This week, we’re highlighting local makers and spaces, from Friday the 13th concerts to exclusive dining experiences. 

But we’re also highlighting something else — community. 

We know how to bring you the news that matters, the music you love and the events that you’ll add to your calendar because here at WDET, we’re in this community right alongside you. We’re out there in the heat of Movement and in the chill of the tree lighting. We’re tailgating at Eastern Market and perusing the DIA. We’re always out there with you, and now we’re asking you to be there for us.

As we begin our fall fundraiser, we need your support to keep the station strong. Consider how many concerts you’ve found out about from WDET, how many driveway moments you had when you just couldn’t turn off the radio yet, how many new things you learned from us that you had to share with someone else. What is that worth to you?

We know that not everyone is in a position to donate, but if you are, we ask that you pay it forward. WDET only exists with financial support from people like you. Invest in our community at wdet.org/give.

Donate today »

Hear local musicians 

On Friday, Sep. 13, four iconic acts from Michigan’s noise and punk scene are coming together for Beautiful Noise at the Ypsilanti Freighthouse. This immersive concert takes guests on a journey through the past, present and future, featuring live projections and music by Monster Island, Infinite River, Dr. Pete Larson and WDET’s own Liz Warner (host of Alternate Take, Thursdays at 8 p.m.). Doors open at 6 p.m. and the show starts at 7 p.m. All ages are welcome and tickets are pay-what-you-wish starting at $5. For more information, visit ums.org.

Then, head over to Ziggy’s for a Friday the 13th concert featuring music by Wolf Eyes and Twig Harper, and an inner critic hierarchy purge led by Sara Tea. The show starts at 9 p.m., tickets are available exclusively online for $20 and the event is 18+. For more information, visit their Eventbrite page.

Peruse local excellence

The Black Food & Wine Experience makes its Detroit debut on Thursday, Sep. 12 through Saturday, Sep. 14. This stop on the multi-city tour features three ticketed downtown events that showcase and celebrate Black excellence and the rich heritage featured in food, wine and cocktails inspired by African Diaspora. To see the full lineup and learn more, visit blackfoodwineexperience.com.

Also this weekend is E. Warrenfest, which returns to the community on Saturday, Sep. 14. This annual event features over 50 vendors, food trucks, a beer garden, an Eastside bike ride, a kids zone and live music from Alice King, Mic Phelps, Cye Pie and Sounds Like Detroit Winner Drey Skokie & The kLOUDs. Festivities go from 4-9 p.m. on E. Warren between 3 Mile and Grayton. For more information, visit their Facebook page.

Eastern Market After Dark returns for its 12th year on Thursday, Sep. 19 from 6-11 p.m. As a signature event of the Detroit Month of Design, this highly-anticipated festival showcases a wide range of talented artists, businesses, organizations and musicians. Visitors will be treated to a district-wide night market and open studios featuring galleries, retailers, brand activations and live music. This event is free and open to the public, but VIP Experience packs are available for purchase starting at $50. For more information, visit easternmarketafterdark.com.

Explore local spaces

In celebration of two years in the community, The Hawk Makerspace in Farmington Hills is hosting a free open house on Friday, Sep. 13 from 3-7 p.m. Creative community members from across metro Detroit are invited to check out this immersive shared technical and creative studio, which features professional-grade equipment like an embroidery machine, a 3D printer, laser engravers and more. There will also be giveaways, refreshments and discounts on Passholder subscriptions. For more information, visit fhgov.com.

Then, the University District Historic Neighborhood in Detroit is hosting its bi-annual home tour on Saturday, Sep. 14. Design enthusiasts are invited to tour six of Detroit’s most well-kept historic homes with unique decor and touches, many from the Art Deco era. Common features include stained glass windows, Pewabic and Flint Faience tile, grand foyers, crystal chandeliers and more. General admission is $30 in advance or $35 day-of for adults, and tickets are $5 for children 3-13. For more information, visit their Eventbrite page.

On the latest episode of the Detroit Evening Report, we cover this week’s extreme heat and severe storms that have enveloped southeast Michigan; Labor Day festivities to look forward to this weekend and more.

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

Hydrate, keep cool in extreme heat

Fall is right around the corner, but summer isn’t in the rear-view quite yet. Temperatures reached the mid-90s earlier this week and there may be more days like that ahead, as Detroit has recorded 90-plus degree temperatures in September before.

The U.S. Center for Disease Control and Prevention recommends staying hydrated and limiting time spent outdoors during extreme heat events to prevent the risk of heat-related illnesses like heat exhaustion, heat rash and heat stroke. Health officials in Detroit are also reminding residents to check on their family, friends and neighbors during extreme heat events — especially the elderly, those with medical problems or those who live alone — and be on the lookout for signs of heat-related illness such as nausea, confusion and rapid or slow heart rate.

The CDC offers a “HeatRisk” calculator on its website to help individuals determine their risk of extreme heat exposure. Visit cdc.gov for more information about heat-related illness.

Read more: ‘Heat island effect’ contributing to warmer temperatures in Detroit, research shows

More severe storms ahead

Strong storms are expected to return this afternoon and evening, with clear skies returning on Saturday and Sunday. Temperatures and humidity will remain high this weekend, with highs in the mid- to low-80s expected.

