Book Your Reservation For This Swanky Event!

Where:

A swanky soiree at Meadow Brook Hall.

What:

• Live Jazz by band “Bird on a Wire”
• Dancing
• Tours of Meadow Brook Hall
• Tarot Card/Palm Reader (popular in the 20’s)
• Live dance demonstration of the Charleston and other 20’s style dances.
• Strolling Dinner

The Menu

• Hot D’oeuvres and a vegetable and cheese display
• A carvery station with Roast Breast of Lavender and Honey Scented Turkey with cranberry mayonnaise, dijon mustard and petite dinner rolls
• A salad station with baby spinach with a hot bacon dressing and Waldorf salad
• Whipped potato martini station with sweet Yukon Gold potatoes.  Includes diced bacon, beef bordelaise, sauteed mushrooms, roasted corn, shredded sharp cheddar, cream fraiche and brown sugar.
• Champagne Bar
• Pound Cake Bar with old fashioned pound cake with raspberry and hot fudge served a la mode with hand scouped vanilla ice cream.
• Coffee Bar
• A 20’s signature style drink from the bar, which is included.

When:

March 19, 2010  from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. Tickets are $65 per person and include everything listed above (dinner, drinks and entertainment). Reservations are required. You will be provided with the secret entrance and password when you call 248-364-6263 to make your reservation. Visit www.meadowbrookhall.org  for more information.

Disclosure: Tickets for this event are being  provided to me for this event. Hopefully I’ll see you there!

Local Mom Creates Successful Photography Biz

Detroit mommy Ally Cohen is a talented photographer who has launched a very successful photography business.  Her portraits of families, children, celebrations, and more are absolutely stunning!  Clients truly receive one of a kind service.  Visit Frameable Faces website for more information and to see the gorgeous work featured in the galleries.  www.frameablefaces.com

About Frameable Faces:

Ally Cohen has always had an eye for detail and an optimistic outlook – which is a perfect fit for photography. Until the birth of her daughter Lacey in 1999, Ally had wanted to be in front of the camera, working in broadcast and related media. But when she took one look at her beautiful baby girl, she knew that behind the camera she would be snapping pristine, perfect shots to record all the fleeting moments of her growing family’s life.  “Photography is the ultimate keepsake,” says Ally, “You take one shot, capture that moment, and a few minutes later another opportunity arises. How could we possibly remember all of those wonderful, doting but ultimately blurring moments if not for pictures?

So Frameable Faces was created in 1999 to offer a wide array of photographic services for families, professionals, corporations, and schools. The West Bloomfield-based business is driven by Ally’s passion as a multi-faceted photographer who loves showing people how beautiful they really are through exquisite photography.  Frameable Faces specializes in custom photography, designing each setting, focus and theme according to the client’s wishes and goals. From children’s portraiture and family photographs to special event packages (including weddings, bar mitzvahs, communions, and graduations) and on-location corporate pictures, Frameable Faces does what its title suggests: presents every face in an utterly “Frameable” way.

Ally Cohen lives in West Bloomfield, Michigan, with her husband, Doug, their supremely photogenic children, Lacey and Tony, and an infinite number of lurking pets.

Partake in a Swanky Soiree at Meadow Brook Hall

I don’t know what it is about Meadow Brook Hall, but the magic seems to come alive when entering the home, once inhabited by Matilda Wilson Dodge and Alfred Wilson and their children.

It could be the intriguing history or the magnificant surroundings one encounters while in the 88,000 square foot mansion.  Whatever it may be, it will leave you wanting more!

You are invited to a swanky soiree at Meadow Brook Hall on March 19. Upon revealing the password, patrons will be granted access to the Speakeasy at a secret entrance that will be disclosed at the time of their reservation.

Patrons will partake in bootleg beverages and a 1920s inspired strolling dinner, while being entertained by the jazz group “Birds on Wire.” In keeping with the 1920s tradition, guests will also have the opportunity to get their palms or tarot cards read. Also included in the evening will be touring and a live performance of the famed flapper dance the Charleston.

