Summer is coming to a close, and with a new season always comes plenty new to eat in Orlando. This fall, expect new unorthodox pizza, bustling Asian food halls, Korean kitchens, classic-style diners and more.
Here are the 18 hottest new restaurants that have opened or are going to open around town this fall.
Osteria Ester 629 E. Central Blvd., Orlando Osteria Ester, an Italian-American concept from Good Salt Restaurant Group founders (and 2025 James Beard Award finalists for Outstanding Restaurateur) Jason and Sue Chin, is heading to Thornton Park. It will be a true neighborhood gathering place taking on a casual and communal feel when it opens mid-November. Michael Cooper, executive chef-partner of The Osprey (another Good Salt operation) will oversee kitchen operations at this restaurant named after his grandmother, and he has a very specific vision in mind. Credit: Good Salt Restaurant GroupPerla’s Pizza 959 W. Fairbanks Ave., Winter Park Nontraditional pizza house concept Perla’s Pizza is back in business at a new Winter Park location. Previously operating in Ivanhoe Village under chef Michael Collantes before dissolving just months after it opened in 2021, Perla’s is alive again on Fairbanks Avenue, in the previous site of the Winter Park Collective. This not-so-new concept was known for its slew of unconventional toppings and flavor combinations. Perla’s website still says “menu dropping soon,” but Collantes told Orlando Weekly in June 2024 that Perla’s flavors are likely to upset a few pizza traditionalists. Again. Credit: via Perla’s Pizza/Google MapsKungFu Kitchen 5320 S. Kirkman Road, Orlando KungFu Kitchen, the noodle and dumpling house by famed NYC chef Peter Song, opened its second Orlando location, this one on Kirkman Road. It’s serving up all the beloved steaming flavors the brand offers. Credit: via KungFu Kitchen/FacebookH Mart (and all its eateries) 7501 W. Colonial Drive, Orlando More than four years after the outpost was first teased, H Mart will now open Sept. 25. The location will offer specialty groceries, fresh produce and a dining hall featuring Asian (and Asian-fusion) vendors like U Chun, Jaws Tapokki, Chidon, Myung Ga, Paik’s Noodle and Oh K-Dog & Egg Toast. Additional restaurants onsite will include Coffee & Co, Dabang, Kung Fu Tea and an outpost of international bakery Paris Baguette. Credit: ShutterstockSelva Rosa Cocina & Bar 901 S. Orlando Ave., Winter Park Selva Rosa Cocina & Bar will be an “elevated-casual space where people can hang out, enjoy good drinks and have fun,” says Heidy Cuevas, a spokesperson for the restaurant. Selva Rosa will feature three distinct areas: the main dining room, a sushi bar and “El Patio Rosa.” The menu, Cuevas says, will blend Mexican, Latin American and Asian flavors to create a unique experience. Credit: photo by Faiyaz KaraThe Salty Donut 11585 Regency Village Drive, Orlando The Salty Donut will open its second location, this one at Vineland Pointe. The shop will offer year-round and seasonal donuts as well as baked goods and breakfast and lunch items. Credit: via Salty Donut/Google MapsKappo Tsan 11815 Glass House Lane, Orlando For nearly three years, David Tsan has been cutting fine figures at Norigami, his eight-seat sushi counter inside Winter Garden’s Plant Street Market. Now the 36-year-old Taiwan-born chef is partnering with James Beard Award-nominated restaurateurs Johnny and Jimmy Tung to open a full-fledged restaurant specializing in kappo-style dining later this year. It will present sushi and cooked dishes in both multicourse and à la carte formats. Its style will fall somewhere between the formal artistry of kaiseki and the casual spirit of an izakaya, allowing Tsan to showcase his culinary journey to guests. Credit: Courtesy photoBawarchi Biryanis 233 Bellagio Circle, Sanford The Sanford outpost of Indian cuisine spot Bawarchi Biryanis has opened in the former Indian Express space just off St. Johns Parkway. Credit: via Bawarchi Biryanis/FacebookMilkshake Factory 595 W. Church St., Orlando Look for MilkShake Factory, specializing in handspun milkshakes made with homemade ice cream and gourmet chocolate, to open this fall in the old Popcorn Junkie space on the ground floor of the City View Apartments. Credit: via MilkShake Factory/FacebookEl Cilantrillo 431 S. Chickasaw Trail, Orlando Local Puerto Rican chain El Cilantrillo will open a location this fall in the Rio Pinar Plaza. The 4,470-square-foot space will feature a tropical bar and live music nights. The restaurant is from the same owners as Turull’s Kitchen & Bar. Credit: via El Cilantrillo/FacebookHarlow Grove 186 S. Main St., Winter Garden Look for Harlow Grove, a two-story restaurant space billed as Winter Garden’s “premier full-service restaurant and lounge,” to open this fall in the Smith & Main complex. The restaurant will