FORK N FILM DETROIT

Dinner and a movie is being completely reimagined in downtown Detroit. Cambria Detroit Downtown is partnering with Fork n’ Film to introduce Michigan’s first-ever immersive cinematic dining experience — a curated series that blends iconic films with chef-driven, multi-course pre-set menus and specially crafted cocktails and mocktails, for a truly unforgettable evening.

The series debuts this fall inside Cambria’s elegant Balla Ultra Lounge with a showing of Disney Pixar’s Ratatouille. Guests will follow Remy’s flavorful journey through Paris while enjoying dishes timed to arrive at the precise moments their inspiration appears on screen, transforming the typical movie night into an immersive storytelling experience.

The Fork n’ Film cinematic dinner series will take place in the Balla Ultra Lounge on select dates beginning Friday, September 12, 2025. The Ratatouille screening will have capacity limited to just 40 guests per night to maintain the intimate and theatrical nature of the experience. Each event will begin with a welcoming glass of champagne and freshly popped popcorn, followed by a multi-course gourmet dinner (with vegetarian options available) and select crafted cocktails and mocktails, choreographed to key cinematic moments. 

So, while this showing may be a cartoon the event is meant for grownup audiences. Get a babysitter and have a fun date night without the kids! Reservations are required and tickets can be purchased online at www.Detroit.ForknFilm.com.

“We’re thrilled to be bringing Fork n’ Film to Michigan for the first time,” Nicole Miller, General Manager at Cambria Detroit Downtown, told ageekdaddy.com. “Cambria is about delivering elevated, memorable experiences to our guests, and this series perfectly reflects that — it’s immersive, imaginative, and uniquely Detroit.”

“Ratatouille is the perfect kickoff — a celebration of food, passion, and storytelling,” Francesca Dunca, Co-CEO at Fork n’ Film, told ageekdaddy.com. “Our goal is to blur the line between the screen and the plate, so the audience doesn’t just watch the movie — they taste it.”

Following Ratatouille, the Fork n Film series will continue with additional classic films including holiday programming, which will be announced in the coming weeks.

GARFIELD KART 2

Garfield the cynical, lasagna loving Persian Tabby made famous from Jim Davis' comic strips wasn't going to let Mario have all the fun with Nintendo Switch! He has his own new Kart racing game coming out on September 10 for Nintendo Switch, but because he loves to be the center of attention it will also be available on PS5, XBOX Series and PC too so no matter how you play video games it should be accessible to you. So, get ready to rev your engines and challenge your friends in the high-speed, chaotic races of Microids GARFIELD KART 2. Be a self-absorbed kitty by using traps and power-ups to gain the upper hand and cross the finish line first!

GARFIELD KART 2 promises to let you race as one of eight iconic characters from the Garfield universe through tracks that have colorful, wacky themes. Here are some of the features of the video game:

• Mysteries, treasures, and rodeos! Race your friends on wild tracks across three unique worlds! Dash through the mysterious detective streets, conquer the pirate seas, or speed down the dusty cowboy trails—each universe brings its own exciting challenges and surprises.
• Garfield and friends are back! Play as Garfield, Odie, Jon, and other iconic characters from the beloved comic strip! Each racer has a unique personality, adding a fun and immersive twist to every race.
• Lasagna-Fueled races with friends! Compete in online races with up to 8 players or enjoy the chaos locally with up to 4 players in split-screen multiplayer! Perfect for intense showdowns with friends or fun-filled family game nights.
• Create your perfect kart! Customize your kart to match your style! Choose your bumpers, wheels, spoiler, and select a paint job with unique colors to make your kart stand out on the track. Show off your style and prove who’s the true king of the race!

You may HATE Mondays, but GARFIELD KART 2 is coming out on a Wednesday so have a wonderful Hump Day racing with Garfield! Rated E for everyone (all ages appropriate) with gameplay for 1 - 8 players.

