Hour Detroit - February 2023

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VOLUME TWENTY EIGHT ISSUE TWO

PUBLISHER: Jason Hosko

EDITORIAL

EDITOR: Kate Walsh

DEPUTY EDITOR: Scott Atkinson

DIGITAL EDITOR: Christina Clark

ASSOCIATE EDITORS: Rachael Thomas, Ashley Winn

COPY EDITOR: Olivia Sedlacek

CONTRIBUTORS: Mary Andino, Bill Dow, Aaron Foley, Dorothy Hernandez, Mickey Lyons, Jenn McKee, Giuseppa Nadrowski, Drew Saunders, Robert Stempkowski, Megan Swoyer, Cambrey Thomas, Khristi Zimmeth

DESIGN

CREATIVE DIRECTOR: Lindsay Richards

SENIOR PRODUCTION ARTIST: Stephanie Daniel

JUNIOR ART DIRECTOR: Steven Prokuda

GRAPHIC DESIGNER: Keagan Coop

CONTRIBUTORS: Gerard & Belevender, Rachel Idzerda, Monica Jadan, Giuseppa Nadrowski, Chuk Nowak, Sal Rodriguez, Rebecca Simonov, Hayden Stinebaugh, Joe Tiano, Rebeeca Voigt, Holly Wales

SALES

PUBLISHING AND SALES COORDINATOR: Mikala Bart

ACCOUNT EXECUTIVES: Cynthia Barnhart, Regan Blissett, Karli Brown, Maya Gossett, Donna Kassab, Lisa LaBelle, Mary Pantely & Associates, Jessica VanDerMaas

PRODUCTION

PRODUCTION DIRECTOR: Jenine Knox

SENIOR PRODUCTION COORDINATOR: Jill Berry

PRODUCTION ARTIST: Jonathan Boedecker

ADVERTISING COORDINATOR: Amanda Kozlowski

GRAPHIC DESIGNER: Jim Bibart IT

IT DIRECTOR: Jeremy Leland

WEB

DIGITAL DIRECTOR: Nick Britsky

DIGITAL DEVELOPMENT MANAGER: Matthew Cappo

DIGITAL DEVELOPMENT SPECIALISTS: Jim Bowser, Marissa Jacklyn, Luanne Lim, Kevin Pell

DIGITAL STRATEGY MANAGER: Travis Fletcher

VIDEO EDITOR: Taylor Lutz

VIDEO PRODUCER: Nicole Toporowski

DIGITAL MEDIA ASSISTANT: Robyn Banks

CIRCULATION

CIRCULATION MANAGER: Riley Meyers

CIRCULATION COORDINATORS: David Benvenuto, Cathy Krajenke, Rachel Moulden, Michele Wold

MARKETING & EVENTS

MARKETING & EVENTS MANAGER: Jodie Svagr

MARKETING & EVENTS COORDINATOR: Jaime Presnail

COMMUNICATIONS & EVENTS LEAD: Cathleen Francois

MARKETING & EVENTS INTERN: Crystal Baker

MARKETING RESEARCH

MARKETING RESEARCH DIRECTOR: Sofia Shevin

MARKETING RESEARCH COORDINATORS: Georgia Iden, Kristin Mingo

MARKETING RESEARCH SALES COORDINATOR: Alexandra Thompson

MARKETING RESEARCH ASSISTANT: Alyssa Fueri

PRS GRAPHIC DESIGNER: Alexa Dyer

BUSINESS

CEO: Stefan Wanczyk

PRESIDENT: John Balardo

DIRECTOR OF BUSINESS OPERATIONS: Kathie Gorecki

ASSISTANT OFFICE MANAGER: Natasha Bajju

SENIOR ACCOUNTING ASSOCIATE: Andrew Kotzian

ACCOUNTING ASSOCIATE: Samantha Dick, Austin Schmelzle

DISTRIBUTION: Target Distribution, Troy

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CONTENTS

34 A Life of Diplomacy

Bridget Brink, Michigan native and American ambassador to Ukraine, says she’s been preparing for this moment her whole life.

38 The Sky’s the Limit

The primary focus of our winter travel feature? Options. We believe everyone deserves the ideal getaway — whether that’s an adventurous trek Up North or an escape to a boutique hotel with a downtown view.

44 Bridal Fashion

Inspired by the clean lines of midcentury design, this season’s heart-stopping wedding gowns are thoroughly modern with a vintage twist

On the cover: For complete outfit details turn to page 49.

ISSUE THREE HUNDRED ELEVEN

CONTENTS

Up Front

MADE IN MICHIGAN: MARCIA RIEKE

She began her journey gazing up at the northern Michigan sky. Now, she’s helping discover cosmic novelties.

TO MAKE A RED WING

A new book takes a deep (deep) dive into the draft history of Detroit hockey.

START YOUR (ELECTRIC) ENGINES

How is the Motor City adapting to the electrified future of transportation?

24/Seven

NEW THREADS

From a Serena & Lily showroom to two Gucci boutiques — including the brand’s first men’s store in the U.S. — we share the local shop openings that have caught our eye over the past year.

WELL SUITED

Catch financial adviser Phil Serra looking like a million bucks in a vest and a pocket square — his signature look.

FACE FORWARD

A local makeup artist and social media influencer shares her vegan and cruelty-free beauty must-haves.

TURN THE PAGE

A revamped den now serves as an intimate and intriguing home library for one Grosse Pointe Farms couple.

Agenda

CULTURE CALENDAR

Local artists get serious love from MOCAD, a new Detroit podcast hits the waves, Lalah Hathaway plays Sound Board, and more February events.

DETROIT HEARTS

BLACK ART

Celebrate Black History

Month — and the city’s legacy of producing outstanding creatives of color — with a tour of Detroit’s Black art.

ON THE WORLD STAGE

Many young girls harbor dreams of becoming a ballerina, but Precious Adams chased them all the way to the English National Ballet.

Food&Drink

WINTER CLASSICS, WARMED UP

Local bars and restaurants are offering hot new takes on old favorites.

NOUVELLE CUISINE

Bar Pigalle offers unique craft cocktails and playful French fare with a Motor City twist.

JUST COOK FOR US

When it comes to a night out in Detroit, the best choice may be not to choose at all.

INSTA-GOODIES

Meet the metro Detroit bakers killing it in the kitchen — and on social media.

EDITOR’S LETTER RESTAURANT LISTINGS

THE WAY IT WAS Rosa Parks, 1948

ISSUE THREE HUNDRED ELEVEN

HAPPILY EVER AFTERPARTY.

Make it a day you’ll remember for as long as you both shall live. Say, “I do” to a storybook wedding ceremony and reception at MotorCity Casino Hotel. With a newly renovated 19,600 square foot ballroom, a diverse selection of food and drink, 400 perfectly appointed guest rooms, and luxurious D. Tour spa, we have the venue, the menu, and the staff to make your special day last a lifetime. Your big day begins at MotorCityCasino.com

MotorCity Casino Hotel and MotorCity Casino Hotel design are trademarks of Detroit Entertainment, L.L.C.

©2023 Detroit Entertainment, L.L.C. All rights reserved.

Behind the Scenes

FINDING A LOCATION for our midcentury bridal shoot was no easy task. There aren’t many venues in metro Detroit both befitting our early ’60s-inspired shoot and large enough to host our team, but when we set eyes on the Graduate Ann Arbor hotel we knew we’d found our perfect match. The variety of settings, from the presidential suite’s velvet-tufted couches to the emerald-upholstered walls in the Allen Rumsey cocktail lounge, made picking shoot locations a lot of fun. Graduate Ann Arbor boasts a timeless atmosphere that allowed us to bring our vision to life. Take a peek at the feature on page 44 and see what midcentury decor pieces you can spot — including one retro jukebox.

CONTRIBUTORS

WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE DATE NIGHT SPOT IN METRO DETROIT? WHAT IF MONEY WERE NO OBJECT?

ROBERT STEMPKOWSKI

WROTE “JUST COOK FOR US,” PAGE 94

“I’d head to Xochimilco Restaurant in Detroit for botanas, Bone Yard BBQ in Farmington Hills for ribs, and Miller’s Bar in Dearborn for a nightcap. In all honesty, if I were trying to make a great first (or 50th) date night impression, a progressive crawl around these cozy corners of the Detroit-area food and beverage scene would get me in good with my girl. For me, it’s about bang for your buck.” After nearly 40 years of restaurant work and food writing in Arizona (Phoenix New Times, The Arizona Republic, and more), Dearborn native Robert Stempkowski is back in Detroit and eager to explore the city’s epicurean scene and tell its vibrant stories.

MONICA JADAN

PROVIDED HAIR AND MAKEUP SERVICES FOR OUR BRIDAL FEATURE, PAGE 44

“My favorite date night is seeing a play or show at any of our gorgeous theaters, like the Fox and Fisher theaters and the Detroit Symphony Orchestra, with my husband, followed by some food from Mexicantown Restaurant and cookies from La Gloria Bakery! If money were no object, I would have the Fox Theatre to myself and friends for a private concert with Lenny Kravitz! After the show, I’d sneak away with my husband for a night at Shinola Hotel and specifically ask for the room J. Lo had.”

Monica Jadan is a hair and makeup artist who has been spreading beauty throughout metro Detroit and beyond for over 20 years. She considers it an honor to create the perfect look and be part of the big day for her bridal clientele.

BILL DOW

WROTE THE WAY IT WAS, PAGE 128

“My favorite date night is dinner at Elie’s Mediterranean Grill and Bar in Birmingham or next door at Streetside Seafood. If money were no object: a dinner cruise on the Detroit River with InfinityOvation Yacht Charters.” Bill Dow is our new The Way it Was writer. The Birminghambased freelance journalist has written numerous articles for Hour Detroit DBusiness, the Detroit Free Press, and Baseball Digest He has also acted as a guest writer for exhibits at the Detroit Historical Museum and a co-editor of the book Tiger Stadium: Essays and Memories of Detroit’s Historic Ballpark, 1912-2009 (McFarland, 2018). Previously, he practiced law for 15 years and was a major gifts officer for the Beaumont Health Foundation for nine years.

EDITOR’S LETTER

A wonderful thing happens in Michigan in February. It’s called

midwinter break. Back in the old days, when I went to school, we had a whole week off during the shortest but seemingly most prolonged month of the year. While some metro Detroit school districts still have this, others have reduced the break to just one (Presidents Day) or two days. Regardless, any chance to take a break from Michigan winters is a welcome treat.

My family never did anything extravagant during this break, but we did get to accompany my dad on work trips to cool places like the Holidome in Goshen, Indiana. The Holidome was a Holiday Inn that had rooms facing a giant interior recreation area equipped with a pool, an arcade, a volleyball court, and a minigolf course. It was loud, smelled like chlorine and Doritos, and most importantly, was warm. I don’t think we ever stayed more than two nights, but it was just enough time to make us feel like we had gone on vacation.

In this issue, we present you with some fun — and much more sophisticated — travel options in Michigan for your own midwinter break or any time of year. For those who do like the cold, we give you a peek at the new offerings at Boyne Mountain Resort, including the updated Chalet Edelweiss and SkyBridge Michigan, the world’s longest timber-towered suspension bridge. Closer to home, we look at five luxury boutique hotels that have rooms with a view. One of them is even in a former Holiday Inn.

February is also the final month of engagement season, which begins in late November. According to WeddingWire, nearly 40 percent of marriage proposals will happen during this time period in which several major holidays take place, including Valentine’s Day. Our February issue has traditionally featured a bridal cover story, and this year is no different. Our bridal fashion spread is always a fun one to put together: We experience all the glamour with only a fraction of the cost and stress that come with an actual wedding.

To get an idea of what today’s brides are experiencing, I spoke with Hour Detroit’s resident bride-to-be, Regan Blissett, who got engaged last February and will wed in August. Regan grew up watching Say Yes to the Dress and owned a wedding planning book when she was 8 years old, so you could say she has had a lifelong vision of her engagement and wedding. How are things going so far? “No matter how many times you visualize the moment, and for me it was a lot, the actual proposal was 10 times better than what I could have imagined.” And the most stressful part? “The decision-making. Colors, linens, vendors, invitations. … Of course, wedding costs are at an all-time high, so it is a big stress factor. Deciding what items to cut out, managing expectations, and lowering standards are all a part of a process that isn’t so glamorous as the actual day itself.” As for her advice to newly engaged couples, she says: “The first step is to soak it in. As soon as you get engaged, stay present in the moment. I wish I could bottle up those feelings and excitement, because there’s nothing else like it.”

Whether you’re a newly engaged couple planning your big day, a parent seeking a Presidents Day weekend destination, or simply someone in need of a quick getaway, I hope this issue helps you find a happy, peaceful place.

From Our Readers

KATE WALSH, EDITOR KWALSH@HOUR-MEDIA.COM

“These photos are excellent (‘Where There’s Smoke, There’s Fire: John Sinclair Discusses His Activism and Legacy,’ December).”

—@with_these_boots, Instagram

“[Zahra Assar-Nossoni has] beauty, brains, and bravado (‘The Best of Both Worlds,’ December). Triple threat female scientists [are] setting a benchmark.”

—@talianno, Instagram

“The Miracle holiday pop-up was amazing (‘A New Holiday Pop-Up in Ferndale, Hudson Cafe Expansion & More Metro Detroit Dining News,’ December). Go check it out and get a Grandma Got Run Over by a T-Rex drink!”

—Patricia Jacquelyn, Facebook

“I wish [Sebastian and Gabrielle Jackson] all the success in the world (‘It’s More Than Hair at The Social Club,’ December). Full speed ahead, you two.”

—Michael Hodge, Facebook

“A classic (‘Many Thanks to Alicia Myers,’ December)!”

—@HeadCoachJJ, Twitter

Hourdetroit.com

Digital Extra

February is Black History Month, and southeast Michigan is both celebrating and commemorating Black history with an array of fun and educational happenings. Find some of our favorite events taking place all month long at hourdetroit.com/ blackhistory

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

@hourdetroit

@hour_detroit @hourdetroitmagazine

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MADE IN MICHIGAN LAUNCHED ON CHRISTMAS DAY in 2021, the James Webb Space Telescope is the largest and most powerful space telescope ever created. Needless to say, the device and its crisp, detailed images have left the world in awe.

UNIVERSAL KNOWLEDGE

Marcia Rieke began her journey gazing at the northern Michigan sky — now she’s helping discover cosmic novelties

BY KATE TOWNLEY

ILLUSTRATION BY RACHEL IDZERDA

STUDY BREAKS

Intriguing findings from researchers across Michigan

By Olivia Sedlacek

LEFT-RIGHT BRAIN

PINGPONG: A University of Michigan psychology lab has identified key features of a brain rhythm that helps the brain’s left and right hemispheres communicate better, according to a study in the journal Cell Reports The researchers call this rhythm “splines,” because the brain waves resemble the interlocking teeth of gears. “Spline rhythms … are like the left and right brains playing a game of very fast — and very precise — pingpong,” says lead

A mission of this magnitude doesn’t happen overnight. It took over two decades of planning and preparation by various scientists and engineers around the globe to launch JWST. One member of this team is Marcia Rieke, 71, who is originally from Midland and now teaches at the University of Arizona.

Rieke, the principal investigator for the telescope’s near-infrared camera (also known as the NIRCam — the camera that can pick

up wavelengths humans can’t see), has been involved in the project since its infancy. She has contributed from the early stages of planning the mission and testing the equipment all the way to the research being conducted now. She uses her expertise in infrared astronomy to help fulfill one of JWST’s primary goals: looking back on the formation of the earliest galaxies.

With JWST fully functional and in orbit, Rieke explains to Hour Detroit that the work has only just begun.

What was it that sparked your interest in learning about space?

Maybe growing up in upper Michigan, where the sky is nice and dark. Even as a relatively young kid, I was interested in space and read science fiction books. And then, when I was in fourth grade, the first astronauts were launched into space, and that perked a lot of people’s interest.

How did that interest in space end up turning into a career?

Well, for a while, I thought I actually wanted to be an astronaut. At that time, it looked like to be an astronaut, you needed to be an aeronautical engineer. So when I went to college, I thought I would be an aeronautical engineer. But then I took a cosmology class, and that was it. That did it: Forget the engineering — I was going to be a physicist/astronomer.

You’ve done much work with infrared astronomy in particular. How would you explain that branch of the field to someone who doesn’t know anything about it?

Visible light is, of course, the kind of light that astronomers have used for the longest time

author and professor Omar Ahmed. “[It] represents a fundamentally different way for the left brain and right brain to talk to each other.”

Splines occur during REM sleep and during movement, becoming even more precise at faster running speeds. “This is likely to help the left brain and right brain compute more cohesively and rapidly when an animal is moving faster and needs to make faster decisions,” says U-M doctoral student Megha Ghosh. The researchers also discovered that spline rhythms are strongest in the retrosplenial cortex, which is one of the first brain regions to become impaired in people with Alzheimer’s disease — a finding that

may soon help doctors identify the disease in early stages.

ALL IN THE TUSK: One mastodon skeleton unearthed in 1998 near Fort Wayne, Indiana, is helping scientists determine mastodons’ annual migration patterns from millennia ago. A group of researchers from the University of Michigan and two other Midwest universities analyzed samples from layers of the mastodon’s tusk to reveal changes in the animal’s environment throughout its lifetime. This led to the discovery that, once fully grown, the mastodon migrated annually to a particular summer mating

ground in northeastern Indiana. “The growth and development of the animal, as well as its history of changing land use and changing behavior, … is captured and recorded in the structure and composition of the tusk,” says U-M paleontologist and project co-leader Daniel Fisher. The study, published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, is the first to document annual migration of an individual animal from an extinct species.

PREDICTING THE NEXT PANDEMIC:

Researchers at Michigan State University have been awarded $2.7 million by the National Institutes of Health to

further develop artificial intelligence algorithms that can predict how viruses will evolve. The team’s models have already made accurate predictions about new COVID-19 variants, including omicron. “What we’re doing is making our predictions more accurate and more timely,” says Guowei Wei, a professor of biochemistry and molecular biology at MSU. “And now our work isn’t just for COVID but also for many other viral infections.” These algorithms could someday help with the creation of universal vaccines and medicines that are more effective against a variety of viral diseases, such as the flu, COVID, HIV, and Ebola — even as they evolve.

THESE ALGORITHMS COULD SOMEDAY HELP WITH THE CREATION OF UNIVERSAL VACCINES AND MEDICINES THAT ARE MORE EFFECTIVE AGAINST A VARIETY OF VIRAL DISEASES, SUCH AS THE FLU, COVID, HIV, AND EBOLA — EVEN AS THEY EVOLVE.

because they started out just using their eyes to observe it. But once astronomers learned how to detect other forms of light, we started learning all kinds of different things about the universe. The name infrared literally means “beyond red,” and so it starts more or less at the reddest your eyes can see and eventually transitions into longer wavelengths.

The infrared is important in several contexts: One is that the output of planets peaks at infrared wavelengths. So, if we wanted to study planets around other stars — we call them exoplanets — the infrared is the best wavelength regime at which to do that. Additionally, when things move away, the wavelengths get stretched. The original reason for building JWST is that the universe is expanding, and things that are moving away from us, their spectrum is being shifted toward the red. In the case of the first galaxies formed after the big bang, they’re far enough away that their visible light is all shifted into the infrared.

What types of things is JWST looking for specifically?

[We are] trying to find the most distant galaxies. We just finished getting our first batch of data, and we are seeing objects that are not seen by Hubble [Space Telescope]. We’re still sorting out what’s what.

A lot goes into an undertaking like this. What has your role looked like over the years?

My role has changed quite a bit. At first, my role was to help define what the mission should look like, what instruments it should have, and so on. Then, my team was selected to be the one to lead the design and construction of NIRCam. Once it was constructed, we had to test it. And now that all that is done, we’re actually getting the scientific data that we’ve been working for all these years. Now we’re shifting gears and analyzing that data.

What continues to drive your passion for learning about space?

That we don’t know so much. It’s fun to discover things — that’s what drives the passion. That’s what this is all about. You turn up things that you never expected.

What else should people know about JWST?

We have gotten so much coverage in the media because everyone was looking for some kind of good news. To me, it’s very heartening to see that a project that involved 14 different countries has come together and worked so well, … just exquisitely. We worked together to make this happen. I find it reassuring to know that people can still do that.

BOOKS

To Make a Red Wing

A new book takes a deep (deep) dive into Detroit hockey draft history

BY JENN MCKEE

Sometimes a book teaches you as much about the kind of reader you are as it does about its focal topic.

In the case of On the Clock: Behind the Scenes with the Detroit Red Wings at the NHL Draft, written by Helene St. James (who covered the Wings for the Detroit Free Press for many years), I learned that when it comes to sports books, I gravitate toward those that unpack a specific event or an individual athlete’s career.

That’s not what On the Clock is.

Even though I’m not the right reader for On the Clock, its ideal audience is clearly out there — that is to say, longtime, hardcore Wings fans who would relish the book’s anecdotal, stat-supported, behindthe-scenes glimpses into the franchise’s long and storied history.

As the subtitle indicates, many of the short chapters in this 250-plus-page book tell stories of specific drafting choices made over the years and how they would prove to alter the Wings’ fortunes.

But of course, the team, being one of the Original Six, predated the NHL draft by more than three decades.

As St. James writes, “On June 5, 1963, executives for the six teams met at the Queen Elizabeth Hotel in Montreal. … The draft was a noble idea, but in its first iteration had almost no impact. All the best young players already had sponsorships with teams. The 1963 draft was such a sparse event that there were only four rounds, and teams could pass on making a selection.”

The contrast between this modest hotel meeting among a few executives and the uberhyped, televised drafts of today is striking, to say the least. Although St. James’ book isn’t chronological in structure, readers do, as they progress through the book, get a more comprehensive idea of the road

that led to this draft-as-mediaspectacle moment.

Many chapters focus on the acquisition, impact, and career of a single player (Konstantinov, Lidström, Fedorov, Holmström, Probert, etc.) as well as the scouts and team managers instrumental in the decision to bring them on. Perhaps inevitably, though, St. James begins the book with an account of how and why the Wings came to land a certain young Canadian named Steve Yzerman.

Though the team had hoped to draft Pat LaFontaine — both for his skills and his local ties — and would get its chance at a pick after only three other teams had made their first choices, LaFontaine’s name was called third, by the New York Islanders. As St. James tells it, “On June 8, 1983, at the Forum in Montreal, Yzerman wasn’t who Ilitch wanted. Yzerman was a reserved, shy teenager, presciently wearing a red tie, but he was not a name that resonated with the two people who had turned one pizza store into a multimillion dollar business and who then had turned to reviving the Wings.”

Yzerman, of course, became a team captain at the tender age of just 21 and went on not only to lead the Wings to three

Stanley Cup wins but also to become the face and the heart of the franchise.

Recognizing that sports fans are often stat wonks, St. James also offers up chapters like “The 1,000 Club,” which highlights Wings players who have reached the milestone of playing in 1,000 games; “The Greatest Draft Class” (1989); and “The 10 Best Picks in Franchise History” (although even the casual fan could guess who’s at No. 1).

In addition, St. James chronicles the team’s low points (the 1970s, for instance, when they were known as the “Dead Wings”) and tragedies (such as the 1997 limousine accident that ended Vladimir Konstantinov’s career), noting the team’s propensity to keep pushing forward in spite of heartbreaking setbacks.

Finally, On the Clock ends as it begins: with its focus on Yzerman — but this time, it chronicles his post-player path to the Wings’ general manager office (“Consolation to Corner Suite”), where he is the one making the case for draft choices. Through his own words, you come to understand how thoughtful and careful he is in this particular duty. “We all have children, and trying to predict at 17 and 18 what they are going to be at 23 and 24, where they are going to be, what their interests are going to be — it’s difficult,” Yzerman says.

It’s a statement that applies to young athletes in all sports, of course. No matter how much research and scouting one does, St. James reminds us, “the NHL Draft is a gamble — and the Red Wings have left the table with some of the best picks in history.”

AUTO

START YOUR (ELECTRIC) ENGINES

How will the Motor City adapt to the electrified future of transportation?

BY DREW SAUNDERS

THE DEBATE IS OVER. The global automotive industry has committed to transitioning from internal combustion engine vehicles to electric vehicles. That raises a couple of questions. Where will the battery packs EVs need be made, now that the factories making IC engines are on their way out? And how can Michigan attract them?

“There’s this narrative that business is the problem when it comes to building a sustainable future. I think that is completely backward,” says Mike Alaimo, who serves as director of environmental and energy affairs for the Michigan Chamber of Commerce. “Innovative solutions and technologies are key in tackling the climate crisis, and we need businesses that are in a position to invest in those innovations and technologies in order to get there.”

Michigan has enjoyed some success. General Motors Co.’s Detroit/Hamtramck plant, once known as Poletown, has been transitioned into Factory Zero to assemble both EV batteries and electric pickups and SUVs. More than a thousand people will start manufacturing Chevrolet Silverado and GMC Sierra EVs in 2024 in Orion Township’s new $402 million facility. Lansing will see a $2.6 billion battery plant open toward the end of 2024.

But Michigan is very much in competition with other states. Ford Motor Co., for example, has committed to a $11.4 billion investment into two major electric facilities in Tennessee and Kentucky. GM is also investing billions in Kentucky, Ohio, and else-

where. Hyundai Motor Co. is scheduled to begin building electric vehicles and batteries in Georgia in 2025, and Toyota Motor Corp. will start producing batteries in North Carolina the same year.

Key to these decisions are incentives. Whenever a conglomerate in any industry goes forward with an investment of hundreds of millions or billions of dollars in a given community, incentives from local and state governments — which can take the form of tax breaks, payment in lieu of taxes, or other arrangements — are always in play.

“It’s never a handout,” says Quentin Messer Jr., CEO of the Michigan Economic Development Corp. Companies, he says, have a “four-legged stool” of factors they consider when determining where to invest: talent, the right location, a business-friendly policy environment, and incentives.

Dundee, for instance, had been considered for a $2.5 billion battery plant adjacent to its existing Stellantis engine plant. But Stellantis ultimately opted to establish the facility in Indiana, partially because of the $180 million or so the company was offered in local tax incentives.

“The game that is played is to always imply that more is going to be necessary. Public-sector negotiators need to know the sector, be able to negotiate well, and call a bluff when it’s time,” says Andrew Guinn, an assistant professor of urban studies and planning at Wayne State University.

Joint ventures are also critical. General Motors is teaming up with LG to produce its Ultium EV batteries in order to share costs and resources, as well as integrate expertise from different industries. Ford has made a similar deal with SK Innovation, a South Korean energy company.

Michigan’s reputation for water and road is-

sues can also play a big role in plant location. GM is deliberating on where to place the fourth of its planned Ultium battery plants.

It’s likely that funding for infrastructure and education will change substantially now that Gov. Gretchen Whitmer has won reelection — especially considering the added game changer of her Michigan Democratic Party winning full control of the state Legislature in November 2022 for the first time since the Reagan administration

EV-related jobs also demand more education than previous generations of automotive work. Glenn Stevens Jr., vice president of automotive and mobility initiatives at the Detroit Regional Chamber, says the industry requires ever more technical skill, calling the modern EV “a computer on wheels.”

