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:...