This week, we have interactive cultural experiences, artisanal holiday markets and festive celebrations for our beloved Lions.

Plus, opportunities to spend time with your favorite WDET personalities. Read on to learn more.

Cultural experiences

On Friday, Nov. 15, Dayton Contemporary Dance Company will perform “Moving Justice” at the Detroit Film Theatre inside the DIA. Rooted in the African American experience, DCDC is a company of innovative dance artists steeped in the spirit of Sankofa – retrieving from a rich past while venturing forward. The program will include “American Mo’,” a celebration of the exquisite pride and love that accompanied the marches of the Civil Rights era, and “Nourishing Routes,” a love letter to the ancestors who left breadcrumbs of wisdom for future generations to find, ingest and employ in the long march to justice. This performance is 90 minutes long and begins at 7 p.m. Tickets are $15. For more information, visit dia.org.

Also on Friday, Nov. 15, residents are invited to connect with the rich traditions of Michigan’s indigenous communities for a Celebration of Native American Culture from 7-8 p.m. at The Hawk Theater in Farmington Hills. This dynamic celebration will feature renowned Michigan performers and educators Reg and Marca Pettibone, along with special guests. Enjoy traditional drumming, songs, storytelling and various styles of powwow dance performed by champion dancers. This performance is open to all ages and tickets are $15. For more information, visit TheHawkTheatre.com.

Then on Saturday, Nov. 16, the DIA’s Friends of Asian Arts and Cultures auxiliary invites residents to an enchanting afternoon of culture and flavor with “Spiced Stories: A Celebration of Islamic Coffee, Tea and Cooking.” In connection with the special exhibition “The Art of Dining: Food Culture in the Islamic World,” this program will feature musicians playing instruments related to the exhibition, presentations about coffee, tea, and cooking cultures from the Islamic world, and delicious samples of food and drink to enjoy. Guests will experience the rich heritage and artistry of the Islamic world through a sensory journey that promises to be both educational and unforgettable. This program is free with museum admission and is open to all ages. For more information, visit dia.org.

Holiday shopping

The Jingle & Mingle Underground Holiday Market returns to Ferndale for its second year this weekend. In the basement of the doT parking garage on Troy Street and Allen, visitors will find a secret society of artists, makers, authors and bakers. This limited-edition market will be open for two days only — Saturday, Nov. 16 from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. and Sunday, Nov. 17 from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. For more information, visit undergroundferndale.com.

Related: Jingle & Mingle Underground Holiday Market organizer Mark Loeb joins The Metro

The 9th Annual Royal Oak Market: Art Fair Edition will take place indoors at the Royal Oak Farmers Market on Thursday, Nov. 21 and Friday, Nov. 22. This festive event will feature 60 jury-selected artists, live entertainment, food vendors and alcoholic beverages for those over 21. The market will be open from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. both days. For more information, visit theguild.org.  

This is also your last weekend to take advantage of the DIA’s Museum Shop Double Discount Days. Now through Sunday, Nov. 17, DIA Members are invited to enjoy an exclusive 20% discount on all purchases, as well as free holiday gift bagging for all gift purchases. For more information, visit dia.org.

Lions celebrations

Statler French American Bistro, located just feet from Ford Field, will be hosting a Tailgate Patio Party on Sunday, Nov. 17 as the Lions take on the Jacksonville Jaguars at home. Guests can enjoy BBQ ribs and brisket along with mac n’ cheese, coleslaw and drink specials as a live DJ brings the energy up. The patio will be open starting at 10 a.m. and kickoff is at 1 p.m. There’s no cover charge but reservations are encouraged. For more information, visit statlerdetroit.com.

Then, keep the Lions pride going at the Detroit Historical Museum with their new exhibit, “Detroit Lions: Gridiron Heroes.” In partnership with the Detroit Lions and showcasing artifacts from both the team’s collection and the Pro Football Hall of Fame, this exhibition explores the franchise’s fascinating roots as well as the NFL of the 1930s, the team’s period of dominance in the 1950s, Hall of Fame-level star power players, and the Dan Campbell-led gritty Lions of today. The exhibition is on display now through August 2025 on the second level in the City of Champions Gallery. Admission to the museum is $10 for adults, $8 for seniors, students, active military and first responders, and $6 for children. For more information, visit detroithistorical.org.

Station happenings

Join us on Monday, Nov. 18 for a no-obligation informational session about our upcoming Travel with WDET: Canadian Rockies trip! We’ll discuss travel itinerary and take questions about this once-in-a-lifetime train journey, featuring snow-capped mountains, glacial lakes, rushing rivers and the sheer unspoiled wilderness of Canada. The informational session will take place on Zoom at 6 p.m., and attendance does not commit you to participating in the trip. For more information, visit wdet.org/events.

