Latest News
Tuesday, January 31, 2012
ThirdCoast Digest: ‘Edible Ann Arbor’
In this ThirdCoast Digest write-up, travel writer Kevin Revolinski muses at the attitude of staff and the delicious burgers at Krazy Jim's Blimpy Burger. He also gives kudos to the diversity of products available at the Ann Arbor Farmers Market, the 'whimsical' atmophere of Frita Batidos, the farm-to-table experience at Grange Kitchen & Bar, the many beers on tap at Ashley's Pub, and of course Zingerman's (or 'Zingermanville, as he calls it). He mentions many other Ann Arbor institutions within the article as well: 'Everything is walking distance, it seems. From the campus art museum, to a farmer’s market, to a microbrewery, and off to dinner and a concert.' Whether you're from Ann Arbor - or looking to visit, this is a great article to read if you're wondering what you've missed - or where to start.
'...it’s not just all about food and drink in Ann Arbor. But it certainly could be. When in Ann Arbor, eat as the Ann Arborians do – very well.' ~Kevin Revolinski
Wednesday, December 21, 2011
A ‘Doing Life Different’ Update
Carol Lee Rutz from Grass Lake, Michigan won our 'Doing Life Different' sweepstakes earlier this year. She won a 2 night stay at the Holiday Inn Hotel & Suites, a gift basket from 'Baskets & More,' breakfast for two at Angelo's Restaurant, lunch for two at Mediterrano Restaurant, Dinner for two at the Chef's Table at Vinology, a tour of the University of Michigan's 'Big House,' a walking tour of Ann Arbor from Savor Ann Arbor Tours, and a $250.00 American Express Gift Card. She checked in with the Ann Arbor Area Convention & Visitors Bureau following her recent stay to collect her sweepstakes package:
'We had a very nice meal at Angelo's, and having dinner at Vinology was beyond our wildest expectations. The food was phenomenal, the service was outstanding and Vinny Jonna, owner (as seen in picture), treated us like royalty. It is an evening my husband Steve and I will never forget. The gift basket came while we were there and it was wonderful. Full of so many goodies from local merchants. Thank you very much.' ~Carol Lee Rutz
Tuesday, May 17, 2011
The Ann Arbor Summer Festival: June 17 - July 10
The Ann Arbor Summer Festival is an exhilarating celebration of performing arts, outdoor entertainment, and community spirit. Each year, this three-and-a-half-week cultural and social event offers dozens of performances, activities, screenings, eclectic music, dance, comedy, film, visual arts, and family fun. This year’s festival runs from June 17 through July 5.
Now celebrating its 28th season, the festival has invigorated the cultural life of the community for over two and a half decades. It brings the world to Ann Arbor: innovative artists, enthusiastic audiences, eager students, curious visitors, and anyone looking to be inspired and entertained.
An evening at the Ann Arbor Summer Festival engages all the senses. Get more festival information here.
Tuesday, March 29, 2011
Ann Arbor: A Top Midwest Food Destination
Some of us build whole vacations around food. Travel experts call it culinary tourism. We just call it eating well--restaurants with pancakes or prime rib so good you want second helpings on the way home.
Rarely has a city's culinary reputation been so intertwined with one restaurant as is Ann Arbor's with Zingerman's Deli. What began in 1982 as Michigan's best place to get a Reuben has grown into a mini-empire of deliciousness, with a bakery (Jewish rye), creamery (homemade cream cheese), coffee roaster (single-origin Brazilian peaberry), mail-order catalog (sour-cream coffee cake) and sit-down restaurant (smoked chicken mac 'n' cheese). Make no mistake. We love Zingerman's.
But we also love how Zingerman's has invigorated the larger food scene in Ann Arbor (population: 350,000). Bob Sparrow, owner of Sparrow Meat Markets and Produce, says that eliminating chemicals and using fewer, fresher ingredients means you can actually taste the cherries and duck meat in his gourmet sausage.
