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Page 22-E-Thursday, September 10, 1981-The Michigan Daily
The Michigan Daily-Thursday, Se
WHERE THE LIQUOR FLOWS
Bending the elbow in
Perusing our local bars
Bars have something for
everyone,
rowdy to refined
(Continued from Page 3)
charge for most nights is in the $1.50-
$2.50 range, quite a bit less than
average Second Chance fares, but the
drinks are relatively expensive. Impor-
tant: Keep track of the nightly specials,
and take advantage of the happy hour
before 8 p.m. Rick's also serves
food-predominantly Mexican-which
is fine, if you have the bucks.
The Rubaiyat is probably the best
(read: almost the only) dance venue in
Ann Arbor. Unfortunately, it sticks to a
narrow perception of dance music-
popular disco - pretty rigidly, but the
sound system is good and the dance
floor is relatively big. The nicest aspect
of this bar is that the place is laid out so
that the music is concentrated on the
dance floor, allowing reasonable levels
of conversation in the surrounding
booths. Another plus is the interesting
mix of races and sexual preferences of
the clientele.
Second Chance
(516 E. 141wrty)
This is Ann Arbor's premiere rock-
and-roll nightclub. Every night that this
club is open, live music emanates from
its expansive, elevated stage. The dan-
ce floor is also large, providing pogo
space for many couples. The seating
layout is one of the most attractive
RENTAL
REFRIGEF
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features at Second Chance. In addition
to the first floor, which contains a few
dozen tables, the stage, dance floor, and
a bar, there are two balconies with
more tables, bars, and long counters
overlooking the stage. So if you're not
up 1to dancing, and you'd like to ap-
preciate the riual aspects of a given
band, you can arm yourself with a pit-
cher of beer and watch from above,
away from the commotion. Prices are
high, when you include the cover
charge; so visits to Second Chance tend
to be special, once-in-a-while occasions,
rather than weekend routines. But if
you have the necessary $10 or so, and
desire a thorough rock fix, Second
Chance will usually deliver. Special
concerts should be checked out, too.
.tar liar
(109 N A,1tiin)
Although it is not exactly a hotbed of
student recreation, the Star is
nonetheless an active establishment. It
shares playing host to Ann Arbor's
bands with Rick's and The Blind Pig,
among others, and often features less
known, more offbeat ensembles.
Walking to the Star from campus takes
a healthy chunk of time, but the trip
downtown should be encouraged
anyway. The Star Bar is quite plain,
visually, compared to its eccentric
competitors uptown, but it is a bar that
doesn't seem to regard appearance as
the end-all for success. Instead, its
unique calendar of live shows and its
loyal, generally non-student, clientele
seem to suffice. And rumor has it that
the Star will be serving food this fall, as
well.
Villug Bel
(1321 S. I airersiy)
Recent years have been rather biz-
zare for the V-Bell, and the once-hectic
center has undergone some mysterious
changes. Just when everything ap-
peared hunky-dory here, the bottom
floor - which formerly accommodated
hundreds of festive partiers on most
nights - was leased out as a Japanese
restaurant. "How strange," the cust-
omers thought (many of them students,
many of them Greek), and then im-
mediately took their business down the
street to Good Time Charley's, a
newcomer. Upstairs,. the format
remained: Food service (highlighting
burgers, other sandwiches), collegiate
decor, and a quiet atmosphere. We.,
the Misato Japanese restaurant failed
and moved out, and today the down-
stairs has returned to its original form.
The approach here is simple: there are
few frills, just a roomful of tables and a
well stocked bar. But on a good night,
the simplicity of the V-Bell makes it a
fun place to get twisted and rowdy.
Don't wait for a little birdie to tell
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Popular pastimes may come and go,
but bar-hopping remains a fairly con-
stant favorite among college students.
With more than a dozen local watering
holes vying for the student trade,
drinking here is big business. The
following is a brief review of the most
popular spots in the area.
The Blind Pig
A popular downtown night club, the
Blind Pig's basement features live local
entertainment four nights a week, and
the unique, quasi-European decor
makes the listening and partying quite
special. Upstairs, guests can enjoy a
glass-and-plant-lined patio while im-
bibing, or while partaking of the soup,
salad, and sandwich menu. Prices are
about average for this town, (read:
somewhat steep). But unlike many of
the other local taverns that attract
students, the Bling Pig is remarkably
void of pretensions and hype; its
presence in Ann Arbor is subtle, low-
key. Clearly, that was the plan.
Del Rio
(122 Washington .i.)
