0 18B - The Michigan Daily - Weekend lagaaie - Thursday, April 11, 2002 MICHAEL Gss - AT MILEENRoa A STEPPING STONE A2 A GREAT TRAINING GROUND FOR LIFE'S FINER THINGS The Michigan Daily - Weekend Maazlin There are few cities in the Midwest that measure up to Ann Arbor. Aside from Madison, our fair city, compared to any other Big Ten col- 'tege town, is the best around. Columbus is large, but lacks character. West Lafayette is in the middle of nowhere. Evanston is a Cambridge wannabe. And everyone in East Lansing is grain-fed. Or so the theory goes. Ann Arbor is simply different. Instead of strip malls lining the main drag, we have an Art Deco theater and used book stores. Instead of going to Taco Bell for late-night munchies, we go to the Fleetwood Diner. Instead of going to an Olive Garden for a romantic Italian din- ner, we go to Gratzi or Bella Ciao. Instead of Applebee's, we have real neighborhood hangouts, like Ashley's Pub and the Brown Jug. Bottom-line: We live, work, study and party in a real city. Although Ann Arbor can be very isolating at times, the best thing about this city is that it looks out- side its borders for inspiration and self- improvement. We have great architec- ture, vibrant neighborhoods and estab- lishments that have history and tradition. And Ann Arbor is a stepping stone to better things in life. Our critics say that we're stuck-up, arrogant and trapped in six square miles surrounded by reality. But is that something to be ashamed of? No. We should celebrate it. One of Ann Arbor's greatest fans, pub- lic radio personality and writer Garrison Keillor aptly described Ann Arbor's resi- dents - including its students - during a live broadcast of "A Prarie Home- Companion" in December: "People in expensive scruffy clothing, talking like socialists, in expensive restaurants." While Keillor's description may paint Ann Arbor as superficial city, propped up by a pretentious and pompous facade, it is a training ground for the real world - a cross section of society with all of its problems crammed into a city with 110,000 people. If you're an in-stater, Ann Arbor is a great training ground for social mobili- ty and provides a large number of options for choosing a path in life. It's a place where you can learn to enjoy a good single-malt scotch, inventive vegan food or an excellent microbrew. It's a place that is a stopping-off point for the world's greatest orchestras and speakers. It's a nexus for debate, philos- ophy and issues. It's a place to hang out and a place to be serious. Yes, there are better places than Ann Arbor. No doubt. But it is places like Ann Arbor that prepare people to enjoy those better places and the finer things in life. That.is what makes Ann Arbor so great. - Michael Grass is the Daily'food and drink critic. He can be reached via e-mail at mgrass@umich.edu. *BEST BUSINESSES Art Supplies: Michigan Book & Supply Athletic Shoe Store: Running Fit Bank/Credit Union: U of M Credit Union Bicycle Sales: Two Wheel Tango Books: Border's Bowling Alley: Colonial Lanes Cab Service: Yellow Cab Camera/Photo Shop: Ritz Caming Gear Shop: Bivouac Car ealer: Howard Cooper Compact Disc: Border's Computer Store: Computer Showcase Copy Store: Kinko's Customer Service: U of M Credit Union Dry Cleaner: Gold Bond Cleaners Florist: Normandie Flowers Furniture Rental: Instant Furniture Rental Furniture Store Art Vai Gift Store: Middle Earth Grocery Store: Meijer Haircut: Noggins Hardware Store: Stadium Hardware Health Club: One on One Athletic Club Hotel: Campus Inn Jewelry Store: Schlanderer's Laundrymat: Mr. Stadium Liquor: Campus Corner Men's Clothing: Bivouac and Urban Outfitters Moving Company: Two Men and aTruck and U-Haul Musical Instrument Store: Herb David Guitar