Life + Culture

Wrapped in Gratitude

Fleece & Thank You brings hopeful comfort to hospitalized children Article by Margaret Meyer Haight | Photography by Fleece & Thank You Sometimes a big idea begins with a very small question. For Fleece & Thank You founder Nicholas Kristock, everything started when his twin sister, a pediatric oncology nurse, asked him to make a fleece blanket for one of her patients. Nicholas had already built much of his life around service. While studying at Oakland University, he and several soccer...

Home + Design

A Beautiful Life, By Design

A holiday wonderland reveals a mother-daughter story of design and gratitude Article by R. Todd Haight | Photography by Simran Bajwa Walk into Rita O’Brien Interiors at the Michigan Design Center during the holidays and it’s difficult to know where to look first. The showroom glows with hundreds of tiny Italian cordless lamps, layered among richly upholstered furniture, artwork, accessories and holiday décor. Rita O’Brien and her daughter, Colleen O’Brien-Seitz, have been creating their...

Life + Culture

Traditions Worth Treasuring

Troy families share what makes Thanksgiving special in their homes Article by Margaret Meyer Haight We sat down with some of our favorite Troy friends to ask what makes Thanksgiving special in their homes. From treasured family recipes to football, games and gatherings, some traditions may sound familiar, others just might inspire a new tradition of your own. Family, football and a full table Food, fun and the Lions at our house is really about having the people we love all together. We...

Wellness

The Gift of Joy

Troy's Bottomless Toy Chest brings comfort to ailing children Article by R. Todd Haight | Photography by Bottomless Toy Chest When Mickey Guisewite's 12-year-old son, Jack, was fighting stage 4 leukemia, there was little in his young life he could control. There were hospital stays, treatments and an uncertain future. But there were also toys. “The toys gave him something positive to focus on, which helped with the emotional side of his treatment,” she recalls. Mickey met many families in...

Professional Services

Troy Raises Them Right

Meet a Troy native who proves ambition and service begin with remembering your roots Article by Margaret Meyer Haight There’s more than one recipe for success. For Balamohan and Prasanthi Tadepalli, it started with some money and two suitcases, mixed with hope, hard work and the promise of opportunity. The couple came from India to Michigan determined to build a better life, eventually choosing Troy as home. Years later, their son Hemanth has built on that foundation in ways hardly imagined. ...

Food + Beverage

A Taste of Everywhere

Troy traveler tastes her way through cultures around the world Article and Photography by Cindy Stewart If I could, I would travel the world to experience vast oceans, majestic mountains, medieval towers, suspension bridges, castles and the breathtaking sights and sounds of bustling cities and quaint towns. Over the past three years, I’ve been fortunate to visit Alaska; Turin, Florence and Sorrento, Italy; Paris and Provence, France; Warsaw, Poland; Costa Rica; Panama; the Galápagos; and...

Food + Beverage

The Art of Gathering

Inside Michigan’s only Fogo de Chão, a centuries-old Brazilian tradition transforms dining into an experience of discovery, hospitality and connection Article by R. Todd Haight | Photography by Simran Bajwa Dinner at Fogo de Chão arrives with a bit of theater. A gaucho chef approaches carrying a skewer of fire-roasted beef, its edges deliciously caramelized from the grill. Perhaps it is Picanha , the celebrated Brazilian Prime Top Sirloin recognizable by its distinctive fat cap and curved...

Food + Beverage

Sunday Coffee, Every Day

Nitro pours, house-made syrups and the story behind one of Troy’s newest coffee stops Article by Margaret Meyer Haight | Photography by Simran Bajwa Coffee may be the reason people first walk through the doors of Seven Sundays in Troy, but owners Chris and Krystal wanted to create something beyond what’s in the cup. Here’s our chat, over a cappuccino and scone, of course. What inspired Seven Sundays? We love coffee, especially the experience around it. We wanted something welcoming...

Home + Design

Legacy By Design

Thoughtful interior design, lasting relationships and a legacy that continues to shape beautiful homes. Article by R. Todd Haight | Photography by Simran Bajwa For nearly three decades, Michael Rowley watched his wife do what seemed impossible. Darla Rowley could walk into an empty space, study it for a few moments and envision a room that didn't exist yet. She didn't need sketches. She didn't need computer renderings. She could simply picture it – the furniture, the colors, the flow of the...

Life + Culture

Color, Culture & Timeless Style

Discover how one Troy family is bringing India's vibrant fashion traditions to everyone Article by R. Todd Haight | Photography by Simran Bajwa Step inside Sanskriti Fashion in Troy, and it's almost impossible to know where to look first. Brilliant jewel tones. Intricate embroidery. Flowing fabrics. Every rack feels like a celebration, inviting shoppers to discover clothing that's as joyful as it is beautiful. For owners Narendrakumar Patel and Madhurika Patel, the boutique is much more than...