Hour Detroit // February 2022

MADAM SECRETARY BENSON GEARS UP FOR REELECTION

RETAIL REPORT

LUXURY BRANDS EXPAND THEIR FOOTPRINTS

SPANISH HOLIDAY

MEDITERRANEAN FARE AT OLIN BAR & KITCHEN

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Couture silhouettes and unexpected details in a timeless Detroit setting

BRIDAL

FEBRUARY 2022

WINTER OLYMPICS

CATCHING UP WITH GOLD MEDAL SPEEDSKATER SHEILA YOUNG-OCHOWICZ

FASHION

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HOUR D E T R O I T

VOLUME THIRTY ONE | ISSUE TWO

BEST of

DETROIT 2022

Cast your votes fo Best of Detroit sta PUBLISHER: John Balardo

INTERIM EDITOR IN CHIEF: Kathryn Walsh

SENIOR EDITOR & DIGITAL CONTENT COORDINATOR: Emma Klug NEWS & FEATURES EDITOR: Steve Friess

ASSOCIATE EDITORS: Rachael Thomas, Ashley Winn COPY EDITOR: Olivia Sedlacek

EDITORIAL INTERN: Juliana Lumaj

CREATIVE DIRECTOR: Lindsay Richards ART DIRECTOR: Keagan Coop EDITORIAL DESIGNER: Michaela Bunger

FEBRUARY 1

CONTRIBUTORS: E.E. Berger, George Bulanda, Tammy Coxen, Paris Giles, Nick Hagan, Dorothy Hernandez, Ryan Patrick

Hooper, Kailey Howell, Rachel Idzerda, Monica Jadan, Lindsay

Kalter, Matt LaVere, Jenn McKee, Jenny Risher, Sal Rodriguez, Jennifer Sams, Josh Scott, Rebecca Simonov, Megan Swoyer, Hayden Stinebaugh, Joe Tiano, Jessica VanAssche, Rebecca Voigt, Ashley Zlatopolsky

at HourDetroit.co ASSOCIATE PUBLISHER: Jason Hosko

PUBLISHING AND SALES COORDINATOR: Kristin Mingo

ACCOUNT EXECUTIVES: Cynthia Barnhart, Regan Blissett,

Karli Brown, Lisa LaBelle, Maya Gossett, Donna Kassab, Mary Pantely & Associates OUTREACH SPECIALISTS: Paige Fritts, Alice Zimmer IT DIRECTOR: Jeremy Leland DIGITAL DIRECTOR: Nick Britsky DIGITAL DEVELOPMENT MANAGER: Matthew Cappo WEB PROJECT ASSISTANTS: Luanne Lim, Bart Woinski DIGITAL MEDIA COORDINATOR: Travis Cleveland VIDEO PRODUCER: Ken Bowery VIDEO EDITOR: Ryan Mitchell PRODUCTION DIRECTOR: Jenine Rhoades

Cast your votes for the Best of Detroit starting

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SENIOR PRODUCTION ARTISTS: Stephanie Daniel, Robert Gorczyca ADVERTISING COORDINATOR: Erica Soroka GRAPHIC DESIGNER: Jim Bibart PRS GRAPHIC DESIGNER: Alexa Dyer DIRECTOR OF AUDIENCE DEVELOPMENT: Michelle VanArman CIRCULATION MANAGER: Riley Meyers CIRCULATION COORDINATORS: Barbie Baldwin, Elise Coyle, Cathy Krajenke, Nia Jones, Rachel Moulden MARKETING & EVENTS MANAGER: Melissa Novak MARKETING & EVENTS COORDINATORS:

FEBRUARY 1ST

T

Kelsey Cocke, Drake Lambright MARKETING RESEARCH MANAGER: Ana Potter MARKETING RESEARCH ASSISTANT: Gabby Hejnar MARKETING RESEARCH SALES COORDINATOR: Hannah Thomas MARKETING RESEARCH COORDINATOR: Georgia Iden DIRECTOR OF BUSINESS OPERATIONS: Kathie Gorecki ASSISTANT OFFICE MANAGER: Natasha Bajju

at HourDetroit.com

SENIOR ACCOUNTING ASSOCIATE: Andrew Kotzian ACCOUNTING ASSOCIATE: Estefano Lopez ACCOUNTING ASSISTANT: Samantha Dick DISTRIBUTION: Target Distribution, Troy HOUR MEDIA CEO: Stefan Wanczyk | PRESIDENT: John Balardo 575 0 N E W K I N G D R I V E , T R OY, M I 4 8 0 9 8 T E L E P H O N E : 2 4 8 - 6 9 1 - 1 8 0 0 FA X : 2 4 8 - 6 9 1 - 4 5 3 1 E M A I L : E D I T O R I A L @ H O U R D E T R O I T.C O M O N T H E W E B : H O U R D E T R O I T.C O M To sell Hour Detroit magazine or for subscription inquiries: 248-588-1851

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H OUR DE T R O I T.C O M

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02.22

CONTENTS I S S U E T WO H U N D R E D N I N E T Y N I N E

30 La Femme

Surréaliste

Couture silhouettes and unexpected details collide, creating a bridal look that’s uncannily alluring.

40 Public

Defender

30

Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson gears up for a 2022 reelection fight that she says may determine the fate of democracy itself.

On the cover: L’Amour Bridal Addison Gown, $4,200, at L’Amour Bridal, 650 N. Telegraph Road, Dearborn; lamourbridalmi.com; Sterling King Chain Loop Drop Earrings, $380, at Coup D’état, 3044 W. Grand Blvd., Ste. L-460, Detroit; shopcoupdetat.com This page: Milla Nova Gigi Dress, $800-$1,200, Puff Sleeves, $75, at Joy Abendmode Bridal, 506 S. Washington Ave., Royal Oak; joyabendmode.com

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COVER, BRIDAL JENNY RISHER

1/6/22 9:57 AM

CELEBRATE YOUR

STORY An Iconic City Venue I Expertly Crafted Cuisine Specializing in Multicultural Celebrations Book your wedding or special occasion by calling 1.877.MGM.EVNT (646.3868)

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02.22

CONTENTS I S S U E T WO H U N D R E D N I N E T Y N I N E

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Up Front MADE IN MICHIGAN: 16 SHEILA YOUNGOCHOWICZ

The gold medalist talks Detroit memories, her Olympic family dynasty, and why she doesn’t envy this year’s competitors.

Pot is legal now, so why is the illicit market still thriving?

Experience authentic Mexican dance with Ballet Folklórico.

Plus, Lucy Dacus delivers moody, indie-rock anthems.

67 RECLAIMED HISTORY

68 STARS ON ICE

BOOK REVIEW: 20 THINK ING: A MEMOIR

Some of the biggest names in figure skating have undergone training at one local ice arena.

A book by one of U-M’s most celebrated psychologists leaves readers wondering what makes him tick.

69 ONE MAN’S TREASURE Designer Chris Schanck creates art from the things others leave behind.

OXFORD OVERTIME 21

Why Oxford broke the sadly familiar pattern of schoolshooting media coverage.

Food&Drink

24/Seven

72 OUT TO LUNCH

When not in the kitchen, Taste the Diaspora’s Ederique Goudia dines in support of her fellow Black foodies.

HEAVEN SCENT 24

Luxury fragrances with heady notes of jasmine, amber, rose, and sandalwood are perfect for Valentine’s Day gifting.

73 RESTAURANT REVIEW: OLIN BAR & KITCHEN The energetic vibes of a Spanish neighborhood restaurant, plus a dash of Michigan flavor.

MI STYLE: 25 SABRINA SPANTA

I NEED MY SPACE: 26 MATT AND LISA WHELAN

66 CULTURE CALENDAR

Jamon Jordan, Detroit’s new historian, is on a mission to tell the stories of all Detroiters.

IN THE SHADOWS 18

The daring creations of this Afghan American designer and Project Runway alum are making their mark on Detroit.

Agenda

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76 SWEET GOODNESS

Show your valentine how much you care with local, vegan sweet treats.

77 BALANCING ACT

After decades designing their clients’ ideal spaces, this couple finally found time to craft their own dream kitchen.

Freya’s beverage director forges partnerships between food and drink.

FASHION FORWARD 28

79 R E STAU R A N T L I ST I N G S 101 M I D N I G H T H O U R 104 T H E WAY I T WA S

Michigan’s first Hermès store, a fresh Louis Vuitton, and local brand expansions fuel the growth of metro Detroit as a luxury fashion retail scene.

Trumbull General Hospital, 1967

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SHOPPING COURTESY OF LOUIS VUITTON FOOD HAYDEN STINEBAUGH ARTIST JOSH SCOTT

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From Our Readers

Behind the Scenes Prop stylist Jessica VanAssche (left) and art director Keagan Coop (right) assist model Sarah as she is photographed for the cover shot. 

“Food legends for sure! May they all RIP (‘Remembering the Recently Fallen Pillars of Detroit’s Restaurant Community,’ December).”

—Stephanie Young, hourdetroit.com “Amazing stuff. So much fascinating history there (‘A Who’s Who From Elmwood Cemetery’s 175 Years,’ December).”

—Ray Danford, hourdetroit.com “Great feature and great job highlighting local artists! We appreciate (the mention). (‘2021 Gift Guide,’ December).”

—India Solomon, hourdetroit.com

FOR THIS YEAR’S BRIDAL FASHION feature, “we wanted to dive down deeper into a beauty that flirts on the lines of eerie,” says creative director Lindsay Richards. “The Belle Isle Boathouse provided the team with a backdrop of cracked walls and spaces of unknown memories. A little dark, a little weird, but ultimately each vignette allowed the team to create artwork. In this issue, we showcase fashion while allowing beauty to be seen in a different light.”

“Duchess and duke of the dance floor (‘The Founders of Haute to Death on Fashion, Music & More,’ December).”

—@kaylanfw, Instagram

Follow us online at hourdetroit.com or on social media: @hourdetroit @hour_detroit @hourdetroitmagazine

CONTRIBUTORS

WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE WEDDING MEMORY? For digital advertising solutions call 248-268-8026 COMPASSMEDIA.COM

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Paris Giles

Rebecca Voigt

Jenny Risher

“When my friend got married a few years back, her matron of honor was eight months pregnant. Well, she went into labor at the reception. Mild panic ensued while mommyto-be was rushed off the dance floor and to the hospital.

A healthy baby boy was born early the next morning!” Giles has covered everything from fashion to health. She was an editor for BLAC Detroit Magazine, Detroit’s oldest Black lifestyle magazine, and is a beauty and wellness writer at Bustle. Catch her shopping for vintage earrings or checking out the set at her favorite live poetry spot.

“My husband and I got married in 2010, and I will never forget the dance party at our wedding reception, including our friend Vytau — who was also our officiant — dropping into the splits in the middle of the dance floor.” Voigt is an Ann Arbor-based freelance editor and fashion stylist. In addition to styling this month’s bridal fashion feature, she serves as the editor for Metro Detroit Weddings magazine. Her work has also appeared in local, national, and international publications, including Hour Detroit, 944, Ambassador Magazine, BG, Clear Magazine, Cliché Magazine, and Hint.

“My favorite wedding memory has to be from my wedding day. I saw my family — especially my mother and father — for the first time as a bride. I couldn’t believe the day had come. Memories from childhood to adulthood all fast-forwarded before our eyes, and our tears could not stop flowing. It’s one of many cherished moments I will never forget.” College for Creative Studies alumni Risher’s clients include ad agencies, magazines, publishing companies, celebrities, nonprofits, and TV shows.

WROTE TWO ARTICLES FOR AGENDA (PAGES 67 AND 69)

STYLED THE BRIDAL COVER STORY (PAGE 30)

PHOTOGRAPHED THE BRIDAL COVER STORY (PAGE 30)

BTS MICHAELA BUNGER CONTRIBUTORS COURTESY OF CONTRIBUTORS

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See baseball’s stars under the Florida sun.

MLB stars, gorgeous weather and exciting activities combine to make this Florida’s Sweetest Spot each spring. VisitCentralFlorida.com

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The

Seen

A monthly feature highlighting events, promotions, and opportunities of interest to Hour Detroit readers.

Joumana Kayrouz Holiday Party Photographs by Christine M.J. Hathaway

Vonjie Garofalo and Kenneth Harris

Judge Amy Hathaway, Joumana Kayrouz, and Judge David Groner

Juliette, Charlene, and Nicolas Cogen

Shirley Perkins, Judge Sean Perkins and LaTrice Perkins

Valia Design Studio - MonoBuild Grand Opening Photographs by Christine M.J. Hathaway

Nicole Hutton and Kevin Hanson

Dana Vagnetti and Javier Cardenas

Geri and Mark Popa

Liam Mowat, Dana Vagnetti. and Vaughn Mowat

Puff Cannabis Grand Opening Photographs by Andrea Stinson

Alex Nothelfer, DJ Jones, and Jason Hamama

Anastasia Stollings and Laura Leabu

Peter Shillingford and Nancy Smith

Savanna Melodia, Mariana Toma, and Anna Pizzimenti

Old Woodward Title Holiday Party Photographs by Christine M.J. Hathaway

Lisa Canada, Elaine McLain, and Kelly Hayes

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Jeffrey and Joelle Abood

Gerry Burke, Kendall and Louis Landry

Jon Marko, Jennifer Smith, and Kent Flory

1/7/22 4:46 PM

02.22 NEWS, NOTES, AND PERSONALITIES

Up Front MADE IN M I C H I G A N p.1 6 CA N NA B I S p.1 8 B O O K R EV I EW p.2 0 M E D I A p. 21

M ADE I N M I CHI GAN

WINTER WONDERFUL As another Games begins, gold medalist Sheila Young-Ochowicz reflects on how her Detroit upbringing led her to Olympic triumph and on the front of a Corn Flakes box p. 16

SKATING AMERICAN BROADCASTING COMPANIES/GETTY IMAGES (1976 WINTER GAMES)

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Up Front

she might be even more heavily decorated. She went on to a career as a middle school teacher in Wisconsin and California.

When we spoke in November, I cradled my occasionally noisy 8-week-old daughter in my lap. Our conversation was wide ranging, but Young-Ochowicz, now a grandmother, offered probably the most unusual parenting advice I’d heard: “I tell everybody who has a daughter that it’s really important for girls to do competitive things with dads. It’s really important to have that competitive relationship with a man. That will make her more successful in whatever she does.”

Your brother and your husband competed as Olympic cyclists in the 1970s, and your daughter as a speedskater in three Winter Games. Your parents were also national champion athletes. How did your family become this Olympic dynasty?

MADE IN MICHIGAN

ICE QUEEN Gold medalist Sheila YoungOchowicz recalls Farwell Field, marvels at modern technology, and explains why she wouldn’t want to compete in China this year

BY STEVE FR I ES S ILLUSTRATION BY RACHE L I D ZER DA

AS ELITE AMERICAN ATHLETES — but not government dignitaries! — head to China this month for the most controversial Olympics in decades, Birmingham-born and Detroit-raised three-time speedskating Olympic medalist Sheila Young-Ochowicz will watch from her Park City, Utah, home. At 71, she’s a world and nearly a halfcentury removed from the 1976 Games where, as a speedskater in Innsbruck, Austria, she became the first American athlete to win three medals at a single Winter Olympics.

Her feat — gold in the 500 meter, silver in the 1,500 meter, and bronze in the 1,000 meter — made her a star. A Sports Illustrated cover, a Corn Flakes box, a TV commentating gig, and a seat on the U.S. Olympic host committee for the 1980 Games in Lake Placid followed. In the 1970s, she also won world championships in track cycling, but that was not an Olympic sport for women until long after her retirement or

I don’t exactly know how to answer. It all started in Detroit, Michigan, with parents who were competitive — and not just in sports. They instilled in my brothers and my sister and me that if you work hard, it’ll pay off. I used to tell people, “I’m the best mom. I’m like a gold medal mom.” I had supportive parents who nurtured my innate desire to be the best. It’s not necessarily that you’re going to make an Olympic team but that every time you go out on the starting line, or even to school, that you’re doing the best that you can do.

Did you all skate together a lot?

Oh, yes. We used to skate on Quarton Lake in Birmingham. My parents used to get their cars out there and have their headlights on so we could skate, and they’d shovel off the rink for us. My dad thought: The family that plays together stays together.

Did you know then you were training for the Olympics?

No, no, no, no, no. It was fun, I tell you. I started off CO N T I N U E D O N PAG E 92

SCIENCE MITTEN

Intriguing findings from researchers across Michigan

By Steve Friess THE SUPER-BRIEF LIFE OF MAGNESIUM-18: You probably didn’t feel its presence, but late last year, for less than a split second, scientists in East Lansing created a new isotope. Magnesium-18 — so named because its nucleus has 12 protons and six neutrons whereas the normal, stable version of the

16

element has 12 of each — was created in the National Superconducting Cyclotron Laboratory at Michigan State University by accelerating and colliding particles at half the speed of light. This is the “lightest” version of the element and existed for a full sextillionth of a second, according to a study in the journal Physical Review Letters co-authored by lead researcher Kyle Brown, an assistant professor of chemistry at MSU. It seems like a lot of effort for such a short result, but Brown explains that the process

of creating new isotopes is a way of investigating how the elements came into existence in the first place.

Also, there is some glory in it: “We can put our names on this one, the whole team can,” Brown says. “And I can tell my parents that I helped discover this nucleus that nobody else has seen before.”

DE-ICING SPRAY FOR SOLAR ARRAYS: The big problem with solar photovoltaic panels is that when they’re blocked from sunshine, they don’t work so well. Now, researchers at

SNOW-PHOBIC COATINGS ... WILL MAKE SOLAR POWER MORE RELIABLE AND MORE AFFORDABLE IN SNOWY REGIONS, HELPING ACCELERATE OUR NATION’S TRANSITION TO A MORE SOLARDOMINATED ENERGY ECONOMY.

the University of Michigan have concocted a clear coating made of plastic or silicon to be sprayed on that helps solar arrays shed piles of ice and snow that could diminish the energy output at the moments — winter — people can least afford to go without.

The finding, published in the journal Advanced Materials Technologies and co-authored by U-M engineer Anish Tuteja along with researchers at Sandia National Laboratories and the University of Alaska, come after tests in

Fairbanks, Alaska, found the spray helped reduce the period when panels were covered by snow and ice to 28 percent of the winter versus 59 percent for uncoated panels. “Snowphobic coatings, if we can demonstrate their longterm efficacy, will make solar power more reliable and more affordable in snowy regions, helping accelerate our nation’s transition to a more solar-dominated energy economy,” says Laurie Burnham of Sandia Labs in New Mexico.

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Up Front DETROIT DIGITS

1,712

The number of students from China attending Michigan State University this year, down from a high of 4,793 in 2014.

The data reflects a steady decline, attributed to a rise in anti-Chinese sentiment in the U.S., fear of racial unrest, and most recently, the COVID-19 pandemic, according to the Lansing State Journal. It’s a costly drop for MSU, which recieves nearly $30,000 more in tuition per international student than per in-state enrollee.

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ranking of th The Troy-based Altair

CANNABIS

IN THE SHADOWS Pot is legal now, so why is the illicit market still thriving?

BY JENNIFER SAMS

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SOME MICHIGANDERS HAVE ACCESS to a lot of great weed. Provisioning centers have it.

“Legacy” sellers — aka the illicit market — have it.

And your cousin’s #frostynugs are blowing up your feed. So, if you can get high-quality pot anywhere, does it matter whether you’re buying it from a dealer or a dispensary?

Since 2018, when Michigan became the 10th state — and first in the Midwest — to legalize possession of cannabis and recreational cannabis use for adults, consumers have been protected by laws requiring testing for all state-regulated cannabis products to ensure potency and safety.

That testing, though, increases the cost, which is passed along to customers. And what neither testing nor state policy can guarantee is access to the product. Amanda*, a 45-year-old single mother in a rural area who uses cannabis to treat anxiety, would love to buy from a licensed dealer, but “visiting one would require me to drive farther away, which would mean more time, money, and planning. It would turn into too much of a production.”

Welcome to cannabis deserts. If you’re in Washtenaw County, the choices are endless. The city of Detroit, mired in a debate about how to provide opportunities to city residents and people of color, has yet to license any recreational shops. “There are vast areas of the state without any dispensaries, and then there are areas that are highly concentrated with dispensaries, such as Washtenaw County,” says Michigan State University epidemiologist Kipling Bohnert, who studies substance use and abuse.

The ongoing existence of the black market for pot is also something of a fail-safe, for when the testing system goes awry. Notably, in November, the Michigan Marijuana Regulatory Agency recalled 64,000 pounds of flower, worth some $230 million

because of problematic, possibly misleading test results. More than 400 medical and recreational retailers lost much of their stock in that purge.

Illicit cannabis dealers, of course, evade testing regulations, Byzantine government licensing practices, and high taxes. “It is extremely expensive to get into [the state-regulated market], and there are a lot of agencies that have a lot of oversight over your whole operation from day one until you’re fully licensed,” says Joe*, a 31-year-old pot dealer. Still, illegal pot is risky, so Joe says he is hoping to shift from underground to legit sooner or later.

The legal system intends to give the public more confidence in the product, but a lot of cannabis users trust their longtime illegal dealers more. “What I’m buying is more of a craft product,” one such customer says. “I get a much better-quality product.”

Some people believe the playing field will level out once the state’s market matures and prices come down. Others doubt the “legacy” market will ever vanish entirely. Bohnert says the two will coexist because of “expense, taxes, and jurisdictional issues, including whether or not dispensaries have been approved to operate in a given community.”

At the moment, the testing problems are creating uncertainty and mistrust that need to be corrected, says attorney Matthew Abel, founder of the Cannabis Counsel law firm in Detroit, who served on the drafting committee for the pot legalization statute.

“One of the reasons the government tells us that we need a regulated market is so they [customers and patients] will have access to cannabis that’s been tested,” Abel says. “If that testing process or the testing results are unreliable — or even thought to be unreliable — it harms that system and reduces the reason to use the licensed system in the first place.” *Names have been changed.

on Newsweek magazine’s America’s 100 Most Loved Workplaces 2021.

The engineering firm with more than 3,000 employees in 25 countries was lauded for its efforts to ensure a workforce that is at least 50 percent female. The only other Michigan firm on the list was the Battle Creek-based Kellogg, at number 75 despite a prolonged strike.

408,375

The number of registered voters in Detroit who failed to cast ballots in the 2021 municipal elections.

Only 18 percent did vote, the lowest turnout since 2009.

The national average for voter participation in municipal elections is about 27 percent, according to the Citizens Research Council.

The 2020 presidential election drew 51 percent of registered Detroiters.

66.8% 8%

The share of Detroit-area renters who have not moved in more than 20 years, according to an analysis by Construction Coverage.com. That’s the eighth highest among major U.S. metropolitan areas.

New York City came in first, with 20.4 percent of renters not having moved in more than 20 years; the Texas cities of Austin and Arlington tied for the lowest rate of 1.4 percent. Overall, in Michigan, 4.4 percent of renters have not moved in more than two decades.

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Up Front

BOOK REVIEW

BUT WHAT IS HE ‘THINKING’?

A memoir by one of U-M’s most celebrated observers of human nature reveals too little about what makes him tick

BY JENN McKEE

BACK WHEN I TAUGHT rhetoric and composition — better known as “freshman English” — at Penn State University, one of the course’s central themes involved audience consideration. I taught students to ask themselves: Whom do I want to read my piece? Through what means might I most effectively reach those people?

What are their values, and consequently, what tone should I employ? What are my goals?

I revisited these questions often while poring over Richard E. Nisbett’s Thinking: A Memoir. A University of Michigan distinguished professor emeritus, Nisbett is enough of a social psychology superstar that Malcolm Gladwell once wrote in The New York Times Book Review: “The most influential

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thinker, in my life, has been the psychologist Richard Nisbett. He basically gave me my view of the world.”

That is sky-high praise. And if nothing else, Thinking provides an overview of the impressive breadth of Nisbett’s field of inquiry — including the opacity of our own motivations, how and why we get distracted from statistical “big picture” indicators when making decisions, and how the American South’s “culture of honor” results in higher rates of violence.

But that’s not all this book is. Working within the framework of an intellectual autobiography, it begins as a more conventional, linear memoir that’s interesting but not as satisfying as I had hoped.

The book opens with Nisbett’s free-range

childhood near El Paso. His unsupervised (and often dangerous) early solo adventures — including jumping off the roof and repeatedly leaping into the Rio Grande despite not knowing how to swim — were, he insists, what set him on the path to a life in science: “My unconscious mind was undoubtedly doing lots of work on those expeditions that wouldn’t have gotten done if I had been playing games with neighbor children.”

Nisbett’s descriptions of his early life range from nostalgically candid to evasive. In only a few pages, he jarringly jumps from high school friends to racism to his affection for rock ’n’ roll to his mother’s frustrated ambitions to his father’s mental illness. (“One starry June night, my father went into the backyard, stripped all his clothes off, … and announced that the world was coming to an end.”)

Next, we’re off to Tufts University, where he dismisses his classmates as having been drawn from a “narrow range of talent” within America’s Northeast: “I was able to find some bright people to hang out with, for sure, but the hordes of scintillating intellects I had imagined might be at Tufts turned out not to be there.”

If that reads as pompous, wait until he’s 24 and applying for faculty jobs at Penn, Harvard, and Yale. In the book’s most bracing (yet nonetheless enraging) moment of self-awareness, Nisbett notes: “You should know that I didn’t apply to any of the three schools that expressed an interest in me. This was the era of the old boy network. In those days, when the top departments had an opening, they called the best researchers in their field and asked them if they had any good men coming out.”

Nisbett landed unhappily at Yale, before making his permanent professional home at the University of Michigan where, in a line that will surprise more than a few locals, Nisbett says he found that “the paucity of people at Michigan intent on showing you how smart they were was a little unnerving initially.” (I never found them to be in short supply during my time in Ann Arbor, but … OK.) The rest of Thinking focuses exclusively on Nisbett’s various research ventures, including the conclusions at which he and his collaborators arrived. These sections contain flashes of compelling insights, certainly, but they hardly drive the reader forward.

Which is why, again and again, I found myself asking: Who exactly is the target audience for this particular Portrait of the Academic as a Young Man? The only reasonable answer I could produce was: those working (or aiming to work) within the field of social psychology. There’s a lot of name-dropping here that will be lost on non-experts, as well as plenty of praise of Nisbett’s close colleagues as “talented” and “charming.”

I read Thinking hoping to understand Nisbett. I yearned for a deeper, more sustained exploration of the links between Nisbett’s life of the mind and his, well, life. Thinking mostly left me empty.

BOOK, RICHARD NISBETT COURTESY OF RICHARD NISBETT

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Up Front

OXFORD HIGH SCHOOL FRESHMAN Julia Begley says she was in a nearby hallway on Nov. 30 when the shooting started. Her voice is small as she stands in a parking lot later that same day, parents by her side — about to enter Lakepoint Community Church to partake in one of the saddest rituals of modern American life for many teens: a memorial service for classmates killed in school by a spray of gunfire.

She shivers as she talks about hiding in the bathroom that day as another student, Ethan Crumbley, allegedly opened fire just before fifth period. Maybe she’s trembling from the cold, but probably not. “I was just very confused and really anxious — just panicking,” she says quietly. “I was holding my friend’s hand with one hand. With the other, I was holding the girl next to me. I didn’t know her, but it felt like I’d known her a long time.”

This, too, is a ritual of these events: children telling their horror stories to journalists. In most cases, the American public digests the sorry data — four dead, seven injured, hundreds scarred for life — as news producers and editors compare it to the death tolls of similar events, from Columbine to Sandy Hook to Parkland, in deciding how long to dwell. Politicians call for fewer guns or more guns, psychologists are deployed like paratroopers to try to address the community’s trauma, and everyone else more or less goes back about their business.

Rinse and repeat.

The coverage of Oxford High School’s shooting, for several reasons, has been different from that of other shootings. When The Washington Post sent me out that Tuesday after Thanksgiving in the hours after the shooting, I anticipated a one- or two-day assignment. Yet by that weekend, I was still driving to Oxford, covering various aspects of the story for both the Post and The New York Times. By Dec. 9, 10 days after the incident, the Times was still publishing “What we know” pieces about the shooting.

But why? I have some thoughts.

Each life ended on Nov. 30 was stolen violently and prematurely, and all losses were, obviously, equally devastating. But one victim — Tate Myre, a star football player — received particular attention when University of Michigan football players wore patches honoring him and his fallen classmates as they won the Big Ten Championship on Dec. 4. The next day, the struggling Detroit Lions observed a moment of silence and wore Oxford emblems on their helmets as they won a thriller to end a yearlong winless streak. Myre, 16, has been posthumously declared an honorary member of Michigan State University’s recruiting class.

That might have been the end of it, but for the accused’s parents. Usually, the parents seem — however disingenuously — as clueless and devastated as the rest of us. Not this time. The Crumbleys left a trail of social media evidence that made this entire event utterly predictable — so Oakland County Prosecutor Karen McDonald took HIGH SCHOOL AP PHOTO/PAUL SANCYA

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On Nov. 30, Oxford High School became the site of a shooting that would result in the deaths of four students, making it the deadliest U.S. K-12 school shooting since 2018. 

MEDIA

Oxford Overtime If school shootings are so routine, why did Oxford linger in the national news? An Hour Detroit contributor’s view from the front lines.

BY LINDSAY KALTER

the eye-catching and unusual action of charging them with involuntary manslaughter.

There are few things America loves to hate more than seemingly terrible parents. The murder weapon, infamously, was an early Christmas present for their obviously troubled 15-year-old, stored in an unlocked drawer, in a house loaded with other firearms. Mom jovially texted her little darling before the shooting, warning him to be more careful after he was caught looking up ammunition online at school. Neighbors recalled feeling unnerved when Ethan would shoot off his BB gun in his yard.

Then, of course, the parents provided additional theater for newshounds by vanishing when authorities came to apprehend them. They were found in the basement of a commercial building in Detroit, some 40 miles away, and were arrested as fugitives.

And then, there came yet another new wrinkle in the post-shooting routine: Copycat threats spread instantly on social media. By that Friday, more than 100 Michigan schools had closed as children as young as middle school-age threatened to organize deadly attacks.

As of this writing, with Christmas approaching, the nation has, in fact, turned its attention elsewhere, but trials for the Crumbleys are sure to rivet us once more, and McDonald is hinting that school administrators may also face criminal liability. Most school shootings result in the death or imprisonment of the child who turned on his peers; this one has an array of adults who may be held accountable. That’s more cathartic to the public and more interesting to the national media.

But I sense there’s one more unexplored explanation: the pandemic. Oxford was the first multiple-casualty high school shooting since November 2019, just before most of us learned the word “coronavirus.” Schools have been shut down on and off for the past two years, and their reopening has embroiled us in angry debates over mask mandates, COVID-19 testing, and ways to help slipping students catch up.

We’ve spent most of our energy arguing about how to keep our kids safe from that. Then, one frigid day in November, we were reminded with the deaths of Myre, 14-year-old Hana St. Juliana, 17-year-old Madisyn Baldwin, and 17-year-old Justin Shilling of the other ways we fail them.

It was an instance of one of the worst features of pre-pandemic life colliding with a tumultuous nation mourning 800,000 casualties of COVID. Maybe we were all too raw to let this one fade away.

