PLATINUM PLANNER

hung a chair rail and
Melanie painted the
walls above it pastel
purple and those
below a green that
matched the comforter set.
On one wall, Melanie
painted a mural replicating the
comforter's butterflies, fireflies and
ladybugs; on another, she hung letters
that spelled out "Alexa" and painted
butterflies on either side of them.
"I know Marisa loves photographs
and would want to have some in
frames," Melanie said.
So she affixed four small, white
shelves to one wall to hold them. A
pegboard clothing rack that matches
the room's theme hangs near the door.
After choosing curtains for the win-
dow, Melanie went on an Internet
search for tiebacks and a matching cur-
tain rod, excitedly finding both on
clearance at the JC Penney online site.
"I did a lot of things I never did
before," Melanie said. "Brad knew
how to do a lot. But we resorted to our
family and friends for advice, and to
our handy-dandy, friendly, how-to book
from Home Depot."

ALEXA IS HERE

Melanie and Brad had the best inten-
tions of finishing the room on time by
beginning just after their October 2004
wedding and honeymoon. But their
friends' baby had other plans.
When Marisa delivered Alexa exact-
ly three weeks early, the remodeling
pace increased. Having already worked
most weekends for 2 1/2 months,
Melanie and Brad extended their
hours while Marisa was in the hospital,

recruiting
Alexa's half-
sister, Linda
Hernandez, 14,
to help. Alexa's
half-brother is
Manny, 12.
Melanie and Brad brought
Alexa's furniture — which was stored
in the Hernandez's garage until she was
born — into her bedroom where Brad
assembled the crib. Then they brought,
from their house, sheets and baby
clothes Melanie had washed and stored
there, and a small table and chair set
Melanie painted to go in the room.
Melanie and Brad were with Marisa,
Hector and Alexa when they finally
saw the completed room for the first
time.
"Seeing their faces and their joy was
just priceless," Melanie said. "All the
work was absolutely worth it knowing
that we could do something for some-
one who means so much to us."
Brad said, "I was very happy to be
able to give them something I knew
they would use constantly. It would
have been easier to buy a gift; but for
friends like them, it just wouldn't have
been enough."
"Melanie and Brad put all their
heart and soul into Alexa's bedroom
and it shows," Marisa said. "We just
love it. We call it her happy room.
When we sit in her chair, she looks
around and smiles and talks to her but-
terflies and fireflies and ladybugs.
"And it's not just us who love what
Melanie and Brad did. When people
come over to visit, they never fail to
ask: 'Do you mind if we go upstairs
and see Alexa's bedroom?"' ❑

SUPREME LOOKBACK: Memorabilia from Motown's

Supremes are on view at the Detroit Historical Museum.
Reflections: The Mary Wilson Supreme Legacy Collection, an
exhibit created by the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and
Museum in Cleveland, continues through Feb. 12. (313) 833-1805.

UPBEAT DANCING: Modern dance works by independent choreogra-

phers run Thursday-Sunday, July 7-10, at the Performance Network, Ann
Arbor. Terpsichore's Kitchen offers the steps at 8 p.m. Thursday-Saturday
and 2 p.m. Sunday. $20. (734) 663-0681. www.performancenetwork.org .

STORIES TALL AND SHORT: Swap tales at the Michigan Storytellers

Festival. Free presentations and workshops are held on the grounds of the
Flint Public Library. Programs run 10 a.m.-10 p.m. Friday, July 8, and 8:30
a.m.-10 p.m. Saturday, July 9. (810) 249-2569. www.flint.lib.mi.us .

PLAY BALL: The John Hancock All-Star FanFest, an interac-

tive baseball theme park, stops in Detroit with activities and
exhibits as part of the 2005 Major League Baseball All-Star
Week, Friday-Tuesday, July 8-12, at Cobo Conference-
Exhibition Center. $16/ $11 seniors, military personnel and children
ages 3-12. (313) 471-BALL (2255).

TWO SIDES: Jekyll and Hyde, a musical presented by the Oakland Theatre

Guild, will be performed Friday, July 8-Sunday, July 24, at the Starlight
Theater in Waterford's Summit Place Mall. 7:30 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays
and 2 p.m. Sundays. $10-$14. (248) 335-1788. wwwstarlighttheater.net .

SERIOUS SINGALONG: The University Musical Society's Choral Union
starts its 2005 Summer Sings with Ralph Vaughan Williams' Sea Symphony

conducted by Jerry Blackstone. All singers are invited to this no-audition
evening of choral repertoire. 6:30 p.m. Monday, July 11, in Auditorium 4 of
the Modern Languages Building, Ann Arbor. $5. (734) 763-8997.

FOUNDERS' FAVORITES: Fine and performing arts, foods and activities

fill the Farmington Area Founders Festival 10 a.m.-10 p.m. Thursday-
Saturday, July 14-16, in downtown Farmington. (248) 932-3378.
www.foundersfestival.com .

OUTSIDE JAZZ: Ahmed Jamal and James Tatum appear in this year's
JazzFest held Thursday-Saturday, July 14-16, at Shain Park in downtown
Birmingham. Free concerts run 7-9 p.m. Thursday, 6:30-9:30 p.m. Friday
and 2-9 p.m. Saturday. (248) 644-5832.
w-ww.communityhouse.com .

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WATERWAY WONDERS: Hydroplane racing can be seen

Friday-Sunday, July 15-17, on the Detroit River, sponsored by
the Chrysler-Jeep Superstores Detroit APBA (American Power
Boat Association) Gold Cup. (586) 774-0980.

ANN ARBOR ARTISTRY: Ann Arbor's 35-year-old summer tradition con-

tinues with paintings, ceramics, photos and more on view 10 a.m.-9 p.m.
Wednesday-Friday, July 20-22, and 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Saturday, July 23. Special
activities for children will be featured. (734) 662-3382.

GREAT GREENERY: The Pontiac Garden Club's Hidden Treasures of
Pontiac Garden Tour visits nine destinations, plus the Governor Wisner
Historic Museum at Pine Grove. 9:30 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturday, July 23. $12-$15.
(248) 745-3710.

JNPLATINUM • JULY 2005 •

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