comprise a “dynamic” first-floor lounge, an upstairs dining room and a veranda terrace under the shade of a century-old oak tree. Credit: via Smith & Main/Google MapsBabbi Babbi Korean Kitchen 10799 Moss Park Road, Lake Nona Babbi Babbi Korean Kitchen will open its third area location later this year, this one in Lake Nona. It offers a comfortable dining environment and plenty of traditionally inspired Korean eats. Credit: BaBbi BaBbi Korean Kitchen/FacebookJohnny’s Diner 3335 Curry Ford Road, Orlando Paulie Krasniqi, son of the original Johnny’s Diner owner, Johnny Krasniqi, will open Johnny’s Diner in the former home of Daybreak Diner this October. Daybreak Diner abruptly closed last month after 27 years in business. Credit: via Johnny’s Diner/FacebookCowboy Curry 1110 E. Colonial Drive, Orlando After a series of pop-ups and trial runs inside Mills Market, Cowboy Curry, the Japanese beef curry house by Sorekara chef William Shen, is now open. The spot will specialize in scratch-made Japanese curry. Credit: via Mills MarketMazala Pijja 1155 Doss Ave., Orlando Mazala Pijja has opened inside the Laxmi Plaza along Doss Avenue near OBT. Expect pizza pies fusing Indian ingredients like tikka masala, palak paneer and smashed samosas. Credit: via Mazala Pijja/Google MapsBait & Hook 212 W. First St., Sanford The Bait & Hook has opened inside Henry’s Depot, offering everything from creative sushi rolls to “fresh catch” fish sandos to seared snapper collars. The operation, situated where The Current Seafood once stood, is by Mike Evans, the chef who runs Yugiri Ramen Project just a few stalls down in the same food hall. Credit: via Henry’s Depot/FacebookJAM Hot Chicken 426 W. Plant St., Winter Garden This fall, look for another JAM Hot Chicken to open in the former Hunger Street Tacos stall inside Plant Street Market in Winter Garden. Credit: JAM Hot Chicken/FacebookNeko San 8546 Palm Parkway, Orlando Before the year is done, chef Lewis Lin will open the doors to Neko San, a quick-style omakase concept and sake bar next door to Susuru in Lake Buena Vista. “Neko” is the Japanese word for “cat,” a name he chose in memory of the felines that once patrolled the area behind the restaurant, and who held a special place in the hearts of Susuru’s workers. It’ll offer budget-friendly omakases and more. Credit: Make Design Studios
Opening the show Cleveland, Ohio’s WHATEVER.. stormed the stage with a barrage of punk rock anthems. The band was active from 1991-1998 and reunited in 2023.The latest album Into Darker days has 12 new tracks with a few played Thursday night. The band is one of the Midwest’s most fierce punk acts around.
Drummer Marky Ramone is carrying the legacy of the Ramones as the band’s last surviving member, and doing so in fine fashion. He’s developed a new iteration of the iconic punk outfit that’s touring now, with a stop last night at the Beachland. Blasting through more than 30 greatest hits, the quartet thumped through crowd-pleasers like “I Wanna Be Sedated,” “Rockaway Beach,” “Beat on the Brat” and “Blitzkrieg Bop.”
Cleveland’s own Whatever, which reunited in 2023 after disbanding in 1998, opened and set the tone with some Midwest punk. Here’s all the action we caught.
Select events happening in the Detroit area. Be sure to check venue websites before all events for the latest information. See our online calendar for more ideas for things to do, or add your event: metrotimes.com/AddEvent.
Motor City Comedy Festival. Credit: Courtesy photo
Motor City Comedy Festival
Detroit’s biggest celebration of stand-up is back. The Motor City Comedy Festival is set to take over the stages of Detroit House of Comedy, Detroit Shipping Company, and The Independent Comedy Club, bringing together a powerhouse lineup of headliners, including Steph Tolev (hot off her new Netflix special Filth Queen), Sam Tallent (co-host of the Chubby Behemoth podcast), David Jolly, Luke Severeid, Deric Poston, Ehsan Ahmad, Mike Bonner, Coco, Miranda Meadows, Adam Fynke, Alan Peterson, Enrique Chacón, Timmy No Brakes, Drew Nickens, and Collin Sledge, and more. The festival was founded in 2017 and is the perfect outing for both die-hard stand-up fans or anyone just looking for a weekend full of laughs.
First annual Colors Wine Fest. Credit: Courtesy photo
Colors Wine Fest: A Celebration of Resilience, Culture and Community
This inaugural festival celebrates Michigan’s Black, brown, and women wine makers, including brands like Dai One Cellars, Le Grande Cuvee, Phyllis Wines, Grandeur Cru, Motu Viget, and more. The event is expected to be the last to be held at Featherstone Garden’s downtown urban farm, and is set to also include a DJ and a food truck.
From 3-7 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 20; Featherstone Garden, 600 Plum St., Detroit; eventbrite.com. Tickets are $49.87-$92.55.
