Hip in Detroit's Picks for the Weekend: January 10-12

Friday, January 10th - The Crofoot Presents: Napoleon Dynamite LIVE @ The Redford Theatre: This special one night only event is sold out, but in case you can snag some tickets, we wanted to tell you about it! The cult classic Napoleon Dynamite will be shown and then Napoleon, Pedro, and Uncle Rico will be doing a Q&A session. Doors open at 6:30 p.m. and the show starts at 7:30 p.m. Visit the Facebook event page here to see if anyone has an extra ticket.

Saturday, January 11th - Live Band Karaoke @ Small's: Karaoke is making a comeback! And when you do karaoke at Small's you'll really feel like a star because you'll have a live band backing you up, not just some wonky track. The Ricky Rack Pack will be on stage, doors open at 8 p.m., and karaoke starts at 9. Cover is only $5 and 21+ are welcome.

Saturday, January 11th - Eastside Elvis @ Cadieux Cafe: Elvis' 85th Birthday was this past Wednesday! If you didn't have a chance to celebrate, Cadieux Cafe has you covered this Saturday night with Eastside Elvis & His Motor City Mafia. Opening the show is Cover Boy playing Duran Duran hits. Things kick off at 9 p.m.!

Saturday, January 11th - Nothing Elegant: New Year, Same Shenanigans @ The Old Miami: Get your dancing shoes on and get to The Old Miami! DJs Lady Fantastic and Amy Dreamcatcher will be playing the tunes from 10 until 2! Cover is only $5 and 21+ are welcome.

Hip in Detroit's Picks for the Weekend: October 11-13

Saturday, October 12th - Empty The Shelters: We know, we know! We'll stop it with the pet related events. But, here's one more big one first! This Saturday (and also Friday at DACC), many shelters in the area will be offering fee free or reduced fee adoptions. You can check out a full list of participating shelters in the area here. Get out there and get yourself a new furry friend! (P.S. Checkout our new Hip Pet of the Week feature with Friends of Detroit Animal Care and Control over there on the left. Maybe Giovanni or one of his friends are the right dog for you!)

Saturday, October 12th - Theatre Bizarre @ The Masonic Temple: Don't miss the best Halloween party in the world, Theatre Bizarre! If you haven't been to this event before, it is something you truly need to experience. You can get the inside scoop on the event in our review from last year here. This year, tickets are $105 and can be purchased at many locations in the area, see the full list here. Costumes are mandatory to get in to this event and you will see things that you've never seen before! Can't make it this weekend? You have another chance on October 19th.  

Saturday, October 12th - Nothing Elegant @ The Old Miami: Dance the night away with DJs Lady Fantastic and Amy Dreamcatcher! They'll be playing "Hip-hop, R&B jammers, soul, 90's bangers and everything in between". Cover is only $5 and 21+ are welcome. The party starts at 10 p.m.!

Saturday, October 12th - Sunday, October 13th - Mise En Scène Michigan @ The Senate Theater: Here's your chance to see some awesome Michigan-made indie horror and grindhouse movies from the 1970s and 80s. The lineup for the weekend includes Evil Dead II, Northville Cemetery Massacre, Mosquito, Moontrap, Deathbed: The Bed That Eats, and Going Back, and each screening includes Q&A sessions with guest filmmakers! Tickets are $10 per show, and $5 for the Evil Dead II. For showtimes and more details, click here. 

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

Friday, September 13th & Saturday, September 14th - Meet your Best Friend @ The Zoo: We know, we keep posting about pet adoption, but this is the adoption event of all events. Next we promise we won't post about pet adoption (well, maybe). Hundreds of cats and dogs will be in the parking lot of the Detroit Zoo this Friday and Saturday, looking for their forever homes. Since this event started in 1993, more than 25,000 dogs and cats have found homes. Is your new furry friend waiting for you at the zoo? Find out on Friday from noon 'til 6 p.m. or Saturday from 10 a.m. - 5 p.m. Side note, you cannot adopt the bears, lions, and other animals that are actually in the zoo during this event.


Saturday, September 14th - The Lucid Furs @ The Sanctuary: The Lucid Furs always put on a great show and this Saturday will be no different. They will be playing at The Sanctuary in Hamtramck along with Salvadore Ross, Dark Serenity, Stephanie Cox and The Blox and Edison Hollow. Cover is only $10, doors are set to open at 8 p.m., and all ages are welcome. Give The Lucid Furs latest album No God? No Problem a listen here.

