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Heather "Seeking my way to Europe" J.'s Profile
Romping About Royal Oak
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1. Caribou Coffee
Every October to December, Caribou Coffee becomes my living room/office away from home as I settle in to write a novel in the period of a month or so. I consider myself something of a discerning judge of Caribous given how much of my late autumn is…More »
2. Eddie's Alterations
In a world of shopping woes where designers think one size fits all, and all is a living coat rack, alterations are a shopper's best weapon to attaining sartorial nirvana. Don't settle for pooling pant legs or sleeves floating around the wrist!
I'll…More »
3. Hips
Clawson, MI 48017
(248) 435-2130
Categories:
Women's Clothing,
Used, Vintage & Consignment
Neighbourhood: Downtown Clawson
After my visit on the Sunday before Hallowe'en, I owe these lovely ladies a review. I've been so torn about revealing the existence of Hips; like a treasured find, exposing its existence to too many people may ruin the very qualities you have come to…More »
4. Goldfish Tea
Royal Oak, MI 48067
(248) 541-5252
Category:
Coffee & Tea
Neighbourhood: Downtown Royal Oak
Bubble tea shops in Vancouver are about as common as Michigan lefts, popping up unexpectedly on every other street and fulfilling the need of the common man to have his choice of mysterious flavoured teas in a bewildering plethora of flavours…More »
5. Original Pancake House
I think long-term Detroit residents either love or hate Original Pancake House, and see it as their solemn duty to expose newcomers to the infamous Dutch Baby or German pancakes, the notion of an oven-baked omelette, and a broad range of breakfast…More »
6. Red Coat Tavern
Anyone can make a burger, but not just anyone can make an exemplary burger, and fewer still keep it under $15.
Red Coat achieves this remarkable phenomenon by harvesting patties from the bottom of a sacred well in the back of the kitchen, and never…More »
7. Athens Coney Island
The beau and I popped into Athens after taking a look at the horrific OHOP line on Boxing Day. Facing the prospect of starvation for an hour or driving for a half hour in search of a decent wait at our local haunts, we threw in the towel and ponied…More »
8. Astoria Pastry Shop
Royal Oak, MI 48067
(248) 582-9220
Category:
Bakeries
Neighbourhood: Downtown Royal Oak
After a long evening prowling the wild and motorcycle-lined streets of Royal Oak, pushing through crowds of skimpily dressed teenaged girls, all in search of a bite to eat, even the most pleasant soul can be transformed into something monstrous. I…More »
9. Barnes & Noble
Royal Oak, MI 48067
(248) 336-9490
Category:
Newspapers & Magazines
Neighbourhood: Downtown Royal Oak
Call me a bookslut and I will smile rather than unleash the literary wrath of a woman vexed upon you. I admit it, it's true. Brightly lit libraries and spacious, airy bookstores make me smile. Creative indie chains give me a thrill. Much as I love…More »
10. English Gardens
English Gardens taunts me every time I drive over to Meijer or Kroger/Target in Troy. I did a stint in a nursery in my teenage years, and have extensive experience in landscape architecture. A certain level of fascination is probably predisposed.
In a…More »
11. Pet Supplies Plus
As the proud slave of two feline deities, I am tasked to submit to their needs for my own edification. Seeing that we have recently relocated, one of my foremost duties after securing shelter is, of course, the little matters of food and litter.…More »
12. Starbucks Coffee
Coffeeshops exist for the purpose of offering caffeinated succor for the needy and a place of shared suffering for all writers. As such, I tend to judge coffeeshops on several criteria: willingness to tolerate people being there for a while,…More »
13. Target
Coming out of Chicagoland when practically every Target was subject to a remodel and upgrade into Super-Target, I have a high yardstick by which to measure other stores in the D. Troy is my closest outpost I bother going to.