For years, University of Michigan students and faculty have sipped beers and lattes at downtown's sidewalk cafes. The city retains that college-town vibe, but the dining scene has grown up. You'll find fried local squash blossoms at Vinology, a ginger-glazed salmon burger at Logan and tender gnocchi at Gratzi.
Read the full story on Midwest Living's website.
Saturday, January 01, 2011
Ann Arbor Restaurant Week: June 12 - 17
Ann Arbor Restaurant Week will be held June 12-17, 2011. Presented by Ann Arbor's Main Street Area Association, Ann Arbor Restaurant week gives restaurant patrons one week of one price dining, with over twenty of Ann Arbor's best downtown restaurants participating. Ann Arbor was named a "Top Midwest Food Town" by Midwest Living magazine in 2009 and 2010, so don't miss the opportunity to experience great food at affordable prices!
Dinner is a three course menu for just $25, with some restaurants offering two-for-one pricing. Lunch is priced at $12 and is an open format; restaurants will be offering a menu of their choice, many offering two-for-one pricing. A complete list of participating restaurants is available at www.annarborrestaurantweek.com.
See how Ann Arbor does dining different during Ann Arbor Restaurant Week.
Wednesday, December 15, 2010
Arts Walk: Ann Arbor
It’s cold. It’s windy. It’s snowing. It’s days before Christmas in Ann Arbor, Mich., and for shopkeepers, gallery directors, working artists and hordes of eager holiday shoppers, conditions couldn’t be better.
Start your gallery stroll at the lower end of South Main Street, in the heart of the downtown shopping district. There you’ll find Clay Gallery (335 S. Main St.), a co-operative space opened in 1984 by a group of local potters.
“We started in a small location near the campus,” says director Royce Disbrow. “And through two additional moves we’ve inched our way downtown.” The gallery is deceptively long on the inside, with lots of tables and built-ins to showcase work by guild members. Work is all handcrafted, all locally made.
Next stop: the Carol Roeda Studio (319 S. Main St.). It’s one of two Michigan retail stores (the other is in Grand Rapids) owned by artist Carol Roeda. The shop features Roeda’s own whimsical artwork, plus work by local artists, and the Sticks line of handpainted furniture and art objects.
At the corner is Selo/Shevel Gallery (301 S. Main St.), opened in 1982 by owners Elaine Selo and Cynthia Shevel. “We may be prejudiced, but we think our gallery is on the best corner in downtown Ann Arbor,” says Selo. Inside you’ll find an extensive selection of contemporary American crafts. Best sellers at holiday time include hand-blown glass ornaments, menorahs, wood jewelry boxes, jewelry, scarves and ties.
Cross the street and head for WSG Gallery (306 S. Main St.), owned by 16 artists, and a showcase for fine art at affordable prices by 22 local artists. WSG caters to a whole spectrum of art lovers, says member artist Michelle Hegyi: those who come to browse, those following how a particular artist evolves, and those looking for exceptional quality, affordable fine art.
Article by Hope Daniels from the Winter, 2010 issue of AmericanStyle magazine. Click here to read the rest!
Tuesday, December 14, 2010
Cuisine in a College Town
Did you know Bob Seger’s song “Mainstreet” is about Ann Arbor, Michigan, where he grew up?
Ann Arbor is a blend of Midwestern rural and urban cosmopolitan. A college town — home to the University of Michigan — it has a concentration of cultural attractions, shopping and dining of all sorts.
Le Dog, 410 E. Liberty St., has been in a red, 10-by-10 foot building since 1979. Hot dogs, of course, are on the menu, but it is known for a repertoire of 284 soups. Each day, chef Jules Van Dyck-Dubos prepares eight soups from scratch, using the freshest, seasonal ingredients available. On my visit, options included Sicilian meatball, Tuscan bean and cheesy chicken tortilla soups. Mmm-mmm good they were. People come from 50 miles away to savor the lobster bisque, served only on Thursdays and Fridays. This is street food in a class by itself.