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DR. MUNE GOWDA TOP AWARD WINNING PLASTIC SURGEON • America’s Best Plastic Surgeons, Facelift 2021 – Newsweek USA • Top Doctor 2020-2022 – MI Top Docs • Top 10 Plastic Surgeon 2020 – National Academy of Plastic Surgeons • 10 Best Plastic Surgeons Awards 2018-2021 – American Institute of Plastic Surgeons • Best Doctors 2001-2018 – Best Doctors, Inc. • Top Doctor – 2018 Top Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons • Top Plastic Surgeon Reviews 2018 • Top Plastic Surgeon 2017 – Leading Physicians of the World • America’s Top Surgeons, Consumer’s Research Council of America • Outstanding Instructor Award, Plastic Surgery Department, DMC

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02.22 MAKING THE MOST OF LIFE IN METRO DETROIT

24/Seven MI STYLE

LEAVING HER MARK Sabrina Spanta recently made history as Project Runway’s first Afghan American contestant. Now, she’s ready to shake up Detroit’s fashion scene. p. 25

B E AU T Y p.2 4 M I ST Y L E p. 25 I NEED MY S PAC E p. 26 S H O P P I N G p.2 8

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BEAUTY

Heaven Scent

Heady notes, from jasmine and amber to rose centifolia and sandalwood, make these luxury fragrances perfect for Valentine’s Day gifting STYLED BY ERIKA PATTERSON | PHOTO BY E.E. BERGER

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Clockwise from left: Aerin Rose de Grasse, $334 for 3.4 oz., at Aerin, aerin.com; Bleu de Chanel Eau de Toilette Spray, $100 for 3.4 fl. oz., at Chanel, chanel.com; Dolce & Gabbana The One Eau de Parfum, $122 for 2.5 oz., at Macy’s, macys.com; Giorgio Armani Acqua di Giò Absolu Eau de Parfum, $142 for 4.2 oz., at Ulta Beauty, ulta.com; Tom Ford Ombre Leather, $136 for 50 ml, at Tom Ford, tomford.com; Tom Ford Violet Blonde, shop similar items at tomford.com; Coco Mademoiselle Eau de Parfum Intense Spray, $145 for 3.4 fl. oz., at Chanel; Alexander McQueen Celtic Rose Eau de Parfum, $245 for 75 ml, at Saks Fifth Avenue, saksfifthavenue.com

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“(My style is) always boy-meets-girl, edgy, and 'how can I wear my clothes in ways they were not meant to be worn'.”

—SABRINA SPANTA

MI STYLE

X MARKS THE SPOT

Afghan American designer and Project Runway alum Sabrina Spanta is leaving her mark in Detroit with her daring creations — and her own bold look

BY R ACH A E L THOMAS P H O T O BY SAL RODRIGUE Z

 Spanta wears a denim jacket from Détroit Is the New Black, a vintage shirt that belonged to her father, the X-Pant from her namesake brand, and shoes from Steve Madden.

“I FEEL LIKE I’VE LIVED a lot of lives by now.”

So says Sabrina Spanta — at the age of 29.

Born in Afghanistan, Spanta fled the war-torn country to Pakistan, with her family, in the mid-’90s. After her mother passed away during the journey, Spanta’s great-aunt adopted her and her sister and brought them to Bloomfield Hills, where she currently resides.

While adjusting to American life as a child, Spanta developed a love for making clothes. This passion would carry her through obtaining a fashion design degree from the Savannah College of Art and Design, working mass-market fashion jobs in Florida, and — most recently — competing on season 19 of Project Runway, which premiered last October.

As the show’s first Afghan American contestant, Spanta strived to create garments that represented both her Afghan roots (reflected in a floral jumpsuit she made, that aimed to emphasize the beauty of the female body and featured a redefined take on the traditional burqa) and her U.S. upbringing. She was also candid about her lifelong struggle with rheumatoid arthritis.

Spanta’s work has been well received since her return to metro Detroit in 2020. Last fall, she celebrated her namesake brand’s launch at Birmingham’s Daxton Hotel and began selling her designs in Détroit Is the New Black. Among the shoppable garments is the X-Pant, which she wore on her first episode of Project Runway.

Here, Spanta talks style, designing, and more.

My personal style is … Boy-meets-girl, very much so.

I’m not scared of mixing and matching and not wearing things in the normal way they were meant to be worn.

My go-to look: I will always have a blazer on. I always have [one] with me in the back of the car. My design aesthetic: It’s bold — whether it’s with colors, the patterns, or the shape. It has parts of my Afghani roots in it. It’s edgy and it’s sophisticated. … I design for the modern woman who isn't afraid to dress to be different.

My favorite designer at the moment: [Schiaparelli Artistic Director] Daniel Roseberry — I love his aesthetic. How he brings that artistic side of fashion and fashion expressionism. … I love that kind of passion, where you see something and you question it, and without even saying a word or trying to figure the look out, the art just evokes emotion. If I weren’t a designer, I would be … A dancer, because it’s been a dream of mine to move the way dancers move their bodies, to express themselves in so many different ways. How I get in a creative zone: I listen to all different types of music from all over the world, from K-pop to Russian to Spanish. That’s what gets me going. My advice to aspiring designers: Follow your intuition, keep dreaming, and never lose hope. You’re going to have depressing-ass days where you’re going to doubt yourself. Don’t let that get in the way. Remember the law of attraction: The more beauty and creativity you put into your mind, the more that’s going to come out to the world — and the world’s going to give it right back to you.

Find Spanta’s work at sabrinaspanta.com.

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 Desk-area rebirth: A nonfunctioning desk area that “we never used,” Matt says, was turned into a coffee bar and beverage area for parties, complete with a stylish hammered-copper sink. “We made sure it was equipped with everything you need, so you don’t have to run all over the kitchen to make coffee.” Adds Lisa: “I use it every single morning.”

Organized living: With handy features, like in-cabinet pegs for Tupperware storage, Lisa says, “It’s easy to be organized. Everything has its place.”

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 In the details: The space features white perimeter cabinets combined with a dark walnut vent hood, open shelving, and an oversized island that measures about 7.5 by 5 feet, with a 6-centimeter-thick countertop. More special touches include X-shaped mullions on glass cabinets with natural walnut interiors, LED cabinet lighting (inside and underneath), wineglass racks inside the cabinetry, drawers within super-deep drawers, and more.

I NEED MY SPACE

WORTH THE WAIT For decades, this couple focused on improving their clients’ lives through quality home designs.

Finally, they set aside time to create their own dream kitchen.

BY MEG A N SWOY ER PH OT OS BY JO E TI A NO

IT TOOK ONLY T WO MONTHS in 2020 for Matt and Lisa Whelan of Highland to update the kitchen in the home they have now lived in for 33 years.

The speed of the project is no surprise: The couple owns Milford’s 30-year-old M.J. Whelan Construction and its new-ish sister firm, Authentic Kitchen & Design (a kitchen design studio and cabinet showroom).

“We built a 1,100-square-foot house on a lake [Charlick Lake],” Lisa says. “We had a little house on a tiny lake, with a big yard, and we loved it.” The house grew as the family grew: Three babies, and then four grandkids, meant many renovations, but until 2020, the kitchen hadn’t seen an update in some 25 years.

“We had a new kitchen on the back burner for a while, with design ideas in mind,” Matt says. Lisa’s tip-off that it was moving to the front burner was the Christmas gift she received from Matt in 2019: a framed rendering of the new kitchen.

The goal was to readdress their lifestyle. The couple wanted to take advantage of their empty-nest status, but also inject the newest of elements into the space.

For example, custom cabinet panels (made by Wood-Mode) integrate with their Thermador appliances to disguise the appliances and create a cohesive look.

They also wanted a top-notch coffee and beverage center.

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 A couple who cooks together: “Lisa is fantastic with every sauce in the world,” Matt says.

“She makes a great chicken dish with balsamic and olive oil. We’re always thinking, ‘Why do we need to go out?’ And I was a prep cook when I was young, so I like to chop and do prep work.” Adds Lisa: “Matt makes a killer chili, and he never makes it exactly the same twice, but it’s always great … better than mine!”  Cooking with ease: “Our induction cooktop heats things up so quickly, and when it’s just us and the servings are small, it’s the greatest,” Matt says.

“It’s clean, fast, and easy.” He’s also a big fan of the Bosch Home microwave and convection oven that’s located beneath the countertop.

“We seem to have the house where everyone gathers, so to have the ability to entertain and have people in the heart of the home ... it’s just great.”

—MATT WHELAN

“We seem to have the house where everyone gathers, so to have the ability to entertain and have people in the heart of the home while you’re cooking, and to serve them and sit and talk with them, it’s just great,” Matt says. “Plus, you can work in here together and not feel like you’re on top of each other.”

Being in the design and build business, working together day-in and day-out, and renovating your kitchen side-by-side could be a challenge, but it wasn’t for this compatible couple who tend to complement each other. Matt’s a builder, and with 35 staff members, Lisa, who has a background in design, keeps the ship on course. She does

the accounting, assists with design, and manages the hiring, among other functions. “She’s very good at dealing with people,” Matt says.

The Whelans worked with Sarah Rosecrans and David Nickerson of Authentic Kitchen & Design, along with others. They continue to be passionate about their build-and-design business but are now also downright passionate about their own kitchen.

“We were on the same page, as far as what we liked for the kitchen,” Lisa explains. “Matt is great with layouts, so I let him do his thing with size of island, scale, et cetera. I’m good with selections and of course would get his input.”

Adds Matt, laughing: “Well, truth be told, at first I didn’t like the countertop and backsplash [quartz] selections, but I love them now. She knows how to choose well, and I love how it looks, even when we’re not using it.”

Here, they share insider tips on designing a kitchen that suits just two, on a day-to-day basis — or a gathering of family and friends, come party time.

 Underfoot: The kitchen flooring was tile and transitioned into Brazilian cherry in the dining room. “We wanted it to be all the same and couldn’t justify tearing out the old wood, even though we were so tired of the cherry,” Lisa says. “So, we took out the tile and put in more cherry wood but did a white and then a light gray stain on it. It looks great, flows nicely, and is much more cohesive.”

Undercover: “I love the integrated custom appliance panels,” Lisa says.

“You don’t see the refrigerator, freezer, or dishwasher, which gives it a homey feel.”

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Hermès (right) debuted its first Michigan store at the Somerset Collection

THERE WAS A TIME WHEN the mention of the words luxury and Detroit brought up one image: a car. But local and world-famous designers and major retailers are changing that perspective.

The city has been developing into a fashion epicenter, with names such as Johnny Was and Fab’rik establishing local outposts in recent years and Bottega Veneta choosing it as the site of its Salon 03 collection’s show in October.

Now, a fresh wave of national brands are putting down roots, and our local designers and retailers are expanding their footprints. Here are some of the highlights:

Xhibition offers high-end streetwear pieces from brands like Nike, Adidas, and Dr. Martens 

Hermès

The maker of the classic Birkin handbag made its Michigan debut last June. The new store carries women’s and men’s silk and leather accessories, as well as items from the Hermès home and fragrance lines. It also carries the the brand’s first blush and lip tint products, as part of the Rose collection, composed of eight blush shades, two blush brushes, and three lip enhancers. A statement from Hermès U.S. President and CEO Robert Chavez says, “We are honored to join the Troy community at the Somerset Collection, bringing Hermès culture and craft to the heartland of American ingenuity and industry.”

Somerset Collection, 2801 W. Big Beaver Road, Troy; 947-218-0740; hermes.com SHOPPING

FASHION FORWARD

Hermès’ first store in Michigan, a renovated Louis Vuitton at Somerset Collection, and expansions of local brands highlight Detroit’s growth in luxury retail

BY JULIANA LUMAJ

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Aritzia

In October, Canadian women’s fashion retailer Aritzia opened an enormous, 116-foot-long storefront at Somerset Collection. The retailer offers a diverse selection of clothing, accessories, and shoes from such brands as Wilfred, Sunday Best, Agolde, and Levi’s. In addition, guests can enjoy private shopping rooms and personalized shopping experiences. The store is also home to the retailer’s A-OK Cafe — the second in the U.S. — which offers a selection of unique drinks, such as the Mushroom and Miso Caramel Latte, as well as a variety of pastries.

Somerset Collection, 2800 W. Big Beaver Road, Troy; 248-458-0955; aritzia.com XHIBITION PETER POSEN (FINCH CO.) HERMES COURTESY OF HERMES

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B  Founded in New York, The Great Eros has delivered its luxury lingerie and loungewear to Birmingham.

Well Done Goods

A decade after the debut of her sophisticated neckwear retailer, Cyberoptix Tie Lab, Bethany Shorb opened her flagship store in 2016, on Gratiot Avenue, under the new name Well Done Goods. She has also branched out into apparel, bath and body products, candles, and Detroit- and Michigan-themed gifts. In November, the Cranbrook alumna relocated Well Done Goods to a 4,000-square-foot space in Eastern Market. In addition to allowing Well Done artisans to craft wares right where they are sold, the expanded space makes the shop Detroit’s largest provider of crystals, minerals, fossils, and handmade jewelry.

The retailer’s community involvement includes participating in a six-week paid employment program that prepare Detroit youth for the workforce.

Eastern Market, 1515 Division St., Detroit; 313-404-2053; welldonegoods.com

Rebel Nell

The jewelry maker opened its second retail location — and first stand-alone — at Twelve Oaks Mall, in November. Since launching in 2013, Rebel Nell has become well known among metro Detroiters for crafting one-of-a-kind earrings, bracelets, necklaces, and rings out of fallen graffiti chips collected from around the city of Detroit. Each sale supports the brand’s charitable mission of hiring, training, and providing support services for local women facing barriers to employment.

Twelve Oaks Mall, 27500 Novi Road, Novi; rebelnell.com

Louis Vuitton

Louis Vuitton was founded in Paris in 1854 and has since become one of the most influential fashion houses in history. But Somerset Collection shoppers are now seeing the brand in a new light, following the opening of its expanded and freshly renovated THE GREAT EROS SHAN HAQ

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location in October. Wood surfaces are carved with iconic Louis Vuitton patterns, complemented by works from Michigan artists Frank Lepkowski and Jennifer Kroll. Shop for women’s and men’s ready-towear clothing, jewelry, handmade leather goods, and fragrances. Private appointments are available, as is a brand-new VIP room.

Somerset Collection, 2800 W. Big Beaver Road, Troy; 248-643-8930; louisvuitton.com

Xhibition

In November, Ohio-based fashion retailer Xhibition opened the doors to its Detroit location, providing locals access to its extensive selection of men’s and women’s apparel and footwear. The merchant specializes in streetwear and athleticwear, working with more than 100 notable brands — including Adidas, Nike, Ugg, and Dr. Martens. Through its X Community Works initiative, the brand regularly collaborates with local organizations on charitable endeavors, such as food drives and mentorship programs for kids and teens.

The Farwell, 1251 Griswold St., Detroit; 313-6344080; xhibition.co

The Great Eros

Founded in New York City, in 2016, The Great Eros found its way to Birmingham, where it opened a second location in October. Minimalism and elegance converge in the form of silk and sheer tops, cotton skirts, and luxury lingerie. The retailer — with fashion industry veteran Christina Viviani at the helm — prioritizes comfort, ethics, and sustainability, working with family-owned factories and studios in Italy and New York. The shop also offers lifestyle items, like candles and face masks.

245 W. Maple Road, Birmingham; 248-792-9247; thegreateros.com

BORN IN DETROIT Shinola is a design brand with an unwavering commitment to crafting lasting goods.

Take our Runwell: Built in Detroit with the finest Swiss and imported parts, it’s thoughtfully designed and built to last.

Visit Us In-Store or Online SHINOLA.COM

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Couture silhouettes and unexpected details come together for a bridal look that’s uncannily alluring

la femme surréaliste Photography by Jenny Risher

Styling by Rebecca Voigt Prop Styling by Jessica VanAssche Hair and makeup by Monica Jadan Shot on location at The Belle Isle Boathouse

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Left: Chosen Miller Blazer and Pants, $375 each, Alexandra Grecco Headband, $148, at Beloved Bridal, 122 S. Main St., Ste. 320, Ann Arbor; belovedbridal.com; Ariel Taub Kayla Earrings in Silver, $60, at L’Amour Bridal, 650 N. Telegraph Road, Dearborn; lamourbridalmi.com Right: Alexandra Grecco Odette Crop Top and Varlese Skirt, $600 each, Dany Tabet Grace Bodysuit, $750, at Beloved Bridal; Ariel Taub Kayla Earrings in Gold, $60, at L’Amour Bridal

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Lea-Ann Belter Petal Skirt Set, approximately $3,200, at Grace Elizabeth Bridal, 316B N. St Joseph St., Suttons Bay; graceelizabethbridal.com; Apel int pero ius.

Ariel Taub Kayla Earrings; Ratur?

Rodo Shoes, $875, at Tender, Et volupitae 271 MapleutRoad, Birmingham; cumW. exped tenderbirmingham.com dolupta dolor mos exerspiet unt re es dolorumquo inversp elliquo et ape at velliquo blaut adi tem sinctur? Uptassu sdandae ceprae sus.

Uda nus nim quissit, offici con

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SECRETARY OF STATE JOCELYN BENSON GEARS UP FOR A 2022 REELECTION FIGHT THAT SHE SAYS MAY DETERMINE THE FATE OF DEMOCRACY ITSELF 40

BY STEVE FRIESS

PHOTOS BY NICK HAGAN

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t is not unusual, as a political figure, to demur when asked what your next, likely higher aspirations are. You don’t want to seem vainglorious. It’s lousy politics to ogle greener pastures even before you’ve won your current race. And sometimes you really just don’t know what you want beyond the office you hold or seek.

Michigan Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson has a different, possibly truly novel reason for refusing to say whether she’d run for governor or some other job in 2026 if she wins a second four-year term in 2022: She’s not entirely sure American democracy will survive that long. “I don’t know what the world is going to look like in 2025, right?” Benson tells me, referring to the year after former President Donald Trump may attempt to regain the White House.

“What is democracy going to look like? I truly don’t know. I have hopes for what it’ll look like. But the question at that point for me will be, Where can I best continue this work that I’ve devoted my whole career to, about just making sure voices are heard and democracy works?”

How you feel about the 2020 election and the drama that continues to follow it will dictate how you take comments like this from Benson, who has also been quoted in The New York Times saying that the American way of life faces a “five-alarm fire” and has variously stated over the past year that she and her ilk may be all that stand between the U.S. Constitution and autocracy. If you are offended by the claims by Republicans that Joe Biden stole the White House from Trump and are terrified of the widespread efforts to make it easier for states to refuse to certify presidential election results they dislike, you agree with Benson. If, despite Trump’s own national security team ascertaining that the 2020 election was “the most secure in American history,” you have doubts and believe the great injustice is being perpetrated upon Republicans, you think this lady needs a Xanax.

As for Benson, well, she’s been preparing for this situation her whole life — which means either she has monumentally impressive timing or this is the molehill she was always destined to make into a mountain. Whereas most secretaries of state around the nation run for that job as a stepping-stone to other, higher offices, the 44-year-old has for decades coveted this specific job and the power it provides to oversee elections. The seeds were planted, she says, when, between college at Wellesley and law school at Harvard, the Pittsburgh native worked as an investigator of hate groups for the Southern Poverty

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Law Center in Alabama. There, she says, she visited the Edmund Pettus Bridge, the site of an iconic, violent voting rights confrontation in 1965 in which demonstrators attempting a march to Montgomery were thwarted and bashed by police. “I said a prayer at the foot of the Edmund Pettus Bridge, back in the late 1990s, to just be used however I could, wherever I was, to continue the work of those folks who stood on the bridge in 1965,” she says.

After law school, she moved to Detroit to clerk for the legendary federal appellate Judge Damon Keith; wrote a book about secretaries of state; made but lost a 2010 bid for the office to Republican Ruth Johnson; taught election law at Wayne State University Law School; and by 35 had become the school’s dean. She left that post in 2016 to help billionaire developer Stephen Ross, owner of the Miami Dolphins and a WSU Law alum, launch the Ross Initiative in Sports for Equality, an effort to foster better race relations in pro sports through training programs and other activities. Then, in 2018, riding an anti-Trump midterm wave that gave Democrats a clean sweep of all statewide elected offices, Benson soundly beat Republican nominee Mary Treder Lang to assume the role she always wanted, just in time to manage the pandemicchallenged 2020 elections.

It’s understandable, then, that she feels a cosmic sense of purpose at the center of a national maelstrom in which a president — for the first time in U.S. history — refuses to accept the official election results and continues to deputize legions of his supporters to file lawsuits; stage raucous, threatening, and — in the particular case of Jan. 6 at the U.S. Capitol — violent demonstrations; and attempt to reconfigure the election system to provide levers for future ballot-box losers to undo the outcome. And she’s not the only one who feels this way. “Never have I seen a person more prepared to meet her moment of destiny,” says former U.S. Attorney Barbara McQuade, now a University of Michigan law professor and co-host of the podcast #SistersInLaw. Benson “has long been devoted to the concept of voting rights. … Now, suddenly, the battle for the soul of democracy in America is occurring in our nations’ election officials’ offices. I don’t know whether it was serendipity or if she had the foresight to see this coming, but for whatever reason, she is well prepared to meet this moment.”

Or moments. The first of these for Benson came in May 2020 when her office mailed unsolicited absentee ballot applications to all potential Michigan voters to encourage primary voting during Michigan’s stay-at-home phase of the COVID-19 pandemic. When Trump took to Twitter to claim she’d sent out actual ballots, Benson’s response that he was wrong was seen by many merely as part of a series of feuds between the president and Michigan’s three female, Democratic constitutional officers.

(He’d gone after Gov. Gretchen Whitmer over her

Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson works at her Cadillac Place office, in Detroit.

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conservative and Trump supporter — declaring the election safe and valid has quelled the chatter.

(In an indication of the absurdity, the GOP in Oakland and Macomb counties censured McBroom for the report, even though he represents a swath of the Upper Peninsula.)

“I felt uniquely ready to take on the then-president and other attacks on our democracy because I have a deep confidence in my knowledge in preparation for this work,” Benson says, her cats Bella and Paws slinking in and out of the Zoom frame of the elegant Sherwood Forest home she shares with her husband, Related Companies executive Ryan Friedrichs, and their 5-year-old son. “It turns out the biggest challenge to election security in 2020 wasn’t actual hacking of machines or hacking the system but hacking voters’ minds and trying to actually undermine elections through lies and misinformation, targeting voters, and creating chaos and confusion about the process.”

complaints of his early handling of the COVID-19 crisis, and weeks after his Benson broadside, he slammed Attorney General Dana Nessel as a “wacky do nothing” for insisting he wear a mask during a visit to a Ford plant.)

Yet there would be much more criticism to come for Benson as the 2020 general election came and went with the state’s highest-ever number of votes cast and a result that Biden had beaten Trump by nearly 155,000 votes. In a bizarre spectacle, the nation watched on tenterhooks as the state’s canvassing board — whose role is largely a formality — came within one vote, on live TV, of refusing to

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certify the results. Despite some 250 audits and recounts across Michigan confirming the outcome, wave after wave of fraud or conspiracy claims emerged — Why were there so many discrepancies between the vote totals and the numbers in the Wayne County sign-in books? What exactly went on in Antrim County? Why won’t Benson allow a “forensic audit”? — to the point where it’s now nearly impossible to run for office as a Republican without suggesting there are at least “questions” about what happened and blaming Benson’s performance for this lack of public confidence. Not even a comprehensive report by Republican state Sen. Ed McBroom — a rock-ribbed

THE FIRST TIME I MEET BENSON, we are about to blitz through the tiny Department of Motor Vehicles branch in Monroe, one of many site visits she routinely makes to tend to the other big piece of the secretary of state gig: making sure the DMV runs smoothly. During her campaign and inaugural speech, she promised the public would be able to get in and out within 30 minutes; for most of her tenure, that goal has been elusive. Between staffing shortages, technology problems, and then the closures and crowd limits brought on by the pandemic, the beat on Benson’s governance of the “consumer” side of her job has been brutal, even from supporters. “I don’t know anyone who has had a good Secretary of State customer experience during the lockdown,” Democratic political consultant Joe DiSano says. “That stuff matters, especially when folks are angry.”

Jeff Timmer, the former state GOP executive director and co-founder of the anti-Trump group The Lincoln Project, admires Benson’s fortitude on voting rights but worries about her execution on the DMV side of things: “I went with my dad to do a transfer of automobile title. We had an appointed time to be there, and we ended up having to wait like an hour beyond that time for them to call us to go about the business. I was sitting there just listening to the conversations. And it was kind of like, ‘This used to be really bad, but now I can’t even believe how bad it is.’ People were just mad.”

Benson knows this is a vulnerability, which perhaps explains our drop-in at a quiet DMV office on a midweek afternoon when odds were slim there’d be any frustrated customers waiting around. The long delays of earlier in 2021, she says, came because extensions for renewals that the Legislature put into place on account of the pandemic ended all at once, creating a backlog and crush that led to experiences like that of the Timmers. She extols

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the new technology, fully in place by summer 2021, that enables most transactions — license plate and driver’s license renewals — to be done without a visit. Under her predecessor, she says, the DMV wait times had tripled from 14 minutes in 2011 to 43 minutes in 2018; 80 percent of visitors now schedule their appointments online and are in and out in under 20 minutes.

The political trouble for Benson is that even if her data is correct — and there’s no real way for journalists to confirm it — it still can’t erase the bad taste, fair or not, of anyone who struggled with the office in the first three years of her tenure. Indeed, even during our visit at the Monroe DMV, there was a peculiar moment where Benson chatted up one of the clerks. She had just finished an upbeat conversation with another clerk who enthusiastically told her how much easier the new systems were and how much happier the customers are. But the second clerk? Not quite so effusive.

“How is the new system going?” Benson asks.

The clerk, jittery at being put on the spot in front of a gaggle of official-looking folks and a journalist, answers cautiously and haltingly, “It’s an adjustment just because, yeah, but it works.” Benson pauses for whatever else the clerk might say, and nothing but an awkward silence ensues. “Well,” Benson eventually says before moving along, “thank you for working throughout the pandemic.”

IF HER ELECTORAL FATE depends on her DMV work, Benson might be in big trouble as she heads into her reelection bid. And she certainly has cause for concern anyway because the political climate for Democrats is turning so sour amid the still-lingering pandemic and outrage over inflation that The Cook Political Report recently shifted Whitmer’s reelection chances — once a slam dunk — to “toss-up.” If Whitmer sinks, the thinking goes, the entire Democratic ticket drowns with her.

Yet Benson intends to make this campaign about the question of who will safeguard democracy itself.

She agonizes over what might have happened in 2020 had a pliant Republican secretary of state in Michigan given in to Trump’s pressure and refused to back up the outcome at the polls. She expresses awe at two of her Republican counterparts — Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger and Nevada Secretary of State Barbara Cegavske — who affirmed Biden’s wins in their states and suffered a torrent of threats, abuse, and party ostracism for doing so. Benson, Raffensperger, Cegavske, and Democratic Arizona Secretary of State Katie Hobbs were in close contact in those tumultuous postelection weeks, Benson says. Benson, too, fielded threats and endured a late-night protest outside her home by a crowd toting bullhorns and Trump flags.

“The most frustrating thing was how many of our colleagues who didn’t have the same experience didn’t understand what we were going through,” she

BRING IT ON. I’M READY FOR THE FIGHT, HOWEVER LONG IT GOES, HOWEVER LONG IT TAKES. —JOCELYN BENSON

recalls. “I think they do now, but it was difficult to try to explain to the secretary of state of Colorado or Ohio, like, this is what we’re dealing with — we need your support. And they say, ‘Why? Everything’s great. We’re good. Our states are great.’ We’re like, ‘The storm’s coming to you as well.’”

The day of our second interview, in fact, coincided with an announcement out of Arizona that an extensive, expensive “forensic audit” conducted by Trump supporters had concluded with Biden’s lead growing. I expect Benson to be relieved and perhaps triumphant, but no such endzone jig is forthcoming.

“This is a political strategy designed to sow seeds of doubt among the public, not just about the results of the 2020 election but about their faith in democracy in general, and facts and data and truth don’t matter to that strategy,” she says. “They’re just going to keep trying to find ways — whether it’s through court cases, whether it’s through fake audits, whether it’s through legislative hearings — to keep that narrative out there with an eye towards, ultimately, what we’re seeing in other states, which is changing the rules of democracy to make it harder to vote and to potentially make it easier to block

election results they don’t like in the future.”

So far, political observers say, her potential 2022 opponents don’t seem serious. One, community college instructor Kristina Karamo of Oak Park, has, as of early January, flatly refused to interview with any non-pro-Trump outlets, and the other, state Rep. Beau LaFave of Iron Mountain, scheduled at least three different appointments to speak with me only to stand me up each time. Benson’s opponent will be chosen not by a primary election but by attendees at the state GOP convention, a crowd likely to be especially dedicated to the debunked claim that Benson stole the state for Biden in 2020. Karamo, who alleges she witnessed fraud as a poll challenger during the state’s counting of absentee ballots, would seem to have the upper hand for the nod given she boasts Trump’s endorsement and that she insists the Jan. 6 riot in Washington was carried out by anarchists pretending to be Trump supporters.

“If the GOP nominates QAnon conspiracy theorists, Benson will have an easier path forward, even if the national political mood tilts, to some extent, against the Democrats,” says Tom Ivacko, executive director of the University of Michigan Center for Local, State, and Urban Policy, referring to a shadowy online persona that promulgates myriad false conspiracy theories about Democrats.

“It’s hard to imagine QAnon conspiracy purveyors winning state office in Michigan. But perhaps a large enough GOP wave could sweep them in, too.”

That, of course, is what Benson fears most — and why her 2022 effort is likely to be a pull-out-allthe-stops, unusually star-studded campaign for a usually lesser-noticed job. For this story, for instance, Stephen Ross, a Trump supporter who was her boss at the Ross Initiative, happily pops on the phone to rave about her competence. “If Jocelyn believes in something, nobody gets more involved than she does,” he tells me. Detroit Pistons Vice Chair Arn Tellem, too, is eager to chime in on their joint work encouraging Detroiters to vote: “She’s, to me, a dear friend, a great leader, a very effective secretary of state, someone for whom I have the highest regard.”

Benson, who famously completed the Boston Marathon while 8.5 months pregnant, leans hard into the running metaphors in describing her determination to still be in office in 2024 to protect Michigan’s vote. “I’m a marathon runner, and I will have more endurance than anyone,” she tells me.

“Bring it on. I’m ready for the fight, however long it goes, however long it takes.”

And whatever the fate of democracy, Ross says Benson will thrive. She won’t talk about her future, but the billionaire has some thoughts: “She’s a woman that certainly, when she gets done with this, will have a tremendous amount of opportunities and choices. We’ve talked about some of them. She’s going to make the right decision that’s best for her, and as with anything she does, I think she will be a champion.”

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We collaborate on idea consulting to bring our client’s vision to life. We can create custom swag bags including corporate and employee gifts.

Our additional capabilities include website/ graphic design, commercial printing, social media management and photography,” she says.

Heard was the 2016 recipient of the Jackie Robinson MVDBP (Most Valuable Diverse Business Partner) award, given by the Detroit Tigers and Major League Baseball to minority-owned and women-owned businesses. The recognition elevated her business to a new level and gave her the drive, fortitude, and confidence not only to survive, but to thrive. Heard was the first Black wom-

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an to receive the award. Heard’s firm is poised to meet the needs of its clientele with efficient, exceptional service. “We pride ourselves on being available to our customers 52 weeks of the year,” she says. A full-service promotional marketing and branding company, Corporate 52 provides creative ways to promote businesses, clients, and campaigns, including rebranding strategies. “We’re always on top of the latest trends,” Heard says.

