Arts & Entertainment THE BEST OF EVERYTHING 88 Years, 88 Keys To mark the birthday of Maureen O'Hara, pianist David Syme plays an Irish classic. p OTPOURRI Maureen O'Hara, wonderful Irish actress of 63 movies, The Quiet Man, Hunchback of Notre Dame, Miracle on 34th Street, etc., recently cel- ebrated her 88th birthday with a private piano concert at the Ireland home of David and Suzanne Syme ... She main- tains a residence about 30 minutes from them and had David play piano an hour for her and four com- panions. In The Quiet Man with Maureen's close friend John Wayne, she sings an Irish standard, "The Isle of Innisfree," which David played at the concert and Maureen sang with tears in her eyes, he says ... She used to say that singing was her true love. I remember being introduced to Maureen many years ago in California by her brother, Jim FitzSimons (their real last name) and former localite Herman "Turk" Prujansky and being impressed by Maureen's typing abilities, hitting the keys for many of her own script revisions ... Awed too by Maureen's gorgeous red hair, striking beauty, gorgeous smile and down- to-earth graciousness. NO MEXICAN-POLISH tacos, but don't discount something like them someday being served at the new Maria's Comida that opened this year on Joseph Campau near Caniff in Hamtramck ... Maria's Comida, with just 30 seating, is a true mom-and-pop family-operated Mexican restaurant by Alan and Angelo Pronko with son Fred and daughter Maria ... Alan is former 10-year chef at P.F. Chang's in Troy, along with prior kitchen magic stints at Jack's Waterfront and Pike Street dining spots ... A Mexican restaurant has been Alan's dream since graduating from Schoolcraft Colleges Culinary Arts pro- gram and his constant dabbling in south- of-the-border food is what he and Angela hoped to one day serve in their own place. RISTORANTE CAFE CORTINA, 10 Mile east of Orchard Lake Road, Farmington Hills, continues to receive much acclaim as a true destination res- taurant to which so many folks will start out to visit and pass other dining spots to reach ... Plus its superlative din- ing at lunch or dinner, Monday through Thursday 11-9, and dinner only, Friday and Saturday, 5 10:30, Cafe Cortina also gets high marks for what is easily among the finest outdoor patio relaxing enjoy- ments in Michigan ... The relaxed corn- fort level of delight is reached on a lo note with magnificent hors d'oeuvres, elegant wines and superb service. HUGE OVERWHELMING response has resulted in another month exten- sion of the $14.95 complete dinner price through September for breaded cutlets (the real thing, not pressed) at Golden Phoenix, Sugar Tree, Orchard Lake Road, north of 15 Mile, West Bloomfield ... Dinner includes soup choice, egg roll or tomato juice or salad, premises-peeled - 201 S Old Woodward Avenue • Birmingham MI 48009 248.594.7300 • www.forterestaurant.com B14 August 28 • 2008 Ai Maureen O'Hara holds back tears as she gently sings along as David Syme plays "The Isle Of Innisfree" which the actress sang in the movie The Quiet Man with John Wayne. mashed potatoes, tomato sauce and brown gravy, broccoli, ice cream or sherbet and hot tea. AFTER ANOTHER successful Saturday night funfest, Yossi's on the northeast side of Robin's Nest, Orchard Lake Road, north of 14 Mile, West Bloomfield, will follow it up with a new biggie, Saturday, Aug. 30, 7-10 p.m. ... It's Yossi's Mid-Summer Festival on the outside patio-style setup of tables and chairs with inside buffet lineup of goodies ... Entertainment with a live orchestra, decorations, etc., to benefit Yad Ezra in Berkley, Michigan's only kosher food pantry ... More than 150 attended Yossi's last outdoor event. MAIL DEPT. ... Regarding Martin Kohlenberg's e-mail about restaurants in Charlevoix, reader writes, "Two new res- taurants that opened in Charlevoix were not mentioned. One is the Edgewater Bistro, across the highway from weather- vane. Very good food and overlooks Round Lake. The mushroom bisque is the best I have ever had. You can get a nice dinner or a small gourmet pizza. The other is a cafe-gallery called Jake and Sadie's, where Jordan and I had beautiful, fresh salads for lunch ... It is located on Bridge Street across from the park. Outside eating is also available." ... Rhoda Raider. RAISING MENU prices is sometimes a kiss of death for restaurants ... Food costs may go up but customers don't want to bear a restaurant owner's cost of doing business ... Most would rather see the same or lower prices with little or no change in food quality and less quantity if necessary ... True restaurant owners know that these difficult economic times are only temporary and work to keep their heads above water until times are reverted back again ... Many Johnny-come-lately types of restaurateurs panic, run scared and, in too many instances, close instead of figuring out ways and means to weather the storm. SAME TEAM, NEW company, new name, as kosher caterer Jeff Rosenberg and his executive chef Al Kovalenko meld together in full-partnership at the soon to be name-changed from Farmington Hills Kosher Catering that was owned and oper- ated by Jeff at Adat Shalom Synagogue ... Kovalenko has been at Adat Shalom since 1989, formerly also working with Jeff's dad and mother Al and Sarah Rosenberg, plus picking up traditional Jewish recipes from Al's mother and Jeff's grandmother, Cecil Rosenberg. ❑ Danny's e-mail address is dannyraskin@sbcglobal.net.