Approximately 10,000 metro Detroit households were still without power as of 4 p.m. on Friday, according to outage maps from DTE Energy and Consumers Energy. Customers who experienced extended outages this week may be entitled to credits from their utility provider.

Hamtramck Labor Day Festival kicks off

The 44th annual Hamtramck Labor Day Festival is taking place from noon to 10 p.m. all weekend, Aug. 31 through Sept. 2, featuring live music, carnival rides, food vendors and more. The festival will close out on Monday with a performance by Jack White accompanied by Detroit garage rockers The Hentchmen — featuring WDET’s own Mike Latulippe, host of The Detroit Move.

For a full schedule of events, visit hamtownfest.com/schedule.

Celebrate the new Lunar New Year at metro Detroit’s Water Lantern Festival

Metro Detroit’s annual Water Lantern Festival is taking place next Saturday, Sept. 7, at Lake St. Clair Metro Park in Harrison Township. The family-friendly event, inspired by Chinese tradition, marks the first full moon of the new lunar year and the end of the Chinese New Year.

Tickets, starting at $28 for adults, will get you a wristband for entry, a floating lantern kit, lantern retrieval, water cleanup and more. Those who purchase tickets over Labor Day weekend can get 15% off using the code LABORDAY15. For more information about the festival, visit waterlanternfestival.com.

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

Labor Day Weekend in Detroit means the return of some of our favorite annual festivals, including Jazz Fest, the Hamtramck Labor Day Festival and Arts, Beats & Eats.

Plus, more local music performances and a chance to check in on your health. Read on to learn more.

Festivals

The Detroit Jazz Festival returns to the city Friday, Aug. 30 through Monday, Sept. 2, and WDET is teaming up with Paxahau as an official media partner to bring you special coverage and programming all week. Featuring over 60 performances as remarkable and diverse as the genre itself, as well as spontaneous late-night jam sessions, this free festival offers something for everyone. To see the full lineup and learn more, visit our events page.

Related: Wendell Harrison performs live on WDET ahead of 2024 Detroit Jazz Festival

Another beloved tradition returning to the area this weekend is the Hamtramck Labor Day Festival, featuring live music, carnival rides and yacht races down Jos. Campau. The festival goes from Saturday, Aug. 31 through Monday, Sep. 2, and admission is free and open to the public. For more information, visit hamtownfest.com.

And finally, there’s Arts, Beats & Eats in Royal Oak, Oakland County’s annual Labor Day weekend celebration of art, music, food and community. Festivities kick off on Friday, Aug. 30 and go through Monday, Sep. 2. The kids zone is free, and general admission is $12. For more information, visit artsbeatseats.com.

Music

On Saturday, Aug. 31, WDET’s own Shigeto (host of The New Music Show on Saturdays 8-10 p.m.) will honor the late, great Kraig Kilby by performing his timeless record Satori at Spot Lite Detroit in full over Jazz Fest weekend. His all-star ensemble will include Detroit legends like Dez Andrés, Ian Fink, JRGotTheHiTS and more. Bill Spencer and WDET’s own Kaleigh Wilder (host of Visions on Mondays 8-10 p.m.) will also be DJing inside, and Portage Garage Sounds will be on the patio all night. Doors open at 9 p.m., tickets start at $22 and the event is 21+. For more information, visit their Facebook event.

On Sunday, Sep. 1, Detroit’s Urban Art Orchestra presents All Things Detroit at Spot Lite, featuring Asaka The Renegade, Natasia, 3DXT, Shardy, The Monalyse, Courtney Bell, 313 The Live Experience, Chris the Barber, House of Hit Queen Gabby, DJ Fingers, Nick Speed, Jungle, Detroit Zeus and Phat Kat. Doors open at 9 p.m., tickets start at $22 and the event is 21+. For more information, visit their Facebook event. 

Related: Hear Urban Art Orchestra perform live on WDET

Wellness

The first annual Long Live Health event debuts at Eastern Market’s Shed 3 on Friday, Aug. 30. This family-friendly, festival-style event aims to promote healthy lifestyles with free health checks, LGBTQ+ support services, sexual health education, diabetes screenings, vision checkups, mental health support and more. This event is free with registration and goes from 10 a.m. to 11 p.m. For more information, visit their Eventbrite page.

On this episode of the Detroit Evening Report, we cover the continued power outages across metro Detroit following this week’s severe storms; the upcoming Detroit Jazz Festival and more.

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

Thousands still without power after storms

More than 60,000 metro Detroit residents are still without power on Thursday after severe storms hit the region Tuesday evening and continued into Wednesday. DTE Energy says crews are “continuing to work as quickly and safely as possible to restore power to everyone impacted by the extreme weather.”

The company says it has restored power to more than 80% of its customers and expects to have 90% of customers restored by end of day Thursday, with remaining customers expected to be restored Friday.

Detroit market offers up fridge space during outages

Neighborhood Grocery in Detroit’s Jefferson Chalmers neighborhood is offering refrigerator space to those who are still without power. The market posted on Facebook Wednesday offering up fridge space for medications or freezer space for perishables for those in need of temporary storage until power is restored. 

