Hour Detroit // January 2021

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A HOLE LOTTA FUN

WHY YOU REALLY SHOULD TRY ICE FISHING

SOBER UP WITHOUT SKIMPING

THESE BOOZE-LESS BEVERAGES WILL MAKE DRY JANUARY A BREEZE

JANUARY 2021

MEET 2021'S HOUR

POLITICS PREVIEW

8 BURNING QUESTIONS ANSWERED

BIG SEAN ON GIVING BACK (AND GIVING A MUSICAL SHOUT-OUT) TO THE CITY HE LOVES Plus, nine other metro Detroiters who are quietly enriching life around the region

DUELING DEBUTS

IT’S BRONCO VS. HUMMER


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201102-901891


Cultivating a culture of

inclusion

HOUR D E T R O I T

VOLUME THIRTY | ISSUE ONE PUBLISHER: John Balardo EDITOR IN CHIEF: Dan Caccavaro SENIOR EDITOR & DIGITAL CONTENT COORDINATOR: Emma Klug

Oakland County is reaching across

communities, businesses, and organizations to foster an environment of diversity, equity, and inclusion that promotes open communication and collaboration. We respect and value all the communities in our region and know that diversity is one of our greatest strengths.

NEWS & FEATURES EDITOR: Steve Friess DINING EDITOR: Lyndsay Green EDITORIAL ASSISTANTS: Rachael Thomas, Ashley Winn COPY EDITOR: Emily Doran CREATIVE DIRECTOR: Lindsay Richards ASSOCIATE ART DIRECTOR: Kelsey Rae Parkinson ART ASSISTANT: Kailey Howell EDITORIAL INTERNS: Emily Morris, Emily Roth, Dean Vaglia CONTRIBUTORS: Joe Alisa, George Bulanda, Tammy Coxen, Stacy Feyer-Salo, Gerard + Belevender, Ryan Patrick Hooper, Corina Howell, Rachel Idzerda, Sophia Kalakailo, Lindsay Kalter, Matthew LaVere, Christopher Porter, Nikki Ruiz, Amy Sacka, Josh Scott, Omar Sofradzija, Mark Spezia, Megan Swoyer, Jeff Timmer, Brad Ziegler, Ashley Zlatopolsky ASSOCIATE PUBLISHER: Jason Hosko ACCOUNT EXECUTIVES: Cynthia Barnhart, Karli Brown, Lauren DeBano, Kevin Hayes, Donna Kassab, Mary Pantely & Associates, Molly Stelma, Angela Tisch PRODUCTION DIRECTOR: Jenine Rhoades IT DIRECTOR: Jeremy Leland SENIOR PRODUCTION ARTIST: Robert Gorczyca PRODUCTION ARTIST: Stephanie Daniel DIGITAL DIRECTOR: Nick Britsky WEB PROJECT LEAD: Matthew Cappo WEB PROJECT ASSISTANTS: Mariah Knott, Luanne Lim, Bart Woinski SOCIAL MEDIA COORDINATOR: Travis Cleveland ADVERTISING COORDINATOR: Amanda Zwiren ADVERTISING DESIGNERS: Daniel Moen, Amanda Zwiren PRS GRAPHIC DESIGNER: Marcus Thompson DIRECTOR OF AUDIENCE DEVELOPMENT: Michelle VanArman CIRCULATION MANAGER: Riley Meyers CIRCULATION COORDINATORS: Sue Albers, Barbie Baldwin, Cathy Krajenke, Rachel Moulden MARKETING & EVENTS DIRECTOR: Mary Sutton DIGITAL MARKETING MANAGER: Caitlin Cullen MARKETING RESEARCH DIRECTOR: Sofia Shevin MARKETING RESEARCH MANAGER: Ana Potter MARKETING RESEARCH SALES COORDINATOR: Hannah Thomas MARKETING RESEARCH COORDINATOR: Georgia Iden DIRECTOR OF BUSINESS OPERATIONS: Kathie Gorecki SALES ASSISTANT: Danielle Szatkowki PUBLISHING ASSISTANT: Kristin Mingo ACCOUNTING ASSOCIATES: Natasha Bajju, Andrew Kotzian, Katie West MARKETING INTERNS: Caitlin Farrand, Lexi Nixon MARKETING RESEARCH INTERNS: Eric Borg, Lourd Dawood DISTRIBUTION: Target Distribution, Troy HOU R M EDI A CEO: Stefan Wanczyk | PRESIDENT: John Balardo

OAKGOV.COM

575 0 N E W K I N G D R I V E , T R OY, M I 4 8 0 9 8 T E L E P H O N E : 2 4 8 - 6 9 1 - 1 8 0 0 FA X : 2 4 8 - 6 9 1 - 4 5 3 1 E M A I L : E D I T O R I A L @ H O U R D E T R O I T.C O M O N T H E W E B : H O U R D E T R O I T.C O M To sell Hour Detroit magazine or for subscription inquiries: 248-588-1851

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01.21

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

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2021 Preview Will Mike Duggan be reelected? Will Gov. Whitmer’s poll numbers stay high? What will become of twice-failed candidate John James? Our panel of pundits takes a crack at forecasting how these and five other burning questions will pan out in the year ahead.

30 Metro

30 Dug Song, one of this year’s 10 Hour Detroiters, is photographed doing what he loves to do when he’s not busy tending to his metro Detroit tech unicorn, Duo.

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Detroit’s Finest

Meet this year’s Hour Detroiters — 10 people who are quietly (and sometimes not-so-quietly) finding ways to enrich and improve life across the region.

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01.21

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

Up Front

T H E Y’ L L M I S S T H E 12 H O ST T H E M O ST

Local Jeopardy! veterans share fond, funny memories of the late, great Alex Trebek.

R EV I V E D R I VA L S 13

Sizing up the two most highly anticipated launches in years: Ford’s refreshed Bronco vs. GM’s now-green Hummer.

43

Agenda 42 C U LT U R E CA L E N DA R

Our carefully curated guide to a month’s worth of arts and entertainment.

M A D E I N M I C H I G A N 14

43 T H E H O L E T RU T H

Economist Paul Milgrom’s idea of an auction would make a Sotheby’s art sale look like child’s play.

Talk to anyone who fishes Michigan’s frozen lakes and you might find yourself drilling a hole and dropping a line.

E L E P H A N T I N T H E 15 PA D D E D R O O M

46 S H A D OW B OXE R

In Abbott: 1973, Detroit is being tormented by a murderous dark force. Chain-smoking superhero Elena Abbott is on the case.

The former head of Michigan’s GOP diagnoses the ailments he believes will doom his beloved party.

Food&Drink

BA R R I E R B R E A K E R 16

Oakland County Executive Dave Coulter on LGBTQ representation and regional cooperation.

48 A D RY RU N

Considering kicking the year off with a month of sobriety? These local brands are making it easy.

24/Seven

49 T H E S H OW M U ST G O O N

I S L I G H T T H E WAY? 18

Products that use UV-C rays to destroy the coronavirus are proliferating. Here’s what to know before you buy one.

I N E E D M Y S PAC E : 20 J O N N Y K E ST

The celebrated Birmingham yogi invites us into his lightfilled quiet space.

Table No. 2’s chef-owner Omar Mitchell continues on his quest to bring fine dining with a “wow factor” to Detroit.

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52 R E C I P E : G N O C C H I

The Fed’s pillowy sweet potato dumpling is spruced up with colorful cool-weather ingredients.

53 B E A N ST R E A K

M I ST Y L E : 22 NA B E E L A NA J JA R

How do you support your favorite local coffee roasters? One bag at a time.

The Detroit designer of ethereal looks explains her own down-to-earth style.

8 E D I TO R’ S L E T T E R 10 D I G I TA L U P DAT E S

A F R E S H C OAT 23

Detroit stylist and designer Paulina Petkoski on the season’s top outerwear trends and how to rock them.

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63 R E STAU R A N T L I ST I N G S

22

140 T H E WAY I T WA S

Ulysses Grant’s home, 1855

ICE FISHING AMY SACKA FASHION DESIGNER JOE ALISA FOOD KAILEY HOWELL



01.21 CONTRIBUTORS

Q: Tell us something that makes you optimistic about 2021. E D I T O R’ S L E T T E R

Seeing the Good in a Very Bad Year LAST SPRING, WHEN THE FULL WEIGHT of the coronavirus pandemic was just beginning to bear down on our region, we asked journalist and author Desiree Cooper to write an essay to mark that dark moment in Detroit history. Amid the almost unbearable fear and uncertainty we all were experiencing at that time, Cooper found reason for hope in what she described as Detroiters’ natural impulse to turn toward, rather than against, each other in times of hardship. She predicted that Detroiters would rise to the enormous challenges of COVID-19 as they had to other seemingly insurmountable setbacks; that they would find ways big and small to see each other through the darkest of days; and that the city would emerge stronger and perhaps more united for having yet again overcome adversity that could easily have torn it apart. As we say good riddance to 2020 — a year that proved even more awful than anyone could have foreseen — it’s worth reflecting on just how right Cooper was. We can end the annus horribilis contemplating all that we lost, but also rightly marveling at all the good that emerged, even as the city endured not just the pandemic, but also a generation-defining movement for racial justice — and a bitter presidential election that saw metro Detroit play a pivotal role in affirming that our democracy was indeed strong enough to survive our toxic partisan divisions (page 15). In this month’s issue, we continue our annual tradition of recognizing people who embody the spirit of community that Cooper so aptly identified last spring (page 30). We call them Hour Detroiters. They are people like Omar Anani, the acclaimed chef and owner of Saffron de Twah restaurant, who began 2020 on top of the world, with his restaurant appearing on most lists of Detroit’s best restaurants and having earned a coveted James Beard Award nomination. When the pandemic shuttered Saffron de Twah and stalled Anani’s dreams, he didn’t sulk or give up. Instead, he, like so many others in Detroit’s battered dining scene, looked for a way to channel his talents and energy into helping those in need. In doing so, he says, he discovered the even greater rewards of serving the greater good (page 36). Meanwhile, in another sign of Detroit’s tenacity, the auto industry proved as resilient as the Motor City itself. Even as GM and Ford weathered lengthy shutdowns and poured enormous energy into producing ventilators and critically needed PPE, they kept their eyes on innovation. Fittingly, they closed out the year celebrating the wildly successful revivals of two iconic models, the Bronco and the now-electrified Hummer (page 13). Neither the pandemic, nor politics, nor racial strife managed to break Detroit’s spirit in 2020. Now, with the election behind us and a vaccine ahead, we might allow ourselves to begin this new year no longer thinking, “Could things get any worse?” but wondering if — just maybe — things might finally be getting better.

DA N CACCAVA RO, ED I T OR

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Nikki Ruiz

PHOTOGRAPHED OUR HOUR DETROITERS BEGINNING ON P. 30 “I’m highly optimistic that 2021 will be a year of rebound and recovery, and eventually of growth. I’m hopeful that small-business owners will be more resilient and creative in coming up with out-of-the-box solutions to all the detours the year 2020 brought.” Born and raised in the Philippines, Ruiz is a freelance commercial photographer who lived in New York City for a few years to pursue her dream of working in the U.S. and now resides in Detroit.

Ryan Patrick Hooper CURATED OUR NEW CULTURE CALENDAR FEATURE ON P. 42

“In 2021, I think I’m most looking forward to hugs, reading books at bars, live music, and the return of general spontaneous city life.” Hooper is the host of CultureShift, a weekday, two-hour arts and culture program that airs on 101.9 WDET, Detroit’s NPR station. He’s a 2020 Regional Murrow Award winner in broadcast feature reporting.

Sophia Kalakailo

WROTE OUR PROFILE OF HOUR DETROITER WENDY CALDWELL-LIDDELL ON P. 36 “I’m optimistic about my classes this semester and continuing to be involved with student organizations and student media.” Kalakailo is a journalism student at Michigan State University working at The State News and podcasting with Impact FM Radio. During the pandemic, she’s been living with her family in Farmington while studying and working remotely.

EDITOR BRAD ZIEGLER CONTRIBUTORS COURTESY OF NIKKI RUIZ, RYAN PATRICK HOOPER, AND SOPHIA KALAKAILO


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01.21

Behind the Scenes

FROM OUR READERS “[Elyse Foltyn has] such a beautiful greenhouse! I can say definitively I do not look that good when gardening.” (“The 2020 Best Dressed List: Metro Detroit’s Most Fashionable Stay Stylish at Home,” November) —@abitcookbookish, Instagram “So glad they still had a successful tourism season this year!” (“Up North Businesses Fared Better Than Expected This Summer,” November) —@midamericanfitness, Instagram

“It makes me proud to live in the D. There are great muralists that live here.” (“Muralist Sydney James on Her Latest Work, ‘Girl with the D Earring’,” November). —@seychelles56, Instagram “The legendary absent-mindedness of the obsessively technophilic cannot be cured with more of what caused the problem in the first place.” (“Why Tech Enthusiasts Are Getting Microchips Implanted in Their Bodies,” October) —Mark Kearney, Facebook

Hourdetroit.com Digital Extra

Photographer Nikki Ruiz captures tech wunderkind and avid skateboarder Dug Song at an Ann Arbor skatepark. Song, co-founder of the mobile sercuity app Duo, is one of our 10 featured Hour Detroiters this year. Read more about him and others making an impact in Detroit and beyond starting on page 30.

Need something to do this weekend? We’ve got you covered. Every Friday, head to hourdetroit.com for our roundups of things to do around metro Detroit, from improv shows and museum exhibitions to light shows and virtual musical performances.

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

@hourdetroit

@hour-detroit

@hourdetroitmagazine PHOTO COURTESY OF NIKKI RUIZ

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01.21 NEWS, NOTES, AND PERSONALITIES

Up Front AU T O

RIVAL REVIVALS

The Bronco and the Hummer are back. Here’s how the revamped icons stack up. p. 13

T R I B U T E p. 12 AU TO p. 13 M A D E I N M I C H I G A N p. 14 E S S AY p. 15 P O L I T I C S p. 16

BRONCO COURTESY OF FORD

JA N UA RY 2 0 2 1

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Up Front

Stephanie Jass, who won nearly $150,000 on Jeopardy!, swears she inspired Alex Trebek to grow back his mustache.

THEY’LL MISS THE HOST THE MOST TRIBUTE

Michigan Jeopardy! contestants share fond memories of game show legend Alex Trebek

WHEN THE PANDEMIC wasn’t forcing Jeopardy! to take contestants only from within driving distance of its Culver City, California, studio, the game show frequently featured Michigan brainiacs. So when news spread of legendary host Alex Trebek’s death from pancreatic cancer in early November, it stirred emotions and fond memories among local alums of the show. We asked a few to share their Trebek tales. —Steve Friess

“People probably don’t realize that Alex’s delivery of a clue was occasionally not the same delivery the players heard during the game. If he stumbled over, mispronounced, or just plain missed a word, he would re-record his voice-over during the next commercial break. He was most likely to mess up when players switched categories and dollar amounts unpredictably, which, I assume, is why he regularly mocked or complained about players jumping around the board. I was paying a lot of attention to Jeopardy! game theory when I appeared on the show, so I intended to bounce around hunting for Daily Doubles. However, I realized before playing my first game

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

just how much Alex hated getting anything wrong, so I played straight up and down the categories for the most part. I like to think it paid off when Alex — the sole arbiter of how long a player has to answer on Daily Doubles — gave me what seemed like an extra-long time to come up with a critical Daily Double response during my third game.” —John Schultz, Pittsfield Township Won $115,500 in eight games in 2015 “Sometimes, especially if you’re on more than one game, you got what a contestant coordinator called ‘Sassy Alex.’ In my case, Alex, who always loved to see a big payday, was surprised

by my Final Jeopardy wager of $1,000 on an Oscars category. The question turned out to be easy, but I hadn’t known, obviously, that they would ask about that particular film. As he closed the show, Alex noted I’d made a low bet and told the audience he’d ask me why ‘tomorrow.’ When he started the next show, he did rib me a bit about the wager, to which I replied: If I’d known they were going to ask about one of my favorite movies (Patton), I’d have bet more! It could have felt unnerving, being called out by Alex Trebek, but it cemented something in my head: Alex is teasing me. I must be doing pretty good!” —Jennifer Quail, Dowagiac Won $230,800 in nine games in 2019

“Alex announced his stage IV pancreatic cancer diagnosis in March 2019 after my in-person audition but before I got the call to be on the show. We lost my wife’s father to pancreatic cancer, so when we heard about Alex, my stomach dropped. We know how most pancreatic cancer stories end — and how quickly they can end. Incredibly, Alex still soldiered on when I got the call. After I returned home from taping, I wrote Alex a thank-you note and told him about how my wife’s dad survived much longer than his doctors predicted. I never imagined he’d write back, but he did. I’m forever grateful for my experience, and I’m so touched to have this note from him. What a legend. What a loss.” —Robin Miner-Swartz, Lansing Won $29,400 in three episodes in 2019 “Before Alex got sick, contestants would gather at center stage and chat with him at the end of the show. The first thing he asked us was, ‘So, was it good for you guys?’ I still chuckle about that to this day. After that icebreaker, he talked about his family history, his father who came from Ukraine and shortened the family name to Trebek, and his mother, a French Canadian. I wonder if he chose that line of conversation because he knew I was Armenian or if that was just a coincidence. That closing credits conversation is really the only close interaction contestants had with Alex.” —Armen Terjimanian, Troy Won $2,000 in one game in 2013

“Alex was known for his precise pronunciations of foreignlanguage words. In my first game, Alex approached to chat on air with contestants after the first commercial break but mispronounced ‘Livonia.’ I corrected him. He took this in stride, then drolly noted that he had earlier misread my favorite hobby, bead weaving, as bed-wetting. I agreed this was an important distinction (!), then went on to describe the jewelry I make. When the show aired, it briefly made me possibly the most famous bead weaver in America.” —Amanda Holm, Livonia Won $15,200 in two games in 2019 “My first experience with Alex was when I spent the entire day watching taping but was not selected to play. I saw him taking pictures with all the contestants and thought to myself, ‘How many times has he done that? He must be bored stiff. Somebody should do something fun to mix things up.’ Because I am an inappropriate and impulsive person, I thought to myself, ‘I should goose him.’ But then he stood behind me, not in front of me, so I was not in position. Instead, as we looked into the camera, I jumped and looked at him and said, ‘Alex!’ as if he had actually goosed me. Without missing a beat, he jumped and said, ‘Stephanie!’ When I went back for the Tournament of Champions, he comes up to me at the podium for the photo and I say to him, ‘So, are we doing this again?’ He says, ‘Doing what?’ I say, ‘You know.’ And he says, ‘I don’t know what you’re talking about.’ Then we take the picture, and as he walked away, he puts his hand on my bum. Like, ‘Of course I remember.’ Then, when I went back again for the Battle of the Decades tournament, I wanted a funny picture. I made fake mustaches for us on a stick. We take the picture and he asks to keep his. He held it up and said, ‘I really look good like this.’ I kid you not, when he came out for the next season, he had grown his mustache back. So yeah, I got Alex Trebek to grow his mustache back. It was confirmed by a contestant coordinator that he kept my mustache and whipped it out on stage whenever people asked where his mustache went.” —Stephanie Jass, Tecumseh Won $149,570 in 11 games from 2012 to 2014

DETROIT DIGITS

32.7% The percentage of homes in Detroit built before 1940, putting the city at No. 12 among big U.S. cities. Cleveland, with 52.4 percent, was No. 1, according to 2019 U.S. Census Bureau data.

59,789

The number of female business owners in the metro Detroit area, making up 36.3 percent. That puts the city at No. 47 out of 53, edging out the Grand Rapids region at No. 48, according to 2019 U.S. Census Bureau data. The Seattle area was No. 1 with 46.2 percent.

$86,241 The median salary of information technology workers in metro Detroit, good for 18th highest among big U.S. cities. No. 1 is St. Louis, with an average of $100,308, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

JEOPARDY COURTESY OF STEPHANIE JASS LINE ART ISTOCK


Up Front

WHAT’S NEW:

The GMC Hummer EV Edition 1 is dubbed “the world’s first all-electric supertruck.” The automaker says it will have a 350+mile range, can “crabwalk” — aka drive diagonally — and zoom from 0 to 60 in three seconds with 1,000 horsepower.

Nostalgia Trip AUTO

BACK IN THE LATE NINETIES, when VW brought back its classic Beetle, such revivals were a novelty. Nowadays, the auto industry leans heavily into nostalgia, to the point where it hardly turns heads. Still, the comebacks of General Motors’ GMC Hummer and Ford’s Bronco are in classes of their own. Both have major pop culture resonance, legions of devoted fans, and are off to impressive revivals. They’re not really competitors — you can buy three basic Broncos for the cost of a new Hummer — but they both are aiming for the aggro motorist seeking some brawn and off-road chops. And both are earning ravenous media attention, which isn’t easy to come by these days. Here’s how they stack up. BY S TEVE F R IE S S

Ford is rolling out seven variations of the modern body-on-frame Bronco depending on how punishing the terrain is you hope to tackle. Each offers a four-door version, a choice of a 270-horsepower or 310-horsepower engine, and removable doors and roofs. In addition, there are five varieties of the Bronco Sport, a smaller crossover SUV more akin to the Jeep Cherokee.

2021 Ford Bronco Sport design sketches

WHEN:

Due for deliveries in fall 2021. GM says Edition 1 sold out in 10 minutes when reservations opened on Oct. 20.

The 2021 First Edition Bronco Sport, which Ford made 2,000 of, are on the road now. The 2021 First Edition Bronco, which the company plans to build 7,000 of, is due for delivery in June. Both sold out. In fact, Ford received about 150,000 orders in the first two weeks it opened its website for reservations (for a refundable $100) for the rest of the versions and doesn’t expect to be able to fill those orders until 2022.

WHEN DISCONTINUED

PRICE:

Starts at $112,595; the 2023 model year edition, with lower horsepower and less range, starts at $99,995.

The seven Bronco versions range in starting price from $28,500 for the basic two-door Bronco on up to $57,410 for the 2021 First Edition. The five Bronco Sport options start at $26,660.

2010

1996

WHERE IS IT BUILT? The GMC HUMMER EV is a first-of-its kind supertruck developed to forge new paths with zero emissions.

At Factory ZERO, formerly GM’s Detroit-Hamtramck assembly plant, where at various points GM made the Chevy Volt, Malibu, and Impala.

The two- and four-door Broncos will be put together at Ford’s Michigan Assembly Plant in Wayne, the same plant that cranked out the old Bronco from 1966 to 1996. The Bronco Sport will come out of the Hermosillo Assembly Plant in Mexico.

 2021 Ford Bronco twodoor in Outer Banks

WHAT THEY’RE SAYING:

“The new Hummer is what the old Hummer never quite managed to be: a halo vehicle for GM’s transformation to an electric automaker. The old Hummer was for dudes (usually dudes) who, for whatever reason, wanted to be like Arnold Schwarzenegger. It was, despite its combat lineage, a cartoon car. But the new GMC Hummer is virtue amplified by the resonance of a brand deftly inverted. It isn’t your father’s Hummer, and how! … Hummer lost its thunder in the late 2010s. But boy, does it ever have the lightning back!” —Matthew Debord, Business Insider

“All the enthusiasm the Bronco has conjured feels worthwhile. Even in a very early build, this feels like exactly the sort of vehicle customers have been craving from Ford. It seems eminently capable in most lowspeed operations, but the way the Bronco handled high-speed offroading was a pleasant surprise. … It’s encouraging that the Bronco has some adeptness and that Ford is providing a more affordable pathway to that sort of performance.” —Brandon Turkus, Motor1.com WHY NOW?

With electric vehicle pioneer Tesla due to bring forward the Cybertruck sometime in the coming decade, the revival of a classic brand that now incorporates respect for the environment into its legendary swagger is a big opportunity for GM to make over its image. Arnold Schwarzenegger

The original Hummer was a gas-guzzling consumer version of the military’s Humvee and became iconic at the turn of the millennium as an example of American excess and disregard for the environment. The most famous Hummer owner is Arnold Schwarzenegger, who persuaded AM General to offer them for civilian use in the early 1990s after seeing the imposing, noisy vehicles in use during the first Gulf War and kicked off a celebrity craze. (General Motors bought the brand from AM General in 1999.)

HUMMER COURTESY OF GM BRONCO COURTESY OF FORD BODYBUILDER FREEPNGIMG.COM

Ford dusted off this nameplate to go after Jeep’s Wrangler business. Also, the Blue Oval needed a new entry into the SUV market for folks who wanted something adventurous but didn’t want or need the gigantic F-150.

 1966 Ford Bronco

THE ORIGINAL WAS KNOWN FOR:

Anyone older than about 35 remembers where they were on June 17, 1994, when they saw soon-to-bearrested O.J. Simpson’s white Ford Bronco driven by Al Cowlings leading a phalanx of police cars on a slow-speed chase after Simpson’s ex-wife, Nicole, and her friend, Ronald Goldman, were found stabbed to death. Some 95 million people watched that spectacle live. Former O.J. agent Mike Gilbert bought that Bronco from Cowlings for $75,000 in 1995 and still owns it, having failed in 2017 to sell it for $1.3 million on the TV show Pawn Stars. It’s on display at the Alcatraz East Crime Museum in Tennessee.

JA N UA RY 2 0 2 1

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Up Front

Michigan native Paul Milgrom was honored for his work solving ultra-complex auction challenges.

earned the 72-year-old the best-known honor in all of science. Milgrom and Wilson won “for improvements to auction theory and inventions of new auction formats,” according to the Nobel website. In this conversation, Milgrom recalls his upbringing in Detroit and tries valiantly to explain his research to those of us most familiar with auctions from eBay or, say, that time James Bond bought a Fabergé egg in Octopussy.

Give our readers the most accessible explanation you have for your work.

MADE IN MICHIGAN

THE BID GUY Paul Milgrom won the Nobel in economics for designing auctions that would make a Sotheby’s art sale look like child’s play BY STEV E FR I ES S ILLUSTRATION BY RACHE L ID ZER DA

THE ANNOUNCEMENT of the Nobel Prize for economics is usually a sleepy affair, if only because the research is often so complex and intricate that most people tune it out. But this year, the moment Detroit native Paul Milgrom learned he’d won became an Internet sensation — more than 6 million views! — when his confused and strangely subdued reaction was captured on a doorbell camera video. His co-winner, Bob Wilson, went to Milgrom’s door at 2:15 a.m. to tell him because the Nobel folks, back in Stockholm, couldn’t get through to his cellphone. He’d turned it off that night to avoid political spam. We didn’t have that kind of trouble reaching Milgrom, who went to high school in Oak Park and earned a mathematics degree at University of Michigan before a life in research and academia

The applied research is about really hard auction problems. Your readers are accustomed to an auction being something like people bidding on an object for sale on eBay or at Sotheby’s. Hard auction problems are when there are a variety of things that are interrelated in different ways. The hardest one we have ever designed was in the early 1990s when the Federal Communications Commission needed to move television broadcasters to a different part of the radio frequency spectrum to make room for wireless mobile broadband carriers. We had to figure out what we wanted to buy from the TV broadcasters and then we had to take those and repackage them to sell to the likes of T-Mobile and others buying spectrum for their wireless services. We invented new auction methods that made that possible. That’s probably the easiest way that I can explain it to you without getting too deep into the details.

Oh, challenge us. So you’re not focused on the auctions we see in pop culture?

The way you see auctions in pop culture is usually to show high lifestyle. It’s people bidding for art or diamonds or something. It’s not portraying the economics, it’s portraying the lifestyle. If you go to a major art auction in New York, you go in the day before and you go around and you see what’s for CO N T I N U E D O N PAG E 78

SCIENCE MITTEN

Intriguing findings from researchers across Michigan By Lindsay Kalter and Steve Friess WHO IS MOST AFFECTED BY PANDEMIC ISOLATION? People who possess “psychological flexibility” are more likely to avoid becoming depressed or anxious when forced into the kind of isolation brought on by lockdowns and quarantines, researchers at Western Michigan University

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found. Psychologist Brooke Smith and doctoral student Alex Twohy surveyed 278 people during a three-week period at the height of the pandemic last spring. They found those capable of remaining engaged and active even when confronted with a lonely or uncertain situation fared better. Their research, published in October in the Journal of Contextual Behavioral Science, suggests “acceptance and commitment therapy,” a therapeutic approach shown to be successful in treating

other difficult-to-control challenges, including chronic pain, could be effective in helping patients struggling with or overwhelmed by diminished socialization caused by the pandemic. LGB SENIORS AT HIGHER RISK FOR DEMENTIA: A study of the cognitive skills of more than 3,500 older people found lesbian, gay, and bisexual people are at higher risk of developing dementia than the heterosexual population, according to research led by Michigan State University

sociologist Ning Hsieh that was published in the journal The Gerontologist. Hsieh says the research suggests that stress and depression earlier in life, perhaps brought on by societal bigotry, may contribute to the development of brain disease later. Hsieh’s work did not study how similar factors affect transgender people. HUMAN NOISE, LIGHT DISRUPT BIRD BREEDING: The populations of several North American birds have declined in recent

THE RESEARCH SUGGESTS THAT STRESS AND DEPRESSION EARLIER IN LIFE, PERHAPS BROUGHT ON BY SOCIETAL BIGOTRY, MAY CONTRIBUTE TO THE DEVELOPMENT OF BRAIN DISEASE LATER.

decades in part because artificial light and sounds confuse winged critters and throw off their mating rituals, according to a study co-authored by University of Michigan conservation ecologist Neil Carter and postdoctoral researcher Mark Ditmer published in the journal Nature in November. The researchers examined data from 58,502 nests representing 142 North American species of birds and found light pollution from cities and noise from auto and airplane traffic interfere with mating calls and timing.


Up Front

AS I WAITED to address the Michigan Board of State Canvassers via Zoom in late November, I couldn’t quite believe it had come to this. I was once the executive director of the state Republican Party. I’m also a former member of that very panel, and, evidently, one of the last sane people left among the conservative politicos I once considered friends and colleagues. Yet I laid out the truth: Joe Biden won our state, all 83 counties certified their vote totals, and the task before this quartet was simply to avoid providing false hope to acolytes of the conspiracy theorist in chief otherwise known as President Donald Trump. “This election was not close,” I said. “Neither was Gary Peters’ defeat of John James. But whether the margin is one vote or 1 million votes is irrelevant to the legal obligations this board must fulfill today. Just do your mandatory duty.” In the end, they did — but only because GOP board member Aaron Van Langevelde knew he had no choice. While the other Republican, Norm Shinkle, milked the moment for its Trump-pleasing limelight, Van Langevelde enjoyed adulation for his integrity from pro-America quarters and the threatened death of his political career from the proTrump camp. What should have been an innocuous bureaucratic moment became a Twitter trending topic carried live on C-SPAN — and proved to me once again that both the national and state Republican parties are unrecognizable to anyone who came to them out of sincere philosophical reverence for Goldwater, Buckley, and Reagan. That current Michigan GOP Chairwoman Laura Cox tried to pressure Van Langevelde to betray his conscience and the law fills me with an indescribable sadness and rage. How did the party I once led and loved get here? I admit my own culpability for not seeing where this was going sooner. I helped draw the gerrymandered district maps that ensured the GOP’s long-term lock on Lansing and turned most of our congressional districts into “safe seats” for one side or the other. That has made it beneficial for candidates to play to the extremes of their parties and nearly impossible for anyone in D.C. to moderate or compromise. But it’s so much more than that. In 2012, after Barack Obama won his second term, the RNC commissioned a blunt “autopsy” of why Mitt Romney lost. The report warned Republicans to appeal to non-white voters, whose numbers continued to grow and found the party’s harsh messages on immigration and civil rights particularly repellant. As sensible as that sounds, the report overlooked the ascendant Tea Party faction and its nativist credo borne of economic distress and fears about the nation’s changing racial demographics. Trump weaponized that credo, rode it to the White House, and — as evidenced by that idiotic Board of Canvassers episode — reduced the GOP to nothing ILLUSTRATIONS PEDRO SILVA

ESSAY

THE BILL’S COMING DUE

Michigan Republicans think Trumpism is a winning strategy. It might be now, but the long-term price will devastate the party. BY JEFF TIMMER

more than a Trump-supplicant cabal. Populism, nationalism, racism, and classism are today’s definitive GOP traits. The party no longer stands for anything so much as against everything. For the moment, the likes of Cox, RNC Chairwoman Ronna McDaniel, and Michigan Senate Majority Leader Mike Shirkey must regard this formula as a success. The 2020 election was a personal repudiation of Trump, but Republicans picked up seats in the U.S. House, limited their expected losses in the U.S. Senate, and easily held on to power in Lansing. If there is a price to pay for falling in line for Trump, it has yet to come due. Oh, but it will. Arizona and Georgia are now swing states — and Texas seems sure to follow — which affirms exactly the future the 2012 autopsy warned of. Republicans remain older, whiter, more rural, and less educated. With an electrifying candidate like Trump stoking their worst instincts, that cohort voted in unusually large numbers in 2016 and 2020. That is why Michigan, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin behaved like swing states in those races. It can’t stay like this for long. In 2011, I drew a Michigan district map that we thought would lock in a GOP advantage in the U.S. House delegation at 9-to-5. A decade later, disillusionment about Republican bigotry and thirst for raw power among suburban women, college-educated whites, people of color, and anyone under 40 has shifted that to 7-to-7. The boundaries didn’t change; the people and their politics did. How that will play out in the 2021 redistricting that will be done by an independent, bipartisan commission remains to be seen, but there is a reason Michigan Republicans fought like hell — and failed — to defeat the ballot initiative that altered that process. As soon as the 2022 gubernatorial race, we will see whether Michigan Republicans can still rely on the surge in less-educated white voters without Trump on the ballot. Or perhaps those folks will view 2020 as such a bummer that it sours them on the electoral process. After all, Trump, abetted by Cox, McDaniel, Shinkle, James, and Shirkey, keeps telling the flock that voting machines are rigged and any government official — even a Republican! — who defies Trumpism is hopelessly corrupt. Why would these people bother to keep participating? And even if they do, they can’t keep up with the accelerating demographic shifts that have terrified them in the first place. That, right there, is the trouble with exploiting this dark vision of a diverse America knowing that these assaults on democratic values and norms can have lasting impact. Republicans may reap shortterm political gain, but at what cost? When they realize the damage they’ve done, it may be far too late for all of us. Jeff Timmer is a political consultant and strategist. He is a senior adviser to The Lincoln Project and co-founder of Republicans and Independents for Biden. JA N UA RY 2 0 2 1

15


Up Front

“You can still be fired from your job or kicked out of your rental house for being gay in this county. ” —DAVE COULTER

openly gay person could win, even in Ferndale. But that acceptance made me think it was possible.

You’re the first Democrat elected to your new job. What has changed about Oakland County? A lot of people didn’t recognize how the county’s demographics were changing because Brooks was still there and he was larger than life. We have a lot of good-paying jobs here in IT and engineering, so we have a workforce of younger, educated voters who tend to be more progressive. And the foreign-born population has expanded significantly over the last couple of decades. Plus, we used to be a moderate Republican county, and many of those people are turned off by the increasingly conservative bent to their party. Then Trump poured an accelerant on that phenomenon.

The 2020 primary got very ugly, with TV ads from Treasurer Andy Meisner that implied you are corrupt and/or racist. Have you and he spoken since?

Democrat Dave Coulter’s election as Oakland County executive marks a dramatic shift in the traditionally Republican county’s politics.

POLITICS

BARRIER BREAKER

Oakland County’s Dave Coulter on LGBTQ representation and regional cooperation BY STEVE FRIESS | PHOTO BY NIKKI RUIZ

THERE’S NO MORE STRIKING proof that Oakland County has transformed from GOP stronghold to Democratic haven than the 2020 election of former Ferndale Mayor Dave Coulter as county executive. Coulter, 60, is the state’s first openly LGBTQ person to lead a county, having dispatched former state Sen. Mike Kowall by 11 points on Nov. 3. Coulter was appointed to the post by the Oakland County Commission in August 2019 following the death of L. Brooks Patterson, the longtime GOP boss who made a career of resisting cooperation with Detroit or neighboring counties. The new chief sees the future quite differently, and now he has an electoral mandate to pursue more regional efforts, as he explains to Hour Detroit.

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This is an obvious question, but I can’t find your answer anywhere. How did you come out publicly?

You know, there wasn’t a moment or a declaration. The first time it became publicly relevant was when I ran in 2002 for the Oakland County Commission in a district that included Ferndale, Hazel Park, and a little bit of Royal Oak. I decided to run as an open person, as myself. I certainly wouldn’t want someone to think they could use that against me.

Was there a time when you wondered if you could even run for office because you’re gay?

Wonder about it? I assumed I couldn’t. I’ve been interested in politics and government since high school. But when I realized my sexuality in my 20s, running just wasn’t feasible. There were no role models of openly gay people in office. I decided I would stay involved in politics, help other candidates, but I never imagined a path for myself to elective office back then.

What changed your mind?

Moving to Ferndale. I was born and raised in Macomb County, in St. Clair Shores. When I came to Ferndale in 1991, I found a diverse, accepting community. I got to know some of the politically active people. There was still a question of whether an

Oh, sure. Andy was my state representative for six years while I was county commissioner. We had endorsed each other in various elections over the years. Andy reached out to me after the election; we shared a beer and talked about how we move forward. I was very angry, but I’m in a different place now. Nobody likes a sore winner.

Patterson was known for opposing regional cooperation. How about you?

When you live in Ferndale, which borders Detroit, you understand that our issues don’t respect these artificial geographic boundaries. These are our neighbors and our friends. The metro Detroit area is in competition with other regions in the country and the world for talent and jobs. This notion that our competition is Detroit or Wayne or Macomb was really shortsighted to me.

What will change under your leadership?

I talk with the other leaders in the region often, and that’s intentional. I’ll give you a small example that was very gratifying to me. When COVID-19 hit, [Detroit] Mayor Duggan, because he used to run a health system, understood what this was going to be like and became laser-focused on testing. Mike was out of the gate with the first drive-thru testing location in the region, but he very intentionally put it at the State Fairgrounds at Eight Mile and Woodward to make it accessible to people in Oakland and Macomb. That was special to me, an indication that we can work on these kinds of problems together.

Do you feel a special responsibility to LGBTQ people given your position?

Of course, yes. I want to represent well. And even though we’ve made a tremendous amount of progress, we’re not there yet. You can still be fired from your job or kicked out of your rental house for being gay in this county. So there’s still work to do.


01.21 MAKING THE MOST OF LIFE IN METRO DETROIT

24/Seven HEALTH

A LIGHT CLEANING UV-C light products promise protection from pathogens. Here’s what you need to know. p. 18 H E A LT H p. 18 I NEED MY S PAC E p. 20 M I ST Y L E p. 22 FA S H I O N p. 23

UV JOSH SCOTT

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24/Seven

IS LIGHT THE WAY? HEALTH

Products that use UV-C rays can destroy coronavirus particles, but they aren’t all created equal. Here’s what you need to know before you make a purchase. BY ASHLEY ZLATOPOLSKY

 UV Angel devices mount to keyboards, track their use, and adjust the UV-C dose accordingly.

HALO, from Ann Arbor-based Archimedes, "washes" hands with UV-C light.

THE ONGOING COVID -19 pandemic has sparked an explosion of products aimed at protecting people from the invisible pathogen that causes the disease. One increasingly popular approach is the use of UV-C light, a virus-killing science that’s been deployed for more than a century to sanitize high-traffic areas, such as hospitals and federal buildings. This germicidal ultraviolet light, which is quickly making its way into everyday life, mimics a sunray that’s powerful enough to destroy lingering coronavirus particles, along with other bugs and viruses, such as influenza. “If you can visualize a virus in the air, it has very tiny particles,” explains Eric Hansel, owner and founder of Expert Lighting Group, a Rochester Hills-based company that installs UV-C lighting locally and nationally for a variety of business sectors. When installed as an HVAC-based air filtration system, UV-C lighting acts as a net for removing those particles, which can linger from sneezes and coughs, and even from people talking and

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breathing, Hansel says. It works a bit like a car wash, circulating air past the light, which then destroys any airborne virus particles. The same technology can also be used to sanitize frequently touched surfaces, such as keyboards and countertops. Many companies, including several here in Michigan, have UV-C-based products on the market. Knowing which product to choose can take a bit of legwork. “You’ll want to know the point of origin for the product you’re using,” Hansel cautions. He recommends checking that there’s actual science to back up a product’s claims, and that the company behind a product is transparent about how its devices are made. Hansel also urges buyers to check the company’s history before committing to a purchase, especially for large investments. “Do they have a long history of selling UV-C, or was it just a pivot for them?” he says, adding that he’s seen a number of false claims on the market since COVID hit, so doing research before buying is crucial. “If you can’t find much information on the brand, I wouldn’t buy from them at all.”

UV-C products come in several forms, including sanitizing wands, which can be waved over spaces and surfaces to help destroy pathogens. These more affordable options start at around $25 from more reputable brands. Other in-demand items include portable phone sanitizers, which act almost like microwaves for phones, keys, credit cards, and other small objects by zapping them in a compact UV-C-lit device. While local companies like Commerce Charter Township-based Homedics sell portable phone sanitizers that cost under $100, Hansel says commercial-grade UV-C boxes can run upwards of $5,000 but are capable of cleaning even N95 masks. Also gaining traction in the UV-C product market are “hand-washing” devices that promise to clean hands with light. Special machines shaped like halos (among other shapes) sanitize without water, chemicals, or waste. Users place their hands inside these devices, which then emit small doses of UV-C light to destroy virus particles on the skin. The doses are strong enough to inactivate pathogens but too weak to penetrate the skin’s protective layer of dead skin cells, alleviating concern about possible radiation exposure. Ann Arbor-based Archimedes is among the companies that sell UV-C hand-washing halos. Archimedes’ founders are University of Michigan-grad scientists and researchers who study health care solutions and light-based skin decontamination. They say their HALO system can destroy more than 99 percent of germs in under five seconds. A study conducted by Archimedes found that 20 seconds of regular hand-washing can leave more than 720 colony-forming germ units on the skin, while five seconds under its device leaves zero colony-forming units behind. A commercial version of a UV-C halo from Archimedes will be available in the second quarter of 2021 and will cost around $999, while a consumer version is expected to follow at a lower price. Surface-cleaning devices are also proliferating. Grand Haven-based UV Angel has developed an automated surface cleaning system for high-touch areas that uses patented UV-C light technology. Its devices, which resemble Bluetooth speakers, monitor high-touch surfaces such as keyboards and touch screens and vary the amount of UV-C light they emit to match the type of interaction they sense. Their surface product costs $316 and promises to be capable of hundreds of cycles a day. In the end, consumers have no practical way to test how effective these products are themselves, so buying any products requires an educated leap of faith. “You don’t know if a product is effective or not, so you really have to trust the manufacturer,” Hansel says. “Check that they have medical doctors endorsing materials, they’ve gone through rigorous testing, and have a long history of using UV-C properly. Make sure they’re not only offering you a safe product, but one that will actually do its job.” HALO COURTESY OF ARCHIMEDES UV ANGEL COURTESY OF UV ANGEL


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24/Seven

Let there be light: A pair of candlesticks also adorn a shelf; they were a wedding gift from Kest’s father and his wife. In addition, brass Pierre Forsell for Skultuna (vintage 1950s) candle sconces (not shown) grace the space and are lit regularly.

