A new destination for style and design has arrived in Birmingham. Elsa Arms , a consignment and couture boutique, has opened at 34164 Woodward Avenue, just south of Papa Joe’s. The shop is owned and operated by HeeJun Arms , who named the store in honor of her children, Ella and Salter. Originally from Korea, Arms grew up in Michigan before moving to Providence, Rhode Island, where she raised her family and ran a couture women’s clothing store for several years. Her love for

At Playful Pathways , healing begins through play. Founded by licensed mental health therapist Emilee Greenman , the private therapeutic practice at 800 N. Old Woodward Avenue, Suite 210, Birmingham , is dedicated to helping children, teens, and families navigate emotional challenges using the power of play therapy — a specialized form of counseling that allows young people to express themselves through creativity and imagination. “It’s really hard for kids to sit down in a c

Share the Spirit of the Season – It’s Good for You. December is a month filled with holidays that prompt us into a different mindset. A mindset where we try to find time to be more giving and generous, offering deliberate acts of kindness . We may pick-up a shift at a soup kitchen, ring the Salvation Army bell in front of your local store or write a check to your favorite non-profit (which is always welcome). But what if those ac

For over a century, The Community House Association has been a charitable organization built around the idea that the community would come together to learn, celebrate, and give back to those less fortunate. Our organization has grown and adapted over the years to meet the changing needs of Birmingham and the surrounding communities while remaining steadfast in our charitable purpose. In fact, when our founders outgrew their original space, the organization relocated and chan

Every morning at 6:30 a.m., Faith Nguyen practices with her teammates, lifting weights. The Cranbrook Crane freshman is technically the backup kicker for varsity football, but she’s been an integral part of the team. Head Coach Marcus Green sees exactly what he values in a teammate. “What I'm most excited about is her work ethic and how much energy and effort she puts into getting better as a kicker,” Green said. “She seeks out workouts, camps, and is always trying to perfect

Women launched 49 percent of all new businesses this past year, and entrepreneur Susan Berryman is proud to be one of them. Benny’s Eyewear, a Michigan-based startup founded by Berryman, is known for its stylish, affordable reading glasses handcrafted in Italy. With a background as V.P. of Marketing for the designer eyeglass stores SEE Inc., started by Richard Golden, former owner of D.O.C. Optical, Berryman learned “to always look for a better way of doing things.” “He alwa

Ashlie Smith, a science teacher at Cranbrook Kingswood Middle School for girls, recently won the AFA’s (Air and Space Forces Association) Thompson-Mallett National Teacher of the Year award. Her love of science first began in her teenage years. “I just remember my high school experience,” she said. “The teachers in the science department were very hands-on and that’s what drew me in. The teachers had a very enthusiastic way of teaching the subject. That's what made me want to

During the past week we could almost feel a collective sigh of relief in Birmingham when the city commission announced, following a closed door session allowed under the state Open Meetings Act, that the city would be involving itself in the issue of the day – the proposed sale of the iconic building known as The Community House on Bates Street in the downtown area. The Community House on November 3 had announced plans to evolve into the Birmingham Area Community Foundation t

Birmingham's Baldwin Public Library has long been a jewel in the center of the city. It was first established in 1907, through a city referendum, following the formation of the library association in 1869 by Martha Baldwin and 19 others, with 48 volumes. In 1871, the First Methodist Church was purchased on the northwest corner of Bates and Merrill streets, and by 1879 they had 724 books. The cornerstone of the current building was laid in 1927. Today, Baldwin Public Library h

Local police were on high alert since Thursday evening after the Beverly Hills Police Department received a concern submitted through the State of Michigan’s anonymous safety reporting system, OK2Say, relative to Groves High school in the Birmingham Schools district.