Arts, Beats & Eats is Still Bringing the Beats and Helping Local Musicians

This year, Arts, Beats & Eats won't be taking over the streets of Royal Oak like it normally does. But, they are still keeping the festival going, and the way that they are doing it might be even cooler than the traditional event. (Well, at least giving the current circumstances.) This year, you can catch some "live" music and support local artists through a series of virtual and drive-in events. 

The virtual part of the festival kicked off on Thursday night. It will host music online every night through September 3rd with different virtual musical stages. The goal of this part of the festival is to bring music to you while you're in the comfort of your own home and help local musicians. The festival will be taking donations during all of the virtual events, and those funds will be distributed to local musicians. They plan to raise hundreds of thousands of dollars during the events and have a goal of reaching $1Million, because Oakland County is matching all donations up to $500,000. You can check out the full virtual lineup of events here. Some highlights that stuck out to us are Scott Lee on Tuesday at 7 p.m., Gerard Smith on Tuesday at 8 p.m., Emma Guzman on Sunday at 3 p.m., and we hear Ben Sharkey is cooking up something extra special for his set on Sunday at 6 p.m.

The drive-in portion of the festival will take place Friday, September 4th thru Labor Day. This will also feature local musicians and will take place in the parking lot at 6th and Main Street in Royal Oak, where the national acts usually take the stage during the festival. The lot will be limited to 50 cars with 2 people in each car. Admission per car is $30, which will be divided between the bands that are performing. For that admission, you will get to see a set with two acts, while maintaining social distancing. Some highlights from this portion of the event include Jackson & The Poolsharks kicking things off on Friday at 5 p.m., Kaleido, Nina & The Buffalo Riders, Polish Muslims, Corktown Popes, Stone Clover, Thornetta Davis, and more. You can check out the full lineup and the details of the drive-in here. 

For the Arts & the Eats parts of the festival, things will be different too. The art show will be by appointment only and will take place on September 5th and 6th. You can get all of the information on that by clicking here. The eats will be transformed to "Eats on the Streets", in which the festival teamed up with T-Mobile to get your favorite food trucks out on the streets of Royal Oak, Clawson, Berkley, Huntington Woods, Clarkston, Rochester, Lake Orion and Ferndale. This part of the festival is only being publicized by those individual communities. So check the social media for the city closest to you to find out what trucks will be on their streets. 

It's no surprise that things are looking different for this festival this year, but hopefully this new approach will still add some fun into your week. For all of the details on this year's Arts, Beats & Eats, visit ArtsBeatsEats.com.

~C

Catch a Movie on the Patio @ The Film Lab Detroit

Have you ever heard of The Film Lab? This boutique movie theatre and cocktail bar is one of Hamtramck's hidden gems.  Before COVID-19 you could see a movie inside while you enjoyed a tasty cocktail, but as you know, things have changed and so has The Film Lab. They have converted their back patio into a place where you can relax, watch a film, and enjoy a drink without getting too close to anyone.

The Film Lab currently has a few movies on their schedule for this week. This includes showings of Scott Pilgrim vs. The World on August 27th and 29th, a sneak peek of  Feels Good Man on August 28th and 30th, and a showing of The Neverending Story on August 28th and 30th. You can purchase tickets for any of those events on their website here. It's only $10 a ticket, but tickets are only sold in pairs, so you have to have someone to take with you.

They also have an option for people who do not want to leave the house. You can purchase a movie directly from their website to watch from the comfort of your own home. They have quite a few options, including Creem: America's Only Rock and Roll Magazine, Helmut Newton the Bad and the Beautiful, and John Lewis: Good Trouble. You can see all of their current selections and view what's coming next here. 

To learn more about The Film Lab you can follow them on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter.

~S

Get Help Restoring Your Historic Home

Earlier this year we told you that a production company would be coming to town to help historic home owners in Detroit complete their restoration projects. Well, if you thought you missed out, you are in luck because they are still looking for interested parties! 

To fill you in, Bodega Pictures will be filming a show here in Detroit for a major cable network (we'll let you guess which one). This company has produced shows like Tiny Luxury and Stager Things on HGTV as well as Girl Meets Farm on Food Network. For this show, they are working with people that have historic homes that are at least 70 years old or older in the Detroit area. Interested parties should have an existing design/renovation budget in place and be ready for construction between September-February of 2021 (flexible). Here's their pitch:

• Are you in the middle of OR are you planning to restore a historical home?
• Do you feel in-over-your-head, intimidated, concerned or overwhelmed?
• Do you feel as though you have bitten off more than you can chew and not sure where or who to turn to?
• Do you want help from a nationally recognized, expert historical home contractor/designer?
• Do you have a renovation budget set aside, just need to find the perfect contractor?

