Sonny Rollins to 2024 Andy Milne, I cover some interesting ground.

Before I get into the music, definitely check out the interview I did during the first hour with Deanna Relyea, director of Edgefest, an annual avant-jazz festival happening this week in Ann Arbor. Deanna and I talk about how Edgefest started (it’s now in its 28th year!), which artists are performing at the festival, and what kind of music to expect. Happening this week, Oct. 16-19 in Ann Arbor, you won’t want to miss it.

I also give a preview of some artists coming to Ann Arbor, many of whom have already graced the airwaves through Visions!

The artists coming to Edgefest are Andy Milne, Myra Melford, Tomeka Reid, Detroit artist Kenji Lee, Sylvie Courvoisier, and William Parker. I also play selections from Sonny Rollins, Wynton Marsalis, Milton Nascimento & Esperanza Spalding, Sam Newsome, and the late Benny Golson.

Check out the playlist below and listen to the episode on-demand for two weeks after it airs using the media player above.

Visions Playlist for Oct. 14, 2024

• “Outubro” – Milton Nascimento  & Esperanza Spalding
• “Mr. Clean” – Roy Hargrove
• “Jaki” – William Parker
• “Freedom Jazz Dance” – Ethnic Heritage Ensemble
• “Black Codes” – Wynton Marsalis
• “Le Pavot Rouge” (feat. Wadada Leo Smith, Christian Fennesz, Nate Wooley, Drew Gress & Kenny Wollesen) – Sylvie Courvoisier
• “Papounet” – Andy Milne and Unison
• “B.K.” – Nicole Mitchell, Tomeka Reid & Mike Reed
• “The Strawberry” – Myra Melford
• “Three Little Words” – Sonny Rollins
• “In the Vein of Trane” – Sam Newsome Quintet
• “Empty Cup” – Kenji Lee’s Fortune Teller Trio
• “Voyage” – Benny Golson, Mulgrew Miller, Rufus Reid & Tony Reedus

There’s a long history of Irish and Mexican people blending together in North America and in Detroit specifically. 

After a 19-year hiatus, the Mexican Irish Festival returns to the Southwest and Corktown neighborhoods on Sunday — celebrating both cultures and how they intersect in the city. 

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

Former President of the Mexicantown Community Development Corporation Maria Elena Rodriguez joined The Metro to discuss how the festival started along with the history and cultural fusion of MIrish – Mexican and Irish – people in Detroit. 

There are many commonalities between the two cultures, Rodriguez says. One thing that many Mexican and Irish people share is the Catholic religion.

“Ask an Irish person and ask a Mexican person, the answer may be the same. It’s like if things are going well, ‘It’s God’s will.’ If things are not, you know, if it’s really awful, ‘It’s God’s will.’ You know, so that’s how we kind of look at life,” Rodriguez said. “And we love to party, not to stereotype or generalize. And we have huge family gatherings. I mean, there’s all of that that parallels, not to say it’s exclusive to us, but we embrace it. And so much so that over 50% of the weddings that take place at Most Holy Trinity in Corktown are MIrish.” 

Use the media player above to listen to the full conversation with Maria Elena Rodriguez about Detroit’s Mexican Irish Festival and history.

More headlines from The Metro on Oct. 11, 2024: 

• Poet, educator, Gilda Fellow and lifelong Detroiter Brittany Rogers is releasing her new book “Good Dress” on Oct. 15. She joined the show to discuss the collection of poems and short stories about community, womanhood and the audacity of Black Detroiters. 
• The Detroit Repair Cafe is a band of crafty and creative people that will help you fix your broken items and keep them out of the trash. And at the Halloween Repair Cafe, they’ll even help you make your Halloween costume on Sunday from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at ArtBlock. To talk about the Detroit Repair Cafe we were joined by its founder, Diana Graham. 
• The Detroit Documenters are teaming up with their newsroom partners, including WDET, for a Detroit Public Schools Community Board Candidate Forum on Oct. 15. There are 22 people running for three open seats. One of the moderators, WDET Education Reporter Sascha Raiyn and Detroit Documenters Coordinator Noah Kincade, joined the show to preview the forum.

