It feels so good to go to an art show you can actually touch.

At this mini-show for textile artist Katrina Santa Ana Jose’s “The Room Breathes In,” you can actually sit down on one of her pieces. 

It’s a small foam cushion called “Soft Landing” (a steal at $250!) sewn with competing flannel-esque textiles on the outside. It’s warm and inviting with at least one patron sprawling out on “Soft Landing” to take a photo.

You know how good it feels to go to a show that’s actually functional? 

When I say “mini-show,” it’s not a comment on the substance of the show. It’s the fact that it’s actually quite small. Not just the collection itself (six pieces total), but the space it’s in.

Grüna Gallery is basically a makeshift hallway separating the facade and the artist studio of Louise Jones, who operates Grüna and is hosting “The Room Breathes In.” The location blends in with the rest of the brick-and-mortar retail on this block in Grosse Pointe Park.

It’s a bite-sized model I’d love to see more artists’ consider using their own space for.

Outside of the use of space and location, the show itself is a lovely one that likely wouldn’t feel as welcoming and comforting in a larger space, or if it was stuffed in as part of a group show. 

Like the natural fibers she’s using, Santa Ana Jose’s textile creations breathe. Aside from the cushion, the rest are hanging pieces — perhaps as standalone art but here mainly envisioned as curtains allowing light to pour into the mini-gallery. As guests walk by, they grab the fabrics and stretch them out to see the details and let go to watch the fabric waft back into its hanging position. It’s a simple yet utterly satisfying part of “The Room Breathes In.” It’s material you’re used to, but presented as art, which you’re never able to play with like this (gently, of course).

For this show, they are made from a bunch of leftover aprons and other oddities from a former butcher shop in Mount Clemens that she stumbled upon during an estate sale. You can see some of the original logos and uses for these materials still on her creations.

That’s the beating heart of her practice — breathing new life into old fabrics or, as it’s described in a release about the show, the “process of grief becoming material reconstruction.” Because the fabrics she’s using are natural fibers (for this show, mainly cotton and linen), they can “ultimately return to the earth, completing a cycle of reuse and regeneration.”

“Upcycling” is the common term thrown around, but that feels cheap and a bit overused for something like this exhibition, which feels elegantly simplistic and light and fresh. 

That’s likely because it’s got an actual ethos behind its creation that goes far beyond a buzzy term.

Katrina Santa Ana Jose’s “The Room Breathes In” is located at
Grüna Gallery, 15304 Kercheval Ave. in Grosse Pointe Park.

This story was originally published on Midbrow. 

The Paint the Park Mural and Art Festival returns to Allen Park, in partnership with the Downtown Development Authority and The Mural People. It’s free and open to the public Aug. 22-23.

This year’s event has grown with more activities for the entire family. Guests can grab an Allen Park watercolor kit, or watch live demonstrations of glass art, woodworking ceramics and more.

Eight muralists will create large-scale public artworks throughout the city, showcasing the vibrancy of the community. There will also be more than 50 artist and maker booths. 

Bike lovers are also encouraged to come out and ready to roll. This year Slow Roll Detroit will complete its first Downriver ride and mural tour led by founder Jason Hall on Saturday.

Jason Hall and Dan Armand, co-founder and co-owner of The Mural People, joined me to talk more about the festival and the Downriver communities.

Hear the full conversation using the media player above.

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The American Human Rights Council and the Dearborn Police Department are urging the public not to engage with outside groups expected to attend Dearborn’s city council meeting on Aug.18. Far-right influencer and activist Jake Lang may attend the meeting.

Chief of Police Issa Shahin says outside groups have come to the city to seek attention and provoke confrontations in the past. Shahin says the most powerful thing the community can do is refuse to give them an audience.

Tuesday’s council meeting is the first since Abdul El-Sayed won the Democratic nomination for Senate. 

Additional headlines for Thursday, Aug. 13, 2026

Attorney General Nessel warns about scammers

Michigan’s attorney general says scammers posing as banks or credit unions are targeting customers.

Dana Nessel says they use spoofing technology to make their caller ID look legitimate. When the target answers the phone, the scammer claims there’s an issue with the consumer’s account and offers to resolve it in exchange for personal information they can use to steal their money.

Nessel says people who get a call they’re not expecting should hang up and call their financial institution directly.  