Strategies for securing that talent range from engaging high schoolers in vocational classes to establishing education and research pipelines like Ypsilanti’s American Center for Mobility campus and the University of Michigan’s MCity, which represents a collaboration between Ford, Toyota, and Honda, among others. Michigan is attempting, through its Sixty by 30 initiative, to raise the portion of the state’s workforce with some sort of postsecondary education to at least 60 percent by 2030.

“We’re a knowledge economy. Higher education is very important; so is investment in the skilled trades,” Stevens says. “That is going to be the differentiator for us.” But according to Stevens, it is not necessarily a question of how much money is spent, but one of how it is spent. The most valuable investment, in his opinion, would be to hire school counselors and create “career pathways” from the classroom to the workplace.

The GMC Sierra EV Denali features a front trunk with a power-operated hood.

GM’s Ultium platform is the singular unified battery system that will power all the company’s EV models.

2022

Annual Fall Seminar hosted by Nemeth and Katranji Periodontics

Roche Bobois 1 Year Anniversary

Sandler Training 30 Year Anniversary Open House

2nd Annual Qonkur Q

Awards

Photographs by Doug Elbinger

Photographs by Kathryn Hawks

Dr. Amar Katranji and Dr. Joseph Nemeth,

Thor Glenn, Sirona Brower, Clara Brower, and Cassandra Brower

Alana Nicol and Gerry Weinberg

Dr. Ami Doshi, Alma Alhawasil, Dr. Amar Katranji, and Dr. Aimee Chisik

Allison Laakko and Stefan Kukurugya

Christian Fusik, Keith Spicer, and Bob Breitman

Dr. Arlishea Washington, and Dr. Diane I. Hines

Angela Hagopian Snow, Ken Bates, Edmund Hagopian, and Dr. Anita Bates

Mike Ritter, Jennifer Annette, and Brad Baughman

John Kaloustian and MaryJane Kaloustian

Murray Sittsamer, Jim McKelvy, and Lee Szynkowski

Photographs by Christine M.J. Hathaway

Al Harrington and TJ Jawad Jacob Saboo, Kailyn Kinaya, Lavia Yousif, and Kevin Yousif

Mike Berro and Damar Lynum

Connor Enright, Cocoa Ortiz, and Catie Carnaghi

Photographs by Lindsay Schweikert

Dr. Eric Richardson, Dr. Steve Shoha, Dr. Louis Shoha, and Dr. Jeffrey Marderosian

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

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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

Detroit’s Faircloth celebrates its first anniversary this month. The boutique specializes in women’s clothing and accessories.

Faircloth

“Why blend in when you were born to stand out?” asks Sara Faircloth, the owner of women’s clothing and accessories boutique Faircloth, which opened last February in Detroit’s West Village. With its graphic walls and lavender-hued ceiling, the shop adds a vibrant flair to the neighborhood’s ever-developing retail scene. Its equally bright and bold offerings include athleisure, denim, dresses and jumpsuits, outerwear, jewelry, and bags. “Our clothing and accessories are selected around the idea of making a statement to the world with color, pattern, sparkle, and having fun with fashion,” Faircloth says. 8001 Kercheval Ave., Ste. 101, Detroit; 313-284-2600; faircloth.boutique

Throwbacks Home

Bo Shepherd and Kyle Dubay, founders of Woodward Throwbacks — a local design company specializing in furniture and decor crafted from reclaimed materials — opened their first traditional storefront, called Throwbacks Home, this past November. Located in Detroit’s Capitol Park, the 1,500-square-foot shop features the duo’s brilliant, one-of-a-kind pieces as well as a curated collection of designer decor and furnishings. “The last few years, we have really challenged ourselves on how materials can be used and what reclaimed furniture looks like,” Shepherd said in a press release. ”It’s exciting that we will be able to now show our original designs to a larger audience and challenge them to notice that reclaimed doesn’t have to be ‘rustic.’ It can be modern and refined.” 34 W. Grand River Ave., Detroit; 313-400-7184; throwbackshome.com

SHOPPING

NEW THREADS

Gucci’s first men’s store, a Serena & Lily design shop, and a new showroom from the owners of Woodward Throwbacks are some of the latest additions to the local retail landscape

BY GIUSEPPA NADROWSKI

FROM NATIONAL BRANDS to local favorites, metro Detroit shoppers saw an expanded and exciting new retail scene this past year. Undoubtedly the biggest news of 2022 was the debut of Gucci’s first Detroit location in the historic L.B. King and Co. Building. But there was a lot more going on in the retail world. Here are the shop openings that caught our attention.

Peninsulas

Husband-and-wife duo Robert Jameson and Sherri Lawton Jameson launched their brand, Peninsulas, celebrating all things Michigan, in 2011. Five years later, they opened their first brickand-mortar shop in Berkley, and this past June, the couple debuted a brand-new facility just a few doors down from that original location. “Six years ago, the people of Berkley welcomed us with open arms, and they have been unbelievably loyal and supportive ever since,” Robert Jameson said in a press release about the opening. “We can’t think of a better place to put down permanent roots.” Customers can shop the exclusive Peninsulas collection, which includes items Lawton Jameson designed herself, as well as kitchen- and barware, beauty products, food items, pet supplies, and more. 3171 12 Mile Road, Berkley; 248-268-4828; shoppeninsulas.com

Gucci Men’s

This past October, Gucci opened the doors to its first U.S. men’s store right here in metro Detroit. Ready-to-wear apparel, leather goods, luggage, and more line the shelves at the Somerset Collection storefront spanning over 5,000 square feet. Fans of the iconic Italian fashion house will appreciate the contemporary space, whose design fuses diverse aesthetics in tune with the brand’s trademark eclecticism. Think walls lined with Gucci Décor’s Glade Print Wallpaper and floors of custom, patterned carpet along with industrial displays juxtaposed seamlessly with the softness of vintage rugs and moss-green velvet upholstery. This noteworthy opening follows the August 2022 launch of Gucci’s inaugural Detroit shop inside the historic L.B. King and Co. Building. Somerset Collection, 2801 W. Big Beaver Road, Ste. E-144, Troy; 947-218-3737; gucci.com

Serena & Lily

Since 2003, luxury interiors brand Serena & Lily has offered the design community a selection of timeless and sophisticated pieces ranging from furniture and rugs to wallpaper, lighting, and beyond. Last November, the beloved brand opened a 6,000-square-foot design shop in Birmingham. The store, which represents Serena & Lily’s first foray into the Michigan market, features the brand’s chic, coastal-inspired collections; a rotating gallery of original art, including works by Grand Rapidsbased Stephanie Schlatter, Ann Arbor-based Beth Billups, and Detroit-based Martyna Alexander; and an upper-level design studio offering complimentary design services as well as a creative workspace for industry professionals and their clients. 299 W. Maple Road, Birmingham; 248-2203024; serenaandlily.com

Faherty

Founded in 2013, the family-run business opened its first Michigan location last October in Birmingham. The American lifestyle brand carries men’s, women’s, and children’s clothing and accessories, along with home decor. With quality, mindfulness, and a commitment to the planet among the brand’s core values, it’s no surprise that one of Faherty’s goals is to create feel-good fashion favorites that use environmentally responsible fabrics and materials. The brand is dedicated to giving back and is known for its Sun Sessions programming (which includes concerts, talks, dinners, and retreats), partnerships with Native American and Indigenous artists, and sustainability initiatives. 128 S. Old Woodward Ave., Birmingham; 947-2374045; fahertybrand.com

(Above) Serena & Lily offers a wide array of unique products to bring your home to life. (Top) Gucci Men’s, at Somerset Collection, is Gucci’s first U.S. location catering specifically to men.

Fans of the iconic Italian fashion house (Gucci) will appreciate the space, whose design fuses diverse aesthetics in tune with the brand’s trademark eclecticism.

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WELL SUITED

BY RACHAEL THOMAS

PHOTO BY SAL RODRIGUEZ

THE YEAR IS 1989. Phil Serra, who is in his mid-20s at the time, has just taken on a new role as an account executive at Merrill Lynch, the wealth and investment management division of Bank of America. Naturally looking to dress for success at his brand-new job, the Detroit native decides to use one of his first paychecks to buy a single-breasted blue suit from Cicchini Custom Clothier in Birmingham.

Thirty-four years later, the 59-year-old West Bloomfield Township resident is still going strong at Merrill, where he has risen to become a wealth management adviser, as well as managing director of his own team of advisers under The Serra Group.

In this position, he helps clients set and meet goals, “whether it’s securing a mortgage on a new house, getting a line of credit for business, or helping the next generation get started with budgeting and financial planning,” he says. Serra also serves as an ambassador for Better Money Habits, a free financial education platform from Bank of America, through which he promotes financial literacy at local schools.

To this day, Serra buys all his dress clothes from Cicchini, crediting the late founder, Paul Cicchini, and the shop’s team for keeping him sharp over the past four decades.

Here, Serra talks about all things suits and more.

My personal style is … Business chic. [My style] has gotten a little less formal, but I still wear a tie. I’m rarely without a vest; with all my suits I wear to work and to client dinners, I usually include a customized vest.

What’s your all-time favorite look? I call it the “Frank Sinatra jacket” — I’m 100-percent Italian and absolutely obsessed with Frank Sinatra music. It’s a red sports coat with a subtle, black checker print that I got about 10 years ago. I wear it a lot. I like to pair it with a nice pair of black slacks and a coordinating red vest.

I can’t leave the house without … A pocket square in my sports coat. And a great attitude to start the day!

On experimenting with colors and prints: I left public accounting to pursue a career on Wall Street, and I wanted to have conservative colors. I started with a lot of blues and grays. And only in the last 10-15 years, have I ventured out to more fashionable styles and colors, if you will. I think just getting more involved with dinners, charities, and entertaining, I wanted to broaden the selection of fashions and colors in my wardrobe. I’ve got a green-ish outfit I wear during the spring, especially on St. Patrick’s Day, and then some houndstooth sports coats.

My favorite decade of men’s fashion: It would be the 1950s-’60s, during the Rat Pack [era] … Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, and Sammy Davis Jr. I go to the annual Cars & Cigars Smoke Detroit charity event every year, and I wear my favorite “Rat Pack outfit” with a fedora.

Where I like to wine and dine: Nonna Maria’s, a very quaint, small Italian restaurant in West Bloomfield. Nonna Maria’s is owned by my friend John Gallagher. His family opened it back in the mid’70s, and he’s [since] taken over and rebranded it. It is a great place to have a drink, a fabulous place to eat and entertain or take someone out.

Where I go to enjoy the arts: The Detroit Institute of Arts is a godsend. I know I’m preaching to the choir, but it’s such a treasured institution. I went there twice to see the Van Gogh in America exhibit, [which ended in early January]. I try to go to the DIA at least once or twice a year.

My favorite music genre is … Probably soft rock. Being born and raised here in Detroit, I’m a diehard Bob Seger fan. Yes, I love Frank Sinatra, but near and dear to my heart is Bob Seger.

How financial advising has impacted me: It’s humbled me, it’s energized me, and it’s created in me a new level of passion that drives me to give back way more than I’ve gotten out of it.

Learn more about Serra’s financial services at fa.ml.com/ michigan/farmington-hills/the-serra-group.

“Give more than you have been given, help more than you have been helped, and educate more than you have been educated.”

—PHIL SERRA

MI STYLE

Serra wears a look purchased, head-to-toe, from Cicchini Custom Clothier in Birmingham — including a sports coat that he calls his “Frank Sinatra jacket.”

The Lip Bar Exact Arch Micro Brow Pencil Hayes swears by this jojoba and argan oil-infused product, saying it gives a “nice little extra definition” to her microbladed brows. “I like all of my makeup to be very simple and effortless these days,” Hayes says, which falls right in line with The Lip Bar’s “maximum impact, minimal effort” ethos. “I have been using their products in my kit for a long time.” $10, at The Lip Bar, 1435 Farmer St., Detroit, 313-952-5198; thelipbar.com

Face Forward

Local makeup artist Jessica Hayes shares her vegan and cruelty-free beauty must-haves

BY RACHAEL THOMAS | PHOTO BY GERARD & BELEVENDER STYLED BY GIUSEPPA NADROWSKI

VEGAN AND CRUELTY-FREE products have become a norm within the beauty industry, coming in forms ranging moisturizers and concealers to eyeshadows and lipsticks — but that wasn’t always the case, says makeup artist and eyebrow specialist Jessica Hayes. The Australia-born, Ferndale-based beauty expert — who goes by Jessica Haze professionally — began her career in the makeup industry in 2005. She started off in bridal and event makeup, using products containing animal ingredients. Hayes made the transition to using only vegan and cruelty-free products on her clients (and herself) around eight years ago. She now focuses on providing her services for fashion shows and editorial photoshoots. Locally, folks can book an appointment at Hayes’ microblading studio in Pleasant Ridge, and she also does brow shaping and laminating at Todd’s Room in Birmingham. Here, the beauty guru shares some of her favorite products that she uses in her own daily regimen. Follow Hayes on Instagram (@jessicahazemua), and learn more about her microblading services at jessicahaze.com.

Mob Beauty Volumizing Mascara

“This is my absolute ride-or-die mascara,” Hayes says. “It creates really big, fluffy lashes, but the best thing about it is that it’s refillable.” Indeed, its eco-friendliness makes this product a standout; the mascara refill is made with 100-percent post-consumer recycled plastic, and Mob Beauty claims it uses 75 percent less packaging material than the industry standard mascara. $24+, at Mob Beauty; mobbeauty.com

Before bedtime, apply a couple of drops of this Hayes-approved, soothing night oil. “It’s a sleeping retinol oil that helps calm redness, even skin tone, and leave your skin brighter and more radiant,” she says. Some of Luna’s key ingredients include trans-retinol, avocado and chia seed oils, and cape chamomile essential oil. $55+, at Sunday Riley; sundayriley.com

Ilia Super Serum Skin Tint SPF 40

“I’m completely obsessed with this ultra-dewy, radiant tinted moisturizer,” Hayes says. “Not only does this sheer-coverage tint give the skin an amazing glow, but it also has skincare ingredients such as plant-based squalane and niacinamide to [smoothen] skin texture and improve elasticity.” The multi-taking product has racked up 14 awards over the past three years. It has been named Best Blue Light Sunscreen by Health.com, Best Complexion Product by Editorialist, and Best Clean Foundation by both Allure and Glamour, to name a few. $48, at Ilia; iliabeauty.com

Freck Beauty Cheekslime Lip & Cheek Tint

Products that do double-duty as both a lipstick and blush have risen to popularity in recent years, and this item from Freck Beauty — which is infused with liquid plant collagen — is one Hayes recommends adding to your beauty lineup. “Another effortless product; I often reach for liquid and cream cheek products for a multidimensional glow from within,” Hayes says. “[You can] create a sheer tint of color or a big pop, depending on your mood.” $22, at Freck Beauty; freckbeauty.com

Jessica Hayes collaborated with Mob Beauty to create a matte lipstick, five shades of cream eyeshadow, a cream blush, and a powder eyeliner. Working with the brand’s co-founder Victor Casale (the former chief chemist and managing director of MAC Cosmetics) and his team, Hayes developed the products at the brand’s lab in Palm Springs, California. The lipstick, eyeshadow, and blush launched in late December at mobbeauty.com, and the eyeliner will be available at a later date.

BEAUTY

Sunday Riley Luna Sleeping Night Oil

TURN THE PAGE

A revamped den now serves as an intimate and intriguing home library for this Grosse Pointe Farms couple

BY MEGAN SWOYER PHOTOS BY JOE TIANO

THE IDEA FOR A tucked-away bar in his home was slowly bubbling in George Kordas’ mind as his impressive collection of American whiskeys grew over the years. He and his wife, Annie, had lived at their Grosse Pointe Farms abode for more than a decade before deciding to make the idea a reality.

Annie, an interior designer and owner of Annie Kordas Interiors, asked, Why not turn a closet in the den into a hidden bar? She’d been wanting to turn their den into a library anyway, and give the reinvisioned space a more masculine feel. “The main objective was to have a dark, dramatic, and cozy adult space for entertaining and enjoyment,” she says. “It was to feel ‘vibey,’ like a speakeasy, and deeply contrast with the rest of the home, which is light and bright.”

When it came to his wife’s initial design suggestions, George wasn’t exactly on board. “Frankly, I was pretty afraid of the library colors at first — black-on-black ceilings, black plaid — but it all came together,” he says. Annie went with a matte

Benjamin Moore color called Onyx for the walls and a satin finish of the same shade on the trim. A high-gloss, black, textured wallpaper (Dolomite Performance from Schumacher) on the ceiling is the “ultimate nod to drama,” Annie says.

Couristan black-plaid carpet from rug store Ghiordes Knot and Schumacher black velvet drapes made by home-design studio Decoroom also enhance the space.

Annie’s selections were inspired by restaurants and resorts the couple had visited over the years. “I wanted to etch out a space that would make us feel like we were on vacation,” she says.

Some of the room’s more intriguing adornments include a large, colorful painting of a buffalo by Idaho artist Jeff Weir; George and Annie thought it was the perfect piece of art, as George is a graduate of the University of Colorado, where the buffalo is the mascot. Also bedecking the walls are twin African springbok shoulder mounts. Meanwhile, a antique squash rackets that were

Annie and George Kordas bask in the dark beauty of their recently renovated library. Though initially skeptical of the dark colors his wife chose for the space, George now loves them.

sourced in England and restored by Annie are a nod to one of George’s favorite sports.

The couple’s book collection fills the library’s shelves; George is especially fond of historical books, and they both love French history.

“Meditations by Marcus Aurelius may be one of the best books ever written and is a must-read for someone aspiring to be a better leader,” George says. Joining the books is a special antique brassand-mahogany library ladder the couple found in an antiques shop in Sarasota, Florida.

Creating the aforementioned spot for George’s vast whiskey collection was also a must, so a 50-square-foot closet within the library was turned into a stunning bar. George began collecting the spirit about 15 years ago, when a few of his friends brought back some rare selections from a trip to Kentucky. The pals gathered to taste the varieties, and before long, George started amassing his own collection of American-distilled whiskeys. “The American category hadn’t blossomed yet,

The Kordases are crazy about their new “hidden” bar, which houses George’s vast collection of Americandistilled whiskeys. The 50-square-foot space was once a closet.

so purchases were relatively inexpensive,” George says, adding that whiskey got a popularity boost from the TV show Mad Men. “All of a sudden, everyone is drinking American whiskey.” His assemblage is a few hundred bottles strong, ranging from whiskeys brewed in the 1920s, during Prohibition, to rare present-day varieties.

The bar’s walls feature a stunning watercolor wallpaper — Gray Marble from Black Crow Studios’ Soft Watercolor Collection — while the countertop is a mitered Nero Marquina marble.

While the Kordases love to entertain, they enjoy their downtime and say their new special space is an ideal winter room. “George and I use the space as an escape from the rest of our home,” Annie adds with a laugh. “With two daughters, 8 and 10, and three dogs, it’s a perfect spot for cocktails and adult company, as well as to read, play backgammon, and of course, hold whiskey tastings.”

“We get a fire going, post up,” George says. “I’m not going to lie, Annie nailed it.”

AFTER A LONG CAREER IN DIPLOMACY, BRIDGET BRINK, MICHIGAN NATIVE AND AMERICAN AMBASSADOR TO UKRAINE, SAYS SHE’S BEEN PREPARING FOR THIS MOMENT HER WHOLE LIFE

THE AMBASSADOR

BY SCOTT ATKINSON

DEATH HAD NOT BEEN PART OF THE PLAN.

As the 20th century was drawing to a close, Bridget Brink, then a young and freshly trained American diplomat, was on her first assignment, half a world away, in the middle of a war zone. She had not asked to be there. She knew that she wanted to be an ambassador — she’d learned languages, done the necessary coursework and training, gone through the rigorous vetting process. While she recognized that some people assumed being an overseas diplomat meant nothing but attending cocktail parties and rubbing shoulders with foreign leaders, she knew it was hard work. But this — Belgrade, Serbia, the epicenter of the Balkan conflict, the kind of thing that heretofore had only existed on a television set or in a newspaper, distant, hardly real — this she had not expected.

She had already borne witness to the “brutal, horrific acts” of war, but those now felt closer than ever: Some of her contacts, civilians she’d worked with and gotten to know, had been killed.

Losing people wasn’t the kind of thing she had thought about during her training as a diplomat, and certainly not in college. The Grand Rapids native’s initial plan was to become a doctor. Her grandfather had served as a physician in World War II, and part of her family lore was how he had treated Dwight Eisenhower when he was still only Gen. Eisenhower — before he was president. Brink went to Kenyon College in Ohio and took a science course, “and maybe for the first time in my life, I didn’t do so well,” she says. Then, she took a political science class, and everything changed.

One question in particular drove the course: What is justice?

The conversations and debates that took place in that class room opened up a new world of ideas and ultimately set her on a new path, one that would take her to study abroad in London her junior year. That time abroad clinched it. She knew she’d live a life that would expose her to the rest of the world. She would be an ambassador.

College had been fun and inspiring. Belgrade was horrifying. Brink was in her late 20s, on an assignment she didn’t choose, beginning a career that was far removed from idealistic classroom debates about justice. She struggled to accept the fact of her contacts’ deaths, to process it. She could not help but wonder if she had, inadvertently — in her efforts to ultimately help them — put them at risk.

Much is involved in learning to be a diplomat. Brink completed language courses (she is fluent in Russian and has studied Georgian, Serbian, and French), among other forms of training. But her real education took place on the job. Diplomacy, she now says, is learned through apprenticeship. It’s learned in real time, from mentors, and she was

lucky, she says, to have good mentors. Struggling with the deaths of her contacts, she turned to one of them for help.

“I didn’t plan for this. I didn’t prepare for this,” she told him. “I didn’t think this is what it would be.”

He put his hand on her shoulder.

“You didn’t know that,” he said. “But this is what it is. And you can do it.”

Bridget Brink visits the Ukrainian city of Borodyanka on June 4, 2022, to bear witness to the atrocities committed in Russia’s brutal war.

Sitting down for a Zoom call in her office in Kyiv, Ukraine, in late July 2022, Bridget Brink, the U.S. ambassador to Ukraine, lays out the five goals she has for helping Ukraine in its war with Russia.

“And they are five enormous goals,” she says with a smile, a smile that remains almost a constant throughout her interview — a surprising smile, not the kind you might think you’d find in the middle of a war zone, in a conflict Ukrainian officials estimate has cost the lives of as many as 13,000 of their soldiers and almost 7,000 civilians.

It is about 4 p.m. Ukrainian time, and Brink has been up since 5 o’clock in the morning. She will go to bed likely sometime in the evening, Eastern Standard Time, after she gets off the phone with Washington, pushing her workday far into the night. Earlier in the day, she visited and handed out supplies to Ukrainian rescue workers, people who dig through rubble and cut through concrete looking for bodies or survivors, reminding them to watch out for Russian mines planted in homes or sometimes even disguised as children’s toys. It is among the times her smile, which feels like her default expression, wanes as the subject turns to the harsh realities of the job.

“They’ve lost some of these folks, because obviously it’s very dangerous work. So it was

a great pleasure to go there and to distribute assistance from the American people to aid them in saving the lives of their fellow citizens, including the lives of children,” she says. “It’s one of the more heart-wrenching things to see, but it is one of the more heartwarming things to be able to participate in and hand over these goods together with my team here.”

When she has time, Brink tries to work in some self-care — exercise if she can squeeze it in or simply visualizing the west Michigan lakeshore. “When I need a place to go in my mind,” she says, “that’s exactly where I go.”

Tomorrow, she will be up again at 5, starting her day as she usually does, sitting down with her team and discussing the plans and strategies for the day. Once the apprentice, she is now, a quartercentury later and in the middle of another violent conflict affecting the entire world, the master.

At the moment, Brink appears, sitting at her desk, dressed in black blazer and flanked by an American flag and a bookshelf, very much at home — and, in some ways, she is. Home is where the conflict is. She was born and raised in Grand Rapids but for the past 26 years has been traveling the world as a diplomat along with her husband, who also works in the Foreign Service, and their two sons. In a 2019 speech, just after

“THE COMMON DENOMINATOR IS THAT RUSSIA USES THESE CONFLICTS THAT ARE LEFT OVER FROM THE BREAKUP OF THE SOVIET UNION TO UNDERMINE AND DESTABILIZE THE COUNTRIES THAT ARE INVOLVED IN THEM.”

Borodyanka, Ukraine, was one of the first cities attacked by Russian forces.

she was sworn in as ambassador to Slovakia, she thanked her boys alongside some of America’s highest-ranking diplomatic figures. “Of all of the titles, ‘mom’ is the best. As part of a diplomatic family that has moved every few years for their entire lives, I want to thank and recognize them for their own service to our country,” she said.

That was a different time, in a different country, one that neighbored Ukraine but had a different relationship with the U.S. At that time, her goals included looking for ways to increase trade and investment, as well as “to continue our cooperation in the defense sector.” In the absence of war, perhaps it was easier then to sneak in some more lighthearted comments: “In addition to our shared interests, as many people know, we are big hockey fans,” she said, while the assembled crowd laughed.

Now, in Ukraine, the situation — and her goals — are very different. Her top five priorities include making sure Ukraine can defend itself, that humanitarian aid is getting to its intended recipients (no easy task in a war zone), and that the assistance the U.S. is delivering is accounted for appropriately, according to U.S. laws and guidelines.

Another goal on her list hearkens back to the driving question in that college class that set her on her path to becoming a diplomat: to ensure accountability — and justice.

The last she lists, but among the first she had to address, was reopening the embassy itself.

When Russia invaded on Feb. 24, 2022, there was no American embassy — or ambassador — in Ukraine. Former President Donald Trump had closed it in 2019 and removed the previous ambassador, Marie L. Yovanovitch, after Trump’s lawyer, Rudy Giuliani, criticized her amid an attempt to dig up dirt on Hunter Biden, President Biden’s son, in Ukraine.

“It’s more than just closing the door and leaving,” Brink says of when the embassy closed down. “It means that we had to make our embassy inoperable, essentially, for anyone to use or take anything to use against us later. And so to reopen an embassy that has been closed is a very major undertaking and requires time and a lot of experts to come in and help us do that,” she says.

Brink was nominated by Biden on April 25, 2022, and was unanimously confirmed by the Senate the following month. The State Department released a statement following her confirmation, saying that her “decades of experience make her uniquely suited for this moment in Ukraine’s history.”

Brink, sitting in Kyiv, seems to think so, too.

“I’ve spent my entire career, in some ways, preparing for this particular job.”

