Keener 13

Today in History:

• 1844 – Samuel F.B. Morse gave the first public demonstration of his telegraph by sending a message from the Supreme Court Chamber in the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C. to the B&O Railroad “outer depot” (now the B&O Railroad Museum) in Baltimore. The famous message was, “What hath God wrought?”
• 1883 – After 14 years of construction, the Brooklyn Bridge opened, connecting the New York City boroughs of Manhattan and Brooklyn by spanning the East River.
• 1956 – At Chess Studios in Chicago, Bo Diddley recorded his composition “Who Do You Love?”
• 1969 – The Guess Who made their U.S. television debut, lip-syncing “These Eyes” and “Laughing,” on ABC’s “American Bandstand.”
• 1969 – The Who peaked at No. 19 on the Billboard Hot 100 Singles Chart with “Pinball Wizard,” their fourth Top 40 single in the U.S.
• 1976 – France and Britain began trans-Atlantic Concorde service to Washington, DC. The supersonic transport also flew from London to New York during its 27 years of commercial operation, flying these routes at record speeds, in less than half the time of other airliners. The Concorde’s last flight was on November 26, 2003.
• 1978 – Van Halen’s self-titled debut album was certified gold by the RIAA. It later went on to sell 10 million copies in the U.S.
• 1986 – Davy Jones, Mickey Dolenz, and Peter Tork reunited as the Monkees and began a successful tour at the Concord Hotel, in the Catskill Mountains of New York state.
• 1989 – “Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade,” starring Harrison Ford, Sean Connery, Alison Doody, John Rhys-Davies, and River Phoenix, opened in U.S. and Canadian movie theaters.
• 1991 – After a limited release in major cities (starting with Los Angeles), Madonna’s concert documentary Truth or Dare opened in theaters.

Today’s Birthdays:

• Queen Victoria was born in 1819. (d. 1901) – Queen of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland from 1837 until her death; the Victorian era is named after her.
• Tommy Chong is 86 – Born in 1936. Canadian-American comedian, actor, and musician best known as half of the comedy duo Cheech & Chong.
• Bob Dylan is 86 – Born in 1941. Influential American singer-songwriter, Nobel laureate in literature, known for songs like “Blowin’ in the Wind” and “Like a Rolling Stone.”
• Patti LaBelle is 81 – Born in 1944. American singer and actress, often called the “Godmother of Soul.”
• Priscilla Presley is 80 – Born in 1945. American actress and businesswoman, former wife of Elvis Presley, and co-founder of Elvis Presley Enterprises.
• Alfred Molina is 72 – Born in 1953. English actor known for roles in Spider-Man 2, Frida, and Raiders of the Lost Ark.
• Rosanne Cash is 70 – Born in 1955. American singer-songwriter and author, daughter of country legend Johnny Cash.

Happening in Metro Detroit:

District 4 Shred Day at 5th Precinct Parking Lot, Detroit, 10:00 AM – 2:00 PM – Safely dispose of confidential documents during this community shredding event. https://detroitmi.gov/events/district-4-shred-day

Community Hours at Mobility Town: Out of Our Cars and Into the World at Newlab at Michigan Central, Detroit, 12:00 PM – 5:00 PM – Explore interactive exhibits on urban mobility and technology. https://michigancentral.com/events/

African Liberation Weekend at Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History, Detroit, All Day – Celebrate African heritage with music, panel discussions, and family activities. https://www.thewright.org/african-liberation-weekend

Kensington Art Fair at Kensington Metropark, Milford, 10:00 AM – 6:00 PM – Browse artworks from local artists in a scenic outdoor setting. https://www.kensingtonartfair.com/

Lincoln Street Art Park at 5962 Lincoln Street, Detroit, Open All Day – Visit this outdoor sculpture garden featuring murals and installations made from salvaged materials. https://www.facebook.com/lincolnstreetartpark/

Detroit Institute of Arts (DIA) at 5200 Woodward Ave, Detroit, 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM – Residents of Wayne, Oakland, and Macomb counties enjoy free admission; currently featuring the 88th Annual Detroit Public Schools Community District Student Art Exhibition. https://dia.org/events/exhibitions/88th-annual-detroit-public-schools-community-district-student-art-exhibition

Super Smash Bros Tournament at Detroit Public Library Main Branch, Detroit, 2:00 PM – Compete in or watch this gaming tournament open to the public. https://www.eventbrite.com/e/super-smash-bros-tournment-tickets-1273011895849

This Week on Keener in 1970:

What’s happening:

Billy Joel has canceled all upcoming concerts, including a major stadium tour, due to a brain condition called normal pressure hydrocephalus, which has affected his hearing, vision, and balance. The 76-year-old singer is undergoing physical therapy and says he’s “sincerely sorry” to disappoint fans. More. Continue reading “Keener Today – May 23” →