Healthy Homes Resource event

The Wayne County Treasurer’s Office and the City of Detroit are holding a Healthy Homes Resource and Foreclosure Prevention Event this Saturday, Aug. 15 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Residents can receive assistance with their homeowner’s property exemption application, meet with representatives from the assessor’s office, water department, and more.

Attendees will also have a chance to win a flat screen TV, gift cards and more.

Those who need a ride can call 866-313-2520 to schedule a ride with the Lyft rideshare service. The event will be held at Joesph Walker Williams Center at 8431 Rosa Parks Boulevard.  

Veterans meeting

Detroit’s Civil Rights, Inclusion, and Opportunity Department (CRIO) is hosting a Veteran’s Task Force meeting next Wednesday, Aug. 19 from 2:30-4 p.m. over Zoom.

The meeting is an opportunity for veterans to have their voices heard, share input, and tell city officials about their needs. The event is in partnership with Council member Mary Waters and the Office of Veteran Affairs.

Grant for experimental artists

The non-profit arts organization Culture Source is announcing the Flourish Fund in partnership with the Andy Worhol Foundation.

The grant supports experimental artist-organized projects in Southeast Michigan. The Fund offers six $10,000 grants toward innovative, public-facing projects across the seven counties of Southeast Michigan. 

Applications close Sept. 11.

Listen to the latest episode of the “Detroit Evening Report” on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, NPR.org or wherever you get your podcasts.

Kiara Williams is a dedicated movie lover. Some of her earliest and fondest childhood memories involve watching movies at her grandmother’s apartment and going to the theater with her friends as a teenager.

Last year, while watching the film “Sinners” at the theater, Williams realized it took her over 20 minutes to get there, and it would take her over 20 minutes to get back. The New York native thought it was ridiculous to need a vehicle and a hefty commute to see a movie. 

So, she decided to start her own theater, Treuse Cinema, in the heart of Detroit. 

Williams says movies bring hope—something the city deserves. 

“Movies give us the ability to dream,” Williams says. “One of the elders here that I’ve connected with in Detroit, his name is Maurice, he told me that when movie theaters stopped existing in Detroit, they took away the ability for Detroiters to dream.” 

Williams believes that Detroit should have access to quality films just like any other city.

 She hopes to build that access from the ground up.  

“Detroit has always been a city of stories, and I believe that the lack of a cinematic infrastructure for that medium to be shown, for those stories to be told, is devastating,” Williams said. 

More than just a movie theater

Williams is currently building community support for her project, Treuse Cinema, an expansive tri-use space. 

“This space exists in many different contexts,” she explains. “It’s for filmmakers to come and get inspired, for people to have a good movie-going experience, for the broader film industry to connect with the Detroit talent that’s already been here.”

Right now, Treuse Cinema is just an idea. Williams is searching for a permanent location in the city. Meanwhile, she and her partners have hosted various events to get Detroiters engaged with the concept.

Filmmakers Influx: Detroit

Williams hosted “Filmmakers Influx: Detroit” at The Shepard Art Gallery in July.

The event was designed to connect creatives and encourage collaboration ‘to have an energy of people connecting, stories overlapping that people would have never thought would overlap.’

The event had music, food and a panel of three Detroit-based filmmakers, who spoke about their experiences.

Filmmaker Paisley Sutton sees the need for film spaces in the city. “Detroit has such an amazing art scene, we’ve set the tone for so much culture around the world,” Sutton said. “So, I think it’s only right that we have strong communities, especially film communities here in Detroit.” 

Another panelist, Liv Morris, says that with so many big corporations coming into Detroit, communities like the one Williams is creating are extremely important. “There are a lot of institutions and big corporations coming in, in order to make something of Detroit, versus people who are actually trying to connect with artistic communities—and I think Kiara is one of those people,” Morris said. 

Community is one of the most important aspects of the project for Kiara Williams. She says she wants to create a space where movie-going can become a local, people-focused event. 

“I believe in people power,” Williams said. “I no longer see the power in corporatism, I know they have power with money, but we can access that, we can get the money, and I don’t need to waiver on my dream. I don’t need to waiver on what I believe and if there’s not alignment, then they’re not a part of the dream.” 