Heard is also the founder of SWAGGLES, which is a Detroit born brand that offers unique paw branded apparel and accessories for pawrents and dogs. “I’m grateful for the many organizations that are committed to rescuing and providing a safe place for dogs that suffer at the hands of cruel and heartless individuals,” she says. Through their sales, SWAGGLES donates a percentage of profits to local and national animal rescues and shelters.

More information can be found at swaggles.com.

Temeria Heard President/CEO

Corporate 52 Marketing Group 3031 W. Grand Blvd., Ste. 505B Detroit, MI 48202 313-752-1037 877-542-8032 hello@corporate52.com corporate52.com

1/5/22 8:45 AM

2021 was the year of “The big quit,” but for Alison Vaughn, founder and CEO of Jackets for Jobs, it was the year of “The Big win.”

The Goldman Sachs Scholar has always been about women’s empowerment.

Vaughn’s energy and positive spirit led her to grace the cover of three online magazines (Her Vision Magazine - Feb. 2021; Purpose Driven Magazine - May 2021; and Women Own Excellence - June 2021).

Vaughn, a graduate of Michigan State University, was named 2021 Entrepreneur of the Year by the Michigan Association of Female Entrepreneurs (MAFE), and was a contestant on Jay Leno’s ‘You Bet Your Life’ show. Vaughn ended 2021 as a winner of the Miss Fashion Global Pageant for Michigan.

While all of these accomplishments are “exciting,” they also are important because they help “expand the brand” and put the

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focus on her true passion, Jackets for Jobs.

2022 promises to be just as exciting.

Vaughn, a Comcast newsmaker and now a franchise owner of Miss Fashion Global, is excited to celebrate 22 years of outfitting and providing job assistance to metro Detroit job seekers.

Jackets for Jobs’ partnership with Detroit at Works, TJ Maxx and Domino’s Pizza has helped more than 30,000 clients achieve their job-seeking goals through their training program. Jackets for Jobs’ was honored in 2021 for the fourth consecutive year as one of the Best and Brightest Companies to work for in Detroit by National Association of Business Resources.

Their mission is simple. “We help people get a job” says Vaughn. “We provide high quality clothing to job seekers that will impress any employer.”

Alison Vaughn CEO & Founder

Jackets for Jobs 5555 Conner, Ste. 2097 Detroit, MI 48213 313-579-9160 7800 W. Outer Dr., Ste. 325 Detroit, MI 48235 313-766-5407 jacketsforjobs.org

12/30/21 11:16 AM

It’s important in the real estate world to be able to change with the trends and times, to best serve the needs and interests of buyers and sellers. Because of the pandemic and an inconsistent economy, change has certainly been in the air the past few years.

The fact that Cindy Kahn Real Estate has had two of its best years in 2020 and 2021 proves that the successful and highly respected Realtor can roll with the changes.

Real estate is a relationship business more than anything else, and the experienced team at Cindy Kahn Real Estate navigates the ever-changing market to structure the best deals for their clients and fulfill their real estate goals.

Kahn, a native of Birmingham, graduate of U-M, and resident of Bloomfield Hills

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has been “moving Detroit” since she was first recognized as an Area Top Producer in 2005. She’s been featured as one of the Top 100 Agents by Hour Media since 2011, is ranked in the top 1 percent of Realtors nationally, and has received many other honors and accolades. She’s also been the top producing agent at Hall & Hunter for the past five years.

Kahn’s clients benefit from her connections, her real estate knowledge, and her excellent negotiation skills. Her strong relationships with agents, real estate attorneys, and community members are why she’s an “Extraordinary Agent … Providing Extraordinary Results!”

Hiring the right agent does matter. And Cindy Kahn is the right agent, regardless of the trends and times.

Cindy Kahn

Cindy Kahn Real Estate Hall & Hunter Realtors 442 S. Old Woodward Birmingham, MI 48009 248-568-7309 cindykahn.com

1/6/22 8:49 AM

Dr. Carole Kowalczyk is a woman who moves Detroit. She’s the founder and medical director of the Michigan Center for Fertility & Women’s Health, which for 20 years has been helping couples struggling with infertility make family dreams come true.

Dr. Kowalczyk’s influence and leadership go beyond her medical practice. She cohosts “Healthy Women” on WJR Radio. The program educates women about health issues, and provides an invaluable community of support for those managing things like infertility, breast cancer, stress, balancing family with work, and more.

Her passion for educating and supporting women is also evident in the community.

She trains numerous OB/GYN residents and medical students about the field of infertility and hosts several Women’s Health Conferences.

These conferences provide tools for women to

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balance their many roles - wife, mother, professional, and caregiver. Her next conference will be in 2022 (see our website).

Dr. Kowalczyk also gives back. She founded Seasons of Life Fertility Foundation, which helps couples that have encountered a life-changing event — and who suffer financial hardship — receive fertility assistance. She works with cancer patients to help them preserve their fertility, and provides financial support to numerous Detroit organizations, including S.A.Y. Detroit, the Belinda Sue Fund, Impact 100, and Turning Point.

She also publishes Wisdom & Wellness, a health guide that helps readers make informed decisions about their health, finances, and emotional well-being. (Subscribe on our website.) And you can hear her on Dr. C in the D, a podcast that brings awareness to important women’s issues, while highlighting the best of Detroit.

Carole L. Kowalczyk, M.D. Medical Director, Board-Certified Reproductive Endocrinologist Michigan Center for Fertility & Women’s Health 4700 Thirteen Mile Rd. Warren, MI 48092 586-576-0431 mifertility.com

12/29/21 4:43 PM

PROMOTIONAL CONTENT

MUSE Medical Spa in Troy, which provides a wide range of wellness treatments performed by its excellent and well-trained staff, is about providing exceptional medical spa care that ensures clients look as naturally beautiful as they deserve.

“We understand that every client is different, with individual goals and desired results, so we remain committed to focusing on patient concerns and needs as the forefront of our high-quality care,” says Nadine Gomah, part-owner and COS. “What makes us unique and special is that we have so many counter therapies that allow us to give our clients the most optimal results.”

MUSE Medical Spa is home to aesthetic practitioners who have professional experience with numerous treatments, including laser hair removal, noninvasive body-sculpting, facials, chemical peels, and more.

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MUSE, which opened in November 2021, also offers the versatility of the new Potenza Microneedling RF system — the latest state-of-the-art device that allows for customized treatments based on a person’s specific needs no matter what their skin type, anywhere on the body, any time of the year. The Potenza device offers monopolar, bipolar, and 1 & 2 MHz capabilities, providing for shallow and deep treatments in one system. Potenza treatments help with wrinkles, stretch marks, scars, and discoloration, and they tighten the skin!

MUSE’s expert staff is fully equipped with the latest technology and training in aesthetic medicine. They will apply the most recent cosmetic research and clinical studies to every treatment, to ensure client satisfaction.

Left: Dianne Schlachter

M.D., F.A.C.S., Medical Director

Right: Nadine Gomah Administrator, COS

MUSE Medical Spa 1771 W. Big Beaver Rd. Troy, MI 48084 248-823-7773 musetroy.com

1/5/22 8:49 AM

PROMOTIONAL CONTENT

Beztak Companies, a multigenerational family-owned and operated company, has been designing, developing, constructing, and managing high-quality and upscale real estate property in Michigan and nationwide for more than 60 years.

Like the company she’s worked with for the past 37 years, Gloria Fransted, director of visual merchandising, sees a project through from start to finish, working to create a unique and majestic space.

“At Beztak, our core values are at the heart of everything we do, including the design of a model or clubhouse,” says Fransted, who started out in sales and worked her way up through the company. “I help take the design from conception to completion. I’m here to understand and execute our unique vision.”

Beztak has a specific brand and reputation

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for excellence, and every model and clubhouse Fransted helps design reflects that.

She’s part visionary and part liaison, and works with architects, designers, and builders on behalf of the owners and clients.

“We take a very personable approach to our properties,” she says. “One of our owners is an outstanding photographer and his work helps make Beztak unique. The often locallythemed photos have a huge impact on a space and help tie everything together.”

Award-winning model apartments, and an innovative use of furniture and accessories that demonstrates an interesting use of space, assists in creating leases on a first visit to the community. Fransted is proud to have helped in Beztak’s quest to offer creative, thoughtful, and exceptional results to its investors, clients, residents, and communities.

Gloria Fransted

Director of Visual Merchandising Beztak Companies 31731 Northwestern Highway Ste. 250W Farmington Hills, MI 48334 248-855-5400 beztak.com

1/5/22 8:52 AM

Meet the secret weapon of CEOs across metro Detroit and far beyond.

High-stakes communication coach Christina McKenna is the voice whispering in the ear of some of America’s most influential corporate and community leaders, ensuring they get both the words and delivery right when it matters most.

“Great speakers make it look easy, but in truth, there’s no such thing as a natural born speaker,” says McKenna, owner and founder of Birmingham-based Bluestone Executive Communications. “The ability to captivate an audience is a learned skill—and one that successful leaders invest in before they face the cameras on Squawk Box, answer questions on the earnings call, or step to

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centerstage for the speech of a lifetime.”

McKenna should know. She spent more than a decade as a TV reporter and anchor in Boston, Seattle, and Detroit before moving to the other side of the microphone as spokesperson for a Fortune 500 company.

The native Detroiter now leads a team of coaches in providing media training, presentation skills training, executive presence coaching, and virtual communication coaching.

“These days, everyone wants virtual presentation coaching,” says McKenna.

“Savvy leaders know that to be effective in this new reality, they need to master the lens of the camera.”

Christina McKenna Founder and President

Bluestone Executive Communications 1025 East Maple Rd., Ste. 201 Birmingham, MI 48009 248-514-7085 Bluestoneexec.com

1/5/22 12:52 PM

Watch out Detroit, this beautiful lady is on the move again Harvey, of ARG Realty in Dearborn, has been dominating real estate for roughly 25 years. She not only moves Detroit — one of the top 20 largest cities in the U.S. and a city with endless growth and international connections — but she’s received recognition as one of the Faces of Real Estate in Grand Rapids, the second-largest city in Michigan.

Harvey attributes her success to one word: trust.

“You have to listen to your people, and you have to deliver what they want,” she says. “There are many different issues involved with selling real estate that people are unaware of, and a good agent will work diligently and tirelessly behind the scenes to bring the deal together.”

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Harvey suggests avoiding the current real estate “reality” shows on TV and not relying on Google for advice or “facts.”

“You have to understand the truth,” she says.

Harvey is the owner of Gayle Harvey Homes, a one-stop-shop from whatever city or state you’re moving to or from.

Services include everything from selling your home to finding interim housing, schools, transportation, and child care.

“At the end of the day, I trust God for my direction and I thank all of my friends and family for their unwavering support,” she says.

Gayle Harvey has built her reputation on dedication, hard work, and trust — and that’s the truth.

Give her a call; she’s available for you and all of your real estate needs.

Gayle Realtor

ARG Realty 22827 Michigan Ave. Dearborn, MI 48124 616-477-3563 gayleharveyhomes.com

1/5/22 4:49 PM

During more than a decade in the financial industry, Chanel Shaba has become successful through hard work, passion, and perseverance.

She has a unique ability to understand her clients’ goals, make a deal, salvage a deal, and close a deal regardless of the financial market.

“As a mortgage broker, my team and I focus on saving our clients time and money by tailoring loans to meet their specific needs,” she says.

With more than $800 million in closings, Shaba is a top-ranked originator nationwide.

Recently recognized as a National Top Loan Originator for 2021 by Scotsman Guide, her tenacity and drive set her apart in her industry.

In 2021, Shaba co-founded Beyond Lending, servicing prospective and current homeowners in Michigan and across the country. “I realized that my goals mirrored

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my clients’ goals; it made sense to offer borrowers a variety of different options with different lenders,” she says. “We’ve made the home-buying process easy.”

It’s creating relationships with people that Shaba cherishes the most, and that’s one of the reasons she started Beyond Lending.

“Aside from traditional lending, we’re the go-to brokerage for luxury real estate, construction deals, and investor options,” she says. “We focus on the relationship between the homeowner and the Realtor; you’re never a transaction; you become family.”

The goals at Beyond Lending are to be the nation’s most customer-centric brokerage, provide Realtors and homeowners with the utmost level of service, and deliver a seamless and streamlined home-buying and refinancing process.

Chanel M. Shaba CEO/Broker Owner

Beyond Lending 6755 Telegraph Rd., Ste. 330 Bloomfield Hills, MI 48301 248-686-2082 beyondlending.com

1/6/22 8:42 PM

TOP LAWYERS

WOMEN LEADERS BASED UPON A SURVEY OF THEIR PEERS These LEADING LAWYERS have been recommended by their peers to be among the TOP LAWYERS in Michigan Jennifer M. Grieco Ann M. Tobin-Levigne Jacqueline Asher Kelly Sharon M. Woods Monica Rossi Baylis Sheryl A. Laughren Cheryl A. Bush Stephanie Anne Douglas Alison H. Rodney Karen Libertiny Ludden Delia A. Miller Elizabeth L. Luckenbach Lynn Capp Sirich Laura E. Eisenberg Mekel Sebestyen Miller Amy M. Spilman Julie A. Greenberg Barbara Lynn Mandell Kellie S. Devito Elizabeth A. Favaro Kara S. Ferrara Keela P. Johnson Victoria S. Lehman Jennifer A. Engelhardt Sandra User Green Patricia A. Stamler Regina Goyette Staudacher Shirley A. Kaigler Michelle D. Bayer Raechel M. Badalamenti Leila Freijy Barbara B. Smith Jody B. Lipton Sara L. Cunningham Paula K. Manis Michelle C. Harrell Kathleen H. Klaus Julie Chenot Mayer Julie Beth Teicher Irika N. Mellin Kristen L. Robinson Michele P. Fuller Keri Middleditch Amy M. Johnston Andrea L. Hamm Leigh D. Moss Linda G. Burwell Deborah L. Brouwer Susan D. Koval Patricia M. Nemeth Stephanie P. Ottenwess Linda D. Kennedy Anthea E. Papista Patricia Kefalas Dudek Harriet B. Rotter Nancy Komer Stone Jorin G. Rubin Kari B. Schlaff Kerry Lynn Rhoads Karen E. Beach Dina M. Ferrari Renee K. Gucciardo Donna Marie Medina

Altior Law PC Ann M. Tobin PC AsherKelly Barris Sott Denn & Driker PLLC Beier Howlett PC Berry Moorman PC Bush Seyferth PLLC Bush Seyferth PLLC Bush Seyferth PLLC Dean & Fulkerson PC Delia A. Miller PLLC Dickinson Wright PLLC Dickinson Wright PLLC Eisenberg & Spilman PLLC Eisenberg & Spilman PLLC Eisenberg & Spilman PLLC Fishman Stewart PLLC Fishman Stewart PLLC Giarmarco Mullins & Horton PC Giarmarco Mullins & Horton PC Giarmarco Mullins & Horton PC Giarmarco Mullins & Horton PC Giarmarco Mullins & Horton PC Goethel Engelhardt PLLC Green & Green PLLC Hertz Schram PC Howard & Howard Attorneys PLLC Jaffe Raitt Heuer & Weiss PC Joelson Rosenberg Kirk Huth Lange & Badalamenti PLC Law Office of Leila Freijy PLLC Law Offices of Barbara B. Smith PLLC Lipton Law Loomis Ewert Parsley Davis & Gotting PC Loomis Ewert Parsley Davis & Gotting PC Maddin Hauser Roth & Heller PC Maddin Hauser Roth & Heller PC Maddin Hauser Roth & Heller PC Maddin Hauser Roth & Heller PC Mellin Robinson PC Mellin Robinson PC Michigan Law Center PLLC Middleditch Law Firm PLLC Miller Canfield Miller Cohen PLC Moss Law PLC National Investigation Counsel PLLC Nemeth Law PC Nemeth Law PC Nemeth Law PC Ottenwess Law PLC Panagos Kennedy PLLC Papista & Papista PLC Patricia E. Kefalas Dudek & Associates Rotter & Stone PC Rotter & Stone PC Rubin Frampton PLLC Schlaff Law Group PLLC Segal McCambridge Singer & Mahoney Ltd Tanoury Nauts McKinney & Dwaihy PLLC Tanoury Nauts McKinney & Dwaihy PLLC The Gucciardo Law Firm PLLC Williams Williams Rattner & Plunkett PC

Birmingham Grosse Pointe Woods Southfield Detroit Troy Detroit Troy Troy Troy Troy Bloomfield Hills Troy Troy Birmingham Birmingham Birmingham Troy Troy Troy Troy Troy Troy Troy Ann Arbor Farmington Hills Bloomfield Hills Royal Oak Southfield Farmington Hills Clinton Township Troy Bloomfield Hills Southfield Lansing Lansing Southfield Southfield Southfield Southfield Troy Troy Macomb Birmingham Detroit Detroit Bloomfield Hills Pleasant Ridge Detroit Detroit Detroit Detroit Troy Detroit Farmington Franklin Franklin Birmingham West Bloomfield Southfield Livonia Livonia Bingham Farms Birmingham

248.372.9884 313.884.7060 248.746.2748 313.596.9304 248.645.9400 313.496.1200 248.822.7801 248.822.7806 248.822.7800 248.362.1300 248.647.7900 248.433.7200 248.433.7200 248.358.8880 248.358.8880 248.358.8880 248.593.3350 248.593.3331 248.457.7108 248.457.7181 248.457.7136 248.457.7087 248.457.7185 734.769.6838 248.932.0500 248.335.5000 248.723.0311 248.727.1412 248.626.9966 586.412.4900 248.817.8280 248.646.8000 248.557.1688 517.482.2400 517.485.0400 248.827.1862 248.359.7520 248.827.1872 248.351.7059 248.614.9005 248.614.9005 586.803.8500 248.621.3030 313.496.8479 313.964.4454 248.847.3555 248.730.5583 313.567.5921 313.567.5921 313.567.5921 313.965.2121 248.564.1343 313.965.1688 248.254.3462 248.855.5200 248.855.5200 248.799.9100 248.320.5978 248.994.0070 313.465.8903 313.964.4500 248.723.5190 248.642.0333

Comm Lit; Insurance Cov: Consumer Insureds; Prof’l Mal Def; PI: Prof’l Malpractice Family Employee Benefits Class Action/Mass Tort Defense; Commercial Litigation; Prof’l Malpractice Defense Family Employment: Management; Labor: Management Commercial Litigation; Products Liability Defense Civil Appellate Class Action/Mass Tort Defense Insurance Cov/Reinsurance; PI Def: General; Product Liab Def; Transportation Def Family Trust, Will & Estate Planning Family Family; ADR: Family Family Family Copyright & Trademark Commercial Litigation; Copyright & Trademark; Intellectual Property Family Commercial Litigation; PI Defense: General; Products Liability Defense Trust, Will & Estate Planning Family Med-Mal Defense Personal Injury: General; Personal Injury: Professional Malpractice Family Civil Rights/Constitutional; Class Action/Mass Tort Pltf; Employ: Emp; Whistle Blow Tax: Business Elder; Trust, Will & Estate Planning Employment: Employee; Employment: Management; Health Close/Private Held; Comm Lit; Employ: Management; Gov/Muni/Lobby; Land Use Immigration: Employment; Immigration: Individual ADR: Family Personal Injury Law: General; Personal Injury Plaintiff’s Law: Product Liability Construction; Mineral/Natural Resource; Real Estate: Commercial ADR: Comm Lit; Energy; Min/Nat Resource; Pub Utilities; ADR: RE/Enviro/Const Commercial Litigation; Land Use/Zoning/Condemnation; Real Estate: Commercial Civil Appellate; Comm Lit; Ins Coverage/Reinsurance; Prof’l Malpractice Defense Insurance/Insurance Coverage/Reinsurance; Prof’l Malpractice Defense Bankruptcy/Workout: Commercial; Creditor’s Rights/Comm Collection Family; ADR: Family Family; ADR: Family Elder; Trust, Will & Estate Planning Family Class Action/Mass Tort Defense; Comm Lit; Products Liability Defense Social Security Disability Law; Workers’ Compensation Law Closely/Privately Held Business; Creditor’s Rights/Commercial Collection Employment: Management; ADR: Employment; Labor: Management Employment: Management Employment: Management Employment: Management; ADR: Employment; Labor: Management Health Copyright & Trademark; Intellectual Property; Patent Family; Trust, Will & Estate Planning Elder; Trust, Will & Estate Planning Family Family Family Family Insurance Coverage/Reinsurance; PI Defense: General; Product Liability Defense Civil Appellate; Med-Mal Defense; PI Defense: General Med-Mal Defense Family Adoption & Reproductive Technology; Family; ADR: Family

A lawyer CANNOT buy the distinction of Leading Lawyer. The distinction was earned by being among those lawyers most often recommended by their peers. For a full description of our research process, a complete list of all Leading Lawyers, and to view profiles of the lawyers listed on this page, go to

www.LeadingLawyers.com

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A Division of Law Bulletin Media—est. 1854

1/3/22 10:54 AM 1/4/22 1:06 PM

02.22 ARTS, CULTURE, AND OTHER THINGS TO DO

Agenda C U LT U R E CA L E N DA R p.6 6 S P OT L I G H T p. 67 S P O RT S p.6 8 A RT S p. 69

S P O T L IG HT

ONE FOR THE HISTORY BOOKS Meet Jamon Jordan, Detroit’s first official historian p. 67

HISTORIAN MATT LAVERE

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F E B RUA RY 2 0 2 2

65

1/5/22 2:30 PM

Agenda

Detroit producer James DeWitt Yancy’s life and work is explored in a new book debuting this month  LITERATURE

Legendary Detroit Producer Finds Spotlight in New Book  “Hot & Heavy” is a single on Dacus’ latest album Home Video

FEBRUARY 2022

Culture Calendar

Our carefully curated guide to the month in arts and entertainment

BY RYA N PATRICK HOOPE R LIVE MUSIC

Indie’s Next Big Things Arrive in Detroit

To call it “a moment” would be a major diss to indie songwriters who have consistently pushed the genre forward. One could say, however, that in this moment, there are few acts as compelling in that moody, guitardriven, clever-yetheartbroken-lyrics category of indie rock (think your college radio in the ’90s) as Lucy Dacus. You might know her as one-third of Boygenius, the shortlived trio of Dacus, Julien Baker (who also rules), and Phoebe Bridgers, who is currently the princess of this musical world.

When Dacus performs

66

H OUR DE T R O I T.C O M

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at the Majestic Theatre this month, she’ll bring along Indigo de Souza as a supporting act — and de Souza might steal the damn show before Dacus even takes the stage. Lucy Dacus and Indigo de Souza land at the Majestic Theatre in Detroit on Thursday, Feb. 10. Tickets are $25; majesticdetroit.com

 Ballet Folklórico de México de Amalia Hernández offers a taste of authentic Mexican folkloric dance

DANCE

Mexican Dance Returns to Ann Arbor for the First Time in 15 Years We metro Detroiters are spoiled with cultural powerhouses like the University Musical Society out of the University of Michigan. And this won’t be the last time we spotlight its 2022

spring season, starting with Ballet Folklórico de México de Amalia Hernández. The company brings Mexican folkloric dance tradition to stages around the globe, led by the daughter of Amalia Hernández, who founded the group in 1952. This vivid, energetic dance

performance is one of the greatest international gateways into Mexican culture.

The ticket prices (seats start at $14) make this an easy, family-friendly trip. Ballet Folklórico de México de Amalia Hernández lands at Hill Auditorium in Ann Arbor on Sunday, Feb. 6, for a matinee 4 p.m. show; ums.org.

It’s not that the producer J Dilla is not a wellknown entity in the music world — particularly for oldschool hip-hop heads and especially in his hometown of Detroit. But the new book Dilla Time: The Life and Afterlife of J Dilla, the Hip-Hop Producer Who Reinvented Rhythm marks the most high-profile literary dive into his life yet, courtesy of writer Dan Charnas, who previously explored the business of hip-hop with his 2010 book The Big Payback. Now, the author is mixing “equal parts biography, musicology, and cultural history” to explore the short but highly influential life of James Dewitt Yancey, who helped craft the sound of Detroit’s hip-hop scene and went on to be a Grammy-nominated producer before passing away at the age of 32 from a rare blood disease. Dilla Time: The Life and Afterlife of J Dilla, the Hip-Hop Producer Who Reinvented Rhythm is out now. Pick up a copy at your local bookstore.

Ryan Patrick Hooper is the host of CultureShift on 101.9 WDET Detroit’s NPR station (weekdays from noon to 2 p.m.).

On My Playlist The Rest of the World Gets to Know Tammy Lakkis Each December, Barack Obama announces his favorite films and music from the past year, and there’s always a ton of fanfare. It was a delight to see Hamtramck’s own Tammy Lakkis land on that list from last year.

Lakkis is a DJ and musician who may be one of the brightest talents to emerge from the city’s storied electronic scene in a few years (we’re so lucky in this town that every couple of years, we get to say that about somebody new). Her debut EP, Notice, is brief — four songs across 20 minutes — but it’s been hailed as one of the best records of the year, locally and nationally, via sources like NPR and is even on the former president’s heavy rotation. Her ability to write, produce, and vocalize her own works gives listeners the unique sensation of stepping into her mind, while also sweeping them out onto the dance floor. You can stream her music anywhere and purchase it through platforms like Bandcamp, which gives more proceeds to artists than other platforms.

SONG COURTESY OF LUCY DACUS DANCE COURTESY OF UNIVERSITY MUSICAL SOCIETY BOOK COURTESY OF J DILLA TAMMY LAKKIS CHLOE SELLS

1/5/22 2:27 PM

Agenda

SPOTLIGHT

Reclaimed History Jamon Jordan, the city of Detroit’s first official historian, is on a mission to tell the stories of all Detroiters

BY PARIS GILES | PHOTO BY MATT L aVERE

WHILE MOST HAVE ONLY RECENTLY gotten in on the conversation around how we teach and preserve history, educator and historian Jamon Jordan has been preaching the power of the past for over two decades. In October, he was named the official historian for the city of Detroit — its first.

Jordan says he’s been tasked with “finding ways to reach people and teach people the history of Detroit.” After teaching social studies in Detroit’s public and charter schools for years, Jordan founded The Black Scroll Network History & Tours in 2013, focusing on spotlighting the city’s African American history.

As city historian, he is continuing the tours and lectures that have garnered attention and acclaim, and is also incorporating videos and working to forge closer relationships with political and social leaders. He’s also considered developing a podcast. Jordan says he often encounters seasoned Detroiters who have never heard some fact or another — information crucial to the story of Detroit. The fix, he says, is to teach folks young. While most of us are acquainted with the basics, like Motown and Henry Ford, he says, “There’s this longer and much deeper story of Detroit’s history that is missing.”

Jordan says he noticed while teaching that many of those misplaced stories are about the contributions of Black Detroit to the story of America. “The Underground Railroad,” he says, “that’s part of Detroit’s history.” He’d like to see Detroit students learn about Harriett Tubman and George DeBaptiste, who, among other inputs, used his steamship to ferry escaping enslaved persons across the Detroit River, into Canada.

He also wants to enlighten nonnatives. Jordan says, “People who come to the

city of Detroit can have notions about Detroit based on what they’ve read, based on media. For a long time, Detroit had this stigma. Detroit’s history was presented in just a limited level of ways: devious, dysfunctional, dangerous.” He wants to combat those negative, often false notions and replace them with a richer, more nuanced understanding of the city’s people, places, and stories.

To that point, Jordan joined the faculty at the University of Michigan, for the fall 2021 semester, as a lecturer for the institution’s Semester in Detroit program. Students enrolled in the program live in Midtown, take courses in the city, and complete internships with community-based organizations.

“The program’s underlying goal — really from the beginning to today — has been to help undergraduate students develop substantive and reciprocal relationships with Detroit,” says Craig Regester, associate director and adjunct lecturer.

Regester praises Jordan’s robust and nuanced knowledge, his out-and-about approach to teaching, and the interconnected network of relationships he’s built over the years. “What he knows — and the ways in which he knows it — is pretty remarkable,” Regester says. “He’s able to talk to people and learn information and to open up windows of knowledge that our students would otherwise really not even know exists.” He also appreciates that, more than just teaching Detroit’s history, Jordan is intentional about fostering a promising future.

In all his initiatives, Jordan says, “My job is to help make sure that the Black history in the city of Detroit, and the Indigenous people’s history, and the Latinx people’s history, and the Arab and Chaldean American history are part of Detroit and [that] they don’t go missing, as they have for so many decades.”

A much-needed rethink: In his role as Detroit’s first official historian, Jordan says, he’s been tasked with “finding ways to reach people and teach people the history of Detroit.” 

Did You Know?

In honor of Black History Month, Jamon Jordan shares a few of his favorite lesserknown historical facts about Detroit.

The Nation of Islam was founded in Detroit.

The religious and political organization that combined traditional Islam and Black nationalist ideas was founded by Mecca-born Wallace D. Fard, in 1930.

The Underground Railroad in Detroit was organized and led primarily by free African Americans.

Detroit, codenamed “Midnight,” was one of the last “stops” on the Underground Railroad for enslaved persons fleeing across the Detroit River to freedom, in Canada.

Jesse Owens lived in Detroit.

In 1935, one year before he won four gold medals at the Berlin Olympics, Owens competed in the annual Big Ten Track and Field Championships in Ann Arbor, where he tied or broke six world records. And from 1942 to 1946, he was the director of minority employment at Ford Motor Co. Martin Luther King Jr. gave a portion of his “I Have a Dream” speech in Detroit, before the March on Washington.

During the Detroit Walk to Freedom in 1963, King walked down Woodward, to Cobo Hall (recently renamed Huntington Place from TCF Center), and delivered his speech alongside Baptist Minister C.L. Franklin and former Detroit Mayor Jerome Cavanagh.

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Agenda

Nathan Chen — competing here at the 2018 Olympic Winter Games in South Korea — is one of the Olympic athletes who trained at Arctic Edge. 

How to join a skating team

SPORTS

STARS ON ICE — IN CANTON

This local ice arena has been the training ground for some of the biggest names in figure skating

BY ASHLEY ZLATOPOLSKY

AS YOU’RE WATCHING the Winter Olympics this month and hearing the athletes’ backstories, one place you may not hear mentioned is the Arctic Edge Ice Arena of Canton. But it has a deep connection to the Winter Games, including through its role as the training facility for three-time world champion and Olympic bronze medalist Nathan Chen.

Often called “The Edge,” the Arctic Edge Ice Arena of Canton’s roster of Olympic figure skating greats — in addition to Chen — includes Maia and Alex Shibutani (2018 bronze medalists), Meryl Davis and Charlie White (2014 gold

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For those interested in joining Arctic Edge Unity, the first step, McKendry says, is to learn to skate.

The arena’s Learn to Skate program offers classes for skaters of all ages, ranging from children 3-and-ahalf years old to adults. These eightweek sessions help launch students into the more advanced synchronized skating program.

“A lot of kids do the Learn to Skate program and then they’ll transition into a synchronized program,” McKendry explains. “From there, they’ll do private lessons to advance the skills they’re going to need to become a competitive synchronized skater.”

These teams go on to compete and travel locally, with the goal of eventually reaching national competitions. Yet those who simply want to learn skating techniques can sign up for skills clinics, which the arena is currently planning for the 2022 season.