Wildwood Amphitheater. Credit: Courtesy photo
Wildwood Amphitheater season finale
In recent years, Oakland County’s Wildwood Amphitheater has offered budget- and family-friendly programming. It’s going out with a bang for its 2025 season finale with a pair of classic rock tribute acts. In the Flesh is dedicated to Pink Floyd, while Serious Moonlight plays the music of David Bowie.
Starts at 7 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 20; Wildwood Amphitheater, 2700 Joslyn Ct, Orion Township; orion.events. Tickets start at $20.
Thai Street Food Festival of Michigan. Credit: Courtesy photo
Thai Street Food Festival of Michigan
This annual festival highlights metro Detroit’s Thai community, with authentic food, cultural performances including dance, and more. Organizers say this year, they are also hoping to find sponsorship support to continue their work amid federal budget cuts to cultural programs.
From 11 a.m.-4 p.m. on Sunday, Sept. 21; Buddhist Meditation Center, 8500 Plumbrook Rd., Sterling Heights; eventbrite.com. No cover, $3 for parking and ground maintenance.
Fall is almost here, which means a retreat indoors for the next few months. Fortunately, the Detroit area has plenty of art galleries and venues to keep you visually stimulated. (Did we forget anything? Let us know at tips@metrointhed.com and we’ll add online!)
Detroit Month of Design
Now celebrating its 15th year, Detroit Month of Design honors the Motor City’s title as the only UNESCO City of Design in the U.S. Exhibitions, installations, workshops, panel discussions, and other artistic events are cropping up around Detroit all month long. This year’s Detroit Month of Design includes work from more than 500 artists and 95 events.
Murals in the Market has returned to its original home in Eastern Market. Credit: Jesse Kassel
Murals in the Market
Returning to its original location in Eastern Market for its 10th anniversary, this popular street art festival will feature murals by local artists like Amy Fisher Price, Bakpak Durden, and Sheefy McFly. The event will also include panel talks, exhibitions, and a Block Party with DJs.
Step back in time to a festive village where jousting knights clash, belly dancers enchant, and turkey legs reign supreme. The Michigan Renaissance Festival turns Holly into HollyGrove — a whimsical world of fantasy and festivity where costumes are welcome, and fun is guaranteed.
From 9 a.m.–7 p.m., Saturdays and Sundays through Sept. 28 (plus Friday, Sept. 26); 12600 Dixie Hwy., Holly; michrenfest.com. Tickets are $18.95.
Eastern Market After Dark
This annual tradition sees the Eastern Market district transformed for one night with art installations, brand activations, open studios, DJs, food trucks, and more.
This annual art festival in Grand Rapids is worth the trip from Detroit. ArtPrize draws more than 800,000 visitors each year to the city for a global art competition that brings exhibitions and installations to galleries, restaurants, parks, and other venues.
From Thursday, Sept. 18-Saturday, Oct. 4 in Grand Rapids; artprize.org. No cover.
DIY Street Fair/Funky Ferndale Art Fair
This weekend, Ferndale offers two unique art festival experiences. The DIY Street Fair is the place to support indie makers, enjoy food from local vendors, and catch a diverse music lineup with bands like Michigan Rattlers, JR JR, and Agent Orange. If you’re in the mood for a fine art experience, the Funky Ferndale Art Fair is steps away, highlighting the work of over 140 juried contemporary artists.
From 6-11 p.m. on Friday, Sept. 19, 11 a.m.-11 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 20, and 11 a.m.- 9 p.m. on Sunday, Sept. 21; Nine Mile Road and Woodward Avenue; ferndalediy.com, funkyferndaleartfair.com. No cover.
Detroit Warehouse: Art and Design Fair
Presented by Artclvb, this three-day art fair showcases contemporary, affordable work by emerging and mid-career artists in the historic Boyer Campbell Building. The fair also includes a performance by Battle Elf at 2 p.m. on Saturday and a performance by Ackeem Salmon at 3 p.m. on Sunday.
From 6 p.m. on Friday, Sept. 19; noon-7 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 20; and noon-5 p.m. on Sunday, Sept. 21; Boyer Campbell Building, 6540 St. Antoine St., Detroit; artclvb.xyz. No cover.
Victorian Festival
A cherished tradition since 1989, Northville’s historic downtown comes alive for a charming celebration of local heritage, which includes a parade, live entertainment, vintage baseball, and traditional food.
From 5-9 p.m. Friday, Sept. 19, 10 a.m.-9 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 20, and 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 21; downtown Northville, Main St., Northville; northvillevictorianfestival.com. No cover.
Nostalgia Nationals and Car Show
Rev up your engines and step back in time at this high-octane happening. Held at the recently rechristened Darana Dragway (formerly Milan Dragway), this event celebrates the golden era of drag racing with vintage dragsters, classic muscle cars, and motorcycles thundering down the track as well as a classic car show, showcasing gleaming chrome and polished paint from the ’50s through the ’80s.