Enlightened One: What’s a yoga space without Buddha? A Buddha head sculpture from a friend sits atop a shelf, appearing to watch over the room’s occupants.

New chapters: Kest’s favorite books include Breath by James Nestor, and Malcolm Gladwell’s The Tipping Point and Talking to Strangers.

Growth is good: A Willy Guhl (Swiss designer) planter brims with verdant green moss.

“Yoga and meditation teach you how to be in relationship with yourself and others and come out successful.” —JONNY KEST

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24/Seven The art of yoga: Jonny and Milla adore the Marc Chagall lithograph of an opera house ceiling (Opera Garnier in France) that hangs on one of the walls. “Yoga is an art,” Kest says, “and so we wanted art here.”

JUST BREATHE I NEED MY SPACE

Here comes the sun: Whether he’s in sun salutation mode or not, Kest gets a lot of sunlight coming in from large windows on three walls of the room. They look out to 2.5 acres of rolling terrain dotted with beautiful, mature trees.

Celebrated yogi Jonny Kest invites us to his quiet place

BY MEG A N SWOY ER PH O T O BY MAT T L AVER E

Size doesn’t matter: There’s no need for expansive floor space for yoga or meditation. “It should be thought of as a container of intimacy,” Kest says, “so it’s nice to have a smaller space.”

Cushy: A bolster with vintage Missoni fabric is often used for stretching and rolling.

Mat matters: The yoga guru isn’t choosy about his mat, as long as one side is “sticky and doesn’t slip or slide,” he says. Floored by simplicty: White oak rift and quartered flooring is both easy on the eyes and yogafriendly.

WHEN JONNY KEST was 12 years old and living in Hawaii, he witnessed the horrendous pain associated with back problems. “My father had debilitating back pain, four surgeries, and I saw yoga play a key role in his recovery,” Kest says. In 1983, he and his father traveled to India to learn more about the art of yoga and the country’s culture. Fast-forward, and today Jonny and his wife, Milla, who have four children ranging in age from 12 to 24, are considered the leaders in establishing metro Detroit as a center for Vinyasa yoga. (Vinyasa is characterized by a seamless flow from one posture to the next in coordination with breathing.) The two established the popular Center for Yoga in Birmingham in 1993. Today, Kest spends his time training students to teach yoga. He teaches virtually and hopes to return soon to his post leading the LifePower Yoga Teacher Training program at Life Time Bloomfield Township. In turn, his students eventually impart their knowledge to their own students, stressing Kest’s emphasis on the healing power of breath and of allowing the heart and spirit to align. “Yoga and meditation teach you how to be in relationship with yourself and others and come out successful,” Kest explains from his light-filled yoga/meditation space in his beautiful 1927 Tudor-style Bloomfield Hills home. For anyone making a New Year’s resolution to practice yoga or meditation, one of the best things you can do to help yourself keep your resolution is to have a dedicated and proper space, Kest says. Over time, he believes, special energies accumulate in that space, “and there’s a vibration that supports your practice. Here, you come to your breath, and your thoughts let go of you.” The space should be distraction-free, which, he believes, holds for life as well. “For a new year, I like to think instead of adding to life, what are you letting go of? What’s your move to a simpler life that’s less complicated?” Here, in lotus position, of course, he shares some insights on his favorite at-home dedicated space for stretching, bending, posing, and meditating. Situated off the living room, the light-drenched room, which was used as a library by the former homeowners, is long and narrow. JA N UA RY 2 0 2 1

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24/Seven

“I always try to envision a world where I imagine my garments to exist.”

ETHEREAL GIRL MI STYLE

Meet costume and fashion designer Nabeela Najjar BY R ACH A EL THOM AS P H O T O BY JO E ALISA

Nabeela Najjar poses with some of her creations at her home/studio.

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—NABEELA NAJJAR

NABEELA NAJJAR’S clothing designs are ethereal sights to behold. Drawing inspiration from her dreams and from nature, the 27-year-old Detroit costume designer creates garments for editorial photoshoots and local art and fashion exhibitions. She has also designed for local musicians Charity and Silence Is the Noise, and for Suttle Dance Co. Najjar crafts floral fantasies with her silk chiffon and organza dresses, puffy-sleeved pastel blouses, and whimsical headpieces and masks. Her Softly Away exhibit for Detroit Month of Design last September served as a perfect introduction for anyone unfamiliar with her work. The installation was a garden oasis of flowers and greenery covering the ceiling, walls, and floor, and featured pink silk garments delicately layered with more flowers. Here, Najjar tells us about her own personal style, her New Year’s resolutions, and the dictionary of more than 1,000 flower species that she’s been studying up on.

My favorite designer at the moment: “Iris van

Herpen. Her work is always about movement and flow and color. [Her designs] look like pieces of art — it’s so cool.” My personal style: “My style is definitely different from my design aesthetic. I try to go for a simple look, from jeans and a top to long floral-pattern dresses.” My go-to look: “Oversized sweaters or sweater dresses. That’s usually my go-to, especially since quarantine. There’s this one sweater that everyone knows I wear, and I’ve been made fun of because I was wearing it like every day. It’s a long, oversized, pinkish-purple sweater from H&M; I’ve had it for years. If I’m not going out, which has been quite often as of late, I’m usually home working. So, leggings and an oversized shirt is what I’m wearing 75 percent of the time.” Favorite clothing brands: “I guess I don’t really shop name brands because names don’t come to mind right away. I tend to see clothing I like online, say from [the British online retailer] ASOS, and just make it myself.” On my nightstand: “My sister just bought me this book of like every flower and plant, The Complete Language of Flowers: A Definitive and Illustrated History. So I’ve been reading up on all the different flowers.” New Year’s resolutions: “To become better with my craftsmanship and learn new sewing techniques. To hopefully do a solo exhibit. And to have a line of my garments for sale in a store or perhaps my own storefront somewhere in Detroit.” Check out Najjar’s work at seamstressbee.com.


24/Seven

The Statement Jacket

The Cozy Wool Topcoat

“Bright colors, patterns, or textures that sweep the floor will set you apart from the crowd,” Petkoski says. Throw your new statement piece on over any outfit for an instant headturning ensemble. Petkoski recommends bold options made of vegan leather and faux fur from brands including Staud and Stand Studio, available at online luxury retailer Moda Operandi.

“Throw it over any look for an instant upgrade, or wear casual over a sweatsuit with sneakers [for] running errands,” Petkoski says of this classic style. Try The Stretch Italian Wool Topcoat from menswear brand Bonobos for a versatile and waterrepellant addition to your wardrobe.

Stand Studio Nino Checked Faux Fur Coat in Multi, $650 at Moda Operandi; modaoperandi.com

The Teddy Coat The teddy coat rose to fame after Max Mara’s iconic Teddy Bear Coat appeared in the brand’s 2013 runway show, and has been a winter staple copied by high-end designers and mass retailers alike ever since. Petkoski suggests wearing this coat style in a bold color or pattern with an all-black outfit and booties or a colorful sneaker. Try the Anouck Double-Breasted Faux Shearling Coat by vegan clothing brand Apparis. Or pair a neutralcolored teddy coat with a winter floral dress and tall boots.

The Upcycled Windbreaker This style can be layered under your coat for additional warmth and worn with sweatpants and sneakers, Petkoski says. She likes outdoor apparel brand Cotopaxi’s unisex Teca Windbreaker, made of 100 percent remnant fabric. You can also find windbreakers made of recycled fabric and other materials from Patagonia and Nike.  Teca Half-Zip Windbreaker Unisex in Seaside, $80 at Cotopaxi; cotopaxi.com

The Stretch Italian Wool Topcoat in Dark Camel, $498 at Bonobos, 1417 Woodward Ave., Detroit; 313-938-0130; bonobos.com

 Apparis Anouck Double-Breasted Faux Shearling Coat, $295 at Moda Operandi

A Fresh Coat FASHION

From sporty cropped puffers to floor-sweeping statement jackets, a local stylist shares how to bundle up in style this winter BY R AC H A EL TH O MAS

A NEW YEAR calls for a new coat — even if our outings have become fewer and farther between. Here, Paulina Petkoski, Detroit-based wardrobe stylist, womenswear designer, and co-founder of the art gallery and agency Playground Detroit, talks us through some of the season’s most popular coat styles and how to wear them.

STATEMENT AND TEDDY COURTESY OF MODA OPERANDI WINDBREAKER COURTESY OF COTOPAXI TOPCOAT COURTESY OF BONOBOS PUFFER COURTESY OF GAP

The Cropped Puffer For a sporty addition to your wardrobe, Petkoski suggests pairing this coat style with high-waisted jeans and ankle boots. As an advocate of sustainable fashion, Petkoski is a firm believer in opting for items made of recycled fabrics and other materials. For this trend, she likes puffer jackets made of vegan leather or recycled bottles from brands such as Abercrombie & Fitch and the Barcelona brand Paloma Wool at the Detroit clothing boutique Coup D’état. You could also try Gap’s Upcycled Cropped Midweight Puffer Jacket, made with recycled nylon and polyester.  Upcycled Cropped Midweight Puffer Jacket in True Black, $148 at Gap; gap.com for locations

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BY STEVE FRIESS

Hi, 2021.

BEHAVE YOURSELF. A CENTURY AGO, President Warren G. Harding was sworn in on the promise that he could bring unto the nation “a return to normalcy.” To Americans recovering from a devastating foreign war and a flu pandemic, that sounded awfully appealing. As we roll into our ’20s, we certainly can relate. And all signs do point to a somewhat kinder, gentler 2021. Our new president, love or hate him, is unlikely to generate daily drama and controversy. There aren’t a ton of important elections to divide and consume us. And, God and/or Big Pharma willing, a workable COVID-19 vaccine will allow us to un-pause our lives. Still, that doesn’t mean we Michiganders can tune out — yet. Big decisions will — or won’t? — be made by the prominent and powerful. Have a seat and take in these predictions from our crack team of pundits from across the state and the political spectrum. Then, perhaps, you can get back to your version of normalcy secure in the knowledge that you know exactly what to expect in the coming year … or something.

Meet the Experts 24

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

Dennis Darnoi is a Republican political consultant based in Farmington Hills.

Joe DiSano is a Democratic political consultant based in Lansing.

David Dulio is a political science professor at Oakland University in Rochester.

Mildred Gaddis is host of The Mildred Gaddis Show on KISS-FM (105.9) as well as a longtime fixture on Black talk radio in Detroit.

Matt Grossmann is a political science professor at Michigan State University in East Lansing.

ILLUSTRATION ISTOCK


WHILE WHITMER surely would trade the pandemic and its human and economic devastation — not to mention the death threats against her family — for anything, few elected officials anywhere have benefited more politically in 2020 from their performance responding to COVID-19 than Michigan’s 49th governor. It’s hard to remember, now that she’s a fixture on CNN and MSNBC, that she was little known nationally 11 months ago when she gave the Democratic response to President Trump’s final State of the Union address. By spring, when the pandemic took its deadliest toll on metro Detroit, Whitmer’s firm and unyielding rules shutting down the economy and forcing everyone indoors brought her record-high job approval ratings and relentless attacks from Trump, which “the woman from Michigan” wore as a badge of honor. “She didn’t allow pressure from the corporate community or any entity to force her to back down or dumb down the remedy and the process of getting Michigan’s COVID numbers down,” radio host Mildred Gaddis says. Indeed, the panelists unanimously expect Whitmer to remain popular through 2021, although it’s unrealistic to expect her to keep polling above 60 percent, says Oakland University’s David Dulio, especially with Republicans in the Legislature hammering against her. GOP consultant Dennis Darnoi predicts Whitmer’s number will sit at about 55 percent because state Republicans have a disorganized and muddled message. “What is the Republican plan that is going to garner a majority of support while taking down whatever it is the Whitmer administration is going to put forward?” he asks. “Right now, it just appears as though the Republican strategy on COVID, both on a national level and then on a state level, is really just to kind of attack without a Plan B. Absent a unified plan that the Republican Legislature is going to pass and going to be able to advocate to the people, I don’t see her taking a serious hit.” Democratic consultant Joe DiSano agrees: “People trust and respect the governor’s action on COVID-19. That’s a tough bond for folks like [Senate Republican Leader Mike] Shirkey or other white, male Republicans to break.” Still, it’s unclear whether Whitmer’s super-high ratings were ever real in the first place, considering that that data came from much of the same polling that got the state’s presidential and Senate outcomes so wrong. Still, Dulio says, “her approval numbers have been outstanding so far, and even if you dock them 5 or 6 points, they’re still very good.”

Adrian Hemond is a Democratic political consultant and CEO of Grassroots Midwest based in Lansing.

Tom Ivacko is executive director of the Center for Local, State, and Urban Policy at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor.

WHAT WILL JOHN JAMES DO? Try, try again.

WHERE WILL GOV. GRETCHEN WHITMER’S APPROVAL RATING STAND BY JANUARY 2022? Above water.

Nancy Kaffer is a columnist and member of the editorial board for the Detroit Free Press.

WHITMER COURTESY OF THE STATE OF MICHIGAN JAMES COURTESY OF JOHN JAMES FOR SENATE

Jer Staes is producer and host of the Daily Detroit podcast.

IF YOU THINK becoming the only Michigan man ever to lose back-to-back races for U.S. Senate seats would be a disincentive to future political endeavors, our panelists say you don’t know Republican John James. After losing by 6.5 points to Debbie Stabenow in 2018 and 1.7 points to Gary Peters in 2020, James will spend 2021 plotting his next move, be it taking on Whitmer, scoping out a redrawn congressional district to run in, or running the state GOP. “He’s been turned back a couple of times now, and hope springs eternal, I guess,” columnist Nancy Kaffer quips. Podcaster Jer Staes, too, sees an indefatigable appetite for office-seeking: “He desperately seems to want to win something. If there was a state dogcatcher, he’d run for it.” “There’s so many options,” Dulio says. “I could see him just going back to his business career and having had enough of politics for a while. Or I could also see him trying to run for something else. He didn’t win, but he had a successful campaign, if that makes any sense.” It makes sense to MSU political scientist Matt Grossmann, who says James “performed better than expected in both elections. He might decide to run for governor [in 2022] when people think it’ll be a more favorable climate for Republicans” because the party out of power at the White House tends to do better in midterm election years. Yet the fact that James refused to concede his loss to Peters within a conventional period of time and pushed the same baseless, debunked claims about widespread voter fraud that Trump pushed “diminishes his ability to do something next,” says Darnoi, the Republican consultant. DiSano agrees: “James’ behavior since the election has been without honor or dignity, and it’s going to be hard to take him seriously as anything other than a political hack after this. He will try, but he can never get back what he lost since Nov. 3.” His actions also place James back in Trump fanboy territory after a campaign aimed at shaking off his ties to the 45th president, urban policy expert Tom Ivacko says. “It was a pretty substantial loss, so contesting it just looks silly,” he says. Still, James does now have more statewide name recognition than almost any other Republican, and that counts for something, Democratic strategist Adrian Hemond says. “Maybe he becomes state party chair? The president was pretty clear before the election that he intended to get rid of the state party chair if he lost Michigan. And it’s still Donald Trump’s Republican Party until someone else emerges, particularly with him talking about running for president again in 2024.” Darnoi thinks James would excel at that as he’s a prodigious fundraiser, but James likely would not challenge former GOP Chair Ron Weiser if Weiser wants the gig. “James has to let the dust settle a little bit, and really analyze what his best option would be in 2022, knowing full well that whoever he runs against will tag him as a two-time loser,” Darnoi says.

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2020 HINDSIGHT WE ASKED most of the same panel to weigh in last January on a range of questions about 2020. Spoiler alert: Nobody predicted a global pandemic, mass racial unrest, or all three female constitutional officers getting sucked into separate public feuds with the president of the United States. So, obviously, what good is this bunch? Well, let’s look back and see anyway. The only thing more fun than speculating wildly is seeing how right — or wrong — we are. Here’s how our 2020 prognosticators fared:

WILL DEMOCRATS TAKE BACK THE STATE HOUSE?

The panelists said maybe, with Adrian Hemond laying out the path while still remaining skeptical. In the end, the House remained precisely in the same 58-52 spread in favor of Republicans.

WHO DOES DANA NESSEL OWN IN 2020?

The pugilistic attorney general did not disappoint. Our gang said “everyone,” and they were right. Most notably, she stared down Trump in a Twitter feud in which the president called her a “wacky donothing attorney general” because she said he was a “petulant child” and “a ridiculous person” when he refused to mask up on a visit in May to a Ford plant in Ypsilanti. She slapped back that he had a problem “with all 3 women who run MI as well as your ability to tell the truth.” To which Trump said, uh, nothing. Still, Nessel also showed her pithy, humorous side with the Halloween-themed video she made in which she opens as a scary ghost, doffs the mask, and says, “It’s me! Dana Nessel! Michigan attorney general! You know what’s scarier than Halloween? People not voting!”

DOES SHRI THANEDAR BECOME A HOUSE MEMBER? Our pundits said yes, and

they were right. The 2018 Michigan Democratic gubernatorial also-ran won his race in a Detroitarea district handily and without ever having to respond to the kinds of tough questions about his role in live-animal research testing that helped sink his prior foray into elective politics.

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IF THERE HAS BEEN a lightning rod in the Duggan administration over the past year, it is the 64-year-old top cop who has served since 2013. Already treated with some suspicion by many Black residents because of his creation in 2016 of Project Greenlight, a program where the police installed cameras at gas stations in what was taken as an excess of government surveillance, Craig took a great deal of the heat when troubles arose during Black Lives Matter protests. While the BLM events in Detroit never reached the violent or destructive level of their counterparts in other cities, police here did make arrests and occasionally were seen as heavy-handed in crowd control. In one incident, a cop maced a Free Press reporter while the reporter livestreamed coverage of a demonstration. Craig is defiant in the face of calls for his resignation, telling WJBK-TV in November, “I’ve said it and I’ll say it again: No, no. I’m not leaving. You leave.” Still, DiSano and Staes think Craig’s a goner, if only because he offended progressives by appearing a couple of times on Fox News to criticize what he saw as overly permissive police responses to BLM events in Seattle and Portland and to suggest that a “Marxist” cabal is coordinating and funding BLM activism across the country. Those appearances prompted President Trump to sing Craig’s praises, which, in turn, only incited more opposition to him from local activists. “Chief Craig won’t be in charge by the end of the year,” DiSano predicts. “Craig playing footsie with the far-right wing and [U.S. Attorney General] Bill Barr was noticed and it’s disturbing. Craig didn’t earn Trump’s praise for nothing.” Staes agrees: “I wouldn’t be surprised to see Mike Duggan, if it becomes politically hot, find a landing space for Chief Craig.” Hemond, too, sees Craig as a political liability for Duggan, but noted that Duggan nonetheless “clearly has a lot of confidence in him.” GOP consultant Darnoi says he can “see it going either way” and agrees Craig is “in the most jeopardy of not being in his position” by 2022. Gaddis, however, is doubtful. She’s alarmed by Craig’s “missteps” — specifically arrests and attacks on journalists covering the protests — but she says beyond the BLM crowd, Craig is admired. “For the most part, I think that the Detroit community would very much be comfortable with him staying in that position,” she says. Ivacko also thinks Craig will stay put, with this caveat: “It probably depends whether there are any significant new problems with police use of force either here or across the nation that lead to protests in the city.”

WILL DETROIT POLICE CHIEF JAMES CRAIG STILL BE IN CHARGE BY 2022? Maybe.

JAMES COURTESY OF THE CITY OF DETROIT


WHO WILL BE AFFECTED MOST BY CONGRESSIONAL REDISTRICTING? Probably metro Detroit.

BECAUSE OF A POPULATION dip, Michigan is expected to lose a House seat once the 2020 Census is completed. That means 14 districts will become 13. Much of the depopulation has taken place in the city of Detroit, which at present figures prominently in the state’s two minority-majority districts now represented by Democratic Reps. Brenda Lawrence and Rashida Tlaib. The current interpretation of the Voting Rights Act dictates the state still have two such districts, and the Department of Justice under President-elect Biden is unlikely to reverse that policy, Hemond says. But with Detroit’s population slipping under 650,000 when each congressional district encompasses 750,000 people, the district lines will need to be very creative and circuitous to satisfy the racial quota demands. “My suspicion is one of the minority-majority districts will start in Detroit and go as far north as Flint,” Hemond says. In the process, a number of existing districts, including those represented by Reps. Haley Stevens, Elissa Slotkin, Andy Levin, Debbie Dingell, Tim Walberg, and Dan Kildee, may be shuffled. Another wild card, though, is that the districts will be drawn for the first time by a nonpartisan commission of citizens as required by a 2018 ballot measure. Ivacko is optimistic that that will result in a more balanced map than the prior gerrymandered ones drawn by state Legislature partisans in the past. “It is an incredibly interesting experiment to see the commission try to find their way through very complex public policy process,” he says. “My gut says we end up with districts that are relatively fairer.” PETERS COURTESY OF GARY PETERS DETROIT ISTOCK

Yet the commissioners will face a reality that will challenge their ability to dole out an even playing field, political scientist Matt Grossmann says. “Democrats are just so increasingly concentrated in large metro areas that even nonpartisan-drawn districts are just much more likely to benefit Republicans than Democrats, especially when the top priority is paying attention to majority-minority districts,” he says. “That’s going to mean you have the Democratic districts much more likely to be packed in,” leaving Republican voters as majorities of more sprawling districts. The thing to watch is whether any sitting House members will have to face off with one another in primaries. But any which way, the odds are high that, as Staes says, “Detroit’s going to get the short end of the stick.”

WILL WE HEAR MUCH FROM GARY PETERS AGAIN BEFORE 2026? Yes, if he’s smart.

IN 2020, Michigan’s junior senator came terrifyingly close to becoming a one-termer in large part because he’d done such a poor job since his 2014 election of remaining prominent. He began his race against James as the nation’s least-known senator among his own constituents, handing his opponent an easy opening to define him as lazy and disengaged. When the Free Press endorsed Peters by saying he had “achieved more in his first term than many senators accomplish in their careers,” the newspaper was doing for Peters what Peters himself had failed to do in explaining where he’d been for the past six years. The question now is whether the 62-yearold retreats to anonymity for the first half of the 2020s or starts in 2021 building a more formidable and durable public image. “Gary Peters is a very hard-working senator,” says Kaffer, a member of the newspaper’s editorial board. “He’s smart and capable and focused on getting the job done and not so much on patting himself on the back, which is actually a great trait for a working elected official and not such a great trait when you’re campaigning. It would be great if he started to sort of blow his own horn a little bit more.” Ivacko thinks the near-death experience will wake Peters up: “This race should not have been this close. Democratic incumbent senators in Michigan do not lose. That was a scary campaign for him. It should not have been that close, and I suspect he will start to adapt his style a little bit to try to build some more sustainable name recognition.” Grossmann says he believes the Democratic Party will do better in Peters’ coming term to help the swing-state senator burnish his reputation. “That might mean the party finds popular things to put his name on or distributes resources to Michigan in a way that he can claim credit for,” he says. One reason Peters has been less visible, Hemond says, is that he’s been in the minority for his entire tenure. Still, he did have “plenty to brag about” despite those disadvantages, but he ran up against a 2020 election that came down not to policy victories but to “how you felt about the president,” Hemond explains. “Gary is just not a tug-at-the-heartstrings kind of guy.”

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DO THE DAMN ROADS GET FIXED? Last year at this time,

nobody could have imagined just how low a priority this classic Whitmer campaign promise would feel. But the group did correctly say no — and they’re no more optimistic about it happening this year, either. “No one’s going to give her that political win heading into the elections of 2022,” Dennis Darnoi says. Plus, David Dulio notes, COVID-19 has decimated the state budget. “The Republicans weren’t terribly interested in finding new revenue last time around. Are they going to come around on that? I would not be too optimistic about anything major happening in the next couple of years.”

DOES BETSY DEVOS SERVE TRUMP’S ENTIRE FIRST TERM? As predicted, she did.

In fact, in a White House of historic personnel turnover, the Amway heiress and school-choice activist from Holland, Michigan, was one of just six original Cabinet secretaries to stick around with Trump through the 2020 election. That’s remarkable considering she had one of the more humiliating confirmation hearings and was so controversial she couldn’t visit public schools without a big hullabaloo. The GOP base loved her, though, for her efforts to boost private and parochial schools and her moves to make it more difficult to expel men accused of sexual misconduct on college campuses.

WHO’S THE WORST DEMOCRAT TO PUT UP AGAINST TRUMP?

Our pundits named Elizabeth Warren, but this is one for which there is no answer without parallel universes. Given that centrist Joe Biden squeaked to a narrow victory and still managed to make some moderate voters nervous by tapping Kamala Harris as his VP while the Democrats lost a bunch of House seats, it does appear that the safe choice was the right one.

WHO GETS THE CREDIT FOR AUTO INSURANCE RATE REFORM? After all the sturm

und drang over this issue and the herculean bipartisan accomplishment of getting this law passed in 2019, it all went into effect silently while most of us were hunkered down trying to avoid COVID-19. The panel said the credit would go to whoever supported it, but ultimately, this matter was irrelevant as a 2020 campaign issue. Perhaps if the pandemic is defeated and politics return to a more usual rhythm, we’ll hear about it more in the 2022 gubernatorial race.

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WILL MAYOR MIKE DUGGAN BE REELECTED? Yes.

THE ONE SIGNIFICANT election this year around these parts is for Detroit mayor, but nobody expects the gruff, gravel-voiced Duggan to face any serious opposition. Duggan, 62, is gunning to be only the second mayor besides Coleman Young to win more than two terms since 1953, when the terms were expanded from two to four years. “Mayor Duggan can be mayor as long as he wants to be mayor,” DiSano says. Hemond, another Democratic consultant, agrees, noting that Duggan won his first race in 2013 as a write-in candidate. “He’s an experienced campaigner and an outstanding fundraiser,” Hemond says. “He’ll have all the money that he needs to touch every voter that he wants to touch. That’s not a guarantee of victory, but if somebody wants to run against [him], they better get in fast.” Gaddis says she’s heard just one name floated seriously: Former Deputy Mayor Anthony Adams, a lawyer in private practice. Adams led the opposition to Proposal N, a $250 million bond proposal to pay for the demolition of abandoned houses. “If Anthony or some other challenger surfaces, they may not have much money, but if they organize people with a list of things supporters are disenchanted with, we could see one heck of a race.” Yet Proposal N — controversial because Duggan’s demolition program has been one of the few sources of scandal during his tenure — passed overwhelmingly despite being “very unpopular in certain circles,” Kaffer says. “That suggests Duggan still enjoys a lot of support in the city.” Staes agrees that that margin surprised him. He thinks Duggan will win again because he has managed the COVID-19 crisis well while also “taking care of the little things. It sounds super silly, but in my neighborhood, people are so excited about those speed bumps. It’s those very basic things.” Ivacko notes that Duggan did fail to deliver on a key promise, to grow the population of Detroit, but that “otherwise, the city is better off.” DUGGAN COURTESY OF THE CITY OF DETROIT


WHAT WILL JUSTIN AMASH DO NEXT? Think-tanking.

THE 40-YEAR-OLD four-term congressman from Grand Rapids was the only elected Republican in Washington to follow his renunciation of Trump to its logical conclusion by both abandoning the GOP and voting for the 45th president’s impeachment. Then, reading the political tea leaves, he abandoned a likely fruitless independent campaign to retain his House seat (making way for Rep.elect Peter Meijer, a Republican) and departed office both uncompromised and unbeaten. For now, at least, the panel thinks he’ll stay out of elective politics, if only because “he certainly can’t run for office as a Republican anymore, at least not while Donald Trump has a Twitter account,” Hemond says. Instead, the guessing game centers on what sort of intellectual endeavor the hard-core small-government and constitutional purist pursues. Ivacko suggested Amash should go to work for the Reason Foundation, Hillsdale College, or the Mackinac Center — all havens for libertarian thinkers. Darnoi says if Amash wants to stay in D.C., perhaps a berth at the similar-leaning Cato Institute or the American Enterprise Institute would appeal. Staes hopes Amash stays visible by popping up on the irreverent, polarizing libertarian comic Joe Rogan’s influential podcast while developing a national following akin to that of failed Democratic presidential candidate Andrew Yang. Either way, Amash has retained his credibility and is young enough to bide his time while Trumpism runs its course, Hemond says. “Whether you approve of what he did — I generally do and find it hilarious — he went out with double birds in the air.”

AMASH COURTESY OF JUSTIN AMASH MACKINAC BRIDGE ISTOCK

WHITMER CLOSED out 2020 with her most direct effort yet to halt the flow of oil and liquefied natural gas through the pair of 67-year-old pipes owned and operated by Canadian energy giant Enbridge that run under the Straits of Mackinac. The governor told Enbridge she would terminate the company’s rights to use the underwater easement and has demanded Line 5 shut down by May 2021. Nobody, though, believes that’s the end of the story. “Enbridge has really deep pockets, they really want keep it open, and they’re very good at slow-walking things,” says Kaffer, the Free Press columnist. “I wouldn’t underestimate Enbridge’s ability to fund the fight or their commitment to it.” Staes is a lone anti-Enbridge optimist in the group, if only because he thinks Enbridge is starting to sweat. “They’re really a little bit worried about their position,” he says, noting the company is blanketing the digital space with advertisements promoting how Line 5 is safe, keeps energy costs down, and provides jobs. “There’s enough political opposition there. Will it still take a while to actually wind down? Absolutely. But the clock is ticking on Line 5. Everyone understands that if something does go wrong, it’s a real bad thing.”

WILL LINE 5 ACTUALLY BE SHUT DOWN? Probably not.

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PHOTOS BY N I K K I R U I Z

DET ROIT ERS M 1 ’ RS H O U R 2 0E E 2T 1 2H0O2 U

After a year when it was all too easy to focus on the negative, we kick off the new year celebrating 10 metro Detroiters who are quietly — and sometimes not so quietly — enriching life across the region

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hen Jackie Thompson, a longtime interpreter for the deaf, signs for Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan’s COVID-19 news conferences, she knows how vital her role is. She’s a lifeline for people like her deaf mother and younger sister. Relaying essential information to metro Detroit has become especially important throughout the pandemic, during which Americans have been inundated with potentially life-saving information daily for nearly a year. While Thompson, 47, has been a certified interpreter for 25 years, signing has been a way of life since she was a toddler and her mom first taught her basic survival signs such as asking for food or something to drink. A Detroit native, Thompson grew up in a family home with her mother, younger sister, grandmother, and aunts and uncles until around third grade. Within the large household, Thompson, her mother, and her younger sister formed a small family within the family, as they were the only three who knew how to sign. Thompson recalls feeling responsible for her mother and younger sister, taking on an assertive role early on to interpret for them. Over the years, she’s helped raise her younger sister’s five kids — only one of whom is not deaf — and adopted one of them. Interpreting professionally was something Thompson hadn’t considered while growing up, but her family values and innate desire to help people eventually led her to her career. “I like to be useful. I’ve always been that way,” Thompson says. “So, I don’t even know that I made a conscious decision that this is my purpose. I think it’s just what needs to be done. You’re not getting what you need; I’m able to give it to you. I’m able to [be] that bridge for this person and this person to communicate.” And a strong bridge she has been for the deaf and hard of hearing in the community. Thompson worked as an interpreter for the Detroit Public Schools’ board of education for nearly 20 years, and she taught American Sign Language classes for families of deaf students for nine years. As a freelance interpreter, Thompson works with Detroit-based Blessed Hands Interpreting Services, Deaf Community Advocacy Network in Sylvan Lake, and the national video relay service Purple Communications. She has interpreted for the Miss Deaf Michigan pageant and for Henry Ford Hospital’s Facebook Live streams. But it was in the past year, standing behind Duggan during his widely watched COVID-19 news conferences, that she became a familiar face. The virus has presented new challenges and exacerbated existing ones for many of the nearly 37.5 million Americans who have some type of hearing loss. Masks make it extremely difficult to interpret facial expressions, a key component to communicating while signing. And lip-reading is impossible. Closed-captioning services across platforms are not always available or accurate. Restrictions on hospitals and medical facilities prevent interpreters, family members, and visitors

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JACKIE THOMPSON A VOICE FOR THE DEAF

from entering buildings to assist loved ones with hearing loss. “An isolated group is being even further isolated by the pandemic,” Thompson says. Even before the pandemic, people with hearing impairments were often overlooked and discriminated against, Thompson says. And that’s why she’ll keep at her work. “The biggest thing is don’t count deaf folks out,” she says. “Because folks are folks.”

BY R A C H A E L THOMAS


A T 6 7, C O N R A D M A L L E T T J R . could be resting on his laurels. The first Black person to serve as chief justice of the Michigan Supreme Court, Mallett then spent two decades at the upper echelon of the city’s hospital system administration before alighting this spring on the 11th floor of City Hall to serve as Mayor Mike Duggan’s No. 2. Mallett, a Supreme Court justice from 1990 to 1999, says he felt obliged when Duggan, his old boss at Detroit Medical Center, asked him to help see the city through the COVID-19 crisis and the economic recovery that hopefully follows. From his 11th floor office, with its luminous view of the Detroit River, Mallett talked to Hour Detroit about his legal accomplishments, his thoughts on internet activism, and how his public service career will end.

You were the state’s chief justice. What are you doing now in city government? This is where I started, literally on this floor. I was the chief executive assistant to Coleman Young. This work here is just very natural for me. My father was a Wayne County commissioner for eight years. He was a great believer in regional government. So politics was what I did. I ran my father’s election when I was 16 and was involved in politics at a very high level from 18 on up.

But then why leave the court before your term expired? Dr. Claude Young, who was Coleman Young’s cousin and the founding Detroit chapter leader of the Southern Christian Leadership Council, called me up when I had just been elected chief justice. Dr. Young said, “Conrad, we all admire the work that you’re doing, but if you’re ever going to be able to secure your family’s financial future, you got to get off the bench and go to work harder than you are now.” So I stayed two more years, and then I left. Unfortunately, judges are wildly underpaid. As much as the work was important, and as great as the contribution that I was certain I was making, I also had a responsibility to my family. So I had to leave the bench and return to the private sector.

Why did Duggan ask you to do this? I’m a long, longtime trusted ally. We’d been political allies going back to Coleman Young and Ed McNamara. We had been together since Duggan appointed me president of Sinai-Grace Hospital in 2004. He knew this was going to be a tough year, and he was looking for a seasoned, trusted ally to come in and manage COVID-19 in an efficient, quiet, effective manner.

Just as you arrived, the Black Lives Matter protests began after the death of George Floyd in Minneapolis. You worked with the great civil rights leaders of your era, so was it strange to have these young activists angry at you and the mayor?

BY

No. I had a great sympathy STEVE for the positions that they were articulating. We really wanted to be sure that these young people knew that they could protest all day long. As long as these protests were peaceful, we were with them. I think we managed ourselves spectacularly. We did not turn into some kind of riot-plagued, violent municipality. You remember Gretchen Whitmer, Mike Duggan, and myself and others all walked down Woodward in memory of George Floyd? We had a lot of responsibility to make sure everything stayed calm, that we did not turn into Portland or Chicago. And we did.

FR IESS

DUGGAN’S DEPUTY

CONRAD MALLETT JR.

There was that case where a police car moved through a crowd, and activists made that footage viral online with claims the officers were trying to kill them. How does that online component compare to the activism of your era? In some instances, activism now is more performance art than actual protest. They hope to make a point that causes them to be recognized and then allows the message to be heard by more people louder and longer.

Those activists don’t know how deep your history is. Oh, yes. I was the best Free Press paperboy in the city of Detroit in the summer of 1967. Every day, I prided myself that my customers had their newspaper by 6 a.m. So it was 4:30 a.m. when I was out. It was hot. I had 200 customers. When I came home, I said to my father, “Daddy, I think the riot has started.” My father, who was chief executive assistant to Mayor Jerry Cavanagh, popped up, called the mayor, and then was gone for three days.

What did the Black Lives Matter protests accomplish this year? Oh, a great deal. It took persons like myself who might, because of age and financial success, have gotten comfortable, and reminded us that we still have responsibility. It forced large corporations to recognize the concerns of the African American community particularly and the concerns of poor people in general. And you saw a response by the African American community on Nov. 3 in the presidential election. The African American community desperately wanted to make sure its voice was heard.

Do you plan to run for mayor? No. When I walk outta here with Mike Duggan after his third term, I’ll be 72. I’ll have made my contribution. And that’s the commitment that I made. JA N UA RY 2 0 2 1

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or Dr. Kimberlydawn Wisdom, making sure that Black women and their babies receive proper medical care is personal. Her own aunt passed away right after childbirth, and her mother faced health challenges when Wisdom was a child. These experiences motivated the Connecticut native — who has lived in Detroit for more than 30 years — to go into healthcare and address its alarming disparities. As a medical practitioner and as Henry Ford Health System’s senior vice president of community health and equity and chief wellness and diversity officer, Wisdom focuses on infant mortality and maternal child health, chronic disease, unintended pregnancy, and physical inactivity. In 2011, Wisdom founded the Women-Inspired Neighborhood Network: Detroit, a program dedicated to improving women’s access to healthcare and reducing infant mortality in the city. Infant and maternal mortality rates for Black Americans have historically been higher than those for other races. “Black women are two, three times more likely to experience a premature-related death than [their] white counterparts,” Wisdom says, noting that the maternal mortality rate for Black women spans all income and education levels. Medical practitioners often dismiss Black women’s health concerns, thus undertreating them or failing to provide potentially life-saving treatment. Studies have even shown white medical students and residents falsely believing Black patients have higher pain tolerances due to biological differences. “If we’re going to really reverse some of these

DR. KIMBERLYDAWN WISDOM M O T H E R S’ H E L P E R

BY R A C H A E L

THOMAS

trends and truly heal populations with people that have significant challenges and persistently see health disparities, it’s going to take a very diverse village to help address these problems,” Wisdom says. “And it starts with understanding the historical factors that have contributed to these myths.” In the years immediately before Wisdom created WIN Network: Detroit, the Black infant mortality rate in the city was more than double the white infant mortality rate here. Figures for 2009-2011 show an average Black infant death rate of 15 deaths per 1,000 live births, compared with 6.5 for white infants during the same three-year period, according to the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services. And the department’s most recent numbers aren’t any better: Detroit’s Black infant mortality rate averaged 15.9 deaths per 1,000 live births for 2016-2018, more than double the 7.1 average white infant mortality rate for the same three-year period. WIN Network: Detroit is a collaboration between Henry Ford Health System, Ascension Michigan, Oakwood Healthcare System, and the Detroit Medical Center, partners of the Detroit Regional Infant

MINISTER TO THE MANY

MONSIGNOR CHARLES KOSANKE M O N S I G N O R C H A R L E S Kosanke’s 2016 appointment as pastor of Most Holy Trinity Parish and the Basilica of Ste. Anne de Detroit was, in many ways, a homecoming. Born and raised in northeast Detroit, Kosanke hadn’t lived or worked in his native city since attending his ministry assignments as a student at St. John’s Provincial Seminary. After his ordination in 1985, Kosanke served for 31 years in parishes across metro Detroit before his career came full circle. When the Archdiocese of Detroit named him pastor for Detroit’s two most historic churches, Kosanke found himself back where it all began. His new posts — both in Corktown, just a mile apart — sit across town from St. Raymond’s Parish, the church Kosanke attended growing up.

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BY A S H L E Y W I N N

Most Holy Trinity was founded in 1834. Ste. Anne was founded in 1701, making it not only the oldest parish in the city, but also the second oldest continuously operating parish in the U.S. The parish was led for 30 years by one of the most significant religious figures in Detroit’s history, Father Gabriel Richard, who is known for co-founding the University of Michigan. “To follow that legacy imparts a sense of joy and privilege, but also one of responsibility that can, at times, be overwhelming,” Kosanke says. What reassures him in the face of that pressure is the knowledge that he doesn’t shoulder it alone. “I’ve learned to rely on God and on others, because as a leader, you inspire and encourage, but you never do it alone.” As if St. Anne’s historical significance didn’t evoke reverence enough, the parish was recognized in March by Pope Francis as a minor basilica. The designation, which is bestowed upon just 1 percent of the world’s churches, denotes distinguishing architectural beauty, historical significance, and/or liturgical renown. Kosanke was excited and humbled by the news, but

the celebration wouldn’t last. He spent six days in the hospital after contracting COVID-19 that month. He recovered without incident, but he would have an even closer brush with death just a few months later. In August, Kosanke was cruising the Detroit River aboard the boat of parishioner Robert Chiles when a turn into a strong wake caused the craft to flip. While most of its 14 passengers were ejected, Kosanke, Chiles, and fellow priest, Father Stephen Rooney, capsized with the boat. Kosanke was rescued, but Chiles and Rooney perished. Kosanke believes God had a hand in his survival. “It wasn’t my time,” he says. When Kosanke looks back on 2020, he sees beyond these hardships. He thinks of the community center he opened with Most Holy Trinity parish last fall; how dental health is being added to the services offered by the church’s free medical clinic; and how a $1 million pledge will be used to revamp its school. Changes are also brewing at Ste. Anne’s, where Kosanke is working to raise $26 million for a complete restoration of the 135-year-old Gothic Revival building. “I’m fortunate to be leading two churches that not only have historical significance, but also are doing so many good things for others,” he says. “We’re a congregation of faith, but we’re also a caring community — no matter who you are or what your need, we’re there for you.”


