The WAB Gets Sciency with The Alechemy Room

Last week, the WAB in Ferndale gave their most loyal fans a sneak peek of their newest bar, The Alechemy Room. This new science themed bar will be housed on the lower level of the WAB, where you are used to grabbing some food in the summer, or where you may have grabbed a drink and listened to metal during the CVRSES pop-up last year.

The space has been transformed for Alechemy, making you feel like you've entered the lab of a brew-scientist. The bartenders are suited up in lab coats, and Edison bulbs are strung from the ceiling, giving the space an orange glow. Alechemy will be serving up "pressed beer cocktails". The drinks will be infused with everything from fruit, to childhood favorites like Trix cereal. They truly are the creations of a mad scientist, that you have to taste for yourself!

So far, the WAB's Brewers Club Members and a few select guests are the only ones that have had the opportunity to experience Alechemy for themselves. But, starting this weekend, the room will be open to the public. The Alechemy Room will be open Thursday thru Saturday from 6 p.m. until Midnight. If you're planning an event, this room is also available as a rental space, for more info on that click here.

The WAB and Alechemy are located at 22646 Woodward in Ferndale. For more info on The Alechemy Room, click here.

~C

Strange Heart Releases "Sinking Ships" at The Loving Touch

Josh Clemens and Bryce Carroll-Coe are two Michigan natives that returned home from the West Coast amidst huge life altering changes. Bryce had recently received a heart transplant and had a new lease on life. Josh was about to deal with the loss of two sisters to cancer. Both of these situations are bound to change your outlook on life and are unimaginable for most. There are a lot of ways that someone could deal with either of these, but in this case, both turned to music. And by turning to music, Strange Heart was formed. The band is comprised of Josh on Lead Vocals and Guitar, Bryce on Lead Guitar and Vocals, Mike Schneider on Bass and Vocals, and Bobby Jankowski on Drums.

This Friday night, Strange Heart will celebrate the release of their debut album Sinking Ships at The Loving Touch in Ferndale. Joining them for the evening are After Dark Amusement Park, The Black Drops, and DJ Eric Novak from Stone Owl. We had a chance to catch up with the band at The WAB to talk about the new album and the release show. Check out what the guys had to say and get to know Strange Heart. 

As the band mentioned, there are four new songs available for streaming now. You can check those out here. Make sure you also head over and "like" Strange Heart on Facebook here so you are in the know when the album is released on all streaming platforms.  

Cover for Friday's release show is $10 and tickets can be purchased in advance here. Things are set to kick off at 8 p.m. and all ages are welcome. 

~C

Celebrate 20 Years of The WAB

Twenty years ago most people were ok with drinking Budweiser, Miller Lite, or any commercial beer. If you wanted to get fancy with your beverage choice, you went with a Corona with a lime, a Guinness or maybe even something like a Smirnoff Ice or Mike's Hard Lemonade. That was the case until craft beer hit the scene. And one of the first breweries in Metro Detroit was Woodward Avenue Brewers.

The WAB first hit the scene back in 1997 and this week they are celebrating their 20th WABiversary. For two decades now the brewery has been known for its great beers and delicious food. It was one of the first "cool" bars in Ferndale, putting the town back on the map. Since, a ton of great bars and restaurants have opened their doors in Ferndale, including the adjacent sister bars, The Emory and The Loving Touch. The owners of these great bars have curated some of our favorite festivals, like the DIY Street Fair and Pig & Whiskey. They've brought a ton of great shows through their first floor as well as The Loving Touch. Through all of the changes and growth, they continued to stick to their roots and make great craft beer.

In celebration of this anniversary the WAB will be having great specials and events all week long. They will feature throwback pricing, food specials, raffles and more. Check out the full list of events below.

The WAB is located at 22646 Woodward Ave. in Ferndale. To stay in the loop on all of the happenings this week, RSVP to the Facebook event here. 

Happy Anniversary, WAB! We're looking forward to the next 20 years!

~C

The New W.A.B. Menu Made our Taste Buds Dance

Last week Christie and I attended a launch party for a new app called Tastemade. This app enables you to make a short one minute video when you are out to eat to share with your friends, family and followers. It is a new way to bring your friends to the dinner table with you.