From noon-9 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 20; Darana Dragway, 10860 Plank Rd., Milan; milandragway.com. Tickets are $15-$60.
Season Fair
A new art fair in the renovated Michigan Central. The inaugural edition features Detroit-based artists Carole Harris, Alberte Tranberg, Lynn Bennett-Carpenter, and Jova Lynne.
From Thursday, Sept. 25-Sunday, Sept. 28; Michigan Central, 2001 15th St., Detroit; season-fair.com. Tickets are $24-$75.
Frankenmuth Fire Arts Festival
This two-day festival sits at the intersection of creativity and fire with glassblowing, blacksmithing, ceramics, fire dancers, smoked cocktails, and more. The event also features hands-on workshops, live demonstrations, vendors, and the Iron Pour — where molten iron is poured into molds created by festival-goers. A unique weekend of family-friendly fun.
From 2 p.m.-11 p.m. on Friday, Sept. 26-Saturday, Sept. 27; Heritage Park, 601 Weiss St., Frankenmuth; frankenmuthfire.org. No cover.
Detroit Institute of Arts
The Detroit Institute of Arts is gearing up for Contemporary Anishinaabe Art: A Continuation, its first major Native American art exhibition in over 30 years and one of the Midwest’s largest showcases of contemporary Indigenous art. Featuring around 90 pieces by more than 60 Anishinaabe artists from the Great Lakes region, the exhibition spans painting, sculpture, photography, beadwork, film, and more. Created in collaboration with Anishinaabe advisors, including members of the Ojibwe, Ottawa, and Potawatomi tribes, the show will be presented in both English and Anishnaabemowin.
Opens 10 a.m.-5 p.m. on Sunday, Sept. 28 (runs through April 5, 2026); Detroit Institute of Arts, 5200 Woodward Ave., Detroit; dia.org. No cover for residents of the tri-county area.
Holly Trevan (Match-e-be-nash-she-wish Band of Pottawatomi), “Zibé,” 2024. Credit: Courtesy photo
The Detroit Fiber Festival
Presented by the Peacock Room, this one-day event highlights the city’s textiles scene with vendors, live demonstrations, lectures, a keynote presentation on Detroit designer Adler Schnee, and more — all held inside the fabulous Fisher Building.
From 11 a.m.-5 p.m. on Sunday, Sept. 28; The Fisher Building, 3011 W. Grand Blvd., Detroit; eventbrite.com. No cover for festival, tickets are $10 for “Detroit’s Own Ruth Adler Schnee” presentation.
Michigan Fall Festival
It’s time to get into the spirit for the most wonderful time of the year in the Midwest. This family-friendly outdoor event welcomes the autumn season with traditional fall fun and festive Halloween activities like cider and doughnuts from Yates Cider Mill, kid’s games and activities, a petting zoo, bounce houses, and more.
From 10 a.m.-6 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 2 and 11 a.m.-5 p.m. on Sunday, Oct. 3; Canterbury Village, 2359 Joslyn Ct., Lake Orion; michiganfallfestival.com. Advance tickets start at $5 (veterans and active-duty members get in free with military ID, plus children under 5).
Color | Ink Studio
Seeds of Inspiration features new work by printmaker Celeste Roe, and the title of the show is quite apt: she literally took inspiration from seeds. “I am interested in their shapes and the potential they hold to unfold into something new,” she said in a statement, adding, “There is a certain mystery involved in making prints, in that all the work is created on the plate, not on the paper. It’s not until the paper is placed on the plate and run through the press that the image appears.” The exhibition features original hand-pulled prints that have not been previously shown.
Opening reception from 2-4:30 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 4 (runs through Oct. 31); Color | Ink Studio, 20919 John R Rd., Hazel Park; colorinkstudio.com. No cover.
Matéria Gallery
Outside in the Middle features work by Aleiya Lindsey Olu, Bilge Nur Saltik, Sophie Yan, and Aaron Blendowski, who have created an indoor installation.
Through Oct. 4; Matéria Gallery, 4725 16th St., Unit B, Detroit; materia-art.com. No cover.
Riverbank Arts
Flint Atelier: Creative Practice & Pedagogy highlights what organizers call “Flint’s cultural guardians”: leaders connected to the University of Michigan and Mott Community College that show “how artist-educators shape both their own creative practices and the cultural future of their students and communities.” The exhibition features works across mediums from artists including Guy Adamec, Jjenna Hupp Andrew, Rob Carter, Yazmin Dababneh, and others.
Runs through Oct. 24; Riverbank Arts, 400 North Saginaw St., Flint; riverbankarts.org. No cover.
A2 Artoberfest Fine Art Fair
This art fair features 100 jury-selected artists, hands-on workshops, youth exhibits, live music, food, and more.
From 10 a.m.-6 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 11 and 10 a.m.-4 p.m. on Sunday, Oct. 12; downtown Ann Arbor; a2artoberfest.org. No cover.
