Passenger rail in Sterling Heights? Plus, a coffee shop move and Tosca in Detroit

Hey friends, Jer here.

My Sunday was a double dose of drama! One was political and unexpected: Haley Stevens endorsed Mike Rogers’ ultimately unsuccessful campaign for Senate.

For the other, I had tickets.

🎭 I went to see Tosca at the Detroit Opera House and enjoyed an afternoon full of tension and intrigue.

There are two performances left: tonight, Thursday, Nov. 5, and Saturday, Nov. 7, both at 7:30 p.m.

Floria Tosca is a singer whose lover, the painter Mario Cavaradossi, becomes a target of Rome’s corrupt police chief, Scarpia. Her effort to save him tests her faith and love against someone willing to abuse his power.

Director Louisa Proske sets this production in Fascist Italy in the 1930s, moving the action forward from the opera’s original setting in 1800 Rome. Proske describes the opera as a political thriller, which fits.

South African soprano Masabane Rangwanasha stars as Tosca, making her debut in the role. Nathan Granner plays Cavaradossi, and Alfred Walker is Scarpia. Detroit Opera Music Director Roberto Kalb conducts the orchestra, chorus and youth chorus.

I’m glad I made time for it. Covering what’s happening around Detroit can fill a calendar pretty quickly, and getting out and enjoying it is an important reminder of why I love this place.

The Detroit Opera House is at 1526 Broadway. You can find tickets and more information on Detroit Opera’s website.

🐤 Washed Up Coffee in West Village has moved down the street.

The new spot is tucked behind a row of houses converted into commercial spaces, including Two Birds and the Velvet Tower.

I got a little vacation vibe walking up to the new spot.

It’s still cozy, but there’s far more room for seating than in the old spot, which was shoehorned into the front of another business.

I love that there’s a hub of interesting stuff developing over here.

Here’s a shot of my Apple Bottom Latte for gratuitous coffee purposes. Yes, the syrup is made from apple pie filling.

You can now find Washed Up Coffee at 8126 Kercheval in Detroit from 8 a.m. - 4 p.m. every day, as well as in Midtown. [Website]

📬 First time here? Want to stay in the loop on what to know and where to go in Metro Detroit?

🚈 Sterling Heights wants to explore passenger rail connecting Macomb County with downtown Detroit.

This is very early. No project, station locations, funding commitments or construction schedule have been approved, the city says.

The immediate focus, as I understand it, is preserving an existing Conrail freight corridor through Sterling Heights and Warren, then bringing regional partners together to decide whether to pursue a professional feasibility study of passenger service.

A preliminary white paper (you can read it here) sketches out roughly hourly service, with potential stops at Sterling Heights’ Velocity Center, near Warren’s GM Technical Center and around Eight Mile.

It also calls for studying possible connections to the broader Amtrak network and Detroit Metro Airport.

Longtime readers know I’m in favor of giving people more ways to get around.

Sterling Heights is Michigan’s fourth-largest city, so the possibility of a passenger rail connection deserves a look. I hope to learn more.

🧑‍⚖️ In a surprise to no one, DTE Energy and Consumers Energy have sued to block the utility political donation restrictions in Proposal 2, just two days after voters overwhelmingly approved it with 81% of the vote. [Crain's Detroit Business]

The utilities argue the measure violates their constitutional rights by singling them out while allowing other businesses and labor unions to keep donating.

This is the second suit I know about. The first being the Mackinac Center for Public Policy mere minutes after it was clear the measure would pass, saying the measure violates the First Amendment. [ClickOnDetroit]

🎨 FYI for the artists reading: Applications for the 2027 Kresge Artist Fellowships open Dec. 1. Ten literary and visual artists in Wayne, Oakland and Macomb counties will each receive $50,000 in unrestricted funding. There are also 10 $5,000 Gilda Awards for emerging artists. The application deadline is Jan. 14, 2027. [Kresge]

🎓 Dearborn Public Schools voters approved a $1.51 billion bond with about 68% support. The district plans to build six new preschool-through-eighth-grade schools and renovate its remaining buildings over 20 years in four phases. Early work includes three new schools, restroom improvements, more secure entrances and urgent building repairs. [MLIVE]

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That's it for today. Thanks so much for reading. Until next time, remember that you are somebody, and I'll see you around Detroit.

-Jer