Inside: Gracie's Underground in Ferndale

Status: Take one step under the electric blue lights emanating from the black, triangular sign on the front of Gracie’s Underground and you may feel as though you’ve stepped into an Amsterdam club rather than one on Woodward in the Detroit suburb of Ferndale.

Lit by the glow of the sign and muted orange lights on the railing, follow the spiral decals lead down the dimly lit stairwell.   

Soft orange lights in spiral-shaped cutouts on the wood walls add a sensual softness to the industrial underground feel of the stained concrete floor and exposed beam ceiling. Red lights housed behind opaque screens line a painted white cinder-block wall while a video screen shows ambiguous images and figures on another wall.

“During the week, it’s loungy,” says general manager Rich Woloch. “We’re a smaller club with house and top 40 remixes on the weekend.”

The crowd typically ranges from 25 to 35 year olds looking to drink, dine and dance the night away without the conventional boisterous club atmosphere.

“It’s mellow; then it picks up around 11 p.m.,” says DJ Phil Agosta, who spins on the weekends. “People come here to have fun.”

Gear: There’s no dress code (and no cover). You’ll fit in wearing a button-up shirt with a sweater vest and a pair of khakis as much as chilling in just a t-shirt and a pair of jeans. Dress up if you’re in the mood and down if you’re not.

Mood: “It’s friends with friends,” Agosta says simply summing up Gracie’s Underground casual ambiance. “It just wraps its arms around you.”

About 50 percent of the crowd hails from Ferndale, says Woloch. The other half represents suburban warriors who seek haven in the small (fits just fewer than 100 people), dark basement turned lounge. 

“This is my first time, and I love it,” says Stephanie Laidlay, 33, of Lake Orion, who noted the music and chic walls with black stenciled art work.

For 35-year-old Avery Piantedosi of Clarkston, the underground feel and low-key vibe bring her to the Ferndale spot a few times a year.

Pick me up: Take your pick of reds, whites, Spanish or sparkling wines. There are domestics, imports, drafts or specialty brews at the blue backlit bar for the beer lovers.

If you’re feeling a bit more daring, try one of Gracie’s 30 specialty martinis like the Bellini (Stoli Persik Vodka, peach liqueur and a splash of orange juice topped with champagne), Gracie’s Revenge (Absolut Peppar, Kettle One Citroen, bloody mary mix and a dash of Tabasco) or indulge with the tasty Cherry Cheesecake (sorry, these secret ingredients can’t be revealed).

Soak up some of the booze with traditional bar food like Buffalo wings ($8), Bruschetta ($6), seasoned potato wedges ($4) or pepperoni pizza ($8).

Entertainment: Every third Friday is electro night, a change that took place about two months ago.

“It used to be hip-hop, but now it’s house,” says Agosta who spins with DJ Ilya. “We wanted to show that there’s more out there than what you hear on the radio.”

Gracie’s Underground hosts events for major holidays, like New Year’s Eve, but not much in the way of regular events.