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The Keys To Success

Pianist extraordinaire David Syme wows 'em at Temple Israel concert.

W bile he tickled the keys with
ing the next element of the
The delighted throng that
his usual uncanny precision
musical program before each
heard David at Temple Israel
and depth at David Syme's
song he played ... Those who
gave a standing ovation for
recent Temple Israel concert, memories
may have attended one of his
what was again more than they
came to many of when he played back-
concerts saw the same genial
expected.
ground-style music at restaurants years
David with added growth that
MIXED THOUGHTS need
back in Metro Detroit ... Pietro's, Detroit;
always seems to bring out
clearing up regarding owner-
Armando's Villa Venice, Detroit; Muer's,
seldom-witnessed efforts ...
ship of the 5 Guys franchise
Southfield; La Rotisserie, Dearborn;
David was very good again as
operations locally ... Mike
Whitney, Detroit; Como's, Ferndale ...
he weaved through Gershwin's
Abrams
and Brian Adelman
Danny Raskin
Very few people then could imagine that
"Rhapsody In Blue," Debussy's
presently
own 11 locations
Senior Columnist
one day he would become a world-noted
"Clair De Lune,""Danny Boy:'
(Greenfield and Nine Mile
concert pianist with untold accolades for
Bach's "Italian Concerto," Billy
in Southfield, Troy, Livonia,
his beautiful talent.
Joel's "Root Beer Rag:' Lecuona's "Tabu"
Greektown, Warren, Rochester, Canton,
Now living in Ireland and Houston,
from the swing era, Chopin's "Fantasie
Woodhaven, East Lansing, Macomb,
Texas, six-months at each, with his wife,
Impromptu" (with the melody that
Ann Arbor) ... They also have the rights
Suzanne, who is a published author with
became "I'm Always Chasing Rainbows"),
to open 40 franchises in Michigan ...
her doctorate in religious studies, David
etc. ... All in a program that was not pre-
The 5 Guys on Orchard Lake Road, West
has become much more than just a world- determined but made up by David as the
Bloomfield, and 12 Mile and Telegraph,
class 88-keys personality ... His nimble
evening went on.
Southfield, are owned by Florida resident
fingers virtually fly over the keyboard with
He had recently spent three weeks
Stephen Rietz who has the rights to seven
amazing precision with his God-given
at concerts in Kentucky, Arizona, Ohio
5 Guys franchises in Oakland County.
gift that brings out a special type of piano
and Texas prior to his Temple Israel
DANDY DINING DEAL ... Lamb
styling.
appearance ... David
Ribs, 8-bone rack, $6.95, including soup or
David's father, the late
and Susanne return to
salad, potato, vegetable and bread basket,
Rabbi M. Robert Syme,
Ireland this month, playing one week only, Thursday, May 19, through
Temple Israel's beloved
around 15 concerts there
Thursday, May 26 ... Siegel's Deli, 15 Mile
religious leader with the
through the end of August
just west of Haggerty, Commerce Township.
gracious smile and person-
plus a national television
QUESTION & ANSWER DEPT. ... "I
ality, and mother, Sonya
documentary ... Then
used to love Berman's. I used to eat down-
Syme, had always held
comes Prague, Moscow,
town, and I met my wife, Renee, while
much pride for their two
St. Petersburg and other
eating their terrific cottage fried potatoes.
sons, David and Daniel,
points
throughout
Europe
I
see where old places like Joe Muer's and
David Syme
lauding the goodness of
and America.
the London Chop House are reopening.
each.
But his biggest disap-
What about Berman's?" ... Sam Kaminsky
Although Rabbi Daniel Syme of Temple
pointment might have been in 2005 when
[Most people who went to Berman's
Beth El, seated in the front row with wife,
he had to turn down a request to replace
Chop House on Times Square, Detroit,
Dr. Jill Syme, has heard his brother on
an ailing Peter Nero in "Rhapsody in Blue" also loved it, but opening a restaurant
piano many times, the twinkle in his eyes
with the Detroit Symphony Orchestra ...
today with a former great name isn't the
again glittered with a pride-filled smile
David was committed to be soloist with
easiest thing to do ... Being like them
much like that of their dad.
the Moravian Philharmonic that day ...
has never been quite the same and very
The near-capacity audience at Temple
He has been featured soloist nine times
rarely if ever a true copy ... When Ben
Israel, many of whom had heard David
with the Detroit Symphony Orchestra, two
Kasle bought out Sam Davis and Ben
before, sat spellbound as he told anecdotes with Conductor Arthur Fiedler at Ford
Gottleib, who had purchased it from Harry
between numbers, uncannily reveal-
Auditorium.
Berman, the menu was never changed and

was the same as it had been for nearly 40
years, except for the prices ... Ben Kasle
also kept it that way, along with the rustic
decor, stuffed birds on the mantle, pictures
of celebrities lining the walls, etc.]
MINI READER REVIEW ... by health
guru Jim Berk . . . "My wife and I enjoyed a
wonderful dining experience at the Traffic
Jam & Snug Restaurant in Detroit. She is
a vegetarian and we split a delicious Black
Bean Burrito and an Ethiopian vegan entree
of collard greens and lentils. It is so great
when we come across a meal that not only
tastes good but is also quite healthy.
"My being a longtime sportscaster, I was
thrilled when we also saw Mitch Albom's
outstanding new play, `Ernie' on the life of
legendary Ernie Harwell. I am thankful for
having the opportunity to have seen Ernie
often at Detroit Tigers baseball games.
Will David Young does a fabulous job por-
traying Harwell. His voice and manner-
isms depicting Ernie are about as close as
an actor could get to the real thing. It is a
superb, emotional tribute to the wonderful
late great Tiger's announcer."
I REMEMBER DEPT. ... When Zsa
Zsa Gabor came here for an appearance
at a City of Hope dinner and refused to
stay at Southfield's Northland Inn unless
it also gave a separate room for her dog
... The hotel folks got the pooch a room,
all right, but at a local kennel ... She was
furious, swearing mightily in Hungarian
but calmed down when told that her dog
would be sharing quarters with the mutt
of another famous personality appearing
then at the Fisher Theatre.
CONGRATS ... To Lorraine Blanck on
her 90th birthday ... To Allan Schwartz on
his 79th birthday ... To Andi Sklar on her
birthday.

Danny's e-mail address is

dannyraskin@sbcglobal.net .

RADUAllON 44R

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