Tuesday, December 31, 2019

Hip's Guide to NYE


Detroit will be ushering in a new decade in a few weeks and the theme for 2020 seems to be the roaring 20's. Gatsby style clothing and jazz music will be all the rave, but there are a lot of different ways that you can ring in the new year. Here is a list of all the hip parties in town.

Detroit Foundation Hotel- Welcome to the roaring 20's
Dinner guests will enjoy an elevated dining experience of 5-courses, created especially for New Year's Eve by Chef Thomas Lents. Starting at 9:30 pm, on NYE, we will be transforming the lounge of The Apparatus Room into a 1920's jazz club for the evening.

Small's- Thirst Wave and Industrial is Not Dead
FREE NOISEMAKERS, PARTY HATS, AND BEADS AT THE DOOR!

Outer Limits Lounge- Free dance party and potluck
Featuring DJ Jam Jam and 123 Alright. Bring a dish to pass. Champagne toast at midnight.

El Club- Joe Hertler and the Rainbow Seekers NYE
wsg The Dropout and Kimball

Many amazing bourbons and other spirits, complimentary hors d'oeuvre selection, free champagne toast at midnight, and Tom and Jerry’s added to the drink menu for one night only!

Detroit Shipping Company- Party like it's 1999
Music by Joe Smith & Crate Digga. 90's inspired drinks and music all night.

Deluxx Fluxx- The Secret Garden
Hosted by Ron Dance, sounds provided by Ro Spit, special DJ set by DJ Courtt Denise and DJ Ray
Special Guest Host 6aamm
10pm - 4am, $10
Kiesling Detroit- The Roaring 20's
Remy Martin's flapper girls will greet you with a glass of welcome punch, then they will have a live jazz trio playing while you sample countless rounds of hors d'oeuvres made by Chef Brennan Calnin. Tickets also include a champagne toast at midnight.

Gold Cash Gold- NYE Party
4-course prix fixe menu
After 10pm, guests are invited to join us for heavy hor d'oeuvres and endless bubbles.
Dinner: $75 with $30 wine pairings
NYE Party (10pm - 1am): $55

Marble Bar-Interdimensional New Years
Derek Plaslaiko & MIKE SERVITO
Mozhgan
Noncompliant
Ectomorph
Titonton
Delano Smith & Norm Talley
Bill Spencer
8pm - 5am

MOCAD- Robolights New Years Eve w/ Golf Clap & Kevin Saunderson
Robolights New Years Eve w/ Golf Clap & Kevin Saunderson

The Masonic Temple- Millionaire NYE Extravaganza
Featuring Rick Ross, Wale, Fabolous

PJ's Lager House- The Roaring 20's are Back!
Airey Browder
Blues Preacher Creighton
David El Bob Morrison
Jo Serrapere & the Willie Dunns
8pm doors / 8:30pm music / $10 with champagne toast
formal, vintage, or speakeasy attire suggested

Peterboro- NYE Party
DJ BET, as well as passed small plates all night.

The Royce-Another Epic New Year's Eve Party
Guests will enjoy an open bar with a selection of appetizers and sweet things, and everyone toasts with champagne for the countdown to 2020.

Magic Stick-  CharlestheFirst with Eprom and Lab Group

Sasha Kashperko Quartet featuring Marcus Elliot. Your $150 ticket includes:
Passed small plates all night
3 drink tickets  (signature cocktails, beer, wine)
Champagne toast at midnight

St.Andrew's Hall- Saved by the '90s
Come Party Like It's 1999...20 Years Later

All You Can Drink

The Fillmore-2020 Resolution Ball
Midnight pizza & coney buffet & midnight blowout with balloon drop, confetti storm, a live feed of the ball drop & more!

TV Lounge- NYE TV 2020
Sets from:
Allan C Ester Jr.
Dru Ruiz
Andrea Ghita
Aboudi Issa
Jmac

MGM Grand Detroit- Silent NYE
HOW IT WORKS:
When you arrive you’ll receive a pair of Urban Fetes wireless headphones. You can adjust the volume and choose between up to three DJ’s with a flip of a switch. Each headset has a color (BLUE, RED, GREEN) LED that shows what channel you are listening to, so you can dance along with those listening to the same DJ. It’s super social; just lower the volume or take the headphones off to talk to that girl or guy. There’s no loud music that you have to talk over. Plus, there’s no ringing in your ears when you leave!

