Birmingham, MI February 2022 by City Lifestyle

F E B R UA RY 2 022 | TH E LO C A L LOV E I S S U E

M ITCH ALBO M O N GRATITU DE AN D M I RACLES AN ART SCHO O L WITH H E ART A LO CAL MUSI CIAN FI N DS H E ALI NG WITH SO NGS PL AN A SWEET VALENTI N E’ S DAY IN

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LIFESTYLE LETTER

The Local Love Issue

February 2022 PUBLISHER

Ali Kramer | ali.kramer@citylifestyle.com EDITOR

Lynne Konstantin | lynne.konstantin@citylifestyle.com

Art comes in many different forms, and it gives us a glimpse into someone’s heart — a part of them we don’t see on the surface. We are all drawn to various expressions of art in different ways, and we tend to appreciate artistic expression that makes us feel something and that resonates with us. Our February issue is dedicated to "local love" — love of community, supporting small businesses, local artisans, musicians, and more —which is even more important this year as we try to rebound from the pandemic. As you read this issue, filled with stories of people finding their passions and self-expression, we hope you are inspired to pursue what means the most to you. After all, February is the month of love. With the hectic schedules we often keep, it is easy to let our hobbies, talents, and special interests fall by the wayside. We just have to be deliberate about allowing ourselves time to pour into interests that we love and that fill us up. So, while you fill your home with chocolates, flowers, and Valentines (and perhaps some college basketball) this month, remember to give yourself some time to do what you love. Find what makes you feel alive, and don’t forget to share it with us. We'd love to hear from you!

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Rayna Southart | rayna.southart@citylifestyle.com STAFF WR ITER

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Proverbs 3:5-6 Birmingham City Lifestyle™ is published monthly by Lifestyle Publications LLC. It is distributed via the US Postal Service to some of the Birmingham area’s most affluent neighborhoods. Articles and advertisements do not necessarily reflect Lifestyle Publications’ opinions. No portion of this magazine may be reproduced in any form without written consent. Lifestyle Publications does not assume responsibility for statements made by advertisers or editorial contributors. Information in Birmingham City Lifestyle™ is gathered from sources considered

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inside the issue The Local Love Issue

F E ATU R E D

D E PA RTM E NTS

16 Atelier School of Heart

Lifestyle Letter

Business Monthly

Our Town

Artist’s Palette

Hometown Hero

How To

Maker’s Studio

Events

Financial Buzz

The intersection of art and wellness

22 Heart Full of Soul

Musician Trey Simon finds healing in music

26 A Helping Hand

Local author Mitch Albom grapples with faith, spirituality and hope in his newest novel

32 Valentine’s Day In

Create sweet memories at home this February 14

O N T H E C OV E R

Photography: Jesse Nesser Mitch Albom

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F E B R UA RY 2 0 2 2

business monthly A round-up of exciting news from local businesses.

Birmingham Public Schools Welcomes New Deputy Superintendent BPS welcomes Dr. Mark Lineburg as their Deputy Superintendent! Dr. Lineburg spent his career in Virginia, serving as a superintendent for 11 years, an assistant superintendent, a principal and an assistant principal. He started his career in education as a high school social studies teacher and holds a Doctorate in Educational Leadership and Policy Studies from Virginia Tech University, a Master’s degree in Educational Leadership from Lynchburg College, and a Bachelor’s degree from Radford University.

Local Business Owner Jason Raznick Makes Big Moves Bloomfield Hills resident Jason Raznick recently sold a majority state in his leading financial media and analytics business, Benzinga, to Beringer Capital. This exciting new partnership validates and will accelerate Benzinga's mission to level the playing field for individual investors. "Benzinga is just entering the second inning of what we will build. Partnership with Beringer drastically accelerates the timeline to realize our ambitions of what we can provide investors globally," said Raznick.

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business monthly A round-up of exciting news from local businesses.

State and Liberty Opens in Downtown Birmingham Birmingham welcomes a new menswear retailer, State & Liberty! They recently opened their second Michigan location here in Birmingham at 141 West Maple Road. The brand specializes in men’s athletic wear and is named after a wellknown intersection in downtown Ann Arbor, where the business got its start in 2015. State & Liberty now boasts locations in New York, Boston, Chicago and many other cities, which can be found on their website at stateandliberty.com.

If you want to be included, send us a message! Visit CityLifestyle.com/BirminghamMI to get in touch.

