Check out the latest edition of our newsletter!
“HOT OFF THE PRESS” Dry Cleaning News
(248) 543-0340 | www.janetdaviscleaners.com 27607 Woodward Ave., Berkley, MI 48072
MAY 2023
THE SHOW MUST GO ON HOW WE ASSIST NATIONAL STAGE PRODUCTIONS IN DETROIT
We see all sorts of items in need of a good cleaning. You’re very familiar with most of these things, and you’ve likely dropped them off with us, such as dress shirts, bedding, linens, and other clothing. Sometimes, we get an opportunity to help out
gather everything for us. Everyone is usually in good spirits and happy with their performance in the show.
We’ve been fortunate enough to clean costumes for several popular national shows, including “Jersey Boys,” “The Book of Mormon,” “Mary Poppins,” “Fun House,” “The Sound of Music,” “Newsies,” and Disney’s "Beauty and the Beast.” The costumes are always incredibly intricate and have designs unlike anything else we clean. They’re often really fragile, and ensuring everything gets cleaned properly can be a lot of work. Still, it’s a really cool experience, especially when we get to learn how some of the quick- change attire works. It’s also interesting to see the venues where the shows take place. I’ve picked up costumes from the Fox Theatre, the Fisher Theatre, the Detroit Opera House, and even some smaller locations. We recently helped with a local school production of “Cinderella.” It’s not often that we clean costumes used in school productions since they usually have volunteers who help to get everything cleaned, but this time, they came to us. And it was a great experience for everyone involved. Cleaning costumes used in stage productions is one of the most unique jobs we take on, but it’s always a rewarding experience. You never know what outfits you’ll see or what tricks you’ll learn.
with someone’s special day when we clean the attire for their wedding party. But every so often, some incredibly unique items come through our doors. These garments ignite our imaginations and can take us to faraway places, as they’re the costumes used in various stage productions. It’s not a regular occurrence when costume managers ask us to clean all of the costumes in their stage production, and when it does happen, there’s usually minimal warning. There’s a preferred vendor list that stage productions are supposed to
use when they’re traveling around the country for shows. We’re on that list, and every once in a while, we’ll get a call from a contact at a local theater or the costume director themselves saying they need our help. We’ll usually create a schedule for the rest of their productions after the initial contact if the show is playing in metro Detroit for multiple days or weeks. It’s a pretty cool process when we’re involved in these events, but it requires all hands on deck. National shows usually have two sets of costumes they alternate, which means we might need to get one set cleaned and returned to the costume director within 24 hours before picking up the other set. Sometimes, they’ll send things ahead of time, and we just have to clean select pieces while they’re here, but you never really know. When I pick up the costumes, I’ll stand by the side theater door as chaos ensues. Performers are running all over the place while the costume manager tries to
1 (248) 543-0340
The Best Way to Celebrate Mystery Month
The weather is about to shift once again, and we’ll soon be putting away our jeans and sweaters in favor of short-sleeved shirts and shorts. Before you put away your thicker clothes for the summer season, it’s imperative that you get them cleaned, especially your items made from finer fabrics like suede or cashmere. If you don’t, your clothes might not be in the best condition when you want to wear them next, if they’re even wearable at all. One of the most common problems seen this time of year is the arrival of moths in our homes. Moths can be incredibly destructive to clothing and other garments, leaving many wondering how to prevent them from eating away at their favorite sweaters. Some have gone as far as building cedar closets, which are known for killing and repelling moths. While this can be a good option, cedar must be lightly sanded and maintained yearly to repel moths properly. This can take quite a bit of effort, and better options are available. One thing to remember is that moths don’t necessarily like clothing. They eat keratin, which can be found in natural fibers like wool and silk but are much more commonly found in human hair and skin cells. Whenever we wear clothing, we leave our hair and skin cells within them, which attract moths, meaning the best way to keep moths at bay is to put your clothes away clean. If you’re unsure whether particular sweaters within your closet or dresser are already clean, give them the pinch test. If you feel our tissue paper, then they have been cleaned, but if not, you’ll want to bring them our way before putting them away for the season. We’ll take great care of your sweaters, allowing you to rest easy when you store them for the season. “I took three wool sweaters of great sentimental value there for cleaning. All had some stains. I could not be happier with the results. Also, the staff was helpful and friendly. I am extremely pleased I chose this cleaner.” By Putting Your Sweaters Away Clean KEEP MOTHS AWAY
Did you know May is Mystery Month? There are dozens of ways to celebrate this enigmatic occasion, from playing Clue to rewatching "Glass Onion" — but why not bring those experiences to life and host your own murder mystery dinner at home? Thanks to a plethora of kits on the market, doing so is easier than ever! WHAT IS A MURDER MYSTERY DINNER? A murder mystery dinner is essentially a real-life game of Clue. You invite friends over for dinner and turn your home into the set of “Knives Out” — without the blood, of course. Each of your friends takes on the persona of a character in the story, and when one of them is “murdered,” you compete to uncover who dunnit. Host a Murder Mystery Dinner!