DETROIT LIONS TEAM UP WITH SAVVY SLIDERS

Whether you are tailgating or watching from home on television, Lions fans who want to make gameday snacking easier can pick up from Detroit area Savvy Sliders a limited-edition Detroit Lions branded Tailgating Box featuring 10 gourmet sliders for $25. The Tailgating Box is available while supplies last, and is filled with The Original Savvy, Savvy Classic, or the Fried Chicken Sliders; making them a great meal option to satisfy friends and family at football gatherings.

And if the Lions WIN ... the next day fans can score a FREE 5-piece order of Savvy Wings with the purchase of any combo meal at any of Savvy Sliders’ 40+ Michigan locations. Let's Go Lions!

2025 MICHIGAN RENAISSANCE FESTIVAL

The Michigan Renaissance Festival returns to its medieval Hollygrove Village fairgrounds in Metro Detroit's Oakland County (about an hour north of Detroit just off Interstate 75) for its 46th season this year. Step back in time by visiting a bustling 16th century realm where you can interact with nobles, knights, troubadours, jesters and maybe even cross paths with some fairy folk. Be on guard because Vikings and pirates are also known to raid the festivities from time to time.

Sebastian the Singing Pirate is one of the acts you may come across on one of the Michigan Renaissance Festival's 17 entertainment stages featuring live music, comedy, magic acts and more. This year's event runs on weekends August 16 through September 28. Huzzah!

Cheering on knights participating in the annual Mich Ren Fest jousting tournament is probably my favorite part of the festivities. Seeing the horses race around the pitch while their riders compete in both competitions of skill and battles with iron weapons is impressive. Though sometimes just sitting back with a cold ale and listening to some live music from days gone by can be delightful too. Do you have a favorite activity that takes place at a Renaissance Fair?

There are some new activities taking place in 2025 at the Michigan Renaissance Festival. There will be a Wicked Wand Workshop, Ninja Warrior Challenge, and Petting Zoo incorporated into the festivities within the medieval village of Hollygrove. Here's some exciting news too, although I step through the standing stones in 21st century garb to visit Hollygrove and only stay for a brief time each year, the honor of citizen has been bestowed upon me. As a subtle aside to my fellow travelers, while there was nothing nefarious about my receiving such a title, if you would like to obtain this privilege stopping by Traveling Leather while in Hollygrove and paying a modest tribute to the shopkeeper goes a long way in obtaining a badge of citizenship.

Hours for the Michigan Renaissance Festival are 9 AM to 7PM (Rain or Shine). Hollygrove Village is located at 12600 Dixie Highway, Holly, MI 48442. The event takes place on the following dates with these themed weekends:

August 16 - 17: Pirates & Pups

August 23 - 24: Highland Fling

August 30 - Sept 1: Viking Invasion

September 6 - 7: Wonders of the World

September 13 - 14: Shamrocks & Shenanigans

September 20 - 21: Harvest Hazzah

September 27-28: Sweet Endings

Admission is $27.95 for adults, $25.95 for seniors and $18.95 for kids (5-12) with children under 5 having FREE admission. Additionally, parking passes are $15 per vehicle per day. It is recommended you purchase online prior to your arrival.

For more information, head over the michrenfest.com

FATHOM ENTERTAINMENT FRIGHT FEST

As the Halloween season approaches, Fathom Entertainment is beginning FRIGHT FEST 2025, a series of special spooky movie showings taking place at select movie theatres across the United States. Fathom’s Fright Fest 2025 lineup features a mix of cult classics, animated frights, and a brand-new adventure/horror flick commencing with a Texas Chain Saw Day movie theatre screenings of the 1974 film, The Texas Chainsaw Massacre, and concluding with the more family focused ParaNorman being shown October 25 - 28th. 

Have a spooktacular time at the cinema enjoying this year's Fathom Fright Fest presentations. Tickets and ticketing information for Fright Fest 2025 releases are available at Fathom Entertainment and participating theatre box offices (theatre locations are subject to change).

Fright Fest 2025 Lineup: 

Texas Chain Saw Day August 18, 2025 

Step into horror history on August 18th—the very date the nightmare unfolds in The Texas Chain Saw Massacre—with a one-night-only 4K screening of Tobe Hooper’s 1974 genre-defining masterpiece. This special event also includes an exclusive sneak peek at Chain Reactions, a new documentary about the iconic film that features interviews with horror legends and cultural critics such as Stephen King and Patton Oswalt. 

