mat Younger Russians Do For Leisure or Russian professionals age 21 and older, relax- ing on the weekend at a DJ party is a popular option. After the 2 a.m. closing time at a nightclub, Dmitry Nevelev of West Bloomfield said it's not unusual for a large group to congregate at someone's house. "We play music, drink, talk, have some munchies," he said. "In the warm weather, we go to someone's pool." Other young Russians inter- viewed at Club Heat in Pontiac said they like to do the same kinds of things as American- born Jews: go to movies, watch TV and travel. Vlad Tismenetskiy, an endodonist from West Bloomfield, said he enjoys museums and opera. Most of the young adults at DJ Jenny's party were teenagers when they moved here, and were not brought up religiously by their parents. West Bloomfield's Yaakov Valk, born in Latvia, said most Russians he knows like to expe- rience Judaism's traditions. He himself was planning to attend High Holiday services at Temple Israel in West Bloomfield. Tismenetskiy, who moved with his wife Helen back to Michigan from Philadelphia 1'12 years ago, said they are shopping for a synagogue. "My feeling for Judaism is a sense of belonging," he said. — Esther Allweiss Tschirhart Cover Story Russian Roots PARTY LOYALISTS from page 65 ON, MIS TRANSFORM YOUR HOUSE INTO' THE HOME OF YOUR :DREAMS. THE PROFESSIONALS AT CONSTRUCTION ZONE HIKE 26 Latvian-born Yakov Valk, right, DJ Jenny's employer at JVG Modernizing Inc. in West Bloomfield, enjoys the camaraderie at the Club Heat party. At Club Heat, Vlad Tismenetskiy said he really likes the music Jenny plays. She offers modern Russian music — "the hits," he said, and also turns to disco, Latin, house, European, American and other styles of music. An Eminem song could be heard mixed with a Russian vocal track. "There are a million different kinds of music," the deejay said. "I don't like to stick to one." Her interest in world music segued into concert promotion. She brings in Russian bands and memorably arranged for the Paris-based group Alabina to appear at Royal Oak Music Theatre. Connecting People The Russian-Jewish community in Oak Park and Southfield has slowly spread into Farmington Hills and West Bloomfield, eroding some of its immi- grant cohesion. Alina Tovbin of West Bloomfield, a pharmacist at Henry Ford Hospital, likes the atmosphere at Club Heat, where "people can come and they don't feel lonely." She said they bond through the music and dancing. Russian Arthur Itkis and his American-born wife, Julie, drive in from Farmington Hills whenever the "awe- some" DJ Jenny has a bash because she gives "the Russian community a place to listen to some European music." His wife added, "She keeps the dance floor going, getting the crowd out there." Irina Diamand of Farmington Hills, collecting the $5 cover charge ($10 after 11 p.m.), said her longtime friend Feterovich "has an energy everyone is attracted to." "She's like an information booth," added Diamand, who works in the mortgage industry. Feterovich is some- PARTY LOYALISTS on page 68 YEARS OF EXPERIENCE MAX1146 ORIAMS 'COME TRUE FROM, KITCHEN OR. $ATHROCIM REMODEL TO AN MIRE UPSCALE RE-00, IT EHD1 & BAHE ADDITIONS & DORMERS NOME %REES RECREARCIN ROOMS UMW Ala 1976 NAM Wiitta iiiSOCIATEN i HOE CRUM EAU. H POR FLEE ESIntel 248-593-0975 ON RONtc$.... The Home Theater Specialist SALES • SERVICE • DESIGN • INSTALLATION 248-681-8509 Hours: M-Th 9-6 • Fri 9-7 • Sat 10-4 • Sun Closed The Russian Simcliali Maker DJ Jenny La Femme calls Ben Opengeym of West Bloomfield "the live-entertainment version of me." The Latvian-born musician, in this country 12 years, is a popular enter- tainer in the Russian community. He plays keyboards and sings in English, Russian and Yiddish with his five- piece band. "I run my own global entertain- ment agency," he said. "It's not just the music, but planning the parties, too." The band will travel out of state as needed for private parties, including weddings and b'nai mitzvah. Opengeym is planning a new ven- ture at the site of the former La Difference restaurant on Orchard Lake Road in West Bloomfield. His new place, Maestro, will be a lounge offering live and DJ music and inter- national cuisine. He said the facility is being remodeled to open early next year. — Esther Allweiss Tschirhart WE DESIGN AND INSTALL: • Multi-room AudioNideo • Home Theater • Satellite Cable Telephone, Security & Central Vac Systems UTHORIZED DEALER FOR: . • Panasonic • SharpVision • B&K • Marant • Onkyo • Paradingm • Klipsch • Snell • Russound nd more! FREE ESTIMATES W CONSTRUCTION ON NE PREINIRE 751340 Ben Opengeym is a popular entertainer in the Russian community. 3355 Orchard Lake Rd. • Keego Harbor (Between Cass and Commerce Rd.) :TVZ , 10/1C 2003 67