For more information and updates on the 2022 program, visit arcticarenas.com.

medalists), Tessa Virtue and Scott Moir (2010 and 2018 gold medalists), and Tanith Belbin and Ben Agosto (2006 silver medalists).

“They were here pretty much all day training,” says Arctic Edge’s skating director, Theresa McKendry, who has been coaching since 1981 and working at the arena since 2003. “They were [doing] on ice, off ice, ballet, and workouts.”

The Edge’s ice dancing program for the 2006 and 2010 Olympics included training from worldrenowned coaches Marina Zoueva and Igor Shpilband, both former competitors representing the Soviet Union. The 2014 and 2018 Games saw training from Zoueva and Massimo Scali, an Italian competitive ice dancer. Though neither Zoueva nor Scali continue to coach at the arena, their work is continued by current trainer Greg Zuerlein.

It was luck that introduced the newly opened Arctic Edge Ice Arena to the Olympic world in 2001. When Shpilband, who was teaching at a Detroit skating club with McKendry, needed somewhere new to train athletes, he contacted his colleague for suggestions.

At the time, McKendry had just joined The Edge, and she connected Shpilband with its general manager, Craig O’Neill. The two created a new dance program, which led to Shpilband’s athletes following their coach to the Canton training ground.

“He brought all his teams here,” McKendry recalls, “and that’s how the connection started.”

While training at the arena, the competitive ice dancers lived in nearby condos or apartments that they rented. They trained Monday through Friday, often from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., in a temporary or longterm program. At the skating facility, which has two NHL-sized rinks, athletes underwent rigorous training. Every day, they alternated between practicing compulsory, original, and free dance programs while working on skills and lessons with their coaches, with whom they rotated sessions.

“One coach would work on their lifts,” McKendry explains. “One coach would work on their turns. It was a whole comprehensive program that they’d just rotate through all day long.”

In addition to training Olympic medalists, The Edge is also known for its renowned synchronized skating teams that represent the Arctic Figure Skating Club. “We have seven different competitive teams,” McKendry says of the program, founded in 2016, called Arctic Edge Unity. “We have all levels, from beginner to national-qualifying divisions.”

Starting in early 2022, The Edge will add an elite skating academy, coached by Olympic gold medalist Charlie White, among others. It also plays host to high school and college hockey clubs, adult leagues, drop-in sessions, and birthday parties.

“We’re proud to say we’re one of the rinks where you can be successful in all of the disciplines,” McKendry says. “It’s rare to find a rink that can teach all of them. It’s a full-program arena.”

NATHAN CHEN PCN PHOTOGRAPHY/ALAMY STOCK PHOTO

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Agenda

Chris Schanck in his Detroit studio.

His solo exhibition, Chris Schanck: Off-World, will open at the Museum of Arts and Design in New York City on Feb. 12. 

ARTS

One Man’s Treasure

Designer Chris Schanck has made a name for himself by creating art out of things others leave behind

BY PARIS GILES | PHOTOS BY JOSH SCOTT

FURNITURE DESIGNER Chris Schanck says the process by which he creates his color-rich and deliberately imperfect pieces is “pretty dialed in.” It starts with a simple base upon which various materials — some industrial and some discarded — are sculpted, and then the work is covered with aluminum foil and sealed with a resin. “It’s the form language of the work that is constantly changing,” Schanck says.

Last fall, Schanck loaned a handful of his pieces to the Bottega Veneta pop-up in Corktown. The Bottega team reached out to him, and then-creative director and designer Daniel Lee toured the designer’s Detroit studio. Schanck also connected with the brand’s interior architect. “We talked about how to use the work, why to use the work, who else we could use in there — and ways of activating the space,” he says. “Not all of that happened, but it was, I think, still a good conversation. And it seemed like it’d be something positive, which I think it was.”

A native Texan, Schanck started not in furniture design but in fine arts. It was while studying for his master’s in fine arts at Central Saint Martins in London that a shift happened. “I questioned the path I was on for the first time in my life,” he says.

“I was making fine arts objects that sort of started to comment about design and architecture, but from a total spectator point of view. I felt like I was on the sidelines, and I wanted to be in the game — not a spectator.”

He stepped away for a while, and in 2009, he enrolled in the Cranbrook Academy of Art design program. Schanck had no prior experience with furniture design but says, “That education was instrumental in figuring out what kind of furniture designer I was going to be.” After Cranbrook, he moved to Detroit and into a home near Hamtramck and set up a studio in a former corner store.

 Top left: Studio assistant Danielle Keys prepping a cabinet for it’s final resin application.

Above: Master finishers Shopna and Rahela in the studio applying finishing touches to a commissioned mirror frame.

So, what has Detroit taught him about design? “That’s a hell of a question,” he says. Early on, his use of found materials and foil was a practical choice, born of limited means, and Detroit is nothing if not conducive to a can-do spirit. “But it was more the culture and the attitude that I’ve found inspirational,” he says. Schanck spent about 14 years between London and New York. “It’s a very different scene; it’s competitive.” Moving here, he discovered artists who’d been at it for decades and “a whole community of makers who had survived and thrived within their areas. ... People were making for the sake of making, for placemaking and for sharing.” He hired and collaborated with folks from the neighborhood and built a little community of his own.

Two summers ago, Schanck spent a couple of days with a basket-maker in Ireland, a septuagenarian who was carrying on a centuries-old practice but still finding ways to innovate. “It was the first time I felt like I was in the presence of a true master. He asked me, ‘How do you connect to the material where you live?’ And I didn’t have a good answer.”

Back in Detroit, he pondered the question, and it helped him notice things that were once glossed over, like the piles of “junk” that inevitably show up every spring on curbs around the city. Pessimistically, maybe those heaps represent eviction, or perhaps they symbolize upward mobility and making way for a new, better future. Either way, Schanck says, there are stories in those materials and “people behind those things.”

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NEIMAN MARCUS X YAN INTERNATIONAL LUNAR NEW YEAR RUNWAY FASHION SHOW Please join us for the Lunar New Year Runway Fashion Show on Thursday, Feb. 24, from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. Hosted by Neiman Marcus, 2705 W. Big Beaver Road in Troy, as well as YAN International, this charity event benefits Common Ground for mental health services. Experience exquisite Asian culture through art, food, and music. Donald Cronkhite, museum oil artist, will conduct live paintings. There will be a qipao (traditional Asian dress) exhibition for your viewing pleasure. Enjoy cocktails with hors d’oeuvres while watching Ballet Edge Detroit’s performance and Lifeline Nation’s hip-hop/jazz show. Grand Bollywood Dance Troupe is also slated to take the stage, and our favorite Dragon Dancers are set to end the program. Mingle with HGTV stars making personal appearances. A silent auction will accompany sweet treats to conclude the festivities. Ten percent of proceeds from in-store shopping at this soiree and sales on Feb. 24 and Feb. 25 will go toward the Common Ground Mental Health Rehabilitation Center. For seat reservations and sponsorship inquiries, visit 2022lunarnewyearevent.eventbrite.com.

Learn about local non-profits, the work they are doing in our community, and ways you can help their causes in the digital edition of Give.

TO FIND OUT MORE ABOUT HOUR MEDIA SPONSORED EVENTS AND SEE PHOTOS FROM THOSE EVENTS, VISIT

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1/5/22 1:47 PM

02.22 AN EPICUREAN’S GUIDE TO THE REGION’S DINING SCENE

Food&Drink RE TA I L

VEGAN VALENTINES Show your honey how much you care with these too-good-to-be-true sweet treats p. 76

G R E AT TA ST E p. 72 R E STAU R A N T R EV I EW p.7 3 R E TA I L p. 76 D R I N K S p. 77

SWEETS REBECCA SIMONOV

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Food&Drink

Goudia’s Go-Tos Ivy Kitchen and Cocktails “They have really great bartenders and really great drinks.” Her drink of choice is the Rosemary Blueberry Smash, a mocktail.

9215 E. Jefferson, Detroit; 313-332-0607; ivykc.com

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1 Flavors of Jamaica's Rasta Pasta with Shrimp 2 Jermond Booze, Ederique Goudia, and Raphael Wright dine at the Pontiac restaurant, one of Goudia's go-to spots 3 Flavors of Jamaica's Flavor Wings

THERE’S MORE! VISIT HOURDETROIT.COM FOR MORE OF GOUDIA’S FAVORITE EATERIES.

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GREAT TASTE

Out to Lunch

When she’s not in the kitchen herself, Taste the Diaspora Detroit co-founder Ederique Goudia dines around town, supporting other Black chefs and restaurants

BY D O RO THY HE RNANDE Z | P HOT OS BY HAY D EN STI NEBAUG H

WHEN THE COVID -19 PANDEMIC first hit Michigan and grassroots networks began forming, it was a time of great uncertainty and isolation. From delivering meals to homebound seniors to stocking community fridges for people who lacked access to healthy food, selforganized volunteers banded together to help people in need.

Mutual aid is a tenet at the heart of Taste

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the Diaspora Detroit, co-founded by chefs Jermond Booze and Ederique Goudia and farmer and investor Raphael Wright.

“It is one of the pillars that was really important to us,” says Goudia, who is chef of the highly anticipated Gabriel Hall, opening in Detroit’s West Village. She saw fellow local eateries struggle during the pandemic — especially those with Black chefs and owners at the helm. The three came up with the idea

to do shoebox lunches during Black History Month last year, pairing up Black chefs and farmers to create the meals, with all of the proceeds going back to these individuals who “were hit even harder … and were struggling through this pandemic.”

They didn’t expect the outpouring of support they received.

They sold out three weeks’ worth of lunches — $10,000 in total — in three days.

The meals highlighted foods of the African diaspora, from Creole gumbo to Bajan Brown Stewed Chicken. From there, Booze, Goudia, and Wright hosted more events, including a Juneteenth watch party of the Netflix show High on the Hog: How African American Cuisine Transformed America and, more recently, a dinner raising money for hurricane relief efforts in Goudia’s hometown of Wallace, Louisiana.

Other Detroit chefs,

including Baobab Fare’s Hamissi Mamba, came to cook with them.

Mamba’s dish was Baobab’s signature Nyumbani, braised beef with plantains and peanut-stewed spinach, which Goudia says was “heartwarming.” “[The diners] loved it. It was probably their favorite part of the whole dinner,” she says of the dish, which for her was reminiscent of home.

Baobab Fare was one of the restaurants that participated in last year’s Taste the Diaspora Black History Month events, and it will take part once again for their one-year anniversary.

Various other events are in the works for the second annual Taste the Diaspora this month. They include one dinner led by Booze and another by Goudia, with the latter taking place at Frame, as well as a multicourse meal crafted by Black women chefs at Flavors of Jamaica.

“We want to engage

Flavors of Jamaica “I’ve been following [Flavors of Jamaica owner] Reniel [Billups] since her pop-up days at Detroit City Distillery and Brooklyn Street Local. I was always the first customer in line.

I fell in love with not only her food, but her amazing energy, and the love that she shared with every customer.”

406 N. Telegraph, Pontiac; flavorsof jamaicarestaurant.com Good Cakes and Bakes Her “absolute favorite” is the vegan carrot cake. 19363 Livernois, Detroit; 313-468-9915; goodcakesandbakes.com

different chefs this time around,” Goudia says.

“We want not only to continue evolving the relationships we’ve already built with those who participated last year, but also to provide that experience and that collaboration to different Black chefs, restaurateurs, and people who create food products, as well as farmers who are Black, here in the city and [the greater Detroit area].”

For Goudia personally, Baobab Fare is “hands down” a favorite, because the New Center restaurant serves “absolutely amazing food that really tells a story.”

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Food&Drink

 Olin’s Seafood Paella — with Chistorra sausage, mussels, shrimp, and bay scallop — is a showstopping entree on the restaurant’s brief but wellbalanced menu

R E STAU R A N T R E V I E W

Mediterranean by Midwest Olin Bar & Kitchen has the vibes of a buzzy and energetic neighborhood restaurant in Spain, with a little bit of Michigan flavor

BY D O ROTH Y H ER NA ND EZ | PH O T OS BY R EBECCA SI MONOV

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Food&Drink

Cocktails are beautiful and well balanced.

The Gemini comes with Citadelle Gin or Wheatley Vodka, Italicus, honeydew, grapefruit, and lemon 

A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO, my husband and I decided to forgo Thanksgiving turkey and all the family stress and drama that goes along with the meal and head to Barcelona for a week, trading turkey and pumpkin pie for tapas and cava. All week, we enjoyed the simple pleasures of fresh tomato spread on crusty slices of bread.

We discovered pintxos (i.e., small snacks, like little, deconstructed charcuterie boards on a stick). We feasted on a three-star Michelin Catalan lunch that included roast pigeon, blue crab with caviar, and cured foie gras and anchovy shavings on paper-thin garlic bread — a bite of food that looked more like a Dalí painting than an appetizer.

But the meal that sticks out to me from that whole trip was the exceptional seafood paella we had on the last day of our vacation.

The pan might as well have been a net for catching all the seafood in the dish — so many plump lobsters, whole shrimp, and mussels that you couldn’t even see the rice underneath. It is tempting to gulp a dish this good in large quantities, but it demands you take a small bite and enjoy every second. I can still taste this paella: the freshness of the seafood, the savory rice, the crisp and refreshing Albarino wine our server suggested to pair with it ... We leisurely whiled away the hours as lunch encroached upon dinner. It was the exclamation point to cap off a week full of good food.

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 Chef Andrew Shedden has spent most of his culinary career at Chicago eateries, including classic tapas bar Cafe Ba-Ba-Reeba. He’s also worked with renowned paella chef Carols Palomar and spent time in Spain, learning about the local food culture.  The roast half chicken with parsnip puree, Moroccan chermoula, and roasted parsnips is a delightful surprise, perfectly cooked and full of flavor

Since COVID has pushed pause on my trips abroad, I’ve dreamed of that last meal in Spain wistfully. I was reminded of it recently upon making a trip to Olin, a downtown Detroit brasserie located in the former Puppet Art Theatre. Olin is run by Holly McClain, a restaurateur who grew up Downriver and went on to develop and operate renowned eateries in Chicago. After returning to Michigan a few years ago, she opened Highlands in the GM Renaissance Center with Shawn McClain, her husband and a James Beard Award-winning chef.

Walking into Olin on a recent Tuesday evening was like walking into one of those neighborhood tapas or pintxos bars in Barcelona — lots of buzz

... It’s good to know Olin is right here in Detroit for whenever I want a taste of the Mediterranean.

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Food&Drink

 From the Potatoes and Artichokes Bravas (bottom left) to the seafood paella, Olin’s Mediterranean-inspired dishes are layered in flavor Olin’s large dining space is carved into distinctive sections that cater to any mood, from casual drinks at the bar to a cozy couch for two 

and conviviality, loud in an energizing way — with some modern American and Detroit flavor. The playlist rocked alternative and indie tracks from the early ’80s to 2000s, from Talking Heads to The Killers. The large, open, and airy space boasting the art deco building’s original black-and-white tile floors is carved into distinct sections that cater to whatever the diner’s mood: a 13-seat bar; a 20-seat lounge with luxurious sofas; and a 100-seat dining room that features an eclectic mix of seating, from a chef’s table with leather banquettes to cafeteriastyle booths. Two large photography murals by Lisa Spindler reinforce the industrial elements, such as exposed brick and wood beams, of the distinctive space, designed by Birmingham’s McIntosh Poris Associates. Everything at Olin is well balanced, from the decor to the food.

Each component of the dishes we tried was in harmony with the others. We started off with the Potatoes and Artichokes Bravas, the burrata, and the pretzel. The potatoes and artichokes did not look or taste like any patatas bravas — typically crispy fried potatoes in a tangy pimento-forward sauce, often drizzled with aioli — that I’ve had, but Olin’s version is uniquely its own; the pimento sauce is traded for harissa oil, and the aioli recieves a black-garlic spin that brings greater depth of flavor compared with a straightforward garlic aioli. The housemade burrata is served with earthy golden beets, sweet caramelized brown fig, chili oil, and fermented honey.

My dining companions and I also selected a

couple of items that would probably not appear on a menu in the Mediterranean but are right at home in Michigan. The walnut Caesar features a snowcap of Parmesan — the “proper” amount, our friend noted. The housemade pretzel, from Olin’s sister business, Twist, could have been nothing more than a mediocre carb, like the bread brought in baskets whose only mission is to take up stomach space. But it’s done exceptionally well — fluffy and tender on the inside, with a golden and glossy exterior bathed in butter and sprinkled with sea salt.

In fact, it’s those simple things done well that are Olin’s strength. Our server had suggested getting the roast half chicken, which seemed like a wasted order in a high-end restaurant, but upon taking our first bites, we were confident we had made the right choice. Flavor permeated every inch of the chicken — notes of lemon and garlic from the chermoula complemented by the sweetness of roasted parsnips. The velvety parsnip puree contrasted nicely with the crisp chicken skin, another example of how Olin melds textures and flavors seamlessly.

OLIN BAR & KITCHEN 25 E. GRAND RIVER AVE., DETROIT 313-774-1190 D TUES.-SAT., BR SUN. OLINDETROIT.COM

And then, there was the showstopper: the paella.

The menu calls it Executive Chef Andrew Shedden’s ode to one of Spain’s most iconic dishes, and indeed, it’s a heartfelt love letter. We opted for the seafood paella with chistorra sausage (a smoky variety from the Basque region), mussels, shrimp, and bay scallop. I almost missed the ramekin of aioli, but a drizzle of the creamy sauce is a must.

The wine list is brief but well curated. Our server, admittedly, did not have extensive knowledge of the offerings, suggesting a white when I wanted red, but she sent over a server who had more command of the selection. She explained which wines went well with the bill of fare (a couple next to us also offered a great suggestion — another example of the conviviality) but I had already set my sights on two wines I’d enjoyed in Barcelona: a Priorat and an Albarino, two varietals I don’t see often around here. The bold Priorat was a perfect match for the chicken, and the Albarino, paired with the paella, brought me back to Barcelona.

It may be a long time before I find myself at that Barcelona restaurant again, but until then, it’s good to know Olin is right here in Detroit for whenever I’m craving a taste of the Mediterranean.

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Food&Drink

 This Valentine’s Day, indulge in vegan treats that will make you feel good about eating and drinking. From left: non-alcoholic wine and truffles from Planthropie; macarons from For the Love of Sugar; and peanut butter cups from SugarBuzz Bakery

artfully crafted chocolates reflecting the world’s delicious diversity. The Ann Arbor-based studio offers vegan bonbons such as an agrumato orange olive oil and pistachio puree in dark chocolate and a smooth, dark chocolate coconut ganache.

3723 Plaza Drive, Ste. 3, Ann Arbor; 734-353-7097; jpatricechocolatestudio.com

Estella’s Vegan Dessert Boutique’s Pound Cake

Chantele Jones, founder of Estella’s Vegan Dessert Boutique, built up her vegan cred on her luscious pound cakes. Show how much you care with one (or all four) of Estella’s signature flavors: lemon, chocolate turtle, red velvet, and strawberry crunch. 19120 Grand River Ave., Detroit; 313-288-2206; estellascuisine.com

SugarBuzz Bakery’s Faygo Redpop Velvet Cake

This newish all-vegan bakery in Ferndale adds some Michigan flavor to classic baked goods, including this tasty treat. Red velvet plus red pop: What’s not to love? 23131 Woodward Ave., Ferndale; 248-268-1355; sugarbuzzveganbakery.com

For the Love of Sugar’s Vegan Ice Cream and Macarons

RETAIL

Sweet Goodness

Show your significant other how much you care with these vegan sweet treats for Valentine’s Day

BY DOROTHY HE RNANDEZ | PH OT O BY R EBECCA SI MONOV

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Planthropie’s Cake and Cheese

Made from high-quality, organic, fair-trade ingredients, Planthropie’s luscious creamy cakes and savory cashew cheeses not only look good but will also make you and your sweetie feel good about indulging. 135 Pierce St., Birmingham; 248839-5640; planthropie.com

J. Patrice Chocolate Studio’s Bonbons and ChocolateCovered Nuts A lifelong cocoa connoisseur, Jamie LeBoeuf spent years developing her chocolate skills around the world.

After returning to her native Michigan in 2015, she founded J. Patrice Chocolate Studio, specializing in

Owner Manal Hussein’s passion for sweets is baked into each of For the Love of Sugar’s whimsical and sophisticated desserts. She also shows love for those with dietary restrictions through gluten-free and vegan ice creams, which come in playful flavors like Fruity Pebbles and Chunky Monkey, and plant-based versions of her signature macarons, like birthday cake, vanilla, and strawberry. 100 Erskine St., Detroit; 313-788-7111; fortheloveofsugar.com

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1/5/22 3:36 PM

Food&Drink

“I have a lot of fun creating tension or drama between the food and the drink.”

—CATHERINE KURTH

 Beverage Director Catherine Kurth uses drinks to accentuate Freya’s dishes, such as the Roasted Squab (bottom right), paired with Rayula, a non-alcoholic cocktail of castor and mango juices, turmeric honey, and lemon juice.

DRINKS

Balancing Act At tasting menu-only restaurant Freya, Catherine Kurth’s beverage pairings are about “making a partnership with the food”

BY TA MMY COXEN | PH O T O BY H AY D EN STI NEBAUG H

BEVERAGE PAIRING IS more of an art than a science. One typical approach is to match beverages with specific flavors, so a dish featuring cherries might get paired with a Pinot Noir. But there are other approaches that work, too — sometimes resulting in surprising combinations.

“I have a lot of fun creating tension or drama between the food and the drink, like pairing a higheracid or higher-tannin wine to accompany a rich or creamy dish. It’s a way of preparing the palate for the next bite,” says Catherine Kurth, certified sommelier and beverage director at Freya.

Located in the Milwaukee Junction neighborhood and opened by the team behind the popular Chartreuse Kitchen and Cocktails, Freya offers a tasting menu-only format that draws on the seasons and nods to Scandinavia. Diners can choose from the omnivorous “I Eat Anything” menu, in addition to pescatarian and vegan menus, from chef Doug Hewitt, as well as select either an alcoholic or a nonalcoholic beverage pairing.

“For me, beverage pairings are about making a partnership with the food. The food shouldn’t overpower the wine; the wine shouldn’t overpower the food. It’s about accentuating factors of each,” Kurth says.

Each tasting menu contains six courses, so Kurth aims to have the beverage pairings follow the progression of the meal. A light wine, like a Riesling, might accompany an early course of tuna crudo, followed by fuller, richer wines to go along with fuller, richer dishes.

So far, Freya has featured mostly wine for the alcohol pairings, but future menus could incorporate beer, sake, or even cocktails. There is one non-wine beverage included in the pairing, however. The Black Raspberry Krydda Snaps is made exclusively for the restaurant by award-winning Michigan company Norden Aquavit and is served with dessert or at the end of the meal as a final sip.

The snaps has proved surprisingly versatile.

Kurth says she expected the fruitiness of the black raspberries to complement a dessert featuring fermented blueberries and pears and served with an aniseed panna cotta and ginger meringue. But it also shone with a chocolate-focused dessert. Kurth says she marveled at how the drink expressed itself differently but beautifully across the two dishes.

The nonalcoholic beverage pairing also offers an opportunity for creativity, drawing upon a wide range of juices, teas, and nonalcoholic aperitifs for combinations that match the dishes. It also supports the restaurant’s ethos of making sure everyone — vegan or meat eater, wine fan or teetotaler — can feel welcome at Freya.

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The Silver Spoon is an incredible, made from scratch, culinary experience that no one should ever miss. One of my favorite restaurants.

— Michael B.

543 North Main Street, Rochester, MI 48307 248-652-4500 | www.SilverSpoonRistorante.com

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Restaurant Guide Wayne

The self-described gourmet diner offers espresso drinks and such dishes as Avocado Toast, Kimchi Patatas Bravas, and the Babo Burger. 15 E. Kirby St., Ste. 115, Detroit; 313-974-6159. B,L,D daily.

Al Ameer $$ LEBANESE • This Lebanese restaurant is a recipient of the prestigious James Beard America’s Classics Award.

The Al Ameer platter is perfect for sharing: two grape leaves, two fried kibbeh, chicken shawarma, tawook, kabob, kafta,and falafel. 12710 W. Warren Ave., Dearborn;313-582-8185. 27346 Ford Road, Dearborn Heights; 313-565-9600 L,D Mon.-Sun. Amore da Roma $$ ITALIAN • Guy Pelino, Roma Café’s chef, took over the ownership reins of this restaurant on the edge of the Eastern Market. He retained the menu, adding a charcuterie board and updating the wine list, and didn’t change the character of the old-school restaurant, known for its steaks and pastas. 3401 Riopelle St., Detroit; 313-831-5940. L,D Tue.-Sat.

COVID-19 UPDATE Many establishments are following safety protocols.

Please call the numbers listed here to verify hours and space availability.

Antonio’s Cucina Italiana $$ ITALIAN • The Rugieros have impressed restaurant guests for decades with authentic cuisine. Signature dishes include Gnocchi Rita and Chicken Antonio.

There’s a full bar and a very extensive wine list. 2220 N. Canton Center Road, Canton; 734-981-9800.

26356 Ford Road, Dearborn Heights; 313-278-6000.

37646 W. 12 Mile Road, Farmington Hills; 248-9944000. L,D daily.

Apparatus Room $$$$ NEW AMERICAN • The Foundation Hotel’s restaurant, the Apparatus Room, once housed the Detroit Fire Department headquarters. The cooking of chef Thomas Lents, who earned two Michelin stars while at Chicago’s Sixteen, is refined and highly skilled. A separate Chef’s Table restaurant offers a pricey but delicious option. 250 W. Larned St., Detroit; 313-8005600. D Wed.-Sun.

Barda $$$$ ARGENTINIAN • Barda brings a new cuisine to metro Detroit. True to Argentinian culture, the restaurant celebrates traditional meat dishes. For starters, Carne y Hueso, meaning Flesh and Bone, features a mold of finely chopped beef tartare topped with spicy horseradish alongside a dense bone filled to the brim with buttery marrow. Tira de Asado, a classic Argentinian short rib dish, arrives on a plate in a coriander-pepper crust. And Inch-thick slices of rare Bife, or strip loin steak, lie on a bed of melted butter infused with chimichurri. 4842 Grand River Ave., Detroit; 313- 952-5182; bardadetroit.com. D Thurs.-Sun.

Besa $$$ EUROPEAN-INSPIRED • This modern fine-dining eatery takes its name from Albania — where the owners trace their heritage — and means “pledge of honor.”

Choose from starters such as roasted olives, fried calamari, and double-cut lamb chops. 600 Woodward Ave., Detroit; 313-315-3000. D Mon.-Sat.

Avalon Café and Bakery $$ ORGANIC BAKERY • The bakery’s mini-empire includes a café on Woodward Avenue in Detroit. Its bread is also the basis for dishes such as Avocado Toast with tahini, thinly curled cucumbers, lime, and chili flakes. Vegetarian fare includes a grilled veggie sandwich with portobello mushrooms, zucchini, and goat cheese.

Meatier highlights include a turkey and gouda sandwich, and BLTA with cider house bacon. 1049 Woodward Ave., Detroit; 313-285-8006. B,L daily.

Bobcat Bonnie’s $ GASTROPUB • The menu is eclectic, with fried goat cheese, Buddha bowl, vegan tacos, and BBQ bacon meatloaf. The weekend brunch with a Bloody Mary bar and all the classics is a hit. See bobcatbonnies.com for locations and hours.

Brome Modern Eatery $$ BURGERS • This healthy spin on a classic serves neverfrozen, grass-fed, antibiotic-free, organic burgers.

There’s beef, chicken, haddock, and vegetarian dishes — but no pork, as the restaurant is halal. There’s also a

Babo $ NEW AMERICAN • This café settled into the Midtown Park Shelton building in July 2019, serving elevated comfort food made from local, small-batch producers.

Dog-friendly

Baobab Fare $$ AFRICAN • With his New Center restaurant, Mamba Hamissi urges diners to venture into culinary territories they’d otherwise evade, like the Mbuzi starring a goat shank that is slow-roasted until the meat is so tender that it slides off the bone with ease. 6568 Woodward Ave., Ste. 100, Detroit; 313-265-3093. L,D Tue.-Sun.

Bash Original Izakaya $$ JAPANESE • From the proprietor of Canton’s popular Izakaya Sanpei, comes a Japanese pub located in Woodbridge. Occupying the former home of Katsu, Bash maintains much of that eatery’s Asian-inspired décor, such as hanging lanterns and bamboo shades.

Bash’s drink menu focuses on Japanese craft beer, while the food menu of small plates and sashimi includes Gyoza, Tempura Udon, and fried octopus balls called Tako Yaki. 5069 Trumbull Ave., Detroit; 313-7887208; L Wed.-Sat. D Tue.-Sun.

Atwater in the Park $ GERMAN • At this casual spot, traditional Germanstyle beer is the beverage of choice. Chef Chris Franz’ noteworthy menu is compatible with such additions as a platter of local bratwurst and other sausages teamed with housemade red cabbage and sauerkraut, plus amazing potato pancakes and daily soups. 1175 Lakepointe St., Grosse Pointe Park; 313-344-5104.

L,D daily.

Family-friendly

Baker’s Keyboard Lounge $$ SOUL FOOD • This iconic lounge serves soul food: beef short ribs with gravy, creamy mac and cheese, collard greens, and sweet cornbread muffins. 20510 Livernois Ave., Detroit; 313-345-6300. L, D Tue.-Fri.

Valet

Reservations

E N T R É E P R I C ES

02.22 YO U R C O M P R E H E N S I V E RESOURCE FOR DINING OUT IN METRO DETROIT

cold-pressed juice bar. 22062 Michigan Ave., Dearborn; 313-996-5050. L,D Mon.-Sun. Bucharest Grill $ MEDITERRANEAN-AMERICAN • This bustling casual sandwich shop, now with five locations, is a cult favorite with its fresh Mediterranean fare, notably the best chicken shawarma wrap sandwiches in town. We’re serious.

See bucharestgrill.com for locations and hours.

Cadieux Café $$ BELGIAN • This institution was like a slice of home for early Belgian immigrants. They serve up four varieties of mussels, and a wide range of hearty dishes such as Belgian Rabbit, but there also are classic sandwiches. 4300 Cadieux Road, Detroit; 313-882-8560. D daily.

Café Nini $$$ ITALIAN • This intimate spot offers well-prepared food that includes eight appetizers, a dozen pasta dishes, and 11 main plates, notable among which are tournedos di vitello — medallions of veal filet in a fresh mushroom sauce. The wine list is impressive as well.

98 Kercheval Ave., Grosse Pointe Farms; 313-3083120. D daily.

Cantoro Italian Market and Trattoria $$ ITALIAN • A restaurant inside the market serves great traditional Italian food. Do not miss the tagliatelle alla Bolognese: wide pasta with a meat sauce made of ground veal, beef, sausage, and pancetta. A delicious Italian feast you can conveniently pick up on your way home. 15550 N. Haggerty Road, Plymouth; 734-4201100. L,D Tues.-Sat., L Sun. Capers $$ STEAKHOUSE • This is the type of place longtime Detroit natives describe like an old friend. On Gratiot Avenue between Seven and Eight Mile roads, this place has been packing them in for nearly 40 years. There’s a massive a-la-carte menu items such as BBQ babyback ribs and potato skins, but the main draw is steak by the ounce, at market price. 14726 Gratiot Ave., Detroit; 313527-2100. L,D daily.

