Arts & Entertainment THE BEST OF EVERYTHING The Redcoats Are Here! Redcoat Tavern's new West Bloomfield venue joins popular Royal Oak locale. I is closing came as a surprise ... but along with it was news that the restau- rant would reopen as the burger bistro many had anticipated in the first place. Five years ago, brother owners Mark and Matt Brown opened the former Zinc Brasserie & Wine Bar that always seemed to look closed from outside, instead of fol- lowing their other highly successful dining pattern. Now reopened as Redcoat Tavern West Bloomfield, on Orchard Lake Road between 14 and 15 Mile, it has certainly been given a big greeting in the short time since newly named and concept-changed. Corporate Chef Michael Trombley, kitchen head at the former Zinc, and 011ie Williams, executive chef at Redcoat Tavern Royal Oak, do double-duty between both restaurants in putting out the fine Redcoat fare that has received so many awards ... Also, still in West Bloomfield, are the very knowledgeable general manager of both locales, Juan Garcia, and the highly regarded manager, Keith Walsh. And as an added note of familiarity dur- ing the day on weekdays, folks are greeted by smiling hostess Kay Koelzer, who many will remember from her 10 years as server, hostess and dining room manager for Pat Archer and Marty Wilk at the former Excalibur restaurant in Southfield. Same menu as at the Redcoat Tavern Royal Oak, with more than 24 variations of the original half-pound Redcoat ham- burger, $6.95; traditional English prime rib dinner with oven-brown potatoes and Yorkshire pudding, petite size $15; large, $19 (available only after 5 p.m.); filet, shepherd's pie, spareribs, Reuben, etc. Redcoat Tavern West Bloomfield is open seven days ... Monday-Saturday, 11 a.m.- yk 62 September 24 • 2009 2 a.m., kitchen closed 1:30 a.m.; Sunday, noon-10. Matt and Mark still maintain their insistence on serving wine at reasonable prices. Dessert lovers will drool at the premises-made yurnmies like the ice cream burger of chocolate chip cookie bun with vanilla ice cream and hot fudge; hot fudge cream puff, raspberry- pecan bread pudding with white chocolate sauce, etc. Dinner features other than on the menu are also available daily, including perch, whitefish, lamb shank, pot roast, etc., in the 135-seat dining room, which hasn't been changed from its dark mahogany walls, and the bar-lounge of 25 seats and copper-topped bar counter. There's no doubt that we are in a poor economic condition, but you certainly wouldn't know it by the packed receptions Redcoat Tavern received in the first days of opening in West Bloomfield ... One of Michigan's top hamburger, food and drink operations coming to the West Bloomfield area is proving to be a much-welcomed dining addition. THEY'VE BEEN friends for a long time, but Joe Vicari never thought he would be playing an integral role in Art Van Elslander's huge and lavish 50th anniver- sary of his Art Van Furniture chain ... Joe's Andiamo Restaurant Group will cater the event, 6 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 1, when more than 1,000 are expected to attend at the store on 14 Mile in Warren between Mound and Van Dyke, near Joe's Andiamo Italia. Some of Art's favorite Andiamo dishes at the Art Van shindig will include roast tenderloin and braised halibut ... They'll 201 S Old Woodward Avenue • Birmingham Ml 48009 248.594.7300 • www.forterestaurant.com be gobbled up with lobster tail corn dogs, buffalo sliders, bison flank steak and Muscovy duck breasts along with some luscious desserts and open bar ... Music will be by Simone Vitale and his 14-piece orches- tra, who play many Andiamo events for Joe ... 100 percent of the ticket sales will go to the Hermelin Brain Tumor Center and the Neuroscience Institute, both at the Detroit- based Henry Ford Health System. GOOD SERVER DEPT.... Samantha "Sam" Monforton at Sposita's Italian Ristorante, Farmington Hills, with the smile you like to see on a waitperson along with efficiency, pleasing personality and customer consideration. IT'S ALWAYS A biggie shindig and expected to again be another fun evening ... The fifth annual black tie Ronald McDonald House Gala, formerly known as the Aviators' Ball, is 6 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 26, at the Detroit Institute of Arts ... Gary Granader, McDonald owner-operator, was honorary chairman last year, and broth- ers Howard and Steve Tapper's Diamonds & Fine Jewelry will again be among the sponsors of the fine event put on by the Southeastern Michigan McDonald's Operator Association ... None better than WXYZ-TV's Diana Lewis as mistress of ceremonies again ... Strolling dinner, silent and live auctions, entertainment, casino afterglow party and evening surprises ... $250 per-person tickets are on online at rmhgala.com or by calling (734) 316 - 2511 ... The Ronald McDonald Houses of Ann Arbor and Detroit are a "home away from home" for almost 1,600 families with chil- dren undergoing medical care. THE 1969 GRADUATING class from Southfield High was not only the largest ever by the school, but also the last time Southfield had only one high school ... Southfield-Lathrup High opened the fol- lowing year. More than 1,000 of the 1,150 grads have already been contacted for the big 40th reunion 7 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 10, at the Diamond Center in Novi's Rock Financial Showplace on Grand River ... For more info and tickets, call Sharon (Orechkin) Horowitz, (248) 956-4442, or Sheryl(Joyce) Voyles, (248)746-8610 ... Sharon's e-mail is cher830@aol.com . WITH AN ARTICLE appearing in its highly-read Bizarre Magazine, England now further extends the roll of countries outside of the United States that have heard about Marvin Yagoda ... "Marvin's Marvelous Mechanical Museum in Farmington, Michigan, USA is simply fantastic!" writes author, TV host and Great Britain's noted Jewish magician, Simon Drake, sent here to see for himself the popular magic, vin- tage posters, astounding exhibits, video games, rides, etc. at the popular emporium on Orchard Lake Road, just south of 14 Mile, that is in the World Almanac's listing of America's Most Unusual Museums ... During Drake's two-day stay here, Marvin's Marvelous Mechanical Museum, consid- ered by so many as a bar mitzvah reception natural, was number three of 10 bizarre meetings he visited in the U.S. CONGRATS ... To Tom Hoffman on his 60th birthday ... To Manny and Bernice Litwin on their 66th Anniversary. II Danny's e-mail address is dannyraskin@sbcglobahnet.