Listen to The Metro weekdays from 11 a.m. to noon ET on 101.9 FM and streaming on-demand.

Tejano music, or Tex-Mex music, is a blend of different sounds and instruments from Mexico and other countries — like Poland and the Czech Republic. 

Martin Solis helped make Tejano music popular in Detroit with his band Los Primos. 

As a self-taught musician, he started playing the Bajo Sexto, a Mexican 12-string instrument from the guitar family, and developed his own unique musical style.

Solis wasn’t born here, but Detroit was his home. And the history of Southwest Detroit can’t be told properly without the inclusion of Martin Solis and Los Primos. Solis is the first person from Michigan to be inducted into the Texas Conjunto Music Hall of Fame in San Benito, Texas, and the Tejano Roots Hall of Fame in Alice, Texas.

Martin Solis’ son, Frank Solis, is a local historian who’s preserving Tejano music in Detroit. He joined The Metro to discuss his father’s legacy.

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

There were few recordings of Los Primos, but Frank found some lost treasures while cleaning out his father’s attic. He uncovered a bag of cassettes, filled with rehearsal recordings of the band.  

“(Jack White), he’d hear these Mexican bands, and that was my dad,” Frank said. “So he assigned his brother to clean them up with an engineer. They cleaned up the tapes, and the album came — his first and last album.”

Use the media player above to hear the full conversation with Frank Solis about Tejano music in Detroit.

More headlines from The Metro on Oct. 10, 2024: 

• A local author wants to spread the joy of reading, writing and stretching imagination. Mianne Adufutse is a graduate of Columbia College of Chicago where she studied fiction writing and poetry. Adufutse joined the show to discuss her new book, “Garbage Dump” – a dystopian fictional story set in Detroit. 
• The Tigers are red hot. They beat the Houston Astros in the wild card round and now lead the Cleveland Guardians 2-to-1 in the American League Division Series. The Tigers could win the series and move on to the next round if they win today at Comerica Park. Detroit Free Press Sports Columnist Shawn Windsor joined the show to talk about the team’s unpredictable run. 
• The holiest day of the year for the Jewish people starts tomorrow night. Yom Kippur goes from sunset to sunset and is marked by fasting, prayer and atonement. For Jews observing the holiday, that means apologizing directly to those they’ve wronged over the year. Professor and writer Susan Shapiro joined the show to talk about apology, forgiveness and why those two things are important to everyone, everywhere. Shapiro’s most recent book is titled “The Forgiveness Tour: How To Find the Perfect Apology.”

Listen to The Metro weekdays from 11 a.m. to noon ET on 101.9 FM and streaming on-demand.

Womxnhouse Detroit offers a residency for women creatives who aim to spread their knowledge and crafts while also bringing new lovers to the arts. The home acts as a rotating exhibit with 10 women showing their art in the space. 

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

These interactive exhibitions are personal reflections of what the artists create in the home, with this season at Womenxhouse bringing a new set of local artists, workshops and events. 

To discuss Womxnhouse Detroit, Co-founder Asia Hamilton, ceramics artist Michaela Ayers and fiber artist Cat Washington joined The Metro.

“The first two iterations of Womxnhouse was at my childhood home, so we are still in the neighborhood that I grew up in. We’re on Grandmont, right off Grand River, and the neighborhood has really received us so well,” Hamilton said. “Two people came down to the house last week, and they were like, ‘We’ll be right back’ and then they came with like eight people to come and see the space. So it’s just been an honor to be in the neighborhood that I grew up in, and it’s just an opportunity to provide art and culture in a space where, you know, art can be desolate in a neighborhood.”

Use the media player above to hear the full conversation with Asia Hamilton, Michaela Ayers and Cat Washington about Womxnhouse Detroit.

