How I Became a Woman with Great Eyebrows

Have you heard about microblading? This new beauty treatment promises clients the opportunity to turn back time and fix all the brow mistakes that they have made in the past. If you are a victim of over plucking, undergrowth, or have some missing patches on your face, this treatment is meant for you.

Before First Treatment (no brows)

Personally, I am a casualty of the 90's, a time when eyebrows were as pin thin as the Calvin Klein models on the runway. I spent hours in the mirror making sure I got every little hair on my face only to regret it years later when big bushy eyebrows came into style. I spent a few years drawing brows on with all kinds of different products, but I knew that they never looked natural and rarely looked alike. In fact, some days I would look in the mirror and laugh at how horrible of a job I had done. So naturally, when I heard about microblading, I knew I had to give it a try!

In January of 2017, I visited Ironclad Tattoo in Troy, Michigan and had my first treatment with Jess Haze, an insta famous makeup artist that had recently become one of the first people to get certified to do the treatment in this area. Jess chatted with me about my brows and drew a  rough outline of what she wanted to do. I looked at what she had outlined and said: "if they look like that when you're done, I'll be the happiest woman on the planet".  Long story short, a few weeks later, they looked just like she said they would.

Day after treatment
 (eyebrows get very dark, then light, then even out)

They were bigger fuller and more beautiful than I could have ever imagined.  I followed up my initial visit with a touch-up appointment a month later and spent 2017 in a state of perpetual bliss. Every time I looked in the mirror and saw my brows I couldn't help but smile. I no longer had to buy any eyebrow products and shaved about fifteen minutes off of my morning routine. It was by far one of the best beauty decisions I have ever made. 

This January, I went back for another touch-up and once again I walked away thrilled with my results. After a month of healing, I can officially say that I actually have the eyebrows that I always dreamed of. If you are looking for a way to get beautiful brows, microblading is a great way to do that, but it's also a semi-permanent solution that needs to be thought out and researched properly. So, before you take the plunge here is what you need to know.

First of all, of course it hurts. But, it's a very mild pain that subsides as soon as the treatment is over.  I would compare it to getting your teeth cleaned, it's not really painful just a little bit uncomfortable for brief moments through the process. If you have even gotten a regular tattoo, you can easily handle this because it only goes into the first few layers of your skin. Once you get the initial treatment you do not want to wear any makeup on or around the brows for the first week. Realistically, I would suggest that you should wait two weeks to wear any makeup at all and do your best to keep your face clean, dry and sweat free. The better care that you take of your brows, the better they will look and the longer they will last. During the healing process, you don't have to do much. For the first 24 hours, you blot them, for the next week you wet them and dry them with a cotton ball a few times a day and apply a light layer of cream.  The main goal is to take a step back and let them heal. 

One month - healed no makeup

Once they are healed up you can return back to normal life. You can touch them, and if you look really close, you can see the perfect little strokes in-between the hairs. But, most people won't know that you have done anything because it looks like hair. That means if you like overdrawn brows this might not be the treatment for you. It's important to do some research to make sure that you have a realistic picture of what to expect from microblading and you know the person that is "tattooing your face".  You can reach out to Jess Haze to make an appointment by clicking here and you can learn more about microblading here. Her pre-care and post-care instructions worked well for me. I never thought I would be able to live down my 90's brows, but I am proud to say that I overcame!

~S

Happy 5th Birthday, Ironclad!

Five years ago, Hip in Detroit was just getting started. We were visiting a lot of new places as they opened and doing features on the spaces to help get the word out. One of those places that we visited was Ironclad, a tattoo and piercing shop that was about to open in Troy, Michigan. You can watch our insanely dated interview here.

