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10F - The Michigan Daily - New Student Edition - Fall 2003
AnnAro
n ~r
the
roeks
By Emily Estadella
For the Daily
Black Velvet (left)
and Irish Flag
Conor O'Neill's on South Main
Street offers delightful layered
drinks appealing to both the taste
buds and the eyes.
As its name implies, the Irish
Flag shot consists of three layers:
Creme de Menthe on the bottom,
Bailey's Irish Cream in the middle
and Grand Marnier on top.
One of the greatest things about
this shot is that the chaser is
included at the bottom. The shot is
a creamy, minty blend that costs a
cool five dollars.
Another option to warm you up
after the cold walk to Main is the
Black Velvet. Also a layered drink,
it sits in a nicely sized 20-ounce
glass for a mere four and a half
dollars.
Light Irish Cider sits underneath
the classic smoothness of Irish
Guinness to appease two distinct
tastes in one.
Although it may seem more
attractive to men, listen to me girls,
you can handle this one.
Have you ever set fire to a Blue Fer-
rari? Or drenched yourself in a
Purple Rain?
The usual Vodka
tonic and Jack and
Coke have become sta--
ple alcoholic beverages
among twenty-some-
things.k
Other than beer, these
unimaginative, ordi-
nary drinks are some of
the most popular drinks
students order when
frequenting the bars.5
Meanwhile, every bar}
on and around this
campus has a drink
unique to it that is not
Anti-fris martini
so common.
Many bargoers are not aware of these
options, not because they are not good, but
rather, these drinks remain unknown
because many students may have not been
introduced to them.
Whether you are looking for a cocktail that
packs a powerful punch or something to tick-
le the taste buds and
catch the eye, every
bar in Ann Arbor can
provide you with
something other than
your typical beer.
The next time you
step into a bar, take a
chance on something
new and colorful to
expand your tastes.
If you feel uncom-
fortable asking the bar-
tender for a drink
recommendation or if
you cannot hear over
the noise of the bar
crowd, here is a sample of a few drinks you
can find in Ann Arbor for the adventurous
party-goer who wants to break out of the tra-
ditional beer mold. So don't be afraid to stray
from the comfort of your keg. Throw caution
to the wind and take a walk on the wild side.
I
.4
Blue
Ferrari
The Necto, located on Liber-
ty Street near Borders, has by
far the most exciting drink,
which you should treat more
like business than pleasure.
This caution is due to the fact
that the drink is literally on fire
and should be swallowed quick-
ly, like a shot.
The Blue Ferrari is a cool mix
of Blue Curacao, 151 and cream
with Khalua, which should be
consumed before the two thin
straws melt in the flames.
By the time you get to the bot-
tom of the martini glass, your
throat is warm and honestly, you
might not even remember drink-
ing it. Five dollars is a small
price to pay for so much fun.
SHOP 'TIL YOU DROP: ANN. ARBOR STREETS GIVE YOU LOTS OF OPTIONS
S3 is a safe, sexy place to shop
SETH LOWER/Daily
Apart from its large selection of apparel for both men and women, Urban Outfitters boasts a wide variety of housewares that prove
useful to students when decorating their living quarters. Some of these items include lamps, rugs, and furniture.
Urban outiis anyone, anytine
By Charles Paradis
Daily Weekend Editor
Nestled snugly amid the vast
number of shops along South Uni-
versity Avenue, Ann Arbor's Safe
Sex Store catches its fair share of
inquisitive eyes from the pedestri-
ans walking along the sidewalk.
While almost everyone has seen the
store, not all are aware of the store's
mission and role in the community.
The blue trimmed store is no
dirty adult novelty shop that no one
with a good reputation would dare
be seen entering.
On the contrary, upon entering
one cannot help but notice that the
store is the paragon of organization
and cleanliness. The racks and
shelves are set up in such a way as
to allow the viewer to comfortably
peruse the products on sale.
And unlike some stores whose
main goal is to provide enjoyment
- something that can be found a
plenty at the Safe Sex Store - this
shop has a different goal. The cozy
spot has had one simple goal since
it opened eight years ago.
"The biggest focus ever since the
store opened is on education," Beth
Karmeisool, owner of the Safe Sex
Store said. "Our purpose is to form
a safe comfortable environment for
our guests to ask questions and feel
safe about their purchases."
Karmeisool says you would be hard
pressed to find graphic nudity on dis-
possible," Karmeisool said.
This care is necessary because
although the store is located near
campus, it serves a wide variety of
customers who shop there.
"We have a lot of students, but it
is really a mixed age group who
come in here," Amanda Dotten, the
store's manager, said.
These different customers all
bring different levels of comfort
and sensitivity to the subject matter
and the store is designed to make
all of those who wish to shop there
feel safe and respected.
This philosophy applies not only
to the products, but also and per-
haps even imore importantly to the
staff who work at the store.
Karmeisool has four people who
work for her and allare trained to
make the customers feel as com-
fortable as possible.
Karmeisool puts a great emphasis
on customer care and attention.
Whenever a customer enters the store,
they are greeted by one of the staff
who typically asks icebreakers to
make the customers feel welcome and
alleviate any tensions they may have.
"Our customers truly are
friends," she said.
Karmeisool says the majority of
customers who come in are comfort-
able before they walk in the door,
but some are not. Any customer who
is unsure if he or she will feel com-
fortable in the store need not worry,
because Karmeisool and her
assembling a cornucopia of items-
that fit your price range and your.
comfort level. With the help of the
staff you can create a unique gift to
fit one's financial needs.
"You don't need to spend a lot of
money to enjoy the products,'"
Karmeisool said.
The store also has many repeat
customers, some of whom go on
to be employees - Karmeisool
currently has two staffers who
were customers first. All the
employees of the Safe Sex Store
are certified in sexual health and
education by the Midwest AIDS
Prevention Project.
The Safe Sex Store's commit-
ment to AIDS prevention and
awareness extends beyond just
training its employees. Part of the'
proceeds from every sale the store
makes is given to MAPP.
The Safe Sex Store will also
come to you in its "S3 at home"
program. Representatives from the
store will come to your home and
demonstrate some of the stores
most popular items. The sex toy
parties are mostly bought by
women for girls night out or bache-
lorette parties.
"We like to keep everything real
discreet so as not to offend any-
body," Karmeisool said.
The store is not just all fun and
games though. Karmeisool also
holds seminars for sex education
for college students. While the sex
4
By Katie Marie Gates
Daily Arts Writer
For those of us who emerged from the sheltered conformity
of suburban high schools, the unique atmosphere and trendy
merchandise of Urban Outfitters is a treasure chest beneath the
State Theater. Colorful display tables and illuminated lanterns
contradict the warehouse-like environment of this Ann Arbor
favorite known for its distinctive offerings. Upbeat music rings
in the background, making the brightly lit shop welcoming,
especiaPy for some browsing between classes. Commended for
both men's and women's clothing, Urban also outfits the home
back corner, putting discounted material more central, near the
check out.
Women's merchandise outnumbers men's, showcasing every-
thing from bathing suits to vintage looking skirts and a surplus
of accessories. Less unique is the simplistic men's section,
overrun with hooded sweaters (but, can guys really ever have
too many?), button down shirts and a wall of jeans. A rainbow
of tennis shoes is available in various styles, and Urban promis-
es to even outfit the underwear.
While the standard Puma, Adidas, Levis and Calvin Klein
fill racks, it is the unique Urban style offered by lesser-known
brands that draws students. "The clothes look like they were
: