the buzz

OORIL stU@,e,

What's hot

in restaurants,
retail and more.

BY JEANINE MATLOW

Zip It!

A few months ago, Lauren Altman of West Bloomfield was try-
ing to think of a way to add some zip to the preferred uniform
— a fleece pullover — of her husband, Rick. On the lookout for a
business venture, the couple came up with charmingly expressive
bead and charm zipper pulls that can be attached to backpacks,
sleeping bags, computer cases and, of course, fleece pullovers.
The idea was an instant hit with the couple's daughter, Hannah
— a second-grader at Lone Pine Elementary in the Bloomfield
Hills School District — who came up with the name CoolZips as
well as many of the close to 50 designs. The newly formed family
venture has already received a global response, including a call from
The Tonight Show. Says Lauren, "Great fun, cool design and func-
tion are what we're all about." 54-56; some customization available.

(248) 410-0009; coolzips.com

r.

Create a unique and
custom statement
for your home.

We offer a wide array
of handcrafted frames
to blend seamlessly
with your style.

Frames
Unlimited

HOME ACCENTS
FRAMING
ART

Bloomfield Plaza
Telegraph & Maple Rd
626.3130

The Boardwalk
Orchard Lk Rd south of Maple
626.2555

Westwind Lake Village
Haggerty & Pontiac Trail
624.9959

www.framesunlimited.com

La Dolce Vita

Bring an exquisite touch of Italy's rustic Umbrian and Tuscan coun-
tryside to your home with paintings on glass by artist Massimo
Cruciani, who works from his studio in Umbria. "Massimo's work
is fascinating because in its simplicity, it captures the beauty that
is the Italian countryside," says Holly Anselmi, owner/operator of
the Italian Dish in Birmingham, the exclusive source for Cruciani's
work. "The brilliant colors on glass lend a contemporary feel, but
his framing and subject matter allow the work to complement any
decor." Prices start at $845. (248) 593-8299; theitaliandish.com

All Aglow

Remember those lazy summer nights
spent gazing at fireflies flickering in the
sky? April and Steve McCrumb do, and
want to remind the rest of us, too. They
are the owners of Catching Fireflies,
with locations in Berkley and Rochester,
which offers a range of whimsical gifts
by local and national artists with the
goal of "making days brighter," including
this firefly jar ($19.50) with a removable
lid. Two AA batteries are all you need
for this cool container to light up your
nights — all year long. (248) 336-2030,

Berkley; (248) 650-3318, Rochester;
shopcatchingfireflies. corn

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JULY 2007 • plaillit1111