One Year Anniversary Reading of Women Who Submit

Women Who Submit celebrates its Detroit chapter’s first anniversary with readings from members, plus snacks and resources for writers interested in submitting their work.

27th Letter Books, 3546 Michigan Ave, Detroit, MI 48216, USA
Friday, Aug. 14
womenwhosubmitlit.org/events-2/

Reading & Rhythm on the Riverfront

Families can enjoy live read-alouds, music and interactive entertainment, plus free books for children.

Gabriel Richard Park, 7130 E. Jefferson Ave., Detroit
Friday, Aug. 14, sessions at 10 and 11:30 a.m.
Free
detroitriverfront.org/events/calendar/2026/08/14/reading-rhythm-on-the-riverfront

Bold Women’s Health Day

BasBlue hosts a day focused on women’s health, with expert discussions, wellness resources, screenings and a free community resource fair.

BasBlue, 110 E. Ferry St., Detroit
Saturday, Aug. 15, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Community Resource Fair is free
eventbrite.com/e/bold-women-health-day-health-summit-tickets-1993930703409

Woodward Dream Cruise

Thousands of classic, custom and specialty vehicles take over Woodward Avenue for Metro Detroit’s annual celebration of car culture.

Woodward Avenue, Ferndale to Pontiac
Saturday, Aug. 15, 9 a.m. to 9 p.m.
Free
woodwarddreamcruise.com/visitor-guide/events-route-map/

Black Bottom | Black Legacy Festival

Celebrate Black Detroit’s history and culture through storytelling, art, performances, workshops and interactive experiences.

Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History, Detroit
Saturday, Aug. 15, and Sunday, Aug. 16, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Free
thewright.org/events/black-bottom-black-legacy-festival

Community Mural Painting

Add your brushstrokes to a community mural inspired by Detroit’s people, waterways and natural beauty.

Detroit Historical Museum, 5401 Woodward Ave., Detroit
Saturday, Aug. 15, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Included with museum admission; adults $15, discounts available
detroithistorical.org/events/community-mural-painting

Time to Art with Dave Chow

Detroit illustrator Dave Chow shares stories and artwork from his career spanning comics, cars, music and advertising.

Detroit Historical Museum, 5401 Woodward Ave., Detroit
Saturday, Aug. 15, 11 a.m. to noon
Included with museum admission; adults $15, discounts available
detroithistorical.org/events/time-art-dave-chow

Detroit Youth Sports Showcase

Kids can try more than 30 sports and activities, including basketball, soccer, tennis, skateboarding, chess and robotics.

Ralph C. Wilson Jr. Centennial Park, 1801 W. Jefferson Ave., Detroit
Saturday, Aug. 15, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Free
detroitriverfront.org/events/calendar/2026/08/15/detroit-youth-sports-showcase

Bee Fest

Celebrate Detroit’s pollinators with beekeeper talks, honey tastings, crafts, gardening tips and other bee-friendly activities.

Belle Isle Nature Center, Detroit
Saturday, Aug. 15, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Free
belleislenaturecenter.org/event/bee-fest/2026-08-15/

GrillFest

Sample grilled eats and drinks from local vendors while enjoying live entertainment and a summer marketplace.

Eastern Market Shed 5, Detroit
Sunday, Aug. 16, noon to 4 p.m.
Ticketed event
detroitgrillfest.com

Tacos & Trivia

Grab tacos and test your knowledge during free team trivia, with concert tickets and other prizes up for grabs.

Campus Martius Park, Detroit
Tuesday, Aug. 18, 6 to 8 p.m.
Free trivia; food and drinks available for purchase
downtowndetroit.org/event/tacos-trivia-presented-by-long-drink-9/

According to Booketic, 55% of Gen Z say they read for fun at least once a week. John King, owner of John K. King Used and Rare Books in Detroit, has more quantifying evidence. 