Caucus Club $$$ TRADITIONAL AMERICAN • The reborn spot emphasizes service and a traditional steak and seafood theme, with such tasty signature dishes as wood-grilled ribs, prime rib, and steaks.150 W. Congress, Detroit; 313-965-4970. D daily.

Central Kitchen & Bar $$ CREATIVE COMFORT • The space facing Campus Martius is done up in gray and white under industrial light fixtures. Crowd-pleasers include buttermilk fried chicken, filet and frites, burgers, and salads. 660 Woodward Ave., Ste. 4A, Detroit; 313-963-9000. D Thu.-Sat., BR Sat.-Sun. Chartreuse Kitchen & Cocktails $$ NEW AMERICAN • While the menu rotates, there are generally five “cold” starters, five offerings from the “vegetables”category, and six “hot” items that could be considered main dishes, including duck confit and Lake Superior whitefish. The wine list is brief and esoteric. 15 E. Kirby St., Detroit; 313-818-3915. D Tue.-Sun.

$ Affordable (less than $12)

$$ Moderate ($13 to $20)

$$$ Expensive ($21 to $30)

$$$$ Very Expensive (more than $30)

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RECIPE

T WO BIRDS’

BLOSSOM COCKTAIL

One of eight cocktails on Two Birds’ seasonal menu R EC I PE FROM TWO BI R DS | PH O T O BY KA I L EY H OWEL L

Ingredients

11/2 oz. Two James Old Cockney Gin 1 oz. Giffard Lichi-Li 1/2 oz. Mattei Cap Corse apéritif 1/2 oz. freshly squeezed orange juice 1/2 oz. freshly squeezed lime juice 1/2 oz. basil simple syrup

Directions:

Add all ingredients into a shaker with ice. Shake and strain into a double rocks glass with a large ice cube. Garnish with a single basil leaf.

Chili Mustard Onions $ VEGAN • This is Detroit’s only Coney Island with a vegan menu. Choose from traditional favorites including the Coney Dog, Southwest Nachos, and chili fries, complete with owner Pete LaCombe’s secret vegan “cheeze” sauce. 3411 Brush St., Detroit; 313-462-4949.

L Wed.-Sat. City Kitchen $$ AMERICAN • The emphasis is on fresh fish and seafood here, but also on the locals — especially lake perch.

There are also such dishes as Cajun tenderloin tips and a few good angus burgers. 16844 Kercheval Ave., Grosse Pointe; 313-882-6667. L Mon.-Fri., D nightly.

Cliff Bell’s $$ EUROPEAN-INSPIRED • This restored Art Deco hotspot offers small plates such as oysters with cava granita and a salmon croquette. Large plates include sesame soy glazed shiitakes and summer stir fried vegetables with coconut rice. Jazz prevails on the bandstand.

2030 Park Ave., Detroit; 313-961-2543. D Wed.-Sun. Common Pub $ GASTROPUB • Fans of Atlas Global Bistro, which shuttered in 2013, should be happy to learn that some of the principals may be found at this spot in the Belcrest Apartments. The well-edited menu includes duck rangoon and a burger. 5440 Cass Ave., Detroit; 313-2858849. L Tue.-Sat. Coriander Kitchen and Farm $$ GASTROPUB • At this Jefferson Chalmers eatery, guests can rent fire pits and roast housemade marshmallows to make s’mores, or sip mugs of Hot Buttered Rum. By day, grab a picnic table and dip hunks of grilled flatbread into creamy fish dip made with smoked white fish and lake trout and seasoned with herbs from the farm. 14601 Riverside Blvd., Detroit; 313-822-4434. D Fri.-Sun. Cork & Gabel $$$ EUROPEAN-INSPIRED • This Corktown eatery takes the form of a 4,450-square-foot renovated beer hall and is an ode to filling European staples. Try the chicken marsala, featuring a pan-seared 7-oz. chicken breast, sauteed wild mushroom blend, wild rice, seasonal grilled vegetables, cooked in a Lombardo Ambra Sweet Marsala wine sauce. Simply delicious! 2415 Michigan Ave., Detroit; 313-638-2261. D daily.

Cuisine $$$ EUROPEAN-INSPIRED • Cuisine offers a romantic, white-linen experience with the level of food, service, and ambience one might call more “timeless” than “trendy.” Examples of the expertly prepared fare include the Alaskan halibut as well as the Diver Scallops featuring corn risotto, creamed leeks, and citrus butter. 670 Lothrop Rd., Detroit; 313-872-5110. D Tue.-Sun. (Note: not wheelchair accessible.)

Dakota Inn Rathskeller $ EUROPEAN-INSPIRED • The sausages are the kind that snap when you cut them. The combo plate features one bratwurst and one knack-wurst, served with hot German potato salad and sauerkraut. And yes, sing along with the schnitzelbank song. 17324 John R St., Detroit; 313-867-9722. D Thu.-Sat. Detroit Club $$$$ FRENCH-AMERICAN • The formerly shuttered Detroit Club was magnificently restored before reopening in 2018 — and now, the public is invited. It now operates as a boutique hotel, serving a light breakfast and full lunch and dinner. The old dining room, known as the Grille Room, looks very much as it did more than three

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decades ago. The food is excellent, as is the service. 712 Cass Ave., Detroit; 313-338-3222. D Wed.-Sat.

dozen for later. 3454 Bagley St., Detroit; 313-843-5056.

B,L daily.

Detroit Shipping Company $ FUSION • This bi-level destination, created out of shipping containers, offers a variety of food options ranging from the Caribbean-fusion dishes at Coop to Thai fare from Bangkok 96 and more. 474 Peterboro St., Detroit; 313-462-4973. L Sat.-Sun., D daily.

Fishbone’s Rhythm Kitchen Café $$ NEW ORLEANIAN • New Orleans dishes including jambalaya, and fried catfish beignets. Come for breakfast, lunch, dinner, happy hour, or carry-out. 400 Monroe St., Detroit; 313-965-4600. 29244 Northwestern Hwy., Southfield; 248-351-2925. 23722 Jefferson Ave., St. Clair Shores; 586-498-3000. L,D (downtown), B, L,D Southfield and St. Clair Shores. BR at all three.

Detroit Soul $ SOUL FOOD• A hidden gem on the city’s East Side.

Detroit Soul serves its namesake with a healthy twist.

Owners Sam Van Buren and Jerome Brown draw from the recipes of their grandparents, who relocated to Detroit from Alabama in the 1940s. The turkey and collard greens are savory standouts and yams are a sweet treat. This is the kind of place that every soul-food lover must visit. 2900 E. Eight Mile Road, Detroit; 313-3665600. L,D Tue.-Sun. Detroit Vegan Soul $ VEGAN • The popular spot offers your classic soul food favorites but with plant-based twists — mac and cheese, maple-glazed yams, collard greens, and interpretations of catfish and pepper steak. 8029 Agnes St., Detroit; 313-649-2759. L,D Tue.-Sat., L,D Wed.-Sat. 19614 Grand River Ave., Detroit; 313-766-5728.

Dime Store $ BREAKFAST/BRUNCH • This popular breakfast and lunch spot adds just the right retro touch to a contemporary American menu typified by fresh, hearty omelets and Benedicts early in the day. 719 Griswold St., Ste. 180, Detroit; 313-962-9106. B,L Mon.-Sun. Dirty Dog Jazz Cafe $$$ GASTROPUB • A jazz club with top guest musicians and an American bistro menu in a traditional interior.

Starters include shrimp pico and pan-fried calamari.

Main entries include a beef short rib. 97 Kercheval Ave., Grosse Pointe Farms; 313-882-5299. L Tue.-Fri., D Tue.-Sat. Eatori Market $-$$ SPECIALTY GROCERY • This stylish spot overlooking downtown’s Capitol Park. The menu has steamed mussels with leeks, garlic, and fresh oysters. International flourishes abound with truffle aioli for the burger. 1215 Griswold St., Detroit; 313-395-3030. L,D daily.

El Asador Steakhouse $$ MEXICAN • A concentrated cuisine with little modern flairs that also stays faithful to traditional Mexican cooking.

Don’t miss the Camarones en Salsa de Langosta: breaded shrimp stuffed with cheese, fried to a golden dark brown, and topped with a lobster cream sauce. It’s a delicious dinner spot you don’t want to miss and an unassuming LatinAmerican find in Detroit’s Springwells Village. 1312 Springwells St., Detroit; 313-297-2360. L,D Tue.-Sun. El Barzon $ MEXICAN-ITALIAN • Norberto Garita prepares Italian and Mexican cuisines alongside his wife, Silvia Rosario Garita. Authentic Mexican entrees include enchiladas with a homemade green sauce made with tomatillo, jalapeños, and roasted poblano pepper, while the Italian influence takes the form of spaghetti carbonara and Suppa di pesce (seafood soup). 3710 Junction Ave., Detroit; 313-894-2070. D Tue.-Sun. Evie’s Tamales $$ MEXICAN • This Mexicantown restaurant makes some of the best tamales around. Pork or chicken is jacketed with sturdy masa, a dough of ground corn, and then wrapped in a corn husk and steamed. Eat in or order a

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“mystery meat” — packs in fans. Local beers are spotlighted along with chicken paprika soup, a nod to the neighborhood’s Hungarian origins. 2200 W. Lafayette Blvd., Detroit; 313-962-5588. L,D daily.

Highlands $$$ STEAKHOUSE/NEW AMERICAN • Occupying the top two floors of the Renaissance Center, Highlands comprises three separate concepts. A steakhouse of the same name provides a high-end dining experience, while the more casual Hearth 71 serves locally sourced dishes cooked over an open fire. The third concept within the space is the appropriately named High Bar, where guests can choose from a vast collection of spirits and decadent desserts. 400 Renaissance Center, Floors 71 and 72, Detroit; 313-877-9090; D Tue.-Sat.

Flowers of Vietnam $$ VIETNAMESE • Chef and owner George Azar transformed a former Coney Island into an industrial-cool destination, but the neighborhood joint vibe remains.

The menu is shaped around Azar’s appreciation of Vietnamese food, with a very personal twist. 4440 Vernor Hwy., Detroit; 313-554-2085. D Thu.-Sun.

The Hudson Cafe $ BREAKFAST/BRUNCH • The fresh, well-prepared fare from the kitchen of this breakfast/lunch spot has creative takes on the eggs Benedict theme, red velvet pancakes, and apple-walnut stuffed French toast, as well as lunchtime sandwiches and salads. 1241 Woodward Ave., Detroit; 313-237-1000. B,L daily.

Folk $ NEW AMERICAN • A charming Corktown storefront dishing up an all-day brunch menu. It’s an offshoot of the Farmer’s Hand grocery and farmers market. The menu focuses on beautifully plated dishes like salads, quiche, and sandwiches, all beautifully plated and nutritious. Infused milks and frothy lattes are well sought after, too. 1701 Trumbull Ave., Detroit; 313-7422672. BR Wed-Mon. Ford’s Garage $$ BURGERS • Henry Ford’s legacy is celebrated on Dearborn’s main thoroughfare. There are at least 12 variations on the classic American burger here. Try the Ford’s Signature, featuring a half-pound of grilled black angus beef, aged sharp cheddar, applewood-smoked bacon, and bourbon BBQ sauce. Other appealing dishes include shrimp mac and cheese, and chicken wings.

21367 Michigan Ave., Dearborn; 313-752-3673. L,D daily.

Giovanni’s Ristorante $$$ ITALIAN • This old-school Italian restaurant offers housemade pastas, including an outstanding lasagna.

Elaborate veal and seafood dishes and desserts like orange Creamsicle cheesecake round out the delicious menu. 330 Oakwood Blvd., Detroit; 313-841-0122. L,D Tue.-Fri., D Sat. Grandma Bob’s $ PIZZA • If you’re wondering what that psychedelic building on Corktown’s Michigan Avenue is, it’s a pizzeria known as Grandma Bob’s. Chef Dan De Wall, previously of Wright and Co., offers a small, delicious menu of pies, including sausage and pistachio with ricotta cheese and thyme. Or try the Big Mack — the vegan pizza version of the popular burger. 2135 Michigan Ave., Detroit; 313-315-3177. L,D Fri.-Sun. Grand Trunk Pub $ NEW AMERICAN • Breads from Avalon Bakery and meats from Eastern Market anchor the hearty fare, which pairs well with a selection of Michigan beers. Staples include a reuben with Poet Stout Kraut and the Ghettoblaster beer-battered fish and chips. 612 Woodward Ave., Detroit; 313-961-3043.; BR, L, D, Fri.-Sun. The Greek $ GREEK • Plaka Café was a presence on Monroe Avenue for years, and now its space is in the hands of the founders’ children. Notable dishes include spinach pie, lamb chops, and New York strip steak. 535 Monroe Ave., Detroit; 313-209-6667. L,D daily.

Green Dot Stables $ NEW AMERICAN • The menu of sliders — with 20-plus eclectic bun toppings, including Cuban, Korean, and

Hungarian Rhapsody $$ HUNGARIAN • This Downriver restaurant offers authentic Hungarian dishes, such as chicken and veal paprikas, beef goulash, and palacsinta (crêpes).

14315 Northline Road, Southgate; 734-283-9622. L & D Tue.-Sun.

SPOTLIGHT

Grey Ghost

Ima $ JAPANESE-INSPIRED • Japanese-inspired fare with a Midwest emphasis. Ima tacos trade the traditional shell for a slice of jicama-stuffed spicy shrimp, roasted tofu, or garlic chicken. Appetizers include edamame, dumplings, and clams. 2015 Michigan Ave., Detroit; 313-502-5959. 4870 Cass Ave., Detroit; 313-883-9788.

32203 John R Road, Madison Heights; 248-781-0131.

L&D Daily

NEW AMERICAN The cuisine at this Brush Park hotspot isn’t easily defined, but the results are original and well prepared — for example, the hunter’s sausage with pretzel spaetzel and the fried bologna with a potato waffle.

Ivy Kitchen and Cocktails $$$ NEW AMERICAN • This Black-owned restaurant was founded by Nya Marshall to bring fine dining to the East Jefferson Corridor where she grew up. The spot serves New American fare with international influences in a modern, elevated space bathed in neutral tones. The Mezcal Wings with pickled jalapeño and cilantro bring a Mexican kick, while dishes like the Shrimp Linguine Pomodoro contribute European flavors. 9215 E. Jefferson Ave., Detroit; 313-332-0607; L Fri.-Sat., D Wed.-Sun.

47 Watson St., Detroit; 313-262-6534. D daily.

BR Sun. $$

Joe Muer Seafood $$$$ SEAFOOD • This reborn Detroit legend is stellar for a romantic evening or a quiet business lunch or dinner.

Located on the main floor of the GMRenCen, it has sweeping views of the Detroit River and a menu that walks the line between old-time favorites and hipper Asian-influenced seafood, sushi and raw bar. There’s also a Bloomfield Hills location. There are reminders of the past as well: white-bean stew, smoked fish spread, creamed spinach, and stewed tomatoes. A true Detroit classic. 400 Renaissance Center, Ste. 1404, Detroit; 313567-6837. L, D daily, BR Sun. 39475 Woodward Ave., Bloomfield Hills; 248-792-9609. L,D daily.

RESTAURANT OF THE YEAR 

2012

Johnny Noodle King $ JAPANESE-INSPIRED • This noodle shop offers bowls topped with pork belly, confit chicken, and tofu as well as seaweed salad and gyoza. There are several fusion bowls as well like the Southwest topped with shredded chicken and housemade crema. 2601 W. Fort St., Detroit; 313-309-7946. L,D daily.

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Jolly Pumpkin $$ BREWERY • Jolly Pumpkin’s brews rule the offerings, along with other Northern United Brewing Co. beverages, such as North Peak and Jolly Pumpkin artisan ales.

Pizzas with creative toppings abound. 441 W. Canfield St., Detroit; 313-262-6115. 419 S. Main St., Ste. 9, Royal Oak; 248-544-6250. D daily.

Karl’s $$ AMERICAN • The luncheonette is part two of the Siren Hotel’s partnership with chef Kate Williams. Inspired by the East Side bakery of the same name that Williams’ great-great grandparents once owned, the menu features diner staples. 1509 Broadway St., Detroit; 313-8552757. B,L,D daily.

Karl’s Cabin $$ AMERICAN • Dishes from their currently rotating drivethrough menu such as pecan crust walleye and beef tenderloin tips with sautéed shrimp and bearnaise sauce surpass typical roadhouse food. 6005 Gotfredson Rd., Plymouth; 734-455-8450. L,D daily.

The Kitchen by Cooking with Que $$ VEGAN • This eatery created by Detroit-based cooking blogger Quiana Broden serves lunches of smoothies, salads, and sandwiches. Broden also often offers live cooking demonstrations. 6529 Woodward Ave., Ste. A, Detroit; 313-462-4184. L Tue.-Sat., D Fri. Kuzzo’s Chicken and Waffles $ SOUTHERN COMFORT • Several recipes, including a signature thin waffle, are family-owned at ex-NFL player Ron Bartell’s spot. Think comfort food kicked up a notch: fried catfish, salmon croquettes, shrimp and grits, and biscuits. Drink the Kool-Aid, too. 19345 Livernois Ave., Detroit; 313-861-0229. B,L,D Tue.-Sat., B,L Sun. La Dolce Vita $$$ ITALIAN • Traditional Italian cuisine is key at this Palmer Park hideaway. Recommended is the lake perch in white wine sauce, the veal scaloppine with artichokes, and the lasagna. 17546 Woodward Ave., Detroit; 313-865-0331. D Tue.-Sun., BR Sun. La Lanterna $$ ITALIAN • The founder of Da Edoardo, the first Edoardo Barbieri, started it all in 1956 with a restaurant called La Lanterna. Now his grandchildren have revived it. Although the white and red pizzas — like Margherita, Liguria, and Da Edorado — dominate, there’s more, including a number of elegant pastas like the Lasagna Alla Bolognese.

1224 Griswold St., Detroit; 313-962-8821. L Wed.-Sun. Le Culture Cafe $$ SOUL • Eastern Market’s Le Culture Cafe is bridging fine-dining with comfort food. Start with the Maryland crab cakes, then the Mamba Chicken Pasta or the Catfish Po-Boy. 1452 Brush St., Detroit; 313-285-8137. L Sun., D Fri.-Sun. London Chop House $$ STEAKHOUSE • The kitchen turns out classics like oysters Rockefeller, French onion soup, and sautéed perch.

This is the place to come when you need to satisfy a craving for steak in elegant surroundings with hospitable service. 155 W. Congress St., Detroit; 313-962-0277. L Mon.-Fri., D Mon.-Sat. Leila $$$ LEBANESE • The restaurant from the proprietors of Birmingham’s Phoenicia is named after the owner’s mother — just one facet of the establishment that pays homage to family traditions and heritage. The menu includes various Lebanese dishes, from falafel to Leila’s

Bolognese, featuring spaghetti, pine nut, and basil. Other menu items include sujuk — a spicy Armenian sausage — and tabbouleh made of parsley, cracked wheat, and spices. The beer and wine lists offer plenty of options to accompany any meal. 1245 Griswold St., Detroit; 313-816-8100; D Sun., L&D Mon.-Sat.

Michigan & Trumbull $$ ITALIAN-AMERICAN • After a successful four-month run at Fort Street Galley, Michigan and Trumbull became one of the latest in a long line of Detroit-style pizza joints to open in the area. Not your traditional carryout joint, Michigan and Trumbull is housed in a sleek, refurbished car-repair garage. The menu features square, deep-dish pies with Detroit-inspired names, such as Packard Pepperoni and Woodward White. 1441 W. Elizabeth St., Detroit; 313-637-4992; L,D Wed-Sat.

Lovers Only $ BURGERS • The star at Lovers Only, located in downtown Detroit’s Capitol Park, is pasture-raised beef from Ferndale’s Farm Field Table, used to make its standout burgers. Other key ingredients, including baked goods, are local as well. There’s also craft cocktails and beer. 34 Grand River Ave., Detroit; 313-986-1174. L,D daily.

Lucy & the Wolf $$ SPANISH • This Anglo-sounding restaurant offers very good Spanish-inspired tapas dining. Standouts include a fire-roasted jalapeño cheese spread, shrimp tacos, and a grilled flank steak in chimichurri sauce.

102 E. Main St., Northville; 248-308-3057. L Sat.-Sun., D Thu.-Sun. Lumen Detroit $$ NEW AMERICAN • A contemporary American menu and a Victor Saroki setting make the restaurant overlooking downtown’s Beacon Park one of the best of recent entrants onto the scene. Appetizers such as freshly made pretzels prelude main courses such as salmon with chimichurri herb sauce. 1903 Grand River Ave., Detroit; 313-626-5005. L Fri.-Sun., D. Wed.-Sun. Mario’s $$$ ITALIAN • This Midtown Detroit classic dates to 1948.

Linen-covered tables, framed paintings on wood-paneled walls, expert waiters clad in black tie, and tableside preparation survive here. Italian dinners always begin with an antipasto tray and continue through soup, salad, pasta, and entree. 4222 Second Ave., Detroit; 313-8321616. L,D daily.

Marrow $$ NEW AMERICAN • This West Village restaurant and butcher shop hybrid is an ode to meat, especially unusual cuts. Diners must walk through the butcher shop, bypassing cases of pastrami and sausage, before entering the restaurant. Offerings from a sample tasting menu include Roasted Bone Marrow and Lamb Kefta.

8044 Kercheval Ave., Detroit; 313-652-0200. D Thu.-Sun. Maty’s African Cuisine $$ WEST AFRICAN • A small storefront in the Detroit Old Redford neighborhood is decidedly Senegalese. Fataya, a deep-fried pastry with savory fillings, are reminiscent of an empanada. The star of the show is the whole chicken with yassa. 21611 Grand River Ave., Detroit; 313472-5885. L,D daily.

M Cantina $ MEXICAN • Nuevo Latino street food is the premise at this surprising spot where everything from the tortilla chips to the salsas are made in-house in the open kitchen. Juices are freshly squeezed and the menu of tortas, tacos, tapas, and salads from the kitchen of Heidi and Junior Merino from Hawaii and Mexico is distinctive. 13214 Michigan Ave., Dearborn; 313-3999117. L,D Tue.-Sun. Mercury Burger & Bar $ BURGERS • This Corktown joint seats 70 around the zinc-covered bar set with Mercury (Liberty) dimes. The burger is available in a variety of iterations, such as Southwest Detroit with a chorizo slider, jalapeno, Müenster cheese, tortilla strips, and avocado. 2163 Michigan Ave., Detroit; 313-964-5000. L,D daily.

Mi Lindo San Blas $$$ MEXICAN • Heaping platters of seafood such as shrimp, octopus, and scallops, tell the story at this spot that brings a corner of Mexico’s seaside Nayarit region to southwest Detroit. On weekends when live music is added, the tables are often pushed back to create a dance floor. 1807 Livernois Ave., Detroit; 313789-5100. L,D daily.

SPOTLIGHT

Marrow

NEW AMERICAN This West Village restaurant and butcher shop hybrid is an ode to meat, especially unusual cuts.

Diners must walk through the butcher shop, bypassing cases of pastrami and sausage, before entering the restaurant. The tasting menu is characterized by rotating offerings, such as Roasted Bone Marrow and Lamb Kefta. 8044 Kercheval Ave., Detroit; 313-652-0200.

D Thu.-Sun $$

Monarch Club $$$ NEW AMERICAN • At the 14th floor of the revamped Element Detroit Hotel located at the Metropolitan is the Monarch Club. It’s one of the most recent rooftop bars to open in metro Detroit and serves a variety of delicious small plates along with classic cocktails. 33 John R St., Detroit; 313-306-2380. L Sun., D Mon.-Thurs.

Mootz Pizzeria & Bar $$ ITALIAN-AMERICAN • Bruno DiFabio, a six-time World Pizza Games champ, rejects the label New York-style for his fare. “It’s authentic New York pizza,” he says. In a hurry? Grab a slice from Side Hustle, Mootz’s by-the-slice counter next door. 1230 Library St., Detroit; 313-2431230. L Fri.-Sun., D Mon-Thu. Motor City Brewing Works $ BREWERY • Just 15 mostly nontraditional pizzas on excellent, chewy crust, and the option to build your own pie with various toppings. Plus, salads from locally grown greens to accompany the house-brewed beers.

470 W. Canfield St., Detroit; 313-832-2700. L,D daily.

Mudgie’s Deli $ DELI • Seats are often filled in search of the O’Leary (pastrami, Swiss, and greens) or the Brooklyn (beef brisket, bacon, and beer cheese). The dinner menu features meat and cheese boards as well as build-yourown sandwich options. It’s a delicious place for a meal any time. 1413 Brooklyn St., Detroit; 313-961-2000. L,D Mon.-Sat., BR Sun. Nico & Vali $$ ITALIAN • This eatery offers favorites with unexpected twists. The artichokes and chilies appetizer boasts battered and fried artichokes with Fresno and jalapeno peppers, tossed with fresh basil in white wine. Popular choices include the Whitefish Filet. It’s a classic Italian spot with an update that’s worth a visit. 744 Wing St., Plymouth; 734-207-7880. L Thu.-Sat., D Tue.-Sun. Norma G’s $ CARIBBEAN • Lester Gouvia, the Trinidadian chef who brought us the famed food truck, opened a fullservice restaurant under the same name. Stop in for a plate of Chicken Pelau: a tasty blend of rice, diced chicken, squash, peppers, and golden-brown baked chicken. 14628 E. Jefferson Ave., Detroit; 313-2902938. D Tue.-Sat. Ottava Via $$ ITALIAN Chef Ariel Millan sends out great thin-crusted pizzas as well as interesting small plates typified by bruschetta, calamari, roasted garlic, and whipped goat cheese to be spread on paper-thin crostini. 1400 Michigan Ave., Detroit; 313-962-5500. L,D daily.

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Pao Detroit $$$ FUSION • Visit this upscale Pan-Asian fusion restaurant for Asian-themed cocktails and dishes, such as creamy rock shrimp, charred octopus, filet mignon, and orange sesame salmon. Based in the former Michigan Oriental Theater, the interior combines new and old.

114 W. Adams Ave., Ste. 200, Detroit; 313-816-0000. L Sun., D Wed.-Sun.

RESTAURANT OF THE YEAR 

outs, too. A Polish staple in Detroit, where there aren’t too many. 2990 Yemans St., Hamtramck; 313-874-5726.

L,D daily. Not wheelchair accessible.

Portofino $ ITALIAN • This big waterfront spot in Wyandotte is both a local hangout and a restaurant with a menu that’s surprisingly ambitious. It offers a number of fish and seafood dishes, from lake perch to coconut shrimp and fried calamari, as well as steaks. Nearly every table in the restaurant has a river view. 3455 Biddle Ave., Wyandotte; 734-281-6700. L,D Tues.-Sun.

2018

Parc $$$ NEW AMERICAN • Excellent food, exceptional service, and a crisp and formal but distinctly unstuffy atmosphere set this Campus Martius gem apart. Appetizer highlights include a bright and fresh tuna tartare and wood-roasted oysters. Creamy roasted garlic butter and lemon add a zippy touch to the roasted oysters.

Main courses are exceptional, including an interesting blend of Italian food, wood-grilled whole fish, and organic Scottish salmon. There’s also a large selection of dry-aged gourmet steaks, wood-grilled and served tableside. The wine selection is impressive and caters to a diverse set of price ranges and wine drinkers, so you won’t be disappointed with any bottle here. 800 Woodward Ave., Detroit; 313-922-7272. L,D daily. BR Sat.-Sun.

RESTAURANT OF THE YEAR 

Prism $$$ NEW AMERICAN • Greektown Casino-Hotel’s renamed eatery is located off the main casino. ,The menu features local ingredients, steaks, and fresh seafood. 555 E. Lafayette St., Detroit; 313-309-2499. D Wed.-Sun. Rattlesnake Club $$$$ NEW AMERICAN • This restaurant on the river remains one of the most appealing spots in town. The casually elegant space offers a range of appetizers, entrees, and desserts. Dishes that typify its style include seared diver sea scallops, an 8-ounce filet, and a 16-ounce porterhouse. 300 River Place, Detroit; 313567-4400. L,D Tue.-Sat.

Pegasus Taverna $$ GREEK • The cry of “opa!” resounds in St. Clair Shores at the second edition of the longstanding Greektown restaurant. The resturant boasts an extensive menu, from moussaka and spinach pie to gyros and roast lamb.

24935 Jefferson Ave., St. Clair Shores; 586-772-3200.

558 Monroe St., Detroit; 313-964-6800. L,D Tue-Sun. The Peterboro $$ ASIAN-FUSION • A contemporary take on AmericanChinese fare gives new life to the cuisine with robustly spiced dishes, including an “absurdly delicious” cheeseburger spring roll and a take on almond boneless chicken. 420 Peterboro St., Detroit; 313-833-1111.

D Mon.-Sat. Pho Lucky $ VIETNAMESE • This charming Midtown Vietnamese spot serves authentic fare emphasizing pho. Bowls of spicy broth with noodles, round steak, and meatballs come in several variations. Other noteworthy dishes here include summer rolls and crisp spring rolls. Look for Asian beers and robust Vietnamese coffee. 3111 Woodward Ave., Detroit; 313-338-3895. L,D daily except Tue. when it’s L only.

PizzaPlex $ ITALIAN • This pizza isn’t just authentic, it’s certified.

PizzaPlex earned the title of Vera Pizza Napoletana, or real Neapolitan pizza, from Associazione Verace Pizza Napoletana in Naples. Try the Margherita. Topped with mozzarella, basil, and EVOO, there’s nothing like a classic. 4458 Vernor Highway, Detroit; 313-757-4992. L Sun., D Wed.-Sun. Polish Village Café $ POLISH • The “Polish plate” includes stuffed cabbage, pierogi, kielbasa, sauerkraut, and mashed potatoes and gravy. The dill pickle soup and city chicken are stand-

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SPOTLIGHT

Savant

FRENCH In a cozy-yetupscale interior with leather couches and an open kitchen, Jordan Whitmore and Rebecca Wurster, formerly of Apparatus Room, serve up rotating European-inspired menu items such as Champagne Chicken, Apple and Arugula Heirloom Salad, and — for their vegan diners — Ratatouille Confit Byaldi.

51 W. Forest Ave., Detroit; 313-285-9294.

D Fri.-Sun. $$$

Red Dunn Kitchen $$ NEW AMERICAN • The Trumbull and Porter hotel’s spiffy restaurant is an ambitious undertaking, offering three meals a day. Chef Jay Gundy’s style is best experienced at dinner, with a la carte offerings such as foie gras-stuffed quail, smoked and marinated salmon collars, braised lamb leg, and bacon-wrapped duck breast with polenta.

1331 Trumbull Ave., Detroit; 313-887-9477. B,L,D daily.

Red Smoke Barbeque $$ BARBEQUE • At Red Smoke, hickory and applewoodsmoked ribs, pulled pork, apple-smoked, all-natural chicken, and an array of classic sides are served out of one of the most attractive two-story buildings that are still standing on Monroe Street. 573 Monroe St., Detroit; 313-962-2100. L,D daily.