Saturday, September 14th - Nothing Elegant: 8 Years Young @ The Old Miami: We had a blast chatting with Lady Fantastic (aka Sara Aldridge) on our podcast a couple of months ago. One of the things we talked about was the awesome monthly dance parties that she DJs along with her Nothing Elegant partner, Amy Dreamcatcher. This Saturday night, the duo returns to The Old Miami, but this is a special edition of Nothing Elegant. They will be celebrating their 8th birthday! Cover is only $5 and 21+ are welcome.

Saturday, September 14th - H20 25th Anniversary @ The Loving Touch: As we get older, so do the bands that we grew up listening to. This Saturday night, H20 will be celebrating their 25th anniversary at The Loving Touch. Joining them on stage are Comeback Kid, Abuse of Power, Strange Magic, and Hushed. Tickets for this monumental show are $20 in advance or $23 the day of the show. You can purchase your tickets in advance here. Doors are at 7 p.m. and all ages are welcome.



Saturday, September 14th - WhateverFest 9 @ Tangent Gallery: WhateverFest 9 was supposed to take place on The Dequindre Cut earlier this summer, but the date and location was changed. The good news is, that means that you didn't miss it! Over 30 acts are playing the event, spread across 3 stages at The Tangent Gallery. Doors open at noon, cover is $10 until 10 p.m. or $20 after 10. So get there early! See the full lineup for the day here.

Murals in the Market: Murals in the Market officially kicks off this weekend! The major events that you're used to, like Eastern Market After Dark, aren't happening until next week. So we will tell you more about that next week. This weekend there is a Family Reunion Block Party on Saturday, and an Artist Meet & Greet and Cocktail Hour on Sunday. See the full schedule of events here.

We are NOT GOING BACK

Abortion rights have been a hot topic in the United States ever since Roe vs. Wade made legal access to abortion the law of the land in 1973. Some people have argued that there should be some stipulations put on access to abortions and others argue that they shouldn't be legal in the first place. But, the fact of the matter is that they are legal and American women's access to them is under attack. 

Anti-abortion lobbyists are working harder than ever to make sure that you have to go through a lot of hoops to get access to a medical procedure that was guaranteed to you in the constitution. They are trying to make it harder to open and operate a clinic and if you can manage to make that happen, they are putting as many roadblocks in the way of care that they can think of. This includes unnecessary 24 hour waiting periods and manipulative techniques that are put in place to try to talk a patient out of deciding what medical care they wish to receive.

Personally, I think that all women should have safe and legal access to abortion services. I do not care who, what, where, when or why, all I care about is what medical choice they would like to make for themselves. It's 2019 and it's time to put an end to this debate. It is our constitutional right to have safe and legal access to abortion and it's time to make it happen. 

Detroit's music and art scenes are coming together this Sunday to help raise money for Planned Parenthood and the ACLU. The goal of this gathering is to collect money that the ACLU can use to fight for Planned Parenthood's right to continue to provide health services and abortion services for their clients, especially in places like Georgia where illegal bans are trying to make their way up the judicial chain to challenge the law of the land. 

The Not Going Back party will feature performances from Cousin Mouth, Mega Powers, Motor City Soul Club, James Linck, DJ Father Dukes, Nothing Elegant, Sam Morykwas, LXL, and Sara Marie Barron. There will also be a raffle that will feature prizes from a variety of Detroit companies including Meta Physica Wellness Center, FOLK Detroit, Bon Bon Bon, Harlequin Tattoo, George Gregory, Blo Blow Dry Bar, SMPLFD, Anthology Coffee, Metropolis Cycles, Third Wave Music, Detroit Hustles Harder, medicina urbana., Joe Gall, KEPT Jewelry, Urbanum, The Peacock Room, held, Pie-Sci, Spark Plug, Protomartyr, and Rebel Nell.

This Sunday's benefit will be held at Marble Bar and the doors for the party will open at 3 p.m. There is a $10 suggested donation at the door but 100% of the money that they take in from the door and the raffle will go to Planned Parenthood and the ACLU, so it's basically like you are giving to charity and getting something awesome for doing it.  

To stay in the loop, follow the event here.

If you can't come out to the benefit, we suggest you take a moment and make a donation to Planned Parenthood or the ACLU in your name from your computer right now!

~S 

Hip In Detroit Talks with Sara Aldridge (Full Podcast)

Recorded: June 18th @ Bagley Central

Guest: Sara Aldridge


Links to thinks we talk about in the show:

Nothing Elegant

Murals in the Market

Ellen Rutt

Come Hangout at Bagley Central While We Record Our Next Podcast with Sara Aldridge

Detroit has changed a lot over the last 8 years and so has hipindetroit.com. We are constantly trying to find new ways to document the people, places, and music that make Detroit so magical and along the way we realized that we really liked podcasting. Then, after years of being cooped up in a studio, we decided to switch it up and take our podcast on the road. Instead of staying in the same place, we purchased all the things we needed to pop-up and podcast on our own terms. This means that we can record our chats anywhere, anytime with anyone that we want. This also means that we have the time that we need to get in-depth and truly document the people that are making this city move.

