[THRILLIST] DETROIT'S 10 BEST NEW BARS OF THE YEAR

Detroit had some outstanding restaurants open this year, but what about when you need a drink? Well, most of those restaurants have booze, but don't complicate things like that! Instead, head to these, the best bars that opened in Detroit this year:

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[Real Detroit] Public House

Photo by Nicole Rupersburg.

You know how much we love Imperial? (That's a rhetorical question. We all love Imperial a lot.) What if we told you that the people who brought us Imperial were getting ready to open a new spot in downtown Ferndale called Public House, and that it will be exactly like Imperial but completely different and equally awesome?

That's something to get excited about, right?

(Again, that's a rhetorical question. But yes.)

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[EID Preview] Public House

All photos by Nicole Rupersburg.

We've already established that Imperial in Ferndale is one of the best spots in metro Detroit, period - in terms of food, drink, design, and overall ambiance. Everywhere else is same same same, same same same, same same same same same. Imperial is different.

Now the five partners behind Imperial - Jeff and Suzanne King, Perry and Sharon Lavoisne (who live in L.A. now, though Perry is originally from Detroit), and Amir Daiza - are opening Public House in Ferndale, and it is already looking like it's going to be every bit as awesome and different as Imperial, but with a concept as entirely different as the opposite coast that inspired it.

Where Imperial is all working class rockabilly L.A., Public House takes its inspiration from the east coast. This is a modern Manhattan high-style "dive" bar that pays homage to the city's 1970s punk scene. This is East Village now meets East Village then, a five-star gastropub with the spirit of CBGB.

Speaking of five stars, you'll notice the logo has five stars in it. The stars represent the five partners, but also refers to a nickname for co-owner Sharon "Five-Star," for what is essentially her high standards of excellence. Expect to see a lot of custom swag, from cloth patches to leather knife sheaths, with the five star logo.

The partners have 20 years of industry experience together. Jeff and Perry previously worked at St. Andrew's and owned Small's in Hamtramck together. These guys have rock and roll in their blood, which was always evident in Imperial but is front-and-center at Public House. There is a record player on the bar shelves surrounded by piles of vinyl. The music at Public House will be all vinyl, all the time, and all music you've either never heard before (like obscure late-'60s psychedelic rock) or that you haven't heard in a while. Much like at Imperial, which sticks with all the rebel rockers of the alt-country variety (Johnny Cash, Willie Nelson), Public House is sticking with the rebel rockers of all other genres: Lou Reed, Iggy Pop, Patti Smith, the Rolling Stones, even jazz and blues rebels like Miles Davis and THE original rock rebel, Frank Sinatra.

The motif of the painting of the rebel rocker displayed in the center of the bar is carried over from Imperial, and is something they plan on making consistent in all their future endeavors. This time it's Keith Richards, based on a photo of him wearing the now-infamous T-shirt that read "Who the fuck is Mick Jagger?" painted by local artist (painter, cartoonist, publisher, rock musician) Mark Dancey, who also painted the Johnny Cash waiving the one-finger salute at Imperial.

The space feels like a hipster-trendy lower Manhattan hotspot right here in metro Detroit. Marble-topped tables, curved wood and iron benches, a white tile wall on one side and an unfinished concrete wall on the other, and dark wood throughout (reclaimed materials were used where possible) accented with WWII-era industrial lights from an old Communist Eastern European factory (legit). Like Imperial, garage doors in the front will open out to the street and there will be a large patio in the back. Like Imperial, the space is intentionally simple and impeccably well-designed.

And much like Imperial, the menu was designed in consultation with Eric Patterson and Jennifer Blakeslee of the celebrated Cook's House in Traverse City. Chef Dan Hine, previously Executive Chef of the Whitney, will run the kitchen. The kitchen is open with its own "bar," a kind of de facto chef's table that will most likely be the hottest seats in the house for hanging out. An small dining space above the kitchen is available for private parties complete with a special group menu available by request which will allow Hine to offer items not available on the regular dinner menu - think a while leg of lamb for your party of six with the same per-person pricing you would get by ordering off the regular menu.

