Welcome back to all things Detroit culture and community.
The weather won't decide between winter and spring, but regardless, news of Detroit culture is still alive and well. We wait for the constant sunshine indoors, visit a “hidden gem” restaurant in Southfield that contends for our list of best downtown restaurants, and make summer plans to “dance again” at Little Caesars Arena. Trust me, we “can't get enough” of it JLo also.
Keep reading for more culture and community news in and around the city.
Highlights the community
🏳️🌈 Community for seniors: Michigan's first LGBTQ+ senior center opened in Ferndale in January, and a second is coming to Detroit soon. Nonprofit organizations MiGen (formerly SAGE Metro Detroit) and Affirmations Community Center have opened a hub for LGBTQ+ seniors to find community and access essential resources like health screenings, grief support, and transportation assistance. Later this year, MiGen will open a second center at Corktown Health to offer health education programs to seniors not readily available in the city, the CEO said. Angela Gabridge He said. (Form D, external media)
🎶 If in d: “Isn't it funny” how JLo is returning to “On The Floor” after all this time? Well, she's making sure Detroit is part of the action. Jennifer Lopez Last week she announced her first tour in five years, with a summer stop at Little Caesars Arena in July. The show is part of This is Me Now… the Tour, with concerts in 34 cities following the release of her new album. Tickets for the summer tour go on sale Friday. (Detroit News)
🎨 Recorded art: Although not always well documented, public art in Detroit has a long history influenced by social, political, and cultural changes. The Detroit Historical Museum's “Concrete Canvas” attempts to highlight the work of local artists, famous public works, cultural collections and landmarks. The exhibit, organized in partnership with Preservation Detroit, is open through April 28 and is free with museum admission. (Alien, Detroit Historical Museum)
Hidden food gem
The Black-owned Hidden Gem restaurant is located in Southfield, just up the Lodge Highway, hidden on a small, easy-to-miss plot of land. We know it's a bit of a long trip, but the relaxed, romantic atmosphere might make the trip worth it.
Once you get there, you'll be greeted by an impromptu tenor saxophone solo on songs like “Hold On” by Gregory Porter And Kim, Floral lighting fixtures with intimate lighting and flowers on the wall.
Oh, and did we mention that the food is delicious? Try a crispy catfish dinner, curried goat (or chicken, for less adventurous eaters) and round off your night with a slice of cheesecake: choose between caramel, chocolate or strawberry.
Consider making a reservation before your date night, though: It was especially crowded on Valentine's Day.
Eat and dash
🥘 Palestinian-Egyptian chef Omar Anani He opens up about his Palestinian heritage and leans into the power of storytelling in food. Anani has been busy hosting a series of pop-ups called “Shaabi” (“Shaabi” in Arabic) across the country, but he'll be returning to Detroit to host one at Folk in Corktown on February 28. More good news: Anani plans to reopen his East Side restaurant Saffron De Twah, currently on hiatus, in the near future. (eater detroit)
🍸 SAXI, a deep cocktail lounge Gilbert The Family Roots store is scheduled to open in the basement of Gilly's on Woodward Avenue this spring. What are we passionate about? Mixology table side service. (Metro Times, Eater Detroit)
🥗 East Side Coriander Kitchen & Farm has reopened after the winter hiatus. It may be too cold to try the new riverside seating, but not to try the latest seasonal menu. Try the Vitamin C Salad, a citrusy mix of winter greens, beets and oranges that's good for the soul. (eater detroit)
🏅 Selden Standard downtown restaurant was named one of the best restaurants of 2024 by USA Today. The only Michigan restaurant on the list, this adds to an already extensive list of awards and accolades in the decade since Selden Standard opened. (USA Today, ML Live, Selden Standard)
🧶 Kayla Powers They feed on willow bark, sumac, apple blossoms and other native plants, which they turn into pigments for fiber art pieces that capture “sensory maps” of Detroit. (hypersensitivity)
🎻 Detroit Symphony Orchestra musicians have ratified a new three-year union contract (protected by a paywall), guaranteeing higher wages, expanded paid family leave and priority for Black and Latino Fellowship members in auditions, among other benefits. (Crane Works in Detroit)
🎤 Over 70 rappers in Detroit, from Bold James And Tjaix6 to Stop me, they performed the On the Radar Radio video series, with viral moments, interest in up-and-coming rappers and some criticism. (Axios Detroit, on Radar Radio)
🧑🎨 Take a closer look at the arts, businesses and public spaces taking shape in Detroit's East Village neighborhood. (architectural digest)
🎧 Settle down with an intimate profile DJ Minx, a long-running riff on the 1980s Detroit music scene and its Women on Wax label, taking detours through heavier subject matter along the way. (beatport)
Related stories
