The schedule is as follows:

Have you been to the Double Olive lately? You just might be pleasantly surprised how it’s changed lately. The martini bar, located at 22027 Michigan Avenue, has experienced a bit of a renaissance—the bar’s interior recently got a rockin' facelift, live music is now an intrinsic part of the patio in the summer, and, oh yeah, the crowds are boomin'!

Much of these changes can be attributed to new blood coming in, so to speak: Steve Guibord, 35 of Dearborn, became owner of the 13-year-old watering hole back in May, and with new blood comes new life.

“I always wanted to own a bar,” Guibord told me recently. And his enthusiasm for bar-ownership is helping to make the Double O the “place to be” in west Dearborn. Guibord’s intention was to “create a cocktail lounge atmosphere with great drinks and good people.”

And the new sense of energy around the bar has kept the place hopping this summer. Dearborn’s Homecoming weekend, August 6-8, was completely off-the-chain. Gorgeous people flocked to the Double O for live music from Joint Chiefs, Junction Groove and Painted White, as well as some dance floor action from DJs Dean, Donny and Frankie Bank$.

“Hottest place in Dearborn,” customer Kerrie Santo, of Allen Park, told me on Saturday night of Homecoming weekend. “We’ve been coming here (after Homecoming) for the past three years and this is the most fun it’s ever been. Great crowd.”

Looking to eat healthier? Go green? Get raw? Or maybe you’re just curious about how it’s even possible to maintain an entirely raw or “living” diet. Then come check out a lecture by award-winning author and raw food expert Victoria Boutenko at the Dearborn Hills Golf Course, 1300 S Telegraph Road, Thursday, August 19.

Boutenko has authored a number of books about healthy, raw diets, including “Green for Life” and “Green Smoothie Revolution: The Radical Leap Toward Natural Health.” She’ll have books for sale at the event.

In addition to her books, Boutenko is a teacher, inventor, researcher, artist and mother of three. In 1994, The Boutenko family, also known as The Raw Family (and the subject of her book “The Raw Family: A True Story of Awakening”), became seriously ill. Victoria sought out alternative health paths and discovered the raw food lifestyle which enabled the family to gain vibrant health.

Now she travels all over the world sharing her inspiring story and teaching classes on the raw-food diet. Based on the latest scientific research, Boutenko explains the numerous benefits of choosing a diet of fresh rather than cooked foods and the importance of consuming large amounts of leafy greens. Boutenko's most recent and powerful contribution is her research into the nutritional value of greens and the development of green smoothies, which have revolutionized the way people access health, no matter what their dietary or lifestyle choice.

What kind of person goes to Buffalo Wild Wings and orders something besides chicken? A rebel, that’s who. A Maverick. An outsider. Me. Oh yes— I make Sarah Palin look mainstream and sane.

Don’t get me wrong, I love chicken wings at 'B-Dubs,' 22216 Michigan Avenue. But on a recent trip there, something just snapped inside of me. While my dinner companions were figuring out just how hot to get their wing sauce, I found my eyes wandering. Not over to the hottie waiting on table 7, but rather to the hamburger selections at the bottom of the menu.

“Ya know what, guys? I think I’m gonna get a burger,” I said matter-of-factly. Cue the stack of plates crashing in the kitchen, sounds of forks dropping onto the floor as everyone in the restaurant snapped their head in my direction, and the needle being yanked across the record in the jukebox. And then silence.

“What?” one friend whispered to me after several moments. “It’s Buffalo Wild Wings. Wings, man. Wings. If you want to be ‘different,’ can’t you just go with the boneless or something?”

“Hey, I just thought I’d try something different. Especially if I’m going to write a story about BW3, I thought maybe I’d write about something besides the wings. I’m sure everyone knows what their wings taste like, but I think it’s a pretty safe bet that no one in America has ever ordered a burger from here before.”

Chris Houghton covers 'Milton the Monster 1' - Original (left) credit is unknown; Gold Key 1966

It’s always interesting when bands cover other bands’ songs—hearing how one band puts their own “stamp” on a piece of music we’re already familiar with.

So here's the challenge I've been given: To get as much cool stuff as I can at Merchant's Fine Wines, 22250 Michigan Ave, for exactly $100.
 
One-hundred smackers.
 
I thought, "Is this my brithday? Is it Christmas already? I love Merchant's!"

You wanna see what I can buy for $100 at Merchant's Fine Wines? And then have me write about it? Awesome! Bring it on!
 
I mean, really, what's not to love about this place-- booze, rows upon rows of domestic and imported beer and wine, a gourmet deli, snacks and dips and sauces from all over the world, all kinds of cheese and crackers, sweets and seasonings...