Hour Detroit // April 2021

CROSS THESE WIRES

SIX NEARBY PLACES TO CLIP INTO ZIP LINES

HOW RESTAURANTS HIT RESTART

AFTER A LONG SHUTDOWN, FIRING UP THE KITCHEN IS THE EASY PART

APRIL 2021

$3.95, MARCH 2021 HOURDETROIT.COM

THE POWER OF FLOWERS

GROW THEM. WEAR THEM. SEND THEM.

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HOUR D E T R O I T

VOLUME THIRTY

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ISSUE FOUR

PUBLISHER: John Balardo EDITOR IN CHIEF: Dan Caccavaro SENIOR EDITOR & DIGITAL CONTENT COORDINATOR: Emma Klug NEWS & FEATURES EDITOR: Steve Friess DINING EDITOR: Lyndsay Green EDITORIAL ASSISTANTS: Rachael Thomas, Ashley Winn COPY EDITORS: Kathy Gibbons, Sydnee Thompson EDITORIAL INTERNS: Taylor Brown, Jack Szkutnik

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CREATIVE DIRECTOR: Lindsay Richards ASSOCIATE ART DIRECTOR: Keagan Coop GRAPHIC DESIGNER: Robin Vargo CONTRIBUTORS: Joe Alisa, Nic Antaya, Gerard+Belevender, George Bulanda, Jess Bylander, Jennifer Conlin, Tammy Coxen, Serena Maria Daniels, Ryan Patrick Hooper, Kailey Howell, Rachel Idzerda, Lindsay Kalter, Jean Lannen, Matt LaVere, Jim McFarlin, Sarah McMenemy, Christopher Porter, Rebecca Simonov, Mark Spezia, Jer Staes, Hayden Stinebaugh, Megan Swoyer, Joe Vaughn, Holly Wales, Ashley Zlatopolsky ASSOCIATE PUBLISHER: Jason Hosko ACCOUNT EXECUTIVES: Cynthia Barnhart, Karli Brown, Lauren DeBano, Donna Kassab, Mary Pantely & Associates, Angela Tisch IT DIRECTOR: Jeremy Leland DIGITAL DIRECTOR: Nick Britsky WEB PROJECT LEAD: Matthew Cappo WEB PROJECT ASSISTANTS: Mariah Knott, Luanne Lim, Bart Woinski SOCIAL MEDIA COORDINATOR: Travis Cleveland PRODUCTION DIRECTOR: Jenine Rhoades SENIOR PRODUCTION ARTIST: Robert Gorczyca PRODUCTION ARTIST: Stephanie Daniel ADVERTISING COORDINATOR: Amanda Zwiren ADVERTISING DESIGNERS: Daniel Moen, Amanda Zwiren PRS GRAPHIC DESIGNERS: Jim Bibart, Julia McGillicuddy DIRECTOR OF AUDIENCE DEVELOPMENT: Michelle VanArman CIRCULATION MANAGER: Riley Meyers CIRCULATION COORDINATORS: Barbie Baldwin, Elise Coyle,Cathy Krajenke, Rachel Moulden MARKETING & EVENTS DIRECTOR: Mary Sutton DIGITAL MARKETING MANAGER: Caitlin Cullen

Meet Kathy.

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MARKETING INTERNS: Caitlin Farrand, Lexi Nixon MARKETING RESEARCH MANAGER: Ana Potter MARKETING RESEARCH ASSISTANT: Gabby Hejnar MARKETING RESEARCH SALES COORDINATOR: Hannah Thomas MARKETING RESEARCH COORDINATOR: Georgia Iden MARKETING RESEARCH INTERNS: Alexis Boeskool, Maggie Floyd, Keely Hinchen, Isabella Mitchel DIRECTOR OF BUSINESS OPERATIONS: Kathie Gorecki SALES ASSISTANT: Danielle Szatkowki PUBLISHING ASSISTANT: Kristin Mingo ACCOUNTING ASSOCIATES: Natasha Bajju, Andrew Kotzian, Katie West DISTRIBUTION: Target Distribution, Troy HOUR MEDIA CEO: Stefan Wanczyk | PRESIDENT: John Balardo

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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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04.21

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

The Alley Project is a walking gallery highlighting colorful murals on fences spanning one city block in Detroit’s Mexicantown neighborhood.

29 Go There

Right Here

OK, so maybe now’s not the best time to travel the world. Don’t despair, Detroit — we’ve got you covered. There are plenty of ways to experience other cultures without catching a flight.

Our short-distance travel guide will show you how. .

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COVER ILLUSTRATION HOLLY WALES FENCE GERARD + BELEVENDER

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

Up Front MADE IN MICHIGAN: 14 THE GRID KID

How Farmington Hills native Andy Kravis became a crossword puzzle ‘rock star’

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Agenda 46 CULTURE CALENDAR

Our carefully curated guide to the month’s arts offerings

47 LIVE FAST, WRITE SHORT

CARL LEVIN’S 15 CASE FOR OPTIMISM

Jimmy Doom distills a lifetime of hard living into bite-sized daily stories

Michigan’s longest-serving senator’s new memoir offers a prescription for our politics

48 ALL THINGS HOLY

Lily Talmers delivers a stunning collection of songs on the human condition

A SHOT IN THE ARM 16

Health professionals scramble to boost vaccine buy-in among skeptical Black Michiganders

49 HIGH WIRE ACT

Clip in and step off at these area zip lining parks

A ZOOKEEPER’S EXIT 18

50 HOOKED ON DETROIT

Departing DZS chief Ron Kagan will leave a legacy of innovation and animal welfare advocacy

Nicole Curtis is on a mission to save classic Motown homes

Food&Drink

24/Seven

66 SPRING SPIRITS

Metro Detroit breweries and distilleries share what’s new for the season

MI STYLE: 20 CRISTIN RĺCHARD

An artist who plumbs the relationship between people and planet shares what fuels her creativity

67 RESTAURANT REBOOT Reopening after a long shutdown isn’t so easy

I NEED MY SPACE: 22 DEBORAH SILVER

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The landscape guru behind Detroit Garden Works digs her artsy office

PICK THESE FLOWERS 23

Local spots put their own spin on the classic toaster pastry

WATCH THEM GROW 24

72 CHRONICLES OF A COVID KITCHEN

One sure way to help kids blossom is to cultivate an early interest in backyard gardening

One writer’s quarantine quarters overflow with loved ones — and lessons learned

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Chris Donaldson’s competitive nature has fueled his success as chef to top Detroit athletes

71 POP CULTURE

Florals are big this season.

Here’s how to wear them.

Meet the budding talent behind Detroit Flower Co.’s next-level arrangements

70 COOKING FOR THE LOVE OF THE GAME

10 E D I TO R’ S L E T T E R

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74 R E STAU R A N T L I ST I N G S 96 T H E WAY I T WA S

Cooley High School, 1944

POP TARTS GERARD + BELEVENDER COOKING HAYDEN STINEBAUGH ZIPLINING COURTESY OF FRANKENMUTH AERIAL PARK

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04.21 From Our Readers SAY NO TO THE DRESS

BRIDAL SEPARATES THAT MAKE ELEGANCE EASY

AUTONOMY 101

WHEN WILL OUR CARS TAKE THE WHEEL?

THE CULTURE KEEPERS

6 WOMEN WHO HELM ICONIC INSTITUTIONS

PUT SOME KICK IN YOUR COCOA

WARM YOUR INSIDES UP WITH THESE ADULT HOT CHOCOLATES

THE SURREAL LIFE OF GRETCHEN WHITMER

E D I T O R’ S L E T T E R

Until the World Opens Up Again I DON’ T KNOW WHAT COMPELLED ME to buy a Dr. Pepper. It had been years since I’d tasted the stuff, and I’d never actually liked it all that much. Yet there I was, grabbing a 16-oz. bottle of it out of a snack bar cooler and handing over my debit card.

When I twisted the cap a few minutes later and took a swig, what flowed into my mouth tasted almost nothing like the distinctive cherry-cola flavor my taste buds were expecting. In fact, it tasted like nothing much at all — imagine a Dr. Pepper-scented seltzer, or what’s left at the bottom of a glass of it once all the ice has melted. “Huh,” I thought. “Maybe I just got a bad bottle?”

It wasn’t until that night, when I drove past a road-killed skunk and my kids shrieked hysterically about the stench, that I knew something was wrong. I smelled nothing.

I booked a COVID test the next day. Two days after that, I followed a link to a secure web portal to review my results. The report said simply, “Detected.” When I received a call from the state later that day confirming my positive result, my reaction surprised me. I was elated — bordering on giddy. After months of OCD-ish vigilance, I’d somehow been infected. And I was OK. I wasn’t going to die. And, assuming I’d enjoy at least some level of post-infection immunity, I was — within reason — liberated.

In an instant, it was as if the entire quadrant of my brain that had been pressed into service to process COVID anxiety had been flung open for other uses — like feeling hopeful. Like seeing life’s possibilities again. Like exhaling for the first time in months.

In reading our piece this month on the obstacles that are hindering efforts to vaccinate Black Michiganders (page 16), I wondered what it will be like when we finally hit a critical mass of vaccinations and achieve herd immunity. Will society collectively experience that same giddy sense of release from COVID angst that I felt. Will our shared funk lift swiftly, ushering in a period of 1920s-style exuberance? Will some of the crazy that has infected our culture over the past year dissipate as people find better things to do with their time?

And especially important here in a state whose economy has been battered by this pandemic and its consequent shutdowns: Will post-COVID America enjoy the equivalent of a post-war economic boom?

I imagine the post-COVID era feeling a lot like spring after a Michigan winter — that monochromatic purgatory of a season that can grind a person down as mercilessly as a COVID lockdown. (If I were to write a book about winter here, I’d call it Fifty-One Shades of Gray.) Several pieces in this month’s issue celebrate the welcome arrival of spring — and the colorful blooms that come with it.

Whatever post-COVID life feels like, I know I for one am going to want a long vacation when it’s finally safe to travel the world again. In the meantime, we’ve compiled in this month’s City Guide (page 29) a road map for replicating trips abroad right here in metro Detroit, where we’re blessed to have a nearly endless variety of ways to sample the cultures of the world without booking a flight.

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A pandemic. An SNL parody. A kidnapping plot. And mean tweets from the president.

Did anyone have a more bizarre and intense 2020 than 'the woman in Michigan'?

BY ST E V E F R I E S S

'NOBODY IS LISTENING'

A RESTAURANT GIANT'S MESSAGE TO LANSING

“Looking forward to more information regarding the progress of these highly developed vehicles (‘We’re Still a Long Way from Roadways Full of Autonomous Vehicles,’ February). Very interesting reports given thus far. I may just live to see a total conversion of [the] current transportation system to driverless vehicles.”

—Frank Guerrero, hourdetroit.com “That’s what makes me proud to be from Detroit!

We need more uplifting stories about the people from the D. Thanks for sharing (‘Songwriting Pioneer Sylvia Moy’s Legacy Continues at Her Detroit Recording Studio,’ February)!”

—Ernest David, hourdetroit.com “How wonderful to feature Anne [Parsons], a brilliant, strong, creative, and kind leader who brought new life and stability to the Detroit Symphony Orchestra and thus Detroit and Michigan (‘The Women Leading Detroit’s Cultural Institutions,’ February). Bravo!”

—@moodynancy, Instagram “This is great! I would love to see more indigenous content in Hour Detroit (‘A Photo Exhibit Shifts the Focus to the Native People on the Other Side of the Lens,’ February).”

—@thelisaham, Instagram

Hourdetroit.com Digital Extra The annual celebration of Earth Day on April 22 gives us a chance not only to honor our planet but also to redouble our efforts to treat it better — remember: Reduce, reuse, recycle, folks! Head to hourdetroit.com for our roundup of tips for living more sustainably, including product recommendations.

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

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Behind the Scenes RON KAGAN, Detroit Zoological Society’s executive director (being photographed here in his natural habitat by Matt LaVere), is preparing to step away this summer from the zoo he has led for nearly three decades. Kagan will leave a legacy as an innovator and as a pioneer in the humane treatment of captive wildlife.

“We’ve always tried to make the zoo work for both people and animals,” he told us. Read more about Kagan on page 18.

CONTRIBUTORS

Holly Wales

ILLUSTRATED OUR COVER AND OUR CITY GUIDE, BEGINNING ON PAGE 29 “If I could travel anywhere right now, I’d visit Nuuk in Greenland. The painted wooden houses really appeal to me, and I would love to draw them and to escape into nature.” Wales is a U.K.-based illustrator. Her work explores everything from hand-drawn maps to lettering and food, pushing color marker pens to their limits. She has produced work for Bloomberg, Condé Nast, Deutsche Bank, GQ, The Wall Street Journal, Men’s Health, The Huffington Post, Uniqlo, Urban Outfitters, Wired, and others.

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IF YOU COULD TRAVEL ANYWHERE IN THE WORLD RIGHT NOW, WHERE WOULD YOU GO?

Jennifer Conlin

WROTE “CHRONICLES OF A COVID KITCHEN” ON PAGE 72 “I would go to London. My husband and I lived there with our three children for 12 of the 20 years we lived overseas. Some of the people I’m closest to in the world are still there. I just want to go for a long walk on the Thames and take in all the sights and sounds of a city I adore and hang out in a pub with my buddies.” Conlin has worked in journalism since 1984. She has lived in London, Brussels, Paris, and Cairo, where she was a contributor for The New York Times, before returning to the U.S. in 2011. She now works at her alma mater as deputy editor of Michigan Alumnus magazine.

Jer Staes

WROTE OUR STORY ABOUT CARL LEVIN’S NEW MEMOIR ON PAGE 15 “The first place I want to go is Montreal because my dad was born there and, like Detroit and New Orleans, it has major French influences on culture and architecture.”

Staes, host and producer of the Daily Detroit podcast, is an award-winning Detroitbased multimedia journalist and communicator. His media career spans more than two decades and includes stints in broadcast television production and direction, writing, social media strategy, and corporate communications.

RON KAGAN MATT LEVERE HOLLY WALES COURTESY OF HOLLY WALES JENNIFER CONLIN COURTESY OF JENNIFER CONLIN JER STAES COURTESY OF JER STAES

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04.21 NEWS, NOTES, AND PERSONALITIES

Up Front LEADER SHI P

HE BROUGHT A ZOO TO NEW HEIGHTS DZS' Ron Kagan, a pioneer in captive-animal welfare, prepares to retire after almost three decades at the helm, leaving behind a legacy of innovation and record attendance p. 18

MADE IN M I C H I G A N p. 14 P O L I T I C S p. 15 H E A LT H p. 16 L E A D E R S H I P p. 18

PHOTO MATT LAVERE

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Up Front

Winning $2.6 million in a little-known quiz show set Andy Kravis free to pursue his passion for puzzles.

writing crosswords. Indeed, without that money, it’s doubtful he could have afforded to become, as the prolific Ann Arbor-based crossword constructor Peter A. Collins put it, “a kind of rock star.”

Since last summer, Kravis has served as assistant puzzles and games editor at The New Yorker, having bounced to that gig from a similar job at The New York Times under crossword legend Wil Shortz.

In both roles, Kravis, who is gay, has championed a new wave of constructors bringing modern language and fresher clues to the daily pastime of millions who never think much about how puzzles are created. The 32-year-old spoke with Hour Detroit about his journey to the heart of the world of acrosses and downs — and how he sneaks Michiganalia in whenever he can get away with it.

Were you always interested in puzzles and games?

MADE IN MICHIGAN

MEET THE GRID KID How Farmington Hills native Andy Kravis became a crossword puzzles ‘rock star’

BY STEV E FR I ES S ILLUSTRATION BY RACHE L ID ZER DA

BIG T V CONTEST WINNERS like Ken Jennings often parlay their prominence into careers in the public eye. Andy Kravis, a Farmington Hills native, deliberately went the opposite direction after he won what remains the largest single game-show prize — $2.6 million. The show was The Million Second Quiz, a trivia stunt that lasted two weeks on NBC in the summer of 2013, after which the network did “a very good job of burying the archival footage,” Kravis says. That’s just as well for Kravis, who says he didn’t “have to deal with the consequences of being well known” while also using the largesse to do “what I’ve been able to do with my life.”

Kravis was at Columbia University Law in New York when he won the money that allowed him to focus on something few people can make a living at:

As a kid, I was more interested in trivia. As a family, we’d watch Wheel of Fortune and Jeopardy! every night. I probably leaned more toward the Jeopardy! side of things. But in my early teens, I would look over my mom’s shoulder when she would solve The Times’ Sunday puzzle, which is reprinted in the Free Press.

When did you become a solver?

When I was in college at University of Michigan, I worked in the [liberal arts studies] honors office and every day we would run off 30 Xeroxes of The New York Times puzzle to put out in the student lounge. I would run an extra one for myself. That’s how you do it — you just do a lot of puzzles and eventually you get good at it.

How do you go from solving puzzles to making puzzles?

I moved to New York for law school and I watched the documentary Wordplay, which, for a lot of crossword enthusiasts, got them into it. The American CO N T I N U E D O N PAG E 95

SCIENCE MITTEN

Intriguing findings from researchers across Michigan

By Steve Friess ‘YOU’ CAN BE QUITE PERSUASIVE Sentences that employ the generic or impersonal second-person — where “you” really stands in for “everyone,” as in, “You should read Hour Detroit every month” — tend to resonate better with readers, according to a study recently published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of

14

Sciences and led by University of Michigan psychology and linguistics professor Susan Gelman.

Gelman and her co-authors analyzed 1,120 passages in 56 popular books that were highlighted by readers on Kindle, where readers can see what other readers have taken special note of.

Passages with the generic “you” were 8.5 times more likely to be highlighted, the researchers found. “This study is a really nice example of how sensitive people are to even a subtle variation in perspective and language,” Gelman says.

THIS STUDY IS A REALLY NICE EXAMPLE OF HOW SENSITIVE PEOPLE ARE TO EVEN A SUBTLE VARIATION IN PERSPECTIVE AND LANGUAGE.

THE PILL FOR MEN IN THE PIPELINE? A pair of Wayne State University scientists landed a $150,000 grant from a nonprofit group known as the Male Contraceptive Initiative to further their research into ways to render sperm infertile. OB-GYN professor Zhibing Zhang and geneticist James Granneman believe they have identified two proteins necessary for sperm to function properly and are investigating ways to interfere with that process so that both men and women can take equal responsibility for preventing unwanted

pregnancies. “More and more, men are expressing the desire to participate in contraception with their partners,” says Heather Vahdat, executive director of the North Carolina-based funding group.

‘IRON MAN’ CELLS MAY HELP REDUCE TOXIC WASTE Geobacter, a hardy microbe found in sediment and soil, is capable of extracting rust from cobalt, possibly leading the way to reclaiming the scarce and dangerous metal widely used in high-tech batteries.

That’s the findings of a research team led by Michigan State University molecular geneticist Gemma Reguera as published in the journal Frontiers in Microbiology.

Reguera likens Geobacter to a Marvel superhero because it removes the rust by taking it on itself “like Iron Man when he puts on the suit.” Reguera next wants to investigate whether the microbe can reclaim cadmium, common in rechargeable batteries and solar cells, which is also polluting landfills and waterways.

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Up Front

MICHIGAN’S LONGEST- SERVING U.S. senator has a lot to say. Carl Levin, who served 36 years in Washington and retired in 2015, goes deep in Getting to the Heart of the Matter, a new memoir about his travels, his six terms in Washington, and more. And then the 86-year-old elder Democratic statesman went even deeper with Hour Detroit in a candid interview about his successes, his disappointments, and his hopes and fears for the nation.

In the 1970s, you served on the Detroit City Council. How important is local government and what did you learn from it?

Whether it’s education, healthcare, having access to an emergency room, garbage pickup, water service, clean water, streets that are repaired — local governments are in an absolutely critical position to provide services. I saw too many examples of where you had a well-intended program, like the HUD program in Detroit, that actually damaged the city because it was so badly run. We ended up with 10,000 or more HUD-owned vacant houses, which were eyesores and a danger to the neighborhood. So we had a well-publicized incident where we tore down a HUD house to show that we had the power, under the police power. They threatened to indict me and all the rest. I knew it was hollow because, heck — if they indicted me, the jury would convict HUD, they wouldn’t convict me as the president of the City Council. I learned not just the importance of government programs working, but how you’ve got to use oversight as an investigative tool, to provide the evidence of where there’s failures.

Carl Levin's new memoir (Wayne State University Press, $30) offers a prescription for our politics.

POLITICS

Carl Levin Isn't Giving Up on American Democracy In his new memoir, Michigan's six-term senator stresses the need for cooperation and self-sacrifice in modern politics

BY JER STAES

In your book, you emphasize the importance of sharing credit and communicating with opponents. Is that a way out of our current hyperpartisan dysfunction?

Yes. Understandably, different people have different experiences and views. But if you want to do something right, if you want to get something accomplished for your town or your state or the country, you listen to the other guy, consider the argument and be open. You’ve got to seek common ground, and part of that is not taking sole credit for stuff when somebody else deserves credit. You really should go overboard to help other people get some credit for something, too, because everybody in public life wants to be productive.

Many Democrats want to kill the Senate filibuster, which requires 60 votes to close debate and vote on most legislation. You defend the filibuster and opposed then-Majority Leader Harry Reid’s 2013 decision to end it for confirmation of judges and other presidential appointments. Why? The filibuster forces people — unless they get a supermajority — to work together. You had to reach to get some other party members. And it’s a way to stop bad stuff. Just imagine if the filibuster hadn’t been destroyed by the socalled “nuclear option” for confirmation of judges. Look what a different outcome we’d have on the Supreme Court. Most Democrats — all but three of us — voted to end it by breaking the Senate rules, and that helped create a terrible conflict in the Senate. The kind of division that you have here now, we contributed to it.

We didn’t start it. It started by Mitch McConnell simply threatening to filibuster Obama’s judges. But now we have at least two of the three [Trump-nominated] Supreme Court justices who wouldn’t have been confirmed if the filibuster rule were in place. If the Republicans controlled the Senate, would you be willing to end the filibuster if they want it to end? When you ask the people who want to end the filibuster that question, they pause. Believe me.

So what does Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer do, then?

Here’s the first thing: It’s not the filibuster that’s messing things up. It’s the threat of a filibuster. People just simply have to get up and threaten to filibuster and the majority leader says we won’t proceed that way. Back to Harry Reid, and we argued this out in our caucus. I argued, for God’s sake, make them filibuster. The response was, “Well, we have to give up weekends, you have to give up seeing the kids do, you know, soccer games and so forth.” Well, that’s true. There’s a price to be paid. But I know, deep in my gut, that if we had forced the Republicans

Six Things to Know About Carl Levin 1 As a Detroit City Council member, he was dubbed Mayor Coleman Young’s “righthand man” by Forbes.

2 In the last four of his six elections to the U.S. Senate, Levin won by more than 15 points, including a 19-point win over now-Republican National Committee chair Ronna Romney McDaniel in 1996.

3 Forward magazine referred to the Levins, which include his brother, longtime U.S. Rep. Sander Levin, and his nephew, current U.S. Rep. Andy Levin, as “America’s only Jewish political dynasty.”

4 Levin was one of just 23 senators who voted against the authorization of the use of military force that precipitated the 2003 invasion of Iraq.

5 Levin co-sponsored the successful effort in 2010 to repeal the military’s ban on LGBT soldiers and the failed 2011 effort to repeal the Defense of Marriage Act, which prohibited federal recognition of same-sex marriage.

6 Levin received a 100 percent rating from the National Abortion Rights Action League for his support of abortion rights and an F rating from the National Rifle Association for his support of gun control.

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BOOK COURTESY OF WAYNE STATE UNIVERSITY PRESS

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DETROIT DIGITS

$219

The median premium in rent for a home in metro Detroit with an additional bedroom for use as an office. The Milwaukee area is the most affordable place to rent an apartment with a bonus room, costing an average of $191 more.

46.4%

The share of minorities living in Detroit who own their homes. Detroit ranks 10th in the nation; El Paso is No. 1 with 58.5 percent.

143.3%

The increase in total production of renewable energy in Michigan over the past decade, mostly via wind turbines. 8.5 percent of power produced in 2019 was from green sources, up from 3.7 percent in 2010.

Michigan’s increase ranked 14th; Kansas, with a 511 percent increase, was No. 1.

48.5%

The proportion of employees in metro Detroit who work for a small business. That ranks the region No. 16 among large metro areas. The Grand Rapids area, with 50.36 percent, was No. 9, and the New Orleans region topped the list with 54.65 percent.

(Sources: Bureau of Labor Statistics Population Survey, U.S. Census Bureau, HUD Office of Policy Development and Research, U.S. Energy Information Administration)

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HEALTH

INNOCULATING AGAINST DOUBT As the vaccination push ramps up, medical professionals mobilize to combat skepticism among Black Michiganders

BY LINDSAY KALTER

DR. LAMONT R. JONES has dared to disagree with his 99-year-old grandmother, Sarah Brown, only twice in his life: once when he tweaked her Thanksgiving recipes, and a second time, more recently, when she challenged the efficacy of the COVID-19 vaccines. “Grandma, I don’t normally go against what you say,” Jones, vice chair of otolaryngology at Henry Ford Hospital, told the family matriarch, who lives in Farmington Hills, “but I have to correct you on this one.”

Yet Brown’s skepticism is understandable. In her near-century as a Black woman in America, she has lived through several high-profile ethical atrocities perpetrated by medical researchers and practitioners against Black and brown populations.

She was born just a couple of years after Henrietta Lacks, a Black woman whose cervical cancer cells were harvested without her consent for years of ongoing study. She was 10 at the start of the Tuskegee experiment, the notorious 40-year study in which 600 Black men were lied to and intentionally left with untreated syphilis.

And those are just the historical headlines. Racism in medicine is still alive and well today, Jones says, and racial injustices that surged to the fore in 2020 have reignited long-smoldering flames of doubt.

Doubts about the COVID-19 vaccines run rampant across the country, and nowhere are they more prevalent than in Black and brown communities, which have been hardest hit by the pandemic. This is a huge problem for everyone in metro Detroit, public health experts say, because immunizing primarily white people won’t achieve the herd immunity — which requires around 80 percent of the public to be vaccinated — necessary for the region to move on economically and socially from the pandemic.

In Michigan, Black people have suffered a 40 percent higher COVID-19 case rate than whites and are three times more likely to die from the disease.

The data in Detroit are even more startling; Detroiters account for one-quarter of the state’s COVID-19 deaths while making up only 7 percent of the population, said Dr. Herbert C. Smitherman, vice dean of diversity and community affairs at the Wayne State University School of Medicine, during a February virtual information session to encourage vaccinations among communities of color. Instead of demonizing people of color for their skepticism and mistrust, he argues, it’s time to make the system more trustworthy.

Jones and other doctors of color are working to help earn trust through online town halls, outreach to church groups, and difficult talks with their own families and friends. “There’s no question this country’s health care system has a history of mistreating people of color in particular,” said Dr. Joneigh Khaldun, the state’s top public health official, at another virtual information session in late February aimed at encouraging communities of color to embrace the vaccine.

As of late February, 1.2 million Michigan residents VACCINATION ISTOCK/FG TRADE ICONS THENOUNPROJECT

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Up Front

had received at least one of two required doses of the available vaccines, according to data from the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services. Of the 56 percent of reported recipients of doses for which race information was reported, 3.7 percent were Black, 41.7 percent were white, and 53.2 percent were of unknown ethnicity or were listed as “other.” Those figures are particularly alarming given that Black people make up more than 14 percent of the state’s population, according to 2019 U.S. Census Bureau data.

Several factors explain the low vaccination rate, from an inability for many residents to take off from work to a lack of transportation, but it’s the skepticism about the medical profession that creates an additional barrier that must be busted, doctors say. Nearly half of white Michiganders say they are “very likely” to get the vaccine, while only 25 percent of Black respondents say the same, MDHHS research shows.

Religious leaders, perhaps the most trusted figures in communities of color, are taking the lead alongside medical personnel. “God’s not going to do for you what you can do for yourself,” Bishop Charles Ellis III of the Greater Grace Temple in Detroit said at a recent town hall. “The Lord sends us medical experts and doctors.” Fears of vaccine side effects — a common complaint — are overblown, he insisted, quipping that “anything that goes in your body has an effect. If I eat ribs at night, it might have an effect at 2 a.m.”

There are efforts afoot to help eliminate the practical barriers to getting vaccinated. In

February, the state began holding vaccine clinics at churches and other community centers in low-income areas, and the City of Detroit is offering $2 bus fare for anyone trying to get to the TCF Center for a vaccination appointment.

