FERNDALE FROM PAGE 21
ever, as Maria's and Assaggi serve up
absolutely addictive, warm housemade
bread. So much so, it takes only a nibble to
become hooked.
Africa, too, gets a nod from the criti-
cally acclaimed Ethiopian cuisine from
the Blue Nile (545 W. Nine Mile, 248-
547-6699), while toothsome Cajun fare
gets top billing at Howe's Bayou (22848
Woodward Ave., 248-691-7145).
Across the street from Maria's are the
quirky restaurants-cum-art galleries
Angel's Café (214 W. Nine Mile, 248-541-
0888), and Starving Artist (212 W. Nine
Mile, 248-545-5650). Remember to bring
your creativity to Starving Artist as each
table is covered in white butcher block
paper for diners to indulge their artistic tal-
ents; crayons are courtesy of the restaurant.
On Woodward, the ever-popular
Woodward Avenue Brewery (22646
Woodward Ave., 248-546-3696), which
is equal parts lounge, restaurant and rec
room, shares the corner with the Emory
(22700 Woodward Ave., 248-546-8202),
hands down the sharpest new bar — with
the requisite menu of burgers and fries
— to open in years. The woodwork, and
that bar, are themselves worth a visit.
Ferndale's also home to what can prob-
ably be called southeastern Michigan's
definitive vegetarian restaurant, the Om
Café (23136 Woodward Ave., 248-548-
1941). It might be small, but it's hard to
miss; look for the bright green facade on
an otherwise ho-hum block.
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OCTOBER 2006
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The comfort food served up at
Ferndale's two great looking diners, Fly
Trap (22950 Woodward Ave., 248-399-
5150) and Toast (23144 Woodward Ave.,
248-398-0444), sure isn't what mom used
to make. That is unless mom went to
cooking school.
You can enjoy a respite any day of the
week at the minimalist-styled Java Hutt
(165 W. Nine Mile, 248-542-2438) or tea
lounge Karma Tea & Tonics (309 W.
Nine Mile, 248-548-1424), foils to the
independently-minded, counter-cultured
Xhedos Café (240 W. Nine Mile, 248-
399-3946). Or grab some of the organic
goodies from the new Strawberry Moon
Bakery (301 W. Nine Mile) for a little
R&R at home.
Lastly, raise a glass to the city's bar
and nightclub proprietors for serving
up a diverse collection of hot spots that
feed the need to dance, trance, or simply
"chill" as they say. Go early to avoid the
lines at Boogie Fever (22901 Woodward
Ave., 248-541-1600) where the groovy '70s
and eclectic '80s live on; and high-energy
Monkey Bar (141 W. Nine Mile, 248-589-
7227) in the space formerly known as Q.
Remember, too, to check out the modern,
sophisticated and soothing Bosco (22930
Woodward Ave., 248-541-8818); the
comfortable, but hardly dull SOHO (205
W. Nine Mile, 248-542-7646), and rela-
tive newcomer Gracie's Underground
Martini Lounge (22757 Woodward Ave.,
248-298-0330).
Shopping in downtown Ferndale is more
urban than suburban. Oh sure it's got the
old-fashioned streetlights and bountiful
hanging flower baskets in summer remi-
niscent of spiffier, upmarket towns in the
area. But the similarities end there.
Dragonfly (163 W. Nine Mile, 248-547-
7545) and House of Chants (210 W. Nine
Mile, 248-414-9170) offer the hottest labels
in denim, apparel shoes and accessories
from across the country and around the
globe, while those who prefer stylings of
decades past head to Mother Fletcher's
(234 W Nine Mile, 248-398-4816) for all
things vintage, from clothing to collectibles.
While not right downtown, women's
clothier Milieu (756 Livernois, 248-542-
9119), formerly in downtown Royal Oak,
now exhibits its moody genre along the
nascent Livernois business district, where
it's been joined by Bubble & Bark (686
Livernois, 248-544-WAGG), a dog day care,
pet boutique and do-it-yourself dog wash.
Further, it's hard to resist exploring the
cornucopia of chatchkes at American
Pop! (175 W. Nine Mile, 248-837-2127), or
Naka (171 W. Nine Mile, 248-582-9113),
which describes itself as a neighborhood
indie boutique for men, women, babies
and home.
Beyond cool clothes, there's also a grow-
ing collection of home-furnishing shops,
from the fine accessories and custom
upholstery at Ormolu (248-399-1660), to
the contemporary looks from Contempo
Home (255 W. Nine Mile, 248-547-6398)
and R2 Home (22941 Woodward Ave.,
248-544-3944), the latter Michigan's only
source for Venini glass.
Budding garage bands congregate at
the southwest corner of Nine Mile and
Woodward to try out the latest instru-
ments at Percussion World (22741
Woodward Ave. 248-543-7020) and
Professional Guitars (131 W. Nine Mile,
248-398-9437).
Downtown Ferndale is also home to
two of the area's iconic record stores,
Record Time (262 W. Nine Mile, 248-
336-8463) and Record Collector (327 W.
Nine Mile, 248-548-9888), both of which
specialize in used CDs, cassettes and, for
those of a certain age, LPs.
And if you've not quite dropped from
all this shopping, save time to explore
Ferndale's one-offs: John King North
(22524 Woodward Ave., 248-548-9050),
the sibling to downtown Detroit's historic,
and vast, purveyor of used and rare books;
Old Navy Outlet (22801 Woodward Ave.,
248-546-5140) for end-of-season — huge-
ly discounted — clothing and accessories
for the entire family; and the never clut-
tered, always friendly Dollar Castle (200
W. Nine Mile, 248-543-5588).
Despite its art scene being a bit thin and
weedy, a handful of galleries are working
to put Ferndale on the cultural map. These
include the long-established Susanne