Great meals off Grand River

City Slang: New Black Dahlia Murder album lands at number 32 on Billboard charts
Everblack, the new album from local metal heads Black Dahlia Murder, released on Metal Blade Records, entered the Billboard top 200 at number 32. According to a statement, “The album also landed at #3 on the Billboard Current Hard Music Albums chart (behind Black Sabbath and Queens of the Stone Age). Additional chart debuts include #3 on the Billboard Hard Music Albums, #9 on the Billboard Independent Albums, and #30 on the Hits Albums Chart. Additionally, the album peaked at #15 on the iTunes album chart, and #2 on the iTunes Metal chart, second only to living legends Black Sabbath.” BDM’s Trevor Strnad reacts to the success of the album: “We are thrilled that “Everblack” is being so well received by the fans and we thank them truly from the heart for picking the album up. It’s been an amazing ride so far and the new album is our proudest moment yet. THANKS!!” Click here to join the City Slang Turntable community!!! Follow @City_Slang
Urinal Cake Records – “UrineFested” 6/21-6/22
Profile: Urinal Cake Records (on Metro Times Music Blahg – “Urinal Cake Records’ First Year + New Gardens (Grows)”) “Urinefested” Local Label Showcase -2 day Fest in Detroit June 21-22nd at P.J.’s Lager House (1254 Michigan Ave), Friday: The Clone Defects, Terrible Twos, Moonhairy, Obnox, Ritual Howls, Mountains and Rainbows – - Saturday: Johnny Ill Band, Protomartyr, Growwing Pains, Drugs Dragons, K9 Sniffles, Feelings, Guinea Worms, and the Keep On Trash DJs. — Visual artwork displays by Jeff Arcel, Thelonious Bone, Davin Brainard, Zak Bratto, Joe Casey, Luke Chapelle, Jimbo Easter, Andy Gabrysiak, Ben Lyon, Johnny Lzr, Kara Meister, Nai Sammon, Timmy Vulgar, and Matt 7 http://urinalcakerecords.com – pjslagerhouse.com ~ There seems to be a lot of local DIY record labels, lately. But Johnny Ill nonchalantly shrugs that into perspective: “Shit, there could be no one to put out your music. I’m not dong it, so I’m glad guys like Eric are doing it…” It’s still a rarity, says Ill (a.k.a. John Garcia of The Johnny Ill Band,) for someone (like Eric Love of Urinal Cake Records) willingly financing and spending time resources for local songwriters to produce, package and distribute their works. “The worst thing that could happen [...]
City Slang: Battlecross post-Orion news
Following their triumphant appearance at OrionFest, local metal heads Battlecross has announced that drummer Kevin Talley (formerly of Six Feet Under, Chimaira and Dying Fetus) will be staying on with the band for its forthcoming tour. See Battlecross performing Slayer’s “War Ensemble” at OrionFest here. The new album, War of Will, will be released via Metal Blade on July 9, and the first single will be “Force Fed Lies”. Battlecross will be on the Mayhem Festival with Rob Zombie throughout the summer. Follow @City_Slang
DIA ‘Courts’ New Diners
Who says the Detroit Institute of Arts is only for art admirers? The addition of a Friday night music schedule has found some new converts. And now food lovers can rejoice as the museum unveils a new go-to place for visitors to eat, drink, relax and socialize. It’s the newly revamped Kresge Court. Combining an elegant atmosphere with competitive prices, visitors can enjoy an array of gourmet snacks, sandwiches, salads and desserts that use regional ingredients. Befitting a hip hangout, the dishes skew creative. If you’re stopping by for a quick lunch, you’ve got to try the fine ficelle salad. The stars of this show are prosciutto, black mission fig jam, wild arugula and European-style thin sourdough baguette. The green goddess salad features local greens, carrot ribbons, marinated summer squash, sunflower seeds and currants. Other offerings include DIA deviled eggs and wasabi tobiko caviar; artichokes, radish, black olive aioli and flatbread; toasted farro salad with shaved fennel; surryano dry-cured ham with hot pepper pickles and more. Desserts include Italian pudding with bittersweet chocolate, seasonal fruit croustade, and an alcoholic spin on a Detroit classic, a Boston rum cooler with Vernor’s ginger ale, French vanilla ice cream, Captain Morgan spiced rum, [...]
The 1943 Detroit Race Riot, 70 years later
Mention “Detroit” and “riot” to most metro Detroiters today, and most people will think of the year 1967. Some will call it a “riot” and some will call it a “rebellion,” but chances are that nobody will talk about Detroit’s forgotten riot, the 1943 Detroit race riot. Most likely, that’s because the events of 1943 don’t neatly dovetail with our conventional narratives about the Greatest Generation, and they provide ugly examples of white racism that most area residents, if they remember them, would rather forget. And that’s a shame, because the 1943 riot offers a chance to look beyond simplistic sociological assumptions about ’60s civil disorder and the ensuing urban disintegration. This is especially interesting at a time when historians such as Thomas Sugrue are re-examining Detroit and the roles played by whites and their institutions, often uncovering sweeping antecedents that transcend a passive white exodus. And for those whites who think the ramifications of institutional racism are overstated, those old photographs of white mobs rampaging up and down Woodward Avenue, beating and stabbing black Detroiters, might change a mind or two. And 1943 is also worth another look because it helps define the early civil rights movement. It saw African-Americans effectively [...]
Oh Criminals, Where Art Thou?
I would be lying if I said I wasn’t a little disappointed with my Detroit experience so far. In the past 8 months, I have no gunshot wounds, stabbing scars, or even a stolen vehicle to show for it. I don’t even have a lower credit score! When I told everyone I was moving here, I got a wave of backlash and pleas to reconsider. It reminded me of the time I traveled to the Middle East and, as I was boarding my flight, received a hundred text messages and calls saying, “If you go, you are going to DIE!” Well, my time in the Middle East was just as disappointing and uneventful as my time here in Motown. Where have all the criminals gone? With a nice bout of insomnia, I used to walk to the YMCA at 5 a.m. to work out in total darkness. My Dad freaked out when I told him. What my father can’t understand is that, unless you live right downtown, and once the sun sets, the streets of Detroit are deserted. No cars. No homeless people. Even the pimps seem to take the night off. I could streak down Woodward (my apologies for the [...]

