Erica Banas: Writing Samples

Erica Banas: Writing Samples

Specializing in rock/classic rock news coverage and commentary, with experience in wrestling, TV and film.

Hour Detroit Magazine •

Earlybirds Club: The Perfect Escape

The Magic Bag in Ferndale hosted a sold-out event on Jan. 30, but it wasn’t the typical intimate concert the small-capacity venue is known for. Instead, it was a special kind of dance party targeting women and gender-expansive people, particularly Gen X and millennials. The event was called the Earlybirds Club. What set it apart from other dance parties is that it started at 6 p.m. and ended at 10 p.m. Why? Because, according to the Earlybirds Club’s website, it’s “a dance party for ladies who h...
Hour Detroit Magazine •

Melissa Etheridge Talks Rock Hall, New Album, Bob Seger, Detroit Lions

Melissa Etheridge is staring down quite an itinerary in 2026. She has a batch of headlining tour dates kicking off March 26 at the Music Hall Center for the Performing Arts in Detroit. The tour kicks off the day before the release of Rise, the singer-songwriter’s 17th studio album. This summer will also see Etheridge join forces with country legend Wynonna Judd on a co-headlining tour. On top of all of that, last month saw Etheridge receive her long-overdue first nomination for the Rock & Roll Hal...
Hour Detroit Magazine •

‘Heated Rivalry’ & Its Impact on Metro Detroit’s Romance Bookstores

If you have a pulse and keep tabs on general pop culture, then you likely have heard of Heated Rivalry. If you’re a pop culture enthusiast, then there’s a very good chance you’ve not only watched Heated Rivalry, but you’ve rewatched the show multiple times by now. (On social media, rewatches of the series are affectionately known as “Reheated Rivalry” or simply just “Reheated.”)For those unfamiliar with the Canadian series, Heated Rivalry was created, written and directed by Montreal native Jaco...
Hour Detroit Magazine •

15 Michiganders Competing in the 2026 Olympic Winter Games

The Milan Cortina 2026 Olympic Winter Games kick off this week, with the opening ceremony taking place on Friday, Feb. 6. In total, the 2026 U.S. Olympic Team consists of 232 athletes. Among those athletes, 15 hail from Michigan.Here’s a breakdown by sport of Michiganders competing in the 2026 Olympic Winter games, along with some fun facts.The 36-year-old ice dancer is competing in his fifth Olympic Games. He previously was a member of Team USA in 2010, 2014, 2018, and 2022. He’s a proud alumni...
Hour Detroit Magazine •

Dittrich Furs Closing After 132 Years in Business

Dittrich Furs, the iconic Detroit fur retailer, has announced it is closing on April 30 after being in business for 132 years.The Dittrich Family announced this news in a statement via the Dittrich Furs website. They said, in part, “Since 1893, Dittrich Furs has been honored to serve Detroit and Southeast Michigan and to hold the title of the city’s oldest privately held business. For 132 years and five generations, our family has been proud to provide the finest fur and natural material fashion...
Hour Detroit Magazine •

9 Michiganders Who Have Won Golden Globes

Award season is officially upon us once again! One of the primary award shows of the season are the Golden Globes, and several Michiganders have won the honor over the years.In fact, two more Michiganders are poised to take home a Globe during the 83rd edition of the ceremony taking place this Sunday (Jan. 11) on CBS and Paramount+. For an added bonus, they also happen to be husband and wife: Kristen Bell and Dax Shepard. Bell, a native of Huntington Woods, is nominated for Best Performance by a...
Hour Detroit Magazine •

Detroit Opera, Yuval Sharon Parting Ways at End of 2025-26 Season

Detroit Opera has announced that the contract with Artistic Director Yuval Sharon will come to a mutual end with the close of the 2025-26 season.Sharon’s six years with Detroit Opera has been met with great praise. His innovative production choices and settings led to Yuval being included in Time‘s 2022 Next list of emerging talent in the world. Yuval was also included in our 2023 Hour Detroiters list.Yuval is credited for helping expand Detroit Opera’s audience, both in size and diversity. In a...
Hour Detroit Magazine •

‘Holiday Detroit’: The Broadway-Style Show Ft. Local Talent of All Ages

Balance is something anyone needs to survive the hustle and bustle of the holiday season. Perhaps it’s not a coincidence that balance is also a key ingredient Lisa McCall needs to put together Holiday Detroit, a seasonal celebration of the city’s incredibly diverse artistic legacy through a mix of dance and both traditional and original holiday music performed by professional musicians and local students.“You have to be balanced, and you have to be proactive, and you have to plan, plan, plan,” s...
Hour Detroit Magazine •

'Spirit of Detroit' Sculpture Studio: Details on the Latest 'Little Village' Addition

“Little Village,” the unique arts and culture center in Detroit’s East Village neighborhood, is set to expand with the addition of the “Spirit of Detroit” Sculpture Studio.This studio is an extension of the Marshall M. Fredericks Sculpture Museum located on the campus of Saginaw Valley State University (SVSU). Fredericks was a renowned Detroit-based sculptor with over 150 public and corporate pieces on display worldwide. Locally, he is best known for “The Spirit of Detroit” statue located outsid...
Hour Detroit Magazine •

7 Picturesque Espresso Martinis You Can Enjoy in Metro Detroit

The past few years has seen a massive resurgence of espresso martinis. In fact, Forbes reports that sales of the cocktail increased by 50% in 2023 on its way to becoming one of the top six drinks ordered in the United States.Its popularity is in large part due to the rise of coffee culture. EHL Hospitality Business School notes how, like wine, there are now coffee sommeliers who are experts in “bean origins, processing methods, and brewing techniques.” Of course, we also can’t help but think of...
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