Meanwhile, Ellis and Jones say they’re combatting those who disseminate misinformation to scare an already nervous population. One example is Tamika Morrow, a nurse practitioner in Bloomfield Hills who has posted videos and messages online discouraging vaccinations with baseless claims that people who get it are putting themselves in danger of autoimmune problems to prevent an ailment — COVID-19 — that, she says, “99 percent of people recover from.” That is

“God’s not going to do for you what you can do for yourself. … The Lord sends us medical experts and doctors.”

VAX FACTS: How to Get a COVID Shot

BY STEV E F RIE S S AND J E S S BY L A ND ER

By April, vaccination programs across our region should be well-oiled machines cranking in high gear.

As of early March, with the FDA approval of Johnson & Johnson’s single-dose vaccine and a deal with rival pharmaceuticals giant

VACCINE ISTOCK/BILL OXFORD

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—BISHOP CHARLES ELLIS III

Merck to help manufacture it, the Biden administration predicted anyone who wants to be vaccinated for COVID-19 should be able to get one of the three FDA-approved versions by the end of May. That’s months earlier than the most optimistic earlier projections; Michigan’s preliminary timetable put out in January didn’t foresee non-essential workers getting the shot until the fall.

As of early March, more than 2.3 million doses had been administered across Michigan, with 1.4 million of the state’s 8 million residents over age 16 fully vaccinated. That was about 18 percent, primarily consisting of people who work in health care, education, and childcare, are over age 65, or live in nursing or group homes. About two-thirds of those who have received at least one shot are women and about 58 percent are over 65, according to Michigan Department of Health and Human Services data. (The Pfizer and Moderna vaccines, the only ones available as of early March, require two shots.)

Michigan is partnering with

simply wrong; Michigan has seen a 2.6 percent fatality rate for COVID-19, above the national rate of 1.8 percent. And that doesn’t begin to account for the millions who have recovered only to face ongoing health problems associated with the coronavirus, experts say.

In actuality, most people of color know COVID-19 is deadly and can be devastating because they’ve likely had friends or relatives who have suffered or died. Jones, for instance, says a great aunt and a cousin both have died from the disease. And Dr. Kellie McFarlin, a Henry Ford Hospital surgeon, lost a 5-year-old cousin who had spent two weeks on a ventilator. McFarlin went on to volunteer last year to be part of the vaccine trial for Moderna, the maker of one of the three FDA-approved vaccines now available. “I don’t recall anything feeling as helpless as I did then,” McFarlin says of her cousin’s death. “When opportunities come about to feel like you could do something more, you take them.”

McFarlin speaks virtually to church and community groups, as do many other physicians of color. Often the concerns of the Black and brown people who attend are not founded in the historic racism that has damaged trust but in more practical questions about side effects and efficacy, she says.

Slowly but surely, the pro-vaccination campaign is gaining ground: “Just watching the expressions of understanding and nodding and the hearing the thank yous, it seems to help,” McFarlin says. “I have had a couple of people say it’s made them really think about it and they’d schedule an appointment.

To me, that’s a win.”

several pharmacy chains — Rite Aid, Meijer, Walgreens LeaderNET, and Medicine Shoppe — to deliver vaccines, and has provided vaccines to some federally qualified health centers.

Because of the limited supply, the vaccine was not yet available to doctors’ offices, MDHHS says.

“It’s been more challenging getting it into the arms of the next tiers, particularly those who have the social vulnerabilities that limit their abilities to get to the locations where vaccines are traditionally administered,” says Phillip Levy, a professor of emergency medicine at Wayne State University and chief innovation officer of Wayne Health.

Wayne Health and partners are working with Ford Motor Company to deploy mobile health units that were being used for COVID-19 testing to help get the most vulnerable Michiganders vaccinated.

“We have to make it not a competition for those who are most tech savvy to get the vaccine,” he says. “Everyone needs a chance to be healthy and safe.”

So, how do you do it?

• Anyone in Michigan can go to michigan.gov/COVIDvaccine and click on the link to “find a site in your county.”

• NBCUniversal has rolled out a handy, user-friendly site called planyourvaccine.com where people can search by state, age, and profession to determine whether they’re eligible for the vaccine.

• Here are a few hotlines to keep handy for help scheduling vaccine appointments: Oakland County: 800-848-5533 Macomb County: 586-463-8777 City of Detroit: 313-230-0505 Washtenaw County: 734-544-6700 Livingston County: 517-546-9850 State of Michigan: 888-535-6136

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“I feel really good about what we’ve done for the community and nature.”

— RON KAGAN

Detroit Zoological Society’s executive director, Ron Kagan, has sought to balance the interests of visitors and animals alike.

LEADERSHIP

DETROIT ZOO’S TOP BANANA IS READY TO SPLIT

DZS chief Ron Kagan, hailed for his contributions to animal welfare, is set to retire after 28 years

BY MARK SPEZIA | PHOTO BY MATT LAVERE

WINKY AND WANDA were crying out for help. The beloved Asian elephants lived in one of the largest enclosures for their species at any zoo in the world, but they suffered nonetheless. This was 2004, and Winky, at age 51, had foot troubles, while arthritis afflicted Wanda, 46.

For mammals who roam nearly 30 miles a day in the wild and thrive emotionally through long-lasting social bonds with members of their herds, the elephants’ home at the Detroit Zoo was too confining and isolating. On top of that, the harsh Michigan winters forced the pair inside for long stretches of time, depriving them of meaningful exercise.

All of this weighed heavily on Ron Kagan, then 11 years into his tenure as Detroit Zoological Society (DZS) executive director. The result was a landmark decision: DZS would become the first zoo in the country to give up its elephants solely on ethical grounds, a move that drew widespread praise from animal welfare organizations, including a “backbone” award from People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA).

By the following spring, Winky and Wanda had moved to a 30-plus-acre refuge at the Performing Animal Welfare Society’s ARK 2000 Sanctuary in San Andreas, California. And in that move, Kagan began establishing a reputation as one of the world’s most respected and innovative zookeepers. It has earned him numerous awards, record-setting attendance, and impressive membership growth.

All of which will be his legacy when he retires this summer after 28 years at DZS. “As much as I love this place, it was time,” says Kagan, 69.

The celebrated elephant move — ending 81 years of having the massive creatures as a staple of the DZS — was a matter of balancing the interests of patrons with the needs of animals.

Far from being put off by the decision, zoo lovers remained loyal and applauded Kagan for the many new programs and events he brought, most notably the Arctic Ring of Life, one of the world’s largest polar bear exhibits. That addition earned an exhibit award from the Association of Zoos and Aquariums, as did Amphibiville, which The Wall Street Journal dubbed a “Disneyland for toads” when it opened in 2000.

The list of innovations goes on. Kagan developed the Ford Education Center as well as habitats for beavers, wolves, otters, red pandas, penguins, and tigers. And, in keeping with his lifelong effort to reform the zoo world, Kagan’s DZS established the Center for Zoo and Aquarium Animal Welfare and Ethics and the Berman Academy of Humane Education.

“I feel really good about what we’ve done for the community and nature,” Kagan says. “The Academy of Humane Education has become important nationally and internationally in helping educate people about helping animals.”

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“The human being itself is very much like nature. It transforms and regenerates in very unpredictable and poetic ways.”

—CRISTIN RÍCHARD MI STYLE

HUMAN/ NATURE An artist whose work plumbs the relationship between people and planet shares what fuels her creativity

BY R ACH A E L THOMAS P H O T O BY JOE ALISA

Cristin Ríchard's work can be found at cristinrichard.com and houseofraw.com.

WHEN ARTIST CRISTIN RÍCHARD crafts her work, she explores the complexity of the human experience, diving deeply into humanity's connection to the natural world. Her creations vary from wearable art to installations and performances. She usually works with natural materials (such as fur, human hair, and byproducts of the meat-packing industry), which she says hold information about history and society and mirror the human life cycle.

For Beneath the Skin, her 2014 exhibit in New York, Ríchard created objects made of reconstructed animal intestines that resembled garments and garment bags. The concept was intended to reflect women’s struggles with societal expectations about preserving their own skin and appearance. Excess Baggage, her exhibit for Detroit Month of Design last September, featured mirrored pedestals and translucent handbags made of sausage casing that sat on top of plexiglass boxes holding soil and grass. Viewers were encouraged to reflect on humans’ relationship to nature and what a sustainable future might look like.

Last November, through her Detroit art and design research studio House of Raw, she released a limited drop of accessories made of upcycled fur at Détroit Is the New Black. The collection was Ríchard’s way, she says, of questioning the future of luxury. Here, Ríchard tells us about her own eclectic style, where she finds inspiration — and how a residency in Iceland transformed her view of the world.

Personal style: I love ’70s-colored shirts. I have a

specific rainy day shirt that has a funny ’70s print of a couple sitting under an umbrella. I really like bold prints and patterns, but I think that lately it’s really dependent on my mood. Favorite local art spot: Popps Packing. They're in Hamtramck and it’s a husband-wife duo, Graem and Faina. What I love about them is that they’ve taken this piece of land and basically activated it for like a residency, artist community. I really love the vibe. Where she likes to work: I loved hanging out at The Siren Hotel. The lobby is gorgeous. I’ve made friends with some of the staff members and I just think it’s so cozy. Music on repeat: I listen to a lot of French Yé-yé, like French pop music from the ’60s. I love that. Life-changing travel experience: My time in Iceland was more impactful than all of my travels combined. I was there in the dead of winter. Icelanders embrace the cold. We spent a lot of time swimming in geothermal-heated outdoor pools, swimming under the stars. In March, the days grew longer and I could feel the energy from the sun. My hair grew five inches over my threemonth stay. My skin was the healthiest I’d ever seen. I grew a fondness for winter, and the isolation felt calming. The northern lights were the most illusive and magical thing I’ve ever seen. It completely changed my outlook on the natural world.

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Shelf life About 600 books adorn Silver’s office. “They’re mostly gardening books,” she says.

“I’ve read them all. I keep buying books. I’m always looking at what new design books are coming out.” A favorite that she takes out regularly is Jinny Blom’s The Thoughtful Gardener: An Intelligent Approach to Garden Design.

Vase love Contemporary terra cotta vases with a fern motif, created by an English artist, also grace the space. “Think about terra cotta; it goes back so far, as storage for olives, fish, et cetera. To see it being interpreted in a modern way is what I love.” 

French accent French doors divide the space; one side is a light-filled design area, and the other more for meetings and such. “I can close the French doors and it’s quiet. If I’m designing, I have to be in the rhythm of it; designing takes focus and concentration.” 

Salvaged storage Silver does black-and-white drawings first when planning a client’s landscaping, and once it’s approved, she creates a more detailed color version.

Large, vintage tomato and bean cans hold the designer’s markers, Prismacolor pencils, and other art tools. “I saved those cans because I love the labels.” 

Love is in the air Eclectic papier mâché cherubs hang from the ceiling, appearing like messengers of love. “They were in storage and something happened to them.

I repaired them all and hung them there.”

Gardener’s apparel Depending on the season, you’ll see New Balance tennis shoes, L.L.Bean fleece vests (“I love these,” she says), Australian Blundstone boots, durable Filson field jackets, and other gardening garb amid the space.

“When we opened, we spent my last $20,000 on a trip to Paris to find items, and that’s how it got started.”

—DEBORAH SILVER I NEED MY SPACE

WHERE HER GARDENS GROW Landscape guru Deborah Silver digs her artsy office space

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THE APPLE, ACORN, or, in this case, ginkgo leaf, truly doesn’t fall too far from the tree, especially in Deborah Silver’s case. The celebrated gardener’s mother, you see, was also quite the gardener. “She grew ginkgo trees from seed, and also beautiful roses and vegetables,” recalls Silver, who grew up in what was once called East Detroit (now Eastpointe).

After graduating from Kalamazoo College (she majored in 19th-century English literature and minored in biology) and working various jobs, Silver launched a landscape-design business out of her own home in Orchard Lake.

And then eventually, because she’d always wanted a place where she could sell objects for the garden, Detroit Garden Works was born.

“My accountant knew I was looking for a place and said a building in Sylvan Lake was available,” she says. Once a machine shop that she says was “soaked in motor oil,” Detroit Garden Works now, 25 years later, is a veritable heaven for green thumbs or those looking to learn about — and spend more time in — the dirt.

From Silver’s vision came plant containers brimming with unique, pleasing flower and plant combinations; decorative home accents; sculptures for the garden; and more, much of which comes from Europe. “When we opened,” she says, “we spent my last $20,000 on a trip to Paris to find items, and that’s how it got started.”

Silver’s dedicated crew totals 22, including at Branch, a manufacturing division that makes pots, fountains, and garden ornamentation from steel.

“We’ve had an impact on how people garden and how people view the garden,” says Silver, who was putting the finishing design touches on a large property in Franklin when we caught up with her.

When she’s not out designing gardens, tending to her shop, or working in her own garden, you can usually find Silver in her large office off the main merchandise area of Detroit Garden Works, where she has cultivated a cozy haven chock full of collectibles, design tools, and all the must-haves for one of the area’s most astute gardeners.

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1 Roka Red and Yellow Dress, $695, at Tender Birmingham, 271 W. Maple Road, Birmingham; 248-258-0212; tenderbirmingham.com 

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SPRING FASHION

Flower Power Hop on this season’s style trend with our picks for floral apparel and accessories

BY R AC H A EL TH O MAS

“FLORALS? FOR SPRING? GROUNDBREAKING.” That was Meryl Streep’s Miranda Priestly in The Devil Wears Prada reacting sarcastically to a suggestion to feature floral looks in an upcoming issue of her fashion magazine. She wasn’t entirely wrong — floral patterns for spring aren’t exactly a fresh concept. Nevertheless, they’re a big hit this season, featuring prominently in several spring/summer 2021 ready-to-wear collections.

Miss Priestly will just have to get over it.

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10 Michel Klein Floral Silk Original Print Blouse, $795, and Michel Klein Floral Silk Original Print Full Pant, $695, at Tender Birmingham

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1. Anuja Tolia Jewelry Floral Studs, $23, at Anuja Tolia Jewelry; anujatolia.com 2. Anais Black Silk Dressing Gown, $347, at Supernatural Lingerie, 303 E. Maple Road, Birmingham; 248-792-7433; supernaturallingerie.com 3. Tory Burch Robinson Embroidered Straw Convertible Shoulder Bag, $498, at Tory Burch at Somerset Collection, 2800 W. Big Beaver Road, Troy; 248-458-1307; toryburch.com 4. Gucci Ken Scott Print Hooded Sweatshirt, $2,100, at select Gucci stores nationwide and gucci.com 5. Gucci Ken Scott Print Princetown Women’s Slipper (online exclusive), $790, at Gucci 6. Thebe Silk Shorts Set, $339, at Supernatural Lingerie 7. Gucci Ken Scott Print Wool Mohair Jacket, $3,900, at Gucci 8. Anuja Tolia Jewelry Daisy Climber in Gold, $38, at Anuja Tolia Jewelry 9. Hope For Flowers by Tracy Reese Cranberry Floral Victorian Maxi, $338, at Hope For Flowers By Tracy Reese; hopeforflowers.com 10. Tory Burch Howell T-Monogram Embroidered Sneaker, $258, at Tory Burch 11. Sun Sprinkles Split Painted Aster Earrings, $35, at Sun Sprinkles; sunsprinkles.com PHOTOS COURTESY OF ANUJA TOLIA JEWELRY, GUCCI, HOPE FOR FLOWERS BY TRACY REESE, SUN SPRINKLES, SUPERNATURAL LINGERIE, TENDER BIRMINGHAM, AND TORY BURCH

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GARDENING

WATCH THEM GROW

One of the surest ways to help kids blossom is to cultivate an early interest in backyard gardening

BY MEGAN SWOYER | PHOTOS BY JEAN LANNEN

Three generations show off their handiwork: Beth Winters, center left, with mom Carol Corbin, along with Eleanor, left, and Evelyn Winters.

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ON A BEAUTIFUL DAY in the summer of 2020, young Eleanor Winters joyfully skips amid the gardens behind her Rochester Hills home.

“We’ve got monarchs, lots of monarchs,” she tells her mother. Then Eleanor, 9, is off to a vegetable patch where gourds are growing “from the seeds we planted!” she shares with unbridled joy.

Eleanor’s enthusiasm is contagious. It was planted years ago by her mother, Beth Winters, and by her grandmother, Carol Corbin of Troy. Eleanor’s sister, Evelyn, 7, also loves to garden.

“The girls’ favorite is our strawberry patch,” says Winters, a teacher in the Rochester Community School District. “They also love going to the garden stores and picking out their own annuals.” Favorites include local shops such as Fogler’s Greenhouse in Rochester, Telly’s Greenhouse in Troy, Eckert’s Greenhouse & Perennials in Sterling Heights, and Piechnik’s Greenhouse & Garden in Oakland.

Meanwhile, Ryan Youngblood and his wife (together with their children, ages 5, 7, and 10) have been exploring vegetable gardening at their Oakland Township home. “We actually use vegetable gardening as the means to teach lessons to the kids on the essentials of basic life, and the absolute need [to have certain] key items in order for life to exist and continue,” says Youngblood, owner of R. Youngblood & Co., a landscaping company in Rochester. “They also get to see where food comes from, and it’s the start of teaching them the value of hard work and the rewards it provides.”

Getting children involved in gardening might be one of the best things parents and grandparents can do for their kids’ development, experts say.

“Children who plant and grow food with their families are more adventurous eaters, and that’s been proven,” says Dr. Molly O’Shea, a pediatrician based in Bloomfield Hills. “I share this with parents a lot. There are so many benefits for children when it comes to gardening, and when it comes to vegetable gardening in particular.

“When a child of any age begins to learn where food comes from, it increases their willingness to experiment with food. Gardening also gives them responsibilities; they learn to care for something,”

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says O’Shea, of Beverly Hills, who immersed her own children in vegetable gardening when they were growing up. She points out that kids learn about failure from gardening, too. “Not everything we plant turns out, and that’s OK. These are life lessons.”

Keep Growing Detroit co-director Lindsay Pielack agrees, noting that gardening is an amazing teacher for childhood development: “The garden can teach every subject, from small motor skills to relationships with adults to understanding the natural world.” Pielack suggests families check out KGD’s website (see accompanying sidebar) to find activities they can do at home, whether they have a garden or not. Based in Detroit, the organization envisions a food-sovereign city where the majority of fruits and vegetables consumed

by Detroiters are grown by residents within the city’s limits. Last year, KGD helped support nearly 1,950 Detroit gardens through its garden resource program. “And of those, 1,050 were backyard family gardens,” she says.

At Michigan State University, Ellen Koehler, education coordinator for the MSU Extension Tollgate Farm and Education Center, knows all about the benefits of being a green-thumbed kid.

“Not only are there beneficial aspects of growing our own food and understanding where it comes from, but there are also purely therapeutic aspects of gardening,” Koehler says. “Working with the soil and plants and spending time outdoors is extremely beneficial.”

She and her team recently launched the HomeGrown Gardening Series for families and individuals who want to explore vegetable gardening together. One upcoming session is called Growing Fun with Kids.

Meanwhile, the Winters family is eager to see their backyard bloom again. This year, the family’s gardens will be among those available to be toured during the Troy Garden Club’s 46th Garden Walk in July. “My mom’s gardens were featured in the 2013 walk,” Winters says, “so I’m walking in her footsteps this summer.”

Visitors will get to see Beth’s beautiful blooms as well as young Eleanor and Evelyn’s patch of pretties, including strawberries, tomatoes, lemonthyme, gourds, zucchini, chives, and other greens that “we put in our smoothies,” Eleanor says.

One of the family’s favorite highlights is the Eleanor Lily. “I’ve been growing daylilies for years and every year I add another one,” Winters says.

She bought the Eleanor variety — a yellow and red-purple beauty — because it has the same name as her daughter and grandmother. There’s also a bright yellow one called Colossal Carol, which brings her mom to mind. And there are fluffy pink peonies too, which are from her greatgrandmother’s yard and were given to her by her grandmother. “[My grandmothers] are living in spirit in my garden,” she says.

Evelyn and Eleanor Winters get playful in their garden.

Beth Winters’ impressive blooms will be featured in the Troy Garden Club’s Garden Walk this July. 

May 5-June 1. Registration: events.anr.msu.edu/ virtualspringplants andpartners/.

Green Scene Garden walks, online programs, and advice from the experts

Lend a Hand: Detroit Abloom, an organic cutflower farm, florist, and native-plant nursery, is planning Kids Abloom, a children’s discovery garden, in the JeffersonChalmers neighborhood in Detroit. Volunteers can help build the new garden, which will feature beancovered teepees and tunnel structures, a butterfly garden, and more. 313-5872446, detroitabloom.com.

Learn the Life Cycle: MSU Tollgate Farm 4-H’s Follow the Nutrient Trail Virtual Interactive Adventure invites children to follow the nutrient trail of consumers, producers, and decomposers as they meet goats, chickens — and worms! Visiting the garden, orchard, and animal barn, students will investigate how the energy of the sun fuels the nutrient cycle. April 8-May 6, April 26-30. Registration: events.anr.msu.edu/ springfollowthenutrienttrail/.

How It Happens: MSU Tollgate Farm 4-H’s Plants and Their Partners Virtual Interactive Adventure asks kids the questions: How do plants grow, and how do they depend on other living things? Visiting the garden, greenhouse, fields, and animal barn, students will investigate pollination and seed dispersal. May 3-7,

Multisensory Green Scene: Michigan State University’s 4-H Children’s Gardens in East Lansing, open sunup to sundown daily, has dozens of themes, ranging from bird to kitchen, pioneer, and butterfly gardens. More information: 4hgarden.msu.edu.

Growth Experience: Keep Growing Detroit offers residents of Detroit, Highland Park, and Hamtramck a garden resource program that provides families with just about everything they need (seeds, plants, and education) to start a garden at home. The organization also regularly holds open hours and family fun days at its farm. (Due to COVID-19, organizers can’t confirm when open hours and family fun days will return — check website regularly). More information: 313-656-4769, detroitagriculture.net.

Expert Advice: Gardenatoz. org is a great source for gardening information, offering weekly webinars.

The site also has an area dedicated to sparking

children’s interest in gardening. It’s run by longtime professional gardeners Janet Macunovich and Steven Nikkila. More information: 248-6817850, gardenatoz.org.

Take a Tour: Enjoy the Troy Garden Club’s 46th Garden Walk on July 14.

The tour showcases seven private gardens in the Troy area. This year’s event is called Anniversary Gardens in honor of the club’s 50th anniversary. Related activities include an art fair at the Troy Historic Village, where artists will showcase garden-themed creations.

A village must-see for kids is the charming children’s garden, where a path leads through marked plants whose names represent the letters of the alphabet. More information: 248-540-6158, troygardenclubmi.com. —MS

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SPOTLIGHT

Petals & Mettle Meet the budding talent behind Detroit Flower Co.’s next-level floral arrangements

BY R AC H A EL T H O MAS PH O T O S BY REB ECCA S IMO N OV

Samples of Hampton’s vibrant floral arrangements, which start at $50. “If you love them, Detroit Flower Co. them.” is her company’s motto.

Hampton prepares roses in her Detroit studio.

JA’NYE HAMP TON never imagined she could turn her small floral business from a side gig into a full-time career — especially during a pandemic, and while also juggling six part-time jobs. But an influx of orders and a flood of admiration from her native Detroit and beyond allowed the 22-year-old to do just that. It’s no surprise, then, that each of the colorful and sparkly arrangements Hampton sells through Detroit Flower Co. is a true labor of love.

Detroit Flower Co. offers roses, sunflowers, and other fresh-cut flowers wrapped in burlap, arranged in vases, or presented in large envelopes. Hampton has gained fans, though, by taking her arrangements even further, presenting flowers spray-painted in various colors or in an ombre effect. Other unique offerings include preserved roses covered in glitter; flowers arranged into the shape of letters and numbers. She’s even offered flowers arranged into the shape of a cake presented on a cake stand and topped with real candles.

Hampton opened up shop in 2018 after working at several floral shops and being encouraged by a friend to start her own. But she never imagined achieving the success she’s seen. In the first months of the pandemic last year, Hampton’s part-time jobs began falling off as the state went into shutdown mode. At the time, Hampton was still posting her floral arrangements on

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social media and receiving orders daily. She ultimately decided to leave her remaining part-time gigs to focus entirely on Detroit Flower Co. And the rest, she says, is history.

Today, the business generates hundreds of orders each week. Hampton went from fulfilling orders from her home and delivering them and scheduling pickups herself to hiring an assistant, two florists, and a delivery driver by the end of 2020. At press time, Hampton was busy setting up a brick-and-mortar shop at 15643 W. McNichols Road in Detroit.

“It’s something that I just look at and I can’t believe,” she says of her success. “I’m still in that phase, because honestly, I’m just doing what I love.”

Detroit Flower Co.’s social media presence has exploded over the past year as well. “I remember literally having 700 followers last January,” Hampton says of Detroit Flower Co.’s Instagram audience. That number has grown to nearly 20,000.

Hampton’s personable social media presence no doubt contributes to her success — she frequently posts business updates, interacts with customers, and shows clips of herself preparing arrangements.

She posts about the ups and downs of running a business, prompting followers to cheer her on through the bad and celebrate with her through the good.

And if she notices online that someone nearby is

having a bad day, she’ll often send them free flowers to cheer them up.

“It’s something that I’ll never in my life take for granted,” Hampton says of the love and support she’s received from the community. “I just have to keep showing my appreciation; I just have to keep giving more flowers and working with more people and bring love to the city.”

Find out more at detroitflowercompany.com.

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SEE THE

WO R L D

W I T H O U T L E AV I N G H O M E

I L LU STR ATI O N S BY

H O L LY

WA L E S

It’s going to be a while before any of us are able to book one of those

bucket-list trips abroad that we’ve been craving. (Curse you, COVID!)

But maybe that’s not such a bad thing. We’re blessed to live in a region overflowing with opportunities to experience the richness of other cultures right in our own backyard. Read on for tips to plan an itinerary for global exploration right here in metro Detroit.

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D E S T I N A T I O N

BY SERENA MARIA DANIELS

THE MEXICAN-AMERICAN diaspora in Detroit dates back more than a century, when, like other migrant communities, Mexicans began relocating here to experience the city’s early industrial boom.

Much of the population is concentrated on the city’s southwest side, but also Downriver and in Pontiac, and out-state in pockets of Grand Rapids and Lansing. The community’s growth is also a reflection of immigration policy, with the passage of the Bracero Program when thousands of Mexican farmworkers were “imported” during World War II to perform manual labor, the 1980s when immigrants who lacked legal residency in the country were allowed en masse to apply for legal status, through the NAFTA-era ’90s when thousands more migrated to the United States in search of living wages. These waves of migration have resulted in a diverse mix of communities from all over Mexico, most noticeably from the state of Jalisco. The Jaliscense population is so concentrated, in fact, that many residents come from the same villages in that state’s highlands.

The diversity can easily be seen on the storefronts that line Vernor Highway, one of Southwest Detroit’s main drags, through signage representing Arandas (a pueblo in Jalisco); the Pacific coastal region of Nayarit; the northern Mexican states of Chihuahua, Sinaloa, and Durango, the southernmost state of Oaxaca; and the longtime Chicano Detroiters whose families have been here for generations. The result is a rich tapestry of culinary styles, music, art, and local traditions.

A lowrider wows a young admirer during Cinco de Mayo.

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D ON’ T MISS

One of the most visible reminders that you’re in Southwest Detroit is the murals. Murals have a rich tradition in Mexican American culture, with roots dating centuries back to pre-Hispanic Mexico. During the 1960s and ’70s, the Chicano mural movement served as a platform for political and social equality, featuring colorful and complex scenes that depict the deep history Mexican Americans have in this country. Today, dozens of murals cover the brick walls of local businesses and viaducts throughout the neighborhood. On St. Anne and Bagley, you’ll find longtime works such as “Corn Field”, painted by Vito Valdez, and “City Spirit”, just across the street and painted in 1979

by Martin Moreno and George Vargas. Other works from a younger generation — such as Freddy Diaz, aka SW Freddy — can be spotted on the exteriors and interiors of dozens of local businesses.