Since then, I got my first tattoo from Mike Bagwell, got my eyebrows microbladed on by the incredibly talented Jessica Haze (best thing that ever happened to me) who now works out of the space, and watched one of my best friends get her ears pierced 20 years after the rest of us did (better late than never girl). They started with a small staff and have expanded to have over 15 people who regularly work inside their shop. They also have tons of guest artists that stop in for residencies inside the shop when they are in town. You can follow them online to get up to date information on who will be stopping by throughout the year and you can come out to the Tangent Gallery this Friday, September 1st to celebrate five years of the shop with the entire crew!

The Ironclad crew is inviting everyone out to their circus themed bash at The Tangent this Friday. The party will feature freaky performances by Aimee Funk, Eric Scott Baker, and Shadow with DJ sets by Jeff Tabb. Doors open at 9 p.m. and the fun goes until 2 a.m. The Tangent Gallery is located at 715 Milwaukee Street. We look forward to celebrating another successful year of a great local business and we hope to see some of you there!

~S

Happy 4th Birthday Ironclad Tattoo Company

It's hard to believe that it has been four years since Ironclad Tattoo Company first opened its doors. It seems like just yesterday that we were interviewing co-owner Mike Moore about starting the company. Since then they have become a big part of the tattoo, piercing, and music community in Metro Detroit. They are the only place that I would ever buy a pair of plugs and they have sponsored all four of the HipInDetroit.com anniversary parties. Mike Bagz gave me my first tattoo on camera and Mike Moore has pierced some of my friends' kids when they came of age. I even painted myself solid gold for their first anniversary party. It's been a fun-filled four years and it's time to celebrate!

The crew will be gathering at Zeke's Rock and Roll BBQ in Ferndale this Friday for their fourth anniversary party. The FREE event will feature music from Kommander, White Shag and The Bon Johnsons (an AC/DC Tribute band featuring members of Pittbull, Against the Grain, The Meatmen, and RAWDOGS). There will be cheap booze and good food available for purchase and everyone will be hanging out having a good time. Doors for the party open at 9 p.m. this Friday!

Congratulations on four years of fun, we look to many more!

~S

Thanks For The Best 2 Year Anniversary 2 Girls Could Ask For!!!!

You may know that this past weekend Hip In Detroit celebrated our 2nd Anniversary by throwing a big bash at The Loving Touch. We cannot thank everyone that came out enough. It was so great to see so many friends and people that we have worked with over the past couple of years. And to say it was nice to hear how many people like or appreciate what we do wouldn't  suffice. You are all amazing, to say the least.

I just wanted to also take a second to personally thank everyone. I'm not one to take to the microphone often and I generally don't talk much at all unless I've known you for years. Honestly, some of you may not even know I exist. But, as the other half of Hip In Detroit, I feel a little more comfortable expressing myself from behind a computer screen. Thank you from the bottom of my heart for all of the support over the past couple of years. There are many times that I have asked myself, "Why the hell does anyone care what we have to say?" I still don't really know the answer to that question, but I'm glad that you guys do.

The truth is, there are so many amazing people in this city doing awesome things every day. I only wish Sadie and I had more time to cover everything we come across. Hopefully this year we can do even more than we have in the past. We look forward to bringing you more videos, more live footage, and telling you about some great things going on in this city that we love so much.

I'd also like to take a second to thank Sadie for all that she does. It's not just anyone that can put themselves out there like she does. She makes sure everyone that crosses her path knows what we do. She's loud, smart, and a hard worker who sees the story in everyone and everything she comes in contact with.That's just a few of the many reasons that I knew she'd be perfect to go on this adventure with. I'd also like to thank Becca Friedman. Hip In Detroit would have never been able to get off the ground without her. Although she left halfway through this year, her contribution up until that point was so important and I'm so thankful for her continued support.

So now that I'm done with all of that sappy shit and boring you half to death, back to our party. The ILL Itches kicked things off for the night. These guys are always fun to watch (I personally enjoy Matt's dance moves when he takes over on vocals). Super fun band full of some really great guys.

