Treats: WOW World of Wine, Birmingham

WOW World of Wine

By Ebony Nicole

Want to make someone say "Wow," this holiday season? Well, look no further than the Willits Alley in downtown Birmingham which is now home to Ed Bosse's Wow World of Wine. It is here where you can find the world's finest wines at a reasonable price, and have a memorable experience while making your selections.

This wine world isn't new to Ed Bosse, the former owner of Simply Wine, which was also located in Downtown Birmingham. Bosse returns and joins the ranks of the unique shops in Downtown Birmingham now with an even bigger selection of fine wines. Wow World of Wines is a boutique wine store featuring exotic wine from exotic places in a fun and colorful atmosphere.

Each and every month World of Wine brings its customers the top ten wines in the world. Although their venue puts an emphasis on affordable wines, it is here where you can also find some of the rarest and sought after wine in the world.

Not sure where to begin when it comes to finding the wine that is right for you? World of Wine offers wine tasting events where customers can mix and mingle while sampling a selection of wines from all over the globe.

If the ability to find exclusive international wine isn't enough to lure you in, Ed and the wine experts on hand will walk you through the process of selecting a wine that meets your needs. Customers are also encouraged to taste before they buy.

Creating a wine-tasting environment that was relaxed and welcoming to everyone was one of the goals of the owners. "Wine is fun," said Bosse. "We go to great lengths to find the world's finest boutique wines, up and coming wines, and Napa Superstars at a great price." His love for both wine and the arts is represented in this venue.

Looking for the perfect last minute holiday gift? Wow carries creative holiday-themed wine packages, gift bags, and cases at reasonable price points. With bottles starting at $8, you can definitely find a wine of your choice to help add a little extra cheer to the holiday season. 

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Bingo Pet Salon

Bingo Pet Salon, Royal Oak

By Ebony Nicole 

As a pet lover, I truly believe in treating your pets the way you want to be treated, and at Bingo Pet Salon you have the opportunity to show your pet just how much you care. Owned by Royal Oak resident John Beasley, Bingo Pet Salon is located right in the center of Downtown Royal Oak at 108 w. Fourth Avenue. Bingo not only gives your pets the chance to be pampered, but its various services will give your pooch or cat a style all their own.

The new storefront will immediately catch your eye with the large glass window, allowing you to sneak a peep of the pooches playing and strutting their stuff inside the display area. Once inside, the decor is modern, featuring high exposed ceilings and deep cherry wood floors, giving the venue a chic lofty feel. Bingo also connects to the Royal Oak community by featuring colorful works from local artists on their walls.

As a full service spa salon, manager Kate Burton was able to quickly explain to us what makes Bingo different than traditional pet groomers. Offering a wide array of services to pamper your pet, from the groom spa to the "nailpawish", many of the services offered for pets mirror those of their human counterparts.

The drop off at Bingo is also enticing at this high-end pet salon. As opposed to having to think about what you are going to do while your pet is being serviced, being in the heart of Royal Oak has its perks. There is plenty to do from checking out a movie at Emagine Theater, to dining and even shopping right in walking distance from the salon.

For the owner on the go, Bingo also tends to your pet's needs outside of the salon offering Sit & Stay home boarding and pet sitting. Depending on the needs of your pet, a trained staff member will feed, take your pooch on a walk to the Dog Park, groom, play, complete minimal tasks around your home from taking out the trash to watering plants, and even send you photo updates on your pet via email or text all for a reasonable fee.

In addition to catering to your cat or dog, Bingo Pet Salon is also a proud sponsor of the Royal Oak Animal Shelter and New Beginnings Animal Rescue. Each week the Salon will foster adoptable pets in hopes that someone will find a good home for them, all you have to do is ask one of their friendly staff members for adoption details. There will also be a New Beginnings Giving Tree which serves as a drop off for pet food which then goes to families that need help with feeding their pets this time of year.

So in following Saturday's "Shop Local" theme, we suggest you check out the new Bingo Pet Salon and let them cater to you and your pet's needs. Your pet will feel safe and right at home as soon as they walk in.

Address

108 W 4th St, Royal Oak

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Eats: Bella Piatti, Birmingham

Bella Piatti, Birmingham

By Ebony Nicole

Bella Piatti is the newest addition to Downtown Birmingham's dining scene and it's adding a taste of Italy to the Bistro game. The Vanhellmont's, who also own Birmingham's Tallulah Wine Bistro, have opened up Bella Piatti right across from the Townsend Hotel.

Placing an emphasis on locally grown products, and food items imported from northern Italy including wines, spices, and olive oils. This bistro adds an intimate Italian feel to bistro style dining here in Metro Detroit. 

