DBusiness Daily Update: Bandit Tavern in Royal Oak Opens ‘Christmas Vacation’-themed Bar Today, and More

Our roundup of the latest news from metro Detroit and Michigan businesses as well as announcements from government agencies. To share a business or nonprofit story, please send us a message.

Bandit Tavern in Royal Oak Opens †̃Christmas Vacationâ€TM-themed Car Today

Hideaway Bar, located beneath Bandit Tavern in Royal Oak, is hosting a “National Lampoonâ€TMs Christmas Vacation” pop-up named Griswoldâ€TMs Hideaway, that begins at 5 p.m. today.

“This pop-up is a beaut. A real beaut,” says Kelly VanderEyk, operating partner and general manager, Bandit Tavern and Hideaway. “This is a full-blown, four-alarm holiday emergency here that you donâ€TMt want to miss. Expect enough lights to take out the power grid, tons of tinsel, gaudy décor, holiday music inspired by the movie, Instagramable moments, Jelly of the Month Club giveaways each week, and more.”

The Bandit Tavern and Hideaway crew created an exclusive cocktail list for the pop-up that includes Cousin Eddieâ€TMs Eggnog with the option to purchase a Wally World moose mug, Ellenâ€TMs Mistletoe, Hallelujah! Whereâ€TMs The Tylenol, Exterior Illumination, Uncle Lewisâ€TM Old Fashioned, Sh—erâ€TMs Full, Mele Kalikimaka, Aunt Bethanyâ€TMs Jello Shot, and Little Full, Lotta Sap.

Hideaway Barâ€TMs †̃National Lampoonâ€TMs Christmas Vacationâ€TM pop-up, Griswoldâ€TMs Hideaway, runs Nov. 30-Jan. 6. Hours for the pop-up are Thursdays from 5-10 p.m. and Fridays and Saturdays from 8 p.m.-2 a.m. There is no cover charge to experience the pop up, but guests must be 21 or older. Food is available upstairs at Bandit Tavern.

Movie-themed attire is encouraged, but not required. No cats, dogs, or squirrels allowed.

VIP rooms within the pop-up are available. To reserve, call 248-544-6250.

Visit here for more information.

PNCâ€TMs †̃12 Daysâ€TM Christmas Price Index Rises 2.7%, Less Than the U.S. Consumer Price Index

PNC Bankâ€TMs 40th annual Christmas Price Index (PNC CPI) edged up 2.7 percent, noticeably lower than last yearâ€TMs 10.5 percent increase and less than the Consumer Price Index, which is at 3.7 percent year over year.

The PNC CPI is a light-hearted take on the Bureau of Labor Statisticsâ€TM (BLS) CPI, which measures the change in prices consumers could expect to pay for True Loveâ€TMs gifts, outlined in the classic holiday carol, “The Twelve Days of Christmas.”

Overall, the 12 gifts that compose the PNC CPI increased to $46,729.86 this year.

“The most aggressive Federal Reserve interest rate hiking cycle in history and slowing growth in some of the largest global economies, along with other macroeconomic crosscurrents, have helped lower the PNC CPI compared to recent years,” says Amanda Agati, chief investment officer for PNCâ€TMs Asset Management Group. “Certain industries are experiencing stickier inflation than others, some of which is well beyond the Fedâ€TMs control. The good news is that wage growth is now higher than the PNC CPI, which should help True Loves deck the halls this year, considering we are still in a high-inflation environment.”

There were no price increases this year for five of the gifts of the Index, including the Four Calling Birds, Five Gold Rings, Seven Swans-A-Swimming, Eight Maids-A-Milking, and Nine Ladies Dancing.

Although the Partridge cost was unchanged, there was a 15 percent jump for the Pear Tree — a proxy for housing costs that continue to move higher despite the highest mortgage rates since 2000.

Although the cost of Nine Ladies Dancing did not increase, 10 Lords-a-Leaping jumped to new heights, 11 Pipers Piping rose to a higher pitch, and the 12 Drummers Drumming drummed up a higher sum. In aggregate, prices for performers increased 3.3 percent this year, lower than last yearâ€TMs 14.6 percent surge.

The annual PNC CPI tradition also includes calculating the “True Cost of Christmas,” which is buying the gifts with verses repeated. Purchasing all 364 gifts crossed the $200,000 threshold for the first time, settling in at $201,972.66, or 2.5 percent more than last year.

“Much like the index, consumer behavior is the drumbeat for the U.S. economy,” Agati says. “We will be keeping an eye on guiding stars like retail sales, wage growth, savings rates and consumer sentiment as indicators of the success of this holiday season.”

