Metro Times 10/15/2025 by Big Lou Holdings

Feedback NEWS & VIEWS

I read the article by Steve [Neavling], “Advocates warn Michigan police against cooperating with ICE.” I disagree. I think that it’s important for it to be listed in the article that laws should be enforced uniformly. It seems it’s one-sided. But anyway, thank you for your production. Bye. —Unknown reader, voicemail

Thanks for reading. We agree that no one is above the law— which is why ICE as it exists raises serious questions about legality and accountability. The agency has been accused of Fourth Amendment violations including racial profiling, making detentions without probable cause, warrantless entries

onto private property, using excessive force (including allegedly zip-tying children), and more. It’s no wonder that recent polling has found that a majority of Americans view ICE as going “too far.”

And while we’re on the topic of applying the law uniformly, President Donald Trump should have been put in prison years ago, or at the very least impeached and removed from office for his high crimes and misdemeanors. And for that matter, both the U.S. and Israel should be expected to follow international law and must be held accountable for the horrific crimes against humanity in Gaza.

—Lee DeVito, editor-in-chief

Sound off: letters@metrotimes.com

NEWS & VIEWS

WDIV fires Hank Winchester Police records detail allegations

By Steve Neavling

Hank Winchester, the longtime WDIV-TV consumer affairs reporter who was placed on leave this summer while police investigated misconduct allegations, was recently fired from the station — and newly obtained records reveal the detailed allegations against him.

Winchester, 51, an Emmy Awardwinning journalist who had been with WDIV since 2001, was accused of inappropriately touching a man at his Beverly Hills home while posing as a massage therapist, despite not having a license as required by state law, according to a police report obtained by Metro Times under the Freedom of Information Act. Police records show investigators seized cameras and other devices from his home after the alleged victim said he feared Winchester had secretly filmed him.

The unidentified man waited nearly a month and a half to file a police report, and a blurred photo of him on social media shows him giving what appears to be a Nazi salute, according to Todd Flood, one of Winchester’s attorneys. No charges were ultimately filed.

It’s unclear why Winchester was fired. WDIV didn’t return calls or emails for comment, and Winchester and his attorneys wouldn’t provide a statement.

A June 13 search of Winchester’s home, which involved police busting down his front door, uncovered no evidence that photos or videos were taken of the complainant.

According to the police report, the alleged victim first met Winchester on March 19 through Facebook Marketplace, where the reporter was selling a Ralph Lauren leather sleeper sofa. After the complainant and a friend showed up to Winchester’s home to pick up the sofa, Winchester struck up a conversation, telling the man he had been through a divorce “in the not so distant past” and was considering a career change. He offered the men bourbon, but they declined, the report states.

Winchester was previously married to Jeff Grim. As of this summer, he was dating Oakland County Circuit Court Judge Jacob Cunningham. It’s unclear if they are still together.

About a week later, Winchester reached out again, this time offering free massage therapy. Text messages later reviewed by police show Winchester portrayed himself as a sports medicine specialist and offered to treat the man and his friends.

“I wanted to talk to you about my venture. I just wrapped [up] my massage therapy certification,” Winchester texted the alleged victim. “I need 75 more hours offering free work – you just need to sign in. That’s all. I specialize in sports medicine and know it could be beneficial for people like you or friends.”

Winchester was not licensed to give massages, according to police and the

Michigan Licensing and Regulatory Affairs.

The alleged victim agreed to a massage session on April 10. Because another space wasn’t available, Winchester invited him back to his home, where a massage table had been set up in the bedroom.

The man told police he disrobed and covered himself with a towel. Winchester repeatedly asked if he wanted water, electrolytes, or bourbon, he said. During the massage, the man said Winchester inappropriately touched him in a way that was “not accidental.”

The police report redacts the specific allegations.

When confronted, Winchester apologized, the man told police.

The complainant said he then noticed what appeared to be recording devices: a small white camera on a dresser, a black

cord dangling from the ceiling where a recessed light should have been, and possibly a third camera across the room.

He also claimed he saw what looked like a small camera attached under Winchester’s shirt with a red light illuminated. No such camera was ever found, and police did not locate a recording device dangling from Winchester’s bedroom ceiling.

“He now is beginning to freak out and wondering if he has put himself in a bad situation,” the report states, referring to the complainant.

The alleged victim told police that as the massage grew “less therapeutic,” he decided to leave. He said Winchester blocked his path briefly and urged him to shower off the oil before going, insisting again that he take a drink. He also claimed Winchester may have stolen his ring, which he told police he put in

Hank Winchester.

COURTESY PHOTO

his pants pocket when he removed his clothes for the massage. Feeling unsafe, the man declined and decided to leave, according to police.

Before he left, Winchester asked the complainant “to sign a sheet of paper on the kitchen counter.” The man told police he signed his name, and there were “a couple other names” on the page.

According to the police report, Winchester called the man immediately after he left. The complainant said he didn’t answer and instead told a friend what had happened. His friend asked for the name of the therapist, and after the man double-checked Winchester’s last name on his phone contacts, the friend responded, “it wasn’t the Hank Winchester from TV, was it?” The complainant said he was advised that he should “just be nice to Hank via text and ask him” where he went to massage school.

According to the police report, the complainant said he did not know who Winchester was before the incident.

Text messages obtained by police show that Winchester told the complainant that he left the ring at his house. The man did not want to go back to get it, so he asked Winchester to mail it.

He then offered to connect Winchester with his friends. “My neck feels great,” the complainant texted.

The complainant then asked Winchester which massage therapy school he attends. Winchester evaded the question, saying, “Most learning is now online” and then sent the complainant a link to an online massage therapy program at Dorsey College in Madison Heights.

Unsatisfied with the response, the complainant asked, “will you please tell me who your certification is through?”

After getting no response, he added, “I feel uneasy about you not answering. Can you please explain,” according to the police report.

The next day, Winchester tried to call the complainant, according to the police report. The complainant responded in a text message, “Are you a massage therapist?”

Winchester texted back, “If you have any further questions call my attorney, Mike Morse. Thank you.”

The complaint responded, “Thought so. You’re a sick person, are you aware that you’re sick?”

The alleged victim reported the incident to police on May 22. In a follow-up interview, he told investigators he felt “severely violated and wishes Hank would be held liable.” He said he was worried there may be other victims.

On June 5, police called the massage therapy school Winchester mentioned, which said the college prohibits its

“I will let you know that there was an allegation that was made against me by someone and police have a responsibility in these situations to investigate allegations,” Winchester said on the Aug. 18 episode. “But they should also take the time to investigate the person making the allegation.”

students from giving unsupervised massages. Police then obtained a search warrant in search of records from Dorsey College. It’s unclear what police found because that section of the report is mostly redacted. Turns out, Winchester never attended Dorsey College, Lance Craven, president and CEO of the school, tells Metro Times

On June 13, five Beverly Hills police officers and two Oakland County sheriff’s deputies executed a search warrant at Winchester’s house. According to the report, they seized five Blink cameras, an old Sony camcorder, laptops, an iPad, an iPhone, and a thumb drive, along with a piece of paper listing four names and phone numbers. One of those names matched the alleged victim, but police said the other phone numbers did not appear to correspond to the listed individuals, “and no one answered the phone, and no voicemails were set up” when cops called.

Police also found “sweat and oil splotches” on the massage table.

Images of the alleged victim did not appear on any of the seized electronics. Investigators said they discovered one photo and two videos that were taken around the time of the massage but the data had been “inaccessible.” However, text messages suggest the missing footage may have been taken before the complainant arrived.

The complainant initially told police he arrived at Winchester’s at “approximately 2 p.m.” In a text message, the man told Winchester he was running late and would not arrive until 2:45 p.m. The footage was taken at 2:04 p.m., 2:19 p.m., and 2:38 p.m.

On Aug. 15, the Oakland County Prosecutor’s Office announced it would not charge Winchester.

“After a thorough investigation, which involved multiple interviews as well as searches of both the scene of the incident and electronic devices, the Beverly Hills Police Department presented their findings to our office,” Chief Assistant Prosecutor David Williams said. “On the facts of this case, it was concluded there was no cause to file any charges against

Mr. Winchester.”

Winchester responded with a statement: “I’m thankful this investigation is over. The allegations made against me were outrageous, unfounded and defamatory. Throughout my 24-year career in Detroit, my mission has always been to help the community I love, protect you from bad actors, and fight for justice. I will always fight for you — just as I’ve recently had to fight for myself.”

At a news conference, Flood also provided excerpts of two polygraph tests Winchester voluntarily took in June and July. Both concluded “no deception indicated,” he said. While inadmissible in Michigan courts, polygraphs can influence charging decisions.

Flood suggested the accuser had ulterior motives. At the news conference, Flood displayed a photo from social media that allegedly showed the complainant giving a Nazi salute. The man was not identified, and his face was blurred.

WDIV initially placed Winchester on leave in June after learning about the allegations.

“As of this time, he has been placed on administrative leave. While the investigation is ongoing — we won’t make any further comments,” Vice President and General Manager Bob Ellis said at the time.

After prosecutors declined charges, Winchester returned to work for about six weeks but wasn’t permitted to resume his “Help Me Hank” consumer investigations unit, sources said.

Ellis did not respond to Metro Times’s request for comment.

Winchester also resumed co-hosting his podcast with Kelly Stafford, the wife of NFL quarterback Matthew Stafford. Calling the ordeal “the worst nine weeks of my life” on his podcast, he said it was more painful than losing both parents, a battle with testicular cancer, and his divorce. He called the situation “insane and horrific and devastating.”

“I will let you know that there was an allegation that was made against me by someone and police have a responsibility in these situations to investigate alle-

gations,” Winchester said on the Aug. 18 episode. “But they should also take the time to investigate the person making the allegation.”

Metro Times has been unable to track down the complainant because his name has been redacted.

On Oct. 2, Stafford announced she was leaving the podcast due to her “mental health.” Winchester did not join her on the show.

WDIV has not announced Winchester’s termination. As of the original publication of this article on metrotimes.com, his bio still appeared on WDIV’s website.

WDIV has let other reporters return to work following allegations of wrongdoing. Reporter Kevin Dietz spent 30 days in jail for drunk driving and was allowed to return to work. In 2016, reporter Lauren Podell was suspended for allegedly using the n-word off air while talking with a coworker, but she was allowed to return until civil rights leaders demanded her termination. She resigned. WDIV personality Jason Carr was permitted to continue working after coworkers made a series of allegations against him, but he was eventually fired in December 2022 after a livestream rant. And meteorologist Brandon Roux continued working at WDIV after he conflated Amazon Prime Day with Juneteenth.

Nearly a week after this article was originally published on metrotimes. com, Winchester sent us a statement on behalf of attorneys Todd Flood and Neil Rockind.

“It is disappointing to know after the prosecutor declined any charges and our client took and passed 2 extensive polygraph tests that any reputable news source would share allegations the investigation revealed were unfounded and outrageous,” the statement reads, adding, “The Beverly Hills police kicked our [client’s] door down (a move typically reserved for murders and drug dealers) because they were led to believe secret videos existed. They did not. Not one single frame of video tied to these wild allegations was discovered. Facts matter. Ethical journalism matters. In this story both were ignored.” Winchester, Flood, and Rocking repeatedly declined to answer questions about whether Winchester misrepresented himself as a sports medicine therapist by claiming that he had completed or nearly completed massage certification, which massage school he attended, why he told the complainant he “wrapped” up his certification and only needed more hours, and whether he believed that was deceptive, and instead focused on casting the alleged victim as having mental health issues.

Cannabis trade group sues over new 24% wholesale tax

The state’s largest cannabis trade group has filed a lawsuit against Michigan, arguing that a new 24% wholesale tax on marijuana is unconstitutional and will devastate a legal market already struggling from plummeting prices and numerous closures.

The Michigan Cannabis Industry Association (MCIA) filed the complaint last week in the Michigan Court of Claims, just hours after Gov. Gretchen Whitmer signed the tax into law as part of the new state budget. The Senate approved the measure 19-17 earlier this month after it passed the House 78-21.

The lawsuit argues lawmakers lacked the three-quarters supermajority required to change voter-approved cannabis laws under the Michigan Constitution. When voters legalized recreational marijuana in 2018, they approved a 10% excise tax and 6% sales tax on retail cannabis sales. Any new or higher tax, the MCIA contends, amounts to an amendment of that ballot measure and therefore needs a supermajority vote.

The lawsuit argues that lawmakers violated the constitutional protections that voters included in the

2018 ballot initiative that legalized recreational marijuana. The complaint adds that the new wholesale tax amounts to an additional excise tax under a different name.

“Legislative authority over marihuana excise taxes is exclusive to MRTMA; no other statute may intrude upon or duplicate the marihuana excise tax,” the lawsuit states. “Thus, additional excise taxes require a direct amendment to MRTMA itself.”