We're ringing in the New Year at Cadillac Lodge with a DJ playing some jams all night!

DEBARGE featuring Bunny DeBarge and Chico DeBarge

Music from the Steve Jarosz Trio, as well as passed small plates.

Republic- NYE Party in a Castle
NYE Party in Castle Hall will kick off at 10pm and will include hors d'oeuvres, music and champagne toast at midnight.

Ring in 2020 with the Ghost crew. We'll be celebrating with our annual NYE prix fixe dinner complete with five courses, drink pairings (optional) and lots and lots of bubbly.

Tickets are $60 and include a guaranteed seat all night, 3 drink vouchers, light bites, party favors, a Rosé Brut IPA toast at midnight, and a great time!

Punch Bowl Social- Outer Space Bash
End-of-the-decade party to end all parties

Detroit Princess- NYE Cruise

Loving Touch- Gatsby NYE
Every ticket includes complimentary hors d'oeuvres from 8pm-10pm, and a champagne toast at midnight.

$10 includes heavy apps, champagne toast, party favors and a late night snack!

Go Comedy- NYE Showdown
Both shows include food and an open bar.

Monarch Club- NYE Party
Strolling reception with a selection of hors d'oeuvres, small plates and dessert, beer and wine included. Champagne toast in the Monarch Club at midnight and late-night food.




Monday, December 23, 2019

Everything Fun to do Before the New Year

December 25th:
9 pm | Free


December 26:

7:30 pm | All Ages | $8 @ Door

"Garage: A Rock Saga" Screening @ Plant Ant
8 pm | Free

10 pm $5


December 28:
The 4th Annual Brown Christmas @PJ's Lager House
with Downtown Brown, Steve Harvey Oswald, Carmel Liburdi & Friends, and Pancho Villa's Skull

The Hourlies Christmas Party wsg Hail Alien and A Surprise Guest @ New Way
8 pm | Free

8 pm | $12

The Stools Live Recording w/ Zilched & Caveman and Bam Bam @ Outer Limits
8 pm | $5

Kickstand Band / AM People / Extra Arms a@ UFO Factory
9 pm | $8

9 pm | $12

8 pm | Starting at $50

7:30 pm | Tickets start at $50



December 29:

You Know My Steez - A Night of 90s R&B
10 pm | $5


NEW YEAR'S EVE: SEE OUR GUIDE HERE



The Last 2 Ticket Giveaways of 2019

Despite what some people might think or say, Hip in Detroit is still just two best friends who love music and going to shows together. You can usually find Christie up front singing along and grabbing some videos during a set and Sadie will be bopping around the back taking pictures, posting a story on the socials, or leaning against the wall. Sharing that experience with all of you is one of our favorite things to do, so we like to make sure that we set up and write as many giveaways as we can each year. It takes a lot of work but every time we hear how much fun someone had at a show, we smile and get to work on setting up a new string of deals with all the greatest local booking companies. So, here are the last two giveaways that we will be posting in 2019. We will take the rest of the year to get 2020 set up and we will come back hard with all the biggest shows of the new decade. We hope you all have a happy holiday season and we will talk to you in 2020.

December 27- The Roots' Holiday Tour @ The Fillmore
wsg Phony PPL
7 p.m.
Tickets starting at $59
Email your full name to hipindetroit@gmail.com with the subject line #theroots to be entered to win a pair of tickets to the show.

December 28- Ratt @ The Fillmore
wsg Artificial Agent, Dead In 5
7 p.m.
Tickets starting at $10
Email your full name to hipindetroit@gmail.com with the subject line #Ratt to be entered to win a pair of tickets to the show.


~S

Friday, December 20, 2019

Hip in Detroit's Picks for the Weekend: December 20-22

Black Christmas is by far the biggest thing happening this weekend, but here are a few more fun events!

Friday, December 20th - A Very Hamtramck Christmas @ The Sanctuary: The Sanctuary is getting in the holiday spirit with 5 great bands this Friday night. The lineup features Ogemaw County, Come Out Fighting, From Hell to Texas, Helpless Hearts and The Science Fair. Cover is only $10 and tickets can be purchased in advance here. Proceeds from this event will be going to The Detroit Firemen's Fund, so this is your chance to have a great night out and give back. All ages are welcome and doors open at 7 p.m.

