The recent bombshell announcement from The Community House (TCH) is the loudest wake-up call imaginable. The venerable Community House, center of Birmingham for over 100 years, is going to close and the organization morphed into a fundraiser-foundation for good causes. This follows the catastrophic era of the current board and former director William Seklar. But the collapse of TCH is just one of several issues barreling down on Birmingham like freight trains. The newly elect

I would like to clear up a few misunderstandings in the narrative put forth by Ms. Jayne and Ms. Gaudreau in a recent Downtown article. Setting up a new foundation to serve other non-profits and selling the House to fund it is a complete departure from The Community House’s original mission.   Since the beginning, all charitable activities were either carried out on the House premises or by other non-profit, philanthropic/and or civic organizations that met on the premises. 

Birmingham has long been known for its civic pride and community spirit, for neighbors who show up, volunteer, and work together to make this city an extraordinary place to live. That’s why the recent debate surrounding the future of 400 East Lincoln, the former YMCA building, has felt so disheartening. Somewhere along the way, the conversation has shifted from collaboration to competition, from “how do we build this together?” to “who wins and who loses?” But anyone who has

Thank you so much for the Faces article by Katey Meisner in the November Downtown Newsmagazine. A lot of people definitely read your magazine because I have been hearing from many of them since that piece came out. It was so kind of you to include this feature at this time.  I’ve already had one speaking engagement and a noticeable increase in book sales of  Remarkable Women of Oakland County  since the article was published. Lawrence Tech was so happy to see the article that

On the one-year anniversary of purchasing Tiffany Florist in Birmingham, owners Michael Fraley and Brent Grant have announced plans to expand to a new location. The new shop will be located just two short blocks south of the original store — moving from 784 S. Old Woodward Avenue to 980 S. Old Woodward Avenue, the former home of Bridal Couture. They plan to move into the new space in January 2026. The new store will be roughly twice the size of the current shop and will fe

Highline Trading , owned by Calvin Kashat and Brandon Murad , has opened its new location at 135 N. Old Woodward Avenue in Birmingham. The luxury retailer, which has served clients for nearly five years by appointment only in West Bloomfield, specializes in both new and pre-owned high-end watches, fine jewelry, and new designer handbags. Highline Trading offers an impressive selection of luxury watch brands, including Rolex, Patek Philippe, Audemars Piguet, Tudor, Omega, Car

REDVANLY , a leader in premium performance golf and lifestyle apparel, has opened its newest retail location at 203 E. Maple Road in downtown Birmingham. This marks the company’s third standalone store, joining existing locations in San Francisco and West Palm Beach. In addition to its retail stores, the REDVANLY brand is available in more than 3,200 country clubs nationwide. The Birmingham store officially opened to the public on Saturday, November 15, signaling another new

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