What to do this week in Detroit: Carole King musical, Detroit Cobras, superhero book club and more

From “Beautiful: the Carole King Musical.” Via Facebook

And just like that, it’s 2022. After two full years of uncertainty, with no end in sight, I am boycotting the “New Year’s Resolution” tradition. It seems unnecessary and even implausible to set expectations for myself this year. At this point, surviving 2020-21 is a feat we should all be proud of. No need to add more pressure to the existential dread we’re all feeling. 

It’s not all bad, and it certainly doesn’t mean we should just give up on enjoying and improving ourselves or accomplishing goals in 2022. Quite the opposite. Life is short and there is no time like the present. Local entrepreneur and health coach Stephanie Popso says, “As the past couple years have shown us, there is no sure way to know what any given year will bring, but there IS a way to create habits and rituals that bring us balance & direction every single day.” 

Popso – a Detour Keep Detroit Local partner – is on year six of publishing her Empowered Life Planner, a cute little book bound in Michigan that serves as a day planner, gratitude journal and goal-setting tool. It’s not too late to get on track, and you can get 10% off using the code detourdetroit, so why not?! 

As we navigate this new year with no less certainty than the last, we should challenge ourselves to try new things and seek out new experiences. Entrepreneurs, artists, musicians and community organizers have become masters of the pivot. This week there is an abundance of great music in the city, opportunities to learn new skills, get back in fighting shape, build community through books and more. 

While I may be hesitant to commit to New Year’s Resolutions, I can say with confidence that seeking out growth and new experiences is on my invisible list of hypothetical goals. If you’re with me, read on.

Wednesday and Thursday

🎭  Carole King wrote pop classics for the biggest acts in music, and had her own life-changing, chart-busting success with “Tapestry.” The Broadway musical “Beautiful: the Carole King Musical,” now showing at The Fisher Theatre, takes the audience back to where it all began. Featuring over two dozen pop classics, including “You’ve Got a Friend,” “One Fine Day,” “Up on the Roof,” “You’ve Lost That Lovin’ Feeling,” “Will You Love Me Tomorrow” and Natural Woman,” this crowd-pleasing international phenomenon is filled with the songs you remember—and the story you’ll never forget. Jan. 5-9, $39+, info.

💻 If you’ve ever considered a career change, getting into coding, or just wondered what the folks over at Grand Circus are all about, every other Wednesday they host a virtual Bootcamp Info Session. Learn more about their bootcamp training model, what they look for in candidates, financing, job assistance and career opportunities and more. Jan. 5, free, info.

🧠 Why not brush up on your fun facts and do the Trivia Tour of 2022? Now say that five times fast. On Wednesdays you can show off your skills at both Eastern Market Brewing Co. and Firebird Tavern. Once you’re warmed up, head to the Congregation on Thursdays for more trivia action. Every Wednesday and Thursday, free.

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This weekend

🎥 The Ann Arbor Film Festival is America’s longest running experimental film festival, and there are still tickets are available for the Ann Arbor Film Festival Touring Program. The event will showcase international short films from festival winners at The Film Lab in Hamtramck. The Film Lab is a swanky little bar you must know about! They even feature delicious film-themed cocktails for each showing. Jan. 7, $12, info.

🎙 Calling all Billy Joel fans: The Detroit Symphony Orchestra presents “The Music of Billy Joel” all weekend long. Handpicked by Joel to star in the Broadway musical “Movin’ Out,” Michael Cavanaugh performs the show, featuring hits like “My Life,” “Movin’ Out,” “Just The Way You Are” and “River Of Dreams.” Jan. 7-9, $19+, info.

🎸 If you’ve never seen the legendary Detroit Cobras, now is your chance. Blurring the lines between rock and soul, the Cobras are THE go-to party band for those in the know. Catch singer Rachel Nagy and guitarist Mary Ramirez at El Club and prepare to be wowed by these bad ass babes as you kick off the first weekend of the new year in style. Jan. 7, $20+, info 

🎨 Check out a new exhibit from the Progressive Art Studio Collective, dedicated to supporting artists with developmental disabilities and mental health issues. Art is a Human Right will be showing at the Swords into Plowshares Peace Center and Gallery on Fridays and Saturdays through March. Jan. 7-March 20, free, info.

💪🏼 ‘Tis the season to get back in shape! Hit the ground running with a free weekly bootcamp at Jabs Gym in Eastern Market. Hosted by Coach Jordan, this weekly workout is sure to make you break a sweat and enjoy all of the mental and physical health benefits of a group fitness class. Jan. 8, free, info.

🖼 This Saturday, check out the new Hamtramck art gallery, Disco Walls, curated by Julie Sailus. Check out the space and meet this month’s featured artist, Troy Carlton. His paintings will be on display along with live music from RobBanks. Jan. 8, free, info.

🦅 Looking to start a new hobby in 2022? Why not get bundled up and check out the Intro to Winter Birding with the Detroit Riverfront and the Detroit Audubon Society this Sunday at Valade Park. After the walk, grab a hot chocolate or roast a s’more around the fires at Valade Park as part of Winter at Valade! Jan. 9, free, info.

📚 Vault of Midnight is creating a space for all comic lovers to get together and stir up some spicy discourse over some of our favorite books. This Sunday at Kiesling, they will be discussing the December Book of the Month, “Nubia: Real One” by L. L. McKinney with art by Robyn Smith. The book is a snapshot of life as a young Black woman in America, set to the beat of a superhero coming-of-age tale. Jan. 9, free, info.

🎬​​Filmed in the coal country of West Virginia, “Matewan” celebrates labor organizing in the context of a 1920s work stoppage. A labor union organizer comes to an embattled mining community brutally and violently dominated and harassed by the mining company. The Metro Detroit Democratic Socialists of America are hosting a screening of the film followed by a discussion on Zoom this Sunday. Jan. 9, free, info.