Roast $$$ STEAKHOUSE • Meat is the main focus at chef Michael Symon’s restaurant at the famous Westin Book Cadillac Hotel, as underscored by the rotisserie slowly roasting the “beast of the day.” 1128 Washington Blvd., Detroit; 313-9612500. D Tue.-Sat. Rocky’s of Northville $$ NEW AMERICAN • Menu includes shrimp cocktail, salmon pate, and broiled Great Lakes whitefish. Also look for chipotle honey-glazed salmon. 41122 W. Seven Mile Road, Northville; 248-349-4434. L Mon.-Fri. Roman Village ITALIAN • The Rugiero family has been serving

Rose’s Fine Food $ BREAKFAST/BRUNCH • The menu is straightforward, based mainly on fresh ingredients and from-scratch preparation. Breakfast eaters can choose from a variety of egg dishes, such as the ESD (egg sandwich of the day). For lunch, there’s a selection of creative sandwiches. 10551 E. Jefferson Ave., Detroit; 313-822-2729. L Mon, Wed-Sun.

2019

Prime + Proper $$$$ STEAKHOUSE • Downtown Detroit dining gets a major shot of glamour with this over-the-top steak and seafood emporium on the corner of Griswold and State streets. Although red meat, from prime dry-aged Tomahawk ribeye to Wagyu strip is the focus — and yes, there’s a burger made with a dry-aged butcher’s blend — oysters, king crab, and caviar are not far behind. An elegant white and gold setting backgrounds it all. The niceties are maintained by an impeccably dressed staff. 1145 Griswold St., Detroit; 313-636-3100. D TueSun., BR Sun.

Park Grill $$ MEDITERRANEAN • Mediterranean fare gets a Balkan spin. The menu offers tasting plates, pita-wrapped sandwiches, and salads, as well as entrees including chicken and beef shawarma, beef and pork kafta, lemon-pepper pork tenderloin, and lamb chops. Service is friendly and informal. 15102 Kercheval Ave., Grosse Pointe Park; 313264-1997. L,D daily.

authentic Italian cuisine since 1964. They’ve launched three additional Antonio’s Cucina Italiana locations.

Roman Village is the original and features their signature gnocchi Rita. 9924 Dix Ave., Dearborn; 313-8422100. L,D daily.

$

Rusted Crow $$ ECLECTIC AMERICAN • Calamari flash fried served with caper aioli sit alongside spinach artichoke dip.

Craft cocktails utilize house spirits. Try the Rosemary’s Baby, made with Detroit Steam vodka and ginger beer. 78 W. Adams Ave., Detroit; 313-782-4751. L Sat.-Sun., D Tue.-Sun. San Morello $$$ ITALIAN • This Italian gem serves pizzas, pastas, and wood-fired dishes that draw inspiration from the coastal towns of Southern Italy and Sicily out of the Shinola Hotel. Think Tartufi Pizza with fontina and black truffle, handcrafted by James Beard Award-winning chef Andrew Carmellini. 1400 Woodward Ave., Detroit; 313209-4700. D daily.

The Sardine Room $$$ SEAFOOD • A seafood restaurant and raw bar, The Sardine Room is fresh, fun, and energetic, with a clean-line décor and a menu full of surprises. For starters, there is a Seafood Louie featuring jumbo lump crab, shrimp, egg, avocado, tomato, and bibb lettuce. Worthwhile is a grouper sandwich that’s available seared, pan-fried, or blackened. 340 S. Main St., Plymouth; 734-416-0261. D daily, BR Sun. SavannahBlue $$ SOUL FOOD • Highlights at this upscale soul food restaurant include the twice-dredged fried chicken and the shrimp and grits. Accompaniments include yam casserole, catfish fritters, and a Georgian Hummus that substitutes black-eyed peas for chickpeas. There’s also a great bar. 1431 Times Square, Detroit; 313-926-0783. D Mon.-Sat., BR Sun. Savant $$$ FRENCH • In a cozy-yet-upscale interior with leather couches and an open kitchen, Jordan Whitmore and Rebecca Wurster, formerly of Apparatus Room, serve up rotating European-inspired menu items, including Champagne Chicken, an Apple and Arugula Heirloom Salad, Calamari, and — for vegan diners — Ratatouille Confit. 51 W. Forest Ave., Detroit; 313-285-9294. D Fri.-Sun. Scotty Simpson’s Fish & Chips $ SEAFOOD • Head to this Brightmoor spot for perfectly prepared fish and chips. The key to Scotty’s longevity is the batter that coats the cod, perch, shrimp, chicken, onion rings, and frog legs. 22200 Fenkell St., Detroit; 313-533-0950. L,D Tue.-Sat. Second Best $ RETRO AMERICAN • The talents behind nearby Grey Ghost have unveiled a second, more casual spot with a retro spin in Brush Park. The menu of lighter dishes includes the Yogi Gyro with roasted root vegetable and coconut tzatziki, and fried chicken sandwiches that accompany drinks that were popular more than a few years back. 42 Watson St., Detroit; 313-315-3077. L Sat.Sun., D nightly.

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RESTAURANT OF THE YEAR 

2016

Supino Pizzeria $$ ITALIAN • Relax with one of the town’s best thin-crust pizzas — they come in more than a dozen variations, with or without red sauce. A few dishes from the La Rondinella menu made the list as well, such as paninis, salads, and small plates such as polpette and three delicious salads. Beer, wine, and cocktails add to the appeal.

2457 Russell St., Detroit; 313-567-7879. L,D Tue.-Sun.

Selden Standard $$$ NEW AMERICAN • What sets Selden Standard apart is that it is moving Detroit into a new era in which upper-end dining with starched linen and tuxedoed waiters doesn’t hold much interest anymore. Chef Andy Hollyday, a multiple James Beard semifinalist, does farm-to-table scratch cooking with ideas borrowed from around the world. A key to his cooking is the wood-fired grill. This spot has garnered national attention. 3921 Second Ave., Detroit; 313-438-5055. D Thurs.-Sun.

Sweet Soul Bistro $ SOUL FOOD • The large menu includes homages to Detroit musicians, from Stevie Wonder Wonderful Wings to Aretha Franklin Catfish Bites. Also notable are the crab cakes. In the evening, the bistro transforms into a club.

13741 W. McNichols Road, Detroit; 313- 862-7685. L,D daily.

Seva Detroit $$ VEGETARIAN • Seva offers such dishes as black bean and sweet potato quesadillas, gluten-free options, and colorful stir-fries — some vegan as well as vegetarian.

There’s also a full bar as well as a juice bar. 2541 Jackson Ave., Ann Arbor; 734-662-1111. 66 E. Forest Ave., Detroit; 313-974-6661. L,D Mon.-Sat.

RESTAURANT OF THE YEAR 

Takoi $$ THAI • Thai-Laotian fare might seem out of place in Corktown, but virtually everything on the menu has distinction. There’s a depth, concentration, and balance between heat and coolness, the range of spices, the delight of moving from one superb bite to the next.

2520 Michigan Ave., Detroit; 313-855-2864. D Mon.-Sat.

2020

SheWolf Pastificio & Bar $$$ ITALIAN • Chef Anthony Lombardo takes fresh and housemade to a new level with this Midtown restaurant that serves only dinner from a menu inspired by Italian cooking specific to Rome. Milling all of his own flour for his pastas, breads, and polenta in house, Lombardo, well known as the former executive chef at Bacco, serves a selection of simple but elegant regional Italian dishes. 438 Selden St., Detroit; 313-315-3992. L Wed. Thu., & Sun., D Wed.-Sun. Slows Bar BQ $$ BARBEQUE • The brick-and-wood original in Corktown gained a following for its pulled pork, ribs, and chicken.

They expanded with a “to go” spot in Midtown, as well.

This is a true Detroit classic in every sense of the term.

Corktown location: 2138 Michigan Ave., Detroit; 313-9629828. D Wed.-Sun. Slows To Go in Midtown: 4107 Cass Ave., Detroit; 313-309-7560. L,D Wed.-Sun. Smith & Co. $$$ NEW AMERICAN • This Cass Corridor bar and restaurant is housed in the old Smith Welding Supply & Equipment Company building — hence cement ceilings and exposed brick that evoke an industrial vibe. The menu features small plates, sandwiches, and entrees such as Mushroom Toast; Braised Lamb Shank; the Fried Chicken Bowl with sweet sesame sauce and kimchi; and the Smith Burger, soy-ginger marinated and topped with a fried egg. Beverage options include craft beer, wine, and fresh takes on classic cocktails. 644 Selden St, Detroit; 313-974-7100. D daily, B,L,&D Sun. Standby $$ NEW AMERICAN • The libation menu — categorized by spirit — is longer than the food menu, but both food and drinks are equally emphasized. The fare ranges from small plates of marinated olives and tamari eggs to entrees such as pork skewers and their house cheeseburger. 225 Gratiot Ave., Detroit; 313-241-5719. D Thu.-Sun. Not wheelchair accessible.

Street Beet $ VEGAN • The popular vegan pop-up Street Beet has landed a permanent spot at Midtown’s 3rd Street Bar, serving up plant-based riffs on quintessential fast foods. Try the Kentucky Fake Chicken sandwich, with fried tofu, pickles, and spicy mayo, or the Taco Hell Crunchywrap, with walnut chorizo and cashew nacho cheese. These faves and additions like the BBQ Fake Chicken are available via counter service, carryout, and online ordering. 4626 Third Ave., Detroit; 313-6381480; D Wed.-Sun.

Tap at MGM Grand $ SPORTS BAR • More than 40 HD flatscreen TVs for sports fans, plus sports memorabilia. The menu features comfort food and pub classics: burgers, wings, and house nachos. Pizza and more upscale entrees are also available, as are more than 50 beers. Bring your family and friends for a very entertaining night on the town. 1777 Third St., Detroit; 313-465-1234. D daily.

SPOTLIGHT

Traffic Jam & Snug

GASTROPUB Michigan’s first officially designated brewpub is fresh and eccentric.

Though limited, the menu is diverse, with options like chicken and basil egg rolls for a starter, black bean burrito, roasted and shaved spiced lamb, and deep fried fillets. 511 W. Canfield St., Detroit; 313-831-9470.

L Sat.-Sun., D Fri.-Sun. $

Trattoria Serventi $$ ITALIAN • The brick pizza oven turns out an array of thin-crust pizzas and there’s an interesting daytime menu that offers a real bargain. In the evening, such dishes as Scallopini Style veal, and Gnocchi alla Palmina, recalling chef Aldo Ottaviani — who was instrumental in setting up the original Andiamo menu — typify the style. 20930 Mack Ave., Grosse Pointe Woods; 313-8869933. L,D daily.

Urban Ramen $$ JAPANESE-INSPIRED • Urban Ramen serves bowls of steaming broth filled with house-made, springy ramen noodles topped with fixings like bamboo, egg, pork chashu, and sesame seeds. The menu also includes poke, salads, and sides such as garlic edamame and Japanese fried chicken. 4206 Woodward Ave., Detroit; 313-285-9869. L,D Mon.-Sun. Vertical Detroit $$$ WINE BAR • This wine-centric restaurant puts the focus on pairing Chef Alex Knezevic’s innovative cuisine with owners James and Rémy Lutfy’s nationally recognized wine program. The menu emphasizes locally sourced protein, seafood, and produce. A must-try for any wine enthusiast. 1538 Centre St., Detroit; 313-7329463. D Wed.-Sat. Not wheelchair accessible.

Vicente’s Cuban Cuisine $$ CUBAN • An evening at this lively spot is more than just Cuban and Spanish dining. Appetizers and tapas include the outstanding Tapa de la Casa, pork leg marinated in mojo; a Spanish chorizo and fresh mushrooms concoction with garlic lemon sauce; and empanadas, a Cuban turnover filled with ground beef or chicken. 1250 Library St., Detroit; 313-962-8800. L,D daily.

Vivio’s Food & Spirits $ SANDWICH/DELI • This Eastern Market classic has been run by the Vivio family for more than 40 years.

Sandwiches and burgers are mainstays, but diners also appreciate the steamed mussels. 2460 Market St., Detroit; 313-393-1711. L,D Mon.-Fri., BR,L,D Sat., L Sun.

The Whitney $$$$ NEW AMERICAN • The historic 1890s mansion is still going strong. The menu is typified by classic beef Wellington, wrapped in spinach, prosciutto, and pastry; and pan-roasted Scottish salmon. Tableside cooking, by reservation only, is an optional feature. Don’t forget The Katherine McGregor Dessert Parlor for a sweet treat.4421 Woodward Ave., Detroit; 313-832-5700. D Thu.-Sun and high tea Sat.-Sun. Wine Dotte Bistro $$ WINE BAR • This interesting wine bar and restaurant offers a view of the Detroit River. The menu includes coconut shrimp, lobster tails, tenderloin medallions, and lamb chops. The wine is displayed in a cabinet across one wall and it’s the main focus. 2910 Van Alstyne St., Wyandotte; 734-556-3195. L,D Tue.-Sun. Wright & Co. $$ NEW AMERICAN • The collaboration between chef Marc Djozlija and Dave Kwiatkowski of the popular Corktown craft cocktail bar Sugar House gives new life to the second-floor space in the Wright Kay building. Small plates such as tuna tartare with pickled pears, and pork belly sliders with tomato jam and sriracha aioli are the focus. 1500 Woodward Ave., Detroit; 313-962-7711. D Mon.-Sat., BR Sun. Yum Village $ AFRO-CARIBBEAN • The former food truck opened a full-service restaurant in the North End in 2019. The space is bright and fun with wooden tables, mismatched chairs, and a colorful, geometric paint job. And the food is just as bold. The restaurant serves up piquant dishes like Lemon Pepper Jerk Chicken. 6500 Woodward Ave., Detroit; 313-334-6099. L,D Mon.-Sat.

Oakland 168 Crab & Karaoke $$ PAN-ASIAN • Don’t judge by 168 Crab & Karaoke’s unassuming strip mall location. It’s a unique experience that meshes food, karaoke, and pop party culture into a one-stop destination. The dining room offers dishes blurring the lines. Standouts include stir-fried snow pea leaves with garlic and stir-fried udon. The traditional Korean noodle dish chap chae is a strong option. 32415 John R Road, Madison Heights; 248-616-0168. D daily.

220 Merrill $$$ NEW AMERICAN • The menu includes apps and small plates as well as crispy Key West shrimp, pan-roasted sea bass, and fried calamari. There are heartier entrees as well, like the braised beef short ribs. 220 Merrill St., Birmingham; 248-646-2220. L,D Mon.-Sat. BR Sun. Adachi $$$ JAPANESE-INSPIRED • Heading the kitchen is Lloyd Roberts, who has trained in the kitchens of celebrity chefs such as Jean-Georges Vongerichten and Nobu Matsuhisa. Here, soy truffle broth is ladled over pork dumplings reminiscent of coin purses, and miniature tacos are filled with lobster, tuna, or vegetable pickings. 325 S. Old Woodward Ave., Birmingham. D daily, L Mon.-Fri. Andiamo Restaurants $$ ITALIAN • Steak and Italian pasta are the focus, but dessert is also impeccable. The more casual but as just delicious spots are known as Trattorias. See website for hours and locations; andiamoitalia.com Anita’s Kitchen $ LEBANESE • With pita pizzas and lamb chops, the Lebanese food here is some of the best around. And

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there’s vegetarian and gluten-free fare, too. Healthy, nutritious, and delicious. See website for locations; anitaskitchen.com Assaggi Bistro $$$ ITALIAN • Seasonal offers encompassing rustic Italian, country French, and authentic Lebanese are all created in the open kitchen. Standouts include Moroccan duck legs, porcini-dusted day boat sea scallops, and cioppino (seafood stew). 330 W. Nine Mile Road, Ferndale; 248584-3499 D Tue.-Sun. Bacco $$$ ITALIAN • Chef-owner Luciano Del Signore’s pastas are like pure art. Try the Strozzapreti Norcina: Italian sausage, truffles, tomato, and white wine, tossed in hand-rolled pasta. From local grass-fed beef to sustainably farm-raised sea bass to a fresh caprese, the ingredients are top-end. Based in the heart of Southfield, Bacco is a true Italian gem in the suburbs. And the desserts, are not to be missed. 29410 Northwestern Hwy., Southfield; 248-356-6600.L Mon.-Fri., D Mon.-Sat. Beans & Cornbread $$ SOUL • Upscale soul food is the premise at Beans & Cornbread: wings, Hoppin’ John, catfish, and a gravysmothered pork chop. Tempura-battered fried shrimp comes with a choice of cocktail or spicy BBQ sauce, and there’s a notable Louisiana-style gumbo to boot. 29508 Northwestern Hwy., Southfield; 248-208-1680. L,D Tue.Fri., D Sat.-Sun. BR Sun. Bella Piatti $$ ITALIAN • The location right across from the Townsend Hotel has inspired a number of visiting celebrities, professional athletes, and film crews who stay there to check out the Italian fare at this restaurant. The menu of such dishes as Gemelli pasta with fresh tomato sauce, salmon baked with spinach, kalamata olives, white wine, and tomatoes, and tagliatelle Bolognese stands on its own. It’s one of our true favorites in the area in terms of Italian restaurants. 167 Townsend St., Birmingham; 248494-7110. L,D Tue.-Fri., D Sat.

RECIPE

D ’A M A T O ’ S

MASCARPONE ORZO MAC AND CHEESE

Beverly Hills Grill $$$ NEW AMERICAN • Breakfast near noon is compatible with the Grill’s dawn-to-dark schedule. Fare includes crab cake Benedict, corned beef hash with poached eggs, and omelet du jour. There are plenty of lunch and dinner options, typified by black bean chili, Caesar and spinach salads, and a notable burger. 31471 Southfield Road, Beverly Hills; 248-642-2355. B,L,D daily.

R ECI P E F ROM D’AM AT O’S | P HOT O BY K AI L EY H OWEL L

Bi Bim Bab $$ KOREAN • Though sushi and a small selection of Japanese entrees share the bill here, it’s Korean food at center stage — on barbecue grills, on which meat and seafood are grilled to order. Or come for the restaurant’s namesake. 43155 Main St., Novi; 248-348-6800.

L,D daily.

D’Amato’s has been serving up Italian cuisine in downtown Royal Oak for 25-plus years

Ingredients:

2 oz. cooking oil 2 oz. minced garlic 2 oz. minced shallots 4 oz. diced tomatoes 1 tsp. chopped parsley 10 oz. cooked orzo pasta ½ cup chicken stock 4 oz. grated Parmesan 6 oz. mascarpone Salt and pepper to taste

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Directions:

Heat oil in a large saute pan. Add garlic and shallots and cook for about one minute. Toss in diced tomatoes and parsley, and saute together. Add orzo, stock, and Parmesan. Let stock reduce to a firm consistency or until it’s not loose. Fold in mascarpone and stir until fully incorporated. Add salt and pepper to taste.

Bigalora: Wood Fired Cucina $$ ITALIAN • The pizza concept from chef Luciano Del Signore, a four-time James Beard Award nominee, features small plates, fresh pastas, wood-roasted meats, and a range of distinctive Neopolitan pizzas. See website for locations; bigalora.com Big Rock Chophouse $$$ STEAKHOUSE • This old railroad station is a great setting. Portions range from a dainty filet to a huge porterhouse. There are also a variety of small plates to choose from, including tuna tartare, crab cakes, mac and cheese, and more. 245 S. Eton, Birmingham; 248-6477774. L,D Mon.-Sat.

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Bistro Joe’s $$$ GLOBAL • Part of Papa Joe’s Gourmet Market, Bistro Joe’s is in a mezzanine overlooking the open kitchen and market. There is an eclectic list of dishes like Spicy Tuna “tacushi,” steamed mussels, and tasty flatbread pizzas. 34244 Woodward Ave., Birmingham; 248-5940984. L,D Tue.-Sun., BR Sat.-Sun.

notable dish is the Pollo a la Brasa, marinated chicken served with French fries, rice, and a variety of dipping sauces. 22939 Woodward Ave., Ferndale; 248-632-1055.

L,D daily.

Diamond’s Steak & Seafood $$$ STEAKHOUSE • This Howell restaurant is the perfect location for New York strip steak, fresh gulf shrimp, or a classic cheeseburger. Plus, weekends boast a buffetstyle brunch. 101 W. Grand River Ave., Howell; 517-5485500. D daily.

Café Cortina $$$ ITALIAN • Selections include prosciutto di Parma stuffed with greens and mozzarella; squid sautéed with fresh pomodori; gnocchi with porcini mushrooms; and meaty prawns finished with lemon, white wine, and herbs. For dessert, try the crepes 30715 W. 10 Mile Road, Farmington Hills; 248-474-3033. L,D Mon.-Fri., D Sat. Café ML $$ NEW AMERICAN • Café ML is contemporary in décor and its “globally inspired food.” Such dishes as short rib steamed buns, Chinese chicken salad, Singapore street noodles, and Korean fried chicken share the menu with burgers, steak frites, and fresh seafood. Garage door-style windows open onto the patio on warm days. 3607 W. Maple Road, Bloomfield Township; 248-642-4000. D daily.

Capital Grille $$$ STEAKHOUSE • Hand-cut, dry-aged steaks and fresh seafood dishes are the stars at Capital Grille. The restaurant’s outstanding wine list features over 350 labels.

The setting is appropriate for both business lunches and social events and includes well-appointed private dining rooms. 2800 W. Big Beaver Road, Troy; 248-6495300. L,D Mon.-Sat., D Sun. Casa Pernoi $$$$ ITALIAN • Three months after its grand opening, what once was a multi-hyphenate concept, blending French, Asian, and Italian cuisine, soon defaulted simply to a cuisine most familiar to chef Luciano DelSignore: Italian.

Housemade pastas rolled by hand, chicken parmesan, and a meaty branzino typify the menu. A cannoli cake layers sweet ricotta atop a spongy cake and a base of dark chocolate reminiscent of a Nestle Crunch Bar. 310 E. Maple Road, Birmingham; 248-940-0000 Churchill’s Bistro & Cigar Bar $$$ TRADITIONAL • You can buy your cigar and smoke it, too. Plus, there are dry-aged steaks, pan-roasted sea bass, seasonal East Coast oysters, and lamb chops, among other options. A full bar boasts a large selection of whiskey, scotch, and bourbon — and plenty of wine.

116 S. Old Woodward, Birmingham; 248-647-4555. L Mon.-Sat. D daily.

Como’s $$ NEW AMERICAN • This Ferndale favorite reopened in May 2019 under the ownership of Peas & Carrots Hospitality with a trendier, fresher look. The warm, homey feel is still intact, but it’s ditched the old menu for — among other things — chef Zack Sklar’s square, deep-dish, Detroit-style pizza that’s leavened from a sourdough starter as opposed to commercial yeast. 22812 Woodward Ave., Unit 100., Ferndale; 248-677-4439. L,D daily.

Crispelli’s Bakery Pizzeria $ ITALIAN-INSPIRED • This hybrid offers artisanal pizzas from a brick oven, salads, paninis, and soups. A bakery offers crusty breads, desserts, and meals to go. Two patios add to the appeal. See website for locations; crispellis.com Culantro $$ PERUVIAN • Native Peruvian Betty Shuell brings a taste of her home to Ferndale. The casual, homey, seatyourself establishment is named after an herb that is often used in traditional Peruvian cooking. An especially

SPOTLIGHT

Culantro

PERUVIAN Native Peruvian Betty Shuell brings a taste of her home to Ferndale. The casual, homey, seat-yourself establishment is named after an herb often used in traditional Peruvian cooking. An especially notable dish is the Pollo a la Brasa, marinated chicken served with french fries, rice, and a variety of dipping sauces.

22939 Woodward Ave., Ferndale; 248-632-1055.

L,D daily.$$

Eddie’s Gourmet $$ NEW AMERICAN • Chef Eddie Hanna’s gourmet diner is a simple concept that works to perfection.

The menu offers standard selection of breakfast items, burgers, sandwiches, and lunch specials, but the real draw is the counter-side gourmet and pasta specials.

Offerings include Veal Marsala and Chicken Milano 25920 Greenfield Road, Oak Park; 248-968-4060. L,D Mon-Sat. Elie’s Mediterranean Grill/Bar $$ LEBANESE • The lamb and chicken shawarma, shish kafta, kibbee nyeh, and other Lebanese dishes are emphasized by the décor, including photomurals of old Beirut and strings of blue beads cascading from the ceiling. A fun place to frequent for a quick lunch or a night out with friends. 263 Pierce St., Birmingham; 248-6472420. L,D Mon.-Sat. The Fed $$ GASTROPUB • An attractive restaurant with great food and a delightfully refreshing atmosphere. The menu crosses boundaries, from tacos and wood-fired dishes to assorted flatbreads and fresh sushi rolls. The bright and airy bohemian-chic interior is also Instagrammably beautiful. 15 S. Main St., Clarkston; 248-297-5833. D daily, BR Sat.-Sun. The Fly Trap $ ECLECTIC AMERICAN • This “finer diner” typifies fashionable Ferndale with its tin ceiling, red-topped tables, and counter with swivel stools. It offers sandwiches, salads, pastas, and omelets. 22950 Woodward Ave., Ferndale; 248-399-5150. B,L Tue.-Sun., D Tue.-Fri. Forest $$$ EUROPEAN-INSPIRED • The menu is brief but designed to let the kitchen assemble sharp flavors from various farm and market ingredients. Try the delightful Mandilli pasta with pistachio pesto and Tuscan kale, and the understated “Farm Egg.” 735 Forest Ave., Birmingham; 248-258-9400. D Mon.-Sat. BR Sat.

10,000-square-foot space in downtown Birmingham.

The restaurant itself offers three menus. Hazel focuses on comfort food. Ravines is for the seasoned traveler.

While Downtown appeals to food-trend-followers. HRD is the ultimate neighborhood hangout. 1 Peabody St., Birmingham; 248-671-1714. B,L,D daily.

Honcho $ LATIN FUSION • From the owners of Vinsetta Garage and Union Woodshop, this restaurant can be described as “Latin food that speaks with an Asian accent.” Menu items include a chicken burrito fried and tossed in a soy fish sauce and Korean pork tacos, featuring Woodshop pulled pork tossed in Korean BBQ sauce and topped with toasted sesame seeds and Malay radish slaw. 3 E. Church St., Clarkston; 248-707-3793. L,D daily.

Hong Hua $ CHINESE • One of the best area restaurants dedicated to Asian food offers some rare delicacies — shark’s fin and bird’s nest soups, fresh abalone — as well as more customary items. One signature dish is stir-fried yellow grouper fillet with vegetables. 27925 Orchard Lake Road, Farmington Hills; 248-489-2280. L,D daily.

Hyde Park Prime Steakhouse $$$$ STEAKHOUSE • This plush modern steakhouse offers dry-aged prime and Kobe-style wagyu beef in a fun, clubby setting. An extensive wine list accompanies the restaurant menu that also features platters of chilled fresh seafood. 201 S. Old Woodward Ave., Birmingham; 248-594-4369. D daily. 17107 Haggerty Road, Northville Twp.; 248-679-0007. D Tue.-Sat. Imperial $ MEXICAN-INSPIRED • The menu offers Californiastyle tacos on soft tortillas, including lime-grilled chicken, carnitas, and marinated pork, as well as slow-roasted pork tortas, and guacamole. 22828 Woodward Ave., Ferndale, 248-850-8060. L,D daily, BR Sun. J-Bird Smoked Meats $$ BARBEQUE • Offering wood-smoked meats served with the traditional sides of cornbread, buttermilk slaw, and mac and cheese, popular dishes include the Three Meat Sampler and JBird Gumbo, as well as St. Louis Ribs and old-fashioned JBurgers. If you love meat, this is your place. 1978 Cass Lake Road, Keego Harbor; 248681-2124. D daily. BR Sat.-Sun.

Garage Grill & Fuel Bar $$ NEW AMERICAN • The car-themed rooms of a former 1940s gas station are as fresh and appealing as the dishes themselves. The kitchen serves up a variety of seafood starters and “full-size sedan” entrees, as well as pizzas. 202 W. Main St., Northville, 248-924-3367. L,D nightly, BR Sat.-Sun.

Kaizen Ramen $ JAPANESE • A downtown Royal Oak space with exposed ductwork, orange booths, and a lively, floor-toceiling, black-and-white robot mural may not seem like the obvious choice for authentic Asian noodles. But this casual spot offers a variety of vegan and meat-based ramen dishes, as well as gyoza, poke, spring rolls, and karaage — Japanese-style fried chicken. Don’t skip out on desserts like mochi ice cream and cheesecake tempura. 411 S. Washington Ave., Royal Oak; 248-677-1236.

L,D Mon.-Sat.

Gran Castor $$ LATIN STREET • From the duo behind hit spots like Vinsetta Garage and Union Woodshop comes this vibrant Latin-American café and restaurant.Diners can choose to sit behind one of the two bars, a cozy café, or in the 245-seat dining room all decked in colorful textiles. At Gran Castor, the dining room is equally as decadent as the food and drinks served. Grab a $5 margarita between 4 p.m.-6 p.m. daily. 2950 Rochester Road, Troy; 248-278-7777. D Mon-Sun.

Lao Pot $$$ CHINESE • In early December, the owners of Madison Heights’ international market 168 Asian Mart opened Lao Pot, which specializes in Chinese Hot Pot cuisine.

Hot Pot is a traditional method of cooking, using a pot of simmering broth, which sits in the center of the dining table. Lao Pot allows diners to customize and cook their meals right at their tables, combining great food and a memorable experience. 32707 John R. Road, Madison Heights; 248-689-9888. L,D daily.

Hazel, Ravines & Downtown $$ ECLECTIC • This is an inventive, casual and fine-dining eatery, grab-and-go market, and bar all in a

La Strada Dolci e Caffé $ ITALIAN • A slice of European elegance offers an impeccable little menu of Italian dishes and rich coffees

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and espresso. Paninis, delicious fresh green salads, hearty minestrone soup, pastas, pizzas, and decadent and artistically crafted pastries are prettily served and very tasty. 243 E. Merrill St., Birmingham; 248-4800492. B,L,D Tue.-Sat., L,D Sun.

traditional American dishes as well as hints of global influences. 474 N. Old Woodward Ave., Birmingham; 248-712-4953. L,D daily.

The Meeting House $$ ECLECTIC AMERICAN • This eclectic American menu includes lobster fettuccini, steak frites remarkably close to those at Paris bistros, and housemade potato chips with a hot Jarlsberg dip. Or, try the roasted carrot risotto made with house labneh, pistachio, pomegranate gastrique, and Za’atar. 301 S. Main St., Rochester; 248759-4825. D daily, BR Sat.-Sun.

Lelli’s Inn $$ ITALIAN • Dinners begin with an antipasto tray, creamy minestrone, salad, side dish of spaghetti, and then — nine times out of 10 — a filet mignon with zip sauce.

885 N. Opdyke Road, Auburn Hills; 248-373-4440. L Mon.-Fri. D daily.

Phoenicia $$$ LEBANESE • This long-standing upscale Lebanese eatery has clean, contemporary lines that complement the French door-style windows. Don’t miss the morel mushrooms or roasted garlic cloves with tomato and basil as an appetizer. The menu expands to unexpected items such as baby back ribs and single-serving-sized local whitefish. 588 S. Old Woodward Ave., Birmingham; 248644-3122. L Mon.-Fri., D daily.

Loccino Italian Grill $$ ITALIAN • Loccino is a “family-friendly” yet upscale Italian restaurant. Choose from fresh seafood, steak, chicken, and veal dishes, plus traditional pastas, pizzas, salads, and more. They also offer happy hour specials from 3-7 p.m. weekdays. A great special occassion place or delicious workday lunch spot for whevener you need a break from the office. 5600 Crooks Road, Troy; 248-813-0700. L Mon.-Fri., D daily.