The space is almost complete and they are now awaiting their final inspections. They hope to be open late September or early October. The hours will be the same as Imperial, 11 a.m. to 2 a.m., seven days a week. Expect brunch to come a few months down the line.

Want a sneak peek at the menu? I happen to have one. And I am sharing it with you. You're welcome. Like Imperial, the menu is small (prices aren't yet noted but will be in line with Imperial's) but full of interesting items, "working-class food," as Perry calls it, but sophisticated. It's still approachable - burgers, like tacos, are inherently approachable - but thoughtfully prepared with a gastronomic sensibility. In many ways, Imperial has expanded people's palates but without doing it in an obnoxious, self-important LOOK AT ALL OF THE GREAT THINGS WE ARE DOING TO EXPAND YOUR PALATES way, which is just what this area needs. (I'd say the same about Green Dot, which is The Other Place in metro Detroit that isn't the same same same that I regularly recommend to people coming in from out of state/country.) Public House will do the same. Check it out:

Snacks
~Deviled Eggs celery root/tarragon or chicken wing
~Tempura Fried Sardines honey dipping sauce
~Mixed Pickles what's in season
~Hushpuppies Westphalian ham, maple butter
~Tempura Fried Green Onions habanero/lemon/truffle salts
~Potato Chips malt vinegar aioli
~Fried Chickpeas & Marinated Moroccan Olives citrus zest, herbs

Sandwiches
~PH Burger lamb and pork, feta, mint chutney, toasted brioche *lentil burger available upon request
~Pastrami Brownwood mustard, swiss cheese sauce, cucumber pickle, fried egg, toasted brioche
~Buttermilk Fried Chicken pimento cheese, house made dill pickle, toasted brioche
~PH BLT pork belly, tomato jam, bibb lettuce, avocado, jalapeño & red onion pickle, bao bun
~Vegetarian sautéed red peppers, onion, celery root, carrots, fennel, white bean hummus, french loaf
~Bahn MI roasted pork, pork rillette, Westphalian ham, daikon-radish-carrot slaw, french loaf
~Duck apple kimchi, ssamjang sauce, bibb lettuce, bao bun
~PBR Braised Brisket, caramelized kimchi, miso-radish dressing, toasted brioche
~Brat fennel-apple slaw, french loaf OR bourbon bean, diced onion, french loaf
*veggie dog available upon request

*Gluten-free options available

PBR-braised brisket sliders.

Desserts
~Cotton Candy, flavor of the day
~Soft Serve, Vanilla or flavor of the day
Toppings:
Milk Crumb, Coco Almond Crumb, Buttery Ritz, Bacon Pretzel Brittle, Mini S'more Marshmallows or Boba, flavor of the day

Drinks
Estelle - reposado, pear, lemon, agave, pinot noir réduction
Hazel - cardamom, pear liqueur, barenjager honey, lemon, white tea
Mavis - pisco, limoncello, pineapple, orange, lime, ginger beer, bitters
Stella - gin, green chartreuse, public house cordial, lime, egg white, rose bitters
Stanley - blanco tequila, cynar, lime, yellow chartreuse, demerara
Earl - bourbon, cocchi americano, limoncello, yellow chartreuse
Eugene - mezcal, creme de cacaco, bonal, mole bitters
Roy - bourbon, cocchi americano, lemon, public house cordial, laphroaig
Wallace - aperol, akavavit, lime, grapefruit, falernum, grapefruit bitters
Ike - japanese whiskey, gin, rum, hibiscus liqueur, lime, ginger beer
Mabel - damson gin, swedish punsch, lime
Gus - cynar, jamaican rum, madeira, bitters, ipa
Frank - japanese whiskey, root, simple, bitters
Vivian - blanco tequila, sherry, elderflower
Floyd - mango tea infused applejack, sherry, pineapple, lime
Rita - blanco tequila, cointreau, coco lopez, lime

Boozey Milkshakes - Vanilla Ice Cream

Loretta - root, ginger beer
Otis - rhubarb tea, strawberry
Clark - snap, coffee

Unlike Imperial, Public House will have an eight-handle tap system. While the beer list isn't finalized, you can expect American craft beers and no dollar pints of Bud Light.