Friday, December 20th - Hentchmas 2019 @ Outer Limits Lounge: 'Tis the Season for Hentchmas at Outer Limits Lounge! This year's show will feature Caveman & Bam Bam along with The Direct Hits. Cover is free, and there will also be prizes and dancing. The music starts at 10 p.m.!


Sunday, December 22nd - Eastern Market Holiday Market: Don't have your holiday shopping done yet? Don't worry! Eastern Market has you covered! Tons of great makers and vendors will gather at the market this Sunday for your shopping needs. Plus, if you haven't given Santa your list, the big man himself will be there too! You can even pick up a Christmas tree or wreath while you're there. The market is open from 10 a.m. until 4 p.m and Santa will be there starting at 11 a.m. Admission is free.


Sunday, December 22nd - Winter Wonderland @ Third Street Bar: Here's another great chance to pick up some last minute gifts and get some great food while you're there too! Local crafters and vendors will be on site selling their wares, there will be holiday tunes being played by a DJ, and some great food. In the morning, there's a pancakes and sausage pop-up and throughout the day Street Beet will be serving up their amazing holiday menu, featuring Detroit Fake Chicken and more. Things kick off at noon and go until 7 p.m. and Jolly Old St. Nick will be stopping by Third Street too!



Win Tickets to Wilson’s “Thank You Goodnight" The Final Party

When we first started Hip in Detroit about 8 years ago, one of the first bands that we worked with was Wilson. We met up with them at their practice space before they played The Ritz in Warren, and an instant connection was made. From then on, we attended countless Wilson shows, hosted a party at The Pike Room together, and became friends with all of the band members. Wilson's parties kept getting bigger, their shows topped each other over and over, and the band grew from a local favorite to having fans around the world. They started touring with big name national acts, playing cruise ships like Shiprocked, and their songs were being played on the radio daily. But sadly, their decade of partying is coming to an end.

Wilson will be throwing one last party on Saturday, December 28th. Wilson's "Thank You Goodnight" The Final Party will be held at The Crofoot in Pontiac. The band is going all out for this farewell, with three parties throughout the day. First off, at 4:30 p.m. there is a pre-party in the Vernors Room. This event is your chance to get up close and personal with the guys, but it was limited to 100 fans and is already sold out. After the pre-party, Wilson will take over The Crofoot Ballroom with their friends The Messenger Birds, Red Stone Souls, and Ladysse. During this set, Wilson will be playing songs from their latest two releases, Tasty Nasty and Right To Rise. Then, everyone knows that after the party is the after-party. That will be taking place in The Pike Room where Wilson will be playing Full Blast Fuckery, for all of the old school fans. Strange Magic will be opening up that show, and sadly that party is also sold out.

So, that means if you didn't get tickets to The Pike Room or Vernors Room, then your last chance to party with Wilson is in The Crofoot Ballroom. Tickets for that show are $12 in advance and you can pick yours up online here. Thanks to our friends at The Crofoot, we are also getting a couple of people into that show for free. To enter to win a pair of tickets to Wilson's last party in the ballroom, send your name to hipindetroit@gmail.com with #wilsonparties in the subject. We will draw one lucky winner the day before the show and they will get into the party in The Crofoot Ballroom with a friend for free.

Take a walk down memory lane with Wilson by clicking play on the videos below.









~C

Tuesday, December 17, 2019

24 Hour Giveaway: Kadavar @ El Club

This Wednesday night, Kadavar will come to Detroit to play El Club! The band is currently out on tour with Ruby The Hatchet, and have played sold out shows in Brooklyn and Philadelphia. The tour is in support of Kadavar's fifth album, For The Dead Travel Fast, that was released earlier this fall. Give it a listen below.


Tickets for Wednesday's show at El Club are $16 and can be purchased in advance here. You can also enter to win a pair of tickets to this show by sending your name to hipindetroit@gmail.com with #kadavar in the subject line. We will draw one lucky winner on Wednesday morning and will send them details on how to claim their prize. 

All ages are welcome to attend this show and doors are set to open at 7 p.m.


