Page6D '- the Michigan Daily ThtrrsdaySptenber 5, 1985
ICECREAM
0 0 9"
0
a
The "'A*n Dailya- Thursday, SreA
The
golden
fix
By Katie Wilcox
T HE ICE CREAM wars in Ann
Arbor rage full force on campus,
each competitor slinging mounds of
sweet, cool stuff in the battle for the
consumer's dollar.
It wasn't until this year when
newcomers Steve's and the Beacon St.
Creamery popped onto the scene that
the magnitude of the competition was
fully realized. The student must ask
himself, 'Where should I go for ice
cream on a warm autumn night ...
lazy summer's eve . . . Sunday afer-
noon. . . any of the other 101 times I'm
in the mood?"
The answer is simple. There's a long
stretch between the professor's in-
troductory lecture and the absolutely
final final. Plenty of time to try them
all.
The proprietors of these
establishments appear unworried
over the competition.
"Honestly they have taken some
business away but since people spend
three thousand dollars a day in Ann
Arbor on ice cream, it hasn't hurt us
too much," said Katie Houseman,
manager of Millers, one of the older
parlors.
"They (the newcomers) really
haven't affected us at all. We're
busier than we were last year,"
agrees Robin Baxombe, manager of
Lovin' Spoonful. -
Phil McKenzie, director of The
Beacon St. Creamery, had nothing but
praise for the market here, "We like
Ann Arbor, we like the University, we
like the students."
According to McKenzie, advertising
hoopla wasn't even necessary for a
successful entrance. "We opened
rather quietly," he said proudly.
Leaving the profit question to those
who provide the frozen scoops, those
on the consuming side are more con-
cerned with who provides what better.
Baskin Robbins
Baskin Robbins' 31 flavorsare as
all-American as baseball, but the
equivalent of fast food among gour-
met dining on the Ann Arbor market.
Cones are skimpy. Buy your room-
mate an ice cream cake here for his or
her birthday and make a friend for
life (1101 S. University).
Beacon St. Creamery'
The newest "luxury," as opposed to
"standard," model on campus. The
rich, smooth flavors are made there
daily. Depending on what's in season,
they carry about 16 different flavors.
Grab a window seat and people watch
while you slurp. Flavored popcorn
was a new addition this summer
(1123 S. University).
Jason's
Haagen-Dazs and Miller's are the
brands here, or for the more daring,
Tofutti is the fad. Sandwiches, soups,
and juices are also featured fare.
High prices mar an otherwise nice
place to grab a cone after a movie or
meet a friend for lunch (215 S.
State).
Lovin' Spoonful
The hometown favorite in a town
1
1
that loves its ice cream, even in sub-
zero temps. Just pure, delectable,
completely HOMEMADE ice cream.
Management has added non-dessert
items like chili dogs and pastas in the
face of the stiff competition, but the
reason to make the trip down to Main
Street is still the freshest, creamiest
scoops in Ann Arbor. Good jukebox
music, outdoor seating (330 S. Main).
Miller's
Miller's big scoops are a favorite,
but they are also the tip of the iceberg
of what this shop has to offer. A menu
of sandwiches, soups, and burgers
caters to student tastes - so does the
2 a.m. closing time. Bring change for
the jukebox and try the ice cream and
liquer specialties (1227 S. Univer-
sity).
Steve's
Steve's Ice Cream is a fun place.
You can watch them make the cold
stuff right before your eyes and tickle
the ivories on the open piano. Steve's
offers a question of the day which if
answered correctly wins you a com-
plimentary mix-in or sundae. The
mix is a Steve's specialty - they are
combinations of ice cream and
crushed Oreo cookies, or Junior Mints
or other tasty items. This is a great
joint, but the prices are a little on the
high side - $2.10 for a mix-in. The
portions are healthy and in its first
year Steve's was voted number one in
The Michigan Daily's Best of Ann Arbor
contest (342 S. State).
Stroh's Ice Cream
The variety of the eateries in the
basement of the Union are com-
plimented by this lovely idea for
dessert. The standard scoops are
enhanced by the bustling, people-
watching location (Michigan Union).
