Hey friends, Jer here.

Before we get into the stories around town, I want to make sure to acknowledge what happened in Grand Blanc Township on Sunday. The church shooting was a horrific thing.

I won’t be writing much about it because I’m not on the scene. Although I know it would get a lot of clicks — there are people with far more information, who have been working on it all day. I’ve always viewed my job as doing what I do best and linking to the rest, so here you go:

• An overview of what happened from a Michigan perspective: [Bridge Michigan]
• A recap on today’s updates: [ClickOnDetroit]
• The victims ranged in age from 6 to 78: [Detroit Free Press]
• Allegedly the suspect was anti-Mormon: [Detroit Free Press]

I am looking for a good guest for the podcast to put all of this in context and sort out the details when we know more.

Let’s get into some other stories around town. As always, my context and analysis is in italics.

🐊 Is there an alligator on Belle Isle? The Michigan Department of Natural Resources hasn’t seen the animal, but tells me that the report of one is considered “consistent and credible.”

They’ve also attained a photo with geolocation data.

Out of an abundance of caution, the DNR is coordinating to assess the area and determine appropriate next steps at the state park.

This is response to posts on social media that there was an alligator, between two and three feet in length, spotted on the island.

🐍 What about rumors of a boa constrictor on Belle Isle?

The DNR tells me that there is no evidence to support this claim, and no such report has been received or verified by park staff or DNR personnel.

State officials remind the public to not approach any wild animal, regardless of size. Though the reported animal appears small, all wildlife can be dangerous and unpredictable.

Don’t release pets into the wild. It’s never a good idea. And putting them in State Parks is not only not allowed, but very harmful to the ecosystem and public safety. Non-native species can disrupt local habitats and pose risks to visitors and wildlife alike.

Pro tip: If you see unusual wildlife activity, please report it immediately to the DNR hotline at (800) 292-7800.

🍗 A longtime BBQ joint in Greektown has been put on pause. Redsmoke Barbeque has been open on Monroe since 2010. There’s some social media discussion that we haven’t been able to confirm — as when we called them the phone didn’t answer.

But their website says they’re temporarily closed - and on a day they’re usually open, all was quiet. [Redsmoke]

Greektown has been undergoing a massive streetscape project that a number of business owners have told me has had a huge impact on their foot traffic. When it's over, it should be great — but getting there is the question.

In many sections, there’s only a narrow corridor to the front door of the establishments. If/when I learn more, I’ll share it out.

🥣 CAVA is open in Downtown Detroit. The Mediterranean-inspired chain is on Woodward, just south of Campus Martius.

Here's some video of a line in the middle of a Monday afternoon.

Previous reports say that this location could hire as many as 40 people.

They focus on bowls, dips, pita sandwiches, and juices. This is their second location in Michigan; the first is in Canton.

We're going to try and give them a taste on our YouTube livestream tomorrow afternoon (Tuesday). Didn't know we had a YouTube channel? Now you do. Tune in, I'll be joined by Norris Howard live from TechTown talking about the stories of the day.

🥑 Toastique on Monroe near Campus Martius has signage up. Previous reports say plans are for it to open in fall of this year.

This would be Michigan’s second location, the first is in downtown Ann Arbor.

Their motto is “whole foods are our whole thing,” serving gourmet avocado toasts, smoothie bowls and more.

Seems like Downtown Detroit’s food options are starting to take a healthier turn… which is a piece of feedback that I’ve gotten from some listeners.

☕️ Here’s a hot tip for coffee lovers on National Coffee Day. Dearborn's rich coffee culture is on display during the second annual Dearborn Coffee Week, happening now through Friday.

You can try new things — like coffee drinks from around the world — and get a good deal. From experience, I can tell you that Dearborn's small businesses won't disappoint. This is the real deal with authentic flavors and coffee made with care.

There will also be daily pop-ups and game nights.

And mark your calendar for the closing festivities at the Peace Park in east Dearborn on Friday, October 3. Enjoy a strolling gallery, henna art, local entertainers, and the premier of the short documentary "Dearborn: The Coffee Capital." [Dearborn Coffee Week]

We also talked about it on the Friday episode of the Daily Detroit podcast. [Apple Podcasts] [Spotify]

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🎧 Bonobo was in town on Saturday night, and it was an amazing DJ set. The British electronic artist spun a small show at the Russell Industrial Center, and I wasn’t asleep until after 3 in the morning. Totally worth it.

I think is important for visiting artists is respect to those who came before, especially in a city like Detroit.

So seeing the legendary Norm Talley again was awesome. You could tell the affection when they switched decks between sets. He’s been a key part of Detroit’s deep house world since the 80s.

So I have two music hits for you. First, Bonobo’s amazing set at the Royal Albert Hall in London, where the actual organ gets involved. A much larger scale show compared to what I saw in an old factory in Detroit… but the sign of a great artist is the ability to adapt to the venue they’re in.

Second, if you’re unfamiliar with Norm Talley, here’s a set of his to vibe to.

Alright, that’s it for today’s letter. Feedback as always - dailydetroit - at - gmail dot com or leave a voicemail for the podcast, 313-789-3211.

Remember that you are somebody, and we’ll talk soon.

-Jer