Speaking of murals, one of the most iconic Mexican murals in Detroit takes up four gigantic walls in the halls of the Detroit Institute of Arts. Mexican muralist Diego Rivera was famously commissioned by Edsel Ford during the Great Depression to produce “Detroit Industry”, a fresco-style installation in the DIA’s Garden Court. The painting is really 27 distinct paintings that portray the history of Detroit through the lens of laborers working at Ford Motor Co.'s River Rouge Plant as well as advances

made in scientific fields, such as medicine and emerging technology.

One of the most popular draws to Southwest Detroit every year is the annual Cinco de Mayo Parade, a staple of the community for more than half a century.

The parade, which runs between Clark Park and Patton Park, is marked by days of celebration, including bar and restaurant crawls, mural tours, baile folklorico (traditional dancing), live music, and the Blessing of the Lowriders, a street-side showcase of decked out classic lowrider cars usually taken out of protective storage for the special occasion.

THE REAL DEAL

Xochi's Gift Shop on Bagley is a 30-plus-year-old institution where shoppers could get lost for hours. The family-owned shop specializes in Mexican imports, featuring handmade Mexican folk art, extravagantly painted pottery, Dia de los Muertos artwork, sterling silver jewelry, and Western wear.

Whether you’re tapping into your Mexican roots or you got excited about a new recipe while perusing TikTok, Algo Especial, also on Bagley, is the place to go for those hard-to-find ingredients. Epazote for that Oaxacan recipe for tamales?

Check. Flor de calabaza (pumpkin flower)? You got it. Dried chili peppers of all varieties? Check mate.

Carniceria Guadalajara on Lawndale is a meat-lovers heaven, or in particular, a destination for folks looking for just what they need for

the backyard carne asada (cookout). The shop produces chorizo, chicken fajitas, and arrachera-style marinated skirt steak, perfect when smashed into a grilled tortilla, and a round of chelas (beers).

TA S T E S

On the topic of food, Southwest Detroit is arguably the largest culinary destination in the city. The Loncheria El Parian taco truck fleet has its trailers set up in six locations throughout the neighborhood, and also operates La Palapa del Parian, a brick-and-mortar

spot on Lawndale.

Customers of all walks of life line up daily during lunch break to grab a paper plate topped with tacos al pastor (marinated pork that’s roasted on a spit), tacos de campechano (charred bits of carne asada and chorizo), meaty quesadillas, tortas, or burritos. The restaurant location also features a full bar and a variety of margaritas and fancy micheladas (a beer and Clamato “Bloody Mary” of sorts that usually comes to the table in an oversized goblet with a couple of Corona bottles dumped in upside down). Lots of spots

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Honduran restaurant Antojitos el Catracho is another casual eatery where one can find pupusas but also Honduran-style pastelitos, baleadas, and Banana Tropical, a traditional Honduran soda pop. In Troy, El Guanaco, a small restaurant and grocery on Livernois, is another popular destination for pupusas, Salvadoranstyle tamales (wrapped in banana leaves instead of corn husks), as well as Mexican food.

Did You Know?

Southwest Detroit, with its proximity to Tigers Stadium, historically was a favorite neighborhood for both sports fans and Tigers players alike. Fans could hit up any number of Mexican restaurants to load up on snacks after the games — dishes like botana, an only-in-Detroit delicacy of fried tortilla chips, bean and chorizo mix, onions, sliced avocado, green peppers, tomatoes, jalapeños, and a mountain of melted Muenster cheese. Specifically, Armando’s on Vernor was a legendary haunt for the players after game day. When the Tigers won the World Series in 1984, the restaurant’s original owner, Armando Galan, hosted the team, locking the doors and celebrating all night long.

feature a Jalisco specialty called birria, a chili and citrus-marinated meat (usually beef or goat) that is slow-cooked until the tender pieces can melt in your mouth: Los Altos, La Terraza, Tacos El Primo, El Caporal, and a growing number of other places. It’s traditionally served on its own as a dish or soup, in tacos, or as a quesabirria, a griddled corn tortilla stuffed with birria and melty cheesy until crispy. Sweet-tooths should head over to Mexicantown Bakery on Vernor, La Gloria on Bagley, or Sheila’s Bakery on Springwells for freshly

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baked conchas, churros, or pastel de tres leches (three milks cake). On hot summer days, hit Neveria Michoacana or Raspados y Obispos La Niña for paletas (Mexican popsicles made with fresh fruit and ice or milk), raspados (shaved ice drenched in fruit flavor), and aguas frescas (refreshing drinks made with fruit, flowers like hibiscus, or rice).

SIDE TRIP

Detroit’s Mexicantown has increasingly become home to a growing Central American community.

While cultural landmarks

or public points of interest representing this region aren’t prominent, a few eateries have been making inroads in this department.

Pupusería Y Restaurante Salvadoreño on Livernois is likely the most recognizable eating place to date. The specialty there is the pupusa, one of El Salvador’s most beloved dishes, made of a thick corn or rice-based tortilla amply filled with any combination of pork, beans, cheese, or loroco (a flower typical of Central America). It’s usually topped with curtido, a fermented cabbage relish, and a tomato-based salsa.

Check out La Gloria Bakery for traditional Mexican sweet treats.

Xochi’s Gift Shop is a must for traditional Mexican folk art, pottery, and Dia de los Muertos goods.

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D E S T I N A T I O N

BY ASHLEY WINN

EVEN AMID THE VAST ETHNIC diversity of metro Detroit, the area’s Irish cultural influences stand out.

From Irish pubs to local Celtic musicians and dance troupes, there remain abundant ways to experience the traditions carried here by the immigrants of the 19th century.

Fleeing religious persecution at the hands of the British colonial government, Irish Catholics began migrating to the U.S. in the early 1800s. They initially settled in large cities along the East Coast, especially Boston and New York. At the time, however, those cities were largely Protestant and greeted the influx of Catholic immigrants with hostility. Seeking yet again to escape violence and oppression, many Irish settlers soon headed west.

Hopeful that a French-founded — and therefore largely Catholic — city might offer the peace and freedom that had thus far eluded them, many journeyed to Detroit.

They formed a neighborhood in the south of the city, which, due to its large number of inhabitants hailing from Ireland’s County Cork, came to be known as Corktown.

Then, in the mid-19th century, a devastating famine struck Ireland and drove even more migrants to this area. By 1853, more than 15 percent of all Detroiters were Irish immigrants, and 45 percent of them lived in Corktown.

The 1890s, however, saw Detroit’s increasingly affluent Irish population disperse throughout the city. Meanwhile, other ethnic groups, such as Mediterraneans and Latinos, were forming their own communities in Corktown. These changes would eventually beget the diverse populace that inhabits the area today. Now the oldest surviving neighborhood in Detroit, Corktown has held onto a number of its original Irish businesses and remains the center of the metro area’s rich Irish culture.

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Sullivan’s Public House has been named as the No. 1 Irish eatery in Michigan.

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D ON’ T MISS

The Gaelic League of Detroit has been working for more than a century to promote and preserve Irish traditions in metro Detroit. It serves this mission, in part, by regularly hosting cultural events. Guests of all ancestries are welcome to attend Irish language lessons, history lectures, dance classes, and live Irish dance and music performances.

“During non-COVID times, we have live entertainment every Friday and Saturday night,” says league president Theresa Anaya. Patrons at these events are also helping to further a good cause. “The Gaelic League Irish American Club has been part of the Corktown community for many years. We support The Most Holy Trinity Schools, Detroit Open Streets, Corktown Business Association, and many others.” Even those who opt simply to enjoy a beer or whiskey at the league’s Corktown clubhouse will get a taste of Irish history via the memorabilia

— maps, antique farm implements, and portraits of Irish revolutionary heroes — adorning its walls.

The floats, marching bands, color guards, clowns, and pipe and drum bands that promenade through Corktown for Detroit’s St. Patrick’s Day Parade attract more than 80,000 spectators each March.

Did You Know?

St. Patrick’s Day has been observed in Detroit since 1808.

Though initially a quiet, religious holiday, it soon became a civic occasion celebrated with parades, banquets, and other festivities. In 1880, however, the city opted to cancel the St. Patrick’s Day parade and instead raise money for famine relief in Ireland.

The United Irish Societies has organized the event since 1958, always donating a portion of proceeds to metro Detroit charities, such as St. Patrick’s Senior Center and the Capuchin Soup Kitchen. The honored Detroit tradition has now been canceled two years in a row due to COVID-19, but UIS promises a strong return in 2022.

Each June, the Motor City Irish Fest takes over Greenmead Historical Park in Livonia for three days of Irish and Celtic entertainment. Two stages host acts including stunt troupes, Celtic bands, and Irish dance schools, while the festival’s cultural tent features storytellers, guest speakers, and exhibits on Irish history, culture, and folklore. Whiskey tastings also take place throughout the weekend. In addition to sampling some of Ireland’s finest whiskeys, guests learn about each spirit’s background and characteristics.

Don’t Miss: The nonprofit school and cultural center Alliance Française de Detroit French Institute of Michigan offers French language classes for all ages and skill levels, as well as corporate courses designed for professional groups.

The Farmington institute also holds cultural events, such as social gatherings, cooking classes, and talks by artists, authors, and other notable French figures.

Tastes: To stock up on authentic French baked goods, visit Chez Pierre et Genevieve in Bloomfield Hills. This homey bakery sells freshbaked bread, including rye, sourdough, baguettes, olive bread, and walnut bread — plus viennoiseries like croissants and brioche.

Those craving something a little sweeter can pick up one of master French baker Matt Knio’s creations at either of his Cannelle Patisserie locations, in Detroit or Birmingham. But be warned — once there, you’ll face a daunting selection of artfully prepared pastries, from fruity tarts and creamy eclairs, to delicate madeleines and buttery croissants.

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Corktown is the perfect place to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day.

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Caribbean

Don’t Miss: The Caribbean Cultural and Carnival Organization hosts the Detroit Caribbean Cultural Festival every year to bring island flair to the city. The festival lasts three days in the summer and visitors can participate in Zumba and salsa lessons, attend live shows featuring local and international performers, and get a taste of different types of Caribbean food. The organization also holds the Miss Carnival Pageant, metro Detroit’s only Caribbean pageant.

The Real Deal: The family-owned Fatou’s African Caribbean Market in Ypsilanti sells a wide selection of food, mostly from West Africa, that includes goat meat, cow feet, beef strips, red snapper, mackerel, tamarind/coconut juice, and plantain chips. It also carries health and beauty items like African black soap and cocoa butter.

Tastes: Norma G’s takes Caribbean food to the next level. This food truck turned full-service restaurant serves up authentic dishes such as curry, jerk chicken, oxtail, and fried plantains in Detroit.

TA S T E S

One of the most authentically Irish dining experiences in metro Detroit can be found at Conor O’Neill’s in downtown Ann Arbor. Modeled after the multipurpose public houses of rural Ireland, the eatery features timber floors, wooden wainscotting, Gaelic street signs, and a stone fireplace. Irish music, sports, and history bric-a-brac covers the walls, and large apothecary cabinets represent the dual role of rural pubs, which often also serve as the local shop.

A menu of traditional Irish comfort food is just as convincing. Options include ale-battered fish and chips,

corned beef and cabbage, an Irish lamb stew, and Irish boxty — a homemade potato pancake with sautéed vegetables and pesto mayo. The drink menu, meanwhile, offers an extensive selection of Irish whiskeys and imported and local draft beer.

The owner of Sullivan’s Public House — a firstgeneration immigrant who grew up helping out at his parents’ pub in Ireland — is equally dedicated to authenticity. Named the No. 1 Irish Restaurant in Michigan by Travel & Leisure, Buzzfeed, and Delish, the downtown Oxford restaurant and bar serves old Irish classics including seafood chowder, bangers and colcannon mash, and shepherd’s pie.

Meanwhile, modernized options, such as salmon smothered in whiskey-cream sauce and a pub board featuring Irish cheeses and a salmon spread, keep the menu fresh without straying from its Irish roots. Even the elevated yet traditional interior was designed by a Dublin-based firm.

Popular Corktown watering hole McShane’s Pub offers longtime favorites like fried perch, Irish Whiskey Steak, and bangers and colcannon potato mash, but doesn’t shy away from more playful Irish-inspired bites.

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Bobby McShane’s Brisket Melt features corned beef and stout-braised onions, while the wonton shells of Irish egg rolls are stuffed with cabbage, potato, corned beef, and Swiss cheese. Still, with a whiskey list of nearly 200 varietals, McShane’s true Irish spirit can’t be denied.

THE REAL DEAL

Real Irish Gifts was founded in 1999, when second-generation Irish

immigrant Stuart Marley began selling imported Irish goods at local festivals.

Now occupying a brick-andmortar space in downtown Ann Arbor, it’s one of the largest importers of authentic Irish goods in North America. These products range from kitchenware and pottery to Irish sweaters, jewelry, and body products. Especially popular are the shop’s various styles of Irish cap, including flat, newsboy, and earflap.

Frankenmuth may be known as a hub for German culture, but the Irish and Scottish flags that hang proudly from either side of one Main Street establishment ensure the area’s Celtic lineage isn’t forgotten.

Inside Got Kilt?, patrons will find fantasy merchandise, humorous Celtic-inspired T-shirts, and — for those with a Celtic surname — all manner of items emblazoned with their house crest.

But the shop’s specialty is,

of course, kilts. The entire length of its south wall is hung with men’s, women’s, and children’s kilts, ranging from traditional plaid to modernized cargo and utility versions. A personal recommendation from the Gaelic League’s Anaya is the Twisted Shamrock in Berkeley. Among the wares sold at this Irish goods store are traditional apparel items, Celtic jewelry, purses, and an array of home and garden ornaments.

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D E S T I N A T I O N

B Y A S H L E Y Z L AT O P O L S K Y A N D S E R E N A M A R I A D A N I E L S

MICHIGAN IS CELEBRATED for having one of the most vibrant Arab communities in the U.S. In fact, metro Detroit’s Arab population is among the largest outside the Middle East itself, and while Dearborn is undoubtedly the heart of local Middle Eastern culture, communities have also blossomed in West Bloomfield, Troy, Hamtramck, and beyond.

While people of Arab descent are not officially recognized as a racial or ethnic group in the U.S. Census, estimates place the population in Michigan somewhere between 409,000 and 490,000, according to the website Arab America.

The earliest groups of Lebanese and Syrian merchants began making their way to Detroit in the 1880s, with a much larger influx from these countries, as well as immigrants from Yemen, arriving in the early 20th century to take jobs in the city’s thriving auto industry. Many families began to live in or near Dearborn, which was close to Ford’s River Rouge complex. In more recent decades, immigrants from countries such as Yemen and Syria, which have both experienced widespread civil unrest, have made metro Detroit home.

“Dearborn is home to the largest Middle Eastern population in the U.S., who have definitely left their mark on the area,” says Ali Hachem of Dearborn’s Cheat Treats Cafe, a gourmet cookie and ice cream shop and juice bar. “Specifically, the Middle Eastern cultural value of connecting with loved ones and getting to know strangers over a delicious meal.” That, he explains, is the heart of Arab culture, and there are boundless ways to experience it here if you know where to look.

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D ON’ T MISS

One of the most magical experiences comes during Ramadan, the Islamic holy month that ends with the celebration of Eid. As part of this season, Muslims take time to pray, reflect on their lives, do charity work, and fast from sunrise to sunset.

Once the sun sets, families can break their fasts, and they often take to the many authentic eateries in the region to do so. Each year in Dearborn, especially on Warren Avenue on the city’s east side, the streets come alive with families looking for a bite to eat and a chance to congregate for a moment of celebration. Local businesses and organizers have increasingly banked on this revelry with the creation of all-night food festivals, including a major gathering in the parking lot of the Hyatt Hotel and outside of Cheat Treats. Attendees can sample all manner of food from local vendors.

Ramadan starts on April 12 this year and COVID-19 restrictions might alter the night’s festivities, so check ahead before venturing out.

The Arab American National Museum in Dearborn features an expansive library and resource center with archival research and more than 4,000 books from the Arab community. It’s also home to the annual Arab Film Festival, which takes place each June. Past screenings have seen the likes of the critically lauded dark comedy Dunya’s Day — written and directed by U.S.-based Saudi filmmaker Raed Alsemari — which won a Sundance short film award for international fiction in 2018.

West Bloomfield’s Chaldean Cultural Center, meanwhile, offers a smaller but still robust museum dedicated to Chaldean life.

Housed in Shenandoah Country Club, it features a variety of exhibits exploring ancient Mesopotamia, traditional village life, and how Chaldeans have

become an integral part of the local community.

The Arab & Chaldean Festival, meanwhile, takes place in Detroit’s Hart Plaza each July. Now in its 50th year, the revered festival spotlights Arab and Chaldean vendors, performances, exhibits, and more. There’s even a fashion show highlighting the best of Middle Eastern clothing from various countries throughout the region.

Check arabandchaldean festival.com for updates about this year’s festivities.

THE REAL DEAL

A hallmark of experiencing a typical day in many Middle Eastern cities is a trip to the open-air market.

Shoppers, of course, can pick up spices and fresh produce, indulge in the many street foods, and haggle with shouting vendors for jewelry and trinkets. But these markets provide a window into the culture as well. You can get a bit of this experience at metro Detroit’s many Arabowned markets. These businesses aren’t just places of commerce — they help to foster community.

West Bloomfield’s Chaldean-owned Babylon Ethnic Foods is known for its wide variety of spices, like torshi, turmeric, caraway, and sumac. Its bulk food section offers an array of dried beans, herbs, and even hibiscus flowers, perfect for making tea. Its hot food bar serves up stuffed grape leaves, hummus, shawarma, and other dishes common on most Middle Eastern menus. Plus, its kitchen serves up tasty Middle Eastern fare to go.

Al-Haramain in Hamtramck is a bastion for international shopping.

The supermarket’s founders are a pair of Yemeni business partners who first opened a small produce shop in Dearborn and then relocated to a former dollar store in Hamtramck. Given the city’s diversity of populations from Yemen, Bangladesh, Eastern Europe, and the U.S., the

store offers a little something for everyone. The impressive produce section offers jackfruit, yellow mangos, papayas, dates, and other hard-to-find ingredients; its spice section includes everything from cumin to biryani; and its baked goods range from pita and naan to baklava.

Dearborn Meat Market is a meat-lovers dream. Its entire selection — from beef kafta, makanek sausage, to beef heart — is handslaughtered and is delivered three days a week, ensuring freshness. The inventory is also certified halal, i.e. “permissible” in Arabic.

To be considered halal, the animal (beef or chicken) must be slaughtered humanely. Fans of this butcher shop have the option to purchase large cardboard cases full of meat, either raw or freshly prepared in the coal-fired grill that was built in response to demand from hungry fans.

TA S T E S

On nearly every corner in Dearborn stands an authentic Middle Eastern restaurant. These include Al Ameer, one of the pioneering Lebanese restaurants in metro Detroit and winner of a coveted James Beard America’s Classics award.

Its traditional Lebanese maza dish is perfect for a quintessential Lebanese dining experience.

Featuring 10 different small plates of vegetables, chicken wings, falafel, hummus, baba ghanoush, tabbouli, fattoush, fried kibbeh, grape leaves, and labneh, its presentation is special in that it’s meant to be spread over an entire table so friends and family can commune for hours at a time and nibble. For coffee, Qahwah House offers a unique experience; its coffee beans are all sourced from the Yemeni family farm of owner Ibrahim Alhasbani. Since it

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Japan

opened a few years ago, Qahwah House has become a destination for Dearborn’s young population, who often gather there to discuss politics.

Speaking of Yemen, head over to Hamtramck for several Yemeni specialties, in particular at Yemen Cafe. This local favorite is known for family-style platters like the fahsah — made with lamb, chicken, or as a vegetarian dish — a rich and nourishing stew that can be sopped up with the restaurant’s saucersized pieces of fresh flatbread. Top each bite with a douse of fiery green zhug sauce.

For sweets, Shatila Bakery is a dessert-lovers emporium. First opened in 1979 as a small retail space, Shatila now can be found in Dearborn and West Bloomfield and has become a destination for travelers from all over the country.

In addition to its crowdfavorite baklava, Shatila

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offers a mix of both traditional Lebanese delicacies like knafeh (made with shredded dough pastry stuffed with sweet cream or cheese and topped with sugar syrup) and kashta, (made with rosewater-based sweet cream), as well as European-style pastries like cannoli, fruit tarts, and custom cakes. Another specialty here is Lebanese ice cream (also frequently known as ashta), which has a thicker and more elastic consistency. For a traditional experience, try a cup of kashta pistachio.

One of the most fun things about Dearborn food culture is its many fusions.

A growing number of younger generation Arab American restaurateurs are bending the limits of what diners think about when considering the definition of Middle Eastern Food. Zo’s Good Burger is a local pioneer in the halal fancy burger joint genre. Zo’s got its start in 1968 in

a university district in Beirut. When the founder relocated to Michigan in the 1980s, he brought his burger concept with him and opened Good Burger.

The restaurant has grown to include several locations throughout metro Detroit and helped to spur a trend in gourmet burger-making, including at Royale with

Did You Know?

One of metro Detroit’s oldest Arab American families first settled in the area in 1885. The Bazzy family continues to thrive, working in medicine and other fields. Their ancestors were some of the first Lebanese immigrants to plant roots in the area, selling fruits and vegetables on trucks.

Cheese in Midtown and Dearborn’s Taystee’s Burgers and Brome Modern Eatery. All of these places use halal beef.

“What makes Dearborn even more special is the blending of Middle Eastern and American cuisine,” Hachem explains, “offering unique and imaginative dishes that are a perfect embodiment of the multicultural society we live in, and that cannot be found anywhere else.”

For his part, Hachem’s Cheat Treats is a fusion of a modern cafe and sweet shop that emphasizes vegan and keto-centric recipes for its cookies, edible cookie dough, and gluten-free cheesecake.

The shop also features a juice bar with bottled juices and smoothie bowls. The offerings aren’t what you would call “traditional” Middle Eastern cuisine — instead, they are a reflection of how the culture has evolved stateside.

An installation at the Arab American National Museum, home to the don’t-miss Arab Film Festival.

Don’t Miss: The Detroit Institute of Arts’ Japan Gallery displays a wide collection of traditional works as well as contemporary pieces. The gallery includes robes from the classical Japanese dancedrama Noh Theatre, 17th-century samurai apparel, and classic Japanese tea wares.

The Real Deal: One World Market in Novi is billed as the largest Japanese grocery store in Michigan. It boasts a large selection of fresh sushi, mochi, Japanese cosmetics, Japanese cookware, and other imported goods.

Tastes: Bash Original Izakaya is a Japanese pub-style eatery in Detroit with ample dine-in and takeout sushi options. Enjoy the signature sushi roll filled with shrimp tempura, crab salad, and cucumber topped with white tuna, jalapeno, spicy mayo, and other sauces. The Chef’s Choice Combo features 10 assorted sushi (at the chef’s discretion) plus your choice of a tuna roll or California roll. The dark and relaxed ambiance makes this an excellent spot to enjoy other menu items, such as the Takoyaki, a deepfried ball of octopus with bonito flakes on top, or the Ton Katsu, a deep-fried pork cutlet served with rice.

Dearborn Meat Market’s halal meats, both raw and freshly grilled, draw customers from far and wide.

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BY ASHLEY WINN

IT WAS AT THE TURN of the 20th Century that the first Greek immigrants arrived in metro Detroit and settled along Detroit’s Monroe Avenue, between Brush and St. Antoine streets.

In 1912, the beginning of Greek persecution by the Ottoman Empire incited a period of peak immigration from Greece, which would last until 1917. Combined with Henry Ford’s 1914 offer of $5-per-day jobs, this caused rapid expansion of Detroit’s Greek settlement, which would one day become known as Greektown.

Now a vibrant dining and entertainment district, Greektown was once a residential area as well. Some of the new Greek Detroiters worked in the automobile or railroad industries, but many became merchants, often living above or near their places of business. The area was seen as a comprehensive community where one could work, reside, shop, and recreate.

“Then known as ‘Little Greece,’ Monroe Street was home to 10 grocery stores, 14 restaurants, 12 coffee houses, two drugstores, and several barbershops and boutiques,” says Kathryn Dimond, executive director of the Hellenic Museum of Michigan.

The 1920s, however, saw Greektown shift to a commercial area. Though they maintained their restaurants and stores, the area’s Greek residents began to withdraw, and its population diversified. Residential spaces were slowly disappearing until the 1950s and ’60s, when much of the enduring neighborhood was razed to make room for downtown parking and institutional buildings.

Even Greektown’s commercial district shrunk to a single block — but this did not hinder its growing popularity. Over the next several decades, as sports and convention facilities took hold downtown, businesses popped up across the area, marketed at commuters and event-goers. Greektown transformed, becoming a prominent destination for suburbanites and tourists alike.

In 1982, the Greektown Historic District, one of downtown’s last surviving commercial streetscapes from the Victorian era, was added to the National Register of Historic Places.

Greektown may no longer be the concentrated center for the region’s Greek community, but Dimond says, “It’s still one of the best-known ethnic regions in metro Detroit.”

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Hit Golden Fleece, Greektown’s longest-running restaurant, for standout gyros.

D ON’ T MISS

As Greektown transformed, the local Greek community banded together in an effort to preserve the area’s ethnic identity. In 1965, they assembled the city’s first Greektown Heritage Festival. The event is now held each July by the Greektown Neighborhood Partnership, a nonprofit organization dedicated to promoting the area’s cultural vibrancy and economic success. Each year at festival time, Monroe Street comes to life with live music, traditional Greek dancers, and craftspeople

from around Michigan, celebrating the neighborhood’s rich Greek heritage.

Local food vendors line the streets, offering traditional Greek bites, such as kebabs, cheese pies, and Greek sausages. The highlight of the event, however, is a streetside lamb roast so large it requires several spits.

Greece observes Independence Day each year on March 25 — a date that, this year, marked the 200th anniversary of Greek freedom from Ottoman rule. This year’s celebrations was canceled due to COVID-19, but

for nearly 20 years, this triumph has been honored locally with the Detroit Greek Independence Day Parade. The procession of floats, contingents from Greek organizations and churches, and traditional musicians and dancers marches through Greektown and raises money for the Hellenic Museum of Michigan.

The Hellenic Museum of Michigan on East Kirby Street in Detroit aims to educate patrons about Greek culture, heritage, and history and to preserve the legacy of metro Detroit’s

Greek immigrant community. The contributions and achievements of this community are well-documented through its collection of artifacts, documents, and photographs. In addition to its five permanent exhibits, the museum regularly introduces rotating exhibits and hosts educational workshops, guest lectures, and cultural events.

The museum has been closed during the pandemic, but Dimond says it plans to reopen this spring. “We will be reopening with a new exhibition — the Inaugural

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Hellenic Art Exhibition, which showcases current artists of Hellenic heritage.”

TA S T E S

When it comes to Greek dining options, Dimond has no hesitation: “Greektown, of course!”

Although she declines to choose one restaurant over another — “They are all excellent” — there are a few that undoubtedly stand out. Arguably Greektown’s most recognizable business, the Pegasus Taverna is celebrating its 40th anniversary this year. The family-owned eatery is known for traditional Greek fare, including moussaka, stuffed grape leaves, various lamb dishes, and pastitsio — baked pasta with ground meat and béchamel sauce.

The dessert menu is equally loaded with authentic treats, such as Greek-style ice cream, Greek donuts called loukoumades, and a honey-drizzled, house-made yogurt known as giaourti.

Greektown’s longestrunning restaurant, however, is Golden Fleece, which opened in 1971. The cozy Monroe Street staple is best known for its homemade gyros, which are widely regarded as the best in the region, but it also offers a number of other authentically Greek dishes. Standouts include kebabs, saganaki, salads, and a selection of Greek wraps called diplota.

The Greek, conversely, is Greektown’s newest eatery.

Brick walls, black fixtures, and a large bar backlit by blue neon lights give its interior a more modern feel, compared to other spots.

The restaurant’s menu is full of contemporary yet authentic Greek dishes, such as a pork gyro, a lamb burger with tzatziki and feta, and the shrimp Santorini — white-wine sautéed jumbo shrimp in a garlic butter

Did You Know?

Ypsilanti is named after modern Greece’s first field marshal, Demetrios Ypsilanti, who had distinguished himself during the war for independence. His bust stands between American and Greek flags at the base of the landmark Ypsilanti Water Tower.

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Brazil

Don’t Miss: The Brazilian Day Street Festival is an annual event in Detroit that celebrates all things Brazilian. This familyfriendly festival features samba dancing, music, traditional foods, and vendors selling Brazilian-made goods. Similar to the famous Brazilian Carnival, this colorful and vibrant experience brings the worldrenowned street party right to the heart of Detroit.