If this sounds like something that you are interested in, send the following information to tvhomecasting@gmail.com

• Full Name(s)
• Area of Detroit you live in
• Contact Information (Email & Phone)
• Renovation Budget
• Brief Bio explaining why you need/deserve help restoring your historical home
• Several photos of you (+family, partner, spouses, etc) AND the property (interior and exterior)

This could be a really cool opportunity for some lucky homeowners in Detroit! Just think, you won't have to worry about hiring the right contractor or doing all of the work yourself. Instead, you'll be getting help from some of the best in the business! 

~C

Dive into Detroit's Dining Culture with a New Podcast Called Vegetarian Detroit

There have been a lot of stories written about Detroit's dining scene, but only a few of them have focused on the vegetarian and vegan cuisine that Detroit's chefs have created. There is a serious lack of conversation about all of the amazing plant-based options that we have, but a new podcast created by Jewell Dziendziel is going to change that.

Jewell has just released the first few episodes of her new podcast "Vegetarian Detroit" and each one is better than the next. So far she has interviewed Mike Ransom of Ima, Quianna “Que” Broden Chef and Owner of The Kitchen, Lamar Farhat Executive Sous Chef of Leila, Brad Greenhill Chef and Owner of Magnet and Takoi, and Manal Hussein owner and Baker of For the Love of Sugar. 

Each episode of the podcast is about a half-hour long and every chef has some interesting information to share about plant-based cooking. Jewell is a great interviewer who knows how to keep the conversation moving. You can listen to all the episodes of the new podcast here. We look forward to learning more about the plant-based dining scene as she releases new episodes.

~S 

Ladysse Has a Much Needed Dose of Dopamine For You

Dopamine is known as the feel-good neurotransmitter—a chemical that ferries information between neurons. The brain releases it when we eat food that we crave or while we have sex, contributing to feelings of pleasure and satisfaction as part of the reward system. Ladysse's new single "Dopamine" elicits the same kind of pleasurable reaction when you hear it for the first time. It's depressing, uplifting, and catchy as hell. It's exactly the kind of track we needed to dance our way through this extraordinary different summer. We reached out to Stephanie aka Ladysse to see how she handled the lockdown and how she deals with depression. Give her latest single "Dopamine" a listen and check out what she's been up to below!

Listen to Dopamine

Here are five quick questions with Ladysse:

Hip- How did you pass your time during a lockdown? How did you cope with everything slowing down?
Ladysse- "Quarantine was a bit of a blessing in disguise for me because it forced me to stay home and focus on a bunch of new music projects that my brain is usually too scattered to finish! One of my producers and I started a little side project that made writing feel like a zero pressure, just for fun, creative exploration and it’s EXACTLY what I needed." 

Hip- Red nails, red pants, red outfits. Why red?
Ladysse- "Red is my absolute favorite color! Haha, it makes me feel strong when I wear it. I think everyone has that color that makes them feel like they own the world. Red is that for me:)"

Hip- What's your favorite summer activity?
Ladysse- "Being outside! I always feel so alive and inspired by nature so I want to be out in it as much as possible. I live in such a beautiful state and I can’t wait to get out on some more hikes, kayaks, bike rides, whatever it is, get me outside and give me a fruit popsicle and I’m all set haha!" 

Hip- Your new song is about depression. Have you ever been depressed? How did you get your dopamine back up? Any suggestions for someone who might be feeling down right now?
Ladysse- "Oh man, yes I have definitely struggled with depression a few times in my life. I feel like it’s something almost everyone has in common at one point or another. I’m kind of known as a “talker” so I am usually the one to reach out to my friends first when I’m feeling down. I have an amazing support system of people that are always there to listen. I’ve also become a huge listener of comedy podcasts! Small town murder is my current favorite. Sometimes I’ll put an episode on and walk to a park and just cry/ laugh. Haha, that sounds a lot more emo know that I type it! Most importantly, I think the best thing to do is reach out to someone you trust. Find your safe space where you can let some tears out. Try working out or dancing in your room. Anything that makes your heart feel lighter. Find that thing and let yourself FEEL your feelings." 

Hip- If you could talk to your 15-year-old self, what advice would you give her?
Ladysse- "I would tell her to stop arguing with her parents about not wanting to practice piano and just do it because it will pay off someday;)"

~S

Cadieux Cafe is Back with a New Biergarten and Live Music

Photo from Cadieux Cafe's Social Media

We weren't sure if the time would ever come, but live music is slowly returning! We really enjoyed all the live streams that we watched throughout the pandemic but as good as those were, it wasn't the same as watching and listening live. Although most venues haven't been able to reopen, some venues are trying to figure out a way to safely bring back live music.  Cadieux Cafe is one of those places.

