I To Life!

ENE

Back In Vogue

'Lakta & Vodka' bash returns with a bang after hiatus.

Robin Schwartz

Special to the Jewish News

T

radition met trendy at a down-
town Detroit saloon as more
than 200 young adults gathered
for a "Latka & Vodka" party — an event
that put a modern spin on Chanukah.
The party, sponsored by the Young Adult
Division of the Jewish Federation of
Metropolitan Detroit, included music,
drinks and plenty of latkes.
It was a lot of fun and the venue was
really cool;' said Shirley Cetner of Troy.
She attended with her husband Lenny.
The event was held at Centaur, a swanky
new bar near Detroit's Fox Theatre. The
1920s building, once home to the Iodent
toothpaste factory, was refurbished in an
Art Deco style with red leather chairs,
billiard tables and a large bar. It opened
in July.
A revitalized building turned out to be
the perfect setting for Latke & Vodka
because the event itself was also brought
back to life. The gathering was first held
about six years ago, but after several

Counter clockwise from top:

Jennifer Noparstak of Berkley and Rachel
Wright of West Bloomfield

Jenny Rosenthal of Washington, D.C., and
Jordan Glass of West Bloomfield

Kate Bush of Royal Oak and Tony Phillips of
Farmington Hills

Lauren Friedman of West Bloomfield,
Stephanie Ostrow of Huntington Woods and
Randall Fogelman of Detroit

Jeremy Crane of Berkley and Lori Schram of
Farmington Hills

Adam Brode of Bloomfield Hills, Robyn
Glasser of Walled Lake and Amy Opperer of
Berkley

16

December 29 • 2005

years, other events took its place.
This year, the YAD social committee
decided it was time to bring the popular
party back. "We had people there from
their early 20s to late 30s," said Jordan
Glass of West Bloomfield. "It's a great way
to bring the young adult community
together."
Similar events are held around the
country, from New York City to
Philadelphia to Atlanta and Las Vegas.
The Detroit party had some unique
twists. Dreidels and chocolate gelt deco-
rated tables across Centaur's second-floor
lounge. A special drink menu was created
with names like: "Dizzy Dreidel,""Kiss on
your Keppe" and "Chahsmopolitan."
Social committee chairs for the Dec. 17
event were: Randall Fogelman of Detroit,
Marla Tapper of Bloomfield Hills, Tony
Fayne of Birmingham and Lauren
Friedman and Danielle Glickfield of West
Bloomfield.
Also spotted in the crowd were:
Kendra Freedman of Birmingham and
Dana Gold, Jason Gold and Mike and
.Shira Kahan, all of West Bloomfield. The
party was sponsored by Effen Vodka. L7

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