The Real Deal: To stock up on Brazilian food and cooking ingredients, visit International Food Inc. in Sterling Heights. At this family-owned specialty grocery store, you’ll be able to find Brazilian beef, cheeses, and snacks, among other foods.

Tastes: Padaria by Chef Andre Leite is a hidden gem for delicious Brazilian pastries. This Shelby Charter Township bakery features a mix of both savory and sweet pastries — find baked goods filled with everything from ground beef to strawberry or Nutella cream. Padaria also has Brazilian drinks and coffees on deck.

sauce. Plus, that grand bar is as functional as it is aesthetically appealing, carrying an impressive array of beer, wine, and liquor.

Among the most intriguing beverage options are The Greek’s creative cocktails, including a strawberry shortcake martini; a jalapeño mule; and the Mediterranean Blue Bowl with blue raspberry Jolly Rancher vodka, island punch pucker, and gummy sharks.

Established by the Teftis family in 1971, the Astoria Pastry Shop offers more than 100 pastries, which can be enjoyed alongside its house-roasted gourmet coffees. Naturally, the menu has an entire section dedicated to Greek honey pastries, such as baklava, custard rolls, and chocolate walnut rolls. The Greektown

and Royal Oak bake shop also offers brunch pastries, such as muffins and croissants, as well as cakes, tortes, and macrons.

THE REAL DEAL

St. Clair Shores imported grocer Stoukas Imports carries a wide variety of

Greek staples, including beer, wine, cheese, yogurt, pasta, and phyllo dough.

The Hellenic Bakery and Market in Livonia is run, to this day, by John and Katina Liogas, who opened the space in 1972. The couple use traditional recipes and baking techniques to make

their Greek breads and sweets, including spinach and cheese pies, baklava, and galaktoboureko — a decadent pastry of baked custard and phyllo. They also carry imported grocery items, such as Mediterranean cheeses, olive oil, wine, coffee, tea, and spices.

The Greek features contemporary fare and a more modern vibe.

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D E S T I N A T I O N

B Y A S H L E Y Z L AT O P O L S K Y

IF YOU WANT A TASTE of Poland without booking a flight, you don’t have to venture beyond metro Detroit, where pierogi and paczki are as ubiquitous as Faygo.

Polish culture has been steadily influencing life here since the first major wave of Polish immigrants arrived in the late 1800s, drawn by opportunities to secure jobs building railroads and roadways. By the 1900s, the growth of Detroit’s booming auto industry — particularly the 1910 opening of a Dodge Brothers automobile plant in Hamtramck — drew even more Poles to the region. By the 1920s, about 66 percent of Hamtramck residents were Polish-born. A second heavily populated Polish neighborhood, Poletown East, bordered Hamtramck.

As of 2000, Michigan had the third-largest population of people of Polish descent in America, according to U.S. Census data, with most of that population concentrated in the tricounty area of Wayne, Macomb, and Oakland, particularly in Hamtramck, Sterling Heights, and Troy. NPR reported in a 2017 segment that at its peak, Hamtramck was nearly 75 percent Polish, though the city has grown increasingly diverse.

“Hamtramck is a multicultural community, and that includes Polish culture,” says Melody Malosh, co-owner of Small’s Bar in Hamtramck. “You really see it during events like the [Hamtramck] Labor Day Festival’s Polish Day parade in September and St. Florian’s Strawberry Festival in May with the food, dancing, and traditional costumes and music.”

Here are some of the best places to check out to experience Poland right here in metro Detroit.

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D ON’ T MISS

Arguably metro Detroit’s top Polish event is the annual Paczki Day celebration, which occurs in midFebruary on Fat Tuesday.

Polish bakeries across the region see lines out the door for delicious paczki — those delicious don’t-call-themdonuts filled with jam, cream, or custard. Detroitbased Detroit City Distillery takes the paczki to new dimensions in the lead-up to Fat Tuesday, releasing a limited annual supply of paczki-infused vodka. The day of indulgence is also marked by live music throughout Hamtramck and at the city’s annual Paczki Run, which includes a 5K route. “Hamtramck is the heart of celebrating Fat Tuesday in metro Detroit,” Malosh says. “It’s like our St. Patrick’s Day.” Downriver’s Wyandotte, meanwhile, hosts the annual Our Lady of the Scapular Polish Festival, featuring traditional Polish foods, dancing, and vendors. The popular late-August event, which got its start in 1972, was canceled due to COVID last year. As of early March, it was unclear if it would return this summer. Still, a visit to Wyandotte offers other ways to experience Polish culture, including a visit to Pulaski Park, which is home to a monument to Count Casimir Pulaski, who fought for both Polish and American freedom in the 1700s. An impressive monument to General Thaddeus Kosciuszko, another Polish patriot who joined the American Revolution, can be found on Michigan Avenue in Detroit. This monument to the “freedom fighter for two continents” is an exact replica of the one at Krakow’s famous Wawel Castle.

Ann Arbor is home to the annual Polish Film Festival, which takes place each November and includes feature films, documentaries, and a children’s Polish book fair. Recently featured films include the Polish historical war drama Europa Europa and the short comedy adventure Marcel.

There is also West Bloomfield’s annual St. Mary’s Polish Country Fair, which takes place during Memorial Day weekend. The event is filled with carnival rides, games, Polish entertainment, and of course, plenty of pierogi, or Polish dumplings. Sterling Heights, meanwhile, hosts the American Polish Festival & Craft Show each June. This year’s event will run from June 25 to 27 and will include the ninth-annual Srodek’s Pierogi Eating Challenge. If you’re thinking of participating, you’d better come hungry; last year’s winner downed 49 pierogi in 10 minutes.

THE REAL DEAL

Luckily, when it comes to finding authentic local Polish culture, there are plenty of places to turn. One great specialty store for traditional Polish foods is Polish Market on Maple Road in Troy. Its sprawling aisles include Polish baked goods, cheeses, smoked meats, and hot foods to go.

Another option is Srodek’s Campau Quality Sausage Co. in Hamtramck and Sterling Heights, renowned for its meat selection and deli.

To get a feel for the past, visit the Hamtramck Historical Museum to learn about local Polish history and influence. Or, to experience Polish life in present times, head on over to the American Polish Cultural Center in Troy.

There, you’ll find an array of Polish cultural events, such as live jazz performances and bridal shows.

For Polish arts and crafts, pop into Hamtramck’s Polish Art Center. “The Polish Art Center on Joseph Campau is a good yearround example of Polish pride in Hamtramck,” Malosh says. “They sell imported Polish artwork, jewelry, books, and other gifts and have been around for many decades.”

TA S T E S

For traditional Polish eats, Polish Village Cafe in

Hamtramck is a must for unique flavors of pierogi, such as cheeseburger and pepperoni pizza. Yet it’s not the only Polish restaurant in the area — Polonia Restaurant is another great Hamtramck joint for Polish and Eastern European fare in an Old World-style atmosphere.

Krakus Restaurant is also hailed for its fried pierogi.

And for classic Polish drinks, be sure to visit the lively Polish Sea League bar for a shot of Malört, a liquor popular in Polish bars.

Further Downriver, Sabina’s Restaurant in Melvindale is known for serving tasty dill pickle soup. Wawel Royal Castle Polish Bar & Restaurant in Troy, meanwhile, is excellent for a home-cooked Polish meal of stuffed cabbage. In Detroit’s Gratiot Central Meat Market, you’ll find Pietrzyk

Pierogi, which curates Polish street foods for sit-down or on-the-go dining. You can pick up all of the classic flavors of pierogi, such as mushroom, cheddar cheese, or sauerkraut. Those with more adventurous taste

Did You Know?

Metro Detroit is home to the National PolishAmerican Sports Hall of Fame, which can be found in Troy. It chronicles the legacies of baseball great Stan Musial and college basketball coach Mike Krzyzewski, among others.

Plus: The museum houses a football signed by Bob Skoronski, Vince Lombardi, and other players from the 1967 Super Bowl champion Green Bay Packers.

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Germany

buds should be sure to check out People’s Pierogi each Saturday at Eastern Market for pierogi in “funkified” flavors including “Detroit Coney Dog” and “Corned Beef and Swiss.”

SIDE TRIP TO RUSSIA

Like the Polish community, Russian culture has also

developed a significant presence in metro Detroit.

With waves of immigrants fleeing the Soviet Union post-World War II, many of whom were Jewish, a large Russian population grew in the area.

Hop over the Polish border and take a quick side trip to nearby Russia right here. One of the top places

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to visit to experience R ussian culture is West Bloomfield’s Allegro. At this vibrant restaurant and entertainment center, there’s plenty of live music and traditional Russian meals. It doubles as an event space, often hosting large birthday parties and other celebrations.

Right around the corner

from Allegro stands New York International, one of metro Detroit’s best Russian grocery stores.

From Russian sweets, from cakes and candies to smoked fish and caviar, it’s where many Russianborn locals and their families shop for ingredients to prepare traditional Russian meals.

Visit Polonia Restaurant for authentic fare, including, of course, pierogi.

Paczki, meanwhile, are ubiquitous in Hamtramck and beyond.

Don’t Miss: There’s no better way to experience German culture locally than with a quick day trip to Frankenmuth, about an hour north of Detroit.

Called “Michigan’s Little Bavaria,” this celebrated destination features authentic German restaurants including the Bavarian Inn Restaurant and The Harvest Coffeehouse. You can also enjoy activities like the Bavarian Festival and Oktoberfest, both highly anticipated annual events, and learn about the city’s German heritage at the Frankenmuth Historical Museum.

The German-American Cultural Center (GACC) has been a staple for preserving German heritage and cultural achievement in metro Detroit for seven decades and is now in Sterling Heights.

The Real Deal: Nestled in Shelby Charter Township is Nitsches Meat & Deli Shoppe, which is revered for its array of authentic German food. This familyowned fresh meat market has been in business for more than 40 years and specializes in artisanal butchery. You can also find dumpling mixes, salad dressings, baked goods, and chocolate bars with peppermint and marzipan filling.

Tastes: Metzger’s German Restaurant in Ann Arbor serves up German craft beer in a European atmosphere.

You can also try traditional German meals including rouladen (rolled beef stuffed with onions, spices, and other savory ingredients). The Dakota Inn Rathskeller in Detroit, meanwhile, is a German bar that’s been around for nearly 90 years. Enjoy German craft beer, Bavarian soft pretzels, and kartoffelpuffer (German-style homemade potato pancakes served with applesauce).

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B Y R YA N PAT R I C K H O O P E R

ONLY A FEW architectural remnants of Detroit’s long-gone Chinatown in the Cass Corridor remain. A duo of monuments mark what once was, while new businesses, including a craft beer store and tattoo shop, let you know how much has changed in the transformed Midtown area.

That transition from the gritty Cass Corridor to the cleaned-up Midtown matches the story of the former working-class neighborhood at the intersection of Cass Avenue and Peterboro Street that once anchored the Chinese American presence in Detroit.

Chinese American roots in metro Detroit date back to the 1880s. Lively Lunar New Year celebrations happened in the Cass Corridor into the early 1960s before the uprising of 1967 spurred many Chinese Americans to leave for the suburbs. Today, decades later, those suburbs have turned into Pan-Asian hubs of cuisine and culture.

Madison Heights has turned its sea of strip malls, with their parking lot moats, into a dynamically diverse and delicious landscape.

The vast offerings of cuisines plucked from the Asian diaspora are often served in humble settings that reflect the no-frills, blue-collar ZIP code where these immigrant-owned and -operated businesses have found ways to thrive.

There are more than 200 Asian-owned businesses in mighty Madison Heights alone, which has a population of about 30,000 people, according to census data from 2018. For anyone navigating this Pan-Asian wonderland, be warned — a lot of the restaurants here are cash-only, and finding their menus online can be a task.

Here’s a brief itinerary for a whirlwind tour of Asia without an all-day flight.

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Like the sweeping range of cuisines in Madison Heights, the Robert & Katherine Jacobs Asian Wing at the Detroit Institute of Arts presents a wide range of mediums — textiles, calligraphy, pottery, painting, and more — representing Chinese, Korean, Indian, and Southeast Asian art. Artwork gets cycled through every six months in the Asian wing, so there’s often something new to see, even for folks who visit the DIA frequently.

Back in 2018, the Detroit Institute of Arts expanded its Asian collection from a humble single gallery into a massive, 6,500-square-foot wing. It’s only the second permanent addition to the museum in the past 14 years, representing a large commitment by the DIA to feature Asian art.

THE REAL DEAL

For anyone looking to cook authentic Asian cuisine of any style, 168 Asian Market on John R in Madison Heights — one of the largest Asian markets in the Midwest — is a must. (The number “168” is considered lucky in Chinese culture.) The place is owned by first-generation Chinese immigrant and entrepreneur Ricky Dong, who turned the economic downturn of 2008 into a small empire of real estate in Madison Heights by buying space that big box retailers left behind.

Remember Mervyn’s? It’s now home to 168 Asian Market, and we’re better off for it.

The 38,000-square-foot market prides itself on carrying particular, country-specific brands, often of the same item, for immigrants looking for that sense of home. The store stocks more than 25,000 products drawn from Chinese, Japanese, Vietnamese, and Korean cultures and beyond. There are varieties of fish sauce and red curry paste that most Americans probably don’t even know exist.

Bonus: You can even buy items in the market, which boasts an incredible selection of seafood, and they’ll cook them up for you. The food court is small but mighty, offering more than 40 dishes from various regions and countries — think dumplings of all sorts and rich, deepflavored sauces. These are not Americanized versions of Cantonese classics.

TA S T E S

Dubbed “Little Vietnam,” this stretch of John R and Dequindre in Madison Heights gained its moniker because of its high concentration of Vietnamese and Vietnamese American residents — and its must-visit restaurants, such as Pho Que Huong, Thang Long, as well as the specialty grocery store Saigon Market.

But its range of cuisine is certainly not limited to steaming bowls of pho. Thai, Filipino, Chinese, Indian, Japanese, and Korean delicacies are all represented here. (There’s even an Arabic grocery store called Family Market.) The variety of restaurants from last year’s citywide restaurant week reads as if a tornado picked up cuisines from around the globe and plopped them down in Madison Heights in no particular order — Shawarma Castle, Irish Tavern, Augie’s Bar and Grill, Lao Pot, 168 Asian Market. The BBQ pork from Zhang B-B-Q is not to be missed. Grab a half pound and you won’t regret it. The meat hanging in the front

display resembles something out of San Francisco’s Chinatown. Next door is Chao Zhou, a tiny Chinese restaurant that offers some of the best carry-out in town, which is a crazy thing to say in a city like Madison Heights, with so much to choose from. The ginger scallion beef, beef with bitter melon, wide rice noodle, and stir-fried Chinese broccoli with minced garlic are musttrys. The folks at Chao Zhou will actually cook what you bring in from the China Town Market next door, which carries a range of seafood and cooking essentials for anyone bringing these Pan-Asian flavors home.

Don’t leave town without stopping by QQ Bakery on Dequindre Road. The BBQ pork bun is a staple of Chinese baking, and the ones at QQ Bakery are massive and decadent. The buns with dried pork floss on top are made with a mayonnaise that’s whipped together in-house, making it light and sweet with a dash of salt. The steam buns are full meals in a compact package, filled with

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Peru

The Real Deal: The Latino American Market in Pontiac sells traditional Latin products, including Peruvian items such as crema de ají (Peruvian pepper sauce), Inca Kola, and huacatay (Peruvian black mint).

Tastes: Culantro in Ferndale serves popular Peruvian dishes like Aji de Gallina, a classic consisting of shredded chicken in a yellow cream sauce made with walnuts and Amarillo peppers and served on rice. Other favorites include plantain and yuca fries, ceviche, and flan. Wash it all down with the chicha morada, a sangria-like Peruvian mocktail made with pineapple, apple, cinnamon, and cloves. Or, for a truly authentic treat, try a can of the Peruvian staple Inca Kola.

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India

168 Asian market stocks brands that will be familiar to immigrants from all across Asia.

Don’t Miss: On weekends, the Bharatiya Hindu Temple in Troy opens to visitors interested in experiencing Hindu rites and services. Plus, after observing the opulent art and architecture of the grand temple itself, guests can browse spiritual figurines and home décor at the on-site gift gallery.

The Real Deal: Carrying traditional, bridal, and designer Indian clothing and jewelry, Troy’s Sanskriti Fashions is a popular boutique for men, women, and children alike. In addition to its stock of bright and ornate garb, the shop offers tailoring, alteration, and henna services.

Tastes: The Indian street food restaurant Neehee’s was started by a local family with roots in Gujrat, India.

Now a popular Midwestern chain with locations in Troy and Canton, Neehee’s offers a staggering 150 authentic dishes, such as Paneer Chili and Pani Puri — a classic Indian street food featuring a potatochickpea filling and a crispy, deep-fried crust. The menu also includes a plethora of vegan and glutenfree options.

pork, chicken, Chinese sausage, and half an egg.

“It caters more to our clientele, which is more Southeast Asian. A veggie bun wouldn’t fly here versus a meat bun,” says Will Chai — who runs the bakery with his parents, who are Malaysian Chinese — with a laugh. His mom, Yow, learned from a Taiwanese baker, further blurring the lines of what-comes-fromwhere. “We do a Cantonese twist on a Taiwanese style of baking. It’s similar, but it’s a little bit different,” says Chai. The prices are quite reasonable, so grab a few cream cakes on your way out. It’s a super-light sponge cake with a buttercream filling in the middle.

The simple rice cakes, meanwhile, are delicious and reflect the diversity of the bakery’s clientele. “This is a steamed rice cake that Filipinos love. It’s fermented rice flour, water, and sugar. It’s a spongy, honeycomb-like material,” says Chai. “Filipinos call it puto; Chinese people call it white sugar cake. Everyone has their own name for the exact same thing.”

Did You Know?

The closest Chinatown to Detroit — like the one that once existed downtown or in the Cass Corridor — is just across the border in Windsor, Ontario.

Chao Zhou makes some of the best Chinese take-out in Madison Heights.

For cultural immersion, visit the Detroit Institute of Arts to view masterpieces like “Manuscript of the ‘Perfection of Wisdom in Eight Thousand Verses,’” dating from about 1160.

SHELVES/SIGNAGE RYAN PATRICK HOOPER

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D E S T I N A T I O N

BY RACHAEL THOMAS

METRO DETROIT IS HOME to a growing community of Africans from countries all across the continent.

Though not as visible as Polish culture in Hamtramck or Arab influences in Dearborn, African cultures abound in metro Detroit, making it easy to sample the richness of the continent right here at home.

Seydi Sarr, a Senegal native and executive director of the African Bureau of Immigration & Social Affairs (ABISA) in Detroit, says the city attracts a steady flow of African immigrants from larger metropolitan areas such as New York and Washington, D.C., who come here to settle down, raise families, and establish businesses. As of 2000, there were nearly 17,000 African-born people in Michigan. By 2016 that number had risen nearly 63 percent to a little over 27,000, according to the U.S. Census. More than half of the state’s African-born population at that time lived in the Detroit-Warren-Dearborn area. They represent a diverse mixture of people who hail from Senegal, Guinea, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Uganda, Togo, Cameroon, the Ivory Coast, and elsewhere, says Zaini Itito, a Togo native who serves as shelter and client services manager at the nonprofit Freedom House Detroit, a temporary home for asylum seekers.

“It’s definitely diverse, because you have Senegalese, you have Gambian, you have the Ivory Coast, you have Benin, you have Togo, you have Mali, you have Nigeria, you have Uganda … you have Burundi in here. It’s very, very diverse.” Sarr says of African influences in the region.

There are plenty of ways to experience the diversity of African culture right here in metro Detroit if you know where to look.

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D ON’ T MISS

A great place to start is with a trip to Dabls Mbad African Bead Museum.

Museum owner, curator, and visual storyteller Olayami Dabls began collecting African beads in the ’80s. He opened his museum in 2002 on an entire city block in Detroit with the goal of connecting the local community to African history and material culture, free from the constructs of European museums. The walls of the bead gallery and shop are

covered from ceiling to floor in hand-carved bone, glass, brass, and ceramic beads from all around the continent. The campus also includes 18 outdoor mosaic and mural installations, including the “N’kisi House” and the “African Language Wall”, which features 25 of the continent’s languages painted in multiple colors.

The African World Festival is a highly anticipated annual event in Detroit.

During a three-day weekend each August, the festival

brings live music and dance performances, art, clothing, more than 200 authentic African and Caribbean food vendors, and more to crowds that surpass 125,000 in non-pandemic years. The event has been held at the Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History for the past decade, but it’s scheduled to return to its original home base, Hart Plaza, from Aug. 22 to 24 this year.

At the Detroit Institute of Arts, local historian

Jamon Jordan guides guests through the museum’s ancient Egyptian and African exhibits as part of the Royal African Tour. ABISA’s Sarr, meanwhile, teaches West African dance classes at the N’Namdi Center for Contemporary Art’s Movement Center.

THE REAL DEAL

Several shops with authentic African apparel and accessories line the Livernois Avenue of Fashion in Detroit.

Love Travels. Imports offers

DABL’S BEADS GERARD + BELEVENDER

3/4/21 1:20 PM

Visit Dabls Mbad African Bead Museum to learn about African material culture. 

Fashion and Prisca’s African Fashion for Less.

Sarr recommends a visit to Detroit’s Djenne Beads and Art, owned by Mali native Mahamadou Sumareh, for African beads, perfumes, shea butters, and clothing.

Also worth a visit is Sun’s Crystal and Bead Supply, which stocks a selection of brass, carnelian, coconut heishi beads, and more.

Zarkpa’s, owned by Liberia native Tracy Garley, offers vibrant tops, dashikis, skirts, dresses, masks, and head wraps handmade with fabrics from Ghana, Nigeria, and Liberia.

At African Fashions by Classic Expressions in Oak Park, Nigeria native and designer Yemisi Bamisaye designs ready-to-wear garments and custom pieces with fabrics from Nigeria, Angola, Ghana, and Cote d’Ivoire. Sterose Interna-

CK QUI PS TRI

Bangladesh

handcrafted artisan goods created by makers in South Africa, Guatemala, Peru, and Haiti, including apparel, accessories, textiles, and body products. The shop is a culmination of owner Yvette Jenkins’ travels to those places. Nearby Akoma is an art gallery, shop, and co-op space for local women artists and makers, featuring African textiles including indigo-dyed cotton and hand-dyed mudcloth from Mali. Other notable shops on the avenue include African Fabrics &

FOOD JACOB LEWKOW

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Don’t Miss: Bangladesh Avenue is the affectionate name given to the thriving Bangladeshi community in Hamtramck located on the stretch of Conant Avenue between Davison and Harold streets. The area features dozens of Bangladeshi businesses and eateries, including a dress shop called Maloncho Fashion, Reshmi Sweets and Cafe, plus an Asian grocery store called Niaz Bangla Bazar.

The Real Deal: Visit the Banglatown Farmers Market in Detroit every Saturday from June 1 to Nov. 2 to find deals on fresh organic produce grown by Bangladeshi people, plus a plethora of dried spices.

Taste: Aladdin Sweets and Cafe was the first Bangladeshi restaurant to establish itself in the nowthriving ethnic community of Hamtramck.

Its menu features items such as Dal Puri a dish of onion fritters dipped in batter and deep fried .

Maty’s African Cuisine’s chef Amady Guere specializes in traditional Senegalese dishes.

tional Boutique in Detroit is internationally known for its geles, a traditional Nigerian head wrap.

For more products with African roots, check out Diop, a “diaspora-inspired streetwear” brand founded by first-generation American Mapate Diop. The brand’s vibrant apparel and accessories are made of Ankara fabric, a material that Diop’s mother brought home after visiting her native Nigeria that inspired Diop to start his business. And Chinyone Akunne’s beauty brand Ilera Apothecary features collections of plant-based, ethically sourced cleansers, moisturizers, and body butters influenced by Akunne’s Nigerian roots.

Detroit’s west side is also home to many grocers — Darou Salam African Market, African Village Market, Family African Market, and United African Market among them — that sell African foods, herbs,

organic products, oils, butters, cosmetics, and similar products.

TA S T E S

Authentic African fare is plentiful in metro Detroit. At Maty’s African Cuisine, chef Amady Guere whips up Senegalese dishes such as chicken yassa; deep-fried fataya pastries; and maafe, a West African stew. Located in Detroit’s Old Redford neighborhood, the restaurant is the first of its kind in the city. KG’s African American Grill in Garden City also serves traditional Senegalese fare, including various takes on the national dish, thiéboudienne, along with burgers, chicken sandwiches, and other American classics.

Afro-Caribbean eatery YumVillage, founded by chef Godwin Ihentuge, specializes in Hot Bowls filled with flavorful proteins, rice, and veggies including mango curry chicken, guava Tahini

Did You Know? chicken, lemon pepper jerk chicken, jollof, coconut or turmeric rice, and spicy plantains. Not far from YumVillage in Detroit’s New Center neighborhood is Baobab Fare, a highly anticipated East African restaurant founded by husband-wife duo and Burundi natives Nadia Nijimbere and Hamissi Mamba. This, the area’s newest African dining spot, opened mid-February.

Kola Restaurant & Ultra Lounge in Farmington Hills offers Afro-Caribbean eats paired with live Afrobeat, reggae, and jazz music performances as well as comedy and dance shows. Blue Nile in Ferndale and Ann Arbor and Taste of Ethiopia in Southfield offer Ethiopian meat and vegetarian dishes.

Other spots to check out include Detroit’s Kalahari African Cuisine and the Fork in Nigeria food truck, which offers flavorful dishes rooted in chef-owner Prej Iroebgu’s native Nigeria.

Afrobeat is a genre that combines elements of West African music — such as Nigerian fuji music, traditional Yoruba music, and Ghanaian highlife — with American jazz and funk. The Odu Afrobeat Orchestra, a Detroitbased, 15-piece ensemble, is one notable example of local Afrobeat talent.

A legendary Afrobeat performance was recorded live at the Fox Theatre in 1986.

The late Fela Kuti — a Nigerian multiinstrumentalist and activist regarded as the pioneer of Afrobeat — performed there less than a year after he was released from his 20-month imprisonment in Nigeria. The four-song set lasted nearly two and a half hours and was released as the album Live in Detroit 1986 in 2012.

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3/4/21 9:51 AM

04.21 ARTS, CULTURE, AND OTHER THINGS TO DO

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RE CRE ATION

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PHOTO COURTESY OF TREERUNNER ADVENTURE PARK

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Agenda

APRIL 2021

Culture Calendar

Our carefully curated guide to the month in arts and entertainment

BY RYA N PATRICK HOOP E R

Members of the White Panther Party and the Weathermen photographed

by Leni Sinclair at the Fifth Estate in Detroit in 1970.

ARTS

Last Chance: Black Art Library

With Black Art Library at the Museum of Contemporary Art Detroit, independent curator Asmaa Walton has created what MOCAD calls “a living archive of global Black creativity.”

Walton started the project in February 2020 by collecting all sorts of Black art ephemera — children’s books, exhibition catalogs, memoirs, monographs, and more. She started posting them to her Instagram and soon made the leap into the physical realm; the collection is now a pop-up library that turns bits of Black art history into an accessible community asset and a platform for engaging with the rich

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legacy of Black art and artists.

Black Art Library runs through April 18, mocadetroit.org PHOTOGRAPHY

Last Chance: Leni Sinclair

Also ending soon at MOCAD is the excellent Motor City Underground exhibit, featuring a collection of lesserknown works by photographer and activist Leni Sinclair, focused on her days documenting radical movements such as the White Panthers that marched to the beat of their own drums in Detroit in the 1960s and beyond. As captured

by Sinclair’s master lens, the Motor City’s counterculture history comes to life in powerful black and white.

Leni Sinclair: Motor

City Underground runs through April 18, mocadetroit.org ARTS

Smell the Flowers at Reyes|Finn

If you’ve been noticing a heavy floral focus in a range of design mediums, you’re onto something. The trend marches on at Reyes|Finn, a contemporary art gallery in Detroit’s Corktown neighborhood. Its latest exhibition is called The Language of Flowers, based on a 19th-century book that explored the symbolism of flowers in the strict social codes of the Victorian era. “An open rose signifies beauty. A thistle evokes austerity. Peonies carry shame,” exhibition curator Phillip

March Jones explains in a press release.

The show, on display through April 16, features new work from Hayley Barker, Kevin Ford, and Lonnie Holley, among others, and includes pieces

by Thornton Dial, a groundbreaking outsider artist whose colorful assemblages and paintings rank him among the contemporary masters.