Southfield-based CIG Capital Advisors Announces New Advisory Board

CIG Capital Advisors in Southfield is gearing up for major strategic growth in the upcoming years, starting with the introduction of its new CIG Advisory Board, which will play a pivotal role in advising and shaping the companyâ€TMs strategic direction and future growth.

A leading independent wealth management and business advisory services firm, CIG has recruited a distinguished group of thought leaders and innovators to serve on this board, including experts in health care, financial services, investment, and international management to enrich and elevate services for the firmâ€TMs expanding client base.

The Advisory Board members include:

“We are honored to welcome these accomplished individuals to our Advisory Board,” says Osman Minkara, founder and CEO of CIG Capital Advisors. “Their guidance and insights will be invaluable as we continue to innovate, grow, and adapt to the ever-changing wealth management and business advisory landscape. We believe that their collective wisdom will help us steer CIG toward new horizons.”

Blue Cross Blue Shield, Brilliant Detroit Partner to Build Healthy Neighborhoods

Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan and the Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan Foundation are partnering to provide Brilliant Detroit a $30,000 grant focused on improving health in four neighborhoods on Detroitâ€TMs East Side.

Grants will support neighborhood-level access to physical activity and healthy food to make positive changes in the health of children and families in Morningside, Chandler Park, Islandview, and Osborn communities.

The grant will support physical fitness offerings that include martial arts, Mexican folk dance, Zumba, yoga, and hustle classes. Classes will be facilitated by a staff member hired from each individual community and available for young children and their caregivers at Brilliant Detroit hub locations. Through partnerships with Eastern Market and other local food providers, fresh foods will also be available at neighborhood hubs.

EVgo and Meijer Expands Fast Charging EV Partnership with EVgo

Los Angeles-based EVgo Inc. will install new fast charging stations in the Midwest in an expanded partnership with Meijer in Grand Rapids. The new EVgo stations will be built in Ohio and feature up to six stalls at select Meijer locations, equipped with high-power 350kW chargers so that EV drivers can quickly charge and get back on the road.

The extended partnership builds on EVgo and Meijerâ€TMs existing relationship and will help increase access to public charging for current and future EV drivers in the Midwest. To date, EVgo has deployed 24 charging stalls at six Meijer locations across Michigan and Ohio, including key metropolitan markets, such as Detroit, Cincinnati, and Columbus.

MSUâ€TMs Remote Monitoring Partnership with Assure Health Benefits Diabetes Patients

The partnership between MSU Health Care in East Lansing and Assure Health has resulted in the Care Everyday remote monitoring program, delivered to patients across the state of Michigan, which has improved outcomes for patients living with diabetes.

On average, patients enrolled in Care Everyday for 12 months saw a 13.25-pound decrease in their body weight, as well as a 10.91-point reduction in their blood sugar (measured in mg/dL). According to the CDC, losing 5 percent to 10 percent of your weight can improve your health and well-being, which is between 8.5 and 17 pounds for an individual who is 5-foot-9 tall. If you have diabetes, you may find your blood sugar levels are easier to manage and that you need less diabetes medicine. These outcomes demonstrate how Care Everyday helps patients make significant progress in metrics that are important for living with diabetes.

“We are thrilled to witness the remarkable results of our Care Everyday program with Assure Health,” says Dr. Michael Weiner, chief medical officer at MSU Health Care. “This transformative initiative not only reflects our commitment to innovative health care but also underscores the tangible impact technology can have on improving the well-being of our patients. Together, we are shaping a healthier future, one where proactive, remote monitoring plays a pivotal role in achieving lasting health outcomes.”

Care Everyday provides patients with chronic conditions like diabetes, hypertension, COPD, and heart failure with cellular-connected health devices, which are designed to be easy-to-use and work right out of the box. When patients take readings with these devices, the readings are securely transmitted to the patientâ€TMs dedicated nurse care manager, who reviews the data and intervenes or escalates to an MSU Health Care doctor when appropriate. The recent successful diabetes outcomes follows news from last year about Care Everyday moving half of patients with uncontrolled blood pressure to controlled status within six months of enrollment.

ACG Detroit Hosts Annual Kimble Bells Networking and Charity Event

ACG Detroit will host its annual Kimble Bells Networking and Charity Event on Wednesday, Dec. 6 at the Detroit Golf Club from 6-8:30 p.m. Guests will enjoy an evening of great food, cocktails and networking while raising funds to support The Power Company Kids Club — a local non-profit organization helping at-risk kids discover and develop their strengths and talents.