A mini exhibit from the archives of Meadow Brook Hall will be on display that evening. Guests will also have an opportunity to learn about prohibition in Michigan and how it affected every level of society including the Dodge-Wilson family.

The evening begins at 7pm and runs until 10pm. Tickets are $65 per person and include dinner, drinks and entertainment. Reservations are required. The secret entrance and password will be revealed when you call 248-364-6263 to make your reservation. For more information on upcoming events at The Hall visit meadowbrookhall.org.

It was “Party Time” on Ice at the Palace

It was one party after another at Disney on Ice “Let’s Celebrate” at the Palace of Auburn Hills!

The Disney characters celebrated Christmas, an Un-Birthday, Valentine’s Day, Halloween and more!  My daughters (ages 3 1/2 and 6) were glued to their seats!

A few suggestions:

• Eat before the show.  A bucket of popcorn and two lemonades in keepsakes cups: $32
• Remember parking is $10
• Buy a few goodies at the Disney Store and hide them in your purse.  When the kids see all the merchandise for sale that is WAY overpriced, pull a goodie out of your “stash” that cost you a fraction of the price of what is sold at the event.
• It’s not freezing.  Dress as you normally would.  Princess dresses optional.
• Get a potty break in before the show starts…you don’t want to miss anything!  There is an intermission, but everybody else is scrambling to grab food and a potty break as well.
• Have fun!  Our entire family enjoyed the show!

Tickets for Disney On Ice presents Let’s Celebrate! are available at the Palace of Auburn Hills Box Office, all Ticketmaster locations, The Palace Locker Room Stores and www.ticketmaster.com. To order tickets by phone, call 1-800-745-3000.

Show dates/times: Wednesday, Feb. 24 and Thursday, Feb. 25 at 7:30 p.m., Friday, Feb. 26 at 11 a.m. and 7:30 p.m., Saturday, Feb. 27 at 11:30 a.m.; 3:30 p.m.; and 7:30 p.m. and Sunday, Feb. 28 at 11:30 a.m. and 3:30 p.m.

Tickets start at $15. All seats are reserved. For group rates and information, call 248-377-8638.

Disclosure: Disney on Ice tickets were provided to me for review. The opinions expressed in this post are mine and mine alone and are not influenced in any way by anyone.

Disney on Ice Starts Tomorrow!

My family and I will be attending the premier of Disney on Ice “Let’s Celebrate” this Wednesday, February 24,2010.  This will be the fourth Disney on Ice  performance that we have attended and the second at the Palace of Auburn Hills.

We started going when my oldest was around 3 yrs old and now she is 6 and she still loves it!

Tickets for Disney On Ice presents Let’s Celebrate! are available at the Palace of Auburn Hills Box Office, all Ticketmaster locations, The Palace Locker Room Stores and www.ticketmaster.com. To order tickets by phone, call 1-800-745-3000.

Show dates/times: Wednesday, Feb. 24 and Thursday, Feb. 25 at 7:30 p.m., Friday, Feb. 26 at 11 a.m. and 7:30 p.m., Saturday, Feb. 27 at 11:30 a.m.; 3:30 p.m.; and 7:30 p.m. and Sunday, Feb. 28 at 11:30 a.m. and 3:30 p.m.

Tickets start at $15. All seats are reserved. For group rates and information, call 248-377-8638.

Empty Bowls Mean Empty Tummys

It breaks my heart to know that a child somewhere has an empty tummy and is hungry.

As a way to help combat hunger, enjoy a simple meal of soup and bread over music for a $10 donation.  You will also take home a decorated bowl to remind you that someone’s bowl is always empty.

Proceeds from the event will benefit Gleaners Community Food Bank.

The event will be held at Assumption Cultural Center  from noon-2 p.m. on Sunday, February 28,2010.

Assumption Cultural Center
21800 Marter Road
St. Clair Shores, MI
586-779-6111

Win a Retail Therapy Package!!!!