At Cake Nouveau, 1924 Packard St., owner and pastry chef Courtney Clark offers four flavors of cupcakes daily. Always standard are chocolate truffle and vanilla beany. Chocolate mint and carrot cake completed my tasting. Mexican hot chocolate, honey lavender and crème brulee caught my interest on a return visit. Courtney designs full-size cakes. She has appeared on 10 TV cake challenges.
Article by Stephen Fries originally published in The New Haven Register. Click here for the full story.
Tuesday, June 01, 2010
Don’t Miss The Ann Arbor Summer Festival, June 18-July 11
Get ready to immerse yourself in the beauty, imagination, and pure spectacle that is the Ann Arbor Summer Festival. Innovative and diverse, as well as engaging and entertaining, the festival offers dozens of performances, activities, exhibitions, screenings and more, with eclectic music, dance, comedy, film, street arts, and family fun.
Now celebrating its 27th season from June 18 through July 11, the festival creates a vibrant buzz in the city, providing the community and visitors alike with an opportunity to be inspired and entertained on a beautiful Michigan night.
An evening at the Ann Arbor Summer Festival engages all the senses. You can have a light supper and enjoy a beverage at Top of the Park, meet your friends at your favorite spot on Ingalls Mall, take in the outdoor performances or the night’s big indoor concert, and then watch a movie under the stars, all on one of the prettiest campuses anywhere.
Mmmm, perfection.
For more information and a complete schedule, visit www.annarborsummerfestival.org.
Photo courtesy Myra Klarman.
Monday, April 19, 2010
For the Best Belgian Beer, Come to the Ann Arbor Area
When The New York Times published a ranking of Belgian-style beer -- based on a blind taste test -- the top spot went to a golden ale from a small brewery in Dexter, Michigan, just west of Ann Arbor. Oro de Calabaza, from Jolly Pumpkin Artisan Ales, beat out 19 other beers, several of them from -- you guessed it -- Belgium. The beer is the work of Ron Jeffries, who owns Jolly Pumpkin Artisan Ales.
During your visit to the Ann Arbor Area, you can check out the small brewery in Dexter, or head to the Jolly Pumpkin Cafe and Brewery in downtown Ann Arbor.
Monday, March 08, 2010
Celebrate Independent and Experimental Film at the Ann Arbor Film Festival
The Ann Arbor Film Festival is the longest-running independent and experimental film festival in North America. Founded in 1963 by University of Michigan professor George Manupelli, the AAFF started as a vital forum for filmmakers outside of the commercial film industry to share their art with audiences. Today the festival continues its founding spirit as a premier showcase for bold, visionary, experimental and high-caliber films. Pioneers in the world of film and art have shown early work at the AAFF, including Andy Warhol, Yoko Ono, Kenneth Anger, Gus Van Sant, Barbara Hammer, Devo and George Lucas, along with thousands of other influential filmmakers.
The 2011 Ann Arbor Film Festival will be held March 22-27 at The Michigan Theater. For more information, click here.
Wednesday, February 24, 2010
Hole In The Wall Nightlife
A hole-in-the-wall bar has poor signage. A lot of them smell kind of bad. When you mention a hole-in-the-wall bar to your friends, some stare at you blankly while others will make a face like you just brought gummy vitamins to a potluck. Hole-in-the-wall bars aren’t necessarily dives, but they can be one and the same. The bar stools are held together with duct tape, the bartenders are ornery, and a thin layer of God-knows-what clings to every surface. These are the bars that it probably took you a little while to find and when you did, took a little while to feel comfortable in. Every town's got them, and the regulars can spot a tourist from a mile away.
Here’s a quick primer to help you get started on finding and appreciating some of Ann Arbor's and Ypsilanti's best hole-in-the-wall bars. Let's just hope they never renovate these dumps.