The launch took place at one of Ferndale's most famous eateries, The Woodward Ave. Brewery. For years this bar/restaurant has been known for brewing up its own beers and serving up some great food, but about 8 months ago they said out with the old and in with the new. They closed down shop and relaunched with an an entirely new menu that was curated by Chef Brent Foster. This new menu was based on an old American staple, pizza and beer, but they do it with a gourmet twist. At the Tastemade event we were able to sample some savory and some sweet treats and we were  more than pleasantly surprised with the spread.

 

The spread included The Supreme Clientele pizza which features pepperoni, prosciutto, smoked mushrooms, red onions, black olives, red sauce and mozzarella cheese. They also had another pizza  called Smells like Florentine Spirit that was topped with smoked chicken, mushrooms, spinach, pesto, and feta. They had a sandwich called The Mary Moon, that included zucchini, artichoke, roasted red pepper, asparagus, pesto, and goat cheese. They also had a special salad called Killer Tomatoes which featured smoked tomatoes, fresh mozzarella, basil pesto, balsamic glaze, and greens. Desserts included dark chocolate stout cake and a cheese cake topped with strawberries. Drink specials included two beers, one called Custom Blonde and the other was called Burke's Maple Brown. I tried a sample of everything and went up for a second round of the Smells like Florentine Pizza. The pizza and the cheesecake were my favorite two items of the night, and that says a lot because I am not a dessert person, I am usually a carb whore.

I made a quick Tastemade video while I was at the event so that I could share my experience with all of you. Check it out below!

I tried the new menu when it was first released and I liked it, but it is very obvious that Chef Brent Foster plans to continue to up his game because this spread was simply divine. I mean, I liked the cheesecake so much that I couldn't even remember what the name was when I was making the video, I just new that I wanted to eat it! I love this app, I love this resturant, and I had a great time at the party. Kudos to everyone invloved. If you are in the Ferndale area stop in for some pizza and beer that you cannot get anywhere else!

The WAB is located  at 22646 Woodward Ave. in Ferndale. For more information on the WAB, you can visit their website here.

~S

A Fest Full of All of the Bastards in Town!!!

If you're in the mood to hang out with a bunch of Bastards this weekend, you are in luck! There's a whole fest of bastards taking over the WAB!

This Friday night, head out to the WAB for the first ever Bastard Fest. This fun show will feature 5 bands that all have one thing in common, the word bastard. The lineup includes Bastardous, S.U.B. (Some Uncoordinated Bastards), The Arrogant Bastards, The Randy Bastards, and an unknown act going by Heart Shaped Bastard. That's a whole lot of bastards in one place!

21+ are welcome and the show will be held in the downstairs lounge at the WAB. Doors open at 7:30 p.m. and 5 bux will get you in the door. Don't forget, the WAB has an all new menu now too! So you might want to head out early to grab some grub before the show! For all of the details on Bastard Fest head over to the Facebook event page here.

~C

Passalacqua & Duende Free At The Loving Touch!

I want to send a shout out to The Loving Touch in Ferndale. Recently they have hosted quite a few great shows and this Wednesday is no exception. The best part is that I have noticed them mixing it up a bit and featuring different genres.

Duendesday is an event that was originally started that the famous Club Bart in Ferndale. It began in '09 and carried on until their doors closed recently. At that time it moved over to the WAB/ Loving Touch complex where it has comfortably continued ever since. We first told you about it when Mick Bassett was featured a few months ago.

The idea is to mix different genres and performers. There is no charge, although they do pass around a bucket for the artists. It is an opportunity to see a few artists in a small setting and discover what they are all about. This week there are two artists that we think you might enjoy.

Photo Credit: Tony Katai

Passalacqua is self described as “a blend of old school hip/hop, East Coast rap, the murkier underground and boisterous pop-angled rap." Blaksmith and Mister are the two minds behind the mash up. Check out their song, Footprints, here. 

DUENDE is also playing on Wednesday night. You can check out their music here.

Catch both of them live in Ferndale this Wednesday at The Loving Touch. Show starts at 9 p.m. and openers include The Wrong Numbers and Factory Girls. 

