Auto + Marine

From Audis to Acadias, Wrecked Cars Become Like New at Xcel

This Clawson collision team erases the scars of auto accidents with pride and excellence Article by Marshall Zweig | Photography by Simran Bajwa The holiday season brings snowy roads and slippery conditions. If a winter accident happens, keep this name in mind: Xcel Collision in Clawson ( xcel-collision.com) . I found out what drove owners Jerred Rich, Adam Parsons and Mark Hamm to open the new shop. The three – with a combined half-century of auto repair experience – were tired of their...

Life + Culture

Reminiscing About Troy Christmases, Past and Present

Longtime Troy residents ensure memories and traditions stay alive Article by Cindy Stewart | Photography by Simran Bajwa What is it about Christmas that brings out the childlike wonder in all of us? Maybe it’s the wonderful memories that surround us during this special season. I remember the joy of Christmas as a child. My brothers and sisters and I could open one present on Christmas Eve before we went to midnight mass. After we got home, we’d try to fall asleep fast. Then, early on...

Life + Culture

Troy Holiday Wonderland

Lisa Hicks' fills her home with trees, lights and decorations – a monument to the holidays Article by Marshall Zweig | Photography by Simran Bajwa They say spirit moves you. That would explain why Lisa Hicks is in motion from summertime until December 24: she catches the Christmas spirit very early – and fully. “I had 25 trees last year,” says the Troy resident. “So I pace myself, because it’s a lot of work.” Every year, Lisa’s home is a monument to the holidays, with trees, lights...

Life + Culture

Giving Thanks in Troy

Here's how you can give back a little this Thanksgiving Article and Photography by Cindy Stewart The Mighty Gobbler It's time for the Mighty Gobbler run & walk, hosted Thanksgiving Day by Lutheran Church of the Master. Donated canned goods and proceeds go to Interfaith Volunteer Caregivers, Micah 6 Community and Troy People Concerned. Visit MightyGobbler.com.   Troy Rotary Team Turkey Help the Troy Rotary Club raise funds for Thanksgiving dinners that will feed 300 local...

Life + Culture

Attitude of Gratitude

Howard Beatty IV brings an athlete's mindset to protecting family and assets Article by Marshall Zweig | Photography by Simran Bajwa Howard Beatty is an exercise in gratitude. In fact, the past three years have been a whirlwind for him. “I got engaged, got married, got a home, had two babies – and opened up the agency,” Howard recounts. “I’m blessed.” Howard’s agency offers insurance of all kinds: home, auto, life and commercial. It's more than just a business. It's an opportunity to show...

Style + Beauty

Thankful for Style

Surprise the family with a new style this holiday season Article by Cindy Stewart | Photography by Simran Bajwa Do you want to surprise your family this Thanksgiving with a refreshed style? We asked for advice from the experts at Antoine's Salon ( antoinesalonoftroy.com ). For an appointment before the holidays, call (248) 822-8115. Reggie Shapic Look trendy this fall by toning down those summer highlights to shades of cinnamon. Layers are in right now, and that gives your hair movement...

Home + Design

Picture It!

Dzinly brings endless possibilities of exterior design into your hands Article and Photography by Dzinly is revolutionizing the way homeowners and professionals approach exterior home improvement.  While many AI-generated design tools are fun to explore, like “trying on” a radical new hair color, many of these visuals are often impractical, unrealistic and beyond budget. They rarely provide a true path forward.  Launched in 2021, the Royal Oak-based Dzinly, on the other hand, is for those...

Food + Beverage

Cheesy Rice Croquettes

Culinary students from Baker College win the summer with tasty new recipes Article by Todd Haight | Photography by Baker College What could be hotter than the summer of ’24? The award-winning future chefs at The Culinary Institute of Michigan (CIM), who created exclusive food items at this year’s Soaring Eagle Arts, Beats & Eats festival, presented by Flagstar Bank. Partnering with Trattoria Da Luigi restaurant, they fashioned Suppli Di Riso (Cheesy Rice Croquettes). A custom-curated “Summer...

Food + Beverage

Oven 360

Artisan Neapolitan pizzas make a delicious debut – plus gelato created by an Italian master Article by Todd Haight | Photography by Oven 360 Mike Spineti will never forget his first taste of authentic Italian pizza. He marveled at the recipe, perfected and passed down by a family in the small village of Miranda. Bocconcini, Parmigiano and Fior Di Latte cheeses. Distinct toppings of prosciutto, sweet potato, hot salame and black truffle. But he wasn’t in Miranda. He had discovered the popular...

Life + Culture

Eat Your Way Through Troy

Some of our favorite Troy eateries that we think will soon become yours as well Article and Photography by Cindy Stewart Troy’s spectrum of restaurants is as diverse as our population, with cuisine representing every corner of the globe and dishes that push culinary boundaries. In the mood for international? Classic American? Eat your way through Troy this month, because we've got it all.   LoLo Potluck LoLo Potluck is the culmination of owner Sahar Shehata’s creative and business...