~C 

Monday, December 16, 2019

Black Christmas is Coming Early this Year

Drop what you're doing and start getting ready for this weekend because the legendary BLACK CHRISTMAS is coming to Detroit a little earlier than usual this year. The Suicide Machines will once again be gathering all of their friends to take over The Majestic Complex for the night. This year's lineup includes The Suicide Machines, Esham, Anti Flag, Mustard Plug, Koffin Kats, Death Before Dishonor, The Homeless Gospel Choir, The Code, The Lippies, Counterpunch, Gallows Bound, Extinction A.D., Suburban Delinquents, The Lowcocks, WEST GRAND Detroit, Fishgutzzz & the stinkin’ orchestra and The Purps. All 17 bands will be playing back to back sets on three separate stages at The Majestic, Magic Stick, and Garden Bowl. There are 7 different bars to get a drink at and Sgt. Pepperoni's will be serving up slices and full pies all night long. You can even bowl a round in the alley if you are smart about it.

Tickets are $30 in advance and $35 the day of the show. We suggest scooping them up before Saturday to avoid the lines the night of the event. We also have one pair of tickets to giveaway to the show courtesy of Black Iris Booking and AEG. If you would like to enter to win the passes, please email your full name to hipindetroit@gmail.com with the subject line #blackchristmas. We will draw one lucky person the morning of the show and they will get to come to hang out at the show with a friend.


~S

Friday, December 13, 2019

Hip in Detroit's Picks for the Weekend: December 13-15

Corktown Aglow, Holidays at The Fisher, and Child Bite at The Loving Touch are just a few of the fun things happening this weekend! Here are some more! 

Friday, December 13th - Dougie Tangent's 40th Birthday @ Outer Limits: Dougie Tangent of Devious Ones and The Dewtons is turning 40 and he's having a big birthday show at Outer Limits Lounge. The show will feature Devious Ones, Smash The Jukebox, The Snarks (Fort Wayne), and DJ Top Kat. Cover is only $7, 21+ are welcome, and things kick off at 9 p.m.

Friday, December 13th - Detroit Party Marching Band 10 Year Anniversary @ The Sanctuary: It has been 10 years since Detroit Party Marching Band has been bringing the party with them everywhere that they go! If you've ever been to an event before and DPMB showed up, you know exactly what we mean! This Friday night, they are throwing a big party to celebrate their 10th birthday. It's happening at The Sanctuary in Hamtramck and they will be joined by The Dropout, Five Pound Snap, and Scissor Now. Cover is $10 and the party starts at 8 p.m.  

Friday, December 13th & Saturday, December 14th - GRiZMAS @ The Masonic Temple: Christmas time is here and if you are in Detroit, you know that means GRiZMAS comes right along with it! GRiZ will be taking over The Detroit Masonic Temple for two nights for his annual GRiZMAS celebration. Friday night he will be joined by Flamingosis + The Sponges and Saturday Joe Hertler & The Rainbow Seekers will be joining him. 16+ are welcome, doors open at 8 p.m., and tickets start at $42.50. Get yours here

 
 
Saturday, December 14th - Mickey's Christmas Carol & How The Grinch Stole Christmas @ The Senate Theater: Whether you have kids or you're a kid at heart, The Senate Theater has a great double feature lined up for you this weekend. This Saturday, December 14th, the historic theater will be showing Mickey's Christmas Carol, followed by the animated version of How the Grinch Stole Christmas. Doors to the theater will open at 2 p.m. and the first movie will start at 4 p.m. Before that, you can visit with Santa and get your picture taken. There will also be a short intermission between the two movies. Admission is only $5 and kids 12 and under are free. Purchase your tickets in advance here.



Thursday, December 12, 2019

Everything You Want to Know About Corktown Aglow

This Saturday, December 14 Corktown will once again come alive for Corktown Aglow, an annual event that promotes, eating, drinking, shopping and hanging out in the historic Corktown district of Detroit. The fun starts at noon on Saturday and there are a variety of things that you can choose to check out.  All of the bars and restaurants will be open and running some serious specials. There will also be a shuttle that can take you from place to place throughout the day. Here is everything you want to know about the celebration:

Holiday party at Pal-12 p.m. - 4 p.m. (Corner of Woodward and Cochrane)
This party will feature a variety of free activities including yoga, a photo booth, make and take crafts, face painting, storytelling, and more.

Build Institute Holiday Bazaar-12 p.m. - 6 p.m. (1620 Michigan Ave)
Set inside the Build Institute to shop local with a variety of small vendors that they have assembled for the event.