Studio New Local Business: Cosi and Sushi.come Outdoor Apparel: Bivouac Packaging Store: Mailboxes Etc- Place to Go for Piercing: Earport Place to Pamper Yourself: Oasis Hot Tub Gardens Public Golf Course: Leslie Park Golf Course Realtor: Oppenheimer Shoe Store: Footprints Sporting Goods: Bivouac Store Display Window: hie Middle Earth Tanning Salon: Tanfastic Test Prep: Kaplan Textbooks: Ulrich's Thrift Clothing: Retro Threads Travel Agency: STA Travel Used Compact Discs: Wazoo Records 'U' Fan Apparel: Steve & Barry's Women's Clothing: Urban Outfitter's * BEST ENTERTAINMENT Concert: (past ear) John Mayer Dance Spot: Necto Live Music Club: Blind Pig Local Band: Donkey Punch Local Festival: Art Fair Movie Theater:8Michigan Theater Radio Station: 89.9 Video Store: Liberty St. Video * BEST OF DATING Date Movie; Amelie Inexpensive Date: The Atb Pickup Bar: Rick's a d Scorekeepers Picku Line: Most Common: "Hi" Most Creative: "Is your name Sarah? Mine either. We have so much in common already." Place for a First Date: The Arb Place for a Rendezvous: The Arb Place to Break U : The Diag Pace to Meet a d ew Mate: Class Public Place for Sex: The Graduate Library Rejection Line: Most Common: "Ummni...no." Most Creative: Restaurant for a Date: Gratzi Unusual Date Idea: Ice Skating at Yost * BEST RESTAURANTS All You Can Eat: Mongolian BBQ Bagels: Einhtein's Bar Drinks: Good Time Charley's BBQ: Mongolian BBQ Breakfast: Angelo's Brunch: The Gandy Dancer Burgers: Blimpy Burger Burrito: Pancheros Cheap Beer: Brown Jug Cheap Eats: Jimmy Johns Chinese Food: China Gate Chipatis: Pizza House Coffee: Starbucks Cookies: Mrs. Field's Deli: Zingerman's Dessert: La Dolce Vita Dinner: Pizza House Fries: Pizza House Greasy Spoon: Fleetwood Diner Greek Food: Parthenon Happy Hour: Good Time Charley's Hot Dog: Red Hot Lovers Ice cream/yogurt: Stucchi's winrners a~t The Grad is a student fave for sex and studying. Indian Food: Raja Rani Place to Korean Food: University Cafe Place to Late Night Munchies: Pizza House Professo Lunch: Jimmy Johns Residenc Mexican: Sabor Latina Sorority Micr°breW. Arbor Brewing CoiBany Speaker Mid-eastern Food: Sports T Jerusalem Garden Sports T New Restaurant: Susi~come Student1 Outdoor Eatery: Dominicks and Blue Overall Restauraut: Pizza House Student Overall Bar: Scoreepers Thing Al Pizza: Pizza House Tailgating Place For Folks to Treat: Gandy Dancer Restaurant for Large Groups: * BES Pizza House Restaurant Service: Apartme The Ga:dy Dancer Daily Co Romantic Restaurant: The Earle Ben Goyde Salads: Pizza House Excuse f Seafood: Real Seafood Company Disk/Ha Sports Bar: Scorekeepers Excuse f Steak:Chop House common: Subs: Jimmy John's Hangover Take-Out: Pizza House Most cre Vegetarian Food: Seva The girl tf Wings: Mr. Spots like cat fo Mr. Spot Philadelphia Style Steak and Hoagie Shop * BEST OF THE 'U' Voted Best Buffalo Wings 12 years running by the Michigan Daily Readership Poll Associate Editors: Caitlin Nish, Andy Taylor-Fabe Writers: Keith Dusenberry, Michael Grass, Will EI-Nachef, Jim Schiff Photo Editor: David Katz Photographer: Emma Fosdick Cover Photo: David Katz Arts Editors: Lyle Henretty, Luke Smith, Managing Editors, fell Dickerson, AssociateEditor Editor in Chief: Jon Schwartz Athlete (Female): Athlete (Male): Mike Cammalleri Bathroom: In the Union Blow-off Course: Psychology 111 Campus Event: Football Saturday Campus Tradition: Naked mput The all you can eat E Center: Fish Bowl Co-op: Michigan Course: Psychology 111 Dorm Cafeteria: Bursley Frat to Party With: Phi Kappa Psi Lecture H2: 1800 Chem Library: Graduate Library F EMMA BBQ all-star. 810 South State Street One block north of Yost Ice Arena 747-SPOT Pick up or delivery all day! 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