MAINSTREETS Novi & Northville n the competition of sister cities, it's no fun always being runner up while the brasher, bolder sibling takes center stage. Indeed, no one ever penned a famous song about Oakland County. Can you imagine 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 shopping in the staid St. Paul. To be sure, these well-known burgs, always the bridesmaids to their more cos- mopolitan 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 surpris- ingly sprite Northville is as much a draw as the broad shouldered, confident Novi — are coming into their own, exerting their singular personalities as locales worth a look. DINING/NIGHTLIFE 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 eating spots in Novi or Northville would be complete with such perennial favorites as the casual and corn- fortable — and completely non-smoking — Diamond F1111 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 spots with distinctive pedigrees: No. VI Chop House inside the Hotel Baronette (27790 Novi Rd., 248-305-5210), serving exclusively USDA Prime cuts of beef; 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. B22 October 23 • 2008 main 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) located in the restored, historic Rogers Mansion, a white, columned manor — shiro means "castle" or "white" in Japanese — built in 1929; Oishi Noodle & Rice Bowl (43155 Grand River, 248- 380-1600) and its sister restaurant, Bi Bim Bab (22208 Novi Rd., 248-348-6800) for succulent Korean barbecue. Diners can have a hand in what's for dinner at such create-your-own stir-fry favorites as BD's Mongolian Barbecue (43155 Main St., 248-735-1900) or Sizzling Sticks Café (144 Mary Alexander Ct., 248-380-9400). Take a trip to the Emerald Isle her- self via Gus O'Connor's Public House (42875 Grand River, 248-465-9670), the largest authentic Irish pub in North America, or the sprite-sized Poole's Tavern (157 E. Main St., 248-3491715), or indulge in a feast of Italian specialties at Andiamo (42705 Grand River, 248- 348-3838), Tirami Su (146 Maincentre, 248-735-0101), or the quaint Little Italy Ristorante (227 Hutton St., 248-348- 0575). And should the caffeine cravings become too hard to ignore, get your fix and take a much-needed respite at down- town Northville's Tuscan Café (150 N. Center St., 248-305-8629). 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 high energy Tequila Rain Dance Club. Wine lovers have no shortage of spots to indulge their passion. From The Grapevine (43155 Market St., 248-344- 4044) in Novi's "restaurant row:' aka the Market Street development, to Simply Wine (109 N. Center St., 248-380-9463) and Wine Sync (122 W. Main St., 248-374- 9463), both in downtown Northville and each offering the requisite tastings and wine for purchase. For something with a healthful kick, look for the brightly painted storefront of Garnish ... a fresh impression (25875 Novi Rd., 248-305-3030) for fresh squeezed juices and good-for-you sand- wiches and salads, or the just opened Red Pepper Deli (116 W. Main St., 248-773- 7672) where the menu is 100-percent veg- etarian, using only organic ingredients. Finally, you'll be all the happier if you don't resist the temptation — besides, you just had that healthy meal at Garnish or Red Pepper — to pull into the legend- ary Guernsey Farm Dairy (21300 Novi Rd., 248-349-1466) for a scoop — or two, but who's counting — of what's arguably the creamiest, richest ice cream for miles around. SHOPPINC 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. And the mammoth mall recently grew even larger with the opening of the region's second Nordstrom, 30 additional specialty shops, and an expanded Macy's.