Then, Autumn Wolf hit the stage with a full band and the new addition of Lianna Vanicelli on guest vocals. Holy shit, this guy has grown and transformed his sound over the past couple of years into something amazing. Don't get me wrong, front man Alex Kaye was always great even when this was a solo act, but somehow this project is now even better. We think you're going to be hearing a lot more about Autumn Wolf in the next year.

Third to hit the stage was Rebel Spies. This is probably the band that I was most excited for on the bill. I picked up their debut album a couple of weeks ago and have been listening to the 3 songs over and over again. I grew up listening to the many bands that these guys spawned from (Telegraph or The Telegraph even, The Suicide Machines, Fordirelifesake, Left In Ruin, The Hi-Fi Handgrenades, and the list can go on and on). So, to see all of these amazing musicians wrapped up into one band is beyond awesome for me. Plus, if the 15 year old me knew that I would some day be hanging out at a show with any of these guys or even talking to them, I would probably die. Total fan girl. Even if you aren't a bit obsessed like me, you have to check this band out. They're awesome. And you can pick up their album as a download or on vinyl. Just head over to their bandcamp.

Up next were The HandGrenades. This is a band that is near and dear to me. I first met these guys a couple
of years ago through an unrelated project we worked on together. I couldn't stop listening to them then and I still can't. They are another band that has grown so much over the past few years and I am excited to see where they take things. Their music is catchy and appealing to people across a wide spread of genres. If you haven't listened to them yet, I guarantee you will be hooked once you do.

Last, but definitely not least, was Tunde. This guy makes every show a party. He is an amazing artist and one of the most entertaining acts I've seen, especially on the local level. I even had a couple of friends that are super into metal tell me that they enjoyed his set and that he's a very talented artist. I have a feeling this guy is going to be big in the music world soon and I am honored that we had him on this show.

I also cannot forget to mention Christopher Jarvis. This guy played sets at the beginning of the night and between every band. It was the perfect music to keep the party going. I still don't understand how someone can make such amazing music and sounds from a computer and some electronic gear, but I love it. He is one of the nicest guys around and super talented. Make sure you check him out under Ancient Language on Facebook or head over to his Soundcloud.

We'd also like to thank The Loving Touch, Chris Johnston, and the entire staff, from Anthony to the bartenders to the sound guy to Jeff working the door, and everyone inbetween! You made Saturday amazing! We love your bar and we are so happy we got to throw this bash there. Thanks for working with us and our wacky ideas. It was such a great night!

On top of the music, the prizes were great and we can't thank everyone enough that contributed to those packs. We hope that everyone that won loved what they went home with. We know the choice was hard for a few of you too. To go along with that, thank you so much to Ironclad Tattoo Co. for sponsoring this show, setting up shop for the night, and for always being so supportive and sticking by our side. On top of being one of the most talented tattoo shops around, these are some of the nicest, greatest guys we have ever met. We seriously love you guys.

And that goes for all of you too! We can't say we love you all enough! Saturday night made it seem like what we are doing is worthwhile. We are thrilled that people actually like what we are doing and we are even more excited to keep on doing it. We look forward to working with many more of you over the next year and meeting and partying with all of you too. So here's to another year, cheers!

~C

Your Guide to Shopping Local this Christmas!

The holidays are upon us and we are all in a shopping frenzy trying to get the perfect gifts for the ones we love. Personally I do not do Black Friday or any of the hype shopping. Instead I usually opt for online shopping (I'm a Amazon and Etsy addict) and local retailers. I like to find gifts that are one of a kind or special in some way. The smaller stores tend to cater to this by carrying different and unique items that you're not going to find on the sale pages of Target or Walmart. We decided to put together a shopping guide of local stores and companies that our readers may be interested in checking out this holiday season.

Incognito (Royal Oak)
This is by far my favorite place to buy shoes and jewelry. They always have the newest trends and they are reasonably priced. The staff is fun to shop with and they are not afraid to help you out, let you try things on, and treat you with the one on one service that you can only dream of at most stores. They have been having crazy specials like 25% off everything, buy one get one half off, ect. “Like” them on Facebook to keep up with their daily and weekly specials.