Carriage Rides through Corktown- 4 p.m. - 10 p.m. (Corner of Trumbull and Bagley)
Take a horse-drawn carriage ride around Corktown.

Southwest Holiday Festival- 4 p.m. - 8 p.m. (2826 Bagley)
Dance performances, Mexican hot chocolate, mole sauce contest, piñatas, visual art workshops, and more.

Rudolf and Reindeer Petting Zoo- 4 p.m. - 7 p.m. (Corner of Trumbull and Bagley St.)

Santa Comes to Corktown- 5 p.m. - 7 p.m. (Trumbull and Bagley)
Enjoy free hot chocolate and roast your own marshmallows while you snap a photo with Santa Clause.

4th Annual Corktown Tree Lighting- 6:15 p.m. (Trumbull and Bagley)
Bevlove will be helping the city light the tree.

Corktown Aglow Party Tent- 4 p.m. - 10 p.m. (Trumbull and Bagley)
A heated party tent that will feature food, beer, and dancing. Santa might even stop by.


Deals:
-Folk / 10% off food & beverage for Corktown residents

-Gold Cash Gold /  10% off all retail / free Mexican hot chocolate / $1 holiday donuts

-Happy 4 Emporium / Free slice of pizza to shuttle users

-Gaelic League / Free Christmas cookies / Hot adult beverages on special:  Hot toddies, Irish Coffee, Tea, and Baileys + hot chocolate

-Two James Spirits / $5 spiked hot chocolate all day!

-Mudgie’s Deli & Wine Shop / Passing out free hot chocolate at Bagley & Trumbull

-Brightly Twisted / Free tote bag to first 50 customers

-Eldorado General Store /Free tote bag to first 50 customers / Launching handmade in-house jewelry line called Delilah Simone /Free gift with every Delilah Simone purchase /Spend $100 at Eldorado and get a $10 gift card to use in January/ Also, a portion of sales will go to a Detroit nonprofit!

-George Gregory / Free tote bag to first 50 customers / Sip and shop with beer + wine / Special surprise discount wheel for purchases over $50

-Michigan Pedaler / Free rides on the Michigan Pedaler Party Bike from 12-4 PM - pick up and drop off at Detroit PAL

Free Corktown Aglow Shuttle- 12 p.m. - 10 p.m.

Hop on and off McShane’s Pub buses with stops throughout our neighborhood and beyond.
Two buses will be running about 20-30 minutes apart throughout the afternoon.
An entire shuttle ride will last about 40-50 min.

Shuttle stop order:
North Corktown at 3088 Lawton  / Fountain Court + Covenant House

Harrison + Spruce / Nancy Whiskey’s

Michigan Ave + Cochrane St / Eldorado / PAL / Corktown Tavern / Bucharest / Parking (free and paid lots)

Michigan Ave + Harrison / Bobcat Bonnies / Detroit Athletic Company / Maltese Club / Free Parking

Michigan Ave + Vermont / Detroit Barber Company / Lucky Coffee / Motorcity Wine / Gaelic League / Ima / White Castle

Michigan Ave + 17th St / Takoi / Two James Spirits

Southwest / The Holiday Fest at the Ford Resource and Engagement Center (FREC)

14th Street + Marentette / CitizenDetroit Movie Matinee (3PM)

Rosa Parks + Michigan  / Ford Information Center

Happy 4 Emporium Party Store

Mudgie’s Deli and Wine Shop

Downtown / Markets in Cadillac Square + Capitol Park

Michigan Ave + Brooklyn St  / Detroit Institute of Bagels / Brooklyn Street Local / PJ’s Lager House / Parking

Michigan Ave + Trumbull / McShane’s Pub / BUILD Institute Holiday Market / George Gregory / Brightly Twisted / Ottava Via / Nemos / Free Parking at McShane’s

Grand on River / Pony Ride Makers Market


For more details about the event visit their website here.