Mortality Reduction Task Force. The program provides pregnant women ages 18 to 34 with prenatal-care group sessions led by certified nurse midwives and community health workers. During these sessions, eight to 12 moms-to-be meet with the community health workers and midwives to discuss breastfeeding, nutrition, proper sleep, vitamins, and the mitigation of domestic violence. The community health workers — the “secret sauce” of the program, as Wisdom calls them — also conduct home visits that continue through the baby’s first birthday. WIN Network: Detroit has had a life-changing impact on children, mothers, and their support systems. Since the program began its group prenatal sessions in 2016, more than 260 women have completed them. The babies’ average gestational age has been 38.5 weeks — an amazing feat for these women, who Wisdom says would have otherwise been at high risk for having preterm births. She hopes WIN Network: Detroit will eventually go beyond providing resources through the children’s first year of life and support them during their postsecondary education. “I just feel very fortunate and blessed to work with such stellar professionals that really drive huge change and help women address these social needs in a very comprehensive, loving, nonjudgmental way,” Wisdom says. “That trust factor of community health systems and healthcare is so key.”

N O M A T T E R W H E R E Big Sean’s career has taken him, he’s never stopped showing his love and support for his hometown. The 32-year-old rapper, singer, and songwriter — born Sean Anderson — released his highly anticipated fifth studio album, Detroit 2, early last September. The 21-track album sequels his 2012 mixtape, Detroit. On it, he reflects on the highs and lows of his life and career and shows love to the people in his corner and those who came before him. Detroit 2 is a return to Big Sean’s roots and to his commitment to giving back to a city that has done so much for him. The rapper packs the album with features from other well-known Detroit musicians, including Eminem, Royce da 5’9,” Dwele, Sada Baby, Tee Grizzley, and Kash Doll. And in two-minute interludes, Stevie Wonder, Erykah Badu, and Dave Chapelle each pay tribute by sharing their own experiences in the city. “The reason I called it Detroit 2 is because as I was returning to that passion and that hunger, it started to really remind me of when I made my Detroit mixtape,” Big Sean said in an email interview with Hour Detroit. “I got a little more wisdom and a little bit more experience. … I wanted it to feel like I was bringing a festival to Detroit with all the features and the stories, because I feel like it’s a city that deserves it. … I’m a son of the city, so I had to represent.” Big Sean also opens up about his mental and physical health. In “Lucky Me,” he acknowledges the pressure he’s felt from being under public scrutiny and reveals he was diagnosed with a heart condition at age 19. In “Deep Reverence,” which features the late rapper and activist Nipsey Hussle, he explores anxiety and depression and touches on losing a baby to miscarriage. While the pandemic pushed back Detroit 2’s planned release on 313 Day (Detroit’s unofficial holiday every March 13), Big Sean says the later release allowed him to regroup and refocus. “It was an adjustment period. But it also gave me time to really reflect on, ‘OK, when I look back at this moment in time when I’m an old man — and I remember this time, this pandemic, and the year 2020 — that I do all I can do in this moment in time where racial injustice was coming to a visible height and people were in need of motivation and inspiration,” he says. His album wasn’t his only outlet for that passion in 2020; he came through for Detroit and beyond with COVID-19 relief efforts as well. The Sean Anderson Foundation, a nonprofit he runs with his mother, Myra Anderson, that provides educational programming for youth in underserved communities, partnered with Eminem and Rihanna’s BIG SEAN MIKE CARSON

BIG SEAN ‘S O N O F T H E C I T Y ’

BY

R ACHAEL THOMAS

foundations to donate more than $4 million last May that helped organizations in Detroit and Flint with food and water access, rental assistance, bail relief, and more. In April, Big Sean teamed up with rapper Ludacris and former NFL running back Jerome Bettis to host a virtual fundraiser benefiting the Boys & Girls Clubs of Southeastern Michigan, which faced a $2 million funding gap due to the pandemic. In October, the foundation donated $10,000 to Wayne State University’s Helping Individuals Go Higher (HIGH) Program. Big Sean also performed during Detroit’s virtual Everybody VS COVID-19 Unity Festival in May and delivered a surprise video to graduates of his alma mater, Cass Technical High School, during their June virtual commencement. And he isn’t planning to slow down in 2021; he says he hopes to release new musical projects this year. Despite a busy 2020, Big Sean says he’s thankful for the peace he’s found by spending more time with his mom and reconnecting with himself. “It has been an intense year, but I like to look at it as: We’re in a cocoon, and soon we’re going to break out of it and be a butterfly,” he says. “It feels like the whole world is going through this at the same time, and even though we may have different perspectives, it’s still a unification with all of us in this.” JA N UA RY 2 0 2 1

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BY SOPHIA

SOWING SEEDS OF DEMOCR ACY

K AL AK AILO

WENDY CALDWELL-LIDDELL n a windy, cloudy morning two days before Election Day, Wendy Caldwell-Liddell is out at the State Fair Transit Center hassling strangers. Are they registered to vote? Have they already voted? Do they know where to go? Will they go? The 29-year-old community organizer and grant writing consultant is on a mission to boost Detroit voter turnout. At the time, she had no idea whether the work she was doing would even matter, but a few days later she’d have her reward: Almost 50 percent of eligible Detroiters voted, not the record some expected, but a robust turnout and an improvement upon 2016 that helped Democrats defeat President Donald Trump in Michigan. Caldwell-Liddell, co-founder of a group called Mobilize Detroit, spent three days a week from August to November promoting voting in one-onone encounters all over the city. Whether it was approaching people at bus stops or knocking on doors, she was relentless about the importance of city residents embracing their right to set the course of the state and nation. On Election Day, she and other volunteers even provided free transportation to the polls. “We were just one of many [groups] that decided to put forth that work this year,” says CaldwellLiddell, mom of a 10-year-old and 2-year-old. While Democrats across the country didn’t do quite as

OMAR ANANI PUTTING HIS S OUL INTO FO OD

BY

ASHLEY WINN

O M A R A N A N I can still picture the

smile that spread across his sister’s face when he handed her the monstrosity of a cupcake he’d made with his mother as a child. Crusted indiscriminately with a thick layer of various candies, it was a child’s dessert daydream. In fact, the young Anani told his mother he couldn’t eat it — it was too pretty. Instead, he presented it to his older sister, with the words, “I love you.” “That was the moment I connected food with life,” Anani says. “And I’ve carried that with me.”

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Now the owner of acclaimed east side Moroccan restaurant Saffron De Twah, Anani exercises his community-centric food philosophy — with that food-life connection at its core — in all his culinary undertakings. But now more than ever, it’s plain to see that Anani puts his tagine where his mouth is. Saffron De Twah began 2020 as Eater Detroit’s Restaurant of the Year, and that honor was swiftly followed by another, when the restaurant became a semifinalist for a James Beard Award in late February. Then COVID hit the U.S., and Anani limited operations to carryout only — two weeks before the governor declared such action mandatory. Widespread fear of the virus meant that, on top of

well as preelection polls anticipated, “what I’m more proud about is the fact that we got to increase our community’s conscious level.” The chief goal, she says, was to oust Trump, whom she views as a racist, even if the campaign of President-elect Joe Biden didn’t excite her. Biden went on to receive 94 percent of the vote in Detroit to Trump’s 5 percent. Biden and Vice Presidentelect Kamala Harris drew 87 percent of the Black vote nationally, according to NBC exit polling, so America’s Blackest big city outpaced that. “We have a lot to be thankful for that we have Biden in office, who we know is not just immediately going to hate us and do things against us at all times,” the Detroit native says. “But there’s still a lot of accountability that needs to be on the table as well, because Black people just saved America.” The work was difficult but rewarding, CaldwellLiddell says. Emblematic of her successes was a woman at the Rosa Parks Transit Center who was not registered to vote and had not voted since the 2008 election. Caldwell-Liddell saw the same woman days later; she had taken the bus to the clerk’s office to register and vote on the same day they met. “It put a little tear in my eye because that’s what it’s about,” Caldwell-Liddell says. “She got to the polls. She said she was happy she had this information. She was happy that I had talked to her. … It’s all those little seeds you plant that absolutely matter.”


DR. JONEIGH KHALDUN

nder normal circumstances, the chief medical executive in a given state rarely becomes well known. These, of course, aren’t normal circumstances. Dr. Joneigh Khaldun could never have expected when Gov. Gretchen Whitmer tapped her for the role that within a year she’d be doing frequent live press briefings on TV as a global pandemic ravaged the population and pushed the state’s hospital systems to their limits. It’s a lot for a 40-year-old who, like every other parent these days, is trying with her husband to juggle her work and the chaos that COVID-19 has added to her three kids’ educations. And that doesn’t even count the angry emails, cruel tweets, and unnerving news about the complex plot to kidnap Whitmer that upped the sense of danger for anyone prominently associated with mask mandates and shutdown orders. “It is unfortunate that a basic and simple thing like wearing a mask has become political at a time when we’re losing family and friends to this virus every day, and we know basic things like masks work,” says Khaldun, who acknowledged she has increased security for her and her family. Khaldun yearns for the pre-pandemic days when her job was focused on other public health challenges, such as lead poisoning and opioid use. Now, it’s all COVID, all the time. Khaldun came to her current position as no stranger to public health crises. Previously, she was the director and health officer for the Detroit Health Department, where she focused on Detroit’s hepatitis A outbreak and reproductive health. Before that, she was chief medical officer at the Baltimore City Health Department, where the big concern was the opioid abuse epidemic. Yet she still didn’t expect her role to be quite so public. As of late November, she’d missed just one

of Whitmer’s press conferences. Many of those are stressful, such as the Nov. 15 briefing when she, Whitmer, and Health and Human Services Director Robert Gordon announced new state restrictions to stem skyrocketing infections. It’s a miserable task to be the bearer of the science that decision-makers rely on, but Khaldun takes comfort in knowing it may prevent more sickness and death, she says. She says she steels herself to break news no one wants to hear because that is what’s best for Michiganders, like when she said at another press conference on Nov. 19, “At the rates we’re seeing in the state, it is very likely that if you’re gathering for Thanksgiving, the virus will also be around the table.” Privately, though, she, too, mourns the many losses. Holiday gatherings. Trick-or-treating. The contact sports her children love to play. “It’s challenging and it’s changed everyone’s lives, but I feel incredibly blessed,” Khaldun says. “I have a partner who can help with child care, and I have a job.” To remain aware of the state of COVID on the medical front, Khaldun also works a couple of days each month in emergency at Henry Ford Hospital in Detroit. She now sees patients who were diagnosed in the spring and have lingering symptoms. Some have trouble walking. “I find that to be an incredible honor to see what’s happening firsthand, but I am at risk,” she says. “Of course, I’m concerned about that.” Khaldun remains confident that better days are ahead. Although a vaccine won’t immediately alleviate the burden of the illness, it will bring the world one step closer to normalcy. Until then, she says, we must continue to take care and stay vigilant. “I’m proud to be a Michigander. We were one of the hot spots for cases earlier this year, and we brought that curve down,” Khaldun says. “I’m confident we can get through this. This pandemic will pass, as have others.”

losing its dine-in customers, the restaurant’s takeout sales slowed to a trickle, and the once-teeming space became nearly deserted. Saffron, still in its infancy, couldn’t subsist on the now-meager earnings — less than $80 per day in some instances — and was forced to close indefinitely. It was a mighty fall, and it was especially biting for 39-year-old Anani, who has been working tirelessly in the food industry since age 13, when he began as a dishwasher at his parents’ restaurant. “To finally get some recognition just to have it taken away by a pandemic was very disheartening,” he says. Despite the blow, Anani became determined to use his own misfortune to help his community weather the pandemic. “The city has blessed me with so much — all the opportunities and the accolades — and it was time to give back,” he says. Thus was born Saffron Community Kitchen.

Under their new moniker, Anani and his staff began preparing free meals for essential workers. But once Saffron’s charitable efforts had gained momentum, they couldn’t be contained. It wasn’t long before other organizations were knocking on Anani’s door, seeking food relief partnerships. Each time, he accepted. In September, Saffron Community Kitchen partnered with the nonprofit Brilliant Detroit to provide meals for Detroiters in need. At the outset, the staff was supplying 25 to 30 meals per day, but the need was growing rapidly, and that number soon ballooned to 600. The team doubled that when it began delivering another 600 to residents of Detroit’s Fitzgerald neighborhood via its sibling food truck, Twisted Mitten. At its peak, Anani says, the kitchen provided 1,400 meals in a single day. The kitchen is now working with the Detroit Food Policy Council to continue providing food relief for

those in need. It’s also collaborating with local wishgranting nonprofit Rainbow Connection to provide meals for families with children battling cancer. Despite the initial distress he experienced at his restaurant’s closure, it wasn’t long before Anani began feeling grateful for the opportunity to serve his community. In fact, he says, providing meal relief is the most rewarding work he’s done since opening Saffron De Twah. “It’s a very humbling experience,” he says. “For some people, that was their only meal that day. They were so grateful, and it completely changed my outlook on what hospitality is.” Anani has every intention of reopening Saffron De Twah, though he’s not sure when that will be. But he’s also come to see Saffron Community Kitchen, which was created solely as a stop gap, not only continuing to operate, but also expanding long after the pandemic is over.

BY

L I N D S A Y K A LT E R

BEARER OF COVID SCIENCE

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MALIK YAKINI FO OD SECUR ITY ACTIVIST

BY A S H L E Y WINN

neighborhoods, but as I got older, I noticed them disappearing. Even the stores we do have now aren’t owned by African Americans, meaning their profits are being extracted from our communities, instead of circulating within them to create collective wealth and well-being.

M A L I K Y A K I N I has been fighting

for racial justice since he joined student walkouts at his middle school at age 13. As an adult, he became an advocate for greater inclusion of African American history and culture in Detroit public school curriculums. As an offshoot of those efforts, he co-founded the Nsoroma Institute — a private (and later, charter) school for K-8 students — where he and his colleagues could establish their own curriculum. He served as director of the African-centered school for 22 years. Yakini, who turns 65 this month, is also cofounder and executive director of the Detroit Black Community Food Security Network, which aims to combat food insecurity in Detroit’s Black community. The organization has operated the city’s largest urban farm, D-Town, in Rouge Park for more than 20 years. Now Yakini is leading its latest project, the Detroit People’s Food Co-op, which DBCFSN plans to begin construction on this summer. When it’s finished, the North End building will house a fullservice grocery store that will improve Detroiters’ access to healthy, locally grown food. We asked Yakini to tell us about this new project and how it fits into his career as an activist.

Tell us about your career in local activism. I’ve been involved in the Black liberation movement my entire adult life. I started in 1969, when I was a student at Detroit’s Post Junior High School, which had frequent protests. In high school, I became a student organizer, and in college, I was a member of the PanAfrican Congress USA. I’ve since been involved in a number of local campaigns against various types of injustice.

How did you get interested in the problem of food insecurity? My personal interest in nutrition led to my involvement in urban agriculture, through which I learned about the lack of food sovereignty among Black communities and how it relates to other kinds of injustice.

What inspired the Detroit People’s Food Co-op? We’ve been working to create a food co-op since we started DBCFSN. We’ve always wanted to even out the inequities created by capitalism so everyone can live a high-quality life, and we think cooperative economics will be the best alternative system to help us galvanize that collective wealth and power.

What do you hope the co-op will do for the community? We hope it provides a consistent source of highquality food for Detroit residents while also benefiting local growers, empowering them to patronize other local businesses, and so on. Economists call this the multiplier effect, and it creates a more vibrant economy. We also hope it can act as an example of self-determination, disproving the idea that Black and brown communities don’t have the capacity to create our own economies that benefit our people.

How has the pandemic affected DBCFSN? It forced us to shut down this spring, and we lost a month of our growing season. Even when we came back, we had to prohibit — and later limit — volunteers, on whom we rely heavily to get the work done. We also had to rethink how we move our produce, because most of the farmers markets we’d previously sold at weren’t open. We partnered with Oakland Avenue Farm to set up an online ordering platform and curbside pickup.

What motivates you to continue working toward community food security? I can’t just exist on this planet and ignore its vast inequities; we all have a responsibility to work for what’s right. I aligned my life with the pursuit of liberation, equity, and justice early on, and I’ll continue to pursue them until my last breath.

What among your accomplishments brings you the most pride? I ran the Nsoroma Institute for 22 years. Many of its attendees are now doing wonderful work in the community. One woman, Siwatu-Salama Ra, has become an advocate for environmentalism and justice in women’s prisons. Another graduate, Ali Dirul, is the founder and CEO of Ryter Cooperative Industries, which installs solar energy systems throughout the city. Seeing that has been very motivating.

Why did you start DBCFSN? When I was a child, there were at least seven chain grocery stores within walking distance of Detroit’s

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What’s your favorite thing about what you do? I’m tremendously fortunate to have a career that aligns with my life purpose.


BY O M A R S O F R A D Z I JA

UNICORN RIDER

DUG SONG

fter he and his co-founder took the $2.35 billion thrown their way in 2018 by Cisco for their Ann Arbor-based mobile security app Duo, Dug Song didn’t need to stick around these parts. Yet it never really occurred to Song to leave either the region or his tech unicorn. In fact, he insisted as part of the transaction that Duo remain headquartered in southeast Michigan. But why would a tech visionary born and raised on the East Coast take an industry associated with the West Coast and plant it in Michigan soil in the first place? Because to Song, this patch of Midwest sod has long been fertile, if often overlooked, ground for the next big thing. “There’s so much history here of innovation, but we don’t get as much recognition for it because people here tend to be heads-down, which I appreciate,” says Song, 45, who started Duo Security in 2010 in Ann Arbor and soon expanded with offices across the U.S. and in the United Kingdom. “Friends in tech ask me these really weird questions like, ‘So, when are you gonna leave Michigan?’ Why would I?” Duo provides two-factor authentication, a digital security tool that prevents hacking by requiring users signing into various online accounts to first provide their passwords and then go to the Duo app to prove their identity by responding to a push notification on their mobile phones. All University of Michigan accounts, for example, require users to use Duo to log in. “Sometimes when you look at companies, there is the cult of the entrepreneur, one person who drives things, but for Dug, there’s no such thing,” says Karim Faris, a general partner with Californiabased Google Ventures and an early funder of Duo. “It’s the cult of his team and the community. It’s very rewarding to see success being driven by someone with that kind of mindset.” Song grew up a skateboard-obsessed free spirit in the Baltimore area, the son of a Korean immigrant father who owned a liquor store “so he could have his Thursday night wine club with his buddies, talking about all kinds of stuff,” he says. Inspired by his dad’s Buddhist vibe, Song planned to study philosophy at a small liberal arts college in New England until an older friend who attended U-M raved about it. “Thank God he did, because

I applied to Michigan completely on a fluke,” Song says. He settled in Ann Arbor for good. Song graduated in 1997 with a computer science degree and went to work for the tech security firm Anzen Computing. There, he discovered an unfulfilled need for better cyber security highlighted by a Sterling Heights auto body shop that saw millions of dollars siphoned from its bank account. That put Song on a mission to create Duo to “democratize security.” Song says he’s found in this region the right attitude for the kind of collaborative corporate culture he wants: “Ann Arbor is an interesting melting pot. It’s a bunch of freaks, geeks, and jocks. That’s what you need. What does it take to build a great company? You need creative disruption. You need team players. And you need fast learners. And that’s freaks, geeks, and jocks.”

He has also focused on regional philanthropic efforts. Sung is a trustee of the Ann Arbor Summer Festival, and his wife, Linh Song, is the executive director of the Ann Arbor Public Schools Educational Foundation. His foundation donated $1 million to the Washtenaw Small Business Emergency Relief Fund in March as COVID-19 devastated local businesses. And he is the cofounder of the Ann Arbor Entrepreneurs Fund, a networking group for startup owners. Song says he owes Michigan for the opportunity it gave him. “I don’t think we could have built this company anywhere else, at least not in the same way and not in the way I would have wanted, which is not just to do really well, but to do good, to have successes larger than ourselves,” he says. “I’m really proud of the fact that we’ve done it here.” JA N UA RY 2 0 2 1

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Nazli G. Sater

Roquia K. Draper

Family Law Practice Chair | Partner 248.784.5178 nsater@wnj.com

Family Law Attorney | Partner 248.784.5081 rdraper@wnj.com

FAMILY L AW

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01.21 ARTS, CULTURE, AND OTHER THINGS TO DO

Agenda RE ADS

A HEROINE RETURNS

In Abbott: 1973, a dark shadow menaces Detroit. Badass reporter Elena Abbott is on the case. p. 46

C U LT U R E CA L E N DA R p. 42 R E C R E AT I O N p. 43 R E A D S p. 46

ILLUSTRATION RAÚL ALLÉN

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Agenda

Culture Calendar JANUARY 2021

Our carefully curated guide to the month in arts and entertainment BY RYA N PATRICK HOOP E R

Detroitbased painter Conrad Eygir created some of his largest paintings to date for his first solo museum show, Terra Nullius.

Far left, Chris Dupont’s new album, Floodplains, drops Jan. 22; Lauren Semivan’s Untitled archival inkjet print will be on view at David Klein Gallery in Detroit.

MUSIC

Cinematic Folk Music from Ypsilanti

Rock music sounds good when it’s real loud; hiphop sounds better at night; and Chris DuPont’s new, selfreleased album, Floodplains (out Jan. 22), is a damn near perfect soundtrack for a Midwest winter. “Floodplains is the most personal and difficult record I’ve ever made, but also the most rewarding, and the truest representation of who I am as an artist,” DuPont says. There’s no doubt DuPont is most comfortable writing vaguely spiritual, anthemic tunes that don’t shy away from the cinematic (think “the music designed to make you cry at the end of a movie” and you’re halfway there). The

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range of his tenor vocals and intricate (mostly) acoustic guitar work is on full display here, and the Michigan music scene is better for it. Lead single “Retrieve,” featuring vocals from Olivia Dear, is a knockout with an earworm chorus.

photorealist painter Robert Schefman. New Work/New Year opens with an appointmentonly artist reception on Jan. 15 and is on display through Feb. 27. 1520 Washington Blvd., Detroit; 313-818-3416; dkgallery.com.

through the entire experience). Timed tickets and reduced capacity necessitated by the pandemic make you feel like you’re on a private tour of this popular exhibit. 20900 Oakwood Blvd., Dearborn; 313-982-6001; thehenryford.org

LAST CHANCE ART

New Year, New Art at the David Klein Gallery

The David Klein Gallery will ring in the New Year at its downtown location with some old artistic friends via a new group show called New Work/ New Year. Klein’s stable of artists all make cameos, including work from installation artist Scott Hocking, multimedia minimalist Matthew Hawtin, photographer Lauren Semivan, and

Superheroes at The Henry Ford Across town in Dearborn, The Henry Ford is closing a very different kind of show Jan. 31 — the absurdly fun Marvel: Universe of Super Heroes exhibition. Even if comic books and grown-ups in costumes aren’t your thing, the immersive design of the exhibition itself and the mix of history, cultural context, and original artwork will likely win you over (for the superfans, be prepared to squeal with glee

LAST CHANCE

Conrad Egyir at MOCAD

The Museum of Contemporary Art Detroit will say farewell this month to a trio of major exhibitions — including the debut solo museum show from one of the most promising painters now working in Detroit. Conrad Egyir’s Terra Nullius (Latin for “nobody’s land”) is on view through Jan. 10. Egyir uses some of his largest paintings yet to explore the roles of

colonialism and fashion in his native Ghana, his experiences studying in New York, and his time living and working in Detroit. Egyir’s standout exhibition isn’t the only one leaving the walls at the MOCAD. Painter Peter Williams’ Black Universe and the Indigenous artist collective New Red Order’s Crimes Against Reality will also come down on Jan. 10. 4454 Woodward Ave., Detroit; 313-832-6622; mocadetroit.org MUSIC

This Month in Detroit Music History

“Superstition” landed 22-year-old Stevie Wonder back at the No. 1 spot on the Billboard Hot 100 chart on Jan. 27, 1973, after a decade of being away.

Think about this: The last time Wonder had had a No. 1 hit, he was a 13-year-old child prodigy. By the time he hit No. 1 again, he’d married, rewritten the terms of his record deal with Motown’s Berry Gordy, and had started the incredible run through his genius period of the 1970s. Wonder wrote the famous opening riff of “Superstition” on a Hohner clavinet, which became a staple of his studio arsenal and is immortalized alongside Wonder in a massive mural painted by London artist Richard Wilson on the south wall of downtown Detroit’s Music Hall Center for the Performing Arts. Ryan Patrick Hooper is the host of CultureShift on 101.9 WDET Detroit’s NPR station (weekdays from noon to 2 p.m.).

 Spidey won’t be hanging around at The Henry Ford much longer. The popular Marvel: Universe of Super Heroes exhibit ends Jan. 31.

CHRIS DUPONT PHOTO BY ANDREW KANITZ; ILLUSTRATION COURTESY OF DAVID KLEIN GALLERY; MOCAD PHOTO BY RYAN PATRICK HOOPER; MARVEL COURTESY OF THE HENRY FORD MUSUEM


Agenda About these photos: Michigan native Amy Sacka has traveled more than 30,000 miles photographing Great Lakes ice and the culture that surrounds it. Her work appeared in the September 2020 issue of National Geographic and will be on view at the Dossin Great Lakes Museum on Belle Isle beginning Feb. 20. Here, Edley Lattimore takes his wife, April, out for her first ice fishing trip on Saginaw Bay on Jan. 14, 2018. “I was a little panicky walking out, asking, ‘Is this a crack, is that a crack?’ ” April says.

R E C R E AT I O N

The Hole Truth

For the uninitiated, the idea of voluntarily spending a day on the ice in the depths of a Michigan winter might seem borderline bonkers. But listen to those who are hooked on the sport of ice fishing, and you just might find yourself drilling a hole and dropping a line. BY MA R K SPEZI A | PH O T OS BY A MY SAC KA

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Agenda

“I guarantee you’ll be missing it when winter is over.” —JOHN BACARELLA

AS THEY EAGERLY AWAIT the next nibbles at their lines, John Bacarella and his ice fishing buddies sometimes pause to take in the serenity and stillness of being out on a frozen lake. Whether in a cozy shanty or, on milder southeast Michigan winter days, out in the open, they marvel as the lake glistens in the glow of spectacular sunrises and sunsets. At times, only the birds and the breeze are audible. Even more special for Bacarella, owner of Sportsmen’s Direct in Harrison Township, are the occasions when at least some of his children join him for what he considers the ultimate family activity. These are just some of the perks Bacarella raves about when discussing the sport he’s been passionate about since childhood. But he also emphasizes the sometimes overlooked, up-close nature of ice, which sets ice fishing apart from casting a line from the shore or a boat. “For me and other guys I regularly fish with or have introduced the sport to, ice fishing is special because the fish you catch are directly below you,” he says. “In a shanty, many times you can see them like you were fishing an aquarium.” Still, Bacarella knows ice fishing can be a tough sell to newcomers who question the appeal — and the wisdom — of spending hours out in winter’s chill engaging in a potentially dangerous activity. He immediately stops people who talk like that, tackling those preconceived notions one at a time. First off: You won’t be cold, he assures newbies. Shanties, both wooden and collapsible, offer effective protection from the elements, as do layers of clothing and insulated boots and gloves. Plus,

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 A known risk: A pressure crack creates a break in the ice on Lake Huron on Feb. 19, 2018. This is one of the most promising areas to fish for ice anglers.

some common-sense steps and safety equipment will nearly eliminate any risks. “I tell everybody who complains about being stuck inside during Michigan winters to try ice fishing,” Bacarella says. “I guarantee you’ll be missing it when winter is over. I’ve found that to be true among many people I’ve talked into giving the sport a try.” And Bacarella has persuaded his fair share of people, both in his private life and through his work. A longtime competitor on the North American Ice Fishing Circuit, he founded Sportsmen’s Direct nearly 12 years ago with a group of business partners. It started as an online-only gear shop and grew to include a 10,500-square-foot retail store near the shore of Lake St. Clair. Don Murray, a charter fishing boat captain and membership secretary for the Lake St. Clair Walleye Association, offers skeptics one more reason to give ice fishing a try: It’s a lot easier than you might think. “Anybody can do it, really, because things like portable, collapsible shanties, electronic drills, and the devices that allow you to see fish under the ice more clearly have simplified ice fishing,” he says. The Michigan Department of Natural Resources’ upcoming Free Fishing Weekend (Feb. 13 and 14) is a great time to give the sport a try. No license is required. (Details are available at michigan.gov/dnr.) In the meantime, here’s a rundown of ice fishing basics and the best nearby places to drill a hole and drop a line.

Getting Started Nice catch: Bryant Dault and Jordan Millette fish on Lake Michigan in the Upper Peninsula’s Escanaba. (Feb. 26, 2018)

First things first: Unless it’s Free Fishing Weekend, you’re going to need a license. They’re available online for $26 at mdnr-elicense.com. With that out of the way, make sure you’re prepared to dress for the cold. Bacarella’s advice will sound familiar to anyone who’s survived even


Agenda

a single Michigan winter: He urges ice fishing novices to wear warm layers that can be peeled off or added on as the temperature fluctuates. That’s often the difference between an enjoyable outing and a miserable one. Avoid cotton and wear thermal clothing, including socks and underwear, that wicks away moisture. Insulated rubber boots and waterproof gloves that allow manual dexterity are ideal. Boots should be equipped with a traction aid such as safety spikes. Also, be sure to leave a dry set of clothes in your car just in case. Next, you’ll also need to buy or borrow some basic gear. There are shorter rods and lines specifically designed for ice fishing. Another option is to use tip-ups, which feature small reels submerged in the water. When fish bite, a flag pops up, signaling it’s time to pull the line. Most anglers use live bait such as minnows, maggots, or worms. Bright-colored lures and jigs are the best artificial bait. Don’t forget a bucket or folding chair to sit on. A skimmer is also needed to remove the icy slush that forms at the top of fishing holes. A float suit or life preserver provides extra protection in case of a fall through the ice. Once you’ve geared up and are out on the ice, Bacarella suggests using a spud bar (ice chisel) to check ice thickness if you’re fishing in the early and later parts of the season and an auger if it’s midseason, when ice is likely thicker. For a more successful outing, you might want to invest in specialized equipment. Electronic gear such as underwater cameras and flashers, like the Garmin Echomap Plus 73SV, which can locate schools of fish under the ice, makes finding fish much easier. “Watching fish on the screen like that is a good way to keep kids occupied if you bring them along for the experience,” Bacarella notes. Remember that an ice shanty provides ideal protection against the elements. Portable ones that fold up, like the Eskimo Quickfish 6, are available online and through many outdoors shops. Eventually, if you get hooked on the sport, you might want to deck out a wooden shanty with creature comforts such as a portable heater, grill, and comfortable benches.

Precautions

Murray and Bacarella both stress that a little common sense can go a long way toward preventing dangerous situations: Never fish alone; always have a charged cellphone handy; pack an extra pair of gloves and ice picks, along with at least 20 feet of rope, in case of a fall through the ice. Don’t fish on ice less than 4 inches thick. Clear ice with a blue tint is strongest, while weaker ice appears milky or slushy. Avoid ice that is under snow. “Even if ice is around 4 inches thick everywhere that you’ve cut a hole, you still could step into an old hole and break a leg or ankle,” Bacarella notes. “On larger bodies of water like St. Clair, the ice you’re on can break away from the main ice, but just pay attention to the wind,” he adds. “If it’s blowing

Just chillin’: Tom Darrah of Algonac fishes on a particularly windy and cold day on Lake St. Clair. (Jan. 7, 2018)

Cass Lake: The 1,280-acre gem in Waterford Township is Oakland County’s largest and deepest lake and best known for jumbo perch and sizable crappies. Bluegill, sunfish, panfish, walleye, and northern pike are also reeled in here. The best access point is Dodge Brothers No. 4 State Park.

toward shore, ice is not going anywhere. If it’s blowing away from shore, that could be dangerous.” Getting trapped on an ice floe usually requires rescue by Coast Guard helicopter. Murray says he’s heard about such incidents happening in Saginaw Bay and to a lesser extent on Lake St. Clair. One important thing to keep in mind: “They rescue people, not equipment,” he says. “You will leave all that behind.” One last bit of advice that probably goes without saying: It’s a good idea to pack a thermos filled with a hot beverage as well as some bottled water to keep yourself hydrated.

Or … Just Hire a Pro

If all of that is more than you’re ready to take on, you might want to consider booking a guided outing, though local options are limited. MI Guide Service, run by veteran Michigan fisherman Jeremy Ullmann, offers ice fishing outings on Lake St. Clair. Shanties, heaters, gear, and bait are provided. Details can be found at miguideservice.com. Otherwise, Murray and Bacarella suggest searching for guides who serve Saginaw Bay or Ohio’s Lake Erie shore. “The Ohio shore, especially between Toledo and Cleveland, is less developed than Michigan’s Lake Erie waterfront,” Murray notes.

Ice Fishing Hot Spots Lake St. Clair: At 430 square miles and teeming with a wide variety of fish, Lake St. Clair is easily metro Detroit’s most popular ice fishing location. Perch and walleye are the main draws, but you can also catch panfish, pike, steelhead, bass, muskie, and bluegill. "Lake St. Clair is such a great ecosystem that supports aquatic life. From the seaweed to fish flies hatching, fish have plenty to eat and grow on," Murray says. "There are just so many fish out there and you never know what you are going to reel in. I’ve seen 4-inch perch and even 150-pound sturgeon." Some of the best access points are Lake St. Clair Metropark, Harley Ensign Memorial Access (South River Road), and Brandenburg Park (Chesterfield Township). There are also DNR launch sites in Harrison Township (Crocker), near Selfridge Air National Guard Base, and in the village of Fair Haven. See lakestclairguide.com for details.

Kent Lake: Situated within Kensington Metropark in Milford, this 1,000-acre lake boasts a thriving walleye population. Other fish commonly caught in winter include bluegill, black crappies, yellow perch, and sometimes northern pike. Access points include the West Boat Launch and Turtlehead picnic area. Lake Erie: The best access point is Sterling State Park near Monroe. Lagoon areas near the parking area are known for bluegill as long as 8 inches. Anglers can find walleye off Brest Bay, which borders the north end of the park. Bolles Harbor Boat Launch is another access point. Others: The Detroit River is known for walleye hot spots. Detroit Princess Riverboat launch, Renaissance Center, and Belanger Park are all places to check out. Perch and panfish are also usually plentiful. Stony Creek Lake Impoundment, located within Shelby Township's Stony Creek Metropark, is 498 acres. The lake is shallow, but fishing from most of the shoreline is permitted. There are good populations of crappie, sunfish, northern pike, sucker, carp, and walleye.

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READS

SHADOW BOXER

In Abbott: 1973, it’s up to chain-smoking, bisexual superhero Elena Abbott to save Detroit from a murderous dark force BY CH R I S T O PHE R P ORTE R

DETROIT IS OFTEN BOILED down in popular culture to one of three things: Motown, the Motor City, or the Murder Capital. But in Saladin Ahmed’s Abbott series of comic books for BOOM! Studios, Detroit is portrayed as a regular, complex place where actual people live and work — albeit a place besieged by a mystical demon called the Umbra. Set in the early 1970s, the comic focuses on Elena Abbott, a chain-smoking Black reporter who has visions of a dark force that only she can see. It’s killing people in the city, then turning their torsos into murderous centaurs. The first five-issue miniseries, which was collected into a single edition, came out in 2018. But Elena is back this month with the first issue of Abbott: 1973, which picks up a year after the last series ended, with a plot that feels analogous to modern-day America. Detroit is about to elect a Black mayor, but lie-filled, racist propaganda flyers — the Facebook of 1973 — start appearing around the city to disparage the candidate and his supporters. Abbott suspects these mysterious messages have some connection to the Umbra, but she’s not sure how. At the end of the first series, Abbott slowly realizes she’s the Lightbringer, the only one capable of defeating the Umbra, and in 1973 she seems to have gained actual powers, which means she no longer has to rely on her camera flash or a cigarette lighter as she did in the first series to temporarily vanquish the Umbra (light kills dark). So that makes her an actual superhero now. In Abbott, Ahmed writes about Detroit with an insider’s knowledge, which is not surprising considering he grew up in Dearborn and still lives in the area. In the second issue of Abbott, in order to get to Hamtramck faster, Elena takes a shortcut through the “Eastern Industrial Zone,” which is a stand-in for the Packard Plant and its bridge spanning East Grand Boulevard. Series editor Eric Harburn is also from southeast Michigan, so he and Ahmed are able to feed Finnish artist Sami Kivelä all sorts of Detroit details to include in his art, which results in nods such as the signage for the long-gone Woolworth store on Woodward Avenue, or having Elena pass the old Detroit News and Free Press buildings on West Lafayette Boulevard on her way to work. While Abbott and Abbott: 1973 are mysteries of a sort, these are not Loren D. Estleman- or

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A Super Glass Ceiling Elena Abbott breaks barriers as Detroit’s first Black, bisexual female superhero Elena Abbott isn’t the first superhero with Detroit origins: Eric Draven (The Crow), Eric Brooks (Blade), John Stewart (Green Lantern), Jason Rusch (Firestorm), Victor Stone (Cyborg), and John Henry Irons (Steel) also hail from the city. And Abbott isn’t the first comic to be set in Detroit, either: The Crow and Blade are the two biggest examples, and the Justice League Detroit team, while it never had a standalone comic, was featured in a number of stories that are now collected in Justice League: The Detroit Era Omnibus. But Elena is the first female superhero with Detroit origins. That she’s Black and bisexual just adds to her unique status in the superhero comic world’s mostly straight, white male orthodoxy.

 Elena Abbott is back to save Detroit from the Umbra in Abbott: 1973.

Elmore Leonard-style Detroit crime tales. They are fantastical fiction stories, first and foremost, which is Ahmed’s strength as a wordsmith. He’s also the writer of two other ongoing comics series, Miles Morales: Spider-Man and The Magnificent Ms. Marvel, but Ahmed first made his name as a science-fiction author: His debut novel, Throne of the Crescent Moon, was a finalist for the 2012 Nebula Award and the 2013 Hugo Award. Layered amid the mysteries and the supernatural horror, Ahmed uses the Abbott books to explore politics and society, with flawed characters who aren’t cartoonish stereotypes. Elena has a supportive but unwittingly sexist white editor at the fictional Detroit Daily newspaper, and later, an outright sexist Black boss at the Detroit Chronicle (also fictional, but the name is a nod to the weekly African American journal Michigan Chronicle). She has a pining ex-husband cop whom she calls on for help with her investigations, but Elena’s still in love with a disappeared man named Samir, who only appears to her as a ghost. Then there’s her current love interest, Amelia, who used to work for a crime family called the Randazzo Brothers. It’s a nuanced cast of characters, which gives the supernatural Abbott books a real-world feel, even if it’s one beset by devils. POSTER JENNY FRISON ILLUSTRATION TAJ TENFOLD


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

Food&Drink DRINKS

HAVE A DRY SPELL Here’s a thought: Revamp your virtual happy hours with nonalcoholic beverages p. 48

D R I N K S p. 48 R E STAU R A N T R E P O RT p. 49 R E C I P E p. 52 R E TA I L p. 53 R E STAU R A N T L I ST I N G S p. 63

DRINKS GERARD + BELEVENDER

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Food&Drink Casamara Club and Käter Wingman craft sleek nonalcoholic beverages in the Detroit area.

Heat sugar and water in a saucepan until sugar dissolves. Let cool and store in refrigerator.

Founded in 2017, Casamara Club has “leisure sodas” that are sophisticated herbal seltzers drawing raves across the U.S. The brand’s amaro-inspired flavors take inspiration from the classic Italian bittersweet liqueurs. Like them, Casamara Club’s sodas contain a ton of fascinating herbal and bitter flavors, but the best part is that they are just barely sweetened. This is not your childhood Shirley Temple — bright red and syrupy sweet. Instead, these fizzy beverages deliver what many adult drinkers want: all the flavor and complexity they expect from a cocktail, just without the alcohol. Dry January has gone a long way in reducing the stigma associated with not drinking. But sometimes you just don’t want to explain to your buddies why you’re taking the night off. Enter Royal Oak brand Käter Wingman Sparkling Water. Their electrolyte-enhanced plain, grapefruit, and lime-flavored sparkling waters come in bottles that look just like beer, so no one will ever be the wiser. Speaking of beer, low and no-alcohol beers are the fastest growing segment of the beer market. However, even though Michigan is a great state for beer, local breweries have been slow to jump on the bandwagon, with just Schmohz Brewing Co. in Grand Rapids already in the market. (That’s expected to change this year, when Reputation Beverage is set to release its first offering!) Certified cicerone Annette May describes herself as ecstatic about these new craft nonalcoholic beers. “Hop-flavored sodas and teas don’t interest me at all,” she says. “I’m looking for the whole beer experience, and some of these really deliver.” Those looking to explore the amazing new world of nonalcoholic craft beer should head to Holiday Market in Royal Oak or The Produce Station in Ann Arbor. In addition to their great selections of NA and low-alcohol beers, both stores also sell nonalcoholic spirits brands such as Seedlip and Ritual, which make creating a delicious nonalcoholic cocktail at home as easy as mixing up a gin and tonic. Kombucha is another great drink for flavor and complexity. Some people drink this fermented (but almost entirely nonalcoholic) tea-based beverage for its purported health benefits — but it’s also just delicious. Detroit Kombucha Brewing Works makes draft kombucha that is served on tap at a variety of locations throughout metro Detroit, including Eli Tea Bar in Birmingham. Grab a growler to go! With so many great options to choose from, there’s no reason metro Detroiters should think of Dry January as a month of denial. Instead, we should all look at it as an opportunity to explore an amazing world of nonalcoholic flavor in our glasses, and to support local businesses along the way.