A shortlist of restaurants in Farmington, Farmington Hills and Novi

Published: September 28, 2011

$=$5-$10; $$=$10-$25; $$$=$25-$50; $$$$=$50+

FARMINGTON, FARMINGTON HILLS

2Booli Fresh Mediterranean Eats 37610 W. 12 Mile Rd., Farmington Hills; 248-994-0614; 2booli.com; $$: For many diners, the lack of a liquor license is a deal-breaker. Farmington Hills' 2Booli addresses the problem with not only a full bar but a happy hour that lasts all weekday evening. They specially note their menu contains a "large selection of healthy vegetarian dishes." Open 11 a.m.-10 p.m. Sunday-Thursday; 11 a.m.-11 p.m. Friday-Saturday.

Bangkok Sala Cafe 27903 Orchard Lake Rd., Farmington Hills; 248-553-4220; bangkoksalacafe.com; $: Attractive space seats about 60, serving solid entrées (gingery pad king is great) and dreamy house-made coconut ice cream. Dine in or carryout; handicap accessible; kitchen can accommodate dietary restrictions; lunch reservations recommended. Open 11 a.m.-9 p.m. Monday-Friday; 2:30-9 p.m. Saturday; 4-9 p.m. Sunday.

Bombay Grille 29200 Orchard Lake Rd., Farmington Hills; 248-626-2982; bombay-grille.com; $$: Grilled items are prepared in tandoors, deep clay ovens heated by actual charcoal fires for better flavor. You can watch the grilling through a window in the dining room. Wine, beer and liquor are offered. A special lunch buffet is offered daily. Open 11:30 a.m.-2:45 p.m. and 5-9:45 p.m. Monday-Thursday, 11:30 a.m.-2:45 p.m. and 5-10:45 p.m. Friday, noon-2:45 p.m. and 5-10:45 p.m. Saturday, and noon-9:30 p.m. Sunday.