Reyes|Finn is open by appointment only through reyesfinn.com.

Schiff in the same month. The University of Michigan’s prestigious cultural arm will present both performances virtually, bringing concertquality audio to the comfort of your couch. Schiff will perform the early works of Bach and Beethoven, while the Detroit-based National Arab Orchestra will present Arab Women in Music: The Works of Asmahan and Umm Kulthum. The orchestra is led by founder and musical director Michael Ibrahim, whose energetic live performances and ambassadorship of the Arab arts have made him one of the most compelling members of metro Detroit’s creative class over the past decade.

Arab Women in Music is available now through April 5 via ums.org; Sir András Schiff’s performance will be available from April 9 to 19.

Classical pianist and conductor Sir András Schiff 

ARTS

Spot Rising Arts Stars at Cranbrook

From revisiting works from its vast collection to offering patrons private admission so they can have the place to themselves, the Cranbrook Art Museum has found creative ways to pandemic pivot. Now it’s turning its attention to the next generation of architects, artists, and designers who are graduating from the Cranbrook Academy of Art. This body of work is the culmination of two years of studio work and, while you may not recognize their names today, they’ll certainly be creators to keep an eye on. Say you knew them when by checking out the 2021 Graduate Degree Exhibition of Cranbrook Academy of Art, which opens on April 17 and runs through May 16.

Advance registration is required. See cranbrookartmuseum.org for details.

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

MUSIC

Diverse Offerings at U-M

Leave it to the ambitious University Musical Society to present the National Arab Orchestra and classical pianist and conductor Sir András WHITE PANTHERS COURTESY OF LENI SINCLAIR/MOCAD PIANIST NADIA ROMANINI

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Agenda

Humans, Being collects a year’s worth of 100-word vignettes.

Jimmy Doom: “There are so many people who can’t believe I’m still standing.” 

Take One Each Day READS

LIVE FAST, WRITE SHORT Jimmy Doom distills a lifetime of hard living into bite-sized daily doses

BY J I M M CFARLIN

IF JIMMY DOOM approached you on Cass Avenue, you might be tempted to cross the street.

If you did, you’d be missing out, for beyond the furrows and creases of Doom’s well lived-in face, lie fascinating tales from Detroit’s shadowy side.

The hustlers and the punks. The has-beens and the never-wases. “I laugh out loud when I drive past some house being upgraded into an urban palace somewhere like Brush Park, going for $500,000,” Doom remarks. “I was in that house at four in the morning, watching guys with sawed-off shotguns rolling dice, because that used to be an after-hours club. Some really seedy, crazy stuff happened in places that owners will never know.”

Now Doom, professional actor and onetime punk rocker, has compiled those Detroit visions into his first book, Humans, Being: A Story a Day for a Year (available at Book Beat in Oak Park, on Amazon, and at humansbeingbook@gmail.com, $19).

In the process, he took on and accomplished a daunting challenge.

In a salute to the writing genre called microfiction, every page holds a complete story

BOOK BRAD JENDZA PHOTO SANDA COOK

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We asked Jimmy Doom to choose his favorite 100-word composition from Humans, Being: A Story a Day for a Year, which of course is like trying to choose among your 365 children.

After some deliberation, he declared, “You choose between ‘Stars’ and ‘Nom de Guerre.’ ” Well, alrighty then …

Stars He loved space as a little boy. The stars, the limitless possibilities. His space wasn’t one of rayguns and wars, but one of peace and solitude.

In the summer he ripped the sheet metal roof off his hut near the viaduct and just stared at the stars.

He endured the rain for his quality time with the billions of twinkling lights that couldn’t be drowned by the noise of the freeway.

When the company bulldozers came, the men were kind, but firm.

He took his propane heater. He let them keep his sheet metal roof. They couldn’t take his stars.

in exactly 100 words — 365 narratives in all. It’s the fictional equivalent of haiku. “It was the challenge,” Doom says. “I knew people did it, so I wanted to see if I could do it, too.”

Moreover, Doom — James Kenneth Graham to his mom, having acquired his cataclysmic nom de guerre as a University of Detroit Jesuit High School and Academy senior after wreaking vengeance on an underclassman who sucker punched him in the mouth — was inspired to prove a point. He was creating content for an online open writing platform when it changed its payment structure.

“I said, ‘This is a huge cut,’ and they said, ‘No, it’s just a different system.’ But I argued if I wrote a 100-word story every day for a year they would pay much less than one 3,500-word piece. They insisted they were right, so I said, ‘OK, jerks, I’ll write a 100word story every day, then we’ll compare numbers.’

I felt like Norma Rae.” Ultimately Doom left the platform, but Canadianbased editor Dascha Paylor solicited him to keep writing for her publication, Tempest in Under 1,000.

“It quickly became apparent that Jimmy was the real deal,” Paylor says. “He’s lived such an eclectic life and paints his beloved Detroit in vibrant, trueto-life vignettes. I became his biggest cheerleader.”

Doom, who has appeared onscreen opposite such stars as David Carradine and Christopher Walken and has two new independent films, Ash and Bone and Good Thief, expected out this year, admits acting is his first love. “But you simply don’t get to do it as much as you’d like, especially in Michigan,” he says. “So I don’t slap a title on myself, I don’t like that. I’m Jimmy Doom and I act and I write and I watch hockey like a madman.”

He didn’t have as much trouble conjuring 365 scenarios as one might expect, having worked for years as a bartender at several of Detroit’s more notorious establishments, including St. Andrew’s Hall in its rock ’n’ roll heyday. He spent many years on the other side of bars as well.

“Oh, certainly, the book is littered with conversations that took place in bars, or versions of some,” says Doom, who is now five years clean and sober. “Sometimes I would stop myself: ‘OK, Jimmy, you cannot write another story about two people in a bar.’ The bar — being on both sides of it — was such a huge part of my life.”

Does he really expect readers to digest only one story per day? “I really was hoping that would help people feel like they got their money’s worth,” he says, laughing. “I’ve had people tell me, ‘I tried to read a story a day, but then I started cheating.’ ” Doom feels a bit like he’s cheating, too, at the unexpected age of 55. “I have ‘Live Fast, Die Young’ tattooed on my inner right forearm,” he says. “I keep saying I should get another tattoo like a sticker to put over it: ‘I Tried.’ There are so many people who can’t believe I’m still standing. I’m lucky to be here, I realize it, and I’m glad I got the opportunity to do this.”

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MUSIC

For the Love of All Things Holy Ann Arbor’s Lily Talmers draws on biblical story lines and personal details for a stunningly insightful set of songs on the human condition

BY CHRISTOPHER PORTER

WHEN LILY TALMERS SINGS, “Is there anybody listening to me? / From the middle of America you scream out to the ocean, it gets lost,” it’s not just a plea by a 23-year-old Ann Arbor singer-songwriter-multi-instrumentalist who wants to be heard. “Middle of America“ also addresses a potential lie to “people at the border,“ a father’s decimated pension fund, and a lost Lady Liberty.

The song is neither didactic nor overly sentimental, though it is pointed and nostalgic.

It’s both specific in its details and nebulous in its meaning, a feeling that runs throughout Talmers’ excellent debut album, Remember Me as Holy.

Talmers’ songs may evoke those of Phoebe Bridgers at times in that they are mostly quiet and always literate — the latter is not a surprise since the Birmingham native is a recent University of Michigan grad with a degree in comparative literature with minors in philosophy and Portuguese. But there’s a stronger twang in Talmers’ tunes, rooted more in Americana and ’60s folk than indie-rock.

“Probably my two biggest contemporary influences are Madison Cunningham and Adrianne Lenker of Big Thief. Those two really are innovators as guitarists, vocalists, and visionaries,” Talmers says, while also mentioning Gillian Welch, Regina Spektor, and Anais Mitchell. “[Cunningham and Lenker] stretch my notions of what is possible to do within a song. It was an enormous gift that Madison’s producer, Tyler Chester, played piano and organ on the first track on the record.”

That song, “Maybe It’s Madness,” features some Leonard Cohen-like phrasing in the verses when there aren’t always true rhymes, and the lyrics sometimes overflow the musical measure.

But unlike Cohen — who for all his skills as a songwriter was a distinctive but not great singer — Talmers’ expressive voice soars through melodies with controlled confidence, never resorting to melodrama. In that respect, Talmers is closer to the Joni Mitchell school of singing, where she can use her strong voice as an instrument, not just as a delivery device for poetic lyrics, though hers are that, too.

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With Remember Me as Holy, Lily Talmers gets personal without oversharing.

“Joni is someone I find new reasons to admire each day,” Talmers says.

“There’s really no place she’s unwilling to go. I’m also a huge fan of Judee Sill, mostly for our mutual obsession with all things biblical.”

Religious imagery pops up on Remember Me as Holy, but this is not Hillsong music; the references are used to explore common situations and philosophical questions.

“I’m definitely compelled by biblical narrative, and it does bleed into my writing in ways that often surprise and even inspire me,” Talmers says. “I do take religious tradition and faith very seriously, but by this I mean specifically that the questions they prompt me to ask make up some of the central tensions of my life.”

Talmers plays a variety of stringed instruments, from bajo to bouzouki — a three-stringed Greek instrument — but her acoustic guitar dominates the sound of Remember Me as Holy, which is filled with personal details that are crafted so as not to be oversharing, though her family can probably decipher some of them.

“They’re really proud and supportive, but no aspect of me — anger, heartbreak, disappointment, or any of the feelings I breach on the record — is news to them,” Talmers says. “They hear all the complexities behind my songs in the form of me, being myself, through time, all the time. And, may I say, the undistilled version of these songs — that is, my life — is way messier and probably more annoying and less articulate.”

—LILY TALMERS Remember Me as Holy is not only articulate, it’s a pretty stunning collection of reflective and insightful songs about the human condition, especially coming from someone so young.

“I would be lying if I said it’s not anxiety-inducing to be critically honest and detailed through songwriting,” Talmers says. “If the point of a song is to translate what’s inside of me, which I think it is, then I’m kind of willing to pull out all the stops so that the listener can locate what I’m talking about within themselves. … If the rawness of my songs can encourage anyone else to embrace their own vulnerability, even just with themselves, I’m willing to take the hit.”

Talmers’ album Remember Me as Holy can be purchased at bandcamp.com and streamed through various streaming services.

“I would be lying if I said it’s not anxiety-inducing to be critically honest and detailed through songwriting.”

PORTRAIT COURTESY OF LILY TALMERS

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Agenda

RECREATION

A STRAIGHT LINE FROM HERE TO FUN Clip in, step off, and conquer your fears with a trip to one of the area’s many exhilarating zip lining attractions

line — Golden Grizzly — longer than others in the park at 250 feet,” Fishman says. “There is truly nothing like it.”

Opens April 23. Riders must be at least 7 years old and between 60 and 265 pounds. Located on Oakland University’s campus in Rochester.

Use the entrance off Adams Road, just south of Walton Boulevard; treerunnerrochester.com; 248-759-5222

BY M AR K S P E ZIA

EVERY THING ABOUT ZIP LINING screams exhilaration.

Picture yourself standing on a small platform near the top of a tree, safely buckled in and poised to step off into thin air, then hurtling at speeds of 30 mph or more while taking in the beauty that’s whizzing by below (and all around) you. Some places even offer night zipping through lighted canopies.

It’s a thrill that isn’t reserved for hardcore thrill-seekers. In reality, zip lining is a fun and safe outdoor activity for nearly everyone who meets certain age and weight requirements. Most venues offer beginning, intermediate, and advanced options, and all provide hands-on instruction and close-to-the-ground practice areas. Staff will work with first-timers and scaredy-cats until they feel ready.

“A day at our adventure parks is like going to a local ski resort or state park with the additional feature of flying through the trees,” says Jeremy Fishman, vice president of business development and strategy at TreeRunner Adventure Park locations in West Bloomfield and Rochester.

“Our glow nights provide a surreal experience in an illuminated forest with various music themes.”

Here are some of the best zip lining destinations in metro Detroit and within a reasonable drive.

Treerunner Adventure Park (West Bloomfield)

The largest aerial adventure park in the Midwest delivers with 14 above-ground courses with varying degrees of difficulty, 45 zip lines, and more than 210 aerial obstacles.

It’s simply a matter of getting to the main platform and choosing a course to complete. All are rated from beginner to expert and combine wooden obstacles with zip lining. There’s always something to climb

over, around, or through — or even to swing from — to reach the next platform.

Beginning courses are 10 to 15 feet off the ground, while expert courses are 30 to 40 feet above ground and are reserved for those who are physically fit — and a bit daring. Some courses have as many as 14 obstacles to negotiate.

“We’re opening in time for spring break,” Fishman says. With travel limited by COVID-19, “going to an adventure park is an excellent opportunity to get out of the house and be active in a socially distanced forest environment.”

Opens April 3. Riders must be at least 6 years old and weigh between 60 and 265 pounds. 6600 W. Maple Road, West Bloomfield Township; 248-419-1550; treerunner westbloomfield.com

Treerunner Adventure Park (Rochester)

Nestled in a wooded section of Oakland University, the park features more than 60 obstacles, 12 zip lines, and seven courses with varying degrees of difficulty.

Each course is made up of platforms — some 40 feet high — connected by cables, wood, ropes, or zip lines.

The park is newly expanded for 2021. “The Rochester park has two new trails and a new zip

ZIPLINING COURTESY OF TREERUNNER ADVENTURE PARK, HOWELL NATURE CENTER, FRANKENMUTH AERIAL PARK, CJ BARRYMORE’S, AND CAMP DEARBORN

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Howell Nature Center

The main zip line here is 20 feet off the ground, 500 feet long, and launches riders from a tree-lined hillside across a glacially formed pond that attracts its share of wildlife.

A seven-zip line Glacier Valley Eco Zip Tour is offered on select days. It features a half-mile of zip lining, a halfmile hike, and encounters with live animals. From 40 feet up, riders can view Tornado Ravine, which shows damage from a tornado that passed through the area in 2003.

Other highlights are Mitchell’s Bowl, a deep impression in the land carved by glaciers, and Glacier Point, which offers a panoramic view of the surrounding area.

“Guests that ride our zip line are also given access to our Wild Wonders Wildlife Park, home to over 70 Michigan native wildlife, and Alexandria’s Nature Scape, our natural materials playground and home to our giant Tree House,” Elizabeth Schultz, Howell Nature Center’s community engagement of programs manager, notes.

The center’s zip lines are open to the public only on select weekend dates, which can be found on the park’s website under the events tab.

Open now. Riders must weigh between 60 and 250 pounds. 1005 Triangle Lake Road, Howell; 517-546-0249; info@howellnaturecenter.org

Frankenmuth Aerial Park

The park features six courses, all including a combination of zip lines, ladders, bridges, and other climbing obstacles spread throughout acres of forested land.

Courses vary in difficulty, with the most popular being FrankenZip, which includes seven zip lines ranging from 15 to 35 feet.

“We have six very diverse courses, some designed for beginners with shorter zip lines and two are advanced for those looking for longer zip lines and challenge obstacles,” manager Tim Krafft says. “Our glow nights are spectacular, with the park set aglow with color arches, LED sequence lighting, and lasers.”

Changes during the offseason have made easier courses a little easier to complete, while advanced courses have become more challenging.

Advance reservations made through the park’s website are required for entry.

Opens May 22. Riders must be at least 7 years old and between 60 and 265 pounds. 1375 Weiss St., Frankenmuth; 989-2840201; zipandclimb.com

CJ Barrymore’s

The Soaring Eagle Zipline at CJ Barrymore’s is nearly 120 feet tall and takes pairs of riders seated side-byside along a 650-foot line across the 25-acre complex, reaching speeds in excess of 30 mph.

Riders are taken backward to the top of a pole before a latch mechanism is released, sending them soaring back down to the starting point.

“Our zip line is truly unique because of how tall it is and how long — not to mention the overlook is amazing,” CJ Barrymore’s manager Matt Ritter says.

“You can see our entire park and the surrounding area.

On clear days, downtown Detroit is visible.”

New this year is a camera system that records riders as they experience the Soaring Eagle. Riders can then buy a copy of the video.

Opens April 3. Riders must be at least 42 inches tall to ride with an adult, or 48 inches to ride alone.

Maximum combined weight for the two-seater zip line is 450 pounds. The weight limit for individual riders is 280 pounds.

21750 Hall Road, Clinton Township; 586-469-2800 cjbarrymores.com

Camp Dearborn

Camp Dearborn is home to Michigan’s longest continuous zip line (1,436 feet), but it was closed last year due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Manager Jason Spiller says he’s hopeful the zip line can reopen this year, but a final determination had not been made as of late-February.

“Our goal is to operate this great attraction again, but we’re still in the process of making a final decision,” he says. “It’s such a spectacular way to view the surrounding area while flying across a quarter-mile zip line.”

Riders climb a six-story tower before embarking on a 40-second, 35 mph thrill ride over the camp’s swimming lake and its main beach before landing at another beach on the opposite side of the lake.

Opens May 28 (tentative).

Riders must be at least 8 years old and between 75 and 280 pounds.

1700 General Motors Road, Milford. Spiller encourages visitors to check campdearborn.com or call 313-943-2076 in early May for updates.

APRIL 2021

49

3/4/21 1:21 PM

Agenda

“Listen, you just bought a really kick-ass Detroit house that has … all these original features. Don’t listen to the trends.”

—NICOLE CURTIS

before the pandemic, and when it did hit, I was already in this relaxed, sedentary vibe. I was like, “sweet, the whole world can stop now and I’m not losing any game because everybody has to stop.”

That’s really when I thought this is the time to come back, because I was able to do it at my own pace.

And most importantly, I wasn’t just going to come back on any terms; the way we wanted the show to go was a lot of negotiation.

“I shine my brightest when I’m back in Detroit because people just let me be,” Curtis says.

TELEVISION

HOOKED ON DETROIT Refreshed after a two-year haitus, Rehab Addict Nicole Curtis is back — and she’s on a mission to save classic Motown homes from the trendsters

BY RYA N PATRICK HOOPE R

THE RISE OF NICOLE CURTIS from a working single mom in Michigan to a bonafide HGTV star with a devoted following of do-it-yourself preservationists is well-documented. That doesn’t mean fame has been easy for the 44-year-old Curtis.

“When you start getting recognized all of a sudden, it’s the oddest thing,” she told me during a 2019 radio interview. “They used to just scream, ‘Rehab girl! Rehab girl!’ ” That’s why she started introducing herself right at the beginning of her long-running show, Rehab Addict on HGTV, which relaunched back in January as Rehab Addict Rescue with eight new hourlong episodes of Curtis helping Detroit homeowners with their overwhelming home improvement projects.

The two-year hiatus from Rehab Addict gave Curtis time to adjust to her breakneck schedule.

On a recent phone call from her home in Los Angeles, with helicopters whirring in the background (“In Detroit, we have sirens; in L.A., it’s all helicopters,” she quipped), Curtis’ energy was infectious as she detailed her hectic schedule of rehabbing homes in Detroit, focusing on motherhood, and her decision to step away and recalibrate before reintroducing herself to the world.

50

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

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Can you take me inside that moment when you decided to get back into the swing of things and produce episodes of Rehab Addict Rescue?

My life really went from this little single mom house cleaner in Detroit that moved to Minneapolis, started working on all these old houses and created this show that skyrocketed — and then I had 10 years of nonstop, absolutely insane madness. I finally just reached a point where it was too crazy for me. The reason I started all these businesses and started the show was to have this good life.

And it just kind of dawned me on that I’m running around like crazy and I’m not happy right now. So I just called a halt to all of it, just to go back to a private, quiet life. And I needed it. Being at home and being a mom during those years was a luxury I was able to give myself through the show — and that was most important to me. To get to take a breath because, I mean, we did not stop shooting [Rehab Addict] for 10 years straight.

It feels like a lot of people were reassessing their lives — and ultimately, their homes — during the pandemic, but you got a head start on it.

Oh, yeah. It’s funny that I got to do all this revelation

And, even when the cameras were off, you never really stopped rehabbing homes, including here in Detroit.

Oh, yeah. I shine my brightest when I’m home in Detroit because people just let me be. There’s some sort of peace about it. I control my show, but then you have this whole other side that people don’t see, which is a network who hires you. They’re buying a product. So having that dictation in my life for so many years, that’s a lot. Finally being able to be in an old house again — we still filmed, and those episodes will come out one day — but it was just refreshing. It was a nice break. We just completed another really amazing restoration over in [the Detroit neighborhood of] Islandview.

A lot of people have taken on their own home rehabs during the pandemic — and some have failed terribly. What’s your advice for anyone out there who might have bitten off more than they can chew?

I really cringe right now. I’m a lifelong Detroiter, so I’ve seen the architectural stock that we’ve had for years that’s just been sitting there because no one had the money to do anything with it. And the scariest thing for me as a preservationist, restorationist, and somebody who’s invested in Detroit for life — not just for spur of the moment investment because it’s trendy — is that we’re losing that architectural detail faster than we ever have before. Because people have the means to do it and they don’t know what they’re doing. They’re just gutting all this architecture and it’s terrible to see.

I’m hoping with this show that we can put a stop to some of these disasters. Listen, you just bought a really kick-ass Detroit house that has original tile and the original bathroom and all these original features. Don’t listen to the trends. Follow us, because we know what it takes to do these houses and we can show you the right way.

Episodes of Rehab Addict and the first season of Rehab Addict Rescue are available on HGTV and can be streamed through discovery+.

NICOLE CURTIS SARA DEMICK

3/3/21 11:45 AM

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Inside |

Essay: A Parent’s “Course” to Helping Their Student Find the Right College

Parents’ Guide to

COLLEGE 2021

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PARENTS’ GUIDE TO

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COLLEGE

A Parent’s “Course” to Helping Their Student Find the Right College

By Terry Jacoby

T

here really are no rights or wrongs for parents who want

figure things out, weighing all the options,

to help their child choose a college,

signing on the dotted line.

considering the pros and cons, and then

because every student is different in so many ways — their dreams, their goals, their skill set,

partners with other colleges for transfers, participates in the Michigan Transfer Agreement

So, where do you start to get to that point?

their comfort level, and so many other things.

(an agreement to transfer credits between community colleges and universities), and

Parents who want to do so can help make their

“Parents are generally interested in knowing

provides excellent career services for students,”

student’s decision a little clearer or a little less

how their student will be safe and supported,”

says Stacey Stover, dean of new student

stressful in a variety of ways.

says Stacy Whiddon, chief academic officer for

experience at Schoolcraft. “Career Services

Schoolcraft College. “They ask about campus

includes support such as practice interviewing,

safety, and opportunities for transferring credits,

internships, job placement support, and more.”

May 1 is National College Signing Day, or Decision Day — a day when photos and

and getting employment upon graduation.”

hashtags and declarations about college decisions inundate social media, websites,

Another good place to start is “early” — and What’s a good answer to those concerns?

and local newspapers. It can be a day of great

with relentless passion. Encourage your future college student to seize the moment.

joy and excitement, but also one of relief. It’s

“Schoolcraft College has a very safe campus

been months, maybe even years, of trying to

(including our own police department),

“Start early, don’t sit back and wait,” says Lisa R. Kujawa, associate provost for enrollment and outreach at Lawrence Technological University. “Let people know who you are, what your future goals are, and why you’re someone who has a plan. Be relentless in your pursuit of the right fit, but most of all, be active in the process of finding the right college. This is your moment; take it and live it.”

While choosing a college can seem like a daunting task for both the student and the parent, it’s really not a difficult decision if time

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PARENTS’ GUIDE TO

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COLLEGE Another important thing parents should

“Parents and students need to understand

remember is that this isn’t their own college

the costs of college,” Whiddon stresses. “The

experience being figured out; it’s their son’s

overall cost can be surprising to families

or daughter’s. And even though they may

when they begin to explore higher education

have had a great experience in college, life on

options. There are avenues to (explore when it

campus has changed over the years.

comes to) financial support, including the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA),

“Colleges today focus on student success — and this means supporting the whole student,”

scholarships, the lower cost of community colleges, and more.”

Whiddon says.“We know it’s important to provide a variety of activities, resources, and facilities

One area parents are invaluable in is knowing

for our students, such as academic support

and understanding their child’s strengths,

services, access to fitness centers, a variety of

weaknesses, and concerns better than anyone

clubs and athletics, and robust career centers,

else. Parents know what their student likes and

to name just a few. These have all become more

dislikes about high school — and that probably

predominant at colleges and universities as

won’t change over the next four years.

mechanisms for engaging students.

Encourage your teen to do some soul“Additionally, as careers, professions, and

searching before making a list of colleges. Ask

technologies have changed, so have the types

them what they like about high school and

of courses and programs offered, and the ways

what they don’t like. Do they enjoy classes

in which they’re offered (such as having online

because of their relationships with their

classes). It’s important for parents and their

teachers? If so, look for smaller schools that

prospective student to determine what their ‘must

tout faculty mentoring.

haves’ are, to help with their decision-making.”

Did they dread group projects or having to Another thing — perhaps the biggest of all — that’s changed since mom and dad went to

speak up in class? Maybe a larger school that offers more anonymity would be a better fit.

college is the cost.

Parents shouldn’t stress about finding the “Identifying opportunities for scholarships

so-called perfect college because, in truth,

is key, so make an appointment with a financial

there is no perfect college — but hopefully

is invested up front and goals are established

aid counselor at every visit you make, so you

there are a few colleges that appear to be a

before making one phone call or clicking on

can see how it works and what you’re eligible

good fit for your child. Be a guide for your child,

one website. Every list of factors or criteria

for, and how much will it cost,” Kujawa says.

but understand that the ultimate decision is

should include, but not be limited to: safety,

“Find out when to apply for scholarships and

theirs — and make sure they know that.

costs, academic programs, support staff,

what the deadlines are for scholarships. Make

school location and size, campus set-up, and,

sure you research private scholarships, as well,

of course, how good the football team is.

because that can help cover the cost of a meal plan, or gas if you’re a commuter student, or

“The beginning of your child’s sophomore

part of your residential costs.”

year in high school is the prime time to begin putting together a list of possible college

Dual enrollment is a great way for students

choices,” Kujawa says. “What tends to happen

to start college early and lower some college

— whether you’re a great student, average

expenses. Dual enrollment allows students

student, or somewhere in between — is that

to experience higher education with support

many students wait until they’re at the end

from home and earn college credits while in

of their junior year or the beginning of their

high school, and it can potentially be funded

senior year (to start thinking about college).

through the student’s current high school.

And then, yes, it becomes a daunting project.”

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PARENTS’ GUIDE TO

COLLEGE

F

ive “subjects” parents need to take when helping their son or daughter choose the best college or university for their interests, goals, and personality.

Introduction to Economics This subject is No. 1 or 2 on any list — and takes into account more than just the cost of tuition. There are many expenses to consider when choosing a college. Room and board. Gas and food expenses for those who are going to commute. The cost of living off campus (it’s safe to say that Columbia University in NYC is going to cost a little more than Albion). Perhaps the biggest cost of all is the bill you or your child will be left with after graduation.

Applied Statistics When researching a college, look up statistics that can help support the claims schools of higher education like to make. For example: Claim — Schoolcraft is highly rated by graduates; Stats — Approximately 95 percent of their graduates recommend the school. Claim — Lawrence Tech is highly ranked in all aspects of technological fields; Stats — The school’s return on investment is No. 1 in southeast Michigan, and in the top 3 percent nationwide.

Geography Theory Do you want your son or daughter coming home every weekend with a basket full of laundry? Do you want them home for dinner every night and commuting to school? Where your child’s college or university is located in relation to home is a very important factor, and something that should be near the top of the “consider this” list. A strong, independent, self-motivated child will do well at UCLA or Florida State, but one who’s more reserved, shy, or dependent might do better closer to home.

Health Sciences Even during this challenging time of COVID, make your college visits. Every university has social distancing protocols — wear a mask, social distance — but go and visit the campuses. Lawrence Technological University and other colleges offer virtual visits, virtual tours, and even opportunities to attend classes online, but there’s nothing like stepping onto a college campus to really experience that school.

Psych 101 Don’t dismiss the emotional, or “feeling,” side of a decision. A lot of high school students give this answer as to why they picked a certain college: “It just felt like home to me.” There’s a certain feeling one gets when they step on a campus or meet someone from the school or talk to a few students at the college — and sometimes all these add up to a feeling of “Yeah, this is where I want to spend my next four years.”