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Atelier School of Heart The intersection of art and wellness. ARTICLE BY KAREN COUF COHEN

Todd Burroughs, owner and founder of the Atelier School of Art in Royal Oak (AtelierSchoolofArt.com), says no one should die with a great idea. And when he speaks about his art school, his chances of that happening drop from slim to none. Burroughs’ great idea has come to fruition as a successful nontraditional art school, influenced by his life experiences and making a profound difference in artists’ lives. As a child, Burroughs explored his internal universe through art. “Because of illness, I was very isolated, and I used art to express myself,” he says. After

O UR TOWN | ARTS + CU LTURE

dropping out of art school and a soul-searching trip to India, he landed back in the U.S. and connected with former art professors — with new resolve. He began to prototype the idea of a new kind of art school. Using his experiences as an instructor at the Birmingham Bloomfield Art Center (BBAC) and the Center for Creative Studies (CCS), he envisioned an artistic community that prioritized student wellness, encouraged risk-taking, offered mentoring, and teaching students something new. Lastly, he would share the stories of these journeys.

Todd Burroughs, owner and founder of the Atelier School of Art

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The Atelier School of Art opened in January of 2018. It offers long-term oneon-one support not typically found in the academic or community art arena. “Those classes are typically curriculum- and calendar-based, so you can only give your students specific skills in a defined time frame,” Burroughs says. Instead, courses are set up in the cadence of what it is like to work as an artist and focus on what the student makes and how they make it. “The classes at Atelier are ongoing. We don’t ask our students to re-register,” he says. Sensitive to the loneliness so often reported by Gen Z, Burroughs cites the Harvard Happiness Study, which says that “embracing community can be the biggest predictor of happiness.” Burroughs describes Atelier School of Art as a supportive community that provides a high-quality experience that nurtures wellness. With a growing studio, Burroughs bought the space next door in early March of 2020. But with COVID looming, Burroughs paused in-person classes and rebuilt Atelier as an online studio. Currently, the studio operates both digitally and in-person. Burroughs learned surprising lessons through the online class structure, which have helped him enhance all learning. For example, instructors used Zoom to teach measurements and precision, which has been incorporated into in-person classes using iPads. In 2021, Burroughs brought in Ashley Murawa, a former teacher at the

O UR TOWN | ARTS + CU LTURE

In response to the November shooting at Oxford High School, Atelier School of Art will be providing free therapy-based art sessions to any high-school student who would like to attend. The school welcomes donations that will directly support this program. Donated art materials are accepted to support the cause. Call (248) 951-4400 to schedule a drop-off.

International Academy, to build a youth program and serve as studio manager. The school currently has 13 instructors and offers classes for all ages and abilities — from grade school to older adults. “We help students get ready for college,” Burroughs says. Recently, three of his students were awarded a total of $1.5 million in scholarship money. Because the studio space can be rented for private events, “Something is happening here every day,” Burroughs says. “It feels like a home.”

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Simon performing live at one of his favorite venues, 20 Front Street in Lake Orion, with bassist James Simonson and drummer Ron Pan

heart full of soul MUSICIAN TREY SIMON FINDS HEALING IN MUSIC.

ARTICLE BY STACY GITTLEMAN | PHOTOGRAPHY BY EMILEE PATRISHKOFF

A RT IST ’S PA LE T T E | ARTS + CULTURE

With a big heart and a big soulful voice to match it, Trey Simon has found his purpose in life by taking the pain from chapters of his early life and weaving them into lyric and song that has led this local musician to open for greats such as Patti LaBelle, Andra Day, and Andy Grammar. He does not shy away from telling his stories of adversity to his audience, including the breakup of his parents’ marriage and a stint of homelessness. But he said within that vulnerability he enjoys seeing them respond with a “spark” of connection and inspiration. “Music builds relationships,” explained Simon, 28, of Shelby Township. “It can be between the musician and audience, or among other musicians, or even between the songwriter and the song as it evolves from thoughts on a page to a finished piece of music that takes on a life when played live.” During the troubled times of his youth, Simon said music was the only thing that gave him a feeling of worth. Simon learned his first chords on the frets and strings of his grandfather’s old Gibson guitar beginning at the age of 12. Growing up with a white mom and a black dad, Simon felt sandwiched between two cultures reflected in his earliest musical memories of listening to Gospel and contemporary Christian music. In his soulful songs such as the love ballad “The Impossible,” and “Head Over Water,” a tribute to all first responders and those struggling to make ends meet during the COVID pandemic, one can hear hints of Jon Foreman, Bob Dylan, Ray Lamontagne and touches of John Legend and Gregory Porter. Simon describes his Christian faith as the foundation for all he aspires to become in his professional and personal life.