Directions: Combine all ingredients in cocktail shaker with a generous amount of ice. Shake well and strain into coupe or martini glass. Enjoy!

Tammy Coxen is chief tasting officer of Tammy’s Tastings, a series of virtual cocktail classes; co-host of Michigan Radio’s weekly cocktail segment Cheers!; and co-author of Cheers to Michigan: A Celebration of Cocktail Culture and Craft Distillers (University of Michigan Press, 2019).

Black Tea Sour One of the challenges of making zero-proof cocktails is that most of the nonalcoholic ingredients you have to work with are sweet. In this nonalcoholic riff on the whiskey sour, black tea takes the place of whiskey and provides a dry but flavorful base for the drink. Do make your own grenadine for this — it’s so much more delicious than the artificially flavored stuff! Ingredients: 2 oz. cooled brewed black tea ¾ oz. freshly squeezed lemon juice ½ oz. grenadine* ¼ oz. simple syrup**

A DRY RUN DRINKS

Consider kicking the year off with a month of abstinence — a few local brands are making it easy BY TA MM Y COXE N P H O T O BY GE RARD + B ELEV E NDE R

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PARTICIPATING IN DRY JANUARY ? You’re not alone. In recent years, 20 to 25 percent of U.S. survey respondents have said they plan to do so, abstaining from drinking alcoholic beverages during the first month of the year. And after a 2020 that drove many people to drink more (quarantinis, anyone?), it’s a good time for a break. Pandemic drinking aside, the sober-curious lifestyle has been on the rise for the past several years, mostly fueled by young adults who want to be more intentional about their drinking. Fortunately for them, eliminating or cutting back on alcohol has never been easier, thanks to creative brands and bartenders who are crafting drinks with them in mind. Here in metro Detroit, that includes brands such as Casamara Club, Käter Wingman, and Detroit Kombucha Co.

*Grenadine (yields 6 oz.) ½ cup Pom Wonderful ½ cup sugar 1 Tbsp. pomegranate molasses (optional) Heat Pom with sugar in a saucepan just until sugar dissolves. Let cool and store in refrigerator. **Simple Syrup (yields 6 oz.) ½ cup sugar ½ cup water


Food&Drink

 Presentation is everything for Chef Omar Mitchell. Here, a fresh Endive Pear Salad serves up color and crunch.

R E STAU R A N T R E P O RT

The Show Must Go On Table No. 2’s chef-owner Omar Mitchell continues on his quest to bring fine dining with a ‘wow factor’ to the city of Detroit BY LY NDSAY G R EEN

PEAR SALAD COURTESY OF OMAR MITCHELL

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WHEN CHEF OMAR Mitchell speaks about Table No. 2, the white-linen restaurant he opened in the spring of 2019, he’s beaming. “We always like to say we’re a ‘wow-factor’ restaurant with a Walt Disney approach,” Mitchell says. A trip to Disney World, he says, is a memorable experience that sticks with a person for the rest of their life. “That’s exactly what I’m doing with Table No. 2. We’re creating a fine dining restaurant that gives a lasting impression through impeccable guest services and amazing food.” His voice jumps an octave as he talks about his staff and the impeccable service they provide diners. There’s just one detail you almost lose sight of as Mitchell waxes poetic about his culinary passion project. The doors at Table No. 2 have been closed for six months. He speaks in the present tense about the restaurant because for Mitchell, Table No. 2 is merely on hiatus as it seeks a new home. Mitchell cut his teeth at Golden Mushroom, which would eventually become Steve and Rocky’s in Southfield. It was there, under the tutelage of chefs Milos Cihelka and Steve Allen, that he developed an affinity for fine dining. “Taking a kid from the urban community in Detroit to a fine dining restaurant, I was totally enamored,” he says. Though he went on to launch casual restaurants, such as the former Great Lakes Burger Bar in Detroit, as well as Craft Creative Catering, the parent company for all of his culinary entities, Mitchell was determined to open an upscale establishment in the city. “There are a lot of great restaurants here in Michigan, but I wanted to bring that authentic fine dining back to the area,” he says. “With technology, nowadays folks are accustomed to everything being quick and convenient. My opinion is that we should be using today’s technology and trends without forgetting old-school methods.” Mitchell looks back fondly to a time when waitstaff knew diners by name. When they remembered birthdays and anniversaries and jumped through hoops to accommodate guests by any means necessary. And so Table No. 2 was born. In April 2019, Mitchell opened the upscale eatery where bananas Foster was flambéed tableside and shrimp was cooked in front of guests to release the aroma of garlic throughout the dining room. “If you go to a restaurant, the first few bites should be ‘amazing,’ ‘incredible,’ ‘flawless.’ If they’re anything short of those power words, there’s room for growth,” Mitchell says. “Folks are coming to your restaurant to dine and to be entertained, so let’s give them that elevated experience.” Chef Mitchell remembers the good old days at Table No. 2. “To this day, I can’t read my Google reviews without getting emotional, because it’s such a remarkable thing to hear the experiences that folks have had,” he says. Diners flocked to the restaurant for its surf-and-turf-forward menu. Crispy Southern fried chicken was piled high in mason jars and pierced with sprigs of rosemary. Tomahawk steaks rubbed in verdant herbs were carved tableside, and

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Chef Omar Mitchell helms Table No. 2 and his latest venture Imaginate, which will take over the former Bistro82 in Royal Oak. Rack of lamp chops with herb garnish.

Alaskan king crab legs and lobster were served on tiers of crushed ice. In addition to great food and wow-worthy dish presentations, Mitchell says his staff went beyond the call of duty to offer diners a comfortable and enjoyable experience. “We try to make sure that we are exceeding every single guest’s expectations, and I think we do a great job with that — Walt Disney World never, ever forgets guest services.” Mitchell tells the story of a time when a steak that a guest wanted wasn’t on the menu. Instead of suggesting another menu item, an ambitious staffer went out to buy the diner’s cut of choice. He recounts times when valet attendants escorted guests to their cars with oversized umbrellas during spring showers.

 Mitchell puts the finishing touch on a lobster bisque dish, tableside.

PORTRAIT MATT LAVERE LAMB CHOPS, LOBSTER BISQUE COURTESY OF OMAR MITCHELL


Food&Drink

“To put a fine dining restaurant in the hood was an honor and a pleasure for me, and I don’t regret one second of it.”

 Roasted Airline Chicken served with string beans.

Washrooms were stocked with a range of perfumes for women. The way he reminisces about his days at 18925 Livernois Ave. is endearing. It’s as though he’s wearing a chic pair of rose-colored glasses as he looks back on a time that might otherwise be deemed a period of perpetual turmoil. Location can make or break a business. Mitchell looked to restaurants like Selden Standard, the now uber-popular establishment that opened in Midtown before the neighborhood became the bustling hotspot it is today. “I give Selden Standard a lot of credit because when they first opened, a lot of things downtown were not there,” he says. “They opened up their fine dining restaurant with empty lots to the left and right of them, and they were quite successful.” Mitchell followed their lead with what he calls a “build-it-and-they-willcome” approach. “I said, ‘I’m going to drop this fine dining restaurant right in the middle of the urban community and see what happens.’” In addition to being motivated to open a first of its kind in the neighborhood, Mitchell also wanted Table No. 2 to serve as a resource for inner-city individuals who are otherwise overlooked in the job market. “Ninety-eight percent of my employees are single moms, single fathers, convicted felons, high school dropouts, or African Americans who were just never given a chance,” Mitchell says. “It was important to me to make sure that Detroit residents had a place where they could say, ‘I was looking for a job, but I love this place, and now this is my career.’ To put a fine dining restaurant in the hood was an honor and a pleasure for me, and I don’t regret one second of it.” And while Mitchell had the right idea to open Table No. 2 in an up-and-coming business district, the outcome could only be described as right place, wrong time. Within weeks of the restaurant’s opening, the city broke ground on a construction ROASTED AIRLINE CHICKEN COURTESY OF OMAR MITCHELL

things about Detroit, but they don’t hear when Michiganders come together like this.” With nearly 40 options for a new location on the table, Mitchell sat down to evaluate what he’d need for a new space that could weather the demands of an unpredictable pandemic. “I was looking for at least 150 seats, a great location, great landmarks, and a place that could entertain folks and at the same time cater to corporate clients that might want to host different events,” he says. In October, he found a match. The second iteration of Table No. 2 is expected to take over the former Monroe Street Steakhouse in Greektown. The deal, brokered with Dan Gilbert —OMAR MITCHELL and the Bedrock team, takes the restaurant from a 2,000-square-foot space to a 6,500-square-foot multipurpose duplex. “Every single person that has direct messaged, text messaged, called, or emailed has said the same thing — everything we’ve gone through was a blessing in disguise, a silver lining, all the great phrases.” The new space allows Mitchell to bring to life the elaborate fine project that would upend Livernois dining experience of his wildest Avenue, disrupting foot traffic and dreams, with a pandemic-friendly parking and, ultimately, business twist. “You know when you go to for Table No. 2. fine dining restaurants and you see that one table sitting in the Soon after the streetscape project corner roped off with crushed velvet came to a close, the pandemic April 2019 Table No. 2 grand opening curtains and a fireplace inside? That struck, and Table No. 2’s landlord table everybody wants? I’m trying decided to sell the building. Rather April 2019 to copy and paste a lot of those in than halt his business, Mitchell felt Streetscape construction on Livernois begins the restaurant for tables for two his entrepreneurial spirit kick into so guests can have their own little overdrive. In the month leading up March 2020 private dining experience.” Upstairs, to its closing, Table No. 2 introduced Pandemic strikes, closing indoor dining he says, is where he’ll host parties 50 percent off carryout service. once gatherings are permitted again. “Since people weren’t going to get March-May 2020 Still, the fate of Table No. 2’s the full guest service, I decided to Mitchell launches 50 percent carryout service second act hangs in the balance as whack the price in half, and it took the pandemic persists. “If we don’t off like wildfire. It also allowed me to May 2020 flatten the curve, it’s only going to keep a lot of my staff throughout the Table No. 2 vacates building put us in a deeper hole, and so I hope pandemic a little longer.” October 2020 that happens because most of us Mitchell has this supernatural Mitchell signs letter of intent restaurants — if not all of us — are ability to see the bright side of the for new dining space in Greektown on life support, and we can’t afford perils along his journey. In May, to be on life support,” Mitchell says. Table No. 2 vacated its Livernois January 2021 “We need to breathe on our own, but home. Within a year, Mitchell Anticipated grand opening for Imaginate, Mitchell’s we can’t breathe on our own if the watched the development and experiential dining restaurant circumstances are getting worse.” demise of his empire, but instead of taking over the former In November, Gov. Gretchen dwelling on the series of unfortunate Bistro 82 in Royal Oak. Visit hourdetroit.com to learn more! Whitmer implemented a three-week events, he zeros in on the smalllockdown suspending all indoor business loans he received amid the February 2021 dining, which would postpone the pandemic and the unemployment Anticipated grand re-opening for Table No. 2 opening of Table No. 2 by another his employees were able to collect two months. No matter what, and the locals who clamored to help Mitchell is determined to give Table his relocation efforts. “When I put No. 2 the shot it deserves. “I decided to stick with the word out to the community to see how I could Table No. 2 because of trial and error. I know the get into a new location, the amount of support was people love the concept, and I’m doing exactly what astounding,” he says. An abundance of supporters my guests and my employees want me to do, and reached out offering vacant buildings across metro that’s to continue Table No. 2.” Detroit. “People all over the world hear all the bad

Table No. 2’s Timeline

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RECIPE

But wait, there’s more! Find more recipes from some of your favorite local restaurants in our Restaurant Listings, beginning on page 63.

SWEET POTATO GNOCCHI

At The Fed, pillowy pasta dumplings are spruced up with colorful cool-weather ingredients for an artful flair BY LY NDSAY G R EEN PH O T O BY KA I L EY H OWEL L

IF YOU’RE RUNNING LOW on recipes to try as you perfect your home cooking skills, look to Detroit-area restaurants for assistance. Take this one straight off of the winter menu at The Fed in Clarkston. Sweet potato gnocchi, coupled with creamy truffled ricotta, white wine mushrooms, crisp fried sage, and bright pomegranate seeds, makes for a sweet-savory surprise.

Ingredients: For Gnocchi

2 lbs. sweet potato ½ cup egg yolks 2 cups all-purpose flour 2 tsp. salt ¼ tsp. nutmeg

For Mushrooms

1 Tbsp. chopped garlic 2 oz. wild mushrooms, sliced 1 oz. white truffle oil 4 oz. white wine 2 oz. unsalted butter Salt and pepper to taste

For Ricotta

½ cup whole milk ricotta cheese 1 Tbsp. honey 1 Tbsp. truffle oil 1 oz. lemon juice Pinch nutmeg

Optional Garnishes Pomegranate Sage Toasted walnut Parmesan

Directions:

Peel sweet potatoes and cut into large dice-size pieces. Using a 4- to 6-qt. pot, boil sweet potatoes until tender. Strain and let cool to room temp. Finely mash sweet potatoes until consistency is smooth. Using a large mixing bowl, transfer sweet potatoes and slowly add half of flour while kneading dough. Add egg yolks and rest of flour — be mindful to not overwork the dough. Cover dough and store in refrigerator for 30-45 minutes. Dust a hard surface with flour. Cut dough into large pieces and roll into long cylinders. Cut into 1-in. squares and set aside. In a large pot, simmer water and slowly drop dough pieces into simmering water. Cook for 4-5 minutes. Lightly toss gnocchi in oil. Set aside and cool. In a sauté pan, start with 2 oz. of oil on low to medium heat and sear gnocchi until golden brown on both sides. Add mushrooms and cook until golden brown. Add garlic and cook 1-2 minutes. Deglaze with wine and simmer for 2-3 minutes. Lower heat, add butter, and stir until well incorporated. In a small bowl, add ricotta, nutmeg, lemon juice, and truffle oil and mix together. Spread ricotta onto plate and top with gnocchi and mushrooms. Garnish with toasted walnuts, pomegranate seeds, Parmesan, and fried sage leaves (optional). Add salt and pepper to taste. The Fed, 15 S. Main St., Village of Clarkston; 248-297-5833; thefedcommunity.com

52

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


Food&Drink

Narrow Way Café & Shop

Initially launched as an extension of Straight Gate International Church as a coffee shop for members of the church congregation, Narrow Way soon became a gathering spot for the Detroit community at large. The Black-owned, family-run business worked closely with Zingerman’s Coffee Co. to develop bags of light, medium, and dark roasts that would keep its customers energized all day long. Narrow Way Café & Shop, 19331 Livernois St., Detroit; 313-3977727; thenarrowwaycafe.com

Bean Streak RETAIL

New Order Coffee Roasters

Support your local roasters one bag of coffee at a time

Expect the same bright and playful energy that you’ll find inside of New Order café with the roastery’s array of take-home beans. Blends are infused with sweet and unexpected notes, such as truffle, cherry nougat, custard, toasted marshmallow, and even blueberry muffin. What’s more is that New Order offers blends by the bag, or K-Cup pods — for those who brew with a Keurig. New Order Coffee Roasters, 30955 Woodward Ave., Ste. 715, Royal Oak; 313-784-9164; newordercoffee.com

BY LYNDSAY GRE E N P H OT O BY STACY F EYE R- SALO

Oloman Café

Anthology

Pick your preference at Anthology. Stop into the airy Eastern Market roastery to select one of five whole bean varieties originating from Brazil, Colombia, Ethiopia, and Honduras, or order online. With Anthology ToGo, customers can opt to have their beans of choice home-delivered or handed over curbside. A monthly subscription service also ensures you’ll never run out of your Anthology fix. Just sign up, select your preferred grind, and wait for a friendly

By supporting this Hamtramck hybrid coffee shop and art gallery, you also have the opportunity to support another Detroit-area business. Purchase a bag of Burundi, a single-origin whole bean coffee by Baobab Fare, the highly anticipated East African restaurant coming to Detroit’s New Center neighborhood. The bag represents Baobab Fare’s East African roots, but is roasted and packed right in Detroit. Oloman Café, 10215 Joseph Campau Ave., Hamtramck; 313-800-5089 staffer to deliver the goods. Anthology Coffee, 1948 Division St., Ste. 102, Detroit; 313-355-4040; anthologycoffee.com

Cultivate Coffee & Taphouse

Mindfulness is key at this Ypsilanti-based café. Beans are roasted on-site and infused with notes of cocoa, almond, toffee, and bright fruits, then packaged for your convenience, complete with a simple guide for athome brewing. As with any purchase at Cultivate, a

portion of proceeds benefits community organizations in Washtenaw County. Cultivate Coffee & Taphouse, 307 N. River St., Ypsilanti; 734-2109365; cultivateypsi.com

Drifter Coffee

Founded and operated by an all-female team, Drifter Coffee has a Divine Goddess Blend that embodies the overall feminist ethos of the café. The shop’s creative director and manager, Amelia Eramya, sketched a whimsical illustration of a tree personified as a voluptuous

female figure for the bag, and the beans inside are sourced through Women Coffee Producers, a resource to help coffee importers source their beans from female coffee farmers across the globe. Drifter Coffee, 770 Woodward Heights, Ferndale; 248-6294400; driftercoffee.com

Germack Coffee Roasting Co.

A younger sibling to the original Germack Pistachio Co. that was founded in the 1920s, Germack Coffee has been operating as a small-batch

roastery in Eastern Market for more than a decade. Today, Germack offers a range of single-origin beans sourced from the Pacific and South and Central America and beyond, as well as signature blends inspired by local landmarks. Try the Ambassador, an espresso blend of African, Central American, and South American coffees that’s said to be the company’s “bridge between old-world tradition and modern adventure.” Germack Coffee Roasting Co., 2517 Russell St., Detroit; 313-784-9484; germackcoffee.com

Qahwah House

With a new location in Brooklyn, New York, and a third spot opening on Dearborn’s west side, Qahwah House is spreading the art of Yemeni coffee near and far. Bring the rich flavor of Arabia into your own home with the café’s dark and medium roasts. There’s also a Cardamom Blend, as well as a Custom Blend that allows you to tailor your beans to your palate. Qahwah House, 6655 Schaefer Road, Dearborn; 313-908-4521; qahwahhouse.com

JA N UA RY 2 0 2 1

53


School Name

City

Website

Grades

Phone Number

Student / Teacher Ratio

Tuition Range

Academy of the Sacred Heart

Bloomfield Hills

ashmi.org

Infant to 12 - girls; Infant to 8 - boys

248-646-8900

12 to 1

$18,410 - $22,370

Archdiocese of Detroit Office for Catholic Schools

Detroit

aodschools.org

Pre-K to 12

313-237-5800

Varies

Varies

Bishop Foley High School

Madison Heights

bishopfoley.org

Grade 9 to 12

248-585-1210

17 to 1

$10,800

Bloomfield Christian School

Bloomfield Hills

bloomfieldchristian.com

K to 12

248-499-7800

12 to 1

$6,565 - $11,210

Bright Horizons at Farmington Hills

Farmington Hills

brighthorizons.com/farmingtonhills

Infant to Pre-K

248-538-5374

Varies

Varies

Bright Horizons at Midtown Detroit

Detroit

brighthorizons.com/midtowndetroit

Infant to Pre-K

313-871-2100

Varies

Varies

Bright Horizons at St. Joseph Mercy Hospital Oakland

Pontiac

brighthorizons.com/stjoe

Infant to Pre-K

248-858-6667

Varies

Varies

Brookfield Academy - Livonia Campus

Livonia

brookfieldacademy.net

Toddlers to Grade 5

734-464-2789

Varies

Brookfield Academy - Rochester Hills Campus

Rochester Hills

brookfieldacademy.net

Toddlers to Grade 5

248-375-1700

Varies

$8,500 - $19,000

Brookfield Academy - Troy Campus

Troy

brookfieldacademy.net

Toddlers to Grade 5

248-689-9565

Varies

$8,500 - $19,000

Brookfield Academy - West Bloomfield Campus

West Bloomfield

brookfieldacademy.net

Pre-K to Grade 5

248-626-6665

Varies

$8,500 - $19,000

Brother Rice High School

Bloomfield Hills

brrice.edu

Grade 9 to 12 - all boys

248-833-2000

15 to 1

$13,750

Cranbrook Schools

Bloomfield Hills

schools.cranbrook.edu

Pre-K to 12

248-645-3610

Varies

$13,300 - $49,100

De La Salle Collegiate

Warren

delasallehs.com

Grade 9 to 12 - all boys

586-778-2207

15 to 1

$12,950

Dearborn Heights Montessori Center

Dearborn Heights

dhmontessori.org

Pre-K to 8

313-359-3000

Varies

Call for tuition

Detroit Country Day School

Beverly Hills

dcds.edu

Pre-K to 12

248-646-7717

Varies

$10,980 - $32,200

Detroit Diesel - UAW Child Development Center

Detroit

brighthorizons.com/detroitdiesel

Infant to Pre-K

313-592-5437

Varies

Varies

Email brookfield.livonia@brighthorizons.com

Detroit Waldorf School

Detroit

detroitwaldorf.org

Pre-K to 8

313-822-0300

10 to 1

$7,725 - $14,150

Eton Academy

Birmingham

etonacademy.org

Grade 1 to 12

248-642-1150

10 to 1

$28,075 - $30,150

Everest Collegiate High School and Academy

Clarkston

everestcatholic.org

Pre-K to Grade 12

248-241-9012

Varies

$5,510 - $14,450

Frankel Jewish Academy

West Bloomfield

frankelja.org

Grade 9 to 12

248-592-5263

9 to 1

$26,210

Gesu Catholic Elementary School

Detroit

gesuschool.udmercy.edu

Pre-K to 8

313-863-4677

20 to 1

$4,500 - $4,600

Greenhills School

Ann Arbor

greenhillsschool.org

Grade 6 to 12

734-769-4010

8 to 1

$26,270 - $26,880

gpacademy.org

Montessori Pre-K to K Grade 1-8

313-886-1221

10 to 1 12 to 1

$8,200 - $22,790

The Grosse Pointe Academy

Grosse Pointe Farms

Holy Family Regional School - North

Rochester

holyfam.org

Y5 to 3

248-656-1234

Varies

$7,200 - $8,700

Holy Family Regional School - South

Rochester Hills

holyfam.org

Grade 4 to 8

248-299-3798

Varies

$7,200 - $8,700

Holy Name Catholic School

Birmingham

school.hnchurch.org

Pre-K to 8

248-644-2722

15 to 1

$3,365 - $7,625

Japhet School

Clawson

japhetschool.org

Pre-K to 8

248-585-9150

18 to 1

$6,100 - $12,950

Little Oaks Child Development Center

Pontiac

brighthorizons.com/littleoaks

Infant to Pre-K

248-858-2080

Varies

Varies

Loyola High School

Detroit

loyolahsdetroit.org

Grade 9 to 12

313-861-2407

8 to 1

$4,300

Marian High School

Bloomfield Hills

marian-hs.org

Grade 9 to 12 - all girls

248-502-3033

20 to 1

$14,685

Mercy High School

Farmington Hills

mhsmi.org

Grade 9 to 12 - all girls

248-476-8020

15 to 1

$14,000

Most Holy Trinity School

Detroit

mhtdetroit.org

Pre-K to 8

313-961-8855

16 to 1

Call for tuition

MSU Gifted and Talented Education

East Lansing

gifted.msu.edu

Grade 6 to 12

517-432-2129

17 to 1

$1,500 - $1,950

Notre Dame Lower School

Pontiac

ndpma.org

Pre-K to 5

248-373-1061

Varies

$11,988

Notre Dame Middle School

Pontiac

ndpma.org

Grade 6 to 8

248-373-1061

Varies

$15,419

Notre Dame Preparatory School

Pontiac

ndpma.org

Grade 9 to 12

248-373-1061

Varies

$17,324

Oakland Christian School

Auburn Hills

oaklandchristian.com

Pre-K to 12

248-373-2700

Varies

Call for tuition

Orchard Lake St. Mary’s Preparatory

Orchard Lake

stmarysprep.com

Grade 9 to 12 - all boys

248-683-0514

11 to 1

$13,000 - $31,800

Regina High School

Warren

reginahs.com

Grade 9 to 12

586-585-0500

17 to 1

$12,410

The Roeper School - Lower School

Bloomfield Hills

roeper.org

Pre-K to 5

248-203-7300

9 to 1

$4,800 - $25,675

The Roeper School - Middle & Upper School

Birmingham

roeper.org

Grade 6 to 12

248-203-7300

12 to 1

$28,075 - $30,475

Shrine Catholic Grade School

Royal Oak

shrineschools.com

Pre-K to 6

248-541-4622

Varies

$5,450 - $6,650

Shrine Catholic High School and Academy

Royal Oak

shrineschools.com

Grade 7 to 12

248-549-2925

Varies

$10,450 - $11,950

Southfield Christian Schools

Southfield

southfieldchristian.org

Pre-K to 12

248-357-3660

Varies

$4,500 - $10,700

St. Catherine of Siena Academy

Wixom

saintcatherineacademy.org

Grade 9 to 12 - all girls

248-946-4848

13 to 1

$11,450

St. Hugo of the Hills

Bloomfield Hills

sthugo.k12.mi.us

K to 8

248-642-6131

17 to 1

$4,495 - $6,450

St. Regis Catholic School

Bloomfield Hills

stregis.org

Pre-K to 8

248-724-3377

18 to 1

$3,700 - $7,700

Steppingstone School for Gifted Education

Farmington Hills

steppingstoneschool.org

K to 8

248-957-8200

10 to 1

$15,000 - $18,850

University Liggett School

Grosse Pointe Woods

uls.org

Pre-K to 12

313-884-4444

8 to 1

$8,240 - $30,840

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Academic excellence, exceptional athletics, empowering environment, and more tuition assistance opportunities than ever before. Find your strength at Marian. Talk to us about a virtual shadow visit. Call (248)502-3033. marian-hs.org


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HEALTH & BEAUTY Q&A

The New Year Calls for Renewed Health & Beauty

Goodbye, 2020! It’s time for a fresh start. One way to do that is to reset your goals for a healthier lifestyle. If you’re indulging in too much comfort food and you’ve gained weight during the pandemic, take steps to eat a more nutritious diet. Resolve to cut back on ultra-processed foods, saturated fat, sugar, salt, and calorie-dense takeout orders. Instead, fill your plate with nutrient-rich foods including fruits and vegetables, lean proteins, low-fat dairy

Q:

products, and whole grains. A bonus: Eating a healthy diet can also give your immune system a boost. Ramping up your exercise routine, either at home or in the gym, can help control your weight, improve your sleep, reduce your risk for heart disease, and improve your mental health and mood. Consider keeping or scheduling appointments with your dentist, physicians, and physical therapist,

I’ve always wanted a Mommy Makeover. What procedures can rejuvenate my look?

A: A Mommy Makeover varies

Dr. Ellen Janetzke. “A breast lift restores a firmer, more youthful from woman to woman, and is breast position by lifting the tissue designed to meet your needs and and removing excess skin. In some goals. The most common problem cases, a breast lift can be combined areas are the breast and the belly. with breast augmentation.” “Breast augmentation using For the abdominal area, Dr. Ellen implants increases the size and will do a tummy tuck to contour fullness of breasts that shrink or and flatten the abdomen and repair sag. For women whose breasts have grown fuller in size and shape, stretched abdominal muscles. they might choose breast reduction She uses liposuction to remove persistent areas of localized fat in surgery,” says plastic surgeon

Q:

as health practitioners have established essential safety measures to protect their patients and their office staff from COVID-19. Health and beauty go hand in hand. The following metro Detroit professionals can help you relieve shoulder pain, improve your skin’s health and your spinal health, enhance your smile, rejuvenate your look, and much more. This year, make a “new you” resolution. ■

the abdomen, waist, arms, or thighs. Mommy Makeovers are common at any age. “Some women think they’re too old for a makeover. If you’re healthy, you can still have one,” Dr. Ellen says. “After taking care of your kids, and if you’re an empty-nester or entering retirement, why not focus on yourself so you can look refreshed, younger, and feel confident with your appearance?”

Dr. Ellen Janetzke, M.D. Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery 60 West Big Beaver Rd., Ste. 100 Bloomfield Hills, MI 48304 248-220-6760 drellen.com info@drellen.com Advertisement on page 131

I’ve been diagnosed with a basal cell carcinoma on my face. What is Mohs surgery, and what are the advantages of this procedure to treat skin cancer?

A: Named after Dr. Frederick Mohs, who developed the procedure in the late 1930s, Mohs surgery is the most precise method of tumor removal and offers the highest cure rates of all skin cancer treatments — up to 99 percent. “Mohs outpatient surgery is performed using local anesthesia. We remove the visible portion of the cancer, including a thin margin of the normal-appearing skin. We bandage

the wound and analyze the tissue margins (edges) under a microscope to see if it’s clear of cancer. If it’s positive for cancer, we remove additional tissue,” explains Dr. A. Edward Abrou, a fellowship-trained Mohs surgeon. “With Mohs surgery we remove the tumor, one thin layer of tissue at a time. This preserves as much healthy skin as possible.” After the cancer is removed, Dr.

Abrou closes the wound. It could be as simple as a few stiches, or it can be more complex and require attaching a flap or a graft of the patient’s skin to allow the area to heal. Dr. Abrou uses cutting-edge laser technology to repair skin damage, including scarring. His team offers an array of surgical, cosmetic, and skin care services to help your skin look and feel healthier.

Beacon Skin & Surgeries Dr. A. Edward Abrou, M.D. 110 W. South Blvd., Ste. 100 Rochester Hills, MI 48307 248-852-1900 248-852-1919 (fax) beaconskin.com


HEALTH & BEAUTY Q&A Q:

What are the benefits of CBD skin care products?

A: CBD is a cannabinoid that typically comes from hemp. While it’s not psychoactive (creating a “high”), it delivers a powerful punch for improving skin health and relieving pain. One of the main benefits of CBD is its anti-inflammatory properties. “CBD helps our body fight off free radicals that produce oxidative stress, which leads to aging and disease,” says Emily Koehler, Breeze call center manager. “CBD skin products can reduce redness,

Q:

Smile Studio, Dr. Alan Grodin has been very successful at improving people’s lives by improving their smiles. Dr. Grodin utilizes porcelain veneers to create beautiful, straight white smiles for his patients. The transformations are amazing! No matter what your original smile looks like, virtually anyone can benefit from this makeover procedure. Many cases can be

completed in just two visits. Patients who have had their smiles enhanced say they’ve never been happier. The Smile Makeover journey begins with a free smile consultation at the Smile Studio. During that consultation, Dr. Grodin sits with the patient, one-on-one, and discusses all the options available to achieve a gorgeous smile. They allot an entire hour for this visit, to make sure all your questions are answered.

BREEZE Recreational Cannabis Provisioning Center Emily Koehler Call Center Manager 24517 John R Hazel Park, MI 48030 833-927-3393 breeze.us/ro Info@BREEZE.US

Dr. Grodin has taught his porcelain veneer technique to dentists nationwide; some of his cosmetic patients travel from other states to benefit from his expertise. Many people are referred to the Smile Studio from other dentists. Dr. Grodin says the best gifts he receives are his many online reviews from happy smile patients. At the Flossin’ in Clawson Smile Studio, they love what they do!

Flossin’ In Clawson Smile Studio Alan Grodin, D.D.S. 430 South Main St. Clawson, MI 48017 248-288-1110 flossininclawson.com Advertisement on page 89

I feel panicky when I have an MRI scan. Does Basha Diagnostics have Open MRI machines?

A: Basha Diagnostics offers an

technicians and staff can be ready to help them. Patients requiring advanced Open MRI by Siemens sedation should avoid any that has the widest opening of any caffeinated or energy drinks the MRI machine. Open MRI helps morning of their test. Patients with reduce a patient’s anxiety and claustrophobia are also advised to provides more comfort as well as bring a companion with them. exceptionally accurate images. Basha Diagnostics uses stateWhen scheduling an MRI, people who have claustrophobia and need of-the-art technology and provides excellence in patient safety, quality of sedation should mention it, so the

Q:

Another popular topical is Michigan Organic Rub. Infused with CBD and THC (a more potent cannabinoid), the product offers immediate and long-lasting relief of localized pain, including arthritis and migraines. Call Breeze to talk with a cannabis specialist. Place an order by phone or online. Breeze offers free delivery with a minimum $20 order, or pick your products up curbside.

My smile is holding me back from success. Can anything be done?

A: At the Flossin’ in Clawson

Q:

unevenness, wrinkles, and dark, under-eye circles. They also soothe, hydrate, and plump up thinning skin. “Wise Owl is one of our big sellers. The Lansing-based company specializes in organic and sustainable products,” she adds. “One of our favorite products is CBD-infused Liquid Gold Face Serum. It leaves your skin healthier and youngerlooking. We also carry Wise Owl bath bombs to help you relax and take the edge off stress and anxiety.”

images, accessibility, and affordability. They can provide same-day or next-day appointments, and walk-in appointments are availalable based on the need and urgency of the test. Basha opens at 9 a.m., seven days a week. Their appointment schedule typically runs into the evening hours. Please call with any questions, or to schedule an appointment.

Basha Diagnostics, PC Dr. Yahya M. Basha Founder & President 30701 Woodward Ave. Royal Oak, MI 48073 248-288-1600 248-288-2171 (fax) bashaopenmri.com info@bashaopenmri.com Advertisement on page 67

I have moderate obstructive sleep apnea. My CPAP machine is loud, and the mask is uncomfortable. Is there an oral appliance that can help me get a good night’s sleep?

A: People who have obstructive sleep apnea experience snoring, gasping, and pauses in their breathing during sleep. The lower jaw falls back and the tongue and throat muscles relax, narrowing or blocking the airway. An oral appliance holds your tongue and lower jaw in a forward position to keep your airway open while you sleep. Custom-fabricated oral appliances are placed on a patient’s upper and

lower teeth. While the appliances are similar to aligners, they’re more comfortable and durable. The Silent Nite® Sleep Appliance is thin and flexible. The dreamTAP™ and the TAP® 3 offer a wide range of adjustments, so patients can bring their lower jaw forward into the most effective position for optimal airflow. Dentists are often the first to recognize signs of obstructive sleep apnea, typically during a patient exam or by

asking questions. Risk factors include: dry mouth, enlarged tonsils or tongue, small jawbone, gastroesophageal reflux, sinus problems, allergies, obesity, large neck circumference (greater than 16-17 inches), age over 40, morning headaches, memory difficulties, and snoring. If you have mild to moderate sleep apnea and you want a more satisfying night’s sleep, an oral appliance may be the right solution for you.

Elite Smile Center Dr. Shakeel Niazi 1390 W. Auburn Rd. Rochester Hills, MI 48309 248-299-8300 elitesmilecenter.com elitesmilecenter@gmail.com Advertisement on page 100


HEALTH & BEAUTY Q&A Q:

Is there a minimally invasive procedure to correct receding gums?

A: With the Chao Pinhole Gum Rejuvenation Technique®, receding gums are typically treated with no cutting, no stitches, and virtually no pain. Periodontist Dr. Joseph Nemeth was the first gum specialist in Michigan to be certified in the use of this minimally invasive technique. “When gums recede, your teeth look much longer and your smile looks older. This condition also can lead to tooth sensitivity, decay, and

Q:

bone loss,” Dr. Nemeth explains. “Using the Pinhole Technique, we make a small pinhole in the gum above the teeth to be treated. With special instruments we loosen up the gum tissue and gently bring it down over the receded areas, where it should be. This improves the smile tremendously.” Platelet Rich Fibrin (PRF) is placed through the pinhole. A membrane derived from the patient’s own blood, PRF increases

hold for five seconds. Slowly release especially harsh on your muscles and this position and repeat 10 times. joints, and many people feel increased This will help stretch the scapulae soreness and stiffness as the tempera- muscles, which extend from the tures drop. One of the most common back of the neck into the shoulder. 2. While sitting upright, interlace areas of stiffness is the shoulders. your fingers and raise your arms Below are two quick exercises you can do at home or work that may help above your head. Slowly rotate your hands so your palms face relieve shoulder stiffness: the ceiling, and hold this position 1. While standing, shrug your for 10 seconds. Repeat this arm shoulders up toward your ears and

Joseph R. Nemeth, D.D.S. Amar Katranji, D.D.S., M.S. Periodontics, Dental Implants, Advanced Grafting 248-357-3100 The Richter Center – Halitosis Treatment 248-357-3213 Toll-free: 877-783-7374 29829 Telegraph Rd., Ste.111 Southfield, MI 48034 drnemeth.com jrn@drnemeth.com Advertisement on page 124

movement while leaning your body to the right and then to the left. If pain doesn’t subside after stretching and a few days of rest, it may be time to consult an expert. The board-certified orthopedic and sports medicine specialists at The CORE Institute are experts in diagnosing and treating the underlying cause of pain, and offer the most advanced treatment options.

The CORE Institute – Novi Dr. William Kesto, M.D. 26750 Providence Pkwy., Ste. 200 Novi, MI 48374 248-349-7015 thecoreinstitute.com Advertisement on pages 9 and 19

Can I achieve better health through Gyrotonic®?

A: It’s no secret that the healthier we are, the more beautiful we feel. But have you considered the importance of your spinal health? Your spinal cord is like an information highway that delivers nerve signals between your brain and the rest of your body. If your spine is stressed, strained, or injured, it’s going to impact other bodily functions such as your digestive and emotional health — and this can leave you feeling

Q:

Joseph R. Nemeth, D.D.S. & Associates

Is there a simple stretch to relieve shoulder pain this winter?

A: Michigan’s winter months can be

Q:

the blood supply in the gums, speeds healing, and further enhances the result. “The Pinhole Technique offers many advantages over traditional gum grafting, including no incisions or sutures, less discomfort, a faster recovery, and prevention of further gum and bone recession and loss,” Dr. Amar Katranji adds. “It’s a great technique. Patients do well and are extremely happy to have a healthier, more attractive smile.”

heavy, down, and unmotivated. One of the best ways to take care of your spine is through Gyrotonic®. “Similar to how Pilates focuses on the core and breath work, Gyrotonic exercises correct dysfunctional patterns of the skeletal and muscular systems while simultaneously promoting energy flow throughout the body,” says Ron Jegadeesh, Pilates instructor, physical therapist, and owner of Pilates Fitness & Physical

Therapy Center in Southfield. “It’s like a fusion of yoga, tai chi, swimming, ballet, and gymnastics. The exercises articulate the joints, correct alignment of the spine, and release fascia. When done regularly, Gyrotonic makes it easier for muscles, nerves, tendons, and fascia to work together.” The end result? A healthier — and, therefore, more beautiful — you.

Pilates Fitness & Physical Therapy Center Ron Jegadeesh, PT, MBA Certified PMA, Polestar Pilates, Stott Pilates, Gyrotonic, and Gyrokinesis Instructor 17418 W. 10 Mile Rd. Southfield, MI 48075 248-552-1012 pilatesfitnessevolution.com ron@pilatesfitnessevolution.com Advertisement on page 138

Why are more people getting plastic surgery?

A: People are having more “screen” time on mobile devices, social media platforms, and video calls. Seeing themselves on the screen, they often scrutinize their appearance and notice things they’d like to improve. Plastic surgery is more acceptable as people choose to invest in themselves so they can look and feel their best. Surgical and nonsurgical cosmetic procedures are more affordable than ever before, and there are a number of

financing options available. With the latest technology and techniques, surgical and noninvasive procedures are safer, more effective, and have a shorter recovery time. Patients also have more choices as new cosmetic products are approved and on the market. People are also having plastic surgery to improve their health. A breast reduction can provide relief from neck, shoulder, and back pain, and it has been shown to reduce the

risk of breast cancer. A blepharoplasty, or a brow-lift, can improve your ability to see clearly. Abdominoplasty may reduce the risk of insulin resistance and, in some cases, diabetes. Rhinoplasty improves breathing and oxygen flow to the brain, lowering blood pressure and reducing the risk of cardiovascular disease. People who have plastic surgery typically experience renewed selfconfidence, increased happiness, and an enhanced quality of life.

Star Plastic Surgery Elan Reisin, M.D., F.A.C.S. 44050 W. 12 Mile Rd. Novi, MI 48377 248-735-3800 mystar.dr.com info@mystardr.com Advertisement on page 126


TRUSTED ADVISERS Q&A

Rely on EXPERTS for Knowledge and Sound ADVICE

Do you feel uncertain about your goals and plans for 2021? If you’re not sure how to proceed, consider reaching out to a qualified professional for insight and guidance. Trusted advisers build relationships with their clients and actively listen to learn their clients’ needs, wishes, and challenges. Whether you’re contemplating a new

build, a remodel, or updating the spaces in your home, an interior designer can walk you through the process. Designers have resources that their clients don’t have access to. They also keep you on budget and serve as a liaison between you and your architect and contractor. Estate planning can be complicated.

Talking with a specialist will help you learn which strategies will work best for you. If you’re thinking about starting an agribusiness, consult with an expert who can help you realize your dream. Consider talking with the following trusted advisers when you need qualified advice to reach your goals. ■


TRUSTED ADVISERS Q&A

Q:

We would like to update several interior spaces in our home, but we don’t know where to start. What’s your process for helping clients achieve their goals?

A: With 27 years of experience, award-winning designer Jane Synnestvedt and her design team forge personal relationships with their clients and go into the design process with clients as their partners. “We have an ongoing dialogue from the initial meeting to the implementation of the design,” Synnestvedt says. “We listen to our clients to understand their needs, wishes, and budget, and we help them articulate what they’re

Q:

other skilled tradesworkers. Her network allows the firm to access bespoke, artisan purveyors that clients wouldn’t otherwise have access to or knowledge of. Synnestvedt often incorporates a mix of design trends and styles for her signature interiors. Not only is her goal to bring clients’ visions to fruition; she does it with the highest exchange of value, and delivers quality that exceeds client expectations.

Jane Synnestvedt Interior Design Inc. Jane Synnestvedt Owner/Principal 551 S. Bates St. Birmingham, MI 48009 248-642-1066 janesynnestvedt.com jane@janesynnestvedt.com Advertisement on page 87

I’m considering getting into agribusiness. What are the benefits growing crops indoors as opposed to traditional outdoor planting?