Above all else, Williams wants her future movie theater to be a place where Detroiters can connect with each other and with their dreams. 

Williams plans to continue organizing pop-up events until Treuse Cinema finds its forever home. 

Fantastico: Wild and Winsome Posters from Mexico’s Golden Age, 1936-1960 will open to the public for free on the evening of Thursday, August 6 at Galerie Camille in the Cass Corridor.

There will be posters and lobby cards that feature genres such as Mexican film noir and rumberas movies, or cabaret melodramas made famous from their dance numbers.

Dalia Reyes, an interdisciplinary artist and arts administrator from Southwest Detroit, co-curated the exhibition. “There’s something about being able to compare what we see here in the US and then what Mexico was doing during that time,” Reyes says.

Reyes joined The Metro to discuss the art, culture, and innovation behind the timeless items of Mexican cinema. “You can expect a variety of categories anywhere from crime, drama, musicals, noir, and then some of those major Hollywood movies,” Reyes says.

Hear the full conversation using the media player above.

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The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services has lifted the precaution to avoid bagged mixed salad mixes. Officials say new cyclosporiasis case reports and emergency department visits are on the decline. Data show most exposures occurred in late June and early July.

Officials are saying the majority of contaminated lettuce is likely no longer available for consumption. The department will continue updating outbreak data every Thursday. Officials continue to recommend avoiding the recalled lettuce. 

 Additional headlines for Aug. 6, 2026

Dearborn Homecoming

The City of Dearborn’s 45th Homecoming Festival starts tomorrow Aug.7. The festival opens at noon at Ford Field Park with an official ribbon cutting will take place under the park’s covered bridge at 12:30 p.m.

The event will feature live music, carnival rides, an arts district, a vendor village and more. Musical headliners include country singer Martina McBride on Saturday and Grammy award winning artist Chance the Rapper on Sunday. Both performances will be followed up by a fireworks show at 10 p.m.

Festival hours are noon to 10:30 p.m. daily. After 4 p.m., children under the age of 18 must be accompanied by a parent or guardian.

Admission is free. The festival runs this weekend only.

 Supplemental food program expands income threshhold

More Michigan families may qualify for Woman, Infant, Children (WIC) benefits. The state health department has increased the income threshold for the program, which provides women, infants, and children with supplemental food, breastfeeding support, and referrals to health and social services. A family of four can now qualify with an annual income of up to $61,050.

WIC helps about 187,000Michigan residents every month. 

 DDOT public hearing

The Detroit Department of Transportation (DDOT) is hosting a public hearing on August 20 at 4 p.m. to discuss and receive feedback on potential service changes taking effect on Sept. 7. The public hearing will be virtual.

The public can submit feedback through email to ddotcomments@detroitmi.gov  until Friday, Sept. 4.

 Asian American artist showcase

The Asian American based non-profit Rising Voices is announcing their 2026 artist and creative cohort exhibition. Titled “Revolution, Resistance, and Joy”, the exhibition showcases the work of Michigan Asian American artists.

The show starts August 7 with an opening reception from 6-9 p.m. at the Swords into Plowshares Gallery located on 33 East Adams Street in Detroit. The exhibition runs through Aug. 22.

Listen to the latest episode of the “Detroit Evening Report” on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, NPR.org or wherever you get your podcasts.

Documentary photographer Syed Yaqeen is the founder of the American Muslim Experience documentary project. He created the project to preserve the stories of American Muslims through visual storytelling and conversations. 

“It’s just everyday lives of folks going through their struggles, kids going to school, people going to their work, and all of that is what the one thing that connects. And they happen to be Muslims,” he says.

Yaqeen began American Muslim Experience as a passion project around 2017. The multimedia platform became a nonprofit in December 2025.

Coming to Michigan

This week, the Pennsylvania-based photographer is visiting Hamtramck, Detroit, and Dearborn to gather pictures of people. 

“Michigan is so interesting because you can go in a half-mile drive radius and have every different ethnic background Muslims and their specific areas where there are specific people from parts of the world, but also in between you have the local and long term Black Muslim community, which are such a historic community, ” he shares.

Yaqeen says he was inspired to begin this project after noticing that American Muslims are portrayed negatively in the public eye. 

“When you think of a Muslim in America or a Muslim, who that person can be, and you might not imagine the person you’re seeing right now as what you think a Muslim is,” he says.

