Palmer Park - Detroit, MI Area Guide

Both Palmer Park and the Palmer Woods Historic District draw their name from a long-ago wealthy Detroiter and U.S. Senator named Thomas W. Palmer. He had ambitious plans for the area, but died before he saw his goal achieved. Walter Briggs, an American entrepreneur, then purchased the land and had forty buildings designed and built by many famous architects, including Robert West and William Kapp, during the 1920s and 1930s.

At one point in the history of Palmer Park, it contained bars, bookstores, and restaurants run by a large LGBT community that lived in the Palmer Park apartments.

An annual LGBT pride festival called "Hotter Than July " takes place in Palmer Park during July. Festivities include a candlelight vigil and a boat ride. Past supporters include Ford Motor Company. For more local history, head to The Ferndale Historical Museum in Ferndale.

Usually Palmer Park residents head to Ferndale to feast at a wide selection of hip restaurants and partake in a happening nightlife. Downtown Royal Oak also has a strong pull, due to the fact that there are about 70 restaurants just in the downtown area itself. Try the schwarma, dolmas and zaatar at Anita's kitchen if you're craving Mediterranean food. This small, family-owned business serves up traditional fare, such as hummus and tabouleh, with a twist. You'll want to be sure and try the lemon lentil soup.

The beer selection alone will give you one reason to check out the pinball machines and American cuisine at One Eyed Betty's. Open weekday afternoons until 2 a.m. and weekend mornings from 9 a.m to 2 p.m., this restaurant carries many Michigan craft brews on tap. Since Betty's gets packed on weekends, you'll want to make reservations. Favorite meals include deep-fried pork belly with a poached egg and a side of Applewood-smoked bacon-ask for the "bacon with a side of bacon."

For over a half-century, Lou’s Deli has been providing old-fashioned style deli goodness, homemade in the restaurant's kitchen, to satisfied customers. Deli trays and daily specials loaded with heaping piles of meat and cheese are served up here with an unconditional guarantee that any unsatisfied customer can get a refund or a replacement menu item at no cost.

Gusoline Alley will be your destination for jukebox sing-alongs. Remember to bring cash for the bar, as they don't accept plastic. Watch Improv karaoke at the Go Comedy! Improv Theater in downtown Ferndale. At Public House, order appetizers, including hush puppies, sliders and fried green onions with lemon salt for under $4 a pop to pair with your pale ale from the bar.

Walking within the immediate neighborhood through the historic apartment buildings and Palmer Park is safe, but if you’re traveling outside of the neighborhood, you’ll want to drive or take public transportation through the Detroit Department of Transportation (DDOT for short), which serves the neighborhood. 8 Mile Road runs through the geographic area of this neighborhood, connecting you with Interstate 75 for travel to other parts of the city.

Take the 053 Woodward bus to get to downtown Detroit. This route will take about an hour. Use the Uber app on your phone to call up a taxi or shuttle instead of trying to flag one in the neighborhood. You’ll find public parking in the neighborhood. Parking in more urban areas such as downtown Ferndale and Royal Oak can be more difficult, as most spots are metered. Look for Ferndale Park Plus, operating more than 1000 park spaces located in 15 lots and on the city streets.

Royal Oak and Ferndale nearby are extremely bike friendly, with new bike paths and plenty of places to chain your bike in town, while Palmer Park also provides plenty of bike trail for you to explore. You will be able to ride your bike in the neighborhood here, but you won’t find quite as many resources as you will in neighboring communities.

Oakland County in general contains many biking trails that are easily accessible for those wanting more of a mountain biking experience. Print out maps of trails on the Oakland County website for scenic routes running through rural and urban areas, including lakes, rivers, valleys, and backcountry.

Palmer Park will be the best park to visit in the area. Here, for free, you will find a children’s play area and splash park, miles of walking trails, biking trails, and a historic cabin and a pond. This dog-friendly park contains wooded areas, off-road trails and even free yoga in the summer. The park doesn't have an exercise-centric equipment though, so if you're looking for more of an obstacle course, head to one of many fitness centers nearby, including Snap Fitness.

On the last Sunday in June you can attend an annual event held in Palmer Park called Log Cabin Day. The celebration includes opening the famous cabin for tours, music by live bands, and activities for children, as well as historians dressed in period costumes. Money earned from this event goes to maintaining and preserving the Palmer cabin for future generations to enjoy.

Living in the Palmer Park neighborhood can be quite affordable compared to neighboring areas. A one-bedroom comes in around $495, much lower than one in Ferndale or Royal Oak. A beer from the tap at your local pub will be around $4. Gas prices are 7 percent lower than average. A fare to downtown Detroit will cost you $1.50.

The Fairlane Town Center Mall is a large shopping center located in the center of downtown. The mall features anchor stores Sears and JCPenney, and national chains like the Foot Locker, Charlotte Russe, Hollister, and H&M. For more shopping, visit Downtown Royal Oak or Ferndale. Royal Oak alone contains 85 boutiques, high-end designer stores, salons and retail shops.

For cheap, fun jewelry in many bright styles and colors such as pale orange, turquoise, and copper, visit Pitaya Inc. in Royal Oak. The boutique has quite a few dressing rooms inside, along with friendly staff. You'll find the clothing fits well for those with more of a curvy physique. For trendy women's clothing and accessories, Akeelah's Unique Boutique is located along McNichols Road in downtown. Friendly staff and excellent prices make this boutique a pleasant place to shop. Lost and Found Vintage, also located in Ferndale, sells consignment goods from every previous decade you can think of. Royal Oak Farmers Market will be your go-to for fresh produce. On Sundays, the market also has an antique flea market sale. The Western Market in Ferndale might become one of your favorite grocery stores, due to an abundant selection of fresh produce, local products, and an extensive wine selection. Additional grocery stores serving the area include Foodland, Fresh Approach, Natural Food Patch, Holiday Market, and the State Fair Supermarket.