The Detroit Tigers today acquired catcher Tucker Barnhart from the Cincinnati Reds in exchange for infielder Nick Quintana.

Barnhart, one of 27 catchers in Major League history to win multiple gold glove awards (2017 and 2020), was one of baseball’s most durable and effective backstops in 2021. He was one of nine catchers in the National League to play at least 116 games last season, posting a 1.2 fWAR with a .247/.317/.368 slashline, seven home runs and 48 RBI.

“Coming into this off-season, we knew that catcher was a priority position for us,” said Al Avila, Detroit Tigers Executive Vice President of Baseball Operations and General Manager. “During our strategy meetings over the last couple of weeks in Lakeland with my front office staff, Tucker’s name came up many times as an attractive option for our ballclub as someone who is a real plus defender, knows how to lead a pitching staff and is a solid contributor from the batter’s box. After feeling interest from the Reds to make a deal, we moved quickly to make it happen and kick off our off-season transactions.”

“While it’s bittersweet to be leaving the organization that drafted me, I couldn’t be happier to join the Tigers,” said Barnhart. “This is an exciting time for a team that’s undergone such a big transformation over the last few years. A.J. is one of the best managers in all of baseball, and I’m looking forward to working with him, the coaching staff and other teammates to bring the playoffs and a World Series Championship back to the Motor City.”

Batting from the left side, Barnhart has played in parts of eight seasons with the Reds since debuting in 2014 and had just one stint on the injured list. Among the 92 qualified catchers over that span, he ranks seventh in walks (246), 10^th in games played (744), 18^th in total bases (841), 21^st in K/BB ratio (2.04) and 25^th in OBP (.324). His standout season came in 2017, when he blasted 33 extra-base hits and slashed .270/.347/.403. Per FanGraphs, that season he led all Major League catchers in defensive value and defensive runs saved.

Barnhart, 30, is a native of Indianapolis, Indiana and was originally drafted by the Reds in the 10^th round of the 2010 MLB Draft. His positive impact extended far beyond the field, as he was named Cincinnati’s nominee for the Roberto Clemente Award in both 2018 and 2020. Tucker, and his wife, Sierra, have two children.

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Four Man Ladder Management, operators of Grey Ghost Detroit and Second Best, have revealed the name and concept of their third Detroit restaurant project. Originally announced in August, Four Man Ladder’s third restaurant concept is now under construction at 2703 Park Avenue in The District Detroit, on the ground floor of Olympia Development of Michigan’s Eddystone residences.

Basan, the name of a mythological fire-breathing fowl, is slated to open next year.  Basan’s kitchen will be centered around a Robata grill producing an eclectic mix of items cooked over open flame. Flavors and dishes will be inspired by Asian street food with an energetic atmosphere reminiscent of an Izakaya, a restaurant known for beverage-forward menus, alongside complementary shareable plates.

“Given the historic Eddystone’s proximity to Little Caesars Arena, we knew this concept needed to match the incredible energy and vibrancy found within The District Detroit and appeal to a wide variety of guests. The Izakaya style of dining felt like a natural fit. Our guests will be able to craft their own experience, whether that’s a pre-game stop for cocktails and a quick bite or a more curated, multi-course dinner,” says Chef John Vermiglio.

The concept debuted on Halloween night at Grey Ghost, where the restaurant “dresses up” for the occasion each year. The sold-out evening gave guests a first look at what Basan will soon be, with preview dishes including Fried Bologna Bao (roasted jalapeño kewpie, cheddar crisp), Shiitake Chawanmushi (fried maitake, puffed black rice, egg yolk) and Shoyu Glazed Short Ribs with wasabi-potato dumplings.

“We are excited to add Basan to the enticing mix of dining and entertainment options in The District Detroit,” said Stefan Stration, Vice President of Olympia Development of Michigan. “This unique and welcoming concept from Four Man Ladder will be a great fit for residents and guests of the Eddystone residences.”

Basan will seat 85 in the indoor dining room, 26 on the patio and will also feature private dining space, lounge area and bar. Design features include an open kitchen, dramatic lighting, plush velvet cranberry red sofas, golden natural wood and custom artwork.

Additional menu details, opening date and key players will be announced next year as construction progresses.

More information about Basan can be found at www.BasanDetroit.com and facebook.com/BasanDetroit. Details about the Eddystone, including leasing information can be found at https://www.EddystoneDetroit.com

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As Detroit Red Wings, Pistons and concert fans and guests continue to return to live sports and events at Little Caesars Arena, they’ll notice a few changes right away – most notably, the addition of two new restaurants at the award-winning venue in the heart of The District Detroit.