STEP 1: PICK YOUR KIT. Planning a murder mystery dinner from scratch would take the ingenuity of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. Luckily, you have several ready-made mysteries to choose from! You can find boxes from Masters of Mystery and My
Mystery Party at your local board game store, but you can find many options available online, too. Night of Mystery ( NightOfMystery.com ), for example, sells both in-person and virtual kits with themes ranging from ‘80s prom to Christmas homicide. If your friends and family don’t like the idea of acting and dressing up, that’s okay — you can still solve a mystery over dinner! Look into kits available through Unsolved Case Files ( UnsolvedCaseFiles. com ) or Hunt A Killer ( Shop.HuntAKiller.com ), which involve collaborative mystery-solving without the character work. STEP 2: CURATE YOUR GUEST LIST. Most murder mystery dinners require at least four people, while some include characters for six, eight, or more! Check the number of players on your kit and invite your most creative, analytical, theatrical, and mystery-loving friends. STEP 3: DECORATE AND PLAN THE MENU. If you choose a themed murder mystery, level up your event with a matching menu and decor! For games taking place in England, whip up a shepherd's pie and make a cardboard cutout of Big Ben. For Havana Nights, plan a build-your-own Cubano bar and throw on an Afro-Cuban playlist. You can be as over-the-top as you like. Remember, it’s Mystery Month!
–A.M., reviewer on Google
Give us a call today at 248-543-0340 to get your sweaters or other garments cleaned!
www.janetdaviscleaners.com 2
LIVE LIKE A JEDI Life Lessons Learned From ‘Star Wars’
“Star Wars” has persisted as a pop culture mainstay for almost 45 years now. Many of us have fond memories of seeing the films in our youth or sharing them with our children for the first time. The movies, TV shows, books, and other media that involve “Star Wars” are full of adventure, romance, action, and life lessons that enthrall audiences of all ages. Since May 4 is "Star Wars" Day, there’s no better time to look at some of the most important life lessons “Star Wars” teaches us. Some of these lessons can even help us improve our outlook on life. ALWAYS GET BACK UP. In “The Book of Boba Fett,” we see Luke Skywalker train Grogu, otherwise known as Baby Yoda. In one scene, a training remote blasts Grogu, and Luke tells him, “Get back up. Always get back up.” We can all use this advice in our lives. Whenever it feels like life has thrown you a curveball and knocked you down, persevere and get back up. It’s one of the best ways to experience personal growth. ANYTHING IS POSSIBLE WHEN YOU PUT YOUR MIND TO IT. After escaping from Hoth in “The Empire Strikes Back,” the heroes are pursued by enemy ships. To escape the pursuit, Han decides to navigate the Millenium Falcon into an asteroid field, where C-3PO
informs him their odds of survival are 3,720 to 1. Han tells Threepio, “Never tell me the odds,” before successfully navigating the asteroid field. There will be doubters in life who tell you that you can’t accomplish
a certain feat or achieve your dreams, but that doesn’t mean you should lose hope. With the right level of determination and confidence, you can achieve anything you put your mind to. THERE’S ALWAYS TIME FOR REDEMPTION. Redemption is a common theme throughout “Star Wars” films. Kylo Ren sacrifices himself to help Rey defeat Emperor Palpatine in “The Rise of Skywalker,” thus completing his redemption and becoming Ben Solo once again. Similarly, Darth Vader/Anakin Skywalker realized the wrong of his ways in “Return of the Jedi” and was redeemed in the eyes of his son, Luke. It doesn’t matter what our past consisted of; there is always room for redemption. Make amends and ask for forgiveness if you feel you wronged someone, and be willing to accept the apologies of others.