A: Growing a crop indoors — be it food, flowers, or cannabis — enables the grower to have complete control over the process — which, in turn, makes for a better product and yield, says Future Grow Solutions CEO Mark Savaya. “In a traditional growing operation using dirt, buckets, and platforms, the process uses an enormous amount of space, power, and water for a successful crop,” Savaya says. “Future Grow Solution’s system is

Q:

trying to achieve. “Once a concept is established, we develop the design features and select lighting, furniture, accessories, and other items based on our client’s input,” she adds. “We make sure all your spaces incorporate great design and functionality.” Over the years, Synnestvedt has forged relationships with trusted tradespeople. She and her team work in partnership with architects, builders, general contractors, and

completely different. We’re growing green in a whole new way.” Future Grow Solutions is the exclusive Michigan distributor of the CropTower™ System — a growing system that uses specialized LED lights and recycled, filtered water to yield large amounts of any cash crop in a maximized way. Each tower can hold 102 plants in a 9-foot by 9-foot vertical area, or 81 square feet. Future Grow Solutions will lease the CropTower System to interested farmers.

“The technology we’re employing is truly state-of-the-art, economical, and environmentally friendly,” Savaya says. The system maximizes existing space by going vertical, doesn’t require a growing medium, and saves money on water, fertilizer, energy, and labor. “The experience and knowledge our team has allows us to provide the best consultation and resources to future indoor growing businesses and investors,” Savaya says.

Future Grow Solutions Mark Savaya CEO 500 S. Old Woodward Ave. Birmingham, MI 48009 833-347-6275 futuregrowsolutions.com Advertisement on page 107

I’m a business owner. What should I be thinking about as I approach an uncertain 2021?

A: Year-end tax planning for 2020

• Deductions for noncorporate

takes place against the backdrop of legislative changes from the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA) and the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (the CARES Act). The changes include: • The corporate tax rate has been cut to 21 percent, • The corporate alternative minimum tax has been repealed, • Business interest deductions have new limits, • Expensing and depreciation rules have been liberalized, and

taxpayers with qualified business income from passthroughs has been introduced. A new administration can bring tax law changes, including an increase in the corporate tax rate and a new corporate minimum tax. Pass-through entities could also be impacted by changes to individual income taxes. A couple of other considerations: • Is your business structure still appropriate? Tax rate changes can impact this decision.

• Are low interest rates

factoring into your exitplanning and wealth transfer strategies? Grantor Retained Annuity Trusts (GRATs), Charitable Lead Annuity Trusts (CLATs), the use of Intra-Family lending, and the use of loans or sales to grantor trusts work well in a low interest rate environment. Consult with your tax and business advisers for more information and to determine personalized strategies to meet your needs.

Key Private Bank Vito P. Gioia Michigan Market Manager & SVP 248-204-6561 key.com/getthere Vito_Gioia@keybank.com Advertisement on page 1


TRUSTED ADVISERS Q&A Q:

How can I transfer wealth in today’s low interest rate environment?

A: Over the past two decades, interest rates have dropped to a considerably low level, making now an ideal time for affluent families to transfer wealth to future generations. These low rates dramatically increase one’s ability to take advantage of sophisticated wealth transfer strategies. Low interest rates, along with reduced-value assets (i.e., business interests, real estate, stocks, or private funds) make for an excellent opportunity to employ

Q:

• Grantor Retained Annuity

Trusts (GRATs) While each strategy works well on its own, many affluent families can rely on multiple strategies, often in combination with life insurance, allowing them to best achieve their planning objectives and transfer the most wealth at the least cost, with lower future estate taxes. For these reasons, now is the time for affluent families to revisit these conversations with their wealth management adviser and estate planning attorney.

Northwestern Mutual – Poise Wealth Drew Besonson 901 Wilshire Dr., Ste. 300 Troy, MI 48084 248-244-6066 poisewealth.com Advertisement on page 91

Why do I need an interior designer if I’ve already hired an architect or a design/build team?

A: Although architects and design/ build teams are certainly important to any project, typically they’re not scrutinizing all the personal aspects a client needs for their family on an everyday living perspective. Yes, there can be some overlap with what each of us can contribute, but everyone has specific knowledge, training, and expertise in their field. Interior designers discuss your preferences for each living space,

Q:

various estate planning techniques. The estate planning goal for many affluent families is to maximize their transfer of wealth by using strategies to minimize their overall tax burden (i.e., income, gift, estate, and generation-skipping transfer taxes). While the following estate planning techniques are beneficial in any setting, they become even more effective in the current low interest rate environment: • Intra-family loans • Installment sales

and they consider all focal points such as fireplaces, windows, doors, and architectural details that might impact the space’s flow. An architect will lay the foundation and blueprints for the house, while the interior designer will take on the electrical outlet locations, artwork placement, and much more. Furniture plans are carefully created with current inventoried furniture and proposed new furniture

appropriate in scale for each room. The designer can also take the stress out of all the decisions that need to be made during the building process, helping the client stay on their construction timeline. Designers are consistently in the field and can problem-solve on the spot. Hiring a designer as part of your team, from the start, is the best way to ensure a seamless transition into your new home.

Meg Corley Premier Interiors Meg Corley Founder & Principal Interior Designer 968 E. Maple Rd. Birmingham, MI 48009 248-303-5443 megcorley.com Advertisement on page 127

How can I choose the right surgeon for my joint replacement procedure?

A: Hip and knee replacements are life-changing procedures that allow you to return to an active lifestyle and do the things you love. When choosing a surgeon, there are some things you should consider. First and foremost, your surgeon should always discuss nonsurgical options before recommending surgery. These may include injections, physical therapy, and/or activity modification. You may also have to modify your risk factors before surgery, including

weight loss if your BMI is too high, improving HgA1c, decreasing the use of certain medications, and having a plan and support for returning home after the procedure. Your surgeon’s training and how often they perform the procedure are important. You should ask if their primary focus is joint replacement, whether they perform at least 50 per year, and if they participate in or have their own total joint-specific quality review programs. Don’t be

afraid to ask about expectations, results, and the surgical process, including managing complications and which hospital or surgery center is best for your procedure. The CORE Institute prides itself on using evidence-based protocols to provide the best possible surgical outcome. Its surgeons are experts and leaders in their subspecialities, and have authored dozens of peerreviewed studies in the field of orthopedics.

The CORE Institute – Novi Dr. David Markel, M.D. 26750 Providence Pkwy., Ste. 200 Novi, MI 48374 248-349-7015 thecoreinstitute.com Advertisement on pages 9 and 19


01.21

Restaurant Guide Wayne

Brooklyn Street Local $ BREAKFAST/BRUNCH • This Corktown spot serves breakfast, lunch, and brunch with fresh, locally grown, and organic ingredients. It lists its sources on a chalkboard and offers plenty of dishes that are vegan and vegetarian-friendly. Poutine — hand-cut fries, cheese curds, and mushroom or beef gravy — is the tip-off that the proprietors are from Canada. 1266 Michigan Ave., Detroit; 313-262-6547. B,L Tue.-Fri., BR Sat.-Sun.

Al Ameer $$ LEBANESE • This Lebanese restaurant is a recipient of the prestigious James Beard America’s Classics Award. The Al Ameer platter is perfect for sharing: two grape leaves, two fried kibbeh, chicken shawarma, tawook, kabob, kafta,and falafel. 12710 W. Warren Ave., Dearborn;313-582-8185. 27346 Ford Road, Dearborn Heights; 313-5659600 L,D Mon.-Sun. Amore da Roma $$ 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 daily. Antonio’s Cucina Italiana $$ ITALIAN • The Rugieros have impressed restaurant guests for decades with authentic cuisine. Signature dishes include Gnocchi Rita and Chicken Antonio. There’s a full bar and a very extensive wine list. 2220 N. Canton Center Road, Canton; 734-981-9800. 26356 Ford Road, Dearborn Heights; 313-278-6000. 37646 W. 12 Mile Road, Farmington Hills; 248-994-4000. L,D Mon.-Fri., D Sat.-Sun. Apparatus Room $$$$ NEW AMERICAN • The Foundation Hotel’s restaurant, the Apparatus Room, once housed the Detroit Fire Department headquarters. The cooking of chef Thomas Lents, who earned two Michelin stars while at Chicago’s Sixteen, is refined and highly skilled. A separate Chef’s Table restaurant offers a pricey but delicious option. 250 W. Larned St., Detroit; 313-800-5600. B,L,D daily, BR Sat.-Sun. Atwater in the Park $ GERMAN • At this casual spot, traditional German-style beer is the beverage of choice. Chef Chris Franz’ noteworthy menu is compatible with such additions as a platter of local bratwurst and other sausages teamed with housemade red cabbage and sauerkraut, plus amazing potato pancakes and daily soups. 1175 Lakepointe St., Grosse Pointe Park; 313-344-5104. L,D daily. Avalon Café and Bakery $$ 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 chili flakes. Vegetarian fare includes a frittata oozing with goat cheese. Meatier highlights include the pork shoulder, a steak sandwich, and a trout Reuben. There’s also a handful of thin-crust pizzas. Salads are sized to be main dishes. Beer and wine are part of the package (there or to go). 1049 Woodward Ave., Detroit; 313-2858006. B,L,D daily. Babo $ NEW AMERICAN • This all-day café settled into the Midtown Park Shelton building in June 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, Chilaquiles, Pasta al Limone, and the Babo Burger, which features a challah bun from Avalon Bakery. 15 E. Kirby St., Ste. 115, Detroit; 313-974-6159. B,L,D daily. 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 Tue.-Fri., D daily.

Family-friendly

Dog-friendly

Valet

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

COVID-19 UPDATE

Bucharest Grill $ MEDITERRANEAN-AMERICAN • This bustling 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.

Many establishments are still finding their footing in the COVID-19 era. Please call the numbers listed here to verify hours and space availability.

Cadieux Café $$ BELGIAN • This eastside institution was like a slice of home for early Belgian immigrants. They serve up four varieties of mussels, and a wide range of hearty dishes such as Belgian Rabbit, but there also are classic sandwiches. 4300 Cadieux Road, Detroit; 313-882-8560. D daily. Café Nini $$$ ITALIAN • This intimate spot offers well-prepared food that includes eight appetizers, a half-dozen pasta dishes, and five 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. L Mon.-Fri., D daily. Cantoro Italian Market and Trattoria $$ ITALIAN • A restaurant inside the market serves great traditional Italian food. Do not miss the tagliatelle alla Bolognese: wide pasta with a meat sauce made of ground veal, beef, sausage, and pancetta. A delicious Italian feast you can conveniently pick up on your way home. 15550 N. Haggerty Road, Plymouth; 734-420-1100. L,D Mon.-Sat., L Sun.

Bash Original Izakaya $ JAPANESE • A new Japanese pub from the proprietor of Canton’s popular Izakaya Sanpei opened its doors in Woodbridge in January. 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; 313-788-7208; D Tue.-Sun. Besa $$$ EUROPEAN-INSPIRED • This modern fine-dining eatery takes its name from Albania — where the owners trace their heritage — and means “pledge of honor.” Choose from starters suchas honey-roasted rutabaga, pastas like ramen noodle raviolo, and entrees like Michigan-raised lamb belly porchetta. 600 Woodward Ave., Detroit; 313315-3000. D Mon.-Sat. Bobcat Bonnie’s $ GASTROPUB • The menu is eclectic, with fried goat cheese, Korean beef bowl, vegan tacos, and chicken fingers coated with Cap’n Crunch. The weekend brunch with a Bloody Mary bar and all the classics is a hit. See bobcatbonnies.com for locations and hours. Brome Modern Eatery $ BURGERS • This healthy spin on a classic serves never-frozen, 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.

Reservations

E N T R É E P R I C ES

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 35 years. There’s a massive a-la-carte menu, but the main draw is steak by the ounce, at market price. 14726 Gratiot Ave., Detroit; 313-527-2100. L,D Mon.-Sat., D Sun. Caucus Club $$$ TRADITIONAL AMERICAN • The reborn spot emphasizes service and a traditional steak and seafood theme, with such tasty signature dishes as dry-rubbed and wood-grilled ribs, prime rib, and steaks. 150 W. Congress, Detroit; 313-965-4970. L,D Mon.-Fri., D Sat. Central Kitchen & Bar $$ CREATIVE COMFORT • The space facing Campus Martius is done up in gray and white under industrial light fixtures. Crowd-pleasers include buttermilk fried chicken, shrimp and grits, burgers, and salads. 660 Woodward Ave., Ste. 4A, Detroit; 313-963-9000. L,D Mon.Fri., BR, D Sat., BR Sun. Chartreuse Kitchen & Cocktails $$ NEW AMERICAN • Generally, there are five “cold” starters, five offerings from the “vegetables”category, and six “hot” items that could be considered main dishes, including duck confit and Lake Superior whitefish. The wine list is brief and esoteric. 15 E. Kirby St., Detroit; 313-818-3915. L,D Tue.-Fri., D Sat.-Sun. Chili Mustard Onions $ VEGAN • This is Detroit’s only Coney Island with a plant-based menu. Choose from a selection of traditional favorites including the

$ Affordable (less than $12)

$$ Moderate ($13 to $20)

$$$ Expensive ($21 to $30)

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

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RECIPE

TESTA BARRA’S DROPS OF JUNIPER P HOT O BY K AILEY HOW E LL

64

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

INGREDIENTS

DIRECTIONS

1.5 oz. Testa Barra Hard Head Gin by Detroit City Distillery

Add all ingredients to a cocktail shaker with ice. Shake, and pour into a large wine glass.

1 oz. Pom Wonderful ½ oz. lemon juice

Garnish with a mint sprig and enjoy.

½ oz. agave nectar 4 mint leaves 2 dashes lavender bitters

PHOTO KAILEY HOWELL


R E STAU R A N T L I STI N G S 0 1. 2 1 Coney Dog, Southwest Nachos, and chili fries, all complete with owner Pete LaCombe’s secret vegan “cheeze” sauce. 3411 Brush St., Detroit; 313-462-4949. L Mon.-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 duck wings “a l’orange,” and savory merguez meatballs and artisinal burrata. Large plates include shrimp and grits and steak frites. Jazz prevails on the bandstand. 2030 Park Ave., Detroit; 313-961-2543. D Tue.-Sun., BR Sun. Common Pub $ GASTROPUB • Fans of Atlas Global Bistro, which shuttered in 2013, should be happy to learn that some of the principals may be found at this spot in the Belcrest Apartments. The well-edited menu includes duck rangoon and a burger. 5440 Cass Ave., Detroit; 313-285-8849. L,D Tue.-Fri., D Sat. Cork & Gabel $$$ EUROPEAN-INSPIRED • Corktown’s newest eatery takes the form of a 4,450-square-foot renovated beer hall and is an ode to filling European staples. Try the crispy braised chicken wings slow-cooked in house spices and served with blue cheese. Simply delicious! 2415 Michigan Ave., Detroit; 313-638-2261. D daily. Cuisine $$$ EUROPEAN-INSPIRED • Cuisine offers a romantic, white-linen experience with the level of food, service, and ambience one might call more “timeless” than “trendy.” Examples of the expertly prepared fare include lobster bisque with lump crab and variations on duck — a coriander honey roasted breast is served with a confit leg. 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.L Wed.-Fri. D Thu.-Sat. Detroit Club $$$$ FRENCH-AMERICAN • The formerly shuttered Detroit Club was magnificently restored before reopening in 2018 — and now, the public is invited. It now operates as a boutique hotel, serving a light breakfast and full lunch and dinner. The old dining room, known as the Grille Room, looks very much as it did more than three decades ago. The food is excellent, as is the service. 712 Cass Ave., Detroit; 313338-3222. L,D Daily. Detroit Shipping Company $ FUSION • This bi-level destination, created out of shipping containers, offers a variety of food options ranging from the Caribbeanfusion dishes at Coop to chipotle-roasted grasshopper at Brujo Tacos + Tapas to Thai fare from Bangkok 96 and more. 474 Peterboro St., Detroit; 313-462-4973. L,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. 8029 Agnes St., Detroit; 313-649-2759. L Tue.-Sun., D Wed.-Sat. 19614 Grand River Ave., Detroit; 313-766-5728. BR Sun.

Dime Store $ BREAKFAST/BRUNCH • This popular breakfast and lunch spot adds just the right retro touch to a contemporary American menu typified by fresh, hearty omelets and Benedicts early in the day. 719 Griswold St., Ste. 180, Detroit; 313-962-9106. B,L Mon.-Sun. Dirty Dog Jazz Cafe $$$ GASTROPUB • A jazz club with top guest musicians and an American bistro menu in a traditional interior. Starters include crab and salt cod cakes, pan-fried calamari with chorizo and Korean beef rib. 97 Kercheval Ave., Grosse Pointe Farms; 313-882-5299. L Tue.-Fri., D Tue.-Sat. Eatori Market $-$$ SPECIALTY GROCERY • This stylish spot overlooking downtown’s Capitol Park. The menu has steamed mussels with leeks, garlic, and fresh oysters. International flourishes abound with truffle aioli for the burger. 1215 Griswold St., Detroit; 313-395-3030. L,D daily. El Asador Steakhouse $$ MEXICAN • A concentrated cuisine with little modern flairs that also stays faithful to traditional Mexican cooking. Don’t miss the Camarones en Salsa de Langosta: breaded shrimp stuffed with cheese, fried to a golden dark brown, and topped with a lobster cream sauce. It’s a delicious dinner spot you don’t want to miss and an unassuming Latin-American find in Detroit’s Springwells Village. 1312 Springwells St., Detroit; 313-297-2360. L,D Tue.-Sun. El Barzon $ MEXICAN-ITALIAN • Norberto Garita prepares Italian and Mexican cuisines alongside his wife, Silvia Rosario Garita. Authentic Mexican entrees include mini tacos with beef, chicken, steak, barbecued goat, or sausage, and mole poblano, while the Italian influence takes the form of spaghetti carbonara and Suppa di pesce (seafood soup). 3710 Junction Ave., Detroit; 313-894-2070. D Tue.-Sun. Empire Kitchen and Cocktails $$ NEW AMERICAN • This relaxed Cass Corridor eatery with patio seating serves artisan pizzas and new American bistro fare. Highlights include scallops, Empire Burger, and white pizza. A range of inventive craft cocktails abound here, too. 3148 Woodward Ave.,Detroit; 313-315-3131. empirekitchenandcocktails.com Evie’s Tamales $$ MEXICAN • This Mexicantown restaurant makes some of the best tamales around. Pork or chicken is jacketed with sturdy masa, a dough of ground corn, and then wrapped in a corn husk and steamed. Eat in or order a dozen for later. 3454 Bagley St., Detroit; 313-843-5056. B,L,D Mon.-Sat., B,L Sun. Fishbone’s Rhythm Kitchen Café $$ NEW ORLEANIAN • New Orleans dishes including jambalaya, and fried catfish beignets. Come for breakfast, lunch, dinner, happy hour, or carry-out. 400 Monroe St., Detroit; 313-965-4600. 29244 Northwestern Hwy., Southfield; 248-351-2925. 23722 Jefferson Ave., St. Clair Shores; 586-498-3000. B,L,D (downtown), L,D Southfield and St. Clair Shores. BR at all three. Flowers of Vietnam $$ VIETNAMESE • Chef and owner George Azar transformed a former Coney Island into an industrial-cool destination, but the neighborhood joint vibe remains. The menu is shaped around Azar’s appreciation of Vietnamese food, with a very personal twist. 4430 Vernor Hwy., Detroit; 313-554-2085. D Wed.-Sun. Folk $ AUSTRALIAN • A charming Corktown storefront dishing up an allday brunch menu. It’s an offshoot of the Farmer’s Hand grocery and farmers market. The menu focuses on beautifully plated dishes like salads, quiche, meat pies, all beautifully plated and nutritious. Infused milks and frothy lattes are well sought after, too. 1701 Trumbull Ave., Detroit; 313-290-5849. BR Wed-Mon. Ford’s Garage $$ BURGERS • Henry Ford’s legacy is celebrated on Dearborn’s main thoroughfare. There are at least 12 variations on the classic American burger here. Try the Ford’s Signature, featuring a half-pound of grilled black angus beef, aged sharp cheddar, applewood-smoked bacon,

and bourbon BBQ sauce. Other appealing dishes include lobster mac and cheese, and chicken wings. 21367 Michigan Ave., Dearborn; 313752-3673. L,D daily. Frita Batidos $ CUBAN • Since opening in 2010, Ann Arbor’s Frita Batidos has been cherished for its spicy Cuban-influenced chorizo burgers and tropical milkshakes made with fresh fruit. Now owner and Top Chef: Las Vegas alum Eve Arnoff has opened a second location in downtown Detroit. The casual eatery is the mirror image of its older sibling — bright and urban, with white walls, picnic tables, and exposed ductwork. Also featuring a full bar, the restaurant offers local craft beers, tropical cocktails, and the option to add a splash of rum to your milkshake. 66 W. Columbia St., Detroit; 313-725-4100. L,D daily. Giovanni’s Ristorante $$$ ITALIAN • This old-school Italian restaurant offers housemade pastas, including an outstanding lasagna. Elaborate veal and seafood dishes and desserts like orange Creamsicle cheesecake round out the delicious menu. 330 Oakwood Blvd., Detroit; 313-841-0122. L,D Tue.-Fri., D Sat. Grandma Bob’s $ PIZZA • If you’re wondering what that psychedelic building on Corktown’s Michigan Avenue is, it opened last March as a pizzeria known as Grandma Bob’s. Executive chef Dan De Wall, previously of Wright and Co., offers a small, delicious menu of pies, including sausage and pistachio with mascarpone cheese and thyme. Or try the Big Mack — the vegan pizza version of the popular burger. 2135 Michigan Ave., Detroit; 313-315-3177. L,D Wed.-Sun. Grand Trunk Pub $ NEW AMERICAN • Breads from Avalon Bakery and meats from Eastern Market anchor the hearty fare, which pairs well with a selection of Michigan beers. Staples include a reuben with Poet Stout Kraut and the Ghettoblaster beer-battered fish and chips. 612 Woodward Ave., Detroit; 313-961-3043.; L,D daily, BR Sat.-Sun. The Greek $ GREEK • Plaka Café was a presence on Monroe Avenue for years, and now its space is in the hands of the founders’ children. Notable dishes include spinach pie, grilled salmon, lamb chops, and New York strip steak. 535 Monroe Ave., Detroit; 313-209-6667. L,D daily. Green Dot Stables $ NEW AMERICAN • The menu of sliders — with 20-plus eclectic bun toppings, including Cuban, Korean, and “mystery meat” — packs in fans. Local beers are spotlighted along with chicken paprika soup, a nod to the neighborhood’s Hungarian origins. 2200 W. Lafayette Blvd., Detroit; 313-962-5588. L,D daily. Grey Ghost $$ NEW AMERICAN • The cuisine at this Brush Park hotspot isn’t easily defined, but the results are original and well-prepared. For example, the miso glazed cedar plank salmon, and lump crab cake served with a honey mustard remoulade sauce from their Ghost To-Go pickup menu. 47 Watson St., Detroit; 313-262-6534. D daily. BR Sun. Highlands $$$ STEAKHOUSE/NEW AMERICAN • Occupying the top two floors of the Renaissance Center, Highlands comprises three separate concepts. A steakhouse of the same name provides a high-end dining experience, while the more casual Hearth 71 serves locally sourced dishes cooked over an open fire. The third concept within the space is the appropriately named High Bar, where guests can choose from a vast collection of spirits and decadent desserts. 400 Renaissance Center, Floors 71 and 72, Detroit; 313-567-3126; D Mon.-Sat. The Hill Seafood & Chop House $$ TRADITIONAL AMERICAN • The menu is balanced between seafood and meat, with an emphasis on premium ingredients and organic produce. Swordfish, prime New York strip, and Colorado lamb chops are signatures. 123 Kercheval Ave., Grosse Pointe Farms; 313886-8101. L,D Mon.-Sat. The Hudson Cafe $ BREAKFAST/BRUNCH • The fresh, well-prepared fare from the

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R E STAU R A N T L I STI N G S 0 1. 2 1 including a number of elegant pastas like the Lasagna Alla Bolognese. 1224 Griswold St., Detroit; 313-962-8821. L,D daily.

kitchen of this breakfast/lunch spot has creative takes on the eggs Benedict theme, pecan-banana pancakes, and apple-walnut stuffed French toast, as well as lunchtime sandwiches and salads. One of our favorite brunch spots downtown. 1241 Woodward Ave., Detroit; 313237-1000. 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 jicamastuffed spicy shrimp, roasted tofu, or garlic chicken. Appetizers include edamame, dumplings, and clams. 2015 Michigan Ave., Detroit; 313-502-5959. D Mon.-Sun.

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Iridescence $$$$ UPSCALE AMERICAN • A stylish white-linen restaurant, with a 16-story view from the top of the MotorCity Casino Hotel. The menu varies with the seasons. Check out the glass-fronted mechanical wine vault and the huge Dale Chihuly-like glass panels flanking the open kitchen. A place for a special evening. 2901 Grand River Ave., Detroit; 313-237-6732. D Wed.-Sun. Ivy Kitchen and Cocktails $$$ 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; D Daily

Le Culture Cafe $$ SOUL • Eastern Market’s Le Culture Cafe is bridging fine-dining with comfort food. Start with the Maryland crab cakes, then the Mamba Chicken Pasta or the Lobster & Crab Grilled Cheese. 1452 Brush St., Detroit; 313-285-8137. D Tue.-Sun.

Diners must walk through the butcher shop, bypassing cases of pastrami and sausage, before entering the restaurant. Offerings include seasonal pork yakitori and local duck breast as well Mapo Mushroom. MARROW Detroit

R E STAU RA NT OF THE YEA R 2 0 1 2

Joe Muer Seafood $$$$ SEAFOOD • This reborn Detroit legend is stellar for a romantic evening or a quiet business lunch or dinner. Located on the main floor of the GMRenCen, it has sweeping views of the Detroit River and a menu that walks the line between old-time favorites and hipper Asian-influenced seafood, sushi and raw bar. There’s also a Bloomfield Hills location. There are reminders of the past as well: white-bean relish, smoked fish spread, creamed spinach, and stewed tomatoes. A true Detroit classic. 400 Renaissance Center, Ste. 1404, Detroit; 313-5676837. L Mon.-Fri., D daily, BR Sun. 39475 Woodward Ave., Bloomfield Hills; 248-792-9609. L,D Mon.-Sat., BR,D Sun. Johnny Noodle King $ JAPANESE-INSPIRED • This noodle shop offers bowls topped with pork belly, confit chicken, and tofu as well as seaweed salad and gyoza. There are several fusion bowls as well like the Southwest topped with shredded chicken and housemade crema. 2601 W. Fort St., Detroit; 313-309-7946. L,D Tue.-Sun. Jolly Pumpkin $$ BREWERY • Jolly Pumpkin’s brews rule the offerings, along with other Northern United Brewing Co. beverages, such as North Peak and Grizzly Peak beers and “Civilized Spirits.” Pizzas with creative toppings abound. 441 W. Canfield St., Detroit; 313-262-6115. 419 S. Main St., Ste. 9, Royal Oak; 248-544-6250. L,D daily. Karl’s $$ AMERICAN • The luncheonette is part two of the Siren Hotel’s partnership with Lady of the House Executive Chef Kate Williams. Inspired by the East Side bakery of the same name that Williams’ great-great grandparents once owned, the menu features diner staples. 1509 Broadway St., Detroit; 313-855-2757. B,L,D daily. Karl’s Cabin $$ AMERICAN • Dishes from their currently rotating drive-through menu such as pecan crust whitefish and beef tenderloin medallions

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with sautéed shrimp and bearnaise sauce surpass typical roadhouse food. 6005 Gotfredson Rd., Plymouth; 734-455-8450. L,D daily. The Kitchen by Cooking with Que $$ VEGAN • This eatery created by Detroit-based cooking blogger Quiana Broden serves lunches of smoothies, salads, and sandwiches. Broden also often offers live cooking demonstrations. 6529 Woodward Ave., Ste. A, Detroit; 313-462-4184. L Tue.-Sun. Kuzzo’s Chicken and Waffles $ SOUTHERN COMFORT • Several recipes, including a signature thin waffle, are family-owned at ex-NFL player Ron Bartell’s spot. Think comfort food kicked up a notch: fried catfish, salmon croquettes, shrimp and grits, and biscuits. Drink the Kool-Aid, too. 19345 Livernois Ave., Detroit; 313-861-0229. B,L,D Tue.-Sat., B,L Sun. La Dolce Vita $$$ ITALIAN • Traditional Italian cuisine is key at this Palmer Park hideaway. Recommended is the lake perch in white wine sauce, the veal scaloppine with artichokes, and the lasagna. 17546 Woodward Ave., Detroit; 313-865-0331. L,D Tue.-Fri., D Sat., BR,D Sun. Lady of the House $$$ NEW AMERICAN • This Corktown restaurant combines subtle Irish influences with hyper-localized ingredients. Each meal begins with a seasonal tea-and-cracker service, followed by a menu featuring snout-to-tail butchering, housemade charcuterie, and shareable entrées. 1426 Bagley, Detroit; 313-818-0218. D Tues.-Sun. La Lanterna $$ 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 Bellagio — dominate, there’s more,

Leila $$$ LEBANESE • The restaurant from the proprietors of Birmingham’s Phoenicia is named after the owner’s mother — just one facet of the establishment that pays homage to family traditions and heritage. The menu includes various Lebanese dishes, from falafel to Leila’s Bolognese, featuring spaghetti, pine nut, and basil. Other menu items include sujuk — a spicy Armenian sausage — and tabbouleh made of parsley, cracked wheat, and spices. The beer and wine lists offer plenty of options to accompany any meal. 1245 Griswold St., Detroit; 313816-8100; leiladetroit.com; D Sun., L&D Mon.-Sat. London Chop House $$ STEAKHOUSE • The kitchen turns out classics such as 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. L Mon.-Fri., 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; 313-986-1174. L,D daily. Lucy & the Wolf $$ SPANISH • This Anglo-sounding restaurant offers very good Spanish-inspired tapas dining. Standouts include ceviche, double charred chicken wings, and a grilled flank steak in chimichurri sauce. 102 E. Main St., Northville;248-308-3057. D Mon.-Sat. Lumen Detroit $$ 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; 313-6265005. L,D. Closed Mon. Mario’s $$$ ITALIAN • This Midtown Detroit classic dates to 1948. Linen-covered tables, framed paintings on wood-paneled walls, expert waiters clad in black tie, and tableside preparation survive here. Italian dinners always begin with an antipasto tray and continue through soup, salad, pasta, and entree. 4222 Second Ave., Detroit; 313-832-1616. L,D daily. Marrow $$ 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 include seasonal pork yakitori and local duck breast as well Mapo Mushroom. 8044 Kercheval Ave., Detroit; 313-652-0200. D Wed.-Mon. 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; 313-472-5885. 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; 313-399-9117. B,L,D daily.

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R E STAU R A N T L I STI N G S 0 1. 2 1 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, avocado, and pickled spiced carrots. 2163 Michigan Ave., Detroit; 313-964-5000. L,D daily. Michigan & Trumbull $$ ITALIAN-AMERICAN • After a successful four-month run at Fort Street Galley, Michigan and Trumbull left the nest in January, making it the latest in a long line of Detroit-style pizza joints to open in the area. Not your traditional carryout joint, Michigan and Trumbull is housed in a sleek, refurbished car-repair garage. The menu features square, deep-dish pies with Detroit-inspired names, such as Packard Pepperoni and Vernor Vegan. 1441 W. Elizabeth St., Detroit; 313-6374992; L&D Mon., Wed.-Sat.; D Sun. Mi Lindo San Blas $$$ 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 $$$ NEW AMERICAN • At the 14th floor of the revamped Element Detroit Hotel located at the Metropolitan is the Monarch Club. It’s one of the most recent rooftop bars to open in metro Detroit and serves a variety of delicious small plates along with classic cocktails. 33 John R St., Detroit; 313-306-2380. D daily. Mootz Pizzeria & Bar $$ ITALIAN-AMERICAN • Bruno DiFabio, a six-time World Pizza Games champ, rejects the label New York-style for his fare. “It’s authentic New York pizza,” he says. In a hurry? Grab a slice from Side Hustle, Mootz’s by-the-slice counter next door. 1230 Library St., Detroit; 313243-1230. L,D daily. Motor City Brewing Works $ BREWERY • Just 10 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 housebrewed beers. 470 W. Canfield St., Detroit; 313-832-2700. L,D daily. Mudgie’s Deli $ DELI • Seats are often filled in search of the O’Leary (pastrami, Swiss, and greens) or the Brooklyn (beef brisket, bacon, and beer cheese). The dinner menu features meat and cheese boards as well as buildyour-own pasta and meat and potato options. It’s a delicious place for a meal any time 1413 Brooklyn St., Detroit; 313-961-2000. L,D Mon.-Sat., BR Sun. Nico & Vali $$ ITALIAN • This eatery offers favorites with unexpected twists. The artichokes and chilies appetizer boasts battered and fried artichokes with Fresno and jalapeno peppers, tossed with fresh basil in white wine. Popular choices include Vermouth Lamb Porterhouse. It’s a classic Italian spot with an update that’s worth a visit. 744 Wing St., Plymouth;734-207-7880. L,D daily, BR Sun. Norma G’s $ CARIBBEAN • Lester Gouvia, the Trinidadian chef who brought us the famed food truck, opened a full-service restaurant under the same name. Stop in for a plate of Chicken Pelau: a tasty blend of rice, diced chicken, squash, peppers, and golden-brown baked chicken. 14628 E. Jefferson Ave., Detroit; 313-290-2938. D Tue.-Sat. Nosh Pit $ VEGAN • This vegan staple in Hamtramck, and its roving food truck, have been dishing up delicious plant-based takes on classic deli sandwiches for years. Try their latkes with banana jam, the house made Coney Carrot Dog with all the traditional toppings — like diced onion and yellow mustard. It might best the original! 2995 Yemans St., Hamtramck; 313-486-0777. L Tue.-Thu., L,D Fri., B,L Sat. Ottava Via $$ ITALIAN Chef Ariel Millan sends out great thin-crusted pizzas as well

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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 Asianthemed cocktails and dishes, such as fried oyster, charred octopus, filet mignon, and Alaskan king crab legs. Based in the former Michigan Oriental Theater, the interior combines new and old. 114 W. Adams Ave., Ste. 200, Detroit; 313-816-0000. D Mon.-Sat.

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Parc $$$ NEW AMERICAN • Excellent food, exceptional service, and a crisp and formal but distinctly unstuffy atmosphere set this Campus Martius gem apart. Appetizer highlights include a bright and fresh tuna tartare and wood-roasted oysters. Mint gremolata and lemon chili oil add a zippy touch to oysters on the half shell. Main courses are exceptional, including an interesting blend of Italian food, woodgrilled whole fish, and organic Scottish salmon. There’s also a large selection of dry-aged gourmet steaks, wood-grilled and served tableside. The wine selection is impressive and caters to a diverse set of price ranges and wine drinkers, so you won’t be disappointed with any bottle here. 800 Woodward Ave., Detroit; 313-922-7272. L,D daily. BR Sat.-Sun. Park Grill $$ 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; 313264-1997. L,D daily. Parks & Rec Diner $ BREAKFAST/BRUNCH • Breakfast and lunch are the focus, from a single menu that offers traditional breakfast dishes and sandwiches, as well as dishes such as shrimp and grits with harissa and chili atop a cornbread waffle. Standards such as buttermilk biscuits with sausage gravy are also available. To drink, there are boozy floats, too. This spot is a classic for whenever you crave brunch food. 1942 Grand River Ave., Detroit;313-446-8370. B,L daily. Pegasus Taverna $$ GREEK • The cry of “opa!” resounds in St. Clair Shores at the second edition of the longstanding Greektown restaurant. The resturant boasts an extensive menu, from moussaka and spinach pie to gyros and roast lamb. 24935 Jefferson Ave., St. Clair Shores; 586-772-3200. 558 Monroe St., Detroit; 313-964-6800. L,D daily. The Peterboro $$ ASIAN-FUSION • A contemporary take on American-Chinese 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 daily. 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 include summer rolls and crisp spring rolls. Look for Asian beers and robust Vietnamese coffee. 3111 Woodward Ave., Detroit; 313-338-3895. L,D daily except Tue. when it’s L only. PizzaPlex $ ITALIAN • This pizza isn’t just authentic, it’s certified. PizzaPlex earned the title of Vera Pizza Napoletana, or real Neapolitan pizza, from Associazione Verace Pizza Napoletana in Naples. Try the Margherita. Topped with mozzarella, basil, and EVOO, there’s nothing like a classic. 4458 Vernor Highway, Detroit; 313-757-4992. D Wed.-Sat. Polish Village Café $ POLISH • The “Polish plate” includes stuffed cabbage, pierogi, kielbasa, sauerkraut, and mashed potatoes and gravy. The dill pickle soup and city chicken are standouts, too. A Polish staple in Detroit,

Not your traditional carryout joint, Michigan & Trumbull is housed in a sleek, refurbished car-repair garage. The menu features square, deep-dish pies with Detroitinspired names, such as Packard Pepperoni and Vernor Vegan. MICHIGAN & TRUMBULL Detroit

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JUICE


R E STAU R A N T L I STI N G S 0 1. 2 1

RECIPE

LUMEN CRAB CAKE PHOT O BY K AILEY HOW E LL

INGREDIENTS

1 lb. lump crab meat ¼ cup panko bread crumbs ¼ red onion, finely diced ½ red pepper, finely diced 2 Tbsp. chives ¼ cup mayonnaise 1 Tbsp. Sriracha Lemon juice from half a lemon Salt and pepper Sriracha aioli*

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*SRIRACHA AIOLI INGREDIENTS

1 cup mayo 1 Tbsp. Sriracha Juice of ½ lemon Salt and pepper to taste

Mix all ingredients in a bowl and season with salt and pepper.

DIRECTIONS

In a bowl, combine half the crab meat with mayonnaise, bread crumbs, onion, red pepper, chives, Sriracha, lemon juice, and salt and pepper. Mix well. Cover the mixture and place in the refrigerator for 30 minutes. Fold in remaining crab meat and form into patties — be careful to not over work the crab meat, breaking it up into small pieces. Heat pan to mediumhigh heat, add oil, and cook cakes until golden brown. Serve with Sriracha aioli.


R E STAU R A N T L I STI N G S 0 1. 2 1 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; 734-2816700. L,D daily. Br. Sun.

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Prime + Proper $$$$ STEAKHOUSE • Downtown Detroit dining gets a major shot of glamour with this over-the-top steak and seafood emporium on the corner of Griswold and State streets. Although red meat, from prime dryaged Tomahawk ribeye to Wagyu strip is the focus — and yes, there’s a burger made with a dry-aged butcher’s blend — oysters, king crab, and caviar are not far behind. An elegant white and gold setting backgrounds it all. The niceties are maintained by an impeccably dressed staff. 1145 Griswold St., Detroit; 313-636-3100. D daily. Prism $$$ 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 Tue.-Sat. Rattlesnake Club $$$$ NEW AMERICAN • This restaurant on the river remains one of the most appealing spots in town. The casually elegant space offers a range of appetizers, entrees, and desserts. Dishes that typify its style include seared diver sea scallops, an 8-ounce filet, and a 24-ounce porterhouse. 300 River Place, Detroit; 313-567-4400. L,D Tue.-Fri., D Sat. Red Dunn Kitchen $$ NEW AMERICAN • The Trumbull and Porter hotel’s spiffy restaurant is an ambitious undertaking, offering three meals a day. Chef Jay Gundy’s style is best experienced at dinner, with a la carte offerings such as foie gras-stuffed quail, smoked and marinated salmon collars, braised lamb leg, and bacon-wrapped duck breast with polenta. 1331 Trumbull Ave., Detroit; 313-887-9477. B,L,D daily. Red Smoke Barbeque $$ BARBEQUE • Hickory and applewood-smoked ribs, pulled pork, Amish chicken, and classic sides are served in one of the most attractive two-story buildings still left on Monroe Street. 573 Monroe St., Detroit; 313-962-2100. L,D daily. Republic $$ NEW AMERICAN • This tavern offers rich and bold dishes befitting its castle-like home in the renovated Grand Army of the Republic Building. The locally sourced menu showcases Old World preservation methods and nose-to-tail cooking. While the menu may be meatcentric, vegetarians won’t feel left out. 1942 Grand River Ave., Detroit; 313-446-8360. L Tue.-Fri., D Tue.-Sun. Roast $$$ STEAKHOUSE • Meat is the main focus at chef Michael Symon’s restaurant at the famous Westin Book Cadillac Hotel, as underscored by the rotisserie slowly roasting the “beast of the day.” There’s much more on the a la carte menu, including dry-aged steaks, branzino, pork, and reginette. 1128 Washington Blvd., Detroit; 313-961-2500.D daily. Rocky’s of Northville $$ NEW AMERICAN • Menu includes sea scallops and Gulf shrimp. At dinner, look for grilled rainbow trout. 41122 W. Seven Mile Road, Northville; 248-349-4434. L,D daily. 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; 313-842-2100. L,D Mon.-Fri., D Sat.-Sun.