Located on the southeast side of the arena near the Comerica entrance, fans will find The Mixing Board and PointsBet Sports Bar, which both celebrated grand openings during the Red Wings’ Home Opener on Oct. 14. These restaurants, which offer unique and unparalleled experiences for fans looking for additional fun besides live games or shows, are the latest additions to the growing number of places in The District Detroit to grab some food or drinks before or after an event at Little Caesars Arena.

Locally Inspired: The Mixing Board

Every element of The Mixing Board was carefully curated to showcase and celebrate the uniqueness of Detroit. Just as a concert mixing board merges multiple, diverse input signals into a sonorous whole, so too will The Mixing Board, pulling from the city’s rich history of ethnic, neighborhood and local flavors and ingredients that characterize Detroit and the state of Michigan.

The full-service restaurant, which includes a performance stage for live, local music and entertainment, features locally sourced ingredients, libations and creations unique to the region, along with décor that pays homage to the city’s inimitable automotive, musical and industrial history.

The Mixing Board menu includes starters, salads, sandwiches, flatbread pizzas, sharables, desserts, craft cocktails and craft beer – all with a decidedly local twist. Both individual and shared items are uniquely presented and served on custom wooden boards, which were specially created for The Mixing Board menu. Larger charcuterie-style boards were developed for sharable menu options.

The Mixing Board guests will enjoy an array of menu options dedicated to the city of Detroit and the great state of Michigan, including the MotorCity Margherita flatbread pizza, the Southwest Detroit tacos, the Woodward Stack double cheeseburger, the Traverse City Bourbon Butter Cake dessert and the Wolverinetini and Spartini cocktails, an ode to one of the greatest rivalries in all of college sports.

Gaming-Focused: PointsBet Sports Bar

Just south of The Mixing Board, the new PointsBet Sports Bar is highlighted by betting-themed pub fare, dozens of taps featuring local craft and domestic beers and unique menu items not available anywhere else in Detroit. Special guests will appear at the PointsBet Sports Bar, along with unique programing, VIP access and gaming promotions. Televisions will display integrated live odds, giving fans real-time updates as they monitor their favorite teams while placing bets. PointsBet is an official gaming partner of the Detroit Red Wings and was announced as the official gaming partner of the Detroit Tigers in 2020.

“We’re always looking to enhance the fan experience at Little Caesars Arena and in The District Detroit, and the additions of The Mixing Board and the PointsBet Sports Bar certainly accomplish that,” said Tim Padgett, Vice President of Operations for Little Caesars Arena. “We know fans are excited to attend live events again, and it’s important that we offer options for everyone to enjoy. Hockey and basketball games, live concerts and shows are about both the event itself and the experience at that event – so we are confident that fans who come to Little Caesars Arena will surely make memories that last with them for a long time.” The Mixing Board and PointsBet Sports Bar, both operated by Delaware North, are open during all events at Little Caesars Arena. Extended hours of operation will be announced at a future date.

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The Detroit Tigers recently teamed up with Detroit Police Athletic League (PAL) for an afternoon of family-friendly Halloween fun at the PAL-O-Ween event at The Corner Ballpark, the former site of Tiger Stadium. The event, for youth from Detroit PAL community, featured the Detroit Tigers Fun-at-Bat Program, which introduces kids to fundamentals of baseball and softball, and critical character development principles.

Kids came decked out in Halloween costumes and took part in trick-or treating, bounce houses, craft tables, tug-of-war, sack races, corn hole, face painting, a photo booth, and more.

The Tigers provided a Fun At-Bat program instructional and engagement station where featuring a hitting component taught by Schoolcraft College baseball players, in addition to free equipment kits and Little Caesars pizza. At the Fun At-Bat station, Detroit PAL CEO Robert Jamerson and former Tigers outfielder/current Bally Sports Detroit analyst and Fun At-Bat At Home video host Craig Monroe engaged with the kids, alongside fan favorites Tigers mascot PAWS and the Detroit Tigers Energy Squad.

The Detroit Tigers have a longstanding partnership with Detroit PAL to bring impactful community youth initiatives that teach the basics of baseball and important teamwork skills that will last a lifetime. Tiny Tigers is one of the programs, offering girls and boys ages 4-8 a place to make friends and memories alongside volunteers, mentors and dedicated community leaders.