As soon as you enter Bella Piatti you can't help but notice the sophistication of the Italian themed decor. Exposed metal ceilings create a modern feel and the layout is cozy creating the perfect setting for dining, conversation, and for enjoying one of their many shareable dishes. This is what the social dining experience is all about. 

So, what is social dining? The friendly staff at Bella Piatti were able to inform us of the newest dining trend to arrive in the Detroit area. Social Dining is when an atmosphere is created which encourages a group of people to come together and share their meals. The goal of this style of dining is to connect with others through food. 

In addition to traditional dining tables adorned by soft lighting. Bella Piatti also has two bars to choose from. There is a bar for spirits and a charcuterie bar where you can view and dine on cold appetizers being made in front of you. 

The sophistication of the decor overlaps onto the food menu as well. Chef Daniel Campbell adds his own twist to modern Italian cuisine. Everything from the appetizers to the desserts are bursting with flavor and filled with distinctive ingredients. Customers have a variety of starters to choose from, pasta dishes of a sizeable portion, and several meats to please your palate. 

The drink menu is also well done featuring Italian inspired cocktails handcrafted with quality ingredients. A wine menu follows suit featuring many wines directly imported from Italy that are perfect for pairing with your meal. It should also be noted that the beer list has Italian-brewed ales and lagers as well. 

If you are looking for an out of the ordinary dining experience to enjoy with others, look no further than Bella Piatti. Adding, sophistication and social dining to the Birmingham restaurant culture this is definitely a place you must see for yourself. Be sure to make a reservation as this venue has quickly turned into quite the local hotspot.

Address

167 Townsend St, Birmingham

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Detroit Lions, Justin Durant

Justin Durant, Detroit Lions

By Ebony Nicole for After 5 Detroit Fall 2011

The Detroit Lions are making their city proud this season with a good chance of making the playoffs. We sat down with new Lions linebacker, Justin Durant, to get his insights on the team, Detroit and life in general.

Born in Florence, South Carolina, Justin's earliest childhood memories center around football. At the age of eight. Justin started playing football and he quickly realized that he had a gift. He and his team were much more advanced and talented than the competition and they had easy wins. This was also when he won his first championship.

Justin went on to attend Hampton University in Virginia. He remembers his college years as being a great experience, during which his team won three championships in a row, and he was named the defensive player of the year three years in a row. These accolades made college especially fun and memorable.

Justin's NFL career began with the Jacksonville Jaguars, where he played from 2007-2011. Then he was recruited by the Lions. For Durant, it felt great to be recruited and he was anxious to see what it would be like to start fresh and play for a new organization.

Since he arrived in Detroit and joined the Lions he has been embraced by everyone from the players to the coaches to the fans. His transition has been smooth.

When describing the overall culture of the Lions team this year, Justin says team youthfulness is on the rise, but the team also has smart leadership and veteran players. This helps everyone stay focused and on the same page with the same goals. Their ultimate goal is the playoffs.

So how does Justin get mentally and physically prepared before a game? To prepare himself mentally, he watches the films, he studies, and he reads his notes. And then he studies some more. Justin says, "People don't see behind the scenes that we work very hard to get the results everyone sees on Sunday." The entire team gets their minds right the whole week. Justin describes the process as rigorous, and he along with his teammates prides themselves on winning the game and aiming to get better each week.

Although athletes have different routines, for Justin, the weight room, extra running drills and exercises are his main areas of focus during and after practice to get him physically prepared for the game. "The biggest thing you have to do also is take care of your body, including weekly massages and chiropractic visits to keep your body aligned and in the best possible shape for Sunday because it takes a toll after every game", says Justin.

We asked Justin about his personal goals. "It's simple", he said, "team first and do whatever it takes and is asked of me to make the team successful this season. However, within the team goals I'd like to achieve this year 100+ sacks coupled with some sacks and interceptions leading to a Pro-Bowl nod representing Detroit." It appears he is man with goals that he is dead set on achieving.
When Justin is not on the field it's no surprise that he likes to find time to relax after practice by downloading music and watching movies. Justin also enjoys interacting with fans via Twitter, tweeting about random happenings that he finds amusing or commenting on hot topics of the day.Click to follow him.

With everything happening so fast, Justin has focused everything on the season and has not really had the pleasure of going out in our great city. However, he looks forward to enjoying everything Detroit has to offer in food, music, and entertainment when he finally gets some free time, which hopefully will not be until after the Lions have won the Super Bowl.

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Barrio Tacos & Tequila

Barrio Tacos & Tequila

By Ebony Nicole 

There's a new eatery in Birmingham that is bringing a unique twist to your average tacos so we stopped byBarrio Tacos and Tequila for a little taste testing.

