i. r. o 2B Thursday, April 0 Ann Arbor (BEST BAR: GOOD TIME CHARLEY'S) There is much to be thankful for at Good Time Char- ley's. Over the years, the bar has cultivated the Michi- gan standard for college-aged drinking and revelry. Long Island Iced Teas in sizes that would shock your mama, flat screen TVs in strategically placed positions and cheap Happy Hour specials make it a fan favorite. When it's nice out, the option to enjoy the patio - with its primetime South U people-watching location - is a key element to a rocking good time. On a typical week- end night, lines curl around the corner, proof that it's the go-to spot for the over-21 crowd. It's the perfect stop on the way to Rick's (because, let's be honest, that's where you're heading), it provides late-night snacks notp to be scoffed at and it throws a damn good trivia night every Wednesday. Michigan's most popular bar packs inT the patrons every time. It's Chuck's. . -LTLTTA TIALTC W .,T* Thursday, April 14, 2011 Best of Ann Arbor BEST DELIVERY: JIMMY JOJHN'S 8 . It's 2 a.m. You've knocked back a couple cocktails and are suddenly possessed by an insatiable desire to eat everything in sight. Panic mode. Your appetite is exponential. Where do you go? For many Univer- sity students, the answer is Jimmy John's. With its fresh meat, crunchy veggies and, best of all, freshly baked French bread, Jimmy John's packs a satisfy- ing punch whether the patrons are sober or not. And, if it's impossible to get to one of the eight locations in Ann Arbor, its face-meltingly fast delivery is always an option. There's nothing quite like that first exqui- site bite into a fragrant fresh bread followed by the delicious combination of turkey, avocado, provolone and veggies. But whether you go for turkey or sala- mi, lettuce wrap or fresh bread, the Jimmy John's reputation for quality speaks for itself, promising satisfaction and joy with every bite. -MACKENZIE METER :RA MOLENGRAFF/ BEST CLUB: RICK'S AMERICAN CAFE) After stumbling around Ann Arbor in a drunken haze, hordes of polo- and high heel-clad revelers descend steps of Rick's to find themselves in a subterranean oasis. With Rick's diverse clientele of fraternity boys and sorority girls and its nightly drink specials (two dollar PBRs on Wednesday!), students often find themselves shivering in line just for a chance to navigate down those stairs. The lack of windows, low lighting and vast dance floor are the perfect combination for a classic night of regrettable she- nanigans. For more low-key evenings, clubbers can shoot some pool or alleviate social anxiety by playing a video game. On the weekends, Rick's always boasts crowds of students milling about its entrance, and thanks to advent of Ricksline.com, merrymakers can now monitor the line's progress from the comfort of their smartphones. Boys in pastel button-downs and girls in those-ubiquitous black skirts dedicate their weekends to standing in that roped- off line - there's just something about Rick's. -CASSIE BALFOUR C BEST PIZZA: PIZZA HOUSE ) Even the (somewhat recent) arrival of lip-smackingly delicious new-kid-on-the-block South U Pizza couldn't claim the "Best Pizza" crown from the venerable Pizza House. From the heavenly, sesame-seeded Sicilian deep dish to the stomach-arresting Chicago stuffed, this Church Street institution simply serves the most tantalizing slices in town - and for those averse to the traditional pie, the steaming calzones are equally gastro- nomically formidable. Being straddled by Charley's and Rick's doesn't hurt either (nor does being open till 4 a.m.). After all, that famished beer deserves quality 'za, doesn't it? Sure, the House is fiscally steeper than other pizza purveyors, but the well-styled, accommodating setting is an at-times necessary departure from cramped collegiate quarters. In other words, the few extra George Wash- ingtons is worth the upper-crust ambiance. It's no won- der why George Clooney and Co. recently decided to film parts of "Ides of March" in Ann Arbor. OK - maybe that's not the reason. But we wouldn't be surprised if it was. -STEPHEN OSTROWSKI (BEST LIVE MUSIC: THE BLIND PIG) Dark. Grimy. Sticky. These are the words that come to mind when thinking of the home of Ann Arbor's under- ground music scene, the Blind Pig. But most people would agree, that's part of its charm. Though its shows can be as hit-or-miss as the dart players downstairs, ranging from the obscurely talented to the downright bizarre, one thing the music venue is always good for is parties. With throwback beats and outrageous costumes, the joint's monthly Soul Club rarely disappoints. Similarly impres- sive are its more sporadic parties known as Bang!s, each one thematically adapted for whichever holiday it appears on (Halloween, New Year's, Valentine's, etc.) - though these fetes are a tad more exclusive (only for the 21 and up). So if you're looking for a break from the usual parties and bars or want a music experience a little less PG than the Ark, be sure to check out everyone's favorite visually challenged farm animal. JAKE FROMM/Daily -WILL DEFEBAUGH I P ~ GO BLUE!, THE R. Ar' '.. 5, 1 I' / 9 i OO 5'5~6.Vtstr4 ( ~*K W$Ta 6cuh4W5 Q~s6 LIKE WHAT YOU SEE? YEAH YOU DO. FIND MORE DAILY ARTS CONTENT AT MICHIGANDAILY. COM/SECTION/ ARTS. The M Den on Main St The M Den Briarwood Mail The M Den on Campus 315 S. Main St Briarwood Mall 303 S. State Street Ann Arbor Ann Arbor Ann Arbor 734-997-8000 734-769-7455 734-686-3002