The 8-Ball Saloon (208 South First, Ann Arbor) is Ann Arbor’s most infamous hole-in-the-wall. There are no special days of the week here, but enough variations from night to night to make it interesting. The 8-Ball is like the Blind Pig’s coatroom, but a coatroom where you wouldn’t want to leave your jacket. The Pig rests above the 8-Ball but because it doesn’t have any bathrooms, patrons descend into the 8-Ball to take care of business. This allows 8-Ballers to mingle with the Blind Piggies each night. If a shoe-gazing band is in town or Reggae Fest takes place, the 8-Ball will absorb the spillover and become unique for that night. It’s always an interesting social experiment.
That’s not to say the 8-Ball doesn’t have its own charms. It has cheap, cheap beer ($1 bottles of PBR on Sunday, Monday, and Tuesday), complimentary popcorn, an internet jukebox, pool tables (free Sun-Tues.), dart boards, pinball, air hockey, board games, and dirty hipster eye candy, if that’s your thing. Sure, it smells like stale beer and decades of cigarette smoke, but they recently reupholstered the booths and you won’t get a better scowl from any bartender in Michigan than you will here.
Circus (210 South First Street, Ann Arbor) is one of four theme bars in the old Ann Arbor Central Roller Mills building. The theme is evident. A stuffed lion jumps through a blazing neon hoop behind the bar while the bartenders work under a makeshift big top. Behind the stage is a giant Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey mural painted on the wall. Funhouse mirrors and the (fake) heads of circus animals hang all over the place.
Circus is at its best on Bluegrass Wednesday. Live bluegrass bands play in front of the giant circus mural, as one of the most diverse crowds of any Ann Arbor establishment enjoys $1.25 cans of PBR and free popcorn. Old drunks from Old Town, white guys with dreadlocks, fellows wearing white hats and white sneakers, girls with orange skin, girls with translucent skin, tattoos, crosses, flannel shirts, puffy jackets, UGGs, Crocs, a guy in a suit, and a guy in coveralls - they mingle and dance together and everyone is in a great mood. There’s free pool, Big Buck Hunter, and Golden Tee.
By 11 p.m. the place is packed with pompadours, dreadlocks, shaved heads, weave, Yukon Jack hats, young executive haircuts, and bandanas bouncing unselfconsciously in front of the band.
The Elbow Room (6 South Washington, Ypsilanti) has a mix of great theme nights and live music unmatched in Ann Arbor and Ypsilanti. It also competes with the 8-Ball for the dirtiest bar in Washtenaw County. The architect of the Elbow Room is owner/bartender Andy Garris who has assembled an eclectic staff to work in downtown Ypsilanti. It has a magician as a doorman. Folk singer/songwriter and onetime Starbucks Pick of the Week Chris Bathgate works part-time as sound man and sometimes barback. Nina Cislaghi, front woman for the hardcore/metal band Bloodlined Calligraphy serves drinks during happy hour five days a week.
The Elbow Room offers a number of popular nights including Elbow Deep (Ypsi’s premier gay night), Tiki Tuesday, Thursday night MoFo Karaoke, as well as a wide range of live music and events. They’ve got one pool table that gets a lot of action and some video games and pinball, but it’s the personal connections you’ll come back for. It doesn’t take long to become a regular and before you know it, Andy will be handing you your favorite drink before your eyes even adjust to the low light. Happy hour is underrated and the Elbow Room is where I picture my dad feeling comfortable at 4 p.m. on a Monday.
From Concentrate, by Richard Retyi. Read more here.
Wednesday, February 24, 2010
Inside Aut Bar
The /Aut/ Bar in Ann Arbor has become a gathering place for the city's gay and lesbian community. However, it's also beloved by straight folk too, who come for great food and friendly atmosphere.
Wednesday, February 10, 2010
The Michigan Theater
Executive Director Russ Collins talks about Ann Arbor's down town center for fine film and the performing arts, its history, programming and role in the wider community.
Monday, January 11, 2010
Ann Arbor’s Green Transportation Company
Running on recycled cooking oil from local restaurants, the BTB Party Bus provides an affordable and effective means of getting around downtown Ann Arbor.
