This week, we’ve got some family-forward events to celebrate Mother’s Day, including wildflower walks, bike rides and crafting sessions.

Plus, award-winning productions, art fairs and your last chance to see a Detroit-inspired exhibit. Read on to learn more.

Mother’s Day activities

Huron-Clinton Metroparks are celebrating Mother’s Day this weekend with themed walks at three of their parks:

• Kensington: A guided stroll through the Kensington Nature Area is scheduled for Saturday, May 10 from 10–11 a.m. and 1–2 p.m. Registration is $5 for adults, $3 for kids and free for children under 2. RSVP is required.
• Lake Erie: A guided stroll through Lake Erie Metropark is scheduled for Sunday, May 11 from 2–4 p.m. An interpreter will point out signs of motherhood in insects, birds, mammals and more. This walk is suitable for ages 8 and up and includes frequent stops. Registration is $5 for adults and $3 for kids. RSVP is required.
• Stony Creek: When visitors hike through Stony Creek’s wildflowers on Sunday, May 11 between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m., they can receive a certificate and a flower to take home and plant from the nature center. Admission is free and pre-registration is not required.

On Saturday, May 10, the Detroit Public Library is also celebrating Mother’s Day with gift-making workshops at three of their branches:

• Wilder Branch: Visitors can make a unique gift using craft materials like foam, stickers and the library’s Cricut machine from noon to 1 p.m. Admission is free and RSVP is required.
• Knapp Branch: Visitors can make their own wind chimes from 2–3 p.m. Admission is free and RSVP is required.
• Jefferson Branch: Visitors can make their own bracelet from 1–2 p.m. Admission is free and RSVP is required.

On Saturday, May 10, Terra Joy Castro and Socially Chrissy are kicking off a new monthly series, Family Bike Rides on the Detroit Riverfront. This month’s ride starts at Cullen Plaza at 10 a.m. and will end with coffee and snacks at the Riverwalk café. Bikers of all ages and abilities are welcome, and the goal is to explore the Riverfront together on two wheels and to get moving as a family. Participants are asked to bring their own bikes, helmets and water, but Wheelhouse Detroit will be on-site for bike rentals. Admission is free and registration is required. For more information, visit their Eventbrite page.

Creative collections

Art Birmingham, originally known as the Birmingham Fine Art Festival, returns for its 44th year this weekend. On Saturday, May 10 and Sunday, May 11, the street surrounding Shain Park in downtown Birmingham will showcase 150 juried artists from across the country, featuring paintings, sculptures, photographs and more. There will be live music, food and drinks available for purchase, and a kid’s art activities tent. For more information, visit theguild.org.

The 57th Annual Political and Pop Culture Show will take place this week at the Skyline Hotel in Romulus. Collectors from across the country will gather to share and sell memorabilia from political campaigns from throughout American history. On Friday, May 9, there will be a reception at 6:30 p.m. followed by an auction at 7 p.m. On Saturday, May 10, over 50 dealer tables will be on display between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m. at the hotel. Admission is $5. For more information, visit apic.us.

New productions

Detroit Public Theatre is closing its 10th anniversary season with the world premiere of “Soft Target,” a play about childhood, guns and the wounds we can’t see. The production centers 9-year-old Amanda and her toys — stuffed penguin Jonah, American Girl Doll Molly, trusted Diary and weighted emotional support bunny Ugly — as their once-peaceful world is thrown into darkness and chaos. Performances take place Wednesdays through Sundays now through June 7. General admission is $50, and $25 tickets are available on Thursdays. For more information, visit detroitpublictheatre.org.

Detroit Opera’s latest production is “The Central Park Five,” a Pulitzer Prize-winning true story adaptation of systemic discrimination. The opera follows the wrongful convictions of five African American and Latino teenagers in the assault of a white female jogger in Central Park. Despite racial injustice, resilience and redemption emerge as the five men fight for freedom. Performances take place Saturday, May 10 at 7:30 p.m., Friday, May 16 at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday, May 18 at 2:30 p.m. Tickets range from $30–$145. For more information, visit detroitopera.org.

Exhibition ending

This weekend is your last chance to see Tiff Massey’s 7 Mile + Livernois at the DIA. The exhibit, inspired by the neighborhood where Massey grew up, features fashion accessories scaled up to the size of architecture, creating sculptures that celebrate’s Detroit’s evolving neighborhoods and the history of West African and Black American culture and style. The last day to see the exhibit is Sunday, May 11. Admission is free for residents of Oakland, Wayne and Macomb counties. For more information, visit dia.org.

Three years ago, “X: The Life and Times of Malcolm X” sold out shows at the Detroit Opera House for the first time in over a decade.

Now, the Pulitzer Prize-winning composer behind that success is back in Detroit. 

Anthony Davis returns this month to present “Central Park Five,” a gripping opera that tells the true story of the wrongful convictions of five Black and Latino teenagers in the assault of a white female jogger in Central Park in 1989. 

It’s a case that involved President Donald Trump, who at the time became an outspoken voice for convicting the teens. He spoke with WDET’s Ryan Patrick Hooper about the politics of bringing an opera like this to the stage, and how it feels to be back in Detroit.

Performances will take place on May 10, 16 and 18 at the Detroit Opera House. Visit detroitopera.org for tickets and more information.

