Novi &
Northville:
n the competition of sister cities,
it's no fun always being runner-
up, plodding along in silence,
often overlooked, while the brasher,
bolder sibling takes center stage.
Indeed, no one ever penned a famous
song about Oakland. Can you imag-
ine the opening credits of a steamy
nighttime melodrama dubbed "Fort
Worth"? And it just wouldn't have
been the same had Mary Richards
tossed her tam while window shop-
ping in the staid St. Paul.
I
To be sure, these well-known burgs,
always the bridesmaids, if you will, to
their more cosmopolitan neighbors,
have suffered their share of jokes
and shame.
But a revolution of sorts is taking
place, as second cities around the
country and even right here at home
– the surprisingly sprite Northville is
as much a draw as the firmly rooted
Novi – are coming into their own,
exerting their singular personalities,
as locales worth a look.
With the majority of commerce in Novi
occurring along the Novi Road/Twelve
Mile corridor, in the vicinity of Twelve
Oaks Mall, it's not surprising that when it's
time to grab a bite the choices tilt in favor
of the big chains, some of which, though,
haven't yet saturated the marketplace and
offer a one-off experience.
However, a little exploring in the adja-
cent shopping plazas — West Oaks I
and II, Fountain Walk, Novi Town Center,
Mainstreet, City Center Plaza — yields
a trove of interesting discoveries, some
unfamiliar, others former haunts merely
forgotten.
No compilation of dining spots in
Novi or Northville would be complete
without such perennial favorites as the
casual and comfortable Diamond Jim
Brady's (26053 Town Center Dr., 248-380-
8460), or the slightly more sophisticated,
menu-wise, but no less friendly in terms
of atmosphere Steve & Rocky's (43150
Grand River, 248-347-0688).
Also eliciting raves and pleasing palates
for a number of years are two Northville
spots with distinctive pedigrees: the clas-
sic MacKinnons (126-130 E. Main St.,
248-348-1991) and Genitti's Hole-in-
the-Wall (108 E. Main St., 248-349-0522),
home to the seven-course Italian dinner
and interactive comedy theater.
Authentic Japanese cuisine plus a
taste of Korean fare abounds in these
parts at, among others, the sublime
Cherry Blossom (43588 W. Oaks Dr.,
248-380-9160), Shiro (43180 W. Nine
Mile, 248-348-1212), Oishi Noodle &
Rice Bowl (43155 Grand River, 248-
380-1600), Bi Bim Bab (22208 Novi
Rd., 248-348-6800), and downtown
Northville's Sizzling Sticks Cafe (144
Mary Alexander, 248-380-9400).
Take a trip to the Emerald Isle herself
via Gus O'Connor's Public House (42875
Grand River, 248-465-9670), the largest
authentic Irish pub in North America, or
indulge in a feast of Italian specialties at
Andiamo (42705 Grand River, 248-348-
3838), while the carnivores in the group
are sure to find their way to Steak on
Main (43155 Main St., 248-380-5400).
In addition to
food, many of these
restaurants serve
up a hefty menu of
live entertainment.
Or, if you'd rather
step out later in the
evening, there's always a hearty welcome
at the Post Bar (42875 Grand River, 248-
465-9600), or something for everyone,
literally, at the "upscale" bowling lounge
Lucky Strike (44325 W. 12 Mile Rd., 248-
374-3420), which also features billiard
tables, game rooms and the high-energy
Tequila Rain Dance Club.
For something with a healthful kick,
look for the brightly painted storefront
of the soon-to-open Garnish...a fresh
impression (www.garnish.com ) for fresh
squeezed juices and good-for-you sand-
wiches and salads.
And, should the caffeine cravings
become too hard to ignore, get your fix
and take a much needed respite at down
town Northville's Taurus Café, located
inside Studio 427 art gallery (122 W. Main
St., 248-449-6501).
Finally, you'll be all the happier if you
don't resist the temptation — besides, you
just had a healthy lunch at Garnish — to
pull into the legendary Guernsey Farm
Dairy (21300 Novi Rd., 248-349-1466)
for a scoop — or two, but who's counting
— of what's arguably the creamiest, rich-
est ice cream for miles around.
Let's dispense with the preliminaries and
get down to the business at hand. After
all, this is shopping country. In fact, shop-
ping, or more precisely Twelve Oaks Mall
(www.shoptwelveoaks.com ), put Novi on
the map. Venture beyond the shopping
behemoth, though, and you'll find some
pretty great, well ... finds.
For the tween and teen crowd, Justice
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