12 - The Michigan Daily - Monday, July 6, 1998
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' Free Fest iva1 'Top of the Park'
promises fun to A2 residents
By Anit Pandya
Ruhy Stall Reporer
"Where's the bathroom?"
And so begins the typical visit to Top
of the Park, said Michelle Williams, an
LSA senior and information booth work-
er. Top of the Park is an event which finds
itself brimniing with vendors, free enter-
tainment and crowds of people.
Top of the Park, a part of the Ann
Arbor Summer Festival, is a free event
that lasts from June 19 to July 12. It is
located on the roof of the parking struc-
ture next to the Power Center. The festi-
val marks its 15th anniversary this year
and has not found itself disappointed by
the crowds.
"The kind of people who come here
are mostly families, older couples and
high school kids," Williams said.
"Everyone in Ann Arbor is looking for
something to do, and this is really the
perfect place."
Various restaurants from the Ann
Arbor area have also set up booths to
feed the hungry audience members.
"W'e try to be open by six," said Matt
McGuirk, a senior at Fastern Michigan
University and a worker at the Gandy
Dancer booth. "Business is fairly good
through the evening"
McGuirk added that although the
Gandy Dancer booth does not sell many
items from its restaurant menu, the
booth serves as good exposure fior the
restaurant.
Other vendors agree.
"We don't really make a large
amount of money here, except during
the weekends," said Alfie Ramirez, a
worker at The Moveable Feast booth.
"It's OK, though, because we get good
exposure that we wouldn't normally
get.
"The reason that the food is a little
more expensive is because Top of the
Park takes 10 percent as a sort of dona-
tion" Ramirez added.
'The expense does not harn business,
though.
"Many older couples don't see a
problem with the money," said
Jerome Balmes, an LSA senior am4
another worker at The Moveable
Feast booth.
Balmes said he has noticed that not
many University students attend the sum-
mer lestival.
"Where are all the Michigan stu-
dents?" Balmes asked, adding that the
only iniversity students lie has seen
were incoming first-year students who
were on campus for their Orientation
sessions.
Until July 12, the evening will 4
alive with people at Top of the Park.
Free movies will be shown after dusk,
and bands will play before the movies
start.
Ricardo Gonzalez dances with his mom, Josephine, at 'Top of the Park.' The Ann
Arbor Summer Festival offers the city free entertainment.
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