Want to see more? View the Flickr set here.

[NEWS BITES] Happy's Pizza and Pub open in West Bloomfield

Oh, the things that come through my email. So. Despite the owner of Happy's Pizza, Happy Asker (his name is actually Happy! That makes me...happy), being indicted for tax fraud, the local pizza chain continues to expand. Most recently they opened Happy's Pizza and Pub in West Bloomfield, a sit-down, dine-in version of the fast food pizzeria with a full bar. My feeling was that it would be more your standard sit-down Buddy's than Jet's Sportsroom in Chelsea, but nay, apparently they are also trying to tackle the "eat/drink local" clientele. Here's the presser:

Happy’s Pizza is proud to announce the opening of their new Happy’s Pizza and Pub location in West Bloomfield, MI (7170 Orchard Lake Road), which officially opened on Monday, July 29.

The new Pizza and Pub was originally a Happy’s Pizza location, but re-opened as a sports bar and family-style restaurant. The Happy’s Pizza and Pub store features a full restaurant atmosphere, with over 40 flat screen televisions, 28 domestic craft beers and seats over 200 people, making it a great place to connect with family and friends while watching the big game. The new location has a full bar while still providing customers with the traditional Happy’s Pizza menu and concept of feeding a family of four for under $20.

“We couldn’t be more excited to open a Happy’s Pizza and Pub right here in Metro Detroit,” said Jason Curis, co-CEO for Happy’s Pizza. “Detroit is one of the best sports cities in the U.S. Now our customers will have the option of ordering in or coming down to the Pizza and Pub, where they can enjoy a great atmosphere while still eating the same delicious food.”

Happy’s Pizza offers over 220 menu items ranging from pizza to salads, chicken, ribs and seafood but will expand their menu in the pub to offer new dishes. Happy’s is best known for having pricing that allows a family to eat dinner for under $20.00 and deliver within a 5 mile radius of the store (248-406-5555). New pub hours are 11am – 2am, every day of the week.

Happy’s Pizza also offers franchising opportunities, more information upon request.

About Happy’s Pizza and Pub
The first Happy’s Pizza and Pub location opened in March of 2013 in Mt. Pleasant, Michigan. The store features a full restaurant atmosphere, making it a good place to connect with family and friends while watching the big game. Happy’s Pizza and Pub will have a full bar while still providing customers with the traditional Happy’s Pizza menu.
www.happyspizzapub.com

About Happy’s Pizza
The first Happy’s Pizza opened in 1996 on Detroit’s Northeast side on a busy corner and quickly became known for not only its pizza, but also its barbeque ribs, fried chicken and seafood. Happy’s Pizza soon turned into a household name in Michigan and has expanded into eight other states. Happy’s Pizza’s primary mission is to provide families with the finest quality foods at the lowest possible price and to assure that each and every restaurant location a charitable leader throughout the communities that they serve. For more information visit www.happyspizza.com.

A lifetime ago I lived in West Bloomfield and it was pretty much a bar and restaurant desert. There were a few decent spots but they usually didn't last long. Things have been looking up a bit out there (and don't forget, Huerto Restaurant and Tequila Bar is opening there this fall) and I'll be honest, (a) pizza-lover that I am, and (b) beer-lover that I am, and (c) Happy's Pizza cheese bread-lover that I am, I might just check this place out next time I'm out that way. (Even though Jet's is still a thousand times better, OBVIOUSLY.)

[Real Detroit] Old Shillelagh

Photo by Nicole Rupersburg.

The Old Shillelagh in Greektown is known as a lot of things to a lot of people. Or maybe it is simply known as one thing to a lot of people: a really big party spot. A rooftop bar and patio, a tent in the parking lot for special events like St. Patrick's Day (when they get over 10,000 people through their doors in a single day) and Opening Day (this Friday!) and a clientele that is wholly focused on their liquid assets. As one of Detroit's most popular watering holes, the Old Shillelagh isn't really known first for its food.