Under the new law, the 24% tax will be levied on all marijuana sold or transferred to retailers beginning Jan. 1. The Whitmer administration projects it will raise roughly $420 million a year to fund road repairs.

Cannabis businesses say the tax will drive up prices, fuel the illicit market, and force more licensed operators out of business.

“This is going to be a nail in the coffin, especially for mom and pops,” said Tom Farrell, owner of the Refinery dispensaries in New Buffalo and Kalamazoo and Growing Pains, a cultivator. “The industry is in turmoil right now.”

At Farrell’s Kalamazoo location,

sales have dropped 70% in the past 18 months.

“It has been horrendous,” he said. “We had to lay off employees.”

The MCIA’s lawsuit also accuses lawmakers of misleading the public by inserting the tax into a road-funding bill at the last minute. In addition the complaint alleges the measure unconstitutionally interferes with existing contracts between cannabis suppliers and retailers by taxing discounts and rebates that are already part of negotiated agreements.

State leaders, including Whitmer and House Speaker Matt Hall, maintain that the tax is legal because it does not alter the existing excise tax structure approved by voters.

Cannabis business owners and advocates strongly disagree. They argue the new tax undermines the intent of the 2018 legalization measure, which was designed to keep taxes low enough to compete with the unregulated market.

“It’s a slap in the face to the cannabis industry and voters,” said Nick Hannawa, partner and chief legal counsel of Puff Cannabis, which operates 11 dispensaries. “It’s totally unfair to a strug-

gling industry. We are already taxed more harshly than any other industry in the country.”

Michigan’s cannabis market has already been reeling from oversupply, falling prices, and shrinking profit margins. In August, the average retail price of recreational flower dropped to a record low of $61.79 an ounce, which is down from $512 when legal sales began in 2020.

Industry leaders warn that adding a 24% wholesale tax will push Michigan’s legal cannabis prices close to those in California, where high taxes eroded parts of the legal market and drove consumers back underground.

In the same week the Michigan House approved the wholesale tax, California Gov. Gavin Newsom signed a bill to roll back a 25% tax increase on recreational cannabis. He approved the measure because the state’s high tax rates have forced thousands of legal businesses to shut down and drove residents to the unregulated market.

The MCIA is seeking a preliminary injunction to block enforcement of the tax while the case moves forward.

—Steve

Neavling

The Best of Detroit 2025

WHAT DRIVES THE MOTOR CITY, ACCORDING TO YOU

BY METRO TIMES READERS

our poll has officially crossed the finish line — and Detroit, you sure burned rubber!

After weeks of honking, hyping, and high-octane competition, the results of the Metro Times Best of Detroit are in. You nominated your favorite taco slingers, dive-bar legends, tattoo wizards, vinyl pushers, and much more — and now it’s time to crown the true kings and queens of the Motor City roadways. The votes have been tallied and the champions are in the winners’ circle. Here’s the best of Detroit, according to you.

Arts & Entertainment

BEST MUSIC FESTIVAL MOVEMENT movementfestival.com

BEST NIGHT OUT FIVE15

600 S. Washington Ave., Royal Oak | five15.net

BEST PEOPLE WATCHING MICHIGAN RENAISSANCE FESTIVAL michrenfest.com

BEST PHOTOGRAPHER ROAMING ROACH PHOTOGRAPHY instagram.com/roamingroachphotography

BEST PERFORMING ARTS VENUE THEATER DETROIT OPERA HOUSE

1526 Broadway St., Detroit | detroitopera.org

BEST PLACE TO BE A GEEK GREEN BRAIN COMICS

13936 Michigan Ave., Dearborn | greenbraincomics.com

BEST PLACE TO SEE AN INDIE FILM DIA FILM THEATRE 5200 John R St., Detroit | dia.org

BEST SMALL PROFESSIONAL THEATRE TIPPING POINT THEATRE

361 E. Cady St., Northville | tippingpointtheatre.com

BEST STREET FAIR DALLY IN THE ALLEY dallyinthealley.com

BEST VENUE FOR ELECTRONIC MUSIC ELEKTRICITY

15 S. Saginaw St., Pontiac | elektricitymusic.com

BEST VENUE FOR FOLK MUSIC THE ARK

316 S. Main St., Ann Arbor | theark.org

BEST VENUE FOR HIP-HOP THE ARETHA FRANKLIN AMPHITHEATRE

2600 Atwater St., Detroit | thearetha.com

BEST VENUE FOR JAZZ MUSIC ARETHA’S JAZZ CAFE

350 Madison St., Detroit | jazzcafedetroit.com

BEST VENUE FOR METAL THE SANCTUARY DETROIT

2932 Caniff St., Hamtramck | sanctuarydetroit.com

BEST VENUE FOR ROCK ’N’ ROLL THE CROFOOT BALLROOM

1 S. Saginaw, St., Pontiac | thecrofoot.com

BEST VENUE TO SEE A TRIBUTE ACT DISTRICT 142

142 Maple St., Wyandotte | district142live.com

BEST VISUAL ARTIST NIAGARA niagaradetroit.com

BUSINESS WITH BEST WALL MURAL NOXX CANNABIS

23622 Woodward Ave., Pleasant Ridge| noxx.com

Bars + Clubs

BEST ARCADE BAR OFFWORLD ARCADE

1420 E. Fisher Fwy., Detroit | offworldarcade.com

BEST BAR (MACOMB) BROWN IRON BREWHOUSE

BREWHOUSE

57695 Van Dyke Rd., Washington | browniron.com

BEST BAR (OAKLAND) PRONTO! DINER

608 S. Washington Ave., Royal Oak | prontodiner.com

BEST BAR (WASHTENAW) BLUE LLAMA JAZZ CLUB & RESTAURANT

314 S. Main St., Ann Arbor | bluellamaclub.com

BEST BAR (WAYNE) THE ALADDIN SANE 1265 Washington Blvd., Detroit | thealaddinsane.com

BEST BAR AT MIDNIGHT LOVE & TEQUILA 20 W. Adams Ave., Detroit | loveandtequiladetroit.com

BEST BAR AT MIDNIGHT LOVE & TEQUILA

20 W. Adams Ave., Detroit | loveandtequiladetroit.com

BEST BAR BEFORE A GAME DETROIT SHIPPING COMPANY

474 Peterboro St., Detroit | detroitshippingcompany.com

BEST BEER BOTTLE SELECTION (SUBURBS) SEDONA TAPHOUSE

27466 Novi Rd., Novi | 198 E. Big Beaver Rd., Troy sedonataphouse.com

BEST BLOODY MARY FISHBONES

400 Monroe St., Detroit | 23722 Jefferson Ave., St. Clair Shores | 29244 Northwestern Hwy., Southfield fishbonesusa.com

BEST BOURBON/WHISKEY BOTTLE SELECTION AT A BAR OR RESTAURANT

ALE MARY’S BEER HALL

316 S. Main St., Royal Oak | alemarysbeer.com

BEST BAR FOOD (MACOMB) BLIND OWL

36310 Main St., New Baltimore | blindowlrestaurant.com

BEST BAR FOOD (MACOMB) BLIND OWL 36310 Main St., New Baltimore | blindowlrestaurant.com

BEST BAR FOOD (OAKLAND) GUS’ SNUG

38 S. Main St., Clawson | gussnug.com

BEST BAR FOOD (WASHTENAW) RAPPOURT 2721 Plymouth Rd., Ann Arbor | rappourt.com

BEST BAR FOOD (WAYNE) SAKAZUKI 1265 Washington Blvd., Detroit | sakazukidetroit.com

BEST BAR FOR DAY DRINKING ROCK ON 3RD 112 E. 3rd St., Royal Oak | rockon3rd.com

BEST BAR ON THE WATER AURORA ON THE LAKE 2323 Union Lake Rd., Commerce Twp. | auroraitaliana.com

BEST BEER BOTTLE SELECTION (DETROIT) GRAND TRUNK PUB 612 Woodward Ave., Detroit | grandtrunkpub.com

BEST COMEDY CLUB MARK RIDLEY’S COMEDY CASTLE 310 S. Troy St., Royal Oak | comedycastle.com

BEST COMEDY CLUB MARK RIDLEY’S COMEDY CASTLE

310 S. Troy St., Royal Oak | comedycastle.com

BEST DANCE CLUB BLEU

1540 Woodward Ave., Detroit | bleudetroit.com

Woodward Ave., Detroit | bleudetroit.com

BEST DISTILLERY TASTING ROOM MOTOR CITY GAS

325 E. 4th St., Royal Oak | motorcitygas.com

BEST DISTILLERY TASTING ROOM MOTOR CITY GAS 325 E. 4th St., Royal Oak | motorcitygas.com

BEST DIVE BAR (MACOMB) LOCKER ROOM SALOON 7790 Auburn Rd., Utica | thelockerroomsaloon.com

BEST DIVE BAR (MACOMB) LOCKER ROOM SALOON

Auburn Rd., Utica | thelockerroomsaloon.com

BEST DIVE BAR (OAKLAND) GUSOLINE ALLEY

309 S. Center St., Royal Oak

BEST DIVE BAR (WASHTENAW) ALLEY BAR

112 W. Liberty St., Ann Arbor | a2alleybar.com

BEST DIVE BAR (WAYNE) THE OLD MIAMI

3930 Cass Ave., Detroit

BEST DRAFT SELECTION (DETROIT) HOPCAT

4265 Woodward Ave., Detroit | hopcat.com

BEST HAPPY HOUR FOR DRINKS (MACOMB) DETROIT GRILLE HOUSE

55161 Shelby Rd., Shelby Twp. | detroitgrillehouse.com

BEST HAPPY HOUR FOR DRINKS (OAKLAND) EASTERN PALACE CLUB

21509 John R Rd., Hazel Park | epchp.com

BEST HAPPY HOUR FOR DRINKS (WAYNE) OSTREA DETROIT

536 Shelby St., Detroit | ostreadetroit.com

BEST HAPPY HOUR FOR DRINKS (WASHTENEW) AVENTURA

216 E. Washington St., Ann Arbor | aventuraannarbor.com

BEST IRISH PUB (DETROIT) THE OLD SHILLELAGH

349 Monroe St., Detroit | oldshillelagh.com

BEST IRISH PUB (SUBURBS) DANNY’S IRISH PUB

22824 Woodward Ave., Ferndale

BEST JAW-DROPPING INTERIOR DESIGN AT A BAR THE ALADDIN SANE

1265 Washington Blvd., Detroit | thealaddinsane.com

BEST KARAOKE NIGHT HALO BAR & LOUNGE

8070 Greenfield Rd., Detroit | thehalodetroit.com

BEST LGBTQ+ BAR (DETROIT) GIGI’S

16920 W. Warren Ave., Detroit

BEST LGBTQ+ BAR (SUBURBS) SOHO

205 W. Nine Mile Rd., Ferndale | ferndalesoho.com

BEST MARGARITA MEZCAL MEXICAN BAR & KITCHEN

201 E. Nine Mile Rd., Ferndale | mezcalferndale.com 51 W. Forest Ave., Detroit | mezcaldetroit.com

BEST MARTINI RUDY’S PRIME STEAKHOUSE

9 S. Main St., Village of Clarkston rudysprimesteakhouse.com

BEST MEADERY B. NEKTAR MEADERY

1511 Jarvis St., Ferndale | bnektar.com

BEST MICROBREWERY OR BREWPUB (MACOMB) KUHNHENN BREWING CO.

36000 Groesbeck Hwy., Clinton Twp. 5919 Chicago Rd., Warren | kbrewery.com

BEST MICROBREWERY OR BREWPUB (OAKLAND) GRIFFIN CLAW BREWING COMPANY

575 S. Eton St., Birmingham griffinclawbrewingcompany.com

BEST MICROBREWERY OR BREWPUB (WASHTENAW) MOTHFIRE BREWING COMPANY

713 W. Ellsworth Rd., Ann Arbor | mothfire.com

BEST MICROBREWERY OR BREWPUB (WAYNE) FULL MEASURE BREWING CO.

