Troy – April 17, 2019

by Eric | Apr 17, 2019 | Troy News

Dear Friends,

I’m honored to be the new editor of City News. Through City News I’m hoping to connect with each of you, to bring you closer to your community and maybe even tempt you to try something new.

Supporting local businesses is so important to a thriving community. Often, it’s the small business owners who support school functions, civic clubs and sponsor city events.

These entrepreneurs are critical to the health and wellbeing of our communities. It’s wonderful to support these folks and I hope you’ll join me in celebrating them through City News.

I’d like to know what bits of info interest you the most: Upcoming events? New businesses? A little of everything?

Reach out!
Rebecca Calappi
citynewseditor@localbiznews.net

Beaumont Hospital Baby Fairs

New and expectant parents, and their family and friends, are invited to attend Beaumont Children’s annual baby fairs. These free events will feature life-saving demonstrations, Beaumont’s experts and experienced parents sharing parenting advice, as well as mom and baby-friendly vendors featuring the latest children’s products and toys.

“Our new-parent support program is a free, one-stop resource that provides extensive support and education to first-time parents through experienced, trained parent volunteers,” said Kelly Ryan, Beaumont Parenting Program director. “Our volunteers are parents themselves and understand what it’s like to suddenly be caring for a brand-new person.”

The baby fair at Beaumont Hospital, Royal Oak, will be April 6, inside the hospital’s south entrance, 3601 W. Thirteen Mile Road. The baby fair at Beaumont Hospital, Troy will be April 27 inside the Beaumont Outpatient Services Center Atrium, 44250 Dequindre Road, in Sterling Heights, across the street from the hospital. Each event runs from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Baby fair highlights include contest prizes, refreshments, mom and baby-friendly vendors, educational information, new parent information sessions, comfort measures for labor, and birth and breastfeeding basics. Car seat safety checks will also be offered at the Troy location from noon to 3 p.m.

“We host these annual baby fairs to help women, babies and their families be healthy in all stages of life,” Ryan said.

Oakland County Farmers Market

Farmers market season is starting up, and the Oakland County Farmers Market is no exception. Make your shopping list and head to 2350 Pontiac Lake Road in Waterford. The hours are 7 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. every Saturday through the end of April. Beginning May 2, the market will be open from 7 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday. For details, call 248-858-5495.

Rebecca Calappi

City News Editor

citynewseditor@localbiznews.net

To share your news, announcements, and events, please email citynewseditor@localbiznews.net

← Troy - March 27, 2019 Troy - April 22, 2019 →

Clawson – April 17, 2019

by Eric | Apr 17, 2019 | Clawson News

Dear Friends,

I’m honored to be the new editor of City News. Through City News I’m hoping to connect with each of you, to bring you closer to your community and maybe even tempt you to try something new.

Supporting local businesses is so important to a thriving community. Often, it’s the small business owners who support school functions, civic clubs and sponsor city events.

These entrepreneurs are critical to the health and wellbeing of our communities. It’s wonderful to support these folks and I hope you’ll join me in celebrating them through City News.

I’d like to know what bits of info interest you the most: Upcoming events? New businesses? A little of everything?

Reach out!
Rebecca Calappi
citynewseditor@localbiznews.net

Oakland County Farmers Market

Acting Class for Kids

If you have a little drama king or queen, sign them up for an acting workshop through Acting Out Kids Community Theatre. The next workshop is Friday, April 26, from 7 to 9 p.m. at the Hunter Community Center in Clawson. Classes are geared for kids ages 7 to 18 and cost $10 per child. Advance registration is required. To register, please contact actingoutkids@yahoo.com. For information visit actingoutkidscommunitytheatre.org.

Support Your Local Yarn Store on Yarn Store Day April 27

Local Yarn Store Day is a brick and mortar shop appreciation day created by the TNNA Yarn Group. This year, Local Yarn Store Day will take place on April 27 to show support for small businesses, while bringing together a unique community of knitters, crocheters, weavers and spinners to drive awareness and celebrate the craft. Vendors and retailers alike are coming together to showcase the benefits of locally owned yarn stores through an array of special products, classes and more! Visit The Yarn Stop at 25 South Main Street in Clawson.

Rebecca Calappi

City News Editor

citynewseditor@localbiznews.net

To share your news, announcements, and events, please email citynewseditor@localbiznews.net

← Clawson - March 27, 2019 Clawson - April 22, 2019 →

Birmingham – April 17, 2019

by Eric | Apr 17, 2019 | Birmingham News

Dear Friends,

I’m honored to be the new editor of City News. Through City News I’m hoping to connect with each of you, to bring you closer to your community and maybe even tempt you to try something new.

Supporting local businesses is so important to a thriving community. Often, it’s the small business owners who support school functions, civic clubs and sponsor city events.

These entrepreneurs are critical to the health and wellbeing of our communities. It’s wonderful to support these folks and I hope you’ll join me in celebrating them through City News.

I’d like to know what bits of info interest you the most: Upcoming events? New businesses? A little of everything?

