The Michigan Daily - Thursday, September 6, 1984 - Page 5C
Walking along tree-lined Main Street gives the impression that Ann Arbor is still the small town that it once was.
Small town America in the big city
By KAREN TENSA
Main Street. It conjures up images of
anytown, USA. One can picture the mixture of
stores, the tree-lined, three-lane road, and the
variety of people wandering down the street.
Main Street, Ann Arbor, is no different than
most Main Streets around the coun-
try-especially those found in small towns.
But Ann Arbor, with a population of over
100,000 residents and students, is hardly a
small town-which makes Main Street all the
more interesting for those willing to venture
five blocks off campus.
BUT SINCE Briarwood Mall, which
ironically enough is located at the end of Main
Street, was opened in 1973 and the need to ven-
ture downtown decreased, Main Street
businesses have had to adapt to the increased
competition.
Several department stores and specialty
stores either shut their doors or moved into the
mall. Other stores renovated their buildings or
updated their inventory to attract the business
of students-the most lucrative market for any
business within walking distance of campus.
Despite these changes, many of the displays and clothing are stright out of Gen-
businesses lining the street could never even tlemen's Quarterly.
hope to attract a large student clientele. But The partner stores both display their clothes
the mixture of stores is still diverse enough in huge windows that closely resemble fashion
that there is something that will appeal to all magazine spreads. The neon signs in the win-
types. dow are very small, but done in up-to-date let-
WITHOUT A DOUBT, Lovin' Spoonful is the tering and flash purple.
main attraction for students on Main Street. In stark contrast to these new stores, the
Featuring Oreo cookie ice cream, students department store Kline's, still sporting a 50s
swear by Lovin' Spoonful, saying it is worth the style facade, has less to offer than a major
walk from even the farthest corner of campus. department store chains, like Hudson's or any
More or less across the street from Ann Ar- others at Briarwood.
bor's finest ice cream parlor, is Ayla, a store "WE'RE NOT really here for the students,"
for women which caters to the trendiest of said one employee who requested anonymity.
student tastes in clothing. The prices, however, "Even though they are a big market, we've
are extremely high and the employees at- always been here for the residents of the town
titudes tend to reflect that. and we can't realistically change our inventory
"We're very much in business for the studen- constantly to attract (students)."
ts," said Susan, an employee. "But we're not Another store that looks painfully out of place
for everyone-our clothing is for the fashion near a college campus is Hutzel's, a women's
conscious and for those special occasions." clothing store, which, based on its' window
displays, has probably only one set of
men is patrons-professor's wives.
AYLA'S COUNTERPART forendos Main street is also a haven for those with a
located up the street. The window passion for sweets. Dom Bakeries is the only
true bakery located anywhere near campus
and features doughnuts, cinnamon rolls, and
birthday cakes.
FOR THOSE who prefer not to eat on the run,
Main Street offers a few of the nicest
restaurants in the area, like the Real Seafood
Co. But the real food treat downtown, at least
during the warm months of the year, are the
outdoor cafes.
Both Complete Couisine Ltd. and The Full
Moon provide sidewalk seating for their diners.
Complete Cousine is renowned for its rich
deserts, coffee, and a comfortable seat after a
long day of walking.
"The best attraction on Main Street is in the
summertime when (Complete Cousine) serves
outside," said Lisa Han, senior in natural
resources. "The food is the best-but of course
you have to learn to ignore the trucks passing
by."
THE FULL MOON is more of a light din-
ner/drinking place just two blocks up the
street. Strangely enough, both restaurants
have the same white wire lawn furniture,
although the Complete Cousine is a bit fancier
with white and blue tablecloths.
In addition to restaurant patrons lounging in
the sun on Main Street, the business employees
frequently lean out their front doors, adding to
that small town, comfortable atmosphere of
the area.
"It's so nice, just watching people walk and
drive by," said Don Matthews, who works in a
men's clothing store and has been there for
years.
"The town is such an interesting collection of
people and all types come by-students,
professors, street people ... I simply love
working here," he said as he watched the
steady flow of traffic streaming down the Main
Street.
Aside from the summer, when people wat-
ching is a prime activity on Main Street, the
best time of year for the area is Christmas
when the trees lining the street are decorated
in white lights, and the drab appearance of
some of the buildings is somehow not as
noticable.
Smart shoppers
search out
specialty stores,
City streets offer wide
variety of merchandise
By GEORGEA KOVANIS
Dad just sent you some cash for
your birthday. So, like any good
American, you're dying to spend it
on some trinket that you really don't
need.
Well, you're in luck. Besides the
many stores selling food, clothing,
and the necessities, Ann Arbor has
plenty of outlets for items of less
social relevance.
ON LIBERTY Street, stands
Kilwin's, the city's premier shop for
chocolate lovers. Bunny rabbits,
chocolate kisses, and sweet things in
all shapes are all sold here. It may be
a bit pricey, but some sweet tooths
demand attention.
If you're searching for the perfect
book, the best bargain around is Af-
terwards. This Main Street bookstore
carries only publisher's remainders
and editions which have gone out of
print. The prices are downright cheap
and there are seemingly millions of
books from which to choose.
Kiddie Land, also on Main, offers
everything a child or the young at
heart could want. Their wide selection
of huge stuffed animals and games is
enough to make anyone want to be a
kid again.
ON SOUTH Ashley, Saguaro Plants
wants to make your home a garden.
Selling hundreds of kinds of ferns,
flowers, trees, and bushes, this store
has everything a plant lover could
want.
Cynthia's Astrology Shop is located on
Liberty Street. An astrologer is on
hand to read tarot cards, palms, and
even a crystal ball. It's a great place
to go to see how you're going to do on
that upcoming physics test.