Mesa Tacos And Tequila $ MEXICAN-AMERICAN • The two-story setting includes balcony seating in a big, open room where the bar gets equal time with the kitchen. The pop-Mexican menu — which includes gua- camole, burritos, and the titular tacos — is backed up with an array of tequilas.

312 S. Main St., Royal Oak; 248-545-1940. L & D daily.

Lockhart’s BBQ $$ BARBEQUE • The heart of this joint’s authentic barbecue is the dry-rubbed meat smoker, which can smoke up to 800 pounds of meat at a time. Choices such as pork ribs, pulled pork, beef brisket, burnt ends, and chicken are served atop butcher paper on metal trays for the true experience. 202 E. Third St., Royal Oak; 248584-4227. L,D daily. BR Sun.

Mon Jin Lau $$ ASIAN-FUSION • Explore such dishes as Singapore noodles, combining chicken, shrimp, chilies, and curry with angel-hair pasta; Mongolian beef; or seared scallops with corn chili sauce and a side of fried taro. The patio opens up and the dining room transforms into a dance floor for weekly events. 1515 E. Maple Road, Troy; 248-689-2332. L Mon.-Fri., D daily.

Pop’s For Italian $$ ITALIAN • It doesn’t sound fancy, but this Ferndale restaurant serves well-prepared, Italian dishes paired with an ambitious wine program. The fairly brief menu starts with a list of Neapolitan pizzas, then moves to pastas, but has all the classics to hit the spot. There are charcuterie boards and Italian desserts, too. 280 W. Nine Mile Road, Ferndale; 248-268-4806. D Tue.-Sun.

Loui’s Pizza $ ITALIAN • Sure, you can now get a Michigan craft beer, but not much else has changed. And that’s a good thing. Parties dine on square pizzas with crisp crust that’s faintly charred around the edges. Hailed by food critics and Detroiters alike as arguably one of the most classic Detroit style pizzas in the city — so it’s well worth a trip. 23141 Dequindre Road, Hazel Park; 248547-1711. L, D Wed.-Sun.

The Morrie $$ NEW AMERICAN • Music and munchies can be a great combination when served in the right proportions. Such offerings as the smoked chicken wings, Teriyaki salmon and Baja sweet potato tots, as well as the requisite burger and steak, appeal to a wide demographic. The rock’n’roll-themed eatery also brought its much-loved American dishes and cocktails to Birmingham in 2019. 511 S. Main St., Royal Oak; 248-216-1112. D daily. 260 N. Old Woodward Ave., Birmingham; 248-940-3260. L,D Mon.-Fri., B,L,D Sat.-Sun. BR Sat.-Sun.

Prime29 Steakhouse $$$$ STEAKHOUSE • The 29-day aged prime beef, including the 24-ounce tomahawk bone-in rib-eye, still stars here. There’s also Chilean sea bass, Loch Duart salmon, and lamb chops with lobster fried rice. The service is notable, as is the Award of Excellence from Wine Spectator. 6545 Orchard Lake Road, West Bloomfield; 248737-7463. D daily.

Luxe Bar & Grill $$ NEW AMERICAN • The simple menu at this Grosse Pointe Farms joint offers burgers on brioche buns and interesting salads and sides, as well as entrees typified by wild-caught salmon, prime filet, and Greek-style lamb chops. 525 N. Old Woodward Ave., Birmingham; 248-792-6051. 115 Kercheval Ave., Grosse Pointe Farms; 313-924-5459. L,D daily.

Mabel Gray $$$ NEW AMERICAN • Chef James Rigato produces some masterful dishes on this tiny menu, which does not miss a beat. The menu includes a multi-course tasting option, as well as a daily listing of changing items that never disappoint. It’s a fine dining experience that is certainly worth a visit. 23825 John R Road, Hazel Park; 248-398-4300. D Tue.-Sat. Mad Hatter Bistro, Bar & Tea Room $$ ECLECTIC AMERICAN • The whimsical setting inspired by Alice in Wonderland welcomes far more than the tea-sipping set with burgers and sandwiches, rabbit Porchetta, truffle risotto bites, and baked brie with pistachio, honey, and pomegranate. There are also pastries, of course. 185 N. Old Woodward Ave., Birmingham; 248-540-0000. L,D daily, BR Sat.-Sun. Tea by reservation. Lower level not wheelchair accessible.

Market North End $$ AMERICAN • Joe and Kristin Bongiovanni opened this eatery just across the street from the family’s existing restaurants, Salvatore Scallopini and Luxe Bar & Grill. It represents a younger, more casual alternative to the cult-favorite classics, with a serious kitchen that offers

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rigatoni made with Italian sausage and shredded boar.

There’s also a concert venue called The Parliament Room. 345 E. Nine Mile Road, Ferndale; 248-291-6160.

D Mon.-Sat.

RESTAURANT OF THE YEAR 

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O.W.L.

MEXICAN AMERICAN This Royal Oak spot offers 24 hours of sustenance. Step up to the counter and order from the letterboard menu before grabbing a stool at the counter or along the window ledge.

Dishes here include such diner musts as eggs, sausage and potato hash, burgers, and chicken wings as well as tacos and nachos served from the open kitchen.

27302 Woodward Ave., Royal Oak; 248-8086244. B, L,D daily. $

Polka Restaurant & Beer Café $$ POLISH • Servers in traditional garb greet you near original murals, and light woodwork is enhanced with painted floral panels. Try the dill pickle soup, city chicken, and beef short rib, plus other favorites like pierogis, schnitzel, stuffed cabbages, and several kielbasa styles.

2908 E. Maple Road, Troy; 248-817-2601. D Tue.-Sun.

2008

Oak City Grille $ NEW AMERICAN • This downtown Royal Oak spot bridges the gap between bar food and upscale dining.

Order a dressed-up sandwich or burger, or elevate your dining experience with an 8-ounce filet mignon or lamb chops. The friendly price range makes anything possible. 212 W. Sixth St., Royal Oak; 248-556-0947. D daily.

Ocean Prime $$$$ SEAFOOD • An upper-end steak-and-fish place and a popular business lunch site. The menu features naturally harvested fresh fish and prime aged beef. Don’t miss the chocolate peanut butter pie or the carrot cake. A tried-and-true metro Detroit spot. 2915 Coolidge Hwy., Troy; 248-458-0500. L Mon.-Fri., D daily.

One-Eyed Betty’s $$ ECLECTIC AMERICAN • Picnic-style tables and blackboards lettered with scores of brew choices add a beerhall sensibility to this popular spot. The kitchen delivers New Orleans-themed dishes such as po’boy sandwiches and Cajun chicken and sausage as well as a mouthwatering bacon burger. Weekend brunch features delicious housemade doughnuts. 175 W. Troy St., Ferndale; 248-808-6633. D daily, BR Sat.-Sun. Otus Supply $ NEW AMERICAN • This Ferndale stunner has delightful food, superb service, and one wild look. The menu offers eight main courses and shared plates, as well as pizza and sandwiches. Can’t-miss: The housemade

Public House $$ SMALL PLATES • This Ferndale classic once known for its sliders recently received a menu update courtesy of executive chef Nick Erven and head chef Jasmine Hughes. While old favorites like deviled eggs are still present, they’ve been updated with pork rind, and the restaurant now offers “Fancy Ass Hash Browns” with caviar and fried chicken with spicy tomato ranch. The desserts are really worth a try. 241 W. Nine Mile Road, Ferndale; 248-850-7420. L,D Mon.-Fri, B,L,D Sat.-Sun. Quán Ngon Vietnamese Bistro $ VIETNAMESE • This gem of a bistro in a hand-some space adds to the local Vietnamese offerings. Dishes such as cha gio (elegant little eggrolls), bun bo nuong sa (grilled steak atop angel-hair rice noodles), and banh mi made with fresh ingredients. 30701 Dequindre Road, Madison Heights; 248-268-4310. L,D daily.

Redcoat Tavern $ BURGERS • The half-pound choice beef hamburger is always atop the list of local favorites. But a low-fat, highflavor Piedmontese beef one is tastier than the original.

This is the place for your burger craving. 31542 Woodward Ave., Royal Oak; 248-549-0300. 6745 Orchard Lake Road, West Bloomfield Township; 248-865-0500.

L,D Mon.-Sat. Rochester Chop House $$ NEW AMERICAN • Two restaurants in one; Kabin Kruser’s and the Chop House. There’s a throwback roadhouse-style feeling about the Chop House, which has a menu divided between red meat and fresh fish and seafood. Signature dishes include calamari, Maryland jumbo lump crabcakes, and a large selection of

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aged steaks, rack of lamb, and steak/seafood combinations. 306 S. Main St., Rochester; 248-651-2266. L Mon.-Fri., D daily

or tables they’re dining at, as most of the furniture at Three Cats Restaurant is available for purchase. 116 W. 14 Mile Road, Clawson; 248-288-4858. L,D Mon.-Fri., B,L,D Sat.-Sun.

Ronin $$ JAPANESE • The sushi menu, ranging from spicy tuna rolls to yellowtail and salmon eggs and well beyond, is augmented by a concise menu of cooked fare. Front windows open onto the sidewalk, making the cocktail lounge open-air during the warm months. 326 W. Fourth St., Royal Oak; 248-546-0888. D daily.

Toast, A Breakfast & Lunch Joint $ BREAKFAST/BRUNCH • It’s fun, it’s breezy, and the food at Toast, A Breakfast & Lunch Joint is very, very good. The house specialty smothered burrito has plenty of fans, as does huevos rancheros: fried eggs upon corn tortillas, pintos, and cheese. Toast, a Neighborhood Joint, the spinoff of the Ferndale original has a more elaborate setting pairing ’50s retro with sleek contemporary in a pair of rooms. The new menu features twists to comfort food. 23144 Woodward Ave., Ferndale; 248-398-0444. L daily, B Sat.-Sun. 203 Pierce St., Birmingham; 248-258-6278. B,L Mon.-Sat., B,L Sun.

Rugby Grille $$$$ NEW AMERICAN • At the Townsend Hotel’s upscale restaurant, the classics remain, including boned-at-thetable Dover sole and hefty steaks. The eatery also introduced a new menu last year. Michigan-produced ingredients from local farmers and ranchers are still a focus here. 100 Townsend St., Birmingham; 248-642-5999.

B,L,D daily.

Silver Spoon $$ ITALIAN • This quintessential slice of Italy features excellent food, knowledgeable staff, and friendly service. Try the bucatini made with pancetta, onion, red wine, and fresh tomato sauce. Also worth trying: saltimbocca alla Romana, or veal scaloppini sautéed in white wine. A truly delicious place for any kind of outing. 543 N. Main St., Rochester; 248-652-4500. D daily.

Social Kitchen & Bar $$$ NEW AMERICAN • The energetic Birmingham spot allows guests a view of the kitchen action. It has a creative and varied menu typified by falafel lettuce wraps, fried chicken sandwiches, crispy Brussels sprouts, and salmon with braised lentils, crispy kale, and a mustard vinagrette. 225 E. Maple Road, Birmingham; 248-5944200. L Mon.-Fri., D daily, BR Sat.-Sun. Streetside Seafood $$ SEAFOOD • Small and cozy yet sophisticated, the restaurant has a pared-down menu of fresh fish and seafood on a seasonal menu. There are always two soups: a bisque and a chowder. Favorites include the smoked whitefish melt at lunch. A delicious restaurant for all palates to enjoy and feel comfortable in. 273 Pierce St. Birmingham; 248-645-9123. L Mon.-Fri., D daily.

Take Sushi $$ JAPANESE • Crisp salads, miso soup garnished with the tiniest dice of tofu, sashimi and sushi, oversize bowls of soba or udon noodles, and all the familiar — and some not-so-familiar — entrees, combine together to make this spot special. 1366 Walton Blvd., Rochester Hills; 248-652-7800. L Mon.-Sat., D daily.

Tallulah Wine Bar & Bistro $$ WINE BAR • Understated décor and a pared-down menu of seasonal dishes make this spot a Birmingham classic. The kitchen turns out dishes like Lamb Belly Ragu with housemade pasta; and Alaskan Halibut with mushroom ragu and asparagus. Wine is served by the glass, the pitcher, or bottle. 155 S. Bates St., Birmingham; 248-731-7066. D Mon.-Sat. Three Cats Restaurant $ BREAKFAST/BRUNCH • Formerly a small café serving customers of the boutique Leon & Lulu, Three Cats is now a full-fledged restaurant and bar. Located in the former Clawson movie theater next door to the shop, the spot serves small, simple plates, including vegetarian and vegan options for brunch, lunch, and dinner.

The beverage menu features local selections, such as vodka from Ferndale’s Valentine’s Distilling Co. and wines from grapes grown on the Leelanau Peninsula.

Patrons can even take home the colorful, quirky chairs

SPOTLIGHT

Public House

NEW AMERICAN/ VEGAN This Ferndale spot reopened under new ownership and with a refreshed look in late 2021.

Standout selections include its burgers, sharable plates like barbecued carrots, and craft cocktails and mocktails. It also features a special vegan menu and carries plenty of gluten-free options. 241 W. Nine Mile Road, Ferndale; 248-733-4905. L,D Tues.-Sun. $$

Toasted Oak $$$ BRASSERIE • The menu revolves around the charcuterie sold in the market next door and a list of hot grill items, such as grilled steaks with béarnaise sauce. In 2019, the restaurant earned a Wine Spectator magazine award for its outstanding wine program. Plus, just across the lot is Twelve Oaks Mall, should you fancy an evening of shopping and dinner. 27790 Novi Road, Novi; 248-277-6000. B,D daily, L Mon.-Fri. Townhouse $$$ NEW AMERICAN • This popular Birmingham spot for comforting New American dishes has several exceptional offerings on its menu, such as the specialty 10 ounces of 28-day dry-aged beef hamburger on brioche.

180 Pierce St., Birmingham; 248-792-5241. L,D daily, BR Sat.-Sun. 500 Woodward Ave., Detroit; 313-723-1000.

L,D Mon.-Sun. BR Sun. Union Woodshop $$ BARBEQUE • Part of the ever-growing Union Joints restaurant group, this is a self-described wood-fired joint, where pulled pork, ribs, chicken, and beef brisket come from the smoker, and Neapolitan-style crispcrusted pizzas from the wood-burning oven. And definitely check out the mac and cheese. There’s also a delicious kid’s menu for any youngsters in your party.

18 S. Main St., Clarkston; 248-625-5660. D Mon.-Fri., L,D Sat.-Sun. Vinsetta Garage $$ NEW AMERICAN • This restaurant, which is housed in a vintage car-repair shop, offers well-prepared comfortfood classics such as burgers served on pretzel buns, macaroni and cheese, spaghetti and meatballs, pizzas, and roast chicken. A restaurant that pays true homage to the city of Detroit. 27799 Woodward Ave., Berkley; 248-548-7711. L,D daily.

Voyager $$ SEAFOOD • Fresh seafood with emphasis on oysters is the premise in this hard-to-find location. The space entails convivially close quarters for such dishes as peel-n’-eat shrimp, chili crab spaghetti and grilled swordfish. The premium bar offers short but notable lists of beer and wine as well as craft cocktails. 600 Vester St., Ferndale; 248-658-4999. D Tue.-Sat.

Macomb Butter Run Saloon $ GASTROPUB • Solid American fare that’s beyond bar food (although their burgers are certainly noteworthy).

There’s escargot, perch, steaks, and a huge whiskey selection — 900 at last count. 27626 Harper Ave., St. Clair Shores; 586-675-2115. L,D daily.

Da Francesco’s Ristorante & Bar $$ ITALIAN • Da Francesco’s has been around for more than 15 years, but its massive new facility is packing in the crowds offering an upbeat modern twist to traditional Italian dining. 49521 Van Dyke Ave., Shelby Township; 586-731-7544. L,D Tue.-Fri., D Sat., L,D Sun. Detroit Fish House $$ SEAFOOD • This restaurant feels like a true coastal eatery, serving an extensive menu of fresh fish and seafood in a well-designed setting. Choose from a wide variety of fresh fish and meaty seafood, ranging from salmon to Lake Superior whitefish. 51195 Schoenherr Road, Shelby Charter Township; 586-739-5400. L,D Mon.-Sat., D Sun. Gaudino’s $$ ITALIAN • The trend toward combining a food market with a restaurant has a good example at this spot. It offers imported pastas and sauces, plus a butcher counter with sausages and a wine assortment. The menu offers pasta and pizza, salads, and entrees, including a Chicken Milanese. 27919 Harper Ave., St. Clair Shores; 586-879-6764. L,D Tue.-Sun. Isla $$ FILIPINO • Dishes at this Filipino restaurant, formerly sheltered at Fort Street Galley, are reflective of the culinary traditions of the founders’ Iloilo City hometown.

Annatto is used to punch up the color of Chicken Adobo, the unofficial dish of the Philippines, and juicy mangoes complement sweet and savory dishes. 2496 Metro Pkwy, Sterling Heights; 586-883-7526. D Tue.-Sat., BR Sun. J. Baldwin’s Restaurant $$$ NEW AMERICAN • The menu showcases talented chef Jeff Baldwin’s contemporary American food: cedar-planked salmon, chicken fettuccini alfredo with pesto, and herb-crusted chicken, with housemade breads. The desserts include chocolate bumpy cake, spiced carrot cake, apple cobbler, chocolate mousse layer cake, and banana foster bread pudding. 16981 18 Mile Road, Clinton Township; 586-416-3500. L,D daily, BR Sun. Mr. Paul’s Chophouse $$$ STEAKHOUSE • This bastion of red meat as well as classic dishes is still going strong. Try old-school tableside presentations such as Chateaubriand and Caesar salad. There’s a solid selection of fresh seafood and pasta, too. The founding family still runs the place and emphasizes great hospitality and a heckuva good time.

29850 Groesbeck Hwy., Roseville; 586-777-7770. L,D Mon.-Fri., D Sat. Sherwood Brewing Co. $ GASTROPUB • Quality local ingredients raise Sherwood’s fare to well above “elevated pub grub.” Some notable choices include the hearty House Beer Chili, savory Better Made-crusted fish and chips, and spicy Buffalo Mac. Homemade extends to dessert, including Cashew Outside Cookies. This isn’t just bar food,it’s elevated bar food. 45689 Hayes Road, Shelby Township; 586-532-9669. L,D daily.

Steakhouse 22 $$ STEAKHOUSE • The late Nick Andreopoulos once spent time as a “broiler man” at London Chop House.

His family stays true to those roots at this American steakhouse with a casual, neighborhood feel. They offer an array of well-prepared angus steaks, plus seafood and pasta dishes. With the sizable lunch and portions offered at Steakhouse 22, good luck saving room for dessert! 48900 Van Dyke Ave., Shelby Township; 586731-3900. L,D daily.

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Testa Barra $$ ITALIAN • The newest spot from talented chef and restaurateur Jeffrey Baldwin and his wife, RoseMarie, offers modern Italian fare in a lively, upbeat setting. Pastas are made in-house. 48824 Romeo Plank Road, Macomb Township; 586-434-0100. D nightly D Tue.-Sun. dessert! 48900 Van Dyke Ave., Shelby Township; 586731-3900. L,D daily.

Twisted Rooster $$ SPORTS BAR • This “Michigan-centric” chain (Chesterfield Township, Grand Rapids, and Belleville) has takes on classics, with mac & cheese variations and steaks with “zip” sauce. 45225 Marketplace Blvd., Chesterfield; 586-949-1470. L,D daily.

Vast Kitchen and Bar $$ NEW AMERICAN • Chef Nicole Justman heads the kitchen at this fresh spot that brings a touch of Birmingham to Shelby Township. A contemporary menu at Vast Kitchen and Bar includes ginger-crusted salmon and filet mignon. 52969 Van Dyke Ave., Shelby Township; 586-991-6104. L,D Mon.-Sat. Waves $$ SEAFOOD • Seafood covers most of the menu at this Nautical Mile favorite. It’s a tough task choosing between such popular appetizers as Cuban-spiced crawfish tails, crispy grouper nuggets, and plump steamed mussels. Entrees include al dente pastas and several choices from “over the wave,” such as lamb chops and New York strip steak, plus lump crab cakes, and beer-battered cod. 24223 Jefferson Ave., St. Clair Shores; 586-773-3279. L,D daily.

Washtenaw Bellflower $$$ NEW AMERICAN • TA restaurant housed in a former exchange of the Michigan Bell Telephone Company, Bellflower answers Ypsilanti’s call for fine dining with an adventurous flair. Boudin sausage with roasted okra, baked oysters, and ginger ale or Coca-Cola-roasted beets showed up on early menus as chef Dan Klenotic’s way of straddling the line of creole tradition and an imaginative style that is entirely his own. 209 Pearl St., Ypsilanti. L,D Mon.-Sat., L Sun. Black Pearl $$ SEAFOOD • This seafood and martini bar is especially popular during patio season. But step inside for a host of craft cocktails, then stay for dinner. A seafood-dominated menu includes a notable roasted scallop dish.

The Pasta Gone Bayou is also worth a try, with shrimp, chicken, andouille sausage, and a Cajun cream sauce.

And make sure to order dessert. 302 S. Main St., Ann Arbor; 734-222-0400. D daily.

Blue LLama Jazz Club $$ CREATIVE AMERICAN • Come to this swanky jazz club for the music, which includes headliners such as the Grammy-nominated Ravi Coltrane Quartet, but stay for Chef Louis Goral’s delicious food. Try the crispy foie gras PB&J with Marcona almonds and strawberry jam. There is also a delicious Sunday brunch with decadent orange blossom beignets and strawberry pancakes. 314 S. Main St., Ann Arbor; 734-372-3200. D Wed.-Sat., BR Sun. The Blue Nile $$ ETHIOPIAN • The real treat of the meal at this quaint Ferndale restaurant is that it’s scooped up with a spongy bread called injera, and all the lentils, often seasoned with an Ethiopian spice mixture known as Berber,

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and vegetables are equally delicious. 221 E. Washington St., Ann Arbor; 734-998-4746. D Tue.-Sun.545 W. Nine Mile Road, Ferndale; 248-547-6699. D daily.

an. There’s also a full bar as well as a juice bar serving creamy smoothies and dense shakes, freshsqueezed juices, and craft mocktails. Choose from one of the most extensive vegetarian menus in the Detroit area. 2541 Jackson Ave., Ann Arbor; 734-6621111. L,D daily.

Cardamom $$ INDIAN • Check out the Hyderabadi Biryani —chicken, goat, and vegetable dishes, in which the rice is first cooked then baked. All the Indian favorites are available at Cardamom, such as Chicken Tikka Masala, Lamb Rogan Josh, and warm, fluffy, made-fresh garlic naan. It’s the ideal spot for when you’re craving the classics. 1739 Plymouth Road, Ann Arbor; 734-6622877. L,D Tue.-Sun.

Shalimar $$ INDIAN • Offering North Indian, Tandoori, and Mughlai dishes, Shalimar is suitable for carnivores and herbivores alike. Standouts include the Tandoori Lamb Chops marinated in creamy yogurt, spicy ginger, and fresh garlic, which is best eaten with the restaurant’s flavorful, chewy garlic naan served fresh and hot. 307 S. Main St., Ann Arbor;734-663-1500. L, D daily.

The Common Grill $$ SEAFOOD • Owner and chef Craig Common’s skilled work has drawn the attention of the now shuttered Gourmet magazine and the James Beard House — as well as the Purple Rose Theatre crowd. This mainstay is best known for fresh oysters and seafood, but all the fare at The Common Grill is expertly prepared. A triedand-true foodie destination with a range of desserts, including coconut cream pie, lemon pudding cake, and cherry cobbler. 112 S. Main St.,Chelsea; 734-475-0470.

L,D Tue.-Sun., BR Sun. Grange Kitchen and Bar $$$ NEW AMERICAN • If the charm of the brownstone storefront is what brought you in, the restaurant’s regionally sourced ingredients will make you stay.

From fried pig head to pig-ear salad, every scrap of the hog is used, reflecting a philosophy of sustainability. 118 W. Liberty St., Ann Arbor; 734-995-2107. D Mon.-Sat., BR Sun. KouZina Greek Steet Food $ GREEK • The Greek “street food” at this Ann Arbor spot comes in lamb and beef, and chicken. Try the lentil soup for a delicious lunch or go for something more filling like falafel. Either way, you can’t go wrong with this excellent spot. 332 S. Main St., Ann Arbor; 734997-5155. L,D daily.

Mani Osteria & Bar $$ ITALIAN • This popular casual restaurant infuses freshness with lower prices than most osterias in the area. It’s a well-rounded blend of modern, eclectic Italian with classic standbys. The pizzas are hot, fresh and perfectly executed to suit your tastes. 341 E. Liberty St., Ann Arbor; 734-769-6700. L Tue.-Fri., D Tue.Sun., BR Sun. Miss Kim $$ KOREAN • This spinoff from the Zingerman’s mini empire comes courtesy of chef Ji Hye Kim and is a goto spot for healthy Asian eats. Kim often incorporates ancient Korean culinary traditions, such as rice syrup and plum extracts, into her dishes. Some of the restaurant’s standouts include the Wasabi Sugar Snap Peas and Korean BBQ Ssam Plate — just to name a few of them. 415 N. Fifth Ave., Ann Arbor; 734-275-0099. L,D Tue.-Sun. Paesano $$ ITALIAN • With a friendly waitstaff and decked in vibrant colors, this lively restaurant is not to be missed.

The innovative menu changes seasonally. Must-tries have included the pasta carbonara, featuring shrimp, duck bacon, and Italian greens, as well as beet and ricotta gnocchi with brown butter. 3411 Washtenaw Ave., Ann Arbor; 734-971-0484. L,D daily.

Seva Ann Arbor $$ VEGAN • Seva offers such dishes as black bean and sweet potato quesadillas, gluten-free options, and colorful stir-fries — some vegan as well as vegetari-

Slurping Turtle $ JAPANESE • This fun, casual Ann Arbor restaurant, owned by celebrity chef Takashi Yagihashi, offers plenty of shareable dishes, such as hamachi tacos and duckfat fried chicken. But the star at Slurping Turtle is the noodle (Yagihashi’s “soul food”), which is made inhouse daily on a machine imported from Japan. 608 E. Liberty St., Ann Arbor; 734-887-6868. L,D daily.

SPOTLIGHT

The Common Grill

SEAFOOD Owner and chef Craig Common’s skilled work has drawn the attention of the now shuttered Gourmet magazine and the James Beard House — as well as the Purple Rose Theatre crowd. This mainstay is best known for fresh oysters and seafood, but all the fare at The Common Grill is expertly prepared.

A tried-and-true foodie destination with a range of desserts, including coconut cream pie, lemon pudding cake, and cherry cobbler. 112 S. Main St.,Chelsea; 734-4750470. L,D Tue.-Sun., BR Sun.. $$

The Boro Dining Room and Bar $$$$ NEW AMERICAN • Much like the restaurant’s ambience, the cuisine at The Boro is both refined and relaxed. The Grilled Bone-In Pork Loin typifies the vibe.

In flavor, the pork is reminiscent of a slab of tender brisket at a family barbecue. The loin is sweetened with a smattering of St. Louis-style barbecue glaze. In presentation and accoutrements, though, the dish is worthy of white-tablecloth status. 5400 Plymouth Road, Ann Arbor; 734-669-3310; theborotogo.com.

B,L,D daily.

Vinology $$$ ECLECTIC • Natural brick walls blended with darkwood booths and tables lend warmth to the dining room at Vinology, while tall ceilings contribute to the restaurant’s spacious feel. The menu draws on assorted cuisines to produce dishes such as Vegan Dumplings, Short Rib Tacos, Fig and Gorgonzola Flatbread, and Filet Mignon with black truffle garlic butter and burgundy reduction. As implied by the name of the venue, the wine list here is incredible. Try a bottle off of its New or Old World Cellared Collection. 110 S. Main St., Ann Arbor; 734-222-9841.L Mon.-Fri. D daily.

Yotsuba Japanese Restaurant & Bar $$ JAPANESE • The semi-circular sushi bar is the center of this restaurant. Sushi chef Bobby Suzuki has a loyal following for his precise nigiri rolls. There are also tatami rooms and conventional seating. 7365 Orchard Lake Road, West Bloomfield Township; 248737-8282. 2222 Hogback Road, Ann Arbor; 734-9715168. L,D daily.

Zingerman’s Delicatessen $ SANDWICH/DELI • Zingerman’s Delicatessen is a household name for Michiganians, and a must-try staple in Ann Arbor. The temptations at Zingerman’s are endless: fresh breads and a menu of filling sandwiches, olive oils and housemade balsamic vinegars, chilies, and mustards. 422 Detroit St., Ann Arbor; 734-6633354. B,L,D daily.

Zingerman’s Roadhouse $$$ CLASSIC COMFORT • This eatery celebrates American food from various cities. From fresh Maryland crab cakes to the delicious delicacies of New Orleans, every last bite of the country is represented here. The buttermilk biscuits are beyond-this-world. 2501 Jackson Ave., Ann Arbor; 734-663-3663. B,L,D daily.

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CON T IN U E D F ROM PAG E 16

on figure skates having a good time. It was a family affair for us, and I wasn’t very good. It was the feel of skating and going fast that really kept me going. I was not very graceful, so I think that the enjoyment that I got out of it was just the pleasure of being able to do something and doing it good.

What did you get out of living in the Detroit area that propelled your career?

I’ll tell you exactly what. Farwell Field had the only outdoor skating rink in the U.S. at the time. It was a small rink, and then they had a hockey rink. For the competitions, they would open up the hockey rink so they could make the track bigger. If we didn’t have that, I probably never would have done speedskating. We would train there. We would have ice before anybody else [in the country] had natural ice anywhere. That was the key thing. Plus, in the Detroit area, we had several speedskating clubs — it was very competitive. That was the best.

Were the Olympics as big a deal in 1976 as they are now?

Yes. In Europe, I was very famous. But then, in the U.S., maybe not so much. In the U.S., every four years, you would see speedskating. That was about it. But in countries like Holland and Germany and the Scandinavian countries, yeah, by 1976, I had won the world championships and I set world records.

This year, the Winter Olympics are in China. How do you feel about it?

Tom Halpin highlights a systemic problem that exists in most organizations and offers up the remedy by introducing frameworks that build culture, drive sales and create disciples.

Personally, I would not want to be competing there, although I would not boycott it. What the Chinese government has done and how it treats its people is not the way I would like for it to behave. I’ve tried to stop buying things from China, because I’m just not supportive of that country. But the Olympics, wherever they hold them, cost a lot of money. When I worked on Lake Placid, we worked on a shoestring, and it’s only gotten more expensive. They’ve added more sports; they’ve got more athletes to deal with.

If a country like China can put on these games, it’s good for everybody.

How have the Olympics changed?

The technology has changed so much. With streaming, you can watch anything any time, whatever you want. When I competed in Japan in 1972, I don’t think my dad got to watch it live.

They would just play parts of it on tape or whatever. Now, you can watch every single race live. It’s just unbelievable.

What does it feel like to win a gold medal?

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When I was standing on the podium and they were raising the American flag, if only you knew how good it feels. I can only compare it to having your child. You get like, “Oh my gosh, this is the best thing that happened to me.”

You were on a Wheaties box.

Corn Flakes!

Do you still have it?

I do. I think I have two. My husband had one framed, and it is now in my food pantry closet in our lake house in Wisconsin. We had to put it somewhere, and it’s just for fun. That came out in 1980.