UHF Records (Royal Oak)
This is one of the only record shops left and it has one of the best music selections that you can ask for. They carry a variety of titles new and old. This is the perfect place to pick up a rare album for a music geek or get the latest from your favorite local musicians as well as bigger name acts.

Leon & Lulu (Clawson)
This retailer features roller skating employees, funny books and gifts, and awesome jewelry and furniture. They even pass out cookies at the door for you to enjoy while you shop. This is the place to go to find a gift for that hard to shop for person. They have they most eclectic variety of items that I have ever seen. You will find something for everyone on your list and probably a few things for yourself.

Ironclad Tattoo Co. (Troy)
When I was 15 I stretched out my ears. Do I regret it? I used to, until I found out about Ironclad. They showed me a world where I can buy jewelry for my huge holes that is actually as cute and maybe even cuter than what a “normal” girl could buy at a regular store. They carry unique pieces for all your piercing needs, including some of the coolest septum rings I have ever seen. They even have real gold, diamonds, and pieces made of wood. You can also get gift cards for tattoos for someone who has been hoping to start a new piece. I highly suggest their artists, as they are the only ones I have let touch my skin. This is also one of the only places in the area that you can buy InkAddict apparel in person. They have also been running daily specials leading up to the holidays, so check the site often to get a discount.

Sparked (Clawson)
This is a new retailer that just opened up shop in Clawson. They have one of a kind glass pieces and are the only place that you can get Vile Co. merchandise in person in Michigan at this time. Owner Matt Williams is constantly expanding what they carry and is looking for input from local customers that will be frequenting the store. Stop in and check out what they have and let him know what you hope that they will carry in the future. They have also been posting daily and weekly specials on Facebook, so don't forget to “like” them.

The Detroit Mercantile Co. (Eastern Market - Detroit)
This is a Detroit themed store that doesn't make you want to puke. They actually carry some really nice stuff, including clothing, dog items, blankets, stationary, hats, socks, hoodies, ect. They also carry wares from local designers and merchants. Again, this is the place to get a one of a kind gift for someone that is hard to shop for, especially if they love Detroit!

The Rust Belt Market (Ferndale)
This market changes every day. They have new booths moving in and retailers continue to expand what they sell. I suggest buying a coffee right when you walk in and then walking around and seeing what you can find. I saw a shark tooth necklace and a few painting that I would love to own when I was there a week ago. To find hours and learn more about the current vendors, check out their website.

Scout (Royal Oak)This is another unique gift shop that carries lots of one of a kind items. They are right by UHF records in Royal Oak and they are constantly getting in new items.

Lost & Found Vintage (Royal Oak)
This is my favorite place to look for a new old fur coat, or a well broken in leather jacket. This store does upscale vintage really well. There is no junk to go through, just forgotten treasures. They carry male and female clothing and accessories and are right next door to Scout and UHF. So you can hit up all three at the same time and get a lot of shopping done in one swoop!

Those are just some of the places that we love to shop during the holidays. Happy hunting and happy holidays to you all. Don't forget to keep it local this Christmas and all year round if you can!

~S

Hip In Detroit 2nd Anniversary Bash!!!

When we first started this site 2 year's ago, we weren't sure how many people would actually be into it. What we did know was that there were a lot of things going on in Detroit that needed to be talked about by people who could see the positive side of a place that so many people usually put down. Well, apparently a lot of other people love this city too and wanted to hear what we had to say. The music, the food, the art, the culture, there is so much going on every night of the week, there is never a dull moment. We are so lucky to live in such a great place with so much to offer and new things popping up every day. It's not just anywhere that you can come up with an idea and actually make it happen. We say screw New York, if you can make it here you can make it anywhere, Detroit is the new frontier.