A diverse religious community 

He says American Muslims are among the most diverse Muslim communities in the world. 

Yaqeen, who has two sons, says he also wanted to create positive representation of everyday Muslims for his kids, and others.

“It’s definitely a learning process for myself, and I want to share that with the rest of the community, with everyone,” he says.

Yaqeen says the American Muslim Experience project is a way for Americans to learn about Muslims, but also for Muslims to see themselves in the public. 

“Even inside the Muslim community, it’s such a needed visual representation,” he says.

Yaqeen previously worked on the Muslims for American Progress by the Institute for Social Policy and Understanding (ISPU), which featured Muslims from all walks of life. He says he got a taste of what this work could look like long-term.

“A lot of this misunderstanding comes from a point of where whoever has that negative idea so often, if not almost always, has never actually met someone who’s Muslim or don’t know anyone who is Muslim,” he explains.

“They just have this stereotypical idea in their head, and they go with it. So all of this work, I think ISPU’s work, and what I’m trying to do, comes back to that point that… get to know the folks.”

Contemporary archive in the making

American Muslim Experience is now a nonprofit. Yaqeen says the work will expand to include educational programming and community conversations.

“We’re hoping for it to be a place where a lot of different storytelling and… community events and all that stuff is housed in one place, so it’s easy to access,” he says. 

Yaqeen says this work is important for years to come.

“Not just a Muslim community, because you hear such negative talks most of the time. But then, when you’re on the ground with the people, you realize there is so much going on. They’re doing amazing work. They’re building community,” he elaborates.

He says American Muslims have played an important role in the country.

“We’re very much part of the history of this country, but also we plan to be part of this country going forward. So to you know have that documented, recorded, and preserved going forward, I think will be very important,” he says.

Yaqeen is collecting photographs and interviews this week. You can find him on Instagram @americanmuslimexperience to schedule a session.

Michigan is reporting the first two fatalities among people suffering from the disease cyclosporiasis. Officials say medical records indicate the people had significant underlying health conditions. Officials add the disease, which can cause cramps and explosive diarrhea, is generally non-life-threatening. Deaths from it are uncommon in the U.S.

The state reports more than 11,000 cases since June, although it’s not clear how many of those people may have already recovered from the disease.  

-Reporting by Quinn Klinefelter

Additional headlines for Monday, Aug. 3, 2026

American Muslim Experience

Documentary photographer and visual storyteller Syed Yaqeen is visiting Michigan this week as part of the American Muslim Experience— a documentary project to preserve the stories of American Muslims through visual storytelling and conversations. 

He says he began the project to document stories of everyday Muslims to counter negative stereotypes and showcase what it means to be Muslim in America.  

“Like the complicated lives of everyday people who again happen to be Muslim. So for them to be able to see themselves as young kids, students going to school, getting jobs, first job, learning how to drive-you know-all these little simple things that people tend not to think of when they are, I guess, put in a specific group.”  

Yaqeen says his focus is on documenting the present-day lives of American Muslims to preserve that for the future.  

He is taking pictures in Hamtramck, Detroit and Dearborn.  

People can contact him on Instagram at americanmuslimexperience to schedule a session. 

Language access failure

The city of Detroit has failed to translate information in emergencies as required through an ordinance created last year to translate public service announcements, says the Michigan Immigrant Rights Center. 

Bridge Detroit reports that includes hazardous smoke and extreme heat warnings. City officials say they will make improvements to provide Detroiters whose first language is not English access to resources or information.  

Meanwhile Detroit Mayor Mary Sheffield has tasked the Civil Rights, Inclusion and Opportunity (CRIO), Office of Immigrant Affairs, and Media Services departments to improve language access in the city. 

BridgeDetroit found much emergency-based information was only posted in English on the city’s website or Facebook. 

The city hopes to provide translated information in Spanish, Bengali, Arabic, and French. Meanwhile, residents can use Detroit’s alert system and choose a language of their choice to access the city’s website. 

Detroit has spent more than $362,000 on language access services in the past year.  

Blood donations at extreme low

The American Red Cross has issued an emergency appeal for blood donations.

Sydney Henry is with the Michigan region of the American Red Cross. She says blood donations typically drop in the summer, but this summer is worse than usual.  

