HIDDEN HANGOUTS page 50

Delia's
Restaurant:
Ferndale
breakfast
spot.

W. Nine Mile), Bangkok Cafe (323 W.
Nine Mile) or the Om Cafe (Woodward,
south of 9 1/2). Marigolds is earthy, with
organic food and acoustic mellow music
in the back, organic products like hemp
clothing in the front. Occasional live mu-
sic dinners. The Om, which is open at the
owners' whim, offers macrobiotic fare —
no processed foods — and an ambiance
reminiscent of a campus hangout.
Bangkok Cafe is the opposite — kind
of divey, decorated with Christmas tinsel
and Far East accessories, but great, cheap
Thai food. Minimalist service, but when
you leave, someone always yells out:
"Come again!"
For night dining, Xhedo's, Rialto (a
kitschy, 1950s experience, according to
The Jewish News' Julie Edgar), Maria's
and Como's are reputed to be tops. Come
spring, Como's spills outside onto a cov-
ered patio. Italian cuisine, smoky inside
plus live entertainment on weekends.

•

>0401 1MIN V,...,:aa,„

With plans to rewrite
the city's master plan,
there could well be even
more to do in Ferndale.

Brazil:
Conversation,
.coffee and art
deco decor.

Comet
Burgers: A
late-night
greasy
spoon,

?'•

Aetheria: A
down-to-
earth
boutique
with great
finds.

52

Maria's, which moved into Ferndale
(on Nine Mile, west of Woodward) from
its longtime location on Grand River in
Rosedale Park, offers traditional (read:
heavy) Italian fare like eggplant Parmi-
giana and spaghetti with meatsauce, and
its very own, surprisingly robust, wines,
says Ms. Edgar. Don't forget reservations
on the weekend.
Also check out Lavender Moon Cafe
(205 W. Nine Mile), A Woman's Preroga-
tive book store (175 W. Nine Mile), Aethe-
ria (23140 N. Woodward) and the Magic
Bag theater (22920 Woodward).
Touted by some as a lesbian hangout,
two-year-old Lavender Moon is a safe
place for gay and straight alike to drink
coffee, beat drums and schmooze. You'll
find a diversity of programs and people,
plus personable owners, Jewish couple
Robert Levine and Elizabeth Davis.
Aetheria smells like incense and can-
dles, with the aura of an earthy bridal
shower. Fun place to go gift-hunting —
for women (sorry guys).
The Magic Bag building has stood
watch on the east side of Woodward since
the 1920s. Described by 25-year-old Jew-
ish owner Jeremy Haberman as "casual,
moderately elegant and hip," the Magic
Bag hosts blues, rock, jazz and reggae acts
as well as top local bands such as the
Howling Diablos and Botfly.
Doors open at 8 p.m. six nights a week,
with live music on the weekends and
movies during the week. Wednesday
night "Brew and View" makes it one of
the most popular nights in the neighbor-
hood. Upcoming shows include the Yel-
lowjackets on April 5, Mose Allison on
April 11 and G.E. Smith with the Satur-
day Night Live Band on April 19.
Ferndale is "a real changing commu-
nity," says Martha Sempliner, owner of
the Library Bookstore on Nine Mile since
1978. "There's still a big attempt here to
make it a community."
With plans to rewrite the city's master
plan, there could well be even more to do
in Ferndale in coming months.

oyal Oak is old hat for many De-
troiters who make it a habit to go
out. But a few places deserve spe-
cial mention.
OK, so snow was blowing in every di-
rection, and it really wasn'tthe best night
to go out. That may be why the Royal Oak
Brewery (215 E. Fourth St.) was hardly
full on a weekend night a few weeks ago.
But it's not because of a lack of quality.
Big, spacious, well-ventilated with a
sports bar feel (although some Jewish
News expert socializers say the TVs are
too small). Five immense silver vats of
homemade beer hold a variety of tanta-
lizing flavors, which change by the
month.
With almost 50 recipes, Wayne, the
well-trained brewmeister, rotates flavors
constantly — Northern Light (tastes like
fraternity beer), Irish Red (luscious, Kil-
lian-esque, says Randy Cohn), Porter
("easy drinking, mild, pleasant taste" —
Matt Rosen), Bear Cider ("interesting,
fruity" — Mindy Kolender) and dark Oat-
meal Stout.
In winter, it's a pretty white-bread
crowd, but the brewery may well be the
up-and-coming laid-back place to be, away
from the congestion of Main Street and
Washington. Word has it that summers
pack 'em in, with live music. They are in
the process of turning the attached alley
into a beer garden, to open this summer.
Mr. B's (219 S. Main) — standard tasty
bar fare, big, lots of room to sit and watch
games. Twentysomethings abound. Mr.
B's makes its own beers, which sell in
some local stores. Bar-goer sources say
this is a good casual place to hang out and
watch the game. Any game. With beer.
R&J Coffee Shop — a can't-miss. Orig-
inally named "Salisbury's," James Par-
ton and Richard Sevier (hence, R&J)
bought it in 1952. It's been in Parton's
family solely since 1969 (sons Dave and
Mark bought it from Dad in 1985).
This is the place for desserts, any time,
and after-bar inebriatedly-influenced
feasts. Waitress Jennifer cooks up a "Jen-
na da Whip" milkshake upon request and
quickly quips to drunker patrons: "Sit
down, shut up and order." With her
charm, you can't be offended.
The kitchen closes at 4 a.m. weekends,
but they don't start "booting people out
until 4:30."
Comet Burgers is cute, kitschy, loud.
A perfect late-night greasy spoon, but
don't expect too much class. Sanders hot
fudge sundaes a plus, waitress' tight
busty shirts a minus. Record album cov-
ers adorn the walls, with bright, fun flow-
ered wallpaper and a hilarious sign on
the front door admits that nothing fat-
free dwells here.
Memphis Smoke — Not just talking
about the barbecue — it's very smoky, ac-
cording to Jewish News photographer
Daniel Lippitt. Great R&B live music, peo-
ple up dancing, groups of friends and sin-
gles, a real mix, ages 21-51, easily.
The hearsay is that it's a good after-
work place, and the canvas-enclosed
mushroom-like tables on the roof are open
and hopping summer nights. The menu
is heavy on pork, so it's clearly not a par-
ticularly Jewish spot — but the live mu-
sic is supposedly smashing.
Brazil (305 S. Main): Good food, smoky,
not-so-clean couches, lots of laid-back style.
Great lighting and art deco decor. Try the
hummus and veggie sandwiches. ❑

R