And that makes head chef, kitchen and bar manager Sarge sad. Because Sarge loves his Fucking Awesome Burger. (The "FAB." That's really its name.) And he wants you to love it too. As well as the other items on their menu that are all made from scratch in-house.

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[Real Detroit] Epic

Note: I may be just a little bit making fun of the name here.

You know, the word "epic" gets tossed around quite a bit. And, it's like, not everything is "epic," you know? Not every Instagram photo is epic, not every Saturday night is epic. But every Saturday night can be epic at Epic Tavern and Grill in Novi!

While you might disagree with the idea of bar being named "Epic" in the first place – Is it too presumptuous? Too arrogant? Can it ever really live up to its own name? – this recently-opened mega bar in Novi probably comes as close as anything ever could.

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[Model D] People places: Getting neighborly in Southwest Detroit bars

There’s one thing you should know before walking into one of Southwest Detroit’s many neighborhood watering holes: you’re going to drink way more than you planned. “What are you drinking?” is the greeting of choice at these establishments, and even if it’s your first time visiting -- and they’ll be able to tell, because these are the kind of joints where an unfamiliar face is noticed immediately -- you’re only a stranger your first time.

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[Real Detroit Weekly] Fifth Avenue

Fifth Avenue is one of the hottest spots to party in Royal Oak. Whether you're coming to check out the live bands upstairs, shoot some pool, take advantage of their great beer selection and killer happy hour deals, watch the game(s), or just chill with a group of friends, Fifth Avenue has you covered from every angle.

What sets Fifth Avenue apart from other bars that try to be all things for all people is that it actually succeeds at doing so. In the front corner you'll find a Vegas-style (albeit scaled down) sport book setup with leather lounge chairs and multiple big screen TVs. Grab your buddies and hole up for the night in this stylish and comfortable setting without missing a minute of the game.

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[Real Detroit Weekly] Rosie O'Grady's (Sterling Heights)

Photo by Nicole Rupersburg.

You can tell immediately upon walking inside the door that Rosie O'Grady's in Sterling Heights is the kind of neighborhood bar that people go to because they feel welcomed. Owner Rick Mickhail personally greets customers by name, asks about their families and swaps stories about parenthood. The staff has a clear camaraderie and there's a friendly vibe throughout that sets this place apart from your typical bar.

"This is dad's legacy," Mickhail says by way of explaining their commitment to quality service and making their customers feel welcome.

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[Model D] Maccabees at Midtown opens quietly, gains buzz fast

There aren’t many new restaurants in the Midtown/Corktown/Downtown neighborhoods that open nowadays without a whole lot of fanfare, often months in advance starting from the day the concept is announced. But Maccabees at Midtown, which officially opened on Dec. 30, opened like a phantom; without any major announcements or media coverage it sprang forth into existence and started serving what the locals already seem to agree is some pretty phenomenal food.

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[EID Feature] Gimme, Gimme, Gimme the Honky Tonk Tacos: Imperial

Photo by Nicole Rupersburg. All other photos from Imperial.

From the very beginning, owner Jeff King has insisted that Imperial is “a community bar with a taco truck on the back, not a Mexican restaurant.” He has insisted that people don’t think of it as a restaurant, but as a bar … with a taco truck on the back (“truck” being, you know, a kitchen).

People pretty instinctively started to refer to this place as “that new Mexican restaurant in Ferndale.” I mean, it’s in a building that was totally worked over from the previous tenant (the Post Bar, if you care). Despite King’s comments, the presence of a full kitchen and absence of an actual truck made people think more “restaurant,” less what he said. It’s definitely a bar, but they serve food, so therefore restaurant.

Except that … no, it’s a bar. With, well … a taco truck on the back (if only in spirit rather than semantics).

Salt & pepper grilled pork belly w/apple, jicama & jalapeño slaw, cilantro & onion

Imperial has been open four weeks now and has been packed since the day they rolled back those Woodward-facing garage doors and welcomed in the public. And people love it.

I noted before that the place is California dreamin’ in the midst of Detroit realties, and that’s really the best way to describe this place. Or perhaps another friend’s description is a little more on-point: “…it’s well-designed, plays drunken alt country, [has] tons of good booze and the bartenders are all tatted-up badasses.” Pretty much.