~S

HOLIDAYS at the Fisher Building

Do you like vintage arcade games and pinball? How about drinking beer? What about shopping? If you enjoy one or more of these activities you will want to check out a pre-holiday party at The Fisher Building this Saturday, December 14. The Crofoot is bringing their now annual party back to the Fisher for the second year in a row. The day will begin with shopping and a visit from Santa. All of the Fisher's amazing shops will be open. This includes Pure DetroitThe Peacock Room, Detroit Gallery of Contemporary Crafts, WorkshopDendrophileStella Good CoffeeYamaVera Jane, Bumble Bee, The Fashion Place, Fisher Bakery, MATURE, Kill the Hate, and Shy vs Bold. The shops will stay open for the evening so that you can continue to browse once the gaming and drinking begin.  You can learn more about the event here.


~S

Wednesday, December 11, 2019

Teener "Auger" Release at Third Man Records

This Wednesday night, Detroit's own Teener will be celebrating the release of their new 7" at Third Man Records. Auger features three new tracks from the four piece and is being released by Third Man Records. So, it seems only appropriate to have the release show at the label's Cass Corridor location. If you aren't familiar with Teener yet, the band has been classified as hardcore punk and noise rock, among other genres. It features vocalist Ollie Dodt with Jeremy Damaske, Brach Goodman, and Shayne O'Keefe. This new 7" is the follow up to the band's 2017 full lenght Siclical Trash. You can give that album a listen here and you can hear the new 7" by clicking play below.


Wednesday night's show will also feature Meat Wave from Chicago and PRC. Cover is only $10 and all ages are welcome. Presale tickets are still available and can be purchased online here. Doors are set to open at 7:30 p.m. for this one and the music will start at 8:30 p.m.

Teener will be hitting the road later this month, with shows on the East Coast and down south. So don't miss your chance to see them here at home and celebrate their big release! Learn more about Teener by listening to their recent podcast with Jeff Milo here.


~C

Tuesday, December 10, 2019

Win Tickets to See Child Bite at The Loving Touch

This Friday night, Detroit's own Child Bite will be celebrating the release of their new album at The Loving Touch! Blow Off The Omens is the fifth album for the band, and was officially released on November 22nd. If you haven't given it a listen yet, you can hear it by hitting play below. Physical copies are available at your favorite record store or you can get your hands on one by heading to the show this Friday the 13th.
Cover for Friday's show is only $12, which also includes a copy of the new CD. If you would rather have the album on vinyl, you can get that instead for an up charge. Joining Child Bite for this show are Easy Action, Strange Magic, Tongue Party (Minneapolis) and Man At Arms. So, you get to see 5 awesome bands and get the new CD all for just $12. Can't beat that!

If you are running low on cash right now, you're still in luck because we are also getting two lucky people into this show for free. To enter to win, send your name to hipindetroit@gmail.com with #omens in the subject line. We will draw our winner on Friday morning and they will get in the door with a friend for free that night.

All ages are welcome to attend this show. Doors open at 7 p.m. and Man At Arms kicks things off at 8. For set times and more info, visit the Facebook event here.



~C

Friday, December 6, 2019

Hip in Detroit's Picks for the Weekend: December 6-8

We already told you about The Detroit Urban Craft Fair, Dancing at Planet Ant, and movies at The Redford. Well, here are some other fun things happening this weekend!

Friday, December 6th - Carmel Liburdi's CD Release @ Trumbullplex: Carmel Liburdi is celebrating the release of her new CD Friday night and she invited a bunch of her friends to join in on the fun. Maray Fuego, Emily Rose, and Jack Oats  will be joining her. Plus, Carmel's performance will feature many of her friends too! It all starts at 8 p.m., cover is $7, and all ages are welcome.

Saturday, December 7th - JOKR @ Bagley Central: If you haven't been to Bagley Central yet, you are seriously missing out on one of the best bars in Detroit. This Saturday night, you have a new excuse to head to Bagley, whether you've been there before or not. JOKR is a new comedy night at the bar, and it takes place in the back room, where you may have seen art galleries on display in the past. Cover is only $5 and the fun starts at 9 p.m.

Saturday, December 7th - No Rest Fest @ Trumbullplex: Apparently Trumbullplex is the place to be this weekend! The Armed takes over the venue for No Rest Fest 6 this Saturday. This year's fest features Reverend, Shock Narcotic, Strange Magic, Inhalants, SNAFU, Tart, Shit Life, Livid, Slob, Solemn Judgement, and Old Gods. Great lineup, and we're super excited to see a couple of our favorite female fronted Detroit bands on the bill this year! Doors open at 7:30 p.m. and there will be karaoke until the bands start at 8:30 p.m. Cover is only $5 and all ages are welcome.