2700 Orleans St., Detroit | fullmeasurebrewing.com

BEST NEIGHBORHOOD BAR (MACOMB) BROWN IRON BREWHOUSE

57695 Van Dyke Rd., Washington | browniron.com

BEST NEIGHBORHOOD BAR (OAKLAND) EASTERN PALACE CLUB

21509 John R Rd., Hazel Park | epchp.com

BEST NEIGHBORHOOD BAR (WASHTENAW) SIDETRACK BAR & GRILL

56 E. Cross St., Ypsilanti | sidetrackbarandgrill.com

BEST NEIGHBORHOOD BAR (WAYNE) OUTER LIMITS LOUNGE

5507 Caniff St., Detroit | outerlimitslounge.com

BEST NEW BAR (DETROIT) THE ALADDIN SANE

1265 Washington Blvd., Detroit | thealaddinsane.com

BEST NEW BAR (SUBURBS) RED RYDER LOUNGE

584 Starkweather St., Plymouth | redryderlounge.com

BEST OLD FASHIONED LONDON CHOP HOUSE

155 W. Congress St., Detroit | thelondonchophouse.com

BEST PATIO FOR DRINKING (DETROIT) THE OLD MIAMI 3930 Cass Ave., Detroit

BEST PATIO FOR DRINKING (SUBURBS) BIG ROCK ITALIAN CHOPHOUSE

245 S. Eton St., Birmingham | bigrockitalianchophouse.com

BEST ROOFTOP BAR (SUBURBS) 00 BAR & NIGHTCLUB

208 W. Fifth St., Royal Oak | 00bar.com

BEST SALSA NIGHT MEZCAL MEXICAN RESTAURANT 51 W. Forest Ave., Detroit | mezcaldetroit.com

BEST SPORTS BAR (MACOMB) ART & JAKE’S SPORTS BAR & GRILL Multiple locations | artjakes.com

BEST SPORTS BAR (OAKLAND) J’S PENALTY BOX

22726 Woodward Ave., Ferndale | jspenaltyboxferndale.com

BEST SPORTS BAR (WAYNE) TAP AT MGM GRAND DETROIT

1777 3rd Ave., Detroit | mgmgranddetroit.com

BEST TIKI BAR EASTERN PALACE CLUB

21509 John R Rd., Hazel Park | epchp.com

BEST TRIVIA NIGHT FIVE15

600 S. Washington Ave., Royal Oak | five15.net

BEST WINE BAR (DETROIT) MOTORCITY WINE 1949 Michigan Ave., Detroit | motorcitywine.com

BEST WINE BAR (SUBURBS) VINOLOGY 110 S. Main St, Ann Arbor | vinologya2.com

BEST MOCKTAIL LIST FIVE15

600 S. Washington Ave., Royal Oak | five15.net

BEST ROOFTOP BAR (DETROIT) KAMPER’S ROOFTOP LOUNGE

1265 Washington Blvd., Detroit | kampersrooftop.com

BEST CASINO BREAKFAST THE LODGE DINER AT MOTORCITY CASINO HOTEL 2901 Grand River Ave., Detroit | motorcitycasino.com BEST CASINO HOTEL MGM GRAND DETROIT

1777 3rd Ave., Detroit | mgmgranddetroit.com

BEST CASINO RESTAURANT D.PRIME STEAK HOUSE AT MGM GRAND DETROIT

1777 3rd Ave., Detroit | mgmgranddetroit.com

BEST CASINO TABLE GAMES MGM GRAND DETROIT

1777 3rd Ave., Detroit | mgmgranddetroit.com BEST CASINO TO SEE A SHOW MOTORCITY SOUND BOARD 2901 Grand River Ave., Detroit | motorcitycasino.com

BEST PLAYERS CLUB MOTORCITY CASINO 2901 Grand River Ave., Detroit | motorcitycasino.com

BEST POKER MGM GRAND DETROIT

1777 3rd Ave., Detroit | mgmgranddetroit.com

BEST SLOTS MGM GRAND DETROIT

1777 3rd Ave., Detroit | mgmgranddetroit.com BEST SPORTS BOOK BETMGM SPORTS LOUNGE 1777 3rd Ave., Detroit | mgmgranddetroit.com

BEST UP NORTH CASINO SOARING EAGLE CASINO & RESORT 6800 Soaring Eagle Blvd., Mount Pleasant soaringeaglecasino.com

BEST BEER (NATIONAL) BUDWEISER us.budweiser.com

BEST BEER SELECTION IN A STORE TOTAL WINE & MORE Multiple locations | totalwine.com

BEST BOURBON WOODFORD RESERVE woodfordreserve.com

BEST CHAMPAGNE MOËT & CHANDON’S CUVÉE moet.com

BEST GIN BOMBAY SAPPHIRE bombaysapphire.com

BEST HARD CIDER GRIFFIN CLAW BREWING COMPANY griffinclawbrewingcompany.com

Drinks

B EST MICHIGAN B EER ATWATER BREWERY’S DIRTY BLONDE tilray.com/brands/atwater-brewery

BEST MICHIGAN BOURBON MOTOR CITY GAS motorcitygas.com

BEST MICHIGAN BREWER FOUNDERS BREWERY foundersbrewing.com

BEST MICHIGAN RUM RUSTED CROW SPIRITS rustedcrowspirits.com

BEST MICHIGAN TEQUILA ANTEEL TEQUILA anteeltequila.com

BEST MICHIGAN VODKA VALENTINE DISTILLING CO. valentinedistilling.com

BEST MICHIGAN WHISKEY NEW HOLLAND BREWING CO. newhollandbrew.com

BEST MICHIGAN WINE (RED) LEELANAU WINE CELLARS lwc.wine

BEST MICHIGAN WINE (WHITE) 2 LADS WINERY’S SPARKLING PINOT GRIGIO 2lwinery.com

BEST MICHIGAN WINERY LEELANAU WINE CELLARS Lwc.wine

BEST READY-TO-DRINK CANNED COCKTAIL JACK DANIEL’S & COCA-COLA jackdaniels.com

BEST SHOT LONDON CHOP HOUSE’S LCH BULL SHOT

155 W. Congress St., Detroit | thelondonchophouse.com

BEST TEQUILA EL CRISTIANO el-cristiano.com

BEST VODKA TITO’S HANDMADE VODKA titosvodka.com

BEST WHISKEY JACK DANIEL’S jackdaniels.com

BEST WINE SELECTION IN A STORE HOLIDAY MARKET

1203 S. Main St., Royal Oak | holiday-market.com

23316 Woodward Ave., Ferndale | 6927 Orchard Lake Rd., West Bloomfield | 19731 W. 12 Mile Rd., Southfield newyorkbagel-detroit.com

608 S. Washington Ave., Royal Oak | prontodiner.com

Ann Arbor | caseys-tavern.com

1049 Woodward Ave., Detroit | avalonbakeryandcafe.com

Multiple locations | mkcannelle.com

66880 Van Dyke Ave., Washington | kblocksbbq.com

| hamlinpubs.com

BEST BREAKFAST/BRUNCH (WASHTENAW) NORTHSIDE GRILL 1015 Broadway St., Ann Arbor

BEST BREAKFAST/BRUNCH (WAYNE) LE SUPRÊME

1265 Washington Blvd., Detroit | lesupremedetroit.com

BEST BURGER (MACOMB) CHECKMATE BURGERS

22660 Van Dyke Ave., Warren | checkmateburgers.com

BEST COFFEEHOUSE (INDIE) (MACOMB)

BLACK CAT COFFEE

55 Macomb Pl., Mount Clemens | coffeeatblackcat.com

BEST COFFEEHOUSE (INDIE) (OAKLAND) THE RED HOOK

220 w. Nine Mile Rd., Ferndale | theredhookcoffee.com

BEST COFFEEHOUSE (INDIE) (WASHTENAW) SWEETWATERS

COFFEE & TEA

Multiple locations | sweetwaterscafe.com

BEST BURGER (OAKLAND) JIM BRADY’S

1214 S. Main St., Royal Oak | jimbradysroyaloak.com

BEST BURGER (WASHTENAW) FRITA BATIDOS

117 W. Washington St., Ann Arbor | fritabatidos.com

BEST BURGER (WAYNE) MOTZ’S BURGERS

7208 W Fort St., Detroit | 27010 Plymouth Rd., Redford motzsburgers.com

BEST CAJUN FISHBONES

400 Monroe St., Detroit | 23722 Jefferson Ave., St. Clair Shores | 29244 Northwestern Hwy., Southfield fishbonesusa.com

BEST CARRYOUT (DETROIT) MOOTZ PIZZERIA + BAR

1230 Library St., Detroit | mootzpizzeria.com

BEST CARRYOUT (SUBURBS) NAWAB BRITISH INDIAN CUISINE 3354 12 Mile Rd., Berkley

BEST CHINESE (DETROIT) SHANGRI-LA 4710 Cass Ave., Detroit | midtownshangri-la.com

BEST CHINESE (SUBURBS) YOUNG’S CHINESE FOOD CARRYOUT

921 E. 11 Mile Rd., Royal Oak | youngschinesefood.com

BEST COFFEEHOUSE (INDIE) (WAYNE)

DESSERT OASIS COFFEE ROASTERS

1220 Griswold St., Detroit | docr.coffee

BEST CONEY (MACOMB) NATIONAL CONEY ISLAND

Multiple locations | nationalconeyisland.com

BEST CONEY (OAKLAND) LEO’S CONEY ISLAND

Multiple locations | leosconeyisland.com

BEST CONEY (WAYNE) AMERICAN CONEY ISLAND

114 W. Lafayette Blvd., Detroit | americanconeyisland.com

BEST CORNED BEEF BREAD BASKET DELI

Multiple locations | breadbasketdelis.com

BEST CUBAN VICENTE’S CUBAN CUISINE

1250 Library St., Detroit | vicentesdetroit.com

BEST DEEP DISH/ DETROIT-STYLE PIZZA BUDDY’S Multiple locations | buddyspizza.com

BEST DELI (MACOMB) ORIGINAL NEW YORK DELI RESTAURANT

25008 Little Mack, St. Clair Shores | 40700 Garfield Rd., Clinton Twp. | originalnewyorkdeli.com

BEST DELI (OAKLAND) STAGE DELI

6873 Orchard Lake Rd., West Bloomfield Twp. | stagedeli.com

BEST DELI (WASHTENAW) ZINGERMAN’S DELICATESSEN

422 Detroit St., Ann Arbor | zingermansdeli.com

BEST DELI (WAYNE) ROCCO’S ITALIAN DELI

3627 Cass Ave., Detroit | roccosdetroit.com

BEST DESSERTS AT A RESTAURANT (MACOMB) LUCIANO’S ITALIAN RESTAURANT

39091 Garfield Rd., Clinton Twp lucianositaliancuisine.com

BEST DESSERTS AT A RESTAURANT (OAKLAND) RUDY’S PRIME STEAKHOUSE

9 S. Main St., Village of Clarkston udysprimesteakhouse.com

BEST DESSERTS AT A RESTAURANT (WASHTENAW) DIXBORO HOUSE

5400 Plymouth Rd., Ann Arbor | thedixboroproject.com

BEST DESSERTS AT A RESTAURANT (WAYNE) LE SUPRÊME

1265 Washington Blvd., Detroit | lesupremedetroit.com

BEST DINER (MACOMB) YOLK & TOAST FAMILY DINER

28055 Groesbeck Hwy., Roseville | yolkntoast.com

BEST DINER (WASHTENAW) BELL’S DINER

2167 W. Stadium Blvd., Ann Arbor | bellsdinerannarbor.com

BEST DINER (WAYNE) DIME STORE

719 Griswold St., Detroit | eatdimestore.com

BEST DOUGHNUT SHOP APPLE FRITTER DONUT SHOP

741 E. Nine Mile Rd., Ferndale | facebook.com/fritterman

BEST FISH & CHIPS GRIFFIN CLAW BREWING COMPANY

575 S. Eton St., Birmingham | 2265 Crooks Rd., Rochester Hills | griffinclawbrewingcompany.com

BEST FOOD HALL DETROIT SHIPPING COMPANY

474 Peterboro St., Detroit | detroitshippingcompany.com

BEST FOOD TRUCK SHREDDERZ shredmi.com

BEST FOOD TRUCK FOR FOODIES

DETROIT 75 KITCHEN detroit75kitchen.com

BEST FRENCH CUISINE COEUR

330 W. Nine Mile Rd., Ferndale | coeurferndale.com

BEST FRENCH FRIES HOPCAT Multiple locations | hopcat.com

BEST GREEK RESTAURANT PEGASUS TAVERNAS

558 Monroe St., Detroit | 24935 Jefferson Ave., St. Clair Shores | pegasustavernas.com

BEST DINER (OAKLAND) DIME STORE

6920 N. Rochester Rd., Rochester Hills | eatdimestore.com

BEST GRILLED CHEESE BRONX BAR

4476 2nd Ave., Detroit

BEST GYRO (DETROIT) ATHENS SOUVLAKI

645 Griswold St., Detroit | 21738 W. 11 Mile Rd., Southfield | athenssouvlaki.com

BEST GYRO (SUBURBS) KOUZINA GREEK STREET FOOD

121 N. Main St., Royal Oak | gokouzina.com

BEST HAPPY HOUR MENU OSTREA DETROIT

536 Shelby St., Detroit; ostreadetroit.com

BEST HOT DOG IMPERIAL

22828 Woodward Ave., Ferndale | imperialferndale.com

BEST ICE CREAM SHOP RAY’S ICE CREAM 4233 Coolidge Hwy., Royal Oak | raysicecream.com

