Arts & Entertainment

Published August 14, 2020

Council, businesses, residents discuss Founders Festival future

FARMINGTON/HILLS — Since the Greater Farmington Area Chamber of Commerce announced June 29 it was relinquishing its role as owner and operator of the Greater Farmington Area Founders Festival, the festival’s future has been all but certain.

Published August 11, 2020

Grosse Pointe Times

Pandemic sets artist on a ‘mazing’ path

GROSSE POINTE CITY — Some people have spent the COVID-19 pandemic searching for toilet paper and disinfecting wipes. Some have been baking banana bread on a regular basis. Michelle Boggess is trying to break a Guinness World Record.

Local rapper Matt Cloonan stands next to the “Welcome to Farmington” sign on Farmington City Hall’s grounds.

Published August 11, 2020

Farmington Press

‘King of Farmington’ clears the air: He’s king of both cities

FARMINGTON/HILLS — When Farmington Hills resident and local rapper Matt Cloonan, known by his rap moniker Clooner, uploaded the music video for his single “King of Farmington” July 20, he wasn’t expecting to be propelled into the spotlight as much as he has been.

Published August 11, 2020

Woodward Talk

Downtown gateway mural welcomes visitors to Berkley

BERKLEY — The city of Berkley is adorned with murals around its downtown, but its newest one, commissioned last year, specifically was created to act as a gateway for residents and visitors alike.

Blues rocker Laith Al-Saadi will perform July 31 in a drive-in concert at the Macomb Center for Performing Arts in Clinton Township.

Published July 29, 2020

C&G Newspapers

Macomb Center for the Performing Arts to host drive-in concert

CLINTON TOWNSHIP — Audiences might know Laith Al-Saadi from watching him perform at venues around the state, or maybe fans will recognize him from season 10 of “The Voice” on NBC.

Published July 28, 2020

Macomb Township Chronicle

Author discusses Michigan’s Thumb in virtual presentation

MACOMB TOWNSHIP — Which Michigan small town is the birthplace of a member of the National Baseball Hall of Fame? The answer is Cass City, where Larry MacPhail was born in 1890. His son, Lee MacPhail, is also in the Hall of Fame, making them the only father-son duo in the hall.

Jill Jack and the American Songbook, a jazz band, performs at the 22nd annual Arts, Beats & Eats in downtown Royal Oak last year. The event is officially canceled this year, but organizers have maintained a semblance of normalcy with smaller events with heightened health measures.

Published July 27, 2020

Royal Oak Review

Arts, Beats & Eats canceled, but ‘The Beats Go On’

ROYAL OAK — Due to social distancing guidelines and the health threat of COVID-19, Arts, Beats & Eats organizers officially announced the cancellation of the long-standing Labor Day festival July 22.

Published July 27, 2020

Shelby - Utica News

Nonprofit art struggles to hold on through COVID-19

BIRMINGHAM/BLOOMFIELD HILLS/BEVERLY HILLS — “This is precisely the time when artists go to work — not when everything is fine, but in times of dread. That’s our job,” said the late author Toni Morrison.

Published July 27, 2020

Shelby - Utica News

Utica’s Weekend Unwind music festival to continue into October

UTICA — If you’re looking for a safe and fun evening out, Utica’s Weekend Unwind offers the public a safe way to get out of the house and enjoy some music in the park by the river.

Published July 27, 2020

Woodward Talk

Ferndale theaters discuss challenges of COVID-19 closures

FERNDALE — Businesses around the world were hit hard when the COVID-19 pandemic began. But as some work to stay open after restrictions loosened in Michigan, entertainment venues have stayed shut down.

Published July 24, 2020

Mount Clemens - Clinton - Harrison Journal

Local woman uses art to brighten lives of seniors, patients

HARRISON TOWNSHIP — If art is a form of hope, Harrison Township resident Mary McGaughy has been instilling plenty of it in recent months for some of society’s most vulnerable people.

Published July 24, 2020

Madison - Park News

Manga artist to lead virtual drawing class

HAZEL PARK — Those interested in learning how to draw Japanese comic art, or manga, will soon have the opportunity to learn directly from one of the masters.

Published July 24, 2020

Madison - Park News

Madison Heights participates in water conservation challenge

MADISON HEIGHTS — A national competition is underway to see which city can get the highest percentage of its residents to sign a pledge to maintain eco-friendly water habits. One of the participating cities is Madison Heights, which is especially fitting since the initiative was started by a hometown hero.

Local artist MaryLou Stropoli and Sunflour Bakehaus owners Jeff Pavlik and Becky Burns pose in front of some of Stropoli’s artwork on the counter and one of the murals already on the bakery walls.

Published July 21, 2020

Farmington Press

Farmington artists chosen to produce two new murals

FARMINGTON — New murals will be making their way to two Farmington businesses, The Vines Flower & Garden Shop and Sunflour Bakehaus, come August.

Hills resident cast in global online dance festival

Published July 21, 2020

Farmington Press

Farmington Hills resident cast in global online dance festival

FARMINGTON HILLS — Seven years ago, in 2013, Farmington Hills resident Marcel Lim, 47, found a flier in downtown Farmington advertising Irish dance classes at the Dancing Feats studio. At the time, he knew little of the dance style, but after his first class, he became hooked.

Published July 21, 2020

Woodward Talk

Detroit Institute of Arts’ Inside|Out program arrives in Berkley

BERKLEY — Several months ago, the Detroit Institute of Arts announced that Berkley was to be one of the sites participating in this year’s Inside|Out program.

Published July 20, 2020

Shelby - Utica News

Shelby Township opts to host virtual art fair this year

SHELBY TOWNSHIP — Shelby Township has announced that it will be hosting its annual Shelby Township Art Fair in a virtual format for its 37th anniversary this year, due to COVID-19.

Published July 20, 2020

Shelby - Utica News

Dancers improvise to keep learning amid pandemic

SHELBY TOWNSHIP — Staying active and engaged in athletic activities can be a challenge, especially during a worldwide pandemic that caused many businesses to close and many to continue to stay closed.

Published July 20, 2020

Birmingham - Bloomfield Eagle

Nonprofits get technical to stay afloat during COVID-19

BIRMINGHAM/BEVERLY HILLS — It’s been a tough year for most of us, but especially for those organizations that do a lot of good without getting much in return.

Published July 17, 2020

Online Only

Orchard Lake Fine Art Show cancelled

WEST BLOOMFIELD — West Bloomfield Township Supervisor Steven Kaplan recently confirmed that this year's "Orchard Lake Fine Art Show" has been cancelled. The event had been scheduled for July 25-26. Kaplan said this would have been the 18th year for the event.