Beauty

A New Man

Inside the quiet revolution of men and aesthetic surgery — what they’re getting done why they’re doing it.. Article by Lynne Konstantin The plastic surgeon’s waiting room looks a little different than it used to. More men are seeking cosmetic procedures than ever before — and the reasons why might surprise you. We sat down with board-certified plastic surgeon Dr. Julio Sosa, owner of Bloomfield Plastic Surgery, who specializes in aesthetic and reconstructive procedures for the face, breast and...

Finance + Legal Services

Advocacy Around the Clock

Matthew Bitonti is just a phone call away when clients need him most. Article by Patti Zielinski “Do you know your insurance agent’s name?” Matthew Bitonti asks. It’s a simple question — yet one many people can’t answer. Bitonti, president and CEO of Bitonti Insurance Group (bitontigroup.com) in Bloomfield Hills, believes that says everything about the state of modern insurance. “When you work with us, and you have a real problem, you don’t call an 800 number,” he says. “You call me — 24/7.”...

Life + Culture

Passion, Curated

Two best friends turned a shared connoisseurship of the rare and luxurious from a lifestyle to a Downtown Birmingham destination. Article by Susan Thwing | Photography by Aly Darin In a recent reel on their Instagram, longtime best friends Calvin Kashat and Brandon Murad stand anxiously at their Downtown Birmingham window. The object of their attention: The FedEx delivery truck. “This is us,” Kashat laughs. “We’re waiting around like kids on Christmas morning.” Finally, after stacks and...

Professional Services

The Case for Style

Birmingham attorney Jeffrey Lance Abood brings purpose, precision  — and sartorial sensibility — to every detail. Article by Patti Zielinski | Photography by Aly Darin Attorney Jeffrey Lance Abood oozes movie-star charisma. Never forced — it’s simply who he is. As a litigator with the venerable Abood Law Firm (aboodlaw.com), founded by his extended family in 1956, his high-energy go-getter personality blends with honest-to-goodness integrity and placing a priority on community action. With a...

Life + Culture

Sweet Summertime

Downtown Birmingham makes the living easy with everything under the sun to make the most of the season. Article by Lynne Konstantin FOR THE KIDS TO PLAY WITH, WEAR, KEEP COOL AND LOOK CUTE Kids can brighten up sidewalks with Crocodile Creek’s colorful and chunky gumball-shaped sidewalk chalk in a Sidewalk Chalk Gumball Machine . The Paper Source. Build the best sand castles with Rylee + Cru Beach Bucket + Toys : The adorably silicone set comes bundled in a net carrying bag. Lil’...

Life + Culture

SIX WOMEN

Redefining entrepreneurship in Birmingham and beyond. Article by Lynne Konstantin MARTINA CAMAJ Creative Director, Events & Brand Experience Tallulah Wine Bar & Bistro | ZANA — Birmingham Describe what you do. My focus is shaping the creative vision behind our restaurant brands — developing experiences that go beyond the culinary, from events and collaborations to storytelling, media relations and the overall guest experience. Together with our team, including my husband, Mario, we...

Fitness

Gold Medal. Michigan Roots.

Tatiana Gutsu is just getting started. Article by Susan Thwing For Tatiana Gutsu, greatness was never just about standing on a podium. Long before she became an Olympic champion, she was a young girl in Odesa, Ukraine, navigating poverty and uncertainty. Her early years were sometimes without electricity, water or food. Yet she was drawn to something larger than her circumstances. “Gymnastics was not just a sport for me,” she says. “It was my language, my escape and ultimately my purpose.” ...

Entertainment

Catching Up With Rosalyn Yellin

The Palm Beach philanthropist, Netflix reality star and proud grandmother finds her people in Birmingham. Article by Lynne Konstantin BIRMINGHAM CITY LIFESTYLE: You raised your family in Bucks County, Pa. How did you end up in Palm Beach? ROSALYN YELLIN: My husband and I raised our five children — three daughters and twin boys — in Bucks County, where I taught a popular fitness class. We always dreamed of moving to Florida once we became empty nesters. When our twins — our youngest —...

Arts + Culture

selma at home

Selma Blair talks hometown roots, style and finding her strength. Article by Lynne Konstantin “I remember having a snow day on April 16, when I was at Hillel,” Selma Blair says. “It might have been 1980, I can’t remember. But it’s a very distinct memory.” On the day of our conversation in March, sitting in her sunny L.A. home, she’s curious about the weather in Birmingham, where I tell her it had been snowing that morning. She chats easily, eager to reminisce with another native about her...

Home Services

The Outdoor Reset

We asked experts in their fields for essential spring maintenance for decks, trees and more. Article by Lynne Konstantin Mike Bonadeo Owner, OPW Decks What started as a summer job for 21-year-old Mike Bonadeo in 2004 became a 20-plus-year career — and eventually ownership of the business. In 2018, Bonadeo purchased OPW Decks (opwrestoration.com), the pressure washing and deck maintenance company where he'd worked for over a decade, bringing his brother Nick on as a partner. Now...