Metromode: Drag Queen Bingo (Or How Metro Detroit Learned to Stop Worrying and Love Five 15)

"Royal Oak is chock full of cutesy boutiques filled with cute 'n clever gift items. But where in Royal Oak can you find zebra-print wine purses; cookbooks with titles like Any Bitch Can Party!; copies of Vogue (the Parisian, Australian, Italian AND Indian editions) and $25 manties (that's man-panties to you)?

'Five 15 Media Mojo and More is the answer, which is celebrating its four-year anniversary on May 15.

'It's not that the GLBT (gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgendered) community is under-served … well, no, actually it's exactly that. For a so-called 'subculture' which is known to have a huge presence in suburban cities like Royal Oak and Ferndale, there is a surprising lack of businesses for and by the bi and queer. Save for a smattering of clubs and bookstores (between the two cities you can still count them all on one hand), there is a notable absence of distinctly 'gay' businesses – not just gay-friendly, and not just gay-owned, but recognizably and unequivocally GAY..."

Read the rest of the article here.

944 Detroit: Club Sushi

Photograph by Scott Spellman for 944 Detroit.
"Pulsing electronic beats. Strobing lights. Breathtakingly beautiful people. Bodies gyrating on the dance floor. Raw fish.

'This may sound like a which-one-of-these-is-not-like-the-other riddle, but for some reason, sushi has become synonymous with phrases like 'exclusive nightclub' and 'ultra-lounge.' The hottest trend in metro Detroit right now is rolled up neatly in rice and presented with a side of sake martinis and techno. Oysters may be an aphrodisiac, but sushi is sexy. Here, 944 names the best places to break out the chopsticks and bust a move..."

Read the rest of the article here.

Macomb Now: Metropolitan Cafe's Chef Alexis Henslee

"The concept of seasonal foods using locally sourced ingredients may not be news to those living in Ann Arbor, but in Shelby Township, the concept is fresh and new. At Metropolitan Café, Executive Chef Alexis Henslee is able to demonstrate her creative culinary expression as well as satisfy her passion for Michigan’s homegrown foods at this unexpectedly urban, contemporary restaurant.

'Metropolitan Café, a labor of love for owners Gary and Jennifer Barney, has been making big waves recently in the local press for its level of culinary sophistication in an area typically known more for chain restaurants than upscale cosmopolitan dining. Best described as a modern American bistro, it can’t be easily pigeonholed into any one category. The eclectic menu caters to a wide range of palates, offering everything from burgers and fish & chips to fresh seafood specials and an inventive small plates menu with items like chorizo-stuffed dates. The cuisine is truly metropolitan in its cross-cultural sensibilities: think influences of Asian, Mediterranean, and Latin cooking incorporated into a menu that’s a melting pot of contemporary American..."

Read the rest of the article here.

Real Detroit Weekly: The Hub Sports Bistro

"'Sports Bistro' may sound like an oxymoron, but at the Hub in Macomb Township, you can have your ESPN and keep it classy, too.

'There are plenty of places you can go to watch sports in the MC, but few places that have the same upscale (but still fun) atmosphere. Slate floors, a separate lounge and an expansive wooden bar top so glossy you don't even need to take your eyes off your beer to watch the game all give the Hub its 'bistro' chic, but the beer pong room makes sure it stays a good sport..."

Read the rest of the article here.

944 Detroit: Taking on Tree Town

So yeah, wow, I just figured out how to be able to link to the actual articles on 944 instead of the flipbook. A year later. So I'm going to start posting all these articles from the past year here (except for the first one I did, a nice little piece on al fresco dining, which is the only one without a link). Cool? Cool. Okay. Here 'ya go.

Photograph by Scott Spellman for 944 Detroit.

"Ann Arbor could easily be considered the culinary hub of Southeastern Michigan. The sheer quantity of dining options alone makes for a promising epicurean adventure. High-end provincial French cuisine? Check. After-hours pizzeria serving up big, greasy slices to inebriated college students? Check. Dining establishments boasting a steadfast commitment to sustainable cuisine or vegetarian and vegan-friendly menus? That too. Indian, Middle Eastern, Korean and Mexican foods? Ann Arbor’s got it all. 944 compiled a list of some of Ann Arbor’s best new places to explore (all within walking distance of the Ann Arbor Art Fair)..."

Read the rest of the article here.

Real Detroit Weekly: Majestic Cafe

"If the Food Network had a show dedicated to places like the Majestic, it would be called "Hipsters, Hangouts and Historical Landmarks." The sprawling Majestic complex – which is home to the Majestic Theatre, Magic Stick, Alley Deck, Garden Bowl, Sgt. Pepperoni's, Magic Lounge, and the Majestic Café – has been steadily growing for over 60 years now, but in order to stay relevant in an ever-evolving city, they've had to constantly evolve themselves.

'A recent interior overhaul gave the Café a whole new look, one that fits in a little better with the complex's overall rocker-chic identity: dark wood, distressed metal, slate-grey soundproofing foam hung like an art installation and rectangles of orange neon light overhead. It is urban industrial; gritty in a polished way..."

Read the rest of the article here.

Real Detroit Weekly: Oslo

"Previous owners shut down this Detroit staple in '07, much to the dismay of sushi fans and techno freaks all over the metro area who knew this as the place to go. Current owners Kat Lemos and mother Lumpai Rossbach reopened this downtown hotspot and now, after three years, Oslo is once again one of the top venues for techno and hip-hop shows, and also one of our favorite sushi and Thai places.

'Sushi was always been Oslo's claim to fame and with a new sushi chef on board – Josh Taylor, who previously worked at Tom's Oyster Bar in Royal Oak – it will continue to be a strong draw with inventive, unique rolls only found here. Taylor has been here since the beginning of the year and brings to Oslo a fresh, unique take on contemporary sushi along with the passion and enthusiasm for food and drink that Kat looks for in her staff. Try the Tandoori Roll, a baked roll made with cream cheese, salmon, crispy tempura flakes and sweet curry sauce. It's almost as rich as a dessert with a delicately sweet curry scent. Skip the California roll – you can get those at Kroger..."

Read the rest of the article here.

Real Detroit Weekly: Bookies Bar & Grille

It's hard to imagine a time before Bookies was around for Tigers Opening Day. It's like asking what did people ever do before cell phones or computers. But, much like teenagers today don't know a world without Facebook and iPhones, Detroiters never need to question where to spend this most sacrosanct of Detroit holy days. Bookies has been a downtown drinking destination for 8 years now; this year marks their third Opening Day in their new three-floor building on Cass Ave., and it is THE place to be for Opening Day.

"Opening Day is exciting for the entire city," says owner John Lambrecht. "It's the first sign of spring and summer and warm weather, and can be celebrated by everyone in the city whether they're into baseball or not."

Read the rest of the article here.