Home + Design

The Art of Lakeside Living

Now is the time to think about the waterfront home of your dreams. Article by Susan Thwing For many, owning a waterfront home in Michigan is the ultimate dream — a place where morning coffee comes with sunrise views and weekends stretch out across patios, piers and family gatherings by the water. For Brian Cotant, Head of Business Development at Falcon Custom Homes (homesbyfalcon), helping families turn that dream into reality is more than a career: It’s a calling. A former contractor and...

Food + Beverage

Dynamic Duo

A mother-daughter pair are heating up their Crowded Kitchen. Article by Lynne Konstantin | Photography by Lexi Harrison and Nathaniel Smith CROWDED KITCHEN Lexi Harrison (daughter) and Beth Sinclair (mother) 2.1M followers @crowded_kitchen; crowdedkitchen.com; book Crowded Kitchen to be released Feb. 2026 Working out of their Metro Detroit “test kitchens” (read: their homes), the content creators cook up easy, approachable, fun and supremely artistic masterpieces for their...

Food + Beverage

Detroit's Hidden Gems

Our food writer takes us on a tour of Downtown’s under-the-radar must-try eateries. Article and Photography by Jennifer Lovy Growing up in the 1980s and ’90s, dining in Detroit was rare for us. Occasionally, we ventured to Greektown or celebrated a birthday at Carl’s Chop House. My parents would take us Downtown to catch a performance at the Fisher Theatre, but we never ate there. Our pre-show meals were almost always at Howard Johnson’s in Southfield, a quick and convenient stop along the...

Food + Beverage

WHERE TO Eat & Drink NOW

What’s new and noteworthy in Birmingham and beyond. Article by Patti Zielinski So far, 2025 has been a banner year for new restaurants, cafés and sweet spots. From restaurateurs reimagining the supper club era to bold newcomers putting their own unique spins on flavors, Birmingham and the surrounding area has many exciting places to book tables.   Couples seeking an upscale date night can reserve seats at Wilder’s (458 N. Old Woodward Ave.), which channels the swinging supper clubs and the...

Food + Beverage

The Village Pearl

The Franklin Oyster Bar & Eatery brings coastal charm home. Article by Susan Thwing | Photography by Matt Hatcher As summer gave way to crisp fall days in Franklin Village, a new gathering spot arrived. The Franklin Oyster Bar & Eatery — known simply as “The Franklin” — opened in June and is already drawing neighbors, families and visitors from all over, eager for fresh flavors in a storied setting. Set in the heart of the village, The Franklin (thefranklinmi.com) occupies the beloved...

Fitness

The Science of Burning More Calories at Your Desk with EMS Training

The Desk Problem Nobody Talks AboutLet’s be real. Most of us spend way too much time sitting. Emails, meetings, calls, projects, leisure or even gaming… the hours stack up fast. And while your brain might be going full speed, your body? It’s basically idling in park. Muscles switch off, metabolism slows down, and by the end of the day you’re drained even if you never broke a sweat.Here’s the kicker: even if you hit the gym a few times a week, those long stretches of sitting can cancel out some...

Travel

A Victorian Legacy

Revel in the modern charm of Mackinac Island’s Island House Hotel. Article by Lynne Konstantin We love fall in Michigan — crisp air, a riot of colorful leaves and oh-so-many spots to take it all in. But September in Michigan — who knows what weather we’re in for. If you’re lucky, you might even squeeze in one last summer-weather weekend family getaway.  Either way, the Island House Hotel (theislandhouse.com) on Mackinac Island checks all of our boxes. The bustle of Main Street on the island...

Arts + Culture

King of Cool

Celebrating a half century in the fashion business, style aficionado Mark Keller still reigns supreme in Birmingham with Iceland-designed MATTHILDUR. Article by Lynne Konstantin Mark Keller has been predicting the future of fashion for six decades, though he’ll correct you if you call him a trendsetter. “I don’t follow trends,” he says. “I identify what’s next.”  At 75, this “OG” of retail fashion in Birmingham continues to prove that being different isn’t just profitable — it’s prophetic. ...

Style + Beauty

In The Bag: Tatianna Merritt

The influencer gives us a peek at what matters most to her — and how she found purpose in the spotlight. Article by Lynne Konstantin | Photography by Aly Darin WHAT’S IN TATIANNA MERRITT’S BAG? 1 Studio Pointe Pilates Socks 2 Selora Sheer Nourishing Hair Oil 3 KIEHL’S Better Screen UV Serum 4 L’Occitane Shimmering Body Oil 5 The Tox Lymphatic Deodorant  6 Louis Vuitton Attrape-Rèves Perfume 7 The Lip Bar Botanical Lip Oil 8 Versed Brightening Eye Gel 9 Louis...

Style + Beauty

Luxe Life

Inside personal fashion concierge Merna Makdisi’s style secrets. Article by Lynne Konstantin | Photography by Mira Myroslava Kravets MERNA MAKDISI A Blonde Styling @ablondestyling; @mernamakdisi Shelby Twp. Merna Makdisi had already earned a degree in Criminal Justice, began a career as a paralegal, then returned to school for a master’s in Cybersecurity before she made an important realization. The 9-5 was not for her. So she pivoted and launched A Blonde Styling — a virtual and...