Brink woke up the morning of Feb. 24, 2022 to the same news as much of the rest of the world. But for Brink, the news that Russia had invaded Ukraine wasn’t exactly surprising. She had inside intel, of course, as the ambassador to Slovakia, but she didn’t exactly need it to see what was happening. “I read the papers like everyone else,” she says, meaning that she saw Russia’s actions leading up to the attack — such as claiming that its move to line Ukraine’s border with military was nothing more than a training exercise — for what they were and for what so many people without her access to intel saw them as: lies, and preparation for war.

She also had seen this before. Her assignment in the late ’90s, in Belgrade , was the beginning of a career she never could have imagined and came to define much of her work as an ambassador.

“That first experience gave me a sense that what the United States does matters,” she says. “And that, sometimes, what you’re doing in your career matters in a way that means life or death.”

After Belgrade, she served diplomatic posts throughout Eurasia, including positions in Uzbekistan and Georgia. She was the lead negotiator in conflicts in Moldova, a small landlocked country bordering Ukraine, and Nagorno-Karabakh, an area between Azerbaijan and Armenia — just on the other side of Georgia from Russia — where different groups have fought for years following the collapse of the Soviet Union.

“Those are very complex problems, each of them, but the common denominator is that Russia uses these conflicts that are left over from the breakup of the Soviet Union to undermine and destabilize the countries that are involved in them,” she says, adding that her career “has given me a real insight into the way in which Russia tries to dominate its region, the region around it, and also stop countries that want to be stronger democracies.”

That should matter to the United States, she says.

“These problems that seem so far away sometimes actually come back to us. … [Russia] trying to destabilize these other democracies

hurts the United States in many different ways, [including] carrying out our own foreign policy priorities.”

As of late November 2022, many of her goals are going well. The embassy is open. Aid has continued to flow from the U.S. to Ukraine. The country has also, perhaps more than anyone initially expected, continued to defend itself. In November, when Russia withdrew from the city of Kherson, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy called the action “the beginning of the end of the war.”

That leaves one more, the one tied to that college classroom that led to her entire career: ensuring justice.

Asked point-blank what justice is, Brink laughs. “I don’t have an answer,” she says.

But what she does have is perspective — the kind you can’t get from a college classroom, where the ideas exchanged are more simplistic, more black-and-white. After a quarter-century managing global conflicts, Brink says she has learned that the world is much more gray, and her job is to work within that gray, hand-in-hand with foreign leaders whom, sometimes, she may not like much or whom harbor ideas or interests that conflict with her own.

So, what does that mean in terms of Russia, the nation that has been at the root of so much of her work? What will it take to push Russia out of Ukraine? What about other countries it may try to destabilize?

“I think it’s an unknowable answer. What we have said is that we will support Ukraine for as long as it takes, and that is why I was sent here — to help be a part of this embassy, to make sure that we are using the full power and influence of the United States,” she says.

“I’m completely honored to take this job, and you can’t do it if you don’t want to, because obviously, it’s dangerous. It’s extraordinarily hard, and it’s relentless, from morning to night. And I imagine it’s going to be that way the whole time I’m here. … It’s the challenge of a lifetime for me, a lifetime in diplomacy.”

Ambassador Brink walks the streets of Borodyanka, Ukraine, with the country’s prosecutor general, Iryna Venediktova.

The Sky’s the Limit

BY KHRISTI ZIMMETH

Boyne Mountain Resort Reaches New Heights

a lift attendant advises as the dark green chairlift known as the Hemlock — interestingly, the oldest in the world, dating to 1936 — scoops up waiting riders and begins its ascent up the mountain. The destination: SkyBridge Michigan, the world’s longest timber suspension bridge (at 1,200 feet long and 118 feet high) with 360-degree views of the surrounding valley. It opened in October 2022 and has attracted thousands of thrill seekers ever since.

SkyBridge has gained national attention and is part of Boyne Mountain Resort’s ambitious Renaissance 2.0 plan, which includes attractions, new technology and lift innovations, green initiatives, lodging improvements, and other upgrades to the 75-year-old facility. The northern Michigan landmark, which opened in 1948, also features the state’s largest indoor waterpark, renowned golf courses, a state-of-the-art spa, and seasonal activities such as skiing (downhill and cross-country), horseback riding, ice skating, and zip-lining — more than enough to keep visitors of all ages busy for a weekend and beyond.

Walking on Air

At the top of the mountain, plaques on the wooden trusses at both ends explain that the new bridge pays homage to northern Michigan’s long logging history. They also share fun facts, including that the foundation contains more than 1 million pounds of concrete, the bridge weighs 40,000 pounds and contains 8,000 bolts, and the design was inspired by the “M” in the Pure Michigan logo.

The bridge and the new eight-person Disciples 8 chairlift are the latest of the resort’s ongoing improvements and part of its 2030 growth plan, says resort spokesperson Erin Ernst. “We had a bridge at a sister property in Gatlinburg [Tennessee], and it was hugely popular there,” she explains. “Boyne Mountain offered the right topography and landscape and the perfect fourseason climate.” In winter, you can watch skiers traverse the terrain below.

Sharon and Joe Horton of Spring Lake were among those enjoying a recent getaway at the resort and included a trek across the bridge as part of their activities. “It was our little adventure for the day,” Sharon says, adding, “We would absolutely do it again. … The views are fabulous.”

Brent Fountain, who works as a bartender at the resort’s Stein Eriksen’s restaurant, can often be found halfway across, helping the hesitant over the four see-through glass panes in the bridge’s middle. “The first time across, most people are looking at their feet in absolute panic,” he explains with a grin. A $25 ticket entitles you to as many trips across as you’d like, and many people make the one-way crossing only to loop around and do it again. “The second time,” Fountain says, “most people enjoy it more and really appreciate the view.” Many also post close-ups of their feet and tag them with #GetPastTheGlass to prove they made it across.

“Just sit on back, nice and low,”

The bridge is open year-round, with beer, wine, and firepits available at the top, weather permitting. You can also stop for a drink at the Eagle’s Nest at the mountain’s summit before crossing to fuel your courage or after to toast your bravery (if you go, be sure to check out the ski memorabilia from Boyne’s early days). Fountain says he never tires of the trip across, no matter how many times he has done it. “I just love it,” he says. “It’s like walking on thin air.”

mountain’s many pleasures are perennial, the 1963 lodge hadn’t aged well. It “was very cool and very unique but also very dated,” she explains, hence the “down to the studs” renovation designed to turn it into the resort’s most upscale lodging that was completed in January 2022.

Escapes

Lodge Luxe

After a full day of activities, rest at the recently renovated, 35-room Chalet Edelweiss, another Renaissance 2.0 project. Once known as the Edelweiss Lodge, the property sits strategically at the foot of the mountain, with great views of and easy access to the slopes and other Boyne facilities. Ernst says Edelweiss has long been known as “one of the premier ski-in, ski-out properties in the country” and is part of the resort’s original trio of accommodations, alongside the traditional Clock Tower Lodge and Boynehof. (Other lodgings include the Mountain Grand Lodge and Spa and a variety of villas, cabins, and condominiums.)

In winter, Edelweiss is surrounded by snow on all four sides, Ernst points out. But while the

Newly decorated in trendy Nordic style, rooms include a variety of amenities, from Lindor pillow chocolates and an in-room coffee station stocked with signature Alpine Blend pour-over coffee to an aromatic pillow spray and plush faux-fur pillows and European linens. Danish-style hygge — loosely defined as “coziness” and “well-being” by The New York Times — has clearly arrived in northern Michigan. Besides the renovated rooms, which range in size from compact to roomy based on the price and building location, the chalet offers enticing public spaces that include the lower-level Nordic Cirque Sauna, with a bracing threestep relaxation ritual that includes a dry sauna, cold shower, and rest and recovery period. Or you could just lounge in the nearby sitting room, home to a roaring fire, a large dining table, comfortable seating, and a variety of coffee-table books on — not surprisingly — Nordic design and skiing.

Add-on possibilities include a couples massage in the resort’s spa and reservations at on-site restaurants Everett’s and Stein Eriksen’s. The latter offers a fondue dinner at the foot of the slopes in season and a new SkyBridge Snowshoe Supper, with two sittings each Saturday through March. The Snowshoe Supper includes a chairlift ride to the top of the mountain, a snowshoe trek across the bridge and down the mountain, a bonfire and drinks, and a prime rib and shrimp buffet dinner at the bottom. The $120-per-person event takes place weather permitting. “We have to have enough snow, obviously,” Ernst adds.

Rates start at $175. Visit boynemountain.com.

In need of a getaway but looking to stay closer to home?

Detroit’s ongoing renaissance has resulted in an influx of chic boutique hotels, many with views of the nearby downtown skyline. The following hotels offer relaxing and luxurious city sanctuaries. One is sure to be your perfect urban escape.

City

Detroit Foundation Hotel

“We kept all of the imperfections along with all of the beauty,” explains general manager James Dannecker, as he points out the white subway tile, high ceilings, and other original features in the restored Detroit Foundation Hotel. Located across from Huntington Place (formerly Cobo Hall), the 100room boutique-style hotel opened in 2017 out of two historic Detroit buildings: the Detroit Fire Department headquarters, built in 1929, and the Pontchartrain Wine Cellars, which dates back to the late 19th century.

Where possible, the design team reused original architectural features. Where it

wasn’t, they sourced vintage elements from other Detroit locations, Dannecker explains. “Our goal was to lean into the city’s renaissance and rebuild Detroit with Detroit.” The rooms feature beds with reclaimed wood headboards and wallpaper depicting local landmarks, custom designed by Detroit Wallpaper Co. In-room snacks include Germack nuts and other Michigan products. Guests looking to catch up on some reading will also find copies of Detroit: The Dream Is Now by Michel Arnaud.

Those who splurge on the

oversize Commissioner’s Suite can spread out in a wood-paneled space that served as the fire department commissioner’s office in the 1930s, complete with a fullsize pool table, luxe leather furniture, and a king-size bed.

There’s no need to leave the building when it comes time for dinner. The first-floor Apparatus Room, once a storage site for fire equipment (the name is original), is today one of the city’s most acclaimed restaurants. Room rates start at $279.

250 W. Larned St.; detroitfoundationhotel.com

The Siren

Near Grand Circus Park in the formerly abandoned Wurlitzer Building, where musical instruments were once made and sold, stands The Siren, a newish (2018) hotel inspired by the city’s Old World lodgings. The 1926 Italian Renaissance-style building stood empty for decades before it was purchased in 2015 and renovated into the 106-room hotel with five food and beverage spaces, two retail shops, and more. Look up when you enter the lobby, and you’ll see an exposed and faded original ceiling fragment, an atmospheric nod to the building’s history and one that also inspired the hotel’s color palette.

Unabashedly romantic, the moody lobby also includes gilded mirrors, a reclaimed disco ball, and French-inspired antiques, including a canopied and painted bed. Walk through the beaded curtain at the back, and you’ll find Candy Bar, a tiny pink palace of a watering hole capped by a vintage Murano glass chandelier found in Paris. Farther back is Albena, an eight-seat chef’s table that serves two seven-course meals daily, and the entrance to Sid Gold’s Request Room, a hidden piano bar open Wednesday through Saturday. Come summer, it will also be home to a new rooftop bar.

“Every room is different,” assistant general manager Ash Haque says of the accommodations, and many sport views of surrounding structures such as Comerica Park and the Detroit Athletic Club. “They’re not big and grand — more cozy and chic,” he explains. Suites have loft-style layouts and circular staircases with velvet sofas, tables, and eagle’s-eye views of the surrounding cityscape. Book the penthouse suite, and you’ll enjoy floor-to-ceiling windows, your own dining room, and a second-floor bedroom. Rooms start at $229.

1509 Broadway St.; thesirenhotel.com

Shinola Hotel

Request a Gallery King junior suite at the eight-story Shinola Hotel, and you’ll be treated to a space with seven huge, almost floor-to-ceiling windows that look out over Woodward Avenue. Depending on the room’s location, views range from the new skyscraper rising from the former Hudson’s site to the Guardian and Penobscot buildings, or even Campus Martius Park in the distance.

When you’re able to tear yourself away from ogling the vintage facades around and below you, press a button that whisks the shades shut. Only then can you appreciate the room’s interior, decorated with subtle blond furniture and a contemporary palette of black, white, and tan. The same restful hues are echoed in furnishings, including the king-size bed and velvet sofa, as well as the oversize bathroom, stocked with high-end toiletries and a boxer-style hooded robe with “Detroit” emblazoned on the back. Thoughtful extras include a Shinola blanket, a sleep machine tucked in a bedside drawer, and a “You Look Beautiful” card in the vanity drawer.

The hotel, the flagship of the ever-expanding Detroitbased brand, opened in 2019 with 129 rooms in a collection of historic buildings on the corner of Woodward and Grand River, once home to the T.B. Rayl Co. department store and Singer sewing machine company. Room sizes vary, but all include the same carefully curated furnishings and Detroit-centric amenities. If you’re looking to splurge, consider The Canfield suite, which includes a separate dining area and a living room gas fireplace. In the evening, relax in one of the public areas filled with Motown art or dine in one of the on-site restaurants, such as San Morello, which serves up southern Italian cuisine. Rooms start at $235.

1400 Woodward Ave.; shinolahotel.com

The Detroit Club

Leaded-glass windows frame the entrance to this venerable structure built in 1891 to house Detroit’s oldest club. Inside, elegantly restored public rooms on the first floor offer a taste of what the city would have been like in the late 19th century. “They don’t build like this anymore,”

Trumbull & Porter Hotel

Huge red lips mark the door to the Rolling Stones Suite at Corktown’s 144-room Trumbull & Porter Hotel. Located a little farther out of town, this onetime Holiday Inn hosted the iconic band in 1964, when they played at Olympia Stadium. The Detroit Free Press detailed the band’s stay, noting that the general manager at the time had to call the police to help manage crowds.

The two-room first-floor suite is the hotel’s largest and most popular, with a king-size bed, a separate sitting area, and its own mini-kitchen. It’s decorated with Stones-inspired murals and memorabilia, including photos, album covers, newspaper clippings, and even a vintage guitar. You can even spin a few tunes on the in-room record player. All rooms feature locally sourced furniture, textiles, and design; romantic king suites with whirlpool feature in-room Jacuzzis.

While you won’t get penthouse views from this fourstory hotel, you can see the Penobscot and the Renaissance Center in the distance from Trumbull-facing rooms. Two blocks from where Tiger Stadium stood, the sleek urban space includes custom-made furniture by Detroit artisans and works by city-centric artists. Walk into the lobby, and you’ll find poetry by local David Blair emblazoned on a large wall, as well as plants, books, old

Burroughs adding machines, and the nearby Burroughs Lounge, where you can get pour-over coffee and baked goods. The hotel’s restaurant, Red Dunn Kitchen, is temporarily closed and is expected to reopen later this year. Rates start at $179 for a standard queen room.

1331 Trumbull St.; trumbullandporterhotel.com

says sales and marketing manager Matthew Laurinec, whose goal is to share the architectural treasure with a wider audience.

The club opened its 21 rooms to the public after a complete renovation in 2018, he says (nonmember guests are required to purchase a $25 club pass, which entitles them to full membership

privileges during their stay).

The public areas and original 10 rooms were renovated, and 11 new luxury suites added, carved from second-floor spaces that once comprised a ballroom and conference area. Premium king suites are surprisingly spacious, and many offer in-room Jacuzzis or clawfoot tubs. One room has a nonworking fireplace

that once occupied the ballroom; another has views of the Penobscot Building, the former Detroit Free Press building, and the Guardian Building, as well as a private patio. “All are different, so you get a unique experience every time you stay,” Laurinec says.

Enjoy a drink and live music in The Library cocktail bar, or dine at Bohemia, the on-site

restaurant. Afterward, escape the winter chill in the club’s lower-level spa, a onetime bowling alley that now includes a fitness room and an enclosed saltwater grotto, where you can enjoy Champagne and a charcuterie board while you soak. Rates start at $350.

712 Cass Ave.; thedetroitclub.com

Truly, Madly, Deeply

Lazaro Satine gown in Ivory/ Silver, $3,480, at Bridal Couture of Birmingham, 980 S. Old Woodward Ave., Birmingham, 248-645-0500, bridalcouturemi.com

INSPIRED BY THE CLEAN LINES OF MIDCENTURY DESIGN, THIS SEASON’S HEARTSTOPPING GOWNS ARE THOROUGHLY MODERN WITH A VINTAGE TWIST

Photography by HAYDEN STINEBAUGH

Styling by REBECCA VOIGT

Prop styling by STEPHANIE DANIEL

Hair and makeup by MONICA JADAN

Shot on location at GRADUATE ANN ARBOR

Sareh Nouri Rosalind gown, $5,600, and Pearl Hoop Earrings, $100, at L’Amour Bridal, 650 N. Telegraph Road, Dearborn, 248308-2733, lamourbridalmi.com;

Sunday Best Carmen Cardigan in Strawberry Puff, $88, at Aritzia at Somerset Collection, 2800 W. Big Beaver Road, Troy, 248-4580955, aritzia.com; Sofia Zakia

Rose-Cut Diamond Paeonia Ring, $2,890, at Thistle & Bess, 222 N. Fourth Ave., Ann Arbor, 734-3696092, thistleandbess.com

On her: Barbara Kavchok Nina gown (with Bow) in Diamond White, $4,115, at Bridal Couture of Birmingham, 980 S. Old Woodward Ave., Birmingham, 248-645-0500, bridalcouturemi.com; A.B. Ellie Freshwater Pearl Cluster & Drop earrings, $209, at Beloved Bridal, 122 S. Main St., Ste. 320, Ann Arbor, 734-834-4696, belovedbridal.com

On him: Selected Homme Grey Plaid Suit Jacket, $250, Selected Homme Grey Plaid Pant, $135, Paisley & Gray Turtleneck in Wine, $75, and Mature Pocket Square in Burgundy, $45, at Mature, 3011 W. Grand Blvd., Ste. 116, Detroit, 313-279-7577, maturelook.com

On her: Chosen Bisset gown in Natural, $3,795, at Beloved Bridal, 122 S. Main St., Ste. 320, Ann Arbor, 734-834-4696, belovedbridal.com

On him: Paisley & Gray Ashton

Peak Jacket in Winter Tan, $250, Paisley & Gray Downing Pant in Winter Tan, $125, and Modena

Dress Shirt in White, $55, at

Mature, 3011 W. Grand Blvd., Ste. 116, Detroit, 313-279-7577, maturelook.com

Alena Leena Mimosa gown in Off White, $2,535, at Beloved Bridal, 122 S. Main St., Ste. 320, Ann Arbor, 734-834-4696, belovedbridal.com; Pearl Headband in Large, $40, at L’Amour Bridal, 650 N. Telegraph Road, Dearborn, 248-308-2733, lamourbridalmi.com

Lihi Hod Maeve gown in Ivory, $4,829, at Beloved Bridal, 122 S. Main St., Ste. 320, Ann Arbor, 734-834-4696, belovedbridal. com; Sofia Zakia Birth of Venus Ring, $1,075, and Sofia Zakia Diamond Demeter Ring, $1,180, at Thistle & Bess, 222 N. Fourth Ave., Ann Arbor, 734-369-6092, thistleandbess.com

On her: Ines Di Santo Lea Gown, $4,590, and Lea Detachable Sleeves, $750, at Roma Sposa, 708 N. Old Woodward Ave., Birmingham, 248723-4300, romasposa.com, and The Wedding Shoppe, 2186 Coolidge Highway, Berkley, 248-541-1988, theweddingshoppe.net; Lelet NY Triple Pearl Wrap Headband, $468, at Beloved Bridal, 122 S. Main St., Ste. 320, Ann Arbor, 734-834-4696, belovedbridal.com

On him: Lief Horsens Velvet Tuxedo Jacket in Brown, $225, Paisley & Gray Sloane Tuxedo Pant in Black, $125, and Modena Dress Shirt in White, $55, at Mature, 3011 W. Grand Blvd., Ste. 116, Detroit, 313-279-7577, maturelook.com

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Women who move the Motor Citylet’s drive down a little on that.

There is the somewhat antiquated saying, “behind every successful man there stands a woman.” If that’s true, then behind every successful city stands a lot of women - and that is very much true. Without sounding stereotypical, sexist or just plain silly, women are the engine that often drives success, whether they are steering a family, a business, a city or a dream.

A successful and driven woman knows when to put the foot on the gas on a life-changing idea or an innovative way to do business. She also knows when to slam on the brakes and consider heading in a different direction, rather than

driving the car into a swamp. Defining “women” is never easy - especially in 2022 - because they are always changing, always evolving, always learning, always growing and always making a difference. Women are successful and accomplished heart surgeons, lawyers, dentists, politicians, realtors, architects & designers, authors, engineers, CEOs, and leaders in every sense of the word. They run small and large businesses, start nonprofit organizations and are constantly giving back to the communities they work in, play in and live in.

Women also are Mothers. Sisters. Daughters. Wives. Partners. Friends. They are Warriors. Strong. Resilient. Relentless. Fierce. And women are united

by purpose and connected by passion, and they are flipping the script to ensure all women have the opportunity to live a long and healthy life.

On the following pages you’ll learn about metro Detroit-area women who continue to make a difference. Met with challenges both large and small, they seize opportunities to reinvent and reinterpret what it means to do business. They make a difference in their businesses and communities by applying their training and talent to create meaningful opportunities for themselves and others.

For example, Valentina Bellow is the President and Founder of Detroit’s newest luxury staging boutique, V & Co. Interiors. She is not only all-in on her new business

venture but is fully invested in Detroit. “I feel passionate about what I’ve been able to create,” she says. “In essence, not only a thriving business in the community, but also one which showcases and embellishes the true potential and beauty of Detroit’s living spaces.”

Helping women lead “a long and healthy life” is the amazing work being done by the American Heart Association – by women, for women.

Cardiovascular disease is the No. 1 killer of women, and research shows that younger women and women of color are not aware that the threat is real. Since 2004, the American Heart Association’s Go Red for Women movement has educated millions of women about

cardiovascular disease. They continue to innovate ways to ensure all women are aware of their heart disease risk and empower women to take control of their well-being. Good heart health is a journey, not a destination. Being positive is another pillar of success, and these Women Who Move Detroit always find the gas tank more than half full of optimism, promise and hope. And they love what they do. Cindy Kahn has long been one of the top realtors in Michigan, and says you don’t work seven days a week unless you love what you’re doing. And they all clearly love what they’re doing – often with the foot on the pedal and two hands on the wheel.

Group Photo Credit: RED by Morgan | Morgan Mickens: Group photo details: 2023 Go Red Executive Leadership Team pictured from left to right, top row: Machelle McAdory, Dena Dalal, Richard Grundy, Ronia Kruse, Jessica Pfeifer, Tiffany Albert; front row: Ericka Stephens, Sara Hayter, Shatica McDonald (2023 chairwomen), Kristy Sidlar, Pamela Marcovitz, MD, and Rumia Burbank.

Individual photo: Jaymi Wilson (SVP & GM, North America Automotive at Genthem).

Not pictured: Joan Crawford, MD; Dan Garrison, Kortney Wallace, Monica Weaver, and Kathryn Wilson.

Leaders from various industries across metro Detroit are working together with the American Heart Association to host the Detroit Go Red for Women Luncheon on March 10. Now in its 19th year, the signature event is designed to raise awareness about heart disease and stroke in women, unite hundreds of women across metro Detroit and provide a platform for survivors of heart disease and stroke to share their stories. STEM Goes Red is working to engage young women in STEM careers. Event attendees gain firsthand experience, connect with inspiring professionals and learn about jobs across STEM fields

2023 Detroit Go Red for Women Chair, Shatica McDonald, managing director at Accenture, and 2023 STEM Goes Red Chair, Jaymi Wilson, SVP & GM, North America Automotive at Gentherm, alongside our executive leadership team members, will help lead efforts to raise vital funds and awareness.

This year, our Detroit Go Red For Women leadership team has set a “record-breaking fundraising goal,” said McDonald. “I am pleased to lead efforts that support the vital mission of the American Heart Association and raise community awareness of the latest forms of prevention for heart disease and stroke and the ways technology is advancing the fight against heart disease. Together, we can create positive outcomes for women impacted by heart disease and stroke across the country.”

Women, especially Black and Hispanic women are disproportionally impacted by heart disease and stroke and research shows heart attacks are on the rise in younger women. Yet younger generations of women, Gen Z and Millennials, are less likely to be aware of their greatest health threat, including knowing the warning signs of heart attacks and strokes.

That’s why its important for all women to take charge of their heart health and encourage others to do the same. Losing even one woman to cardiovascular disease is one too many. Go Red for Women is the American Heart Association’s signature women’s initiative and its comprehensive platform to increase women’s heart health awareness and serve as a catalyst for change to improve the lives of women globally.

Sponsor details : The 2023 Detroit Go Red for Women Luncheon is sponsored nationally by CVS Health. Locally sponsored by Accenture, Barton Malow, Bank of America, Corewell Health, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan, Delta Dental of Michigan, DTE Energy, Gentherm, Independent Bank, KPMG LLP, Kroger, Marsh & McLennan Agency, OpTech, TGI Direct, and Walgreens.

Event information details; Detroit Go Red for Women Luncheon, March 10 at the Suburban Collection Showplace in Novi. Visit heart.org/DetroitGoRed to learn more. To get involved contact Detroit Go Red for Women Director, Maria Carr at maria.carr@heart.org.

Since 1947, when Elizabeth “Betty” Harp opened the first Harp’s on Chene St. in Detroit, Harp’s Lingerie has been the place for expert fittings and one-on-one personal service. Following in their grandmother’s footsteps, Kim Hickson and Lisa Hardy Hamill, continue to honor that tradition in their Birmingham location. Harp’s Lingerie is like an “old-fashioned corset shop.” Their superbly trained sales staff have more than 100 years of combined experience in helping customers find the perfect lingerie for everyday, bridal, formal events, specialty items and just about anything women may need underneath. “We can disguise problem areas and literally change your shape with the right undergarments.”

Since as many as nine out of ten women wear incorrectly fitted bras, the difference a professional fitting makes can be absolutely uplifting in both appearance and mood! Hardto-fit sizes are Harp’s specialty. They stock the largest selection of styles and types of bras in Michigan – band sizes from 30 to 54, and cup sizes from AA to N. Their customers receive personal consultation and unsurpassed service. For over 75 years they’ve specialized in lingerie, and have proudly earned the loyalty of generations of repeat customers who come from all over to get their expert advice. Mrs. Harp’s legacy of service and style continues, her goal was to make each customer leave feeling beautiful and special and that is still the goal today.

Harp’s Lingerie

265 S. Old Woodward Ave.

Birmingham, MI 48009

248-642-2555

harps-lingerie.com

Kim Hickson & Lisa Hardy Hamill

Cindy Kahn’s resume for success is long and impressive: She has 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 been the top producing agent at The Agency Hall & Hunter for the past six years.

But what’s equally as impressive are the reasons behind the success: Her personal touch, excellent negotiation skills, long standing and strong relationships, experience and her commitment to what she does and how she does it.

“The market has changed but there are still a lot of buyers out there,” she says. “If your house is priced right, it’s staged and looks good, you are going to sell it. I’m very

optimistic about 2023 and beyond.”