Where are your Olympic medals?

Actually, I brought them to Wisconsin this summer, because my neighbor there wanted to see them. But they’re back here in Utah, in my closet, in their containers. They come in a box or whatever.

Do you ever have any reason to wear them?

No, no. They’re not fragile, but they’ve taken a lot of beating because I used to do more speaking engagements where I would bring the medals and people would touch them. Every gold medal has only so much gold on it, but it’s got a silver core. People have touched it so much, it’s rubbed the gold off in some places. So they’re just tucked away in my closet. I bring them out every once in a while. It really means a lot to some people.

And the Sports Illustrated cover? You have that framed somewhere?

Um, I’m not sure. If I do, I don’t know where it is.

What was it like after all of that hullabaloo passed? Was it hard for you to adjust to not being so prominent?

No, but I did miss competing. I remember Caitlyn Jenner — then Bruce Jenner — saying after she won her medal that she was so happy she never had to run another step. I’m thinking, “Whoa, that’s really sad, because I love skating.” I still love cruising around the rink.

How different was it being at the Olympics when your daughter competed?

It was really hard. I knew exactly how she felt in every race. I was feeling every stroke with her.

It’s hard watching because you can’t do anything.

It’s up to them.

Did your middle school students understand that their teacher was on a Corn Flakes box?

No, no, no. I never made a big deal of it. The year I stopped teaching, I did show my seventh grade class a video from ABC, like a montage of my skating and my three Olympic medals. They’d had me all year and never realized I’d done this. I’m standing in the back of the room, and they’re all looking at the screen and then looking back at me and they’re like, “Whoa, is this the same person?” I don’t look at all like I did then. I have blonde hair now, because of my gray, and then, I had dark, long hair, and I didn’t have all the wrinkles.

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WOMEN’S HEALTH Q&A

EXPERT Q&A: GETTING ANSWERS FROM THE MOST RELIABLE OF SOURCES Making an important personal, professional, financial, or health-related decision in today’s reality begins with creating a factbased foundation. It’s important, now more than ever, to sort through the weeds of misinformation, unfounded data, and biased opinions to get to the facts of the matter.

Getting the right answers begins with asking the right questions and trusting your source. A second opinion never hurts. Do your research, write down the facts, and verify the information. In other words, do your due diligence.

Hour Media always provides the most reliable, experienced, and educated experts in their field to answer your questions. These individuals aren’t just trusted and respected; they’re local — you can get your answers from them right in their office.

For example, do you have a question about improving your appearance and building your confidence and self-esteem?

Look no further than the incredible team at Consultants in Ophthalmic & Facial Plastic Surgery in Southfield.

Evan H. Black, M.D., F.A.C.S., F.A.A.C.S., is an award-winning, nationally recognized ophthalmic and facial plastic surgeon. He has pioneered innovative procedures for treating the descent of the forehead, eyebrows, and eyelids using minimally invasive techniques.

He’s as expert as expert gets in his field, and his team is more than happy to answer your questions.

Health and wellness go hand in hand with happiness and purpose. Being able to get out of bed every morning pain-free and having an opportunity to create joy for yourself and

those around you helps give true meaning to a person’s life. And there are different ways to get there.

Dr. Thomas Nabity, M.D., is the founder of the Michigan Center for Regenerative Medicine in Rochester. He provides state-ofthe-art alternatives to surgical management using regenerative medicine techniques for patients with disorders of connective tissues such as bones, cartilage, tendons, ligaments, or muscles. Dr. Nabity and his team also apply the same approach, treatments and techniques to other areas of the body.

Speaking of Hour Media’s amazing medical experts, Dr. Ellen Janetzke is the founder of Dr. Ellen Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery in Bloomfield Hills. Her ability to understand, anticipate, and fulfill patient expectations honestly and realistically has gained her a

reputation as both a gifted surgeon and a caring doctor.

While doing your due diligence on getting in shape, you’ll discover that not all fitness facilities are the same. Ron Jegadeesh created the Pilates Fitness & Physical Therapy Center in Southfield with the goal of helping people gain better control of movement in a functional and pain-free way that would allow them to get in shape and stay physically and functionally fit, as well. If you’re interested in Pilates and/or getting in shape, calling the folks at Pilates Fitness & Physical Therapy Center is the best way to get off the mat.

On the following pages you’ll find a few questions for and answers from our Hour Media experts. Feel free to contact them with any other questions you may have.

Q: Does Pilates positively impact female reproductive health?

A: It’s no secret that Pilates does a stellar job at strengthening the abdominal muscles, so the logical conclusion is that having a strong core is going to benefit a woman’s reproductive health — from menstruation all the way through menopause. And that’s absolutely true! But one major component of Pilates that’s often overlooked is its unique approach to and focus on breath.

“When utilizing Pilates posterior

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lateral breathing, you use eccentric contraction to engage the deep abdominal and pelvic floor muscles,” explains Ron Jegadeesh, owner, instructor, and physical therapist at Pilates Fitness & Physical Therapy Center in Southfield. “This sort of breathing elongates the muscles when under pressure.”

In other words, breathing more consciously and deeply from the diaphragm allows the abdominal region to stretch, relax, and soften.

When the abdominal muscles elongate, they build on endurance to ease pain and to enhance recovery. This is key in dealing with the discomfort associated with PMS, menstruation, postdelivery, and menopause. Plus, breathing consciously and deeply from the diaphragm relieves tension throughout the whole body, as well as the mind. The result?

Improved moods during hormonal fluctuations. And that’s priceless.

Pilates Fitness & Physical Therapy Center Ron Jegadeesh, PT, MBA Certified PMA, Polestar Pilates, Stott Pilates, Gyrotonic, and Gyrokinesis Instructor 17418 W. 10 Mile Rd. Southfield, MI 48075 248-552-1012 pilatesfitnessevolution.com ron@pilatesfitnessevolution.com Advertisement on page 100

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WOMEN’S HEALTH Q&A Q: What types of nonsurgical, minimal-downtime facial treatments can help me look younger?

A: Fractional CO2 Laser Skin Resurfacing treats fine lines and wrinkles, and stimulates collagen production for firmer, more youthful skin. Intense Pulsed Light therapy reduces redness and hyperpigmentation.

At Consultants in Opthalmic & Facial Plastic Surgery, they’re conservative with fillers. Too much filler in the lower face can

make you look older, so it’s better to lift the lower face and add volume to the upper face. Botox is used to treat facial lines.

Kybella injections reduce a “double chin.” They’re ideal for younger patients, as older individuals will appear to have sagging skin once the fat is dissolved. Thinning eyebrows can also make your face look older.

Options to improve the thickness and density of brow hairs can provide a more youthful look.

Collagen supplements, a good sunscreen, moisturizer, and a retinol product can help improve the quality of your skin. Call for an evaluation, and you’ll be on your way to meeting your goals.

Consultants in Ophthalmic & Facial Plastic Surgery, PC Dianne Schlachter, M.D., F.A.C.S., F.A.A.C.S. 248-357-5100 Southfield, MI 48034 eyelidpros.com Advertisement on page 91

Q: What are some nonsurgical alternatives that can provide a more healthy and youthful appearance?

A: Everyone’s goal is to look and feel better, and there are different nonsurgical treatments to accomplish this. Two options are Botox and fillers.

Botox and similar treatments are used for more “dynamic” lines. If you’re looking at yourself and aren’t making any facial expressions but still have lines, Botox won’t help very much. It’s used to help soften or diminish the lines you see when you’re smiling, frowning, or lifting your eyebrows.

Botox treatments are completed in just a few minutes. Within two weeks they soften, and last for three to four months.

Dermal fillers help restore volume to the face, earlobes, or hands, and reshape and augment the lips, nose, or chin. Many women (and men) elect to have dermal fillers as a safe and effective option for facial rejuvenation. Fillers such as Restylane, Juvéderm and other hyaluronic acids can be used to fix indentations around the mouth or

hollowness in the cheeks.

Some people choose a combination of Botox and fillers, for a more refreshed look. These nonsurgical injections require little downtime or recovery time.

Mommy Makeovers are very popular, and can include improvements to the breasts and stomach, and perhaps some liposuction, but these procedures require surgery.

Dr. Ellen Janetzke 60 W. Big Beaver Rd., Ste. 100 Bloomfield Hills, MI 48304 248-220-6760 info@drellen.com drellen.com Advertisement on page 97

Q: Would these treatments benefit all women? New mothers?

A: Yes, Emsella is a treatment to strengthen the pelvic floor. It is a safe, effective, and nonsurgical option to strengthen the pelvic floor. It is an FDA (Food and Drug Administration) approved treatment for urinary incontinence.

The pelvic floor can be weakened by childbirth. Emsella creates supra-maximal muscle contractions, like a Kegel, this helps strengthen the pelvic floor and eliminate urinary

incontinence.

There are no negative side effects from treatment and you can resume your normal activities after treatment.

Some patients see results after the very first few sessions. Results will continue to improve over the next couple of weeks after the first treatment.

Emsella can be used as a standalone, noninvasive treatment or PRP (Platelet Rich Plasma)

injections may done along with Emsella.

Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) is a concentration of growth factors created from a patient’s own blood.

These rich platelets tissue repair and collagen production.

The benefits are seen in a few weeks after the initial injection.

Each patient responds differently.

Those who have milder conditions may be able to enjoy the results more quickly.

Michigan Center For Regenerative Medicine Tina Pawlich RN BSN Clinical Care Coordinator/ Practice Manager 109 S. Main Street Rochester MI, 48307 248-216-1008 regenerativemedicinemichigan.com Advertisement on page 96

Q: I’m getting married and I’m not 100 percent happy with my smile. Can you suggest ways to improve my smile before my wedding day?

A: There are several ways to get a relatively quick and fairly painless cosmetic “smile makeover” if the appearance of your gum tissue seems to be the problem. Is your smile too gummy, or do you see too much gum tissue when you smile?

Are you feeling as if you appear a bit long in the tooth due to gum recession? If so, a consult with Dr. Joseph Nemeth, D.D.S., can set you on the path to a more natural and beautiful smile.

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Advanced procedures and techniques include lip repositioning and gum-contouring, to eliminate the excessive display of gum tissue and fix a gummy smile. Gum recession treatments, including the breakthrough pinhole gum rejuvenation technique, give you a more normal, pleasing, and youthful smile.

All of these procedures are performed in-office under conscious sedation for your

comfort and relaxation, and require minimal recovery time.

“We love doing cosmetic periodontal surgery,” Dr. Nemeth says. “Our patients enjoy a healthier, more attractive smile, and it changes their life.”

If a visit to the periodontist is on your pre-wedding checklist, give Dr. Nemeth a call — he’d love to help you be your healthiest and look your very best on your big day!

Joseph R. Nemeth, D.D.S. & Associates Joseph R. Nemeth, D.D.S. Amar Katranji, D.D.S., M.S. Periodontics, Dental Implants, Advanced Grafting 248-357-3100 The Richter Center – Halitosis Treatment 248-357-3213 Toll-free: 877-783-7374 29829 Telegraph Rd., Ste.111 Southfield, MI 48034 drnemeth.com jrn@drnemeth.com Advertisement on page 17

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Consultants in Ophthalmic & Facial Plastic Surgery, PC

The doctors at the prestigious Consultants in Ophthalmic & Facial Plastic Surgery don’t begin an initial consultation by scheduling a date for surgery.

They begin by listening to what the patient wants to accomplish, and then figuring out the best, most effective, and most affordable way to get there.

Their patients not only love the results, but appreciate the process.

“Not only did I know that I was in the very best medical hands, but I felt well cared for from beginning to end, and that makes all the difference,” says a patient from Livonia.

Adds a patient from Shelby Township: “Everyone was friendly, polite, and professional. Every step was explained, all my questions were answered completely, and I was made very comfortable. The facility was just the right size, and it was very clean and well-organized.

Dr. Black is very personable and extremely skilled.”

The mission at Consultants in Ophthalmic & Facial Plastic Surgery is simple: to deliver excellence in clinical care and customer service.

Highly respected physicians Dr. Frank A. Nesi, Dr. Geoffrey J. Gladstone, Dr. Evan H. Black, Dr. Francesca Nesi-Eloff, Dr. Dianne M. Schlachter, Dr. Alon Kahana, and Dr. Robert A. Beaulieu practice throughout southeast Michigan and Flint, and hold affiliations with only the top accredited hospitals.

As experts in the field of eye plastic surgery, the doctors at Consultants in Ophthalmic & Facial Plastic Surgery take skill and training to a whole new level.

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Their unwavering dedication is evident in their multitude of professional affiliations, certifications, leadership and faculty appointments, strong association with accredited facilities, professorships, and the numerous textbooks they’ve authored.

Each physician has received awards and recognition for their deep commitment to continuously improving the field of ophthalmic plastic and reconstructive surgery. They’re frequent lecturers both nationally and internationally. Additionally, they’ve authored numerous articles on surgical techniques, as well as textbooks and textbook chapters that set the standard for their field.

Procedures and services offered by Consultants in Ophthalmic & Facial Plastic Surgery include: Cosmetic Procedures: As time passes, our skin shows the natural, inevitable signs of aging — wrinkles and sagging. Cosmetic eyelid and forehead procedures will smooth lines and wrinkles, remove lower eyelid bags, tighten sagging skin, and lift drooping eyelids and brows so you can look as young and rejuvenated as you feel. These procedures include forehead lift/brow lift; blepharoplasty, or upper eyelid surgery; and lower eyelid blepharoplasty.

Reconstructive Surgery: This is performed to improve the function or appearance of a face that’s abnormal because of congenital deformities (birth defects) or developmental deformities (i.e. damaged from injury, infection, disease, surgery, etc.).

Reconstructive surgery options include droopy upper

eyelids (ptosis repair); thyroid eye disease (Grave’s ophthalmopathy); eyelid malposition, entropion and ectropion; eyelid reconstruction; eyelid lesions and skin cancer; orbital tumors and fractures; and blocked tear ducts.

Nonsurgical Rejuvenation: When you smile, laugh, frown, or look puzzled, you contract the muscles of your face. Over time, these contractions produce permanent furrows and deep wrinkles in the skin, especially around the eyes and mouth, between the eyebrows, and on the forehead. Options to fix these issues include skin tightening with fractional CO2 laser, Botox and fillers, Kybella, intense pulsed light (IPL) treatments, and ResurFX treatments.

Consultants in Ophthalmic & Facial Plastic Surgery has multiple locations around metro Detroit including Southfield, Livonia, Rochester Hills, Troy, Novi, Southgate, and Dearborn. They also have locations in Ann Arbor and Flint. ■

Consultants in Ophthalmic & Facial Plastic Surgery, PC 29201 Telegraph Rd., Ste. 324 Southfield, MI 48034 800-245-8075 EyelidPros.com

12/28/21 2:45 PM

Michigan Center for Regenerative Medicine

Dr. Thomas Nabity, M.D. and Dr. John Santa Ana, founders of the Michigan Center for Regenerative Medicine in Rochester, began implementing regenerative medicine into their practice in 2016.

Both doctors have seen incredible success in treating patients with chronic orthopedic conditions, and are applying the same approach, treatments, and techniques to other areas of the body.

At the Michigan Center for Regenerative Medicine, Dr. Nabity, Dr. Santa Ana and Tina Pawlich, RN, an expert in women’s health treatments, have been using the combination of platelet rich plasma (PRP) therapy and the Emsella machine to successfully treat female urinary incontinence due to pelvic floor weakness.

“We use a similar approach (to what we would do) for a chronic tendon or muscle problem in the joints, but direct the PRP to targets in the pelvic floor. The results are similar to what we see in the muscles

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around joints, with strengthening of the muscles that make up the pelvic floor and improvements in the health issues that come with having weakness in the pelvic floor,” Dr. Santa Ana says.

Scientifically proven regenerative medicine is another option. The PRP, which is obtained via a blood draw, is the portion of your blood responsible for stimulating growth and healing. Kegel exercises strengthen the pelvic floor muscles, which support the uterus, bladder, small intestine, and rectum. The Emsella machine sends electronic signals to a patient’s pelvic floor, and this energy initiates a muscle-strengthening contraction without requiring any effort from the patient.

“We’re seeing very high success rates when you combine PRP and the Emsella machine for treating the pelvic floor,” Tina Pawlich, RN, says.

There also are other benefits to the treatments.

“In addition to injecting the pelvic floor, an injection

into the clitoral hood and vaginal wall can assist with sexual wellness,” Tina Pawlich, RN, says. “This happens by promoting good, healthy blood flow to the clitoris and vaginal wall, which assists with clitoral sensitivity and vaginal dryness.”

The Michigan Center for Regenerative Medicine offers a full range of services including regenerative medicine, stem cell banking, arthritis repair, platelet rich plasma, prolotherapy, knee cartilage regeneration, and stem cell therapy. ■

Michigan Center for Regenerative Medicine 109 S. Main St. Rochester, MI 48307 248-846-1466 regenerativemedicinemichigan.com

1/5/22 9:10 AM

Dr. Ellen Janetzke Shaping confidence are two words that can be used to define Dr. Ellen Janetzke.

“Our personalized approach is designed to ensure that our patients achieve the best possible outcome,” says Dr. Ellen, founder of Dr. Ellen Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery in Bloomfield Hills. “When considering plastic surgery, it’s essential to be comfortable with your surgeon and staff, to feel fully educated, and to have your goals completely understood. Our mission is to gain our patients’ trust and guide them through every step, starting with their very first phone call.”

Dr. Ellen has been in practice for more than two decades and has committed herself to patient education, safety, and service. She studied as an undergrad at the University of Michigan and graduated with a medical degree from Wayne State University’s School of Medicine in 1994.

Dr. Ellen is associated with several hospitals in Michigan, including UnaSource Surgical Center, William Beaumont Hospital in Royal Oak, and William Beaumont Hospital in Troy.

Prior to obtaining her plastic surgery training in Philadelphia, Dr. Ellen completed a fellowship in hand surgery at the Detroit Medical Center. She finished her general surgery requirements at William Beaumont Hospital in Royal Oak. These opportunities led to well-established relationships within her discipline, making her invaluable to patients and the community.

Dr. Ellen’s ability to understand, anticipate, and fulfill patient expectations — honestly and realistically — has gained her a reputation as both a gifted surgeon and a caring doctor.

Her team members take great pride in their roles.

“The staff has been hand-picked based on their professionalism, level of compassion, overall intelligence, and knowledge of our industry,” Dr. Ellen says.

“They’re specifically trained for their position, and acclimated to our practice culture and our professional expectations.”

Dr. Ellen Janetzke’s practice in Bloomfield Hills offers a wide range of services for men and women, including tummy tucks, breast reduction, gynecomastia, liposuction, arm-lifts, thigh-lifts, and back-lifts for body contouring, in addition to face, eyelid, and neck-lift procedures. Dr. Ellen specializes in breast procedures for women, including breast augmentation and breast-lifts. Her MedSpa services include a variety of skin care solutions and injectables. ■

Dr. Ellen Janetzke 60 W. Big Beaver Rd., Ste. 100 Bloomfield Hills, MI 48304 248-220-6760 drellen.com info@drellen.com

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1/5/22 9:03 AM

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Patients are referred to The Retina Institute of Michigan by their primary care physician, optometrist, or ophthalmologist to address complex and difficult eye health problems. Dr. Patel and her team offer comprehensive services, including screening and monitoring of retinal disease, diabetic eye care, treatment for flashes and floaters, care for macular disorders and degeneration, vitreoretinal surgery, intravitreal injections, laser surgery, and more. Dr. Patel says patients come in to The Retina Institute of Michigan with serious, often vision threatening issues, and leave feeling they’ve been listened to and treated with empathy and compassion. ■

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Prism Lab’s, LLC

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rism Lab’s, LLC, Michigan’s premier lab dedicated to functional medicine diagnostic services, was founded by a man who believes that perseverance, commitment, planning, and hard work can take you wherever you want to go in life.

Joe Ruefiel, owner and founder of Prism Lab in Rochester, came to the United States in 2003 with a long-term plan backed by a strong work ethic and a relentless dedication to overcoming obstacles and challenges. “Nothing is easy in this life,” he says. “As an immigrant with no family here, I have faced many difficulties, but they have only made me stronger. No matter how you start, as long as you keep working on your goals, you will reach them one day. It takes a lot of sweat and tears, but it is worth it at the end.”

Ruefiel, a licensed physical therapist in Egypt, received a license as a physical therapist in both Michigan and New York in 2003. He started his own series of businesses in 2010, beginning with a physical therapy location in Rochester Hills. By 2017 he had expanded to include five clinics, with additional locations in Sterling Heights, Hazel Park, Dearborn, and Roseville.

He also started and managed a certified homecare agency from 2012 until 2015.

In 2017, Ruefiel opened his first MRI business in Clinton Township and opened a second location in Southfield in 2018. He opened Prism Lab in Rochester in 2018.

Prism Lab, a CLIA medical lab that specializes in urine analysis and COVID-19 testing, has

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conducted almost 50,000 COVID tests since the start of the pandemic.

“Our motto during these challenging times is, ‘bringing humans together one test at a time,’ ” Ruefiel says. “We are proud that we were able to help our community in Rochester Hills. Our lab also helped clients fly to different countries by running their tests. Our reports had the most upto-date QR codes, which secure those documents from piracy.”

Prism Lab, an all-in-one diagnostic lab that can identify most drugs associated with abuse in urine, hair, and oral fluid, offers individualized solutions for every ordering doctor or patient, and has some of the most reliable testing lab panels in the country. They offer premium toxicology services for rehabilitation centers or pain clinics that need to test their patients, companies looking to determine the status of a potential candidate, and trucking companies looking to certify drivers.

Ruefiel says Prism Lab’s procedures are the “gold standard” in laboratory medicine. “Our mission is to provide our clients with the best service possible,” he says. “We pride ourselves on our customer service and our rapid turnaround time. We are a group of individuals who are passionate about our reputation as one of the premier labs in the country.”

Prism Labs offers both on-site testing and home testing kits, where clients can get accurate results from the comfort of their home. Their team processes specimens 24 hours a day, seven

days a week. Ruefiel also owns Prism Triangle, a cannabis lab with state-of-the-art equipment and technology that provides fast testing times. Testing laboratories make sure cannabis goods are safe for consumption and free of contaminants. The Department of Cannabis Control (DCC) requires all batches of cannabis goods to be tested before they can be sold.

“Our lab space and equipment allows for shortened testing times for the MRA required testing, from 72 hours to a little over a day,” Ruefiel says. “It helps the growers get the results faster for their samples — which, in turn, helps them turn their products into money, and they don’t have to quarantine their products for long periods of time. Prism Triangle is the biggest in size (a little under 10,000 square feet) and also has the most advanced software used for reporting to the clients and to the state.”

Both labs will soon share the same space at 850 Ladd Rd. (Building B) in Walled Lake. The new facility is expected to open this year. The Rochester location will remain as a collection station.

Prism Lab’s, LLC Joe Ruefiel, Owner 130 Hampton Circle, Ste. 110 Rochester, MI 48307 248-841-4101 prismlabllc.com

12/28/21 1:23 PM

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More Than Just Fitness

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egular exercise is a proven way to help increase muscle tone, build endurance, and lose weight. All of these achievements can add up to a serious boost in confidence and self-esteem. There’s also the positive social aspect that comes with exercise and physical activity, and exercise enthusiasts love to talk about their gyms, studios, or other “fitness communities.” That is, until they start experiencing injuries.

The truth is this: Not all fitness communities are created equal. In fact, the vast majority don’t address the issue of rehabilitation. Ron Jegadeesh knows this better than most. When he created Pilates Fitness & Physical Therapy Center in Southfield, it was with the goal of helping people gain better control of movement in a functional and pain-free way that would allow them not to just get in shape, but to stay physically and functionally fit. Through Pilates and a specialized movement system known as Gyrotonic®, Jegadeesh and his staff provide quality treatment, education, and motivation by teaching movement and postural re-education. They utilize a holistic, self-empowered approach to rehabilitation and fitness, and are dedicated to helping clients understand and work with injuries using these unique methodologies on traditional equipment as well as the mat.

Jegadeesh’s credentials are unparalleled. As a physical therapist with more than 30 years of experience in the rehabilitation of numerous orthopedic and neurological diagnoses, he’s also a PMA Pilates certified teacher, a certified Polestar Pilates rehabilitation specialist, a Stott Pilates®

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fully certified instructor, and a certified Gyrotonic and Gyrokinesis® instructor.

The Pilates Fitness & Physical Therapy Center isn’t your average “fitness community.” While there’s an extensive schedule of classes in Pilates and Gyrotonic, the center goes above and beyond with manual/hands-on therapy, biomechanical evaluation and management, the treatment of musculoskeletal and neuromuscular problems, and the utilization of these modalities as methods for rehabilitation. Of these two exercise modalities, Gyrotonic is certainly the lesser known, but it’s no less effective in offering tremendous benefits that include increasing flexibility and building strength.

Generally speaking, Pilates focuses on alignment and the idea that all movement comes from the core. It’s a low-impact exercise that can be done at any age, and it incorporates mindful and precise movement to help students learn new patterns (and correct faulty ones) on the muscular, skeletal, and nervous system level. While Pilates strengthens and stabilizes the core body, or foundation, it teaches students to move efficiently while strengthening muscles and improving flexibility, posture, and mobility. Even though the core is often the main target of Pilates’ linear and two-dimensional movements, it works other parts of the body, as well.

Gyrotonic is an equally challenging yet rehabilitative workout. The circular movements of the Gyrotonic method are original and unique, and work to open energy pathways to improve strength, stimulate the nervous system, and increase range of motion. With Gyrotonic exercises, movements are fluid and connected, allowing

the joints to move through a natural range of motion. The sequences are artfully crafted to create balance, and to improve strength and flexibility, without any jarring or compression.

The highly-skilled trained instructors and therapists at Pilates Fitness & Physical Therapy Center are well-versed in each of these modalities, and use a traditional approach to rehabilitation that focuses on functional training, movement re-education, a holistic integration of mind and body, and a smooth progression from rehabilitation to fitness.

This unique approach empowers patients to take charge of their own recovery and restore their overall fitness and well-being. What’s more, Pilates Fitness & Physical Therapy Center accepts insurance, so all of these services are in reach for everyone.

It’s a new year, and there’s no time like the present to start implementing your wellness goals for 2022. There’s a unique fitness community whose goal is to help you succeed in your journey to lifelong well-being while striving to provide unprecedented high-quality care in a positive and encouraging environment. What better place to meet your goals for the new year and beyond?

Pilates Fitness & Physical Therapy Center 17418 West 10 Mile Rd. Southfield, MI 48075 248-552-1012 pilatesfitnessevolution.com

12/22/21 3:07 PM

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11.12.2021

Uncork for a Cure 2021

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THE DYNAMI FOUNDATION held its annual charity event on Nov. 12, at Cauley Ferrari in West Bloomfield. The evening — which raised money for breast cancer research, treatment, and prevention — featured food from local restaurants, such as SheWolf, Casa Pernoi, and Mabel Gray, as well as wines curated by Plum Market sommelier Madelien Triffon. Guests enjoyed entertainment that included live music and a speed painting show. The Dynami Foundation also raffled off a 1997 F355 classic Ferrari Spider.

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1. Madeline Triffon, Luciano Delsignore 2. Luanne Thomas Ewald, Marcie Wheeler, Cassandra Callaghan 3. Anthony Lombardo, Flora Migyanka 4. Loren Venegas, Deborah Fishaw Venegas 5. The Mabel Gray team, including James Rigato (center), Samantha Stanisz, and Kristina Conger 6. Rayford Jackson, Chuck Bennett, Maurie Richards, Josh Landon 7. Ralph and Doris Gilles 8. Matt Shinsky, Jay Mullick 9. Renee Janovsky, Flora Migyanka

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10.24.2021

Common Ground’s Celebration of Hope

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COMMON GROUND — A NONPROFIT crisis helpline that helps youths, adults, and families — celebrated its 50th anniversary on Oct. 24 at the M1 Concourse. The event featured a strolling dinner, a program presentation, an anniversary toast, and a raffle. Guests also enjoyed “thrill rides” in highperformance cars on M1 Concourse’s 1.5-mile track.

The evening raised funds for Common Ground’s new Behavioral Health Urgent Care Clinic program.

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5 1. Mandy and Tanner Hamilton 2. Kathy Waklgren, Cindy McNamara, Sharon McMurray 3. Kent and Gina Dickerson 4. Mila Pershyna, Evrod Cassimy, Sherlyn Fox 5. Sharon and John Walsh 6. Keith Bonn, Meagan Spurr, Joe Pope, Devin Klouse 7. Kina and Jeff Kapuscinski, Heidi Warrington 8. Tawana Nettles-Robinson, Julie Aronica, Lisa Samerdyke 9. Brenda Baker-Mbacke, Colette Stimmell

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1. Jenny and Joel Schembri 2. Connie Scarpelli, Katie, Mary Pat, Caroline, and Mark Kaleth 3. Matt and Karen Cullen 4. Mike Han 5. Mary and Tom Shafer 6. Chad Creekhouse, Sandy and Michael Hermanoff 7. K.J. Meeks, KT MavigliaMorgan 8. Jeff Steinaway, Linda Filipczak

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The Detroit Discovery Ball PHOT OS BY CHRISTINE M.J. H ATH AWAY

THE AMERICAN CANCER SOCIET Y event was held on Nov. 12 in Shed 3 at Eastern Market. The evening — which raised money for groundbreaking cancer research — featured live and silent auctions as well as live entertainment, dinner, and drinks.

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1967

IDEALLY, HOSPITALS SHOULD be devoted to care and compassion, regardless of one’s station in life or one’s race or ethnicity. But history tells a different story. It’s one of blatant bias, which existed not only in the South, but in the North as well — Detroit included. For years, Black patients were often denied care, or even if they were admitted, didn’t receive adequate attention. Wards were sometimes segregated. Black doctors and nurses were routinely denied posts at major hospitals, and according to Robert Saxon Jr.’s blog titled “Jim Crow Hospitals,” Black doctors were required to consult with white doctors before admitting patients and were not allowed to perform surgery. Such inequality led to the formation of Black-owned or -operated hospitals. In 1918, a group of Black doctors joined forces and opened Dunbar Memorial Hospital on Frederick Street in Midtown; the building still stands today. In his 2017 book Black Detroit, Herb Boyd mentions that Mercy Hospital in Black Bottom opened the preceding year. Later, Black patients’ need for care was fulfilled by several other hospitals, including Trumbull General Hospital (pictured), which opened in the 1940s and closed in 1974 after merging with three other hospitals to form Southwest Detroit Hospital.

The imposing, Second Empire-style structure at 3966 Trumbull, in Detroit’s Woodbridge district, was built as a single-dwelling home in the late 19th century, when Trumbull was lined with stately abodes belonging to many of the city’s wealthiest citizens, including Detroit News founder and publisher James E. Scripps. In 2011, the old Trumbull General Hospital was converted to apartments. Skateboarder Tony Hawk bought the building in 2016, but it was sold again in 2019. —George Bulanda

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Subscription price: $19.95 one year, $35.95 two years. Copyright @ 2022 Hour Media. All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or part without permission is prohibited. Hour is a registered trademark of Hour Media.

The Way It Was

HOSPITAL COURTESY OF THE WALTER P. REUTHER LIBRARY, ARCHIVES OF LABOR AND URBAN AFFAIRS, WAYNE STATE UNIVERSITY (THE DETROIT NEWS)

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