Detroit PAL, a non-profit organization based in Corktown, impacts more than 14,000 Detroit-area children each year through its sports and recreational camps and after-school activities with the help of more than 1,700 volunteers. Founded in 1969, the organization gives children an opportunity to learn skills needed to succeed both on and off the playing field.

The Detroit Tigers Foundation provides an annual grant to support the Tiny Tigers program, which has supported more than 2,000 young, aspiring players to date.

In addition to Tiny Tigers, the Detroit Tigers Foundation invests in youth baseball programs throughout the greater Detroit community – through baseball field renovation projects, youth summer camps and baseball equipment donations – that promote the good citizenship embodied in the storied history of the Detroit Tigers.

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Olympia Entertainment is hosting a job fair on Tuesday, Oct. 26 at Little Caesars Arena from 1:00 – 5:00 p.m. to fill the more than 200 part-time event positions available at award-winning live entertainment venues. Interviewees can be hired on-the-spot, and no reservation or appointment is necessary to attend.

Candidates hired will get paid to staff the most exciting live events in Detroit, including Detroit Red Wings and Detroit Pistons games, concerts and other events at world-class entertainment venues such as Little Caesars Arena, the historic Fox Theatre, and DTE Energy Music Theatre. Current part-time openings include positions with guest services, maintenance and housekeeping, as well as roles in crowd management, parking and more.

“Event positions with Olympia Entertainment offer flexibility and fun in the heartbeat of the city,” said Michele Bartos, vice president of human resources for Olympia Entertainment. “We know how sports, concerts and shows can bring people together – and we know how much they have been missed. The return of live events is bringing a sense of joy and vibrancy back to metro Detroit, and our colleagues get to experience that feeling of amazing, inspiring, and uniting fans, night after night.”

Interested candidates can register in advance by completing an interest form here.

In addition to available on-the-spot hires, Little Caesars Pizza and Champion Foods are also looking to fill a variety of positions in the fast-paced food industry. Little Caesars Pizza stores across Southeast Michigan are currently hiring for positions with great career advancement opportunities, competitive wages, and flexible hours. Little Caesars Colleagues also get a free pizza each week to take home. At Champion Foods’ New Boston, Mich.-based headquarters, positions across all levels of experience are available as well. Champion Foods employees with perfect attendance during a pay period earn an additional $2 per hour above base pay. Please visit the Little Caesars careers page or Champion Foods jobs page for current openings.

For more information about all job opportunities with Ilitch Companies, visit the Ilitch Companies career site.

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Red Wings Begin 96th Season in Franchise History on October 14 against Tampa Bay

The Detroit Red Wings assigned forwards Riley Barber, Taro Hirose and Joe Veleno to the American Hockey League’s Grand Rapids Griffins. Additionally, Detroit designated center Kyle Criscuolo and defenseman Seth Barton as injured non-roster and placed left wing Jakub Vrana on injured reserve.

The Red Wings also released right wing Bobby Ryan from his professional tryout.

“We felt that Bobby had a good preseason for us, but due to roster limitations, we aren’t able to offer him a contract at this time,” said Red Wings executive vice president and general manager Steve Yzerman. “We will continue to evaluate whether there is an opportunity for Bobby in Detroit as the 2021-22 season begins.”

The moves bring the Red Wings to a 23-man roster, consisting of 13 forwards, eight defensemen and two goaltenders. The Red Wings will begin the 96th season in franchise history on Thursday, Oct. 14 at 7:30 p.m. when they host the back-to-back Stanley Cup-champion Tampa Bay Lightning at Little Caesars Arena.

For the complete roster, click here.

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Mom’s Spaghetti – the concept restaurant featuring menu items centered around the legendary lyric from Eminem’s iconic “Lose Yourself” – is set to open a brick-and-mortar location in The District Detroit. The restaurant, located within the newly-opened Union Assembly restaurant at 2131 Woodward Avenue and featuring a walk-up window in the adjacent alley, opens for business at 5:00 pm on September 29.

