AROUND TOWN page 48
Asian-Southwest food) or Red Hawk (an old
stand-by with great eats).
For a fancy, sit-down meal, Gratzi (326 S.
Main) is my personal favorite. Although its decor
is a little gaudy and the price steep, it's a good
value with perks. Most notably, you get a free
entree and dessert on your birthday. On non-
birthday days, you'll get a complimentary shot
of liqueur. Standard Italian fare — pastas and
meat dishes, with plenty for the vegetarian.
The Earle (121 W. Washington) is inviting ei-
ther for dinner or drinks. In the basement, it's
better for a cozy winter's night than a summer
evening when you want to linger outside. Live
jazz music on Friday and Saturday nights and
solo piano on weeknights. French and Italian
fare, with fairly steep prices although you can
get pasta for under $10. I recommend the stuffed
mushrooms appetizer. For dessert, the almond
and raspberry torte is wonderfully velvety and
not too heavy.
Rooftop seating makes Palio (347 S. Main)-
fun in the summer, but it has gone downhill in
the past few years. The menu is uninteresting,
and vegetarian options are limited and over-
, priced. Watch out for waiters who walk around,
offering appetizers as if they're free — they will
show up on your bill.
On warm nights, window shop at the nu-
merous craft shops and galleries lining South
Main between William and Washington streets.
For a more casual and inexpensive meal, try
Del Rio (122 W. Washington). Menu: burgers to
pizza to Mexican. A great place for vegetarians
— the burritos and the tempeh burger stand out.
It's also a pleasant place to get a beer, with a fair-
ly large selection. On the downside, there is no
place for non-smokers and the service is slow.
Another casual place to wash down a meal
with a beer is the Grizzly Peak, next to Del Rio.
Great burgers and a wide va-iety of vegetari-
an fare: veggie burgers, portabella mushrooms,
pizzas. Also delicious fish chowders and a ched-
dar-and-ale chowder..
A brewery, Grizzly Peak has several home-
grown ales and beers — including a latte-fla-
vored brew! Down the street, the Arbor Brewing
Company serves homemade brews and a pleas-
ant atmosphere, but fairly unimpressive vege-
tarian food.
If you're looking for a night of jazz, don't miss
the Bird of Paradise, on the corner of Wash-
ington and Ashley. Cover charge: $5, one-drink
minimum. Music usually starts around 9:30; if
you get there early, try to snag a non-smoking
table next to the band. Tuesday nights, it turns
into a mostly hip-hop dance club.
(Bird of Paradise sells a variety of moderate-
ly-priced sandwiches and entrees although the
dinner hour attracts an older crowd.)
Dance club options are very limited in down-
town Ann Arbor. The Blind Pig (208 S. First)
is popular but often attracts more of a college
crowd. The Nectarine Ballroom (at Liberty and
Maynard) also seems to attract a young crowd.
Centrally-located, The Ark (316 S. Main) is
the major venue for folk concerts, with tickets
ranging from $12-20 apiece.
Of course, you can't forget Zingerman's (422
Detroit Street, across from the Farmer's Mar-
ket). While it's certainly not a relaxing spot, nor
much of a nighttime hangout, you can't miss this
legendary deli mecca. The lines are often long
but move quickly, and the staff is almost too ac-
commodating.
If you're not shy about asking, you can sam-
ple an infinite variety of gourmet foods from all
over the world. The bread — especially rye, sour-
dough and raisin pecan — is the deli's high point,
and if you're on a tight budget, ask about half
loaves, day-old bread and bread ends. Sand-
wiches are pricey, but enormous.
Zingerman's prides itself on its (decidedly not
kosher) corned beef, but it also has a good se-
Above: Ron Brooks,
bass player and owner
of the jazzy Bird of
Paradise.
Far left: Grizzly Peak:
Homegrown ales and
great vegetarian fare.
Left:The Ark: Folk
music, live.
Below Left: Joel Miller
serves up sandwiches at
Zingerman's.
THE DETR O IT J EWI SH NE WS
Favorite Ann Arbor Hangouts
50
Sample Gourmet Food: Zingerman's. Expensive and a little stressful, but unlike no oth-
er deli. Fill up on samples, share a sandwich. If you do nothing else, try the bread.
For a Romantic/Celebratory Evening: Gratzi. Any place that gives free birthday dinners
and free shots of liqueur is worth patronizing. Plus, the food is fabulous and varied.
Kick Back With a Brew: Grizzly Peak. You usually have to wait for a table, but the food is
great, even for vegetarians. Large choice of home-brewed beers.
Load Up on Caffeine: Cafe Zola. That combination of spacious-yet-cozy atmosphere and
real crepes. Beyond your trendy, everyday Starbucks-type place.
Sit Back and Listen to Music: It's a tie between Bird of Paradise and Gypsy Cafe, de-
pending on if you want jazz and drinking or acoustic and coffee in a wintry tapestry-strewn,
candle-lit room.
More Books Than You'll Ever Have Time l Read: Shaman Drum. Selection and service
that the chain stores just can't compete with. Plus, it's spacious, bright and comfy. 0