Mike Durant
By: Ashley Woods,
11/14/2008
When it comes to downtown Ferndale, Mike Durant (known as Mike D. in the neighborhood) could host his own nightlife tour. “I go out almost every night, and I’ve lived here for four years,” he says wearily. On Ferndale’s legendary Como’s Restaurant & Pizzeria (22812 Woodward Ave., 248-548-5005): “I went six nights in a row last summer…but I won’t go in the winter. I love the patio. Otherwise, it’s just full of losers and drug dealers.” Across the street, he says the home-brewed beer at the Woodward Avenue Brewery (22646 Woodward Ave., 248-546-3696) is “too sweet for my taste, but I’ll still go on Mondays for half-off food. Their food is great.” For eats, Mike D digs the Tempting Tempe veggie burger at the Fly Trap Diner (22950 Woodward Ave., 248-399-5150), recently featured on an episode of The Food Network show ‘Diners, Drive-Ins, & Dives’. “The waitresses are so cool, friendly and laid back,” he says. Another favorite is the homey Italian cuisine at Maria’s Front Room (215 W. Nine Mile Rd., 248-542-7379), which also boasts “an awesome wine list.” On a Friday night, Mike says he grabs a barstool at neighborhood dive bar Danny’s Irish Pub (22824 Woodward Ave., 248-546-8331). His favorite drink is a chilled Bell’s White Winter Ale from The Emory (22700 Woodward Ave., 248-546-8202). On a rare night at home, Mike gets his groceries from Ferndale Foods (600 W. Nine Mile Rd., 248-543-3090), “a Spartan food store with an in-house butcher.” His secondhand style is courtesy of local thrift store Regeneration (23700 Woodward Ave., Pleasant Ridge, 248-414-7440, though he confesses some admiration for the pricey threads at House of Chants (210 W. Nile Mile Rd., 248-414-9170).