THE MICHIGAN DAILY Stores: A mixed (shopping) bag By SUE WARNER During their first month on campus, stu- dents are bombarded with an incredible number of bills-tuition, room and board, football tickets and, of course, books. In spite of these financial drains, chan- ces are that sometime during' that initial month, the need for some addition to his or her new lifestyle will arise, perhaps a plant or a hotplate, and the new student will be thrown into that mind-boggling process--shopping in Ann Arbor.' Local shoppers are faced not only with the question of what to buy but also where to find it. The city boasts three major shopping areas: Briarwood, an enclosed mall located just off I-94 at State St.; the downtown district, and campus shops on State St. and South University. Several other shopping areas are also sprinkled throughout the city. Briarwgod, which opened its doors in 1973, resembles the glossy suburban shop- ping malls which have sprung up in cit- ies all over the country. The mall offers over 100 stores and services ranging from Hudson's (a Detroit-based department store chain), to the always-familiar Pen- ney's and Sears. Smaller specialty shops, featuring a variety of goods from canteens at Camper's World to over-sized pillows at The Toadstool, also dot the mall. In addition to serving the shopping needs of Ann Arborites, Briarwood also serves as a type of community center, presenting different programs throughout the year. Last summer, the mall merchants offered a concert series featuring various j~z groups and the Ann Arbor symphony or- chestra and band. During the fall, various merchants will display their wares in the center's multi-level "grand court"' in what they term a "live magazine." Aesthetically, Briarwood also offers an e y e f u 1. Designed in a contemporary style and accented by natural color, the mall is illuminated during the day by - skylights.. A tiered fountain is the focal point of the grand court where ramps and steps leading from the different areas of the mall converge. Another attractive feature of the mall is the availability of parking, a rarity in Ann Arbor. The lot which surrounds the shop- ping area has space for nearly 7,000 cars and accommodates m o s t of the 20,000 Briarwood shoppers each week. Although Briarwood is not within walk- /ing distance for most students, transporta- tion is readily available for those who ar- rive in Ann Arbor- carless. Ann Arbor Transit Authority buses leave for Briar- wood from the corner of Fourth St. and William at half-hour intervals seven days. a week: If the atmosphere of a big shopping cen- ter is not your style, the city also offers the tree-lined downtown business area, located, quaintly enough, around Main St. For the most part, the downtown stores are older and perhaps not as well-stock- ed as those at Briarwood. They do, how- ever, offer a unique atmosphere. A variety of unusual shops serve stu- dent buying needs downtown. On Liberty St., -Sam's Store features jeans and paint- er's pants for the well-dressed Ann Arbor- ite. Other stores, such as Earth Shoes and Soybean Cellar natural food store, are also student oriented., 'The downtown area is also the site of many of the most popular bars and res- taurants among the city's student popula- tion. Downtown stores are generally small, independently owned and operated, and offer more personalized service. THE MAIN ST. area is a "Pleasant walk from campus. Parking is available in some areas but is .often crowded and expensive. For those who have neither the time nor the energy to venture far from campus, twfl small shopping areas are conveniently located along State St. and on S. Univer- sity. Similar in appearance to many of the downtown businesses, these stores cater almost exclusively to students. Numerous bookstores are located in this area, as well as several exclusive clothing shops suchr as Jacobson's and Saks. Unusual specialty shops also abound.'The Bead Bag on State St. specializes in-what else-beads and accessories for creating bead jewelry. For- eign Matter, also on State, carries jewelry, clothing, and, pottery