Related: Travel with WDET: Canadian Rockies

Then on Tuesday, Nov. 19, join WDET News Director Jerome Vaughn and a panel of experts for the third installment of Smart Politics, hosted at Shield’s of Midtown. We will reflect on Michigan’s effects on the 2024 presidential election, explore what worked and what didn’t, and take audience questions with our panelists. Food and drinks will be available for purchase, and a $5 reservation fee is required to secure your spot. For more information, visit wdet.org/events.

Anyone else in desperate need of an emotional reset? This week, we’ve got some soothing and fantasy-forward events to take your mind off of election results, even if it’s just for an evening.

Plus, a chance to laugh with Peter Sagal, because laughter is the best medicine, right? Read on to learn more.

Soothing art exhibits

“How We Make the Planet Move” is the inaugural exhibition in Cranbrook Art Museum’s Detroit Collection series. Designed to acknowledge the long-standing history of artists who have called Detroit home and the area’s rich and diverse community of practitioners, the Detroit Collection is particularly focused on art from the 1960s to the present in a variety of media. This new, permanent collection is devoted to celebrating and preserving the work of artists and designers in the metro Detroit area, especially works by women, artists of color and LGBTQ+ identified individuals. The Detroit Collection Part I is on display in Cranbrook’s Upper Galleries now through March 2, 2025. For more information, visit cranbrookartmuseum.org.

“The Art of Dining: Food Culture in the Islamic World” is on display at the DIA now through Jan. 5, 2025. The exhibition brings together 230 works from the Middle East, Egypt, Central and South Asia, and beyond to explore connections between art and cuisine from ancient times to the present day. Paintings of elaborate feasts, luxurious vessels for food and drink, and historical cookbooks show how culinary cultures have thrived in the Islamic world for centuries. Highlighting the relationship of these works to preparing, serving and enjoying food, the exhibition engages multiple senses and invites us to appreciate the pleasures of sharing a meal. This exhibition is free with general admission to the museum, which is also free for residents of Macomb, Oakland and Wayne counties. For more information, visit dia.org.

“The Journey Collection” is a new art exhibition on display at Farmington Hills City Hall. Featuring works by Novi artist Sukanya Ramakrishna, the Journey Collection includes landscape oil paintings inspired by travels to national and state parks. An opening reception will be held at City Hall on Friday, Nov. 8 from 6-8 p.m., and the collection is on display during City Hall’s regular hours now through Jan. 10, 2025. For more information, visit their Facebook event.

Serene orchestral performances

Bringing their signature chemistry and incisive playing to chamber music, four principal strings from the DSO have joined forces to form the Woodward String Quartet. Concertmaster Robyn Bollinger, Associate Concertmaster Kimberly Kaloyanides Kennedy, Principal Viola Eric Nowlin and Principal Cello Wei Yu make their Detroit debut as a quartet on Thursday, Nov. 14 at 7 p.m. in The Cube. Inspired by the East, the program will include selections by Haydn, Debussy and Grammy-nominated Michigan artist Zhou Tian. Tickets start at $25. For more information, visit dso.org.

Sci-fi escapism

Motor City Comic Con returns to Suburban Collection Showplace in Novi from Friday, Nov. 8 through Sunday, Nov. 10. Pop culture fans can enjoy celebrity meet and greets, cosplay contests, a tabletop game room and more. This year’s celebrity guests include George Takei, John Cusack, Dave Coulier, Joel McHale, Manny Jacinto and more. Tickets range from $30-$250 for adults, and kids’ day passes are $10. For more information, visit motorcitycomiccon.com.

The Color of Sci-Fi is a series celebrating and uplifting the genre of science-fiction and the people of color who create and enjoy it. Located in Detroit, this series includes art exhibitions, author talks, and panel discussions on the power and importance of representation in science fiction and STEM fields, as well as its impact on our city and society. Award-winning authors Steven Barnes (“Far Beyond the Stars”) and Derek Tyler Attico (“The Autobiography of Benjamin Sisko”) will headline this year’s event at the Detroit Public Library Main Branch on Saturday, Nov. 9. Festivities go from 2-4 p.m. and admission is free. For more information, visit their Eventbrite page.

Comic relief

WDET and Michigan Public are thrilled to welcome “Wait Wait… Don’t Tell Me!” back to Detroit on Thursday, Nov. 14! Host Peter Sagal will lead a panel of comedians, writers, listener contestants and a secret celebrity guest through a rollicking review of the week’s news. Don’t miss your chance to see this Peabody Award-winning comedy news quiz show live at the Fox Theatre. Plus, when you make a sustaining gift of at least $100/month at wdet.org/give, you could even enjoy drinks and dessert with Peter Sagal after the show! For more information, visit our events page.