Grosse Pointe, MI November 2024 by City Lifestyle

Artist: Roselyn Rhodes

Thankful

In this season of giving thanks, we often find ourselves reflecting on the many blessings in our lives. The true spirit of Thanksgiving encourages the conscious expression of gratitude. Its focus is spending time with those that you love and encourages giving back in a meaningful way.

Grosse Pointe is a special place with an abundance of people and families where philanthropy is a driving force. The community benefits along with the many people that are touched not just locally but around the world. Events and time spent today are seen and appreciated, but one thing we forget at times is that in order to get to a position of giving, many people spend a lifetime building. The work and sacrifice over years manifests when we can leverage our successes, small and large, into the experience and action of helping others. It is a culmination of years, and sometimes generations.

In this issue, we speak with Gigi Badalamenti, the manager at newly opened Pearl at 74 Kercheval on The Hill. Pearl is a world class experience with elevated couture lines and modern vibes. It features brands that embody modern luxury in a setting where people can gather and share. Molly Valade, daughter-in-law to Carhartt heiress Gretchen Carhartt Valade, carries on her amazing legacy of philanthropy and undertook the rebranding and renovation of the store. Find out why the name “Pearl” was chosen.

Did you know that we have a world class Snoopy museum…Mike LeFevre, owner of Mike’s on the Water, received his first Snoopy as a small boy and little by little grew the collection. Inspired by his younger sister, Susan Amine, who passed away from breast cancer, he has dedicated a lifetime of collecting into giving in her honor. Every month, with the help of his 92 year old mother, Mike donates all the money received from the museum to a local charity. Over $22,000 so far. Find out about Mike’s story and how it all culminated from his love for Peanuts and Snoopy!

This holiday season as we prepare to gather with our loved ones, and in the spirit of thanksgiving, let’s set time aside to consider what truly makes life meaningful and stop to reflect on those blessings. Happy Thanksgiving!

DAVID MATTALIANO, PUBLISHER

November 2024

PUBLISHER

David Mattaliano | david.mattaliano@citylifestyle.com

EDITORIAL COORDINATOR

Paige Peabody | paige.peabody@citylifestyle.com

ACCOUNT MANAGER

Lisa Gindi | lisa.gindi@citylifestyle.com

Corporate Team

CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER Steven Schowengerdt

CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER Matthew Perry

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF HR Janeane Thompson

AD DESIGNER Evan Deuvall

LAYOUT DESIGNER Kelsey Ragain Learn

NOVEMBER 2024

city scene

WHERE NEIGHBORS CAN SEE AND BE SEEN

Pearl at 74 Kercheval on the Hill celebrates its opening ribbon cutting with the Chamber. 2: Michelle Rees, Gigi Badalamenti, Erica Panagopoulos, Kelly Thomas, Mary Pompeo, Barb Wagner, Molly Valade. 3: Jaclyn Lieder, Chloe River, Micah Egnater at Pearl opening party

Catherine Ronnisch, Olivia Keils, and Bridgette Valade at Pearl opening party. 5: Molly Valade greets attendees at the Pearl opening party.

6: Pearl opening party attendees browse and enjoy the event. 7: Aaliya Davidson, Micah Egnater, and Joseph Humphrey at Pearl opening party.

Photography by Destany Maddox/The Kismet Colletive

GROSSE POINTE CHAMBER

Discover Pop-Ups at Pearl

November 14th -16th

Daniella Ortiz

All handbags are designed and handcrafted in Argentina, made of the finest leathers and exotic skins. Meet the designer herself this weekend.

November 19th - 29th

The Sote collection of fine jewelry brings together a curation of exquisite, handmade works from the international benches of master gem cutters and metalsmiths. Based in Santa Fe, New Mexico.

Pearl is located at 74 Kercheval, Grosse Pointe Farms.

iCRYO Grosse Pointe Opening at 96 Kercheval

Owners & Grosse Pointe residents

Dominic & Kristen Giancola are excited to bring this state- of- the- art health & wellness center to Grosse Pointe! Services focus on regenerative medicine, anti-aging treatments, and wellness/ recovery modalities. Stop by for a tour to discover the secrets of long healthy living!

iCRYO is located at 96 Kercheval on the Hill (next to FlyLeaf) in Grosse Pointe Farms. For more information visit icryo.com/location/grosse-pointe-mi

313 Lacrosse: Grosse Pointe Community’s Lacrosse Program for 20 Years

313 Lacrosse is gearing up for another great Spring of youth lacrosse in Grosse Pointe and looking for new players to join our renowned youth program. 313 Lacrosse is now offering year round lacrosse for Boys & Girls in 1st through 8th grade and is the feeder program for the GPPS varsity programs. Learn more about our offerings at 313Lax.com or stop by The 313 Lax Store at 21035 Mack Avenue, Grosse Pointe Woods.