from Central Amer- ica. Campus area stores are small and often staffed by students, with prices tending to be somewhat higher than those in other parts of the city. Daily Photo by ALAN BILINSKY Downtown shoppers stroll along Main St., just a short jaunt from campus. Briarwood, at I-94 and State St., draws shoppers of all ages. The modern, enclosed mail. fe itures over 100 stores and services. you've gotta shop around! . . H Ofb ob' ct l ure customersto local emporiums By DAVID KEEPSG seller, including what seems to be a first edition collection of ! The display windows get dirty from the vinyl awning that The Valley of The Dolls-. Slaps against the glass when the winds collide in the State-Hill- Packard-triangle. Inside, empty boxes and long-forgotten Pepsi THE BLUE FRONT is one of Ann Arbor's last remaining and Schaeffer pen ads hover over recently added displays whicht newsstands, with a totally unique character and personality. somehow never fully explain the sign that reads "The Blue l By contrast, the Fourth Ave. Adult Bookstore, and its soul-' Fronm." mate, The Velvet Touch offers a full line of publications, most Inside it is dark and musty, split cardboard boxes piled high, wrapped in' plastic, in a spacious and, bright area illuminated by bits of newsprint and string are scattered on the floor--some winking bulbs advertising peep shows to the rear. trampled by a multitude of feet. Beyond the glowing neon-lit One store looks as if it's been there forever, the other like it shelves on the right,, the dark, deadend aisles of the store ,are was built yesterday. Both are testaments to the diversity and stocked with every conceivable publication and paperback best- originality of Ann Arbor's flavorful merchants: oftTAKEBO OTUESfr instance. Ann Arbor s chock-ul burgs have an oriental bookstore. with a subh-cn ialf of n il more than she sells in a day. Tradirng your old clothes for a silk bathrobe, however, may involve some extra cash on your part. But it's well wor h it-Nancy's pri:es are ridiculously reason- able, and her selection often rivals the higher-priced spreads available in bid cities like New York and Toronto. Going from ancient and nostalgic to ultra-modern requires only a short w a 1 k down Detroit Street to B a ths h eba, Inc.; a starkly comtemporary specialty boutique housed inside the trendy Kerrytown Market on Fifth Ave. Bathsheba's bag is the bathroom, and among their merchandise, which includes towels, mirrors and soapdishes, is the futuristic 2001 series of see- through cleaning modules, which look like an exhibit in an expo- d e ,however, m aint a a firm tandard of taste in t she of e ......... ... :M3 l a 'I : * .... ..... .. . . ,LLC. v.ra, I11Qspspeciaity of occult GORESK WanloeteBgTn arytren literature like the one upstairs at 215 S. State? PckG.OU yo v roubl-W nd inveth igTnPrytren Pka.IfY uhv rul fnig , just look for the Wean Or how many have both a classy used and rare bookstore like lights that spell Cheese, Cheese, Cheese a few blocks past the West Side (113 W. Liberty) and a veritable bargain bin that Stadium. Inside, a carpeted gastronomical Eden awaits, and houses slightly battered novels and an increasing number of they've got a lot of great booze, too! houecas ikeTh WodenSpon t 00 . Furh Ae. While on the subject of food, another Ann Arbor original, the Ethnic stores abound in Ann Arbor, and all seem to carry a natural ice cream parlor, Mountain -High on West Washington, large assortment of native handicrafts and somewhat similar' serves wholesome ice cream in fab flavors like carob chip. But haberdashery, along with the perfunctory incense burners and !for those of you who don't like their sweets. messed with, a batiked cloth. On Liberty, The Feathered Serpent handles Native visit to a, nearby Sander's confectionary, located in .Briarwood, American crafts in a cool shop on the lower level. Across the Arborland and Maple Village shopping centers is recommended. street, a stuffed llama, usually on a leash, beckons strangers Although Sanders' cloud-like ice cream and legendary .hot-fudge to enter the Persian House of