~S

 

It Was A Hot Weekend Full Of Pigs, Whiskey and Music

What a weekend! Summer in Detroit is in full swing and the humidity has been turned up full blast this year. At all the local festivals there has been no shortage of poofy hair, melting makeup and sweet sweat lines. Pig and Whiskey has come and gone, and now all that is left is the faint smell of pig, spilled beer and memories of another funky weekend.  

Ferndale hosted the 3-day festival for the second time this year. The crowds were bigger, the temps were higher and the music was louder. I had a wonderful time watching bands and attending the after parties held at the Loving Touch each night. The weather made it very difficult to stay outside in the smokey bbq pit that was Ferndale for the weekend. I personally kept going into the WAB and the Loving Touch to get drinks and cool down throughout the weekend.  

I thought Child Bite and The Hard Lessons put on a great show Sunday night and Electric 6 closed out the weekend in only the way they can. We finally got a chance to interview The Hard Lessons (Augie and Korin that is) and learn more about this band that is about to celebrate its 10-year anniversary.  

I really love Ferndale, whiskey and festivals, but as always I have a few complaints. Wait! We will call them recommendations for next year. First of all you cannot charge $5 for that small of a whiskey shot. Either drop it to three or give me the full pour. It would not hurt to have some mixers for the whiskey either. Not everyone can drink it James Bond style on the rocks. The food is good, if you like bbq, if you don't you have to go elsewhere (unless you want corn or mac and cheese). It wouldn't hurt to invite Anita's Kitchen or Imperial over to cook up some vegetarian and vegan friendly options. Finally, don't book the biggest musical lineup of the weekend on a Sunday! Saturday and Sundays lineups should have been reversed!  

Overall we had a great time and got some pictures and video to share with you. Look, watch, and enjoy!

Remember, DIY Festival is only two months away on September 14-16! We get to do this all over again!

~SB 


 

2012 Pig & Whiskey Festival

This weekend the Metro Times and the Woodward Avenue Brewery are joining forces to bring you a good, old gluttonous weekend full of Pig & Whiskey.

The fun starts Friday night with a pre-party that goes from 6 p.m. to midnight. Bands featured that night include Ty Stone, Passalaqua, Jamaican Queens and American Mars. Saturday festivities are from 11 a.m. to midnight and features Reverend Peyton's Big Damn Band, Frontier Ruckus, Lord Scrummage, The Beggars, Dutch Pink and Jeecy and the Jungle. Sunday continues on from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. and features Electric Six, The Hard Lessons, Child Bite, K.I.D.S, Illy Mack and Dragon Wagon. Personally I cannot wait to see Passalaqua, Jamaican Queens, The Hard Lessons and Child Bite. They are some local favorites you should not miss. 

There will be over 10 different barbeque restaurants featuring all sorts of different versions of pork. They will also feature over 40 types of liquor to sample. For those of you who don't like liquor don't worry, there will also be a beer tent. If you are like me, you might be excited about the whiskey, but you might not be into the pork. Again don't worry. I remember eating a great stir fry last year so I know that there will be some choices for the vegetarians out there. 

Here's the best part- entry is free! You have to buy tickets to sample the food and drinks, but walking around, hanging out and listening to the music is FREE.

Last year they had quite a few vendors from the area selling wares and most of the restaurants and patios were open for business. 

Hope to see some of you in Ferndale this weekend!

~S

Food Trucks Galore!

There are very few things in life that I love as much as food. Well, to be honest, there isn't really anything I love as much as food. And I love trying new food, too. I'll try almost anything at least once, and more often than not I will like it. I was recently in Mexico visiting my sister and it was so hard to not stop at all of the street vendors tempting me with all sorts of weird snacks and meats that looked delicious (since you have to be careful down there, it's better to be safe than sick I suppose). I think I may love 'street food' best of all. You can walk around and try lots of different things! It's perfect. However, I don't think we have enough of that sort of thing around here, unless you go to a market like Eastern Market or there is some sort of festival going on. This is why I am so excited for tomorrows 4th Street Eats in Ferndale. 