Cadieux initially experimented by inviting a few people to hang out in their new 5,000 square foot outdoor Biergarten and after hosting a few shows, they have been filling up their calendar with more live events. This week they have shows booked on Tuesday, Thursday, Friday, and Saturday. Tuesday you can catch Supercrunch performing the music of Jerry Garcia and the Grateful Dead. Thursday night it's a '90s party with Interstate 90's. Friday night Mezz will hit the stage and Saturday night Before The Flood will bring you a Bob Dylan Revue. 

Cadieux Cafe currently has live music booked well into October. You can see their full list of upcoming events by visiting their Facebook page here. We've attached some photos of the space so you can take a look before you decide if you feel safe checking out some live music at a safe distance from others. If you decide to head to one of their shows, don't forget to bring your mask to protect yourself and others! If you're not sure about going to a show just yet, the Biergarten is also open on non-show nights.

Cadieux Cafe is located on the eastside of Detroit at 4300 Cadieux Rd. To keep up to date on their happenings, give them a follow on Facebook and Instagram. 

Photos from Cadieux Cafe's Social Media

~C

Yum Village is Really Yummy

Going out and trying something new is one of my favorite things to do. I love new music, new art, and new food. Unfortunately, 2020 is not the year to "go out" which can make it hard to try new things. When we first got locked down I was too freaked out to order out, but as the months have gone by I have found myself craving things that I cannot recreate at home. At first, I was just hitting up my favorite carryout spots, but I had to break out of the rut and try something different.

I decided that I wanted to give Yum Village a shot. I have heard good things and I knew that they had vegan options, so I placed an order online without knowing exactly what I was in store for. I have never knowingly had Afro-Caribbean Cuisine and was not familiar with some of the foods on the menu, so I decided to grab a vegan combo meal and see what it was all about.

First and foremost, I learned that the combo meal is meant to feed a lot more than one person. You could easily feed two to three people with the order. Initially, I thought $20+ (with tip) was a lot for a plant-based combo meal but upon inspection, it was a deal to get that much good food at such a low cost. Especially since EVERYTHING that I ordered was amazing. I purchased the Roots Combo which included Spicy Bean Rice, Roasted Brussels, and Ginger Curry Chickpeas. The rice was really spicy and flavorful, the Brussels were perfectly cooked and the curry chickpeas were out of this world. In fact, I would go as far as to say that this was the best chickpea dish that I have ever had, and I eat a lot of chickpeas so that is a pretty profound statement. The flavors and seasonings that were used to make these dishes were unlike anything I have ever tasted before and my palette was delighted to be introduced to whatever was giving every bite such a pleasant kick. I also wholeheartedly believe that if a restaurant can do vegan well, they can more than handle meat and poultry. Yum Village offers a variety of meat-heavy dishes and stews that are most likely just as good as everything I tried. You can see their full menu here.

I am pleased to report that I loved this place and will be ordering from there a lot more often. Speaking of ordering, they have moved all of their sales online and they will walk your food out to your car when you come to get it. They are trying to keep COVID-safe so they have made it as easy as it can be to get what you want exactly how you want it without having to risk the health of their staff or their customers.

Overall this one was one of the best meals I have eaten this year. I am so glad that I placed an order and tried something new. If you need to spice things up and try something different, I suggest giving Yum Village a try!

~S

Are You Ready to Vote? Check Your Registration and Get a Ticket to Stream a Live Show

Have you checked your voter registration lately? Do you know where you need to show up to vote this November? Have you thought about applying for an absentee mail-in ballot instead of going to the polls? Voting is the best way to make your voice heard, so it's imperative that you check your status. To ensure that everyone does this, HeadCount and Fort William Artist Management have teamed up to throw a virtual event called VOTE READY, A Concert for Voter Registration at 7 p.m. on August 14th.  

This one night only online event will feature original self-recorded performances by The War On Drugs, Robin Pecknold, Daniel Rossen (of Grizzly Bear), Christopher Bear (of Grizzly Bear/Fools), Kyp Malone (of TV On The Radio), Jaleel Bunton (of TV On The Radio), Kevin Morby, Waxahatchee, Tarriona Tank Ball, Hand Habits, Ciggy, Kam Franklin (of The Suffers), The Building and Allison Russell & Leyla McCalla (of Our Native Daughters). To get a ticket to attend the event you will need to check your voter registration status at HeadCount.org/VoteReady. When you do this you will receive a free eTicket to the stream. International and underage viewers will be able to receive the same access by pledging to vote in the next election in which they are eligible. Voter registration rolls change regularly and sometimes would-be voters show up at the polls only to learn they are no longer registered. Don't let this happen to you!

~S

The Flagstar Strand Hosts its First Marquee Concert this Weekend

One thing that we have missed most over the last few months is live music. As you know, that's a huge part of our website and of our personal lives. Although it is unclear when the world of live music will make a return, there have been some outdoor music events popping up here and there. 