The Museum of Contemporary Art Detroit (MOCAD) is renovating for its 20th anniversary, including adding a window to invite the public into its gallery. Credit: Image courtesy of Ply+, Architects behind MOCAD’s renovations
MOCAD
Ahead of its 20th anniversary, the Museum of Contemporary Art Detroit (MOCAD) is closing its main building down for renovations, from infrastructure to its Woodward Avenue facade, including adding a window to invite the public into its gallery. In the meantime, MOCAD will continue to hold programming in its Mike Kelley Mobile Homestead including Heart Land, a solo exhibition by Detroit-based artist Mary-Ann Monforton that features sculptural works built around themes of wealth and power.
Opens Friday, Oct. 24; Mike Kelley Mobile Homestead at MOCAD, 4454 Woodward Ave., Detroit; mocadetroit.org. No cover.
Signal-Return Gallery
Printmaking typically involves creating an edition of identical works of art, but this exhibition leaves things to chance. Curated by Elizabeth Isakson-Dado, Chance Operations: Monoprints, Make Ready, Test Prints, and Artist Proofs features ten unique printmakers “celebrates the anti-edition, an exploration of the range printmaking can take when we eschew the perfect image and honor the parts of the process many artists try to hide — the states, the proofs, the mechanical press malfunctions, the fingerprints — and see the layers as a new composition, greater than a sum of their parts.”
On view through Dec. 19; Signal-Return Gallery, 9301 Kercheval Ave., #1, Detroit; signalreturnpress.org. No cover.
Norwest Gallery of Art
Curated by Oshun Williams, Rooted tells the story of the artist Joe Cazeno III. “Shaped by the soil of the ’80s, their culture, family, and the people who poured into them, these pieces honor where he comes from — the lessons, the love, the labor, and the legacy,” the gallery says.
Open from noon-6 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays, and noon-4 p.m. Sundays; Norwest Gallery of Art, 19556 Grand River Ave., Detroit; norwestgallery.com. Donations are encouraged.
David Klein Gallery
Prometheus, Absence of Light presentswork by Puerto Rican artist Emanuel Torres, a series of abstracted paintings that the artists says are inspired by light — or its apparent lack in our current moment in society.
Through Oct. 11; David Klein Gallery, 678 Livernois St., Ferndale; dkgallery.com. No cover.
Cranbrook Art Museum
Haas Brothers: Uncanny Valley highlights the whimsical, Seussian art of twin brothers Nikolai and Simon Haas. The exhibition includes works from the last 15 years while highlighting the brothers’ creative process. From Nov. 2-Feb. 22; Cranbrook Art Museum, 39221 Woodward Ave., Bloomfield Hills; cranbrookartmuseum.org. Tickets are $8-$12.
My Chemical Romance ended their Black Parade U.S. tour in style with a blowout show at Tampa’s Raymond James Stadium over the weekend. The show delivered it all to a teeming crowd of faithful acolytes: the emo hits, plenty of pageantry, an opening set from Evanescence (!), a mock execution (part of the storyline, ask a fan), snappy goth-marching band stagewear, the band wading into the audience and even a performance of forgotten b-side “My Way Home Is Through You.”
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On Friday night, over 5,000 hip-hop fans dressed in tuxedos and evening gowns attended Young Jeezy’s “Let’s Get It: Thug Motivation 101” tour at the Fox Theatre. The show was a celebration of the 20 year anniversary of Jeezy’s third studio album of the same name.
After performing with an orchestra for the first time three years ago in Atlanta, Jeezy decided he wanted to be the first hip-hop artist to tour with one and says he faced challenges early on from music industry peers who had preconceived notions of what a hip-hop show with an orchestra entailed.
“…when you hear [orchestra], you think opera,” Jeezy said in a press conference held after the show inside the basement of the Fox. “You think you’re going to hear the music, nobody’s going to perform and you’re going to sit there and look cool with a tuxedo on. So [the hard part] was convincing people it was a party, it’s still snow, I’m still pulling up.”
If Atlanta and Detroit are first cousins, then Young Jeezy and Detroit are blood brothers. The Atlanta native started his music career in the late ’90s before “trap music” had a name. He received an early push from Detroit native and BMF founder Big Meech. In 2013, Detroit supergroup Doughboyz Cashout signed onto Jeezy’s CTE Imprint. Although the business part of that relationship was short-lived, the brotherhood stayed and Jeezy has since recorded tracks with Payroll Giovanni, Icewear Vezzo, and 42 Dugg. And then there’s Jeezy’s catalog, nearly 40 albums and mixtapes of street narratives which Detroit hip-hop fans can never get enough of.
Detroit hip-hop’s MVP talks overcoming adversity, his biggest tracks, and picking up where he left off
“You don’t go to cities where everybody wants to show you love and make sure you’re good […] I don’t say I rock with Detroit because it’s something cool to say, but I have a real love for Detroit and I know they have a love for me,” he said.