Attendees are encouraged to bring bags of individually wrapped candy and/or juice boxes/pouches to the event to support the Power Company Kids Clubâ€TMs ongoing needs.

Ticket prices are as follows—members: $100, non-members: $150. For more information and to register, visit here .

Harrison Townshipâ€TMsPleasantrees Reaches Cannabis Milestone with 200th Harvest

Pleasantrees in Harrison Township has made its 200th cannabis harvest five years after recreational cannabis sales became legal in the Wolverine State. Founded in 2018, Pleasantrees has been a pioneer since Michiganâ€TMs green rush began.

From the first harvest, Pleasantrees has cultivated 87,000 plants and harvested 26,000 pounds of flower. All cultivation and processing operations occur in the 50,000-square-foot facility in Harrison Township. The facility boasts 25,000 square feet of canopy across its 10 grow rooms.

Throughout 200 harvests, Pleasantrees has grown 212 unique strains of cannabis. The strains go by names such as “Grape Gas” and “Lemon Freezee,” and accompany a curated retail product selection at Pleasantrees dispensaries.

To commemorate this milestone, Pleasantrees is celebrating with employees and customers in-store this week. For more information, visit here .

U-Mâ€TMsBlake Corum Named 2023 Allstate AFCA Good Works Team Captain

First Team All-American and star running back at the University of Michigan, Blake Corum, adds another title to his collection as he is named this yearâ€TMs honorary captain for the 2023 Allstate AFCA Good Works Team.

“Itâ€TMs an honor to be the captain for the Allstate AFCA Good Works Team,” Corum says. “My passion for giving back is genuine and driven by purpose. I donâ€TMt seek recognition, but itâ€TMs heartening to see the impact my efforts have on my community, fans, and partners like Allstate.”

Since 2021, Corumâ€TMs “Giving Back 2 Give Thanks” turkey drive has become an annual tradition in the Ann Arbor area. Using funds from his name, image, and likeness opportunities, he provides turkeys and Thanksgiving essentials to families in underserved communities in Ypsilanti. In addition to the turkey drive, Corum actively volunteers at the Community, Leadership, and Revolution Academy, supporting young children in their aspirations through sports nutrition, reading, and writing.

Corum will be recognized at The Home Depot College Football Awards Dec. 8 on ESPN, and at the Allstate Sugar Bowl on Jan. 1. Learn more here .

Kirk Gibson Foundation for Parkinsonâ€TMs Launches Jerseys for Parky

The Kirk Gibson Foundation for Parkinsonâ€TMs announces “Jerseys For Parky,” an online auction now available for a limited time only.

More than 110 jerseys that are autographed by MLB baseball players from all 30 MLB teams, are open for bidding exclusively at KirkGibsonFoundation.org , now through Dec. 2.

All proceeds from the online auction will benefit the Kirk Gibson Foundation for Parkinsonâ€TMs, by funding activity-based programs to help improve the quality of life of those living with Parkinsonâ€TMs disease and their loved ones.

Judson Center to Unveil †̃Museum of Care at Scarab Club Dec. 2

Nonprofit human services agency Judson Center in Farmington Hills is kicking off its 100th anniversary celebration with the premiere of its Museum of Care art exhibit at Detroitâ€TMs Scarab Club during the 49th Noel Night presented by Midtown Detroit Inc. from 5-9:00 p.m. on Saturday.

The traveling interactive art display is at the heart of Judson Centerâ€TMs new “Where Care is an Art” awareness campaign, which shines a creative light on the agencyâ€TMs 100 years of transforming lives through unwavering care. Local artists were paired with 10 Judson Center clients to create 10 pieces of art that illustrate the clientsâ€TM journey from facing challenges to achieving positive outcomes, thanks to the care provided by the agency.

Judson Centerâ€TMs partner on the Museum of Care project, Doner Detroit, designed the campaign and exhibit. Doner put out the call for local artists to participate in this rare opportunity to use their creative gifts for a great cause.

As an extension of the Museum of Care exhibit, Judson Center and Doner collaborated on a short video featuring the agencyâ€TMs clients, the participating artists, and the creation of the art pieces. Visitors to the Scarab Club will be able to scan a QR code for each piece of art to view the individual videos of the Judson Center clients and read in-depth versions of their stories.

Judson Centerâ€TMs Museum of Care art exhibit will remain on display at the Scarab Club through Jan. 6, 2024. Admission to the gallery is free and open to the public Wednesday through Sunday from noon-5 p.m. The Scarab Club is located at 217 Farnsworth in Detroit.