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Baker College

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PARENTS’ GUIDE TO

COLLEGE

1500 University Drive • Auburn Hills, MI 48326 Undergraduate Enrollment Information: 855-487-7888, baker.edu

Baker College is laser-focused on one mission: Helping students to secure a rewarding and lasting career. Baker is a regionally accredited, private, not-for-profit institution offering associate, bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral degrees. They’re proud to be one of the most affordable four-year institutions in the state, providing millions in scholarships for students each year.

Baker aligns its programs with the highgrowth industries of today and beyond. Fields of study include finance, marketing, nursing, occupational therapy, veterinary technology, computer science, cybersecurity, psychology, and criminal justice.They also offer specialized programs through their affiliates, The Auto/ Diesel Institute of Michigan and the Culinary Institute of Michigan. All students gain valuable work experience via an internship before graduating. True to their not-forprofit roots, even high school students can earn college credits, at little or no cost, through Baker’s Running Start initiatives.

Baker College’s footprint stretches across Michigan with five campus locations.

Construction on a new Royal Oak campus, slated to open in the fall of 2022, is underway. Safe and affordable housing options are available at select campuses.

They also offer a variety of 100-percent online degree programs. Whether on campus or online, students enjoy deep, meaningful engagement with faculty and students, alongside a diverse collection of student life opportunities. ■

Year founded: 1911 // Current enrollment: 6,500 // Student-faculty ratio: 12:1 // Number of undergraduate degrees offered: 50 // Number of master’s degrees offered: 13 // Number of doctoral degrees offered: 2 // Subject matter expertise: Business, education, information technology, health science, social science, auto/ diesel, and culinary. // In-state tuition: $11,900 // Out-of-state tuition: $11,900 // Percentage of students on financial aid: 97% // Top three awards/recognitions: Best Practice designation for Diversity & Inclusion Education from the Center for Global Inclusion and the Global Diversity & Inclusion Benchmarks, November 2020. Quality Certification status for online programming from the United States Distance Learning Association, July 2020. Ranked Best Private College in Michigan by intelligent.com, February 2021. // Affiliated colleges/satellite campuses: Baker College of Auburn Hills, Baker College of Cadillac, Baker College of Jackson, Baker College of Muskegon, Baker College of Owosso, Baker College of Royal Oak, Baker College Online, Baker College Center for Graduate Studies, Auto/Diesel Institute of Michigan, Culinary Institute of Michigan – Port Huron, Culinary Institute of Michigan – Muskegon.

THE STATS

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Davenport University 6191 Kraft Ave. SE • Grand Rapids, MI 49512 Undergraduate Enrollment Information: 800-686-1600, davenport.edu/go

A career-centered curriculum and real-world experience are what students can expect at Davenport University. For more than 150 years, Davenport has stood apart from other universities because of its unrelenting focus on ensuring its graduates rise to the top of the job market. Its unique approach to education offers students a career-centered curriculum and empowers them with real-world experience.

Davenport’s academic programs meet today’s demands and anticipate tomorrow’s needs. They’re so confident in their curriculum, they offer several career guarantees, ensuring students earn a position in their field or the opportunity to come back and earn a graduate degree at no cost. Davenport’s innovative approach and commitment to quality will help you get where the world is going — and arrive ahead of the pack. ■

Year founded: 1867 // Current enrollment: 6,200 // Student-faculty ratio: 13:1 // Number of undergraduate degrees offered: 40 // Number of master’s degrees offered: 12 // Number of doctoral degrees offered: 0 // Subject matter expertise: Davenport’s unique approach to education offers students a career-centered curriculum and empowers them with real-world experience in business, technology, health, and urban education. // In-state tuition: $24,150 // Out-of-state tuition: $24,150 // Percentage of students on financial aid: 93% // Top three awards/ recognitions: Davenport University was a 2020 Michigan Performance Excellence Award winner. Davenport University received the Higher Education Excellence in Diversity award for six consecutive years from INSIGHT Into Diversity magazine. The magazine also recognized Davenport’s president, Dr. Richard Pappas, with the Giving Back Award in 2016. Davenport University is a member of the National Collegiate Athletic Association Division II. It has 22 NCAA-sponsored sports, with more than 850 student-athletes enrolled annually. // Affiliated colleges/satellite campuses: Detroit: Wayne Community College, Warren Campus, Midtown Campus. Grand Rapids: W.A. Lettinga Campus. Holland Campus. Kalamazoo Community College. Lansing Campus.

Midland: Great Lakes Bay Campus. Traverse City: Northwestern Michigan College.

THE STATS

Kendall College of Art and Design of Ferris State University 17 Fountain St. NW • Grand Rapids, MI 49503 Undergraduate Enrollment Information: 616-451-2787, kcad.edu/next

At Kendall College of Art and Design of Ferris State University, the future is yours for the making.

KCAD offers all the advantages of a conservatory college of art and design — creative immersion, expert faculty, and personalized instruction — without sacrificing the vital support systems and educational value of a state university.

From its roots as a talent pipeline for West Michigan’s furniture industry, KCAD has grown in harmony with a region dominated by innovation, collaboration, and entrepreneurial thinking. Its accessible urban campus in the heart of Grand Rapids’ vibrant creative community and thriving design industry is the perfect environment for transforming your passion for making things into in-demand 21st century skills and dynamic career opportunities.

Spark your future at kcad.edu/next. ■

Year founded: 1928 // Current enrollment: 875 // Student-faculty ratio: 10:1 // Number of undergraduate degrees offered: 14 // Number of master’s degrees offered: 5 // Number of doctoral degrees offered: 0 // Subject matter expertise: Digital art and design, illustration, interior design, photography, product design, fashion studies, and fine art. // In-state tuition: Full time: $22,154; per credit hour: $443-$470 (general education courses); $1,021 (studio courses) // Out-of-state tuition: U.S. territory or Canadian residents, Full time: $22,154; per credit hour: $443$470 (general education courses); $1,021 (studio courses) // Percentage of students on financial aid: 90-95% // Top three awards/recognitions: KCAD is fully accredited by the Higher Learning Commission and the National Association of Schools of Art and Design. The interior design program is accredited by the Council for Interior Design Accreditation. The Master of Architecture Program is accredited by the National Architectural Accrediting Board.

THE STATS

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Lawrence Technological University 21000 West Ten Mile Rd. • Southfield, MI 48075 Undergraduate Enrollment Information: 248–225-5588, ltu.edu

Lawrence Technological University is a private university offering nearly 100 innovative programs in architecture and design, arts and sciences, business and information technology, and engineering.

Small class sizes, faculty with industry savvy, and a focus on theory and practice contribute to Lawrence Tech’s being ranked by U.S. News & World Report and the Princeton Review as among the nation’s best universities. Your hands-on education begins on day one in programs such as design, engineering, business, and nursing.

Lawrence Tech offers more than 60 student clubs and organizations, including fraternities, sororities, honor societies, men’s and women’s athletics, and residential living. Its unique Southfield location provides opportunities for co-ops, internships, and professional development in a region with one of the largest concentrations of engineering, architecture, and technology jobs in the world. ltu.edu/applyfree ■

Year founded: 1932 // Current enrollment: 3,000 // Student-faculty ratio: 11:1 // Number of undergraduate degrees offered: 69 // Number of graduate degrees offered: 50 // Number of doctoral degrees offered: 3 // Subject matter expertise: Students and alumni have gone on to design and engineer the tools, buildings, and products that helped define their generations — and tomorrow’s students will do the same. If you’re a thinker, a builder, if you’re curious — then you’re Lawrence Tech. // In-state tuition: $36,480 // Out-of-state tuition: $36,480 // Percentage of students on financial aid: 74 // Top three awards/recognitions: Fifth in nation for boosting graduates’ earning power; alumni salaries are in the top 11 percent nationally; 92 percent of students are employed or grad-school-bound by graduation.

THE STATS

University of Michigan–Dearborn 4901 Evergreen Rd. • Dearborn, MI 48128 Undergraduate Enrollment Information: 313-593-5100, umdearborn.edu/admissions

Dearborn Wolverines are at the forefront of their fields. They’re improving the lives of others, and making an impact on campus and in their communities.

The University of Michigan–Dearborn was founded in 1959 through an innovative partnership between the University of Michigan and Ford Motor Co. The university has nearly 8,800 students pursuing more than 100 bachelor’s, master’s, doctoral, and professional degrees in liberal arts and sciences, engineering and computer science, business, education, health, and human services.

A top-ranked university with an inclusive campus community, faculty devoted to teaching, and students committed to achievement, UM–Dearborn has been shaped by its history of partnering with industry and community leaders, and is committed to finding solutions for today’s most pressing challenges.

■

Year founded: 1959 // Current enrollment: 8,783 // Student-faculty ratio: 16:1 // Number of undergraduate degrees offered: 100+ // Number of master’s degrees offered: 60+ // Number of doctoral degrees offered: 6 // Subject matter expertise: Engineering and computer science, business, education, criminal justice, natural sciences, pre-professional health, human services. // In-state tuition: $13,552 // Outof-state tuition: $27,520 // Percentage of students on financial aid: 88% // Top three awards/recognitions: No. 4 in the Midwest, Regional Public University, U.S. News & World Report. No. 1 Regional Public University in Michigan for Social Mobility and for Veterans, Second-highest average starting salary among 15 Michigan public universities (U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard).

THE STATS

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Walsh College 3838 Livernois Rd. • Troy, MI 48083 Undergraduate Enrollment Information: 248-823-1600, walshcollege.edu

Walsh College is a private, independent, not-forprofit, upper-division institution. Founded in 1922, it offers internationally and nationally ranked undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral business and technology degrees and certificates online, in person, or through a combination of each.

Walsh has partnered with community colleges for more than 50 years to provide a smooth, supportive transfer experience. Students who start at a community college and finish at Walsh can save $35,000-$60,000 over traditional four-year schools. Walsh’s student loan default rate is 1.9 percent, compared to 9.7 percent nationally.

Ninety-five percent of Walsh’s faculty bring real-world experience and personal attention to small class settings, both online and in person. Year-round registration lets students plan their academic year in advance. Students enjoy an active student life, professional mentoring, and lifetime career services. ■

Year founded: 1922 // Current enrollment: 1,744 // Student-faculty ratio: 11:1 // Number of undergraduate degrees offered: 8 // Number of master’s degrees offered: 15 // Number of doctoral degrees offered: 1 // In-state tuition: $16,120-$25,372 // Out-ofstate tuition: $16,120-$25,372 // Percentage of students on financial aid: 50.1% // Top three awards/recognitions: Tier One Global Online MBA by CEO Magazine. Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society Transfer Honor Roll. Student loan default rate of only 1.9 percent. // Affiliated colleges/satellite campuses: Troy, Macomb University Center, Oakland Community College – Orchard Ridge, St. Clair County Community College – University Center.

THE STATS

CUAA.EDU

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Schoolcraft College 18600 Haggerty Rd. • Livonia, MI 48152 Undergraduate Enrollment Information: 734-462-4426, schoolcraft.edu

The changing future of higher education means the options seem almost limitless. No matter what path you’re interested in, Schoolcraft College can help you get there. Schoolcraft has more than 130 academic programs that can propel you into the workforce quickly, or help you seamlessly transfer to finish at a four-year school. The open admissions policy embraces students of all academic backgrounds.

Plus, with smaller class sizes, renowned faculty, and dedicated staff taking your success personally, you’ll feel welcomed and engaged in a true college setting.

Schoolcraft College’s main campus in Livonia is conveniently located for just about anyone in Southeast Michigan. Your future is right around the corner — and so is Schoolcraft College. For more information on Schoolcraft College, visit schoolcraft.edu. ■

Year founded: 1961 // Current enrollment: 15,561 // Student-faculty ratio: 20:1 // Number of undergraduate degrees offered: 48 associate, 68 certificates, 1 bachelor’s // Number of master’s degrees offered: 0 // Number of doctoral degrees offered: 0 // Subject matter expertise: Liberal arts transfer, nursing, business administration, criminal justice, culinary arts, engineering transfer, brewing and distillation technology, pharmacy technology, real estate property management, sound recording technology // In-state tuition: In-district: $123/credit hour; outof-district: $177/credit hour // Out-of-state tuition: $260/credit hour // Percentage of students on financial aid: 74% first-time, full-time students // Top three awards/recognitions: Accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (HLC) through 2030, Blackboard Catalyst Award for Optimizing Student Experience, Recognized as a top nursing school in Michigan by Nursing Schools Almanac // Affiliated colleges/satellite campuses: Manufacturing & Engineering Center, Livonia; Radcliff Center, Garden City; Public Safety Training Complex, Livonia.

THE STATS

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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

$12,378



Notre Dame Middle School

Pontiac

ndpma.org

Grade 6 to 8

248-373-1061

Varies

$15,920



Notre Dame Preparatory School

Pontiac

ndpma.org

Grade 9 to 12

248-373-1061

Varies

$17,789

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

$4,850 - $26,450



The Roeper School - Middle & Upper School

Birmingham

roeper.org

Grade 6 to 12

248-203-7300

12 to 1

$28,900 - $31,350

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



PrivateSchoolDirectory_FP_HD_0421.indd 1

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

Food&Drink

D R I NKS

WE’LL DRINK TO THAT!

Local bars and distilleries offer a first glimpse of their spring beverage lists

D R I N K S p. 66 R E STAU R A N T R E P O RT p. 67 P R O F I L E p. 70 R E TA I L p. 71 E S S AY p. 72

p. 66

PHOTO JOE VAUGHN

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Brewmaster and Head Distiller Dan Rogers (left) and Head Cider Maker Ian RadogostGivens lead the drink program at Griffin Claw.

Spirits at Griffin Claw range from gin to bourbon — and nearly everything in between. 

DRINKS

SPRING SPIRITS

A new season ushers in new beverage offerings at metro Detroit’s breweries and distilleries

BY TAMM Y COXEN | PH O T OS BY JO E VAUG H N

AFTER A YEAR when many distilleries found their stills turned to making sanitizer instead of spirits, metro Detroit’s watering holes are making up for lost time. Take Griffin Claw. Home to Norm’s Raggedy Ass IPA, Griffin Claw may be better known for its beers than its distilled spirits, but that could change, as the brewing company has recently been making a splash with some great liquid packaged inside beautiful bottles.

Griffin Claw began distilling when it opened in 2013 to serve cocktails and spirits to taproom visitors who weren’t beer fans. And while bottles were available to purchase from the taproom, they were mostly an afterthought. COVID-19 changed that, as the brewery saw the opportunity to get not only its beers but also its spirits right into people’s homes. But the company wanted a package that was as high quality as the liquid inside. Since Griffin Claw upgraded its look in October 2020, its bottles have become social media darlings.

This includes a 4-year-old bourbon and a 5-year-old rye whiskey, both single-barrel selections bottled in bond at 100 proof. Most distilleries are under a lot of pressure to get

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their whiskey to market — because that is what pays the bills — but as a successful brewery, Griffin Claw could afford to leave its whiskies in barrel longer. The result was worth the wait, with a rich and oaky bourbon and a rye that reminds one of toffee kissed with clove.

In February, a new Navy Strength gin joined the existing lineup, while early spring will see the release of a spiced rum. But Christopher Lasher, marketing director for Griffin Claw, was perhaps most excited about the upcoming Mr. Bluesky, a whiskey distilled from the company’s popular wheat ale and brewed with coriander and grapefruit peel. “It’s really nice,” he says.

“You get some of the citrus from it, and it’s lighter in color and will be bottled at 80 proof. That’s going to be a really fun one.” It’s perfect for summer drinking and, like all Griffin Claw spirits, only available for purchase directly from its taprooms.

Griffin Claw isn’t the only distillery with exciting new spring/summer releases, though. Detroit City Distillery is launching a Summer Rum. With the help of bartenders from some of Detroit’s best bars, the distillery has created a blend of rums sourced from Jamaica, Trinidad, Barbados, and Guyana that offers the perfect island vibe for summer drinking.

Ann Arbor Distilling Co. recently released its Aperitivo, a bittersweet liqueur inspired by Campari. It includes 18 herbs and botanicals, including hibiscus, sage, and clove along with grapefruit, orange, and pomelo peels.

Bartenders suggest mixing it into a Negroni using one of the distillery’s fruit liqueurs in place of the original’s sweet vermouth.

But in the end, whiskey still reigns in Detroit distilleries’ plans for spring releases. Two James will release versions of its Catcher’s Rye finished in Cognac, vermouth, and Armagnac barrels. Rusted Crow in Dearborn Heights will finally get its long-awaited Rust Belt Bourbon into distribution — another case where the bottle is as much a thing of beauty as the bourbon itself, with each custom bottle hand-assembled using metal parts stamped by a local factory.

Meanwhile, Motor City Gas in Royal Oak has four new whiskies in the works that will join a rotating lineup of 12 to 20 whiskies available only at the tasting room. They include T-Boned, which is a straight rye malt whiskey aged over five years in white oak barrels, and Jack Knife, a peated wheat whiskey featuring Michigan-grown raw wheat and malted barley as well as peat-smoked malted barley imported from Scotland.

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

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Food&Drink One obstacle to reopening The Morrie in Royal Oak was filling entry-level jobs vacated by staff who moved on to other gigs or took unemployment during the shutdown. 

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

(Back) In Service Restaurateurs might make it look seamless, but the path to reopening a restaurant is riddled with hurdles. Four business owners share a taste of what it takes to reestablish indoor dining during a global pandemic — again.

BY LY NDSAY G R EEN | PH OT OS BY NI C A NTAYA

APRIL 2021

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Food&Drink

Restaurateur Adam Merkel at Pinky’s Rooftop in Royal Oak. 

A YEAR AGO, ambitious culinarians scrambled to do whatever was necessary to keep their businesses alive. Establishments typically heralded for indoor dining service quickly accommodated takeout and delivery orders. Carryout joints moonlighted as fashion retailers — branded apparel hung just above plastic utensils and togo containers. They were praised for the pivot.

Restaurant owners nearly became martyrs to save their culinary endeavors and the workers they employed. For many, though, limited service and spinoff revenue streams, such as virtual cooking classes and gift cards, could carry them only so far.

As of Feb. 1, restaurants were free to open their dining rooms at 25 percent capacity after the state’s second lengthy restaurant shutdown.

And while some jumped at the opportunity to pick back up where they left off, others opted to ease into things. Well into spring, restaurants are still sorting through the challenges of re-opening their doors, from rebuilding the front and back of the house to reestablishing relationships with industry partners. Here, local food entrepreneurs chronicle their journey to re-opening.

Re-Staffing

Gov. Gretchen Whitmer announced the reopening of restaurants on Jan. 22, giving restaurateurs just 10 days’ notice to reassemble staffs that had suffered various rounds of layoffs over the previous months. Job postings for bussers and servers, line cooks and managers flooded employment sites.

Help-wanted fliers populated social media feeds.

Most employers, like Aaron Belen, owner of The Morrie, a restaurant and performance venue with locations in Birmingham and Royal Oak, say they retained long-term, dedicated workers who were excited to roll up their sleeves and get back to work. Yet it was more of a challenge for owners to bring entry-level employees back. Those who’d lost their jobs either had found employment elsewhere or were able to get by with government assistance.

“The entry-level associate tends to be OK with riding out expanded unemployment as long as possible,” says Belen, who, at press time, was gearing up to reopen The Morrie in early March.

“It’s a double-edged sword. I’m happy that while we were not open, our people were getting money from the government — but then you want them to come back to work when you need them.”

There’s also the need to train new and existing staffers to meet evolving service guidelines. “It’s very similar to opening a brand-new restaurant,” says Adam Merkel, owner of Pinky’s Rooftop, Diamonds Steak & Seafood, and other restaurants in metro Detroit under the Adam Merkel Restaurants umbrella. “Everyone’s a little rusty from being down for three months, so we run through our practices and go through our training to make sure servers are up to date with the menus and our cooks are versed in some of the

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“I don’t think there’s any way to be other than optimistic.”

—ADAM MERKEL

Whimsical artwork adorns the walls at Pinky’s Rooftop.

new stuff that we’re doing. So, it’s not just a oneday thing, it’s a two-week thing.” Merkel made the decision to surveil the landscape before reopening each location in his portfolio and used the time to make improvements to his establishments.

When Pinky’s reopens this month, it will welcome Bohemia and Pearl’s Deep Dive, two new restaurant concepts, on the main level.

Creating a Safe Environment

Some, like Samy Eid, owner of Detroit’s Lebanese hotspot Leila and the Birmingham staples Forest and Phoenicia, were able to weather the tight turnaround, reopening the week of Feb. 1, but not without challenges. “The most complicated part about reopening was trying to motivate staff to come back and to make them feel safe — that was the toughest hurdle,” Eid says.

In recent months, essential workers in the food industry have risked their health to serve others.

They’ve also experienced unprecedented hostility from the very people they serve. Discrimination and sexual harassment toward tipped employees have become increasingly common, and belligerent diners who refuse to wear masks properly have become widely problematic. Eid says wearing a mask is “just common respect and decency for the people around you. I’m losing 25 percent of

my restaurant and closing my doors at 10 p.m.

I’m making the ultimate sacrifice just trying to be a team player — independent of whether or not I think it’s fair. We’re just asking people to do the simplest thing, but they have a very hard time understanding, and that is baffling to us.”

Restaurant owners like Eid have taken extra steps to protect their staff — including hiring security.

The day following the opening of dining rooms across the state, Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan announced a vaccination plan that would allow food-service workers to receive the COVID-19 vaccine. Many restaurant owners say this has helped quell lingering anxieties among their staff about contracting the virus in environments where people have to remove their masks to eat and drink.

Chef Kate Williams, owner of Karl’s at The Siren Hotel, which she aims to reopen this month, says employees who had previously expressed concern about returning to work began reaching out to take on shifts once they’d started the vaccination process.

“As soon as the new year hit and we saw health care workers start to get the vaccine, I got emails from former staff members who had not felt comfortable coming back to work, saying, ‘I know you guys are taking all the precautions, so I’m ready to come back whenever you have time for me,’ ” Williams says.

“Another few employees said, ‘Hey, my first vaccine

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

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Food&Drink

(Clockwise from left) Chef Jerome Alexander, Sous Chef David Sobecki, Owner and Proprietor Aaron F. Belen, General Manager Adam Fry, Chef Bryan Naddaf, and Manager Symone Brown at The Morrie Royal Oak.

is this date, my second one is this date. I would love to come back after that.’ So, I think the vaccine was a big reason my staff started to feel more comfortable with the idea of returning to work.”

Ordering Inventory

The Morrie was named in tribute to Belen’s grandfather, Morris Fenkell.

“People come to The Morrie for first-class service,” Belen says. “I want to get back to that.”

A less publicized challenge of reopening a restaurant is the relationship between eateries and their various purveyors. “When you put a restaurant to sleep, there’s a lot that goes with it,” Merkel says.

“From your linen deliveries to your food service, there are a lot of logistics with purveyors to line up to get food and supplies in the building.” There are farmers and butchers and wholesale providers — and the entire supply chain has been affected by COVID-19. “It’s so much deeper than just opening up dining rooms,” Williams says. She explains that during the shutdown, vendors went from booming businesses to watching all of their clients shut down except for to-go orders, “which are really just a fraction of the sales that you would do in a dine-in service,” she says.

Still, restaurateurs across the board share a refreshed optimism as they charge forward.

“I don’t think there’s any way to be other than optimistic,” Merkel says. They’re also masterminding ways to build a better future for a food industry whose weaknesses were exposed by the pandemic. Merkel and his team have updated their training manuals and plan to host a twoday hospitality training and culture course as an educational event for their staff this year. As for Williams, though leasing challenges led her to close the doors of the former acclaimed, James Beard Award-nominee Lady of the House, she intends to open a smaller concept with the same beloved essence down the road. In the meantime at Karl’s, she says, she plans to implement a fourday workweek. “The goal is not to wake up and jump back into the rat race again,” she says. “It’s to reevaluate what our future looks like individually, as a business, and as an industry, and I hope that’s the silver lining to come out of this.”

APRIL 2021

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Food&Drink

PROFILE

COOKING FOR THE LOVE OF THE GAME

CHRIS DONALDSON is a born athlete. He grew up playing football and basketball, and at age 31, he continues to play in recreational basketball leagues. He’s the kind of guy who speaks in sports analogies. He compares his Detroit grit to the “Mamba mentality” — the competitive, at times obsessive, drive attributed to the late Kobe Bryant — and likens his first foray into the culinary world to a young basketball player learning the ins and outs of the game. It makes sense, then, that the Detroit chef would eventually land himself in the Chris Donaldson is a private chef kitchens of some of the city’s top athletes. to metro Detroit’s elite athletes, “My career as a chef intertwines both of my but it’s his own competitive nature passions,” he says. “Cooking in our culture is kind of that has landed him at the top like our love language — and anybody that knows

BY LYNDSAY GR EEN me, knows that I have a competitive energy.”

PHOT OS BY HAYDE N STINE BAUG H Donaldson was prepared to compete for a spot as an executive chef in the Detroit area. He’d worked his way up in restaurants from age 15, earned a certificate in culinary arts at The Art Institute of Michigan in Novi, and went beyond the call of duty as a line cook for years. “My food was killing it; I picked up shifts for people, I came in early, I washed dishes,” he says. But the feedback Donaldson consistently received as he applied for job opportunities was that he was too green.

Soon, he’d take a new approach.

In 2014, Donaldson launched Fresh2Fit, naming himself sole Donaldson serves up a proprietor and executive chef of the Norwegian salmon with Mediterranean couscous private catering company. “I started and dill butter sauce. the business because I was going to 

make sure I was calling myself an executive chef — even if nobody else did,” he says.

Donaldson’s experience on the football field and basketball court may have given him a competitive edge, but it’s strategic planning, a skill he gleaned from the game of chess, that plays a large role in his career trajectory. “I’m always four moves ahead.”

Donaldson’s initial strategy to build traction for his company was to win over his community.

70

“Once my community was behind me, I knew I could work for any athlete in Detroit because my city would speak for me,” he says. Donaldson began selling healthy meal-prep kits to friends via social media and saw himself as his own muse. He started hitting the gym and following his meal plan to show followers that the kits could help them get into shape, too. He scrubbed his Instagram of silly memes and strictly focused on food content. He even says he deleted mentions of his favorite players to convey to future clients: “I am a private chef and I cook food — it doesn’t matter who you play for.”

Donaldson did secure that executive chef title.

For some time, he worked at a Northville pizza spot, but eventually walked away to pursue his dreams of becoming a private chef. “I quit and the pressure was on,” he says. “Being from Detroit, I had that hustle, that competitive energy — I thrived in that environment. The comfortable stuff was not fun for me — this is what I was used to.” And eventually, the city lived up to his expectations.

When a local chef called for Detroit-area cooks for a gig as a private chef to former Pistons point guard Langston Galloway, Detroiters looked to Donaldson — dozens of people had shared the posting. “Back to my chess analogy, I made sure I was four moves ahead,” he says. Already prepared for the day the opportunity would come, Donaldson had a logo, a website, an updated resume, and a list of references at the ready. When he got the job, he says it was a draft-day moment. “For everybody who said I was too green — that’s what that moment was for.”

From there, the clients started rolling in. Soon, Donaldson was traveling with former Detroit Pistons center Andre Drummond, and cooking for Lions wide receiver Kenny Golladay. And eventually, he connected with former Lions star quarterback Matthew Stafford, who he’d go on to impress with what he calls healthy-comfort cuisine.

Dishes such as salmon teriyaki served with sticky rice impressed Stafford enough for him to bring Donaldson on as his personal chef.

Just last month, Donaldson jetted to L.A. to join Stafford as his private chef for his new journey as the quarterback for the Los Angeles Rams. But he’ll be back.

In addition to maintaining ongoing commitments with his existing Detroit-based clients and collaborations, Donaldson says he eventually intends to open a restaurant in the Detroit area.

Like the good chess player he is, he doesn’t reveal his next move, but promises to bring a new culinary experience and job opportunities back to the city that catapulted his career.

“When I get to that level of expanding who I am as a chef, Detroit, I’m coming right back to you.”

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Food&Drink

The Red Hook takes a classic approach — just a dollop of icing and a handful of sprinkles!

Pop-Tarts-style toaster pastries will, er, pop back up. A bonfire-inspired menu over the summer boasted s’mores pastries scrawled with a charred marshmallow topping. Louisa Detroit, louisadetroit.com

The Red Hook

Arguably one of the most notable spots for a local take on the toaster pastry, The Red Hook keeps it simple — a no-frills flaky crust is filled with fruit jam, imperfectly smeared with a dollop of pink or white icing, and dotted with rainbow-colored sprinkles.

