GOING PLACES WEEK OF APR.6-APR.12 JEWISH EVENTS Finally, the Met gave its ap- proval, but Lash discovered the curator's information was wrong. The actual spinet was six inches longer than the case he had built. At that mo- ment, Lash decided he had to build two spinets, so at least one would be structurally cor- rect. Because of that error, Lash says, one of the spinets gracing his living room is really his design, down to the length of the strings. meticulously Lash measured and studied the Met original, even taking rubbings of where the pins, which hold the strings, belong inside the case. He In fact, Lash refuses to be called an expert on 18th century American period furniture. "I wish I were an expert. I'm only an expert on the piece I'm making." Dr. Steven Lash also obtained a huge, highly detailed photographic file from the antiques dealer who had sold the spinet to the museum. "I had pictures of the string lengths, pictures of the keys, pictures of the barring inside. So, now I had everything I needed to make the spinet." Neither spinet lacks for detail. Lash cut, shaped and built every element of the harpsichords, including the pins that hold the strings in place and a delicate line of in- laid wood that wraps around the inside and outside of the wooden case. He even repro- duced the gold leafing on the spinet keys. The Lashes say the twin harpsichords are conversation pieces when company comes to visit, but Carol adds that her husband is not show- offish when it comes to the furniture. "If someone asks," she says, "then Steve will tell them about it." In fact, Lash refuses to be called an expert on 18th cen- TEMPLE BETH EL 7400 Telegraph, Birmingham, Dr. Samuel Adler, musical composer-in-residence, April 6-7, concert 5:30 p.m. April 7, wine and cheese reception 6:30 p.m. April 7, 851-1100. HILLEL B'NAI 1429 Hill Street, Ann Arbor, movies, Angel Heart 8 p.m. and 10 p.m. April 7; Local Hero, 9 p.m. April 12, admission. 769-0500. SPECIAL EVENTS HENRY FORD MUSEUM Dearborn, Henry Ford Museum Live on the Air!, April 7 and 8, admission, 271-1620. Lash spends many hours in his workshop. tury American period fur- niture. "I wish I were an ex- pert. I'm only an expert on the piece I'm making." Lash's handiwork has been featured a couple of times in Fine Woodworking magazine's Design Book, which displays the creme de la creme of woodworking design. His desk was pictured in 1983; one of the pair of harpsichords was featured in 1987. Lash says it's impossible to attach a monetary value to his works and would never consider selling one. But for comparison's sake, he says the piece after which his desk is modeled — the original is ac- tually a secretary with a bookcase on top — sold for more than $12 million last year. Lash is busy working on his current project, a huge dining room table with a special col- lapsible mechanism that allows the table to expand to just more than 14 feet or shrink down to five feet. The mechanics are based on the workings of the huge dining table at the Grand Hotel on Mackinac Island. "I promised Carol I'd have the table done for Rosh Hashanah," says Lash. "But I don't think I'm going to make it. I've got about another year to go. All told, it will take me about 2 1/2 years to finish." Though the table is only half completed, Lash is already thinking about his next project. "I've asked myself, 'Should I make the dining chairs?' I don't know. I've never mass produced anything. It would be an intellectual challenge." CI COMEDY GNOME The Gnome Restaurant, 4124 Woodward Avenue, Detroit, The Ron Coden Show, 9: 30 p.m., 11 p.m. and 12:30 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays through April, admission, 833-0120. DUFFY'S Waterfront Inn, 8635 Cooley Lake Road, Union Lake, Bob Posch, through April, admission, 363-9469. THEATER SOUTHFIELD- LATHRUP HIGH SCHOOL 12 Mile Road, Lathrup Village, Oklahoma, April 6 and 7, admission, 746-7292. A spinet piano, appropriately engraved. BIRMINGHAM THEATRE Wait Until Dark, through May 6, admission, 644-3533. MEADOWBROOK Oakland University, Rochester, The Immigrant: A Hamilton County Album, through April 22, admission, 377-3300. DAYS HOTEL 17017 W. Nine Mile, Southfield, Little Mary Sunshine, through March, admission, 557-4800. THE DETROIT JEWISH NEWS 71