Located in the former Quattro Pizzeria and Wine bar Barrios has given this location a huge makeover. The setting is now energetic and colorful, and has a traditional modern dining area and a lively bar. Murals by the graffiti artist, Acamonchi decorate the space giving it an upbeat urban feel.

It should come as no surprise that Barrio's menu is upscale. This
restaurant specializes in traditional and contemporary Mexican themed cuisine while capturing the essence and flavors of Latin America. Along with delectable entrees, Barrio's also has a full signature drink menu, and as to be expected, offers a lot of tequila.

The name "Barrio" is Spanish for 'neighborhood' and it stands alone as Downtown Birmingham's only Mexican restaurant adding flavor to the dining and nightlife scene. Barrios offers dine-in, takeout, catering, delivery and outdoor seating for your convenience. Whether you are planning an intimate dinner or a casual gathering, Barrio is the ideal place for both. 

Recommended Dishes: 
*Colombian Rock Shrimp Ceviche
*Oyster Nachos
*Pork Tacos
*Conchinita Pibil Enchiladas 

Address

203 Hamilton Row, Birmingham

Click here to view their website!

All That Jazz! Metro Detroit's Ben Sharkey

Ben Sharkey

By Ebony Nicole

It is no secret that Metro Detroit is a hotbed of unique musical talent. This week I had the pleasure of sitting down with Ben Sharkey, a musical performance artist who has been causing quite a stir around Metro Detroit. Inspired by his own family's musical roots, Sharkey's mix of R&B, jazz, and soul is one that you ought to become familiar with.

Ben has shown a love for music all his life. Growing up Stockbridge, MI in a household where his mother sang and his Grandfather owned a live music bar in Flint, you could say that musical talent was in his blood. As a youngster Ben was constantly singing along with the radio, and playing the family piano.

Inspired by R&B at an early age, Ben became a fan of artists like Toni Braxton, Jon B, and Stevie Wonder. Although Ben always wanted to be a musician, achieving this dream had its challenges and money was one of them. After a stint in New York, Ben, with his mother's advice, decided it made more sense to take the college route and focus on his other passion which is Art.

As soon as Ben graduated he began to take singing seriously. "It's best to do it when you're young." Young and driven Ben started to post videos of himself singing original songs and covers on YouTube and he soon became a sensation, racking up tons of hits and garnering a lot of attention. This then led to Ben being offered opportunities to perform at top venues.

The Motor City has been good to Ben. As he puts it, "Detroit is the perfect place for an up-and-coming musician to get started and make a name for themselves." One of Ben's most memorable experiences so far happened last year when he opened at the Royal Oak Music Theater for acclaimed soul superstar Robin Thicke.

Ben's describes his shows as having a jazzy vibe. "The reason I like jazz is because of the sophistication of it." Ben places an emphasis not only on the music but also on the appearance of himself and his band. Not only a jazz musician, Ben also fuses his R & B roots into his music and is a songwriter as well.

Singing classic renditions, original works and also doing jazz versions of pop songs comes naturally to Ben and it's his risk-taking and creative performance style that allows him to stand out.



For more information on Ben's upcoming show's, and to get your hands on his hot new album visit his website below.

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Eats: The Rattlesnake Club

Rattlesnake Club

By Ebony Nicole

For over 20 years the Rattlesnake Club has been known for its elegance and outstanding cuisine. Located directly off of the Detroit River with magnificent views, this restaurant has so much to offer and the summer season is the perfect time to enjoy it all.

Bask in the riverfront views while dining on their spacious terrace patio or indoors at their new chic lounge. 

During the summer months, Chef Chris Franz has put a special Terrace and Grill menu together, featuring flavorful small plates at a reasonable cost. When it gets too hot, venture indoors to the lounge and have bartender, Farouk, make you a delicious cocktail that you are sure to enjoy. 

On Friday the Rattlesnake has an amazing happy hour offering food and drink specials that are sure to please your palate. If you are in the mood for extraordinary food and exceptional service in an exquisite atmosphere, find yourself at the Rattlesnake and you will not be disappointed. 

Chef Chris Franz's Dish Picks on Terrace & Grill Menu: *Crispy cheese stuffed olives 
*Pork Carnitas Tacos 
*Southern Cheeseburger Sliders 

Happy Hour Specials *4:00PM-7:00PM Friday 
*$2 Domestic beer bottles 
*$3 Well drinks 
*$4 Wine selections 
*$5 Wall of vodka 
*Complimentary hors d' Oeuvres and Artisan Pizzas 

Click here to view their website!