That’s likely because of the extreme heat events and wildfire smoke that choked some states, especially Michigan. 

Henry says the Red Cross has less than a day’s supply of type O positive blood. That blood can be given to most people in an emergency. 

-Reporting by Tracy Samilton

Brittini Ward is a multi-media artist and the founder of EYE N EYE LLC. It’s a creative studio, using storytelling for healing, care and cultural preservation in the city of Detroit.  

The Emmy-winning artist has been featured in The Kennedy Center in Washington DC, Detroit Institute of Arts, Motown Museum and has partnered with local organizations like Black Bottom Archives and Plowshares Theatre Company, just to name a few.  

Ward graduated from The University of Michigan Flint and has her masters in Social Justice and Community Organizing from Prescott College. 

Today, her work builds on her educational pursuits, allowing her to bring people together around art. Through her exhibitions, she’s intentionally creating spaces that hold community stories.  

Listen to the episode and learn more about Detroit based artist Brittini Ward.

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

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

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

The Belle Isle Art Fair will celebrate 11 years this weekend. The two day festival will feature over a hundred juried artists from more than a dozen states.

Those with a state park pass get free entry.

Mark Loeb is the director of Integrity Shows and the ongoing producer of Belle Isle Art Fair.

Mady Chen is a featured artist of the Belle Isle Art Fair. She serves as the owner of Apple and Thistle Press and the organizer of We The People – A Resistance Art Exhibit.

 Both joined The Metro to discuss what the public should expect from the event and how the revolution can be found through linocut printing.

“If you reach out to other people, everyone is happy to come together, and then there’s so much more to it at that point,” Chen says.

WDET is supported by The Belle Isle Art Fair.

Hear the full conversation using the media player above.

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Detroit remembers the legacy of John “Jammin” Collins, who served as the vice chair on The City of Detroit Entertainment Commission.

He did everything, from being a DJ, radio host, and a booking agent. He was part of the foundational techno collective, Underground Resistance, and left his mark on Detroit electronic music.

“If you give a crowd what they want, what they want to hear, you can take them where you want to go,” Collins said in a 2021 interview with WDET Creative Producer Conor Anderson. They discussed the shows he produced for the Underground Resistance, his experience with overseas techno, and his kidney transplant.

Hear the full conversation using the media player above.

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Arts funding has been on and off the chopping block. At the same time, art and culture organizations are facing financial and political pressure from the Trump administration.

Meanwhile, funding for the National Endowment for the Arts held steady this year at $207 million. This comes after the administration threatened to eliminate the agency altogether. 

Mary Anne Carter is the Chairman of the National Endowment of the Arts. It’s the second time she’s been in this role both serving under President Donald Trump.

Carter joined The Metro to talk about her tour in Michigan as part of an America 250 tour.

Hear the full conversation using the media player above.

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The city of Detroit is connected to larger cultural movements throughout its history. Yet, most people don’t realize the first free national public art museum has its roots in Detroit. 

Charles Lang Freer wasn’t born in the city, but moved here for opportunity and economic growth. He turned his Ferry street home into a living gallery, collecting thousands of American, Asian and Middle Eastern art works. 

He arrived in Detroit in 1880, when the city was on the brink of a cultural boom. The Detroit Institute of Arts opened in 1885. Pewabic Pottery opened in 1903. The Scarab Club began in 1907. The College for Creative Studies traces its roots to 1906 as the Detroit Society of Arts and Crafts.

Following the success of his railroad car business, Freer retired at the age of 47. He became a student of art, collecting, traveling and amassing an impressive collection. The collection went on to form the country’s first national museum and Asian art museum in Washington DC. 

Dr. Chase F. Robinson is the director of the Smithsonian’s National Museum of Asian Art.  He and his team worked closely with the Freer House in Detroit to curate a new exhibition in honor of the nation’s 250th anniversary. He tells The Metro more about the history behind the Freer House.

A Museum in the Making will be on display June 27 through August 8 at the National Museum of Asian Art in the Freer Gallery of Art. 

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Over in the Rosedale Park neighborhood on Grand River is an art gallery for children. It’s a space where some of the city’s youngest artists can create and display their work. 

The RED: Children’s Art Museum and Gallery nurtures and displays the work of kids who want to exercise their creative skills. 

