The Loving Touch

I use to love this place so much. I had a group that met every Tuesday after burgers at the Emory for pool. Eventually we started getting ousted by shitty bands. Also a few great acts (future islands, trailer park boys) but mostly local stuff. I have no desire to see a show here, it’s not a big enough venue. It was an incredible bar, and still is but it’s difficult to pin point when you’ll be able to drink in peace (Sans shitty music).
The magic seems to be gone.

I’m not one for trashing a business but it’s Monday and I’m still scoffing about my experience here Saturday night so I’m compelled to share my nightmare…
My friend was celebrating her birthday Saturday in Ferndale and we ended up at The Loving Touch around 11:30 p.m. The entire group went up to the bar upon arrival and it was a long wait for all of us to get drinks. I was one of the last and on-​a-​whim opted to keep my tab open so that my boyfriend could keep getting drinks without us both having to visit the bar.
At about 1 a.m. we decided we were ready to go home, I had had one drink and he had had two. We go up to the bar to cash out. I tell the bartender my last name — she turns around and sifts through the stack of cards a few times. Turns around and asks me what color the card is. Then proceeds to turn on a flashlight and begins searching the floor, countertops, ice buckets, etc. She asks me which bartender opened my tab, then consults her. They both go to the computer and discuss. They turn around to address me saying, «Well there was another person with a last name that started with Mcc so we gave them your card. We will pay for your tab»… I’m absolutely dumb founded and am staring back, jaw on the ground. They then say «It happens all the time. We could give you his name? I’m sure he will bring the card back, so you could just give us your info?» To which I respond, «Well I don’t want the card now that you’ve fraudulently given my information away. I will call and cancel my card.» They say, «OK» and move onto the next customer. Icing on the cake was: while walking out I stop and ask a man who is sweeping if there is a manager or owner present and he says, «You’ll have to ask a bartender».
So needless to say, I’m extremely frustrated. I’m now having to reset every bill on auto-​pay and wait 10 days for a new card to come. All because of their laziness and incompetence. It would have been one thing if they accidentally lost my card and profusely apologized. but the attitude and shoulder shrug after their wrongdoing… ridiculous!

A great little dive with a decent selection of beer and a variety of musical acts /​bands to check out.
Not a bad place to hang out, though if you’re looking for someplace to hold a conversation… this probably isn’t the place to go, especially when there’s a live act on.

I’m a Food Critic.
As I began my journey into The Touch I can honestly say I’ve never been felt up like that before. It was an experience I can only describe as monumentius. I was unearthed from my comfort zone and thrust into an experience unlike any other. Was it bad? Did it feel good? Yes, yes and YES!

Went here to see Fidlar and it was great. The size of the place is perfect, not too big not too small.

When it was just a bar and pool hall, I absolutely loved it, exactly what the area needed, great for groups, and good drinks on tap.
Now it’s band after band, show after show, cover after cover, and I stay faaaaaar away.
As does everyone else I know.
Because the original charm has exited the building.

I was here for a charity concert and I really liked the venue. Plenty of space and a good beer selection. I didn’t try the food.

Cool spot! Nice massage parlor signs still up, recalling the history of the building. Wish Id experienced it, in it’s hay day.
The bar was in the back. The tables up front. The place was pretty bare when my friend and I arrived but there’s more than enough room for several large groups.
Quiet Sunday night, drinks were typical pricing, my friend had one so I didnt get to gauge my regular drinks. The tables were free Sunday night so I have no complaints there. Im no pool pro but the tables seemed level, well kept and clean.
Cues were nice, smooth and plenty available around the room. I’ll be back.

I’m enjoying the concerts that they now have here. Tonight I am going to see Dustin Kensrue, it’s probably my fourth show here. The sound isn’t that bad for a place that really isn’t made for music. The atmosphere is close with the musicians and the beer is great (from the WAB and they have others on tap.

Great location for small show venue. Only few beers but great choices. Staff was super friendly.

Went to see a show here last night… bands were great, bartenders were great, drink prices were great SOUND WAS HORRIBLE. Like, really really bad. This really bummed me out because I wanted to hear the bands… unfortunately all I heard was bass guitar, snare, and kick drum. I don’t know if its the space, the system, or the sound guy, but if this place wants to really establish itself as a music venue they need to spend a little money and figure this out.

Boy, this place sucks. First off its a hive of aging hipsters. Second, the drink selection sucks. If I wanted to drink lousy WAB beer I’d just go next door.
Finally, the sound quality for live bands sucks. This is clearly not a good set up for live music and it shows (no pun intended).
If you’re going in here it better be to see your friends band who won’t take no for an answer on the ‘check out my band’ invite.
Redeeming qualities? It’s clean. Nice looking bar. But that’s it.

