Jen Gothard
By: Ashley Woods,
11/14/2008
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 (22848 Woodward Ave., 248-691-7145), a N’awlins-style speakeasy.
For music, it's the Magic Bag (22920 Woodward Ave., 248-544-3030). And if it's Thursday, the Magic Bag 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 (22700 Woodward Ave., 248-546-8202).
She raves about Anita’s Kitchen (22651 Woodward Ave., 248-548-0680), 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 Café (323 W. Nine Mile Rd., 248-548-5373) for one very important reasion: 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 (1255 Woodward Heights, 248-544-4215). A trendy, theatre-themed bistro with paninis "to die for," the big draw is the $5 uncorking fee.
Jen shops at House of Chants (210 W. Nile Mile Rd., 248-414-9170) and Mother Fletcher’s (234 W. Nine Mile Rd., 248-398-4816), “when I’m looking for something to wear that’s really outrageous.”