Eminem and his manager Paul Rosenberg partnered with Union Joints restaurant group – with whom they worked on the original project – to create the permanent location.  Fans (or “Stans”) are likely already familiar with Mom’s Spaghetti; the concept was launched in 2017 as a pop-up at The Shelter, the iconic music venue at legendary St. Andrew’s Hall in Detroit, in conjunction with the release of Eminem’s “Revival” album.  The pasta pop-up then made intermittent appearances at various Eminem live festival performances and events over the course of the following year including Coachella, Firefly and Governor’s Ball.  During the pandemic, Shady Records contracted Union Joints to deliver Mom’s Spaghetti to frontline caregivers at eight hospitals and to those administering Covid-19 vaccinations at the TCF Center in Detroit. Now, Detroiters and those visiting downtown can get their fix of the spaghetti-based menu whenever they are in the area.

“We’ve had a lot of fun putting this project together with the folks at Union Joints, and the response from fans has been overwhelmingly positive,” said Paul Rosenberg, manager for Eminem. “The previous pop-ups were really a test for us to determine whether there was enthusiasm for a regularly-occurring Mom’s Spaghetti spot that would be open all year long. We are really pleased to announce the arrival of the walk-up restaurant and adjacent upstairs store, called The Trailer, where fans can experience a uniquely-curated environment and obtain merch and other items from Eminem and his new pasta operation.”

Curt Catallo, co-owner, of Union Joints added, “When we were first tapped to create the pop-ups it was an honor for all of us involved. The opportunity to build a permanent location based on an incredibly meta reference was one that everyone at Union Joints, as a Metro Detroit restaurant group, took very seriously. We’re proud of the fact that we created a scratch sauce that tastes like it’s straight from the jar, and wok-firing the noodles gives it that leftover pasta snap. The walk-up window and small diner-like spot for people to eat add to the feeling that this is a homegrown, DIY experience. And The Trailer retail space that Ann (Stevenson) designed is a nod to Eminem’s character in 8 Mile…it’s something that belongs in Detroit, and it feels right at home in this space.”

Mom’s Spaghetti occupies a small bodega space within Union Assembly. Designed by Ann Stevenson, the space feels as though the rest of the restaurant was built around it… like a longstanding neighborhood holdout that wouldn’t budge. Mom’s is ordered and served via a walk-up window in the alley with limited customer seating inside next to the bodega space.

The Trailer, a dedicated Eminem retail space that’s located above the Mom’s Spaghetti kitchen, also opens on September 29. The space features Mom’s Spaghetti merchandise, items from the Eminem retail collection and memorabilia from the Eminem archives. The retail space is limited to eight customers at a time.

For more information on Mom’s Spaghetti, visit www.MomsSpaghetti.comor call (313) 888-8388.

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Union Assembly, the newest restaurant and bar from the team at Union Joints is now open and is located at Columbia Street and Woodward Avenue in The District Detroit.  

The venue spans two stories and features a second-floor lounge, indoor/outdoor bar and a three-season terrace that overlooks Woodward Avenue and Comerica Park. Guests can also enjoy seasonal street-side patio dining on Columbia Street just steps from the iconic Fox Theatre.

Peek inside and learn more about the new hot spot for food, drinks and fun in the video and photo slideshow below.

Current hours of operation are as follows:

• Wed & Thurs: 4PM-10PM, Kitchen | 4PM-Midnight, Bar
• Fri & Sat: 4PM-11PM, Kitchen | 4PM-2AM, Bar
• Sun: 3PM-9PM, Kitchen | 3PM-Midnight, Bar

For reservations and updates, visit Union Assembly.

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Leasing is now available for residences in the revitalized historic Eddystone. Offering market-rate and affordable residential units including studio, one-bedroom and two-bedroom options, these residences will be ready for move-in this year. The 13-story, Italian Renaissance-style Eddystone hotel was first opened in the 1920s. Today, the Eddystone combines historic charm with modern amenities, just steps away from a variety of attractions in The District Detroit such as Little Caesars Arena, Chevrolet Plaza, Comerica Park, Fox Theatre, and an array of restaurants, including an all-new dining concept in the building’s lobby to be operated by Four Man Ladder, the restaurant group behind Detroit’s critically acclaimed restaurant, Grey Ghost.

The Eddystone, which is pet-friendly, offers stunning views, bike storage, dedicated parking in the adjacent Temple West Garage and curated art from local artists throughout the building. Within the units, residents will enjoy a smart home system, open concept living rooms & dining areas and stylized interior finishes in light or dark color schemes.

Hayman Company, a highly experienced property management company will manage the building on behalf of Olympia Development of Michigan. Complete property information including the variety of floor plans, design, pricing and amenities can be found at EddystoneDetroit.com.  

Updates on the Eddystone can be found on Instagram and Facebook.

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