Sunday, December 8th - Tesco Vee's Motor City Punk Rock Swap Meat @ The Loving Touch: This just might be the swap of all swap meets! Tesco Vee will be bringing together some great vendors this Sunday afternoon, selling everything from records to toys to vintage clothing. The Swap Meat takes place from 10 a.m. until 5 p.m. Cover is free, and since it's a Sunday, parking is also free. Reverend DJ Tire Iron will be playing punk and metal tunes throughout the day and the bar will be open for all of your beverage needs.




Thursday, December 5, 2019

Get in the Holiday Spirit at The Redford Theatre

The historic Redford Theatre is always a great place to see your favorite movie on the big screen, but during the holidays, it is an even more magical place. The theatre originally opened in 1928 and was "billed as America’s Most Unique Suburban Playhouse". Since films were mainly silent at the time, an organ was installed to accompany the films, and the organ still remains today! Nowadays when you go to the Redford, instead of playing during the film, the organist will play before the movie and again during intermission. Paired with the amazing decor and three levels of seating, going to the movies at the Redford is a movie going experience like none other.

If you want to experience the Redford Theatre for yourself this holiday season, they have some great classic holiday films lined up throughout the month of December. This Saturday, December 7th, The Muppet Christmas Carol will play at 2 p.m. As an added bonus, you can get your picture taken with Santa during this show. On Friday and Saturday night, December 6th and 7th, National Lampoons Christmas Vacation will play at 8 p.m. Then, on Friday, December 13th and Saturday, December 14th, White Christmas will be showing. Showtimes for that are 8 p.m. on Friday and Saturday, as well as a 2 p.m. matinee on Saturday. Last, but not least, It's A Wonderful Life will be playing on December 20th and 21st, with 8 p.m. showings on both nights and a 2 p.m. matinee on Saturday.

Tickets for all of these movies at the Redford Theatre are only $5 per showing and tickets can be purchased in advance on their website here. Showings do sell out, so if you really want to see one of these movies, make sure you secure your tickets in advance. Doors to the Redford Theatre typically open one hour before show time and the organist begins to play a half hour prior to showtime. Don't forget, the Redford Theatre shows movies all year round too, not just during the holidays. To see what else they have coming up, visit them online at RedfordTheatre.com and follow them on Facebook here.



~C

Tuesday, December 3, 2019

Kaitlyn Valor Bourque Takes on a Directing Role for Her Last Act at Planet Ant

Planet Ant is a hub of art and creativity. On any given night you can see people rehearsing for a play in the theatre, catch a class learning a new technique in the hall, watch a live band in the bar, and catch a comedy show in the backroom. Because of this, they have attracted a unique group of artists that put all of their time and passion into creating one of a kind shows that you cannot find anywhere else. One of those artists is actor and director Kaitlyn Valor Bourque. Kaitlyn has starred in many pieces throughout her time at Planet Ant, but she is taking it to the next level for her closing act with the Ant. She is directing a new play called Dancing before she takes her talent in a new direction. So, we asked her to answer a few questions about acting, directing, and what she has planned for the future. Check out what she has to say and then click here to find out more about the show.
HID- Why did you want to direct instead of act?
Kaitlyn- "This story benefits from actors portraying its characters as authentically representative to the ages written as possible — their journey takes them through age 17 to 23. One of the actors in this production is 17 and the other is 22, so they perfectly represent the entire spectrum the script outlines. Aside from being a solid decade past this age bracket (insert wink-emoji here), I felt personally connected to this script in a way that was comprehensive and vivid and made me feel more compelled to lead a team into giving it life."

HID- Which role do you prefer and why?
K- "Impossible! I adore and am mystified by both of these characters as written, in equal measure. Their individual and collective journeys ring true for me in ways that are unnervingly specific to my own lived experiences. It’s the classic queer attraction paradox — am I into this person because I want to be them or bang them? These are roles I want to see on stage because they are people I somehow both already know and have always been dreaming about."

HID- How long do you have to rehearse a piece like this before it goes to the stage?
K- "When the show opens we will have had just under four weeks of rehearsals. Our schedule has been tight, but thorough and well-managed; and these lovely young actors have had their game faces on from the very start."