Rose’s Fine Food $ BREAKFAST/BRUNCH • The menu is straightforward, based mainly on fresh ingredients and from-scratch preparation. Breakfast eaters can choose from a variety of egg dishes, such as the ESD (egg sandwich of the day). For lunch, there’s a selection of creative sandwiches. 10551 E. Jefferson Ave., Detroit; 313-822-2729. B,L daily. Rusted Crow $$ ECLECTIC AMERICAN • Mussels marinated in white wine and lemon sit alongside spinach artichoke dip. Craft cocktails utilize house spirits. Try the Rosemary’s Baby, made with Detroit Steam vodka and ginger beer. 78 W. Adams Ave., Detroit; 313-782-4751. L Tue.-Sun., D daily. San Morello $$$ 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; 313-2094700. D daily. The Sardine Room $$$ SEAFOOD • A seafood restaurant and raw bar, The Sardine Room is fresh, fun, and energetic, with a clean-line décor and a menu full of surprises. For starters, there are New England lobster, oysters, sashimi tuna, and shrimp cocktail. Worthwhile is a porchetta slider of slow-cooked pork served on a brioche bun with arugula, pickled onions, and a salsa verde. And don’t forget the signature fresh Portuguese sardines grilled in butter. 340 S. Main St., Plymouth; 734-416-0261. D daily, BR Sun. SavannahBlue $$ SOUL FOOD • Highlights at this upscale soul food restaurant include the twice-dredged fried chicken and the shrimp and grits. Accompaniments and appetizers include yam casserole, catfish fritters, and a Georgian Hummus that substitutes black-eyed peas for chickpeas. There’s also a great bar. 1431 Times Square, Detroit; 313-926-0783. D Mon.-Sat., BR Sun. Savant $$$ FRENCH • This addition to the Midtown restaurant scene made headlines with its “caviar bumps” — bite-sized portions of caviar intended to be eaten off the back of one’s hand — when it opened in September. 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, Foie Gras Clair, Calamari, and — for vegan diners — Ratatouille Confit. 51 W. Forest Ave., Detroit; 313-2859294.D Tues.-Sat., L Sun. Scotty Simpson’s Fish & Chips $ SEAFOOD • Head to this Brightmoor spot for perfectly prepared fish and chips. The key to Scotty’s longevity is the batter that coats the cod, perch, shrimp, chicken, onion rings, and frog legs. 22200 Fenkell St., Detroit; 313-533-0950. L,D Tue.-Sun. 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 deviled eggs, ramen noodle salad, and fried chicken sandwiches that accompany drinks that were popular more than a few years back. 42 Watson St., Detroit; 313-3153077. D nightly.

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

potato quesadillas, gluten-free options, and colorful stir-fries — some vegan as well as vegetarian. There’s also a full bar as well as a juice bar. 2541 Jackson Ave., Ann Arbor; 734-662-1111. 66 E. Forest Ave., Detroit; 313-974-6661. L,D daily.

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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; 313-962-9828. L,D daily. Slows To Go in Midtown: 4107 Cass Ave., Detroit; 877-569-7246. L,D daily. Smith & Co. $$$ NEW AMERICAN • This Cass Corridor bar and restaurant is housed in the old Smith Welding Supply & Equipment Company building — hence cement ceilings and exposed brick that evoke an industrial vibe. The menu features small plates, sandwiches, and entrees such as Mushroom Toast; Michigan Pork Belly; the Fried Chicken Bowl with sweet sesame sauce and kimchi; and the Smith Burger, soy-ginger marinated and topped with a fried egg. Beverage options include craft beer, wine, and fresh takes on classic cocktails. 644 Selden St, Detroit; 313-974-7100. L&D Mon-Sat., B,L,&D Sun. Standby $$ NEW AMERICAN • The libation menu — categorized by spirit — is longer than the food menu, but both food and drinks are equally emphasized. The fare ranges from small plates of chicken liver mousse and duck confit ravioli to entrees such as a waygu strip steak and red duroc pork belly. 225 Gratiot Ave., Detroit; 313-736-5533. D daily. Not wheelchair accessible. Street Beet $ VEGAN • The popular vegan pop-up Street Beet has landed a permanent spot at Midtown’s 3rd Street Bar, serving up plant-based riffs on quintessential fast foods. Try the Kentucky Fake Chicken sandwich, with fried tofu, pickles, and spicy mayo, or the Taco Hell Crunchywrap, with walnut chorizo and cashew nacho cheese. These faves and additions like the Phony Cheesesteak are available via counter service, carryout, and online ordering. 4626 Third Ave., Detroit; 313-312-4669; L&D Sun., D Mon., D Tue.-Sat. Supino Pizzeria $$ ITALIAN • Relax with one of the town’s best thin-crust pizzas — they come in more than a dozen variations, with or without red sauce. A few dishes from the La Rondinella menu made the list as well, such as paninis, salads, and small plates such as polpette and fagioli. Beer, wine, and cocktails add to the appeal. 2457 Russell St., Detroit; 313567-7879. L,D Tue.-Sat. Sweet Soul Bistro $ SOUL FOOD • The large menu includes homages to Detroit musicians, from Stevie Wonder Wonderful Wings to Aretha Franklin Catfish Bites. Also notable are the crab cakes. In the evening, the bistro transforms into a club. 13741 W. McNichols Road, Detroit; 313- 8627685. L,D daily. Takoi $$ 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 Mon.-Sat. Tap at MGM Grand $ SPORTS BAR • More than 40 HD flatscreen TVs for sports fans, plus

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R E STAU R A N T L I STI N G S 0 1. 2 1 sports memorabilia. The menu features comfort food and pub classics: burgers, wings, and fried mac and cheese. 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. B,L,D daily. They Say $$ GASTROPUB • Many folks pass right by on their way to Atwater Brewery, Andrews on the Corner, or the Rattlesnake Club. But Chene Park regulars know They Say does triple duty as a great place to grab dinner before a show. The food is grouped into “opening acts, intermission, and encores.” 267 Jos Campau Ave., Detroit; 313-446-4682. L,D daily. Traffic Jam & Snug $ GASTROPUB • Michigan’s first officially designated brewpub is fresh and eccentric. The menu is diverse, and somewhat slanted toward vegetarian diners with such veggie-forward dishes as spinach lasagna, quiche, and portobello mushroom soup. No worries, there’s meatloaf and crabcakes, too. 511 W. Canfield St., Detroit; 313-8319470. L,D daily. Trattoria Serventi $$ 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 veal Tosca, and manicotti alla trattoria, 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. L,D daily. Union Street $$ NEW AMERICAN • The extensive dinner menu includes such tasty highlights as fried calamari, pistachio-encrusted salmon, a J.L. Hudson Maurice salad, filet mignon, beer-steamed mussels, fish tacos, chicken wings, and several vegetarian options. 4145 Woodward Ave., Detroit; 313-831-3965. L,D daily. Urban Ramen $$ JAPANESE-INSPIRED • Urban Ramen serves bowls of steaming broth filled with house-made, springy ramen noodles topped with fixings like bamboo, egg, pork chashu, and sesame seeds. The menu also includes sushi, poke, and sides such as garlic edamame and Japanese fried chicken. 4206 Woodward Ave., Detroit; 313-285-9869. L,D Mon.-Sat. Vertical Detroit $$$ WINE BAR • This wine-centric restaurant puts the focus on pairing Chef Matt Barnes’ innovative cuisine with owners Jim and Rémy Lutfy’s nationally recognized wine program. The menu emphasizes locally sourced protein, seafood, and produce. A must-try for any wine enthusiast. 1538 Centre St., Detroit; 313-732-9463. D nightly. Not wheelchair accessible. Vicente’s Cuban Cuisine $$ CUBAN • An evening at this lively spot is more than just Cuban and Spanish dining. Appetizers and tapas include the outstanding Tapa de la Casa, pork leg marinated in mojo; a Spanish chorizo and fresh mushrooms concoction with flambéed sherry wine; and empanadas, a Cuban turnover filled with ground beef or chicken. 1250 Library St., Detroit; 313-962-8800. L,D daily. Vivio’s Food & Spirits $ SANDWICH/DELI • This Eastern Market classic has been run by the Vivio family for more than 40 years. Sandwiches and burgers are mainstays, but diners also appreciate the steamed mussels. 2460 Market St., Detroit; 313-393-1711. L,D Mon.-Fri., BR,L,D Sat., L,D Sun. The Whitney $$$$ NEW AMERICAN • The historic 1890s mansion is still going strong. The menu is typified by classic beef Wellington, wrapped in spinach, prosciutto, and pastry; and pan-roasted Scottish salmon. Tableside cooking, by reservation only, is an optional feature. Don’t forget The Katherine McGregor Dessert Parlor for a sweet treat.4421 Woodward Ave., Detroit; 313-832-5700. L Mon.-Fri., D and high tea daily, BR Sun. Wine Dotte Bistro $$ WINE BAR • This interesting wine bar and restaurant offers a view of

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the Detroit River. The menu includes shrimp scampi, 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.-Sat., BR 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 vintage Wright Kay building. Small plates such as tuna tartare with pickled pears and wontons, and pork tenderloin with goat cheese purée are the focus. 1500 Woodward Ave., Detroit; 313-962-7711. D Mon.-Sat., BR Sun. Yum Village $ AFRO-CARIBBEAN • The former food truck opened a full-service restaurant in the North End in April. 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; 313-686-2839. L,D Tue.-Sat.

Oakland 168 KTV Bistro $$ PAN-ASIAN • Don’t judge by 168 KTV Bistro’s unassuming strip mall location. It’s a unique experience that meshes food, karaoke, and pop party culture into a one-stop destination. The dining room offers dishes blurring the lines. Standouts include stir-fried snow pea leaves with garlic and stir-fried udon. The traditional Korean noodle dish chap chae is a strong option. 32415 John R Road, Madison Heights; 248-616-0168. D daily. 220 Merrill $$$ NEW AMERICAN • The menu includes apps and small plates as well as crispy Key West shrimp, pan-roasted sea bass, and fried calamari. There are heartier entrees as well, like the braised beef short ribs. 220 Merrill St., Birmingham; 248-646-2220. L,D Mon.-Sat. BR Sun. Adachi $$$ JAPANESE-INSPIRED • Heading the kitchen is Lloyd Roberts, who has trained in the kitchens of celebrity chefs such as Jean-Georges Vongerichten and Nobu Matsuhisa. Here, soy truffle broth is ladled over pork dumplings reminiscent of coin purses, and miniature tacos are filled with lobster, tuna, or vegetable pickings. 325 S. Old Woodward Ave., Birmingham. D daily, L Mon.-Fri. Ale Mary’s $$ GASTROPUB • There’s no mistaking that the name of the game here is beer, and the bartenders can help with narrowing down the options. There’s a separate vegan menu, plus such highlights as Cajun shrimp tacos, Southern fried chicken, creative burger options such as one with a mac-and-cheese bun, and a lot of whiskey. Come hungry, ready to drink, and you will not be disappointed. 316 S. Main St., Royal Oak;248-268-1939. L,D daily. BR Sat.-Sun. Andiamo Restaurants $$ ITALIAN • Steak and Italian pasta are the focus, but dessert is also impeccable. The more casual but as just delicious spots are known as Trattorias. Flagships: 400 Renaissance Center, Detroit; 313-5676700. 21400 Michigan Ave., Dearborn; 313-359-3300. 6676 Telegraph Road, Bloomfield Township; 248-865-9300. 7096E. 14 Mile Road, Warren; 586-268-3200. Fenton Trattoria. D daily. Anita’s Kitchen $ LEBANESE • With pita pizzas and lamb chops, the Lebanese food here is some of the best around. And there’s vegetarian and gluten-free fare, too. Healthy, nutritious, and delicious. See website for locations; anitaskitchen.com Antihero $$ JAPANESE-INSPIRED • This Izakaya — a Japanese pub-style bar or eatery — opened in fall 2018. Its food is focused on small plates along with an endless array of craft cocktails, beers, and more. 231 W. Nine Mile Road, Ferndale; 248-307-7383. D Wed.-Sun.

Heading the kitchen is Lloyd Roberts, who has trained in the kitchens of celebrity chefs. ... Here, soy truffle broth is ladled over pork dumplings reminiscent of coin purses, and miniature tacos are filled with lobster, tuna, or vegetable pickings. ADACHI

Birmingham

ILLUSTRATION ISTOCK


R E STAU R A N T L I STI N G S 0 1. 2 1 Assaggi Bistro $$$ ITALIAN • Seasonal offers encompassing rustic Italian, country French, and authentic Lebanese are all created in the open kitchen. Standouts include Moroccan duck legs, porcini-dusted day boat sea scallops, and cioppino (seafood stew). 330 W. Nine Mile Road, Ferndale; 248-584-3499 D Tue.-Sun. Bacco $$$ ITALIAN • Chef-owner Luciano Del Signore’s pastas are like pure art. Try the Strozzapreti Norcina: Italian sausage, truffles, tomato, and white wine, tossed in hand-rolled pasta. From local grass-fed beef to sustainably farm-raised sea bass to a fresh caprese, the ingredients are top-end. Based in the heart of Southfield, Bacco is a true Italian gem in the suburbs. And the desserts, are not to be missed. 29410 Northwestern Hwy., Southfield; 248-356-6600. L Mon.-Fri., D Mon.-Sat. Beans & Cornbread $$ SOUL • Upscale soul food is the premise at Beans & Cornbread: wings, Hoppin’ John, catfish, and a gravy-smothered pork chop. Tempura-battered fried shrimp comes with a choice of cocktail or spicy BBQ sauce, and there’s a notable Louisiana-style gumbo to boot. 29508 Northwestern Hwy., Southfield; 248-208-1680. L,D Tue.-Fri., D Sat.-Sun. BR Sun. Bella Piatti $$ ITALIAN • The location right across from the Townsend Hotel has inspired a number of visiting celebrities, professional athletes, and film crews who stay there to check out the Italian fare at this restaurant. The menu of such dishes as Gemelli pasta with fresh tomato sauce, salmon baked with spinach, kalamata olives, white wine, and tomatoes, and tagliatelle Bolognese stands on its own. It’s one of our true favorites in the area in terms of Italian restaurants. 167 Townsend St., Birmingham; 248-494-7110. L,D Tue.-Fri., D Sat. Beverly Hills Grill $$$ NEW AMERICAN • Breakfast near noon is compatible with the Grill’s dawn-to-dark schedule. Fare includes crab cake Benedict, corned beef hash with poached eggs, and omelet du jour. There are plenty of lunch and dinner options, typified by black bean chili, Caesar and spinach salads, and a notable burger. 31471 Southfield Road,Beverly Hills; 248-642-2355. B,L,D daily. Bi Bim Bab $$ KOREAN • Though sushi and a small selection of Japanese entrees share the bill here, it’s Korean food at center stage — on barbecue grills, on which meat and seafood are grilled to order. Or come for the restaurant’s namesake. 43155 Main St., Novi; 248-348-6800. L,D daily. Bigalora: Wood Fired Cucina $$ ITALIAN • The pizza concept from chef Luciano Del Signore, a four-time James Beard Award nominee, features small plates, fresh pastas, wood-roasted meats, and a range of distinctive Neopolitan pizzas. See website for locations; bigalora.com Big Rock Chophouse $$$ STEAKHOUSE • This old railroad station is a great setting. Portions range from a dainty filet to a huge porterhouse. There are also a variety of small plates to choose from, including tuna tartare, crab cakes, mac and cheese, and more. 245 S. Eton, Birmingham;248-647-7774. L,D Mon.-Sat. Bistro Joe’s $$$ GLOBAL • Part of Papa Joe’s Gourmet Market, Bistro Joe’s is in a mezzanine overlooking the open kitchen and market. There is an eclectic list of dishes like Spicy Tuna “tacushi,” steamed mussels, and tasty flatbread pizzas. 34244 Woodward Ave., Birmingham; 248-5940984. L,D Tue.-Sun., BR Sat.-Sun. Café Cortina $$$ ITALIAN • Selections include prosciutto di Parma stuffed with greens and mozzarella; squid sautéed with fresh pomodori; gnocchi with porcini mushrooms; and meaty prawns finished with lemon, white wine, and herbs. For dessert, try the crepes 30715 W. 10 Mile Road, Farmington Hills; 248-474-3033. L,D Mon.-Fri., D Sat. Café ML $$ NEW AMERICAN • Café ML is contemporary, both in décor and its

“globally inspired food.” Such dishes as short rib steamed buns, Chinese chicken salad, Singapore street noodles, and Korean fried chicken share the menu with burgers, steak frites, and fresh seafood. Garage door-style windows open onto the patio on warm days. 3607 W. Maple Road, Bloomfield Township; 248-642-4000. D daily. Capital Grille $$$ STEAKHOUSE • Hand-cut, dry-aged steaks and fresh seafood dishes are the stars at Capital Grille. The restaurant’s outstanding wine list features over 350 labels. The setting is appropriate for both business lunches and social events and includes well-appointed private dining rooms. 2800 W. Big Beaver Road, Troy; 248-649-5300. L,D Mon.-Sat., D Sun.

The Fed $$ GASTROPUB • An attractive restaurant with great food and a delightfully refreshing atmosphere. The menu crosses boundaries, from tacos and wood-fired dishes to assorted flatbreads and fresh sushi rolls. The bright and airy bohemian-chic interior is also Instagrammably beautiful. 15 S. Main St., Clarkston; 248-297-5833. D daily, BR Sat.-Sun. The Fly Trap $ ECLECTIC AMERICAN • This “finer diner” typifies fashionable Ferndale with its tin ceiling, red-topped tables, and counter with swivel stools. It offers sandwiches, salads, pastas, and omelets. 22950 Woodward Ave., Ferndale; 248-399-5150. B,L Tue.-Sun., D Tue.-Fri.

Churchill’s Bistro & Cigar Bar $$$ TRADITIONAL • You can buy your cigar and smoke it, too. Plus, there are dry-aged steaks, pan-roasted sea bass, seasonal East Coast oysters, and lamb chops, among other options. A full bar boasts a large selection of whiskey, scotch, and bourbon — and plenty of wine. 116 S. Old Woodward, Birmingham; 248-647-4555. L Mon.-Sat. D daily.

Forest $$$ EUROPEAN-INSPIRED • The menu is brief but designed to let the kitchen assemble sharp flavors from various farm and market ingredients. Try the delightful Mandilli pasta with pistachio pesto and Tuscan kale, and the understated “Farm Egg.” 735 Forest Ave., Birmingham; 248-258-9400. D Mon.-Sat. BR Sat.

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 Skylar’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.

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

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 $$ PERUVIAN • Native Peruvian Betty Shuell brings a taste of her home to Ferndale. The casual, homey, seat-yourself establishment is named after an herb that is often used in preparation with the more familiar cilantro. An especially notable dish is Pollo a la Brasa, marinated chicken served with French fries, rice, and a variety of Peruvian dipping sauces. 22939 Woodward Ave., Ferndale; 248-632-1055. L,D daily. Diamond’s Steak & Seafood $$$ STEAKHOUSE • Now with a second location in Royal Oak, this Howell-based restaurant is the perfect location for New York strip steak, fresh gulf shrimp, or a classic cheeseburger. The Royal Oak location also sports the highly anticipated lush rooftop bar called Pinky’s that opened this spring. Aptly named, it’s painted in rosy hues and features a whimsical floral mural. There’s a buffet-style brunch at both Diamonds locations on weekends. 100 S. Main St., Royal Oak; 248-291-5201. D daily; 101 W. Grand River Ave., Howell; 517-548-5500. D daily. Due Venti $$ ITALIAN • Everything is precise and balanced at this northern Italian gem: food, service, and atmosphere. Try the “fritelle” of sliced cauliflower fried in olive oil or the gnocchi with 14-hour braised lamb shank ragu. Desserts include affogato, a flourless torta with chocolate cake and raspberry mousse, and biscotti — everything is completely delicious. 220 S. Main St., Clawson; 248-288-0220. D Tue.-Sat. Eddie’s Gourmet $$ 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.

Gran Castor $$ LATIN STREET • From the duo behind hit spots like Vinsetta Garage and Union Woodshop comes this vibrant Latin-American café and restaurant.Diners can choose to sit behind one of the two bars, a cozy café, or in the 245-seat dining room all decked in colorful textiles. At Gran Castor, the dining room is equally as decadent as the food and drinks served. Grab a $5 margarita between 4 p.m.-6 p.m. daily. 2950 Rochester Road, Troy; 248-278-7777. D Mon-Sun. Hazel, Ravines & Downtown $$ ECLECTIC • This is an inventive, casual and fine-dining eatery, graband-go market, and bar all in a 10,000-square-foot space in downtown Birmingham. The restaurant itself offers three menus. Hazel focuses on comfort food. Ravines is for the seasoned traveler. While Downtown appeals to food-trend-followers. HRD is the ultimate neighborhood hangout. 1 Peabody St., Birmingham; 248-671-1714. B,L,D daily. Honcho $ LATIN FUSION • From the owners of Vinsetta Garage and Union Woodshop, this restaurant can be described as “Latin food that speaks with an Asian accent.” Menu items include a chicken burrito fried and tossed in a soy fish sauce and Korean pork tacos, featuring Woodshop pulled pork tossed in Korean BBQ sauce and topped with toasted sesame seeds and Malay radish slaw. 3 E. Church St., Clarkston; 248-707-3793. L,D daily. Hong Hua $ CHINESE • One of the best area restaurants dedicated to Asian food offers some rare delicacies — shark’s fin and bird’s nest soups, fresh abalone — as well as more customary items. One signature dish is stir-fried yellow grouper fillet with vegetables. 27925 Orchard Lake Road, Farmington Hills; 248-489-2280. L,D daily. Hyde Park Prime Steakhouse $$$$ STEAKHOUSE • This plush modern steakhouse offers dry-aged prime and Kobe-style wagyu beef in a fun, clubby setting. An extensive wine list accompanies the restaurant menu that also features platters of chilled fresh seafood. 201 S. Old Woodward Ave., Birmingham; 248-594-4369. D daily. 17107 Haggerty Road, Northville Twp.; 248-679-0007. D Tue.-Sat. Imperial $ MEXICAN-INSPIRED • The brief menu offers California-style tacos on soft tortillas, including lime-grilled chicken, carnitas, and marinated pork, as well as slow-roasted pork tortas, and guacamole, 22828 Woodward Ave., Ferndale, 248-850-8060. L,D daily, BR Sun. J-Bird Smoked Meats $$ BARBEQUE • Offering wood-smoked meats served with the tradi-

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RECIPE

ZINGERMAN’S ROADHOUSE BACON FRIED APPLE COBBLER P HOT O BY K AILEY HOW E LL INGREDIENTS

3 whole apples, peeled and cut into wedges 3 oz. bacon fat 1 Tbsp. cinnamon 2 Tbsp. brown sugar 1 pinch salt 1 cup apple cider

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TOPPING INGREDIENTS

3 slices stale bread (or biscuits) 3 Tbsp. brown sugar ½ Tbsp. cinnamon 2 Tbsp. butter, melted

Place all ingredients in a food processor and pulse until thoroughly combined.

DIRECTIONS

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. In a cast iron skillet or a heavy-bottomed pan, heat bacon fat. Add apples — the pan should be sizzling at this point. If not, increase heat. Cook until brown and caramelized. Deglaze pan with apple cider, then add spices and sugar. Reduce heat by ½. (Taste for sweetness.) Place in an oven-proof pan. Layer topping mixture liberally atop apple mix. Cook in oven for about 20 minutes or until topping is browned and apples are bubbling. Allow to cool and serve warm.

PHOTO KAILEY HOWELL


R E STAU R A N T L I STI N G S 0 1. 2 1 tional 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. D daily. BR Sat.-Sun. 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. Kruse & Muer $$ SEAFOOD • The menu features seafood — lobster and shrimp in saffron cream — and pastas, pizzas, and sandwiches. There’s also beef, chicken, and a children’s menu. 327 S. Main St., Rochester; 248652-9400. L,D daily, BR Sun. There’s also: Kruse & Muer Roadhouse, 801 S. Lapeer Road, Lake Orion; 248-814-9500. L,D daily; Kruse’s Deer Lake Inn, 7504 Dixie Hwy., Clarkston; 248-795-2077. 134 N. Adams Road, Rochester Hills; 248-375-2503. L,D daily; and the latest addition, Kruse & Muer on Woodward, 28028 Woodward Ave., Royal Oak; 248-965-2101. L,D daily. Lao Pot $$$ CHINESE • In early December, the owners of Madison Heights’ international market 168 Asian Mart opened Lao Pot, which specializes in Chinese Hot Pot cuisine. Hot Pot is a traditional method of cooking, using a pot of simmering broth, which sits in the center of the dining table. Lao Pot allows diners to customize and cook their meals right at their tables, combining great food and a memorable experience. 32707 John R. Road, Madison Heights; 248-689-9888. L,D daily. 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. B,L,D Tue.-Sat., L,D Sun. Lelli’s $$ ITALIAN • Dinners begin with an antipasto tray, creamy minestrone, salad, side dish of spaghetti, and then — nine times out of 10 — a filet mignon with zip sauce. 885 N. Opdyke Road, Auburn Hills; 248-3734440. L Mon.-Fri. D daily. Loccino Italian Grill $$ 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 $$ BARBEQUE • The heart of this joint’s authentic barbecue is the dryrubbed meat smoker, which can smoke up to 800 pounds of meat at a time. Choices such as pork ribs, pulled pork, beef brisket, burnt ends, and chicken are served atop butcher paper on metal trays for the true experience. 202 E. Third St., Royal Oak; 248-584-4227. L,D daily. BR Sun. Loui’s Pizza $ ITALIAN • Sure, you can now get a Michigan craft beer, but not much else has changed. And that’s a good thing. Parties dine on square pizzas with crisp crust that’s faintly charred around the edges. Hailed by food critics and Detroiters alike as arguably one of the most classic Detroit style pizzas in the city — so it’s well worth a trip. 23141 Dequindre Road, Hazel Park; 248-547-1711. L,D Wed.-Sun. Luxe Bar & Grill $$ 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

Greek-style lamb chops. 525 N. Old Woodward Ave., Birmingham; 248-792-6051. 115 Kercheval Ave., Grosse Pointe Farms; 313-9245459. L,D daily. Mabel Gray $$$ NEW AMERICAN • Chef James Rigato produces some masterful dishes on this tiny menu, which does not miss a beat. The menu includes a multi-course tasting option, as well as a daily listing of changing items that never miss. It’s a fine dining experience that is certainly worth experiencing. 23825 John R Road, Hazel Park; 248398-4300. D Tue.-Sat. Mad Hatter Bistro, Bar & Tea Room $$ 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 and other sweets, of course. 185 N. Old Woodward Ave., Birmingham; 248540-0000. L,D daily, BR Sat.-Sun. Tea by reservation. Lower level not wheelchair accessible. Market North End $$ AMERICAN • Joe and Kristin Bongiovanni opened this eatery just across the street from the family’s other two restaurants, Salvatore Scallopini and Luxe Bar & Grill. It represents a younger, casual alternative with a serious kitchen that offers American dishes with hints of global influences. 474 N. Old Woodward Ave., Birmingham; 248-7124953. L,D daily. The Meeting House $$ ECLECTIC AMERICAN • This eclectic American menu includes lobster fettuccini, steak frites remarkably close to those at Paris bistros, and housemade potato chips with a hot Jarlsberg dip. Or, try the roasted carrot risotto made with house labneh, pistachio, pomegranate gastrique, and Za’atar. 301 S. Main St., Rochester; 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 gua- camole, burritos, and the titular tacos — is backed up with an array of tequilas. 312 S. Main St., Royal Oak; 248-545-1940. L & D daily.

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Mon Jin Lau $$ ASIAN-FUSION • Explore such dishes as Singapore noodles, combining chicken, shrimp, chilies, and curry with angel-hair pasta; Mongolian beef; or seared scallops with corn chili sauce and a side of fried taro. The patio opens up and the dining room transforms into a dance floor for weekly events. 1515 E. Maple Road, Troy; 248-689-2332. L Mon.-Fri., D daily. The Morrie $$ NEW AMERICAN • Music and munchies can be a great combination when served in the right proportions. Such offerings as the smoked chicken wings, Teriyaki salmon and Baja sweet potato tots, as well as the requisite burger and steak, appeal to a wide demographic. The rock’n’roll-themed eatery also brought its much-loved American dishes and cocktails to Birmingham in 2019. 511 S. Main St., Royal Oak; 248-216-1112. D daily. 260 N. Old Woodward Ave., Birmingham; 248-940-3260. L,D Mon.-Fri., B,L,D Sat.-Sun. BR Sat.-Sun. New Seoul Plaza $$ KOREAN • An all-in-one spot for Korean eats that opened in fall 2018, New Seoul Plaza offers a dish for every craving. Try Daebak KBBQ for Korean barbeque, Jinji for traditional dishes or Myomee Coffee & Dessert Café for something sweet. 27566 Northwestern Hwy., Southfield; 248-996-8922. L,D daily. Oak City Grille $ NEW AMERICAN • This downtown Royal Oak spot bridges the gap between bar food and upscale dining. Order a dressed-up sandwich or burger, or elevate your dining experience with an 8-ounce filet mignon or lamb chops. The friendly price range makes anything possible. 212 W. Sixth St., Royal Oak; 248-556-0947. D daily.

Ocean Prime $$$$ SEAFOOD • An upper-end steak-and-fish place and a popular business lunch site. The menu features naturally harvested fresh fish and prime aged beef. Don’t miss the chocolate peanut butter pie or the carrot cake. A tried-and-true metro Detroit spot. 2915 Coolidge Hwy., Troy; 248-458-0500. L Mon.-Fri., D daily. One-Eyed Betty’s $$ ECLECTIC AMERICAN • Picnic-style tables and blackboards lettered with scores of brew choices add a beer-hall sensibility to this popular spot. The kitchen delivers New Orleans-themed dishes such as po’boy sandwiches and Cajun chicken and sausage as well as a mouth-watering bacon burger. Weekend brunch features delicious housemade doughnuts. 175 W. Troy St., Ferndale; 248-808-6633. D daily, BR Sat.-Sun. Otus Supply $ NEW AMERICAN • This Ferndale stunner has delightful food, superb service, and one wild look. The menu offers eight main courses and shared plates, as well as pizza and sandwiches. Can’t-miss: The housemade rigatoni made with Italian sausage and shredded boar. There’s also a concert venue called The Parliament Room. 345 E. Nine Mile Road, Ferndale; 248-291-6160. D Mon.-Sat. O.W.L. $ MEXICAN-AMERICAN • This Royal Oak spot offers 24 hours of sustenance. Step up to the counter and order from the letterboard menu before grabbing a stool at the counter or along the window ledge. Dishes 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. Park 600 Bar + Kitchen $$ EUROPEAN INSPIRED • Seating includes the central bar, in front of the blazing pizza oven, at a communal table and conventional tables, and on the terrace overlooking Paint Creek Trail. The menu has an array of small plates and sandwiches at lunch along with intriguing dinner entrees. Royal Park Hotel, 600 E. University Drive, Rochester; 248-453-8732. B,L,D daily and afternoon tea ($39 per person) Thurs.Sun. by reservation. Phoenicia $$$ LEBANESE • This long-standing upscale Lebanese eatery has clean, contemporary lines that complement the French door-style windows. Don’t miss the morel mushrooms or roasted garlic cloves with tomato and basil as an appetizer. The menu expands to unexpected items such as baby back ribs and single-serving-sized local whitefish. 588 S. Old Woodward Ave., Birmingham; 248-644-3122. L Mon.-Fri., D daily. Polka Restaurant & Beer Café $$ POLISH • Servers in traditional garb greet you near original murals, and light woodwork is enhanced with painted floral panels. Try the dill pickle soup, city chicken, and beef short rib, plus other favorites like pierogis, schnitzel, stuffed cabbages, and several kielbasa styles. 2908 E. Maple Road, Troy; 248-817-2601. D Tue.-Sun. Pop’s For Italian $$ ITALIAN • It doesn’t sound fancy, but this Ferndale restaurant serves well-prepared, Italian dishes paired with an ambitious wine program. The fairly brief menu starts with a list of Neapolitan pizzas, then moves to pastas, but has all the classics to hit the spot. There are charcuterie boards and Italian desserts, too. 280 W. Nine Mile Road, Ferndale; 248-268-4806. D Tue.-Sun. Prime29 Steakhouse $$$$ STEAKHOUSE • The 29-day aged prime beef, including the 24-ounce tomahawk bone-in rib-eye, still stars here. There’s also Chilean sea bass, Loch Duart salmon, and lamb chops with lobster fried rice. The service is notable, as is the Award of Excellence from Wine Spectator. 6545 Orchard Lake Road, West Bloomfield; 248-7377463. D daily. Public House $$ SMALL PLATES • This Ferndale classic once known for its sliders recently received a menu update courtesy of executive chef Nick Erven and head chef Jasmine Hughes. While old favorites like dev-

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R E STAU R A N T L I STI N G S 0 1. 2 1 iled eggs are still present, they’ve been updated with pork rind, and the restaurant now offers “Fancy Ass Hash Browns” with caviar and fried chicken with spicy tomato ranch. The desserts are really worth a try. 241 W. Nine Mile Road, Ferndale; 248-850-7420. L,D Mon.-Fri, B,L,D Sat.-Sun. Quán Ngon Vietnamese Bistro $ VIETNAMESE • This gem of a bistro in a hand-some space adds to the local Vietnamese offerings. Dishes such as cha gio (elegant little eggrolls), bun bo nuong sa (grilled steak atop angel-hair rice noodles), and banh mi made with fresh ingredients. 30701 Dequindre Road, Madison Heights; 248-268-4310. L,D daily. Redcoat Tavern $ BURGERS • The half-pound choice beef hamburger is always atop the list of local favorites. But a low-fat, 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; 248-8650500. L,D Mon.-Sat. Rochester Chop House $$ NEW AMERICAN • Two restaurants in one; Kabin Kruser’s and the Chop House. There’s a throwback roadhouse-style feeling about the Chop House, which has a menu divided between red meat and fresh fish and seafood. Signature dishes include calamari, Maryland jumbo lump crabcakes, and a large selection of aged steaks, rack of lamb, and steak/seafood combinations. 306 S. Main St., Rochester; 248651-2266. L Mon.-Fri., D daily Ronin $$ 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. Rugby Grille $$$$ NEW AMERICAN • At the Townsend Hotel’s upscale restaurant, the classics remain, including boned-at-the-table Dover sole and hefty steaks. The eatery also introduced a new menu last year. Michigan-produced ingredients from local farmers and ranchers are still a focus here. 100 Townsend St., Birmingham; 248-642-5999. B,L,D daily. Sal’s $$ ITALIAN • Formerly known as Salvatore Scallopini, this old-school Italian eatery in Birmingham has long been known for its classic handmade pastas. Still, more recent menu additions — bold seafood dishes that reflect the Bongiovanni family’s Sicilian heritage — hold up just as well. 505 N. Old Woodward Ave., Birmingham; 248-644-8799. L,D daily. Silver Spoon $$ ITALIAN • This quintessential slice of Italy features excellent food, knowledgeable staff, and friendly service. Try the bucatini made with pancetta, onion, red wine, and fresh tomato sauce. Also worth trying: saltimbocca alla Romana, or veal scaloppini sautéed in white wine. A truly delicious place for any kind of outing. 543 N. Main St., Rochester; 248-652-4500. D daily. Social Kitchen & Bar $$$ NEW AMERICAN • The energetic Birmingham spot allows guests a view of the kitchen action. It has a creative and varied menu typified by falafel lettuce wraps, fried chicken sandwiches, crispy Brussels sprouts, and salmon with braised lentils, crispy kale, and a mustard vinagrette. 225 E. Maple Road, Birmingham; 248-594-4200. L Mon.Fri., D daily, BR Sat.-Sun. Streetside Seafood $$ SEAFOOD • Small and cozy yet sophisticated, the restaurant has a pared-down menu of fresh fish and seafood on a seasonal menu. There are always two soups: a bisque and a chowder. Favorites include the smoked whitefish melt at lunch. A delicious restaurant for all palates to enjoy and feel comfortable in. 273 Pierce St.Birmingham; 248-645-9123. L Mon.-Fri., D daily. Take Sushi $$ JAPANESE • Crisp salads, miso soup garnished with the tiniest dice

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’50s retro with sleek contemporary in a pair of rooms. The new menu features twists to comfort food. 23144 Woodward Ave., Ferndale; 248398-0444. L daily, B Sat.-Sun. 203 Pierce St., Birmingham; 248-2586278. B,L Mon.-Sat., B,L Sun.

Part of the evergrowing 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 Neapolitanstyle crisp-crusted pizzas from the wood-burning oven. UNION WOODSHOP Clarkston

of tofu, sashimi and sushi, oversize bowls of soba or udon noodles, and all the familiar — and some not-so-familiar — entrees, combine together to make this spot special. 1366 Walton Blvd., Rochester Hills; 248-652-7800. L Mon.-Sat., D daily. Tallulah Wine Bar & Bistro $$ WINE BAR • Understated décor and a pared-down menu of seasonal dishes make this spot a Birmingham classic. The kitchen turns out dishes like Lamb Belly Ragu with housemade pasta; and Alaskan Halibut with mushroom ragu and asparagus. Wine is served by the glass, the pitcher, or bottle. 155 S. Bates St., Birmingham; 248-731-7066. D Mon.-Sat. Three Cats Restaurant $ BREAKFAST/BRUNCH • Formerly a small café serving customers of the boutique Leon & Lulu, Three Cats is now a full-fledged restaurant and bar. Located in the former Clawson movie theater next door to the shop, the spot serves small, simple plates, including vegetarian and vegan options for brunch, lunch, and dinner. The beverage menu features local selections, such as vodka from Ferndale’s Valentine’s Distilling Co. and wines from grapes grown on the Leelanau Peninsula. Patrons can even take home the colorful, quirky chairs 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

Toasted Oak $$$ BRASSERIE • The menu revolves around the charcuterie — crispy pork belly, live paté, beef short rib, etc. — sold in the market next door and a list of hot grill items, such as grilled steaks with béarnaise sauce. In 2019, the restaurant earned a Wine Spectator magazine award for its outstanding wine program. Plus, just across the lot is Twelve Oaks Mall, should you fancy an evening of shopping and dinner. 27790 Novi Road, Novi; 248-277-6000. B,D daily, L Mon.-Fri. Townhouse $$$ NEW AMERICAN • This popular Birmingham spot has several exceptional offerings on its menu, such as the specialty 10 ounces of 28-day dry-aged beef hamburger on brioche. 180 Pierce St., Birmingham; 248-792-5241. L,D daily, BR Sat.-Sun. 500 Woodward Ave., Detroit; 313-723-1000. L,D Mon.-Sun. BR Sun. Union Woodshop $$ BARBEQUE • Part of the ever-growing Union Joints restaurant group, this is a self-described wood-fired joint, where pulled pork, ribs, chicken, and beef brisket come from the smoker, and Neapolitan-style crisp-crusted pizzas from the wood-burning oven. And definitely check out the mac and cheese. There’s also a delicious kid’s menu for any youngsters in your party.18 S. Main St., Clarkston; 248-625-5660. D Mon.-Fri., L,D Sat.-Sun. Vinotecca $$ WINE BAR • Proprietors John and Kristin Jonna, the father-daughter duo who also collaborates on Vinology in Ann Arbor, have come up with an eclectic menu, including Loch Duarte salmon and a Kona coffee-rubbed filet. 210 Old S. Woodward Ave., Birmingham; 248-2036600. D Tue.-Sun., BR Sat. and Sun. Vinsetta Garage $$ NEW AMERICAN • This restaurant in a vintage car-repair shop offers well-prepared comfort-food classics such as burgers on pretzel buns, macaroni and cheese, spaghetti and meatballs, pizzas, and roast chicken. A restaurant that pays true homage to Detroit. 27799 Woodward Ave., Berkley; 248-548-7711. L,D daily. Voyager $$ 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. Yotsuba Japanese Restaurant & Bar $$ JAPANESE • The semi-circular sushi bar is the center of this estaurant. Sushi chef Bobby Suzuki has a loyal following for his precise nigiri rolls. There are also tatami rooms and conventional seating. 7365 Orchard Lake Road, West Bloomfield Township; 248-737-8282. 2222 Hogback Road, Ann Arbor; 734-971-5168. L,D daily. Zao Jun $$ ASIAN FUSION • Adachi chef Lloyd Roberts has brought his refined yet imaginative Pan-Asian cuisine to Bloomfield Township. More casual than Roberts’ first local outpost, Zao Jun boasts an eclectic menu, influenced by traditional East Asian traditions as well as New Age techniques. Alongside an extensive drink menu of wine, beer, sake, and Asian-inspired cocktails, Zao Jun offers creative dishes such as Duck Macao, Kani Crab and Green Apple salad, and Mongolian Beef. 6608 Telegraph Road., Bloomfield Twp.;248-949-9999. D daily.