LIBERAL ARTS
MAJORS.. .
You're Needed
All Over the
World.
Ask Peace Corps volunteers why
their ingenuity and flexibility are
as vital as their degrees. They'll
teu you they are helping the
world's poorest peoples attain
self sufficiency in the areas of food
production, energy conservation,
education, economic develop-
ment and health services. And
they'll tell you about the rewards
of hands on career experience
overseas. They'll tell you it's the
toughestjob you'll ever love.
PEACE CORPS
Gatech o
Curb your dog
Tell me
a song
F IVE HUNDRED YEARS AGO
the only effective birth control
was a well-guarded chastity belt. Sin-
ce then medical technology has made
sexual intercourse sans offspring as
simple as applying. a condom, or
taking birth control pills. What more
could one ask for? Well, if the Car-
nation and Upjohn corporation's joint
venture is approved by the Food and
Drug Administration, your local
supermarket will likely stock a
generous supply of Extra Care, a can-
ned birth control dogfood.
The contraceptive dog chow con-
tains an active ingredient 'called
Mibolerone, which is of course an an-
drogenic-anabolic steroid that
prevents female dogs from coming in-
to heat. Feed Muffin one can per day
(not closer than a month before her
next heat cycle) for as long as you
wish to keep her uninterested in
Binky, your neighbor's sleazy dober-
man. If you decide to let her get in-
timate there's no - Extra
Care is reversible. She should be back
to her thrill-a-minute lifestyle in
anywhere from five to one-hundred-
eighty days.
If Extra Care receives F.D.A. ap-
proval, which is likely, a few ethical
questions will arise. When I was ten
(way back in '75) I was in charge of
feeding Shana, our carpet-trained
Cockapoo. The process was quite
simple-open can, feed dog. Feeding
the dog involved no moral decisions; I
just did it.. .and received my allowan-
ce. A ten-year-old feeding his dog Ex-
tra Care will have a vastly different
set of responsibilities than I had.
Imagine a parent explaining to Billy
just how important his chore is: "Well
Billy, now you're in charge of Buffy's
sexuality." Billy hasn't even reached
puberty and you expect him to control
the dog's estrous cycle.
Another thought-provoking question
is what makes canines so doggone
special? What about other animals?
Don't they deserve convenient, effec-
tive, good-tasting birth control, too?
Perhaps Upjohn and Carnation should
produce a birth control gerbil fodder
and birth control fish flakes. And what
of the more exotic animal species?
Should they be deprived of the
benefits of medical advancements? I
say nay. Once the canine population
receives eatable contraception, we
will also need birth control chimp
chow, moose meal, not to mention bir-
th control rhino clumps.
Birth control dogfood will likely
have far-reaching societal effects.
TrqksRtestauat
Open 7 days a week
7a.m. to 9p.m.
Tuesday and Thursday - Greek Menu
Sunday - Special Dinner only $4.75
BREAKFAST SER VED ANY TIME OF THE DA Y
0 14
1 1
1U 1
1 1
Or E. #,Vo N -769 .
ps- B. ppl:. A--;I. I
ie*47 96 j# 4*',As piv ,-0-
- - mmmin'-m m_m...m
Along with the emergence of the
young urban professional, one can ex-
pect a proliferation of Yuppie Pup-
pies. Extra Care costs slightly more
than your average dogfood; the nor-
mal mutt will get spayed while the
elite doggie class will opt for canine
contraception. Having a spayed dog
will become more embarassing than
being too poor to buy a rotating
microwave oven, or a second Fiero.
Birth control dogfood advertising
will be aimed at the type of dog who
"knows where he's going." You know,
the kind of dog who can pull a sled,
fetch a newspaper, and still have time
to catch that occasional Frisbee.