The Breakfast Club 38467 W. 10 Mile Rd., Farmington Hills; 248-473-0714; thebreakfastclubrestaurant.com; $: Serious breakfasts: Eggs include omelets and quiche; flour-based fare includes pancakes, waffles, fresh strawberry cream cheese French toast and crêpes; spuds can come jacket-stuffed, hash-browned and even as potato pancakes with sour cream. Open daily 7 a.m.-2:30 p.m.

Camelia's Mexican Grill 30685 W. 12 Mile Rd., Farmington Hills; 248-474-0902; cameliasmexicangrill.com; $$: Mexican food made from fresh ingredients, with a wide gamut of heat levels. Not just tacos, fajitas and burritos, but steaks, sandwiches and even some vegetarian choices. Hearty choices abound. Their chalupa platter specialty stuffs ground beef or chicken in three deep-fried tortillas with sour cream, lettuce, tomatoes and cheese.

Culinary Studies Institute at Oakland Community College 27055 Orchard Lake Rd., at I-696, Building J, Farmington Hills; 248-522-3700; oaklandcc.edu/culinary; $: The Culinary Studies Institute at Oakland Community College does more than churn out aspiring chefs; it offers the lunch-loving public bargain meals that will effectively derail productivity for the rest of the afternoon. Open 11:15 a.m.-1 p.m. Tuesday-Wednesday.

Greene's 24155 Orchard Lake Rd., Farmington; 248-474-7980; $: Charming old white enamel steel structure has spent more than 50 years serving old-fashioned classics. The menu tops out at $2.49 for a double cheeseburger. The hamburgers are small and very greasy, but flavorful. Open daily from 9 a.m-9 p.m.

Hong Hua Fine Chinese Dining 27925 Orchard Lake Rd., Farmington Hills; 248-489-2280; honghuafinedining.com; $$: More like fine-dining than authentic Chinese, Hong Hua is elegant. The eggplant in chili sauce is excellent, as is the tasty, slightly sweet and crisped mu-shu pork. There's also a full complement of fried rices, chow meins and lo meins. Master Chef Peter Chan suggests the beef sirloin and king mushrooms with "Maggie" sauce.

House of India 28841 Orchard Lake Rd., Farmington Hills; 248-553-7391; houseofindiami.com; $: A four-course meal for less than $13? Yes, it can happen here. For mild, try lamb dopiyaza (with whole onions); for hot, stuffed bhindi (okra and onions). Best bet: mango lassi (with buttermilk). Offers a massive amount of vegetarian options, including oven-baked eggplant. Open daily 11:30 a.m.-3 p.m.; 5-10 p.m.

John Cowley & Sons 33338 Grand River Ave., Farmington; 248-474-5941; johncowleys.com; $$: Nestled next to an old theater in downtown Farmington, most of the customers during the week at Cowley's seem to be dining rather than just drinking, and there is a lengthy menu ranging from salads with Tuscan beef to traditional Irish fare and American entrées. Open 11 a.m.-10 p.m. Monday-Saturday, noon-10 p.m. Sunday.

Kabuki 28972 Orchard Lake Rd., Farmington Hills; 248-538-0664; $$: Japanese and Korean specialties, including shabu-shabu and bibimbap. A wide assortment of sushi and sashimi is also offered.

New Sahara 29222 Orchard Lake Rd., Farmington Hills; 248-851-1122; newsahara.com; $$: Chaldean restaurants are subtly different. Expect pickled cabbage as a starter, plus some tomato-based stews. And their daily specials are Iraqi favorites. The wide selection of entrées includes pan-fried eggplant and tomato over kafta.

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A shortlist of restaurants in Farmington, Farmington Hills and Novi

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