Corktown ranked top ‘up-and-coming’ neighborhood in US

Detroit’s historical Corktown neighborhood has been ranked a top “up-and-coming” neighborhood in the nation by Travel Mag. The magazine cited spots like Mercury Burger and Bar, Bobcat Bonnie’s and Brooklyn Street Local as hot spots to grab a bite, and also mentioned the reopening of Michigan Central as part of the neighborhood’s resurgence. The neighborhood was listed among 16 others in cities like Chicago, Los Angeles, New York and Miami. 

Freedom Arts Festival continues

Programming for the Detroit Parks Coalition’s annual Freedom Arts Festival will continue throughout the fall season. The free festival series kicked off in June and will run through November with a variety of events hosted across nine parks and public spaces in the city.  Supported by the Knight Foundation and the Community Foundation for Southeast Michigan, the festival features live performances of music, dance, storytelling and art reflecting Detroit’s rich multicultural history, weaving together narratives of freedom, racial justice, connections to place and more. For more information on future programming, visit detroitparkscoalition.com/freedom-arts-festival.

Detroit Jazz Festival returns

The Detroit Jazz Festival kicks off at 6:40 p.m. on Friday, Aug. 30 in Hart Plaza. with performances continuing in downtown Detroit through Labor Day weekend. Over 60 performances are scheduled to take place throughout the long weekend, including from The Bad Plus, Carmen Lundy, artist-in-residence Brian Blade and the Fellowship Band and more. The festival will have stages in Hart Plaza, Cadillac Square and after hour specials in Midtown at Wayne State’s Valade Jazz Center. For more information, visit detroitjazzfest.org.

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

This week, we’ve got album release parties, art markets, festivals and dance parties so you can take full advantage of these late-summer weekends.

Plus, your last chance to see “What’s So Funny About Detroit?” this year. Read on to learn more.

Festivals

The 4th annual SW Fest returns to Detroit’s Senate Theater on Saturday, Aug. 24. This free festival celebrates music, art and community in Southwest Detroit, featuring live performances, diverse vendors and local resources. Performers include Kemba, Tiny Jag, Gabriel Duran, Ruby Flwrs, Terri Shu, WDET Sounds Like Detroit finalist Marqu3tte and more. Plus, the first 100 kids at the festival will receive a free backpack and supplies courtesy of Detroit Southwest Pride. For more information, visit SW Fest Detroit on Facebook.

Then, the Detroit Bourbon and Blues Festival returns to Eastern Market’s Shed 5 on Sunday, Aug. 25 from noon to 6:30 p.m. featuring whiskey tastings, live music, food trucks and more. This year’s blues performers include Free Style Detroit, Shaun Booker Dammit and the Detroit Queen of Blues, Thornetta Davis. Entrance to the music festival is free, and tasting tickets range from $45-$95. For more information, visit detroitbourbonandblues.com.

Album release parties

Detroit-based post-punk quintet Double Winter is doing a record release party for their new album Hourglass on Friday, Aug. 23 at the newly re-opened UFO Bar, with special guests CC Nobody and Mutual Heaven. Doors open at 8 p.m. and tickets are $10. For more information, visit Double Winter on Facebook.

Read more: Post-punk band Double Winter previews new album on MI Local

Also releasing an album this weekend is #CoOwnaz, a Detroit-based hip-hop collective comprised of Eddie Logix, Mister, SelfSays, 2 Planes, Doc Waffles and more. To celebrate, Snow Global Records is throwing a backyard boogie on Saturday, Aug. 24 featuring live music, food and vinyls of the collective’s new album, Portrait of a Prince. The pop-up will be open from 3-10 p.m. at Duck Pen Gardens in Corktown. For more information, visit Snow Global Records on Instagram.

Read more: Hip-hop collective #CoOwnaz to release new compilation

Dance parties

On Saturday, Aug. 24, Spot Lite is hosting “Disc Techno,” a celebration of Chicago and Detroit’s contributions to dance music. Mark Grusane and Eric Schwab will be DJing inside with Whodat, Scott Zacharias and Ryan Spencer playing on the patio. Tickets are $16-$22 online, and the event is 21+. For more information, visit ra.co.

Also on Saturday, Aug. 24 is “For All The Girls” DJ night at Northern Lights Lounge. Hosted by DJ Iza, For All The Girls is a new recurring event to create a safe space for women in the dance music scene. There will be photo ops and a lineup of all-women DJs starting at 9 p.m. Tickets are $15-$60 online, and the event is 21+. For more information, visit eventbrite.com.

Art markets

This weekend is the Hazel Park Art Fair, featuring over 100 local artists, family-friendly activities, food trucks and a charity beer tent. The fair is open from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Saturday, Aug. 24 and from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Sunday, Aug. 25 at Green Acres park. This event is free and open to the public. For more information, visit hpart.org.

Read more: Hazel Park Art Fair returns this weekend

On Saturday, Aug. 24, Bloodroot Herb Shop is celebrating their first anniversary with a makers market at Ziggy’s. From noon to 5 p.m., there will be music, food and 20 local vendors offering artisanal goods and services from ceramics and jewelry to acupuncture and henna. For more information, visit Bloodroot Herb Shop on Facebook.

