)./), 7eP 1 Tet, on%., Upscale Fine Qualitv Cuisine ke74 Kinds Exotic Drinks (Lunch $ 8.50) SUSh Time Of Their Lives BBYO members renew connections from the 1980s. 01,444,94- Mori.-Fri. Pinner $14.99 i teryc Authentic Japanese Cuisine & Fine Asian Buffet like you have never experienced! Dim Sum & Appetizers Seafood Hibachi Station Soups Desserts Bar/Bat Mitvah Parties Birthday, Anniversary, Etc. 25333 West 12 Mile Road Southfield (next to Star Theater) 248-208-0088 Alyssa Cohen Special to the Jewish News B ig hair, neon rubber ban- gle bracelets, lace skirts, acid wash jeans, Roots and Beaver Canoe sweatshirts, girls wearing boxer shorts with long johns under them, guys with skinny ties and mullet hair cuts, the launch of MTV, GREAT music and even better memories. For so many of us in the 1980s, BBYO was "the time of our lives." Most people loved the era, even Reunion organizers Alyssa Cohen, Gary if they can't remember why they Weisserman and Dori (Weiner) Weinstein dressed and looked the way they ologo for this group — Michigan Region did. Even as the years passed, life BBYO Alumni of the '80s. He made a happened, and so many of us lost logo that no one could miss. touch. But what we would never lose I posted it really late one evening and were the amazing memories. then went off to sleep. Within less than 24 Fast forward to 2008. With Facebook hours, we had located 150 local alumni of opening its "membership" to those out- the '80s. The page grew rapidly over the side of college, I first started my attrac- months, and now has more than 450 peo- tion to the social media. Originally, I ple. We started posting hilarious pictures approached it as something for work, from back in the day, talking about great but I was able to connect with people memories such as regional convention, as more and more friends joined. It Milan and conferences up at Tamarack, became fun to have a 24-hour exten- bad fashions, great music and more. It sion of our social lives. was like having a virtual reunion. I went searching for BBYO friends I started playing with the idea "what from the '80s. Finding only an interna- tional BBYO group with more than 1,000 if" we had an actual reunion of friends from our high school years in BBYO. Last people, I became frustrated. So late one winter, Gary Weisserman of White Lake night about in late 2008, I decided to and Dori (Weiner) Weinstein of West develop a group page just for us. I asked a friend, fellow alumni and great graphic Bloomfield and I began planning this artist Brett Panter, if he would make a of reunion. We felt we wanted our first one to be a full homage to the '80s. Promoted almost entirely through Facebook and a single JN ad, we pulled off what was to become an iconic event during Memorial Day Weekend. More than 120 alumni attended at Andiamo Novi, including many from out of state. It was a fabu- lous evening of fun, remember- ing the past and catching up to the present. Following the reunion, we had several people post and e-mail us: "Great party! So, when's the next one?!?." Hmmm — only time will tell. Until then, we Terri Stearn, Beverly Hills; Karen Gold Stillman, always have Facebook. Li Chicago; Dori (Weiner) Weinstein; P'ninah Julie Stein Kanai of West Bloomfield; Lysa Leorah Postula-Stein, Farmington Hills; Alyssa Cohen Marketing professional Alyssa Cohen of Commerce Township was "Loccino takes another's site to great heights" Danny Raskin, Aflarch18. 2010 Homemade Italian Dishes & Pastas Fresh Seafood Fresh-Cut Steak Salad & Flat Pizza and more! Outdoor Patio Dining Open 7 days a week for lunch and dinner. Sat. and Sun. dinner only. LOCCINO $20 OFF (.RILL & ISAR 4 Dinner Entrees 5600 Crooks Rd. (North of Long Lake Rd.) T- roy, MI • 248-813-0700 Minimum purchase $60.00 1 coupon per table Excludes holidays With coupon exp 7/15/10 2 Dinner Entrees Minimum purchase $30.00 1 coupon per table Excludes holidays With coupon exp 7/15/10 W11'W.10C01110.00111 Open 7 Days for Lunch & Dinner WE'VE MOVED 2 DOORS DOWN! z5zechuan 6m rive z,i - North ,„Restaurant 10%off •Featuring Authentic Chinese/Asian Cooking • Complete Lunch Starts at $6.55 •Children's Menu • Healthy, Low Fat, 'Sodium Free' Choices • Vegetarian Dishes Total Bill DINE IN OR CARRYOUT Not good with any other offer 1 coupon per table • with coupon- Expires 07/15/10 39470 14 Mile Rd. (corner of Haggerty in the NtA% herr% Square Plaza), 248-960-7666 www.szechuanempire.com $39 99 Dinner and a Bottle of wine off food portion of your bill with your Tiger ticket stub Foxiown Grille Please call 313.471.3500 2203 Woodward Ave. I across from Comerica Park I Detroit a catalyst for the BBYO reunion. June 24 • 2010 61