Ferndale Public Library

Lots of great things happening at the Ferndale Public  Library these days. They've somehow found out about this tradition in Spain that takes place on April 24th called Saint George (Jordi) Day where friends give books and roses to one another. How cool is that?  The current library on Nine Mile, built in 1954, is also one of the venues for the concerts being held around Ferndale for the Metrotimes Blowout.  Those 18 and older can stop by tonight or tomorrow for some great music.

Christine's Cuisine in Ferndale

We've had several very wonderful meals at Christine's Cuisine in Ferndale over the years. There've been hundreds of positive reviews on Yelp, Urbanspoon and Tripadvisor as well.  It's an unassuming place in a strip mall, but very popular for three reasons.....their food is outstanding, reasonably priced and their staff is genuinely welcoming. Some of our favorites are the pierogis, burritos, veggie pasta, black bean salad, lava cake and Athena salad. It's tiny, but we managed to pack in 35 once for dinner before heading downtown for a play. We've met Christine and love the flair of her European fare.

Metrotimes Blowout

Billed as North America's Largest Local Music Festival, the Metrotimes Blowout takes place in several venues.  Last weekend it was in Detroit and Hamtramck and this coming weekend in Ferndale. Smalls was one of 11-12 places where live music was blaring all night long in Hamtramck at the corner of Caniff and Conant last Friday. They kicked it off with the band Twine Time at 9:30pm, followed by The Kickstand Band, Mod Orange, Timothy Monger State Park and finishing up at 1:30am with Hard Lessons. The action in Ferndale starts Thursday, May 2 on ten stages which include Cosmos (upstairs), the Ferndale Library, Found Sound, Go Comedy, New Way Bar, One-Eyed Betty's, Rust Belt Market, Sakana Sushi Lounge, The Loving Touch and Woodward Avenue Brewers.

The Fly Trap - Ferndale

We enjoyed dinner at the Fly Trap on Woodward in Ferndale.  It had been visited by the TV show Diners, Drive Ins and Dives.   The Lemongrass Faux Bowl was outstanding as well at the Salmon Burger.   Each table has a unique ceramic salt and pepper shaker set (like Grandma's used to have).   The Fly Trap is open only until 9:00 PM. We visited Flytrap a couple of years ago and are so glad to say, it is still as good as ever!!

First United Methodist Church of Ferndale

On the first Monday of every month, the Detroit Historical Museum visits five historical churches. On June 3, the First United Church of Ferndale is on the docket and we will learn a ton about its history and development. It looms large on Woodward south of Nine Mile. Today, the Reverend Rony Veska is preaching about "The Circle of Life". On April 24th, they offer a free delicious home-cooked meal to the community.

Ferndale's Treat Dreams

Fabulous Ferndale's newest ice cream shop--Treat Dreams-- sports some pretty wild flavors like Pumpkin Bourbon Ginger Snap which we tried this week. They make their products right here on site and offer tastings of flavors you would like to try. They are so not afraid of staying open all winter. Bravo! They have a sorbet flavor and vegan choices as well. What we have to come back for: salted caramel with nutella, coffee oreo, honey lavendar, pistachio wasabi, swedish fish, jack and apple, butterbeer, spicy key lime, the sailor man (spinach ice cream with a hint of nutmeg), chocolate sauerkraut and sweet and sour pork! Lastly, their kooky monster is a gigantic two chocolate chip cookies sandwiching a thick slab of blue vanilla ice cream. It's a heavenly meal in itself!

Ferndale Memorial Parade 2012

We went and participated this morning in the Ferndale Memorial Parade as part of the Michigan Fallen Heroes Foot Parade and Float. Each walker carried a sign with a name and photograph depicting a Michigan soldier who had been killed in the line of duty serving in Iraq or Afghanistan since 2001.  They came in silent waves wearing red, white and blue honoring lives that have been lost to preserve our freedom. The idea was the brainstorm of Larry Saville, pictured in the upper right.  Lenny's Copy Center creates the signs.  The visual display was very powerful. Bless you, Ferndale, for a very meaningful and excellent procession.

One-Eyed Betty in Ferndale

In Fabulous Ferndale, a new place has opened called One-Eyed Betty and it's a very popular hangout for brunch on the weekends. Could it be their bottomless $12 mimosas? They serve up a great selection of craft beer and a draft root beer. Weekdays, it is open at 4pm, but expect lines and loud music.  Everyone is flocking here! Try the garlic aioli on the hamburger or the gumbo. You will find many things on the menu you will want to try. It's certainly not your standard fare.

Twisted Shamrock in Ferndale

If you've ever been in the Twisted Shamrock in Ferndale you can understand why it has been voted the best little Irish shop in Michigan. The store is deep and the stock is incredible. Jim Monahan has put his Irish soul and spirit into this leprechaun haven. Open Tuesday through Sunday, it is filled with lovely gems from the Emerald Isle.

Ferndale Mural by Daniel Cascardo

Fabulous Ferndale features a great piece of street art by Michigan artist Daniel Cascardo. His colorful, whimsical works can be enjoyed through this Saturday, April 28th at gallery 194 in Lapeer where he has transformed the walls. If you've gotten a tote recently from Macy's by purchasing True Religion "Hippie Chic" or Ed Harding fragrances, well, that's Daniel's "Love Garden" on the bag, the proceeds for which went to help out Turning Point, the Mt Clemens non-profit which helps abused women.