The Village of Rochester Hills and the Royal Park Hotel are offering an exclusive Retail Therapy Package during the month of February. Priced at just $ 179 per night, the Retail Therapy Package includes:

• Royal Executive King accommodations
• two martinis in The Commons Lounge at the Royal Park Hotel
• a $ 50 gift card and a stylish savings bag full of great offers from the Village of Rochester Hills
• a complimentary one-hour pampering facial with a Lancome Beauty Adviser at Parisian.

The bundled offer is perfect for a little getaway, a romantic night for two, or even some quality time with the girls.

This shop and stay experience offers style, luxury, and unparalleled service with the complimentary shuttle service provided by the Royal Park Hotel upon request at the concierge desk.

“We are thrilled to be partnering with the Royal Park Hotel”, said Village Marketing Manager, Jessica Presner. “People can take a little vacation to re-energize without the hassles of travel,” she said, “It is a great value, the pampering treatment alone is valued at $ 100.”

The Royal Park Hotel is a four-star, four-diamond hotel, located just a few minutes away from the Village of Rochester Hills. All Royal Park rooms are furnished with oversize California king beds, luxurious linens featuring wonderfully warm and sumptuous Egyptian cotton, down duvets, and huge down-stuffed pillows. Guests can enjoy The Commons Lounge with live entertainment on Friday and Saturday nights, and wake-up to complimentary morning coffee and newspapers in front of the fireplace in the elegant library each morning. For more information or to make a reservation call (248) 652-2600.

To Purchase Your Own

The Retail Therapy Package is $179 and can be purchased by calling (248)652-2600.

Prize

One lucky winner will receive the entire Retail Therapy Package (worth $339)!  Winner will be notified via email and will need to respond within 24 hours or a new winner will be chosen.

Entry Requirements

To enter for a chance to win, you are required to do the following two things. Make sure to leave a comment here after each entry requirement:

1. Become a Facebook fan of The Village of Rochester Hills (here) and leave a comment telling them what your favorite shop is in the Village of Rochester Hills.  Come back to Detroit Mommies and leave a comment that you completed the requirement.
2. Become a Facebook fan of the Royal Park Hotel (here).  Leave a comment on their fan page telling them why you need a vacation stay at their hotel.  Come back to Detroit Mommies and leave a comment that you completed the requirement.

For Extra Entries:

1. Tweet about this contest on Twitter.  Multiple tweets count.  Leave a comment with tweet url after each tweet.
2. Post this contest on your Facebook page.  Come back and leave a comment.
3. Blog about this contest linking back to Detroit Mommies.  This entry is worth 5 entries.  Leave a separate comment for each entry numbering #1, #2, #3, ect

The Fine Print

No purchase necessary to enter. Winners will be selected randomly through http://random.org. Detroit Mommies writers and contributors are ineligible to participate.  Entries that do not follow all of the entry requirements will not be considered.  Open to participants in the US and Canada 18 years and older. One entry per person.  Contest ends February 15, 2010 at 11:59:59 p.m. EST.

Disclosure: I am being compensated to run this contest. The opinions expressed in this post are mine and mine alone and are not influenced in any way by anyone.

Winners info:

Random Integer Generator

Here are your random numbers:

26

Timestamp: 2010-02-16 14:12:57 UTC

Jamie Tenbusch says:

I completed the requirement!!! I became a friend of the Royal Park Hotel and commented on why I need a vacation stay. : )

Celebrate Valentine’s Day at the Edsel and Eleanor Ford House

The Edsel & Eleanor Ford House presents an “Enchanted Evening”  from 5-9 p.m. on Saturday, Feb .13. Celebrate Valentine’s Day with a romantic dinner and tour of the of the estate in Grosse Pointe Shores.

