Nightlife in Canton

Fun and flavor go hand-in-hand at Electric Stick, a bar that’s one part casual pool hall and one part restaurant. A fireplace warms the restaurant section, where servers deliver Italian and American fare such as burgers, pizzas, and pasta. Nearby, six pool tables host games of billiards, 17 televisions broadcast sports, and video games host rounds of virtual golf or darts. In addition, regular charity poker games let patrons showcase their Texas hold'em skills and collection of intimidating sunglasses while raising money for a worthy cause. :m]]

The clink of whiskey glasses, the upbeat strains of fiddles, and the mouthwatering aroma of braised lamb shank: these are the sights, sounds, and smells that envelop the senses at Claddagh Irish Pub. The lively eatery sates stomachs with a menu of traditional dishes, such as shepherd’s pie, and those with modern twists, such as the fish accompanied by fresh mango salsa or cilantro-lime rice. The chefs try to use seasonal ingredients and keep tongues from getting bored by changing their offerings twice a year and hiding firecrackers in the desserts.

Diners swig a variety of Irish beer and whiskey and sip more than a dozen wines surrounded by dark wood accents and stone walls that evoke the Emerald Isle. A slew of events entertain ears, including traditional Irish music jams on Sunday evenings and trivia on Wednesday nights.

Bottle caps and taps unfurl pints of domestic and imported beers alongside hearty burgers and nachos at Library Sports Pub and Grill's locations in Novi and West Bloomfield. Pizzas baked in circles or squares embrace medleys of meats and vegetables, and Saint Louis–style ribs in full and half slabs revel beneath piquant sauces or dry rubs. Southwestern fajitas sizzle beside cool glasses of Rolling Rock, Stella Artois, Guinness, and 40 other beers, as well as martinis from a seasonal menu and a signature frozen drink of the month. After game clocks run out on the bar's big-screen televisions, local bands, karaoke singers, and DJs entertain diners with boisterous beats. The pub takes a tongue-in-cheek approach to its namesake with frequent-diner "library cards" and complimentary due-date face stamps.

At Centaur, the martini is monarch. The menu of seasonally changing cocktails ($9 each, $5 during happy hour) leaves no taste unexplored. The toasted-almond martini swizzles together vanilla, almonds, cocoa, and cinnamon, while the Detroiter uses hometown-hero Vernors ginger ale with splashes of vanilla vodka and spiced rum. Secret agents on the lam after a botched attempt to blow up a supervillain's volcano lair can unwind with the .007 martini's mix of vodka, gin, strawberry, and basil while awaiting further instructions from contacts "Hansel and Gretel," who are enjoying a gingerbread-flavored martini at the other end of the bar. In addition to an extensive selection of beers and wines, Centaur also offers a menu of gourmet small plates for stomachs not quite satisfied by toothpicked olives. Try an ounce of Sevruga caviar ($50), Maryland crab cakes with lobster cream sauce ($10), or three gourmet mini-burgers ($6).

With its unique decor and handcrafted specialty cocktails, The Bosco exemplifies class without pretension. According to Metromix, the premises evoke nature inside and out, with decorative trees and a courtyard adorned with waterfalls. At the bar, mixologists create specialty martinis that incorporate fresh fruit juices, simple syrups, liqueurs, and chocolate shavings. Later in the evenings, live DJs spin eclectic tunes at lounge-style events, and patrons enjoy amenities such as valet parking, bottle service, and a direct landline to the president.

With a stage sturdy enough to bear the weight of standup comedy giants such as Jon Stewart, Jerry Seinfeld, and Ellen DeGeneres, Mark Ridley's Comedy Castle continues to cultivate talent to fill up its schedule. In the same way that it has operated since 1979, the venue employs a three-tier format for its shows: two locals, one up-and-coming and one seasoned, followed by a nationally recognized comic. This approach exposes audiences to new voices while comforting them with the promise of a recognizable face at evening’s end.