The space is sparse but slick: tons of natural light and warm breezes come pouring through the garage doors; the booths, tables and floors are all light wood with breezy appeal; the centerpiece of the solid wood back-lit bar is a painting of Johnny Cash flashing his middle finger. It is, and stay with me here, Memphis rockabilly meets hipster L.A. in the way that a lot of people say something is “so L.A.” except that it actually is so L.A. There are community tables, plenty of bar stools and a patio out back. It feels like motorcycles and cigarettes, skinny jeans and cowboy hats, bourbon and blues, hipster and honky tonk, designer and dive.

There are no PBR light-up signs, no Corona mirrors or Miller Lite banners. King says, “I love all of that about a bar but what we’re trying to do is not the status quo. When you think of a ‘neighborhood bar’ you think of that place your grandpa went to … [I want it to feel like that] but not look it. I want it to feel like it’s been here 75 years with a little honky tonk vibe.”

And it works. It works in a way we never knew how much we needed it or wanted it but now that it’s here we’re so happy we have it.

It is correct that they have no taps and no bar guns. It is also correct that they have an extensive selection of tequilas and bourbons, and they also have a few key labels to cater to the craft beer crowd (who’s really gonna say no to AXL Pale Ale?). It is additionally correct that while they do not cater to the craft cocktail crowd, they still mix a mean drink (try the Mezcal Buck) and use all fresh house-made ingredients.

They serve what King calls “L.A.-style street vendor tacos.” No hard shells, no hamburger, no sour cream, no shredded cheese. They make everything from scratch in-house right down to the salsas. “Consistency and quality is a focus,” says King. “It’s all very affordable, [made by a chef] and all fresh, all authentic L.A.-style.”

Chef Brennan Calnin went to culinary school at Kendall College in Chicago then worked in Chicago (under Takashi Yagihashi) then in Milwaukee under a three-time James Beard-nominated chef, then as a private chef on a ranch for a Wall Street president, then under Eric Patterson at the Cook’s House in Traverse City … as King jokes, “This ain’t no line cook.” Through his relationships at the Cook’s House Calnin was connected with one of the other partners at Imperial. “It was a no-brainer to jump on board,” he says.

Carne Asada - marinated steak, red pepper salsa

“I really like the idea of a limited menu because I feel like you’re not spreading yourself thin trying to do a bunch of things,” Calnin explains. “You have the idea you’re trying to get across and [you can] do it very well. It ends up promoting consistency.”

Calnin and King are both very passionate about providing high-quality from-scratch foods made with fresh, locally-sourced ingredients. “Tacos are such an ingredient-driven food and Michigan has so many things to use locally,” says Calnin. “It’s really important [to us] to forge relationships with local farmers … it’s so important for so many reasons,” including the economy and ecology. “We have all these great things – tomatoes and peppers and sweet corn and chicken and eggs and beef and lamb and goat – right here in our backyard.”

Elote Especial - Grilled sweet corn, poblano lime cream, cotija cheese and chilies

King notes, “We’re not interested in someone’s pre-conceived notion of what they like in a taco. We’re trying to present something that is unique to the area. We didn’t reinvent the wheel and want people to experience what the authentic style is.” He explains that they don’t want to muddle down the flavors of the main ingredients. “It’s very fresh and very clean, not diluted with other items. We’re not going to add or subtract things people might not be used to or might not care for [or muddle the flavors down] with a bunch of other stuff. [This is food that] goes great with a beer, and also goes great at 2 a.m. while you’re waiting for a cab and need some food real quick to throw down your throat.”

Eventually they want to have their own mobile truck prowling the streets so the whole “taco truck” joke will become a reality. “We really like the idea of mobile vendors and street vendors,” King comments.

For right now they’re just focused on running the bar in the midst of all the huge opening buzz and the tremendously positive reception they’ve received so far. They’re open seven days a week from 11 a.m. to 2 a.m. (the kitchen closes a bit earlier but plans are to have it eventually be open as long as the bar).

 

[HOT LIST] Best bars to work in

Torino Espresso + Bar. Photo by Nicole Rupersburg.