So two years have passed and we have met some amazing people  and seen some wonderful bands.  We cannot thank our readers or the people that we work with enough. Your willingness to share helps us get the word out and continue to grow.  We hope that we can continue to cover Detroit and do what we're doing for the next 50 years, but we couldn't do it without each and every one of you. Whether you check the site daily, tell us about a show, talked to us about your store, tell us about your art, or have only been to Hip In Detroit once, we love you. To celebrate making it through another year, we are planning one hell of a party to commemorate 2 years of Hip In Detroit with all of you.

Here's the details! Saturday, February 1st we will be taking over The Loving Touch in Ferndale for one night of fun. We will be having some raffles and giveaways with prizes ranging from tickets to gift cards to merch from some of our favorite Detroit companies. The list is already long, and nowhere near complete, but currently includes InkAddict, Rouge MakeUp & Nail Studio, Black Iris Booking, our favorite personal trainer Mark Culpepper, Small's, Vile Company, and many more. Our friends over at Ironclad Tattoo Co. are also sponsoring this event, so we're sure there will be some great prizes and swag from those guys too. We have so much more planned in the giveaway department, but you'll just have to hold tight until closer to the event!

And what's a party without music!?!?!? We have covered soooo many amazing musicians and bands already over the last couple of years that it was hard to narrow it down to just a few. But, we had to and we did. We managed to come up with a lineup that we love and that we think will have at least one act that will appeal to everyone. This year's lineup includes The ILL Itches, Autumn Wolf, Rebel Spies, The HandGrenades, and Tunde Olaniran! To top it off, in between sets Ancient Language will be DJing. This lineup is eclectic, buts it's also solid. There won't be a dull moment throughout the night, to say the least.

It's only $5 to get in to The Loving Touch on February 1st. Doors open at 9 pm and 21+ are welcome. For all of the details and updates on the party, make sure to check out the Facebook event page here and RSVP too! We hope to see each and every one of you at The Loving Touch on the 1st! We love you all and cannot wait to party with everyone! Here's to the next 50, cheers!

~C&S

Stolas and Strawberry Girls at Paycheck's!!!

This Friday night Cthulu Entertainment is bringing an amazingly awesome show to town. Stolas and Strawberry Girls will be hitting the stage at Paycheck's as part of their "Into Orbit Tour". Along with them that night are four great locals, Landstalker, Sunlight Ascending, Adventurer and Lemix J. Buckley.

Reigning from Las Vegas, Stolas is a four piece progressive/ experimental rock band. They released their first full-length earlier this year on Blue Swan Records, which is owned by Will Swan of Dance Gavin Dance. Stolas will also be heading out on tour with Dance Gavin Dance later this fall.

And, not to make it all about Dance Gavin Dance, but Strawberry Girls also has a tie to them as Guitarist Zac Garren was in said band until 2010. However, this current project is incredible all on it's own. The progressive instrumental rock trio also just released their first full-length, French Ghettos, this year. Make sure you head over to their bandcamp and check it out.

On top of the 2 great touring bands and 4 locals, this show is being sponsored by some of our favorite businesses in the area.  On deck for the night are Lovesick Tattoo Parlor, Ironclad Tattoo Co., Tisyska Clothing, Epyon Royal , and Valore Art. So we're sure that there will not only be awesome music, but also there will be some bad-ass people at this show and we're sure there will be plenty of SWAG for everyone. 

Entry to Paycheck's on Friday night is only $8, which is pretty impressive with this lineup and for 6 bands. It is an ALL AGES show, so our young friends out there can get in too! You must be 21+ to drink though! Paycheck's is located at 2932 Caniff in Hamtramck. Just look for the glowing yellow sign! For additional details visit the Facebook event page here. 

~C

Ironclad Tattoo Co.'s First Anniversary PARTY!!!

