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26B - The Michigan Daily - Weekend, etc. Magazine - Thursday, April 6, 2000
I CAN RANT BUT YOU CAN'T HIDE
The Michigan Daily - Weekend, etc. M
THE ENVELOPE, PLEASE...
The winner's of the 2000 Best of AnA
I live under tyrannical rule. Every day,
I'm made painfully aware of the black
shroud that living in Ann Arbor has cast
over my life.
The dictatorship that governs my day-
in-day-outdoes not go by the name of Lee
C. Bollinger or make it's home in the
Fleming Building. The prickly things on
the back of my neck are not University
affiliated. The fear I speak of is none other
than my beloved landlord.
For the sake of argument, let's call the
guy that signed the other half of my year-
long, overpriced lease "Jack."
Jack, my "dear friend," according to
that legally binding document, is contrac-
tually bound to make right any wrongs
not brought upon my humble abode by
myself or my three non-destructive, uber
neat-and-clean roomates. Then why is it
thatthe never follows through on his end
of the bargain unless I threaten legal
action?
Of course, some might wonder why I
put myself in such an undesirable situa-
tion in the first place - chosing to rent a
complete and utter dump for an entire
year and knowingly going into the deal
willing to pay more than $400 per month.
The fact is that I was, in a way, forced
to live there. Basically kicked out of my
sophomore year abode because my land-
lord wanted to raise the rent on the place,
I had to scramble to find a place for the
this year. With most of the decent and
egregiously overpriced places long since
rented by the time I was forced to go
house hunting, and I ended up signing on
a house (my current shack) that had more
than its fair share of major flaws. OK, so
you can't stand up in the shower. I can
deal with that, and do, every morning. But
the place looked liveable when I decided
to sign on the dotted line, Dr. Faustus
style.
Of course, after I moved in and realized
that my landlord wasn't as "willing to
serve" as I'd expected, my outlook on the
new place changed faster than "Capital
Critters" could get booted off the air.
Jack's answer to my hundred or so
complaints (all recorded on a gigantic
"Repairs to be Completed" sheet) with
the new place were astonishingly simple:
Spend as little money as possible, and
don't make any repairs until rent is with-
held. And when you do make repairs, do
a half-assed job.
I'd like to believe my experience with
the off- campus housing system here at
the University is an unique one, but I'd
have to be living under a very large boul-
I I
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GVSU is an affirmative action, equal opportunity institution and is accredited by the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools.
der to harbor such
delusions.
The fact is, lIm
one of countless
students who live
under the thumb
of their Ann
Arbor-based land-
lord, be his name
Jack, Jill or Jack
and Jill
Properties. Kids
come up to me on
the street all the
time and tell me
about their prob-
lems - how the
Man, be he a big
company or one
A21
Gabe
Fajuri
Move to
Acclimate
Best Coffee: Cava Java
Best Bagels: Brueggers
Best Cookies: Mrs. Peabody's
Best Ice Cream/Yogurt: Stucchi's
Best Burgers: Blimpy Burger
Best French Fries: McDonald's
Best Hot Dogs: Red Hot Lovers
Best Wings: Mr. Spot's
Best Salads: Pizza House
Best Chipatis: Pizza House
Best Pizza: Pizza House
Best Subs: Jimmy John's
Best Deli: Zingerman's
Best Take Out: Pizza House
Best Late Night Munchies: Pizza
House
Best Lo-Cal Food: Seva
Best Cheap Beer: Rick's
Best Microbrew: Arbor Brewing
Company
Best Bar Drinks: Good Time
Charley's
Best Happy Hour: Good Time
Best Restaurants
Charley 's
Best Sports Bar: Scorekeeper's
Best Overall bar: Ashley's
Best Italian food: Palio
Best Indian food: Shalimar
Best Mid-Eastern Food: Jerusalem
Garden
Best Chinese Food: China Gate
Best Korean Food: Steve's Lunch
Best Mexican food: Tio's
Best BBQ: Mongolian BBQ
Best Greek Food: Parthenon
Best Vegetarian Food: Seva
Best Seafood: Real Seafood Co.
Best Greasy Spoon: Fleetwood Diner
Best Outdoor Eatery: Dominick's
Best Place For Folks to Treat:
Gandy Dancer
Best Romantic Evening: The Earle
& Gandy Dancer (Tie)
Best Restaurant Service: Gandy
Dancer
Best Breakfast: Angelo's
Best Lunch: Amer's
Best Dinner: Mongolian BBQ
Best Overall: Mongolian BBQ
of those supposedly more caring "inde-
pendent" guys, is keeping them down. I
feel your pain.