More headlines from The Metro on Oct. 9, 2024: 

• A new Detroit ordinance is being discussed to lower rents in the city. The Fast Track PILOT would offer property tax cuts to developers that would then get passed on as cheaper rental units. The cheaper the rent, the deeper the tax cut. Council Member Fred Durhall III joined the show to discuss the ordinance and how it would create more affordable rent.
• Planet Ant in Hamtramck is a neighborhood theater, specializing in improv, plays and musicals. It gives people the opportunity to get on stage and stretch themselves artistically. Planet Ant begins its theater season this weekend and we were joined by Program Director Mike McGettigan to hear more about what’s in store. 
• It is Hispanic Heritage Month and as we get closer to its end on Oct. 15, we want to discuss the community that has been extremely important to the growth of Detroit — especially in the last 200 years. Wayne State University history professor and Center for Latino/a and Latin American Studies Dr. Reyna Esquivel King joined the show to discuss the history of the Detroit Latino community.

Listen to The Metro weekdays from 11 a.m. to noon ET on 101.9 FM and streaming on-demand.

Hamtramck Historical Museum soft launched an exhibit on the Bengali diaspora last month with a nakshi kantha hand embroidery workshop. It’s a type of quilt that’s embroidered by Bengali or Bangladeshi people in the Indian subcontinent.

Fiber artist Fatema Haque says that although the Bangladeshi community has been in metro Detroit for decades, this is the first time a full-fledged exhibit of this type will be featured at the museum.

“It doesn’t have a large presence of Bangladeshis, even though Bangladeshis have been in the metro Detroit area since, well, going back as far as 1971 when Bangladesh became a country. But even before that, when Bangladesh was part of Pakistan, and then before that, India,” she said.

Haque says the workshop was one way to show different types of art that’s representative of the Bangladeshi diaspora.

“And given that this craft is a huge part of family life as well as community life in Bangladesh, it’s something that’s prevalent in pretty much every household in a variety of ways, so we thought it would be a good way for people to learn about Bangladeshis and something that is such a integral part of their life,” she said.

Haque says the exhibit will feature stories of the Bangladeshi diaspora in metro Detroit, focusing on Hamtramck where the museum is located.

“We are hoping to represent both Bangladeshi culture in terms of religion, art, activism as well as entrepreneurship, and show the ways in which people are connected to this particular land,” she said.

She says that will include businesses and the mural on Carpenter between Hamtramck and Detroit.

Haque says anthropologist Rumana Rahman reached out to the museum to curate this exhibit, which is run by volunteers.

“I came up on her radar because I had a portrait exhibit of Bangladeshi Americans in the last year, and I did some oral history interviews. And so once I heard that she was working on this, I was so excited to get involved, and I joined the committee, and we’ve been working on it since January, actually.”

Haque says this is just the beginning.

“Our goal with this exhibit is that it’s not going to be an end all exhibit… it should be a living exhibit that people can continuously contribute to and keep growing, because our history is a living history,” she said.

Haque says she hopes people come to the exhibit to learn about neighboring communities.

“Get to know your neighbors and get to know other folks who live around you, so if you’re not Bangladeshi, it might be worth it because your neighbors are Bangladeshi, and you can learn something really cool about their land,” she said.

She says it’s also an opportunity to allow Bangladeshi Americans to see themselves represented in a meaningful way.

“There’s so many Bangladeshis who are in this community. And I’m wondering, like, how often do we see ourselves represented in places like museums, right? How often is our history documented? And so our hope is that people feel a stronger sense of belonging by seeing themselves in this space,” she said.

Haque says she hopes second and third generation Bangladeshi Americans also have a chance to explore Bangladeshi history, art or activism.

“I really hope that they also feel inspired and proud and gain a sense of self through this exhibit, like I can be proud to be Bangladeshi in this space,” she said.

The exhibit’s full launch is slated for November 2. Find more information at hamtramckhistory.com.

