We are officially one month into the United Auto Workers (UAW) strike. In a surprising move, the union expanded the strike to include workers at a Ford Motor Company Kentucky truck plant. Although the UAW strike is the big topic in labor news, it’s not the only one. We published a strike meter in this week’s Detour newsletter to help you keep track of local strikes and union actions. If you’re a striking autoworker or have questions about strikes, unions or something happening at your job, text “STRIKE?” to 67485, and an Outlier Media reporter will investigate and send you the answer. You can also reach out to us online. 

Keep reading for your weekly news roundup. Have more to talk about? Email me at alex@outliermedia.org. 

What’s happening

🐳 It was 2021 when Phil Simpson’s signature “Smiling Faces” covered a longtime whale mural on the side of downtown’s Broderick Tower and divided Detroit. Simpson’s piece was a temporary ad commissioned by Rocket Mortgage. Well, a storm back in August destroyed the ad and resurfaced artist Robert Wyland’s “Whaling Wall,” to the cheers of some locals. That was short-lived — there’s a new ad in place, this time for Lunchables. Consider this the week we realized Lunchables still exist. (Detroit Free Press, Metro Times)

⛸️ Monroe Street Midway announced the return of its winter activities. Starting Nov. 9, Decked Out Detroit is bringing the chilly fun back to downtown. Visitors can take a ride down an 80-foot arctic slide, play a game of puck-putt (think putt-putt golf but with hockey sticks) and bump around in winter bumper cars. The ice skating rink at Campus Martius will also reopen to the public on Nov. 18, the day after the tree lighting ceremony. (WXYZ, Decked Out Detroit, Downtown Detroit Partnership)

🥙 AlTayeb is known and loved for its Middle Eastern brunch menu at both its Dearborn and Garden City locations, so much so that the Dearborn outpost landed on the New York Times’ America’s Favorite Restaurants list in 2021. Now, the Garden City flagship is expanding its menu to include dinner. The limited menu includes salads, appetizers, sandwiches and vegetarian-friendly dishes. (New York Times, Metro Times)

More to talk about

📁 Metro Times called out the City of Detroit for its slow response for Freedom of Information Act requests (and other journalists commiserated), in violation of state law. (Metro Times, X)

🍴 The chef behind Barda is opening a new Argentine bar and restaurant next month in Core City. (Eater)

💄 The Lip Bar has announced the grand opening date for its new flagship location in downtown Detroit. See you next Friday for free samples and champagne. (The Lip Bar)

🎉 Looking to get out of the house? There’s plenty happening around Detroit this weekend. (Outlier)

Before you go, more from Outlier Media

Alex (she/her) believes that the best journalism is done by members of the community being served, and the stories should always reflect those people. When it comes to Detroit, the city is her playground, but her favorite place to go is the Detroit Institute of Arts.