And that's simply not the way it should
be. Struggling students subjected to life
under the rule of slum lords? I think not.
We as tenants should expect, no,
demand, nothing short of respect and
first-rate service from the "landords" to
whom we've basically signed our lives
away. For my $415 per month, I expect a
clean, fully-functioning place to live. Is
that too much to ask'?
-Gabe Fajuri can be reached at
gfajuri@umich.edu. Politeness is recom-
mended.
1A21
Best Compact Discs: Tower Records
Best Used CDs: Record Exchange,
Wazoo and Encore (3-way tie)
Best Movie Theater: Quality 16
Best Video Store: Blockbuster
Best Posters: Beyond the Wall
Best Men's Clothing: Bivouac
Best Women's Clothing: Urban
Outfitters
Best Outdoor Apparel: Bivouac
Best Thrift Clothing: Value Village
Best 'U' Fan Apparel: Steve &
Barry's
Best Shoe Store: Footprints
Best Haircut: Noggin's
Best Tanning Salon: Tanfastic
Best Books: Borders
Best Textbooks: Ulrich's
Best Art Supplies: Ulrich's
Best Photocopying: Kinko's
Best Test Prep: Kaplan
Best Magazines: Borders
Best Groceries: Meijer's
Best Liquor: Campus Corner
Best Florists: University Flower Shop
Best Sporting Goods: Dunham's
Best Bicycle Sales/Repair: Student
Bike Shop
Best Cab Service: Yellow Cab
Best Travel Agency: STA
Best Bank: National City
Best Landlord: NONE
Best New Local Business: Campus
Donut Cafe
Best Businesses
Borders Books & Music reigned supren
Best Co-op: Joint House
Best Frat to Party With: Pi Kapp
Alpha
Best Sorority to Party With: Deli
Gamma
Best Student Group: AIESEC
Best MSA Member: Bram Elias
Best Campus Tradition: Nake
Mile
Best Campus Event: Naked Mile
Best Place to Study: Law Library
Best Library: Grad
Best Computing Center: Ange
l
a
rr
B
1A21
Best Entertainment
Best Concert in the Past Year: Beck
Best Dance Spot: Nectarine
Best Local Band: Donkey Punch
Best Local Festival: Art Fair
Best Radio Station: WCBN and 89X
Hall
AZ
Best of Dating
A21
Best of the University
T'
i
I
:N P'
Our beans and rice are prepared without lard
or other animal products!
Purchaseworth of food a
r.
regular price and get $1 <
sp7I><>OO
Best Athlete: Mike Comrie
Best Sports Team: Football
Best Place to Work Out: CCRB
Best Speaker (Past Year): Jesse
Jackson
Best Professor: Ralph Williams
Best Course: Psych Il1
Best Blow-off Course: Psych Il1
Lecture Hall: 1800 Chem
Best Building: Angell Hall
Best Bathroom: Angell Hall
Best Residence Hall: South Quad
Dorm Cafeteria: Bursley
Best Date Movie: American Beaut
Best Unusual Date Idea: Picnic
Best Pickup Line: "I'm i
AIESEC."
Best Place to Break Up: The Diag
Best Place for a First Date: Th
Arb
Best Place to Meet a Mate: Class
Best Place for Rendezvous: Th
Arb
Best Public Place for Sex: The Ar
Best Rejection Line: "No"
F1A21
Best of the Web
Best Online Notes: versity.com
I
5
We provide good healthy food in a relaxed setting and
at a good price- all in keeping with the spirit of authentic
Mexican cuisine. All of our menu items can be prepared.
to meet vegetarian standards. Enjoy!
Visit our new location at:
UI~ 1Ca9 un 1mI
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Wsfivs 2000
A special edition of
Weekend, Etc. Magazine
ALEX WOLK/Daily
Weekend, Etc. Editors: Toyin Akinmusuru, Jeff Dru
Contributing Editors: Arts Editors Christopher Cousino, Gabe Fajuri, Chris Kula
All winners are determined by voting on The Michigan Daily's Web site.
' Writers: Matthew Barrett, Geoff Gagnon, Ben Goldstein, Erin Podolsky, Aaron I
Photo Editors: Jessica Johnson, Dana Linnane.
Photographers: Jessica Johnson, Louis Brown, Danny Kalick, David Katz, Jeremy
Cover: Photo illustration by Photo Editor Jessica Johnson.
Editor in Chief: Mike Spahn
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