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attention
Like your hometown, Ann Arbor is
home to many national chain stores-
the huge monolithic demons that dot
the nation's landscape from Mauntauk
tlissoula. For a while, these super-
stores were regulated to the areas of
hardware and home care, maybe appli-
ances and garden products. But now,
the arts and entertainment industry is
giving way to the big-chain boom.
You know the types: Tower Records
and Blockbuster Music and Video;
Borders Books and Music; AMC and
Showcase theaters. The list goes on,
and slowly, these big franchises push
queness out of the picture.
uckily, the Ann Arbor community
has managed to retain some indepen-
dent businesses, and therefore has
managed to keep downtown Ann
Arbor and the campus area a fairly
unique place to live, and a swell
stomping ground for college kids look-
ing to swing. If you like the idea of
arts and entertainment being unique,
user-friendly and committed to diver-
stand excellence, you'd be wise to
support some of the independent
business owners in Ann Arbor.
Ann Arbor is home to both a Barnes
and Noble and a Borders store, huge
national chains making bookstores into
multimedia palaces. Luckily, Ann
Arbor is also clinging steadfastly to
independent bookshops, which offer a
more interesting selection, as well as
better prices. Leading the way is
Shaman Drum on South State Street,
ch now attracts nationally known
author readings, as well as offering text-
books for liberal arts classes, taking a
big chunk out of the infamous inflated
textbook prices. Other used bookstores,
like David's, Books in General, Dawn
Treader and Afterward are worth a long
look, before you shell out your dough
to a national, impersonal chain.
If you want film, you could plunk
down seven bucks to see a mediocre
cv at an AMC or Showcase theater.
Or visit a theater like Ann Arbor 1I&2,
the Michigan or the State, where you'll
pay about half that price, and most
often see better flicks. If you'd rather
stay in and watch a film, don't be lured
by the bright fluorescent lights of
Blockbuster video, or you may be dis-
appointed. Blockbuster is on a big
"family values" kick, and you'll likely
find its selection of foreign and inde-
dent films dismal. You'll be much
e pleased with a trip to an indie
store like Liberty Street Video.
In terms of tunes, Ann Arbor is home
to a few chain stores, most notably
Tower Records. But if you want to find
a gem in the used CD bin and save
dough, stores like Wazoo or Liberty
Street records can satisfy an eclectic
mix of musical cravings. Shun Ticket-
Ms ter shows and check out hot local
and University productions. And
bsolutely free music, (though you
may wish to give a wee donation if you
dig the tunes) check out local radio sta-
tions like WCBN (88.3 FM), WEMU
(89.1 FM) and WUOM (91.7 FM).
It's not easy for serious artists and
entertainers, as well as those who deal
in the business aspect of the industry, to
make money, especially those who cre-
ate and sell work with more intelligence
a "Jerky Boys" movie or a
tielle Steele romance novel. So it
needs to be a group effort; it needs to be
an effort by everyone who values artis-
tic and cultural expression.
We live in a money-driven society,
and that's, unfortunately, not going to
change, despite what the Marxists on
the Diag may tell you come autumn.
That's why, even if you only have a lit-
tle money, you should give a lot of
Sught to how you spend it. Think of
Plre your money is going - a giant
corporation that is oozing across the
country, reproducing like a rabbit, or a
small independent store that values
every customer and remains committed
to quality, even when the quality prod-
uct isn't as nonular as the mediocre.
Small-town
flavor with
big-time talent
By Greg Parker
Weekend, etc. Editor
The three of us sat in The Brown Jug, a half-empty pitcher
of beer between us, reminiscing. Freshly graduated, suppos-
edly ready to enter the real world, we sat in our favorite booth
for what could be the very last time. We sipped the warm beer,
looking at The Brown Jug's walls - pictures, old menus,
plaques - which so enshrine Ann Arbor's past. Occasional-
ly one of us tried to corral one of the sour cream- and salsa-
infested nachos that sat on the plate before us.
"I remember the time two of the members of Pearl Jam,
incognito, walked through the parking lot at Crisler Arena and
handed out tickets to the people that didn't have any," I said,
setting down my glass and getting ready to refill.
