12E - The Michigan Daily - New Student Edition - September 3, 1996
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KRISTEN SCHAFFER/Dail
Ann Arbor resident Erich Blough serves up a few pints at Ashley's on South State Street. Ashley's recently finished expanding
their selection of on-tap beers to include over 60 domestic and international beers.
ozyor crowded, bars and
taverns offer more an beer
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HEALTH & BEAUTY ITEMS,
FOOD, MICHIGAN CLOTHING
By Sam T. Dudek
Daily Staff Reporter
Bigger is better. Or so we are led to believe.
We have grocery stores where you can buy televi-
sions, sweatshirts, bowling balls and - oh, yeah -
food. Appliance stores now sell compact discs and
computer software. You can even meet all your shop-
ping needs at the corner gas station. And not to be left
out in the cold, the world of bars and pubs has also
entered the "big" time.r
Try to imagine a bar with 34 television sets
showing sporting events from around the world.F
Picture a pub with more than 60 beers on tap.
Envision a tavern with access to the cyber-
world.
No need to imagine, because these are all
bars in Ann Arbor. But is bigger really bet-
ter? Well, yes and no.,
The biggest of the big is undoubtedly
Scorekeepers.f
The walls of "Skeepers" are adorned with
34 television sets. But don't expect to watch
Friends or ER. As the bar's name indicatps,
sports is the only game in town. Everything
from playoff hockey games to Indy car races can be
seen in the Maynard Street bar.
Not in the mood for TV? Scorekeepers also has
pool, darts and dancing as well. Skeepers offers one-
stop shopping for all your tavern needs.
"It's kind of a big mix of things," said Eric Rogers,
a manager at Scorekeepers.
However, if you have not reached the magic age of
21, the only way you can enjoy Scorekeepers is
through their new large window at the front door.
These big bars of Ann Arbor usually offer a
great place to party and drink like a fish. But a
number of smaller watering holes are perfect for
those interested in good food and drink without
the noise and overcrowding of the big taverns.
Every so often even the most dedicated party-goer
needs a quiet place to eat, drink and be merry.
A small-time pub with a big-time selection is
Ashley's. Ashley's is the perfect place for some-
one who loves a good beer. The English-style pub
has 64- count them, 64- beers on tap. And we
are not talking about Schlitz or Milwaukee's Best
either. Newcastle Brown, McEwans Export and
Guinness are just a few of
the premium beers available
at the South State Street
pub.
Mike Thompson, a manager at
Ashley's, said his bar offers a good
time and a good beer without the dis-
comforts of larger bars.
"We're not one of the 'kiddie'
bars," Thompson said. "We are not a pick-
up bar."
Good Time Charley's and The Brown Jug are
two good spots on South University Avenue for
dinner and a drink. And at night, both places pro-
vide patrons with an enjoyable bar atmosphere.
Unfortunately, all those just coming to Ann Arbor
will never know the excitement of a St. Patrick's
Day at O'Sullivans. The Irish-style pub closed its
doors last year.
When the urge hits for a burger and a beer, noth-
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Beer of all kinds and origins is sold in many stores
close to campus - in bottles, cans and kegs. Minors
face penalties for puchasing or consuming beer in Ann
Arbor, where the drinking age Is 21.
ing compares
All is not lost, though. Two of Ann
Arbor's biggest bars are kind enough to
allow 18- or 1 9-year-olds to join the fun. U
(Note: If you are under 21, clip this arti- n
cle and staple it to your driver's license.
On the day you turn 21 use it as a check- 'k~dd
list.)
Rick's American Cafe on Church W e a
Street is probably one of the loudest and
most crowded.bars on any given week- p k-
end. Excellent.
Rick's - no one calls it an "American - Mik
Cafe" - could easily be described as a Manager
huge fraternity party with a cover
charge. There is usually a local band
jamming on stage, the beer is abundant
for those of age and you are bound to run into some-
one you know.
The Nectarine Ballroom on East Liberty Street is
the other source for barroom entertainment for the
under-21 crowd.
The "Necto" - no one calls it a "Ballroom" - has
one of the best dancing atmospheres north of I-94. The
huge dance floor is often crammed with people mov-
ing to the beats of retro '80s music, disco, techno and
every other dance beat imaginable.
"We do different things each night," said Nectarine
general manager Mike Bender. "It's not rock and roll
seven nights a week."
In addition to serving the 18-and-over crowd, the
Necto also devotes two nights a week to Ann Arbor's
gay community.
The Michigan Daily's 1996 Best of Ann Arbor poll
voted Mitch's Place the best bar in town.
Chad Biggert, a manager at the South University
Avenue bar, said the friendly atmosphere contributed
to the best bar selection.
"It's really a laid back atmosphere," he said. "It's the
people that make the place great."
Mitch's - no one calls it a "Place" - is one of the
"big" party places on campus that offers some of the
quaintness of a small pub.
e not
f the
eW bars.
e not a
rp bar.'
e Thompson
at Ashley's
with the Ann Arbor microbreweries
- the Grizzly Peak Brewing
Company on West Washington
Street and the Arbor Brewing
Company on East Washington
Street.
The restaurants serve up their
special homemade brews that will
please the palette of even the most
discriminating beer drinker.
"Hand-crafted ales are becom-
ing popular around the country,
said Dan Kucera, manager at
Grizzly Peak. "What makes it
interesting is that they are brewed
in the restaurant.
"People are getting tired of
n beers,' he said.
plain American
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Kucera said the Grizzly Peak bar offers one of I
the last places people can enjoy a good beer, burg-
er and smoke a cigar.
Out on Main Street, the One Eyed Moose and
the Full Moon offer a great evening of food, folks +
and fun. The bars epitomize the quiet and friendly l
atmosphere expected from a smaller bar.
The quaintest of the quaint, however, is Del Rio.
The perfect place for an after-dinner drink with
your date, Del Rio is softly lit with candles at
every table while quiet folk music strums in the 3
background.
The best outdoor bar in Ann Arbor ... well, the
only outdoor bar in Ann Arbor, is Domitick's.
On the few lovely days we have in Michigan,
there is no better way to enjoy them than by sitting
on the balcony at the Monroe Street bar enjoying
one of Dominick's tasty tropical drinks or satisfy-
ing beers.
The Blind Pig, the Flame, Old Town, Metzger's and
Casey's Tavern are some of the other bars located
near campus that offer a great time for all.
Brian Leach, a senior in the School of
Art, said going to the bar offers a change
of venue for him and his friends.
AAPD, DPS
fight drinking
byminors
By Sam T. Dudek
Daily Staff Reporter
The legal drinking age in Michigan is 21.
This is a tough fact to swallow, especially if you
don't turn 21 until 1999 or so. So, until the magic
birthday arrives, minors who drink are breaking the
law. So, what does that mean?
Well, it definitely means bars are off limits (unles*
you drive to Canada, where the legal drinking age is 19.
An Ann Arbor city ordinance states that minors can-
not "purchase, consume, or possess" any alcoholic
substance. Failure to comply can result in a $25 fine
for the first offense and subsequently higher penalties
for duplicate infractions.
Sgt. Phil Scheel, spokesperson for the Ann Arbor
Police Department, said violating a city ordinance can
also lead to stiff penalties of up to 90 days in prison
and/or a $100 fine.
"Being a college town, alcohol abuse is definite
ly a problem," Scheel said.
Scheel said AAPD has worked success-
fully with the University community to
crack down on underage drinking.
"We have had a lot of luck working
with the University and fraternity orga-
ground floor of the Michigan Union
open 7c
days a week