Detroiter Jen Gothard's commute is a beast, so when she finally clocks out, she says, nearby Ferndale is her destination of choice.
"It's diverse, but there are a lot of people like me, professionals who still want to have fun,” she says.
Jen often starts off her night with an appetizer and a cocktail at the Cajun-flavored Howe's Bayou, a N’awlins-style speakeasy. For music, it's the Magic Bag. On Thursdays, the venue hosts Brew n' View: $2 second-run movies -- generally indies, art house faves or snarky comedies -- with beer, of course. To catch up with friends and have a conversation, she heads to the Emory.
She raves about Anita's Kitchen, a Mideastern restaurant known for its schwarma and fresh ingredients. The food: "amazing." The atmosphere: "warm and friendly." Ferndale is big on ethnic eats, and for Thai her pick is Bangkok Cafe for one very important reason: The spice is right. "If you actually order medium-hot, you get it.”
Bring your own bottle is not big in metro Detroit, unfortunately. Jen's got a secret favorite, however, in Pete’s Place on Broadway. A trendy, theatre-themed bistro with panini "to die for," the big draw is the $5 uncorking fee.
Jen shops at House of Chants and Mother Fletcher's, “when I’m looking for something to wear that’s really outrageous.”
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