We Have Everything You Need to Start Feeling Better!

iCRYO Grosse Pointe offers a variety of services that are known to reduce inflammation throughout your body and minimize the pain you experience in your muscles and joints. All first-time guests receive a 1-on-1 tour of our center, to learn about the life-changing benefits of our services.

Meet the Owners!

iCRYO - Grosse Pointe 96 Kercheval Avenue Grosse Pointe Farms, MI 48236

Local residents Kristen, an ICU Nurse, and Dominic, a local business owner, have joined the iCRYO family. Together, they form an unstoppable team! Their mission? To inspire their local community to live their best lives. Join them on this shared journey toward health and wellness.

Dr. William Krieg, Dr. Brynn Jezdimir and Dr. Richard Frenchi

Pearl

Grateful for our Local Couture

ARTICLE BY SUE BALDANI | PHOTOGRAPHY BY DANIEL RIBAR

When philanthropist and Carhartt heiress Gretchen Carhartt Valade passed away at her Grosse Pointe Farms home in 2022 at 97, she left behind an amazing legacy. She also left behind Capricious, a retail fashion staple in the community since 2014. Today, the boutique has been rebranded and renovated to the delight of Grosse Pointe shoppers.

This change has been led by Molly Valade, Gretchen’s daughter-in-law and fellow philanthropist. Under its new name, Pearl, an homage to its founder (Gretchen in German stands for pearl), the revitalized boutique opened its doors on September 6th.

While continuing to carry many of its tried and true brands that customers have sought out over the years from Capricious, Pearl also has more elevated lines such as Weekend by Max Mara, Lauren Manoogian, and Hutch for the younger crowd. Spanx athleisure has also been a hit, as has jewelry by Dean Davidson.

“Pearl has a much more modern vibe,” says its manager, Gigi Badalamenti. “With 4,000 square feet, it’s very spacious with extraordinary artwork and furniture from around the world.”

In addition to women’s clothing, the boutique hosts monthly pop-up exhibits to offer merchandise, such as men’s clothing, that isn’t found in the shop daily. “In September, we had Sterr & Doon, formerly Carl Sterr,” she says. “They’re presently in Birmingham but originated in Grosse Pointe in 1950.”

On November 14, 15, and 16, there will be a trunk show featuring handbags from designer Daniella Ortiz. “But, the really big one is going to be in December,” says Gigi. “We’re bringing back Eugenie merchandise, which is Molly’s daughter’s store. Before we closed and renovated, Eugenie brought in some of their goods and people were really receptive to them, so they’ll be with us again for the entire month.”

While Pearl has brought in brands that appeal to younger customers, existing customers are also enjoying all the changes. “It’s an amazing space that the people of Grosse Pointe are just loving,” she says.

Another thing that long-time customers appreciate is the continuation of the staff, including Gigi, who has worked in Grosse Pointe for the past 12 years. “Gretchen brought me over when she expanded Capricious from just a shoe store in 2018,” she says. “I had worked in the Village, and she was a customer of mine. She asked me to help open the new store.”

Gigi is thankful that she did, and to have a career that she is passionate about. “I have the best job in the world. I love to dress people - that is my forte, and I work for the greatest family. Gretchen has given back so much to the community, and Molly is the same way - she’s just an outstanding human being. And her mother-in-law was very near and dear to me. It’s been an honor to work for them.”

The other employees are also happy to have stayed on as well. “The staff I have is so invested and knowledgeable,” she says. “They love their jobs and love what they do – it’s a win-win situation – and we all get to be involved in the world of fashion.”

When someone walks through the door and needs assistance, the team is ready and willing to help. “Right now, we’re dealing with a lot of fall wardrobing, and what makes Pearl so unique is that we’re a one-stop shop,” says Gigi. “You can come in and get everything from pair of jeans to a cocktail dress to wear to a wedding. We also have shoes and accessories, so you really don’t have to go anywhere else. We can dress you from head to toe.”