Macomb Bad Brad’s $$ BARBEQUE • The rustic setting at Bad Brad’s is just right for the menu of St. Louis ribs, brisket, and pulled pork. See website for locations; badbradsbbq.com

ILLUSTRATION ISTOCK


R E STAU R A N T L I STI N G S 0 1. 2 1 Butter Run Saloon $ GASTROPUB • Solid American fare that’s beyond bar food (although their burgers are certainly noteworthy). There’s escargot, perch, steaks, and a huge whiskey selection — 900 at last count. 27626 Harper Ave., St. Clair Shores; 586-675-2115. L,D daily. Da Francesco’s Ristorante & Bar $$ ITALIAN • Da Francesco’s has been around for more than 15 years, but its massive new facility is packing in the crowds offering an upbeat modern twist to traditional Italian dining. 49521 Van Dyke Ave., Shelby Township; 586-731-7544. L,D Tue.-Fri., D Sat., L,D Sun. Detroit Fish House $$ SEAFOOD • This restaurant feels like a true coastal eatery, serving an extensive menu of fresh fish and seafood in a well-designed setting. Choose from a wide variety of fresh fish and meaty seafood, ranging from salmon to Lake Superior whitefish. 51195 Schoenherr Road, Shelby Charter Township; 586-739-5400. L,D Mon.-Sat., D Sun. Gaudino’s $$ ITALIAN • The trend toward combining a food market with a restaurant has a good example at this spot. It offers imported pastas and sauces, plus a butcher counter with sausages and a wine assortment. The menu offers pasta and pizza, salads, and entrees, including a Chicken Milanese. 27919 Harper Ave., St. Clair Shores; 586-879-6764. L,D Tue.-Sun. J. Baldwin’s Restaurant $$$ NEW AMERICAN • The menu showcases talented chef Jeff Baldwin’s contemporary American food: cedar-planked salmon, chicken fettuccini alfredo with pesto, and herb-crusted chicken, with housemade breads. The desserts include chocolate bumpy cake, spiced carrot cake, apple cobbler, chocolate mousse layer cake, and banana foster bread pudding. 16981 18 Mile Road, Clinton Township; 586-416-3500. L,D daily, BR Sun. Mr. Paul’s Chophouse $$$ STEAKHOUSE • This bastion of red meat as well as classic dishes is still going strong. Try old-school tableside presentations such as Chateaubriand and Caesar salad. There’s a solid selection of fresh seafood and pasta, too. The founding family still runs the place and emphasizes great hospitality and a heckuva good time. 29850 Groesbeck Hwy., Roseville; 586-777-7770. L,D Mon.-Fri., D Sat. Sherwood Brewing Co. $ GASTROPUB • Quality local ingredients raise Sherwood’s fare to well above “elevated pub grub.” Some notable choices include the hearty House Beer Chili, savory Better Made-crusted fish and chips, and spicy Buffalo Mac. Homemade extends to dessert, including Cashew Outside Cookies. This isn’t just bar food, it’s elevated bar food. 45689 Hayes Road, Shelby Township; 586-532-9669. L,D daily. Steakhouse 22 $$ STEAKHOUSE • The late Nick Andreopoulos once spent time as a “broiler man” at London Chop House. His family stays true to those roots at this American steakhouse with a casual, neighborhood feel. They offer an array of well-prepared angus steaks, plus seafood and pasta dishes. With the sizable lunch and portions offered at Steakhouse 22, good luck saving room for dessert! 48900 Van Dyke Ave., Shelby Township; 586-731-3900. L,D daily. Testa Barra $$ ITALIAN • The newest spot from talented chef and restaurateur Jeffrey Baldwin and his wife, RoseMarie, offers modern Italian fare in a lively, upbeat setting. Pastas are made in-house. 48824 Romeo Plank Road, Macomb Township; 586-434-0100. D nightly D Tue.-Sun. Twisted Rooster $$ SPORTS BAR • This “Michigan-centric” chain (Chesterfield Township, Grand Rapids, and Belleville) has takes on classics, with mac & cheese variations and steaks with “zip” sauce. 45225 Marketplace Blvd., Chesterfield; 586-949-1470. L,D daily. Vast Kitchen and Bar $$ NEW AMERICAN • Chef Nicole Justman heads the kitchen at this fresh spot that brings a touch of Birmingham to Shelby Township. A

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

Washtenaw Black Pearl $$ SEAFOOD • This seafood and martini bar is especially popular during patio season. But step inside for a host of craft cocktails, then stay for dinner. A seafood-dominated menu includes a notable roasted scallop dish. The Pasta Gone Bayou is also worth a try, with shrimp, chicken, andouille sausage, and a Cajun cream sauce. And make sure to order dessert. The Sweet Potato Beignets and glutenfree Black Pearl Molten Cake are exceptional. 302 S. Main St., Ann Arbor; 734-222-0400. D daily. Blue LLama Jazz Club $$ CREATIVE AMERICAN • Come to this swanky jazz club for the music, which includes headliners such as the Grammy-nominated Ravi Coltrane Quartet, but stay for Chef Louis Goral’s delicious food. Try the crispy foie gras PB&J with Marcona almonds and strawberry jam. There is also a delicious Sunday brunch with decadent orange blossom beignets and strawberry pancakes. 314 S. Main St., Ann Arbor; 734-372-3200. D Wed.-Sat., BR Sun. The Blue Nile $$ ETHIOPIAN • The real treat of the meal at this Ferndale restaurant is that it’s scooped up with a spongy bread called injera, and all the lentils, often seasoned with an Ethiopian spice mixture known as Berber, and vegetables are equally delicious. 221 E. Washington St., Ann Arbor; 734-998-4746. D Tue.-Sun.545 W. Nine Mile Road, Ferndale; 248-547-6699. D daily. Cardamom $$ INDIAN • Check out the Hyderabadi Biryani — chicken, goat, and vegetable dishes, in which the rice is first cooked then baked. All the Indian favorites are available at Cardamom, such as Chicken Tikka Masala, Lamb Rogan Josh, and warm, fluffy, made-fresh garlic naan. It’s the ideal spot for those times when you’re craving the classics. 1739 Plymouth Road, Ann Arbor; 734-662-2877. L,D Tue.-Sun. The Common Grill $$ SEAFOOD • Owner and chef Craig Common’s skilled work has drawn the attention of the now shuttered Gourmet magazine and the James Beard House — as well as the Purple Rose Theatre crowd. This mainstay is best known for fresh oysters and seafood, but all the fare at The Common Grill is expertly prepared. A tried-and-true foodie destination with a range of desserts, including coconut cream pie, lemon pudding cake, and cherry cobbler. 112 S. Main St.,Chelsea; 734-475-0470. L,D Tue.-Sun., BR Sun. Grange Kitchen and Bar $$$ NEW AMERICAN • If the charm of the brownstone storefront brought you in, regionally sourced ingredients will make you stay. From fried pig head to pig-ear salad, every scrap of the hog is used, reflecting a philosophy of sustainability. 118 W. Liberty St., Ann Arbor; 734-995-2107. D Mon.-Sat., BR Sun. KouZina Greek Steet Food $ GREEK • The Greek “street food” at this popular 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; 734-997-5155. L,D daily. Mani Osteria & Bar $$ ITALIAN • This popular casual restaurant infuses freshness with

lower prices than most osterias. It’s a well-rounded blend of modern, eclectic Italian with classic standbys. The pizzas are hot, fresh and perfectly executed to suit your tastes. 341 E. Liberty St., Ann Arbor; 734-769-6700. L Tue.-Fri., D Tue.-Sun., BR Sun. Miss Kim’s $$ KOREAN • This spinoff from the Zingerman’s mini empire comes courtesy of chef Ji Hye Kim and is a go-to spot for healthy Asian eats. Kim often incorporates ancient Korean culinary traditions, such as rice syrup and plum extracts, into her dishes. Some of the restaurant’s standouts include the Wasabi Sugar Snap Peas and Korean BBQ Ssam Plate — just to name a few of them. 415 N. Fifth Ave., Ann Arbor; 734-275-0099. L,D Tue.-Sun. Paesano $$ ITALIAN • With a friendly waitstaff and decked in vibrant colors, this lively restaurant is not to be missed. The innovative menu changes seasonally. Must-tries have included the pasta carbonara, featuring shrimp, duck bacon, and Italian greens, as well as beet and ricotta gnocchi with brown butter. 3411 Washtenaw Ave., Ann Arbor; 734-9710484. L,D daily. Seva Ann Arbor $$ VEGAN • Seva offers such dishes as black bean and sweet potato quesadillas, gluten-free options, and colorful stir-fries — some vegan as well as vegetarian. There’s also a full bar as well as a juice bar serving smoothies and shakes, fresh-squeezed juices, and mocktails. Choose from one of the most extensive vegetarian menus in the area. 2541 Jackson Ave., Ann Arbor; 734-662-1111. L,D daily. Shalimar $$ INDIAN • Offering North Indian, Tandoori, and Mughlai dishes, Shalimar is suitable for carnivores and herbivores alike. Standouts include the Tandoori Lamb Chops marinated in yogurt, ginger, and garlic, which is best eaten with the restaurant’s flavorful 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. Vinology $$$ ECLECTIC • Natural brick walls blended with dark-wood booths and tables lend warmth to the dining room at Vinology, while tall ceilings contribute to the restaurant’s spacious feel. The menu draws on assorted cuisines to produce dishes such as Vegan Dumplings, Short Rib Tacos, Fig and Gorgonzola Flatbread, and Filet Mignon with black truffle garlic butter and burgundy reduction. As implied by the name of the venue, the wine list here is incredible. Try a bottle off of its New or Old World Cellared Collection. 110 S. Main St., Ann Arbor; 734-222-9841. L Mon.-Fri. D daily. Zingerman’s Delicatessen $ SANDWICH/DELI • Zingerman’s Delicatessen is a must-try staple in Ann Arbor. The temptations at Zingerman’s are endless: fresh breads and a menu of filling sandwiches, olive oils and housemade balsamic vinegars, chilies, and mustards. 422 Detroit St., Ann Arbor; 734-663-3354. B,L,D daily. Zingerman’s Roadhouse $$$ CLASSIC COMFORT • This eatery celebrates American food from various cities across the country. From fresh Maryland crab cakes to the delicious delicacies of New Orleans, every last bite of the country is represented here. The buttermilk biscuits are beyond-this-world. 2501 Jackson Ave., Ann Arbor; 734-663-3663. B,L,D daily.

All restaurants are reviewed anonymously, all expenses are paid by Hour Detroit, and the listings have no relationship to advertising in the magazine. All restaurants are handicapped accessible unless otherwise noted. JA N UA RY 2 0 2 1

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THE ULTIMATE BOOK ABOUT DETROIT’S HISTORY

CON T IN U E D F ROM PAG E 14

sale and they have drinks and champagne and it’s pretty glitzy. That’s not really what I’m working on. I’m looking at, when the auction problems are hard or when the stakes are really, really, really high, how should you bid?

Come on. Try another example.

OK. I helped a company in Canada bid to be a supplier to the government. The government wanted the bidders to supply catalogs from which the various government offices would be able to buy things. So a bid was a catalog that would have 20,000 prices. The government had a way of weighting the bids relative to each other to decide which catalog would be winning. So that’s a really complicated auction. It means 20,000 prices and the government is going to use them in certain ways to determine who is going to be its supplier. That gives you a sense of what the differences are and why somebody might want expertise.

Does it have any relevance to those of us who buy or sell stuff on eBay?

E

xplore the latest book from award-winning journalist and DBusiness magazine editor R.J. King. “Detroit: Engine of America” is the real life story of how the city grew, step by step, from a French fort on the riverfront in 1701 to become the world’s largest manufacturing economy in 1900.

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

Well, it all began with us studying auctions as they existed. My co-winner and dissertation advisor, Bob Wilson, had started writing about something called the Winner’s Curse, which was the problem that if you’re bidding for something and you’re not sure what it’s worth, you’re more likely to win the auction if you’ve overestimate than if you’ve underestimate. In our studies, we started studying when that is a serious problem and when is it not. If you’re bidding for a piece of art and you’re not sure if it’s authentic and you’re bidding against an expert, you shouldn’t be bidding in that auction. You’ll only win if you overpay. That’s not a problem if you know why you’re buying something and there’s some reason that it’s especially valuable to you. So we studied all of that.

What brought you to this wrinkle of economics?

We actually started this research just to understand competitive markets better. We started delving into not just traditional options, but how prices get set and how the competitive economy works. It was sort of a natural progression in economic research. Turns out, we realized we could create better ways to solve existing problems and especially really hard ones that nobody knew how to sell.

Did your upbringing prepare you for your life in math or economics or business?

I was a really shy, nerdy kid. I was not popular at all. People made fun of me. I lived in my head. I used to dream of being Albert Einstein or something. But I was interested in math and I was interested in science. I just suffered through high school, like so many kids do, and dived into books and subjects that interested me. So that’s what life in Detroit was like. I was the first college graduate and the first

high school graduate in the male line that I came from. My parents had always told me, “You’re going to college.” In fact, the high school I made up my own proof of the Pythagorean Theorum. It was clear that I was one of those guys who liked to think about things that way and delve into ideas.

How did you end up in economics?

I stumbled into it. I loved math. At Michigan, I wasn’t that good a student, actually. I was pretty good math, but I wasn’t really very well focused. And then I worked for five years as an actuary and matured as a man. Then I realized I was bored, and I went to Stanford University to get an MS. But I started asking research-like questions to my professors, and they pulled me aside and said, “You’re in the wrong program. MBA students are interested in the problems, not the methods. You’re a different kind of student.” So they recruited me into a decision sciences program, but it turned out that the methods I was using were game theoretic. There wasn’t very much game theory yet in economics, but our work started to become very influential within economics, so economics expanded to include us.

I see a wall decorated with honors. Is the Nobel different?

I’ve had a lot of awards in my career, but you’ve never heard of the Nemmers Prize or the BBVA. These are big prizes, but everybody knows the Nobel Prize. My grandson, who just turned 9, called to congratulate me and he remarked, “Even my teacher knows what that is! Are you famous enough to be on YouTube?” It has a recognition unlike any other prize.

Is that satisfying?

Yeah. What difference does this make to my life? What am I going to do differently? I’m going to research, I’m going to teach, I’m going to consult. But what I hadn’t understood is all the love it brings out of the woodwork. I’ve gotten messages from people I went to elementary school and high school with, middle school, college. I’ve gotten a lot of really warm, nice messages. And now I get interview and speaking invitations. So the Nobel has made a difference in terms of my public visibility.

Since you were picked on as a kid, is there any part of you that wishes you could see the face of some kid who tormented you when you were small? Oh, it’s not even just when I was small. There are people who I’ve had trouble with in my adult life, within the last decade or two as well. But I have decided that this is no time to be petty. So those thoughts go through my mind, yes. Do I act on them? No, I suppressed them. It’s fine. I’m doing great.


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FIND THE FACES OF: Advanced Cosmetic Dentistry & Implant Dentistry .... 80 Aesthetics ............................................................................ 81 Advanced Cardiovascular Health ...................................82 Aesthetic Surgery ..............................................................83 Auto Brain Injury Law ........................................................84 Architecture ........................................................................85 Award-Winning Interior Designers .................................86 Awe-Inspiring Designs ......................................................87 Cannabis ..............................................................................88 Beautiful Smiles .................................................................89 Contemporary Custom Building ................................... 90 Business & Estate Planning ..............................................91 Communications ...............................................................92 Courage. Confidence. Compassion. .............................93 Custom Home Builder ......................................................94 Dental Implants ..................................................................95 Distinctive Interior Design ................................................96 Downtown Detroit Real Estate ........................................97 DOBI Real Estate .........................................................98-99 The Elite Smile Center .....................................................100 Eyelid Surgery ....................................................................101 Elite Real Estate ................................................................102 Floral Event Design ..........................................................103 Grosse Pointe Real Estate ..............................................104 Granite ................................................................................105 Orthodontics .....................................................................106 Indoor Growing ................................................................. 107 Hope for Depression .......................................................108 Interior Design ..................................................................109 Interior Architecture & Design .......................................110 The Integrity Team at Keller Williams Paint Creek ..... 111 Investigations & Business Intelligence .........................112 Excellence in Oncology.....................................................113 Lingerie ................................................................................114 Luxury Home Building and Remodeling ......................115 Loving Your Smile ..............................................................116 Luxury Real Estate ............................................................117 New Residential Development .......................................118 Mortgage Banking ............................................................119 Northern Michigan Real Estate .....................................120 Orthopaedic Excellence ..................................................121 Apparel for Pet People ....................................................122 Pain Management ............................................................123 Periodontics ......................................................................124 Pet Grooming ....................................................................125 Plastic Surgery .................................................................126 Premier Interiors .............................................................. 127 Prevention ..........................................................................128 Pristine Smiles ..................................................................129 Real Estate Excellence ....................................................130 Restoration .........................................................................131 Same-Day Crowns ...........................................................132 Waterfront Real Estate ...................................................133 Sports and Fitness Chiropractic ...................................134 Same-Day Implant Solutions ........................................ 135 Powerhome Solar ..................................................... 136-137

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THE FACES OF

ADVANCED COSMETIC & IMPLANT DENTISTRY

COSMETIC DENTISTRY INSTITUTE 3415 LIVERNOIS RD., TROY, MI 48083 | 248-720-1274 | THEDESIGNERSMILE.COM

Why settle for good when you can get extraordinary? That’s the philosophy of Hour Detroit Top Dentists Dr. Craig Goldin, Dr. Marcy Goldin, and Dr. David Whalen of the Cosmetic Dentistry Institute. The dentists are nationally recognized for enhancing the smiles of thousands of people from all walks of life and have built an award-winning, state-of-the-art dental practice featuring the latest technologies, including digital X-rays and same-day crowns. Your smile transformation will be performed quickly, with lots of pampering, and will be done by a well-trained, experienced 80

doctor-artist. If you’re missing one or more teeth, regain your confidence and quality of life with dental implants; Dr. Craig Goldin, a Diplomate of the International Congress of Oral Implantologists, has been trained to both place and restore implants. He is the only dentist in Michigan offering Teeth Tomorrow™, a one-day replacement for poorly fitting dentures or failing teeth. For total patient comfort, Dr. Craig Goldin is trained in IV sedation. If you’ve been thinking of enhancing your smile, you owe it to yourself to seek out the best.


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THE FACE OF

AESTHETICS

HOLLY CUTLER — FACE SKINCARE~MEDICAL~WELLNESS 31350 TELEGRAPH RD., STE. 102, BINGHAM FARMS, MI 48025 | 248-663-0161 | FACEBEAUTYSCIENCE.COM

Named by Forbes magazine as “one of the most advanced medspas in the country,” FACE Skincare~Medical~Wellness has gone to where less than 1 percent of medspas have gone before. Its founder, Holly Cutler — aka America’s Skin Saint™ — created an award-winning rejuvenation clinic that offers over 40 laser and facial technologies, injectables, nonsurgical face-lifts, body makeovers, naturopathic medicine, and IV nutrient therapy. The clinic is headed by naturopathic physician Dr. Doug Cutler, who

rejuvenates patients from an internal root-cause perspective versus merely trying to suppress symptoms. Holly Cutler has been a guest expert on FOX, CBS, NBC, ABC, and “The Doctors.” She’s also been featured in several national publications, and is a speaker for the laser and aesthetics industry. She launched an innovative skincare product line, The Skin Saint™, and her company is the first national virtual skincare consulting company to help people all over the country who may not be able to visit her clinic.

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THE FACES OF

ADVANCED CARDIOVASCULAR HEALTH

HEART & VASCULAR INSTITUTE/MVP ENDOVASCULAR CENTER

22720 MICHIGAN AVE., STE. 200, DEARBORN, MI 48124 | 313-791-2800 | HEARTTEAM.COM 4160 JOHN R, STE. 510, DETROIT, MI 48201 | 313-993-7777 | 20240 W. 12 MILE RD., SOUTHFIELD, MI 48076 | 248-424-5000

As an internationally renowned specialist in cardiovascular disease, the Heart & Vascular Institute is committed to placing the best interests of its patients first. HVI is dedicated to providing the most comprehensive, innovative, and cost-effective procedures, always performed by a leading group of board-certified cardiologists. At HVI, each patient’s values and needs are always respected, and the team believes integrity and respect are pivotal to fulfilling the mission of being the best Detroit-area heart doctors.

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HVI is equipped with three state-of-the-art facilities, an outpatient surgery center, and on-site diagnostics. The practice has been recognized as a national leader for its advanced technology and innovation in endovascular minimally invasive procedures. The HVI team is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week, to serve you and your loved ones in an emergency. Left to right: Dr. Mahir Elder, Dr. Amir Kaki, Dr. Tamam Mohamad


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THE FACE OF

AESTHETIC SURGERY

DR. MUNE GOWDA

26850 PROVIDENCE PKWY., STE. 125, NOVI, MI 48374 | 800-979-9858 3270 W. BIG BEAVER RD., STE. 415, TROY, MI 48084 | 248-305-8400 | GOWDAMD.COM

Dr. Mune Gowda, M.D., F.A.C.S., is a plastic surgeon whose goal is to deliver the most natural-looking results possible. Dr. Gowda performs a wide variety of plastic surgery procedures and cosmetic treatments including lasers, injectables, facials, and more. With Dr. Gowda’s vast experience and commitment to excellence, you can be assured that each procedure and treatment he offers has been carefully vetted and is of the highest quality. Dr. Gowda performs surgery at his private certified surgical

center, which is on the campus of Providence Hospital. He has privileges at Royal Oak Beaumont and Providence hospitals. Honors Dr. Gowda has received include: Top Doctor 2020, Michigan Top Docs; Top 10 Plastic Surgeons 2020, National Academy of Plastic Surgeons; 10 Best Plastic Surgeons Award, 2018 and 2019, American Institute of Plastic Surgeons; Best Doctors 2001-2018, Best Doctors Inc.; Top Plastic Surgeon Reviews 2018, and many more. 83


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THE FACE OF

AUTO BRAIN INJURY LAW

BRYAN SCHEFMAN — SCHEFMAN & ASSOCIATES, PC 40900 WOODWARD AVE., STE. 111, BLOOMFIELD HILLS, MI 48304 | CELL: 248-514-0111 | OFFICE: 248-594-2600 | SCHEFMANLAW.COM

“I’ve been in your shoes. I’ve survived near-critical injuries in cars and (on) motorcycles. I’ve experienced severe injury, along with the confusion of insurance coverage, finding doctors to treat my injuries, delays in payments by insurance carriers, and the stress of care and recovery for my family,” says Bryan Schefman, of Schefman & Associates. In over 37 years of legal practice, Schefman has represented countless individuals with severe physical and traumatic brain injuries, and he’s been fortunate enough to help each of them. “Having

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served physicians, health care organizations, and general business, I’ve been able to combine my knowledge of personal injury law and recovery, insurance law and operations, and personal experience to help clients navigate the insurance maze and win millions of dollars in settlements and multimillion-dollar verdicts,” Schefman says. If you’re an attorney, you can depend on Schefman to help your clients. If you’ve been injured, call him today.


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THE FACES OF

ARCHITECTURE

MIRA — MICHIGAN RESIDENTIAL ARCHITECTS MIRA OFFICES AT PARTNR HAUS, 2139 COLE ST., BIRMINGHAM, MI 48009 | MICHIGANRESIDENTIALARCHITECTS.COM

Michigan Residential Architects (MIRA) is a groundbreaking community of design professionals. Its purpose is to support and inspire quality design work with the most influential and talented professionals and industry partners in Michigan. MIRA partners include: (1) John Allegretti FAIA, LEED-AP, Allegretti Architects; (2) Kevin Akey, AZD Associates Architects; (3) Alexander Bogaerts, Alexander V. Bogaerts + Associates; (4) Sarah Bourgeois AIA, Sarah Bourgeois Architects; (5) Louis DesRosiers AIA, DesRosiers Architects; (6) Elaine Keiser AIA, NCARB, Elaine Keiser Architect Inc.; (7) Eric

De Witt AIA, Lucid Architecture; Mathison Mathison Architects [(8a) Thomas R. Mathison FAIA, (8b) Evan T. Mathison]; (9) Michael Poris AIA, McIntosh Poris Associates; (10) Joseph Mosey RA, Joseph Mosey Architecture Inc.; (11) Brian Neeper AIA, Brian Neeper Architecture; (12a) Victor Saroki FAIA, (12b) Alexander Saroki AIA, Saroki Architecture; (13) Robert Sears, Sears Architects; (14a) Nick White AIA, LEED-AP, (14b) Nick Liebler AIA, LEEDAP, White and Liebler Architects; (15a) Don Paul Young AIA Emeritus, (15b) Todd Mitchell Young AIA, Young & Young Architects. Background photo: James Haefner. Michigan State Historic Preservation Office. 85


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THE FACES OF

AWARD-WINNING INTERIOR DESIGN

MIRA — MICHIGAN RESIDENTIAL ARCHITECTS

MIRA OFFICES AT PARTNR HAUS, 2139 COLE ST., BIRMINGHAM, MI 48009 | MICHIGANRESIDENTIALARCHITECTS.COM

Michigan Residential Architects (MIRA) is a groundbreaking community of design professionals. Its purpose is to support and inspire quality design work with the most influential and talented professionals and industry partners in Michigan. MIRA interior designers include: (1) Molly Thomas (L) and Caryn Satovsky-Siegal (R), Alexander V. Bogaerts + Associates; (2) Amy Weinstein, AMW Design Studio; (3) Arturo Sanchez (R) and Barry Harrison (L), Art Harrison Interiors; (4) Carrie Long, Carrie Long Interiors; (5) Colleen Farrell, Colleen Farrell Design; (6a) Howard 86

Davis, (6b) Michelle Davis, and (6c) Jamie Jordan, Davis & Davis Interior Design; (7) Heather Duggan, Heather Duggan Interiors; (8) Jennifer Butler, Jennifer Butler Design; (9a) Lucy Earl and (9b) Nicole Withers, Jones-Keena; (10) Meg Corley, Meg Corley Premier Interiors; (11) Ian Hartwell, Oliver Max Interiors; (12) Staci A. Meyers, S|A|M Interiors; (13) Kevin Serba, Serba Interiors; (14) Stephen Knollenberg, Stephen Knollenberg Inc.; (15) Cheryl Nestro, Tutto Interiors. Background photo: James Haefner. Michigan State Historic Preservation Office.


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THE FACE OF

AWE-INSPIRING DESIGNS

JANE SYNNESTVEDT — JANE SYNNESTVEDT INTERIOR DESIGN INC. 551 S. BATES, BIRMINGHAM, MI 48009 | 248-642-1066 | JANESYNNESTVEDT.COM | JANE@JANESYNNESTVEDT.COM

Jane Synnestvedt is an award-winning designer who’s been recognized for more than 25 years for creating gracious interiors. Her expansive accomplishments have been widely received and published both locally and nationally. Her ability to incorporate a mixture of traditional and modern trends, in addition to Old World

and contemporary styles, enables Jane to create her signature interiors. Her firm has extensive experience designing interior spaces for aged historical properties, as well as new construction, in both the commercial and residential arenas. Image by Karla Waterhouse, WATERHOUSE PHOTOGRAPHY

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THE FACES OF

CANNABIS

LIV CANNABIS CO.

2625 HILTON RD., FERNDALE, MI 48220 | 248-420-4200 LIVFERNDALE.COM | INFO@LIVFERNDALE.COM

At LIV, whether you’re shopping for recreational or medicinal products, you’ll be kindly greeted at the front desk. At the beginning of your visit, LIV’s budtenders will warmly welcome you to the flower room. Their goal is to ensure that you have a unique experience with the company’s state-licensed, high-quality products. Before shopping, all guests are invited to browse LIV’s product menus from the iPad bar and shop in the LIV Glass shop, which is located in the main lobby of the spacious facility. The LIV Glass shop contains a full array of products, ranging from CBD items to accessories. The mission at LIV is to offer guests a comfortable place to learn, ask questions, and receive the highest quality products the market has to offer. LIV’s team members are proud to provide each and every guest an experience in cannabis that’s unique and second to none.

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THE FACE OF

BEAUTIFUL SMILES

ALAN GRODIN, D.D.S. — FLOSSIN’ IN CLAWSON SMILE STUDIO 430 SOUTH MAIN ST., CLAWSON, MI 48017 | 248-288-1110 | FLOSSININCLAWSON.COM

Dr. Alan Grodin knows full well the importance and benefits of a beautiful smile. “I was born with a great smile, and it seems that not a day goes by without someone complimenting my smile. That does wonders for my self-esteem,” he says. After 30 years in the cosmetic dentistry arena, Dr. Grodin has made it his life’s work to help others improve their lives by improving their smiles. Working beside his wife, Doreen, he performs his smile magic at the Flossin’ In Clawson Smile Studio, where people from

near and far come to seek his expertise. Dr. Grodin’s passion lies in his use of porcelain veneers to transform unattractive smiles into beautiful smiles. After performing countless smile makeovers over several decades, he’s confident he can help virtually anyone realize the smile of their dreams. “A beautiful smile can positively enhance a person’s entire aura,” Dr. Grodin says. “Being able to use my talents to help so many people smile again has truly been a blessing in my life!”

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THE FACES OF

CONTEMPORARY CUSTOM BUILDING

NOSAN SIGNATURE HOMES

30600 NORTHWESTERN HWY., STE. 400, FARMINGTON HILLS, MI 48334 | 248-538-1549 | NOSANSIGNATURE.COM

Nosan Signature Homes has grown out of decades of traditional home-building projects. The Nosan team is dedicated to simplifying the home-buying and building process, and providing a 5-star client experience. Nosan Signature Homes understands that you want your home to reflect your personal style and taste. Their process allows you to describe what you want, their design team draws it, you approve it, and they build it. Nosan Signature Homes assembles a team for each project, based on longstanding relationships. They collaborate with top design

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professionals and the best subcontractors and suppliers to guarantee the highest quality building standards and client experience. Nosan Signature Homes expects the best and refuses to take unknown risks to cut costs. Their attention to time, budget, design, and craftsmanship ensures flawless execution of your project. Years of experience have increased their expertise and capacity to integrate stateof-the-art systems and value engineering, as well as practical solutions to construction and design challenges.


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BUSINESS AND ESTATE PLANNING DREW BESONSON — NORTHWESTERN MUTUAL, POISE WEALTH 901 WILSHIRE DR., STE. 300, TROY, MI 48084 248-244-6066 | POISEWEALTH.COM

Of all the decisions you make, choosing the right wealth planning team is possibly one of the most important. Today’s most successful wealth-holders embrace a different kind of advisor. At Poise Wealth, their dedicated team of professionals collaborate with you and your advisors to first understand, then develop clarity around your goals, dreams and aspirations. Poise Wealth differentiates itself by simplifying complex financial planning strategies while providing the knowledge and tools needed to make informed decisions. The team at Poise Wealth specialize in tax-efficient multi-generational wealth planning. The silver lining in the current tax code is there has never been a better time for affluent families to engage in meaningful and impactful wealth transfer planning. Your life’s work and intentions deserve the proper attention and planning to help provide you and your family peace of mind. Together, they will design and manage your Plan to align your actions with your intentions. It’s time to start the conversation. To learn more visit PoiseWealth.com 91


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THE FACES OF

COMMUNICATIONS

FRANCO

400 RENAISSANCE CENTER, STE. 1000, DETROIT, MI 48243 | 313-567-2300 | FRANCO.COM

Franco has been a leader in Detroit public relations since 1964. While the agency is rooted in PR, its approach has evolved to combine marketing, social media, digital, design, video, and analytics to deliver integrated communications programs that drive organizational performance. The agency works with clients in various industries, from award-winning pizza and changemaking nonprofits to global automotive suppliers and leading professional service firms.

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Franco utilizes a unique approach that combines analytics and insights with relationships and instincts to produce meaningful results for clients. The Franco team delivers “big agency” programs while simultaneously being attentive, nimble, and cost-efficient. Clients say Franco is a “true partner” that’s reliable, accessible, and resultsdriven. Why does Franco do what they do? Because its team has an unwavering commitment to people, clients, and the community.


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THE FACES OF

COURAGE. CONFIDENCE. COMPASSION.

THE CRONIN LAW FIRM

21 E. LONG LAKE RD., STE. 250, BLOOMFIELD HILLS, MI 48304 | 248-258-3500 | CRONINLAWFIRM.COM

Courageous in its actions. Confident in its abilities. Compassionate with its clients. The Cronin Law Firm didn’t emerge from a conglomerate of attorneys; it grew organically, over time, due to Sabrina Shaheen Cronin’s substantial efforts and the accolades she’s received. Cronin has been recognized as a Client Champion by Martindale-Hubbell, a Super Lawyer, and a DBusiness Top Lawyer. These accomplishments aren’t merely a result of her perseverance, hard work, and determination — ideals that are embraced by the entire team at CLF and are

implemented in every case, with every client — rather, Cronin’s achievements stem from her philosophy of unparalleled service and caring. Collectively, the breadth and depth of knowledge at CLF are expansive. The team exceeds its clients’ expectations in family law, business, criminal defense, estate planning, and personal injury. CLF masterfully combines experience, insight, and common sense with excellent client service and appropriately aggressive representation. Without a doubt, CLF is among the best in the business. 93


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CUSTOM HOME BUILDING

SEAN GARDELLA — SEAN D. GARDELLA & ASSOCIATES 801 S. ADAMS RD., STE. 103 BIRMINGHAM, MI 48009 | 248-640-7448 | GARDELLABUILD.COM

Sean D. Gardella & Associates is a merger of expert talents created to deliver the best construction and service offered in the southeastern and northern Michigan regions. Sean created SDGA on the heels of Ray Gardella’s 50-year commitment to building extraordinary homes in our community. Sean’s experience, passion, and ingenuity stem from a 20-year career in ultra-high-end custom home building, offering construction for satisfied clients from Michigan to New York. His ability to build structures of complex nature and award-winning, cutting94

edge architecture have garnered him a clientele list of the best professionals in their fields. He thrives on offering clients exceeding customer service, fiscal responsibility, and value engineering through the entire design/build process. Every home is designed and built to the client’s architectural taste, functional specification, and financial desire. With a team of experienced members in both construction and design, the leaders have 20 to 50 years building custom residential. They have seen it, done it, and love it!


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THE FACE OF

DENTAL IMPLANTS

DR. CHADY ELHAGE — DENTAL IMPLANT CENTER OF ROYAL OAK 4251 COOLIDGE HWY., ROYAL OAK, MI 48073 | 248-547-3700 | DENTALIMPLANTCENTEROFROYALOAK.COM

Dr. Chady Elhage is a Prosthodontist who specializes in advanced dental procedures such as Teeth-in-a-Day, dental implant treatment, and full mouth comprehensive dental care. The term “prostho” means replacement and “dontist” means dealing with teeth. Essentially, Prosthodontists are the recognized experts when it comes to restoring and replacing teeth. Working in a state-of-the-art dental surgical facility and in-house dental lab, Dr. Elhage and his team of experts can diagnose, plan, make, place, and

restore teeth and implants from beginning to end — in just one day. Dr. Elhage spends time with each patient to get to know their individual needs and goals for treatment. He’s the vice president of the Michigan chapter of the American College of Prosthodontics, and has lectured nationally on the topics of CAD-CAM dentistry and Teeth-in-a-Day. “A person’s smile is a key element of facial beauty,” Dr. Elhage says. “There’s nothing more rewarding than the change in self-esteem that accompanies a cosmetic rehabilitation.”

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DISTINCTIVE INTERIOR DESIGN

IAN HARTWELL — OLIVER MAX INC. 360 HAMILTON ROW, BIRMINGHAM, MI 48009 | 248-310-3804 | 313-920-4003 (CELL) | OLIVERMAXINC.COM

Ian Hartwell, of Oliver Max Inc., is a consummate professional and artist, with both interior and exterior design projects throughout metro Detroit in cities such as Birmingham, Bloomfield Hills, Northville, and the Grosse Pointes, in addition to out-of-state locations like Chicago, Seattle, Palm Beach, and Virginia Beach. Hartwell caters to the discerning client who’s open to new experiences and styles, even as he works with them closely to ensure that the spaces he creates feel “like home.” Whether it’s a new build or renovating an

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existing space, Hartwell sees the devil in the details, listening attentively to his clients and helping them throughout the design-build-accessorize process — from choosing the right foundation to selecting the last fork, in some cases! With more than 20 years of experience in the design industry, Hartwell has received numerous awards for his work and actively serves his local community, most frequently through the Suite Dreams Project charity. Oliver Max has been honored with multiple first-place DHDA Awards across all categories.


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THE FACES OF

DOWNTOWN DETROIT REAL ESTATE MATT O’LAUGHLIN AND HANNAH HOPPOUGH — ALEXANDER REAL ESTATE DETROIT 4417 SECOND AVE., DETROIT, MI 48201 313-590-4256, 313-744-6720 | AREDETROIT.COM

Alexander Real Estate Detroit, a boutique brokerage in the heart of Midtown Detroit, quickly became the No. 1 brokerage in the city after launching in 2018. Looking for your next Detroit space, investment opportunity, or pied-à-terre? Matt O’Laughlin and Hannah Hoppough’s team at ARE has closed more than $150 million in the city of Detroit. The duo specializes in new construction and redevelopment condos, penthouses, and off-market listings and buildings. Their unique approach to sales and marketing makes them the developer’s choice in the city, from conception all the way to selling out the end product. O’Laughlin and Hoppough have sold out more than 10 condo developments in the past decade. With over 200 current condo listings in the city, they’re sure to have something for you. Check out their signature event, CONDOS & Cocktails, hosted at some of Detroit’s hottest addresses! Stay in the know by following them on social media: @DowntownMattO (O’Laughlin) and @DetroitCentric (Hoppough).

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THE FACES OF

DOBI REAL ESTATE

DOBI REAL ESTATE

2211 COLE ST., BIRMINGHAM, MI 48009 | 248-385-3350 | WEAREDOBI.COM

Hard work. Resilience. Relentless dedication. These are a few of the characteristics that define the gentlemen at DOBI Real Estate. Consecutively, they have 50 years of experience; some of them have been recognized for achieving top sales volume, and are within the top 5 percent of metro Detroit agents. Together, DOBI agents redefine industry standards by pushing through the uncomfortable, as these are the moments that enable them to test their resolve and grow. To them, real estate

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is a fair game — what you put into it is what you get out of it. At the end of the day, the greatest reward is knowing that their clients’ satisfaction and results are a reflection of their efforts. Pictured this page, left to right: Ryan French, Tom Holzer, Patrick Jarjis. Next page, top left to bottom right: Mark Kattula, John Lionas, Ryan Nelson, Scott Pulus, Doug Rahaim, Ben Rondot, Ross Rossan III, Nick Seman, Vic Simjanoski, Kevin Sinnott, George Thomas, and Simon Thomas.



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ELITE SMILES

DR. SHAKEEL NIAZI — THE ELITE SMILE CENTER 1390 W. AUBURN RD., ROCHESTER HILLS, MI 48309 | 248-299-8300 | ELITESMILECENTER.COM

Dr. Shakeel Niazi, an Hour Detroit Top Dentist for many consecutive years, believes passion, dedication, perseverance, and happiness are a few of the essential ingredients for a successful life. He says that’s how he’s been able to create many elite smiles for more than three decades — and he says he’s still passionate about his work. “Several of my patients drive a long distance,” Dr. Niazi says. “They include NBA stars, the mayor of Rochester Hills and his

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family, and other notables who want elite smiles. At the Elite Smile Center, the leading dental provider in southeast Michigan, we make every smile count.” Dr. Niazi is also a regular contributor to many charities. He founded a free dental clinic in 2014 dedicated to helping the poor, underserved residents of inner-city Detroit. He explains that this work allows him to give back and pay it forward to the community, while also serving God.


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EYELID SURGERY

EVAN H. BLACK, M.D., F.A.C.S., F.A.A.C.S. — CONSULTANTS IN OPHTHALMIC & FACIAL PLASTIC SURGERY, PC 29201 TELEGRAPH RD., STE. 324, SOUTHFIELD, MI 48034 | 800-245-8075 | THEEYELIDEXPERTS.COM

Dr. Evan Black and the physicians at Consultants in Ophthalmic & Facial Plastic Surgery — Drs. Nesi, Gladstone, Nesi-Eloff, Schlachter, Kahana, and Beaulieu, and physician assistants Lindsay El-Awadi and Sara Turner — are proud to be known as the “Eyelid Experts.” With 22 years of experience, Dr. Black has developed and improved techniques to provide the results patients are looking for when it comes to plastic surgery in the delicate areas around the eyes and forehead. His advanced training, together with the personal care and

attention provided to patients, is obvious from the first office visit. Outstanding results, faster healing, long-lasting benefits, and happy patients are what Dr. Black and his team strive to achieve. They offer upper and lower eyelid surgery and the removal of eyelid “bags.” State-of-the-art endoscopic brow- and forehead-lift procedures accomplish the rejuvenation many patients are unable to get from eyelid surgery alone. When you choose the Eyelid Experts, you’ll “see” the difference!

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ELITE REAL ESTATE STETSON R. JARBO — COLDWELL BANKER WEIR MANUEL 294 E. BROWN ST., BIRMINGHAM, MI 48009 248-525-8881 | STETSONJARBO.COM

To be an “Elite,” one must possess and display superior qualities and service compared to the rest of a group or society. With more than $50 million in completed sales under the Coldwell Banker brand, Stetson R. Jarbo identifies as an elite real estate expert. Jarbo has been recognized as one of Coldwell Banker’s International 30 Under 30, is a member of the International Diamond Society, and was named to the International Presidents’ Circle — all in recognition of his top-tier production levels, superior work ethic, and excellence in customer service. As someone who’s recognized as a Real Estate All-Star by Hour Detroit annually, Jarbo promises every client will love where they live. “Real estate isn’t just a job,” Jarbo says. “It’s a passion, and I love to see people smile when they find their home.”

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FLORAL EVENT DESIGN

JON GERYCH — GERYCH’S SPECIAL EVENTS AND FLORAL DESIGN 713 W. SILVER LAKE RD., FENTON, MI 48430 | 810-629-7000 | GERYCHSDESIGN.COM | GERYCHSEVENTS.COM

Founded by current owner Jon Gerych’s father, Gerych’s began more than 50 years ago as a florist and greenhouse serving the Fenton community. When Jon took over the business, he transformed Gerych’s into a full-service event design and rental company. Jon and the Gerych team have gained notoriety by producing some of the largest weddings in the Detroit area. They’ve also styled photo shoots for Versace, handled weddings in Napa Valley, and worked

with major auto brands on auto shows nationwide. Gerych prides himself on taking the vision of every client, big and small, and turning dreams into reality — whether it’s a hanging piece over the dance floor, one-of-a-kind centerpieces, or custom-built rental pieces. Jon Gerych continues to build Gerych’s inventory of unique rental items and is looking forward to continuing to play a role in Detroit’s resurgence.

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GROSSE POINTE REAL ESTATE

HIGBIE MAXON AGNEY INC. — INTEGRITY. HERITAGE. LIFESTYLE. 83 KERCHEVAL, GROSSE POINTE FARMS, MI 48236 | 313-886-3400 | HIGBIEMAXON.COM

For over 90 years, Higbie Maxon Agney has been helping families find the perfect home for their lifestyle. As Grosse Pointe’s premier real estate company, HMA offers an experienced, informative, and personalized approach to buying or selling a home. Since 1929, HMA’s top-performing agents have been involved in the sale of some of the most stunning residences in the area — and it’s a tradition they continue, maintaining the growth of the housing market in southeast Michigan.

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HMA’s knowledgeable team is committed to providing an unparalleled level of assistance as your trusted real estate partner. Whether you’re dreaming of a cottage or a castle, let Higbie Maxon Agney help you discover the home, and the community, that’s right for you. Front row, left to right: Melissa Singh, Kay Agney, Libby Follis. Second row, left to right: Jaime Rae Turnbull, Dennis Andrus, Darlene D’Amico, Michelle Agosta.