A small, quiet place as Ann Arbor
bars go, The Del Rio often invites the
adjective "cozy." A popular spot
among grad students and townspeople,
the bar has the dedicated sort of clien-
tele that go again and again. Among its
virtues are reasonable prices, com-
parative safety and peace of mind,
ready availability of food, and an
enormous selection of jazz and light
rock casettes. There is, however, no
dancing; the bar is definitely for ,the
sippin'-and-talkin' evenings.
Dominick's
(812 Monroe)
It's located in an unusual place, this
Dominick's, off the beaten path (just
south of the Law Quad). Like the
Village Bell, Dominick's is divided into
two distinct units. Food is served up-
stairs - good, expensive food; and the
downstairs is geared toward
beverages. Although alcohol is a
popular attraction, coffee seems to be
equally in demand in this conspicuously-
academic tavern, said to be a popular
gathering place for graduate students.
Among the advantages of drinking here
is the patio overlooking the newly-build
law library. The atmosphere at
Dominick's is refreshingly serene, with
many patrons scouring the New York
Times rather than singing fight songs;
a round of brews here can provide some
much-deseved peace of mind.
Dominick's is also renowned for ser-
ving beer in Ball jars. Just why they do
this is anybody's guess, but nobody
seems to mind.
Doolev's
(310 Maynard)
Located in the shadows of the
massive parking structure, Dooley's is
one of the most active, popular
watering holes around campus. The
split-level interior can accommodate
an army of thirsty students, and usually
does just that six nights a week. Watch
out, though. Drink prices{ here tend to
be somewhat ahead of their time, so
you have to closely observe the drink
specials which make a well-rounded
night of elbow-bending affordable.
Dooley's is especially chaotic (and
enjoyable) during the football season,
when it seems to overflow with Maize
and Blue, good old fashioned school
spirit. There is a huge television screen
in the center of action (and a smaller
one upstairs), which makes for op-
timum viewing of the World Series,
Monday Night Football, or the ever-
present ESPN generic sports. All good
Michigan students should drink-or
spill-a beer at Dooley's at least once.
For some, once will be enough, but for
many others, this is the place to be.
Good Time Charlev's
Bar anid Grill
(I 140 S. U17nirersity)
This elaborate tavern opened just two
years ago, along with its upstairs
sibling, The Count of Antipasto.
Charley's ~was designed with alcohol-
thirsty college students in mind, and
has succeeded in gaining a substantial
clientele. The dominant colors of this
bar are green and black - a slightly
uneasy combination to view on a full
stomach; the bar is circular and sits
below a huge mirror- also a bit unset-
tling. Lush clusters of 4-foot Saguro
plants line the tavern, which is usually
ringing with jukebox singles and video
game explosions. Charley's inherited
the abandoned Village Bell crowd, so
we'll see what happens when the two
compete this fall, now that the V-Bell is
back. While many students enjoy
Charley's, others pride themselves on
avoiding it.
King's Arnim Pub
(118 JWashaingtona)
This is a pleasant little place which
adjoins Bimbo's downtown. It's hard to
say whether the King's Arms aspires to
be a student hangout; but for now, its
clientele consists primarily of off-hour
Payne-Weber and National Bank and
Trust executives, and the like. You can
get a reasonably priced bottle of beer or
an exotic brand if you like, along with
some munchies. And if you're so in-
clined, the pub offers a change to play a.
game of darts. The decor is relatively
simple, which is another change of pace
for this detail-obsessed city. All in all,
the King's Arms Pub is an adequate
place to bend an elbow, as part of a
Friday night tavern tour, or as a mid-
afternoon break in the action. But don't
expect to center a wild and crazy night
of drinking around this pub; its owners
surely don't intend for it to play that
role.
Old To-n
(122 W. Liberty)
Ahh, a sane tavern on the Old West
Side. Amid the frenzied and confused
bar scene in this fair city, Old Town sits
quietly at the corner of Liberty and
Ashley, and offers an oasis of con-
sistency to local residents. This rustic
nightspot isn't exactly an undergrad
hangout, but many people feel that adds
to its appeal. Similar in tone to the
nearby Del Rio, Old town is a fine place
to go for drinks, peanuts, and auiet con-
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$32.00 per academic year
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CONTACT:
ANN ARBOR MUSIC MART
336 S. STATE STREET
ANN ARBOR, MICH.
AU~2~
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769-4980 I$
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E. WILLIAM
1 BLOCK FROM STA'T
COUPON GOOD ONLY DURING THE MON
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