Things to Do in Ferndale

Each year on the shores of Lake St. Clair, massive bash Hottiefest celebrates the art of looking good with a weekend of professionally DJ’ed parties. Spinsmiths such as DJ Captn20 and DJ Godfather select dance-friendly jams that evoke all the beachy fun, sun, and camaraderie of a snowman that reincarnates in sand form to be near you again. In addition to dancing until body temperatures rise, guests can lounge in outdoor cabanas and take home goody bags full of neon-hued party favors; VIP visitors earn the added perks of bypassing the entry line and mingling in the waterfront VIP tent.

At Five15's weekend bingo matches, players don't come to win a jackpot or to appease their grandmothers. They come for the drag queen hostesses and their good-natured abuse, adult humor, and vivacity. A rotating roster of queens includes Hershae Chocolatae of America's Got Talent fame, Mr. Joan Rivers, and the acerbic comedienne Queen of Mean. Clustered around round tables, sipping smoothies or chai lattes from the full coffee bar, the patrons of Drag Queen Bingo defy categorization—gay, straight, men, women, and even the occasional 90-year-old, according to the Detroit Free Press. Each patron is fair game for the hosts' humorous darts, especially when they pick up their prizes. Historically, adult-themed prizes have included mugs, T-shirts, and clippings from the Wall Street Journal. _ Detroit Free Press_ quotes a patron as observing, "It's not my mother's bingo. It's nobody's mother's bingo."

Fox Theatre, originally opened in 1929, has long been established as a venue for legendary performances, earning induction into the National Register of Historic Places in 1993. Domed entryways, walls lined with pastoral murals, intricate chandeliers, and a palette of brilliant gold and crimson hint at the venue's Moorish influences, which eclectically clash with the ordered lines of its Gothic exterior.

With its rotating cache of handmade accessories, including wooden picture frames, necklaces, and fuzzy scarves, Simply Creative Boutique feels more like someone’s inviting living room than an arts-and-crafts studio. A constantly changing roster of classes taught by owner Jennifer Kaczmarek encourages artists of all skill levels to try their hand at such specialties as creating a piece of jewelry or weaving a basket out of newspapers. Kaczmarek enhances her studio's community vibe with conversational blog posts, informing her customers about upcoming open houses, giveaways, and grudge matches between the warring Decoupage and Macramé families.

Modern Skate & Surf’s skate park and alternative-sports shop was founded in 1979 and has since hosted events frequented by Olympic and professional athletes—including superstar Tony Hawk—as well as earned a feature as Best Snowboard Shop in 2012 from Real Detroit Weekly. In Modern Skate & Surf’s world-class, 60,000-square-foot Royal Oak skate park—one of the largest facilities of its kind in the US—skateboards grind across rails or glide over jumps, and inline skaters whiz over obstacles and BMX bikes hang in midair. Customers can build on their extreme-sports skills in clinics and lessons or rent out the facility for parties or high-speed chases. Committed to supporting the next generation of extreme athletes, Modern Skate & Surf offers discounts to students who bring in report cards sporting A’s and B’s.

In addition to the skate park, Modern Skate & Surf also maintains a Lansing store that stocks snowboarding, skateboarding, wakeboarding, skating, and protective gear to facilitate exciting adventures.