Arts & Entertainment

THE BEST OF EVERYTHING

Lights, Camera, Action!

Dinner and movie are a winning ticket for Variety, the Children's Charity.

A

nother successful event by
Variety, the Children's Charity,
is in the books, and the "Lights,
Camera, Action!" event held this year
might have been the best of them all.
It was again
at the Emagine
Novi theater,
where founder
and president
of Emagine
Entertainment,
Paul Glantz, a
Variety board
member,
astoundingly
gives use of the
Emagine
entire prem-
Entertainment
ises gratis for the
head Paul Glantz
evening, includ-
ing choice of all the Emagine screens
without charge ... plus throwing in pop-
corn, soft drinks, etc.
An impressive 28 restaurants partici-
pated, donating their talents and dishes to
a whopping 395 attendees ... The evening
raised $32,000 net, with a successful silent
auction of 60 items bringing in $9,000
... 34 Bikes for Kids were sold with the
drive still going on through Dec. 8, date of
Variety's bike party.
The lineup for Shrimp Lelli and pasta
with meat sauce, both served at the for-
mer original Lelli's Inn on Woodward in
Detroit, was among the food highlights
with lines of people waiting for the
wonderful delights dished out by Steve
Lelli's Inn, now open on 12 Mile between
Halsted and Haggerty, Farmington Hills
... Owner/Chef Steve Allen of Steve &
Rocky's, Novi, was behind the stall "next
door" to Lelli's Inn rolling the classic meat

roll that went over in a big
way ... Beans & Cornbread
of Southfield almost ran out
of barbecued ribs and sweet
potato muffins.
Attendees did a healthy route
to Vineyards, Farmington Hills,
for Mideastern fare along with
vegetarian chopped liver made
by Shirlee Bloom and Flax
bars ... Maggie Asmar, Ron's
frau, made the Vineyards stall
look even better ... The same
Caesar Salad version served by Buddy's
Pizza since the event's beginning was
prepared with the aid of Buddy's head of
operations, Wes Picula, who helped mix
the recipe given to Buddy's years back by
Steve Romanick ... Wolfgang Puck's ace
Executive Chef Marc Djozlija at MGM
Grand Casino in Detroit here dishing out
tasty gourmet desserts ... Birmingham's
upscale Rugby Grille with hamburger
sliders ... Troy's Ocean Prime with mini
salmon BLT sandwiches.
Henry Baskin looking younger ... His
late father and mother, Harry and Rose
Kruman, were so proud of their barrister
son ... Linda Solomon's lovely long flowing
hair a shining crown ... Michael Bressler,
event co-chairperson with Judith Solomon,
and Variety Executive Director Jennie
Cascio, thrilled at the turnout ... Variety
stalwart Bruce Rosen smiling ... Dental
doc Larry Haber enjoying full retirement,
no more teaching either ... Bob Golding
walking around wearing the white chef's
jacket given to him at a recent Variety hap-
pening for his efforts on behalf of this fine
organization ... Signed by all the chefs that
worked the charitable affair at Northern
Lakes Seafood Co., Bloomfield Hills.

NO STOPPING Joe Vicari as
his dining, etc., empire contin-
ues to grow ... Adding Splendid
Plates Catering and Events of
Troy goes with 10 Andiamos,
two Rojo's Mexican Bistros, a
third Rojo coming next year,
Mesquite Creek, four Country
Inn family eateries, Chelli's
Chilli (Clinton Township) and
Post Bar (Dearborn).
MAIL DEPT. ... "I recently
read your "Rolling Back The
Decades" column and, Wow! — did it ever
ring a bell! Not only because it brought
back some of the same memories so many
of us (of a certain age) share, but because
memories are what I deal in from time
to time at the Jewish Community Center
West Bloomfield campus.
"But with added twist, I run a jogging
program there for seniors. Jogging? Yeah.
I jog' their memories, with questions
on everything from Oprah to opera and
Navin Field to W.C. Fields and DVDs to
BVDs — plus. I spin in a healthy measure
of music from the '30s, '40s and '50s by
the icons of big bands: Artie Shaw, Benny
Goodman, Harry James, Glenn Miller, the
Dorsey Brothers, Tommy and Jimmy, etc.
"As an addendum to my jogging gig, your
reminiscing piece has given me an idea for
one of my next programs. You mentioned
the Riviera Theatre as part of a short list
of "back when" movie houses. I'm going to
get my group's synapses fired up by chal-
lenging them to recall some of their favorite
theatres of the past. This will undoubtedly
include such places as the Linwood LaSalle,
the Oriole, Tuxedo, Krim, RKO Uptown,
Cinema, Royal, Mercury, etc., etc.
"All of which leads me to another jog

down memory lane. A certain generation
of immigrants to Detroit had a special way
of pronouncing movie theaters' names that
in no way squared with reality. Thus, in
my head the words, 'Grand-Ruh-Veer-Ah'
will always replace 'The Riviera. Likewise,
`Alla-Hambra' for Alhambra (Spain's loss).
And not just theatre names. How about
Detroit streets? 'West-min-ISS-ter' for
Westminster. Or Byoo-nah-vista' for the
correct Spanish version of Buena Vista.
"As you can see, you really started
something." ... Al Winokur.
RECENTLY PUBLISHED book Ernst
is on the life of former Detroiter and
owner of Executive Custom Shirtmakers
in Birmingham, Ernest Drucker, co-
written by Ernest and William J. Lagano,
who interviewed him in Florida for the
Spielberg Shoah project at the Holocaust
Museum in Washington, D.C. ... Ernst
(Ernest while in America) is a Holocaust
survivor who escaped Nazi rule in his
native Austria and returned as a spy ...
Ernest and wife, Marietta, also a Holocaust
survivor, live in Seminole, Fla.
"Ernst fled his native Austria to Cuba,
then back to the beaches of Normandy, the
Battle of the Bulge, and the U.S. Counter
Intelligence Corps:' Lagano says as he tells
Ernest's triumphant life story "Ernst is an
inspirational tale of bravery and persever-
ance writes Lugano ... The book may
be ordered in print, $14.95 from www.
createspace.com/3448779.
CONGRATS ... To Lucia Benderman
on her 24th birthday ... (Correction: To
Howard Maloff [not Harold] on his 60th
birthday). ❑

Danny's e-mail address is
dannyraskin@sbcglobaLnet

off Your Food
0
25 0 /
Bill*

I Try the new Tavern On 13 and receive 25%
off your food bill* with this coupon

Valid thru November 30th, 2010

17600 W 13 mile Rd. Beverly Hills Mi. 48025
(248) 647-7747
www.mattprenticerg.com

54

November 11 • 2010

iN

Not valid with gift cards, certificates .or frequent diners rewards.
Does not apply to private parties, alcohol or any other promotion
Limited to parties of 8 or less

1•1111 MI MN I ■ 1

IMMI

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- MI