Comedy shows

Our last “What’s So Funny About Detroit?” comedy showcase of the summer is on Thursday, Aug. 29 in the beautiful backyard of The Old Miami. In The Groove’s Ryan Patrick Hooper will introduce you to comics Jacob Barr, Finn St. John, Ms. Joyce, Zach Martina, Kathy Ryan and headliner Josh Adams for a night of good times with good people. Tickets are $25 and directly benefit Detroit Public Radio and the city’s comedians. Doors open at 6 and the show starts at 7 p.m. For more information, visit wdet.org/events. 

Michigan State Sen. Mallory McMorrow (D-Royal Oak) received some rare time on a national platform Monday night at the Democratic National Convention in Chicago. 

She talked about one aspect of the Heritage Foundation’s “Project 2025” – the conservative group’s plan for restructuring the U.S. Government, should Donald Trump win another term. 

McMorrow warned that a Trump administration would replace civil servants across a wide swath of the federal government with people that would serve Trump’s interest and not the country’s. 

I caught up with McMorrow after her speech at the Democratic National Convention to talk about her message about Project 2025 and her future priorities for the state.

Listen: McMorrow on her DNC speech, future priorities for the state

The following interview has been edited for clarity and length.

Russ McNamara: How did it come about that you were asked to speak at the Democratic National Convention?

Mallory McMorrow: It was wild. I got a phone call out of the blue a few weeks ago from Julie Rodriguez, the Harris campaign manager, who asked if I would be willing to speak at the convention. The answer was, of course, yes.

RM: The topic, Project 2025 — each night, someone’s going to be breaking down a different part of it. How much control did you have over the messaging? Because you took what could be a dry subject and put a little life into it.

MM: We did it could potentially be a really dry subject. So they pitched me on the topic, but I worked really closely with a speechwriter on how we were going to present it, because my whole thing is, we have to explain things to people in regular, common language, like you talk to your friend at a bar.

RM: You’ve had a couple of your floor speeches go viral. You’ve got over 250,000 Twitter (X) followers, it seems like, for the past, at least six weeks, the Democratic Party is really trying to reach out to younger voters. Do you see that the National Democratic Party is kind of realizing that you have a different touch, and can really bring in that demographic from early 20s to mid 30s.

MM: Absolutely, I think looking at the lineup that we saw on night one, you had everybody from Maxine Waters to the President of the United States to Kamala making a surprise appearance, to me, to AOC, who, a couple of years ago, you know, was an outsider and not considered the norm in the Democratic Party. And I think that they’ve done a really fantastic job of recognizing to be a big tent party you have to present your big tent. And I think that they did that last night, and it’s really cool to be a part of
it.

RM: What are your overall aspirations? I know it’s early, you still have one more Senate term to go, potentially barring reelection. But what do you want?

MM: I really love communication — shocker — and helping other people figure out how to do this work themselves. Something that I really, really enjoy is joining advocacy calls, running trainings, helping other people learn how to tell a story and advocate at school board meetings. So I don’t entirely know what that looks like, but I love this work, and I want to keep going as long as I can.

RM: Is that political office, or is this leadership of some sort within a Democratic Party or a nonprofit?

MM: I think there’s a lot of doors open. We’ll see what’s next.

RM: Nuts and Bolts question, what are the priorities for this fall?

MM: We’ve got a lot to do this fall. We’ve got potentially a school supplemental to get done. I know that working with a lot of our school groups on some of the funds that we had last year with the influx of COVID-19 dollars for things like school counselors and public safety are a key priority for us to try to get done. And then for me, the big thing is SOAR reform, we got really, really close before the budget on investing $200 million in transit annually, on housing, on downtown development. I think there’s a path, and I want to try to get it done this fall.

RM: Is it feasible and is there any room in the calendar for another look at car insurance?

MM: I think we have to, you know, the fact that we’ve now lost people from the no fault reform, who lost their care, who have since died. I mean, it’s just devastating to realize that this is fixable, and it just takes the political will to do it. So the fixed bills have been stalled out in the House. I know the House is going to be worried about this being an election year, but this is just common sense to get it done and to save people’s lives.

RM: How much does all of this get put on hold if there is a change in the House after the election?

MM: You know, something that’s been interesting about no fault reform is we have had bipartisan support. We had it last term. We’ve had it this term, I think, particularly in the metro Detroit area — inclusive of Macomb County, outer Oakland County — we have legislators who see their constituents directly impacted by this. So I think that regardless of what happens this fall, there’s going to be a path.

Use the media player above to listen to the full interview.

Political conventions are highly polished productions, but that wasn’t always so. The Democratic National Convention in 1968 was the last one with any real drama.

Matt Grossmann, director of Michigan State University’s Institute for Public Policy and Social Research, says the 2024 DNC mirrors the ’68 event in some ways.

“Superficially, there are some similarities,” he says. “It’s in Chicago, it’s going to have a lot of protests, and it involves a nominee who didn’t run in the primaries being elevated to the presidential position.”

Grossmann is referring to then-Vice President Hubert Humphrey. He won the Democratic nomination after President Lyndon Johnson decided not to run for a second full term. Humphrey faced division within the party, fueled by protests against the Vietnam War. He eventually lost to Republican nominee Richard Nixon.

Similar, but different

But Grossmann says Democrats are more united now than they were in ’68. President Joe Biden ended his reelection bid and endorsed Vice President Kamala Harris to lead the ticket in 2024. Grossmann says Biden’s support helped unify the party.

