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Business & Tech

Biggest Bar Night of the Year: What's on Tap

Ferndale entertainment spots offer fun and specials for the night before Thanksgiving that brings friends together.

The night before Thanksgiving is the busiest bar night of the year, and Ferndale business owners are gearing up for the crowds with fun shows, gimmicks and bar specials.

The Emory's General Manager Emily Husband said the night is a busy one for bars because "most people come home for Thanksgiving and want to get together with the friends and family they haven't seen all year. ... We're tapping a firkin this year, not necessarily in order to increase business, but to do something fun and different."

What's a firkin, you ask? "It is a keg of the Livery Brewery Action Jackson IPA that will be on the bar top all evening until it runs out."

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And the fun doesn't stop there.

"Really, though," Husband said, "the whole weekend is very, very busy.  We are open for cocktails on Thanksgiving after 8 p.m., for those that need an escape from family, (or a digestive from all the dinner consumed!) and the Friday night following rivals the Wednesday before in terms of the crowd that comes through the doors." 

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Check out a few of the fun events happening in Ferndale for holiday revelers:

  • "We will have our Metro Times award-winning karaoke hosted by the one and only king of karaoke, Michael Shae!" owner Dean "Dino" Bach said. Karaoke starts at 9 p.m. and that's not all in store for the big bar night. Dino's also will offer its "famous" $5 Holiday Punch Bucket Cocktails, $2.75 "Old School Cooler" long neck bottles of PBR, Blatz, Strohs, Miller High Life and Schlitz. "And then to end the evening," Bach proclaims, "free coneys."
  • : Husband says The Emory will be tapping a firkin 6 p.m. the night before Thanksgiving and patrons can also enjoy regular happy hour deals from 4-7 p.m. at The Emory and .
  • : Check out Mike Young's starting at 8 p.m. Wednesday. Born and raised in the Detroit area, comedian Mike Young studied at Second City in Chicago and with The Groundlings in Los Angeles before branching out and hitting the big time, touring with the likes of Dave Chapelle, Bob Saget, Dave Attell, Joe Rogan and Wanda Sykes. Now the Southfield-Lathrup High School grad returns to his old stomping grounds for a very special homecoming show at the Magic Bag.
  • : Join Go Comedy! for Hangover Eve, which it dubs "the night before Thanksgiving done right," on its Facebook events page. The night includes improv troupes The Mighty They, Baby Leroy, and Home School, as well as drink specials and improv jam Fresh Sauce: Cranberry Edition! Anyone can sign up and improvise on stage. Tickets are $5. Purchase them here.

Designate a driver

It's OK to have fun and let loose, but it's always good to plan ahead for a designated driver. One way to do that is to call in a professional.

James Beach, owner of Bigg Daddy's Taxi Service and Transportation in Royal Oak, is preparing for a busy night driving patrons who attend bars around Oakland County on the night before Thanksgiving.

"It's one of our biggest nights," Beach said.

He advises that partygoers make a reservation to save money and plan ahead.

"It's a lot cheaper that way," he said, explaining that people who think ahead will get a flat rate, whereas those who phone in a taxi will pay a $2 fee for pickup and then $2.75 a mile.

"For example," he said, "a ride from Royal Oak to Detroit will cost about $40 with a flat rate (reservation), instead of $50-$55 on the meter."

Call Bigg Daddy's to make a reservation at 248-408-8586 or 248-577-8897 or ask your server to call you a taxi to get home safely.

Managing your own consumption

The Designate launched a new smartphone application in October to help users manage their nightlife.

Currently available on iPhone and Android platform smartphones, the lifestyle application tool is a blood alcohol concentration estimator designed to help users gauge their ability to drive based on several key factors, including gender, weight, number of drinks and type of beverage consumed. Once calculated, the free application will indicate the likelihood the user is impaired and will arrange a safe ride home.

Search app stores for "The Designate BAC Estimator." 

The Designate is a Troy-based on-call professional driving service that operates seven days a week from 5:30 p.m. to 2:30 a.m. in Metro Detroit. The Designate provides on-demand, chauffeur and special event services. For more information, call 888-929-8282 or log on www.thedesignate.com.

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