Things to Do Tonight in Metro Detroit

Metro Detroit's weeknight scene runs deeper than the weekend listings would suggest. Concert venues book Tuesday-through-Thursday shows for touring acts that want lower-cost room rentals or are routing through Detroit between Chicago and Toronto. Comedy at Mark Ridley's Comedy Castle in Royal Oak runs Wednesday through Saturday. Trivia takes over the bar scene Tuesday and Wednesday nights from downtown Detroit through the Royal Oak / Ferndale / Birmingham corridor and out into Ann Arbor. Most restaurants run their best dinner deals and chef's-table specials mid-week to fill the slow nights.

If you're looking for free programming, the Detroit Riverwalk, Campus Martius, Beacon Park, and the DSO's Civic Concerts at Orchestra Hall all host regular free evening events. Suburban library systems (Royal Oak, Troy, Bloomfield Township, Plymouth) run author talks, film screenings, and community programs most weeknights. Gallery openings in Eastern Market, Corktown, and Midtown Detroit are typically free, with most happening on Fridays from 6-9 PM.