Also on Liberty, Otto's Crispy Corn
offers the best caramel corn, sour-
cream-and-onion corn, and other-
flavored corn in the area.
MAISON EDWARDS in Nichols Ar-
cade carries a number of brands of
tobacco and imported cigarettes for
all you serious pipesmokers.
On Maynard, Eden's serves
everything for the health food freak.
Prices are a tad high, however.
J.B. Chocolate Chip on State Street
has about the best chocolate chip
cookies around.
And right near J.B. Chips is Make
Waves, which carries a complete
selection of new wave sundries in-
cluding sunglasses of all kinds and
hair coloring.
Rows and rows of glass jars filled
with a never-endingsupply of old but
delicious candies lines the shelves of
Drake's on North University.
By MARLA GOLD
In the search for the perfect gift, Ann
Arbor's local stores may be as far as
the footbound student has to go.
Whether you're in the market for a
hot pot, a bizzare novelty, or just a new
pair of socks, chances are you'll find
these items in shops along South
University, State, and Liberty Streets.
SOUTH UNIVERSITY, running
from the Michigan Union into the
heart of fraternity and sorority row, is a
veritable haven for student shoppers.
Middle Earth specializes in greeting
cards of all kinds, from avant garde to
X-rated. The store also has an enor-
mous collection of post cards featuring
the works of famous artists and por-
traits of obscure writers.
Nearby Logos Book Store carries a
wide assortment of Christian literature,
stationary, and posters.
Mary Dibble and the Bagpiper offer
perhaps the city's widest assortment of
preppy outfits for women. Also check
out New Image, an Espirit-infested
women's boutique.
FOR THE MEN, there's the
Steeplechase and Tice's Men's Shop,
featuring an uninspired but full line of
clothing.
After checking out the stores on S.
University, take a walk over to State
Street. This shopper's paradise boasts a
fine selection of both new and used
clothing stores, bookstores, and gift
shops.
For an alternative look in clothing
try Cat's Meow and Vintage Clothes.
Located on top of Lake's Gallery, both
offer lots of trendy used clothes at
somewhat expensive prices.
ON THE OTHER side of the fashion
world, the Bivovac has a huge selection
of the latest fashions including lots of
expensive designer jeans.
Tice's, Marshall's, and State
Discount are a favorite with students
for sundries and necessities. The Crown
House features many gifts: stuffed
animals, mugs, candles, novelty items,
and cards. More unique gifts can be
found at Lake's Gallery which offers
vases, porcelain masks, and Japanese
ivory statues.
Kresge's, on the corner of State and
N. University is the area's resident
five-and-dime throwback. The
cafeteria has some real bargains,
however, from 99 cent breakfasts to
frozen cakes y
Heading south on Liberty, Jacobson's
carries many yuppie favorites, slightly
expensive clothes, and kitchenware.
For natural looking men's and
women's clothing made mostly out of
100 percent cotton, try Collected
Works. Down the road, Pappagallo is
another preppy hangout, but nearby
Sam's offers some clothing relief with
jeans and jackets at reasonable prices.
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Otto's Crispy Corn, selling more kinds of popcorn than you can imagine, is
Musa une vi one many specialty ewi es nriermg uinneat items in cne city.
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Newspapers spread the word to students
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By DAVID VANKER
As though it really mattered, there is more to read
in Ann Arbor than just text books.
Much more, in fact.
.STUDENTS CAN stay abreast with news of the
world through any one of the larger newspapers
distributed locally. Though the Detroit News, the
Detroit Free Press, The New York Times, and' USA
Today are the most widely available of these, the
Blue Front at the corner of State and Packard and
Community Newscenters around town carry the
principal newspapers of many large American cities
and even a few foreign cities.
The Michigan Daily is one of the few college dailies
in the nation that is managed, edited, and reported by
a student staff with no regular guidance from the
University. Six-days-a-week during the school year,
the Daily features coverage of the campus and city
with special secions published to start off the football
and basketball seasons.
The Ann Arbor News, with weekday circulation of
over 40,000 copies, remains the local favorite because
of its thorough treatment of Ann Arbor news and
events.
AN ALTERNATIVE to the traditional newspapers,
published monthly in magazine form and distributed
free in the Ann Arbor area, is the Ann Arbor Obser-
ver. Lengthy, in-depth features and lists of upcoming
local events fill the Observer's pages, and its monthly
entertainment guide remains an essential for anyone
seeking fun in this town.
But the Observer shies away from editorials and
reviews.
"The Observer name was a conscious choice,
because it expressed our view of our material," said
Mary Hunt, co-editor of the Ann Arbor Observer.
"We would like our readers to understand and then
they can draw their own conclusions."
For information on movies alone, students are
referred to the Michigan Cinema Guide, a com-
prehensive listing of campus films available free all
over town.
The company that puts out the Cinema Guide also
published the Michigan Basketball and Football
Guides, distributed free before home games. These
mini-tabloids provide students with complete player
listings and feature articles about the Wolverines and
their opponents.
THE UNIVERSITY Record, a weekly tabloid ser-
ving as the leading voice of the administration,
provides a good overview of staff and faculty affairs
and a valuable calendar of campus events.
MSA News is among the monthly publications of
the Michigan Student Assembly designed to keep
students informed about the activities of their gover-
nment and its concerns.
The University's undying humor magazine, the
Gargoyle, continues to redefine the limits of
outrageousness on a monthly basis.
A group of students from a number of academic
disciplines last year inaugurated Consider, a four-
page tabloid covering two sides of one issue each
week.
This list arely skims the surface of Ann Arbor's
body of publications. Anyone who wants to read in
this town should have no trouble finding material.
The problem is, most professors have their own
ideas about what students should read while in Ann
Arbor.
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