My friend quickly replied, "All right, top this - I saw Nir-
vana at the Blind Pig in 1991, before they made it. Completely
destroyed the set; it was classic. I also saw Dave Matthews at
the Pig last year, before they broke. Great shows; even got to
talk to them after."
"Yeah, well, I had to interview Allen Ginsberg once, and he
left a message on my voice-mail - 'Hi, this is Allen Gins-
berg, I won't be able to make the interview today, because I'm
at my friend's house, you can reach me at ...' I saved it; in fact,
I still have the recording,'' said my other friend, fishing for a
new napkin.
"Yeah, it's pretty hard to beat a voice-mail from Allen
Ginsberg. Anyone else?" I said, finishing off the pitcher.
U U
Believe it or not, the above anecdotes are true. The Dave
Matthews Band came to The Blind Pig last year to play before
a crowd of 250, Nirvana once played at the same place before
they "made it," and a friend of mine actually has a voice-mail
saved from Allen Ginsberg. And believe it or not, incidents
like these aren't that extraordinary. For Ann Arbor mixes a
small-town feel with big-time talent to' create an intimate
atmosphere to appreciate artists, an atmosphere virtually
unparalleled the world over.
This viewing intimacy is great for the artists as well as the
audience. Artists seem to simply like to perform here. The
audience is usually knowl-
edgeable about the performer.
and they usually enjoy the
show. Along with the intimate
atmosphere that Ann Arbor's
venues provide, one can usual-
ly expect a world class perfor-
mance by the artist.
Van Cliburn, regarded by
many as possibly the greatest
living pianist, made a rare
appearance at Ann Arbor's
own Hill Auditorium this year.
The University Musical Soci-
ety brought Cliburn into town
to present him with its first
annual Distinguished Artist
This viewing
intimacy is
great for the
artists as
well as the
audience.
Award - and Cliburn went on record as specifically saying
that Ann Arbor was a truly special place for him to perform.
Cliburn isn't the only talent UMS seems to be able to muster,
as Cecilia Bartoli is slated for a second appearance here this
fall, and the Lincoln Center Jazz Orchestra makes annual
appearances.
Even Ann Arbor's bookstores provide a certain intimacy,
FILE PHOTO especially Shaman Drum, which constantly attracts even the
most sought-after authors. This year's Pulitzer Prize-winner
Richard Ford recently made an appearance at Borders Books
and Music; Ford is only the tip of the iceberg as far as literary
engagements are concerned. Along with other writers ranging
from Edwidge Danticat to local talent at poetry slams, the city
brings in both underrated and overrated writers, established
and rookie writers, and even the occasional Pulitzer Prize
writer. Sure, marketing demographics have much to do with
this fact, but some of it has to do with the fact that Ann Arbor
provides a venue for this talent.
The annual Ann Arbor Film Festival also provides an Ann
Arbor interpretation of a world-class event. Held at the beau-
FILE PHOTO tifully restored Michigan Theater, the festival attracts films
from around the world. Aside from the fascinating, frightful
t rspi and insightful films presented at the festival, there is some-
It Crisle r times a pre-screening presentation that is entirely unique to
boy Ann Arbor. One of this year's presentations was coordinated
one of by Ann Arborite Dr. Arwulf Arwulf, who often provides a dif-
fererit perspective on everyday things. Aside from some world
at class films, it is these pre-show performances, along with pre-
kiewicz show organ playing on the theater's incredible organ, that give
n the the festival that incessant Ann Arbor intimacy.
krt. Please see ARTS, Page 2D
Commercial to comfortable, bookstores beckon
By Elizabeth Lucas
Daily Arts Writer
So here you are, new students: finally away
from the parental units, and free in Ann Arbor.
immense acreage and glaring fluo-
rescents, and end up wandering Soft ligIits, white walls,
confusedly somewhere in Section
38 B-prime. This does mean that wooden shelves ... JUST
Campus a cappella
groups become well-known ... .
Film options and
..2
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