It's hard to believe that it's already been a year since we sat down with Mike Moore and talked about the opening of Ironclad Tattoo Co. in Troy. I braved through my first tattoo from Bagz the week the shop opened and I have been going back as often as possible to buy all sorts of new jewelry from Mike. No one sells stuff as cool or unique as he does. Everytime I walk in the door I'm greeted with a smile and I always end up spending an hour or two chatting with the staff, the space is very welcoming and casual. I even took one of my best friends to get her ears pierced there this year on her birthday.

The people who work at Ironclad are not only good at what they do, but they are also kind, friendly, and fun to party with. They were cool enough to sponsor our One Year Anniversary show in February, so we wanted to return the favor and sponsor their One Year Anniversary Party this Wednesday at The Loving Touch. Being the bad asses that they are, the guys are Ironclad came up with one of our favorite themes for this party, all gold everything. Let's just say that I took this theme and may have went a little crazy, but I can't wait for everyone to see my "costume". Come hang out at The Loving Touch this Wednesday and see what I have cooked up.

Ironclad will be selling new men's and women's t-shirts at the party and they will have tons of raffles, including gift certificates, clothing, art prints, and more. We will be there handing out HipInDetroit.com pins and stickers and doing shots by the bar.

Admission is free and the party starts at 8 p.m. and goes until the bar closes. The Loving Touch is located at 22634 Woodward in Ferndale.

Check out our 2 videos and stop in the store to see all that the shop has added in the last year. They have double the jewelry, double the merch, and more artists then they had when they first opened. Congrats on your first year in business! We expect you'll stay golden for years to come.

~S

ShamRock Fest at Paycheck's

Friday Night at Paycheck's in Hamtramck our friends at Ironclad Tattoo Co. are sponsoring a great show. The fact that those dudes will be there should be reason enough to go. They definitely know how to party. But, on top of that, there are some great bands playing including the always amazing Snakewing, Undesirable People, Live It Out and Misfortunate Sons.On top of the great music, Valore Art will be in there creating live art and selling paintings. Kind of a different twist on a regular show.

This event is being presented by Cthulhu Entertainment. It is sort of a pre- St. Patty's Day party, hence the name ShamRock. There will be green beer and whiskey specials all night long. The show starts at 9 p.m. and $5 will get you in the door! For all of the details on ShamRock Fest visit the Facebook event page here. 

~C

Hip In Detroit's 1 Year Party Including 2 Great Videos From Break Anchor's Set

Our one year anniversary has come and gone, and from what we can remember, we had the greatest time! The A-Gang, Destroy This Place, Against The Grain and Break Anchor were all awesome, we had a great turnout and lots of people walked away with prizes and free swag from Ironclad Tattoo Co., Incognito and more. 

We finally have a good video of Break Anchor to share with all of you that missed out. Usually we're too crammed into the basement at the Toepfer House to be able to get any quality shots of these guys. Jay Navarro is a living legend in Detroit. He has been playing and supporting music in Detroit for as long as I can remember. No one sings like him and no one fronts a band like he does. Just look at him!

Photo Credit: Joe Gall Photography

Thank you to everyone who played or came to party with us this past Friday. We look forward to the next year and our second birthday where we hope to do it even bigger and better. Special shout out to Small's and Black Iris Booking for making it all possible.

Now check out these videos brought to you by the talented Matt Moy, Adam Burgess and Ryan Monaghan. And make sure to check back throughout the week to see videos of the other bands from Friday!

~S

Hip In Detroit One Year Anniversary Show Tonight!!!

Tonight we are throwing a huge party to celebrate the one year anniversary of Hip In Detroit. We have recruited four of our biggest supporters: Break Anchor, Against The Grain, The A-Gang and Destroy This Place to play for you and we were lucky enough to get Incognito, PBR, James Linck, Kristina Grafer, Mark Culpepper, Against the Grain and Ironclad Tattoo Co. to donate lots of prizes for us to give away to you. We have everything from gift cards for tattoos and clothing to stickers and booty shorts to lavish upon those that attend the event this Friday.