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GRANITE

CATALIN VINTELER — GRANITE SOURCE OF MICHIGAN 26530 W. 8 MILE RD., SOUTHFIELD, MI 48033 | 248-982-9103 | GRANITESOURCE@YAHOO.COM | GRANITESOURCEOFMICHIGAN.COM

With more than 17 years of experience, an eye for excellence, and an abundance of happy clients, Catalin Vinteler and his team at Granite Source of Michigan have kept a low profile while taking the stone installation and fabrication industry by storm. Increasingly, Vinteler has partnered with many of the top designers, builders, and architects in the Detroit metropolitan area. His stone installations have been featured in the annual Detroit

Home Design Awards competition, and his projects have frequently placed first, second, or third in their categories. If you walk into Granite Source of Michigan, you can expect prompt and friendly service no matter what your stone fabrication and installation needs may be. For a job that’s well done and affordably priced, look no further than Catalin Vinteler and his team of expert craftsmen at Granite Source of Michigan.

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ORTHODONTICS

SPILLANE & REYNOLDS ORTHODONTICS NOVI | ROCHESTER HILLS | TROY | WEST BLOOMFIELD | 248-344-8400 | MYAMAZINGSMILE.COM

When you recall the best customer experience you’ve had, a trip to the orthodontist might not be what comes to mind — but Dr. Jamie Reynolds aims to impress with his innovative views on patient care and customer experience. A nationally recognized orthodontic teacher, Dr. Reynolds and his team provide world-class orthodontics using cutting-edge Damon System braces and Invisalign aligners that increase comfort and

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aesthetics, and provide dramatic, life-changing results in fewer visits. The practice prides itself on never allowing finances get in the way of quality orthodontic treatment. Dr. Reynolds co-founded OrthoFi, a national company whose mission is to make orthodontic treatment more affordable for patients by providing flexible financing options, and the metro Detroit chapters of Smiles Change Lives and Smile for a Lifetime, two charities that provide smile scholarships for people in need.


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INDOOR GROWING

MARK SAVAYA — FUTURE GROW SOLUTIONS 500 S. OLD WOODWARD AVE., BIRMINGHAM, MI 48009 | 833-FGS-MARK | FUTUREGROWSOLUTIONS.COM

It’s not what you grow, but who you know that will make an indoor growing operation successful. Mark Savaya, CEO of Future Grow Solutions (FGS), is someone you’ll want to know if you have an interest in investing in indoor growing on a large scale. From houseplants to hemp, and marigolds to marijuana, FGS has a greener approach to indoor cultivation: The CropTower™. With its unique vertical, 360-degree design, The CropTower takes indoor growing to new heights and yields. The CropTower, with its

vertically integrated growing system, uses recycled, filtered water and LED lighting to produce extremely high yields while only taking up 81 square feet per tower. The system promotes energy and resource conservation while producing consistent results all year long. In addition to being the exclusive Michigan distributor of The CropTower, FGS offers leadership, advice, and consulting in all aspects of an indoor growing operation.

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HOPE FOR DEPRESSION

DR. ANTHONY MICHAELS — BIRMINGHAM TMS 189 TOWNSEND ST., STE. 302, BIRMINGHAM, MI 48009 248-540-0555 | BIRMINGHAMTMS.COM

Depression doesn’t wait. Neither should your treatment. Dr. Anthony Michaels, D.O., of Birmingham TMS, is a board-certified physician and psychiatrist who has been practicing for more than 40 years. He’s developed a patient-centered practice that emphasizes personal and individualized treatment. Birmingham TMS now offers contactless TMS treatment in the safest environment possible. NeuroStar Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS) is a proven, innovative, nondrug, FDA-cleared treatment option for major depression when medication isn’t providing adequate relief. TMS activates the natural function of the brain using a noninvasive magnetic field. It’s an easy, in-office experience with few side effects. During treatment, patients are awake and alert. No hospitalization, no anesthesia, and no sedation are necessary. There are no adverse effects on alertness, memory, or sleep, and patients can resume their normal activities — including driving — immediately following TMS treatment. Medicare and most major health insurances cover TMS treatment. Call for an appointment.

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INTERIOR DESIGN DANA MOWAT — VALIA DESIGN BLOOMFIELD HILLS, MI 248-205-6690 | VALIADESIGN.COM DANA@VALIADESIGN.COM

Authenticity is at the heart of Dana Mowat’s success. As owner of Valia Design, she’s devoted to designing spaces uniquely reflective of each client. “We begin each project from a clean slate,” she says. “Repetition is never part of our mission.” Mowat’s naturally-developed design approach was honed by working with leading Chicago firms and spending 10 years as an award-winning design educator. In business in the metro Detroit area for seven years, Valia Design has become one of the region’s top interior design firms, earning accolades locally and nationally. “This has been a year of fulfillment,” Mowat says. “I had multiple clients contact me with heartfelt thanks for creating spaces they’ve truly enjoyed while being quarantined. It feels amazing to be appreciated for designing comfortable, beautiful rooms.” Valia Design, a full-scale interior design firm, provides commercial and residential services of any scope. Focusing on client collaboration, Mowat exceeds expectations, delivering uniquely functional spaces.

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INTERIOR ARCHITECTURE & DESIGN

MERIEN DAKA DESIGN GROUP

187 S. OLD WOODWARD, STE. 250, BIRMINGHAM, MI 48009 | 248-804-1411 | MERIENDAKADESIGNGROUP.COM

Innovation, authenticity, and a goal to make each home distinguishable are what make Merien Daka and her designs sought-after. Trained and educated as an interior architect, Daka’s versatility allows her to reimagine any space into an enviable part of the home. As founder of Merien Daka Design Group, she seeks to create a vision and then execute it for each client, designing one-of-a-kind environments that are tailored to each client’s unique taste, with an emphasis on skillfully executed, flawless design.

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Daka’s versatile approach is inspired by travel, as she absorbs various cultures, architecture, and art, and introduces her clients to concepts that have moved her. Clients have described Daka as a “modern visionary” in how she approaches and executes projects, creating timeless spaces. Her promise is that each client will receive a space that evokes warmth and comfort through fine craftsmanship, well-curated furnishings, and art that complements the home’s architecture.


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INTEGRITY IN REAL ESTATE

GWEN AND ROGER DAUBENMEYER — KELLER WILLIAMS PAINT CREEK 543 N MAIN ST., STE. 111, ROCHESTER, MI 48307 | 833-333-GWEN (4936) | THEINTEGRITYTEAM.COM

“The Integrity Team’ isn’t just our name; we chose it because it’s the foundation of everything we are and everything we do,” says Gwen Daubenmeyer, of Keller Williams Paint Creek. After years of having built a loyal and steadily growing clientele by word-of-mouth, it was clear to Gwen and Roger Daubenmeyer that they needed to build a team to continue to deliver the level of service for which they’re known. “Together with every hand-picked member of our team, we’ve

developed a process that delivers a fantastic hands-on experience, providing constant communication and successfully navigating every detail of a sale or purchase,” Roger says. “It isn’t our goal to list or sell a house; after 30 years, that’s not a challenge anymore.” The Daubenmeyers and their Integrity Team are known for their ability to interpret current market trends, forecast coming trends, strategize marketing, and shrewdly negotiate — the things that make real estate fun and exciting!

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INVESTIGATIONS & BUSINESS INTELLIGENCE

KEVIN M. CRONIN — FORTARIS CAPITAL ADVISORS

6632 TELEGRAPH RD., STE. 245, BLOOMFIELD HILLS, MI 48301 | 248-410-3839 | FORTARISCAPITAL.COM

Kevin M. Cronin is a highly credentialed business and security executive who provides his clients with best-in-class corporate investigations, business intelligence, and security advisory services. After more than 20 years of government service, Cronin transitioned his law enforcement career to the private sector, specializing in risk management and corporate security including corporate white-collar investigations, business intelligence, crisis management, threat and risk

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assessments, surveillance, counter-surveillance measures, executive protection, and security services for domestic and global clients. He has successfully led numerous criminal and corporate fraud, espionage, embezzlement, theft, insider trading, and cyber security investigations, assuring his clients access to world-class expertise to help mitigate the significant risks of today’s volatile business environment. Cronin holds an MBA from Michigan State University.


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EXCELLENCE IN ONCOLOGY OAKLAND MEDICAL GROUP/MICHIGAN HEALTHCARE PROFESSIONALS 32255 NORTHWESTERN HIGHWAY, STE. 150, FARMINGTON HILLS, MI 48334 | 248-419-3456 | OMGONCOLOGY.COM 3577 WEST THIRTEEN MILE ROAD, STE. 204, ROYAL OAK, MI 48073 | 248-551-2446

Look no further than Farmington Hills and Royal Oak, and you’ll find two offices filled with esteemed health care professionals: Michigan Healthcare Professionals Oakland Medical Group Division of Clinical Hematology and Medical Oncology. Doctors Ayham Ashkar, Savitha Balaraman, Samer Ballouz, Harold Margolis, Jeffrey Margolis, and Richard Zekman comprise the team. All physicians practicing out of these locations have been nominated in Hour Detroit’s “Top Doc” Oncology Category. This group of physicians has combined their years of

experience in cancer treatment to create patient-focused and compassionate journeys for all patients needing cancer care. Their level of focus allows for clear communication with patients and other health care professionals, inside or outside of MHP. It’s important to note that Top Doctors are nominated exclusively by M.D.s and D.O.s in Wayne, Oakland, Macomb, Washtenaw, and Livingston counties. The recognition is sincerely appreciated, and the MHP team will continue to provide excellent care for the community. 113


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LINGERIE

LISA HARDY HAMILL & KIM HARDY HICKSON — HARP’S LINGERIE 265 S. OLD WOODWARD AVE., BIRMINGHAM, MI 48009 | 248-642-2555 | HARPS-LINGERIE.COM

A customized fit and extraordinary lingerie are the secrets to a happy customer. Keeping the tradition alive, the granddaughters of Betty Harp, founder of Harp’s Lingerie — Lisa Hardy Hamill and Kim Hardy Hickson — know that what you wear underneath your outfit is just as important as the clothes themselves. Lingerie determines your silhouette and your comfort, ensuring you’ll look and feel your best. At Harp’s Lingerie, you’re showered with excellent customer service and fit perfectly for undergarments

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that will accentuate your figure. Harp’s carries a wide variety of intimate apparel for your everyday, bridal, and special occasion needs. Hard-to-fit sizes are Harp’s specialty; they carry band sizes from 32-54 and cup sizes from AA-N. Experience the Harp’s difference and see why, for more than 70 years, they’ve proudly earned the loyalty of generations and repeat customers. Harp’s strives to make everyone feel beautiful and special when they walk out the door, just as Mrs. Harp did so well.


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LUXURY BUILDING AND REMODELING

DAVID S. COMPO — COMPO BUILDERS INC.

42700 W. 10 MILE RD., NOVI, MI 48375 | 248-513-4170 | COMPOINC.COM

At the age of 12, David Compo began to refine his skills in architectural drawing. By 15, he was handling the working plans for his parents’ building company, and at 17 he was named the top architectural student in Michigan. Today, he’s the 2020 president of the HBA and his accolades include Builder of the Year and Developer of the Year. Compo has overseen the construction of more than 1,000 luxury west-side homes and remodeling projects.

He’s also been a 20-year real estate broker; his company, Compo Brokerage, LLC, services building clients in land acquisition, selling their existing home, and finding rentals, and represents others in buying and selling real estate in southeast Michigan. Compo Builders recently completed a state-of-the-art ranch model, The Lisa, in the Dunhill Park community in Novi. The award-winning home features cutting-edge technology and will be featured on the cover of the Parade of Homes magazine.

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LOVING YOUR SMILE

MICHAEL E. SIMONY, D.D.S. & ASSOCIATES 41700 HAYES RD., STE. D, CLINTON TOWNSHIP, MI 48038 | 586-263-9300 | OFFICE@DRSIMONY.COM | DRSIMONY.COM

Dr. Michael E. Simony says his focus is to improve real people’s health. That’s why each member of Simony Dental Group is educated and passionate about the care their patients receive. “I’m also passionate about improving my patients’ confidence to smile,” Dr. Simony says. “Smiles must be created and designed very uniquely and dynamically. Really beautiful smiles are made through calculations around the flow of someone’s lips, and in consideration of how emotions affect the

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posture of the mouth.” Dr. Simony explains it’s important to measure and quantify the lips and posture of the mouth so that close-up conversations, where light reflection, translucence, shape, symmetry and how the teeth match the curvature of the lips in a delicate, real way, are complemented by a terrific smile. “Each face is different,” he says, “but each result is the same. I want to make sure my patients end up loving their smile.”


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LUXURY REAL ESTATE

JILL LASKEY HALL & HUNTER REALTORS 442 S. OLD WOODWARD, BIRMINGHAM, MI 48009 248-703-9609 | JILLLASKEY.COM

With her innovative approach to marketing and her vast knowledge of the ever-changing real estate market, Jill Laskey is an award-winning Realtor who consistently delivers results to her clients. Laskey was raised in Windsor and has lived all over the world, including Ferndale and Birmingham, Mich., as well as Gothenburg, Sweden; Copenhagen, Denmark; Charlotte, N.C.; and Neenah, Wis. She’s a true relocation guru who uses her personal experience to help newcomers seamlessly transition into the metro Detroit area. In the past five years, Laskey has closed more than 325 houses, totaling more than $75 million in sales. The secret to her success is simple: She focuses on building long-lasting relationships with her clients based on trust and mutual respect. She employs empathy and intuition to successfully navigate through the sometimes overwhelming process of buying/selling a home. When she’s not busy selling real estate, Laskey and her three teenage boys enjoy spending time with family and friends.

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NEW RESIDENTIAL DEVELOPMENT BERKSHIRE HATHAWAY HOMESERVICES THE LOFT WAREHOUSE 3434 RUSSELL ST., STE. 101, DETROIT, MI 48207 313-658-6400 | BHHSTLW.COM

Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices | The Loft Warehouse are THE experts in condo and new – home residential development in metro Detroit. Their management team, consisting of MBA’s, engineers, project managers, and developers, has over 100 years of combined development experience. Their current condo development listings include: North Corktown 11, Fort Shelby Residences, The Saint Charles Collection, Brush 8, EcoHomes, Fisher Kahn, Jardins St. Paul, Lafayette West, and many more in the pipeline. Twice a year, they publish a comprehensive, proprietary Detroit Condo Market Report, showing data on local buyer trends, price evolution and absorption rates. Its an essential tool for developers, investors, and banks. Whether you are a developer/ investor launching a brand new, or condo conversion project, or a buyer or seller, consult with the BHHS – Loft Warehouse team early in your planning. Their real estate marketing, sales, and project management expertise allows you to Build with Confidence, and achieve your real estate goals. Visit bhhstlw.com/Build. 118


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MORTGAGE BANKING

HARRY GLANZ & DAN BURKE — CAPITAL MORTGAGE FUNDING 17170 W. TWELVE MILE RD., SOUTHFIELD, MI 48076 | 248-569-7283 | CAPITALMORTGAGEFUNDING.COM

Since its inception in 1992, Capital Mortgage Funding has been a leader in Michigan’s mortgage banking industry. Led by co-founders Harry Glanz and Dan Burke, two of the state’s most well-respected mortgage banking luminaries, the company is driven by a simple but very effective philosophy. “We’re a relationship-driven organization; our focus is on our clients’ experience and making the process as smooth as possible,” says Glanz. During this unprecedented time, the company continues to deliver top-notch personalized service safely to its clients’ homes. Glanz

and Burke take great pride in the steps their mortgage bankers are taking to accommodate their clients’ purchase and refinance activity through Zoom meeting technology. CMF specializes in residential loans and does them everywhere. The company proudly celebrates its 28th anniversary in 2020. Capital Mortgage Funding is powered by Fairway Independent Mortgage Corp. NMLS No. 2289. Equal Housing Lender. Harry Glanz, President/CoFounder NMLS#61034. Dan Burke, VP Area Manager/Co-Founder NMLS#61101.

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NORTHERN MICHIGAN REAL ESTATE

PATRICK LEAVY — KIDD & LEAVY REAL ESTATE 325 E. LAKE ST., PETOSKEY, MI 49770 | 231-838-6700 | PATLEAVY.COM

For more than 21 years, Pat Leavy has been helping families create memories in beautiful northern Michigan. With boundless energy, perseverance, and a great staff, Leavy has become the No. 1 agent in northern Michigan, with more than $250 million in sales in the past three years. Leavy doesn’t just show houses; he introduces clients to the sandiest waterfront, the cottage on Walloon Lake with a storied history, his secret morel hunting ground, or his favorite bartender.

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He believes a home Up North is a lifestyle, not just a house. If your objective is to sell your property, Leavy has attained the leading position as the Realtor of choice for top properties in Petoskey, Bay Harbor, Walloon Lake, Charlevoix, Harbor Springs, and Boyne City. Whether you’re looking for a home up north or selling, begin your conversation with Pat Leavy, a true expert in northern Michigan real estate.


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ORTHOPEDIC EXCELLENCE

THE CORE INSTITUTE

26750 PROVIDENCE PKWY. STE. 200, NOVI, MI 48374 | 248-349-7015 | THECOREINSTITUTE.COM

Superior outcomes, proven results, and a world-class team that cares about each and every patient. That’s what makes The CORE Institute one of Michigan’s leading orthopedic practices, and it’s why they have five stars — the top rating from The Physician Alliance — to prove it. The CORE Institute’s physicians are recognized nationally as leaders

in specialties ranging from total joint replacement, sports medicine, spine care to pain management and rehabilitation. Patients know that The CORE Institute delivers quality care, which is why they choose them when they want to Keep Life In Motion®. Visit their locations in Novi, Brighton, and Southfield.

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APPAREL FOR PET PEOPLE

TEMERIA HEARD — SWAGGLES

3031 W. GRAND BLVD., STE. 505B, DETROIT, MI 48202 | 313-259-2800 | SWAGGLES.COM

Founded in 2019 by Temeria Heard, — Swaggles supports organizations that provide protection, compassion, and forever homes to dogs in need. Swaggles offers unique apparel and accessories, and donates a percentage of its profits to anti-cruelty and anti-animal abuse causes. Swaggles’ core mission is to support organizations and causes that are dedicated to animal rescues. The company believes it’s important for dogs to have the compassion and protection that’s

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needed for their overall healing. Because Heard believes so much in the brand, Swaggles has trademarked its paw image and the words featured on the company’s initial three designs: “Compassion,” “Protect,” and “Detroit.” Heard and her team like to say “The paw is the brand.” Please join Swaggles’ efforts in supporting organizations that rescue dogs all over the world. Visit swaggles.com today!


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PAIN MANAGEMENT

PAIN FREE LIFE CENTERS

TROY, MI | 248-879-1100 | PAINFREELIFECENTERS.COM

With a decade of experience in Laser Therapy, Jeff Morton and Pain Free Life Centers in Troy have been the pioneers in noninvasive, drug-free pain management. “We’ve focused exclusively on Laser Therapy from Day One. We’re the only center that’s dedicated to High Intensity-High Dose Laser Therapy. Other pain management centers using low-level lasers simply don’t have the equipment or experience to generate photobiomodulation, the key requirement necessary to yield effective results,” Morton says. Pain Free Life Centers’ results speak for themselves. “The thing that gets

me out of bed in the morning is the fact that I know I’m going to help provide somebody a better quality of life. That’s what drives me — every patient, every time,” he says. As director of Pain Free Life Centers in Troy, Morton is uniquely aware that pain never takes a day off. That fact was driven home with the recent COVID-19 crisis. Morton is so confident in what they do, the initial consultation and first treatment are free. “You have nothing to lose but your pain,” he says.

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PERIODONTICS

JOSEPH R. NEMETH, D.D.S. & ASSOCIATES

29829 TELEGRAPH RD., STE. 111, SOUTHFIELD, MI 48034 248-357-3100 | DRNEMETH.COM

Joseph R. Nemeth, D.D.S., is a specialist in the field of periodontics (gum diseases) and has served patients throughout Michigan for more than 25 years. As one of the area’s foremost experts in periodontics, Dr. Nemeth has played a major role in applying innovative medical and technological advances to current periodontal practice. He is committed to excellence and dedicated to helping patients achieve their best possible dental health. As the first periodontist in the country to use dental lasers and the first periodontist in Michigan to be certified in the minimally invasive Pinhole Gum Rejuvenation Technique for gum recession, Dr. Nemeth strives to incorporate the latest technologies and procedures in his practice for the benefit of his patients. State-of-the-art procedures available include less invasive laser treatment for gum disease, the breakthrough Pinhole Gum Rejuvenation Technique for gum recession, gum reshaping procedures for smile makeovers, and dental implants for missing teeth. Call 248-357-3100 today for an appointment.

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PET GROOMING BRIAN LANE AND HELEN QUINN, OWNERS BINGO PET SALON 719 E 11 MILE RD., ROYAL OAK, MI 48067 248-544-7424 | INFO@BINGOPETSALON.COM

Bingo Pet Salon has served Royal Oak and the surrounding communities for almost a decade. Bingo, one of the area’s premier pet groomers, offers full-service pet grooming for all breeds of dogs and cats. It also provides services to local rescues and shelters. Owners Brian Lane and Helen Quinn pride themselves on being more than just a grooming shop. Since 2014, Bingo, along with its sister company, the Bingo Institute of Grooming, has provided more than 750 free grooms for local rescues and shelters. Bingo has also donated hundreds of grooms to fundraising events sponsored by local community groups. “Our staff is always up for making our community better,” says Lane, who has served as a “Real Men Wear Pink” ambassador for breast cancer awareness, run marathons as a guide for the blind, and encourages his staff to speak out for social justice. “We’re not just a groom shop; we’re part of the community.”

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PLASTIC SURGERY

DR. ELAN REISIN — STAR PLASTIC SURGERY 44050 W. 12 MILE RD., NOVI, MI 48377 | 248-735-3800 | MYSTARDR.COM

Your health and beauty are in exceptional hands with Star Plastic Surgery in Novi. Dr. Elan Reisin, M.D., F.A.C.S., and his team of surgeons have completed more than 15,000 cosmetic surgeries. Dr. Reisin, Medical Director at Star Plastic Surgery, is a multiyear Hour Detroit Top Doc honoree. Dr. Reisin is board-certified in plastic and reconstructive surgery, and has received numerous national awards. After five years of serving as an attending physician and teaching surgical residents at the prestigious

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Georgetown University Hospital Department of Plastic Surgery, Dr. Reisin decided to create Star Plastic Surgery, a pre-eminent, state-of-the-art AAAHC surgical center and medical spa. As a member of the International Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery, Dr. Reisin has traveled internationally to learn from top plastic surgeons. He has also given back through philanthropic trips to the Dominican Republic to treat children with congenital and traumatic deformities.


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PREMIER INTERIORS

MEG CORLEY — MEG CORLEY PREMIER INTERIORS 968 E. MAPLE RD., BIRMINGHAM, MI 48009 | 248-303-5443 | MEGCORLEY.COM

Attention to detail, transparency, and high-end design are of the utmost importance to Meg Corley when working with any client. That’s why she created Meg Corley Premier Interiors, which encompasses her 18 years of experience in the design industry. Corley builds long-lasting relationships with her clientele, who reside in cities such as Birmingham, Bloomfield Hills, Rochester, and Grosse Pointe, as well as Naples, Fla. Corley offers 3-D renderings on all her projects, which helps facilitate her clients’ visions and gives a purpose for interior

architecture that’s elegant and timeless. Transforming and evolving design from a blank canvas is her true passion on new construction and large renovation projects alike. Blume Collective in Birmingham is her collaborative studio, where other interior design companies share studio space. It’s also a supplier of custom furnishings. Corley has received numerous design awards and has been featured in Architectural Digest, Detroit Home, and Better Homes and Gardens.

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PREVENTION

KOLENDER MEDICAL — BRIAN KOLENDER, M.D. 31500 TELEGRAPH RD., STE. 130, BINGHAM FARMS, MI 48025 1274 LIBRARY, STE. 302, DETROIT, MI 48226 | 248-866-KOLENDER

A look at the statistics of the hospital admissions and the death toll as it became apparent that the coronavirus was a behemoth we were woefully unprepared to conquer begs the question: Why were we so unhealthy as a nation that our innate immune system failed? An indigenous inflammatory profile left us with no option but to hide until the experts came up with a vaccine. The rude awakening for those with pre-existing conditions such as diabetes, hypertension, and other 128

co-morbidities left thousands sequestered and fearful of their options. Brian Kolender, M.D., an internal medicine physician and one of the very few specialists in prevention, cautions it’s time to no longer accept the inevitability of chronic disease. “Heart attack and stroke are 100 percent preventable,” he says with unparalleled conviction, “but the patient has to take the first step in joining a practice where the relationship with the doctor is a journey of sustainable health.” © Annemarie Cronin Agency


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PRISTINE SMILES

DR. ABDULLAH SAYED, D.D.S. , M.S. — PRISTINE PERIODONTICS AND IMPLANTS 2425 E. LINCOLN ST., STE. 100, BIRMINGHAM, MI 48009 248-901-0000 | PRISTINEPERIOIMPLANTS.COM

Upon walking through the front door at Pristine Periodontics and Implants — a gorgeous, modern building in Birmingham — Dr. Abdullah Sayed and his team of specialists will instantly put you at ease. Dr. Sayed is a pioneer in his field, and one of the most highly educated and talented surgical specialists in Michigan. He’s a Diplomate of the American Board of Periodontology and on the faculty at the University of Michigan School of Dentistry. Dr. Sayed has placed more than 7,000 dental implants, and his patients are able to enjoy a lifetime of pristine smiles as a result. Dr. Sayed is committed to using cutting-edge technology to achieve the best results for his patients. “My passion is seeing the profound positive impact our work has on each patient’s quality of life,” he says. “Innovations in gum and bone regeneration and placement of dental implants allow our patients to smile confidently and enjoy the simple pleasure of eating.”

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REAL ESTATE EXCELLENCE CINDY KAHN — HALL & HUNTER REALTORS 442 S. OLD WOODWARD AVE., BIRMINGHAM, MI 48009 248-568-7309 | CINDYKAHN.COM

Cindy Kahn has lived in Michigan most of her life. In fact, she and her husband raised their two daughters in the same community where she has dedicated her life to marketing and selling the finest residential properties in southeast Michigan. Kahn’s reputation for honesty and perseverance, together with her market knowledge, have led to a long and growing list of referral business. Her dedication to clients is shared by her assistant, Elaina Ryder, and the entire Hall & Hunter team; their professionalism is obvious from the beginning through to the end of all transactions. There’s a simple reason why Kahn has been Hall & Hunter Realtors’ Top Producer 2016-2019, continues to be an area top agent year after year, and is among the top 1 percent of Realtors nationwide: She’s devoted to helping clients meet their objectives in a discrete and professional manner. Kahn is an extraordinary agent who provides extraordinary results.

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RESTORATION

ELLEN A. JANETZKE, M.D., PC 60 W. BIG BEAVER RD., STE. 100 BLOOMFIELD HILLS, MI 48304 248-220-6760 | DRELLEN.COM

An accomplished plastic surgeon, Dr. Ellen Janetzke offers the most current surgical and nonsurgical options so you can look your very best. Dr. Ellen is one of few female surgeons specializing in breast and abdominal surgeries. Breast augmentations, breast lifts, and breast reductions enhance the appearance of the breast, while breast reconstruction restores a feminine profile. Women who want to improve their figure postpregnancy often come to Dr. Ellen for a Mommy Makeover — a customized series of surgical techniques addressing the abdominal area and the breasts. Tummy tucks and liposuction appeal to both women and men who want an aesthetically pleasing body shape. Dr. Ellen also performs male breast reduction for those with gynecomastia. Prior to performing any cosmetic treatment, Dr. Ellen and her qualified staff will thoroughly explain the procedure. Their skills ensure exceptional results.

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SAME-DAY CROWNS DR. DOLORES J. BARAN, D.D.S. AND ASSOCIATES 1103 N. MAIN ST., STE. A, ROYAL OAK, MI 48067 248-548-1440 | ROYALOAKSMILES.COM

Cerec Technology is a CAD system that can make a crown or cap for patients in the same visit, meaning there’s no need for messy impressions or painful temporaries. Dr. Dolores J. Baran has been using this technology for more than 15 years. Dedicated, innovative, and astute are words that patients have used to describe Dr. Baran. A graduate of the University of Michigan School of Dentistry, Dr. Baran and her team perform all dental procedures (including sleep dentistry, dental implant placement and restoration, and root canals) in-office. She’s also well known for her cosmetic work, including veneers and Invisalign. Call for a complimentary consultation.

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THE FACES OF

WATERFRONT REAL ESTATE

TONY & RENEE DEKROUB — RE/MAX PLATINUM

6870 GRAND RIVER AVE., BRIGHTON, MI 48114 | 866-945-1920 | THEDEKROUBTEAM.COM

Renee and Tony DeKroub are leaders and successful business entrepreneurs. Renee has been honored as a Real Estate All-Star — one of the top 5 percent of Realtors in metro Detroit — and is prepared to make your next move flawless. Their energy, easygoing style, knowledge of the area, and real estate expertise make them the ideal choice. They also have a strong presence in the community. From the start of her career as a legal secretary to becoming the

president of the Legal Secretary Association, Renee has continually proven her excellence. In 1991, she founded Advanced Medical Solutions, a home medical equipment company with seven offices and more than 50 employees. Thanks to a great team and her partner, Tony, Advanced Medical Solutions has become a strong business, allowing her to pursue her dream career in real estate. Renee and Tony DeKroub would be honored to the have the privilege of handling your next move!

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THE FACES OF

SPORTS AND FITNESS CHIROPRACTIC

DR. SCOTT SIEGEL, DC, CSCS, CPT AND DR. CAITLIN SIEGEL, DC SIEGEL CHIROPRACTIC 21641 ALLEN RD., WOODHAVEN, MI 48183 | 734-362-7500 | SIEGELCLINIC.COM

Having trained and competed in hundreds of endurance events, this father-daughter duo understands the importance of proper body alignment to athletes. Together they operate Siegel Chiropractic in Woodhaven, where they not only offer manual chiropractic adjustments, but also many of the latest techniques for treatment, recovery, and performance enhancement. Dr. Scott Siegel and Dr. Caitlin Siegel have advanced training and 134

certification in the Graston technique, Active Release Technique (ART), kinesiotaping, personal training, and strength and conditioning. They also offer compression boots, cold laser therapy, and spinal decompression, and have four massage therapists on staff. Whether you’re just beginning your fitness journey or you’re focused on achieving your personal best, you want a doctor who understands your needs and is committed to keeping you in the game.


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THE FACE OF

SAME-DAY IMPLANT SOLUTIONS

RAMI JANDALI, D.M.D., M.S., F.A.C.P. — DENTAL REHABILITATION CENTER 26699 W 12 MILE RD., STE. 200, SOUTHFIELD, MI 48034 | 248-626-6526 | 248-626-6529 (FAX) | WHENYOUSMILE.US

As a board-certified specialist in prosthodontics, Dr. Rami Jandali oversees the only facility in Michigan with the technology necessary for same-day, full-mouth implant solutions. This technology includes a 5-axis milling machine for implant restorations, a face scanner for digital smile design, a 3-D printer, and a CT scanner. “While some offices have one or two of these components, we integrated all of them under one roof. This gives us full control of the treatment workflow, all with the precision of digital

technology,” Dr. Jandali says. At the Dental Rehabilitation Center, patients with significant dental problems including failed bridges and root canals, gum disease, or dentures discover options that offer immediate solutions. “We give patients a new chance with permanent implants that feel and look like healthy teeth. Many patients tell us they wish they’d done this years sooner,” Dr. Jandali says. “We don’t just change patients’ smiles; we give them their life back.”

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THE FACE OF

POWERHOME SOLAR

JAYSON WALLER — POWERHOME SOLAR 500 STEPHENSON HWY., TROY, MI 48083 | 248-479-3339 | POWERHOME.COM

Jayson Waller’s jet fuel is hearing the words “no” or “you can’t” and telling people “yes” and “I will.” It’s why he willingly bet on himself in entering the solar industry with no experience six years ago, and why he went all in with his life savings to extend the life of POWERHOME SOLAR, a Billion Dollar Company, after a rocky first 12 months of operation.

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That internal belief led him to become an Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year in 2019, and he’s now sharing his remarkable life story via True Underdog, his top 5-ranked Apple podcast. All this from a guy who grew up in a trailer park, became a father in his teens and had a future mother-in-law who initially wasn’t impressed. She is now. We all are.


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ON THE SET OF MILITARY MAKEOVER

“Master Gunnery Sergeant Marcelino Marquez put his physical and mental well-being on the line and served this country for decades,” Waller said. “There is no way to truly thank him for his service. We hope helping create a more sustainable home begins to highlight our gratitude.” Waller is incredibly appreciative of the sacrifices made by

members of the military, which is why he and POWERHOME SOLAR donated and installed a solar energy system on the roof of a deserving Marine veteran as part of the Lifetime TV series “Military Makeover” earlier this year. Seven of the nine crew members completing the install were veterans themselves, making this doubly memorable and meaningful for Waller and Co.


PROFESSIONALS

The Benefits of Pilates After Knee Surgery

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hronic knee pain can be debilitating. If the pain is severe enough to hinder your daily living or rule out an active lifestyle, then you’ve likely visited an orthopedic surgeon who’s recommended surgery. While the objective of surgery is to increase your mobility, engaging in Pilates after knee surgery can help aid in quicker and more effective recovery. The knee is a hinge joint and, as such, its main function is flexion and extension — but it lacks what’s known as intrinsic stability. That’s why the ligaments and muscles around the joint provide support. If there’s an imbalance in the ligament and/or muscle strength, it can affect the knee’s functionality. Four primary muscles support the knee: the quadriceps, hamstrings, hip abductors/adductors, and external rotators in the lower leg muscles. Keeping these muscles working in harmony is key to minimizing

injury or pain. That’s the objective of Pilates. While there are many reasons for knee pain, three conditions commonly occur. The first is a meniscus tear, which can happen with something as simple as a sudden twist or turn that causes the knee cartilage to tear. This type of injury is more common in older adults. Another common condition is a torn ligament. There are four major ligaments in the knee that connect the thigh bone to the lower leg bones and keep the knee stable. Torn ligaments are more often seen in athletes or people who are very active. The third most common reason for knee pain is arthritis, and there are different types of arthritis. Osteoarthritis is the progressive wearing of the cartilage in the knee joint. It occurs more frequently in people over the age of 50, but can also be caused by weight, genetics, previous injuries, infections,

and illness. With rheumatoid arthritis, the tissue around the joint becomes thick and inflamed. Posttraumatic arthritis can result after a serious knee injury such as a bone fracture or ligament tear. Whatever the reason for your knee surgery, Pilates before surgery is a safe and effective way to prepare your body for surgery and can lend to the overall success of the procedure. Many Pilates exercises focus on maintaining range of motion in the knee to strengthen the surrounding tissue. In addition, core-strengthening exercises will improve your balance to increase stability postsurgery. Once your doctor gives you the go-ahead, practicing Pilates will make a big difference in your recovery. Working on machines such as the Reformer, an instructor can increase or decrease resistance and range of movement to ensure safety in knee flexion and extension exercises. “Bridging on the Reformer will strengthen the gluteal muscles and hamstrings while stabilizing the back of the knee,” says Ron Jegadeesh, Pilates instructor, physical therapist, and owner of Pilates Fitness & Physical Therapy Center in Southfield. The initial focus during rehab will be on working from the core with slow and controlled movements that incorporate proper breathing, he says. As you continue to heal, additional exercises will be added that target range of motion in the knees, as well as strength and muscle memory development, and the improvement of knee flexors and extensors. Finally, you’ll develop and establish a long-term regime so you can continue your rehabilitation while fostering optimal health and fitness. Plenty of research shows that using Pilates as a rehabilitative exercise post-knee surgery is highly effective. In one study, orthopedic surgeons worked alongside a trained Pilates instructor to create a specific protocol for 38 patients. The patients performed a series of Pilates exercises for at least one hour, three to four times per week. After one year, all 38 of the patients reported they were satisfied — 25 of them said they were extremely satisfied — with the exercise protocol. Not a single patient reported dissatisfaction. Seventy-three percent of them went on to practice Pilates on a regular basis. If knee surgery is in your future, now’s the time to get connected with a qualified Pilates instructor who can get you started on presurgical exercises. If you’re currently recovering from knee surgery and would like to explore Pilates for rehabilitation, you can do so at any time. You’ll be glad you did.

Ron Jegadeesh, PT, MBA Certified PMA, Polestar Pilates, Stott Pilates®, Gyrotonic®, Gyrokinesis® Instructor 17418 W. 10 Mile Rd. Southfield, MI 48075 248-552-1012 | 248-552-0657 (fax) pilatesfitnessevolution.com info@pilatesfitnessevolution.com


PROFESSIONALS

Team Rehabilitation’s Lung Strong Program Aims to Strengthen Respiratory Function

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esponding to the COVID-19 crisis has been a challenge for all areas of medicine, and it’s no different for the outpatient physical therapy clinics of Team Rehabilitation. For Jeffrey Dehn, PT, OMPT, Clinic Director of the Livonia 2 Clinic, the past few months have been like no other. In March, he began experiencing a sore throat, cough, fatigue, and shortness of breath. Before feeling ill, Dehn — who exercises regularly, runs marathons, and plays indoor soccer — was in great shape. “While I was sick I did breathing exercises, because I could feel that my right lung was not functioning well. After recovering from the initial symptoms, I still felt really tired,” says Dehn, who has been a certified orthopedic manual physical therapist — a concentration that focuses on improving rib mobility, thoracic mobility, and breathing — since 2008. He became a tai chi instructor two years ago, and says that discipline also emphasizes breath control. As Dehn was coping with his own lung function challenges, and as those infected with COVID-19 continued to increase, he and fellow Team Rehab physical therapists joined together to establish a specialized program to aid in improving strength and respiratory function for those recovering from the virus. “I thought that for patients who may have started out deconditioned, or for clients who were hospitalized, they would need a recovery plan,” Dehn says. Under the guidance of Gwynne Waters, PT, DPT, OMPT, SCS, Vice President of Continuing

Education at Team Rehab, the Lung Strong Program was established. The team consulted with expert physicians and respiratory therapists to develop the program, which was designed so it can be implemented via telemedicine or in the clinic, and then tailored to the needs of individual patients. The virus’s effect on the body is extensive, and while it targets the lungs, a lack of oxygen and widespread inflammation throughout the body can harm the kidneys, liver, heart, brain, and other organs. For patients who have fought the virus, the recovery process and road to wellness can be long. “We really thought there would be a need, and as it turns out we have more than 55,000 people in Michigan alone who have recovered from COVID-19,” Dehn says. Lung Strong aims to help patients restore their strength, endurance, and normal breathing capacity; help people resume their participation in activities of daily living and recreational activities; and resolve new issues with pain, stiffness, or weakness. The program utilizes breathing exercises as well as strength and endurance exercises, and monitors vitals. Although Dehn initially thought patients would mostly be elderly, as the illness is skewed toward impacting this population, his first client was in her 30s and wanted to improve her strength and stamina in order to go back to work. Team Rehab screens every patient and staff member every day, utilizing a series of questions and monitoring temperatures. All staff and patients are required to wear masks, which are provided if needed.

Each Team Rehab clinic has also made a significant reduction in the number of patients in the clinic at any one time, to allow greater physical distancing. Dehn’s clinic has accomplished this by changing the schedule so only two or three therapists are in the clinic at the same time. Clinics have been encouraged to create more space or put barriers between treatment tables. The treadmill may be in an area where it can be blocked by a curtain, and anything touched is sanitized prior to patient use. Hand sanitizers are located throughout the clinic, and staff and patients are encouraged to offer any other ideas about ways to maximize safety. “Things changed so quickly throughout this crisis. Fortunately, we’ve been able to continue to adhere to our core principle: Do what’s best for our patients,” Dehn says.

Team Rehab Physical Therapy We have a location near you! team-rehab.com (See website for convenient locations and phone numbers.)


1885

MENTION PRESIDENTS WHO ADVANCED the cause of civil rights, and Abraham Lincoln and Lyndon Baines Johnson leap to mind. But Hiram Ulysses Grant, who served two terms beginning in 1869, is seldom included, though he should be. It was under Grant’s watch that the 15th Amendment, which gave voting rights to African American men, was passed. In 1875, he signed the Civil Rights Act, which prohibited racial discrimination in public accommodations and transportation, only to see it overturned by the U.S. Supreme Court. During Reconstruction, the 18th president sent federal troops to the South to curb the terror of the Ku Klux Klan and White League. As president, he appointed minorities to several posts. And, of course, Grant’s keen strategy when he was a general led to the Union victory during the Civil War. Grant would appear to have a sterling record on civil rights — but for one notable blemish. In the 1850s, he purchased a slave, one William Jones, from his father-in-law to help with the upkeep of his farm. He freed Jones a year later, but many would rightly argue that was a year too late. Grant’s own parents were ardent abolitionists whose position was so unyielding that they refused to attend their son’s wedding because his wife came from a family of slaveholders. But Grant, at least in his younger life, seemed more ambivalent. He later recognized the scourge of slavery and reformed. While serving in the military, Grant lived with his wife in Detroit from 1849-50 in a clapboard house (above) on East Fort Street. In 1885, upon the occasion of Grant’s death, Union veterans paid homage to him with draped bunting, a large “G” over one downstairs window, and a placard saying “His Home 1850” on the other. Over an upstairs window is an image of Grant. The home was later moved to the Michigan State Fairgrounds, where in recent years it sat decaying. But in August, the house, in two sections, was transported to Orleans and Wilkins, in the Eastern Market area, where it will be renovated and opened as an education center. —George Bulanda

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

Hour Detroit (USPS 016523) is published monthly by Hour Media, LLC, 5750 New King Dr., Suite 100, Troy, MI 48098. Periodical Postage Paid at Troy, MI and additional offices. Postmaster: Send address changes to Hour Detroit, 5750 New King Dr., Suite 100, Troy, MI 48098. Subscription price: $17.95 one year, $29.95 two years. Copyright @ 2020 Hour Media. All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or part without permission is prohibited. Hour is a registered trademark of Hour Media.

The Way It Was

PHOTO COURTESY OF THE BURTON HISTORICAL COLLECTION, DETROIT PUBLIC LIBRARY (THE DETROIT VIEWING COMPANY)




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