I LISTENING POST I WHY YOUR PARTY PLANS SHOULD INCLUDE US. I BEST OF EVERYTHING I Opera Night Draws Customers To A Southfield Establishment Whatever occasion you're planning, we'll customize all our banquet services to meet your needs and budget. Ask us for more information. DANNY RASKIN Local Columnist A BUSINESS MEETINGS SPORTS BANQUETS REHEARSAL DINNERS HOLIDAY BANQUETS SPECIAL OCCASIONS. CUSTOMIZED BANQUET SPECIALISTS OUNTAIN CK'S„ PRIME RIB • CHOICE STEAKS LUPUS ERYTHEMATOSUS More people have it than know about it. Lupus Erythematosus affects an 1 estimated 500,000 Americans. You can learn more about Lupus by writing. The Michigan Lupus Foundation 26202 Harper St. Clair Shores, MI 48081 Please send me information on Lupus. ❑ I'd like to help in the fight against Lupus. Name Address City 0 Zip State All contributions tax deductible Amount Contributed fl 0 ROSE GUTTMAN FORMERLY OF THE ORIGINAL IRVING'S DELI IS NOW ACCEPTING ROSH HASHANAH ORDERS FOR HER FAMOUS GEFILTE FISH . . . AND $995 COMPLETE DINNERS 643.7755 OR CALL ROSE AT HOME: 669'0949 ❑ ❑ 72 FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 18, 1992 double combination of nationwide rages has reached the up- graded development of Ristorante Settebello on Greenfield, just south of 11 Mile Road. Restaurant opera and Italian dining are both highly ranked in the favor of na- tional goers-out folks. Italian food has overtaken the field in becoming a number one choice, while restaurant opera, which oft- times flirted with popularity, has begun to make a very serious run in the entertain- ment race. Places like DePalma's on Plymouth Road in Livonia too has felt the surge . . . Restaurant opera is a regular Wednesday night feature at DePalma's, also serving Italian food. Years back, Hugo Ugolini had it in the Park Shelton Hotel on Woodward and later at his Hugo's on Franklin Road where Excalibur now sits . . . In Chicago, one of the Rush Street restaurants used to have an opera room while here in Detroit on Warren Avenue, there was the Opera House Restaurant. Every so often, places like Cafe Cortina on W. 10 Mile Road, among others, have restaurant opera nights. But it has never taken off like today . . . Italian dining and restaurant opera seem to be an unbeatable together- ness, although even Middle Eastern restaurants like Sultan's on Orchard Lake Road and 14 Mile, are star- ting to feature it on a schedul- ed basis. Now that Settebello has added traditional Italian food to go along with its regional cuisine, it is getting its act together and a lot of tracks are leading there . . . And its every Thursday evening opera night, 7 p.m. to 10 p.m., has people like Dr. Norman and Harriett Rotter, plus many more, coming back regularly. Dino Valle, baritone, and Peter Soave, playing the bayan (concert accordion), presently give Settebello guests some very fine treats. On a recent Thursday night, his aria, "Non Piu An- drai," from Marriage of Figaro and "Madamini" from Don Giovanni, both Mozart classics, were performed by Dino with vocal deftness as Peter's bayan keyed smoothly in the background . . . The soft mood prevailed with Peter's fine solo on "Scarlat- ti," followed by Dino singing "La Calunnia" from Rossini's Barber of Seville. After a lively and choice "Finiculi Funicula," Dino's versatility was exhibited with "Where Shall I Go," sung in Yiddish, followed by "Ole Sole Mio" and the Latin "Besame Mucho" . . . Opera lovers will enjoy his "Al Di La" and Rossini's "La Dan- za." Dino Valle and Peter Soave add a nice touch to an en- joyable evening . . . They have blended with the times in of- fering both opera and operet- ta selections plus standards requests. People no longer have to dine with set menus at the Thursday eening opera nights at Ristorante Settebello .. . Ordering is now from a new, moderately-priced list of available dishes . . . And the cover charge is gone . . . even for folks who just want to drink and hear some good opera. The change from strictly regional Italian dining to in- clude traditional Italian dishes has worked out well for Ristorante Settebello, which also recently opened for lunch. JUST LIKE THEIR style of living . . . down-to-earth .. . was the recent 60th birthday party for Lee Gurwin at Nif- ty Norman's by hubby Jerry Gurwin of Gurwin's Autobody Klinic. Over 100 guests, with most of the people at our table former Durfee Intermediate- ites . . . Psychologist Joel Cohen, Harold Weisserman, Debbie Weisserman of Deborah's Invitations . . . Joel's wife, Betsy, an "out- cast" — she went to Bagley . . . Durfee was well represented at Lee's party .. . Howard Emmer and Jerry at- tended the middle school in 1947 and recalled having breakfast at the Zenith Cafe on 12th Street between Monterey and Elmhurst .. . coffee five cents and a donut stick five cents . . . Jerry, Howard and barrister Don Gurwin made up a trio in singing the Durfee school song . . . Debbie also attend- ed Durfee with Rebecca Em- mer and Dolly Murley. Debbie's hubby, Harold, retired after 32 years as an administrator with the City of Detroit Water Board, and says he never worked so hard since being in his wife's in- vitations business . . . On his retirement, Harold was given a gold-plated water cooler .. . Their four children at Lee's party. all have B'nai B'rith backgrounds . . . Debbie was president of Kadima BBYO and 20 years later, daughter Maureen Mansfield is its president . . . Michael and Jeffrey, both attorneys, were presidents of Jack Benny AZA, and Gary was regional AZA head. The dog owned by Harold and Debbie must have been a very confused pet . . . Every two years, Debbie changed the poor animal's name .. . Even Harold couldn't keep up with the alterations, let alone their best friend . . . But all is not lost for little Poochers .. . He's gone to live with Jeff, who gave him his present name and isn't about to change it. Don Gurwin never knew his real first name until register- Restaurant opera and Italian dining are both highly ranked in the favor of national goers- out folks. ing for college and needing a birth certificate . . . It's Edgar . . . Wife Nancy has been on the Coe Rail dinner train since May doing "Broadway Then and Now" with excerpts from White Way hits . . . Their son, Danny, is with mom every Saturday night on the Michigan Clipper in Wall- ed Lake . . . He recently finished summer stock in --`1 Wichita, Kan., and is back at the University of Michigan as h a junior in its theatre (11 program. Ira Levy was The Jewish News' first copy boy 50 years ago . . . He was 14 years old when coming to work for the paper two weeks after it open- ed in 1942 on the 28th floor of the Penobscot Building. . . . Eddie Citrin looks good minus 90 pounds . . . Julius r Lesnick, a family friend for so , many years, came in from California for Lee's birthday cz party . . . Harry Krause cut- ting a mean rug on the dance floor . . . Here's to the so- meone who asked if he could have one of the balloons hang- ing from it after giving his plant to another guest .. .