“I find beauty and inspiration in all ranges of musical styles,” Simon said, who was nominated for a 2020 Detroit Music Award. “I work hard at never limiting myself to a genre or sound, but I don’t mind being labeled as a Christian artist. My relationship with Jesus and the struggles I have faced serve as inspiration for all the songs that I have written thus far. There have been moments where I lost sight of that, but His mercy and grace has always brought me back to my roots.” When Simon finds himself in Birmingham, his favorite spot is the Commonwealth Café for comfort foods such as grilled cheese and tomato soup. “My buddy Matt Bolchi is a barista there and I don’t know anyone else that can make a better machiatto. That shop has always been a place for me to get time alone to journal and to think while I sip on a coffee. I have always loved walking around Birmingham’s downtown and through the neighborhoods. I have also spent way too much money shopping at Caruso Caruso.” Recently, he worked the college and church circuits touring around the country and doing what he loves most – performing live (find his schedule at treysimonmusic.com). These days, he spends time at home channeling his energies into writing for a forthcoming album. He hopes he can fill up 2022 with shows in Rochester and around Oakland County.

“I find beauty and inspiration in all ranges of musical styles.” FEB R UARY 2 0 2 2 | C I TYL I FE STYL E . C OM/B I R M I N G HA M M I

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A HELPING HAND LOCAL JOURNALIST AND AUTHOR MITCH ALBOM GRAPPLES WITH FAITH, SPIRITUALITY AND HOPE IN HIS NEWEST NOVEL. ARTICLE BY STACY GITTLEMAN

H OM E TOWN H E R O | ARTS + CULTURE

If you cried out for help, would you recognize it if it came your way? Or would your inner skeptic brush it aside? That is the question at the core of Mitch Albom’s newest best-selling novel, Stranger in the Lifeboat (Harper), which hit shelves in November. The Detroit Free Press columnist and sportswriter who rose to national acclaim with his 2002 memoir Tuesdays with Morrie said he is “stunned” at the brisk pace of sales for his latest novel — which has sold at a faster pace than any of his previous four books combined. The reason, he believes, is that as we enter the second year of a global pandemic, we all could use some help. The novel tosses the reader back and forth from land and sea. Ten strangers, survivors of a mysterious explosion aboard the luxury yacht of a billionaire, pool their meager provisions and survival skills as they await their rescue somewhere off the coast of Africa. But when help arrives, in the form of a man who calls himself The Lord, skepticism among the survivors blazes as hot as the sun that beats on them from above. On land, we meet Jarty LeFleur, a cynical policeman on Montserrat in the Caribbean. Sometime later after the explosion, he discovers

a washed-up lifeboat. It is void of any survivors but contains a waterlogged journal written by the book’s protagonist, Benji, who was part of the yacht’s crew. “I’ve set up a scenario where people from diverse social and racial and economic backgrounds end up in this lifeboat together,” Albom says. “After three days, they are getting desperate and are all crying out, praying to God in their own way for help. And suddenly they find someone, someone ordinary looking, floating alive in the water. And when they ask him his name and he replies that he is the Lord, instead of giving thanks, they immediately doubt his story. Even after he says, ‘You’ve been calling for me, so I came,’ they still don’t believe it. So, I pose this question to my readers, if help is right in front of you, what do you do with it? If God would suddenly appear before you and you had a minute to ask God something, what would you ask?” In some ways, Albom says we have spent the last two years riding out the pandemic on individual lifeboats, asking for help and trying to believe that there’s got to be more to life than masks, mandates and hiding from one another. He wrote in a November 2021 Free Press column that Americans are trading in organized religion and spirituality for the church of digital and social media. We have traded in our virtue for learning how to be patient and putting things into long-term perspective for immediate gratification. If things do not go our way immediately, it feels as though God has forsaken us, he said.