If Extra Care becomes popular, one
can expect other companies to attem-
pt an entrance into the birth control
dogfood market. The Alpo dogfood
people will likely ask the respectably
gray-haired Lorne Greene to star in a
canine contraception ad campaign
that will sound something like this:
"See ol' Duchess here, isn't she
beautiful? She's four years old-that's
twenty-eight for you and me. Duchess
hasn't had sex in over a year and a
half. In fact she doesn't go into heat at
all because of new Fit 'n' Celibate,
from the people at Alpo. Same great
taste and nutrition that makes Alpo
famous, just no foolin' around-right
Duchess?"
As for Extra Care's taste it will
come in three different flavors, Beef
& Chicken, Chicken & Liver, and my
favorite, Gourmet Dinner. Gourmet
contraception...kind of makes you
stop and think. I mean, if scientists
can develop heat-halting haute
cuisine for some neighborhood mutt
why can't they come up with con-
traceptive coq-au-vin for humans.
Gourmet Dinner, however, may not
be good enough for some elite canines.
My mother woke up one Saturday
morning and made our dog Shana a
cheese souffle because she wouldn't
eat her Gaines burgers (I love the
woman, but I can't get her to pour me
a glass of milk). Now you tell me what
will happen when your highstrung
poodle gets sick of gourmet con-
traception. A doting owner will say
"Come on Fifi, eat your din-din
baby," only so many times before he
shoves the meal down Fifi's throat.
If you are considering shoving Ex-
tra Care down your own throat, or the
throat of some significant
other- DON'T. The label will be
clearly marked: Not for human con-
sum ption.
GK--
By Joseph Kraus
ALTHOUGH it often takes a
backseat to the spectacle of rock
and pop productions, the Ann Arbor
folk scene has been one of the Mid-
west's strongest for almost two
decades.
In the 20 years since the opening of
the city's first major folk clubs, the
city has been host to almost every
major folk and folk rock performer in
the country. Artists such as Neil
Young and Leon Redbone played in
town when their careers were in their
infancy, and musicians such as David
Bromberg and Arlo Guthrie continue
to play here today.
Since 1971, the vast majority of the
folk scene has taken place at The Ark,
a club which presents anywhere from
two to six shows a week of some of the
world's finest traditional and acoustic
music. Lasy year alone, it brought in
such luminaries as Richard Thom-
pson, Tom Paxton, Bonnie Raitt, and
Tom Rush.
The Ark's opening in 1965 coincided
with the opening of Canterbury House
Coffee House. Each was sponsored by
church organizations seeking to relate
to students in a new way. Kathy Dan-
nemiller of the First Presbyterian
Church and one of the Ark's founders
said, "It was the time of churches
trying to be relevant... (The Ark was a
place) where you didn't talk about
God, you lived your faith instead."
David Perlman, student coor-
dinator of Canterbury House in the
late '60s said of the curch-sponsored
club, "This wasn't a local phenomena
in any sense. It happened all across
the country. The thing that's different
about Ann Arbor is that it's stayed
here."
From its beginning, Canterbury
House worked to bring in the popular
musicians of the day. According to
Perlman, Joni Mitchell, based in
nearby Detroit, made many of her
earliest public appearances there,
and Neil Young first appeared solo
there after splitting with Buffalo
Springfield. Young later returned to
record the version of "Sugar Moun-
tain" that appears on Decade, his
greatest hits album.
The Ark had its historical moments
as well, Leon Redbone stayed there
while he made his first American ap-
pearances, and Pete Seeger once per-
formed a benefit concert for the
financially beleaguered club.
The Ark, under the guidance of
Dave Siglin, its director since 1967,
brought in a slightly more traditional
breed of folk singer. Although per-
formers such as Michael Cooney and
Ramblin' Jack Elliot played both at
The Ark and at Canterbury, The Ark
attracted a "quieter" type of student
according to Dannemiller.
"The students we attracted were
more lost and looking for com-
munity," she'said. "The kids at Can-
terbury House were more angry."
By the early '70s, however, Canter-
bury House had closed (although the
Campus Ministry of the same name
continues today) and the Ark had lost
the bulk of its church ties.
According to Siglin, church officials
began to realize, "their program was
not in sync with their message...The
music and the message were not
one."