After DJ Drama warmed the crowd up, Jezzy hit the stage a few ticks past 9 p.m. dressed in an aqua colored tuxedo performing “Standing Ovation” and worked his way through much of the Thug Motivation 101 album. The crowd was amped and full of energy right away. No one was seated and it seemed that everyone knew the lyrics to every song. Jeezy never took an actual intermission but did incorporate three five-minute interludes accompanied with video montages of various aspects of his life playing on a LCD screen. The second one built up tensions as it showed newspaper headlines of Jeezy’s many run-ins with police, court cases, divorce, and accusations. Once the video clips stopped, the emcee launched into classics “Trap Star,” “Go Crazy,” “Survivor,” and “Dey Know,” which took the energy of the show to a higher level.
After Jeezy spent an hour on material from Thug Motivation 101, he changed into jeans and a sleeveless T-shirt and gave the crowd 30 high-powered minutes performing other hits from his catalog including “Supa Freak,” “Loose My Mind,” “Corporate Thuggin,” and “All There.”
Jeezy says he plans on increasing the size of his orchestra to 101 pieces for several shows on the west coast this year, he’s also doing a residency in Las Vegas at Planet Hollywood starting in October, and he announced there will be a new project with DJ Drama.
“I just got inspired on the road to this tour and I just couldn’t contain myself,” he said, adding, “and I just went and made magic.”
For the fourth straight year, Michigan cannabis users are going to judge the best flower and live hash rosin in the state as part of Zalympix, a high-profile competition often called the “Grammys of Cannabis.”
I was lucky enough to snag one of the rosin kits, which featured 23 strains in glass jars. The rosin, a solventless concentrate known for its purity and potency, was produced by some of the top growers and brands in the state, offering consumers a chance to sample some of the highest-quality concentrates in Michigan’s legal market.
There were 200 flower and 200 rosin kits for $260 each, and most sold out within hours of hitting dispensary shelves. Some people waited in line hours before dispensaries opened to grab a kit.
Instead of relying on marketing and dispensary budtenders, participants get to compare strains side by side and decide for themselves what deserves to win. The categories are best overall, best looking, best tasting, heaviest hitting, gassiest, best terps, most unique, and best candy. Each person who bought a kit can judge those categories, except for best candy, which is judged by the industry.
Zalympix brings together top growers, brands, and connoisseurs from across the state. The competition is capped with a party at the Crofoot in Pontiac on Saturday night, and only people who bought a box are invited.
Zalympix began in California in 2021 and was created by Greenwolf, one of the nation’s most awarded dispensaries. The contest has since spread to Michigan and New York City, and Oklahoma plans to join the fun in 2026.
“We wanted to do this out of respect for Michigan’s name as a top weed destination in America,” Ty Decoeur, who handles sales and marketing for Exotic Matter, tells me. “Michigan is in the same category as Cali or New York.”
The contest has become “the Grammys of weed,” he says.
And that shows in the rosin box. I dabbed each strain a few times and was blown away by the flavor, consistency, and potency of most entries.
Exotic Matter also added a free disposable vape from its rosin collection. The vape hardware is impressive and delivers a smooth, strong hit. The strain — Purple Dank — tastes like sour grape candy, with a hint of sweet syrup. Exotic Matter plans to offer these in the near future.
With 23 strains in the kit, narrowing down my favorites was no easy task, but I’d gladly do it again and again. Each jar had its own character, with aromas ranging from sweet and fruity to bold and gassy. Most of the rosin had a wet, pliable texture and was easy to work with. The effects ran the spectrum, from gluing me to the couch to giving me boundless energy.
After too many dabs to count, these are my favorites for each category:
Kota’s Kush by Mi Loud. Credit: Steve Neavling
Best overall: Kota’s Kush by Mi Loud
This was the most difficult category to judge. A great rosin should look fresh, smell pungent, and deliver a flavorful dab.
While I love fruity and candy-forward flavors, dialed-in, fuel-soaked terps are harder to come by. Kota’s Kush has an aggressive, layered nose that opens up with burning rubber and diesel and then mellows into an earthy funk. After a dab, the delightfully acrid taste coats the tongue and throat.
And you can’t have a “best overall” strain unless the dabs deliver potency and depth. Kota’s Kush did just that, with stoney, sedate, and strong effects.
Blue Zoap by Eastside Alchemy. Credit: Steve Neavling
Best looking: Blue Zoap by Eastside Alchemy
When it comes to rosin, appearance matters. A wet, glistening texture or smooth, whipped consistency speaks to the freshness and quality.
None of the jars looked as promising as Eastside Alchemy’s Blue Zoap. When I popped the lid, the batter was light golden, wet, and buttery. It glistened in the light. The texture was smooth and pliable, making it easy to scoop.
The rosin melted clean without residue.
Blue Zoap didn’t just look good. It was one of the top overall jars, with a bold fruity, sweet, and floral aroma.
