54 August 22 • 2019
jn

COURTESY OF THE WHITNEY

The Whitney’s 2nd Annual Cityfest

Ten days of events celebrate ‘
spirited dining’
 in the D.

T

he Whitney, Midtown 
Detroit’
s 19th-century man-
sion-turned-restaurant, hosts 
its second annual “Cityfest,” a 10-day 
“Celebration of Spirited Dining,” from 
Sept. 13-23. The celebration includes 
12 individual events ranging from an 
opening night “Brewer’
s 
Feast” and an already 
sold-out “Senior 
Prom,” to a closing 
night black-tie-option-
al “Legacy Dinner” 
honoring 100-year-old 
Detroit Jewish News 
food and restaurant 
writer Danny Raskin. 
Last year’
s Cityfest event attracted 
more than 1,000 diners and contribut-
ed more than $5,000 to local charities. 
“Cityfest is a one-of-a-kind celebra-
tion in Detroit,” said the Whitney’
s 
owner Bud Liebler. “It gives us an 
opportunity to showcase all we do 
at the Whitney from the great food 
and service we provide to the unique 
ambiance that only the Whitney can 
offer. The variety of events we pro-
duce offers something to appeal to 
every taste and interest and brings 
people into the city who might not 
otherwise come.” ■

For more information, go to thewhitney.com or 
call the Whitney at (313) 832-5700.

Sept. 13 – “Brewer’
s Feast,” an intro-
duction to “Flora’
s Kiss” lavender lager 
and a trip to Atwater Brewery for a 
tour and first tasting of Flora’
s Kiss 
and of Atwater’
s new “Ghost of David 
Whitney” pale ale.

Sept. 14 – New England Lobster Feast, 
a family-style lobster bake with live 
music and dancing.

Sept. 15 – “Art, Bubbles & Brunch” 
celebrating Detroit’
s lively arts scene 
with a docent-led tour of Eastern 
Market’
s second annual “Murals in the 
Market” outdoor art exhibition followed 
by Bloody Marys, Mimosas and a 
hearty Whitney brunch.

Sept. 15 – “Dining with the Spirits,” 
a special-edition paranormal dinner 
featuring a “Witching Hour” welcoming 
reception and dining throughout the 
Whitney mansion. Paranormal tours led 
by Haunt Investigations of Michigan.

Sept. 16 – “Honey Bee” dinner with 
honeycomb appetizers and a four-
course dinner and live music hosted 
by St. Ambrose Winery and Schram’
s 
Meadery.

Sept. 17 – “Dinner with The Whitneys,” 
an elegant Downton Abbey-themed 
dinner party with three courses in the 
restaurant’
s main dining rooms fol-
lowed by two courses “with the staff.” 
After-dinner brandy for the gentlemen, 
tea and pastries for the ladies, and live 
string accompaniment for all.

Sept. 18 – “B-4. Bourbon, Beer, Bar-b-
cue and Brawlers” with live entertain-
ment (and dancing) with the Brunswick 

Brawlers and a “Smokin & Jokin” cigar 
afterglow for those who so choose in 
the garden.

Sept. 19 – “Broadway on Woodward,” 
a VIP garden party benefitting 
Michigan Opera Theatre with MOT 
singers performing the greatest 
hits from Broadway and the opera. 
Complimentary champagne bar.

Sept. 20 – Ladies’
 Night – The 
Whitney’
s executive chef Natasha Vitti 
will create a special Ladies’
 Night 
dinner, “creative cuisine with a femi-
nine touch,” in celebration of some of 
Michigan’
s best-known female trend 
setters. Wine, craft cocktails and spe-
cialty pastries will be featured.

Sept. 21 – “Autumn, Apples and Tea” 
– the Whitney tea hostess Mary Jones 
offers a salute to the season with a 
variety of apple-based teas, ciders and 
warm cocktails. Guests will receive 
seasonal recipes and a special gift.

Sept. 21 – “Senior Prom!” – 
Celebrating the “over-50 crowd” and 
already sold out, Senior Prom offers 
champagne, hors d’
ouvres, a dessert 
buffet and dancing to live music by 
Jelly & The Jams. A 2019 prom king 
and queen will be crowned.

Sept. 22 – Cityfest Legacy Dinner – 
This special salute to 100-year-old, 
longtime Detroit Jewish News food 
and restaurant critic Danny Raskin will 
include a champagne reception, stroll-
ing dinner, open bar and live entertain-
ment throughout the Whitney mansion.

CITYFEST SCHEDULE

Inside the beautiful Whitney.

eats | drinks | sweets
nosh

Danny Raskin

New Restaurant 
Opening in 
Detroit
C

elebrating the history of Detroit 
and the people who have given so 
much to its culinary landscape, 
Smith & Co. will open in September 
at 664 Selden St. in Detroit’
s Midtown 
neighborhood with an inventive take on 
Detroit cuisine. 
The new restaurant will feature a menu 
focused on the cultural blend that makes 
the city unique, with locally sourced 
ingredients and a Detroit vibe.
Smith & Co. will offer casual dining 
and be open every day for dinner, plus 
lunch on Saturdays and Sundays with 
brunch specials on those days.
Craft beer will be a prominent part of 
the new establishment featuring Nain 
Rouge Brewery and a hidden draft list 
that will feature hard-to-find selections 
from other local, small Michigan brew-
ers. Nain Rouge Brewery will open in the 
coming months adjacent to the restaurant 
with a shared patio and will be sold exclu-
sively at Smith & Co. In the interim, beer 
will be provided by local breweries. 
The 7,000-square-foot facility is a 
combination of wood, metals, brick and 
concrete. With seating for up to approx-
imately 160 in the dining area, it can 
easily accommodate very large parties. A 
unique concrete bar seats 19 for drinks 
and full-service dining with a surround-
ing lounge serving bar snacks and the 
beverage menu. Full-service dining will 
be available on the patio, which will share 
a courtyard with the brewery and another 
business, Barcade.
Smith & Co is being developed by own-
ers Jon Carlson, Greg Lobdell and Chet 
Czaplicka. The restaurant’
s daily opera-
tions will be handled by general manager 
Dave Mammal and executive chef Greg 
Antioho.
Chef Greg Antioho will head the kitch-
en coming over from Blue Tractor BBQ & 
Brewery. Previously, he came from SavCo 
Hospitality. He received his Culinary 
Arts degree from Johnson and Wales 
University in Rhode Island. ■

COURTESY OF SOCIAL T MEDIA 