In honor of this event, Christie and Becca went back through our old videos and pulled interviews and clips with each band to show you what we have done with them in the past year and to give you a taste of what each has to offer. Check out all of the videos and please come out and join us at Small's for the party tonight! Doors are at 8 p.m. and the show is $10. 

On a personal note, I want to thank each and every person that has worked with us throughout the last year. Anyone who threw us on a guest list, bought us a drink, gave us their time for an interview or came out to an event because we advertised it. A special thanks from me goes out to Ramona, Sarah, Joe Gall, the entire crew at Small's, the entire staff at the Crofoot, the entire staff at The Magic Stick, and Matt Moy for always lending a helping hand to us when we need it and putting up with me and this website. 

Most importantly I would like to thank Christie and Becca for working with me the past year. We each carry a different load and work very hard. There are good days and bad days and days when I want to give up, but you ladies keep me going and I hope vice versa. You are both more amazing than you'll ever know. 

In the next year I would like to see hipindetroit.com become the place to go when you need to figure out what to do. I would like to see the music community come together and support each other. We are all trying to put out our art and express ourselves. For that reason alone we should have respect for our fellow artists. Detroit is the weirdest and coolest city in the world and I am very proud to be covering this city and the people in it. 

~S

Celebrate 13 Years of Memories At Small's This Weekend

Everyone has their favorite bar to have a drink at and everyone has their favorite venue to go watch a band play, mine just happen to be the same place. I am constantly telling our readers how much I enjoy seeing a show at Small’s in Hamtramck. This year we caught Lucero and Bars of Gold among other acts play unforgettable sets on their stage, as well as tasted the sweet guilty pleasure that is a Paczki shot. 

This weekend, Small's celebrates its 13th anniversary of being open. Every night at 8 p.m. they serve up some of the best drinks and music in the Metro Detroit area. Being open for 13 years in a dwindling economy is a feat in itself, but still staying relevant and booking some of the best shows in town is almost unheard of. They have survived while other places have shut down or changed owners multiple times. Owners Dave, Melody, Natalie and Mike know what they are doing and they do it well.

Small's has been able to change and adapt to the times. Just recently they knocked out the wall that separated the two rooms by the stage and turned it into one cohesive space. They rearranged the sound board to open the room up and installed a screen in the bar that allows a patron to walk over and get a drink without missing a second of the live act on stage. Smalls has always been known for good sound. Bands want to play there because they know that they are going to come across the way that they want to be heard.

This weekend they will be throwing a big bash to celebrate their anniversary. They have $4 PBR tall boys all weekend and lots of bands lined up including Wilson, The A-Gang, Cadaver Dogs and Golden Torso on Friday night; and Trash Brats, Troubleman and Break Anchor on Saturday night. The Trash Brats are also celebrating their 25th anniversary this year. Ironclad Tattoo Co. is sponsoring the event and we will be there hanging out.

Small's is located at 10339 Conant in Hamtramck and is generally open Monday- Saturday from 8 p.m.- 2 a.m. They also have a Facebook and Twitter where they post early doors or drink specials so make sure you add them to your feeds. This week Mike posted that they have their first batch of pumpkin pie vodka ready to pour that I was very excited to hear about.

Small's is always thinking of new ideas and booking the best shows around. Here's to another 13 years of good music, great drinks and amazing memories. Happy anniversary Small’s! 

~S

Ironclad Tattoo Co. Grand Opening & Sadie's First Tattoo

Earlier this summer, we met up with our friend Mike Moore and told you about his new shop, Ironclad Tattoo Co. They finally had their official Grand Opening Party last week. The shop looks amazing! While we were, there Sadie got her first tattoo with shop co-owner and tattoo artist Mike Bagz. Check out some pictures and a video of Mike working his magic. 