This month we will be talking to Sara Aldridge, 1/2 of Nothing Elegant and one of the most well respected DJs in Detroit. Sara is a culture creator and a positivity ambassador that uses her voice to highlight injustice and spread joy by creating safe spaces for people to dance. She has also been deeply involved with the Detroit art and music scene for two decades and she has a lot of knowledge to share.

We will be recording this conversation at Bagley Central on June 18th at 7 p.m. and we would like to invite all of you to listen in while we chat. The new cocktail bar is one of our favorite places to kick back and have a drink, so we figured it was the perfect place to relax and record. So come hang out and do the same while we talk to Sara about all things hip in Detroit.

~S

Nothing Elegant: She Got It From Her Mama Party

This Saturday, May 13th two power female Detroit DJs, Amy Dreamcatcher and Lady Fantastic, will be throwing a party to celebrate all women in honor of Mother's Day. The dynamic duo is inviting all of us out to The Old Miami this Saturday to celebrate all the mothers in our life. From the ones that gave birth to us to the ones that adopted us and took us under their wings when we needed some support. Women are power, mothers are powerful, and dancing together on a Saturday night in Detroit with a group of beautiful women is powerful.

The fun starts at 10 p.m. this Saturday. It's $5 to get in the door and 21+ are welcome to attend. Nothing Elegant sets feature hip-hop, 80's jammers, new wave, electro and everything in between.

~S

Celebrate Five Years of Nothing Elegant!!!

For the last five years Nothing Elegant has been packing the dance floor at The Old Miami on the second Saturday of the month. Partners Sara Aldridge and Amy Kaherl have curated a signature dance party that has become a Detroit staple. They know how to get a party started and keep it moving late into the night.

Sarah and Amy promote a positive and safe environment for Detroiters of all ages. They are two strong women who help lift up other female artists in the community and they are two damn good DJs! This Saturday they will be celebrating their five year anniversary by doing what they do best, partying. In honor of their anniversary we asked Sarah to tell us a little bit more about how it all got started and where the duo will go from here. Check out what she has to say and make sure to stop by The Old Miami this Saturday to celebrate five years of fun!


HID- How did you and Amy meet?
Sara- "Amy and I met when we both DJ’d a mutual friend's birthday party at Woodbridge Pub. We both were sick of sitting on the sidelines."

HID- Is there a meaning behind the name Nothing Elegant?
Sara- "When Amy and I were looking for a name for the party we were scouring the internet and found this amazing picture of Amelia Earhart by her plane, wearing an aviator cap and overalls. Over the photo “Nothing Elegant” was written and we immediately knew that we had the name for our party. We both respect a lot of the feminist ideas that Amelia held so we thought it was a perfect match. The strange thing is when you try and search for that picture now it’s MIA-it’s like it existed just for us to find."

HID- When did you start going by Lady Fantastic? How did you choose that alias?
Sara- "I started DJing under the name Lady Fantastic 6 or 7 years ago. I used to DJ in my college friend’s kitchen and his girlfriend, now wife, started calling me Lady Fantastic. So, when Amy and I started DJing together we needed something to put on our first flier for Nothing Elegant so I went with Lady Fantastic and Amy went with Amy Dreamcatcher."

HID- Why The Old Miami?
Sara- "The Old Miami is just such a Detroit staple. We love the backyard, we love that it’s owned by a woman, Julie, and when we first started doing Nothing Elegant a lot of our lady friends were bar-tending so we thought it was a good match for what we were trying to do."

HID-Are your guest DJs always women? Why?
Sara- "Our guests are mainly women, but we’ve had some of our guy friends play with us as well throughout the years. We think it’s essential to create safe spaces for woman to be creative. Also, when we started Nothing Elegant we wanted to build a foundation for other woman DJs that were often overlooked when galleries and such were booking entertainment. We wanted to use the parties as a way to help our friends get exposure and hone their skills as DJs."

HID- Why do you think Detroit has such a strong female presence in the musical and nightlife scene?
Sara- "I feel like the women in this city have to be extra tough- Detroit can be a hard city to live in (but it’s totally worth it!). The women that are present in the music and nightlife scene are hustlers with a strong will and drive. I just see a lot of ladies in these scenes that really really want it and that intense desire to thrive is motivation. But in my own experience I’ve been incredibly lucky to have found some great male allies in the scene that have help me push forward in my own craft. There’s a real sense of community in the art scene in Detroit which gets overlooked a lot and this camaraderie and willingness to collaborate is win win for everyone involved."