Inspired by Nutriciously.com
SUDOKU
Roasted Sweet Potato Arugula Salad
Enjoy this salad’s warming cinnamon and crisp bites of radish and arugula.
INGREDIENTS • 3 medium sweet potatoes, cubed • 1 tsp smoked paprika • 1/2 tsp turmeric • 1/2 tsp cumin • 1/2 tsp cinnamon
• 1 bell pepper, thinly sliced • 3 small radishes, thinly sliced • 2 cups arugula, thinly sliced • 1 1/2 cups cooked lima beans, drained and rinsed • Balsamic salad dressing of choice
• Salt and pepper, to taste • 1 red onion, thinly sliced
DIRECTIONS 1. Preheat oven to 350 F. Line baking sheet with parchment paper. 2. In a bowl, toss sweet potato cubes with smoked paprika, turmeric, cumin, cinnamon, salt, and pepper. Transfer to prepared baking sheet and arrange in a single layer. 3. Roast for 25–30 minutes until sweet potatoes are nicely browned and fork-tender. 4. In a large salad bowl, combine onion, bell pepper, radishes, arugula, and lima beans. 5. Toss the salad with dressing, then top with roasted sweet potatoes.
3 (248) 543-0340
PRST STD US POSTAGE PAID BOISE, ID PERMIT 411
Monday–Friday 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
(248) 543-0340 www.janetdaviscleaners.com INSIDE THIS ISSUE
27607 Woodward Ave. Berkley, MI 48072
1 A Unique Cleaning Experience
2 Host an Unforgettable Murder Mystery Dinner
How to Prevent Moths From Eating Your Clothes
3 Valuable Life Lessons Taught by ‘Star Wars’
Roasted Sweet Potato Arugula Salad
4 Potbellied Pig Terrifies Burglars
A HAM-FISTED ATTEMPT AT ROBBERY Intruders Flee From Ludwig the Pig
On the night of New Year’s Eve in 2014, a group of burglars experienced the fright of a lifetime. Expecting to rob a quiet home in Derby, England, the intruders instead came face to snout with Ludwig, a 240-pound potbellied pig. Abandoning all thoughts of crime once they spotted the pig, the burglars instantly fled the scene and ran for their lives. The “hero ham” had already become a popular figure in his town and was well-loved for his gentle demeanor. In fact, Michael Maughan, Ludwig’s owner, is confident that Ludwig wouldn’t have harmed the intruders, even if he does look quite intimidating. Local officers believe the robbers must have heard Ludwig’s Rottweiler-like “growl” and immediately hit the road, leaving the door wide open behind them. The story of this heroic potbellied pig became a sensation throughout Europe. Countless fans have applauded the Canadian-born hog for his loyalty to his owners. But the owners
want to ensure people understand that Ludwig would never hurt anyone. Some fabricated web stories made Ludwig sound more dangerous than he is, so Maughan spoke to the Toronto Star to dispute any defamations against Ludwig’s kindness. “He’s being painted as a vicious creature when he’s actually quite a sweet animal,” he explained. “He didn’t exactly bare his tusks and charge, I don’t think. I think he got absolutely, ‘Arrgh,’ and they just ran for it.” In fact, Maughan detailed that after a two-month separation during their move to England, the pig shed tears during their reunion. Adorable and affectionate, Ludwig would have probably become friends with the intruders in no time. Even if his “bark” is worse than his bite, Ludwig succeeded in keeping his owners safe while also protecting their home. This 240-pound potbellied pig continues to enjoy his comfortable home in Derby and is considered a town hero. Anyone looking for a guard dog may want to consider a hefty hog instead!
www.janetdaviscleaners.com 4
Page 1 Page 2 Page 3 Page 4Made with FlippingBook Ebook Creator