BEST INDIAN RESTAURANT STAR OF INDIA

180 W. Nine Mile Rd., Ferndale | starofindiami.com

BEST IRISH FOOD O’CONNOR’S PUBLIC HOUSE

324 S. Main St., Rochester | oconnorsrochester.com

BEST ITALIAN RESTAURANT (MACOMB) DA FRANCESCO’S RISTORANTE & BAR

49521 Van Dyke Ave., Shelby Twp. | dafrancescos.com

BEST ITALIAN RESTAURANT (OAKLAND) ANTICA NOVA

1695 E. Big Beaver Rd., Troy | anticanova.com

BEST ITALIAN RESTAURANT (WAYNE) ADELINA

1040 Woodward Ave., Detroit | adelinadetroit.com

BEST JUICE BAR BEYOND JUICERY + EATERY

Multiple locations | beyondjuiceryeatery.com

BEST KOREAN RESTAURANT KIMCHI BOX PLUS NOVI

18875 Traditions Dr., Northville | kimchiboxusa.com

BEST LATE-NIGHT/24-HOUR RESTAURANT O.W.L. 27302 Woodward Ave., Royal Oak | owlwoodward.com

BEST MAC AND CHEESE UNION WOODSHOP

18 S. Main St., Village of Clarkston | unionwoodshop.com

BEST MEDITERRANEAN AVENTURA

216 E. Washington St., Ann Arbor | aventuraannarbor.com

BEST MEXICAN RESTAURANT (MACOMB) MR. MIGUEL’S KITCHEN & CANTINA

26837 Ryan Rd., Warren | 7636 Auburn Rd., Utica 17330 Hall Rd., Clinton Twp. | mrmiguels.com

BEST MEXICAN RESTAURANT (OAKLAND) IMPERIAL

22828 Woodward Ave., Ferndale | imperialferndale.com

BEST MEXICAN RESTAURANT (WASHTENAW) MAÍZ MEXICAN CANTINA

36 E. Cross St., Ypsilanti | maizmexican.com

BEST MEXICAN RESTAURANT (WAYNE) MEZCAL MEXICAN RESTAURANT

51 W. Forest Ave., Detroit | mezcaldetroit.com

BEST MIDDLE EASTERN RESTAURANT (DETROIT) LEILA

1245 Griswold St., Detroit | leiladetroit.com

BEST JAPANESE FOOD TIGERLILY

231 W. Nine Mile Rd., Ferndale | tigerlilyferndale.com

BEST MIDDLE EASTERN RESTAURANT (SUBURBS) ANITA’S KITCHEN 22651 Woodward Ave., Ferndale | anitaskitchen.com

BEST NEW RESTAURANT (MACOMB) FORD’S GARAGE

12575 Hall Rd., Utica | fordsgarageusa.com

BEST NEW RESTAURANT (OAKLAND) RUDY’S PRIME STEAKHOUSE

9 S. Main St., Village of Clarkston rudysprimesteakhouse.com

BEST NEW RESTAURANT (WASHTENAW) LITTLE KIM

403 N. 5th Ave., Ann Arbor | littlekimannarbor.com

BEST NEW RESTAURANT (WAYNE) HIROKI-SAN

1265 Washington Blvd., Detroit | hirokisandetroit.com

BEST NOODLE RESTAURANT EDO RAMEN HOUSE & SUSHI LOUNGE

4313 W. 13 Mile Rd., Royal Oak | edo-lounge.com

BEST OLD-SCHOOL RESTAURANT LONDON CHOP HOUSE

155 W. Congress St., Detroit | thelondonchophouse.com

BEST OYSTERS VOYAGER

600 Vester St., Ferndale | voyagerferndale.com

BEST PATIO (MACOMB) MR. MIGUEL’S

26837 Ryan Rd., Warren | 7636 Auburn Rd., Utica 17330 Hall Rd., Clinton Twp. | mrmiguels.com

BEST PATIO (WASHTENAW) CASA DOMINICK’S

812 Monroe St., Ann Arbor

BEST PATIO (WAYNE) NORTHERN LIGHTS LOUNGE

660 W. Baltimore St., Detroit | northernlightslounge.com

BEST PET-FRIENDLY RESTAURANT DETROIT FLEAT

1820 E. Nine Mile Rd., Ferndale | detroitfleat.com

BEST PIZZA (MACOMB) CLOVERLEAF

Multiple locations | cloverleaf-pizza.com

BEST PIZZA (OAKLAND) BUDDY’S

Multiple locations | buddyspizza.com

BEST PIZZA (WASHTENAW) PIZZA HOUSE 618 Church St., Ann Arbor | pizzahouse.com

BEST PIZZA (WAYNE) MOOTZ PIZZERIA + BAR

1230 Library St., Detroit | mootzpizzeria.com

BEST POLISH RESTAURANT POLISH VILLAGE CAFE

2990 Yemans St., Hamtramck | polishvillage.cafe

BEST RESTAURANT (MACOMB) TESTA BARRÁ KITCHEN & COCKTAILS

48824 Romeo Plank Rd., Macomb | testabarra.com

BEST RESTAURANT (OAKLAND) SYLVAN TABLE

1819 Inverness St., Sylvan Lake | sylvantable.com

BEST PATIO (OAKLAND) AURORA ON THE LAKE

2323 Union Lake Rd., Commerce Twp. | auroraitaliana.com

BEST RESTAURANT (WASHTENAW) DIXBORO HOUSE

5400 Plymouth Rd., Ann Arbor | thedixboroproject.com

BEST RESTAURANT (WAYNE) CHARTREUSE KITCHEN & COCKTAILS

15 E. Kirby St., Detroit | chartreusekc.com

BEST ROMANTIC RESTAURANT (MACOMB) THE BREWERY

39950 Hayes Rd., Clinton Twp. | thebreweryonhayes.com

BEST ROMANTIC RESTAURANT (OAKLAND) AURORA ON THE LAKE

BEST ROMANTIC RESTAURANT (OAKLAND) AURORA ON THE LAKE 2323 Union Lake Rd., Commerce Twp. | auroraitaliana.com

2323 Union Lake Rd., Commerce Twp. | auroraitaliana.com

BEST ROMANTIC RESTAURANT (WASHTENAW) THE EARLE

121 W. Washington St., Ann Arbor | theearle.com

BEST ROMANTIC RESTAURANT (WAYNE) THE WHITNEY 4421 Woodward Ave., Detroit | thewhitney.com

BEST ROMANTIC RESTAURANT (WAYNE) THE WHITNEY

4421 Woodward Ave., Detroit | thewhitney.com

BEST SAGANAKI PEGASUS

558 Monroe St., Detroit | 24935 Jefferson Ave., St. Clair Shores | pegasustavernas.com

BEST SEAFOOD OAK & REEL

2921 E. Grand Blvd., Detroit | oakandreel.com

BEST SHAWARMA BUCHAREST GRILL

Multiple locations | bucharestgrill.com

BEST SLIDERS LITTLE BROTHERS BURGERS

201 W. 4th St., Royal Oak | 28840 Harper St., St. Clair Shores | littlebrothersburgers.com

BEST SOUL FOOD CORNBREAD RESTAURANT & BAR

29852 Northwestern Hwy., Southfield cornbreadsoulfood.com

BEST STEAKHOUSE (MACOMB) STEAKHOUSE 22

48900 Van Dyke Ave., Shelby Twp. | steakhouse22.net

BEST STEAKHOUSE (OAKLAND) THE CLAWSON STEAKHOUSE

56 S Rochester Rd., Clawson | clawsonsteakhouse.com

BEST STEAKHOUSE (WAYNE) LONDON CHOP HOUSE

155 W. Congress St., Detroit | thelondonchophouse.com

BEST STONER FOOD CONDADO TACOS

Multiple locations | condadotacos.com

BEST SUB SHOP OAK HOUSE DELI

603 S. Washington Ave., Royal Oak | oakhousedeli.com

BEST SURF AND TURF TOM’S OYSTER BAR

318 S. Main St., Royal Oak | tomsoysterbar.com

BEST SUSHI HIROKI-SAN

1265 Washington Blvd., Detroit | hirokisandetroit.com

BEST SUSHI HIROKI-SAN 1265 Washington Blvd., Detroit | hirokisandetroit.com

BEST TACOS (DETROIT) MEZCAL MEXICAN RESTAURANT

51 W. Forest Ave., Detroit | mezcaldetroit.com

BEST TACOS (SUBURBS) MR. MIGUEL’S KITCHEN & CANTINA

Multiple locations | mrmiguels.com

BEST THAI (DETROIT) GO! SY THAI

4240 Cass Ave., Detroit | gosythai.com

BEST THAI (DETROIT) GO! SY THAI 4240 Cass Ave., Detroit | gosythai.com

BEST THAI (SUBURBS) BANGKOK 96

2450 S. Telegraph Rd., Dearborn | bangkok96.com

October 15-28, 2025 | metrotimes.com

BEST VEGAN/VEGETARIAN RESTAURANT (DETROIT) TRAP VEGAN

20198 Livernois Ave., Detroit | trapvegan.com

BEST VEGAN/VEGETARIAN RESTAURANT (SUBURBS) SPACECAT V-STRO

255 W. Nine Mile Rd., Ferndale | spacecatvstro.com

BEST VEGETARIAN/VEGAN CARRY-OUT BASIL INDIAN BISTRO

BEST VEGETARIAN/VEGAN CARRY-OUT

BASIL INDIAN BISTRO

32621 Northwestern Hwy., Farmington Hills basilindianbistro.com

BEST WINGS (DETROIT) SWEETWATER TAVERN & GRILLE

400 E. Congress St., Detroit

BEST WINGS (SUBURBS) DETROIT WING CO. Multiple locations | detroitwingco.com

BEST ATTORNEY VEN JOHNSON venjohnsonlaw.com

BEST AUTHOR JOSH MALERMAN joshmalerman.com

BEST BURLESQUE PERFORMER ROXI D’LITE roxidlite.com

BEST DRAG QUEEN SABIN instagram.com/sabindetroit

BEST LOCAL AMBASSADOR EMINEM eminem.com

BEST LOCAL JOURNALIST CHARLIE LEDUFF nobsnewshour.com

People + Places

BEST LOCAL SOCIAL MEDIA INFLUENCER CONNORTV youtube.com/@connortvofficial

BEST MUSICAL ARTIST (AMERICANA) THE WHISKEY CHARMERS thewhiskeycharmers.com

BEST MUSICAL ARTIST (HIP-HOP) TWIZTID twiztid.com

BEST MUSICAL ARTIST (PUNK) BIG LIFE biglifehc.com

BEST MUSICAL ARTIST (R&B) THORNETTA DAVIS thornettadavis.com

BEST MUSICAL ARTIST (ROCK) JACK WHITE jackwhiteiii.com

BEST NEIGHBORHOOD TO LIVE IN ROYAL OAK romi.gov

BEST PLACE FOR A FIRST DATE DETROIT INSTITUTE OF ARTS dia.org

BEST PLACE FOR A KID’S BIRTHDAY PARTY DETROIT ZOO detroitzoo.org

BEST POET JESSICA CARE MOORE jessicacaremoore.org

BEST POLITICIAN RASHIDA TLAIB rashidaforcongress.com

WORST VILLAIN EVE VALE instagram.com/eve.vale.evil

Shops +

Services

BEST ADULT STORE THE PLEASURE ZONE

35806 Van Dyke Ave., Sterling Heights thepleasurezonestore.com

BEST ADULT VIDEO STORE UPTOWN ADULT SUPERSTORE

16401 W. Eight Mile Rd., Detroit 16541 Woodward Ave., Highland Park | uptownadult.com

BEST ALTERNATIVE FASHION STORE NOIR LEATHER

124 W. 4th St., Royal Oak | noirleather.com

BEST ANIMAL SHELTER DETROIT DOG RESCUE detroitdogrescue.com

BEST ARCADE MOTOR CITY GAME CORNER ARCADE

33151 23 Mile Rd., Chesterfield Twp.

BEST AUTO REPAIR TAMAROFF HONDA 28585 Telegraph Rd., Southfield | tamaroffhonda.com

BEST BANK CREDIT UNION ONE Multiple locations | cuone.org

BEST BARBERSHOP (DETROIT) DETROIT BARBERS Multiple locations | detroitbarbers.com

BEST BARBERSHOP (SUBURBS) GENTLEMEN FIRST 949 S. Military St., Dearborn facebook.com/gentfirstbarber

BEST BICYCLE SHOP (SUBURBS) DOWNTOWN FERNDALE BIKE SHOP

163 W. Nine Mile Rd., Ferndale | downtown-bikeshop.com

BEST BOOKSTORE (DETROIT) JOHN K. KING BOOKS

901 W. Lafayette Blvd., Detroit | johnkingbooksdetroit.com

15-28, 2025 | metrotimes.com

BEST BOOKSTORE (SUBURBS) THE BOOK BEAT 26010 Greenfield Rd., Oak Park | thebookbeat.com

BEST BOUTIQUE HOTEL ROOST HOTEL 1265 Washington Blvd., Detroit | myroost.com

BEST BOWLING ALLEY (DETROIT) GARDEN BOWL 4140 Woodward Ave., Detroit | majesticdetroit.com

BEST BOWLING ALLEY (SUBURBS) BOWLERO LANES & LOUNGE

4209 Coolidge Hwy., Royal Oak | bowlerodetroit.com

BEST CIDER MILL FRANKLIN CIDER MILL

7450 Franklin Rd., Bloomfield Hills | franklincidermill.com

BEST CIGAR BAR THE ROCK CIGAR CLUB

245 S. Eton St., Birmingham | therockcigarclub.com

BEST COMIC BOOK/ COLLECTIBLES SHOP GREEN BRAIN COMICS

13936 Michigan Ave., Dearborn | greenbraincomics.com

BEST CONSIGNMENT SHOP REGENERATION NEW & USED CLOTHING

23700 Woodward Ave., Pleasant Ridge regenerationclothing.org

BEST CREDIT UNION CREDIT UNION ONE Multiple locations | cuone.org

BEST ESCAPE ROOM XTREME ESCAPE ROOMS

14620 23 Mile Rd., Shelby Charter Twp.