HID- Do you have a special song that you like to play that always gets people moving?
Sara- "We definitely have some staples when we play. Fantasy by Mariah Carey, anything Missy Elliot, and Return of the Mack always seem to get people on the dance floor."

Just because:

HID- How do you think Detroit has changed over the last five years that you have been hosting the monthly party?
Sara- "We’ve definitely seen a shift in who comes to our parties which is kinda exciting. It’s nice to see different people getting exposed and excited about what we do! Obviously, the city itself has changed dramatically in the last few years on so many different fronts and we can see that at our parties."

HID- Top three parties over the last five years and why?
Sara- "New Years Eve 2013 at the Old Miami. We got to play with a bunch of our friends like Cold Men Young, Doc Waffles, and Eddie Logix. And, the Right Brothers were kind enough to make an amazing promo video for the party for us! So, it was a really incredible process of working alongside our friends and artists that we really value.

Nain Rogue is always one of our favorites too! It’s nice to DJ a day party and we get to play for a lot of people we don’t normally get to DJ for. And, our bud Josh from Jr Jr has been joining us on the decks the last few years, so that’s always a good time!

Our anniversary parties have got to be on the list too! It’s just such a great celebration and a chance for Amy and I to reflect on how far we come as DJs, as friends and business partners. It’s always very humbling."

HID- What can someone who has never been to a Nothing Elegant party expect if they come out to celebrate five years?
Sara- "We’ve definitely got some surprises in store, but people can expect a party with electric energy. Lots of gold and glitter. Lots of shenanigans. A welcoming space with nostalgic music. This party is about people coming together, leaving their baggage at the door for a few hours and getting free."

HID- Is there anything else that you would like our readers to know?
Sara- "We definitely think it’s important that people know we try to cultivate a party that is accessible for everyone. Gay, straight, doctors, bartenders, lawyers, black, white, trans. Noting Elegant is about letting your hair down in an unpretentious way and just celebrating life and love and the city. It’s a chance once a month to let go and get some dance therapy. You can come in a ball gown or jeans and flip flops. We want people to be able to be themselves and not have to dress a certain way, or belong to a certain social circle to feel as though they can/should come to one of our parties."

The party starts at 10 p.m. on Saturday and 21+ are welcome to attend. $5 gets you in at the door. 

~S

Win Tickets to Spend NYE with Nothing Elegant and DJ Thornstryker

Have you ever been to a Pistons game and danced when the DJ played your favorite song? DJ Thornstryker is the official DJ of the Pistons and she is known for making a room move. She has teamed up with Nothing Elegant to throw a big ol' bash this Thursday for NYE.

 They are taking a 5,000 square foot space and turning it into a dance party. The event will feature music, dancing, drinks, and a toast at Midnight. Tickets are only $12 in advance, they can be purchased here. We also have one pair of tickets to give away to one lucky reader! If you would like to enter to win a pair of tickets, please email us at hipindetroit@gmail.com with the subject line #NYE. We will draw the winner early on Thursday and email them details on how to claim the prize.

~S

The Hip In Detroit Guide to New Year's Eve

New Year's Eve, it marks a new beginning for some and the end of a great year for others. Whether you are sad to see the year come to a close or you can't wait for a fresh start, one thing is for sure, New Year's Eve is a great time to party and spend time with the people you love the most!

There are a lot of great ways to celebrate this year. So we thought we'd narrow down the list a bit. Here is our guide to some of the best New Year's Eve bashes around Detroit!

 
New Year's Eve @ New Way Bar: $5 will get you in the door to this bash featuring George Morris & The Gypsy Chorus, Le Voyage and The HandGrenades (also playing at the Hip In Detroit 2 Year Bash on February 1st). Doors open at 9 p.m. with bands playing at 10, 11, and 12. There will also be a free champagne toast at Midnight. 21+ are welcome. The New Way Bar is located at 23130 Woodward Avenue in Ferndale.


 
New Year's Eve Thirstwave Dance Party @ Small's: Thirstwave Thursday is throwing a very special Tuesday edition for New Year's Eve! DJ Pleasure Kitten, DJ Elektrosonik and DJ Aaron Hingst will be spinning New Wave and Retro Alternative from 9 p.m. until 4 a.m. Admission to this party is FREE and there will be a free appetizer buffet and your choice of a PBR or champagne toast at Midnight! Sounds like a great deal to us! Small's is located at 10339 Conant in Hamtramck. 