As a freelancer I know what is probably a disproportionate number of other freelancers in Detroit, and we all seem to share the same basic three needs: the need for strong coffee before noon, the need for strong drink any time after noon, and the need for endless reliable WiFi. While we often work from home, we are also known to occasionally seek out the company of other humans by putting pants on long enough to crawl out of our respective holes and stumble our way to the nearest coffee house or bar.

Coffee houses are great. We love coffee. Coffee makes our work possible. But sometimes we need to imbibe in a beverage stronger than Joe. Sometimes we need Jack, Jim or Jose (or really their crafty equivalents; we're not savages). We also need these drinks in a place that offers flowing streams of beautiful, beautiful bandwidth (for free) in an environment where our kind are welcomed and appreciated - not somewhere where opening a laptop will be met with looks of "Who farted?" Using my own personal experience and polling some of my freelancer friends (both writers and photogs), I've determined these bars are the most freelancer-friendly.

#1 Torino Espresso + Bar (Ferndale)
Torino wins by automatic default because they are both a coffee house AND a cocktail bar. Plan your day right and you can put in a full 12-hour workday starting with coffee and ending with cocktails and even get a few snacks in between (the panini are delish). Heck, you can even move around to different parts of the restaurant to suit different moods ("...and now I shall sit in the lounge"). It also helps that Torino happens to have really freaking good coffee and really freaking good cocktails. And, they play the Black Keys a lot. I'm known to spend long hours working here and I also hold the majority of my business meetings here, so this place is pretty much my office now. I hope they don't start charging me rent...

Hipstergram photo by RPH.

#2 Bronx Bar (Detroit)
(Editor's note: one of my fellow freelancers loves this place so much he wanted to do the write-up for me. This meant less work for me, of which I am always a fan.)
The Bronx is Midtown’s king dive bar. It sits proudly on the corner of Second and Prentis, offering a bird’s eye view of gentrification in action. Sure, it masquerades as a Wayne State college bar on the weekends. But in this economy, we’ve all got to moonlight as something. No one’s judging so long as the sweet-and-salty Charlene governs the weekday afternoon shift, piping in classical music and allowing me to type away at my laptop in peace. The challenge is resisting smuggling a beer into your stomach before the clock strikes 4:00pm and not wrapping your arteries around the best damn cheeseburger (and overall bar menu) every time you set up shop. If you can resist the Bronx’s siren call, you’ve found yourself the best damn pop-up office the city has to offer. - Ryan Patrick Hooper, freelance writer and Bronx bar staple.

#3 Honest?John's (Detroit)
Open for breakfast, lunch and dinner, Honest?John's is one of those divey Detroit bars that we all love and feel compelled to frequent. The best part about this place is not the food (greasy and good, but none too noteworthy) or the drinks (the selection is meh and the pricing is not quite divey enough) but the ambiance. Neon signs sport cheery sayings like, "Men Lie" and "Sobriety Sucks." The bathrooms are covered in years of drunken graffiti, and the jukebox kills (along with the Bronx, it's one of Detroit's best). Ashley Catherine Woods, Entertainment Producer for MLive, even says she has "a favorite booth, waitress and jukebox selection for the am." This is the kind of place where regulars rule.

#4 Cass Cafe (Detroit)
It's a restaurant-slash-art gallery serving healthful, globally-inspired food that is vegetarian- and vegan-friendly, and they also have killer drink specials. Located in the heart of Midtown, Cass Cafe gets a strong turnout of Wayne State and CCS students, artists, area hipsters and what-have-yous, and has always been a relaxed place for some good food, cheap drink, and sweet, sweet WiFi. Fire up the Mac and you'll fit right in, day or night.

#5 Woodbridge Pub (Detroit)
It's a restaurant-slash-art gallery serving healthful, globally-inspired food that is vegetarian- and vegan-friendly, and they also have killer drink specials. Located in the heart of Midtown, Cass Cafe Woodbridge, Woodbridge Pub gets a strong turnout of Wayne State and CCS students, artists, area hipsters and what-have-yous, and has always been a relaxed place for some good food, cheap drink, and sweet, sweet WiFi. And while Woodbridge has many surface similarities to Cass Cafe, one's a little artier and one's a little grittier, appropriately reflecting their respective neighborhoods. I fancy this one for their robust local beer selection, bottomless mimosa brunch, Internet jukebox, and pretty pretty bar. And on weekdays after the lunch rush but before the evening crowds, freelancers practically have the place all to themselves.