Sundae Driver by Wojo. Credit: Steve Neavling
Best Tasting: Sundae Driver by Wojo
Anyone who regularly dabs in Michigan likely knows Wojo, a Pinconning-based brand that has earned a reputation as a trailblazer in creating high-quality rosin.
I’ve had this strain by Wojo before, and it has always been one of my favorites. This jar was as good as I remembered it.
With flavors of sweet grapes and a rich cake frosting, this strain coats the palette and lingers long after the exhale. The taste is smooth, creamy, and fruity. It doesn’t get much better than this.
Wedding Pie by Freshy Fine. Credit: Steve Neavling
Heaviest Hitting: Wedding Pie by Freshy Fine
Let’s face it. Rosin can be flavorful and look perfect, but that doesn’t necessarily translate to effects.
After a few dabs of Freshy Fine’s Wedding Pie, an indica-leaning cross of Wedding Cake and Grape Pie, the high was immediate, heavy, and euphoric. It packed a punch and left me fully relaxed and couch-locked without a care.
This is the perfect strain for unwinding, as long as you don’t have to think. After a few dabs, I sunk into my favorite chair and listened to music.
Kota’s Kush by Mi Loud. Credit: Steve Neavling
Gassiest: Kota’s Kush by Mi Loud
This was the easiest category to judge. None of the entries came close to matching the fuel-drenched aroma of Kota’s Kush.
The jar shouts pure diesel with layers of earth, funk, and scorched rubber. The flavor is aggressive and coats the throat and tongue with a lingering sour, biting taste.
From the moment I opened the lid, the nose was loud and commanding, with a creamy, tart lime aroma followed by a floral sweetness and pungent forest pine.
The flavor was layered and dynamic, like tangy, sweet candy on the inhale and a deep forest-pine finish that coated the tongue and throat long after I finished my last dab.
The depth and layers of aroma and flavor made this a true standout and one of the best overall rosins.
Most Unique: Lantz by Hytek
It has been a long time since I was blown away by such a unique aroma and flavor. Hytek’s Lantz is so incredibly layered with very different and bright flavors, like candy, tang, and pine, with a strong floral finish that coats the throat.
It’s rare to find such a dynamic, shifting blend of flavors.
Hytek nailed this.
Grape Z by North Coast. Credit: Steve Neavling
Best Candy: Grape Z by North Coast
Candy flavors dominate the market, but they weren’t as represented in this year’s Zalympix box. And I think that’s a good thing because there are so many other wonderful flavors out there.
For me, the best candy flavor came down to Grape Z by North Coast and Plan Z by Peninsula Garden. Both were very sweet and tasted like childhood. While Plan Z, a phenotype of Rainbow Beltz 2.0, burst with tropical fruit and sweet and sour candy, the dabs were somewhat harsh.
Grape Z, on the other hand, was smoother and more layered. While not a bold flavor, it was a tasty blend of grape, bananas, and sour candy.
I would be remiss if I didn’t mention some of the other outstanding rosin. These are my honorable mentions, and I would definitely buy them again:
Space Guavaz by Element. Credit: Steve Neavling
Space Guavaz by Element
This has been one of my favorite rosin strains since Eastside Alchemy and Tip Top Crop collaborated on Space Guavaz, a sativa-leaning cross of Space Runtz and Guavaz 74.
Element did this strain justice. If you like energizing, daytime highs, Space Guavaz is a must-try. The effects are long-lasting, and the flavor is sweet and fruity, with obvious notes of guava.
Pink Starburst by Yetistash. Credit: Steve Neavling
Pink Starburst by Yetistash
The first thing I noticed when I opened this jar was the glistening, scoopable mound of rosin. The nose was fragrant, with layers of fruit, earth, and gas.
The taste translated well, and the dabs were smooth.
Tropicz by Lamb Chop Melts. Credit: Steve Neavling
Tropicz by Lamb Chop Melts
If you like refreshing, fruit-heavy flavors, Tropicz is a treat. A cross of White Gummy Bear and Pete’s Papaya, the aroma is a pungent combination of sweet and funky tropical fruit and candy terps on the backend.
The rosin was a little dry, but it wasn’t cakey. It didn’t stop the dabs from being smooth and flavorful. The effects were creative and uplifting.
ZOZ by Dat Canna. Credit: Steve Neavling
ZOZ by Dat Canna
From start to finish, ZOZ stands out. The rosin is glossy and wet, with a honey-blonde hue. The aroma is a sweet combination of fruit and funk. The flavor is nuanced and is best experienced at a low temperature.
The former Florida home of longtime famed actor Rosie O’Donnell is now in new hands after being sold for a hefty sum.
The waterfront mansion, built in 1923, is located at 43 Star Island Drive in Miami Beach. O’Donnell bought the property back in 1999 for 6.75 million before offloading it just four years later, according to Realtor.com.