Cupcake Station in Birmingham

Honestly, it would be best if we put on blinders when walking past Cupcake Station. These little morsels are just so mouth-watering! Every batch is made from scratch. Have you ever tried their Bump-a-licious? or their carrot cake? Lemon lust? PB & C? That would be peanut butter and chocolate. The Birmingham store was the first cupcake specialty shop in Michigan.  They have since expanded to Ferndale, Ann Arbor and Plymouth and have been voted best cupcakes in Metro Detroit.

Toast in Ferndale

The restaurant called Toast in Ferndale has been voted the best breakfast spot nine years in a row.  They must be doing something right. Decor is simple--a bunch of antique toasters on the wall and lots of interesting chalk art.  In addition, the food is extraordinarily outstanding.  Pictured above is the spinach eggs benedict that was very scrumptious especially with the red skin potatoes. Many tantalizing offerings make us want to return, like a giant smothered burrito, strawberry-rhubarb french toast and huevos rancheros! They offer a huge selection of gourmet sandwiches for lunch.  Service was blissfully sweet.  Atmosphere convivial (and that's a good thing!), but not a lot of seats though so be prepared to wait in line. It's worth it. There's another Toast in Birmingham, but we haven't tried that one yet.  We hear that Wednesdays there are wine down nights with half off on their glasses of vino.

Downtown Ferndale Bike Shop

Voted the Detroit area's best cycling store, we had to investigate Downtown Ferndale's Bike Shop for ourselves.  It's a friendly place with a very knowledgeable staff. The owner, Jon Huhges, is the grandson of Mike Walden (poster above!), the biking coach for whom the vélodrome in Rochester Hills is named. It's all in the family, as Jon's father, Dale Hughes, built the vélodrome and several others throughout the world. Jon helped on all of them. An MSU grad with a political science degree, Jon's heart lies in biking and the cycling fever is contagious in his shop which specializes in fixed gear bikes. Come on in and get fitted cause it's springtime and perfect for the bazillion or so organized rides coming down the pike in glorious Michigan.

Downtown Ferndale's Earth Day

Downtown Ferndale is celebrating Earth Day! Ferndale is known as the gateway to Oakland county with easy access from I696 and I75. On Woodward, just south of 9 Mile Road an Earth Day celebration will take place this evening with Green Awards and free healthy food. Cold beer and prizes are also available. Ferndale's perpetual traffic cop cares about you and the Earth! Plenty of great restaurants and shops downtown.

Ferndale's Pinwheel Bakery

Sunday is Macaron Day in New York City and in Paris. Over a dozen bakeries in NYC are giving them away for free.  Did you know they were the "new cupcake"? These tasty little pastel morsels that burst with flavor in your mouth have been the latest rage in the Big Apple and for years in the City of Light. Fortunately, we have the Pinwheel Bakery on Nine Mile in Ferndale that makes these delicious treats and sells them for half the price of NY or France. We bought one of every flavor and our favorites are the rose pistachio and the lemon! Pinwheel is closed Sunday and Monday--that's why we are letting you know today!

Go Comedy in Ferndale

There is a hilarious improv theatre in Ferndale called Go Comedy where we laughed our heads off recently.  The audience fills out cards prior to the show, and bits and pieces are used through out the performance along with voluntary performers from the crowd.  We thoroughly enjoyed ourselves and highly recommend. 

Ferndale: Anita's Kitchen

The chicken schawarma was outstanding at Anita's Kitchen in Fabulous Ferndale on Woodward just south of 9 Mile. The place is so popular that they even enclose their outdoor patio and still fill every table! Friday night, our waiter Brenton was very attentive and personal. This is Lebanese food at its best--think healthy Mediterranean with olive oil, garlic and flavored with lemons.
Stuffed grape leaves anyone?

The W.A.B.

The WAB rhymes with "FAB" meaning the Woodward Avenue Brewery in Ferndale just south of Nine Mile. Upon entering, you're immediately struck by a lively atmosphere, engaging music and unique décor. The upstairs tables by the wall of windows give you an exciting view onto the famous street below. The menus are artfully presented between two Michigan license plates. There's cool art exhibited hung by chains from the loft ceilings, a pool hall corner and a super jukebox. As for their in house beers, we tried their Blonde, Raspberry Blonde, Hefe-Weizen, Pale Ale, and the Root Beer! All were tasty. Big fat burritos for the hungry. The downstairs patio opens up for the summer. Hour Detroit voted it the best microbrewery of metro Detroit in '08 and '09. It's the place to hang. We liked.

The Fly Trap

Who in their right mind would name a restaurant the Fly Trap? Look no further than Fabulous Ferndale. It's a kitschy kind of place on Woodward just north of 9 Mile, a throw back to the 50's and the food is great! They sell bottled Swat Sauce made with habanero peppers. They serve some tasty huevos rancheros with black beans and pico de gallo. Open for breakfast, lunch and dinner.

AntiFreeze Blues at the Magic Bag

The Magic Bag concert hall/nightclub is known for its Brew & View nights and its live performances. This weekend features their 16th annual antifreeze blues festival. Located in Ferndale since 1921 north of Nine Mile along that famous Woodward strip, you can't miss it. Detroit's own Thornetta Davis appears tonight. Check them out here. The movie nights are $2. January 21st is Where the Wild Things Are and Jan 27 is Men Who Stare at Goats, both 2009 flicks will be up for Oscars.