Michigan growers are on track for a big apple harvest this year for the third year in a row. But tons of apples aren’t always a good thing.

Advances in horticulture research and technology have helped produce mind-boggling amounts of apples year after year.

Last year saw record-breaking apple harvests across the country, according to the U.S. Apple Association.

In Michigan, the banner year drove down prices of certain varieties and created backlogs at packing facilities.

Emma Grant, orchard manager at Cherry Bay Orchards in Suttons Bay, is hoping to get ahead of some of those issues this season.

“We’ve never used this before,” she says, opening up a pail of thick white liquid. “But as there’s more apples in Michigan and the packers are running into longer times to pack, this is something we thought we should try.”

Related: Michigan should have plenty of apples this fall

The liquid is a plant growth regulator; she and her colleagues will mix the concentrate with water, then spray it on a small block of Premier Honeycrisp apple trees as a test.

“Right now, we are spraying this in hopes that we can delay the maturity of the Premier Honeycrisp [apples],” Grant said. “They can get redder on the tree, and then by the time we get through our other apples and pick them, they’re still at a ripeness level that’s ideal for storage.”

The hope is to get these early season apples as red as possible without the fruit over-ripening. That’ll give them a better chance of being picked, stored, packed and eventually sold to consumers.

Why so many apples?

This year’s crop is expected to be big, but lower than last year. Still, researchers say it’s unusual to have three big years in a row like this.

There are a few reasons why.

Researchers in northwest Michigan say growers have benefited from good weather the past few years.

But other top apple states, like Washington and New York, are also pulling big yields.

Chris Gerlach says that’s partially because we’ve planted a lot more apple trees across the country.

“We’ve added about 30, 35,000 apple acres over the last five years,” said Gerlach, who tracks analytics for the U.S. Apple Association, a trade association for the apple industry.

But there’s more to it than that: The way we grow apples has changed.

“You wouldn’t be putting in your grandfather’s apple tree,” Gerlach said. “You wouldn’t be putting in 400 trees per acre that have a huge canopy, that take you a lot of time and effort to get into the tree to prune or to harvest.”

Most growers are transitioning to high density systems. These trellised trees almost look like walls of fruit.

They grow more apples in less space, and they’re much easier to harvest – which needs to be done by hand for apples that are sold fresh. Plus, that fruit is higher quality than ever before, Gerlach said.

So this mind-boggling amount of apples?

“This, indeed, does appear to be the new normal,” he said.

But that new normal isn’t without wrinkles — more apples means lower prices.

Gerlach says some growers lost money because 2023’s record-breaking harvest drove the values of certain varieties so low.

“So, typically, at the end of the season, these apple growers will get a check in the mail. This year, lots of growers were getting bills in the mail because the value of their apples was less than the cost of services.”

-Chris Gerlach, U.S. Apple Association

Alongside high labor costs and other inputs like fuel, growers also have to pay for storing their apples, packing them and subsidize commission for industry salespeople.

“So typically, at the end of the season, these apple growers will take the prices their apples were sold for, minus these costs of services, and they’ll get a check in the mail,” Gerlach said. “Well, this year, lots of growers were getting bills in the mail because the value of their apples was less than the cost of services.”

That’s not sustainable, especially for small- to medium-sized growers — which account for many of northern Michigan’s orchards.

Gerlach said U.S. apple growers are consolidating and seeing more investment from private equity and foreign sovereign wealth funds. He said that trend will only continue as labor costs go up and it becomes more difficult to make money on fruit alone.

Plus, to top it off, he said U.S. consumers are buying fewer apples at the grocery store.

“There’s a lot of competition in the produce aisle these days with grapes, and clementines, and avocados, and other things,” he said. “Some people are talking about what we need to be doing to promote apples as a category, and not just Honeycrisp versus Red Delicious, but apples versus something else.”

