Insider Guide: Jennifer Pohl-Carroll

Jennifer Pohl-Carroll is a massage therapy instructor at Baker College and owner of Oasis of Relaxation Massage Therapy in Roseville. She bought a cute little bungalow in Harper Woods and loves the area for its quiet suburban charm but also its easy access to other major metro Detroit cities and attractions. “I can be downtown at Hart Plaza or Wayne State University in 12 minutes. I can be at Partridge Creek in 20. I can be in Royal Oak in 20. I do love my location!”

Harper Woods itself is more of a residential area, but there are a few fun places where the locals like to hang out. “I love Charlie’s Woods Saloon on Kelly Rd,” Jennifer says. “It’s walking distance from my house, but what I admire about that bar is that it’s totally multi-cultural. Everybody shares the pool table, the jukebox will have Zeppelin on with a mullet guy rockin’ out one minute then it will back up to ‘Rack City.’” She says they also have solid bar food and fantastic drink specials. “It’s a really friendly location and you can’t beat the prices!”

A quick shot down Mack Ave. just into Detroit city boundaries and you’ll be at the Cadieux Café, Jennifer’s “favorite bar in the whole wide world.” They’re still the only place in the country that offers true Belgian-style feather bowling. They also have an extensive selection of funky Belgian beer and serve steamed mussels by the bucket. Over in nearby Fraser is El Charro Mexican Restaurant, a hugely popular eastside dining destination known specifically for their deep-fried puffy taco shells. “It’s my dad’s favorite place,” Jennifer says. “When they opened another location [closer to his house] in Macomb, it was like my family struck gold!”

For shopping, Eastland Shopping Center is the neighborhood mall, and Jennifer says that the Macy’s anchor department store is “still humming strong” and they also recently added a Burlington Coat Factory. And as a homeowner, Jennifer often needs to visit a hardware and home supplies store and she swears by the Lowe’s. “It’s a lot cleaner and friendlier. They’re always there to help. I feel like Lowe’s is for the women and Home Depot is for the guy contractors.”

For many young people, physical fitness is a priority. Pointe Fitness & Training Center is a fantastic gym with all the amenities of a major fitness chain, from personal trainers to classes, tennis, yoga and weightlifting. “That place is bumpin’ all the time!” Overall she says of Harper Woods, “It’s a great location to have a house, a garage, a smaller yard and still have all the downtown accessibility. It’s really cool that way.”