As a store, the…More »
14. TD Nails
Following my move from Chicago to Ferndale, I found myself in dire need of a reliable local nail parlour where I could transform myself from a hapless flower girl tarnished by the dirt and muck of her work-a-day life into a sparkling, well-comported…More »
15. Write Impressions
Royal Oak, MI 48067
(248) 541-8921
Categories:
Cards & Stationery,
Home Decor
Neighbourhood: Downtown Royal Oak
In the digital age, I am a throwback devotee to the feel of fine paper under my hands and a good pen cradled between my forefinger and thumb. I take a quiet satisfaction from the art of letter-writing, or any form of writing for that matter, and how…More »
16. AMC Star John R 15
If the AMC Star Southfield is degenerate theatre in greasy premature middle age trying to claw its way back into being a bit more buff and hopeful, John R is going direct the other way through being entirely sedentary. The cinema equivalent of that…More »
17. Amore' Shoes
Royal Oak, MI 48067
(248) 439-1724
Neighbourhood: Downtown Royal Oak
Amore Shoes, I am not in love with you.
A cute boutique that blends in with an entire street of cute boutiques, I walked in while searching for something to add to my autumn wardrobe collection. I had in mind a pair of boots, preferably in a colour…More »
18. Bellocchio Upscale Resale
Hour Detroit announced this upscale resale shop to be among its best in several issues, all proudly framed and displayed in the front area of this Royal Oak boutique. I have driven by on numerous occasions and finally found the wherewithal to stop in…More »
19. Fairlanes Bowl
Urban folklore would have it that Mesoamericans enjoyed many ball sports. One in particular drew huge crowds who stood around cheering as two teams kicked around a decapitated head, trying to knock one another down and score points. The losing team…More »
20. Fur Baby and Me
Royal Oak, MI 48067
(248) 586-0000
Categories:
Pet Groomers,
Local Flavor,
Pet Stores
I'm writing this from the safety of a coffeeshop where three pairs of golden-green eyes won't sharpen in scorn at the inevitable betrayals slipping from my fingers. They would never understand why I stoop to so much as address the noxious four-footed…More »
21. Hagelstein's Bakery
More than once, my beau regaled me with childhood stories of how he and his siblings would gleefully cajole their dear old dad into visiting Hagelstein's on a Sunday morning. Visions of moist cookies, layer cakes, and swirls of icing danced in my…More »
22. Incognito
Royal Oak, MI 48067
(248) 548-2980
Categories:
Shoe Stores,
Women's Clothing,
Men's Clothing
Neighbourhood: Downtown Royal Oak
My dear friend's gorgeous Betsey Johnson tapestry coat swished out on her saucy frame through the door of Incognito two years ago. A good portion of her wardrobe originates from these halcyon shelves, and inspired by her dress sense, I thought the…More »
23. Kroger
After a nightmarish experience at the Kroger on Coolidge and Woodward, I had higher hopes for the Birmingham branch of the chain just a few miles up the street. Like the new Hollywood crop of It Girls, Birmingham's Kroger looks plenty nicer from the…More »
24. Lover's Lane
Once upon a time, in a land not really so far far away, I decided to look for a few pleasurable diversions for those times when my beau of our then long-distance relationship was indisposed or unavailable.
What the faerie tells never tell you is…More »
25. Noir Leather
Royal Oak, MI 48067
(248) 541-3979
Categories:
Leather Goods,
Lingerie,
Adult
Neighbourhood: Downtown Royal Oak
In no way am I a stranger to shops like Noir, being a native to the West Coast and a transplant to Chicago. I walked among progressive independent shops like the groundbreaking Womyn's Wear in Vancouver down to some of the skeezier San Francisco…More »
26. Sole Sisters
Royal Oak, MI 48067
(248) 547-7653
Category:
Shoe Stores
Neighbourhood: Downtown Royal Oak
What's so special about Sole Sisters? I can't tell whether the store is trying to be a clothing store, an accessories boutique, or a shoe shop. Not a good sign -- I like my shoe boutiques much as I do books: either an extensive collection a la DSW…More »
27. That Girl Clothing Resale
If you hadn't noticed, resale shops are a dime a dozen along the Woodward Corridor and I wouldn't have it any other way. Fashions vary and sizes change so much that I cannot bear to part with a heavy chunk of my paycheque for an item I might wear for…More »
28. Cantina Diablo's
Cantina Diablo's is the equivalent of a beaten up 1983 Chevette or Taurus given a few racing stripes, neon ground-effects, and 90% black tinted windows. No matter how you dress it up, it still sucks. All the pretension in the world isn't going to…More »
29. Kroger Food & Pharmacy
Kroger is as much a part of the Michigan experience as Big Boys, Red Wings, and cider mills. Pity, then, this store happens to be the closest Kroger to my house because what a horrible ambassador it makes.