 
Beat The Box: An Interdimensional New Year @ Tangent Gallery: Dance the night away and get ready for a party that's out of this world. Featuring Traxx, BMG, Outer Space and Scott Zacharias, this party will go from 9 until 4 a.m. $10 will get you in the door and 21+ are welcome. Tangent Gallery is in Detroit at 715 East Milwaukee St.




The Drop @ Campus Martius: 
Want a Times Square style party without leaving the Mitten? This is the event for you! There are family friendly festivities going on all day long, with a ball drop for the kiddos at 6:30 p.m. Then, the party for the grownups starts. There will be a food truck rally, drinks served at Fountain Bistro (only $10 for 2 drinks!), and they will drop the "D" at Midnight! It all takes place at Campus Martius and it's free to attend. And don't let the cold weather scare you away! There will be heaters all around the park! 

Nothing Elegant Presents: Come Classy or Trashy But Come To Party @ The Old Miami: 

If you want a laid back party with some great hip-hop, this is the spot for you. Music for the night will be presented by Cold Men Young, Doc Waffles, Josef Coney Island and Sleepless Inn (Eddie Logix and Laura Finlay). There will be a Jello Shot drop at Midnight and the party goes 'til 4 a.m. 21+ are welcome and it's $10 to get in the door or $5 if you bring a pizza with you! The Old Miami is located at 3930 Cass Ave. in Detroit.

 

Lager House New Year's Eve Bash: $25 gets you in the door to this one and it's one of the only open bars we've heard about! That price gets you all you can drink PBR and well drinks until 1 a.m, a champagne toast at Midnight, and some pizza too! Not to mention, White Shag and SICK will be hitting the stage while Dante LaSalle hits the decks. This party runs from 8 p.m. - 2 a.m., 21+ are welcome, and PJ's Lager House is located at 1254 Michigan Ave. in Corktown. 

New Year's @ The Loving Touch and The W.A.B.: If you're looking for something a little more low key, why not go to one of your favorite bars in town? The W.A.B. will be featuring $2 WAB Pints from 10 p.m. - 2 a.m. and FREE hugs from Midnight 'til 2. The Loving Touch will be offering a similar deal, with $2 WAB Pints from Midnight 'til 2 a.m. and FREE pool all night long! Stay close to home for the night and 

head to a bar where you're bound to run into someone you know! 

 

New Year's @ New Dodge: $15 is all you'll have to dish out for a ton of bands and a ton of food at the New Dodge Lounge. There will be a buffet, a champagne toast at midnight, circus performers, a photo booth, and music by Static Dial, The Adrays, Flatland Star, The Creepos and 7 Layers. The party goes until 4 a.m. and the New Dodge is located at 8850 Joseph Campau in Hamtramck.

 

New Year's Eve with The Gories @ The Magic Stick: If you are under 21, this might be the party for you. 18+ are welcome and admission is $18. The Gories will be headlining the show with their pals Pretty Ghouls and Apache Dropout earlier in the night. Doors open at 9 p.m. The Magic Stick is located at 4140 Woodward Ave. in Detroit. 

Mittenfest VIII @ Woodruff's:

This is the last night for Mittenfest VIII, which means it's the last night for you to head out to Ypsi and check out some great bands while supporting 826michigan. There are a ton of great acts playing, including Silent Lions, Violets and The Hard Lessons. Entry is only $10 and the money all goes to a great cause. Woodruff's is located at 36 East Cross Street in Ypsilanti.

Wherever you end up this New Year's Eve, we hope you have a great time! But, remember to be safe too! We want to see all of your pretty faces in 2014! Happy New Year from Hip In Detroit!!!

~C

 

New Jamaican Queens Video"The Kids Get Away"

This week on of my favorite local acts Jamaican Queens released their video for the song “The Kids Get Away.” The video was filmed in and around the streets of Detroit and the surrounding suburbs. It premiered on Noisey and we wanted to make sure that you caught it. 

The video was directed by Andy Miller and produced by Amanda Leclaire. It features all three of the boys from Jamaican Queen’s- Ryan Clancy, Ryan Spencer, and Adam- wearing masks while riding their bikes.

This video reminds us that Detroit has a dark side and at times can be a dangerous place. Singer Ryan Spencer said he was inspired to write this song when he realized how unsafe and stupid he was at times. He says "I kind of wrote this song as a reminder to stop being such an idiot. It’s not safe getting fucked up and riding my bike home from weird rave spaces at 4 in the morning alone.” 

The band's next show is this Friday with Nothing Elegant and CrayCrays at Jumbo's and is only $5. You can spend the end of the world dancing and listening to some of the best music this city has to offer. 

~S