Good beer selection, excellent booking, pretty cool staff. Many of my favorites have cycled through here (Tobacco! Sisters of Your Sunshine Vapor! Temples!). Covers are cheap, and I love the vintage signs on the walls from the building’s incarnation as a (an erotic?) massage parlor.

This is a decent place to see a show. The entrance is in the rear, so I passed right by it on Woodward when I was looking for it the first time. The faux outdoor atrium area to the right when you first enter is pretty cool, as are the vintage signs from when the place was a greasy massage parlor. The band merch area is to the left just past the restrooms. There’s pool tables to sit on (or play on, if there’s no bands that night) and rails to lean on. The sound is so-​so. The floor was sticky as hell the second show I went to there, not just in one spot but all over the place. Red Bull is $ 5. Ferndale dive bars are pricey, I guess, just like the Majestic complex.
I missed the hot dog cart that was parked outside for Kurt Vile after the Fucked Up show. That’s probably nothing to do with The Loving Touch, but I was looking forward to a dog.

I can’t help but cringe when someone suggests coming here. The awkward and unfit seating with huge spaces between tables controls most of the space. The railing around the actual bar makes it claustrophobic and good luck getting a bartender to notice you in a timely manner (busy or not). If you want to play pool go to new way. They don’t have a creepy jungle.

This is a real dive, which is what I like. There are good beers on tap, an eclectic crowd which makes for good hanging and people watching, and it’s a solid place to grab a brew and spend a night.
The décor is cool, the feel of the place is nice and authentic.
However, this place is so damn loud. The acoustics are as poor as a politician’s morals. It’s so loud you have to scream over the music to talk to friends, so much so that after awhile you just say «eff it» and go somewhere else. I enjoy live music, but in a place this size it’s too cramped to fit a band and have it sound good. It’s just too much.
The crowd is alright, there can be some judgmental hipsters here who will give you the stink eye for no reason whatsoever. I don’t like that noise.
It’s worth a stop in if you’ve never been, and you can see for yourself if it’s your kind of party. I personally think Ferndale boasts better options.

Visited the Loving Touch after purchasing «tickets» to see one of my favorite bands, Geographer. Four friends and myself packed our cars and headed down at about 7 pm, only to find that the doors were not opening until 8. None of us had been to the place prior, so we sat around amd waited for doors to open outside. At around 8:45 pm, after watching people walk in and out, we noticed there was a band going on. We askwardly questioned why we hadn’t been told the doors had opened, and tried to let ourselves in. Sure enough, the place had been open since about 8 but none of the hip folk walking in and out decided to let us know.
We walked in and the man at the door checked our names off a list which was what we assumed to be a list of people who had purchased tickets. I visited the bar and saw some pretty awesome taps — one of which being the delicious strawberry blonde I drank all night from the WAB next door.
The show was awesome — the pool tables were moved to the sides of the place so people could stand in front of the stage. There was no more than about 50 people there and the beer was flowing all night. The only thing i’d recommend for a place like this, or for smaller shows, is a waitor/​waitress who comes around to check beers. Having to walk up to the bar (which is usually packed with people sitting and standing around) while trying to watch the show, was a drag.
Overall, I really liked the ambiance and i’d come here again just to hang out and play pool. The the show was pretty chill and I prefer smaller shows, so i’d come here as often as possible to catch some more bands I enjoy if they ever decide to book at The Loving Touch.

Sweet spot to grab a drink, hear some djs or play a bit of pool! Super spacious and comfortable. Have never felt claustrophobic in here which I love. Great bartenders and tasty drinks!
Came to «In The Forest» for the first time tonight. Different local djs spinning great tunes every Tuesday night in a part of the bar made to look like, well, a forest! Love it! Vines and plants cling to the wall with record sleeves tucked in amongst the foliage. Lacquered wooden benches add to the tree theme. Even the turn tables have branches around them (a nice touch!). Love the sky light too, so nice on a rainy day like today.
Also: foosball table!
One of my favorite places to chill on a weeknight, for sure.

This place is chill, has great music, and there are pool tables and a foosball table. There are several beers on tap — not just WAB beers but also others like Guinness, Short’s, PBR, I think there was Miller Lite too. They don’t serve any food, which makes me sad at first, but it’s probably better for me and my friends, given my tendency to ignore people and eat when there is food in front of me.
The last time I was here, the boyfriend and I were with three other couples. While we gals were catching up with each other, the guys played a few rounds of pool. I think everyone was happy, haha.
Movie nights, shows, and other events are listed on the Loving Touch’s Facebook page: