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IN All
North in Pontiac for what turned out
to be the location's inauguaral party.
"Lacey and I liked that we were
the first party there," says Ziecik. 30
North is a new party venue reincar-
nated from an old bank building.
"We wanted something different
from a social hall or country club, to
get the feel that this was as special to
us as the event, and to distinguish it
with a special place," she explains.
Replete with beautiful architectural
details — marble, wrought iron, clas-
sic moldings, large windows and a
regilded ceiling — 30 North fit the
bill. Prices range from $3,000.
Mother and daughter were eager to
recreate a New York-club feeling, and
knew they had achieved it when a
guest, upon leaving, told them she felt
like she was at Studio 54 (a former
disco in New York).
Adult tables and food stations were
positioned on a second-story gallery,
looking down upon an expandable
dance floor. Carol also liked that it
was large, and conducive for a kids'
party. Another ideal feature was the
close proximity to the Bloomfield
area, where many of Lacey's
Cranbrook Kingswood Middle School
classmates live.
Hanan and Lisa Lis of
Farmington Hills were also looking
for an unusual location for daughter
Ariella's bat mitzvah last November.
An ePPighth-grader at Hillel Day
School of Metropolitan Detroit, her
event fell toward the end of the
bar/bat mitzvah cycle.
The family wanted a space that was
unique and fun. They chose the
Cranbrook Institute of Science for an
evening party. Morning services were
at Adat Shalom Synagogue in
Farmington Hills.
"Ariella's theme was Tikkun Olam,
which means healing the world,
which is one of the 613 mitzvot," Lisa
Lis explains. "She chose it because she
has always believed in it. The environ-
mental exhibits at Cranbrook's
Institute of Science tied in with her
theme. It was very interesting for our
guests to interact with the museum's
exhibits while shmoozing and eating."
The Lis' had buffet stations through-
out the renovated museum's top floor,
and for the first two hours people ate,
drank and walked around the museum.
"The kids loved it because they were
interacting with the exhibits, and they
had a lot to do that was unique and
fun," says Lisa. For the last two hours,
a large open space in the lower level
was used for dancing.
Now, as she begins planning her
next daughter's bat mitzvah, she
advises, "Don't limit yourself.
Anywhere you see an open space,
inquire because you never know
where a great party can happen."
Some venues are savvy enough to
market themselves for special occa-
sions. Looking for a magical location
for your daughter's wedding, for
example? How about having her make
an entrance in the wedding dress of
your dreams at the Detroit Opera
House? A few grand weddings have
utilized this dramatic location.
"Our stage is more than 7,000
square feet, and we can have table seat-
ing for 350 guests, with a dance floor
on the stage," explains events director
Jennifer Turner. "What we have done is
have a reception in the lobby with all
of the hors d'oerves. We then open
both doors, and people come in and sit
in the seats, as if for a show. The bridal
processional comes down the aisle, and
climbs the stairs to the stage."
Wedding ceremonies, including
ones with a chuppa, take place in
front of the curtain, on the orchestra
pit, which has been raised to stage
level. After the ceremony, the curtain
goes up, and the stage is set for a
party, complete with a band, bars and
sweet table.
"It's very dramatic when the cur-
tain goes up," says Turner. "You can
hear the gasp from the guests."
Stephani Yates of Birmingham
heard that gasp at her wedding on
July 4,1998, at the Detroit Opera
House. She initially chose the Opera
House for her wedding to David Yates
because she works there, doing fund-
raising and special events for the
development office.
"It's such a unique and beautiful
place. It was incredible," she raves.
She recalls how beautiful her chuppah
looked, bedecked in flowers, on the
raised orchestra pit stage. Because the
orchestra pit can hold 100 musicians,
there was plenty of room for all of her
bridesmaids, groomsmen, a violinist
and a pianist.
While the Detroit Opera House has
UNIQUE on page C40