BEST EYEWEAR SEE EYEWEAR Multiple locations | seeeyewear.com

BEST EYEWEAR (BOUTIQUE) OPTIK BIRMINGHAM

247 W. Maple Rd., Birmingham | optikbirmingham.com

BEST FARMERS MARKET (DETROIT) EASTERN MARKET

2934 Russell St., Detroit | easternmarket.org

BEST FARMERS MARKET (SUBURBS) FARMINGTON FARMERS MARKET

33113 Grand River Ave., Farmington farmingtonfarmersmarket.com

BEST FLEA MARKET DIXIELAND

2045 Dixie Hwy., Waterford | dixielandfleamkt.com

BEST FLOATATION THERAPY TRUE REST FLOAT SPA

13291 Hall Rd., Utica | 30911 Orchard Lake Rd., Farmington Hills | truerest.com

BEST GIFT SHOP THE ROCKET

122 W. Michigan Ave., Ypsilanti | shoptherocket.com

BEST GROCERY STORE JOE’S PRODUCE GOURMET MARKET

33152 W. Seven Mile Rd., Livonia | joesproduce.com

BEST GROUP NIGHT OUT FOWLING WAREHOUSE

3901 Christopher St., Hamtramck | fowlingwarehouse.com

BEST GYM (MACOMB) PLANET FITNESS Multiple locations | planetfitness.com

BEST GYM (OAKLAND) PLANET FITNESS

Multiple locations | planetfitness.com

BEST HAUNTED HOUSE EREBUS HAUNTED HOUSE 18 S. Perry St., Detroit | hauntedpontiac.com

BEST HOSPITALITY GROUP APEX HOSPITALITY GROUP facebook.com/ApexHospitalityGroup

BEST JEWELRY REPAIR STEVEN BERNARD JEWELERS

22266 Michigan Ave., Dearborn stevenbernardjewelers.com

BEST JEWELRY STORE TAPPER’S Multiple locations | tappers.com

BEST LAW FIRM FIEGER LAW

19390 W 10 Mile Rd., Southfield | fiegerlaw.com

BEST LOCAL NONPROFIT RONALD MCDONALD HOUSE rmhc.org

BEST MASSAGE HAND & STONE Multiple locations | handandstone.com

BEST MEN’S CLOTHING SHOWTIME 9704 Joseph Campau Ave., Hamtramck | showtimedetroit.com

BEST METAPHYSICAL STORE BOSTON TEA ROOM 1220 Woodward Heights, Ferndale | bostontearoom.com

BEST MICHIGAN-MADE PRODUCT FAYGO faygo.com

BEST GYM (WAYNE) PLANET FITNESS Multiple locations | planetfitness.com

BEST MOBILE DEVICE REPAIR COMPUTER VIRUS "GOD"

21513 Kelly Rd., Eastpointe | mobilecomputerrepairdoctor.com

BEST MOVING COMPANY MEN ON THE MOVE

12400 Merriman Rd., Livonia | 6544 Jackson Rd., Ann Arbor | michiganmovers.com

BEST MUSEUM SHOP THE CHARLES H. WRIGHT MUSEUM OF AFRICAN AMERICAN HISTORY

315 E. Warren Ave., Detroit | thewright.org

BEST NAILS NAILS ETC. BIRMINGHAM

735 E. Maple Rd., Birmingham

BEST NEIGHBORHOOD JEWELRY STORE STEVEN BERNARD JEWELERS

22266 Michigan Ave., Dearborn stevenbernardjewelers.com

BEST NEIGHBORHOOD RETAIL DISTRICT (OAKLAND) FERNDALE ferndalemi.gov

BEST PAWN SHOP AMERICAN JEWELRY & LOAN

Multiple locations | pawndetroit.com

BEST PET SUPPLY PREMIER PET SUPPLY

Multiple locations | premierpetsupply.com

BEST PIERCING STUDIO DV8 BODY ART

1531 Union Lake Rd., Commerce Twp. | dv8bodyart.com

BEST PLACE FOR CUSTOM FRAMING THE ART OF CUSTOM FRAMING

3863 Rochester Rd., Troy | framingart.net

BEST PLACE TO BUY BDSM GEAR NOIR LEATHER

124 W. 4th St., Royal Oak | noirleather.com

BEST PLACE TO BUY MUSICAL INSTRUMENT (INDEPENDENT SHOP) GUITAR HI-FI

607 S. Washington Ave., Royal Oak | guitarhifi.com

BEST PLACE TO BUY ROCK STAR CLOTHING SHOWTIME

9704 Joseph Campau Ave., Hamtramck showtimedetroit.com

BEST PLACE TO BUY SPORTS MEMORABILIA THE ART OF CUSTOM FRAMING

3863 Rochester Rd., Troy | framingart.net

BEST RECORD STORE (MACOMB) TRAX N WAX

26535 Harper Ave., St. Clair Shores facebook.com/traxnwaxstore

BEST RECORD STORE (OAKLAND) FOUND SOUND

234 W. Nine Mile Rd., Ferndale instagram.com/foundsoundvinyl

BEST RECORD STORE (WAYNE) DEARBORN MUSIC

22501 Michigan Ave., Dearborn | dearbornmusic.net

BEST RESALE SHOP COUNCIL RESALE

3297 W. 12 Mile Rd., Berkley | councilresale.net

BEST SALON (MACOMB) THE HIVE SALON

47085 Hayes Rd., Shelby Twp. | thehivesalonandspa.com

BEST SALON (OAKLAND) DYE SALON

1213 E. Lincoln St., Royal Oak | 33284 W. 12 Mile Rd., Farmington Hills | dyehairco.com

BEST PLACE TO BUY ART THE ART OF CUSTOM FRAMING

3863 Rochester Rd., Troy | framingart.net

BEST SALON (WASHTENAW) STAR STUDIO

224 W. Michigan Ave., Ypsilanti | starstudioypsi.com

15-28, 2025 | metrotimes.com

BEST SALON (WAYNE) BLACK THE SALON 2127 Michigan Ave., Detroit | blackthesalon.com

BEST SHOP FOR A BRA FITTING BRA~VO INTIMATES 4732 S. Rochester Rd., Royal Oak | bravointimates.com

BEST SKATEPARK MODERN SKATE & SURF

1500 N. Stephenson Hwy., Royal Oak modernskate.com

BEST SMOKE SHOP B.D.T. 21640 John R Rd., Hazel Park | bdtmi.com

BEST SPA IMMERSE SPA AT MGM GRAND DETROIT 1777 3rd Ave., Detroit | mgmgranddetroit.com

BEST SPECIALTY MARKET CITY MARKET 575 Brush St., Detroit | citymarketdetroit.com

BEST STORE FOR AN IN-STORE PERFORMANCE GINGKO RECORDS AT 27TH LETTER BOOKS 3546 Michigan Ave., Detroit | 27thletterbooks.com

BEST STREETWEAR STORE INSPIRATION CLOTHING LLC. inspirationclothing.com

BEST STRIP CLUB LEGENDS 415 E. Congress St., Detroit | legendsindetroit.com

BEST STRIP CLUB IN WINDSOR LEOPARDS LOUNGE 1190 Wyandotte St. W., Windsor

BEST TATTOO SHOP (MACOMB) ELITE INK 25543 Van Dyke Ave., Center Line 32750 Mound Rd., Warren | 247tattoos.com

BEST TATTOO SHOP (OAKLAND) SIGNATURE TATTOO 230 W. Nine Mile Rd., Ferndale | signaturetattoo.com

BEST TATTOO SHOP (WAYNE) ICONIC TATTOO 3401 Cass Ave., Detroit | iconictattoodetroit.com

BEST THRIFT STORE VALUE WORLD Multiple locations | valueworld.com

BEST TIRE STORE SUCHER TIRE 3641 E. Davison St., Detroit | suchertire.com

BEST VINTAGE CLOTHING STORE REWARE VINTAGE

2965 12 Mile Rd., Berkley | rewarevintage.com

BEST VISITOR EXPERIENCE FORD PIQUETTE AVENUE PLANT MUSEUM

461 Piquette Ave., Detroit | fordpiquetteplant.org

BEST WESTERN WEAR SCOTT COLBURN WESTERN WEAR 20411 Farmington Rd., Livonia | scottcolburnwestern.com

BEST WOMEN’S CLOTHING THE PEACOCK ROOM

3011 W. Grand Blvd., Detroit | 15 E. Kirby St., Detroit shoppeacockroom.com

BEST YOGA (DETROIT) FULL LOTUS YOGA

6505 Woodward Ave., Detroit | fulllotusyoga.net

BEST YOGA (SUBURBS) NAMASTE YOGA 20369 Mack Ave., Grosse Pointe Woods | fulllotusyoga.net

TAILGATE PARTY ON OUR PATIO FOR ALL LIONS HOME GAMES! LET’S GO TIGERS & LIONS! JOIN US BEFORE & AFTER THE GAME ONE MILE FROM STADIUMS / MINUTES FROM QLINE / FREE STREET PARKING ON SUNDAYS

Thurs 10/16

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, ANGIE MUCCIOLI!

Fri 10/17

DETROIT PARTY MARCHING BAND/ LOLLYGAGGER/CULT OF SPACE SKULL (GUERILLA BAND/ROCK’N’ROLL/HORROR PUNK) DOORS@9PM/$5COVER

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, LEONARD LOPP!

Sat 10/18

BIZARRE (D12) “ROOM FULL OF HIPSTERS”

FEAT. FAT RAY

WSG. DANGO FORLAINE/RMG/TRU KLASSICK & J-CLASSIC/ GGB KNIFE/JALEN FRAZIER/ MVCKNYCE/LOKYE/HYSTERIC/FOREVER FOY/KAIN DOORS@8P/$10COVER

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, PATIENCE YOUNG!

Mon 10/20

JAMESON BOO BALL BARTENDERAPPRECIATIONPARTY

BANDS, DJS, & MORE COSTUME CONTEST $100 FIRST PRIZE HAUNTED YARD

JAMESON SAMPLING 7-10PM BY INVITE ONLY 10-2AM OPEN TO ALL 21+

MONDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL

DETROIT LIONS VS TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS WATCH THE GAME ON OUR BIG SCREENS & IN OUR GARDEN PATIO! 7PM KICKOFF

FREE POOL ALL DAY

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, ROBBIE GIBBONS!

Fri 10/24

SHORT’S & JORTS: SHORT’S TAP TAKEOVER W/ BRAXTON HICKS & LIL DIPPER

WEAR YOUR JORTS FOR A 90’S COUNTRY THROWBACK DOORS@9PM/$5COVER

Sat 10/25

THE BARE HAMBONES/POOR PLAYER/ BROTHERS STAHL (INDIE ROCK/BLUES/FOLK/ROCK) DOORS@9PM/$5COVER

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, JOSH NTUKIDEM!

Sun 10/26

NFL PRIMETIME DETROIT LIONS VS KANSAS CITY CHIEFS (AWAY) WATCH THE GAME ON OUR BIG SCREENS & IN OUR GARDEN PATIO! 8:20PM KICKOFF MILLER LITE & CROWN ROYAL SPECIALS

Mon 10/27 FREE POOL ALL DAY

Tues 10/28 HAPPY BIRTHDAY, NICK MANSFIELD!

Thurs 10/30

PET COSTUME CONTEST @5-7PM (ALL PETS MUST BE LEASHED) ANNUAL PUMPKIN CARVING CONTEST @7PM FOR THE FIRST TIME IN 40 YEARS, JULIE WILL BE THE JUDGE! (PUMPKINS PROVIDED)

PRIZES FOR TOP 3 PETS & PUMPKINS!