“The people who did not want Biden to step aside, I think, have quickly come around to Kamala Harris as the nominee,” he said.

Shortly after Biden’s endorsement, several potential challengers fell in line behind Harris, including Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer. Grossmann says party rules require that a candidate have the support of at least 300 delegates to be considered for nomination. He says Biden’s late departure from the race created a narrow window for someone other than Harris to run.

“There wasn’t really much of an opportunity for anyone else to contest the nomination without the rules changing substantially,” he said.

Conventions still matter

Harris and her Republican opponent, former President Donald Trump, had already won their nominations before their parties’ conventions began.

But Grossmann says conventions are still important. They give politicians seeking higher office a chance to boost their prospects on a national stage. He cites the 2004 DNC, where delegates heard from a young Illinois state lawmaker who won the presidential election four years later.

“The 2004 convention is when Barack Obama came to prominence,” Grossmann said. “So, they can make for rising stars.”

Maintaining momentum is hard

Grossmann says conventions do give candidates a short-term boost, but he expects the race to tighten before the November election.

“The average bump in the polls out of a convention has been three or four percentage points, but that bump has receded in the weeks following,” he said.

Polls had Harris leading Trump by an average margin of 3% going into the convention.

Read more: 

• Support for Harris surging in key swing states ahead of DNC, polls show
• DNC hosts first ever panel on Palestinian human rights
• Michigan delegates at RNC want to lower the temperature of political discourse

Communities across metro Detroit host a variety of events to engage residents throughout the year. Another one of those celebrations is happening this weekend with the Hazel Park Art Fair.

The work from over 100 artists will be on display and for sale.  

Like previous years, there will be a host of family-friendly activities, with a few stops for beer lovers in attendance as well.  

Lily Ristau, secretary of the Hazel Park Arts Council, joined The Metro on Monday to share more about this year’s Hazel Park Art Fair.

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

Ristau says the event is “truly a labor of love.”

“We’re all volunteers who put it on because we just love the community and want to see, you know, the artists in our community shine and also giving Hazel Parkers and the surrounding area, you know, just a fun, free, family-friendly event this weekend,” she said. “We have art in all of its forms, which I think is so fun.” 

The Hazel Park Art Fair is taking place from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 24, and from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 25, in Green Acres Park, Hazel Park. For more information visit hpart.org.

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

More headlines from The Metro on Aug. 19, 2024:

• The city of Detroit announced Friday efforts to improve public transit with construction underway at the Coolidge Terminal. To discuss the construction that’s happening and the city’s plan for that project, Interim Director of the Detroit Department of Transportation Michael Staley joined the show.
• Michigan does not have enough housing. In fact, 41% of Michigan local officials report a shortage of single-family homes in their communities – up by 23% since 2017, according to a University of Michigan report. And now some have been trying to solve the problem. On Mackinac Island this past summer, Gov. Gretchen Whitmer said she wanted to build or rehab 115,000 housing units by 2026. And in the spring, the Michigan State Housing Development Authority was granted the ability to use state funds to increase housing. On the latest episode of MichMash, Alethia Kasben and Zach Gorchow sat down with the agency’s director Amy Hovey to learn more.
• It’s a presidential election year and that means it’s another opportunity for candidates to stump for their positions and to make the case for what kind of society they want to create. The Metro has been talking with both liberals and conservatives from around the tri-county area to better understand the issues they feel are most pressing to residents. Producer Sam Corey sat down with Head of the Oakland County GOP Vance Patrick to discuss issues on voters’ minds.

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

This weekend, we’ve got a wide variety of celebratory events, from car shows to concerts.

Plus, the grand re-opening of a beloved Corktown bar. Read on to learn more.

Classic cars

This weekend is the Woodward Dream Cruise, featuring fireworks, food and tons of classic cars. On Saturday, Aug. 17, M1 Concourse will turn back time with a recreation of a 1964 New Car Show, musical performers from Motown, Beatles, and Beach Boys tribute bands, and of course, a caravan of cars cruising down Woodward. Onsite parking is $20 and the event will take place rain or shine. For more information, visit m1concourse.com.

Fan favorites

Join us on Thursday, Aug. 15 at New Center Park for our 2024 Sounds Like Detroit showcase! MI Local host Jeff Milo will introduce you to Detroit’s top five listener-voted Tiny Desk Contest participants: Drey Skonie & The kLOUDs, C3theartist, Elspeth Tremblay & The Treatment, Chris Lanard & One Band Global and Isis Damil. And as a thank you for supporting local artists, we’re offering WDET listeners half off tickets for you and a friend when you use the code “WDETVIP” at checkout. Food trucks and beverages will be available on-site and guests are encouraged to bring their own lawn chairs and blankets. Gates open at 6 p.m. and the show starts at 7 p.m. For more information, visit our events page.

Then, head over to Northern Lights Lounge for Keeping UP, the monthly DJ residency featuring Clark and Liz Warner (host of WDET’s Alternate Take Thursdays at 8 p.m.). They’ll be playing ambient, melodic and lush electronic music from 9 p.m. to 2 a.m. No cover, all style. For more information, visit northernlightslounge.com.