HID- What do you hope people take away from this show?
K- "My hope is that audiences see firsthand how a universal, tale-as-old-as-time can be elevated and made new again with new representation – and how that single shift can change the way these stories unravel. I hope they remember someone, or sometime, that made them feel the way “J” and “S” make each other feel."

HID- What are you looking forward to in 2020?
K- "After being an active part of this creative colony for over two years, Dancing will be my last project with Planet Ant for the foreseeable future. The transition is certainly bittersweet, but very exciting in its possibility and promise. Ultimately, I am looking forward to turning my focus inward, getting back onstage, traveling more in 2020 — and most of all, my beautiful baby sister getting married at the end of the year!"

HID- Is there anything else you think we should know?
K- "This world premiere is written, produced, and performed exclusively by local artists; all of which is possible because of Planet Ant’s commitment to supporting and spotlighting the creative pursuits of hundreds of individuals throughout our communities. There are so many ways to support this non-profit’s efforts beyond just attending this show, so follow their social media platforms and come to all the things!"


If you want to know more about Planet Ant, follow them on social media here


~S

Monday, December 2, 2019

10 Reasons You Want to Check Out the Detroit Urban Craft Fair this Weekend


The Detroit Urban Craft Fair is returning to the city on December 6th, 7th, and 8th. The fair, which is ever-changing, has added lots of new things to make this year's event better than ever. Here are the 10 best reasons to go:

1- The Detroit Urban Craft Fair is a highly curated show.
Thousands of makers apply to be a part of the Detroit Urban Craft Fair. but only a little over a hundred makers are selected to be part of the show. A jury of veteran makers/curators gather together to go through every application to put together the perfect show.  This means they have a great selection of different handmade items to browse through and a little something for everyone.

2- This year the Detroit Urban Craft Fair will have food, snacks, and coffee!
The DUCF will feature food from Delectabowl and snacks and coffee from Gooseneck Coffe Co. on Saturday and Sunday.

3- They have great DJs playing music all weekend long.
DJ Eugene Machine will be kicking off the music on Friday night and DJ Dave Lawson will be spreading holiday cheer on Saturday and Sunday. The fun music always adds to the fun atmosphere of the show.

4- Friday night has some extra fun features.
Friday night costs $10, but you get a lot more for your money! Subtle Design will be teaching letterpress, POST Detroit will host a make and take a class, Cool Critters kids will be setting up their "Weepul People" station, and Paper Honey Bee will have a craft. Imperfect Foods and Gelato Bean will be handing out samples and there will be raffles and giveaways. Plus, a portion of the proceeds from the door will be donated to Art Road.

5- It's only $1 to get in Saturday and Sunday. 
Some people say you can't do anything fun for a dollar, we beg to differ. The Detroit Urban Craft Fair is only $1 all day Saturday and Sunday.

6- Part of the proceeds from the DUCF go to Art Road.
Part of the proceeds from the event will be donated to Art Road, a nonprofit that is trying to ensure that every child has the chance to experience music and art at their schools. 

7- Children under 12 are FREE all weekend!
Free is good, kids are welcome, but leave the strollers at the door because it gets tight in there!

8- All of the makers are at the show.
If you see something and you want to ask the maker about it, you can. ALL OF THE MAKERS that participate in this show will be on-site all weekend. You can talk with the makers and ask them bout their craft! No strong sales pitches here, just a chance to connect with some great makers.

9- You can find a holiday gift for everyone on your list.
There is a wide variety at the Detroit Urban Craft Fair. You can find gifts for kids, comic lovers, beauty junkies, and unique decor collectors. The selection process for the show ensures that this fair always has the perfect mixture of goods to make shopping local extra easy.

10-The first 50 people through the door on Saturday get a gift bag.
The first fifty people to enter the fair on Saturday morning will get a #DUCF gift bag to take home.  Make sure you show up early because the doors open at 10 a.m. and the bags go fast! 

The Detroit Urban Craft Fair will take place at The Masonic Temple this Friday, Saturday and Sunday, December 6,7, and|8. The show will run from 6 p.m. - 9 p.m. on Friday, 10 a.m. - 7 p.m. on Saturday and 11 a.m.- 6 p.m. on Sunday. Friday night's preview event is $10, the rest of the weekend is $1. More information about the show can be found on their Instagram, follow them here.


~S