Fri 10/31

PINK 50’S HALLOWEEN BASH 5 PRIZES FOR BEST COSTUMES! (PUNK ROCK/SPOOKY) DOORS@9PM/$5COVER

Coming Up:

11/01 DIA DE LOS MUERTOS: At Water/Blood Rune Sigil /Handgun Retirement/Solar Monolith

11/07 Seatbelts/Cynicide/Money Gods

11/08 DIVAS vs DIVAS (monthly)

11/10 MARINE CORPS 250th Birthday!

11/11 VETERANS DAY

11/14 Second Hand Drugs/Spacecadet / The Hig Bros

11/15 Foul Mouth (hip-hop)

11/21 Angie Hartley/Sweet Spot

11/22 The Wheat and the Weeds/The Write Ups/ Plan III

11/26 Thanksgiving Eve: DJ SKEEZ & FRIENDS

11/27 Thanksgiving Day! OPEN NOON-2AM 11/28 AREA 313 (house/techno)

OLD MIAMI T-SHIRTS & HOODIES FOR SALE!

BOOK YOUR PARTIES: theoldmiamibarevents@gmail.com

Weed

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WHAT’S GOING ON

Shakespeare in Detroit: Jane Anger

Since 2012, this theater company has performed classic and contemporary theater both by William Shakespeare and, in some cases inspired by or even about him. This week, it’ll premiere Jane Anger, a dark comedy about a mysterious woman writer who confronts “The Bard” himself. The play was written by Talene Monahon and directed by Sam White, who said, “It’s a powerful, comedic reminder of the brilliance we often overlook but deeply rely on.” Due to adult themes, the production is recommended for audiences age 17 and older.

Performances at 7:30 p.m. on Thursday, Oct. 16 and Friday, Oct. 17; 3 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 18; and 3 p.m. on Sunday, Oct. 19; Marlene Boll Theatre at the Boll Family YMCA, 1401 Broadway St., Detroit; shakespeareindetroit.com. Tickets are $45.

Niagara Art x Boswell

Photography Exhibition

Metro Detroit-based visual artist

Niagara is known for her pop art-style paintings of sexy women paired with edgy bon mots and other eye-grabbing phrases. A recent work depicts a reclin-

ing woman whose skin is adorned with tattoos of tanks, warplanes, battle ships, and swarms of bats; above her are the words “WAKE ME WHEN THE WAR STARTS.” Behind the canvas, Niagara is a fashion icon and rock star who fronted Detroit-area rock bands Destroy All Monsters and Dark Carnival. This new exhibition pairs paintings and prints by Niagara with black-andwhite photos of the artist shot over the years by Detroit-based fashion photographer Boswell.

From 7-10 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 17; 215 W, 215 W. Nine Mile Rd., Ferndale; eventbrite.com. No cover.

Cal Freeman book release and reading

Dearborn’s John “Cal” Freeman is a poet, essayist, and lecturer at the Department of Writing and Rhetoric at Oakland University. His latest book, The Weather of Our Names, is out now from Cornerstone Press’s Portage Poetry Series and “presents a series of elliptical Yelp reviews of real, fictive, and shuttered bars and restaurants throughout Southeast Michigan,” according to a press release. Fellow traveler M.L. Liebler says Freeman “embodies the spirit of a Midwest poet… [he] is both a poet for the people and a poet’s poet”; press materials notes he is almost certainly “the only poet to read at University of Cambridge while wearing a Detroit Lions hat.”

From 7-9 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 17; Book Suey, 10345 Joseph Campau St., Hamtramck; eventbrite.com. No cover.

Reimagine African American Art

For the first time since 2007, the Detroit Institute of Arts has reinstalled its African American gallery, which includes more than 50 works of paintings, prints, photography, and sculpture. The gallery has been relocated to a prominent space near the museum’s iconic Rivera Court, featuring works spanning from the 1800s to the 1980s and is now divided into categories including the Harlem Renaissance, Social Realism, the Civil Rights era, and the Black Arts Movement. “The Detroit Institute of Arts is incredibly proud of its pioneering vision to collect, preserve and showcase African American art,” DIA director Salvador Salort-Pons said in a statement.

Niagara.

Opens at 10 a.m. on Saturday, Oct. 18; Detroit Institute of Arts, 5200 Woodward Ave., Detroit; dia.org. No cover for tri-county residents.

No Kings rallies

After unconvincingly (to anyone actually paying attention, anyway) downplaying the Project 2025 plot to transform America into an authoritarian state during his presidential campaign, the mask is now fully off: President Donald Trump is a wannabe dictator, sending masked ICE agents and National Guard troops into cities to terrorize immigrants and openly and absurdly declaring a war on the entire American left. Last week, White House deputy chief of staff had a bizarre meltdown on CNN where he seemingly accidentally stated his belief that Trump has “plenary authority” — limitless, autocratic control. This is obviously wrong. In June, millions took to the streets to peacefully protest Trump’s un-American power grab as part of nationwide “No Kings” protests, and on Saturday, the protests continue. If this shitshow rightly disturbs you, join one of the thousands of No Kings rallies planned and make your voice heard.

Protests planned all day on Saturday, Oct. 18; see nokings.org to find a rally near you.

Rocky Horror 50th Anniversary Tour

Over the past 50 years, The Rocky Horror Picture Show has become more than a campy, R-rated B movie. Now a cult classic, it’s a cultural phenomenon, a rite of passage, and a joyous celebration of self-expression and rebellion that shattered norms, redefined midnight

of weirdos together in fishnets and sequins. This anniversary screening at Detroit’s fabulous Masonic Temple features a special appearance by original actors Barry Bostwick, Patricia Quinn, and Nell Campbell with a live shadow cast and audience participation (props provided), a costume contest, and more.

Starts at 7 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 18; Masonic Temple, 500 Temple St., Detroit; themasonic.com. Tickets start at $73.

Haute to Death with Matthew Dear

They grow up so fast! Detroit’s longstanding Haute to Death dance party is turning 18 and to celebrate, H2D DJs Jon and Ash are enlisting the help of Matthew Dear, the Ghostly International producer, DJ, and solo artist whose synth-pop and techno serve among the sonic inspirations of the event. “When considering our guest for this one, we

SELECTIONS

wanted to select an artist who not only welcomed us to the unequivocal beauty of the Midwest dance floor, but one who we have grown into artists of our own by studying (and singing along to) the blueprint of,” H2D says. Charles Trees and S.O.F.T.Power round out the bill at Marble Bar.

From 9 p.m.-4 a.m. starting on Saturday, Oct. 18; Marble Bar, 15- Holden St., Detroit; ra.co. Tickets are $19.55.

WHAT’S GOING ON CONT’D

Select events happening in metro Detroit this week. Be sure to check venue websites before all events for the latest information. Add your event to our online calendar: metrotimes.com/AddEvent.

MUSIC

Wednesday Oct 15

Live/Concert

Cubist Agenda 8 pm-midnight; First Place Lounge, 16921 Harper Ave, Detroit; No Cover.

Molly Grace 7 pm; The Loving Touch, 22634 Woodward Ave., Ferndale;

Screeching Weasel 7 pm; Saint Andrew’s Hall, 431 E. Congress St., Detroit;

Matt Larusso Trio and guests 8-11 pm; Northern Lights Lounge, 660 W. Baltimore St., Detroit; no cover.

Cubist Agenda 8 pm-midnight; First Place Lounge, 16921 Harper Ave, Detroit; No Cover.

Matt Larusso Trio and guests 8-11 pm; Northern Lights Lounge, 660 W. Baltimore St., Detroit; no cover. DJ/Dance

Planet Funk 7-10 pm; Spkr Box, 200 Grand River, Detroit; Karaoke/Open Mic

Continuing This Week Karaoke/ Open Mic

Hump Day Karaoke & Music

Trivia 8 pm-1 am; Pronto! Royal Oak, 608 S. Washington, Royal Oak; No Cover.

Thursday Oct 16

Live/Concert

Alien Boy, Empath, Ryan Allen 7 pm; Sanctuary Detroit, 2932 Caniff St., Hamtramck;

Amine’ - Tour de Dance 2025 with Sango 7 pm; The Fillmore, 2115 Woodward Ave., Detroit;

Cuco 8 pm; Magic Stick, 4120 Woodward Ave., Detroit;

DIRK KROLL BAND LIVE! @ GOLDNER WALSH 7:30-9:30 pm; Goldner Walsh Garden & Home, 559 Orchard Lake Rd., Pontiac; $20. Dueling Pianos: An Interactive Entertainment Experience 8 pm-midnight; AXIS Lounge, 1777 3rd St., Detroit;

Kneecap 7 pm; Saint Andrew’s Hall, 431 E. Congress St., Detroit; $29.50.

Magic Bag Presents: Miki Berenyi Trio North American Tour

2025 7 pm; Magic Bag, 22920 Woodward Ave., Ferndale; Pachyman & MNDSGN 7 pm; The Loving Touch, 22634 Woodward Ave., Ferndale;

The Paul Keller Trio 7 pm; The Hawk Theatre, 29995 W 12 Mile Rd, Farmington Hills; $20 in advance, $25 at the door.

Sons of The East 7 pm; Majestic Theatre, 4140 Woodward Ave., Detroit; 29.50.

Sons Of The East – SONS World Tour 2025 7 pm; Magic Stick, 4120 Woodward Ave., Detroit;

Turning Point Benefit Concert featuring Killer Flamingos 8 pm; Emerald Theatre, 31 N. Walnut St., Mount Clemens;

Dueling Pianos: An Interactive Entertainment Experience 8 pm-midnight; AXIS Lounge, 1777 3rd St., Detroit; DJ/Dance

Curated Cool 7-10 pm; Spkr Box, 200 Grand River, Detroit; Karaoke/Open Mic

Continuing This Week Karaoke/ Open Mic

Drag Queen Karaoke 8 pm-2 am; Woodward Avenue Brewers, 22646 Woodward Ave., Ferndale; no cover.

Elixer: DJs John Ryan and GEO 8 pm-midnight; Northern Lights Lounge, 660 W. Baltimore St., Detroit; No cover.

Friday Oct 17

Live/Concert

DIRT MONKEY x SMOAKLAND

- SUPER BASS BROS TOUR 8 pm; Pike Room, 1 S. Saginaw, Pontiac;

EMO NIGHT WITH ALL AMERICAN THROWBACKS - POP PUNK / EMO PARTY BAND 8 pm; District 142, 142 Maple St., Wyandotte; Halloween Party 2025 featuring Parallel Fifth 8 pm; Emerald Theatre, 31 N. Walnut St., Mount Clemens;

INVINCIBLE A Glorious Tribute to Michael Jackson 8 pm; Andiamo Celebrity Showroom, 7096 E. 14 Mile Rd., Warren; $35-$99.

Jesse Mccartney - The Weightless Tour 7 pm; The Fillmore, 2115 Woodward Ave., Detroit;

Magic Bag Presents: Dice 7 pm; Magic Bag, 22920 Woodward Ave., Ferndale;

MJ LIVE 8-10 pm; Andiamo Celebrity Showroom, 7096 E. 14 Mile Rd., Warren;

100 October 15-28, 2025 | metrotimes.com

$99, $79, $65, $35.

One Dark Night 7 pm; Majestic Theatre, 4140 Woodward Ave., Detroit; 34.50.

Saddle Up! Ladies Night 8 pm; Diamondback Music Hall, 49345 S. Interstate 94 Service Dr., Belleville; Songwriters in the Round Benefit for P.O.W.E.R 7:30 pm; Trinity House Theatre, 38840 W. Six Mile Rd., Livonia; $25.

Voz de Mando y Jesus Ojeda en Pontiac 9 pm; El Agave, 1650 Perry St, Pontiac; DJ/Dance

Bingo Beatz 7-10 pm; BIG Best In Games, 4095 Carpenter, Ypsilanti; 39.19.

Lesbian Night Hosted by DJ Nouveau third Friday of every month, noon-2 am; Pronto! Royal Oak, 608 S. Washington, Royal Oak; NO COVER.

Monster Mash 10:30 pm-2 am; BIG Best In Games, 4095 Carpenter, Ypsilanti; 44.52.

Open Air Fridays 4-10 pm; Woodbridge Pub, 5169 Trumbull St., Detroit; 0. Karaoke/Open Mic Opening

Puppet Karaoke at Matrix Theatre 8-11 pm; Matrix Theatre Company, 2730 Bagley St., Detroit; $5 - $20.

Saturday Oct 18 Live/Concert

Avatar: The Last Airbender in Concert 8 pm; Fisher Theatre - Detroit, 3011 West Grand & Fisher, Detroit; Brian Culbertson 8 pm; Sound Board, 2901 Grand River Ave., Detroit; CHAIN REACTION w/spg BENNY JET 8 pm; downstairs at Joy Manor, 28997 Joy Road, Westland; Dave Boutette & Kristi Davis w/ opener Bart Moore 7:30 pm; MAMA’s Coffeehouse at the Birmingham Unitarian Church, 38651 Woodward Ave., Bloomfield Hills; Admission $20 / $18 student/senior.