Kahn also is always improving, learning and growing – all for the benefit of her clients. And the business truly is about family. Her daughter, Emily, joined two years ago and “it’s been exciting to watch her grow in the business,” Cindy said.

In April 2022, Cindy Kahn Real Estate and Hall & Hunter began a new partnership with The Agency, a luxury boutique brokerage out of California. “When listening to our clients, we recognized the need for a more progressive approach to selling luxury real estate” says Kahn. “The Agency has a handson, family-oriented perspective with cutting edge technology and service which is how I built my business, so it has been a great fit.”

For Nisha Doshi, being a Certified Public Account is one piece of a larger puzzle when it comes to serving her clients. She is also a fully licensed insurance agent, registered investment advisor, and Certified Financial Planner.

“My unique offering is that I combine business, tax, and investment strategies,” says Doshi, the managing partner at Bloomfield Hills-based Doshi & Associates, established 48 years ago by her father, Ken Doshi.

After graduating from the University of Michigan, Doshi began her career as a public tax accountant for PricewaterhouseCoopers. She took over management of Doshi & Associates 23 years ago.

“It’s an honor to continue the legacy that was created by my father and to carry on services he built with so much trust,” she says.

Doshi’s journey has allowed her to find balance while realizing the pure joy and happiness of giving back. Viewing what she does as more than just a business, she volunteers in a variety of ways in the communities she serves. She has also established a foundation for survivors of domestic violence to help local women get back on their feet.

And when it comes to the people they serve, it’s personal for Doshi and her team. They focus on listening — to identify clients’ personal goals and customize plans that will aid clients’ success and free them to pursue their passions.

“I like to think outside of the box, but I also like to think with my heart,” she says. “It’s a different type of business relationship than that of just a traditional certified public accountant.”

Nisha Doshi, CPA, CFP

Joumana Kayrouz is multilingual (she speaks four languages), an Ivy League graduate (she graduated from Yale University in 1992), was admitted to practice law before the United States Supreme Court (she was sworn in by U.S. Chief Justice John Roberts in Washington, D.C., in 2019), has the largest outdoor media advertising campaign contract in Michigan’s history to date (she’s been featured on more than 750 buses, not including billboards), and met the pope in 2015 (a “living saint,” she says). Considering all those achievements, it’s hard to believe that back in 1986 she was a 22-year-old immigrant from Beirut, Lebanon, with $1,000 in her pocket and limited English skills.

It was “blind faith, sheer hard work, an ardent desire to keep learning, and a willingness to be made fun of, discredited, marginalized,

and humbled,” she says, that got her through. Quoting Booker T. Washington, she says, “Character, not circumstances, makes the man.” Kayrouz’s other favorite quote, also from Booker T. Washington, is “The happiest people are those who do the most for others.” Several years ago, she established a nonprofit organization and has been engaged in numerous charitable endeavors here and abroad (her firm’s website provides a list of those projects). Kayrouz, who also has more than 25 years of radio experience, hosts a daily one-hour radio podcast to educate listeners about the law, and she’s been a pioneer in that field.

“To give a piece of legal advice that can positively change somebody’s life is rewarding and humbling,” she says.

Joumana Kayrouz Owner

Janine Grillo is not only a successful realtor who checks all the boxes when it comes to buying and selling, but she has experience and expertise in every facet of real estate. She is someone who can master the market of the moment, truly cares about the people she helps, the services she provides, and the futures she helps establish.

For more than two decades, Grillo has continually proven herself to be one of Michigan’s premier real estate professionals. Founder of Janine Grillo Realty & Co. Grillo has been named top producer locally and nationally since 2007. She has received many other honors and accolades as well as one of America’s top 5 percent of most honored professionals.

As a licensed associate broker, Grillo also is a marketing professional, relocation director,

and has managed bank portfolios and new construction sales teams. Be it luxury homes, estate properties, new construction homes or that first startup, her extensive experience and natural ability to help people move through the process with more confidence and less stress has set her apart in a fastpaced real estate world.

She has been able to support homebuyers, sellers, and investors find properties with integrity, dedication, loyalty, and a commitment to excellence that are hard to come by these days.

As a native Detroiter, Grillo has been servicing the Metro Detroit area for 27 years. With thousands of transactions under her belt, and her strong relationships with other agents and members of the community gives Grillo the edge in every transaction.

Janine Grillo Realtor | Associate Broker

KW Domain Luxury Homes Intl 210 S. Old Woodward - Suite 200 Birmingham, MI 48009 586-531-5038

Janinegrillo@kw.com

jgrillo.com

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 is celebrating its 20th anniversary. Since its inception, Dr. Kowalczyk has been helping couples struggling with infertility make family dreams come true. She and her staff provide state-of-the-art fertility services in a warm, welcoming, and spa-like environment.

Dr. Kowalczyk’s influence and leadership go beyond her medical practice. She co-hosts the “Healthy Woman” program on WJR Radio, educating women about health issues and providing an invaluable community of support for people managing infertility, breast cancer, stress, family/work balance, and more.

Her passion for educating and supporting women is also evident in the community, as she trains numerous OB/GYN residents and

medical students. Her standard of excellence and passion for wellness paves the way for the professionals who follow her leadership.

Dr. Kowalczyk also gives back. She founded the Seasons of Life Fertility Foundation, to help couples who have encountered a lifechanging event and are suffering 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 guide that helps readers make informed decisions about their health, finances, and emotional well-being. You can hear her host “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 Road Warren, MI 48092 568-576-0431

mifertility.com

For Maggie George, practicing law merges two unlikely qualities: being creative and a love for rules. “The areas of law I practice in are exercises in solving puzzles. The puzzle is figuring out how to take these rules and make it work for my client in order to get him or her the best possible outcome. I love the task of finding creative solutions within the parameters of the law.

She comes from a diverse professional background that includes working for Congress on Capitol Hill, in Washington DC; and many years of employment with a Fortune 500 company as a Director of Training. “When I met my husband, who is also an attorney, he helped me realize that practicing law would really allow me to grow my strengths and work on the things I am passionate about, which is helping people be seen beyond whatever obstacle they might be facing.”

At Wayne State University Law School, Maggie chose to focus her studies on the areas of criminal law, defamation, and contracts. Cases at George Law are handled by multiple attorneys and staff members to ensure that creative problem-solving and sharing of ideas takes place for each client. “That means multiple brains are bringing strategies, knowledge and experience to the table in each client’s case, to ensure we’re making the right decisions and using the best methods to get the results we want,” Maggie says. “This collaborative method is used for EVERY CLIENT, which is why we don’t accept every case that comes through our door. We want to continue to stay focused on attention to detail, client objectives, and on high-quality guidance for every client. I am grateful to work with such a professional, high-performing team that likes strategizing together.”

Maggie George, Esq. Attorney & Counselor at Law

George Law

444 South Washington Ave. Royal Oak, MI 48067 248-470-4300

mgeorge@georgelaw.com

Liliya Skikun, the owner of Great Lakes Trucking Mi. Inc., came to the United States from Ukraine in 2000. Because she wasn’t able to find suitable employment at the time, she started her own successful cleaning business. Thirteen years later, in 2013, Skikun decided she wanted to get into the trucking industry. She bought two trucks, applied for her operating authorization, and started knocking on doors.

Skikun has worked very hard to get to where she is today. Ten years ago, it was still difficult for a woman to get her foot in the door with shippers, and starting out as a woman-owned company wasn’t an easy thing. Despite the challenges, Skikun was very persistent and wouldn’t take no for an answer.

Skikun believes that looking out for her customers’ interests as well as her team’s best interests is the key to operating a growing and thriving business. Great Lakes has been successful by utilizing both owner operators as well as company trucks. Skikun says she’s put together a great team of ladies who keep the front office moving in a very progressive manner. Her husband of 25 years, Oleh, manages the shop and keeps the warehouse and inventory system growing.

This year, Great Lakes Trucking Mi. Inc. is celebrating 10 years in business as a dry van carrier. Although the company specializes in the automotive industry, Skikun and her team can handle all your dry van freight needs.

Liliya Skikun Owner

It’s undeniable that Valentina Bello has her finger on the pulse of Downtown Detroit Real Estate, in more ways than one. She is a Licensed Realtor with @properties Christie’s International Real Estate and President/Founder of V & Co. Interiors, Detroit’s prominent Staging and Interior Design Company. Valentina’s marketing and Real Estate experience gives her an unsurpassed understanding of what drives a buyer’s decision making process, allowing her to advise clients on how to transform an ordinary space to one that is alluring and inviting.

Inspired by Detroit’s grit, passion and courage, Valentina started V & Co. Interiors in 2019, attaining her Michigan Real Estate License in the same year. She also successfully secured her US visa; a lofty goal in its own right, becoming even more challenging during the years of the pandemic. Valentina attributes the success of her new business endeavours to the unwavering support network of friends and professionals she has on both sides of the border. “I feel passionate about what I’ve been able to create,” says Valentina. “In essence, not only a thriving business in the community, but also one which showcases and embellishes the true potential and beauty of Detroit’s living spaces.”

In her Realtor role with the local arm of @ properties Christie’s International Real Estate, Valentina not only assists US clients with all of their real estate needs, but also offers an exclusive service to Canadian clients, investors and developers looking to navigate the intricacies of cross border transactions. Equally as notable, Valentina is a single mom of two, holds two Masters Degrees, and manages her own portfolio of investment properties in Detroit. She is originally from Torino, Italy, and lives right across the border in Canada.

Her advice to live by: “Never underestimate the power you have to take your life in a brand new direction”.

A criminologist and former Oakland University professor, Amanda Burgess-Proctor spent two decades working in, researching, and teaching about the criminal justice system with a focus on women and girls. Then a series of life-altering circumstances prompted her to pursue other passions.

“What started out as a therapeutic hobby – fixing up and painting old furniture – rapidly evolved into something more substantive. After a sale held in my garage was surprisingly successful, I began to believe that Dee Dee’s could become an actual business.” Amanda opened a brick-and-mortar shop in a 1923 brick bungalow in Clawson, and eventually resigned her faculty position to become a full-time entrepreneur. Though she changed careers, she did not leave behind her advocacy for women.

Dee Dee’s is named after Amanda’s late

mom who loved antiquing. The specialty décor and furnishings shop features vintage and antique furniture that has been lovingly refreshed and reimagined by Amanda and the other women on her team. Dee Dee’s retail partners are local women-owned small businesses whose products are handcrafted in and around Detroit. Her mother-inlaw handmakes their décor pillows, throw blankets, and tea towels. Even the organic cotton pillow inserts they use come from a woman-owned farm in upstate New York.

“I want to ensure that people can feel good about spending their money on the items available at Dee Dee’s. I believe there is good energy in these much-loved pieces, and we work hard to honor their original beauty while updating and refreshing them for the modern home.”

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. Robert A. Beaulieu, and physician assistant Lindsay El-Awadi 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. 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, and Botox and fillers.

Consultants in Ophthalmic & Facial Plastic Surgery has multiple locations around metro Detroit including Southfield, Livonia, Rochester Hills, Troy, Novi, Southgate, and Flint. ■

Consultants in Ophthalmic & Facial Plastic Surgery, PC 29201 Telegraph Rd., Ste. 324 Southfield, MI 48034

800-245-8075

EyelidPros.com

Dr. Ellen Janetzke

Dr. Ellen Janetzke has been changing lives for more than two decades and it’s a responsibility she doesn’t take for granted. Founder of Dr. Ellen Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery in Bloomfield Hills, Dr. Ellen not only created a successful business, but a reputation as both a gifted surgeon and a caring doctor.

“It’s always a special feeling when I hear from a patient that I helped change their life, and it’s why I do what I do,” she says. “I remember a recent patient we did a face lift on. When I showed her the pre-op pictures compared to what she looked like just a few weeks after surgery, she started to cry. And, of course, it made me cry those same tears of joy.”

Dr. Ellen’s successful and highly respected practice was built around her ability to understand, anticipate, and fulfil patient expectations, honestly and realistically.

“Our personalized approach is designed to ensure that our patients achieve the best possible outcome,”

says Dr. Ellen. “When considering plastic surgery, it is 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 patient’s trust and guide them through every step, starting with their very first phone call.”

It’s a team effort at Dr. Ellen Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery.

“The staff has been handpicked based on their professionalism, level of compassion, overall intelligence, and knowledge of our industry,” says Dr. Ellen.

Dr. Ellen Janetzke’s practice in Bloomfield Hills offers a wide range of services, 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 such as breast augmentation and breast lifts. Her MedSpa services include a variety of skin care solutions such as lasers, Hydrafacial, and chemical

peels, in addition with Botox and injectables.

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. ■

Dr. Ellen Janetzke

6 0 West Big Beaver Road, Ste. 100 Bloomfield Hills, MI 48304

24 8-220-6760

info@drellen.com drellen.com

DETROIT ON DISPLAY

Local artists get serious love from MOCAD, a new Detroit podcast hits the waves, Lalah Hathaway performs at Sound Board, and more. Plus, can’t-miss events in February, including the first annual Black Bottom Jazz Showcase. p. 84

VISUAL ARTS

Last chance to check the local scene at MOCAD

If there’s something I’ve noticed about local art institutions since the pandemic, it’s that they have all found ways to embrace Detroit artists more. That’s not to say they never did, or that they were bad at it before (maybe not always great at it), but it’s happening much more. This is certainly the case at the Museum

DON’T-MISS EVENTS

Save the dates for comedy shows, film screenings, performances, and more

COMPILED BY

LAUREN WETHINGTON

of Contemporary Art Detroit, where you’re running out of time to see five exhibitions that highlight the work of Detroit artists. With The Artist’s Instruments, longtime graffiti artist Jason Revok brings his street skills to the white halls of the contemporary art museum on a massive, mesmerizing scale, holding onto his can of spray paint while also advancing the tools he uses to create.

Rashaun Rucker’s Re-

lief from the Heat proves his photography is just as remarkable as his illustration, turning intimate photographs into the kind of massive fans you might see cooling off worshippers at a Baptist church. At the age of 70, mixed-media artist Judy Bowman presents her strongest work yet (and her first solo museum exhibition) with Gratiot Griot, using textured paper to capture scenes from African American life

FEBRUARY 2023

Culture Calendar

Our carefully curated guide to the month in arts and entertainment

BY RYAN PATRICK HOOPER

in Detroit. An excellent exhibition from Bree Gant (a video installation exploring movement and transit in Detroit) and a collaborative show from Halima Afi Cassells and Shanna Merola round out a riveting winter lineup. Exploring it might just be the perfect way to spend a cold afternoon in Detroit. All the exhibitions listed above are on display at the MOCAD through March 26. mocadetroit.org

LIVE MUSIC Lalah Hathaway brings something for everyone to Sound Board

Hathaway is one of the rare touring artists who can bring something to the table for multiple

generations of music

lovers. The old heads can say they saw the daughter of soul legend Donny Hathaway. Today’s generation can appreciate the way she blends influences from myriad genres, ranging from neo-soul to R&B, with a voice that transcends all eras entirely. Hathaway popped onto my radar with high-profile collaborations with jazz composer Robert Glasper. Her wealth of material that dates back to the ’90s means you’re going to hear familiar work and also discover something new. It’s a Sunday night that you’ll want to dress up for and when you might want to call in sick to work the next day because you’re getting a room at the MotorCity Casino Hotel. Even if the rising

FEB. 1 • MUSIC

JAN. 31-FEB. 12 • THEATER

Beetlejuice: This funny, familyfriendly musical, which is based on the hit 1988 Tim Burton film of the same name, follows misfit teen Lydia Deetz as her world is turned upside down by a demon clad in stripes. Widely lauded for its catchy score, as well as for its gorgeously gothic set design, the production was nominated for an impressive eight Tony Awards following its Broadway debut in 2019. $29+. Detroit Opera House, Detroit; broadwayindetroit.com

Angel Olsen and the Big Time Band: The art pop innovator and critical darling will stop at Detroit’s Majestic Theatre in support of her 2022 album Big Time. Inspired by post-pop acts of the ’80s, including The Cure, Cocteau Twins, and Siouxsie and the Banshees, Olsen has been praised for her dynamic vocal range and lyrics that touch on anxiety, relationships, and personal struggle. Nashville-based singer-songwriter Erin Rae will open the show. $30+. Majestic Theatre, Detroit; majesticdetroit.com

FEB. 3 • MUSIC

Parker McCollum: Hailing from Austin, Texas, this singersongwriter was named New Male Artist of the Year at the

2022 American Country Music Awards, following the release of his 2021 album Gold Chain Cowboy. Standout tracks include “Pretty Heart” and “To Be Loved by You,” both of which cracked the top 10 on Billboard’s Hot Country Songs chart. Country contemporaries Catie Offerman and Corey Kent will also perform. $49+. The Fillmore Detroit, Detroit; livenation.com

cost of concert tickets has made you pickier about your purchases, you can rest assured, Lalah Hathaway will deliver on every penny you spend. Lalah Hathaway will perform at Sound Board inside the MotorCity Casino Hotel on Sunday, Feb. 19. Tickets are available at soundboarddetroit.com.

LOCAL LISTENING All-around “authentically Detroit” listening

This is the first podcast to be featured in Culture Calendar, and Authentically Detroit lands here for good reason. Hosted by the dynamic duo of Donna Givens Davidson and Orlando P. Bailey, Authentically Detroit offers up a weekly dose of wide-

embark on a North American tour in support of his 2018 solo album Worth It All. More than 40 years into his career as a solo artist, the singer-songwriter’s back catalog is flush with R&B gems, including ’80s hits “On the Wings of Love” and “Stay with Me Tonight.” Hear those classics and more when he stops at MotorCity Casino Hotel’s Sound Board theater for an intimate performance this month. $48+. Sound Board at MotorCity Casino Hotel, Detroit; soundboarddetroit.com

FEB. 3-26 • THEATER

communication in his daily life. Directed by Carla Milarch, the play utilizes humor and heart to explore the power — and pitfalls — of the spoken word. $22. Theatre Nova, Ann Arbor; theatrenova.org

FEB. 17 • MUSIC

FEB. 3 • MUSIC

The Language Archive: Don’t miss the Michigan premiere of this quirky, romantic play by Julia Cho. It tells the story of George, a man obsessed with documenting dying languages, as he struggles to master basic

Valentine’s Soul Jam: Treat your valentine to performances by The Whispers, Heatwave, Bloodstone, and Russell Thompkins and the New Stylistics at this soulful R&B event. You’ll fall in love all over again as you enjoy live renditions of songs like The Whispers’ charttopping 1987 “Rock Steady” or “You Make Me Feel Brand New,” the 1974 track that earned The Stylistics a Grammy Award nomination. $64+. Fox Theatre, Detroit; 313presents.com

Jeffrey Osborne: The former L.T.D. drummer and vocalist will



In his MOCAD exhibit, graffiti artist Jason Revok brings his graphic style to the gallery walls.

ranging conversations with special guests, covering everything from digital justice for city residents to how surveillance affects our lives, along with cultural takes, including a recent exploration of two Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History jazz exhibits closing this month. Davidson and Bailey earn bonus points for bringing in Detroit teens to share their thoughts. It’s a fresh perspective that often feels left out in the city’s media landscape. With their podcast, Davidson and Bailey are bringing muchneeded voices to the forefront of Detroit’s ear. Authentically Detroit is available wherever you listen to podcasts, i ncluding Apple Podcasts and Spotify.

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

Last fall, I had the pleasure of witnessing saxophonist Marcus Elliot and pianist Michael Malis perform at the studios of Detroit’s NPR station, WDET 101.9, and I’ve been obsessed with their collaborative album ever since. The duo, who record as Balance, have been working together for nearly 20 years, so the compositions are tight. Their forays into jazz improv are almost impossible to tell apart from written parts. On their sophomore release, Conjure, each gave the other the space to shine on their respective compositions, putting together one of the best contemporary jazz records to come out of Detroit in quite some time. It’s personal, intimate, and expansive all at the same time, a great primer on why the duo have been called two of the city’s most important jazz musicians.

Conjure is available for streaming and purchase via Balance’s Bandcamp page, which is often the best way to directly support local artists.

FEB. 15 • MUSIC

FEB. 14-26 • THEATER

Jagged Little Pill: Set to a soundtrack of Alanis Morissette’s Grammy Award-winning music, this contemporary musical follows members of a less-thanperfect American family as they navigate addiction, trauma, and tragedy. Boasting a staggering 15 Tony Award nominations and two wins, the production has been praised by critics for its deeply affecting storyline and thoughtful integration of Morissette’s iconic lyrics. $39+. Fisher Theatre, Detroit; broadwayindetroit.com

Dave Mason: After catapulting to worldwide fame as a founding member of rock band Traffic, this England-born singer-songwriter and guitarist contributed to albums by some of the world’s most beloved rock artists, including The Rolling Stones, Eric Clapton, and Jimi Hendrix. Hear an eclectic mix of songs spanning the artist’s 50-plusyear career when he stops at the Sound Board theater this month. $32+. Sound Board at MotorCity Casino Hotel, Detroit; 313presents.com

FEB. 15-MARCH 12 • THEATER

Blues in the Night: Writer Sheldon Epps employs the iconic stylings of greats like Duke Ellington, Harold Arlen, Johnny Mercer, and Bessie

Smith to help tell the story of three women wronged by a cheating man. Set in 1938 Chicago, this dialogue-free musical revue features blues classics like “I Gotta Right to Sing the Blues” and “When a Woman Loves a Man.” $37+. Meadow Brook Theatre, Rochester; mbtheatre.com

FEB. 16 • THEATER

Glamonatrix: Touted as the world’s biggest burlesque show, this sensual revue headlined by “Queen of Burlesque” Dita Von Teese is the perfect Valentine’s Day treat. In addition to four successful world tours, Von Teese boasts appearances in countless films, TV shows, and music videos. Catch her recent cameo in the video for “Bejeweled,” a single from

away to Encanto’s Colombian mountainscape. Expect special appearances by Mickey and Minnie Mouse, Donald Duck, Goofy, and other classic Disney characters. $20+. Little Caesars Arena, Detroit; 313presents.com

FEB. 18 • RECREATION

Cupid’s Undie Run: This annual fun run supports those affected by neurofibromatosis, a tumor-causing genetic disorder that affects one in every 3,000 newborns. Strip down to your tighty-whities for the 1-mile(ish) jog, and then warm up with boozy drinks and dancing at an epic after-party. To date, the event has raised more than $21 million for the Children’s Tumor Foundation. Participants may register individually or in teams. $40+.

Tin Roof, Detroit; cupids.org

FEB. 24-26 • COMEDY

T.J. Miller: Best known for his portrayal of computer programmer Erlich Bachman in the HBO comedy series Silicon Valley, actor and comedian T.J. Miller will stop at Mark Ridley’s Comedy Castle for three days during his The Philosophy Circus Tour. In his 2017 HBO stand-up comedy special, Meticulously Ridiculous, the comic shared his irreverent observations on everyday life through improvisation and high-energy absurdism. $30+.

Mark Ridley’s Comedy Castle, Royal Oak; comedycastle.com

FEB. 24-26 • COMEDY

revue Take 5, and the all-woman Satin Doll Revue. Attendees will be transported back in time by comedian Mike Bonner, who will host the event as legendary Detroit entertainer, entrepreneur, and promoter Sunnie Wilson. Dressing for the occasion is encouraged. Forty percent of the evening’s proceeds will go to Hug Detroit Community Services food pantry. Bert’s Warehouse Theater, Detroit; eventbrite.com

Taylor Swift’s hit 2022 album Midnights. $29+. The Fillmore Detroit, Detroit; livenation.com

The Ark’s 36th Annual Storytelling Festival: This annual festival highlights spoken-word greats like Steve Daut, Sheila Arnold, and Bill Harley, whose commentaries have appeared on NPR’s flagship news program, All Things Considered. Newly expanded, the 2023 event kicks off with the Liars’ Contest on Friday, in which six of the region’s best liars compete to fool the judges and win a $100 prize (plus bragging rights). A familyfriendly edition of the show takes place on Sunday. $10+.

FEB. 26 • MUSIC

Lyfe Jennings and Conya

Doss: Two soul heavy hitters will share the stage for this coheadlined show at MotorCity Casino Hotel’s Sound Board theater. Known as the “queen of indie soul,” Doss’s eclectic body of work melds influences from R&B, soul, funk, and jazz. Singer, songwriter, and multiinstrumentalist Jennings is best known for his 2004 track “Must Be Nice,” which charted at No. 5 on the Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart. $40+. Sound Board at MotorCity Casino Hotel, Detroit; soundboarddetroit.com

FEB. 16-19 • THEATER

Disney on Ice Presents

Frozen and Encanto: Disney fans young and old will go wild for this magical double feature at Little Caesars Arena. Worldclass ice skating, aerial acrobatics, incredible costumes, and fan-favorite film tracks will transport audiences first to Arendelle, the wintry world of Frozen, before whisking them

The Ark, Ann Arbor; theark.org

FEB. 25 • MUSIC

Black Bottom Jazz Showcase: In honor of Black History Month, Unlimited Sky Production presents the first annual Black Bottom Jazz Showcase. The event will feature three tributes on a single stage, for one night only: The Anita O’Day Tribute, male jazz

FEB. 28-MARCH 5 • THEATER

Jesus Christ Superstar: Celebrate the 50th anniversary of this beloved rock opera based on the Christian Bible’s telling of the final weeks in Jesus’ life when it stops in Detroit for a six-day run. The iconic tracks that made the original famous, including “I Don’t Know How to Love Him” and “Superstar,” are paired with modern theatrics and refreshed set pieces to create a compelling, updated production that’s sure to please fans both new and old. $41. Fisher Theatre, Detroit; broadwayindetroit.com

DETROIT HEARTS BLACK ART

Celebrate Black History Month — and the city’s legacy of producing outstanding creatives of color — with a tour of Detroit’s Black art

IN THE LAST HALF-DECADE or so, there’s been a marked shift in Detroit’s art scene. After years of grumbling from some artists about having to leave home to find work (or, in some cases, share this town with artists who left their home in search of cheaper digs in the Motor City), that sentiment seems to have cooled as some local entities begin to coalesce around supporting area creatives.

More investments from local foundations have kept some artists from fleeing to Europe, while Detroit’s city government has established a dedicated arts and culture office. And a new generation of born-andraised Detroit makers, fully cognizant of what may happen if too many outsiders come to dominate the art scene, is doing their part and taking up space.

Fold this in with the long-established institutions, such as the Detroit Institute of Arts and the Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History, and you’ve got artists both young and veteran thriving in a way the region hasn’t seen since the years before the city’s bankruptcy. Black art is especially prominent; it’s been said for years that middle-class African American households in Detroit are the biggest supporters — and collectors — of Black art anywhere in the country. This February is an opportune time to experience some of the priceless contributions artists have made to the city across all forms, from murals and paintings to music, woodworks, sculpture, and other mediums.