Listen to The Metro weekdays from 10 a.m. to noon ET on 101.9 FM and streaming on-demand.

More stories from The Metro

Detroit Opera’s latest production looks to the future by reinterpreting Mozart’s “Così fan tutte” through the lens of artificial intelligence. 

Artistic Director Yuval Sharon reimagines the classic opera with humanoid robots created as ideal companions, and the ethical consequences of programming them to serve human desires.

“This production of “Così fan tutte” begins with the concept of the entire piece being about robots, artificial intelligence, humanoids that are created with the express purpose of being the perfect lover, the perfect companion for humans,” Sharon said.

Performed by human singers in the role of machines, the opera questions whether AI can ever move beyond its programming and whether humanity will learn to engage with it ethically.

The final two performances of “Così fan tutte“ take place this Friday, April 11, and Sunday, April 13 at the Detroit Opera House. 

This week, we’ve got Tigers tailgates, cultural parades, celebrated comedians and events selling so fast we couldn’t wait another week to post.

Plus, a David Lynch tribute party featuring dream interpretations and a costume contest. Read on to learn more.

Detroit Opening Day

The Detroit Tigers take on the Chicago White Sox in their first home game of the season on Friday, April 4 at 1:10 p.m. To celebrate, the Downtown Detroit Partnership is hosting a free Opening Day Tailgate Party at Grand Circus Park that day from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. There will be music from DJ Invisible, a variety of food trucks, a Miller Lite beer tent, Tigers swag giveaways and plenty of places to watch the game. For more information, visit downtowndetroit.org.

The Statler French American Bistro is also hosting an Opening Day Tailgate Patio Party on Friday, April 4, located just feet from Comerica Park. Starting at 10 a.m., they’ll have $2 draft beers, game day food specials, music, giveaways and the Tigers on TV. After the game, their regular Friday happy hour specials will be available inside the restaurant. For more information, visit statlerdetroit.com.

Greek Independence Day

The 23rd Annual Detroit Greek Independence Day Parade kicks off on Sunday, April 6 at 3 p.m. This family-friendly event is one of the largest Greek parades in the U.S., drawing in thousands of Hellenes from metro Detroit, Ohio and Canadian communities. There will be traditional Greek Evzones, dancers and musicians, local community groups, mascots and entertainment from the Detroit sports teams, and more. The parade route starts in front of the cathedral on East Lafayette Street and proceeds down Lafayette and Beaubien Boulevard, ending south of Macomb Street. For more information, visit greekparades.com.

Comedy

On Tuesday, April 8, celebrated humorist and author David Sedaris is bringing his sardonic wit and incisive social critiques to Detroit’s Fisher Theatre. Join us for an evening of all-new readings, Q&A and book signing as Sedaris slices through cultural euphemisms and political correctness with great skill. The show starts at 7:30 p.m. and tickets range from $65 to $90 including fees. For more information, visit wdet.org/events.

Music

“Così fan tutte” opens at the Detroit Opera House on Saturday, April 5. This brand-new production by Detroit Opera Artistic Director Yuval Sharon offers a fresh take on Mozart’s controversial comedy, asking what it means to be human by reimagining the “lovers” role as artificial intelligence robots in a journey of jealousy and deceit. Shows are scheduled for April 5 at 7:30 p.m., Friday, April 11 at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday, April 13 at 2:30 p.m. Tickets range from $30 to $145. For more information, visit detroitopera.org.

On Friday, April 4, Moon Club (co-founded by WDET’s own Amanda LeClaire) is hosting a David Lynch tribute party at Ghost Light in Hamtramck. In celebration of the late director’s unique style, there will be live musical performances, poetry readings and dream interpretations. Fresh coffee and donuts will be available for purchase and Lynchian costumes are highly encouraged. Doors open at 7 p.m. and tickets are $10 online or $15 at the door. For more information, visit their Eventbrite page. 

On Thursday, April 10, head to Spot Lite Detroit for “Living Room Sessions,” a night of records, conversation and half-price wine. Starting at 8 p.m., DJ Jesse Cory will be spinning tracks and owner Roula David is hosting. The event will also be streamed live on Twitch. Admission is free and open to ages 21+. For more information, visit their Facebook event page.

Up next

Vinyl Tasting’s next music-inspired fine-dining experience is set for Saturday, April 19, and tickets are going fast. This month’s menu is inspired by hip-hop icon 2Pac and his highly acclaimed fourth album, ‘All Eyez On Me,’ featuring dishes like “Heaven Ain’t Hard To Food” (a rice cloud topped with sweet crab, yuzu mayo, tomato pearls and chives) and “Thug Passion” (a champagne-caramel pound cake with passionfruit mascarpone and candied orange). Seatings start at 4 p.m. and 7:30 p.m., and tickets range from $100 to $145. For more information, visit their Eventbrite page.

Michigan’s largest women’s empowerment conference, empowHER, is coming to Detroit for the first time on Saturday, April 12 and Sunday, April 13. This “ultimate girls day out” aims to uplift, motivate and empower women of all ages and all backgrounds. This year’s conference features over 50 women-owned businesses, keynote speakers from across the country, and dozens of collaborations with women-founded brands. The event will be held at Huntington Place, and admission ranges from $175 to $250. For more information, visit empow-her.org.