FOOL HOUSE - THE MILLENNIUM TOUR 7 pm; District 142, 142 Maple St., Wyandotte; Freddie Gibbs 7 pm; Detroit Masonic Temple Library, 500 Temple St, Detroit; Jimmie Bones and The Snakebit Wanderers 8 pm; The Token Lounge, 28949 Joy Rd., Westland; Matthew Morrison 8 pm; Flagstar Strand Theatre for the Performing Arts, 12 N. Saginaw St., Pontiac;

Saddle Up! Sweetest Day 8 pm; Diamondback Music Hall, 49345 S. Interstate 94 Service Dr., Belleville; Sir Chloe with Suzy Clue 7 pm; Magic Stick, 4120 Woodward Ave., Detroit;

Sweet Baby James: The #1 James Taylor Tribute 8 pm; Emerald Theatre, 31 N. Walnut St., Mount Clemens;

Talib Kweli 7 pm; The Loving Touch, 22634 Woodward Ave., Ferndale; Tee Grizzley - Forever My Moment Tour 7 pm; Saint Andrew’s Hall, 431 E. Congress St., Detroit; The Mega 80s Spooktacular 7 pm; Magic Bag, 22920 Woodward Ave., Ferndale;

DJ/Dance

Energizer 9 pm-3:30 am; Leland City Club, 400 Bagley Street, Detroit; 15-30. Pretty Pink with Fedo + Thay Rodrigues 9 pm; Magic Stick, 4120 Woodward Ave., Detroit;

Saturday Grind 11 am-3 pm; Spkr Box, 200 Grand River, Detroit;

Sunday Oct 19

Live/Concert

Aaron Lewis & The Stateliners 7:30 pm; The Music Hall, 350 Madison Ave., Detroit;

Chamber Soloists of Detroit

Present Kerson Leong 2 pm; The Hawk Theatre, 29995 W 12 Mile Rd, Farmington Hills; $25 in advance $30 at the door $12 student.

Honeyfoot, Death Arcana, Saint Martyr, Life of Suppression 6 pm; Sanctuary Detroit, 2932 Caniff St., Hamtramck;

JOEY VALENCE & BRAE - HYPERYOUTH World Tour 7 pm; Magic Stick, 4120 Woodward Ave., Detroit; Petey USA - We’ve Got The Yips Tour 7 pm; Saint Andrew’s Hall, 431 E. Congress St., Detroit;

Phil Ogilvie’s Rhythm Kings 5-8 pm; Zal Gaz Grotto Club, 2070 W. Stadium Blvd., Ann Arbor; No Cover (cash tipjar for the band).

South Arcade 7:30 pm; Pike Room, 1 S. Saginaw, Pontiac;

Southern Fires presents Jam Sessions ft. Dnise Jonson Band Hosted by Lucretia Sain 6-9 pm; Southern Fires, 575 Bellevue, Detroit, MI; Free.

The Temptations & The Four Tops 7 pm; Fox Theatre, 2211 Woodward Ave., Detroit;

CULTURE

Film A revolutionary movie

By Jared Rasic, Last Word Feature

One Battle After Another

Rated: R

Run-time: 162 minutes

Let me get the hype out of the way right from the jump so it doesn’t seem like I’m gushing over this movie for too many paragraphs in a row: One Battle After Another isn’t simply just an instant classic (which it is). Neither is it just another great Paul Thomas Anderson movie in a career filled with two or three of the actual greatest films ever made. What One Battle After Another actually achieves is something even more singular: it’s a film released at a perfect time and with so much on its mind as to feel like equal parts manifesto, state of the union address, and canary in a coal mine.

But since Paul Thomas Anderson is a

master filmmaker incapable of making art that doesn’t leave a lasting imprint on our cultural zeitgeist, he didn’t just conjure a scolding rebuke of policy or a bitter takedown of the racism inherent in our current administration; he instead made a film completely drunk on the possibility of cinema and the importance of the medium. Every frame, every performance, every line of dialogue exists in One Battle After Another not just to make a statement, but to be a wildly entertaining rollercoaster capturing lightning in a bottle and then setting it free for us to dance beneath.

Equal parts Dr. Strangelove, The Battle of Algiers, and Paper Moon, the film follows Leonardo DiCaprio as “Ghetto” Pat Calhoun, an explosives expert and member of the French 75, a revolutionary group that we meet rescuing immigrants from a detention center in southern California. He falls in love with Perfidia Beverly Hills (played by

Benicio del Toro (who might be having more fun here than I’ve ever seen him have) and beneath the brilliant madcap satire designed to stir the hearts and minds of its viewers, what Anderson really achieves with this film is to say, unequivocally, that the most American thing a person can do is to be a revolutionary. Not necessarily by the strictest definition of the terms, but by living life in a way that fosters connection, beauty, and love. As much as One Battle After Another rallies against injustice, racism, and a police state, it pushes its viewers toward just being better humans, toward helping strangers, being better parents and more engaged members of our community, all while leading with love instead of fear.

the incendiary Teyana Taylor) and has a daughter, Charlene. On the run from the United States government (personified by Sean Penn’s profoundly disturbed Col. Steven Lockjaw, Pat just wants to keep his little girl safe while being true to his own subversive spirit.

I don’t want to share any more of the story because watching the deliciously unpredictable tale unspool across a breezy three hours is too mesmerizing to risk spoiling. That’s one of the things I keep coming back to with One Battle After Another. Yes, it’s timely and important and all of those adjectives critics use to mark the significance of a film, but it’s also ridiculously funny and twitchily intense — an unreservedly entertaining ride that pulls the audience along through its twists and turns in such a propulsive way as to feel just as revolutionary as the French 75. Beneath the expertly calibrated performances by DiCaprio, Penn, and

Aside from Anderson’s stunning script and direction, we’re also blessed with career-best compositional work by Radiohead’s Jonny Greenwood, understated and lush cinematography by Michael Bauman, and star-making performances from Taylor and Chase Infiniti, among so many other amazing elements. Every detail is executed flawlessly in a way that most movies don’t even come close to achieving, making One Battle After Another feel momentous even as you’re watching it, but without crystallizing as to why until after it’s over. It’s perfect. An actual, perfect film. One of the very few. What’s also slyly and brilliantly subversive is that One Battle After Another isn’t just set in Trump’s America. By letting the technology look somewhat dated in the service of a story that feels immediate, One Battle After Another becomes unstuck in time. It’s a rallying cry for the past, the present, and the future that won’t feel like an artifact when people marvel at its prescience a hundred years from now. Anderson isn’t telling people to wake up right now; he’s telling the entire world to pay attention to the collective mistakes of our past so we’re not chalking off the outline of the ruins in our future.

One Battle After Another will be taught in film classes decades from now when instructors want to illuminate the inherent power of cinema in the hands of a visionary. I hope the shaggy odyssey of this story helps empower generations of Americans to push back against the dehumanizing othering being weaponized into turning a country of immigrants into something far less utopian than dystopian. Whatever the eventual legacy of this movie is decades from now, it’s unlikely there will be a more entertaining or important film in 2025. Movies like this are why I champion cinema as an art form and have dedicated a big part of my life to writing about them. It’s a mirror and a window. What do you see?

Grade: A+

Paul Thomas Anderson’s latest is the perfect film for our troubled times.

WARNER BROS.

MUSIC WEED

The Straight Dope

The Utillian 6 is the dab pen I didn’t know I needed

By Steve Neavling

High-quality cannabis concentrates like live hash rosin are becoming increasingly popular in Michigan as more people move from flower to more potent and flavorful alternatives.

Concentrates now account for nearly 40% of the state’s recreational market — up from 30% in 2022 — and are on pace to surpass $1 billion in annual sales this year.

The popularity of concentrates, especially live rosin and resin, is creating a bigger demand for dab pens and rigs, and companies are responding by developing all kinds of devices that range wildly in quality and performance.

Dab pens are more popular than rigs because they’re portable, discreet, and more affordable. I’ve been a fan of the Puffco Pivot, which is probably the most popular dab pen right now. The device sells for $130 on its website, and it’s pocketable, simple to use, and performs well for its size.

But then I tried the Utillian 6 last week, and I was hooked. The engineering of this device made it a powerful, efficient, and technologically advanced dab pen that feels like a portable rig.

My favorite part of the Utillian 6 is its unique vortex airflow system. The engineering is unique: The glass mouthpiece is fitted with three slitted air slots and creates a vortex motion inside the glass chamber. A small ruby pearl inside the chamber circulates heat and concentrate evenly, producing a smooth, consistent, and flavorful vapor and an impressive cloud.

Watching the terp pearl spin inside the chamber while the wax melts is oddly hypnotic.

“We wanted to make something that felt like a rig, but is still portable,” Mariano Bustamante, a content and product expert at Ontario-based TVape tells me. “The vortex airflow

was really hard to achieve, but that’s what gives it consistency. A lot of devices give you a great first hit but fall off after that.”

He’s right. The flavor and vapor were just as robust on the fourth draw as the first.

Unlike most devices that rely on silicone or plastic parts, vapor from the Utillian 6 never touches anything that could mute or contaminate the taste. It’s mostly glass.

The device comes with an optional silicon mouthpiece extension for cooler vapor. To avoid flavor loss, the vapor travels through a metal tube inside the mouthpiece, preventing the silicone from tainting the terpene profile.

With four calibrated temperature settings, the Utillian 6 lets you dial in your preference. Lower temps are

better for flavor, while higher settings produce denser clouds. Personally, I found the second and third levels perfect for live rosin. It was never harsh, and the flavor was pronounced.

Another advantage of the Utillian 6 is the battery performance. After more than a dozen sessions, the battery still had plenty of life. By comparison, my Puffco usually needs a recharge after about 15 dabs. That’s because Utillian uses conduction-based heating, which is more power-efficient than the 3D chamber that Puffco uses. The Utillian 6’s glass bucket chamber is bottom-heated, while Puffco’s ceramic chamber is heated from the bottom and the sides.

If you’re anything like me, the last thing you’re going to remember after a dab session is to recharge the battery.

At $107.77, the Utillian 6 is cheaper

than the Pivot, which sells for $130.

Utillian has a reputation for designing unique, reliable, and technologically advanced vaporizers, and the Utillian 6 is no exception. It’s powerful enough for longtime dabbers but simple enough for anyone looking to try dab pens.

“There’s a general market shift toward dab devices,” Bustamante says. “Legalization took away the taboo, and people are realizing they can have that rig experience anywhere.”

For me, that sums up the Utillian 6. It nearly has the power of a desktop rig, delivering a strong taste, performance, and battery life. If you’re into concentrates and want something that produces pure flavor and serious clouds, this is the one. To check out the Utillian 6 and other dab rigs, see thermodynesystems.com.

The Utillian 6 is a dab pen that performs like a desktop dab rig.

STEVE NEAVLING

CULTURE Savage Love

The Cuckening

By Dan Savage

: Q

I’m a bi girl in a serious relationship with a bi guy, and said bi guy has a major thing for being cucked. We’ve had a few threesomes before, but only with bisexuals and the focus was on all three of us equally. Recently, though, we had a 2-on-1 threesomes with a straight guy, and it was GOOD for me. Really good. Nothing would make me happier than to go on a spree (with protection, of course) of fucking around with guys, my boyfriend fucking around with guys, the two of us fucking around with other guys together, etc. Have you seen men lately? Good stuff. I want to go full speed ahead, but my boyfriend is conflicted. On one hand: immeasurable arousal, fulfillment of his cuckold fantasies, etc. On the other... intense jealousy and anxiety! And on my end? An irrepressible hunger that wasn’t there before. I love my boyfriend so much and our sex life is amazing, but my appetite can’t be satiated by just one guy anymore! Please help!

Down To Cuck

A: “First, this is an amazing problem to have,” said Hopeful Cuck, one of four co-hosts of Cuck My Life, the podcast for cucks by cucks. “They’re on a journey, an adventure, and they’re in store for some pretty amazing sex. So, however they go about this, I’m sure they’re going to have a lot of fun.”

I never like to contradict a guest expert — especially one as qualified as Hopeful Cuck — but it sounds to me like you’re already having fun; you don’t say how long you’ve been together, but you’ve had more threesomes in the time you’ve been together than most people have in a lifetime. Whatever else you’re into, it’s pretty clear you’re not into delayed gratification. But you’re moving into trickier emotional territory, DTC, and if you don’t want to screw this up for yourself and a cuck boyfriend sounds like your ideal partner, DTC, so you really don’t wanna screw this up — you’re gonna need to move at your boyfriend’s speed.

“Her partner is nervous,” said Hopeful. “He is experiencing ‘cuck angst,’ that special sauce that each cuck experiences differently. There is no one piece of advice that will fix this, it has to be a multipronged approach. First, they need to talk to one another. What expectations,

ideas, fantasies do each of them have around this kink? Does he want to be humiliated? Does she feel comfortable humiliating him? How do their desires align? How do they differ?”