This lovely boutique offers a curated selection of fashion and design, featuring brands that embody modern luxury while reinterpreting classic notions –it’s a great place to gather and share. So, stop by and experience a real gem in the Grosse Pointe community.

ShopPearl.com

CHARITABLE SNOOPY

Mike's on the Water Creates a Unique Way to Give

ARTICLE BY SUSAN BALDANI

PHOTOGRAPHY BY TIM EDWARDS

Mike LeFevre’s fascination with Snoopy started in 1965 at the age of 4 when his sister was born. “My dad was coming home from the hospital with his new born daughter in one arm and a plush Snoopy in the other. I grabbed the Snoopy and the rest was history.”

After that, he was given Snoopy-themed items for Christmas and his birthdays. “It just kept growing from there. It’s one of the largest collections of Snoopy memorabilia.” His nickname, no surprise, is Snoop.

Last October, Mike, who also owns the popular Mike’s on the Water in St. Clair Shores, opened a museum next door to share his passion for Snoopy with the community and to raise money for charity at the same time.

“Raising money for charity makes me happy,” he says. “We pick a different one every month and have raised over $22,000 just by people putting money in the donation boxes around the museum. One lady recently put a $1000 check in there!”

Recipients have included Cops for Kids, The Family Center, The Helm of Grosse Pointe, Full Circle Foundation, Kids on the Go, and many others.

When people walk into the museum, they are fascinated by the more than 16,000 Snoopy items. Many of the pieces are very rare antiques, and some are even one-of-a-kind that Mike found or had made during his travels around the world.

“I was walking the streets of Rio de Janeiro and Copacabana Beach, and a bunch of artists were there. One guy was doing wire art, so I had him make me a wire Snoopy. Another time, I was on Marco Island, and this lady was painting various objects. I had oysters at a restaurant, so I brought her the oyster shells, and she painted Snoopy as a chef inside of them.”

Museum-goers will also see Snoopy mechanical rides, music boxes, mugs, holiday items, Charles Schultz autographs, and more.

Among all of these items, his favorite is still the first Snoopy. “This all started because of my sister,” he says. Sadly, his sister, Susan Amine, was never able to experience the museum. She passed away in 2012 at the age of 47 from breast cancer. “I know my sister is looking down on all this and smiling.”

Mike is very thankful to still have his mom though, who’s 92. She helps him pick the charities every month.

The museum is typically open from Wednesday to Saturday, and Mike says thousands of people have already passed through. He’s very grateful to all the people who visit and donate. “It’s memories of my life in that room.”

"I'M ONE OF THE LARGEST COLLECTORS OF SNOOPY

Screen TIme

WE'VE BEEN ASKING THE WRONG QUESTION'S

ARTICLE BY TARA ROBERTS

Illustration by Justine Ross

Forty years ago, screen time wasn’t hard to define. Most families had one television with three channels, and if you were lucky enough to own an Atari, you couldn’t play it when the news was on.

In a world of mobile devices, immersive digital spaces, and interactive social media, Michigan Medicine’s Jenny Radesky, M.D., says it’s time to move the conversation beyond screen time.

“The nature of technology has changed. Now, you have devices that move from room to room, devices that themselves are pinging for kids’ attention, devices that are psychologically interacting with you based on your own mental shortcuts about what you’re attracted to and what makes you upset and what you’re likely to click on and pay attention to,” says Radesky, who is the David G. Dickinson Collegiate Professor of Pediatrics.

“That’s a reason why the way we talk about it and parent around it hasn’t fully caught up.”

Radesky and her colleagues at Michigan Medicine and across the university study how technology use affects young children, teens, and their relationships with their parents and caregivers. As the digital world evolves faster and faster, caregivers feel faced with endless decisions to make and often a pile of judgment to go with them. Radesky advocates for a nuanced approach that reframes how Americans think about families’ choices, focuses on reforming underlying systems, and reimagines the way we talk about kids and technology —and what we expect the technology industry to do for kids.

WHO SHOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR KIDS’ MEDIA USE?

Guilt is the elephant in the room when it comes to talking about families and tech, Radesky says. When caregivers hear about research linking tech use to negative outcomes for kids or see new media guidelines, they tend to put the burden of change on themselves.

But the goal of her research isn’t finding someone to blame: It’s understanding how technology affects children’s and parents’ minds and behaviors, giving everyone — not just parents — more tools to make decisions.