Yvette Rock is the founder and executive director of the gallery. She has been working with young artists for decades, encouraging them to develop their skills and exposing them to career artists right here in Detroit. 

The museum re-opened in March in time for the summer season, so Rock joined the show to talk about the museum’s work and how she develops young artists.

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Roberto Clemente is a baseball icon. Over his 18-year career he won two world series, acquired 12 golden gloves, four batting titles, and is one of only 33 players in baseball history to collect 3,000 hits in his career. Clemente’s resume jumps off the page. 

But what Clemente was able to accomplish on the field may not even be his greatest contribution. Clemente’s record as a civil rights advocate and humanitarian is as synonymous with his reputation as his athletic achievements. 

Tragically, Clemente’s desire to help others led to his death in December 1972. On a trip to escort aid to Nicaragua after an earthquake hit the country, his plane crashed and he was never seen again. 

To honor him in the years since the accident, the MLB gives the Roberto Clemente award to the player who demonstrates exceptional work off the field. 

In an effort to further enshrine Clemente’s legacy, a new stage play tells his story.

“Roberto Clemente: A Diamond Within” is an original play written by Candido Tirado. The play is being  produced by Plowshares Theatre Company and it runs from June 12th through June 28th in the Marlene Boll Theatre at The Boll Family YMCA. 

Gary Anderson, Producing Artistic Director of Plowshares Theatre Company, joined the show to explain why he’s bringing this take on Clemente’s life to a Detroit stage.

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From Animal Crossing at the aquarium to Indian cultural performances at the DIA and patriotic classics at Orchestra Hall, here are a few events happening around southeast Michigan this week.

Upcoming events (May 29 – June 5)

Animal Crossing Aquarium Tour

SEA LIFE Michigan Aquarium 

May 7-July 23

Starts at $19

From May 7th to July 23rd, the Sea Life Michigan Aquarium will host the 2025 Animal Crossing Aquarium Tour. From 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., there will be photo ops, character standees, meet-and-greets, and exclusive merchandise. Admission starts at $19. 

Design Your Own Jewelry Experience

1435 Farmer Street 

$20

This summer, RebelNell will host a Design Your Own Jewelry Experience. For 30 minutes, customers will have the opportunity to create their own unique pieces jewelry. The cost is $20 for each session. 

Songs of America

Detroit Symphony Orchestra Hall

May 29-31

Starts at $19.95

From May 29 to May 31, the Detroit Symphony Orchestra (DSO) will host a celebration of America’s 250th anniversary. There will be performances of classic American songs, including “Lift Every Voice and Sing”, “The Star-Spangled Banner”, “Over the Rainbow”, and more. Ticket prices begin at $19.95. 

Indian Cultural Journey

Detroit Institute of Arts (DIA)

May 30

FREE

On Saturday, May 30, the Detroit Institute of Arts (DIA) will host the Indian Cultural Journey. From 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., guests will experience traditional Indian music, dance, storytelling and art. Additionally, guests are encouraged to wear traditional attire. Admission is free. 

Summer Art Fair

Midland Center for the Arts

May 30-31

FREE

On Saturday, May 30 and Sunday, May 31, Midland Center for the Arts will host their annual Summer Art Fair. From 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., guests can visit art booths, buy food and experience live music from local bands. Admission is free. 

Liberation work doesn’t look one way. For multidisciplinary artist Darryl DeAngelo Terrell, it looks like photography, videography, and sound working in concert to create a world free of race and gender constructs.

Rooted in their lived experience growing up Black and gay in Detroit, Terrell’s work questions our conventional understanding of desire, beauty and home then forces those who experience the work to confront how limited our portraits of Blackness within those themes actually are.

Terrell joined the show to explain how their art, in all its forms, serves as a tool to realize a world free of those limitations.

279º W 42º21’39” N 83º2’20″W Detroit, MI by Darryl DeAngelo Terrell

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Get some unique thrifty items at vintage pop-ups or travel back in time at the tracks with Greenfield Village. Plus, Detroit’s cinematic and musical skill is on display at a screening of “Sons of Detroit” and more.