The buttery pastries are available at both of the café’s locations in Detroit and Ferndale (while supplies last). The Red Hook, theredhookcoffee.com for locations

Rose’s Fine Food and Wine

You may find Rose’s Fine Food’s pastries on its own carryout menu or in the baked goods box at coffee shops throughout metro Detroit, such as Gathering Coffee Co. The Milwaukee Junction café served as a home to Rose’s vegan olive oil-shortbread Pop-Tarts with a date filling and thin orange slices embedded in a white icing on top. At the home base, more unique flavors abound, such as the Pear Rosemary Pop Tart that premiered in February.

Rose’s Fine Food and Wine, 10551 E. Jefferson Ave., Detroit; 313-822-2729; rosesfinefood.com

Zingerman’s Bakehouse

RETAIL

Pop Culture

Local bakeries, cafes, eateries, and pop-ups put a spin on a nostalgic treat

BY LY NDSAY G R EEN PHOT O BY G ER A R D + BEL EVEND ER

Ashe Supply Co.

Baked by Ferndale Project, the multi-concept restaurant and brewery by Eastern Market Brewing Co., the toaster pastries at this downtown Detroit craft coffee shop come in a range of seasonal flavors.

Spiced chai and pumpkin fillings debuted in the fall, a chocolate-frosted chocolate chip cookie pastry flew off the shelf this winter, and

whimsical renditions, such as the Lisa Frank Lemon coated in neon cheetah print icing, make appearances on special occasions. Ashe Supply Co., 1555 Broadway St., Detroit; 313-672-2070; ashesupplyco.com

Louisa Detroit

You’ll have to keep an eye on the rotating menu — there’s no guarantee when the popup bakery’s home-made

Named after one of Zingerman’s longtime pastry kitchen managers, Patti Pockets are the Ann Arbor bakery’s ode to the Pop-Tarts trend. These pastries are made with butter pie dough, stuffed with fruit preserves, and drizzled with glaze. And they’re so easy to make, the bakery encourages kids to try this recipe at home!

On April 22, Zingerman’s is offering a virtual baking lesson for children 12 and up. Zingerman’s Bakehouse, 3723 Plaza Dr., Ann Arbor; 734-761-7255; bakewithzing.com

APRIL 2021

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Food&Drink

ESSAY

Chronicles of a COVID Kitchen

One writer’s quarantine quarters overflow with loved ones and lessons learned

BY J EN N IF E R CONLIN | ILLUSTRATION BY SA R A H Mc MENEMY

ON A SNOWY MORNING in February, I walked into my kitchen to take stock. It was a disaster from the cupboards and countertops to the fridge and floor. Appliances normally hidden away (the panini press, Cuisinart food processer, and waffle maker), were now visible, crowding out the coffee machine, toaster, and blender. My alphabetized spices were a jumble (the turmeric was next to the allspice), and the pantry a muddle of once-separated canned and dry goods. Inside the refrigerator, leftovers languished, while under my slippers, crumbs crackled. With the kitchen finally empty of house guests, I went to work reclaiming my precious space.

Since March 2020, my husband and I have seen a cohort of friends and family safely test into our house to quarantine for various amounts of time. While I have relished every minute of having loved ones nearby, relinquishing my kitchen, even to my most beloved fellow cooks, has proved challenging.

The kitchen is my sanctuary, the place I rule in our chaotic house, also inhabited by my husband, my 87-year-old mother, and my 62-year-old brother.

It has always been my refuge, no matter where it is located. We lived abroad for 20 years with our three children, and though each kitchen was decidedly different, my favorite dishes, gadgets, mixing

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bowls, and pots weathered each journey to end up on my shelves in London, Paris, Brussels, and finally Cairo. Ten years ago, I once again packed up my kitchen, but this time to repatriate to my hometown in Ann Arbor and, more significantly, to my parents’ home of 25 years that we had just purchased with my parents still in residence.

Setting up our multigenerational kitchen meant finding a place for my soufflé dish next to my mother’s Jell-O mold and my spiralizer next to her potato peeler. One thing we did not merge was our kitchen skills. After nearly 60 years of marriage, my mother was more than happy to sip a cocktail with my father rather than make another family meal. So, for the last decade it has been my domain.

Then COVID hit. Soon after, all of our three 20-something children returned home for a while, each with a culinary wish list. Charles loves to bake and wanted to spoil us with cookies. But what comes with a plate of his warm Snickerdoodles is a sink full of mixing bowls and a floor dusted in flour. What I found endearing when he was a teen, I found annoying during a pandemic when I was regularly preparing three meals a day.

Florence, who has never really cooked, wanted to learn as we sheltered in place. But what should have been a lovely mother/daughter bonding experience

felt dangerous in our small kitchen. Not wanting to scald or stab her, I finally parked her in a chair so she could watch from a safe distance, like a cooking show.

Harriet arrived with her girlfriend, Liz, who is vegetarian. They wanted to introduce me to the joys of meatless cooking. In days, the refrigerator was filled with tofu, almond milk, and Boca burgers, and the kitchen covered in leafy greens.

Now it was I who watched from afar as Liz pulsed chickpeas into hummus and Harriet sprinkled curry powder into pots of root vegetables.

Like all of us, COVID-19 has forced me to compromise. Six months into the pandemic, I was no longer complaining if I found a whisk with the wooden spoons. Then, three of our single friends showed up, weary of quarantining alone, and overlapped one weekend. Friday night, David had sent ahead two boxes with the fixings for a “sweetand-sour happy hour.” One held a dozen pouches of pickles with names like Sour Sis, Hot Mama, Garlic Joe, and Big Papa, while the other held a jug of Jelly Beans and a bottle of cake vodka. While we sampled pickles and sipped candy martinis on our kitchen island, the champagne and charcuterie I’d planned never materialized.

Saturday, our friend Stuart made us a dish he had learned during quarantine: skillet chicken with seared asparagus. Stuart is a precise cook who wants his food consumed the moment it leaves the flame. While he splattered my kitchen with olive oil, soy sauce, and red pepper flakes, I joined the others in front of the fire, herding them to the table the moment I heard the poultry hit the plate. Sunday, it was Wendy’s turn. Braised short ribs with a fourhour prep time were on her menu. I distracted myself from the number of pans she would be using by finishing a work project, the glorious smell of roasting meat in red wine calming my nerves.

That evening, between bites of beef that cut like butter, I had a flashback to Thanksgiving 2019. My father had just died and we had held his memorial the weekend before the holiday. Knowing we had a house full of out-of-town relatives, my dear friend Katherine, who happens to own and run a local catering company, brought Thanksgiving dinner to our home. Weary and grief-stricken, I watched as she stirred the gravy, carved the turkey, and located serving dishes I did not even know we had.

I suddenly realized cooking is how I have always shown love, whether making my children’s favorite pasta when we moved to a new country or making my mom’s meatloaf for my father when he was suffering from cancer. During the pandemic, I have cooked like a fiend, trying to nurture those around me with freshly baked bread, hearty soups, and decadent sweets. My friends and children simply wanted to do the same for me.

I raised my glass, toasted my friends, and thanked them before asking Wendy what was for dessert. The next morning, my dishwasher broke.

Even my kitchen knew I needed a break.

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CHEF’S TIPS & TECHNIQUES Q&A

Nothing Brings People Together

Like a Good Meal

Do you miss dining out? The COVID-19 pandemic has taken a toll on Michigan restaurants and bars, with indoor dining shutdowns and reopenings offering limited indoor seating capacity. Michigan restaurant and bar owners have been innovative as they’ve added more outdoor seating on patios, in parking lots, and on downtown streets.

Q:

Cooking at home, curbside pickup, and delivery don’t match the experience of dining out. Eating delicious food with friends or family at your favorite restaurant or bar will create fond memories and make you feel that life is good again.

The dine-in businesses below offer tips on how to make a tasty breakfast dish, and share advice on how to pair beer with your meals. ■

When I make pancakes, they usually turn out rubbery or blackened. How can I make the perfect pancake?

A: First, don’t over-mix your pancake batter, as that can cause the pancakes to become rubbery.

Make sure your skillet is on medium heat and fully heated before pouring in the batter. Once the batter is down, wait until small bubbles are forming and bursting on the

Q:

According to a National Restaurant Association survey, full-service restaurants are streamlining their menus with items that customers crave. A third of all fine dining operators surveyed are adding more comfort foods to their menu — burgers, pot pies, lasagna, soups, curries, sandwiches, pizza, and noodle dishes — as well as healthy menu options.

majority of the pancake batter, and check that the pancake bottom is golden brown. At this point, the edges will start to dry, and you’re ready to flip!

Only flip the pancake once, and allow it to finish cooking. Make sure you don’t push down on the

pancake with your spatula once it’s flipped, as this will take the air out of the pancake and make it flat and sticky. After flipping, the pancake should only need a minute before it’s fully cooked.

Remove from the skillet and enjoy your perfect pancake!

Anna’s House Christina Post Area Director annashouseus.com Advertisement on page 77

How do you choose the right beer to pair with your meal?

A: When most people go shopping for groceries, their beer choice is typically an afterthought. If you’re looking to get the most out of your beer pairing and enhance the flavors of your meal, keep this tip in mind: Complementing flavors is one of the simplest ways to make a

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delicious food and beer pairing.

Match rich foods with beers that have malty and rich flavors, like stouts or porters. You can also use beer as a palate cleanser. This beer pairing is ideal for dishes that have strong or overpowering flavors, like spicy and fatty foods.

For example, you can use the crisp and refreshing flavor of lagers or session ales to wash down the heat of a spicy dish. This also works in the opposite way; you can use fatty foods such as French fries or nuts to balance the bitterness of an IPA.

Founders Brewing Co. Natalie Iseli-Smith Detroit Head Brewer 456 Charlotte St. Detroit, MI 48201 313-335-3440 foundersbrewing.com

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

The Al Ameer platter is perfect for sharing: two grape leaves, two fried kibbeh, chicken shawarma, tawook, kabob, kafta,and falafel. 12710 W. Warren Ave., Dearborn;313-582-8185. 27346 Ford Road, Dearborn Heights; 313-565-9600 L,D Mon.-Sun. Amore da Roma $$ ITALIAN • Guy Pelino, Roma Café’s chef, took over the ownership reins of this restaurant on the edge of the Eastern Market. He retained the menu, adding a charcuterie board and updating the wine list, and didn’t change the character of the old-school restaurant, known for its steaks and pastas. 3401 Riopelle St., Detroit; 313831-5940. L,D daily.

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.

COVID-19 UPDATE

Many establishments are still finding their footing in the COVID-19 era.

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

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

There’s a full bar and a very extensive wine list. 2220 N. Canton Center Road, Canton; 734-981-9800. 26356 Ford Road, Dearborn Heights; 313-278-6000. 37646 W. 12 Mile Road, Farmington Hills; 248-994-4000. L,D Mon.-Fri., D Sat.-Sun.

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.

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.

Brome Modern Eatery $ BURGERS • This healthy spin on a classic serves neverfrozen, grass-fed, antibiotic-free, organic burgers. There’s beef, chicken, haddock, and vegetarian dishes — but no pork, as the restaurant is halal. There’s also a coldpressed juice bar. 22062 Michigan Ave., Dearborn; 313996-5050. L,D Mon.-Sun.

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.

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. 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.

Babo $ NEW AMERICAN • This all-day café settled into the Midtown Park Shelton building in June 2019, serving

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Dog-friendly

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 Asianinspired décor, such as hanging lanterns and bamboo shades. Bash’s drink menu focuses on Japanese craft beer, while the food menu of small plates and sashimi includes Gyoza, Tempura Udon, and fried octopus balls called Tako Yaki. 5069 Trumbull Ave., Detroit; 313-7887208; 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.

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.

Family-friendly

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

Valet

Reservations

E N T R É E P R I C ES

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

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 $$ ITALIAN • A restaurant inside the market serves great traditional Italian food. Do not miss the tagliatelle alla Bolognese: wide pasta with a meat sauce made of ground veal, beef, sausage, and pancetta. A delicious Italian feast you can conveniently pick up on your way home. 15550 N. Haggerty Road, Plymouth; 734-420-1100. L,D Mon.-Sat., L Sun. Capers $ STEAKHOUSE • This is the type of place longtime Detroit natives describe like an old friend.On Gratiot Avenue between Seven and Eight Mile roads, this place has been packing them in for nearly 35 years. There’s a massive a-la-carte menu, but the main draw is steak by the ounce, at market price. 14726 Gratiot Ave., Detroit; 313527-2100. L,D Mon.-Sat., D Sun. Caucus Club $$$ 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 plantbased menu. Choose from a selection of traditional favorites including the Coney Dog, Southwest Nachos, and chili fries, all complete with owner Pete LaCombe’s secret vegan “cheeze” sauce. 3411 Brush St., Detroit; 313-4624949. L Mon.-Sat. City Kitchen $$ AMERICAN • The emphasis is on fresh fish and seafood here, but also on the locals — especially lake perch. There

$ Affordable (less than $12)

$$ Moderate ($13 to $20)

$$$ Expensive ($21 to $30)

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

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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 $$ EUROPEAN-INSPIRED • This restored Art Deco hotspot offers small plates such as duck wings “a l’orange,” and savory merguez meatballs and artisinal burrata. Large plates include shrimp and grits and steak frites. Jazz prevails on the bandstand. 2030 Park Ave., Detroit; 313-9612543. D Tue.-Sun., BR Sun. Common Pub $ GASTROPUB • Fans of Atlas Global Bistro, which shuttered in 2013, should be happy to learn that some of the principals may be found at this spot in the Belcrest Apartments. The well-edited menu includes duck rangoon and a burger. 5440 Cass Ave., Detroit; 313-2858849. L,D Tue.-Fri., D Sat. Cork & Gabel $$$ 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.)

maple-glazed yams, collard greens, and interpretations of catfish and pepper steak. 8029 Agnes St., Detroit; 313649-2759. L Tue.-Sun., D Wed.-Sat. 19614 Grand River Ave., Detroit; 313-766-5728. BR 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.

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; 313-2972360. L,D Tue.-Sun.

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; 313-338-3222. L,D Daily.

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; 313-3153131. empirekitchenandcocktails.com

Detroit Vegan Soul $ VEGAN • The popular spot offers your classic soul food favorites but with plant-based twists — mac and cheese,

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.

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 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.

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.

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; 313-752-3673. L,D daily.

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.

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; 313-8679722.L Wed.-Fri. D Thu.-Sat.

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

ese food, with a very personal twist. 4430 Vernor Hwy., Detroit; 313-554-2085. D Wed.-Sun.

Evie’s Tamales $$ MEXICAN • This Mexicantown restaurant makes some of the best tamales around. Pork or chicken is jacketed with sturdy masa, a dough of ground corn, and then wrapped in a corn husk and steamed. Eat in or order a dozen for later. 3454 Bagley St., Detroit; 313-843-5056.

B,L,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 Vietnam-

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.

SPOTLIGHT

Folk

NEW AMERICAN 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; 313-2905849. BR Wed-Mon. $

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.

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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; 313-886-8101.

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

Hungarian Rhapsody $$ HUNGARIAN • This Downriver restaurant offers authentic Hungarian dishes, such as chicken and veal paprikas, beef goulash, and palacsinta (crêpes). 14315 Northline Road, Southgate; 734-283-9622. L & D Tue.-Sun. Ivy Kitchen and Cocktails $$$ 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

RESTAURANT OF THE YEAR 

2012

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

Located on the main floor of the GMRenCen, it has sweeping views of the Detroit River and a menu that walks the line between old-time favorites and hipper Asian-influenced seafood, sushi and raw bar. There’s also a Bloomfield Hills location. There are reminders of the past as well: white-bean relish, smoked fish spread, creamed spinach, and stewed tomatoes. A true Detroit classic. 400 Renaissance Center, Ste. 1404, Detroit; 313567-6837. 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; 313-3097946. 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.

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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.

perch. This is the place to come when you need to satisfy a craving for steak in elegant surroundings with hospitable service. 155 W. Congress St., Detroit; 313-962-0277. L Mon.-Fri., D Mon.-Sat. 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.

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

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, including a number of elegant pastas like the Lasagna Alla Bolognese. 1224 Griswold St., Detroit; 313-962-8821. L,D daily.

Le Culture Cafe $$ SOUL • Eastern Market’s Le Culture Cafe is bridging finedining with comfort food. Start with the Maryland crab cakes, then the Mamba Chicken Pasta or the Lobster & Crab Grilled Cheese. 1452 Brush St., Detroit; 313-2858137. D Tue.-Sun. Leila $$$ LEBANESE • The restaurant from the proprietors of Birmingham’s Phoenicia is named after the owner’s mother — just one facet of the establishment that pays homage to family traditions and heritage. The menu includes various Lebanese dishes, from falafel to Leila’s Bolognese, featuring spaghetti, pine nut, and basil. Other menu items include sujuk — a spicy Armenian sausage — and tabbouleh made of parsley, cracked wheat, and spices. The beer and wine lists offer plenty of options to accompany any meal. 1245 Griswold St., Detroit; 313-816-8100; D Sun., L&D Mon.-Sat. London Chop House $$ STEAKHOUSE • The kitchen turns out classics such as oysters Rockefeller, French onion soup, and sautéed

SPOTLIGHT

Ima

JAPANESEINSPIRED Japanese-inspired fare with a Midwest emphasis. Ima tacos trade the traditional shell for a slice of jicama-stuffed spicy shrimp, roasted tofu, or garlic chicken. Appetizers include edamame, dumplings, and clams. But most notable here are the noodles. There’s udon, pho, and ramen — take your pick! 2015 Michigan Ave., Detroit; 313502-5959. 4870 Cass Ave., Detroit; 313883-9788. 32203 John R Road, Madison Heights; 248-7810131. L&D Daily $

Lumen Detroit $$ NEW AMERICAN • A contemporary American menu and a Victor Saroki setting make the restaurant overlooking downtown’s Beacon Park one of the best of recent entrants onto the scene. Appetizers such as freshly made pretzels prelude main courses such as salmon with chimichurri herb sauce. 1903 Grand River Ave., Detroit; 313626-5005. L,D. Closed Mon. Mario’s $$$ 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; 313-3999117. B,L,D daily.

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; 313-9645000. L,D daily.

Michigan & Trumbull $$ ITALIAN-AMERICAN • After a successful four-month run at Fort Street Galley, Michigan and Trumbull left the nest

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in January, making it the latest in a long line of Detroitstyle 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; 313-637-4992; 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; 313-2431230. 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 house-brewed beers. 470 W. Canfield St., Detroit; 313-832-2700. L,D daily.

Mudgie’s Deli $ DELI • Seats are often filled in search of the O’Leary (pastrami, Swiss, and greens) or the Brooklyn (beef brisket, bacon, and beer cheese). The dinner menu features meat and cheese boards as well as build-your-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 has been dishing up delicious plant-based takes on classic deli sandwiches for years.

Try the latkes with banana jam, the housemade Coney Carrot Dog with all the traditional toppings, like diced onion and yellow mustard. It just might best the original!

A new location is slated to open this spring. noshpitdetroit.com for locations. Tue.-Thu., L,D Fri., B,L Sat. Ottava Via $$ ITALIAN Chef Ariel Millan sends out great thin-crusted pizzas as well as interesting small plates typified by brus-

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chetta, calamari, roasted garlic, and whipped goat cheese to be spread on paper-thin crostini. 1400 Michigan Ave., Detroit; 313-962-5500. L,D daily.

too. A Polish staple in Detroit, where there aren’t too many. 2990 Yemans St., Hamtramck; 313-874-5726. L,D daily. Not wheelchair accessible.

Pao Detroit $$$ FUSION • Visit this upscale Pan-Asian fusion restaurant for Asian-themed 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.

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

RESTAURANT OF THE YEAR 

SPOTLIGHT

Parks & Rec Diner

BREAKFAST/ BRUNCH Breakfast and lunch are the focus, from a single menu that offers traditional breakfast meals 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.

1942 Grand River Ave., Detroit; 313446-8370. B,L daily. $

2018

Parc $$$ NEW AMERICAN • Excellent food, exceptional service, and a crisp and formal but distinctly unstuffy atmosphere set this Campus Martius gem apart.

Appetizer highlights include a bright and fresh tuna tartare and wood-roasted oysters. 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, wood-grilled whole fish, and organic Scottish salmon. There’s also a large selection of dry-aged gourmet steaks, wood-grilled and served tableside. The wine selection is impressive and caters to a diverse set of price ranges and wine drinkers, so you won’t be disappointed with any bottle here. 800 Woodward Ave., Detroit; 313-922-7272. L,D daily. BR Sat.-Sun. 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.

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 AmericanChinese fare gives new life to the cuisine with robustly spiced dishes, including an “absurdly delicious” cheeseburger spring roll and a take on almond boneless chicken. 420 Peterboro St., Detroit; 313-833-1111. D 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 here include summer rolls and crisp spring rolls. Look for Asian beers and robust Vietnamese coffee. 3111 Woodward Ave., Detroit; 313-338-3895. L,D daily except Tue. when it’s L only.

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

PizzaPlex earned the title of Vera Pizza Napoletana, or real Neapolitan pizza, from Associazione Verace Pizza Napoletana in Naples. Try the Margherita. Topped with mozzarella, basil, and EVOO, there’s nothing like a classic.

4458 Vernor Highway, Detroit; 313-757-4992. 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,

RESTAURANT OF THE YEAR 

2019

Prime + Proper $$$$ STEAKHOUSE • Downtown Detroit dining gets a major shot of glamour with this over-the-top steak and seafood emporium on the corner of Griswold and State streets. Although red meat, from prime dry-aged Tomahawk ribeye to Wagyu strip is the focus — and yes, there’s a burger made with a dry-aged butcher’s blend — oysters, king crab, and caviar 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 • At Red Smoke, hickory and applewoodsmoked ribs, pulled pork, Amish chicken, and an array of classic sides are served out of one of the most attractive two-story buildings that are still standing on Monroe Street. 573 Monroe St., Detroit; 313-962-2100.

L,D daily.

Republic $$ NEW AMERICAN • This tavern offers rich and bold dishes befitting its castle-like home in the renovated Grand Army of the Republic Building. The locally sourced menu showcases Old World preservation methods and nose-totail cooking. While the menu may be meat-centric, vegetarians won’t feel left out. 1942 Grand River Ave., Detroit; 313-446-8360. L Tue.-Fri., D Tue.-Sun. Roast $$$ 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.

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RECIPE

VA S T K I T C H E N + B A R ’ S

EAST SIDE SOUR

A local twist on an all-time staple

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.

R ECI P E F RO M VAST K ITCHE N + BAR | PHOT O BY KA I L EY H OWEL L

Ingredients:

1 oz. Bulleit Bourbon 1 ½ oz. Disaronno Amaretto ½ oz. simple syrup ½ oz. egg white (optional) ½ oz. fresh squeezed lemon juice 1 orange slice 2 dashes black walnut bitters (optional) Luxardo cherry for garnish

Directions:

Muddle orange slice into rocks glass and add ice.

Add remaining ingredients into shaker and dry shake for 15 seconds.

Add ice to the same shaker and shake again until chilled.

Strain into rocks glass. Garnish with Luxardo cherry.

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; 313-209-4700.

D daily.

The Sardine Room $$$ SEAFOOD • A seafood restaurant and raw bar, The Sardine Room is fresh, fun, and energetic, with a clean-line décor and a menu full of surprises. For starters, there are New England lobster, oysters, sashimi tuna, and shrimp cocktail. Worthwhile is a porchetta slider of slow-cooked pork served on a brioche bun with arugula, pickled onions, and a salsa verde. And don’t forget the signature fresh Portuguese sardines grilled in butter. 340 S. Main St., Plymouth; 734-416-0261. D daily, BR Sun. SavannahBlue $$ 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; 313926-0783. 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-yetupscale interior with leather couches and an open kitchen, Jordan Whitmore and Rebecca Wurster, formerly of Apparatus room, serve up rotating European-inspired menu items, including Champagne Chicken, Foie Gras Clair, Calamari, and — for vegan diners — Ratatouille Confit. 51 W. Forest Ave., Detroit; 313-285-9294.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; 313533-0950. L,D Tue.-Sun. Second Best $ RETRO AMERICAN • The talents behind nearby Grey

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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; 313-315-3077. D nightly.

RESTAURANT OF THE YEAR 

2016

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

RESTAURANT OF THE YEAR 

2020

SheWolf Pastificio & Bar $$$ ITALIAN • Chef Anthony Lombardo takes fresh and housemade to a new level with this Midtown restaurant that serves only dinner from a menu inspired by Italian cooking specific to Rome. Milling all of his own flour for his pastas, breads, and polenta in house, Lombardo, well known as the former executive chef at Bacco, serves a selection of simple but elegant regional Italian dishes. 438 Selden St., Detroit; 313-315-3992.

D Tue.-Sun. Slows Bar BQ $$ BARBEQUE • The brick-and-wood original in Corktown gained a following for its pulled pork, ribs, and chicken.

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

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

Corktown location: 2138 Michigan Ave., Detroit; 313-9629828. L,D daily. Slows To Go in Midtown: 4107 Cass Ave., Detroit; 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

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RECIPE

KOUZINA GREEK STREET FOOD’S

SPANAKOPITA

A dozen Greek Spinach and Feta Pies to satisfy your appetite R EC I PE FROM KOUZI NA G R EEK STR EET FO O D | PHO T O BY K A IL EY H OW EL L

Ingredients:

1 pack fresh phyllo pastry, at room temperature 1 lb. baby spinach, chopped 2 bunches fresh dill, finely chopped 6 scallions, thinly sliced 15 oz. ricotta cheese, full fat and at room temperature 1 lb. feta cheese, crumbled 3 eggs, beaten and at room temperature 2 cups olive oil, separated ½ tsp. salt 1 tsp. ground black pepper, or to taste 18” x 13” x 1” baking tray

Directions:

Preheat oven to 450 degrees. Combine chopped spinach, dill, scallions, ricotta, and feta cheese in a large bowl, and using your hands, mix well. Knead it, crush it, and keep mixing until everything is well combined. Taste the mixture and add as much salt and pepper as you’d like.

Beat eggs and add about 1 cup of olive oil and mix well. Rub some oil all over the baking pan, using your hands. Lay three sheets of phyllo dough on the bottom of the pan and drizzle with olive oil.

Place two sheets half in the pan and half hanging over the edge on all four sides of the pan. Spread all of the filling in the pan on top of the phyllo

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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; 313-3124669; L&D Sun., D Mon., 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- 862-7685.

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 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; 313446-4682. L,D daily.

sheets. All of the sheets that are hanging outside of the pan can now be placed on top of the filling. Drizzle some olive oil on top of the phyllo. Cover half of the pie with two sheets of phyllo, tucking them under and repeat the same with the other side of the pie. Take the remaining phyllo sheets one at a time and crumble them in rows on top of the pie. Drizzle the remaining olive oil on top of the crumbles to create a crisp, light crust.

Using a sharp knife, cut the pie into 12 equal slices. Place in the oven and immediately reduce the temperature to 350 degrees.

Bake for 1 hour. The pie will be crisp and golden brown. Allow to rest at room temperature for at least 20 minutes before serving to allow the filling to set.

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; 313285-9869. 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 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.

SPOTLIGHT

Supino Pizzeria

ITALIAN Relax with one of the town’s best thincrust 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; 313-5677879. L,D Tue.-Sat $$

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 onestop 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.

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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; 313-567-6700. 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 $$ JAPANESE-INSPIRED • This Izakaya — a Japanese pubstyle bar or eatery — opened in fall 2018. Its food is focused on small plates along with an endless array of craft cocktails, beers, and more. 231 W. Nine Mile Road, Ferndale; 248-307-7383. D Wed.-Sun. Assaggi Bistro $$$ 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; 248-5843499 D Tue.-Sun. Bacco $$$ ITALIAN • Chef-owner Luciano Del Signore’s pastas are like pure art. Try the Strozzapreti Norcina: Italian sausage, truffles, tomato, and white wine, tossed in hand-rolled pasta. From local grass-fed beef to sustainably farm-raised sea bass to a fresh caprese, the ingredients are top-end. Based in the heart of Southfield, Bacco is a true Italian gem in the suburbs. And the desserts, are not to be missed. 29410 Northwestern Hwy., Southfield; 248-356-6600.L Mon.-Fri., D Mon.-Sat. Beans & Cornbread $$ SOUL • Upscale soul food is the premise at Beans & Cornbread: wings, Hoppin’ John, catfish, and a gravysmothered pork chop. Tempura-battered fried shrimp comes with a choice of cocktail or spicy BBQ sauce, and there’s a notable Louisiana-style gumbo to boot. 29508

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RECIPE

D E T R O I T S T. F I L L I N G STA T I O N ’S

DEL BURGER

The Ann Arbor restaurant pays homage to a townie classic: the former Del Rio’s famous Det Burger R EC I PE FROM D ETRO I T ST. FI L L I NG STATI ON PH OT O BY KA I L EY H OWEL L

Ingredients: 1 tempeh burger patty (Try The Brinery Burger Pattie, thebrinery.com for retailers) 1 slice Violife Just Like Cheddar 1 Tbsp. lager Cremini mushrooms, olives, onions, and poblano peppers (for grilled vegetable topping) Lettuce, tomato, and herb aioli* Oat-wheat bun *Herb Aioli: Vegan mayo 1 scallion, minced 1 tsp. dash parsley 1 tsp. lemon juice 1 tsp. granulated garlic Whisk all ingredients together.

