Take an LGBTQ+ Detroit History Tour, Attend Arts, Beats and Eats in Royal Oak, Meet Your Secret Admirer
Love, art, intrigue and understanding. That’s right, bestie, Pride Source has all the info you need to have a moment to remember, full of all the drama necessary to perfectly cap off your brat summer. We know your notes app is packed with delightful anecdotes and witty commentary, so try your hand at stand-up. Not feeling that? Then find solace in the arms of another at an LGBTQ+ dating show. From learning queer history to pondering works of art, punctuate your late summer with a memory you won’t soon forget.
1. Immerse Yourself in Detroit LGBTQ+ History
City Tour Detroit centers often-overlooked voices with its new walking tour: "Detroit Comes Out." Over the course of two hours, follow the path of the courageous queer ancestors that came before you and acknowledge their impact on Detroit’s history. Tour creator Michael Boettcher said he hopes to promote deeper LGBTQ+ understanding. “As a member of the community, I wanted to understand our own special history,” he said. “I dug into the research and put together this downtown walking tour to showcase the locations of the first acknowledged gay and lesbian bars and Black queer spaces in Detroit, tell some of the stories of their denizens, describe the homophobic environment in which they opened and talk about how, by the early 1970s, Detroit and Michigan were actually ahead of the U.S. in terms of nondiscrimination policy.”
Aug. 24, 11 a.m.-1 p.m., Guardian Building (500 Griswold St., Suite 250, Detroit). Book a spot at citytourdetroit.com/tour/detroit-comes-out/.
2. Get Your Fill of Arts, Beats and Eats
The sights, sounds and smells of Arts, Beats and Eats are right around the corner: eye-catching works from the Corewell Health Juried Fine Art Show, about 50 food vendors from all over the state and toe-tappin' music from a variety of artists, including rock band Cheap Trick, R&B favorite Keith Sweat and Detroit native blues performer Thornetta Davis. Soaring Eagle’s Arts, Beats and Eats in downtown Royal Oak has something for everyone. With festivities running for four days, you have plenty of opportunities to satisfy your inner creative and explore the arts all in one place. Bring the whole family — a kids zone and carnival rides are sure to make this an event you don’t want to miss.
Aug. 30-Sept. 2, 11 a.m.-11 p.m. (9 p.m. on Monday), downtown Royal Oak (Eleven Mile Road and West Street). Learn more at artsbeatseats.com.
3. Sing Your Heart Out
With Chappell Roan topping the charts, you might be wondering how to get your own career as the next queer pop icon off the ground. Woodward Avenue Brewers’ Drag Karaoke, which welcomes all, is at least a start! And you're in good hands: those of Michigan queen and host Mimi Southwest, who will at least make you feel like you're slaying the house down. No cover at the door — just bring your voice.
Thursdays, 8 p.m.-12 a.m., Woodward Avenue Brewers (22646 Woodward Ave., Ferndale). Register at bit.ly/4dKzC6s.
4. Find The One at 'Secret Admirer'
Match Made’s “Secret Admirer LGBTQ+ Dating Show,” set for Aug. 22 at Bowlero in Royal Oak, is a meet-cute moment waiting to happen. A dramatic (and probably, welcome) departure from typical dating app culture, the show’s host introduces eligible mystery suitors to audience members, who get the chance to spend time with potential matches at private tables. Who knows where the night might take you — will you find a soulmate or just a great story for your next first date? Either way, this highly unique dating adventure is surely worth a shot.
Aug. 22, 7:30-10 p.m., Bowlero (4209 Coolidge Hwy., Royal Oak). Further information at bit.ly/3yF3i68.
5. Express Yourself at Depot Town Comedy Open Mic
Take your refined tastes to a space full of LGBTQ+ community members ready to laugh with you as you dive into stand-up. “It was my goal to make a safe space where anyone who wanted to try stand-up comedy could and would feel supported," said Lisa Green, host and creator of Depot Town Comedy Open Mic.
Green added that other shows just don’t have the same energy as queer ones. “Every time I’ve done a queer comedy show, the joy and sense of community from the audience is palpable and feels so much different than a typical comedy show,” Green said. “I encourage everyone in the LGBTQ+ community to embrace stand-up comedy as an expression of queer joy and support these emerging community spaces!”
Aug. 28, 7:30-10:30 p.m., 734 Brewing Company (15 E. Cross St., Ypsilanti). More details at bit.ly/4dp7Exh.
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