“Sales have increased for the first six months of this year by 6% so people are buying books. Records were coming back, cassettes I heard were coming back, but books were always there,” says King. He says they’re gaining popularity again because younger people are drawn to media they can hold in their hands, and not have to charge. 

King says he began collecting used books in 1965 out of the back of a 1954 Packard. Once he found a reliable building to settle into, his collection grew into what is now the biggest used bookstore in Michigan.

Throughout the years, he has found some unique objects.

Janelle Spann, an employee at John King’s made sure to emphasize that their rare book section was for serious collectors. But when she is in the main building, she sees all kinds of customers. 

“There’s a ton of young people that come every Saturday and on their days off. So really, I guess your social media is the one who spreads it,” Spann says.

Owning what you pay for

Oliver English was in the history section with a book on Mesoamerican mythology. They think it’s important to be able to keep the books they buy in an era of endless subscriptions. “As more things go online, it’s definitely more important to be able to hold something, and especially right now, ownership of things, especially online, is moving more towards a rental model. And the thing about physical books is, once you buy it once, you own it.”

The younger employees at John King share the same opinion. Julian Kane, who was on the floor helping customers, points to another looming threat to the way reading used to be. 

“I think there is a certain panic in the like in Generation Z or whatever they call it of the AI blowup or any kind of technology that threatens us. I know some people are really excited about it too and see it as a thing that helps them. “

Getting kids invested in reading

Kane’s coworker Shantenay Doss finds young adult novels interesting to read because they’re written for her age group. She says that even younger kids are coming back since their parents have tried to improve their education. 

“We have a a literary problem. I think that’s the word I’m using using correctly. But yeah, not a lot of kids are reading anymore, and I don’t even think they’re teaching it well in schools either anymore. So I think now people are coming back and realizing like we got to get to reading again. “

Both Doss and Kane have been surrounded by books their entire lives. Doss says she spent most of her childhood in the library, while Kane found a greater appreciation for physical books as he got older. They both sought out John King’s because of their love for books and found the perfect environment. 

“This is kind of a time capsule of a store, and the physical media here has so much charm,” says Kane. “There’s a smell that’s like old books, and it smells like your grandma’s basement or something. “

But people wouldn’t be talking about a decrease in reading if it wasn’t becoming a real issue. English says an open mind could be the key to taking a chance on a book. 

“Well, there’s so many of them. Statistically, there’s going to be one you like. You and also, you have to have an open mind. If you go in saying ‘I don’t like books,’ then you’re not going to find one. But if you go in saying I’ll look at the titles, even if the cover looks pretty, just pick it up, and maybe you’ll like it.”

Open minds, open books

King is prepared for open minds. He says he makes sure to keep the books he knows people want in stock, so they can find the next thing they might fall in love with.

“The rarity basically is not that important. We’re more interested in filling the needs of the people, and most of the people want Tolkien, they want Philip K. Dick, they want Jane Austen. So those are are golden books for us because… they’re 100% sellers. “

Even if customers don’t buy a book, Julian Kane says the experience of going to John King’s is a memorable one—even if it’s a bit overwhelming at first. “It’s it’s one of those stores you go into and you’re like ‘what is going on, like how do I find anything?’ But you get absorbed into the novelty of it. The first time you come in you’re like, ‘okay wow I could really spend hours here the next time I come back.'” 

In King’s words finding the right book is like a lottery—you don’t win every day, but now and then you’ll find something thrilling.

Bookstock Michigan, one of the largest used book and media sales in the country is back.

Each year at Laurel Park Place in Livonia, thousands of volunteers help collect, sort, and organize hundreds of thousands of donated books and media items. The result is an affordable marketplace for readers of all ages.

But beyond the size of the sale, the collective effort behind it, from neighbors, to educators, and community members keeps the spirit of Bookstock alive.

Proceeds from sales go directly back into literacy and education programs across the region, helping expand access to reading materials and learning opportunities.

Honorary Bookstock chair Neal Rubin joins The Metro to share more about the annual event. 

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