This weekend, the Flagstar Strand Theatre in Pontiac will be hosting a concert, but it won't be on its stage. Instead, the music will be coming from the theatre's marquee and will fill the streets of Pontiac. They will be welcoming Thornetta Davis to their new outdoor performance area, along with The Fruits, Wally Dogger, and Major Dudes. A section of Saginaw Street will be shut down to allow for people to watch, and there will be food and beverages available for purchase from local establishments.

In order to keep everyone safe for this event, there are some rules to go along with it. 

1. You MUST have a mask or face covering.

2. You may not bring in your own drink.

3. There will be three points of entry (2 on either side of Saginaw Street and 1 through the Allery by Fillmore 13).

4. Your temperature will be checked before you enter.

5. You MUST socially distance.

6. You can bring a chair.

7. Enjoy the music and have a good time.

Since there will be street closures for this event, check out the map below to plan out where you're going to park before you get to the show. 

The Marquee Concert at The Strand is free to attend at it runs from 4-8 p.m. on Saturday, August 8th. The Strand Theatre is located just up the street from The Crofoot at 12 N. Saginaw Street in Pontiac. For more information on this event, click here. 

~C

CREEM the Movie Comes Out Virtually this Friday

In 1969 CREEM landed on newsstands around the US and proclaimed themselves "America's Rock and Roll Magazine". Two years later, they brought the legendary Lester Bangs on board and shook up the world of rock and roll with everything that they published in their pages. This includes coining the term punk rock and helping catapult artists like David Bowie, Blondie, Iggy Pop, and Lou Reed into the stratosphere. But, despite all its infamy, the complete story of Barry Kramer's magazine was never really told. Much of what we know about the writing room comes from the myths and legends that have been passed down over the last few decades. Thankfully two very important people teamed to do something about that. 

Barry Kramer's son JJ Kramer and CREEM co-founder and one of the first female rock journalists Jaan Uhelszki spent the last few years diving into the stories and compiling a picture that pays tribute to what some say was the rowdiest newsrooms in journalistic history. CREEM the movie will be released virtually at 3:00 a.m. EDT on August 7th. The film will include appearances by Alice Cooper, Joan Jett, Michael Stipe, Cameron Crowe, Paul Stanley, Gene Simmons, Kirk Hammett, Wayne Kramer, and Chad Smith.  It's $9.99 to buy one ticket to the show and once the film is released you will have 14 days to start watching the film and three days to watch it once you have started it. 

It has been fifty years since its all started. It's about time that we all get the full story of the magic that started in the Motor City and changed rock and roll forever.

~S

Take a Quest through The Jurassic Period

Photo from Jurassic Quest Facebook

Are you sick of sitting at home with the kids? Are you and your friends bored and looking for something different to do? Do you need a break from your daily routine without breaking quarantine? How about going back a few thousand years to see what it was like when dinosaurs ruled the world?

DTE Music Theatre aka Pine Knob isn't going to be hosting any live music this Summer so they have invited Jurassic Quest to take over the park from August 7th - 16th instead.  For $49 a car you can take an hour-long drive through the prehistoric ages to look at over 80 different dinosaurs. This includes Tyrannosaurus Rex, Velociraptor, Stegosaurus, and Triceratops. All the dinosaurs are true to life and some of them even RAWR as you drive by. They also have an audio tour that you can play while you drive through the park to learn more about each of the species that you see.

To visit the park you must reserve your tickets in advance. Alcohol is not allowed on the premises and neither is getting out of your car. Food and drink will not be sold during the tour, so patrons are encouraged to bring their own refreshments and drinks. To learn more about Jurassic Quest click here.

Sure, it sounds weird, but the show has great reviews and has sold out in a lot of other states. So, we say, why not?

~S

Big and Abstract is on View at Norwest Gallery

Art by Jamar Lockhart Part of Big and Abstract Exhibition

The dictionary defines abstract as existing in thought or as an idea, but not having a physical or concrete existence. Artists take an idea and make it exist, abstractly. Norwest Gallery is celebrating Detroit's abstract artists in a new exhibit called Big and Abstract. This show features the work of Sarah Blanchette, Mike Ross, Donn Angel Perez, Robert Piatek, Doug Cannell, Alexander Daniels Escobar, Olivia Guterson, Jamar Lockhart, Najam Ma'at, Marie Schaedig, Dawn Stringer, Marshall Sass, Asia Hamilton, and Todd Stovall.

The show will be on display all of August. You can visit the gallery on Saturdays from 12-6 p.m.

and on Sundays from 12-4 p.m. without an appointment. They only allow 10 people in the gallery at the time and all visitors are required to wear a mask, so you don't have to worry about keeping distance between yourself and others while you view the art. To learn more about this show and Norwest Gallery click here.

~S