E WN STUDE : . Si~ [cIgYEu BAKOPOULOS ;nter tain ant I all Sound and Fury Drvese arts ifeserve more 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 12