What About Ann Arbor?

The campus is full of interesting architecture and sculpture like the giant spinning cube next to the student union or the many fountains scattered throughout the campus. The courtyard of the law school featuring the gothic library is especially impressive at night. The university also has an expansive arboretum where you can picnic in grassy fields or at the bank of the river where crowds of dog owners chase their pets in and out of the water. The downtown is full of interesting shops and a wide variety of ethnic restaurants such as Ethiopian, Caribbean, Indian, and Japanese. Ann Arbor is the home of Border's bookstore and one can spend a weekend browsing their inventory of books and music or catch an independent film or concert across the street at the Michigan Theater. Ann Arbor also offers a wide variety of nightlife from the folk club, and numerous other live venues to the Dolce Vita, the martini and cigar bar and Bab's piano bar. The hip crowd discos at the Nectarine and Leopold's offers organic brew (arguably the best ever made) in a modern sort of German beer hall.

Quick Tips:

The summer is a great time to visit Ann Arbor because students aren't flooding the streets and cafes and the normally horrendous parking situation eases up a bit. But be warned that the third weekend in July Art Fair consumes the town closing down most of the streets and filling them with arts and crafts booths, country fair style food vendors, sidewalk sale displays from every store, and thousands of slow moving tourists. Its a fun event but not a good time to see the city.

Best Way To Get Around:

Park the car and walk. The town is small and parking is a pain so once you find a spot don't give it up to avoid walking a few blocks. The university also has a comprehensive and free bus service that will get you almost anywhere on the expansive campus. If that doesn't work for you or you've had a few too many drinks one night, cabs are always available though you may have to call for one.

Zingerman's Deli is a landmark in Ann Arbor as well as culinary America. It is ten tons of food, fun, and flavor packed into a five pound deli. The best in cheeses, meats, olive oils, vinegars, baked goods, bread, pasta, chocolate, and so much more line the inside of this little brick building from floor to ceiling. Desiegned in the traditional New York deli style, Zingerman's has everything you'd expect from a deli in the city except that bad attitude. Everyone is friendly, out-going, informative, and helpful. If anything perks your interest be sure to ask for a sample. Some one will be happy to help and give you loads of information on the product.
Walking in the door the smells, sights and sounds are almost overwhelming. Fortunately you'll have a while to take them in as the line to order sandwiches can be out the door at lunchtime on the weekends. the sandwiches are expensive by midwest standards (over $10) but they are big enough to share unless your really hungery and they come with a big, garlic pickle on the side. My favorite is #73, Tarb's Tenacious Tenure, which is piled with Turkey, cheese, tomato, avacado, and Russian dressing and grilled on farm bread. Which reminds me of their mouth watering breads which come in fresh from their own bakery. Whether you go for decadant combinations like Chocolate cherry and Parmasean Pepper or you prefer a standard loaf of rye (onion, tsitsel, caraway, or plain) you'll be planning your nexxt trip back before you get to the last crust.
They have outside seating when the weather is good and inside seating next door at their cafe. You can call ahead to order sandwiches but not to save a seat and there is no smoking inside the buildings. Of all the restaurants in Ann Arbor, there are none with the commitment to good food that Zingerman's has.

Hot and Spicey!

Bev's barely fits the restaurant classification. It is closer to a sandwich counter. There are only a couple tables inside. It's next door to a pet store in a strip mall, and it isn't exactly downtown. The food is well worth the trip out of your way. Jerk chicken, rotis, and caribbean curries are nearly the extent of the menu, but once you've ordered, you'll see no need for anything more (unless your hankering for some fried plantains). Bev's has none of the posh decorations, pomp and extensive menus that most bistros and cafes in Ann Arbor sport. Her soul is in the food, not the advertisement. She also has some great fruit drinks.

Dark, sparkly, and out of control. The Nectarine is one of those places that you never know what will happen next. Music varies by the night. They have a retro night (80's music), industrial hardcore night, Euro-disco night, and a couple of gay nights. Each draws its own crowd but the most fun, whether you're gay or straight, is on gay night. Most rules of social etiquette go out the window, clothing ocassionally becomes optional on the dance floor, and everybody is out to have a good time. There are two dance floors. The main floor is obvious and the second is down a staircase behind the main stage. Below heavy base beats rule. Trip-hop, trance and heavy mixing are common themes. It is dark and seedy (which can be a good atmosphere for a club), but lacks the high energy of the main floor.
Dress is anywhere from casual to grungey to wild and extravagant. You should be comfortable in anything but don't be afraid to dress up. They are open until 2am most nights and if homophobia has the best of you you can ask what night it is before going in. It should be posted outside the door.

Leave your kids home. Don't bring your little sister. You won't want them dragging you away from the permanent shadow wall because they are tired or calling 'my turn!' just when you are getting a rhythm going on the giant plastic tube organ.
The Hands-On museum is housed in the old Ann Arbor fire station but has since expanded to almost four times its original size. There is a media room, a tech room, and a room full of psychology experiments. The museum is, of course set up for kids and there are special rooms for classes and field trip groups. But the beauty of this educational museum is the way it encourages creativity. You can bonk paddles on plastic tubes to play a symphony or a jumbled mess of notes. The displays seem to be set up for both pre-school kids and college students on psychedelics.
Saturday mornings and any day there is a third grade field trip can get really busy and you don't want to have to stand in line at the random sentence generator so get there early on weekdays. And if you see a big troop of name-tagged hand holders coming, shoot for another room for a while. It is a big place and there is plenty for everyone to see.
They are closed on Mondays and holidays, open 10-5 Tuesday through Saturday, and noon to five on Sunday. Go in with an open mind and remember you do have to get your hands on these exhibits to get anything out of them, so don't be shy.