The Metro Events Guide: Where to spend Mother’s Day Weekend in Detroit

This week, we’ve got some suggestions for Mother’s Day celebrations of all sorts, from floral arrangements to drag bingo.

Plus, musical milestones, film festivals and chill vibes. Read on to learn more.

Mother’s Day specials

Treat the moms in your life to a rich, boozy brunch with a soulful soundtrack at FRAMEbar in Hazel Park. The Mother’s Day Soul Sunday Brunch features soul food like French toast and fried snapper curated by Vinyl Tastings, as well as soul music curated by WDET’s own Ryan Patrick Hooper (host of In The Groove weekdays noon to 3 p.m.). Reservations are strongly recommended and are available for most times between 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. A $25 deposit per person is required. For more information, visit framehazelpark.com.

For something on the sassier side, check out Mother’s Day Divas & Duets Drag Bingo on Sunday, May 12 at Detroit Shipping Company. DJ Daria will be spinning tunes as guests arrive, and Kourtney Charles will host with performances by Roberta Charles, Infestasia, Krista Darrows, Emma Sapphire and Valentina Rosé. Tickets are $25 and include admission, a welcome beverage and a donation to the Ruth Ellis Center. Doors open at 1:30 p.m. and the show starts at 2 p.m. For more information, visit their Eventbrite. 

Or for something more low-key, enjoy free snacks and refreshments at Pewabic Pottery on Saturday, May 11 between 11 a.m. and 5 p.m. Guests will receive an elegant, complimentary floral arrangement by Jaro Farm with the purchase of a vase while supplies last. This event is free and open to the public. For more information, visit pewabic.org. 

Musical milestones

This weekend, Spot Lite is celebrating three years of being open in Detroit. On Friday, May 10 and Saturday, May 11 from 6 p.m. to 2 a.m., they’ll have an all-star lineup of Detroit DJs performing live, as well as drink specials and prizes for guests. Performers include Dez Andrés, Rimarkable, Delano Smith, Stacey Hotwaxx Hale and WDET’s own Shigeto (host of The New Music Show Saturdays 8–10 p.m.), among many more. Tickets are $5 in advance or $10 at the door, and both nights are 21+. For more information, visit their Facebook event.

Plus, Detroit ambient group Infinite River is throwing a free record release party for their third album, Tabula Rasa, on Saturday, May 11 at Third Man Records. Clark Warner and WDET’s own Liz Warner (host of Alternate Take Thursdays 8–10 p.m.) will be DJing the event before the band takes the stage. Doors open at 7:30 and the concert starts at 8:30 p.m. Limited tickets remain. For more information, visit their Eventbrite.

Detroit punk band Extra Arms is also throwing a free record release party for their new LP, Radar, on Friday, May 10 at The Lexington in Detroit. Special guests include Norcos y Horchata and DJ Alex Kish. Doors open at 8 p.m. For more information, visit their Instagram. 

Film fests

On Sunday, May 12, the Found Footage Festival is coming to the Planet Ant Black Box in Hamtramck. The Onion’s Joe Pickett and the Late Show’s Nick Prueher will share some of their favorite unintentionally hilarious VHS tapes, including rare footage from an ’80s video dating service, a questionable striptease video called “Males In Motion,” and a mysterious New Age seminar called “Elimination: The First Step.” Doors open at 6 p.m. and the show starts at 7 p.m. Tickets are $17 in advance or $27 at the door. For more information, visit their Eventbrite.

Read more: Nick Prueher talks Found Footage Fest on The Metro »

Then, the Arab American National Museum’s annual Arab Film Festival returns from Wednesday, May 15 through Sunday, May 19. AFF features new and critically acclaimed Arabic-language movies and art-films, many of which are unlikely to reach traditional American commercial theaters otherwise. This is a safe space for Arab and Arab American artists and their stories. To see this year’s lineup and learn more, visit arabamericanmuseum.org.

Animated opera

Detroit Opera’s latest production, “The Cunning Little Vixen,” opens on Saturday, May 11. In this cinematic modern fable, human and animal worlds collide as a clever vixen tries to outwit her captors. The performers are transformed into forest creatures through real-time projections, inspired by the fable’s comic strip origins. The show starts at 7:30 p.m., preceded by a complimentary Opera Talk with the show’s producers. This performance is suitable for ages 6+. For more information, visit detroitopera.org.

Read more: Conductor Roberto Kalb and Soprano Mané Galoyan join The Metro »

Chill vibes

On Saturday, May 11, enjoy an evening of peaceful vibrations and live music at Moondog Café in Detroit. Ian Fink will be performing a solo piano set, and SALĀKASTAR will be performing an experimental All Blue set. Ambient tunes will be spinning from 6-11 p.m. with vegan snacks and tea available. Admission is pick-your-price, with a suggested donation of $10 to $25. For more information, visit Moondog Café on Instagram.