There's something to be said about what's brewing in Royal Oak. Within a few blocks of Main Street, one can find at least three brewpubs – Bastone, Lily's Seafood Grill & Brewery and Royal Oak Brewery.  Although wine sales are still strong – take for example the popularity of Royal Oak's Vintner's Cellar, Vinotecca and Elie Wine Company – the National Brewers Association said that in the last year about 100 breweries have opened across the nation and craft beer sales are continually rising. So, are breweries the new wineries? "The funny thing that is happening with beer right now is that it…

In the past, Christmas ornaments and holiday decor were often heirlooms, exquisite in design and passed down from generation to generation. Think hand-blown glass versions of Santa Claus and snowmen in traditional colors of red and green. And while such ideas and styles are still prevalently purchased in what is now a $158 billion holiday decor market, today's consumers are now offered a variety of options for their ever-changing tastes. For this season, the holiday decor message  is to step beyond the traditional to find creative inspiration in everything around you. The Whimsical A sense of…

Sparkling storefronts with cupcake creations inside that look – almost – too good to eat are all the rage. Two cupcake shops opened this year in Royal Oak – Just Baked on Woodward Avenue and cup.cake on Crooks Road, while longstanding bakeries such as  Hermann's Bakery on Main Street say their beauties are flying off the shelves.  So, are cupcakes the new cake? Lori Stanski, a 20-year veteran of the cake-making business at Hermann's, thinks so. She's made cupcakes for dozens of events, most recently making 200 purple and gold confections for a wedding. Cup.cake has created cupcakes for a…

Most communities have a specific focus: in Rochester, it's definitely family, while in Ferndale, the emphasis is on nightlife.  It is rare to find cities that marry multiple identities to attract a variety of residents. But somehow Royal Oak does just that.  This month, I worked as a business listings collector for this website, RoyalOak.Patch.com.  When collecting the listings, I would sometimes get a scowl during the first few weeks as many employees were skeptical of anything free in our times, and rightfully so.  Yet, as more listings collectors poured into the area and the word about …