Entertaining Ideas in Downtown Ferndale

Let Downtown Ferndale entertain you! 

Whether you want to mentally cruise to the mellow jams played out at a local bar or enjoy the story line of a Broadway show, you can do it Downtown.   You can laugh yourself silly.  You can join in the noise.  You can sit back and be a witness.   

Over the past few years, the Ferndale DDA has marketed the benefits of downtown by identifying its diversity to those who don’t know…something about its 3.9 linear miles being home to 70+ retailers, 100+ service businesses and 60+ bars, restaurants and entertainment venues.  At the mention of 60+ bars, restaurants and entertainments venues,  people kind of look up and say “really?”  We say “Really!” right back.   In fact, Downtown Ferndale is home to so much cool fun and good food that you don’t dare put a cap on it, you just invite everyone in.       

So here’s what you’re invited to for this weekend and weeks ahead.

Start with DF’s fave and only movie/performance theatre – the Magic Bag.  You can always count on the Magic Bag to ease you into the weekend with its two nights of Brew & Views on Wednesday and Thursday. By most Friday nights, the Bag goes live.  This  Friday (June 26) you can catch local favorite and join in the hootenanny of Ryan Dillaha & the Miracle Men; Saturday night The Hounds Below get howling with a gathering of their musical friends including The Barrettes, Big Mess & Keri Lynn Roche.  Sunday,  Ian McLagan stops by the Bag for one of his limited, small club appearances.   Not that it totally matters, but if you spent the entire Fri/Sat/Sun being entertained at the Magic Bag, you’d only be out 28 bucks - $5/$8/$15 for awesome and intimate entertainment.   The Bag is closed for the July 4th weekend, but comes back on the July 11.  Find their plan at www.theMagicBag.com.

If live theatre is more your deal, Downtown Ferndale’s got it.  Although the ever-popular Ringwald just wrapped up its annual Gay Play Series, it comes back with gusto on July 12 with its rendition of MommIe Queerest”  starring Joe Bailey as Joan Crawford.  The show runs Fri/Sat/Sun/Mons thru August 5. In their own words, The Ringwald is located in the “Time Square of Ferndale” (LOVE that descriptor) just south of Nine Mile on the East side of Woodward.  Get all their showtimes at www.TheRingald.com.

Further south on southbound Woodward, the Detroit Actors Theatre Company has taken up residence at the Ferndale United Methodist Church and debuts their talent with a weekend of “Hair, the Musical.”  Formerly of somewhere else, the DATC has the talent and enthusiasm (we’ve heard and seen them) to keep you engaged from beginning to end of the legendary and game-changing show.   Showtimes are 7:30 pm, Thursday, June 27, Friday, June 28 & Saturday, June 29.  20 bucks ($15 for seniors and students) and a cabaret setting…that’s entertainment!  www.DATC.org  for more details.   

If you can’t fit Hair into your schedule, you can still see this troupe in action on July 18 when they help the Ferndale  DDA at Get Reel – Outdoor Movies on Vester Street.  The DATC will help lead the Sing-a-long version of Momma Mia.  All you need to do is bring a lawn chair, munch popcorn and have a good ole time, for FREE, on Vester Street.   

Should your mood need enhancing before then, do not pass Go! Go! Comedy has made laughter a commodity in Downtown Ferndale and they bring it 5 nights a week, two times a night, Wednesdays thru Sundays.  Its new show is s’more fun with “S’More Money, S’More Problems.”  Heck you can even choose what you want to laugh at by picking any one of four shows regularly scheduled at Go!   It gets belly-shakin’ hilarious August  7, 8, 9, 10th & 11th  when Go! stages the Detroit Improv Festival to include 5 days/50 troupes/200 improvisers and  92,237 laughs, give or take a few.    Get your ticket for laughing via Go!Comedy.net. 

Ahhh…There’s always more but there’s never enough time or space to share it all.  It is, however, time for you to quit reading this and get doing.  Need more details? Get them at DowntownFerndale.com or find us on facebook.