Between Detroit Month of Design and National Hispanic Heritage Month, the city’s bursting with creativity this week. From art shows and design sprints to live jazz and historic home tours, there are endless ways to enjoy the summer/fall crossover that is September in the city!
Hispanic Heritage Month starts Sept. 15, which marks the independence of Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, Mexico and Chile. It’s a celebration of the Hispanic and Latinx peoples, who make up about 1 in 10 Detroiters. We’ve found a couple of gems to celebrate with the community — including the Unidos en Cultura Fiesta in Southwest.
If you find other Hispanic Heritage Month events, send them to Meghan Rutigliano at motorcitymegs@gmail.com. We’ll be highlighting them all month long!
Let’s get busy. 💛
Thursday
🕺🏾 Start your weekend by stretching out and letting loose at Wake Your Waters Ecstatic Dance at Detroit Abloom with hosts Mary Elise Lyszczyk and DJ Gar Den Boi. They’ll guide you through a somatic experience, starting with a beginner-friendly yoga session, followed by a sober, phone-free “ecstatic dance” in the lush, vibrant gardens. Don’t forget your yoga mat and a water bottle. Registration required. $30.
🎨 Spend an evening at the N’Namdi Center for Contemporary Art for the opening reception of “Breaking Down Walls: Addressing Mass Incarceration through Art and Design.” Part of Detroit Month of Design, this exhibition showcases the triumphs of creativity and the realities of mass incarceration. Contributing artist and educator Lauren Williams, the cast and crew of the documentary “Coldwater Kitchen,” the Prison Creative Arts Project and the Michigan Justice Fund will guide the conversation, and guests can write letters to incarcerated artists. Registration required for reception. Free.
🍷 Sip on tasty wine and dig into flavors from the Black culinary community at the Black Food & Wine Experience. Founded by Aminah “Chef Mimi” Robinson-Briscoe, this series kicks off with a swanky reception at Book Tower, followed by a food and beverage summit at One Campus Martius and wraps up with The Grand Tasting at State Savings Bank. And before you ask, yes — food and wine is available at all three events. Registration required. The summit is free for students, $25 for general admission, $12.50 for a 2-for-1 deal. Other experiences start at $75.
This weekend
🎨 Meet new friends at the intersection of creativity and nature at Art in the Garden on Friday. Located at Urban Seed, an urban gardening and food-growing space in Eastpointe, the show will feature paintings, sculptures and culinary art made by members of the community. We like it, Picasso! 🤌🏾 Free.
🏙️ Ready to dream up Detroit’s future? High school and college students can dive into Design Day at the Greenway, a high-energy design sprint, on Saturday at Warren Gateway along the Joe Louis Greenway. Whether you’re a budding designer, creative problem-solver or young entrepreneur, this is your chance to team up with pros from General Motors Global Design Center, get your hands dirty and bring your ideas for community spaces to life. Make some magic happen — Detroit style! 😎 Registration required. Free.
📖 Shuttle the little ones over to the historic Ford House on Saturday for Story Festival, a day of stories, music and outdoor fun in Grosse Pointe Shores! Explore the stunning grounds of Edsel and Eleanor Ford’s estate as special guests like Brenda Ban and Kelly Konieczki bring enchanting animal tales to life. Catch a lively set from award-winning children’s musician Jim Gill and soak up the magic of storytelling. Member discounts available. $10 adults, $7 children.
🌸 Celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month at the Detroit Public Library Main Branch with a screening of Disney’s “Encanto” on Saturday. The celebratory film highlights Colombian culture through an (admittedly) catchy soundtrack. Snacks will be served. And remember — we don’t talk about Bruno (no, no, no). 🎶 Registration required. Free.
🥳 Jam out with fellow #eastsiders on Saturday at E. Warrenfest, a seven-block community festival with live music, local vendors, food trucks and a kids zone. Pop into Next Chapter Books, The Detroit Pepper Co. and Terri’s Cakes for special celebrations, and wrap up the night at The Warren Cafe’s after-party. For extra fun, join the family-friendly bike ride at 2 p.m. with Jason Hall, founder of Slow Roll Detroit: Meet at 16835 E. Warren Ave. Free.
🏘️ Step inside some of Detroit’s best-kept historic homes at the University District Historic Tour on Saturday. Explore six beautiful houses filled with Art Deco charm, original hardwood floors, Pewabic and Flint Faience tile, stained-glass windows and more. You’ll stroll the neighborhood and likely to find renovation inspiration. $5 for kids ages 3-14, $30 advance, $35 day of event.
🎶 Enjoy a laid-back evening of great tunes on Saturday with Post Imperial Jazz Band at The Congregation. This ensemble delivers a rich, dynamic sound of finger-picking guitar, mandolin, accordion, clarinet, sax, percussion and tuba that you won’t want to miss. Sounds delightful! Free.
💃🏿 Vem dançar! Celebrate 13 years of Brazilian zouk in Detroit on Sunday at the Detroit Dance Loft with beats from DJ Power straight from New York City. Whether you’re into zouk or just love the energy, this is the night to feel the rhythm and connect with Detroit’s dance community. $20.
🎊 Grab your party shoes and head to Southwest Detroit on Saturday for Unidos en Cultura: Design Build Green Hub Grand Opening Celebration. Celebrate the new incubator space for minority contractors and get ready for Hispanic Heritage Month with a vibrant fiesta. Peek behind the scenes with interactive tours, and catch live demos showing off the coolest in design-build innovation. Registration required. Free.
🌺 Kiss summer goodbye on Sunday at Dahlia Fest at Detroit Abloom! Enjoy wood-fired pizza, kids’ activities and all the flower power you can handle as you groove along with steel drummer Demetrius Thomas, St. Clair Shores-based Festival Flutes and jazz drummer RJ Spangler. Free, $5 donation suggested.
🎉 Kick-off Hispanic Heritage Month at Fiesta House: A Tulum inspired Day Party on Sunday at TV Lounge. Known for its boho beach mood, stunning parties and laid-back luxury, Tulum’s style is all about sun, fun and good energy. Sunday’s party features tacos by Mama’s Kitchen, refreshing drinks and DJs spinning to keep you moving. 21+. $10.
Next week
🎈 Step into the glittering world of “Moulin Rouge! The Musical,” inspired by Baz Luhrmann’s iconic, over-the-top style, on Wednesday. To kick off Broadway in Detroit’s latest theatrical season, Luhrmann’s vision will come alive on stage at the Detroit Opera House through music, dance and pure spectacle right here in the Motor City. Catch a show through Oct. 6. American Sign Language-interpreted, audio-described and captioned performances available. Tickets start at $50.
🎩 Calling all city lovers! Join the Detroit Urbanist Meetup on Wednesday at the Charles McGee Legacy Park at the Shepherd arts center. Connect with fellow city planning nerds and swap ideas on how to make our city better to live in. Look for the organizer in the orange hat, explore the grounds, then head to recently reopened Cøllect beer bar together. Free.
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