9
The Michigan Daily - Wednesday, July 24, 1985-- F
he golden ix
gourmet dining on the Ann Arbor ice cream scene. The
cones are skimpy. (1101 S. University).
By Katie Wilcox BEACON ST. CREAMERY
----- - The newest "luxury," as opposed to "standard" model
T HE ICE CREAM wars in Ann Arbor - especially on campus. The rich, smooth flavors are made here daily.
during the Art Fair -rage full force around campus, Depending on what's in season, they carry about 16
each competitor slinging mounds of sweet, cold stuff in flavors. Grab a window seat and people-watch while you
the battle for the consumer's dollar. slurp. Flavored popcorn is a new addition this summer
It wasn't until this year, when newcomers Steve's and (1123 S. University).
the Beacon St. Creamery popped into the scene, that the JASON'S
magnitude of the competition was fully realized. The Haagan-Dazs and Miller's are the brands here, or for t'
student must now ask himself, "Where should I go for ice the more daring, Toffuti is the fad. Sandwiches, soups,
cream on a warm autumn night...lazy summer's and juices are also featured fare. High prices mar an
eve...Sunday afternoon..any of the other 101 times I'm in otherwise nice place to grab a cone after a movie or meet
the mood?" a friend for lunch (215 S. State).
THE ANSWER is simple. There's a long stretch bet- LOVIN' SPOONFUL
ween the first art fair stand is put up and the last art fair The hometown favorite in a town that loves its ice
dollar is made. Plenty of time to try them-all. cream, even in sub zero temperature. Just pure, delec- , ..
The proprietors of these establishments appear un- table, completely HOMEMADE ice cream. Management
worried over the competition, has added non-dessert items like chilli dogs and pastas in -
"Honestly, they've taken sone business away, but since the face of the stiff competition, but the reason to make
people spend three thousand dollars a day in Ann Arbor on the trip down to Main Street is still the freshest, creamiest
ice cream, it hasn't hurt us too much," said Katie scoops in Ann Arbor. Good juke box music, outdoor
Houseman, manager of Miller's - one of the older parlors seating (330S. Main).
in town. STEVE'S
"THEY (THE NEWCOMERS) really haven't affected Steve's ice cream is a fun place. You can watch them
us at all. We're busier than we were last year," agrees make the cold stuff right before your eyes while tickling
Robin Baxombe, manager of Lovin' Spoonful. the ivories on the open piano. Steve's offers a question of
Phil McKenzie, director of the new Beacon Street the day which if answered correctly, wins you a com-
Creamery, had nothing but praise for the market here, plementary mix-in or a sundae. The mix-in is a Steve's
"We like Ann Arbor. We like the University. We like the specialty - they arecombinations of ice cream and your
students," hesaid. choice of crushed Oreo cookies, Junior Mints, or other
According to McKenzie, advertising hoopla wasn't even tasty items. This is a great joint, but the prices are a little
necessary for a successful entrance. "We opened rather on the high side - $2.10 for a mix-in. But the portions are -
quietly," he said proudly. healthy and in its first year, Steve's was voted number one
Leaving the profit question to those who provide the in the Daily's Best of Ann Arbor contest (342 S. State).
frozen scoops, those of the consuming end are more con- STROH'S ICE CREAM Doily Photo by DARRIAN SMITI
cerned with who-provides what better. The variety of eateries in the basement of the Union are
BASKING ROBBINS' complimented by this lovely idea for dessert. The stan- This ice cream "gourmet" scoops up some gelato in one of the many ice
Baskin Robbins' 31 flavors are as All-American as dard scoops are enhanced by the bustling, people- cream parlors scattered around Ann Arbor.
baseball, but it's also the equivalent of fast food among watching location (Michigan Union).
Art fair anxieties provoke Albert Ayler onslaught
By arwulf arwulf approach to hitting Ann Arbor. that I realized the fabulous power of
Ann Arbor used to be a medium- music. Blast an Albert. Ayler solo at
RT FAIR, 1984. I walked the sized city that had the distinction of them and they part like the Red Sea.
streets with a television-cum- being a cultural oasis in the corn-pone Presto. Walk forward, princely tenor
cage/mask with live rats in it strap- steppes of the Midwest. But that's sax.
ped to my head. The perfect ac- history. Let's return to the Art Fair, Last year I was arrested in front of
tualized Orwell image. I found that and what must be done. the Student Union. It was the last set
the crowd would part if I played loud I wheeled in a ten-foot pillar with a of the day for the Eclipse jazz people,
music at them blaring from a hand- toaster hailed to the end of it, painted and I had just finished dancing
held tape deck. Albert Ayler, with his green. This protruded from a shop- through the crowd with a rat cage on
joyous, angst-powered marches, ping cart filled with obscure painted my face in the television head dress
proved to be the utmost in appropriate garbage and beer bottles. I usually that I wore. The music was "Dance of
crowd control music, wore a crochet head dress I'd made the Cuckoos," Laurel and Hardy's
myself, with tentacles and odd lumpy theme song.
protrusions sticking out all over the I introduced the Blue Front Per-
place. suaders, and they blew for an hour.