Musical celebrations

UFO Bar in Corktown is having its official grand opening on Friday, Aug. 16. Formerly known as UFO Factory, the bar and music venue was bought by Spot Lite owner Roula David earlier this summer, and will continue to serve the core functions of the original business — including rock shows, queer DJ nights and gourmet hot dogs. Opening night will feature food from Gladys Nite, full bar service and a new residency with Sheefy McFly. Hours are 6 p.m. to 2 a.m. and there’s a $10 cover starting at 10 p.m. For more information, visit their Instagram page.  

Read more: Spot Lite Detroit owner keeping Corktown’s UFO Factory alive as UFO Bar

Afro Nation, the world’s biggest Afrobeats festival, returns to Bedrock’s Douglass Site in Detroit this weekend. The Douglass Site has housed icons like Diana Ross and Smokey Robinson, and Detroit’s rich history of African American culture and its status as the birthplace of Motown and Techno make it the perfect location for Afro Nation 2024. The festival offers an opportunity to celebrate the resilience and enduring legacy of Detroit’s vibrant music and artistic communities. Doors close at 9:15 p.m. and the festival is 17+. Tickets start at $70. For more information, visit detroit.afronation.com.

Personal performances

This weekend, Detroit Public Theatre’s Shakespeare in Prison alumni present “What’s in a Name…,” a staged reading of an original documentary theatre piece comprised of collected reentry stories. These reentry stories are pulled verbatim from interviews conducted during the fall of 2022, and performed by Shakespeare in Prison alumni, sharing their thoughts on what “successful reentry” means to them. Two performances will take place at 2 p.m. on Saturday, Aug. 17 and Sunday, Aug. 18 at Detroit Public Theatre, free of charge. To RSVP and learn more, visit detroitpublictheatre.org.

On Friday, Aug. 16, the Arab American National Museum is hosting a Rooftop Rendezvous: BYOI Jam Session. Guests are encouraged to bring their own instruments to participate in an informal community performance on the museum’s rooftop garden. Light refreshments will be served, and the event is free and open to the public. For more information, visit arabamericanmuseum.org.

Healthy habits

Health Is Wealth Detroit returns to Eastern Market on Friday, Aug. 16. This holistic wellness expo provides a gathering space for Detroiters who want to celebrate wellness in the community. This year’s featured guests include actors Debbie Allen and Hill Harper. Activities will take place in Shed 3 from noon to 9 p.m. For more information, visit theblac.co/healthiswealth.

This week, we’re highlighting local music showcases and internationally-inspired art exhibits you can see right here in Detroit.

Plus, picnics, tea parties and flower-picking. Read on to learn more.

Local music showcases

Join us on Thursday, Aug. 15 at New Center Part for our 2024 Sounds Like Detroit showcase! MI Local host Jeff Milo will introduce you to Detroit’s top five listener-voted Tiny Desk Contest participants: Drey Skonie & The kLOUDs, C3theartist, Elspeth Tremblay & The Treatment, Chris Lanard & One Band Global and Isis Damil. And as a thank you for supporting local artists, we’re offering WDET listeners half off tickets for you and a friend when you use the code “WDETVIP” at checkout. Food trucks and beverages will be available on-site and guests are encouraged to bring their own lawn chairs and blankets. Gates open at 6 p.m. and the show starts at 7 p.m. For more information, visit our events page.

Get a sneak peek of the Sounds Like Detroit performances at Detroit’s Annual Ribs and R&B Music Festival this weekend at Hart Plaza. Drey Skonie & The kLOUDs will be part of an all-star R&B and soul lineup featuring Next, Troop, Ro James, Glenn Jones and Adina Howard. Plus, local BBQ experts will be serving up ribs, brisket and chicken. Admission is free on Friday until 4 p.m. and on Saturday and Sunday until 1 p.m. Otherwise, general admission is $15. For more information, visit ribsrnbmusicfestival.com.

International art exhibits

“Frontline Prophet: James Baldwin” is a traveling exhibition that features the artwork of Detroit-based creative Sabrina Nelson. In honor and celebration of his centennial birthday, Nelson provides an intimate, multi-sensory experience of James Baldwin and his legacy, including a seven-year sketchbook study, vivid works on paper and canvas, projected video, installations, collaborations with contemporary writers and thinkers, and augmented reality experiences. The exhibition is on display at The Wright Museum now through Feb. 28, 2025. For more information, visit thewright.org.

Related: Sabrina Nelson talks traveling art exhibit honoring James Baldwin’s legacy on The Metro

“A Modernist Regime: The Contemporary Cuban Lens” is the latest collection of exhibitions at the Cranbrook Art Museum. Focused on the decades immediately following the 1959 Cuban Revolution, these three exhibitions highlight a small but prolific cohort of artists, designers, and architects who responded to the demands of a newly centralized economy, including the material constraints imposed by ensuing embargoes, popular demands for more equitable access to goods, and initial excitement about the role modern design could play in shaping a new society. These exhibitions are on display now through September. For more information, visit cranbrookartmuseum.org. 

Picnics and flower-picking

The Heidelberg Project is partnering with Spot Lite to put on a public picnic on Saturday, Aug. 10 from 2-5 p.m. Detroiters are invited to have brunch at Spot Lite before walking over to the iconic art installation for an afternoon of festivities, including free popsicles, live DJs, site tours and Heidelberg Project merchandise available for purchase. This event is family- and dog-friendly, and guests are invited to bring their own food and blankets. For more information, visit the Heidelberg Project’s Facebook page.

