Royal Oak

Start out at Royal Oak Farmers Market. Friday markets run through Thanksgiving; Saturday markets run year-round, with antique markets on Sundays. Check the calendar for food truck rallies, beer festivals, craft shows and artist markets. Get your dose of Vitamin Z at the Detroit Zoo, where you can watch polar bears plunge and butterflies float. Browse Main and Washington streets for Royal Oak’s funky salons, vintage boutiques and specialty stores like Made in the Mitten and Toyology.

Royal Oak has perfected happy hour, with 526 Main’s dueling pianos, upscale beer halls like Ale Mary’s and vintage-vibe cocktail bars like Pinky’s Rooftop adding to the eats and entertainment mix. HopCat is known for its vast craft beer selection and fries, while Jim Brady’s menu offers decades-old Detroit classics like the 7 Mile Caesar and Charlie Brown burger. Watch for the annual Royal Oak Restaurant Week typically held in March.

For 40 years, Mark Ridley’s Comedy Castle has showcased the best comic talent in the country. Wednesday is open mic night. The historic Royal Oak Music Theatre is a club-style venue with a full calendar. Pronto!, an LGBTQ-friendly restaurant and video bar, serves up live entertainment, including Broadway-style cabaret nights. Drag Queen Bingo, is offered in the space next door, along with Sip, Swish and Stroke guided painting and wine events.