I rammed dormitories with the This was when Charlie Tysklind was
thing. Led it to water, at the fountain with the band. Just incredible.
by the foot of Burton Tower, and made Charlie's been listening to Albert
it drink. Argued with everyone, Ayler, and when he gets going it
especially when they'd ask what it shows through real pretty.
cost. "I do not prostitute Art!" I
They went on at eight.
At eight fifty eight or so I gave them
an encore after a police officer had
asked them to stop. There was a
communication problem. The cops
were bored. Nothing shaking. So I was
handcuffed and driven off to a deten-
tion cell in City Hall, as the arresting
officer explained to me that amplified
music must cease at eight o'clock PM.
I gawked. Why did they begin at
eight? I'm just the emcee! Talk to the
stage manager or someone who's
running things!
By this time we were at City Hall.
He explained that when the Art Fair is
in effect, the laws of the City are
altered. Essentially this is not Ann
Arbor at all for four days. Amplified
music ceases at eight, and all
establishments serving alcohol must
move their beer taps inside and pay a
special fee for serving in their own
establishments. Is this true? It's
what the cop told me.
In 1973 the Republican Majority on
City Council banished the Ann Arbor
Blues and Jazz Festival forever from
these parts. They claimed the 'Fest
attracted "Undesirables". A curious
word. Undesirables.
Nobody thought to ask just how
"Desirable" Ohio State Rowdies
could be on a Saturday night. This city
has its priorities. Revenue decides for
us. Football is a religious order,
jealously guarded. Lots of money in-
volved.
So Football is wholesome. Blues and
Jazz, begone.
But worse and more out of control
See ART FAIR, Page 11
is - -
I first attacked the Art Fair in 1973.
i Or was it '72. Anyway, this has been
happening for years. I have a case
history full of attacks made on the Art
Fair, always carrying or wheeling
some sort of blunt art object, or rather
a platoon of objects, all gathered
together into formation.
The first time I encountered an Art
Fair, probably in '68 or '69, I stayed on
the Diag and heard poetry and music.
By '72 I was getting intimidated. Ob-
viously, this thing was getting bigger
every year, and nobody was able to
control its spread. There were pudgy
businessmen from Orlando showing
up and selling this crappy stuff that
had been in a warehouse for a year.
This was to me an affront, a sloppy-
bellowed.
Very disagreeable young man.
Then as times evolved I appeared in
an armchair, painted white. This was
the ARMCHAIR INTELLECTUAL.
Very snappy getup. Next year I wore
an immense oaken dresser, as the
NARCOTICS BUREAU. All was
cheery, until I realized that the year
.1984 was almost upon us. I leaped into
an altered TV Console and the sign
said:
1984 MEANS VIDEO IN EVERY
ROOM.
Caution, caution. By this time,
things were running smoothly. John
from the Observer began calling me
up each year and asking What's It
gonna be this year. It wasn't until '84
when I wore live rats on my face cage,
Parking requires carejut strategy
L OOKING for a place to ditch your chariot for the day? The AATA service runs continuously from 9 a.m. to 10
Car-owners beware - even normally, this is a p.m. Wednesday through Friday and 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. on
pedestrian town. Cruising the maze of one-way streets Saturday. Fare is $1 one-way.
trying to make your way through people who ignore "If people already live in Ann Arbor or on the regular
DON'T WALK signals is difficult even when the city isn't fixed route service, that will still be running on schedule
pulsing with aliens, but trying to locate a parking spot as well, and people downtown and to the art fairs," said
now is like trying to find sanctitude for a square peg in a Debby Alexander, a marketing manager of the AATA.
round hole - the very definition of psychological trauma. Another alternative, though requiring an astute sense of
But get a grip on yourself - a little planning ahead can timing, is the University parking garages located on Hill,
prevent major hassles. Church, Thompson, and Fletcher Streets. Spaces in these
YOUR BEST BET is to park in outlying areas and find parking structures are reserved for University faculty
another way to make the hop into art fair central. and staff until 11 a.m. After that any available spaces are
The Ann Arbor Transportation Authority offers shuttle fair game.
service all four days of the fair from the massive parking "All of the facilities of all of the city and all of the
lots at Briarwood mall and Pioneer High School to the facilities of all of the University are full by 11:30," said
corners of South Main Street and Williams and South Robert Wagner, manager of University parking
University and Tappan. operations. -Chris Lauer