The Metro Events Guide: More Pride celebrations; Michigan Fashion Week; Iron Chef Detroit and more

For those who missed Ferndale Pride last week, there are several opportunities this weekend to celebrate Pride Month, including the state’s largest Pride celebration, the Motor City Pride Festival.

Also, the return of Michigan Fashion Week, Tec-Troit Electronic Music Festival and a conversation with James Beard Foundation Award Finalist Katherine Miller at Eastern Market. Read on to learn more.

Michigan Fashion Week

Michigan Fashion Week returns to Detroit for its 12th year this week through Saturday, June 8. Hundreds of designers and vendors from around the world will present their latest works at the Godfrey Hotel, 1401 Michigan Ave., Detroit. Streetwear Showcases will take place at 5 p.m. and 7 p.m. on Friday while the High Fashion Showcases will take place at 3 p.m. and 6 p.m. on Saturday. To learn more, visit michiganfashionweek.com.

Tec-Troit

Founded in 2011 by Southwest native Raul Rocha (a.k.a. DJ Roach), Tec-Troit is a free, 3-day, all-ages Techno and house music festival featuring a completely local lineup. This year’s festival takes place Friday, June 7 through Sunday, June 9 at The Container Globe in Detroit, with performers like Eddie Fowlkes, DJ Godfather, DJ 3000 and WDET’s own Waajeed (host of The Boulevard, Wednesdays 8-10 p.m.). The festival also features workshops and lectures from prominent Detroit musicians. For more information, visit tectroit.com. 

Read more: Tec-troit founder DJ Roach joins The Boulevard ahead of festival weekend »

Pride

The Detroit Film Theatre inside the Detroit Institute of Arts will present “I’ll Be Your Mirror: Queer Documentary Shorts,” curated by filmmaker Adam Baran, at 7 p.m. Thursday, June 6. Drawn from films produced during the COVID-19 pandemic, “I’ll Be Your Mirror” assembles an intergenerational portrait of queer lives in modern times. General admission tickets are $10.50, or $8.50 for seniors, students and DIA members. Visit dia.org/events for more information.

Best Case Scenario Comedy will present a special Pride Month variety showcase and burlesque show at 7:30 p.m. Friday, June 7, at The Congregation, 9321 Rosa Parks Blvd., Detroit. The 18+ show will feature host and producer Sarah Lynn, comedians Scott Sviland, Hannah Belmont and Joe Aasim; and drag/burlesque performers Kingston Blue, Bujjx and Marz. Doors open at 7 p.m. and tickets are $20 in advance online or $25 at the door. Purchase tickets and find more information at eventbrite.com.

The Hawk in Farmington Hills is hosting several events on Friday in celebration of Pride Month. Friday morning, the Black Box Theatre at The Hawk will host Rock Around the Hawk, a free mini-music festival for kids ages 18 months to 5 years old, from 10 to 11:30 a.m. Immediately after the event at 11:30 a.m., the Theatre will host “Take Pride in Reading,” a free inclusive drag queen story time featuring stories of inclusivity and kindness. Later in the day, Black Box will host an evening of drag performances beginning at 7 p.m. Tickets are $15 online or $20 at the door. More information at fhgov.com/activitiesguide.

Detroit’s highly-anticipated Motor City Pride Festival and parade will return to Hart Plaza this Saturday and Sunday, June 8-9, featuring a variety of live performances, vendors and food trucks, activities for kids and much more. Considered Michigan’s largest Pride celebration, the event is entirely volunteer-run, with a mission of spreading awareness about LGBTQ issues through pride. The Pride parade will kick off at noon on Sunday, beginning at the corner of Griswold and Fort streets. For more information, visit motorcitypride.org.

Community Conversations, Iron Chef at Eastern Market

Eastern Market will host James Beard Foundation Award Finalist Katherine Miller for this month’s Community Conversations, to discuss her new book “At the Table: The Chef’s Guide to Advocacy.” The event, moderated by local chef and activist Amanda Saab, will take place at 5 p.m. Monday, June 10 in the Shed 5 Commons.

In Miller’s book, she explores ways for chefs to harness their unique platforms and perspectives to advocate for positive change on vital issues impacting the food world and beyond. During the Community Conversations event, Miller will share insights on how culinary professionals can get involved and make a difference through their work.

Miller works with advocacy groups, corporations, nonprofits, policymakers, and philanthropic funders worldwide to make tangible progress on some of the world’s most pressing issues, according to her website. She also spent several years as the James Beard Foundation’s vice president of impact, working with leaders in the food system to create innovative programs addressing gender equity, sustainability, food waste, and child nutrition.

Registration is required due to limited capacity; free copies of her book will be available for the first 50 attendees. Visit the event page on eventbrite.com for more details and to register online.

Later in the week, Cass Community Social Services will host its inaugural Iron Chef Detroit competition, featuring a matchup between SheWolf Executive Chef Anthony Lombardo and Shanel DeWalt, culinary director of Make Food Not Waste.

Judging the competition will be Detroit Free Press dining and restaurant critic Lyndsay C. Green, Chef-owner of the James Beard-nominated Saffron De Twah Omar Anani, Documentary filmmaker & former restaurant critic Mark Kurlyandchik and Detroit News restaurant critic and reporter Melody Baetens.

Iron Chef Detroit will take place from 6 to 9 p.m. Thursday, June 13, in Eastern Market’s Shed 5, 2810 Russell St., Detroit. Tickets are $50 in advance or $60 at the door. For more information or to purchase tickets, visit ironchefdetroit.com.