Special thanks to Melissa & The HandGrenades for supplying us with the soundtrack. Make sure you head down to the Magic Stick on Friday to catch these guys along with The High Strung, The Future Laureates and Jesse Shepherd-Bates. 

If you would like to make an appointment with any of the artists at Ironclad, call (248) 528-0810 or just stop by the shop. Even if you aren't looking to get tattooed or pierced, you should go in to see their amazing jewelry selection and InkAddict apparel. 

~CB

Ironclad Grand Opening Party!

I can't believe I'm saying this, but August 30 at the Ironclad Tattoo Co. Opening Party, I will be getting my first tattoo! After years of being too scared, unsure and too broke to afford a tattoo, I have finally given in to my urges and decided its time for a little ink! I am petrified, so naturally the plan is to record the whole thing and share it with all of you!

Even better, if you want to laugh at me live and in person, you can do that as well, because you are all invited to the opening party at Ironclad Tattoo Co. There is an after party down the street at the bar, too! The festivities start at 12 p.m. and continue until the last man drops. The shop will be open from 12 until 6:30. They will have piercing specials with Mike Moore and tattoo specials with all of the artists. They will also be giving out raffle tickets for assorted prizes throughout the day. The winners will be called at the after party at Hamlin Pub, located at 3946 Rochester, just across the street from Ironclad. In case you don't already know, Ironclad is located on Rochester Rd. just south of 17 Mile by Elaine's Bagels. Hamlin will also feature drink and food specials, along with some winners. Make sure to write your email address down on your ticket because although we would like you present to win, you do not have to be. Everyone is welcome to come to the shop but only 21 plus are invited to the bar.

I cannot wait to see everyone party and get my first tattoo from this amazing new place, filled with fun people!

Check out our interview with Mike Moore when we stopped by Ironclad before they opened!

Cheers!

~S 

The New Place to go for All of Your Tatttoo, Piercing & Jewelry Needs!

Hip In Detroit is really bringing you the latest and greatest this city has to offer. There is no shortage of businesses that we love to frequent and share with you. But, this time we are telling you about the new place to be before the doors even open! We were lucky enough to get a sneak peak of the soon to be open Ironclad Tattoo Co. in Troy.

The space is huge and beautiful, complete with hard wood floors, clean walls, individual rooms for piercing and tattooing and the largest, high quality jewelry selection that I have ever seen! Ironclad is located on Rochester Rd. just South of 17 Mile on the West side of the road. This convenient location means it is very easy for everyone to get to via I-75. One of the owners of this amazing new shop is our friend Mike Moore.

I have known Mike for awhile now and he has told me many times that he could get me some great, new jewelry for my ears, which are gauged. I should have listened to him and taken him up on his offer to help me find something I liked because when I went into the shop to interview him this week, it changed my life.

I have had plugs since I was about 13 years old. It took me years to slowly stretch my ears from size to size. And when I found the size I wanted, I bought some wooden plugs that kind of looked like leopard print and I have been wearing those same earrings for almost 10 years! I am an accessories girl. So wearing the same earrings for 10 years was a little weird. While I don't regret stretching my ears, I have missed being able to buy and wear different earrings. 

After this week, that is no longer a problem. Mike hooked me up with a great pair of triangle shaped earrings that look like real earrings. He also ordered me pyramid style plugs in tiger's eye, an amazing stone that reflects gold and black in the light. He changed my earrings for me and he changed my life. 

There is a whole new world of ways to accessorize your piercings that I was unaware of. After checking out their great jewelry selection, Mike was kind enough to talk to us about the shop and what he does for a living. He is full of knowledge and he makes you feel calm and comfortable when you're working with him. From ear weights to real gold accessories, he is single handedly changing piercing. Check out his interview and make sure to swing by the new shop for all your piercing and tattoo needs! We plan to be visiting very often! Congrats on the opening and what we think will be a fun and prosperous future!

~S (with B&C)