Bubbling under The Emory (Ferndale), Foran's Grand Trunk Pub (Detroit), Angelina Italian Bistro (Detroit - great for evening work meetings when WiFi is needed), Park Bar (Detroit), the Rock on Third (Royal Oak), Motor City Brewing Works (Detroit), Andrews on the Corner (Detroit), Traffic Jam and Snug (Detroit)

[Curbed Detroit] Ferndale Gets California-fied with Woodward Imperial

Photo by Nicole Rupersburg.

Jeff King, owner of Woodward Imperial, likes to refer to Ferndale's newest neighborhood bar as a "community bar with a taco truck on the back." The "taco truck" is actually a full kitchen, and probably it might be better to stay away from the "t" word since Ferndale is pretty sensitive about it, but basically it's a super laid-back, sparsely-decorated space that's California dreamin' in the midst of Detroit realities ... which include a liquor license that has been delayed for the better part of nine months (to Ferndale's credit, the hold-up had nothing to do with them, but was the result of a drawn-out process of trying to buy the building's previous license out of bankruptcy which ultimately yielded nothing).

Read more.

[Eater] The Hottest Cocktail Bars In and Around Detroit

Cork Wine Pub. Photo: metroalive.com.

"Just a few weeks ago, all sites across the Eater universe published maps of the hottest cocktail bars in their respective cities. In that spirit, here is a heat map of bars in an area outside of the Eater purview, Detroit, Michigan. The nine selections come courtesy of Curbed Detroit editor Sarah Cox and Eat It Detroit writer Nicole Rupersburg, with blurbs by the latter. No longer can it be said, as one writer recently argued, that 'Michigan is basically ignored by review sites like Zagat and Eater'..."

Check out the Heat Map here.

[Real Detroit Weekly] Cantina Diablo's

All photos by Nicole Rupersburg.

"There are a lot of trendy Mexican/Tex-Mex/Mexi-cali/Mexi-Merican/Mexican-fusion restaurants opening in metro Detroit lately. But none of them are quite so ... red.

'Cantina Diablo's in Royal Oak offers a little something for everyone who wants a little of a lot of things. It is the second location of the brand, owned by the same folks behind Rosie O'Grady's, and it carries over a lot of the same themes as Rosie's. Where Rosie's is something of a thematically general Irish sports pub, Cantina Diablo's is the Tex-Mex equivalent..."

Read the rest of the story here.

Want to see more? Check out the Flickr set here.

[Real Detroit Weekly] Town Pump Tavern

All photos by Nicole Rupersburg.

"Flash back to 15 years ago: before the casinos, before Comerica Park, before Campus Martius, before the Westin Book-Cadillac renovation, before the Super Bowl, before the greenways and riverwalks, before OMG SLOWS ... Detroit was a very different place. People who make 'Wild West' jokes now obviously didn't see it in the '80s and '90s before hipster artists and the New York Times 'discovered' the city. The Town Pump hails from that era, and owner Sean Harrington remembers.

''Back then, this was one of the only hangouts in town!' he jokes, but he's not really kidding. The Town Pump opened 17 years ago. At that time, people hung out here, at the original Honest John's by Belle Isle, at Union Street and the Majestic. The original 3rd Street Saloon was a favorite hangout for college students for their notoriously lackadaisical attitude towards checking IDs, the Old Miami was full of crazy old war vets and little else, and then there were the bars of Hamtramck ... which were pretty much all the same bars as now with one major difference: Motor. 'We've been here doing this and promoting Detroit for a long time, before it was cool,' he says..."

Read the rest of the story here.

Want to see more? Check out the Flickr set here.

[Real Detroit Weekly] Orleans Billiards Cafe

All photos by Nicole Rupersburg.