Imports. Sangam India Crafts, are available in supermarkets, nothing can beat the ambience rich with the smell of spices and curries, is next-door neighbor, and aroma of Sanders' pink and gold lunch counters. to Andoh's African Imports which sells brightly colored caftans' Except maybe the friendly clatter of teacups, the classic tuna and African carvings on Fourth Ave., between Washington and sandwiches and the white-chocolate covered pretzels at Drake's. Famed for its all-green decor and the mysterious Martian Room O upstairs, Drake's sells a variety of domestic and imported candies OthNE OF THE niftiest eamples of Pop Art in Michigan along; as well as teas which outstrip anything within walking distance wit the mammoth Unroyb Tire on I-94 near Detroit and the of campus. Conveniently located near Hill Auditorium on f orth trinity of five-story Redi-Whip .cans 'in Dearborn is Ann Arbor's' University, Drake's is a legend and a truly magical place. Hallmark Card Center on Broadway at Plymouth Rd. On the'! A steMgcEmoim-nWlim-o h at n outside, the store looks like a regally wrapped birthday present;' c Astis nte, gcEpru, nWlia -o the leasto n ro' ssmlg f nsad on the inside it's pure Hallmark, down to the very last Snoopstet agic nttrics, etrofustArbmi's andacssmgoriensare notecard. ystrsMactrksvetiqusdmmsanacesisar on sale, and the reigning Houdini is a jovial joker named Hank, You can try your hand at bartering at Fantasy Fashions and who has wisecracks for the young kids who come in to browse. Magic Rags, on Catherine at Fifth, a comfortably overcrowded Hank likes to tell customers that a hairy, 'purple puppet with a one-room shop currently leading the "vintage fashions" scene 1 long rubber nose is a former relative who asked 'one too many in Ann Arbor. Fantasy's own Nancy buys perhaps as much orI stupid questions. Daily Photo by CHRISTINA SCHNEIDER No, it's niot Aunt Bessie's attic, Fantasy Fashions, one of Ann Arbor's mor'e unusual stores, can attire the fashion-conscious shopper in anything from a 1930's housedress to a bowler derby. Bored with your old wardrobe? Fantasy Fashions will take your tired, old gauchos in exchange 'for, a feather boa or perhaps a pair of straight-legged pants. ...,. ,..r ............. a. ::::: : ." :",v KCa.. ,. :;:7 r.:;+s;s r vJ{:^:":^:-'": :^7:-i'":"' '"'"",t7 " ' ?: r:: : Cdd. .a}asvar.. ro s4a :« .......... r... n.......:_.-......:.:: r:.".".."..: nw: iS:"7??:"?>sv :r:.+.4. r...." ................ Pinching the produce at Farmer's Market By ANN MARIE LIPINSKI donuts, and it is at these stalls where chilly grade schoolers in hockey parkasr Not even the most devout morning adtertedsitdmtestk joggers are out heel-toeing it when the antheir twed-brtedasthestk corner of Fifth Ave. and Detroit St.thiSaudybekst Scomes alive. It's only 3:30 a.m. when In the summer months, when lawna the ay tart thre.chairs replace coal stoves as the marketr centerpieces, tart fuzzy peaches and Trucks and vans piled sky-high with cherry tomatoes are purchased by the ei enough goodies to grace any Thanks- pound, and rutabaga pies, not' apple r>-givngcrupabgi nvging dr bread, are the f e a t u r e d delicacy., ing that dark morning hour at the open There's no heated cider at this time of j * r rrf> air produce center which rests in that the year. The sweet, syrupy stuff is r rr lively corner of the city. It's the Farm- consumed as cold and icy' at it comes, er's Market-Ann Arbor's own animated and cherry tarts-not donuts--are the rf fruit and, vegetable bin. accompaniments. s <.r > FRESH, HAND-TILLED f o o d s of DEPENDING ON the item, you mayJ every kind and a clientel just as di- car may not save money by purchasing :f verse, squeeze and get squeezed in each your produce from the market vendors ' r rr of the 132 stalls which shelter the ven- instead of a grocery store. When the "loafamrhaedors and their tantilizing wares. In the lclfreshv good year and winter m on t hs, when the market their apples and pears are flowing like spreadsits banquet oly twicena week- ater from theirbfarms, you' cafn b- i < . . .. , .. ,... < i < .: .x .... .. .4 '............ _ I