NORWEST GALLERY OF ART

Metro Detroit has a long, storied history of Black women artists and gallerists — Dell Pryor, Shirley Woodson, and Carole Morisseau immediately come to mind. Gallerist Asia Hamilton adds to that tradition with her space in Rosedale Park, long a haven for chic Black Detroiters, which opened in 2018. Come to see upand-coming photographers and other mixed-media artists and meet them on the ground floor; stay for the gallery’s live events, which bring out the younger crowd with DJs or vital conversation. 19556 Grand River Ave., Detroit

DABLS MBAD AFRICAN BEAD MUSEUM

Of course, you can’t mention Black art in Detroit without acknowledging Olayami Dabls, who draws from African art and tradition to tell the history of Black people in America while looking toward the future. (And yes, that would be Afrofuturism.) That mirrored building on Grand River and Grand Boulevard — that sometimes blinds you if the sun hits it right — is Dabls Mbad African Bead Museum, where its namesake uses natural materials and the mirrors themselves to construct elaborate installations. Inside the two-block building is the bead store, a place fashionistas have frequented for years to score rare baubles but that also welcomes the amateur jewelry hobbyist. 6559 Grand River Ave., Detroit

EASTERN MARKET MURALS

While you’re out strolling for produce during the Saturday market and taking in the sounds from Bert’s Warehouse along the way, try venturing outside the sheds to gaze at the uber-Instagrammable murals spread throughout the entire market district, many of which were painted by homegrown Black artists. (And please don’t call it “street art.”) Of particular note are Ashley McFadden’s mural for Brother Nature Produce, Sheefy McFly’s for Rufino Vargas, and Phil Simpson’s for Lush Yummies Pie Co., to name just a few.

CHARLES H. WRIGHT MUSEUM OF AFRICAN AMERICAN HISTORY

It goes without saying that the Wright Museum is the pinnacle of Black art in the city. And February will remain the museum’s biggest month, with a stellar slate of events including current exhibitions Detroit Jazz: The Legacy Continues and Jazz Greats: Classic Photographs from the Bank of America Collection. The museum will also host its usual Black history talks, dance classes, and other celebrations of Black history. But both exhibits close by the end of the month. 315 E. Warren Ave., Detroit

N’NAMDI CENTER FOR CONTEMPORARY ART

We’ll always be quick to credit N’Namdi Center founder George N’Namdi with coining the term “psychological gentrification” as it relates to Detroit development. In short, it’s a theory that Black Detroiters live and work in the city but their contributions are overlooked in favor of newer ones — which results in longtime residents feeling left out of the city’s progress. It’s gathering places like the N’Namdi Center, which regularly exhibits local artists as well as hosting other cultural events, that remind us that creativity from native talent is just as crucial to a city’s future as new boutiques and restaurants. 52 E. Forest Ave., Detroit

THE CARR CENTER

For more than three decades, The Carr Center has been devoted to amplifying the films, dance, music, and other cultural endeavors of Black Detroiters while also standing true to its core mission of providing a friendly neighborhood space for said artists to thrive. Pay close attention to the center’s “The Carr Center Presents” series, which draws in national artists from across the diaspora to present their work. Or, if you’ve got a little one with an artistic streak, check out its art classes for your budding Charles McGee. 15 E. Kirby St., Detroit

LIVERNOIS AVENUE OF FASHION

Folks who have not traveled south of Eight Mile near Ferndale and Royal Oak may be missing out on one of the more dramatic streetscape revivals in Detroit in years. Gone is the boulevard that divided Livernois Avenue in two; back is a walkable thoroughfare — now with bike lanes! — redesigned to recapture the Avenue of Fashion’s heyday. But longtime Detroiters know stalwart Black businesses, such as Jo’s Gallery, Sherwood Forest Art Gallery, and The Fel’le Gallery, have never left. (Farther down Livernois, south of the University of Detroit Mercy, is a can’t-miss: Eric’s I’ve Been Framed, which sells original prints and art alongside its framing services.) Several new murals have moved in recently, including an homage to Issa Rae, the creator of HBO’s Insecure, kitty-corner to the new Motor City Brewing Works taproom.

BONUS: Motown Museum

OK, don’t blush or be embarrassed. It’s time we acknowledge the long-running joke that born-and-raised Detroiters (and metro Detroiters) never go to the Motown Museum. (No, really — ask someone!) Unless they went there on a field trip, perhaps Detroit adults do take its presence for granted; it’ll always be there, right? But now nearing the end of a capital campaign to expand the museum beyond the two multifamily houses Berry Gordy converted into offices, it takes little effort to tour the former studios where so much of Black music — and for that matter, American music — took shape. 2648 Berry Gordy Jr. Blvd., Detroit

SHRINE OF THE BLACK MADONNA

Contrary to popular belief, the Shrine — as locals call it — is still here. Though the bookstore has had to weather some hard economic times, as well as the rise of online bookselling, it is still one of the few places in the city proper, and perhaps the entire region, where you can purchase rare, handcrafted artifacts straight from the motherland. Gaze at intricate woodwork, tall statues, masks, and gold and copper wares — and bring your pocketbook. 7625 Linwood St., Detroit

SCARAB CLUB

Quiet as it’s kept, you never know who you might run into at the Scarab Club, so you’d better look nice when you drop by. Always a low-key place to run into the city’s who’s who, it’s not a traditional Black space per se, but it has helped launch the careers of several Black artists by showcasing their work early in their careers. Founded in 1907 as part social club, part gallery, the institution has been instrumental in the growth of Detroit’s cultural scene at large over the last 100-plus years and continues to march forward into the next century as the area flourishes.

217 Farnsworth St., Detroit

It’s been said for years that middle-class African American households in Detroit are the biggest supporters — and collectors — of Black art anywhere in the country.

THE WORLD IS HER STAGE

Many young girls harbor dreams of becoming a ballerina, but Canton native Precious Adams chased them all the way to the English National Ballet

BY CAMBREY THOMAS

SITTING OUTSIDE a cafe in Paris, 27-yearold English National Ballet soloist Precious Adams remembers growing up in an idyllic suburban neighborhood nearly 4,000 miles away in Canton, Michigan. There was apple picking, family trips to the Henry Ford Museum to see the 1952 Oscar Mayer Wienermobile, and Christmastime visits downtown when the Joffrey Ballet performed The Nutcracker. In addition to busy weekends, Adams recalls her parents insisting she and her sister fill their weekdays with extracurricular activities.

“I tried tennis, and I tried to learn to play the piano, but I had no hand-eye coordination, so they just didn’t stick,” she says. Instead, she loved dancing around the living room after school. “It was natural for me to respond to music. I think that was how the whole dancing thing started.” Her parents noticed, too, and quickly enrolled the then 6-year-old in creative movement classes. Jazz and tap, every day after school, came next. And soon, dance became the most important thing in Adams’ life. By age 9, she was practicing 20 hours a week at Wixom’s Academy of Russian Classical Ballet. This rigor gave her a glimpse into life as a dancer. It also served to fuel her playful competitive streak, which came in handy when the Joffrey Ballet held local auditions for kids to star in minor roles upon The Nutcracker’s return to the Fox Theatre.

Having earned the part of a snow angel, she spotted Fabrice Calmels — one of few professional dancers of color at the time — backstage. The 6-foot-6 Joffrey Ballet lead dancer had just started his career then, but he lifted Adams onto his shoulders when her mom asked them to pose for a photo. It was a formative experience that exposed her to the possibility of ballet as a career. It made such an impression on her, in fact, that after another two years of practicing and performing locally, Adams enrolled at Canada’s National Ballet School at 11. From there, she went on to study at the prestigious Académie Princesse Grace in Monaco and Bolshoi Ballet Academy in Moscow. She was far from her Canton home and just a teen, but Adams says any homesickness she felt quickly

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faded as she remembered she was following her destiny.

A breakthrough came in 2014 when she danced in Switzerland’s Prix de Lausanne, an international competition for young dancers where they perform before the world’s top dance companies. Only about 100 dancers are invited to compete over one week, all representing the leading ballet schools. Adams recalls that when the group of competitors danced together, she knew she needed to hone her stage presence while receiving corrections gracefully. This made her stand out to the judges, who named her one of the six prize winners and awarded her a silver medal — an honor that meant she would receive an offer letter to join a professional dance company. For Adams, that letter would come from the English National Ballet.

Adams has since left her snow angel days behind, swapping them for lead roles in Wayne Eagling’s edgy take on The Nutcracker and modeling contracts with Superdry, Gymshark, and Zenith Watches. Both outspoken and eternally poised, Adams has also used her position to push for inclusivity by challenging the standard of “flesh-toned” attire in classical ballet. “Black dancers all over the world are embracing their skin tones,” Adams says. “Actually, now, most ballet companies in the West allow professional dancers of color to wear

matching tones, in keeping with the traditional idea of enhancing the dancer’s form, which is the reason tights were pink in the first place.”

However, the climate was much different in 2014 when, encouraged by a former instructor, Adams wore brown tights while competing in the Prix de Lausanne. While it was this performance that landed her a coveted position with the English National Ballet, she opted to wait until she was in line for a promotion to revisit the look, asking the historic company directly for permission to swap traditional pinks for tones that complemented her complexion. In a groundbreaking first, they gave Adams their full support.

“I think my inner child is happy I’m living out my childhood dream,” says Adams, who is now balancing her dance career with computer science studies at the University of London. Looking back on how far she’s come, she thinks about trust. “You have to trust yourself,” she says. “You can trust that when you’re led by passion and willing to put in the time, you’re doing the right thing.”

As a grade schooler at Wixom Academy, Precious Adams found dance becoming the most important thing in her life.

CHRIS GARCIA has measured, poured, fired up, and served his fair share of Spanish coffees. The bar manager at Howe’s Bayou in Ferndale knows, after nearly 23 years, that after that first crackle of blue flame appears behind the bar and patrons start to smell the deeply rich coffee and the caramelized sugar on the rim, a chain reaction will begin and he’ll have his hands full for the next half-hour, as more orders roll in.

During the winter months, Garcia says, “We’re getting more people looking for the kinds of drinks that knock the cold out of your bones.” Spanish coffee has been on the drink menu at Howe’s for decades, and the evergreen popularity of the drink doesn’t show any signs of waning, especially in the cold weather. Hot cocktails have a long history in

DRINKS

WINTER CLASSICS, WARMED UP

Metro Detroit bars and restaurants are offering hot new takes on old favorites

BY MICKEY LYONS

warm-up. The inspiration for her hot buttered amaretto sour came from a vintage cookbook recipe for hot buttered lemonade. Duncan kicked that up a notch by using the almond-based liqueur amaretto, bourbon, hot water, and lemon juice, with a bit of simple syrup and a pat of hot butter to spread emulsifying richness throughout the drink.

She’s working this year on a ginger-infused bourbon for true hot toddies. “I would always make a ginger-lemon tea when I was sick or just wanted a warm-up,” she says. “This is a version of that warming spicy ginger.”

Hot toddies, Spanish coffee, and other warm boozy beverages have been popular winter warmers for centuries. Claims of the curative properties of hot drinks as remedies for the cold and flu have largely been dismissed as old wives’ tales — until recently. In fact, several studies have shown that the spices in a hot toddy help stimulate mucus production and clear up congestion, helping to soothe a sore throat. The lemon and honey in a hot toddy also hydrate and help with congestion and scratchy throats. Doctors do warn, though, that the alcohol dehydrates the body, so it’s best to be lighthanded with the hard stuff.

Almost any drink can be modified for winter warming. At The Royce Detroit wine bar downtown, the Tempranillo-based mulled wine melds baking spices, brown sugar, citrus, rum, and red wine. Heating the drink provides more than just comfort: It blends the disparate ingredients into a harmonious beverage that is more than the sum of its parts.

northern European countries and are especially suited to dark and dreary Midwestern winters. For many Detroit bartenders, crafting a well-balanced, invigorating hot drink is a way to showcase creativity and hospitality this time of year.

At Henrietta Haus in Hamtramck, Amy Duncan takes the concept of hot coffee and alcohol one step further by adding butter. Hot buttered rum is a colonial American classic, originating in New England in the 18th century. It’s a perfect fit for cold winter nights, Duncan says. “A hot drink sounds good on the inside and out. Who doesn’t love a hot buttered rum?”

Duncan has also perfected a few variations. Her hot buttered coffee grog uses house-roasted coffee and creamy, melted butter for a wake-up and a

Says Kat McCormack, wine education and marketing manager at The Royce: “Balance is key. Over-spicing it can make it too tannic, and underspicing it can make the booze too strong. So it’s about finding that balance … and then allowing the wine and the liquor to showcase as well.”

In the winter months, when it can seem like the sun hibernates for ages, warm drinks balance out the frigid air. Maybe those old Swiss mountain monks with their St. Bernards toting mini-kegs of hot brandy had the right idea. Hot alcohol might not be a cure-all, but it sure is reassuring. McCormack likes to gaze out the two-plus-story windows at The Royce into a Woodward Avenue snowstorm and sip a hot drink. “There’s just something so comforting about holding that glass mug warming your fingers and looking at the snow — it goes down easy.”

Warm mulled wine with cinnamon and anise can chase away winter’s chill.

Nouvelle Cuisine

Bar Pigalle in Detroit’s Brush Park offers playful French fare and unique craft cocktails with a Motor City twist

BY DOROTHY HERNANDEZ | PHOTOS BY REBECCA SIMONOV

RESTAURANT REVIEW

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Clockwise, from top center: Chicken Fried Frog Legs, Fraise Negroni, salmon crudo, burnt Basque pumpkin cheesecake, Everything Bagel Gougeres, Perfect Pear, flourless chocolate cake, blanquette de veau.

THE FRENCH NEIGHBORHOOD of Pigalle in the early to mid-20th century was infamous for its reputation as the seedy underbelly of Parisian culture and the home of the City of Light’s red-light district. Over the years, a wave of trendy shops, restaurants, and bars have helped Pigalle reinvent itself, making it a place to go and not to avoid.

That vibrant culture served as the muse of a restaurant bearing that quartier’s name across the pond here in Detroit. The concept for Bar Pigalle in Brush Park was inspired by a trip Travis Fourmont took to Pigalle, and the result is plenty of the quartier’s style and none of the unsavory elements.

Bar Pigalle is housed on the ground level of the Carlton Lofts, a historic building that was designed by architect Louis Kamper and a hot

spot for the city’s jazz scene in the 1920s and 1930s. Designed by Pink + Wooderson, the Detroit firm behind Brush Park neighbors Second Best and Grey Ghost, the restaurant has an industrial feel with lots of hard surfaces like exposed brick and unfinished concrete walls. Yet the airy space is inviting, with touches like cozy banquettes, lush greenery cascading down from the ceiling near the bar, and an open kitchen.

The restaurant opened to much buzz in June 2022, touting its playful and approachable French fare, and with every dish, it’s obvious that Executive Chef Nyle Flynn is relishing his role playing with food. But that doesn’t mean it’s basic. Flynn takes traditional French dishes and finds new ways to provoke flavor from familiar ingredients in ways that are confidently creative and clever, presented in a way that is as enjoyable to look at as it is to eat. Dishes are refined, modern, and always evolving based on seasonality and what ingredients are at their peak.

One of the dishes that typified this ethos was the Coney-style steak frites, a hearty 24-ounce rib eye augmented by a heap of Coney chili and frites. It was one of the first things I asked about when I went for dinner. Our server replied that while it was a banger of a dish, it is no longer on the menu; Bar Pigalle is always looking to try new things, and we saw how quickly things can change firsthand.

We ordered the Coquilles St. Jacques baked sea scallops, thinking they were going to be bay scallops with vadouvan curry and cauliflower

gratin. After we placed the order, our server returned, saying the scallops were actually going to be U-10 scallops — which are bigger, so we weren’t mad about that — and instead of cauliflower gratin, there was going to be a pomme puree. The dish had changed so quickly that apparently our server hadn’t gotten the memo. The scallops were served on a bed of the puree in a shell. The next time I went, the scallop dish was accurately described on the menu and even better than its earlier iteration two weeks before.

On another occasion, my dining companion and I went for the five-course tasting menu ($95), which is designed for sharing, and the wine pairing, which at $35 is a deal given the quality and quantity of wines you get. The tasting menu won’t leave you hungry; in fact, we left with a hefty portion of leftovers. Each course comes with two different shared plates; for starters, we received the oeufs mimosa and baked oysters presented like French onion soup, and for the entree course, we got the boeuf bourguignon and walleye. A couple of friends whom I spotted there that evening also went for the tasting menu but got quail instead of the boeuf bourguignon, so it seems like it’s dealer’s choice.

The boeuf bourguignon, the ultimate French comfort food dish, is displayed in a more classic bistro presentation. The typically simple stew is often made with a less-pricey cut of meat (no less delicious) that lends itself well to long and slow cooking, like a chuck roast. Here, you get a New

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Bar Pigalle’s frog legs is a standout and a staple of the restaurant’s seasonally driven menu.

Left: Burnt Basque p umpkin cheesecake.

Bottom: Oeufs mimosa (deviled eggs).

York strip, sliced and fanned out on top of a glossy and savory jus, or bison short rib. The meat was cooked to a perfect medium rare, but it was the braised maitake, its robust earthy and savory flavor accentuated by a healthy dose of vinegar, that I wanted more of.

BAR PIGALLE 2915 JOHN R ST., DETROIT; 313-497-9200 BARPIGALLE.COM DINNER DAILY

The standout of both our meals at Bar Pigalle was the frog legs. If there is one dish that would sum up Bar Pigalle in a singular plate, it would be this. The legs themselves are cooked perfectly, with a golden brown crispy exterior thanks to being encased in guanciale and a tender and juicy interior like an excellent piece of fried chicken. It’s served in an herb-forward nage; for those who don’t speak French, à la nage means “in the swim.” Get it? The frog legs are another example not only of Bar Pigalle’s playfulness but also of how it’s a Detroit restaurant at its core. Today, frog legs are not a common sight on Detroit menus, but in the early 20th century, we were famous for frog legs, as one New York Times article about the best food in the U.S. proclaimed. In 1910, Detroit produced, shipped, and consumed 12 tons of frog legs, or 6 million pairs of legs (called “saddles”), and Detroit hotels served 800 dozen pairs of legs a day. Bar Pigalle pays deep respect to that history.

The one dish that befuddled me was the roasted carrot salad with hazelnut, pomegranate, and a excessive amount of shaved foie gras. I would have liked either the carrots or foie gras to shine, but since they both had a soft texture, the dish lacked contrast and some sparks of flavor to offset the richness. The flavors were muddled, and the

burgers at the bar.

interaction between the elements was out of sync, like members of a band playing different songs. The pomegranate perked it up a bit, adding some brightness, but got lost in the blizzard of foie gras. To me, too much of a good thing is not a good thing, especially with an ingredient like foie gras, which should be treated respectfully. It’s the type of dish that inspires strong feelings; while I didn’t care for it, my friend thought it was great (and he also ordered foie gras to go with his entree).

While Bar Pigalle is a fine choice for date night or celebrating with a group of friends, it’s also a solid choice for when you want to grab a burger and a drink at the bar, which offers a limited food menu. When we went, it comprised oysters, the deviled eggs we got as part of the tasting menu, frites, and the Pigalle Burger. It was a tasty burger, oozing with a blanket of cheese. The meat-to-bun ratio is less meat, more bread, so you may want to get a double if you need more protein. The frites, which came wonderfully crisp and perfectly seasoned when served at our table, were a bit cold when we got them at the bar — understandable when it’s standing room only. Seats fill up fast and are first come, first served, so you’ll have to stand around during peak hours.

A review of Bar Pigalle wouldn’t be complete without mentioning the cocktail menu, which is crafted by Fourmont. The Fraise Negroni was a refreshing take on the classic cocktail (and they also make an excellent classic Negroni), with aquavit and Campari infused with strawberries, which smooth out the bitter rough edges of a typical Negroni. I also got the Passing Flora, which

Price: $$$

Vibes: Relaxed sophistication. Fancy enough for date night, casual enough for drinks and

Service: Can be hit or miss (they’ll be on top of you or leave you alone for long periods of time), but for the most part

knowledgeable and friendly.

Sound level: Moderate to borderline loud, with a modern soundtrack of trap

music one night and then Outkast and Drake the next. Dress code: Come as you are, whether it’s casual and comfortable or

sophisticated and semiformal.

Open: A rare restaurant open seven days a week.

Reservations: Make online at

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The once seedy, now trendy Parisian neighborhood of Pigalle served as the inspiration for Brush Park’s Bar Pigalle, which combines an industrial design with a cozy atmosphere.

had a tropical intensity so profound that it had teleportation powers, taking me to a beach where I could feel the warm breezes, a welcome respite from the wintry weather outside.

There are also a few alcohol-free options. I tried the N/A gin and tonic with Seedlip, a nonalcoholic spirit; elderflower tonic; and juniper. It was a little light on the juniper, which would have given it more of that gin and tonic taste. I’m not going to lie and say it tastes like a real G&T, but it’s still fresh and thoughtfully crafted like the boozy counterparts.

General manager Joseph Allerton, who was named Best Sommelier in Hour Detroit’s Best of Detroit readers’ poll from 2012 to 2014 for his work at Roast, has also curated a selection of wines from smaller, lesser-known regions, with several decently priced options. The pairings are also on point; the baked oysters were paired with a crisp sparkling Spanish wine, Raventós i Blanc blanc de blancs. We also enjoyed a dry and supple Malbec from southwest France, serving as a potent reminder that Argentina isn’t the only place where great Malbecs come from.

Allerton, Flynn, and Fourmont all worked at the gone but not forgotten Roast in downtown Detroit, a restaurant that was a dining destination in its heyday. Now with their own project, they’re creating a new destination with Bar Pigalle as part of the rapidly changing Brush Park neighborhood.

exploretock.com or take your chances. On a Monday, you’ll likely have no problem, but be prepared to wait on a Friday or Saturday if

you don’t make one.

Parking: There’s a dedicated lot that’s free across the street; it does get packed during the busy dinner hours.

Wheelchair access: There is an accessible entrance down the alley and around through the back of the restaurant.

JUST COOK FOR US

BY ROBERT STEMPKOWSKI | PHOTOS BY CHUK NOWAK

THE OCCASION CALLS for dinner plans, and it’s all on you. So, how’s your restaurantgoing game? Does it begin and end with making reservations and picking up the check? Why be that person, treating your someone special to the same ole routine? Don’t just settle for this or that. Order like a big-night-out boss — have it all.

There’s prime culinary talent at work in this town, and nothing proves that more prodigiously than places where tasting menus are in play. Here are a choice few gastronomic garrets currently sculpting epicurean art in fine multicourse fashion.

Grey Ghost Detroit, a busy Brush Park haunt, custom tailors its menus to meet group requests. Presiding co-Executive Chefs Joe Giacomino and John Vermiglio are kindred spirits when it comes to conjuring singular experiences of breaking bread and making merry. These guys count the late, ultra-great restaurateur Charlie Trotter among their mentors. From Wagyu flank to fried bologna and shimmering tuna tartare to pork schnitzel, they weave finesse and familiarity together to create tasting-menu tapestries.

“Every dish rises from a careful, collaborative consideration,” Giacomino says.

“But we’re not above slipping in a cheeseburger — cut in four — between courses, either,” Vermiglio adds. “We don’t take ourselves too seriously.”

“Our entire hospitality team understands,” Giacomino sums up, “they’re not order-takers. They’re Sherpas.” Good point. When you’re offering to take people to the prandial mountaintop, only equally stellar service and cuisine will get you there. So says this Ghost we can believe in.

At Cass Corridor’s SheWolf Pastificio & Bar (named after the mythic foster mother of Rome’s fabled twin founders), Executive Chef Anthony Lombardo’s “curated menu” serves loyal legions who line up nightly at his gates. SheWolf eschews set courses — common to most tasting menus — letting diners have their say, instead, as to what pleasures of team Lombardo’s Roman table they’ll partake in. From land or sea, paired with purist pastas or fresh goods from the garden, patrons pick and choose their way through four courses of both plated and family-style renderings. What more could anyone ask of this accommodating and accomplished Italian Cucina Curata? The cost is $99 per person, with three wine pairing options also available ($45-$130).

Sitting in on a SheWolf preservice (staff meeting) afforded me some insight into the premium placed on delivering the level of service one would expect at this price point. They discuss the details of consummate professionalism. Proper course timing. “Reading” and leading a table through a sublime, seamless experience. Gracious tableside manner. The food, cocktail, and wine menu knowledge necessary to answer any and all questions and requests. Everything it takes, essentially, to deliver on the promise of a most memorable meal.

I count close to two dozen dining-room staffers at the roundtable roundup. Together, they will service a space that likely seats less than 100. That kind of crew-to-customer ratio leads me to believe SheWolf must be killing the hospitality game. And whatever those aromas were wafting from the kitchen by the time I exited, just as the doors opened for dinner service, they left me assured of the feast being prepared — and a little envious of those I passed outside waiting to file in.

Ending in downtown’s historic financial district, city-slick Maru’s sights seem set on cornering more than its share of the market. Catering to sushi sophisticates and raw novices alike, the restaurant rolls out a menu and bar program that will satisfy anyone’s palate. Nigiri and sashimi chefs are company-schooled like samurai.

“Maybe 10 percent of our culinary crews attain that expertise,” says Maru Detroit Executive Chef Ryan Lucas. There are eight sets of such skilled hands prepared to make the prime cuts here, and the nightly larder is limited. The savviest of diners sit down and negotiate particulars (preferences, prices) from the get-go while the getting’s good. Whether it’s the most pristine or more pedestrian sushi styles you seek, assembling handcrafted platters to your tastes is Maru’s pleasure. And while there are certainly standard-bearer sakes and flights to savor, I recommend letting Maru’s spirits guide (aka bartender), Kenny Forsgren, pour you some state-of-the-art Japanese whisky, perchance to lift you higher with a nip or two of refined Scotch- and Bourbon-style

Grey Ghost’s Goodnight Moon cocktail combines Cognac, Cappelletti and Punt e Mes aperitivos, cherry liqueur, Angostura bitters, orange, and saffron. The carrot salad features red kuri squash, macadamia nuts, and chive vinaigrette.

When it comes to a night out in Detroit, the best choice may be not to choose at all

spirits crafted and distilled in the Land of the Rising Sun.

Grey Ghost boasts swanky ambiance (left) and inventive eats. (Below)

The Root of All Evil cocktail is served with a pineapple caviar bump and stars vodka, beet, strawberry, tomato, pineapple, and shichimi. Foie gras and balsamic top the New York strip, and french fries are served with rosemary-garlic aioli.

THREE THINGS

Insta-goodies

Detroit bakers are utilizing Instagram and cottage food laws to run their businesses and showcase their talents — here are a few we’ve been following

BY MARY ANDINO

Jenn Tilton

For the owner of Indulge by Jenn, baked goods are about more than sampling tasty treats. Tilton, whose diverse job experience includes stints with Royal Park Hotel and Morning Glory Coffee & Pastries, as well as her current work as a medium, is seeking to combine both her talents in her own business.

