This Week on One Detroit:
The next generation of Detroit style pizza brings new flavors to the city’s signature style
For several decades, Detroit style pizza – thick and baked in rectangular pans – was known only to Detroiters and those who had visited the region, but today, the city’s signature pizza style has grown in popularity, nationally and worldwide.
It all started in 1946 at a tavern on Detroit’s east side with the end of World War II. Pizza wasn’t a popular dining option yet, but the dish started to catch on. Buddy’s Rendezvous Pizzeria began making what it called Sicilian style pizza, baked in rectangular, high-sided steel pans originally used in auto plants to give it a thicker crust.
The Sicilian style would become a staple at a handful of restaurants over the next few decades including Shield’s Pizzeria in Detroit, Cloverleaf Pizza in east Detroit – now Eastpointe – and Loui’s Pizza in Hazel Park. By then, it received the official Detroit style moniker and most of those restaurants added additional locations.
The original recipe was based on Wisconsin brick cheese and pepperoni, usually underneath the cheese and a thicker, crunchy crust. In the past decade, Detroit style has become more popular worldwide while other restaurants have been adapting the recipe with new flavors and tastes. One Detroit’s Bill Kubota discovers how Detroit style pizza has taken its place in the culinary world. He visits Michigan & Trumbull in Detroit, a pizzeria that despite its name got its start in Pittsburgh, and Amar’s Pizza in Hamtramck, which offers pizza that’s Detroit-Bangladeshi style.
Eight-year-old Detroiter Rosie White goes viral for impersonations of Black icons, historical figures
An eight-year-old Detroit girl and her family have gained national attention for their videos celebrating Black icons. Robyn McKee, known to her online followers as Rosie White, creates videos impersonating well-known Black historical figures like Harriet Tubman and Malcolm X, and icons such as Tina Turner, Michael Jackson and Stevie Wonder.
Her mother Kenya White and older sister A’Blesyn Davis, are also involved in making the videos. It started with Rosie’s impersonation of Rosa Parks, a video that gained over 500,000 views online. Inspired by a Black History Month assignment on Rosa Parks, Rosie’s journey began when she was just three years old. She memorized what was read to her about Rosa Parks.
Soon after, her mother decided it was time for the world to see Rosie’s talents. Rosie has captured the attention of millions online, including celebrities such as Oprah Winfrey, Whoopi Goldberg and Michelle Obama. After reenacting a dinner scene from “The Color Purple,” Rosie and her family were invited to walk the purple carpet for the 2023 remake of the movie.
One Detroit contributor Daijah Moss joined Rosie and her family at their home to talk about the inspiration behind making videos celebrating Black history.
Michigan Science Center brings traveling ‘Above & Beyond’ aviation exhibit to Detroit
The Michigan Science Center in Detroit was recently named a top science museum in the county by USA TODAY readers. The center’s newest traveling exhibit, Above & Beyond, takes visitors through an aviation and outer space experience that includes opportunities to visit Mars virtually, fly like a bird, and build your own virtual plane.
“What I love about this exhibit is it does a little bit of everything,” President and CEO Christian Greer said. “For that person at home who’s an airplane enthusiast, they have the need for speed, they get a chance to be able to do that at the exhibit. You can design your own plane virtually, load it up to the computer and then hop in a cockpit and fly it.”
In addition to interactive exhibits, the center has a 4D theatre, live stage shows, a planetarium and more to promote STEM. It is open from 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. Tuesdays-Sundays. One Detroit contributor Sarah Zientarski talked with Greer about the Above & Beyond exhibit and other interactive experiences visitors can find at the Michigan Science Center.
One Detroit Weekend: June 14, 2024
Juneteenth is coming up Wednesday, June 19 and Father’s Day is Sunday, June 16. Celebrate with the Juneteenth Family Reunion or a round of mini golf at Cranbrook Art Museum.
Plus, summer festival season continues in the region with the Ann Arbor Summer Festival and the Michigan Taco Fiesta. Contributor Peter Whorf of 90.9 WRCJ shares more events coming up this weekend and beyond on “One Detroit Weekend.”
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