Radesky and Alison Miller, Ph.D., professor of health behavior and health education at the U-M School of Public Health, recently worked together on a National Institutes of Health–funded study that mapped young children’s media use and emotional regulation over six months. Any parent will tell you the two are interconnected, Miller says, but the study allowed researchers a unique opportunity to peel apart cause and effect.

Their results found that kids whose parents reported giving them mobile devices to soothe them more often had worse emotional regulation skills at later ages — suggesting the technology was replacing opportunities for kids to learn those critical skills. At the same time, kids with more emotional reactivity were more likely to be given mobile devices to calm down, which suggests a self-reinforcing cycle.

Radesky wants caregivers to feel empowered, not blamed, by results like these. As a pediatrician, she can encourage parents to use their knowledge of their child’s temperament to feel competent choosing when and where to use technology.

However, she and Miller emphasize that parental responsibility is far from the only factor influencing how kids use technology.

Miller also studies parent stress and the ways social determinants of health — such as poverty, racism, unemployment, and community violence — overlay individual family decisions.

“Big social, contextual factors, like poverty, really place a huge burden on parents who are trying to do their best,” Miller says. “And so what I don’t want to do is come along and say, ‘You should never give your child media.’”

CONTINUED >

"Guilt is the elephant in the room when it comes to talking about families and tech."

“Yes, there are some things we want parents to do. But the responsibility here is primarily in

policymakers and tech companies, and industry changing the system so it works better,”

Some families have less power to make choices about technology or have more pressing problems that shape their choices, Miller says.

“Caregivers living in historically disadvantaged or marginalized communities are often working inconsistent, late, unpredictable hours that are not optimal for child development. There is really poor child care availability. Media is one of the best options that a lot of families have,” she says. “Depending on what they’re doing online, I would argue it’s better to have your child watch media for eight hours than be outside in a dangerous neighborhood and face gun violence.”

The pandemic exacerbated such stressors for many families, while upending kids’ routines, limiting their social contact with peers, and intensifying their relationships with media. Yet overall, our culture tends to send the message that parents are solely responsible for kids’ media use, no matter what other situations they face, Radesky says.

“In the U.S. and other Western societies, we often have this individualistic culture that assumes that behaviors are primarily shaped by individual-level decision making, or autonomy, or responsibility,” Radesky says. “We don’t pay as much attention to the community-level and structural forces that line up whether we even have the opportunity to make a decision, or whether it’s easy to make that decision, or whether we’re even given a framework and a language to think in a logical way, rather than an emotional way, about making a decision.”

She believes a shift in culture is possible. For example, Americans now tend to think of smoking cigarettes as a structural issue, recognizing the addictive chemicals in tobacco and the tobacco industry’s role in making them even more addictive.

The first step to reframing the conversation around technology use is for caregivers and the people who give them advice to resist the individualistic view, Radesky says.

As co-medical director of the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) Center of Excellence on Social Media and Youth Mental Health, Radesky is helping to develop a messaging framework to help pediatricians

have productive and reflective conversations with parents and other caregivers about media use.

The framework that the Center of Excellence is currently using to train pediatric and mental health clinicians acknowledges how addressing media use is intertwined with addressing factors like child care access, parent mental health, and school resources.

The AAP’s 2020 Digital Advertising to Children policy statement seeks to encourage a similar change in how parents view their role in managing children’s digital literacy. Radesky, who is chair of the AAP Council on Communications and Media that writes those guidelines, says the group intentionally spread out the responsibility.

“We really shifted to saying, ‘Yes, there are some things we want parents to do. But the responsibility here is primarily in policymakers and tech companies, and industry changing the system so it works better,” she says.

6 TIPS FOR HELPING KIDS MANAGE DIGITAL MEDIA

Parents, grandparents, teachers, pediatricians — any adult who cares for kids — can help guide their technology use. Here’s some expert advice:

• Have open, non-judgmental conversations about technology.

• Use language that acknowledges their perspective: Rather than, “You binge-watched that show,” try “You watched longer than you planned to.”

• Encourage them to recognize the ways technology is designed to suck them in.

• Recognize the positives of technology and social media, especially for kids who may not have safe spaces in the non-digital world to express themselves.

• Let kids know you are available to talk to them about negative experiences online, no matter how embarrassing or frustrating.

• When possible, co-view or preview media. Ask questions and check in when kids are using something new. For full article viewing, please visit: www.michiganmedicine.org/medicine-michigan/ weve-been-asking-wrong-questions-about-kids-andscreen-time