Live piano music, wine and roses set the romantic scene where guests will enjoy a gourmet dinner starting with mixed greens with grape tomatoes, caramelized onion, toasted pine nuts, crumbled blue cheese and sherry vinaigrette. The main course is a savory filet mignon wrapped in a puff pastry with mushroom duxelle and topped with a bordelaise sauce or a fresh salmon filet topped with a light buerre blanc sauce. The meal is topped off with a decadent white and dark chocolate mousse torte.

Following dinner, guests will tour the magnificent home during an elegant candlelit evening tour.

An “Enchanted Evening” is $45 per person ($40 for members) and reservations are required. Tickets can be purchased by calling (313) 844-4222.

Meet Detroit Mommy and Author Patty O’Brien Novak

Children’s book author and Engineering Presenter Patty O’Brien Novak shares her motivating story on how she went from engineer, to stay at home mom, to writing her own book.  Be sure to visit her site to learn more about her great new children’s book, Engineering the ABC’s. www.pattyobriennovak.com.

Patty shares her story:

My working years: After college, I moved to Michigan to work at Ford as a Product Development Engineer and a Design & Release Engineer. I worked at Ford for 11 years when I decided to switch to “domestic” engineering and stayed at home to raise my 2 young children.  Now I’m venturing in a new direction with publishing my 1st book and presenting fun and interactive presentations about engineering to young school children.

My family years: I have been married to Rob for 13+ years and we have two wonderful children, Drew and Anna.  Drew was my inspiration for the book, and Anna was my book writing bud.  Anna went with me to meetings with my editor, publisher and illustrator. By 5 years old, she had watched the entire book writing process and would often give me hugs of encouragement and tell me “I’m proud of you, Momma.”

My writing years: I have always enjoyed writing, especially poetry. I have always  loved to read and love to read to my children.  The inspiration for my book came from my son Drew.  At 4 years old, Drew proclaimed that “scientists build the space shuttle, Mommy.”  When I offered “scientists along with engineers,” he replied “no, just scientists.”  How could my young son think that engineers had no part in the space shuttle when he was being raised by two engineers?!

I started looking at his books, tv shows and videos.  Engineers were not mentioned anywhere, not even on the NASA channel!  How was it that engineers had a part in producing these very books, tv shows and videos that failed to mention them?

Thus began my book and it was meant to be.  The thoughts and ideas poured out of me and into the computer.  I never dreamed I would ever write a book, but I am glad I did.

A New Boutique Joins the Village of Rochester Hills

Francesca’s Collections, one of the country’s fastest-growing women’s fashion retailers in the country, opened their first and only Michigan boutique at the Village of Rochester Hills on Monday, February 1, 2010. Located on Village Main Street between Aéropostale and Moosejaw, the new boutique features an eclectic variety of women’s fashion, accessories, and gifts. Francesca’s hand picked merchandise is inspired by beautiful luxuries found around the world and is always a step ahead of the trend.
Francesca’s Collections is located in over 28 States across the country. Each boutique has its own charm, which means you’re sure to find something special and unique at each one. “We are truly excited to have located our first boutique in Michigan at the Village of Rochester Hills,” said Clary Groen, Vice President of Real Estate for Francesca’s.  ”This is a development that caters to the fashion-forward woman who is our core customer, and we are looking forward to a long-standing presence in the Rochester Hills community.”

“Francesca’s Collections will be a terrific addition to the Village,” said Aikens. “It is a privilege to be the home for the first Michigan store for this dynamic and fast-growing retailer, particularly at a time when many companies are putting growth plans on hold. The center is a true community destination, as well as a valuable location for retailers that are looking to expand.”

The Village of Rochester Hills brings fashion, dining and ambiance together to create Rochester Hills’ very own downtown. From Parisian to Whole Foods Market and fifty more shops and eateries, there is something for everyone. With parking available in front of your favorite store, shopping the Village is easy and convenient. The Village is open Monday through Saturday from 10:00am to 9:00pm and Sundays from 12:00pm to 6:00pm. Village gift cards are available at Whole Foods Market or online at www.thevorh.com.

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