Primitive War August 21-25, 2025 

Based on the popular sci-fi novel by Ethan Pettus, this explosive new action thriller from director Luke Sparke drops a recon unit known as Vulture Squad into the isolated jungle of Vietnam. Sent to uncover the fate of a missing Green Beret platoon, they soon discover they are not alone. Primitive War brings a is a war drama with a dinosaur twist. 

The Jester 2 September 15-16, 2025 

The sinister trickster returns in this chilling sequel to the viral horror sensation. With a new town, new victims, and even deadlier games, The Jester 2 delivers psychological terror and relentless scares that will keep you guessing until the final frame. 

The Devil’s Rejects October 6 and 8, 2025

Rob Zombie’s cult classic roars back into theatres in 4K for its 20th anniversary, with a new filmmaker introduction. Follow the Firefly family on a blood-soaked road trip through the American South in this gritty, unflinching sequel to House of 1000 Corpses. 

ParaNorman October 25-28, 2025 

From LAIKA, the visionary studio behind Coraline, ParaNorman returns to theatres this Halloween in stunningly remastered 3D! When the quiet town of Blithe Hollow is overrun by zombies, only 11-year-old Norman Babcock—who can see and speak with ghosts—can stop the chaos. With a centuries-old witch’s curse, mysterious ghosts, wily witches, and clueless grown-ups, Norman’s paranormal powers are about to be tested like never before. A spooky, heartfelt favorite for families and animation fans alike. LAIKA’s new CG animated short film, ParaNorman: The Thrifting, written by ParaNorman writer/director Chris Butler, will be shown exclusively in theatres before the film. The short features the voice work of Stranger Things star Finn Wolfhard and Anna Kendrick reprising her role of Norman’s older sister, Courtney Babcock.

METRO DETROIT'S LARGEST LASER IMAX AUDITORIUM WITH LUXURY RECLINERS OPENS IN TROY, MICHIGAN

Thank you to MJR Theatres for inviting this Movie Geek to be a part of the first audience to view a movie in its new IMAX with Laser auditorium in their Troy, Michigan location. MJR held the ribbon cutting and grand opening for this IMAX Laser location the weekend of July 25, 2025 for what promises to be a huge draw for movie goers looking for a luxury theater experience.

Attendees at the Grand Opening were shown a featurette highlighting how IMAX presentations differentiate from normal movie showings and were the first audience to view a film in the auditorium treated to a screening of Marvel's The Fantastic Four: First Steps. 

Watching this superhero flick in FantastiVision (aka IMAX) was marvelous! With a giant villain like Galactus the super-sized IMAX screen along with its high definition presentation really made for a fantastic viewing experience.

This new screen at MJR's Troy location boasts the largest Laser IMAX screen in Metro Detroit and is one of only two to feature luxury recliners. The auditorium employs IMAX's 4K laser projection system that delivers brighter images with increased resolution, deeper contrast, and the widest range of colors, complemented by an immersive precision audio system. 

This IMAX theater at the MJR Troy Cinema seats 300 guests and features reclining chairs throughout. Select rows also offer MJR's exclusive VIP Seats which feature heated reclining chairs, side tables, storage compartments, and coat hooks. A huge screen, state of the art projection and audio tech, and really comfy seats! 

If you are in the area and looking for a luxury movie going experience than MJR Troy's IMAX theater is the place to go! From my experience, it absolutely earns a Geek Daddy nod of approval from the awesome cinema experience I had being a part of the first audience to see a movie there. I highly encourage you to check it out for yourself! For more information about showings and tickets, please visit mjrtheatres.com. 