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“It seems to me that we often ask for help, or pray, the way we order a sandwich at a diner,” Albom says. “We want it exactly the way we want it. And when there is no immediate answer, we feel forsaken or ignored by God. “Our prayers get answered but it may not be the answer we were expecting,” he says. “Or the answer may take years. It’s just that we don’t have that kind of patience. We lack the foresight.” After reading many of Albom’s novels, one would get the notion that he is obsessed with death and mortality. He would like to put that misconception to rest. “Yes, the characters in the lifeboat, and other characters in my novels, have been faced with death, but it is facing that reality that makes them examine what’s really important in life. We need to be fascinated by the bigness of life. If I’m obsessed with anything, it is about trying to find meaning and hopefulness in the lives as we live.” Albom’s search has led to the creation of multiple local charities including SAY Detroit, an umbrella organization providing health, educational vocational, recreational, and other services to Detroit’s most underserved residents. During the pandemic, Albom raised $1 million for SAY with Human Touch, a novel he wrote in eight installments that people

Photo by Brian Kelly

H OM E TOWN H E R O | ARTS + CULTURE

could read online in exchange for suggested donations. With this money, SAY opened the city’s first walk-up COVID testing center on Eight Mile and eventually a vaccination center at the SAY medical clinic in Highland Park. In the racially charged summer of 2020, SAY Detroit launched the Better Together program. It was created and organized by Darryl Woods, a former wrongfully charged convict, now minister and founder of Fightin’ the Good Fight, a youth mentoring program. Better Together welcomes at-risk youth, people with a prior record and off-duty police officers to grill and eat together in neighborhoods

across the city. The catch: No one knows who’s who until the end of the meal when they start to share their back stories. “You’ve got gang members grilling burgers and hot dogs with off-duty police officers and they don’t know it. And by the end of the meal, you’ve got people hugging and exchanging contact information. For many, it’s the first time they’ve had a conversation with a law enforcement officer. And the officers are telling the youth that if [they see police brutality] they want to know, because not all police are bad. And we have done dozens of these barbecues all over the city.”

Photo courtesy of Mitch Albom/Jesse Nesser. Albom with his daughter, Chika

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Chika Jeune

H OM E TOWN H E R O | ARTS + CULTURE

Though conditions in Haiti continue to deteriorate, Albom still makes monthly visits there to the Have Faith Haiti Mission and Orphanage he has run since 2010. Albom said travel in the island country has become increasingly difficult, and the security situation plus the pandemic has prevented the orphans from venturing outside the mission compound, which is about one-third of an acre, in two years. The plot of Stranger in the Lifeboat includes two little girls who were both lost one way or another to the sea. In his own real life, Albom, together with his wife, Janine, have been working through their own grief at the loss of their daughter, Chika Jeune. Adopted from her native Haiti, Albom said Chika made a family for him and Janine before she died at age seven in 2017 after battling a rare brain tumor. If he wrote Finding Chika (2019), in memory of his daughter, in pain, Albom said he wrote The Stranger in the Lifeboat “in healing.” He said he and Janine are ever grateful that they had the opportunity to be a family with Chika in midlife, and it is proof that life takes you on unexpected and unexplained paths that go beyond human creation or intervention. “I still think there’s room for miracles in the world, that there are some things that happen that are unexplainable,” Albom says. “That give us a sense of hope and awe. I wanted to celebrate that notion, that way of thinking, with this book.”

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ARTICLE BY LYNNE KONSTANTIN

valentine’s day in Create sweet memories at home this February 14

Sweet Treat Table

Covid keeping you in for Valentine’s Day? Surprise your kids with a buffet brimming with sweet treats. Keep it simple with a few favorite snacks and candies; for a more extravagant display, use fresh flowers and create a handmade centerpiece. Get the look by placing the largest greenery on the bottom layer in a circle around the table. Next, layer varying types of greenery on top of the first layer in shorter widths to achieve the final look. Finish the table off with an assortment of Valentine’s Day confections like mini cupcakes and chocolate-dipped Oreos. Gather the kids for a DIY cookie- or cupcake-decorating project. Or let the pros handle the yummy stuff — pick up a Doughnut Bouquet or hand-dipped chocolate-covered strawberries from the newly relocated Bakehouse46 in Birmingham (also in Rochester and Ann Arbor; bakehouse46.com). Find a mini Valentine cake similar to ours at Love & Buttercream in Birmingham (loveandbuttercream.com).

H OW TO | L IFE + CU LTU R E

Valentine’s Tree To create this easy and eye-catching centerpiece, collect fallen branches (or visit your local Michael’s) and paint them white. We used a thrifted, repurposed white ceramic jar to assemble the branches. For a sturdy base, insert branches into a floral foam and place moss at the top of the jar. You can use this homemade tree for any occasion — just about anything can be hung on it.

