Hamtramck Dive Bars; $15 Fast Food Wages; and Dry Bars

Booze News—Former Eat It Detroit editor Nicole Rupersburg may live in Vegas now, but this week she compiled a list of Hamtramck's 12 best dive bars. The suggestions include Whiskey in the Jar, 2-Way Inn, and The Painted Lady Lounge. [Thrillist]

Controversies—An NPR story focused on local chain Moo Cluck Moo's $15 per hour wages made the social media rounds this week. Last week, fast food workers in Metro Detroit and elsewhere rallied for wage increases and the right to form a union, but many have scoffed that raising wages doesn't work. To that Moo Cluck Moo co-founder Brian Parker has this reply: "Because of our low turnover, and the fact that people are really into their jobs, $15 an hour wasn't a big stretch." [NPR]

No Alcohol?—Ann Arbor pop-up Brillig Dry Bar had its inaugural evening on December 5 at Mighty Good Coffee. Nic Sims came up with the idea. She tells MLive she wanted a place with the atmosphere of a bar minus the alcohol. "I haven't had a drink in 20 years, and I know a lot of people who don't drink. I love to go out on a weekend, but not in a bar. I wanted a bar-like convivial atmosphere, with snacks and drinks and conversation, without it being a bar." The dry bar offers a Brooklyn egg creams, pomegranate-rosemary soda, Vernor's cranberry sours, and more, alongside snacks. Brillig will host its next event from 7 p.m. to 11 p.m. December 26. [MLive/Buzzfeed]