“I’ve been reading and learning that food has a lot of spiritual properties,” she says. Food can evoke specific emotions and feelings, which may be helpful when thinking about and remembering a loved one who has passed. “Everyone has a connection with food. You can remember a really good experience. It’s the most universal language,” she says. Tilton makes plenty of comforting classics, including chocolate chip cookies, cinnamon rolls, pretzels, and apple pie. In addition to taking custom orders, Tilton sometimes offers special holiday bundles of baked goods. Find her on Instagram at @IndulgeByJenn.

Victoria Frederick

The owner of Little Oven Baking Co. describes her business as “small batch, big love.” Like many people, Detroit native Victoria Frederick started her venture during the pandemic, in March 2022. She focuses on making elevated versions of classic baked goods: Think strawberry white chocolate cookies, peanut butter swirl brownies, and carrot cake oatmeal cream pies. Her other specialties include doughnuts, pies, and muffins — all decorated with artistic flair. Frederick hopes to serve her community by bringing joy to people’s celebrations through her creations. To request a custom order, direct message @LittleOvenBakeCo on Instagram.

Maddy Petz

Petz Pantry owner Maddy Petz has been baking as long as she can remember. It wasn’t until the COVID-19 pandemic, however, that she thought about making pastry part of her professional life. Petz specializes in cookies, cupcakes, and cakes for special events and birthdays. “I love making whimsical, fun designs with a lot of color,” she says. Her cake flavors include lemon poppyseed, strawberry shortcake, peanut butter s’mores, and triple chocolate. Petz, who also works as a professional dancer and dance teacher, finds that her artistic background blends well with her baking business. “I’ll circulate and feed off of all my different artistic energies as I go,” she says. Petz plans on growing her business by expanding to more farmers markets and pop-ups. Instagram has been the differencemaker for her. “It’s a superaccessible platform to use. It’s crazy how through that alone, I’ve been able to build up something that’s grown a lot in the past few years.” To request a custom order, visit @PetzPantry on Instagram.

(Below) Gluten- and dairy-free brownies from Indulge by Jenn.

(Right) Little Oven Baking Co.’s Strawberry Sugar Cookies. (Bottom right) M&M cookies from Petz Pantry. 

“Everyone has a connection with food. You can remember a really good experience. It’s the most universal language.”

—JENN TILTON

Restaurant Guide

Wayne

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.

Andiamo $$

ITALIAN • Over the past three decades, Joe Vicari has established several Andiamo restaurants in metro Detroit, all inspired by the late master chef Aldo Ottaviani’s philosophy of seasonal, fromscratch cooking. The menus differ slightly at the different locations, but the constant is the fresh, housemade pastas — handcrafted by the trinity of “pasta ladies,” Anna, Tanya, and Angelina, who have carried on the tradition. The downtown Detroit location offers a breathtaking view of the Detroit River, while the Livonia location offers a comfortable and casual vibe. 400 Renaissance Center, Detroit; 313567-6700. D Mon.-Fri., L,D Sat.-Sun. 38703 Seven Mile Road, Livonia; 734-953-3200. D Mon.-Sun.

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; 248-994-4000. 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. 250 W. Larned St., Detroit; 313-800-5600. D Wed.-Sun.

Atwater in the Park $

GERMAN • At this casual spot, traditional German-style 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 sauerkraut, plus Bavarian soft pretzels and pierogi. 1175 Lakepointe St., Grosse Pointe Park; 313-344-5104. L,D daily.

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

FEATURED Besa

EUROPEANINSPIRED

This modern finedining 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; 313-3153000. D Mon.-Sat.

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.

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. 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 Tue.-Sat. B,L Sun.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Bobcat Bonnie’s $

GASTROPUB • The menu is eclectic, featuring fried goat cheese, fish tacos, Buddha bowls, and a barbecue bacon meatloaf — plus, plenty of vegetarian and vegan options, The weekend brunch, complete with a Bloody Mary bar and all the classics, is a big hit. See bobcatbonnies.com for locations and hours.

Bohemia $$$

NEW AMERICAN • The former member’s only lounge in this restored Romanesque Revival in downtown

YOUR COMPREHENSIVE RESOURCE FOR DINING OUT IN METRO DETROIT

Detroit is now a posh restaurant open to the public (the downstairs bar is also open to the public). The stunning dining room reflects the club’s history while staying fresh and modern with local art on the walls and an Instagrammable seating area in the middle of the dining room with plush couches and trees lined with lights. The food is upscale but approachable such as the Nashville Fried Chicken and the lobster fettucini, which is worth every indulgent bite. 712 Cass Ave., Detroit, 313338-3222. D Wed.-Sat..

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 cold-pressed juice bar. 22062 Michigan Ave., Dearborn; 313-996-5050. L,D Mon.-Sun.

Bronze Door $$$$

NEW AMERICAN • One of the newest restaurants under the Joe Vicari Restaurant Group brand (in partnership with Tony Soave of Soave Enterprises) revives the well-known name of a Grosse Pointe staple from the mid1900s. In the 1960s and 1970s, 123 Kercheval Ave. was home to the Bronze Door, which closed to make way for The Hill Seafood and Chop House. In 2021, it was born again as the Bronze Door, offering classic bistro fare like steak frites and house specialties such as Potato Pillows and Shrimp (butter fondue, sage, cracked pepper, pecorino Romano, and truffle). 123 Kercheval Ave., Grosse Pointe Farms; 313-886-8101. D Mon.-Sat.

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, more than a dozen pasta dishes, and 16 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; 313-308-3120. D Tue-Sat.

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 featuring ground veal, beef, sausage, and pancetta. It makes for a delicious Italian feast you can conveniently pick up on your way home. 15550 N. Haggerty Road, Plymouth; 734-420-1100. 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, with items such as barbecue babyback ribs and potato skins, but the main draw is steak by the ounce, at market price. 14726 Gratiot Ave., Detroit; 313-527-2100. L,D Wed.-Sun.

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, seared scallops, 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 based on the season, its offerings always highlight the freshest local ingredients. Creatively prepared dishes range from cold starters to hearty entrees. But the Twice Cooked Egg is not to be missed. 15 E. Kirby St., Detroit; 313-818-3915. D Tue.-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 fried chicken 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 Thurs.-Sat. BR 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 Thu-Sat. BR Sat. B,L Sun.

Cuisine $$$

EUROPEAN-INSPIRED • Cuisine offers a romantic, white-linen experience with the level of food, service, and ambience one might describe as timeless rather than trendy. Examples of the expertly prepared fare include the Thai snapper as well as the sea 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 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.

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; 313-366-5600. 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. 19614 Grand River Ave., Detroit; 313-766-5728. L,D Wed.-Sat.

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.

RESTAURANT OF THE YEAR  2010

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 overlooks downtown’s Capitol Park. The menu has steamed mussels with leeks, garlic, and toasted crostini. 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 Latin-American find in Detroit’s Springwells Village. 1312 Springwells St., Detroit; 313-297-2360. L,D Tue.-Sun.

RESTAURANT LISTINGS 02.23

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 zuppa 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 dozen for later. 3454 Bagley St., Detroit; 313-843-5056. B,L Mon.-Sat.

Fishbone’s Rhythm Kitchen Café $$

NEW ORLEANIAN • Enjoy classic New Orleans dishes, such as 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.

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.

Ford’s Garage $$

FEATURED

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 globally inspired dishes, like salads, quiche, and sandwiches — all beautifully plated and nutritious. Infused milks and frothy lattes are highly sought after, too. 1701 Trumbull Ave., Detroit; 313-7422672. BR Wed.-Mon.

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, applewoodsmoked bacon, and bourbon barbecue 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.-Mon.

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

Grey Ghost $$

NEW AMERICAN • The cuisine at this Brush Park hotspot isn’t easily defined, but the results are original and well-prepared — for example, the duck breast with cheese grits and fried shallots and pork tenderloin with gruyere spaetzle and dill pickle mojo. 47 Watson St., Detroit; 313-262-6534. 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.

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.

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.

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; 313-5025959. L,D Wed.-Mon. 4870 Cass Ave., Detroit; 313-8839788. 32203 John R Road, Madison Heights; 248-7810131. L,D daily.

Ima Izakaya $$

JAPANESE-INSPIRED • Chef Michael Ransom has slowly and steadily built up his local chain of noodle shops over the past few years, and his latest one takes it up a notch with the izakaya concept, the Japanese equivalent to a pub. In addition to the staple noodles and soups that put Ransom on the map, the menu also includes grilled skewers from the robata grill such as Kawahagi Trigger Fish Jerky and Mini Kurobuta Pork Sausages. There’s also a tantalizing selection of cocktails and mocktails, sake, beer, and wine to make it a true izakaya experience. 2100 Michigan Ave., Detroit, 313-306-9485. L and D Wed.-Mon.

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.-Sun., D Wed.-Sun.

RESTAURANT OF THE YEAR  2012

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; 313-567-6837. 39475 Woodward Ave., Bloomfield Hills; 248-792-9609. L,D daily.

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.

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 $$

FEATURED 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; 313-4624184. B,L,D, Wed.-Sat.

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; 313-855-2757. B,L,D Wed.-Sun.

Karl’s Cabin $$

AMERICAN • Dishes from their currently rotating drive-through menu such as pan-seared walleye and beef tenderloin tips with Cajun spice and gravy surpass typical roadhouse food. 6005 Gotfredson Road, Plymouth; 734-455-8450. L,D daily.

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; 313865-0331. 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; 313-9628821. L,D Tue.-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; 313962-0277. 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 Mixed Grill that offers a little bit of everything with shish kebab, tawook, and kafta. Other menu items include Kibbeh Niyee — fresh lamb, cracked wheat, and spice — 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.

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; 313-9861174. 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,D Tue.-Sat.

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; 313832-1616. 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. L,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.

Metropolitan Bar and Kitchen

$$

LATIN • The business brings a bodega-style market along with a neighborhood restaurant and bar to West Village. The menu highlights local and seasonal ingredients in dishes like the Buffalo Chicken salad with local greens and housemade blue cheese dressing and the Eggplant Sliders. 8047 Agnes St., Detroit; 313-4475418. L Wed.-Sat. D Fri.-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.

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; 313-789-5100. L,D daily.

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 Wed.-Sat.

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-theslice counter next door. 1230 Library St., Detroit; 313243-1230. 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; 19350 Livernois Ave., Detroit; 313-832-2700. L,D daily.

Mudgie’s Deli $

DELI • Seats are often filled in search of the House Smoked Pastrami Reuben or the Brooklyn (beef brisket, bacon, and beer cheese). The dinner menu features meat and cheese boards as well as build-your-own sandwich options. It’s a delicious place for a meal any time. 1413 Brooklyn St., Detroit; 313-961-2000. B Tue.Sat. L Mon.-Sat.

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.

RESTAURANT OF THE YEAR  2022

Oak & Reel $$

SEAFOOD • Despite a global pandemic threatening to derail his longtime dream, chef Jared Gadbaw brought his vision of a seafood-focused Italian restaurant to life in Detroit’s Milwaukee Junction neighborhood in fall 2020.

Oak & Reel’s resilience in the face of extreme adversity and its commitment to the vision of bringing diners impeccable dishes showcasing the freshest seafood, all presented with welcoming and knowledgeable service, is the reason we’re naming Oak & Reel Hour Detroit’s Restaurant of the Year. The menu is seasonal and changes frequently. But in general, the crudos are pristine, the pastas are impeccable, and the seafood dishes are all well balanced and expertly prepared to accentuate the freshness and quality of the fish and shellfish. 2921 E. Grand Blvd., Detroit; 313-270-9600. D Thu.-Mon.

Olin

MEDITERRANEAN • A taste of the Mediterranean in Michigan. Starters like the potatoes and artichokes “bravas” with harissa and black garlic aioli and paellas are inspired by Spain but showcase Olin’s unique spin on these iconic dishes. 25 E. Grand River Ave., Detroit; 313-774-1190. D Tues.-Sat. BR Sun.

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.

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 Tue.-Sun.

RESTAURANT OF THE YEAR  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, woodgrilled 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.

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; 313-264-1997. L,D daily.

Pegasus Taverna $$

RESTAURANT LISTINGS 02.23

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 Wed.-Mon.

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. D Thu.-Sun.

Polish Village Café $

FEATURED 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. 1413 Brooklyn St., Detroit; 313-9612000. B Tue.-Sat. L Mon.-Sat.

POLISH • The “Polish plate” includes stuffed cabbage, pierogi, kielbasa, sauerkraut, and mashed potatoes and gravy. The dill pickle soup and city chicken are standouts, 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.

RESTAURANT OF THE YEAR  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 aren’t far behind. An elegant white and gold setting backgrounds it all. 1145 Griswold St., Detroit; 313-636-3100. D Mon.-Sun., BR Sat.-Sun.

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.

$

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; 313-9646800. L,D Tue-Sun.

Red Dunn Kitchen $$ NEW AMERICAN • The Trumbull and Porter hotel’s spiffy restaurant is an ambitious undertaking, offering three meals a day. It 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; 313887-9477. B,L,D daily except on Fri., which is B,L.

ISLA’S TURON

PHOTO BY REBECCA SIMONOV

Turon is a Filipino dessert often made with bananas and jackfruit, rolled in a spring-roll wrapper, and fried. Here, pastry chef Jacqueline Diño-Garcia uses phyllo dough in places of the spring-roll wrappers to create an extra-flaky treat.

Ingredients:

Candied Jackfruit & Syrup

1 cup jackfruit, ripe and pitted

1 cup sugar

1 ½ cups water

Macerated Saba (Banana)

5 saba bananas, cut in half lengthwise (you can find frozen saba bananas in the freezer section of Asian grocery stores)

1 tablespoon brown sugar

4 tablespoons Candied Jackfruit Syrup (see above)

White Chocolate Whipped Cream

1 cup heavy whipping cream

1/3 cup white chocolate couverture or baking chocolate

Salted Latik Caramel Sauce

1 14-ounce can coconut milk

1 ½ cups heavy cream, warmed

¼ cup glucose or corn syrup

1 cup sugar

1/3 cup butter, softened

1 teaspoon kosher salt

Turon

Candied Jackfruit

Macerated Saba

2 sheets phyllo dough

1 ½ cups butter, melted Sugar for dusting

Directions:

Candied Jackfruit

1. Boil sugar and water until the sugar fully dissolves.

2. Add jackfruit and let boil until soft.

3. Drain the syrup and set aside to cool. Reserve both the jackfruit and the syrup.

Macerated Saba (Banana)

1. Mix the saba bananas, brown sugar, and jackfruit syrup together in a bowl.

2. Let everything sit and macerate for at least 1 hour and up to overnight.

White Chocolate Whipped Cream

1. Warm cream in pan over medium heat.

2. Add in the white chocolate and let the mixture sit for 5 minutes. Mix until the chocolate has fully melted. Cover and refrigerate for 3 hours or overnight.

3. Whip the cream and white chocolate mixture with a whisk or electric mixer until it forms stiff peaks.

Salted Latik Caramel Sauce

1. In a nonstick pan, over medium heat, bring coconut milk to a boil. Lower heat, stir, and continue to cook until it starts to thicken. Keep stirring until the coconut curds turn golden brown. Remove from heat and set aside.

2. Pour the warmed heavy cream over the latik and let it steep for 10-15 minutes. Strain and set aside.

3. Mix glucose and sugar in a medium saucepan over medium-high heat. Cook until the sugar is dark brown.

4. Slowly whisk in the warm latik cream and cook until the mixture is smooth, about 2 minutes. Remove and stir in butter and salt.

Assemble the Turon

1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheit.

2. Gently lay phyllo dough on a flat surface. Brush with melted butter and sprinkle with sugar.

3. Arrange the macerated saba and candied jackfruit horizontally and gently roll the dough. Repeat the process with the second sheet.

4. Brush the top side of the roll with melted butter and sprinkle with sugar.

5. Bake for 20-25 minutes, or until golden brown.

6. Let cool for 5 minutes. Cut and serve with salted latik caramel sauce and white whocolate whipped cream.

RESTAURANT LISTINGS 02.23

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.

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 Tue.-Sat. D Sun.

Roman Village $

ITALIAN • The Rugiero family has been serving 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.

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 Eggs and Cheese (soft scrambled eggs, herbs, and aioli). For lunch, there’s a selection of creative sandwiches. 10551 E. Jefferson Ave., Detroit; 313-822-2729. B,L,D Mon-Sat. B,L. 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.

Savannah Blue $$

SOUL FOOD • Highlights at this upscale soul food joint include the twice-dredged fried chicken and the shrimp and grits. Shareables include perch fritters, okra fries, 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 Tue.-Sat.

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; 248766-8071. D Fri.-Sat.

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.

RESTAURANT OF THE YEAR  2016

Selden Standard $$$

NEW AMERICAN • What sets Selden Standard apart is that it is moving Detroit into a new era in which upperend dining with starched linen and tuxedoed waiters doesn’t hold much interest anymore. Chef Andy Hollyday, a multiple James Beard semifinalist, does farm-totable 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 Wed.-Sun.

Seva Detroit $$

FEATURED 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 like polpette and three delicious salads. Beer, wine, and cocktails add to the appeal.

2457 Russell St., Detroit; 313-5677879. L,D Wed.Sun.; 6519 Woodward Ave., Detroit; 313-3147400. L,D Mon.-Sat.

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  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. D Tue.-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. L,D daily. 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; 313-6381695. D Wed.-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 grilled lamb kebabs and the house cheeseburger. 225 Gratiot Ave., Detroit; 313-241-5719. D Wed.-Sun. Not wheelchair accessible.

The Statler

modern twists) such as potted foie gras mousse; Henri Maire escargots (wild Burgundy snails, garlic butter fondue, parsley, Pernod, and profiteroles); and bouillabaisse provence (seafood stew with shrimp, scallops, lobster, mussels, saffron broth, croustade, and rouille) typify the menu. The large, year-round open-air outdoor patio offers stunning panoramic views of the Detroit skyline and Grand Circus Park. There’s also a neighborhood market where customers can grab groceries and gourmet packaged meals on the go. 313 Park Ave., Detroit; 313-463-7111. D Mon.-Sat., BR 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.

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.

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 Tue.-Sat.

Townhouse $$$

NEW AMERICAN • The downtown hotspot in 2021 underwent an aesthetic overhaul of the space and menu designed to elevate the spot’s signature comfort food fare. Staples, like the burger and fries, remain on the menu, but there are also fine-dining-inspired additions, like the caviar-topped crispy potato dish and the A5 wagyu with garlic, shallot rings, and grilled chicory. 500 Woodward Ave., Detroit; 313-723-1000. L, D Mon.-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; 313-886-9933. D Wed.-Mon.

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 $$$

$$$$

FRENCH • A taste of Paris in downtown Detroit. This French-American bistro from the Joe Vicari Restaurant Group takes its name from the former historic Statler Hotel, which is now home to not only the bistro but also City Club Apartments. Classic French fare (with some

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 mari-

nated 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. 3601 Twelve Mile Road, Warren; 586-576-0495. L,D daily.

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 Wed.-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; 313962-7711. D Tue.-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. As the name suggests, seafood is the main attraction here, specifically the seafood boils, which come with your choice of seafood (crab, clams, lobster, etc.), with sauce and corn and potatoes. 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 Wagyu beef carpaccio, ahi tuna tartare, and classic roasted oysters. 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; 248-540-900. L,D daily.

Andiamo $$

ITALIAN • Over the past three decades, Joe Vicari has established several Andiamo restaurants in metro Detroit, all inspired by the late master chef Aldo Ottaviani’s philosophy of seasonal, from-scratch cooking. The menus differ slightly at the different locations, but the constant is the fresh, housemade pastas — handcrafted by the trinity of “pasta ladies,” Anna, Tanya, and Angelina, who have carried on the tradition. 6676 Telegraph Road, Bloomfield; 248-865-9300. L,D Mon.Fri., D Sat.-Sun.

Anita’s Kitchen $

LEBANESE • With pita pizzas and lamb chops, the Lebanese food here is some of the best around. And 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 Wed.-Sat.

RESTAURANT OF THE YEAR  2005

Bacco Restaurante $$$

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 Tue.-Fri. D Tue.-Sat.

Bar Verona $$

ITALIAN • Modernized, made-from-scratch Italian favorites curated by Chef Salvatore Borgia as well as fresh craft cocktails fill the menu at this stylish eatery. Homemade pastas, such as Giuseppe’s and Spaghetti al Basilico, and specialty pizzas, including The Verona and the Truffle Mushroom, as well as a selection of steaks and seafood dishes typify the contemporary approach to fresh and uncomplicated Italian cuisine. 500 Loop Road, Commerce Charter Township; 248-387-5400. D daily.

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; 248-494-7110. D Tue.-Sat.

Beverly Hills Grill $$$

NEW AMERICAN • This Beverly Hills institution has built a loyal following over the years with its California vibe and dawn-to-dark schedule. These days they’re serving only dinner but still features the fresh and innovative fare that put it on the map. 31471 Southfield Road, Beverly Hills; 248-642-2355. D Mon.-Sat.

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; 248-3486800. L,D daily.

RESTAURANT LISTINGS 02.23

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

Birmingham Pub $$$

GASTROPUB • This stylish yet casual gastropub from the Joe Vicari Restaurant Group took over the former Triple Nickel space. True to its name, the restaurant’s bill of fare features pub classics taken up a notch, such as Alaskan cod butter roasted with everything-bagel crust and filet mignon with Parmesan truffle fries and zip sauce. There are also TVs at the bar so you won’t miss a minute of the game. 555 S. Old Woodward Ave., Birmingham; 248-885-8108. L,D Tue.-Fri., D Sat.-Sun.

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.

RESTAURANT OF THE YEAR  2003

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 Sun., D Tue.-Sun.

Café ML $$

FEATURED

The Fed GASTROPUB

An attractive restaurant with great food and a delightfully refreshing atmosphere. The menu crosses boundaries, from shareables, like Spanish Octopus and Wild Mushroom Crostini, to heartier fare, like Braised Lamb Pappardelle and Steak and Frites. Plus, the bright and airy bohemian-chic interior is highly Instagrammable. 15 S. Main St., Clarkston; 248-2975833. D Wed.-Sat., B,L,D Sun.

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 wellappointed private dining rooms. 2800 W. Big Beaver Road, Troy; 248-649-5300. L,D daily.

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. D Tue.-Sat.

Churchill’s Bistro & Cigar Bar $$$

TRADITIONAL • You can buy your cigar and smoke it too. Plus, enjoy 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,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.

Cornbread Restaurant & Bar $$

SOUL • In 1997, Patrick Coleman melded his experience in fine dining with his grandma’s southern roots to create Beans & Cornbread Soulful Bistro. It racked up accolades and fans over the years, including Stevie Wonder and Thomas (Hitman) Hearns. Cornbread is the sequel to Beans and Cornbread, continuing the tradition of soul food with an upscale twist. Classics like catfish and a gravy-smothered pork chop endure. 29852 Northwestern Hwy., Southfield; 248-208-1680. L,D Thu.-Tue.

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, seat-yourself establishment is named after an herb that is 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.

Diamond’s Steak & Seafood $$$

STEAKHOUSE • This Howell restaurant is the perfect location for ribeye, fresh gulf shrimp, or a classic cheeseburger. Plus, weekends boast a buffet-style brunch. 101 W. Grand River Ave., Howell; 517-5485500. D Tue.-Sat.

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; 248-647-2420. L,D Mon.-Sat.

RESTAURANT OF THE YEAR  2009

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 pastas, like the Bolognese and the agnolotti, as well as the understated Farm Egg. 735 Forest Ave., Birmingham; 248-258-9400. D Tue.-Sat.

The Fly Trap

ECLECTIC AMERICAN • This “finer diner” typifies trendy 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.-Sat.

Garage Grill & Fuel Bar $$

Joe Muer $$$$

FEATURED Gran Castor

LATIN STREET

From the duo behind hit spots like Vinsetta Garage and Union Woodshop comes this vibrant LatinAmerican cafe and restaurant. Diners can choose to sit behind one of the two bars, in a cozy cafe, 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 and 6 p.m. daily.

2950 Rochester Road, Troy; 248278-7777. D Wed.Mon.

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, 248-9243367. D Wed.-Sun., BR Sat.-Sun.

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 Wed.-Mon.

Hazel’s $$

SEAFOOD • What was once multiple concepts under one roof named after the three neighborhoods that converged right where the restaurant stands (Hazel, Ravine and Downtown) is now simply Hazel’s. The casual and comfortable restaurant specializes in authentic dishes, drinks, and vibes from some of the country’s top seafood destinations. Here you’ll find dishes like Maine-caught lobster, Maryland Blue Crab, and more. 1 Peabody St., Birmingham; 248-671-1714. D Tue.-Sun., B,L Sat.-Sun.

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; 248707-3793. L,D daily.

RESTAURANT OF THE YEAR  2002

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 Tue.-Sun.

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 slowroasted 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; 248-681-2124. L,D Tue.-Sun.

SEAFOOD • The Bloomfield Hills location of the iconic restaurant continues the tradition of excellent food, service, and ambiance. The menu emphasizes classic fresh fish and “Muer Traditions” such as Dover sole and Great Lakes Yellow Belly Perch. There’s also a raw and sushi bar as well as premium steaks. And make sure to save room for dessert, because the coconut cake is not to be missed. A piano bar adds to the ambience. 39475 Woodward Ave., Bloomfield Hills; 248-792-9609. D daily.

Kaizen Ramen $

JAPANESE • A downtown Royal Oak space with exposed ductwork, orange booths, and a lively, floor-to-ceiling, 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.

Lao Pot $$$

CHINESE • In 2019, 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.

La Strada Dolci e Caffé $

ITALIAN • A slice of European elegance offers an impeccable little menu of Italian dishes and rich coffees 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; 248-480-0492. D Tue.-Sat.

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; 248-3734440. 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.

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; 248-584-4227. L,D daily. BR 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, faintly charred around the edges. Hailed by food critics and Detroiters alike as one of the city’s most classic

Detroit style pizzas, it’s well worth a trip. 23141 Dequindre Road, Hazel Park; 248-547-1711. L,D Thu.-Sun.

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 Greekstyle 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. B,L Thu.-Sun., D Fri.-Sat. Tea by reservation. Lower level not wheelchair accessible.

Mare Mediterranean $$$$

SEAFOOD • Inspired by restaurants in Sicily where the catch of the day is the basis of dinner, this sophisticated restaurant from Nino Cutraro and his partner offers the freshest seafood flown in from the Mediterranean several times a week. You select the type of fish you want from the market in front of the open kitchen and how you want it prepared (acqua pazza, salt baked, grilled, or pan fried). It’s then served tableside in glorious fashion. Not to be missed are the Mare Tower and moussaka. It’s a feast for the eyes as well as the stomach. 115 Willits St., Birmingham; 248-940-5525. D Tue.-Sat.