Valentine’s Day Ornaments Let the kids help create heart ornaments to hang on your Valentine’s Tree Centerpiece. Or use these ornaments as clue cards for a kids’ Valentine's Day scavenger hunt. Instruct children to find their picture on the tree and hunt for the hidden treasure in the house. We used recycled shipping boxes to create the heart base and painted them red. We then used a hole punch to create a lace-like edge to complete the look.

LEFT MIDDLE + BOTTOM LEFT PHOTOS BY: Bakehouse46

ALL OTHER PHOTOS BY:

Janie Jones (@uncommonjane)

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events A curated selection of the most intriguing upcoming events in the city. JANUARY 3 1ST - FEBR UARY 4T H

Birmingham Restaurant Week

DOWNTOWN BIRMINGHAM This annual Birmingham event is slated for January 31-February 4! Birmingham Restaurant Week features some of our finest and favorite eating establishments. For more information and to check out which restaurants are participating, visit allinbirmingham. com/visitors/restaurant-week.

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Winter Blast

DOWNTOWN ROYAL OAK Head to the east of Main and South of 11 Mile near the Royal Oak Farmer’s Market and Centennial Park for free winter fun! Enjoy an outdoor skating rink, ice sculptures, live music, family activities, marshmallow roasters, the Winter Slide and more. For more information, visit winterblast.com .

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210 S Old Woodward Ave; Ste 200; Birmingham, MI 48009

h e a l t hy m e a s u re s REACH YOUR 2022 FINANCIAL GOALS WITH ADVICE FROM DEAN THURMAN, COFOUNDER OF INVESTWISE FINANCIAL, LLC.

Looking to get your finances in order in 2022? Knowing exactly where to start, or what to consider, can be overwhelming without the proper guidance. With the market, and the world, being in such a volatile state, having clear strategies in place to help you and your family feel in control is of the utmost importance. If you’d like to prepare for unseen emergencies, create spending habits that support your values, stay on track towards future goals and plan for inflation, consider making these nine actions towards financial stability and freedom. 1

Create an estate plan that will avoid your family having to go through probate court.

Determine the optimal time to collect social security how it coordinates with your other assets.

Create a withdrawal strategy that is sustainable over time and so you won’t run out of money.

Have an investment strategy in place that will protect you from withdrawing money if you have a prolonged market crash. 5

Create a plan that will protect your assets against a large, unforeseen healthcare expense.

Withdraw money from your account in a tax-smart way.

Have a strategy for reducing taxes in the event of future tax increases.

Make sure your investments allow your surviving spouse to have a strong financial position if you are gone.

Have an investment portfolio that can withstand rising interest rates.

Not sure how to achieve your financial goals this year? Talking to a professional is an excellent first step.

INVESTWISE FINANCIAL 3883 Telegraph Road, Suite 204 Bloomfield Hills, MI 48302 248-594-7040 spach@investwisefinancial.com

TOP:

InvestWise Financial, LLC Team

BOTTOM:

Dean Thurman, co-founder and senior partner at InvestWise Financial, LLC

F IN A N CIA L BU Z Z | FIN ANCE + LE GAL S E RVI CE S

A healthier life is calling. Chiropractic Lifestyle Studio is now open in Woodward Corner’s Plaza. Our care is technologically innovative, scientifically-based, non-invasive and patient centered. In addition to Chiropractic care, we provide programs for creating a healthy lifestyle including brain health, nutrition, movement and positive psychological well-being. We care for newborns to seniors, families/pregnant women to athletes and corporate executives. For those looking for relief care or lifetime wellness, your goals are our goals. Health care must be a partnership. We are passionately committed to supporting you in taking your health and lifestyle to the next level of natural living.

New patients, receive your Discovery Exam for just $50 and mention City Lifestyle to also receive a Free BrainTap Session (30 minutes of relaxation)

Book Your First Appointment Today

30955 Woodward Avenue, Royal Oak, Michigan 48073 248.744.4447 | www.chiropracticlifestylestudios.com

SHEEL SOHAL CLIENT FOCUSED | RESULTS DRIVEN

SHEELSOHAL.COM 210 S OLD WOODWARD I STE 200 I BIRMINGHAM MI 48009

248.249.3122

SHEEL@KW.COM