Basically, DTC, you need to insist that your boyfriend to explain to you in exhausting detail — exactly what cuckolding means to him, exactly what excites him about being cuckolded, and exactly what kind of cuckold he wants to be. And that’s not a conversation you can have in an Uber on your way to the apartment of a hot straight guy who’s down to fuck you in front of your cuck boyfriend.

“Things feel close to boiling over right now,” said Aussie Cuck, another one of the hosts of Cuck My Life, “and I’d suggest cooling things down a little. They should explore the fantasy together without a third. Use toys while he watches but can’t touch. She should talk him through what her ‘imaginary bull’ is doing. Try light humiliation or even chastity play. These shallow-end steps let them test how the power dynamic fits their relationship. Once they’ve built trust and clarity, they’ll be in a stronger place to invite someone else in.”

I never like to contradict a guest expert — especially one as qualified as Aussie Cuck — but you’ve already had someone else in. (Some hot straight guy was quite literally in you, right?) But when your boyfriend brought up cuckolding, he wasn’t just talking about you fucking other guys or the two of you fucking other guys together. Threesomes are one thing — an emotionally tricky thing for many couples — but a cuckold couple has to find the right balance between jealousy and arousal. If he’s truly a cuck, he wants you to make him feel anxious and insecure without ever making him feel too anxious or too insecure. Figuring out how to do that for (and with) him is going to take some thought, DTC, not just some more guys.

“Being a cuckoldress or a hotwife isn’t a hall pass to sleep with anyone, anytime,” said Aussie Cuck. “It’s a responsibility, especially while he’s still figuring out his boundaries and the kind of cuck dynamic he wants. If he truly has a cuck fantasy, why does her being with another man spark jealousy when they’ve already shared that space? Does it feel different if the third is male rather than female? Or is he scared of being left behind while she dives in deeper?”

Final question for you, DTC: If your boyfriend is a cuck, it means something very specific to him when you sleep with another man, particularly a man you can’t share, i.e. a straight guy who’s only interested in you. So, what does it mean

to you when he sleeps with another man? Some people will insist that you’re doing it wrong — that your boyfriend isn’t really a cuckold — if he gets to fuck other people, too. Hopeful, Aussie, and I agree that you should ignore those people.

“There is no ‘right way’ to do this, and no wrong way, either,” said Hopeful. “You just need to figure out how you can do it in a way that will meet the majority of both of your needs.”

Still, if you don’t feel jealous and turned on when he fucks other men — if all you feel is turned on — then he’s obviously not cuckolding you when he fucks around. Your relationship could wind up being a rare melding of a cuck kink with a hotwifing/husbanding/partnering kink: he’s your sub when you cuck him (fucking other guys is about your pleasure) and he’s still your sub when he gets fucked by another guy (because him fucking other guys pleases you). I’m speculating here — only you know what it means to you when he fucks other guys — but your feelings, needs, and meanings also need to be a part of the conversation.

Last word goes to our guest experts: “This is a high wire act,” said Hopeful. “You both need to understand that mistakes happen. Rules and boundaries get broken. The heat of the moment can be intense. Be ready to forgive missteps. Talk about these things and adjust your relationship accordingly.”

“Learn to swim together before diving deep — that way, the chances of shared pleasure and success are much greater,” said Aussie Cuck.

Follow Hopeful Cuck on Twitter @ New_Hopeful, follow Aussie Cuck on Twitter @CuckooCuck, and Cuck My Life is available on all podcasting platforms.

: Q I’ve finally met the one, or so I thought. I’m 40 and have dated a lot. A few months ago, I started dating a kind, generous, funny, emotionally intelligent man and I have a deep intuitive sense that he’s my person, and I’m his. We haven’t had a lot of sex (we’re both very busy). The first time we had sex, he went down on me, he told me he loves going down (that it’s his favorite thing to do), but he hasn’t again since. I asked him about it, and in the most gentle and hesitant way he told me that he finds my pussy overwhelmingly “aromatic “and that’s why he’s kept his face away from it. I’ve never heard this before and have had other partners who spent lots of time down there with no problems; and I also always wash my leggings after one wear because they’re good and ripe and need it, as I’m generally a pretty juicy woman. My initial reaction was to consider what I might do differently (classic anxious attachment go-to), shower before sex;

change my pubic hair maintenance; find and take a magical pussy-smell enhancing pill; change my diet; see the ob-gyn about possible bacterial factors — you tell me, I’m willing. I really like this guy and want him to want to eat me all night long. I’m super bummed that my natural odor turns him off. Maybe it’s not going to work between us after all? I don’t want to be with someone who isn’t super into my lady parts.

Scents And Sensitivities

A: I’m not a medical doctor, SAS, but if your leggings are “ripe” after a single wear, something more than “juicy” could be going on. So, go see your OB-GYN to rule out bacterial vaginosis (BV), which can make pussies aromatic in bad ways. (There’s been a real breakthrough in treatment for recurring UTIs, which I discussed on a recent Savage Lovecast episode with Dr. Jen Gunter, author of The Vagina Bible, and we discussed BV as well.) As hard as it was to hear, your new boyfriend might’ve done you a favor; if you do have BV, he may have spotted it before you did, SAS, because he can put his nose places you can’t put yours, and he gently flagged something that needed to be flagged.

But if your doctor gives you the allclear and you bathe regularly and you change your leggings daily — and a quick whore’s bath/broderick doesn’t make a difference then it’s probably not a you problem. It’s most likely a him problem: maybe he doesn’t like how you taste (sometimes people don’t click chemically or pheromonally) or maybe he’s one of those guys who hates eating pussy but won’t admit it. Instead, he tells a woman he loves to eat pussy and then tries to convince her there’s something wrong with her — something that prevents him from eating her particular pussy — because he doesn’t want to admit there’s something wrong with him. Either way, you want a guy who’s enthusiastic about your lady parts and you were hoping this guy was that guy. But if there isn’t a medical issue you can address if we’re not talking BV then it’s pretty clear this guy isn’t that guy, SAS, and changing your leggings twice a day and/or restyling your pubic hair isn’t gonna turn him into that guy. DTMFA. P.S. “The one” is a myth. The best you can do is find a .72 or a .83 and round that motherfucker up to “the one.”

Got problems? Yes, you do! Email your question for the column to mailbox@savage.love!

Or record your question for the Savage Lovecast at savage.love/askdan!

Podcasts, columns and more at Savage.Love.

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CULTURE Free Will Astrology

By Rob Brezsny

ARIES: March 21 – April 19

Life is tempting you to tiptoe to the brink of the threshold of the rawest truth, the wildest beauty, and the most precious love. Your ancestors are conspiring with your guardian angels to lure you into the secret heart of the inner sanctum of spiritual truth. I am totally sincere and serious. You now have a momentous opportunity—a thrilling opening to commune with subtle powers that could provide you with profound guidance.

TAURUS: April 20 – May 20

In the forests of America’s Pacific Northwest, “nurse logs” lie fallen but fertile. These dead trees host seedlings, mosses, and new saplings that rise from their decaying trunks. I regard this as a powerful metaphor for you, Taurus. Something old in you is crumbling, like outdated beliefs, outmoded duties, or obsolete loyalties. Part of you may want to either grieve or ignore the shift. And yet I assure you that fresh green vitality is sprouting from that seemingly defunct thing. What new possibility is emerging from what was supposed to end? Resurrection is at hand.

GEMINI: May 21 – June 20

A deeper, wilder, smarter version of love is beckoning you from the horizon. Are you ready to head in its direction? I’m not sure you are. You may semi-consciously believe you already know what love is all about, and are therefore closed to learning more. It’s also possible that your past romantic wounds have made you timid about exploring unfamiliar terrain. Here’s my assessment: If you hope to get exposed to the sweeter, less predictable kinds of intimacy, you will have to drop some (not all) of your excessive protections and defenses. PS: At least one of your fears may be rooted in faulty logic.

CANCER: June 21 – July 22

Princess Diana transformed the British monarchy because she insisted that royal duty should include genuine emotional connection. Her generosity wasn’t merely ceremonial but was expressed through hands-on charity work. She had close contact with youth who had nowhere to live. She walked through minefields as part of her efforts to rid the planet of that scourge. She hugged people with AIDS at a time when many others feared such contact. “Carry out a random act of kindness, with no expectation of reward,” she said. Her ability to maintain grace while remaining

emotionally authentic reflected a genius for blending strength with sensitivity. Can you guess her astrological sign? Cancerian, of course. Now is a perfect time for you to draw inspiration from her example. Express your wisely nurturing energy to the max!

LEO: July 23 – August 22

Certain African lions in Kenya have no manes. Scientists theorize it’s an adaptation to heat or a reflection of extra aggressive hunting strategies. But symbolically, it challenges expectations: Is royalty still royalty without the crown? I bring this to your attention, Leo, because I suspect you will soon be asked to explore your power without its usual accouterments. Can you properly wield your influence if you don’t unleash your signature roar and dazzle? Will quiet confidence or understated presence be sufficiently magnetic? Might you radiate even more potency by refining your fire? I think so. You can summon strength in subtlety and majesty in minimalism.

VIRGO: August 23 – Sept. 22

During the next nine months, you will face a poignant and potentially inspiring choice: whether to wrangle with an endless tangle of mundane struggles, or else to expand your vision to the bigger picture and devote your energy intensely to serving your interesting, long-term dreams. I hope you choose the latter option! For best results, get clear about your personal definition of success, in contrast to the superficial definitions that have been foisted on you by your culture. Can you visualize yourself years from now, looking back on your life’s greatest victories? You’re primed to enter a new phase of that glorious work, rededicating yourself with precise intentions and vigorous vows.

LIBRA: Sept. 23 – Oct. 22

I’m pleased to inform you that the coming weeks will be an excellent time to make a big wish upon a bright star. But I must also tell you how important it is to be clear and exact. Even a slight error in formulating your wish could result in only a partial fulfillment. And aiming your plea at the wrong star could cause a long delay. Sorry I have to be so complicated, dear Libra. The fact is, though, it’s not always easy to know precisely what you yearn for and to ask the correct source to help you get it. But here’s the good news: You are currently in a phase when you’re far more likely than usual to make all the right moves.

SCORPIO: Oct. 23 – Nov. 21:

During World War II, Scorpio actor and inventor Hedy Lamarr developed frequency-hopping technology to prevent enemies from jamming torpedo guidance systems. Her solution rapidly switched radio frequencies in hard-tointercept patterns. The technology was so advanced that no one could figure out how to fully adopt it until years later. Engineers eventually realized that Lamarr’s invention was essential for WiFi, GPS, and cell phone networks. In the coming weeks, Scorpio, you, too, have the potential to generate ideas that might not be ready for prime time but could ultimately prove valuable. Trust your instincts about future needs. Your visionary solutions are laying the groundwork for contributions that won’t fully ripen for a while.

SAGITTARIUS: Nov. 22 – Dec. 21

In I guarantee you won’t experience a meltdown, crack-up, or nervous collapse in the coming weeks, Sagittarius. What unfolds may bring a similar intensity, but in the opposite direction: a personal breakthrough, a cavalcade of illumination, or a surge of awakening. I urge you to be alert and receptive for relaxing flurries of sweet clarity; or streams of insights that rouse a liberating integration; or a confluence of welcome transformations that lead you to unexpected healing. Can you handle so many blessings? I think you can. But you may have to expand your expectations to welcome them all.

CAPRICORN: Dec. 22 – Jan. 19

In 1959, a Swedish engineer named Nils Bohlin designed the threepoint seatbelt, revolutionizing car safety. Working for Volvo, he insisted the design must be made freely available to all car manufacturers. Bohlin

understood that saving lives was more important than hoarding credit or profit. Capricorn, your assignment now is to give generously without fussing about who gets the applause. A solution, insight, or creation of yours could benefit many if you share it without reservation. Your best reward will be observing the beneficial ripple effects, not holding the patent.

AQUARIUS: Jan. 20 – Feb. 18

Your exploratory adventures out on the frontiers have been interesting and mostly successful, Aquarius. Congrats! I love how you have avoided tormenting yourself with self-doubt and roused more boldness than you’ve summoned in a long time. You have managed to ignore useless and superstitious fears even as you have wisely heeded the clues offered by one particular fear that was worth considering. Please continue this good work! You can keep riding this productive groove for a while longer.

PISCES: Feb.19 – March 20

In Korean tradition, *mudangs* are shamans who endure a personal crisis or illness and emerge with supernatural powers. They perform rituals to seek the favor of spirits. They heal the ancestral causes of misfortune and ensure good fortune, prosperity, and well-being for the people they serve. I don’t mean to imply you’re following a similar path, Pisces. But I do think your recent discomforts have been like an apprenticeship that has given you enhanced capacity to help others. How will you wield your power to bless and heal?

Homework: My home country, America, is in a dire crisis that impacts the whole world. Read my comments here: https:// Newsletter.FreeWillAstrology.com.

JAMES NOELLERT