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 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 Gulf Shrimp Gratin, steak frites remarkably close to those at Paris bistros, and a housemade soft pretzel with roasted jalapeno-goat cheese dip. Or, try the beef short rib with shawarma spices, pistachio basmati, and pickled vegetables. 301 S. Main St., Rochester; 248-759-4825. D daily, BR Sat.-Sun.

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 guacamole, nachos, and the titular tacos — is backed up with an array of tequilas. 312 S. Main St., Royal Oak; 248-545-1940. L & D daily.

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 lemongrass-basil Thai curry sauce. 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.

RESTAURANT OF THE YEAR  2008

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, smoked apple burnt ends and Detroit style pizza, 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.

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; 248-5560947. 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 beer-hall sensibility to this popular spot. The kitchen delivers New Orleans-themed dishes such as Chicken Tchoupitoulas with tasso ham and bearnaise sauce, as well as a mouth-watering bacon burger. Weekend brunch features delicious housemade doughnuts. 175 W. Troy St., Ferndale; 248808-6633. D daily, BR Sat.-Sun.

O.W.L. $

MEXICAN-AMERICAN • This Royal Oak spot offers sustenance for the early birds to the night owls. 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; 248-808-6244. B, L,D daily.

Otus Supply $

NEW AMERICAN • This Ferndale stunner has delightful food, superb service, and one wild look. The menu offers main courses and shared plates, as well as pizza and sandwiches. There’s also a concert venue called The Parliament Room. 345 E. Nine Mile Road, Ferndale; 248-291-6160. D Tue.-Sat.

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 singleserving-sized local whitefish. 588 S. Old Woodward Ave., Birmingham; 248-644-3122. L Mon.-Fri., D daily., BR Sun.

Pinky’s Rooftop $$

ECLECTIC AMERICAN • With its second-floor view of downtown Royal Oak, Pinky’s Rooftop is a go-to spot for a night on the town. The name hearkens back to a Detroit restaurant and speakeasy on the east side that was called Pinky’s Boulevard Club (and the fact that everything is pink). The playful and eclectic menu offers a taste of a little bit of everything, from Kasseri Saganaki to Red Chile Beef Taco. It’s part of the Adam Merkel Restaurants group, which includes Howell hot spots The Silver Pig, Cello Italian, and Diamond’s Steak & Seafood. 100 S. Main St. Rear, Royal Oak, 248-268-2885. D Tues.-Sun. Br. Sat.-Sun.

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; 248-2684806. D Tue.-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; 248-737-7463. D Tue.-Sun.

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. D daily., BR Sat.-Sun.

FEATURED 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 Highway, Troy; 248458-0500. L Mon.Fri., D daily.

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; 248-2684310. L,D Fri.-Wed

Redcoat Tavern $

BURGERS • The half-pound choice beef hamburger is always atop the list of local favorites. But a low-fat, high-flavor 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 aged steaks, rack of lamb, and steak/seafood combinations. 306 S. Main St., Rochester; 248-6512266. L Mon.-Fri., D daily

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.

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; 248652-4500. D Mon.-Sat.

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 vinaigrette. 225 E. Maple Road, Birmingham; 248-594-4200. L Mon.-Fri., D daily, BR Sat.-Sun.

Sozai

JAPANESE • To truly experience Sozai, you have to reserve a seat at the custom-built sushi bar where chef Hajime Sato will curate a unique sustainable sushi dining experience called omakase. There’s also a menu offering crowd pleasures like chicken karaage and rolls featuring familiar ingredients with tuna, jalapeno and avocado. 449 W. 14 Mile Road, Clawson; 248677-3232. D Tues.-Sat.

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 oysters and bouillabaisse. A delicious restaurant for all palates to enjoy and feel comfortable in. 273 Pierce St.Birmingham; 248-645-9123. L Mon.-Fri., D daily.

Sylvan Table $$$

NEW AMERICAN • With a working farm on the 5-acre property, Sylvan Table isn’t just talking the farm-totable talk. The restored 300-year-old barn feels grand and vast when you step into the stunning space, but it is homey, welcoming, and inviting. The menu changes often to reflect what’s growing but some of the staples include the trout — seasoned with herb oil, salt, and pepper, cooked over a wood-fired grill, and served whole — and Chicken Under a Brick, which is cooked to charred perfection. 1819 Inverness St., Sylvan Lake, 248-369-3360. D Mon.-Sun. Br. Sat.-Sun.

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,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 whole branzino with charred zucchini and romesco. 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 fea-

tures 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 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.

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. 203 Pierce St., Birmingham; 248-258-6278. B,L daily.

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 Mon.-Fri., L,D Tue.-Sat.

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. D daily.

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 Tue.-Sun.

Vinsetta Garage $$

NEW AMERICAN • This restaurant, which is housed in a vintage car-repair shop, offers well-prepared comfort-food classics such as burgers served on pretzel buns, macaroni and cheese, the Chef Bowl with spaghetti and tomato basil sauce, pizzas, and brown sugar-glazed salmon. 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.

Waves $$

SEAFOOD • Seafood covers most of the menu at this Nautical Mile favorite. It’s a tough task choosing between such popular appetizers as coconut shrimp, 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.

Macomb

Andiamo $$

ITALIAN • Over the past three decades, Joe Vicari has established several Andiamo restaurants in metro Detroit, all inspired by the late master chef Aldo Ottaviani’s philosophy of seasonal, from-scratch cooking. Menus differ slightly between locations, but the constant is fresh, housemade pastas — handcrafted by the trinity of “pasta ladies,” Anna, Tanya, and Angelina, who have carried on the tradition. The Warren location is the flagship that started it all. 7096 14 Mile Road, Warren; 586-268-3200. L,D Mon.-Fri., D Sat.-Sun.

Barleycorn’s Public House $$

FEATURED 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. L Sun., D daily.

GASTROPUB • This casual spot offers a wide-ranging cocktail menu, craft beers, and elevated pub fare (try the Southerner, a buttermilk-soaked fried chicken, or the fish and chips). Located near Emagine theater, it’s an ideal spot to grab a burger and drinks before or after a movie. 50985 Hayes Road, Shelby Township; 586-271-8700. L,D Tue.-Fri., D Sat.-Sun.

Bar Verona $$ ITALIAN • Scratch-made Italian favorites as well as fresh craft cocktails fill the menu at this stylish eatery. Homemade pastas, such as Giuseppe’s and Spaghetti al Basilico, and specialty pizzas, including The Verona and the Truffle Mushroom, as well as a selection of steaks and seafood dishes typify the modernized approach to fresh and uncomplicated Italian cuisine. 59145 Van Dyke Ave., Washington; 586-473-0700. D daily.

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 by offering traditional Italian dining with an upbeat modern twist. 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, thanks to an extensive menu of fresh fish and seafood that ranges from salmon to Lake Superior whitefish — all served in a well-designed setting. 51195 Schoenherr Road, Shelby Charter Township; 586-739-5400. L Mon.-Fri., D daily.

Gaudino’s $$ ITALIAN • The trending market-restaurant combo 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; 586879-6764. L,D Tue.-Sat

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: cedarplanked 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 Tue.-Sun., 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; 586-7777770. 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 Tue.-Sat.

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; 586-731-3900. L,D Tue.-Sun.

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 pan-seared salmon and sous vide pork shank. 52969 Van Dyke Ave., Shelby Township; 586-991-6104. L,D Mon.-Sat.

Washtenaw

Bellflower $$$

NEW AMERICAN • A 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 CocaCola-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.

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. Non-seafood options include the eponymous burger, roasted butternut squash salad, and filet mignon. 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 Tue.-Sat.

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, and vegetables are equally delicious. 221 E. Washington St., Ann Arbor; 734-9984746. D Tue.-Sun.545 W. Nine Mile Road, Ferndale; 248-547-6699. D Thu.-Sun.

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 Sun., D Tue.-Sun.

FEATURED

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; 734-9710484. L,D daily.

The Common Grill $$

SEAFOOD • Founded by Chef Craig Common, whose skilled work drew the attention of the now shuttered Gourmet magazine and the James Beard House, this mainstay was acquired in 2022 by Peas & Carrots Hospitality. Chefs Zack Sklar and Josh Humphrey most of the beloved restaurant’s menu, such as the expertly prepared oysters and seafood dishes as well as the coconut cream pie. 112 S. Main St., Chelsea; 734-475-0470. L,D Tue.-Sun., 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 Tue.-Sun.

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 Fri.-Sun., D Wed.-Sun.

Miss Kim $$

KOREAN • This spinoff from the Zingerman’s mini empire comes courtesy of chef Ji Hye Kim, a James Beard semifinalist. Kim meticulously researches Korean culinary traditions and recipes to create her unique blend of modern Korean food highlighting Michigan vegetables, from housemade kimchi to the tteokbokki (rice cakes). Some of the restaurant’s standouts include a craveable Korean fried chicken and its plantbased counterpart the Korean fried tofu. 415 N. Fifth Ave., Ann Arbor, 734-275-0099. L and D Wed.-Mon.

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 vegetarian. There’s also a full bar as well as a juice bar serving creamy smoothies and dense shakes, fresh-squeezed juices, and craft mocktails. Choose from one of the most extensive vegetarian menus in the Detroit area. 2541 Jackson Ave., Ann Arbor; 734-662-1111. L,D Mon.-Sat.

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.

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 duck-fat fried chicken. But the star at Slurping Turtle is the noodle (Yagihashi’s “soul food”), which is made in-house daily on a machine imported from Japan. 608 E. Liberty St., Ann Arbor; 734-887-6868. L,D daily.

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; 734-6693310. B,L,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 Tue.-Sun.

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; 734663-3354. B,L,D daily.

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

RELY ON THE LOCAL EXPERTS FOR THEIR KNOWLEDGE AND INSIGHT

The first step to finding the answer is asking the question. The second step is asking the question to the right person so you have most informed answer to make the right decision going forward.

Do your research, write down the facts, and verify the information – in other words, do your due diligence. And don’t blindly accept that what Google or Alexa or Siri are telling you is accurate information –they are search engines, not experts.

Hour Media always provides the most reliable, experienced and educated experts in their field to answer your questions. They are not only trusted

and respected, but local – you can get your answers from them right in their office. They will listen to your concerns and explain the best options to fit your needs and expectations.

Our experts are educated, trained, certified, experienced, local and willing to help you find the right answers to your questions.

What’s the value of getting input from a local expert — someone who’s knowledgeable and experienced in a special area or field? Let’s flip the script and consider what may happen if you don’t gain that insight or you make a big decision based on inaccurate or outdated information. The wrong or ill-informed answer can

have devastating results, especially when it comes to your health – physical, mental and financial. The questions may not change but the answers today could be different than they were even a year ago so your expert source needs to be updated on all the latest developments, technology and changes in their field. Is Google and Alexa and Siri aware of the latest technological advancements? Whatever your question, always keep asking, researching and learning.

If you have other questions, feel free to contact our trusted advisers. They’ll be happy to provide the information you need and answer your questions so you can make an informed decision.

Q: Does Pilates have advantages for women?

A: Winter is here. If you’re an avowed outdoor exercise enthusiast, you’re probably longing for the days of spring, when you can get back out there. Those days are a ways off, though.

“Fortunately, one of the most effective ways to safely condition your body during these cold winter months and beyond is with Pilates,” says Ron Jegadeesh, physical therapist, Pilates instructor, and owner of Pilates

Fitness & Physical Therapy Center in Southfield.

With an emphasis on alignment, flowing movement, and breathing, Pilates is an amazing way to improve flexibility, balance, and coordination while building core strength and developing endurance, no matter what your gender. Where Pilates is particularly beneficial for women, though, is in its ability to strengthen the pelvic floor.

A strong pelvic floor is like a superhero power when it comes to prepping for childbirth, and it does wonders for lessening those all-tooreal bladder leakage issues many women face as they get older.

What’s more, Pilates stresses the importance of a neutral spine, which benefits all other forms of training — so when spring does finally come, you’ll be strong, poised, and ready to get back at it. All while staying warm this winter.

THE ANNUAL LIST OF TOP WOMEN ATTORNEYS

SELECTION PROCESS

Super Lawyers selects attorneys using a patented multiphase selection process.*

The objective is to create a credible, comprehensive and diverse listing of outstanding attorneys that can be used as a resource for attorneys and consumers searching for legal counsel. We limit the lawyer ratings to those who can be hired and retained by the public, i.e., lawyers in private practice and Legal Aid attorneys.

The Super Lawyers selection process involves the steps outlined in the graphic (at right).

OUR

PATENTED SELECTION PROCESS NOMINATIONS

Diverse list of the top attorneys nominated by their own peers

INDEPENDENT RESEARCH

Evaluated by third-party research across 12 key categories

LEARN MORE SuperLawyers.com/SelectionProcess QUESTIONS? SL-Research@thomsonreuters.com

visit SuperLawyers.com

Search for an attorney by practice area and location, and read features on attorneys selected to our lists.

TOP 50 WOMEN

Aaron, Jody L.

Alli, Margaret Carroll

Almonrode, Sharon S.

Andreou, D. Jennifer

Bogas, Kathleen L.

Breitmeyer, Carol F.

Brodeur-McGeorge, Laura A.

Buiteweg, Lori A.

Chandler, Cheryl L.

Chartier, Mary

Cohen, Susan E.

Czapski, Michelle Thurber

Debler, Margaret T.

Eisenberg, Laura E.

Eisenberg, Sue Ellen

Fershtman, Julie I.

Fish, Deborah L.

Forbush, Audrey J.

Gordon, Deborah L. Grieco, Jennifer M.

Hardy, Elizabeth P.

Johnston, Amy M.

Kirsch-Satawa, Lisa

Klaus, Kathleen H.

MacKenzie, Donna M.

MacWilliams, Sara K.

Massaron, Mary McGehee, Cary S.

Murphy, Lauretta K.

Norris, Megan P.

Oertel, Jennifer M.

Olijnyk, Martha J.

Prescott, Sarah S.

PEER EVALUATION

Reviewed by a highly credentialed Blue Ribbon Panel of attorneys

FINAL SELECTION

2.5% of attorneys selected to Rising Stars

5% of attorneys selected to Super Lawyers

*U.S. Pat. No. 8,412,564

Rivers, Beth M.

Rosati, Carol A.

Rubin, Jorin G.

Salvatore, Jennifer

Smith, Shannon M.

Speaker, Liisa R.

Stamler, Patricia A.

Stout, Kimberly W.

Susskind, Judith A.

Teahan, Marlaine C.

Teicher, Julie B.

Tripp, Amy R.

Walsh, Rebecca S.

Watson, Linda M.

Wheaton, Jill M.

Wittmann, Beth A.

Woods, Sharon M.

THE ANNUAL LIST BY PRIMARY AREA OF PRACTICE

The list was finalized as of February 11, 2022. Only attorneys who data verified with Super Lawyers for the current year are included on the list that follows. All current selections and any updates to the list (e.g., status changes or disqualifying events) will be reflected on superlawyers.com.

Names and page numbers in RED Phone numbers are included only for attorneys with paid Super Lawyers or Rising Stars print advertisements.

ALTERNATIVE DISPUTE RESOLUTION

SUPER LAWYERS

Baggett-Hayes, Earlene R. Cataldo, Sheri B.

Iverson, Dale Ann Raheem, Antoinette R. S-10 Raimi, Diana

ANTITRUST LITIGATION

RISING STARS Gjonaj, Diana Wahl, Suzanne L.

APPELLATE

SUPER LAWYERS

Argiroff, Anne L. Ginter, Christina A.

Howard, Ramona C. Koffron, Saraphoena B. Massaron, Mary Nemeth, Mary T. Osgood, Terry Milne Rochkind, Rosalind H. Speaker, Liisa R. Wheaton, Jill M. Wittmann, Beth A.

RISING STARS

Beach, Karen E. Daher, Fawzeih H. Frank, Amanda Gostek, Katharine

Kohn, Brittney D. Nester, Andrea

BANKING

SUPER LAWYERS

Hickey, Kathleen O’Callaghan Zabriskie, Wendy L.

RISING STARS VanderVeen, M. Katherine

BANKRUPTCY: BUSINESS

SUPER LAWYERS

Cook, Susan M. Fish, Deborah L. Hall, Paula A.

Hillary, Kim K.

Teicher, Julie B.

Toby, Sheryl L.

RISING STARS

Genovich, Laura J. Vintevoghel-Backer, Amanda C.

BANKRUPTCY: CONSUMER

SUPER LAWYERS

Bedigian, Kimberly

Boylan, Winnifred P.

Clark, Tracy M.

Evangelista, Karen E.

Hart, Erika D.

Rowse-Oberle, Karen L.

RISING STARS

Bass, Michelle H.

Sikorski, Katherine

BUSINESS LITIGATION

SUPER LAWYERS

Baucus, Laura C.

Boardman, Mischa M.

Czapski, Michelle Thurber

Eisenstein, Kathryn

Grieco, Jennifer M.

Haffey, Cynthia J.

Jackson, Angela L.

Johnston, Amy M.

Kosovec, Julie Lyons

MacWilliams, Sara K.

Miller, Ann L.

Mithani, Sonal Hope

Olijnyk, Martha J.

Quadrozzi, Jaye S-10

Taylor, Maureen T.

Urlaub, Barbara D.

Watson, Linda M.

Wilson, Frances Belzer

RISING STARS

Araya, Kristina M.

Baiardi, Kristen L.

Bolyea, Fatima M.

Catania, Emily K.

Cupples, Jennifer A.

Cylkowski, Sarah L.

David, Javon R.

Fields, Emily S. Giordano, Caroline B.

Gonzalez, Lena M.

Jankowski, Nina M.

Johnson, Alexis F. Lockhart, Nicole B. Markel, Alexandra C.

Mayer, Emily M.

Mistry, Armeen F.

Pellegrino, Ariana

Ramin, Nasseem

Rosenbach, Nina

Rucker, Emily

Saxton, Bridget L.

Sobo, Alma

Soler, Ivonne

Sossi, Pamela M.

Szymanski, Paige M.

Yono, Candace V.

You, Laura N.

Yu, Elise H.

BUSINESS/CORPORATE

SUPER LAWYERS

Banas, C. Leslie

Leahy, Carrie

Moss, Leigh Dones

Myers, Kelly A.

RISING STARS

Adams, Alari K.

Burneski, Pamela

Cantor, Emily E.

Elia, Salam S-9

SALAM ELIA

www.eliabusinesslaw.com

Garcia Pickman, Nola

Johnson, Laura E.

Kaltz-Coulombe, Jacqueline S-9

Salari, Sogoal A.

Sprague, Corinne N.

Sullivan, Emily M.

Ward, Ellen E.

Watkins, Natalie A.

CANNABIS LAW

RISING STARS

Gilbert, Julia A.

CIVIL LITIGATION: DEFENSE

SUPER LAWYERS

Dangl, Lindsay N. S-9

Dembinski, Nancy Vayda

Fershtman, Julie I.

Swanson, Joanne Geha

Wright, Nicole M.

RISING STARS

Chrysler, Ashley

Deprekel, Katelyn

Gettler, Nicole

Murphy, Frances G.

Payne, Erica N.

Reed, Shaina

Roseman, Rachael

Ruttkofsky, Kathrine A.

Seibert, Kimberly K. Tompkin, Stephanie

CIVIL LITIGATION: PLAINTIFF

RISING STARS

Stewart, Jamie K.

CIVIL RIGHTS

SUPER LAWYERS

Buckleitner, Anne Chaney, Nakisha N.

RISING STARS

Filipovic, Milica

Henderson, Kali

CLASS ACTION/MASS TORTS

SUPER LAWYERS

Almonrode, Sharon S. Douglas, Stephanie A.

Ellis, Tiffany R. Hughes, Emily E. Shecter, Lynn H.

Thomson, Elizabeth (Liz) C.

CONSTRUCTION LITIGATION

SUPER LAWYERS

Leipprandt, Aileen M.

RISING STARS

McAlpine, Ashley L. S-10

Virzi, Lauren

CONSUMER LAW

SUPER LAWYERS

Liblang, Dani K.

RISING STARS

Williams, Dawn N.

CREDITOR DEBTOR RIGHTS

SUPER LAWYERS

Brimer, Lynn M. Giunta, Rozanne M. Kress, Kay Standridge

Witten, Jaimee L.

RISING STARS

Butler, Elizabeth K.

CRIMINAL DEFENSE

SUPER LAWYERS

Chartier, Mary Cobb, Britt S-9

DeBruin, Tiffany

Dwyer, Lisa

Irey-Iverson, Kirsten A.

Kelley, Deanna L.

Kirsch-Satawa, Lisa

Raben, Margaret Sind

Silver, Gabi D.

Smith, Shannon M.

Stout, Kimberly W.

RISING STARS

Alcendor, Ayanna

Babi, Carly H.

Belcher, Leanna

Bommarito, Jenna M.

Costantino, Kristina

Covington, Alycia P.

Duplessis, Ashlee

Gabbara, Suzan

Giuliani, Alexandra M.

Krause, Sarah A.

Kriger, Allison

Lafond, Jessica

Lehman, Mariell R. S-10

Lucaj, Valentina S-10

McCormick, Alyssa

Rushing, Sydney E. F.

Wolfe, Rachel

Yermalenka, Olga

CRIMINAL DEFENSE: WHITE COLLAR

SUPER LAWYERS

Belveal, Jennifer Zbytowski

RISING STARS

Fernandez, Kristin

Lane, Madelaine C.

ELDER LAW

SUPER LAWYERS

Buhl, Rosemary Howley

Huff, Diane K.

Schmitt Smith, Mary T.

Tripp, Amy R.

RISING STARS

Chalgian, Susan L.

Mccowan, Julie

Ramdayal - Howard, Farrah

Solaiman, Erin

EMPLOYEE BENEFITS

SUPER LAWYERS

Larson, Mary Jo

Moore, Cynthia A.

O’Reilly, Rebecca D.

Soubly, Diane M.

Zimmer, Lisa B.

RISING STARS

Rowley, Jessica S.

EMPLOYMENT & LABOR

SUPER LAWYERS

Bogas, Kathleen L.

Brault, Darcie R.

Brodeur-McGeorge, Laura A.

Eisenberg, Sue Ellen

Gafkay, Julie A.

Hardy, Elizabeth P.

Kienbaum, Karen S.

Laughbaum, Carol A.

Laughren, Sheryl A.

Linderman Richelew, Marla

Lloyd, Theresa Smith

McCulloch, Debra

McManus, Jennifer L.

Norris, Megan P.

Rivers, Beth M.

Roebuck, Marlo Johnson

Rosen, Miriam L.

Sabourin, Jennifer L.

Salvatore, Jennifer

Skaggs, Elizabeth Wells

Smith Kennedy, Katherine

Walker, Angela L.

Wasserman, Cristine

Welch, Anne-Marie Vercruysse

RISING STARS

Bates, Lyndsey K.

Brown, Kaitlin Abplanalp

Chinonis, Nancy K.

Delmastro, Angelina R.

Dornbos, Erin

Down, Chelsea S.

Mills, Helen E. R

Muse, Jennifer L.

Robertson, Amy M.

Tetreau, Melissa

Vanderkolk, Tiffany R.

EMPLOYMENT LITIGATION: DEFENSE

SUPER LAWYERS

Alli, Margaret Carroll

Amtsbuechler, Laura S.

Berkery, Karen B.

Bernard, Andrea J.

Brouwer, Deborah L.

Fielder, Amanda M.

Hiser, Susan Hartmus

Mayfield, Bonnie

Nemeth, Patricia

Wood, Kathryn S.

Woods, Sharon M.

RISING STARS

Culberson, Elyse K.

Kingston, Jessica

EMPLOYMENT LITIGATION: PLAINTIFF

SUPER LAWYERS

Croson, Charlotte

Danieleski, Manda L.

Freid, Debra A.

Gordon, Deborah L.

Lord, Jennifer L.

McGehee, Cary S.

Prescott, Sarah S.

Sharp, Heidi T.

Stamler, Patricia A.

RISING STARS

Huang, Charissa C.

Mannarino, Angela M.

ENERGY & NATURAL RESOURCES

SUPER LAWYERS

Hlywa Topp, Susan

ENTERTAINMENT & SPORTS

RISING STARS

Wilson, Kristina

ENVIRONMENTAL

SUPER LAWYERS

Newlon, Sharon R.

Sadler, Susan J.

RISING STARS

Stalker, Margaret C.

ESTATE & TRUST LITIGATION

SUPER LAWYERS

Glazier, Sandra D.

Luckenbach, Elizabeth L.

RISING STARS

Duffy, Alison F.

ESTATE PLANNING & PROBATE

SUPER LAWYERS

Aguilar, Kathleen Hogan

Deveney, Marie R.

Fuller, Michele P.

Hartmann, Amy B.

Hentkowski, Angela M.

Lentz, Marguerite Munson CONTINUED

TOP WOMEN SELECTED 2022

Little, Nancy L.

Lyneis, Mary M. S-10

Lynwood, Katie

Meyers, Susan G.

Morrissey, Amy N.

Murphy, Lauretta K.

Pudyk, Christy M.

Savage, Christine M.

Schluter, Dawn M.

Teahan, Marlaine C.

Tucker, Rachel

Welber, Nancy H.

Westerman, Susan S.

RISING STARS

Browning, Kimberly C.

Clough, Haley

DeGraves, Jenny L.

Hertzberg, Nicole A.

King-Penner, Kelli

Leo, Cassandra

Massaro, Julia

O’Laughlin, Beth L.

Ostahowski, Sarah L.

Rubin, Michelle A.

Trimpe, Carrie E.

Welton, Christine L.

Willis, Mariko C.

Wrock, Rebecca K.

FAMILY LAW

SUPER LAWYERS

Abbatt, Candyce Ewing S-9

Alane, Natalie

Becker, Lori D.

Benson, Annette J.

Black, Julia L.

Bransdorfer, Elizabeth K.

Breitmeyer, Carol F.

Brinkman, Monica

Bryan, Jennie Boldish

Buiteweg, Lori A.

Cohen, Susan E.

Cole, Kathleen L.

Cook, Shon Anne

Cronin, Sabrina Shaheen

Cushman, Kathryn M.

Draper, Roquia K.

Duffy, Jill

Eisenberg, Laura E.

Elkouri, Susan L.

Finazzo, Lori J.

Frazee, Jeanne M.

RISING STARS

Aretakis German, Sara

Baluha, Katherine

JEANNE M. FRAZEE

www.jfrazeelaw.com

Giske, Staci D. Goldner, Ruth Green, Sandra U. Gucciardo, Renée K. Haas, Trish Oleksa Heath, Symantha Hlywa, Julie A. Hohauser, Elizabeth A. Johnsen, Jennifer L. Kitchen-Troop, Elizabeth Kizy-White, Channelle Lichterman, Susan S. Long, Emily E. Mellin, Irika N. S-5 Middleditch Wigod, Keri

KERI MIDDLEDITCH WIGOD

Moore, Phoebe J. S-7 Nacy, Elizabeth J. Papista, Anthea E. S-10

ANTHEA E. PAPISTA

www.papistalaw.com

Peskin-Shepherd, Alisa A. S-10

Prokopec, Dawn M.