Also on Saturday, Aug. 10, the Freedom Arts Festival comes to the Palmer Park Log Cabin to celebrate the music, art and food of the Middle East. Guests can enjoy traditional music by Victor Ghannam and Friends, visual art inspired by the beauty of the region and Middle Eastern cuisine from Mediterranean Express and Alina Alam Hi Tea. Guests are encouraged to bring their own lawn chairs or blankets. This event is free and open to all ages. For more information, visit their Eventbrite page.

Related: Detroit saxophonist talks Sounds from the Park series on The Metro

On Friday, Aug. 9, the Farmington Hills Nature Center is hosting a Garden and Tea Party featuring ingredients harvested locally in Heritage Park. Guests will enjoy tea, snacks and themed arts and crafts between 6:30 to 8 p.m. Tickets are $5 online and are open to ages 5 and up. For more information, visit recreg.fhgov.com.

The annual Sunflower Festival returns to Blake’s Orchard & Cider Mill this weekend and next. Festivities include an open-air marketplace featuring over 150 Michigan artisans, DIY workshops, photo opportunities and more, all surrounded by lush sunflower fields. Admission is $12 on Fridays, $14 on Saturdays and Sundays, and free for children under 2 years old. For more information, visit blakefarms.com.

The Detroit Police Athletic League is partnering with the Detroit Police Department to start a new community initiative to help build positive connections with the city’s youth.

The “Coolin’ with Cops” program will start with a meet-up at Rouge Park at 6 p.m. this Wednesday, with future meet-ups occurring every Thursday for the next nine weeks.

David Greenwood, director of community engagement and facilities for Detroit PAL, and Sgt. Bryant George, a Detroit Police sergeant and Detroit PAL’s youth development officer, joined The Metro on Wednesday to share more about the new program.

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

Greenwood explained how Detroit PAL, a nonprofit that started in 1969, began as a way to bridge the gap between the police department and the community. Greenwood and others with PAL continue to bridge that gap today. 

PAL uses athletics as a way to connect with Detroit’s youth and build a positive relationship between them and the police.

“Well, what we see is growth. What we see is friendships. I think one of the biggest things, even for myself, I maintain a friendship 40 some odd years later, with friends that I met through Detroit PAL,” Greenwood said. “It’s cool to play sports and all of those good things, but we know through sports, we develop so much more. There’s goal setting, resilience, embracing a healthy lifestyle, accountability and teamwork.”

But how do they achieve that growth and teach kids valuable lessons through sports? George, a previous PAL kid himself as well as Greenwood, said it’s all about making it personal for them.

“It’s just all about just being yourself. You know, I wear a uniform to come to work, but I’m still a person,” George said. “And you know, when you allow them to know that, and they can feel and touch and see and you know, you really can just break that barrier of, you know, I’m afraid of the police, or I can’t trust the police.”

George says Detroit PAL complements well with the more proactive side of policing to provide a well-rounded service to the community. The upcoming “Coolin’ with Cops” meet-ups are just one of many ways PAL aims to help grow connections between local youth and the police.

“Our goal is to keep them away from guns, away from gang violence. Hey, pick up that football, keep this in your hand. Go to a good high school, go to a good college,” George said. “Become whatever it is that you want to become, even become a Detroit police officer, you know, like I did, but you know, that’s our goal is that, you know we’re present, and you don’t have to be perfect, but you just have to be present.”

Use the media player above to hear the full interview with Greenwood and George.

More headlines from The Metro on August 7, 2024:

• The Ann Arbor-based Center for Automotive Research is holding its annual Management Briefing Seminars in Traverse City this week. It’s a gathering of some of the most important automotive leaders and thinkers, as well as public officials — including Gov. Gretchen Whitmer. Jamie Butters, executive editor of Automotive News and host of the Daily Drive podcast, joined The Metro to share more about the event and discuss the panels he’ll be hosting there.
• The primary elections happened yesterday in Michigan. Despite an exciting presidential election year, there weren’t a lot of surprises this time around. Congressional Democrat Elissa Slotkin and Republican Mike Rogers will be moving on in the Senate race. And Congressman Shri Thanedar defeated Detroit Councilmember Mary Waters in the 13th Congressional District. WDET’s host of Morning Edition, Pat Batcheller, joined The Metro to discuss the main takeaways from yesterday’s election.

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

Welcome to August! We’ve got several outdoor festivals this weekend so you can take full advantage of the late summer sun.

Plus, cultural celebrations, comedy shows and cat videos. Read on to learn more.

Outdoor festivals

Westland’s Blues, Brews and Barbecue festival returns to Wayne County on Friday, Aug. 2 through Saturday, Aug. 3. This summer bash features authentic BBQ food, domestic craft beers and performances from dozens of local artists, including WDET’s Sounds Like Detroit winner, Drey Skokie & the kLOUDs! Admission is free and open to the public. For more information, visit bluesbrewsbarbecue.com.