Tomorrow (Thursday, June 21), you can head down to the alley behind Rust Belt Market and not only do a little shopping at all of the great artisans inside, but try lots of delicious foods from food trucks, seven food trucks to be exact! There will also be live entertainment and admission is free! Unfortunately, because of health codes, it is a dog-free event, so I will not be able to play with all of your adorable puppies while stuffing my face with food.

If you don't get enough of the food trucks tomorrow, there are a few other dates lined up for similar events- July 19, August 23, September 20 and October 18. So make sure to keep an eye on the Michigan Mobile Food Vendors Association so you know what is going on. 

If you can't wait until next month, there is another event happening this weekend on Saturday, June 23. Woodward Avenue Brewers is presenting 'The Ferndale Truck Stop' from 11 a.m.- 10 p.m. There is a ton of stuff going on at this event. There will be 10 food trucks, a beer tent with the Detroit Derby Girls, kid activities AND this one is dog friendly! This truck rally is also free and in Ferndale, but it is behind the WAB and Emory.

If that is not enough food for you, I don't know what to do with ya. So head out tomorrow for some dinner before going to the Wild in the Streets Benefit Show over at Modern Skate and then go fill yourself up even more on Saturday. 

~B

WABiversary

Ferndale is the hip place to be these days. The city has been growing in popularity and it seems that every week another bar or business is opening its doors. With all the new bars and restaurants opening up, we tend to forget the good, old staples that made Ferndale the hip spot that it is! The Woodward Avenue Brewery, also known as the WAB, has always been one of my favorite spots in Ferndale. Not only is it a great place to try a house brewed beer but it features a wonderful kitchen that can whip up some great food! I love this bar so much that I even had my fourth 25th birthday there this past year (that’s right 25 for life bitches). I was able to reserve a space upstairs and order some catering to feed my guests while we rocked out to the jukebox and played a few rounds of pool. 

This week, the WAB will be celebrating its 15-year anniversary and they are going all out for this event. Not only will they continue to have half-off food on Mondays, but they are making changes to ensure that they are the place to be for years to come.  

The event is being billed as the '15th WABiversary' and starts at 11 a.m. this Thursday, May 24. For the day, all beer will be $1 from 11 a.m. to 2 a.m. This includes two new beers that are being released by brew master Greg Burke. The new editions are WABST Green Ribbon, a light Bohemian pilsner; and a seasonal beer, Green Bullet, an organic west coast IPA. For this event, all ten draft handles will be pouring. If you don’t like what they make in house they always have two guest taps for you to try, and don’t forget liquor is always available! 

At 4, the Ferndale Chamber of Commerce will be hosting a cake cutting ceremony upstairs, this will include a free taco bar snack hour from 4- 7. You and some friends can stop in and have a taco any way you like it!

At 8, they will officially launch the new beers with a 'pint hoist' toast throughout the bar and two staffers will begin to DJ for the rest of the night. I know many of the workers there and I imagine their music tastes won't disappoint. 

As you walk in, you can show the door guy a print out or a phone picture of an image located on the WAB’s website. By doing this you will get a ticket to be entered into a contest to win free prizes including a few small gifts and two grand prize baskets. These winners will be announced from 9-11. So make sure you get there and get your raffle ticket before 9! 

At 10, they are featuring a coney bar for anyone that is hungry from all the great beers that they have been drinking. Stop in and make yourself a Detroit-style coney, don’t forget the spicy mustard!

If this wasn’t enough to get you in the door, there will also be an art show featuring work by the employees that will be serving you and have served you for the last 15 years. Many of the staffers at this establishment have been with the company from the start- and the service has never disappointed me! 

Then Friday, Saturday and Sunday they will continue the celebration with a beer special- all beer is only $2 a glass!  

To close out the weekend they are launching a new menu. They have kept a lot of our favorites like the nachos and cashew chicken sandwich, but added in some new items. This new menu promises to be more vegetarian friendly to stay with the times and vibe of Ferndale and its residents. You can see a new menu here.

Don’t forget, the WAB still features half off food on Mondays and as of May 22, the patio is open!

Stop in, have a drink and remember to tip your bar tenders well! 

Happy WABiversay! 

~S