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From The Strip To The Bay

Sampling the nightlife and dining in Vegas and Frisco.

A

'though it has continually
to a little deli on Twain Avenue
changed drastically throughout
in Las Vegas called Harrie's
the years, Las Vegas is still con-
Bagelmania ... The prices are
sidered the world's premier entertainment
reasonable for Vegas and the
capital.
selection above average.
Other than standard performers like
If you go to Las Vegas, you
David Copperfield at MGM's Hollywood
might want to try the spaghetti
Theater or Celine Dion, who returns Dec.
and clams in a tomato garlic
28 or thereabouts to the Coliseum at
broth on imported pasta, $29,
Caesars Palace, and a few other singles ...
at Sinatra's in the Wynn Hotel
the longtime acts are not there with regu-
Casino ... It was a big favorite
larity ... Shecky Greene, Liza Minnelli,
of Steve Wynn's friend, Frank
Rich Little, Andy Williams, Jerry Lewis,
Sinatra ... But you may not
Paul Anka, etc.
like the Caesar Salad, which
While I was there recently,
is far from the original
Don Rickles was at the
he enjoyed ... The one at
Orleans, Rod Stewart came
Sinatra's is not prepared at
to Caesars Palace, Joan
the table and is strangely
Rivers was at Venetian and
made with a lemon-anchovy
maybe a few more ... But
vinaigrette, $15.
that was the extent of yester-
All in all, though, custom-
years' regulars ... Not even
ers will seldom find executive
Wayne Newton, who was a
chefs to match those in Las
permanent fixture.
Vegas.
David Coppe rfield
Name acts on the Las
After a couple of days
Vegas Strip have long been
in Las Vegas, it was on to
replaced by extravaganza
San Francisco, where one
productions ... Jersey Boys
could always expect to enjoy
is at the Palazzo, and its sis-
good eating ... A Burmese
ter, Hotel Venetian, has the
restaurant, Mandalay, on
long-running Phantom with
California Avenue, takes a top
more than 150 cast and crew
place among ethnic eateries,
putting on a dazzling perfor-
a delightful and interesting
mance ... Jubilee at Bally's
experience ... Some of the
has packed them in for years
selections are mixed at the
Celine Dion
... Le Reve at Wynn, is in a
table, and items like Walnut
huge theater in-the-round
Broccoli Chicken and Tea
setting where amazing acrobats hold folks
Leaf Salad tossed with lentil seeds, ground
spellbound as they dive in and out of
shrimp, fried garlic, green pepper, peanuts
water ... seven Cirque Du Soleil presenta-
and sesame seeds were among favorites at
tions etc.
the always-crowded Burmese dining spot.
Most dining on the Strip is expensive
And have you ever heard of a restaurant
and many times not worth the price,
that gives food away every year ... wheth-
except perhaps to some winning gam-
er invited or not ... even to people off the
blers who don't care how much ... Strip
street? ... Avatars on Bridgeway in nearby
delicatessens have rarely been like their
Sausalito suburb seats fewer than 40, and
namesakes ... We hopped a cab and went
last year, tables had to be put outside to

It's A Wonderful Life:
A Live Radio Play
Running NOW - January 15

accommodate more than a
thousand people who came the
day before Thanksgiving ...
Avatars calls its food "Ethnic
Confusion," a mixture of
Asian selections from India to
Jamaica.
Possibly considered among
the area's top Japanese-style
restaurants food-wise is also
in Sausalito within its old
neighborhood setting ... Sushi
Ran on Caledonia Street, cel-
ebrating its 25th anniversary,
is noted for the extreme freshness of its
selections, which when eating sushi, sashi-
mi, maki, etc., is always a No. 1 factor.
When son Scott comes to the Detroit
area from San Francisco in February, the
first place he says he's heading to is a
Jewish delicatessen.
READER MINI REVIEW ... By Harvey
Gold ... "Sandy's at the Beach, located on
the Pacific Coast Highway and the Pier
here in Huntington Beach, Calif., is a great
place to have dinner, enjoy great views of
the Pacific Ocean, wonderful fish tacos,
excellent halibut and juicy steaks, espe-
cially filet on the bone.
"My wife, Maxine, and I shared an
appetizer of the tasty seared scallops with
yam medallions. For her entree, she had a
delicate sea bass crusted with wonderful
pecans, which she devoured with much
ecstasy. I had Sandy's lobster tacos with
beer-battered cabbage, which were super
good."
MAIL DEPT. ... "My nephew, Jeremy
Sasson, has opened his restaurant, the
Townhouse Bistro, on Pierce Street in
Birmingham. The signature dish is the
hamburger that is hand-made daily with
28-day aged steak. I had that and the steak
tartare. Everything I've eaten there has
been wonderful. Jeremy is a great host and
dedicated to making sure every dining
experience is top of the line.

AI/

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50

December 8 2011

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"A well-loved tale told with style, charm and a heart so big it
could Iurst the ribcage of the harshest Grinch."

— Kerry Reid, The Chicago Tribune

"In warmer weather, there is outside
dining. The interior was designed by
Ron Rea and has an upscale, fun feel. I've
had quite a few items off the menu, but
next time I'm going to try the beet salad.
The Townhouse is a delight for food and
atmosphere" ... Linda Buchzeiger, West
Bloomfield.
YOU MIGHT HAVE seen folks with
napkins tucked in or around their neck.
And some with various-colored bibs ...
Now comes another practical style in
clothing cleanliness while dining.
It's the clever brainchild of Kathy Steck
who shuddered when hearing of people
spilling food on themselves and ruining
pretty, wearable things ... Unless eating
a lobster, they sometimes look kind of
silly wearing a bib or napkin, so she put
her thoughts together and came up with a
stain-resistant, washable and stylish scarf
that covers fronts from neck to belt ...
Kathy calls it the Craavat for guys and gals,
being sold at the Fleischman Apartments'
gift shop, next to West Bloomfield's Jewish
Community Center ... Also carried by
some restaurants, especially Italian spots
with spaghetti that spills off of forks and
flies onto unprotected clothing ... Rib
joints and seafood dining places, too.
CONGRATS ... To Jeff "Mouse"
Markowitz on his 61st birthday ... To
Maury Lewin on his 65th birthday ... To
Michael Ephraim on his 65th birthday
... To Marsha Baker on her birthday ...
To Ethel Bobroff on her birthday ... To
Michele Nagle on her birthday ... To
Selma Silverman on her birthday ... To
Dr. Abe Pearlman on his 93rd birthday ...
To Leonard and Friedell Wolson on their
60th anniversary ... To Harold "Hal" and
Marsha Baker on their 15th anniversary
... To Jerry and Maida Zuckerman on
their 60th anniversary.

Novi THEAI RI.

42705 Grand River Ave. Novi, MI 48375