W

hen it came time for Steve and Stephanie Blum
to finish the basement of their contemporary
colonial, they did their due diligence. They considered
every possibility, visited home shows, lined up
contractors and solicited bids. After all was said and
done, with every reference checked, they selected the
company with the "glowing reviews" and chose
Gittleman Construction Company.

"We felt we could really trust them," said Steve. "We've
got really busy lives and we couldn't let just anyone in."

SHOPPING SETUP: Stores from far away set up booths at the
36th Giftorama planned Nov. 11-12 at Kingswood School, 885
Cranbrook Rd., Bloomfield Hills. Holiday gifts — from faux mink
scarves to European toys — are offered 9 a.m.-6 p.m. Saturday and
10 a.m.-5 p.m. Sunday. Light lunches and snacks are available. The
event, which supports scholarships and capital needs, is hosted by
the Kingswood Alumnae Assn. $7 general entry fee, free hour 10-11
a.m. Sunday. WWW. giftorama.org.

FEATURED VIOLIST: The Prazak Quartet spotlights vio-
list Roger Tapping at 8 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 11, at the Seligman
Performing Arts Center, 22305 W. 13 Mile, Beverly Hills. The
concert, sponsored by the Chamber Music Society of Detroit, offers
works by Haydn, Smetana and Brahms. $25-$75. (248) 855-6070.

MUSIC MASTERS: Flutist Alexander Zonjic and folk icon Josh
White Jr. perform at Flutes, Friends and Fa-La-La, the annual
fiindraiser for Variety FAR Conservatory of Therapeutic and
Performing Arts serving children and adults with special needs.
The program starts at 7 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 16, at the Seligman
Performing Arts Center, 22305 W. 13 Mile, Beverly Hills. $25-
$500. (248) 646-3347.

The couple trusted Gittleman to reconfigure the space
to create a lower level bedroom suite with a bath and a
room to spare. They used the same finishes and quality
as the rest of the couple's custom home, said Steve, so
"It feels as though it has been there forever. They made
it consistent."

While Stephanie now delights in an inviting basement that provides "a lot more space" for the
couple, their two young children and overnight guests, Steve extols the benefits of working
with Gittleman.

"Their people really cared and that's huge," he explained. "They were just great. They kept it moving
to bring it in on budget, and they made it look easy to finish on time."

"If we ever have anything else to do, we'd go to Gittleman."

So when you're ready to refinish, remodel or replace space, do your homework and discover the
region's most reliable resource when it comes to house work—Gittleman Construction Company.

JUST ASK THE BLUMS.

GITTLEMAN

CONSTRUCTION inc

28580 ORCHARD LAKE RD., SUITE 102

FARMINGTON HILLS, MI 48334

248.538.5400

www.gittleman.net

CUSTOM

RENOVATIONS

ANIMAL MAGIC: More than 1,000 animals in stage shows, com-
petitions and demonstrations are part of America's Family Pet Expo
running Nov. 17-19 at the Rock Financial Showplace, 46100 Grand
River, Novi. Llamas, rabbits, miniature horses and many more join
the activities 1-9 p.m. Friday, 10 a.m.-7 p.m. Saturday and 10 a.m.-6
p.m. Sunday. Animal experts, pet adoptions and pet products round
out the event. $4-$10. (800) 999-7295.

OUTDOOR APPETIZERS: Before Thanksgiving Day feasts
are put on tables, Metro Detroiters will get into the holiday
mood by participating in the Turkey Trot and watching America's
Thanksgiving Day Parade. The foot races, which start at 7:30 a.m.
in front of Cobo Conference-Exhibition Center in Detroit, support
the annual parade, which moves along Woodward and brings some
morning surprises. vvww.theparade.org .

ABRACADABRA DEVOTEE: Jim Fitzsimmons — accom-
panied by live doves and a special bunny — performs some new
magic tricks at 11 a.m. Saturday, Nov. 25, at Performance Network
Theatre, 120 E. Huron, Ann Arbor. With his own take on sleight
of hand, Fitzsimmons shows audiences their potential to accomplish
what seems impossible. $7-$10. (734) 663-0681.

SNEAK PEAK: Supporters and friends of the Crohn's & Colitis
Foundation of America can attend a reception and film preview as
part of the 29th annual Gala Evening at the Movies at 6:30 p.m.
Monday, Nov. 27, at the Uptown Palladium Theater, 250 N. Old
Woodward, Birmingham. $75. (248) 737-0900.

E-mail items to Suzanne Chessler at PlatinumPlanner@aol.com .

JNPLATINUM • NOVEMBER 2006 •

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