LAY NE G R OSS

Top-notch cuisine, creativity

and service make these

floating parties special.

Put away thoughts of this never-ending winter,
and picture yourself enjoying innovative cuisine,
refreshing beverages and exciting entertain-
ment on a beautifully appointed yacht chartered
for you and your guests on the Detroit River and
Lake St. Clair.
The party season is nearly at hand for Infinity
and Ovation Yacht Charters of St. Clair Shores,
"Detroit's Best Kept Secret" for 22 years.
Choose the luxury 117-ft. yacht
Infinity, accommodating up to 145
passengers, or relax on the 138-ft.
yacht Ovation with enough space
for 300. Whether you wish to host an
intimate gathering or a grand affair,
your event can be accommodated.
In addition to their water-side set-
ting, events aboard the Infinity and
Ovation yachts have the benefit of
being arranged by expert party plan-
ners. These professionals put the
"wow" factor into company gather-
ings, fundraisers, weddings (the captain can of-
ficiate!), rehearsal dinners, bar and bat mitzvot
-- really, any special occasion.
"All of our cuisine is prepared and cooked
on board in our gourmet galleys by our team
of executive chefs. The quality of our food and
service is comparable to high-end banquet fa-
cilities and country clubs," said Vice President/
General Manager Steve Rybicki, whose team of
12 employees expands to 90 during the charter
company's April through October season. The
crew provides enthusiastic, attentive service
under the direction of Rybicki and Jackie (Hart-
man) Carden, the company's director of Cruise
and Event Operations.

The Infinity and Ovation Yacht Charters Web
site shows a wide range of menus and party
themes available for day and evening. Prices
start at $49 per person for a three- to five-hour
event beginning at one of the company's three
docks: the home dock in St. Clair Shores at the
foot of 1-696 East, or in downtown Detroit at the
GM Winter Garden Dock at the Renaissance
Center or Rivard Plaza Dock on Atwater Street,
near the RiverWalk carousel.
"Everything we offer can be
customized to the person's expec-
tations depending on budget and
taste," Rybicki said. For examples,
clients can select dairy and fish
menu items that keep the kosher
intent or choose an "island" theme
that moves in a totally different
culinary direction.
Carden, who was bat mitzvah
at the former Cong. Beth Jacob
in Pontiac, loves helping Jewish
families plan their simchas.
"Before the camp season starts, it is different
and refreshing to kick off summer with a bar
or bat mitzvah aboard a yacht," said Carden,
recalling a "Noah's Ark" theme for a young man
named (naturally) Noah. "We had a so much
fun planning this event with Noah and his fam-
ily. That day, the Ovation truly became "Noah's
Yacht." There was even a custom flag with his
name on it flying from the mast deck alongside
an Israeli flag."
She added, "We try to have something for the
kids that they haven't seen before. Whether it's
the way the food is designed or presented, or
something else, we believe that everything we

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do should be an experience."
Entertainment organizations watch his com-
pany "to see how we set trends" for food and
service, according to Rybicki. Latin flavors were
"hot" in 2009 when Infinity and Ovation Yacht
Charters introduced their "Pinchos" station,
a Spanish term referring to items on sticks or
spikes.
One item featured on this station is jumbo gulf
shrimp grilled to order and served with a coco-
nut-lime sauce," Carden said. "The grilled flavor
is a perfect fit for an outdoor event, especially if
it is on a yacht."
A concept for the coming season, "Fire and
Ice," will feature jumbo gulf shrimp served two
ways, side by side. One is served chilled in
shot glasses nestled within decorative ice carv-
ings and the other is flambeed to order.
Weddings on the yachts have gone from 30
per season to about 80 per season since 2008,
Rybicki said. One memorable dockside fund-
raising event offered strolling dinner stations
aboard the Ovation while the Infinity was trans-
formed into a French pastry shop, filled with
pastries and other flambeed desserts.
Sometimes the entire party takes place while
the Infinity or Ovation is cruising the Detroit
River and Lake St. Clair. Or, the yacht remains
stationary for the night, or departs on an after-
glow cruise. Whichever course you choose,
your guests will never forget the great experi-
ence you provided.

Bookings are being taken through 2012 at
Infinity and Ovation Yacht Charters, 400 Maple
Park Blvd., Suite 404, in St. Clair Shores, Ml
48081. For information, call (586) 778-7030, or
visit www.infinityandovation.com