amorantiquita

There are so many festivals on Biddle it's difficult to keep track. At least once a year there's an art festival, and throughout the year there are festivals on the water featuring vendors, food, and bands.

The great thing about Biddle is that it has kept its small-town feel but also kept up on the times - some of the newest eateries are next to some of the oldest.

I'd highly recommend coming here if you're into art. There's a lot of great places, like the Biddle Gallery, that house a lot of local and regional talent that isn't priced through the roof. I've seen a lot of awesome stuff here.

I'd also suggest going to the Grind Coffeehouse, grabbing a cup of coffee, and hanging out with the Christian bikers who hang out there in the summer. They're all super nice and have excellent stories!

Overall, a great place for anyone and everyone to grab a little something and take a stroll on the boardwalk (yes, they have one of those!). I'd live there again if I could. That doesn't stop me from visiting every now and again. Give it a shot and you may find that you love it!

It's one of the few downtown areas in Metro Detroit that still has lots with free parking. With the recent installation of meters at every single place in Royal Oak, this makes downtown Rochester a premier place to eat, shop, or just hang out.

They have some of the most unique stores and eateries around. Many of the boutiques are consignment, or carry unique lines of clothing and accessories.

When I go there, I am there to eat or have drinks with friends/colleagues. Gus O'Connor's lends an authentic Irish atmosphere to modern American cuisine. I really like the Rochester Chop House for nice dinners. Mr. B's is a great place to grab drinks. Knapp's is the only spot you'll ever need for a coffee and donuts.

If you're hungry, come here, park for free, and be happy!

I used Masonic to get to Macomb Mall and surrounding strip malls. It's great for that. You can get access to the Macomb Mall, Silver Cinemas, and the 100+ surrounding businesses from this street. Trying to make a Michigan left into any of these complexes can really be a pain, especially during Christmas season! Using this road would certainly help the wary traveler save a little time and a whole lot of heartache.

I've lived a mile away from this street for a couple decades.

One thing great about it Groesbeck is that it's quicker than any other highway traveling North and South. It's 50 mph for large stretches, with quick lights and generally quick traffic flow. If you need to get to Macomb Mall quickly, this would be a great route to consider in lieu of Gratiot.

Because it's a highway, there isn't any parking on the street. There also aren't many houses on Groesbeck; at the extreme North and South ends there are houses, and that's about it.

There's some good shopping if you know where to find it. The intersections of Utica road, 13 mile, and Groesbeck for example. One of my favorite restaurants, Lazybones, is also on this street. Motor City Auto Auction (the place with the obnoxious commercials) is also here.

It's not a place to stroll, but it's a great place to visit if you have to. Though, some things can be hard to find because of all the industrial complexes. Make sure you know where you're going!

11 mile is an essential road of travel. Interstate-696 has 11 mile road as its service drive for a large stretch. This is the area I've lived on and am most familiar with.

On one hand, it's convenient having the freeway close. On the other you have freeway traffic at all hours of the night, and only one-way streets on either side. So, if you live on westbound 11 mile and need to go East, you'll either have to find a bridge that takes you across the freeway to eastbound, or you'll have to find another street altogether. This may sound simple, but it's a pain!

Luckily, residential and commercial isn't mixed together, so you'll have a limited amount of foot-traffic. Though, Roseville Jr. High School is a block away from the road at one point - this is the only area that tends to get foot traffic.

If you're not bothered by ambient noise, then it may be a good place to look at. If you're a light sleeper, steer clear!

I looked into moving onto S Main street. Big mistake.

I couldn't find anything under $150,000 here. Some of the lofts here sell for over $1 Million - no joke.

I considered streets that were within walking distance of Downtown Royal Oak, but they too were very expensive. There were other issues that turned me away completely.

Most of the streets surrounding downtown do not allow street parking, or if they do, you need a permit. Many of the homes do not have driveways, or have small driveways; we have three cars, and having to apply for permits and pay for parking every year just isn't worth it!

Did I mention that there's no free parking around downtown? They've turned every available spot into a metered 2-hour parking space. Ten years ago there were very few meters. Now they are everywhere.

This downtown area is one of the coolest in Metro Detroit. I absolutely love the shopping, the restaurants, and the coffee shops. Unfortunately, I'm priced out of the area, and grossed out by the bureaucracy that surrounds being a resident.

North Main street is still very busy as compared to South Main. Many commuters from the downtown Royal Oak area use this street to travel to their destinations, or to just find a diner to relax in. With as many bars as there are, it can get very loud, especially after midnight. If you have kids, this is probably not the street for you.

I've stayed in this area, and over-all I have liked it. I don't think I would considering moving here because of the noise and traffic issues. Expect to pay much higher rent on Main street based on location and the fact that Urbane Inc. is buying all the smaller apartment complexes and "fixing them up," which means putting some steel on the outside of the building and raising rent.

A close friend of mine had this happen to him. He reacted by buying a home in Ferndale! Take that, Urbane!

I lived on this street for most of my life. I've grown to love and hate things about it.

The plus side is that there is an elementary school only two blocks away. My parents didn't need to make travel arrangements for me, since I could walk to or from school in five minutes.

It's also a major bus route for both the Jr. Highs and High School in the city. No matter which Jr. High you attend, you'll only have to walk a block to a bus stop.

One thing I did not like is that because there is a party store at the corner of O'neil and Martin road, there is a lot of foot and car traffic all during the day and into the night. When it's rowdy customers, you may know it.

Otherwise the neighborhood is generally quiet, and people keep to themselves.

Martin Road stretches from the edge of the lake on Jefferson all the way to the city of Warren. Though it is more residential the closer to the lake, it becomes a four (or three and 1/2?) lane "avenue" the rest of the way.

Living on Martin is difficult because of the traffic. Turning into or backing out of your own driveway can become a chore during rush-hours. Large churches, Roseville Junior High and Macomb Community College, and Gratiot avenue, one of the busiest streets in Michigan, add greatly to the traffic on this street.

Some of the oldest and most beautiful homes in Roseville are also located on this street. Though some may find Gratiot Avenue a burden, I find it a blessing; This road gives Roseville much-needed retail space, where classic record stores, artist studios, bookstores, and just about every restaurant known to man have a place to do their business.

With cost of living being so low, this street in particular would be a great choice for someone to get a fresh start, or their very first start!

Greater Mack spans nearly the entire length of Saint Clair Shores. This would make it a major route for commuters, except that it ends, winds, turns numerous times, and that more than half of the avenue is a standard-sized two-way residential street. Commuters generally avoid these areas, making the residential areas surprisingly quiet.

The downtown area, located at 9 Mile road, adds a lot to this already great strip. Downtown hosts a number of shops, restaurants, inns, and much more. A small movie theater plays first-run films at a price lower than chain theaters. Cedar Gardens serves some of the best Mediterranean cuisine around. It's family friendly and wonderful to spend afternoons in.

I'd suggest this street for everyone. It's a great marriage of quiet residential within walking distance of a downtown area; you'll get "city" and "suburb" in only a few blocks!