Upcoming events (May 15-22)

Zoo Brew

Detroit Zoo

May 15

$35+

On Friday, May 15, KeyBank is hosting Zoo Brew at the Detroit Zoo. There will be naturalistic habitats, over 100 beverage selections, and live music. Admission ranges from $35-$95, and the event will be held from 6:30 pm to 10 pm. For more information, visit the Detroit Zoo website.

Arturo Sandoval at the DSO

Detroit Symphony Orchestra

May 15

$21+

On May 15, the Detroit Symphony Orchestra will host ten-time GRAMMY Award-winning musician Arturo Sandoval. In addition to his performance, the DSO will open its Paradise Lounge for food and cocktails. Admission starts at $21. For more information, visit the Detroit Symphony Orchestra website. 

Dearborn’s Vintage Store Day

Little Mama’s Vintage, Retro Image, Overtime Print Shop

May 16

Free

Little Mama’s Vintage celebrates Vintage Store Day with a pop up! The event will highlight three independent vintage stores, as well as a new Dearborn refillery, a local matcha brewer, and a DJ. Admission is free, and the event will be held from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. For more information, visit the Little Mama’s Vintage Instagram page.

All Aboard Adventure

Greenfield Village

May 16-17

$37 admission, with discounts for seniors and children

Greenfield Village is offering a train-lovers dream day, with hands on activities and demonstrations centered around the railroad tracks. Guests will be able to sit in a train from the late 1800s, watch a crane at work, push a discovery railcar and help maneuver the grand turntable outside the roundhouse to shift the tracks onto a new path. In addition to the mechanical, the Village green will have timeless lawn games and entertainment. This event is for all ages, and is free with the cost of admission. Arrive early to catch your train!

Salvation Army Sports Pop-up

823 E. Auburn Road

May 16

Free

From 9 a.m. to 9 p.m., the Salvation Army store in Rochester Hills is offering shoppers vintage sports wear, collectibles and more— oh, and there will be a chance to meet Detroit Lions Defensive End Myles Adams from 9-11 a.m.! The first 100 shoppers will recieve an autographed photo from him. There will also be a raffle for thrift store credit. Proceeds will fund substance abuse rehabilitation and other services at the ARC Detroit.

Detroit In Context: Downtown Walking Tour

1265 Washington Blvd

May 17

$10

The City Institute hosts a Detroit In Context: Downtown Walking Tour. The 2 mile tour will cover Campus Martius Park and Spirit Plaza, as well as the Guardian Building and Spirit of Detroit. There will be discussions of the city’s history and the impact of innovative residents. The event will be held from 1 p.m. to 3:30 p.m.

‘Sons of Detroit’ screening

Detroit Institute of Arts

May 17

$11.50; Seniors, students and DIA Members $9.50

On Sunday, May 17, the Detroit Institute of Arts (DIA) is showing “Sons of Detroit.” Described as a “part love letter, part detective story,” the film follows the reunion of two cousins through memoirs, performances, and journalism. And we can’t forget, music by Detroit legend Waajeed. General admission tickets are $11.50 and $9.50 for seniors, students, and DIA members. The screening starts at 7 p.m. For more information, visit the DIA website.

Outlier Media x Senate Theater Trivia

Senate Theater

May 19

$10

Outlier Media and the historic Senate Theater are teaming up for a trivia night all about Michigan movies. Outlier’s Briana Rice and BridgeDetroit’s Bryce Hoffman will be hosting the event, which will run from 6:30-9 p.m. on Tuesday. Tickets sales support the Senate Theater and Outlier Media. Don’t miss out on this special opportunity to show off your knowledge of local film history and learn something new. Plus, there’s a prize for the winning teams.

Some cities raise you. Detroit claims you. That’s true for so many who’ve called this city home. It starts early, with the way you walk, the way you talk or the particular pride you carry when you sport the city’s iconic symbols like the old English D on a hat or a Tigers jersey. 

Jeremy Xido knows this. He grew up in an unstable home. A family that lived nearby recognized his situation and took him in and raised him in his early years. Some years later, he and his biological family moved to a different part of town and he lost touch.

Xido is a white man who was embraced by a Black Detroit family. In his film “Sons of Detroit” he explores what happened to that family.

The film took Jeremy on a 10 year discovery, not just of self but of community, love and connection. It’s part love letter, part detective story in which Xido reckons with the love he has for the city he left behind.

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