Did You Know:

The Stanley Hotel — famous for inspiring Stephen King’s The Shining — is set to undergo a change in management as Sage Hospitality Group partners with the Colorado Educational and Cultural Facilities Authority to oversee the historic property. The collaboration aims to preserve the landmark’s legacy while generating $45 million over 36 years to support cultural initiatives. Continue reading “Keener Today – May 22” →

Did You Know:

Memory can start to decline as early as your 30s, but simple, science-backed techniques can help keep your mind sharp. From paying closer attention and saying things out loud to creating associations and challenging your brain daily, there are effective ways to strengthen recall and boost long-term memory. Here are some more helpful tips. Continue reading “Keener Today – May 21” →

Did You Know:

How your new ID can make the Airport TSA Line move faster: Some U.S. airports now use Credential Authentication Technology (CAT), allowing travelers to pass through TSA checkpoints with just a photo ID instead of a boarding pass. While this streamlines security, you’ll still need your boarding pass at the gate since airlines don’t have access to CAT systems. https://dailypassport.com/you-no-longer-have-to-show-tsa-your-boarding-pass-at-some-airports/ Continue reading “Keener Today – May 20” →

Did you know:

Zak Starkey, is out again. The Who proves once more that they are the most dysfunctional family in Rock and Role, firing their longtime drummer and son of Ringo Starr for a second time, just two weeks after being reinstated by the band. Though asked to claim he quit voluntarily, Starkey refused, saying he would never walk away from a band he loves. Pete Townshend confirmed the change via Instagram, announcing Scott Devours as the new drummer for The Who’s farewell tour. Continue reading “Keener Today – May 19” →

Forget your algorithmically curated playlists, your anodyne audio streams. Let’s rewind the psychic tape to a time when the WKNR Music Guide chronicled something raw, something immediate, something that felt like the whole damn world was shifting on its axis. The week ending May 16, 1966 wasn’t just a list of songs; it was a cultural seismograph. Continue reading “Keener Today – May 18” →

The Detroit Public Schools will invest over $32 million in major upgrades, including turning the long-abandoned Cooley High into a community sports complex and moving Davis Aerospace High back to Detroit City Airport. Projects wrap by 2027. The move back to City Airport will expand the aviation and engineering curriculum to include hands-on training and double the school’s enrollment to 200 students. The project is spearheaded by Launched the Detroit Public Schools Community District Foundation, Michigan’s largest public school foundation. For more information, visit dpscdfoundation.org. Continue reading “Keener Today – May 15” →

Rugs for men are cool again: Toupees, now called “hair systems,” are making a comeback among millennial men due to advancements in materials and craftsmanship. Social media platforms showcase the transformative power of hair systems, leading to an increase in demand for non-surgical hair loss solutions. While some men choose to keep their hair systems a secret, others advocate for transparency, viewing them as a confidence-boosting accessory akin to hair extensions for women
More: https://www.gq.com/story/toupee-comeback-trend-hair-system Continue reading “Keener Today – May 14” →

Belle Isle’s 100-year-old fountain is closing until 2027 for $6 million in renovations, starting this week. The upgrades include removing the lower section’s marble and fixing its 510 foot lower bowl. Federal pandemic relief funds will pay for the work.If you spend lots of WiFi tine at local Detroit coffee shops, you may soon be rethinking your habit. Some bistros are limiting laptop use to reduce remote work and boost customer turnover. Owners say it protects their business and encourages more face to face interaction. Continue reading “Keener Today – May 13” →

Did you know?

The Detroit Times, founded in 1871, was a prominent daily newspaper in the Motor City. Known for its investigative journalism and coverage of local events, it quickly became a staple for Detroit’s working-class readers. After a long run, it merged with the Detroit News in 1960, marking the end of an era for the city’s newspaper landscape. Continue reading “Keener Today – May 12” →

On a spring morning in 1966, a slender young man with a soft brogue and an acoustic guitar walked into a London studio and recorded a song that would, with time, become something like an incantation. “Sunshine came softly through my window today,” he sang, in a lilting voice that seemed to smile even as it drifted. The man was Donovan Leitch—born in Glasgow, raised in Hertfordshire—and the song was “Sunshine Superman,” a curious and charismatic fusion of folk whimsy and electric ambition. Nearly six decades later, on the occasion of Donovan’s seventy-ninth birthday, that same spectral tone continues to reverberate, a sound at once utterly of its moment and somehow outside of time. Continue reading “Keener Today – May 10 – The Mystic Minstrel Turns 79” →