In the years since then, The Ark has
continued to bring in the same types
of performers. Outlasting most of the
similar clubs that sprung up
throughout the Midwest around the
same time, Siglin has maintained the
club as one of the major stopping
places for musicians travelling from
Chicago to the east coast.
Last year, when the annual Ann Ar
bor Folk Festival, sponsored by the
Ark, fell the day after a memoria
concert in Chicago for Steve Good
man, Arlo Guthrie made an unan-
nounced appearance.
The Ark's financial problems
reached a critical point at the begin-
l
t
t
ning of the decade when they were fir-
st asked to pay rent for their long-time
home at 1421 Hill St. Weathering+
several difficult years, Siglin finally
moved the club to its present location
at 637 S. Main St. last year.
Significantly larger than the
original location, the new Ark presen-!
ts its management with new financialI
problems, but Siglin says he thinks
the worst is over. "I'm not in the+
negative financial mood that I used to
be in," he said.
At the same time the larger size
presents new possibilities. Last year,
Siglin brought in ex-Fairport Conven-
tion founder Richard Thompson and1
his band for one of the more important
rock shows of the year. Similarly,
Eclipse Jazz used the premises to
bring in vocalist Abbey Lincoln, and
later, drummer Jack DeJohnette.,
Siglin reassures long-time Ark fans,+
e however, by saying that in spite of the
new location, the Ark is still the same'
- old club. Although last season saw a+
slightly stronger leaning toward
bluegrass music than past seasons
shad, he promises there will be no
- major changes in the type of music
the club features. "Any changes we
make will be gradual," he said.
Although The Ark dominates the
contemporary folk scene, Ann Arbor
still boasts other treasures. Last year.
Dominick's restaurant began a weekly
"coffee house" featuring local and
Detroit folk musicians singing
political music.
Similarly, other clubs in Ann Arbor
sometimes display strong folk or
blues leanings. In recent years, Rick's
American Cafe has brought in coun-
try-swing band Asleep at the Wheel,
and The Blind Pig blues harmonica
wizard John Hammond.
Aside from the bars and clubs
scene, Ann Arbor is home to several
very talented folk musicians.
Foremost of these denizens is Peter
"Madcat" Ruth, a harmonica player
generally acclaimed as one of the
finest in the country. Formerly a
member of major label bands Sky
King, New Heavenly Blue and The
Dave Brubeck Band, Ruth was recen-
tly pictured by Hohner harmonicas on
some of its national advertising.
o Although he performs several times a
year in the area, each show becomes
an important event.
Gemini, a folk duo made up of idea-'
tical twin brothers Sandor and Laszlo
Slomovits, specializes in songs for
children, but adults usually wind up
singing along as well.
Footloose, a four-person group with
bluegrass inclinations, has won a
local following with its mixture of a
good-spirited stage presence and tight
musicianship.
For several years, Dick Seigal was
considered one of the strongest
rockers in Ann Arbor, but about two
years ago he disbanded his Rhythm
Aces and concentrated on writing
songs. Today, as a solo guitarist, he
remains one of Ann Arbor's more im-
portant voices, and is quite possibly
its strongest songwriter.
The Ann Arbor folk scene is bustling
and healthy, yet in having to do
without the publicity attached to other
concerts it usually fails to involve un-
derclass students. Newer students
have to make the effort to find out
when important shows are going on,
or else they may discover too late that
lately with some rather surprising, but certainly welcome, special guests.
they mi
bor's r
ferings.
EN(
Inte
MICl
309S.
WOLVERINES
ONLY THING YI
TO KNOW ABOU'l
ST EREOM...I8IM
lAW
ALPINE.
car audio systons
Bang &Olufsen
CARVER
DCM"
GENESIS
lcIntosh-
R
or
Si,
S7]
Irv##
WBUYSC
Folk superstar: Bonnie Raitt, among others, visited Ann Arbor's own
coveted Ark.
- s.... a; v : ..+ c v-..,,. , ff 3 fx:...