"Downtown Mount Clemens has seen plenty of change over the last two decades. Before it was the charming, somewhat quaint brick-paved hub of independently-owned businesses and outdoor art installations that it is now, it was ... well, NOT that. When Orleans Billiards Café opened 15 years ago, it was right at the beginning of downtown Mt. Clemens' transformation, and the place is still evolving.

''We have to keep it fresh,' says Paul Boone, who owns Orleans with his brother Mark. 'We have to do something new every year. I want people coming back asking, "what's he done now?"

'His latest change will be a revamping of the menu. Wait, what? What's that you say: Menu? They serve food in a pool hall?

'First off, DON'T call it a pool hall! Yes, there are six pool tables. There are also three shuffleboard tables, three dartboards, 27 plasma TVs (32''-63''), 10 LCD TVs, Keeno, Quizzo, even beer pong on Tuesdays (and starting in August, Thursdays too). There's also a nice outdoor patio. So it's not a pool hall. It is the watering hole equivalent of an everything bagel..."

Read the rest of the story here.

Want to see more? Check out the Flickr set here.

[Real Detroit Weekly] The Emerald Theatre

(Photo by Nicole Rupersburg)

"Different bars all have their own unique music vibe. If you want indie prog-rock, you go to the Majestic. If you want techno, you go to Bleu, Oslo or the Works. But if you want ROCK – we're talking true Eastside, devil horn-flashing, head-banging, mosh-pitting, "SLAYER!!!"-screaming ROCK – you go to the Emerald Theatre.

'The Emerald is a live concert venue and nightclub that's been offering the best live entertainment in Macomb County for 10 years now. On Fridays they host "Orion," a top 40 club night with DJ Paul Martindale where they've got a LED wall with changing patterns and videos on display and a variety of eccentric performers every week – think fire dancers and fire eaters. Wednesdays in their Rock Room are Whip Cream Wednesdays, an 18+ top 40 club night with go-go dancers, whip cream drink specials and body shots.

'But let's get back to the ROCK.."

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Real Detroit Weekly: Northern Lights Lounge

We all love the bathrooms (So big! So clean! So nice!) at Northern Lights Lounge, but this place is more than just a pretty potty. If the Big Lebowski were set in Detroit instead of Los Ang-ga-leez, this is where the Dude and Walter would have hung out and debated whether or not "Chinamen" was the preferred nomenclature ... something about the orange vinyl and white aluminum lounge chairs, the scuffed-up shuffleboard and the old-Vegas-esque multi-colored neon sign out front.

But even if the carpet-pissers hadn't dragged the Dude down the rabbit hole to chase one Bunny Lebowski, this place would still have the slickest L.A.-retro/desert-deco vibe and the most diverse entertainment offerings in the city. It kind of feels like New York in the '80s – there's punk rock night (Mondays), retro goth night (Tuesdays), live jazz night (Wednesdays), hip hop night (Thursdays), house and electronic night (Fridays), live rock bands (Saturdays) and karaoke (Sundays). They also hold burlesque shows, Noir Leather shows, fashion shows and IF there's a cover it's rarely more than $5.

So much for not having a reason to go out on any given night...

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Real Detroit Weekly: Tipsy McStaggers

"Simpsons fans will recognize the name of the rival bar that tried to buy the secret ingredient to the "Flaming Moe" for $1,000,000. Tipsy McStaggers is now a reality in Warren, and they've got a cartoonishly oversized burger to match the cartoon-inspired name.

'Open for almost a year now, Tipsy McStaggers is an Irish pub for the A.D.D. generation. They've got all the Michigan lottery games and Keno, seven plasma TVs for all the sporting events and karaoke five nights a week. There are enough flashing lights, spinning wheels and oversized foods to keep the attention of even the most easily distracted adult child.

'During the day, they are a restaurant. All food is homemade. There is no frozen dough, no frozen fries, no frozen anything. The fries are fresh-cut. The chicken wings are huge, fat, meaty wings that look like they came from an actual chicken (instead of the pigeon wings you get at most places). They make their own pizza dough and bread.

'Then there is the Tipsy Tower..."

Read the rest of the article here.