It was purchased in 2003 by real estate investor David Frankel and his wife Linda Frankel. The Wall Street Journal reports the Frankels “substantially renovated” the house while living there.
Now, the house has sold once again to the billionaire founder of Rockstar Energy Drink, Russell Weiner.
The home offers 11,000 square feet, including eight bedrooms and 11 bathrooms. It also comes with a gourmet kitchen, bar, office, workshop and plenty of entertaining space. Outside, there’s a rooftop terrace, boathouse, 200 feet of waterfront and not one but two separate guesthouses.
Star Island has long been known for housing celebrities and high-profile individuals. Residents of the island have included Shaquille O’Neal, Emilio and Gloria Estefan, Enrique Iglesias, Rick Ross, Don Johnson and, famously, Sean “Diddy” Combs.
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After going on hiatus in 2018, the Southern Rock band Alabama Shakes went their own ways. Lead singer Brittany Howard focused on a solo career while bassist Zac Cockrell and guitarist Heath Fogg quietly did their own thing.
Starting as a bar band focusing on covers, they quickly established a name for themselves due to Howard’s soulful vocals. Breaking out with their 2012 hit single “Hold On,” the band was subsequently nominated for three Grammys for their freshman effort Boys and Girls.
Their sophomore effort, Sound and Color, was released in 2015 and won them a handful of Grammys.
Drummer Steve Johnson found himself in a morass of legal troubles in 2020; the outfit eventually took a break and focused on their solo efforts.
Earlier in 2025, they decided to get back together, sans Johnson, and hit the road again. Last night’s Jacobs Pavilion was a sold-out affair; fans were on their feet though it was a seated show. Howard, spotlit at center stage, was the star of the show. Cockrell and Fogg, standing in the shadows as bookends to Howard, were barely noticeable in the dim light.
Playing a twenty-two song set with a three-tune encore, Howard and company delivered to fans what they’ve vied for since 2020. Her vocals on tunes such as “Hold On,” “Over My Head,” and “Shoegaze” lit up the brisk Cleveland night.
Opening was Sam Evian, a songwriter whose band played a forty-five minute set.
Alt-rock legends Garbage kicked off their U.S. tour here in Orlando this week, which was great news! Not-so-great news: This is, in the band’s word, their final headlining U.S. tour. Garbage frontperson Shirley Manson laid it all on the line from the stage.
“We as a band have just decided that things are getting stickier and stickier for us to go out and do a long-ass tour, it just feels like, it’s difficult, and the forces of the world, basically it’s just really difficult for bands. Due to streaming and all that, it’s really fucked with the economics of the music industry, and it makes touring very difficult. And we are old, we are angry and tired.”
That business out of the way, the band played a set brimming with ferocity and energy that would put much-younger groups to shame. The setlist was a dizzying dive through the 1990s rockers’ full discography, including “Not My Idea,” “Hold,” “Parade,” “How I Met God” and “Only Happy When It Rains.”
And hopefully you got there early enough to see young rockers Starcrawler, who really tore the house down.
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Tele and the Ghost of Our Lord celebrated the release of their new, satisfyingly twangy musical zig-zag, The Jukebox Has Gone Sentient, at Will’s Pub (their musical home) with a release show featuring Brett Staska, Billy Ruben & the Mind Readers, and Swamp Blossom over the weekend.
Credit: by Jim LeathermanCredit: by Jim LeathermanCredit: by Jim LeathermanCredit: by Jim LeathermanCredit: by Jim LeathermanCredit: by Jim LeathermanCredit: by Jim LeathermanCredit: by Jim LeathermanCredit: by Jim LeathermanCredit: by Jim LeathermanCredit: by Jim LeathermanCredit: by Jim LeathermanCredit: by Jim LeathermanCredit: by Jim LeathermanCredit: by Jim LeathermanCredit: by Jim LeathermanCredit: by Jim LeathermanCredit: by Jim LeathermanCredit: by Jim LeathermanCredit: by Jim Leatherman
Tele and the Ghost of Our Lord celebrated the release of their new, satisfyingly twangy musical zig-zag, The Jukebox Has Gone Sentient, at Will’s Pub (their musical home) with a release show featuring Brett Staska, Billy Ruben & the Mind Readers, and Swamp Blossom over the weekend.
Credit: by Jim LeathermanCredit: by Jim LeathermanCredit: by Jim LeathermanCredit: by Jim LeathermanCredit: by Jim LeathermanCredit: by Jim LeathermanCredit: by Jim LeathermanCredit: by Jim LeathermanCredit: by Jim LeathermanCredit: by Jim LeathermanCredit: by Jim LeathermanCredit: by Jim LeathermanCredit: by Jim LeathermanCredit: by Jim LeathermanCredit: by Jim LeathermanCredit: by Jim LeathermanCredit: by Jim LeathermanCredit: by Jim LeathermanCredit: by Jim LeathermanCredit: by Jim Leatherman