Scenes from last

year's Latke Vodka

NE

ediation is an alternative that can help you retain more time, money,
and privacy during your legal battle. Barbara Smith, J.D., former district
court magistrate and administrative law judge with more than 25 years of
legal experience, lends her unique blend of reason, calmness and tenacity to the
process, helping guide opposing parties to mutually agreeable solutions. She has
successfully mediated hundreds of cases over the past decade.

M

New Venue, New City,
... A New Latke Vodka

NEXTGen Detroit's annual reunion party
moves closer to Downtown.

Becky Hurvitz I Special to the Jewish News

F

or the last 11 years, the Jewish
Federation's NEXTGen Detroit
has hosted the ultimate
Thanksgiving weekend reunion party. An
annual event that just five years ago came
in at 450 attendees, Lake Vodka now
brings well more than 1,000 young Jewish
adults together in a specular showcase of
the vibrant, growing young Jewish com-
munity in Metro Detroit.
Entering into its second decade,
Latke Vodka 11, presented by Detroit
Popcorn Company, is set for Nov. 28
from 9 p.m.-2 a.m.
"Lake Vodka is a tradition for so
many young Jewish Detroiters. They're
seeing friends who are in town for
Thanksgiving, or they're coming into
town themselves, and it's the perfect way
to enjoy a night out and see everyone
says Abi Liepshutz, Lake Vodka co-chair
for the second year in a row. "But just
because it's a tradition doesn't mean we
want to throw the same party year after
year. So this year, we've decided to really
shake things up:'
After four years of being held at the
Royal Oak Music Theatre, Lake Vodka
is heading south down Woodward and
taking over almost a full city block in
Midtown Detroit. The Majestic Theater,
the Majestic Cafe and the Garden Bowl
will play host to this year's event
"Making the move to these iconic
venues is a big change, but ifs some-

thing we're incredibly excited about,"
says Brittany Karson, NEXTGen Detroit
associate. "We listen to people who come
to our events and programs, and what
they're saying is 'We live in Detroit, we
work in Detroit, and we want to play
there, too:"
Three historic institutions, all connect-
ed along the 4100 block of Woodward,
will each contain a different atmosphere,
giving Lake Vodka attendees a variety of
settings to enjoy throughout the night. In
the theater, the band Cancel Monday will
take the stage and play to a packed dance
floor. In the cafe, a jazz trio will offer
relaxed mood music. And in the Garden
Bowl, guests can glow bowl all night with
a DJ on a stage suspended over the lanes.
"People who have moved away come
to the event, and they can't believe how
many young Jews are here — active,
involved and having a great time," says
Andrew Luckoff, Lake Vodka co-chair.
"Last year, about 300 people came who
lived out of state. This year, in the heart
of the Museum District and Wayne State
University, we're really showing off our
community and our city and all that it
has to offer"
Lake Vodka 11 tickets are available
at LVintheD.org with $18 of every $20
ticket going to the Jewish Federation of
Metropolitan Detroit's Annual Campaign,
supporting needs of the Jewish people
and building a vibrant future in Detroit,
in Israel and around the world. *

The Smith Mediation Center provides an alternative to the contentious atmosphere
that often pervades legal actions. Mediators do not represent either party; rather,
they promote neutral guidance throughout the mediation process and allow parties
to maintain control of their situation, create nontraditional solutions within the
law, and keep specific issues private. Ms. Smith and the team at Smith Mediation
Center will work together to help create an environment where a mediated
resolution can be created as an alternative to traditional litigation.

Bloomfield Hills I 248.646.8000

Smith Mediation Center

www.michigan-divorce-mediation.com

HAVE YOUR NEXT
CELEBRATION AT

FRANKLIN!

Call us for
party details!

Ibarrick@ffrc.net
(248) 352-8000, ext. 314
29350 Northwestern Hwy.
Southfield, MI 48034

November 5 •2015

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