arts & entertainment >> the best of everything Twin Treasures! Townsend Hotel and Rugby Grille celebrate 26 years of utmost excellence. I t usually takes a good combination to run a successful operation ... Especially in the hotel and restaurant field, where so much depends on the other's quality. Michigan is blessed to have an indepen- dently owned hotel and restaurant of such outstanding distinction. Celebrating its 26th anniversary this June, the Townsend Hotel and its Rugby Grille on Townsend Street, Birmingham, bring much pride to this region. From the moment they were opened in 1988 by Tony Brown and Jeff Hochman, both entities have constantly earned a very prestigious closeness. Because of this, Townsend Hotel and Rugby Grille, presently owned by David Sillman and Keith Pomeroy, are fondly appreciated for their world-class existence ... And each year they seem to get even better. Townsend Hotel Managing Director Steven Kalczynski looks on admiringly as Rugby Grille server Jose Salinas doles out Caesar Salad he made tableside. Townsend Hotel with its elegant room renovations, con- tinuous far-above-par services, national note, etc. ... Rugby Grille with dining perfection, graciously presented menu selections, etc. Managing Director Steven Kalczynski, with his more than 30 years of prestigious global expertise experiences that included esteemed worldwide hotels in Shanghai, Beijing, Mumbai, Qatar, etc. ... plus North Carolina and Los Angeles. Food and Beverage Director Jared Chorney from the Renaissance Providence Hotel, Providence, R.I., and Renaissance Baronette in Novi, plus being a former res- taurant owner in New Milford, Conn. Localite Executive Chef Drew Sayres, highly trained at Culinary Studies Institute of Oakland Community College in Farmington Hills, and is an American Culinary Federation certified executive chef ... previously enjoying much note head- ing the dining staffs at Ritz-Carlton Hotel locales in Dearborn, Los Angeles, New Orleans and Georgia, with dining prepara- tion stints also in Chicago and Atlanta. Along with other managerial, service, server, etc., are persons who make up a list of carefully picked staff members at both Townsend Hotel and its Rugby Grille. Numerous personalities and celebrities from show business, sports, etc., who have stayed at the award-winning Townsend Hotel, have made it their "home" whenever appearing in this locale ... Its luxuriously appointed 150 rooms receive many plaudits ... Others who come to this area and ask where to stay are many times given the Townsend Hotel as a preference by those who can't say enough also about its Rugby Grille, Corner Bar, etc. The prize-winning Rugby Grille, seating only 46 in the dining room, with nine- stool bar and 26 at the window looking-out the Gallery outside Rugby Grille is without ques- tion among the finest culinary presentations in the Michigan region ... A patio graciously seats another 20 more. When Townsend Hotel opened 26 years ago, one of the first things to be had might have been the taking of a page from the building of Las Vegas' elegant hotels ... Having a first-class restaurant was no doubt a must ... And so, when Townsend Hotel opened, so did the wonderful Rugby Grille. Dramatic decor changes have been recently made at Rugby Grille, such as an even cozier look and feel with the addi- tion of four padded booths, two separating the dining and bar areas, and two in the Gallery sector ... A soft, sophisticated grace of refined cherry wood paneling is still most apparent. The menu continues along its road of choice selection ... with varieties that meld into tasty fascination ... Little things, too, that are so important ... Like our recent 12-year Rugby Grille waitperson, Jose Salinas, removing the used coffee cup and, without being asked, bringing a fresh cup for a refill of the Townsend Hotel's own blend of coffee ... serving food from the rear and when possible, not reaching across the table ... the appearance of comfort- able casualness with servers immaculately wearing dark suits and long ties instead of stuffy-looking tuxedos. The food and service stand out brilliantly at Rugby Grille ... From chicken soup (with little salt), to bagels, lox and cream cheese to high-quality steaks, select seafood, short ribs, chops, chicken, salads, etc. ... innova- tive dishes with tasty results ... a world- class wine list and cordial and efficient serv- ers ... and an accomplished kitchen staff significantly headed by a chef who cares. Townsend Hotel and Rugby Grille honor their 26th anniversaries with the continu- ance of high-ranking notoriety ... and lofty pride. THE FORMERLY NAMED Beau Jack's restaurant on 15 Mile and Telegraph, Bloomfield Township, is closed during the present remodeling construction ... Slated reopening under the name "Beau's" and dif- ferent ownership is expected to be in July. One of the new co-owners, Zack Sklar, is the son of West Bloomfield-ites Larry and Sherry Sklar. DANDY DINING DEAL ... Tenth Anniversary Thank-You Special ... 14-ounce Black Angus rib-eye steak ... $7.95 ... Includes soup or salad, choice of potato and green beans or grilled vegetables ... One week only, Thursday, April 10, through Thursday, April 17 ... Georges Family Restaurant, Northwestern Highway east of Orchard Lake Road, West Bloomfield. RECENT EIGHTH ANNUAL JCC- Michigan/Florida Golf Reunion and Dinner at Boynton Beach's Indian Spring Country Club, was a large success, with more than $52,000 raised for Jewish Community Center Day Camp here by snowbirds and former localites now living in Florida. Men's foursome winners were ... Dennis Chaikin, Bruce Gusky, Randy King and Larry Miller ... Top women's group vic- tors were... Susan Kahn, Joan Kelly, Elaine Perlmutter and Michelle Tauster. CONGRATS ... To Morris "Bud" Sherbow on his 89th birthday ... To Sue Maniloff on her birthday ... To Betty Ellias on her birthday ... To Elizabeth Applebaum on her birthday ... To Judy Grossman on her birthday ... To Donald "Don" Cohen on his birthday ... To Jay Grant on his 92nd birthday ... To Margo Boykin on her birthday ... To David "Dave" and Gertrude "Gert" Matz on their 63rd anniversary. ❑ Danny's email is dannyraskin@sbcglobalmet. We invite you to join us and feast for the holidays! Pre-Passover Buffet at JCC 2nd Night Seder at Adat Shalom Sunday, April 13 Tuesday, April 15 Jewish Community Center Adat Shalom Adults - $19.95* Children - $12.95* Children 3 and Under - Free Passover Buffet at Adat Shalom For reservations or additional information, please call 248.851.5100 EPIC KOSHER CATERIIN A DIVISION OF MILK & HONEY Call 248.432.5509 for more information or check out our menus at theepicureangroup.com/kosher. Thursday, April 17 Adat Shalom Adults - $30.95* Children -$15.95* Children 3 and Under- Free 74 April 10 • 2014 PARTIES OF 6 OR MORE RECEIVE ONE COMPLIMENTARY MEAL AT OUR BUFFETS *Prices do not include 6% sales tax or 20% gratuity. HAVE A SAFE AND WARM HOLIDAY FROM ALL OF US!