If a Detroit metro committee for selecting…More »
30. Luxury Nails
In my quest for the perfect acrylic fill and manicures, I have covered the spectrum of offerings. To name a few: private nail artists who earn as much as an IT manager by the hour, glossy spas with the slick polish of a modern bar, and the…More »
31. Douglas J Aveda Institute
Royal Oak, MI 48067
(248) 336-5500
Categories:
Cosmetology Schools,
Hair Salons
Neighbourhood: Downtown Royal Oak
My love-hate relationship with salons goes back as far as I can remember. As a girl, I had glorious, immaculately maintained waist- to butt-length chestnut locks much beloved by any stylist who got her hands on my hair. Childhood disasters including…More »
32. LA Fitness
An LA Fitness slapped on an island between I-696 and Woodward at the nexus of Royal Oak, Ferndale, and Pleasant Ridge sure to be a tranquil oasis throughout the day? Perish the thought!
I obtained a fitness membership here at a reduced rate through…More »
33. Tequila Blue
What I wouldn't give for a somewhat authentic Mexican restaurant from Mexicantown to open a branch somewhere in Ferndale or Royal Oak and show the Piglet Puree poseurs how it's done. Surely Janelle W. can wrangle up enough of a posse to make it…More »
34. South Oakland YMCA
I recently transferred my membership from the YMCA in Chicagoland to the South Oakland YMCA on the strength of no joining fee, a friendly environment, and getting plenty of bang for my buck (classes, pool, fitness room with new equipment, and no…More »
35. Penzeys Spices
Where would I be without the aromatic herbs and zingy spices of Penzey's other than a grey, bland wasteland of unimpressive food and sad recipes crying out in the wilderness for succor? The Michigan climate doesn't support fresh herbs and spices year…More »
36. Nello's Eatery
They should call it Mellow Nello's because this family restaurant at Woodward and 10 1/2 Mile (or thereabouts) is a laid back, low-key affair that offers consistent service and food for the Woodward Corridor. Staff have their routines downpat, and…More »
37. TJ Maxx
When all the right elements come together, shopping at a discount store like TJ Maxx can be a delightful treasure hunt to locate a designer outfit or a shirt you just realized you needed at a reduced price. Newbies take note, plenty of searching…More »
38. BD's Mongolian Grill
Royal Oak, MI 48067
(248) 398-7755
BD's has a storied past with my beau. He worked there in the early days when the joke went the only way to get employed at Mongo was: a) be a rebellious Royal Oak jerk or b) be part of his wonderfully normal family. The beau and all his siblings…More »
39. Ray's Ice Cream Company
Call me a conehead. Well-done ice cream is the perfect capstone to a good meal and the essential for any summer afternoon in style. A frozen scoop slowly melting on a wrapped waffle cone sings to the inner child in me who is never far from the…More »
40. Emagine Theatre
And the Yelp! award for comfiest movie chain goes to... Emagine Royal Oak!
I'll put up with paid parking (grr), a cramped lot swarming with people who never learned to walk on sidewalks or in straight lines, and the attempt to upsell into luxury and…More »
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Recently updated lists from Heather J.
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The Middle of Nine Mile Road (29)A one-girl crusade to survey most of Ferndale. |
Beyond the D: North and East (11)For those destinations north of Detroit proper and a bit towards the east. |
Beyond the D: West by Northwest (34)Afield in the north and western suburbs of Detroit: Troy, Rochester, Clawson, and more! |
The Great Lake State (9)My favourite finds around Michigan. |
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Ferndale, MI
Yelping SinceAugust 2007
Things I LoveSushi, writing, reading, bubble tea, noodles, crepes, pastries, architecture, traveling, tea, cats, Europe, English culture, history, art
Find Me InTorino Espresso Bar
My HometownVancouver, Canada
My Blog Or Website When I'm Not Yelping...I move in a watercolour slipstream through manifold experiences.
Why You Should Read My ReviewsDelicious wit and sardonic humour for free!
My Second Favourite Website The Last Great Book I ReadUnder Heaven
My Favourite MovieCasino Royale
My Last Meal On EarthSushi
Don't Tell Anyone Else But...I'm scared of starfish.
Most Recent DiscoveryHuge La Scala sunhats with ribbons.
Current CrushSophie Ellis-Bextor c. 2005