Related: WDET Presents: Sounds Like Detroit 2024

The Dearborn Homecoming Festival is also back this weekend, now in its 43rd year. From Friday, Aug. 2 through Sunday, Aug. 4, there will be fireworks, live music, carnival rides, food, drinks and activities for all ages on the hill at Ford Field Park. This year’s festival features performances by The All-American Rejects, The Verve Pipe, Kylie Morgan and more. Admission is free and open to the public. For more information, visit dearbornhomecoming.com.

And last but not least, the Belle Isle Art Fair is Saturday, Aug. 3 and Sunday, Aug. 4 at the James Scott Memorial Fountain. This year’s fair features nearly 100 juried artists, hands-on art projects, live music, a beer and food tent, and a brand-new Secret Garden to showcase botanical artists and gardening specialists. Admission is free with a State Park Pass. For more information, visit belleisleartfair.com.

Cultural celebrations

Wayne State is partnering with American Indian Health and Family Services on Saturday, Aug. 3 for Powwow in the D. Dancers, singers and the general public are invited to celebrate Native American culture at the Wayne State Soccer Field from noon to 4 p.m. MC Shannon Martin will guide newcomers through the powwow experience as Host Drum War Paint and Co-host Drum Sharp Feather perform the ceremony. In addition to song and dance, there will also be Native food, crafts and community resources. For more information, visit aihfs.org.

Comedy

This week is the first anniversary of Comedy at the Congregation, so this month’s show will feature giveaways, a special drink menu and a few surprises. On Friday, Aug. 2, host and producer Sarah Lynn will introduce you to comedians Grace Gunn, Travis Conte, Finn St. John and Ryan Brown (a recent What’s So Funny About Detroit? alum!). Doors open at 7 p.m. and the show starts at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $15 online or $20 at the door. Please note that The Congregation Detroit is not ADA accessible. For more information, visit their Eventbrite page.

Then, on Sunday Aug. 4, Saturday Night Live’s Sarah Sherman, aka Sarah Squirm, will be in Detroit at Mark Ridley’s Comedy Castle. You may also know her from The Eric André Show, Three Busy Debras or the upcoming Netflix film “You Are SO Not Invited to My Bat Mitzvah!” co-starring with Adam Sandler. Doors open at 6:30 p.m. and the show starts at 7:30 p.m. Preferred seats are $40 and general admission is $30. For more information, visit etix.com.

Cat videos

The brand-new 2024 edition of CatVideoFest is coming to the Detroit Film Theatre from Friday, Aug. 2 through Sunday, Aug. 4. This underground sensation has packed theaters for years, featuring a hand-selected, carefully curated collection of the most entertaining, inventive and hilarious cat videos of the year. Tickets are $10.50 for the general public or $8.50 for seniors, students and DIA members. For more information, visit dia.org.

The opening ceremony for the Paris Olympics is set for Friday.

Instead of a traditional march into a stadium, about 6,800 athletes will parade on more than 90 boats on the Seine River for 6 kilometers (3.7 miles). This will start the ceremony, not mark the end of it, another break from tradition.

What time does the opening ceremony start?

The ceremony starts at 1:30 p.m. EDT/7:30 p.m. CEST and is expected to last more than three hours.

Where is the opening ceremony being held?

The parade starts at the Austerlitz Bridge beside the Jardin des Plantes and follows the course of the Seine from east to west. It makes its way around two islands in the center of the city before passing under several bridges and gateways. Athletes aboard the boats will get glimpses of several Olympic venues including La Concorde Urban Park (3X3 basketball, breaking, BMX freestyle cycling, skateboarding), Invalides (archery, athletics — marathon finish, road cycling — time trial start) and the Grand Palais (fencing, taekwondo). The parade ends at the Iena Bridge, which links the Eiffel Tower on the left bank of the Seine to the Trocadéro district on the right bank. The ceremony’s finale is at the Trocadéro. There, among other ceremonial procedures, French President Emmanuel Macron will deliver opening remarks.

How can I watch the opening ceremony?

The ceremony will air on NBC and stream on Peacock and NBC Olympic platforms — NBCOlympics.com, NBC.com, NBC app, NBC Olympics app.

A preview will air on NBC at noon EDT, with live coverage beginning at 1:30 p.m. and an enhanced prime-time encore at 7:30 p.m.

About 220,000 invited and security-screened spectators are expected to fill the upper tiers of the Seine’s banks, and an additional 104,000 paying spectators will watch from the lower riverside and around the Trocadéro plaza.

Those in Paris who could not get tickets will be able to watch the ceremony on 80 giant screens set up throughout the city.

Will the train sabotage impact the opening?

A major disruption of train traffic plunged Paris into uncertainty only hours before the scheduled start of the ceremony.

There were no immediate indication that what a government official was calling a series of “criminal fires” near the tracks would impact the start.

Who is performing at the opening ceremony?

In addition to the athletes who will participate in the parade, 3,000 dancers, artists and other athletes will be featured in the opening and closing ceremonies. Most of the entertainment acts remain under wraps. NBC News reported that Celine Dion and Lady Gaga have arrived in Paris amid speculation that one or both of the pop singers will perform at the opening ceremony.

What happens if it rains at the opening ceremony?

Light showers hit Paris on Friday morning with more forecasted for about the time the ceremony starts. It means there’s a good chance onlookers and athletes will get wet since there is no roof over the Seine.

If it rains, the ceremony is expected to go on as planned.