Marinade: 1 cup vegan Worcestershire sauce 1/2 cup red wine vinegar 2 heaping Tbsp. brown sugar 1/2 cup minced garlic 1/4 cup sunflower oil 1 Tbsp. onion powder 1 Tbsp. black pepper 1/2 Tbsp. salt 1/2 Tbsp. liquid smoke Whisk all ingredients together.

Directions:

Immerse The Brinery Burger Pattie in marinade for at least 12 hours. Remove patties from marinade and place on a baking sheet. Bake for 35 minutes at 350 degrees, then set aside to cool. Slice and sauté onions, cremini mushrooms, poblano peppers, and kalamata olives in a saucepan. Once they’re done cooking, toss with salt and pepper. Sauté the patty for a few minutes on each side. Top with the grilled vegetable mixture and a slice of vegan cheddar cheese. Squirt about a tablespoon of lager in the pan. Cover and steam with beer until the cheese is fully melted. Grill bun and spread herb aioli on the top slice. Add the burger with toppings and cheese; top that with tomato slices and lettuce. Enjoy!

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SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION

Marketplace

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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; 248-4947110. 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.

social events and includes well-appointed private dining rooms. 2800 W. Big Beaver Road, Troy; 248-649-5300.

L,D Mon.-Sat., D Sun.

out with friends. 263 Pierce St., Birmingham; 248-6472420. L,D Mon.-Sat.

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.

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 Fed

Bigalora: Wood Fired Cucina $$ ITALIAN • The pizza concept from chef Luciano Del Signore, a four-time James Beard Award nominee, features small plates, fresh pastas, wood-roasted meats, and a range of distinctive Neopolitan pizzas. See website for locations; bigalora.com Big Rock Chophouse $$$ STEAKHOUSE • This old railroad station is a great setting. Portions range from a dainty filet to a huge porterhouse. There are also a variety of small plates to choose from, including tuna tartare, crab cakes, mac and cheese, and more. 245 S. Eton, Birmingham; 248-6477774. L,D Mon.-Sat. 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; 248-594-0984. 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; 248642-4000. 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

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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.

Crispelli’s Bakery Pizzeria

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.

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.

$

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

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 245seat 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; 248-2787777. D Mon-Sun.

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 buffetstyle 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 $$ ITALIAN • Everything is precise and balanced at this northern Italian gem: food, service, and atmosphere. Try the “fritelle” of sliced cauliflower fried in olive oil or the gnocchi with 14-hour braised lamb shank ragu. Desserts include affogato, a flourless torta with chocolate cake and raspberry mousse, and biscotti — everything is completely delicious. 220 S. Main St., Clawson; 248-2880220. D Tue.-Sat. Eddie’s Gourmet $$ 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

$$

SPOTLIGHT

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; 248-3995150. B,L Tue.-Sun., D Tue.-Fri.$

Hazel, Ravines & Downtown $$ ECLECTIC • This is an inventive, casual and finedining eatery, grab-and-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; 248594-4369. D daily. 17107 Haggerty Road, Northville Twp.; 248-679-0007. D Tue.-Sat. Imperial $ MEXICAN-INSPIRED • The menu offers California-style

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DEVELO E L A D R PME E N E M T T D O S E P P V O RT U U KING IN NT NIT A L SEE IES

Lauderdale Development Corporation is currently seeking investment opportunities with businesses which meet any of the following criteria: • START UP COMPANIES • DISTRESSED COMPANIES • UNDER PERFORMING BUSINESSES • COMPANIES IN “OUT OF FAVOR” INDUSTRIES • SUBSIDIARIES OF LARGER COMPANIES LOOKING FOR SPIN-OFFS

If your company fits this profile or you are interested in more information please contact

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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.

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.

J-Bird Smoked Meats $$ BARBEQUE • Offering wood-smoked meats served with the traditional sides of cornbread, buttermilk slaw, and mac and cheese, popular dishes include the Three Meat Sampler and JBird Gumbo, as well as St. Louis Ribs and old-fashioned JBurgers. If you love meat, this is your place. 1978 Cass Lake Road, Keego Harbor; 248-681-2124.

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; 248-652-9400. 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; 248689-9888. 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 Inn $$ ITALIAN • Dinners begin with an antipasto tray, creamy minestrone, salad, side dish of spaghetti, and then — nine times out of 10 — a filet mignon with zip sauce. 885 N. Opdyke Road, Auburn Hills; 248-373-4440. L Mon.-Fri. D daily.

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

Lockhart’s BBQ $$ BARBEQUE • The heart of this joint’s authentic barbecue is the dry-rubbed meat smoker, which can smoke up

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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.

SPOTLIGHT

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 Orleansthemed 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.$$

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; 248-7926051. 115 Kercheval Ave., Grosse Pointe Farms; 313-9245459. L,D daily.

Mabel Gray $$$ NEW AMERICAN • Chef James Rigato produces some masterful dishes on this tiny menu, which does not miss a beat. The menu includes a multi-course tasting option, as well as a daily listing of changing items that never disappoint. It’s a fine dining experience that is certainly worth a visit. 23825 John R Road, Hazel Park; 248-3984300. D Tue.-Sat. Mad Hatter Bistro, Bar & Tea Room $$ ECLECTIC AMERICAN • The whimsical setting inspired

by Alice in Wonderland welcomes far more than the teasipping 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; 248-540-0000. L,D daily, BR Sat.-Sun. Tea by reservation. Lower level not wheelchair accessible.

Market North End $$ AMERICAN • Joe and Kristin Bongiovanni opened this eatery just across the street from the family’s 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; 248712-4953. L,D daily.

The Meeting House $$ ECLECTIC AMERICAN • This eclectic American menu includes lobster fettuccini, steak frites remarkably close to those at Paris bistros, and housemade potato chips with a hot Jarlsberg dip. Or, try the roasted carrot risotto made with house labneh, pistachio, pomegranate gastrique, and Za’atar. 301 S. Main St., Rochester; 248-7594825. 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.

RESTAURANT OF THE YEAR 

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. 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 triedand-true metro Detroit spot. 2915 Coolidge Hwy., Troy; 248-458-0500. L Mon.-Fri., D daily.

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 here include such diner musts as eggs, sausage and potato hash, burgers, and chicken wings as well as tacos and nachos served from the open kitchen. 27302 Woodward Ave., Royal Oak; 248-808-6244. B, L,D daily.

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; 248644-3122. L Mon.-Fri., D daily.

2008

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

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,

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RECIPE

VOYA G E R’S

CIDER MILL MADELEINES

Bake a batch of buttery baked goods — then try saying that three times fast!

R ECI P E F RO M VOYAGE R | PHOT O BY K AILEY H OWEL L

Ingredients:

4 eggs 180 g. sugar 60 g. cider reduction* 275 g. all-purpose flour 15 g. baking powder 225 g. melted butter Zest of 2 lemons, minced Cinnamon-sugar

Cider Reduction:

Bring one gallon of apple cider to a gentle boil in a large pot. Occasionally skim the foam off the surface and discard. As the cider reduces, lower the heat to prevent the sugars from burning, and to maintain a gentle boil. You will end up with 1-2 cups of amber-colored syrup, the consistency similar to honey. When cooled, store in an airtight container in the refrigerator.

Directions:

In a medium metal bowl, add eggs and sugar.

Using a kitchen towel, hold the rim of the bowl with one hand, set over a low flame, and mix the eggs and sugar together with a rubber spatula.

Stir until the sugar has dissolved (about 2 minutes). Transfer to the bowl of a stand mixer with whip attachment and beat on medium-high speed until light and ribbony (about 3 minutes).

Reduce speed slightly and stream in your cider reduction. In a medium bowl, sift together the flour and baking powder. Add this to the egg mixture, and carefully fold them together using a rubber spatula, trying not to deflate. Transfer to the refrigerator for one hour. Melt butter in a small saucepan, and add the zest. When cooled slightly, add this butter to your batter. Prepare madeleine pans by buttering and flouring them, or by using a baking spray containing flour.

Spoon or pipe the batter into each madeleine mold so that it is 3/4 full. Place the pans into the refrigerator for 30 minutes. Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Bake on a sheet tray until golden brown (about 14 minutes). Allow to cool for 5 minutes, then toss in cinnamon sugar.

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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; 248-737-7463. 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 deviled eggs are still present, they’ve been updated with pork rind, and the restaurant now offers “Fancy Ass Hash Browns” with caviar and fried chicken with spicy tomato ranch. The desserts are really worth a try. 241 W. Nine Mile Road, Ferndale; 248850-7420. 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.

Rochester Chop House $$ NEW AMERICAN • Two restaurants in one; Kabin Kruser’s and the Chop House. There’s a throwback roadhouse-style feeling about the Chop House, which has a menu divided between red meat and fresh fish and seafood. Signature dishes include calamari, Maryland jumbo lump crabcakes, and a large selection of aged steaks, rack of lamb, and steak/seafood combinations. 306 S. Main St., Rochester; 248-651-2266. L Mon.-Fri., D daily Ronin $$ 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-thetable Dover sole and hefty steaks. The eatery also introduced a new menu last year. Michigan-produced ingredients from local farmers and ranchers are still a focus here. 100 Townsend St., Birmingham; 248-642-5999.

B,L,D daily.

Sal’s $$ ITALIAN • Formerly known as Salvatore Scallopini, this oldschool 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

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RECIPE

C O R K & G A B E L’ S

THE MAYFLOWER

Have your donuts for breakfast or dessert — the choice is yours R EC I PE FRO M CO R K & G A BEL | PH O T O BY KA I L EY H OWELL

Ingredients:

6 eggs 1 tsp. vanilla paste (or extract) ½ cup sugar 4 cups ricotta ½ tsp. salt 1 Tbsp. baking powder (Tbsp. should be a heaping, slight mound — not flat) 2 ½ cups all-purpose flour Cinnamon sugar for garnish Caramel sauce, chocolate ganache, or sauce for garnish

Directions:

In a bowl, combine the eggs and vanilla and whisk. In a separate bowl, combine the ricotta, sugar, and salt. Sift the flour and baking powder into the ricotta mixture. Add the egg mixture to the bowl with the ricotta mixture and mix by hand. Using two large spoons or a small portion scoop, start to place balls of batter into 350-degree oil.

Use a strainer if you have one to keep the donuts below the oil line. Once the donuts are golden brown and floating, remove and immediately toss in cinnamon sugar.

Remove and place on a serving dish. With a squeeze bottle, drizzle caramel and chocolate ganache or syrup over the doughnuts and enjoy!

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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; 248-6527800. L Mon.-Sat., D daily.

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 peeln’-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.

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

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

$

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 ’50s retro with sleek contemporary in a pair of rooms. The new menu features twists to comfort food. 23144 Woodward Ave., Ferndale; 248-398-0444. L daily, B Sat.-Sun. 203 Pierce St., Birmingham; 248-258-6278. B,L Mon.Sat., B,L Sun.

service. Try the bucatini made with pancetta, onion, red wine, and fresh tomato sauce. Also worth trying: saltimbocca alla Romana, or veal scaloppini sautéed in white wine. A truly delicious place for any kind of outing. 543 N. Main St., Rochester; 248-652-4500. D daily.

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

Take Sushi $$ JAPANESE • Crisp salads, miso soup garnished with the tiniest dice of tofu, sashimi and sushi, oversize bowls of

Toasted Oak $$$ BRASSERIE • The menu revolves around the charcuterie sold in the market next door and a list of hot grill items, such as grilled steaks with béarnaise sauce. In 2019, the restaurant earned a Wine Spectator magazine award for its outstanding wine program. Plus, just across the lot is Twelve Oaks Mall, should you fancy an evening of shopping and dinner. 27790 Novi Road, Novi; 248-277-6000.

B,D daily, L Mon.-Fri. Townhouse $$$ NEW AMERICAN • This popular Birmingham spot 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; 313723-1000. L,D Mon.-Sun. BR Sun. Union Woodshop $$ BARBEQUE • Part of the ever-growing Union Joints restaurant group, this is a self-described wood-fired joint, where pulled pork, ribs, chicken, and beef brisket come from the smoker, and Neapolitan-style crispcrusted pizzas from the wood-burning oven. And definitely check out the mac and cheese. There’s also a delicious kid’s menu for any youngsters in your party.

18 S. Main St., Clarkston; 248-625-5660. D Mon.-Fri., L,D Sat.-Sun. Vinsetta Garage $$ NEW AMERICAN • This restaurant in a vintage carrepair shop offers well-prepared comfort-food classics such as burgers on pretzel buns, macaroni and cheese,

SPOTLIGHT

Redcoat Tavern

BURGERS The half-pound choice beef hamburger is always atop the list of local favorites.

But a low-fat, highflavor Piedmontese beef one is tastier than the original.

This is the place for your burger craving.

31542 Woodward Ave., Royal Oak; 248549-0300. 6745 Orchard Lake Road, West Bloomfield Township; 248-8650500. L,D Mon.-Sat.$

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.;248-9499999. D daily.

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

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J. Baldwin’s Restaurant $$$ NEW AMERICAN • The menu showcases talented chef Jeff Baldwin’s contemporary American food: cedarplanked salmon, chicken fettuccini alfredo with pesto, and herb-crusted chicken, with housemade breads. The desserts include chocolate bumpy cake, spiced carrot cake, apple cobbler, chocolate mousse layer cake, and banana foster bread pudding. 16981 18 Mile Road, Clinton Township; 586-416-3500. L,D daily, BR Sun.

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 gluten-free Black Pearl Molten Cake are exceptional. 302 S. Main St., Ann Arbor; 734-2220400. D daily.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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; 586949-1470. 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

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SPOTLIGHT

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; 734998-4746. D Tue.Sun.545 W. Nine Mile Road, Ferndale; 248547-6699. D daily. $$

The Common Grill $$ SEAFOOD • Owner and chef Craig Common’s skilled work has drawn the attention of the now shuttered Gourmet magazine and the James Beard House — as well as the Purple Rose Theatre crowd. This mainstay is best known for fresh oysters and seafood, but all the fare at The Common Grill is expertly prepared. A tried-and-true foodie destination with a range of desserts, including coconut cream pie, lemon pudding cake, and cherry cobbler. 112 S. Main St.,Chelsea; 734-475-0470. L,D Tue.Sun., BR Sun. Grange Kitchen and Bar $$$ 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 $$ ITALIAN • This popular casual restaurant infuses freshness with lower prices than most osterias. It’s a wellrounded blend of modern, eclectic Italian with classic standbys. The pizzas are hot, fresh and perfectly executed to suit your tastes. 341 E. Liberty St., Ann Arbor; 734769-6700. L Tue.-Fri., D Tue.-Sun., BR Sun. Miss Kim $$ KOREAN • This spinoff from the Zingerman’s mini empire comes courtesy of chef Ji Hye Kim and is a goto spot for healthy Asian eats. Kim often incorporates ancient Korean culinary traditions, such as rice syrup and plum extracts, into her dishes. Some of the restaurant’s standouts include the Wasabi Sugar Snap Peas and Korean BBQ Ssam Plate — just to name a few of them. 415 N. Fifth Ave., Ann Arbor; 734-275-0099. L,D Tue.-Sun.

Paesano $$ ITALIAN • With a friendly waitstaff and decked in vibrant colors, this lively restaurant is not to be missed. The innovative menu changes seasonally. Must-tries have included the pasta carbonara, featuring shrimp, duck bacon, and Italian greens, as well as beet and ricotta gnocchi with brown butter. 3411 Washtenaw Ave., Ann Arbor; 734971-0484. L,D daily.

Seva Ann Arbor $$ VEGAN • Seva offers such dishes as black bean and sweet potato quesadillas, gluten-free options, and colorful stir-fries — some vegan as well as 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; 734662-1111. 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 darkwood booths and tables lend warmth to the dining room at Vinology, while tall ceilings contribute to the restaurant’s spacious feel. The menu draws on assorted cuisines to produce dishes such as Vegan Dumplings, Short Rib Tacos, Fig and Gorgonzola Flatbread, and Filet Mignon with black truffle garlic butter and burgundy reduction. As implied by the name of the venue, the wine list here is incredible. Try a bottle off of its New or Old World Cellared Collection. 110 S. Main St., Ann Arbor; 734-222-9841.L Mon.-Fri. D daily.

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; 734663-3354. 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-thisworld. 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.

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CO NTIN U ED FROM PAGE 15

threatening the filibuster to go ahead and get up there and filibuster this district court judge from South Dakota, how many Republicans would have been filibustering judges not from their states if they had to talk for 24 hours without going to the bathroom? That is pure filibustering. There’s a real price to be paid. And most people are not going to pay it for things they don’t deeply believe in.

A lot of people would say, “Of course I miss weekends for work. I get called in on Saturday.

You’re in charge of the country. Sometimes you’re going to have to work Saturdays, too.”

That’s part of the responsibility. I don’t want to minimize the impact on personal lives. I have kids, I have grandkids too. If you have a real filibuster, it could go on for a week or a month. But I believed they wouldn’t do that.

How did Donald Trump win the White House?

A number of factors. One is that there’s been some people left behind in states like Michigan, Ohio, Wisconsin, and Pennsylvania who didn’t feel respected or listened to, and he took advantage of

that. He tried to make himself into a populist. For him to be a populist is absurd. But he was willing to take advantage of the discouragement and the sense of abandonment many of our people had.

The perspective he took was mainly that of white males who lost jobs, and he understood the pain and suffering and said, “I’m bringing back jobs from Mexico and I’m bringing back jobs from China.” In actuality, employment in industrial manufacturing employment is less now than it was when he started.

But he did what demagogues do.

You served in the Senate with both Mitch McConnell and Joe Biden. Has anything surprised you about their paths?

Well, Joe Biden is a special guy. Long before he was vice president, he took a bunch of us newcomers to Russia because he wanted to show us how important it was to get first-hand information.

And travel is a big part of it. As a result of his encouragement, I met with Anwar Saddat, the Russian leaders, and got into North Korea, believe it or not. Biden is just basically a nice guy. So nothing that he’s achieved is a surprise to me at all. As for

McConnell, I don’t like to be particularly negative about anybody, but he’s been a real disappointment. … Where he’s really, really far out is the way he defended Trump on most of the terrible stuff that Trump did most of the time, switching positions on everything, taking extreme positions on everything.

[But] when the Jan. 6 insurrection took place, he was critical of Trump for Trump’s total failure.

Are you optimistic about our democracy?

I’m very optimistic. I have tremendous confidence in part, obviously, because I’ve been blessed by being elected. And so I have great respect for the electoral process. There’s so much strength in the Constitution in that it has such vitality. I just finished reading another book on Lincoln. You want to talk about getting through tough times? Just study Abraham Lincoln, about the 15 days he took to get from Springfield, Illinois, to Washington to take office, and how dangerous that trip was because of the open threats to his life. But you realize, “My God, our Union has survived with guys like that coming at the right time, like Lincoln, who are able to hang this thing together.”

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CO NTIN U ED F ROM PAGE 14

Crossword Puzzle Tournament, which is featured in the movie, was taking place in Brooklyn at the time.

I thought, “Well, I like crosswords, I’ll go see what it’s all about. I think it’ll be fun, I think I’ll be decent at it.” I got my butt kicked. So I started solving way, way more puzzles. It was the time of a boom of puzzle blogs — people made puzzles on their own and posted them to get their names out there and publish their work without editorial supervision so you could do a lot of things you couldn’t do in The Times.

I started doing that and I got to know more folks in the crossword world.

When did you first publish a puzzle?

I had ideas I might want to publish, so I emailed Will Nediger, who I knew from Quiz Bowl when I was at U-M and who is a well-known constructor. He helped me refine the idea, which involved inserting “BLE” into common phrases to make other phrases, and showed me how to build a grid and lay clues. We submitted that to The New York Times, but it was too similar to something they had recently run. So we sent it to the L.A. Times and they ran it in May 2012.

I was published in The New York Times about a year after that.

How did winning that $2.6 million impact your life?

I had just gotten out of law school and taken the Bar. I was trying to get civil rights legal work and, also, as a side hustle, I had been making crosswords. When this windfall came into my lap, I thought, “I’m not having any real luck getting more work in this field and I’m much happier and healthier doing this lowerstress work of crosswords, so I might as well give it a go and try to pursue it full time.”

Do you ever slip Michigan stuff into puzzles, either your own or ones you’re editing?

In a roundabout way, yes. You can’t help but do it. The fill that comes up so often is “OSU” — it’s so helpful for crosswords as a three-letter abbreviation — so I will almost always clue that as “Wolverine rival” or sneak in Michigan into the clue some other way. I can’t clue that as “team that’s way worse than Michigan” or “school I didn’t go to because I wanted to go to Michigan” because you can’t editorialize like that.

But I also think my voice and my sensibility is a little bit Michigan in that Midwestern politesse kind of way. I’ve certainly used Ann Arbor as a clue or “ANN” before. Ypsilanti is not as helpful for a puzzle as one might hope.

There are several well-regarded, very prolific puzzle constructors in metro Detroit. Are there hotspots of puzzling communities?

Yes, there are. The biggest hotspot is New York. If you grew up in New York City, you had access to The Times growing up. That was not something I had.

We had the Free Press or the Detroit News or a lo-

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cal paper —the Farmington Observer. If you grew up with The Times, you grew up with The Times crossword. But you also see a lot of interest in crosswords in bigger cities and in college towns like Ann Arbor. A lot of the new constructors are collegeage people, partly because they’re just getting into crosswords for the first time and, most importantly, they have a lot of time on their hands.

Are there terms you were first to get into a The New York Times puzzle?

I don’t necessarily think about whether I’ll be first, but I am very careful about the things I put in the puzzle and whether they are representative of culture writ large. I’m looking now, and a couple of things I’m pleased to say I was first to put in the puzzle include “AVA DUVERNAY,” “BECHDEL,” “CISWOMEN,” “GAYBORHOOD,” and “GENDER STUDIES.”

As new terms enter the puzzle, do old-guard solvers rebel?

Yes. Some people are resistant to seeing increased representation of these sorts of terms that appeal to or are more known by gay Americans or Black Americans or women or any non-dominant culture. But you’ve got Crossword Twitter and various crossword websites where people are thrilled and pleased to see “gayborhood” or “Ava DuVernay” and people say, “Oh, I see myself in the puzzle in a way I haven’t before.” For every detractor there’s a supporter. I tend to favor puzzles that have some individual constructor’s voice shining through and with new and interesting vocabulary. Often that will come from a place of diversity.

There are celebrities who would be forgotten if not for their names’ usefulness in crosswords. Do you try to avoid those?

Without a doubt. People have gotten better at making puzzles, and part of getting better is excising these unfamiliar names and using fresher references. But a lot of these are celebrities I learned about through crosswords, so I’m grateful to crosswordese for teaching me so many discreet things I would’ve had no other way to encounter. And occasionally an old piece of music will show up. One that comes to mind is “Inka Dinka Doo.” This is an old Jimmy Durante song that’s only in the puzzle because “INKA” is four weird combination of letters.

But you go listen to the song if you’re encountering it for the first time and you’re curious about it.

“Goodnight Irene” is a song that I didn’t know before I started solving puzzles.

I feel bad for Charlotte Rae because now that Issa Rae is in the world, we don’t need her anymore.

Yeah, and Carly Rae Jepsen, too. She was the first to take that star away from her. But now I know who was on The Facts of Life, a show I’ve never watched!

The Detroit Zoo has rescued hundreds of exotic animals from dire circumstances since Kagan took over, including circus polar bears, three Alaskan grizzly bear cubs whose mother was shot by a poacher, and a bear that served as mascot for Hamm’s Beer.

What’s more, Kagan formed a surprising alliance with PETA, an organization often viewed as among the more extreme and adversarial animal-rights groups. In 2006, Kagan sent DZS staff to Texas to help PETA rescue more than 26,000 animals from a pet trade dealer, 1,100 of which, including kangaroos and lemurs, came to the Detroit Zoo. “PETA has admired Ron Kagan for decades and will always be able to point to his kindness, compassion, and dedication to the well-being of each animal in his care as the example for other zoo industry leaders to follow,” PETA Foundation Deputy General Counsel for Captive Animal Law Enforcement Brittany Peet says.

All of this has helped Kagan shatter annual attendance records. In 2019, the last pre-COVID year, more than 1.3 million people visited the zoo.

Its paid memberships has tripled since he took the helm. “The Wall Street Journal once wrote that we are the only major urban zoo they have no complaints about, and I think that speaks to why we have experienced growth,” Kagan says.

Kagan, a Jewish native of Boston with a zoology degree from the University of Massachusetts, says he went into the field as a way combining an affection for animals with an affection for Israel. Two of his grandparents died in Nazi concentration camps during World War II. “I knew I loved animals from an early age, so I studied zoology, but had no clue what was going to come of it,” he says. “When the Yom Kippur War broke out between Israel and Arab neighbors [in 1973], I wanted to go over there and help the country in some way. Long story short, I wound up working at a zoo in Jerusalem.”

After more than a decade there, Kagan became general curator at the Dallas Zoo in 1986 before taking over at DZS in 1993.

The pandemic has made the past year the most challenging of Kagan’s tenure. The zoo closed for three months before re-opening last June with a reduced number of daily visitors. And in February, a female polar bear was mauled to death by its intended male mate — the first time since 1988 that an animal at the DZS had killed another.

Still, there have been positive developments, including the birth of the zoo’s first lion cub in 40 years, the first polar bear cubs since 2004, and the addition of a third giraffe. “The hardest part was having to let so many dedicated people go because, for all of them, it was more than a job,” Kagan says of pandemic-induced staff cuts. “However, our remaining staff is doing tremendous work, and encouraging things continue to happen.”

APRIL 2021

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1944

TALK ABOUT BEING a big man on campus. This male student (center) emerging from Detroit’s Cooley High School is holding hands with not just one female admirer, but two. Perhaps he was one of Cooley’s vaunted sports heroes; through the decades, the Cooley Cardinals excelled in football, track, basketball, baseball, swimming, ice hockey, and tennis.

Detroit’s Cooley High shouldn’t be confused with the 1975 film Cooley High, starring Glynn Turman and Lawrence Hilton-Jacobs, which was set in Chicago and refers to that city’s Cooley Vocational High School.

One of the city’s most architecturally attractive high schools, Motown’s Cooley was built in 1928 by the Detroit firm of Donaldson and Meier, responsible for such landmarks as The David Stott Building, St. Aloysius and Most Holy Redeemer churches, and the first section of the Penobscot Building.

The Mediterranean Revival-style school stands at Hubbell and Chalfonte, on the northwest side. In 1928, the enrollment was just 1,570 but ballooned to 3,750 four years later. But it was declining enrollment that shuttered the school in 2010, with just over 1,000 students attending. After its closure, vandalism defaced the once-beautiful building, and a suspicious fire in 2017 seriously damaged the ornate auditorium.

Named after Thomas M. Cooley, former chief justice of the Michigan Supreme Court, the school boasted some illustrious alumni, including actress S. Epatha Merkerson (class of 1970); Mike Ilitch, pizza baron and owner of the Tigers and Red Wings (1947); major-league baseball pitcher Milt Pappas (1957); notorious union honcho Jimmy Hoffa (1959); NBA stars Willie Green (1999) and Roy Tarpley (1982); and Armenian American singer Anita Darian (1945), who was then known as Anita Margaret Esgandarian. Outside of operatic and Broadway circles, not many knew Darian’s name, but they knew her voice. It was her uncredited soaring soprano that distinguished the 1961 hit “The Lion Sleeps Tonight” by The Tokens. And it just so happens that this photo was taken on Darian’s 17th birthday: April 26, 1944. —George Bulanda

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