Reach out!
Rebecca Calappi
citynewseditor@localbiznews.net

Be Part of the Parade

The Celebrate Birmingham Hometown Parade will march into town on Sunday, May 19, at 1 p.m. The community is invited to participate by marching in the parade, volunteering or being a spectator.

Civic organizations, community groups, local businesses, clubs, associations, dance teams, scout troops, children and adults of all ages are cordially invited to march in the parade. Download the Parade Participant Registration form at www.bhamgov.org/parade. Volunteer for this year’s parade event by completing the Volunteer Registration Form at www.bhamgov.org/parade.

Birmingham Welcomes willow and fernn

willow and fernn, is a lifestyle boutique located at 528 North Old Woodward. The store, across from Booth Park, is open Monday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., with extended hours until 8 p.m. every Thursday.

Within the walls of willow and fernn, shoppers will find women’s clothing, jewelry, home decor, gifts and a bath salt bar with salts from around the world. Owner and clinical aromatherapist Vicki Blazier also features an aromatherapy bar for shoppers to enjoy.

Oakland County Farmers Market

Rebecca Calappi

City News Editor

citynewseditor@localbiznews.net

To share your news, announcements, and events, please email citynewseditor@localbiznews.net

← Birmingham - March 27, 2019 Birmingham - April 22, 2019 →

Cannelle Patisserie Offers a Little Slice of Paris in Birmingham

by Eric | Apr 10, 2019 | Birmingham, Cannelle Patisserie, LBN Community Series

Cannelle Patisserie Offers Up a Slice of Paris in Birmingham

APRIL 2019

BY REBECCA CALAPPI

LBN Community Series
Birmingham

In an unassuming building in Birmingham, is nestled Cannelle Patisserie, filled with fresh, tempting French desserts, pastry and coffee.

On an early Saturday morning, the shop already has a steady stream of customers lining up for flakey croissants, pain au chocolat, savory rolls and fresh bread. Matt Knio, owner, greets employees and customers with the same warm smile—handshakes for some, hugs for others.

MATT KNIO

OWNER, CANNELLE PATISSERIE
(Second from Left)

How Knio’s life story led him to Birmingham is worthy of grabbing a cup of coffee and pastry and sitting down to listen.

He grew up in Lebanon and left home when he was 17 to take a job he knew nothing about—farming cocoa in Ivory Coast.

“My job was to maintain the quality and the volume of the cocoa beans,” Knio said. “Slowly, I made it to manager. It was really hard to accept the job because it was in the middle of the forest.”

By middle of the forest, he means nine hours from the capitol by dirt road.

“After the war in Ivory Coast, I was forced to leave, if not for the war, I would still be there,” Knio, 44, said. “I went to France. I wanted to do something related to something I understand, which is cocoa. I wasn’t planning on being a pastry chef.”

He took a job with a woman who had a pastry shop. She recognized his talent and urged him to pursue it.

He went to the Académie de Versailles. Additionally, the woman he worked for knew a master pastry chef, who took him on.

“I worked and I went to school. I spent about five years with him and I took the same diploma as his,” said Knio.

“The people are really nice, and the food is fabulous…but I’m not sure about telling you how fabulous it is because more people will come here.”

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After working for several large chocolate companies, he took a job as head pastry chef at the Ritz-Carleton in Dearborn. After a year, he decided to strike out on his own, so he established his first shop on Northwestern Highway. However, business wasn’t thriving.

“I struggled bigtime,” said Knio. “I stayed for two years. I decided to move somewhere with more activity and more people.”

That led him to downtown Birmingham. But his heart was in wholesale, not retail. In 2008, he closed in Birmingham and went wholesale in Hamtramck.

“I was wholesale completely for about four to five years. I didn’t do any retail until a friend of mine, who owns this plaza, said, ‘Matt, you have to open a place.’ I told him I didn’t want to but, he said, ‘You do the product, I’ll manage the store.’ We opened this six years ago, and it was a success from day one,” said Knio.

Today, walking into Cannelle Patisserie is a delight to the senses. The name alone is melodic.

“When I was working for my boss in France, we made a cake that was called cannelle, which means ‘cinnamon’ in French. But I chose the name because I like the sound of it,” said Knio.

The pastry cases are full of tasty works of art, glossy with glazes and puffed with cream.

“The majority of the recipes are my own,” Knio said. “I get ideas from different places, but I execute it the way I want. Eighty to 85% of my work is my own creation. Even a simple, traditional pastry that’s been made the same for years and years, you’ll find tastes different when I make it.”

For the last few years, Frank Lee of Troy, has been making Cannelle Patisserie a regular stop in his daily routine.

“My favorite thing here is the people,” said Lee. “It’s good when I’m out with work and have someone with me, I’ll bring them by.”

David Levin of Birmingham also frequents Cannelle Patisserie with his brother.

“The people are really nice, and the food is fabulous,” he said. “But I’m not sure about telling you how fabulous it is because more people will come here.”