UNIVERSAL STUDIOS HOLLYWOOD CONTINUES COLLABORATION WITH SLASH IN 2025

Fans of haunted houses and heavy metal music will appreciate that Universal Studios Hollywood amusement park is continuing in 2025 a collaboration that started in 2014 with Grammy® Award-winning artist SLASH in producing aspects of its Halloween Horror Nights. The amusement park is bringing back a popular past haunted house called SCARECROW that will be revamped with an original soundtrack composition by SLASH to enhance this seasonal walk-through attraction. “Scarecrow: Music by SLASH” sets the vibe for a haunted house experience in which Mother Nature seeks vengeance on descendants of pioneer homesteaders for their sins of the past that will be carried out by farmland scarecrows. SLASH’s original score for the experience will be composed similarly to a motion picture by engaging with each scene to deliver an unnerving sense of fear as guests navigate the ominous corridors of the haunted house.

SLASH’s presence at Halloween Horror Nights will also include a dedicated themed SLASH Bar, located at Jurassic Cove, above Jurassic World—The Ride, where they can partake in cocktails inspired by a collection of SLASH’s music, including “The Danse of the Dead,” “Beautiful Dangerous” and the non-alcoholic option, “SLASH’s Snakepit.” A menu featuring some of SLASH’s favorite foods will include such treats as Chicken Satay Tacos, Thai Beef Tacos and Thai Curry Tacos, plus a SLASH Hat cake, reminiscent of his signature top hat, for those who have a sweet tooth. Anyone who dares to visit the SLASH Bar, they will be met by a ghoulish stilt walking SLASH scare-actor, fully adorned with the musician's signature black curly locks and top hat. 

Halloween Horror Nights will also celebrate the vinyl-only album release of "SLASH: Music of Universal Studios Hollywood – Halloween Horror Nights, Volume 2." The scary soundtrack will complement last year’s sold-out vinyl-only album with a slate of original music that SLASH has created over the past six years for a variety of Universal Studios Hollywood haunted houses. The album will be available for purchase exclusively at Universal Studios Hollywood. 

The score for SLASH: Music of Universal Studios Hollywood – Halloween Horror Nights, Volume 2, is as follows: 

SIDE A 

1.“The Hunted Becomes The Hunter” 4:21 (Universal Monsters: The Bride of Frankenstein Lives 2021)

 2.“Monsters, Maniacs, and Madmen” (Universal Monsters Medley 2021) 5:08 (Universal Monsters 2018) 

 3.“The Blood is Life” 3:38 (Universal Monsters: The Bride of Frankenstein Lives 2021) 

 4.“The Collection Room / Dracula’s Lair” 2:45 (Universal Monsters 2018) 

5.“The Ossuary” 1:47 (Universal Monsters: Frankenstein Meets the Wolf Man 2019) 

SIDE B  

6.“Cycles of the Moon” 3:02 (Universal Monsters: Legends Collide 2022) 

7.“Immortal Curses” 4:26 (Universal Monsters: Legends Collide 2022) 

8.“Alucard” 2:21 (Universal Monsters: Legends Collide 2022)

9.“Bloodline Drawn” 5:02 (Universal Monsters: Eternal Bloodlines 2024)

10.“Unholy Alliance” 3:15 (Universal Monsters: Eternal Bloodlines 2024)

“As a longtime fan of Halloween Horror Nights, it has been incredibly rewarding to not only have experienced the event as a guest, but to have partnered with Universal Studios Hollywood for so many years to create an array of original music that intensifies the storylines of these haunted houses,” SLASH remarked to ageekdaddy.com. “This year’s collaboration with Halloween Horror Nights and the chance to become one of the event’s marquee experiences is truly humbling and I can’t wait for the guests to join me when they step into the terror.”

Halloween Horror Nights at Universal Studios Hollywood begins on Thursday, September 4. Sorry, if you are planning to attend the event at Universal's Orlando, Florida SLASH's involvement is exclusive to their California amusement park. A variety of Halloween Horror Nights ticket options for Universal Studios Hollywood are now available, including General Admission, the Early Access Ticket, which provides entry to select haunted houses beginning at 5:30 p.m., in advance of the scheduled 7:00 p.m. event opening time, and Ultimate Fear Pass, which enable guests to experience the scares again and again. Halloween Horror Nights at Universal Studios Hollywood runs select nights from September 4 to November 2, 2025. CLICK HERE for information regarding purchasing tickets.