Pulte, Marie A. Raczkowski, Annette T. Robinson, Kristen L. S-5

Rotter, Harriet B. Rubin, Jorin G. Sater, Nazli G. Selleck, Stacey L. Sendelbach, Karen S.

Sharkey, Katherine M. Silverman, Elizabeth A. Slank, Eileen J.

Spilman, Amy M. Stawski, Amy A. Stephens, Christine H. Stern, Lisa D.

Steslicki, Sarah E. Stone, Nancy Komer Stypula, Elaine

Thacker, Connie R.

Tobin-Levigne, Ann M.

Tooman, Rebecca

Vogt, Kathy J.

Warshaw, Eileen

Wikander, Erica L.

Wolock, Miriam Z.

Bono, Sherri L. S-9

Brown, Erica

Burks, Tiffany

Cheltenham, Colline

Constand, Dana M.

Dahlen, Meredith E.

Duncan, Heidi A.

Flynn, Erin C.

Ghannam, Angela J.

Heltsley, Jessica

Kelly, Ryan M.

Kennedy, Robyn M.

Korr, Allison Greenlee

Krysak Frampton, Katherine A.

Lotarski, Nina M.

Love, Alison

Mash, Erin C.

Medley, Angela

Meeker, Alicia

Miller, Delia

Ortega, Kendra J.

Polizzi, Laura E.

Riggs, Sarah Dinsmore

Schalte, Kelly M. S-5

Sierra, Courtney M.

Sleight, Allison E.

Solomon, Elizabeth

Spresser, Lise M.

Wirth, Amanda Van Essen

Wolfram, Kristen S.

Zurawski, Casey S-10

GENERAL LITIGATION

SUPER LAWYERS

Bos, Carole D.

RISING STARS

Hansmann, Leigh A.

Peters, Amber D.

Schepers Wilson, Ariel

Swindlehurst, Cara

GOVERNMENT CONTRACTS

RISING STARS

Dismondy, Aida

GOVERNMENT FINANCE

SUPER LAWYERS

Van Dusen, Amanda

HEALTH CARE

SUPER LAWYERS

Benkoff, Reesa N.

Geroux, Debra A.

Hollenbeck, Ann T.

Mantese, Theresamarie

Navarro, Monica P.

Rickard, Lori-Ann

Williamson, Deborah J.

RISING STARS

Lucido, Lisa A.

Vallee, Alexandra

IMMIGRATION

SUPER LAWYERS

Basmaji, Dorothy Hanigan S-9

DeMatteis Mager, Clara

Friend, Carol A.

Pastor, Caridad (Carrie)

Wise, Dawn Welk

RISING STARS

De Armas, Marva

Farida, Lauren

Fish, Kathleen S.

Kasham, Amany

Mosko, Ellie

Nasr, Catherine

Saleh, Carine R.

Sarraf, Natalia

Siewert, Abril Valdes

Terebelo, Michal D.

INSURANCE

SUPER LAWYERS

COVERAGE

Chapnick, Michele A.

Hebert, Deborah A.

Mayer, Julie C.

Wilinski, Nicole E.

RISING STARS

Adams, Michele Dunsky

Bodwin, Theresa A.

Brochert, Stephanie

Cramer, Kaitlyn A.

DePriest, Danielle R.

Djordjeski, Elena

Earls, Ann-Marie E.

Fopma, Amanda B.

McKenna, Jenna R.

Paletta, Jacklyn Pasquale

Sprague, Simone R.

Zagaroli, Carly

INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY

SUPER LAWYERS

Coakley, Lisabeth H.

Kennedy, Linda D.

Kornfield, Susan M.

Nesti, Francine B.

O’Donnell, Mary Margaret L.

Pursley, Kristen

Shovein, Hope V. Wilson, Rebecca L.

RISING STARS

DeRegnaucourt, Staci R. Farina, Stacie

Fidler, Ph.D., Tiffany Green, Mikai J. S-9

Jander, Patricia H. Klug, Erin

Mustafa, Nadine N. Pacynski, Katherine

Pasquali, Chelsea E. Smith, Shannon K. Walters, Daniela

Willens, Lauren Edelman

INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY LITIGATION

SUPER LAWYERS Carswell, Chanille

Dobrowitsky, Catherine T. Mandell, Barbara L. Ramsey, Janet L. Scott, Kimberly L.

MEDIA AND ADVERTISING

SUPER LAWYERS

Luce-Herrmann, Robin

MERGERS & ACQUISITIONS

SUPER LAWYERS

Bach, Allison R.

Paullin-Hebden, Linda

RISING STARS

Bailey, Vanessa

MILITARY/VETERANS LAW

RISING STARS

Kelly, Mandy L.

NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS

SUPER LAWYERS

Oertel, Jennifer M.

PERSONAL INJURY GENERAL: DEFENSE

SUPER LAWYERS

Melkonian, Kari L.

Zachary, Nicolette S.

RISING STARS

Bond, Jessica J.

Brezenski, Lauren N.

Burnstein, Stephanie

DeVos, Cristy M.

Phoebe J. Moore Super Lawyers Honoree

Dickey, Ashley Druzinski, Julie Fox, Christen

Haines, Rebecca M.

Hermiz, Krystal D.

Mackie, Najla

Penrod, Lauren

Roberts, Elizabeth P.

Smith, Carol A.

Sterrett, Lauren A.

Tzafaroglou, Stephanie

Vergara, Claire D.

PERSONAL INJURY GENERAL: PLAINTIFF

SUPER LAWYERS

Atnip, Heather J.

Damico, Jennifer G.

Kalka, Suzanne Marie

Kuchon, Sarah E.

Peacock, Emily M.

RISING STARS

Bahri, Ronita

Danielson, Laura B.

Doss, Krystina

Draugelis, Sam

Hanna, Nora

Odisho, Sandi

Schanta, Samantha E.

Schlinker, Loryn

Tucker, Catherine E.

Warner, Amanda B.

PERSONAL INJURY MEDICAL MALPRACTICE: DEFENSE

SUPER LAWYERS

Andreou, D. Jennifer

Barker, Lori A.

Bowerman, Cathy R.

Chandler, Cheryl L.

Matson, Marcy R.

Merry, Cynthia E.

Selzer, Laura H.

Sieler, Jean Ann S.

Warren, Heidi E.

RISING STARS

Cherry, Sarah E.

Cicotte, Marisa A.

Green, Christina

Iafrate, Joslyn R.

Johnson, Laura A.

Joseph-Windecker, Nicole

Karisny, Stephanie

Khalifeh, Juliana B.

Mansoor, Silvia Alexandria

Mulder, Megan R.

Quackenbush, Ashley

Studley, Lauren

PERSONAL INJURY MEDICAL MALPRACTICE: PLAINTIFF

SUPER LAWYERS

Aaron, Jody L. Arndt, Stephanie L. Eardley, Eugenie B. Engelhardt, Jennifer A. Esser-Weidenfeller, Lisa M. Hoffer, Stephanie S-9

Little, Ronda M. MacKenzie, Donna M.

Meyers, Mary Pat (Rosen) Randall, Anne L. Susskind, Judith A. Walsh, Rebecca S.

RISING STARS

Culaj, Ardiana Heid, Elyse Secorski, Jennifer L. Thomas, Emily G. Yaldo, Fallon Zalewski, Dina M.

PERSONAL INJURY PRODUCTS: DEFENSE

SUPER LAWYERS Bush, Cheryl A.

PROFESSIONAL LIABILITY: DEFENSE

SUPER LAWYERS

Asoklis, Theresa M. Graves, Melissa E. Klaus, Kathleen H.

REAL ESTATE

SUPER LAWYERS

Anderson, Gail A. Labe, Monica J. Shierk, C. Kim

Zelenock, Katheryne L.

RISING STARS Bergmann, Kylie E.

Dieck, Alexandra E.

Hicks, Alysia K.

Johnson, Erin Karnib, Maryam Lockman, Kelly M.

Long, Kayleigh

Marsh, Chelsey L. Nesimova, Nargiz Rockoff, Corinne S. Sambare, Reshma

Welch, Erin Bowen

SCHOOLS & EDUCATION

RISING STARS

Kyprianos, Elizabeth A.

SECURITIES & CORPORATE FINANCE

RISING STARS

Seymour, Clara L.

SECURITIES LITIGATION

RISING STARS

Serra, Lisa

SOCIAL SECURITY DISABILITY

SUPER LAWYERS

Hamm, Andrea L.

RISING STARS

Boersma, Sasha

Bui, Crystal

Riggs, Erika A.

Turkish, Jessica

Zelmanski, Claire

STATE, LOCAL & MUNICIPAL

SUPER LAWYERS

Battersby, Holly S.

Debler, Margaret T.

Forbush, Audrey J.

Hamameh, Lisa J.

Rosati, Carol A.

RISING STARS

Ellis, Brittney

Pike, Andrea M.

Zdarsky, Amanda M.

TAX

SUPER LAWYERS

Cantarella, Eva T.

Faycurry, Joanne B.

Gandhi, Lynn A.

RISING STARS

Rebeck, Chelsea

TECHNOLOGY TRANSACTIONS

SUPER LAWYERS

Ossian, Kathryn L.

Rast, Claudia

UTILITIES

SUPER LAWYERS

Heston, Jennifer Utter

Selected to Super Lawyers

CANDYCE EWING ABBATT ABBATT ZURAWSKI PC

Selected to Super Lawyers

DOROTHY HANIGAN BASMAJI

ADWERS PC

FAMILY LAW

DIVORCE, CUSTODY PATERNITY, SUPPORT

IMMIGRATION

Selected to Rising Stars

SHERRI L. BONO

LAW OFFICE OF MICHAEL A. ROBBINS

FAMILY LAW

Selected to Super Lawyers

BRITT COBB

Selected to Super Lawyers

LINDSAY N. DANGL

Selected to Rising Stars

SALAM ELIA ELIA LAW, PLLC

CRIMINAL DEFENSE

APPELLATE

Grand Rapids Magazine

Selected to Rising Stars

MIKAI J. GREEN GREEN LAW VIRTUAL, IP, P.C.

CIVIL LITIGATION: DEFENSE

BUSINESS/CORPORATE INSURANCE COVERAGE

BUSINESS/CORPORATE

FRANCHISE/DEALERSHIP

Selected to Super Lawyers

STEPHANIE HOFFER

Selected to Rising Stars

JACQUELINE KALTZCOULOMBE

KALTZCOULOMBE PLLC

INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY

PERSONAL INJURY MEDICAL MALPRACTICE: PLAINTIFF

PROFESSIONAL LIABILITY: PLAINTIFF

BUSINESS/CORPORATE

CONSTRUCTION LITIGATION

MICHIGAN TOP

WOMEN SELECTED 2022

Selected to Rising Stars

MARIELL R. LEHMAN LEHMAN LAW FIRM, PLLC

Selected to Rising Stars

VALENTINA LUCAJ

THE LUCAJ LAW FIRM PLLC

Selected to Super Lawyers

MARY M. LYNEIS

CRIMINAL DEFENSE

CRIMINAL DEFENSE

GENERAL LITIGATION CANNABIS LAW

magna cum laude Law Review.

Selected to Rising Stars

ASHLEY L. MCALPINE MCALPINE PC

Selected to Super Lawyers

ANTHEA E. PAPISTA

CONSTRUCTION LITIGATION

CIVIL LITIGATION: PLAINTIFF BUSINESS LITIGATION

FAMILY LAW

ESTATE & TRUST LITIGATION ESTATE PLANNING & PROBATE

Michigan Family Law Journal LexisNexis Michigan Family Law Practice Guide

Selected to Super Lawyers

ALISA A. PESKIN-SHEPHERD TRANSITIONS LEGAL PLLC | LAW OFFICES OF

FAMILY LAW

ALTERNATIVE DISPUTE RESOLUTION

Selected to Super Lawyers

JAYE QUADROZZI

PC

Selected to Super Lawyers

ANTOINETTE R. RAHEEM

ANTOINETTE RAHEEM, PC

Selected to Rising Stars

CASEY ZURAWSKI

ABBATT ZURAWSKI PC

BUSINESS LITIGATION

ALTERNATIVE DISPUTE RESOLUTION

FAMILY LAW

BLUES IN THE NIGHT

Wednesday, February 15 to Sunday March 12, 2023 | Various Times Meadow Brook Theatre

378 Meadow Brook Road Rochester Hills, MI 48309

mbtheatre.com

Using music from great artists such as Bessie Smith, Duke Ellington, Johnny Mercer and Harold Arlen, this musical tells of the sweet, sexy, and sorrowful experiences three women have with the lying, cheating, snake-of-a-man who wrongs them. The soul of the blues wails out full and strong with songs such as “I Gotta Right To Sing the Blues,” “When a Woman Loves a Man,” and “I’ve Got A Date With A Dream,” that are sure to bring down the house.

*Michigan Premiere MBT Rating: High School & up.

TRAVERSE CITY COMEDY FEST

Thursday, February 2 to Saturday, February 4, 2023 Various Venues and Times tccomedyfest.com

Hosted by the Downtown Traverse City Association (DTCA), the Traverse City Comedy Fest will feature a mix of stand-up performances, improv, podcast tapings and specialty shows. More than 40 comedians — including national headliners and local and state favorites — will appear in over 20 shows over the three-day festival. Events will be held at six wonderful venues in beautiful Traverse City. With a diverse mix of genres and styles – including both large mainstage performances and intimate smaller shows – there will be something for everyone at the Traverse City Comedy Fest!

The event will also offer opportunities for those interested in writing or performing comedy to hone their craft. Workshops will be held for aspiring and veteran comics, and nightly open-mic sessions will be available to aspiring comics looking for stage time. The full festival lineup, schedule of events, and ticket-sale details are available at tccomedyfest.com.

AUTOMOTIVE WOMEN’S ALLIANCE

2023 GALENTINE’S FOWLING MIXER!

Wednesday, February 8, 2023

6 p.m. - 8 p.m.

The Hub Stadium

44325 W. 12 Mile Road, H-160

Novi, MI 48377

awafoundation.org

Join Automotive Women’s Alliance Foundation for a fun networking event that includes a chance to play Football Bowling, a spin on one of the newest sporting/entertainment concepts in Michigan that integrates the rules of horseshoes and cornhole while using the equipment of American football and bowling. Meet other power players in the mobility sector! Registration includes dinner and two drink tickets. Please register by January 31.

BIRTHDAY CLUB

Wednesday, January 11 to Sunday, February 5, 2023

Various times

Meadow Brook Theatre

378 Meadow Brook Road Rochester Hills, MI 48309

mbtheatre.com/birthday-club

Five women get together for their birthdays to drink, celebrate, commiserate, and support each other as they negotiate through marriage, work, divorce, birth, and kids, all while solving the problems of the world. One by one, they reveal their personal, work and family issues, and when one of them admits a surprising secret, the vodka hits the fan. The question is: Will Birthday Club survive, or will it end forever?

*Michigan Premiere MBT Rating: High School & up.

VARIETY COCKTAILS & CUISINE

Thursday, February 16, 2023

6 p.m. – 9 p.m.

The Townsend Hotel

100 Townsend St. Birmingham, MI 48009 variety-detroit.com

Variety the Children’s Charity presents a winter fan-favorite event — Variety Cocktails & Cuisine! Socialize and stroll your way through the evening with some of Metro Detroit’s most talented chefs from area restaurants. Enjoy a taste of the town in the comfort of The Townsend Hotel with select chef’s-choice dishes and delicious craft cocktails. Food, beverages, raffle opportunities, The Jared Sykes Experience, and a hint of magic will be provided. Proceeds will benefit Variety core programs serving children with unique and special needs in Southeast Michigan. Please register by January 31, 2023. Attire: Casual. Wear comfortable shoes!

IN THE SPIRITS OF INFERTILITY

Saturday, March 4, 2023

6 p.m. – 10 p.m.

Zerbo’s Bistro

3000 E. West Maple Road Commerce Charter Twp., MI48390 eventbrite.com/e/in-the-spirits-ofinfertility-tickets-481894638837

Join us for a night of fun and support the infertility community at the same time! At the beautiful Zerbo’s Bistro in Commerce Township, Chosen Infertility Group’s 2nd annual affair will comprise of live music by Sam Van Wagoner, silent auctions showcasing some of Hour Detroit’s “Best of Detroit,” small plates, and signature cocktails (2) along with mixology demonstrations by Two James Distillery. Attendees will receive cocktail recipes and a custom engraved glass to enjoy their cocktails at home! All proceeds go toward funding the Chosen Grant, helping individuals and families afford infertility treatment.

Physical Therapy that Provides a Community

If you’ve suffered an injury as a result of illness, an accident, or age-related wear and tear on the body, you know the road to recovery can be harrowing at times. There are many components that play into healing effectively, yet many firsttime patients come to physical therapy with the belief that the therapist will make them all better and they’ll just resume their lives.

Yes, the therapist’s objective is to help clients get back to wellness, but what does wellness mean? “It starts with not seeing a discharged patient as merely a former client,” says Ron Jegadeesh, owner of Pilates Fitness & Physical Therapy Center in Southfield. “Once they’ve completed physical therapy with us, they become a part of our wellness community,” says Jegadeesh, a physical therapist and Pilates instructor. “We encourage them to continue moving with us after their treatment.”

Jegadeesh and his team take a unique approach to PT. By introducing patients to movement techniques such as Pilates, Gyrotonic®, and Gyrokinesis® in therapy sessions, they gain a keen and thorough understanding of biomechanics. While most people are familiar with Pilates, Gyrotonic is a bit different. It’s a series of circular movements that correct and realign the body. The

movement series in Gyrotonic takes the body and spine through various positions including arching, curling, and twisting the spine. Executing these movements in specific ways loosens the spine, the bones, and the rib cage. This, in turn, increases the range of motion in the body, while decreasing the amount of stiffness or pain experienced.

Gyrokinesis, meanwhile, is an exercise method that focuses on the seven movements of the spine. It utilizes slow, fluid, rhythmic, and undulating movements coupled with calming breath work. It not only builds strength and brings mobility to the joints, but the movements feel as great as that postroadtrip stretch.

The added benefit of these movement systems to a physical therapy plan is that once the client has a grasp of the foundational exercises, it enables the physical therapist to introduce more advanced therapeutics during the actual sessions. This opens the door to improving muscle memory. Patients learn how to use their muscles and joints correctly to reduce pain and avoid injury — and since all of the exercises take body position and alignment into consideration, actions that once required effort start to become second nature.

The result is that many “former” clients become

avowed practitioners of these modalities, taking classes and remaining a part of the community long after their physical therapy has ended. Even patients who were previously inactive become regular fitness enthusiasts after PT with these movement systems. Once they develop the habit of daily exercise and movement, they learn firsthand how beneficial it is and want to continue.

Pilates Fitness & Physical Therapy Center offers a truly one-of-a-kind approach that empowers clients to have continued access to rehabilitative services while taking charge of their own fitness and continued wellness. It’s a winning combination for everyone!

Grace Centers of Hope ‘Night of Hope’ Gala

PHOTOGRAPHS BY KEVIN BEAN

GRACE CENTERS OF HOPE is a life-skills program serving those experiencing homelessness, chemical dependency, and abuse. Held at The Townsend Hotel in Birmingham, its annual Night of Hope Gala featured a cocktail reception, dinner, a silent auction, and a short program hosted by Fox 2 anchor Roop Raj that featured stories of families impacted by the organization. Proceeds went toward its Children’s Program, which provides care for the children of adults working to complete Centers of Hope programs.

1. Ann and David Wilkins

2. Deborah and Joe Piazza

3. David C. McKnight, Jim Dunn

4. David and Sherry Regiani, Angie and Dan Hemphill

5. Julie McIntosh, Cary Brooks

6. Kenneth and Valerie Johnson

7. Mary Bilbrey, Samatha Adragna, Ashley Peabody

8. Ashley Kemp, Ardella McMillon

9. Jager Carmos, Carol Walczy, Tony Rea, Rod Walczy 10. Pam and Dan Mansfield, Karen Holm

11. Jeff and Lisa Bontsas, Peggy and Michael Oakes 12. Paul and Tina Hessler, Mark Raymond

13. Don and Victoria Nichols

12.02.22

33rd Annual Gala

Hispana Navideña

PHOTOS BY CHRISTINE M.J. HATHAWAY

THIS ANNUAL black-tie affair, billed as “a night to love our Hispanic heritage,” is presented by the Michigan Hispanic Chamber of Commerce and is one of the most recognized and well-attended events in the state. This year’s gala took place at MGM Grand Detroit and featured a cocktail reception, guest speakers, awards, dinner, dancing, and much more in support of programs and events that “increase the vitality of the community.”

1. Nick and Anita-María Quillen 2. Travis Wilkins; Gary, Andrew, and Phil Garcia 3. Thomas Shipps, Armando Calderon 4. Chris and Jennifer Good 5. Brandon Vanno and Tanya Markos-Vanno, Sumathi and Anand Kumar

6. Patrick Henderson, Dana Armenteros, Rosandy Henderson 7. Amy Denny, Paola Valle

8. Leticia and Armando Gutierrez 9. Vinessa Palermo, Joy Korte 10. Bill Meek, Victor Gomez, Matt Greene 11. Yesenia and Jesse Venegas 12. Roberto Nicolas, Alejandra Hernandez, Albert Munderit 13. Anna Guerra, Steve and Ann Davis, Yolanda Serra

12.09.22

Spirit of Giving Gala

PHOTOS BY KEVIN BEAN

THE SPIRIT OF GIVING GALA benefits Franklin Wright Settlements’ Pathways to Hope, a nonprofit program that works to support kids of all ages with their mental and basic health needs. This year’s event took place at the MGM Grand Detroit. Guests at this black-tie affair enjoyed an evening of live music, food, cocktails, and an award ceremony recognizing business and community leaders working to support the organization’s mission.

5.

6.

8.

10. Courtney and DG Lex 11. BL, Bertram and Monique Marks; Erika, Marcus, Andie, Seth, Keegan, and Jonah Murray 12. Alexis Ramsey, Teola Hunter, Judge Kelly Ramsey, Missionary Hattie Humphrey 13. Dameon and Danielle Carr, Moira and Anthony McCree

1. Detroit Academy of Arts and Sciences 2. Dr. Sonia Hassan, Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan 3. Amahnbda Hutchens, James Pernell-Cooper, Bridgit Angela 4. Teola Hunter, Missionary Hattie Humphrey

Tiffany Smith, Al Owens

Toni Goudy, Pastor Wilson, and Peggy James 7. Dan and Allegra Pitera

Jackie and Charlnita Moore, Ola McGhee 9. Debra Doll and Dennis Rush, Sheila and Al Minetola

11.21.22

Detroit Aglow

PHOTOGRAPHS BY KEVIN BEAN

THE ANNUAL DETROIT AGLOW

gala supports the many projects of the Downtown Detroit Partnership. Among them is the programming and management of nearly 2,000 events annually in the parks and other public spaces of downtown Detroit. This year’s fundraising event at MGM Grand Detroit brought together a dynamic group of community, business, and government leaders for an evening of networking, entertainment, food, and more.

1. Bishop Edgar and Sheila Vann 2. Paul Trulik, Brian Fix, Ashley Boday, Todd Pado 3. Charles Muse

4. Sam Munaco, Paul Trulik 5. Franklin Hayes, Chief James White, Bud Denker, Tony Michaels

6. Larry Hagedorn, Dawn Ingoglia, Don Ferrington

7. D’Antae and Shaina Gooden 8. Nicole Carter, Machion Jackson, Kerri Hill-Johnson, Nicole Blocker, Santoria Shepherd 9. Ethan and Meagan Dunn 10. Chris Polk, Gina Cavaliere, Deshawn Singelton

11. Cameron Steinagel, Katy and David Tsai

12. Coleman Young Jr., Melanie and Charles Simms 13. Anjana and Ryan Schroeder

If you recall the J.L. Hudson Thanksgiving Day Parade, visiting the Children’s Zoo at Belle Isle, taking in a flick at downtown’s Madison Theatre, scarfing down a hot-fudge sundae at Sanders, rocking out at the Grande Ballroom, or cheering on the Red Wings at Olympia Stadium, The Way It Was, Part 2 will elicit warm memories of Detroit. This book’s vivid photos and evocative text will take you on a nostalgic journey into the city’s past.

11.19.22

The Kidney Ball

THIS ANNUAL FUNDRAISER for the National Kidney Foundation of Michigan was initiated 17 years ago to commemorate the organization’s 50th anniversary. This year’s ball welcomed more than 500 guests at the MotorCity Casino Hotel and featured a live auction, live music, the popular Kids Auction Toy Room, and more.

1. Jason Carr, Joyce Williams

2. Harrell James, Starrice Hunt, LeEarl Jones 3. Craig and Carly Killeen, Justin Ellis 4. Justin Fishaw, Laura Szymanski 5. Dr. John Magee, Laura and Alex Kashenider 6. Miram Souaid, Colette Elkhoury 7. Curt Collins, Jocelyn Think, Giuseppe Cusumano 8. Gloria James, Tanisha Franklin 9. Oliver, Mollee, Archer, and Zach Fishaw

FEW OF SOUTHEAST MICHIGAN’S cultural institutions have proven more popular than the 125-acre Detroit Zoo in Royal Oak, which opened 95 years ago. One can only wonder who among its more than 1 million yearly visitors may someday become a historical figure.

This rare snapshot, taken 75 years ago, shows 35-year-old Rosa Parks (left), a seamstress from Montgomery, Alabama, standing alongside an unidentified friend in front of the historic Horace H. Rackham Memorial Fountain — one of the zoo’s most photographed attractions.

Parks, who would later become known as the “mother of the Civil Rights Movement,” was most likely in Detroit to visit her brother and sister-in-law, who had migrated there shortly after the end of World War II. A decade later, the city would become her adopted hometown, and it would remain such for the rest of her life.

Parks’ refusal to give up her Montgomery city bus seat to a white man on Dec. 1, 1955, led to her arrest as well as to the 381-day-long Montgomery bus boycott that propelled the civil rights leadership of the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. One year later, the U.S. Supreme Court declared bus segregation unconstitutional.

Before long, Parks was inundated with harassment and death threats. Upon losing her job as a tailor’s assistant, she and her husband, Raymond, along with her mother, Leona McCauley, moved to Detroit in 1957 at the urging of her brother, Sylvester. There, Parks provided vital assistance in John Conyers’ first campaign for Congress in 1964, in part by persuading King to appear with Conyers. She went on to serve as the representative’s assistant and receptionist at his Detroit office from 1965 until she retired in 1988.

On Oct. 24, 2005, Parks died in her Detroit apartment at age 92 and became the first woman to lie in honor at the U.S. Capitol Rotunda. She is interred at the Woodlawn Cemetery chapel on Woodward Avenue. The Montgomery bus on which she made history is housed at the Henry Ford Museum in Dearborn. Parks, the recipient of numerous awards, including the Congressional Gold Medal, would have turned 110 on Feb. 4. —Bill Dow

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