Despite that, Gerlach said growers should get a little relief this growing season. It’s shaping up to be a big apple year, but still far fewer apples than last year.

Back at the farm

In Suttons Bay, the plant growth regulator Emma Grant sprayed over a month ago worked as intended: It bought a little more time for some of the apples to turn redder without over-maturing. And the redder the apple, the more appealing it is to packers.

Now, she says she’ll have to wait and see if the same regulator will help the apples keep better in storage before being packed and sold.

It could be close to the start of next apple season by the time that happens.

The fourth annual Woodbridge Porch Concerts are set to take place this Saturday, featuring live music from local artists with connections to the neighborhood. 

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

Every year the event grows with more businesses participating. One of the features is Woodbridge Ale, a beer made by Brew Detroit with hops from Woodbridge gardens. 

What’s more, The WB5 — a tribute band to MC5 — will be playing in honor of MC5’s 2023 induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. 

Vicky Bash, a member of the Board of Directors for Woodbridge Neighborhood Development, and Dave Nantais, a neighborhood resident and a performer at the Woodbridge Porch Concerts , joined The Metro on Wednesday to chat more about the event.

Use the media player above to hear the conversation with Bash and Nantais.

More stories from The Metro on Oct. 2, 2024:

• The Tigers are good, the Lions are good, but will the Pistons luck change? A lot of fans are wondering if the Pistons are going to be worth following this season.  Recently, the team hosted its media day, which gives everyone a good preview of the upcoming season. Pistons beat writer for the Detroit Free Press and co-host of The Pistons Pulse Podcast Omari Sankofa II joined the show to discuss.
• Detroit Public Theatre just kicked off its 10th anniversary with a new fresh take on Hamlet. WDET’s Ryan Patrick Hooper sat down with Detroit Public Theatre Co-founder Courtney Burkett to learn more about the show “Fat Ham.” 
• Vice President of the Center for Equity, Engagement and Research at Detroit Future City Ashley Williams Clark joined the show to discuss a new report looking at ways to grow the middle class in Detroit.  

Listen to The Metro weekdays from 11 a.m. to noon ET on 101.9 FM and streaming on-demand.

Subscribe to Created Equal on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, NPR.org or wherever you get your podcasts.

• Alice Randall is a New York Times best-selling author, award-winning songwriter, educator and food activist.

Listen to Created Equal with host Stephen Henderson weekdays from 9-10 a.m. ET on 101.9 WDET and streaming on-demand.

Art is one of the oldest forms of storytelling, but a lot of Black stories get overlooked, particularly in Detroit. 

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

The Black Artists Archive (BAA) aims to ensure all people’s stories are preserved. The Detroit based-initiative fosters creativity, exhibition, learning, and the preservation of Black art history and visual culture.

BAA Founder Dr. Kelli Morgan joined The Metro on Monday to discuss how the organization is preserving history in the city. 

Use the media player above to hear the conversation with Morgan.

More headlines from The Metro on Sept. 30, 2024: 

• For Freedoms is hosting a conversation called “Pollution Has No Boundaries: Where Do We Go From Here?” on Monday night. The event aims to bring people together to share their personal climate stories and envision steps toward a cleaner environment. Community organizer and activist Theresa Landrum and Filmmaker  Wesaam Al-Badry joined the show ahead of the event to share more.
• It’s been gray for the last few days. And because of climate change, this season has also been unusually warm. Former WDIV Meteorologist Paul Gross joined the show to discuss what kind of weather patterns to expect this fall. 
• It’s now been a few years since the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. While cases are going around in parts of the Midwest, it’s hard to know by how much since Michigan and other states no longer track the virus. Dr. Paul Kilgore is the director of research in the department of pharmacy practice and the co-director of the Center for Emerging and Infectious Diseases at Wayne State University. He joined the show to discuss the importance of flu and COVID-19 vaccines this fall.

Listen to The Metro weekdays from 11 a.m. to noon ET on 101.9 FM and streaming on-demand.