Monday, January 11, 2010
The Gallery Project
The Gallery Project is an independent art gallery run as a collective on Fourth Street in downtown Ann Arbor.
Thursday, November 19, 2009
Your Ann Arbor Holiday Shopping Guide
This Holiday season, ditch the mall and do your shopping in downtown Ann Arbor! Ranked one of the best walking cities in America by Prevention magazine and the American Podiatric Medical Association, Ann Arbor's downtown is comprised of four distinct areas, all connected by a short walk. You'll find unique and affordable gifts for everyone on your list . . . and you won't have to circle the mall parking lot for hours trying to find a space.
Start your shopping in the South University area. Closest to the University of Michigan, the stores here cater to a younger demographic, but you'll also find plenty of University of Michigan apparal for the super fan in your life. Make sure to check out Middle Earth, a specialty gift shop carrying action figures, candles, toys, political items, bumper stickers, and more.
Cut throught the Diag at the University of Michigan an you'll be in the State Street area. Here you'll find Bivouac (with perfect gifts for the outdoor enthusiast on your list), Borders Books, Music, and Cafe (the original store that started it all), and Orchid Lane Warehouse, featuring fair trade clothing, knitwear, scarves, pashminas, and more - and nothing in the store costs more than $15.
A short walk down Liberty or Washington Street will take you to Ann Arbor's Main Street area, named one of America's Great Streets for 2009 by the American Planning Association. In addition to fabulous shopping, the Main Street Area boasts several unique restaurants and is the perfect place to take a lunch or dinner break.Visit Selo/Shevel Gallery and 16 Hands Gallery to find unique pieces. Check out Acme Mercantile for whimsical and bizarre items, and head to Vault of Midnight to find the perfect gift for the sci-fi geek in your life.
Take Fourth or Fifth north and you'll be in the Kerrytown District, home to the Ann Arbor Farmers Market (Saturdays) and the Ann Arbor Artisan Market (Sundays through December). You'll also find The Kerrytown Market and Shops, housing Hollander's (specialty stationary, paper, and notecards) and Hollander's Upstairs (kitchen gadgets), FOUND Gallery, and Everyday Wines. Also located in the Kerrytown District are Zingerman's Delicatessen, Dogma Catmantoo, and Heavenly Metal.
Visit all these stores and so much more in downtown Ann Arbor this year! For more information on stores and locations, visit the Plan a Visit section, or request the visitors guide.
Thursday, October 29, 2009
Pack Your Eating Pants for a Taste-Full Tour of Ann Arbor
Did you know there are over 200 restaurants in Ann Arbor's downtown area? Deciding where to eat can be daunting, but Savor Ann Arbor can help! Savor Ann Arbor provides custom walking and driving tours of the Ann Arbor area for groups of all sizes. Tours can be arranged around your schedule, and tailored to suit your needs.
Tours are led by Ann Arbor resident Marcie Greenfield, who has been eating her way through town since 1974. She'll feed you with interesting facts, history, and insight - and some of the best food Ann Arbor has to offer.
"Ann Arbor is a great foodie mecca," she says.
To schedule a tour or for more information, contact Marcie Greenfield at Savor Ann Arbor.
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Thursday, October 08, 2009
Ann Arbor’s South Main Street: One of the “Ten Great Streets for 2009”
The American Planning Association has named South Main Street in Ann Arbor "one of the 10 Great Streets for 2009." American Planning Association Great Places exemplify exceptional character and highlight the role planners and planning play in creating communities of lasting value.
“Anyone who has visited South Main Street can tell you what a unique and energetic place it is to walk, shop or eat—it is the gathering place of the Ann Arbor community,” said Main Street Area Association Executive Director Maura Thomson.
The American Planning Association singled out South Main for its forward-looking planning and development aimed at helping lower the city’s carbon footprint. Among other things, the city is increasing housing density, preserving historic buildings and increasing transportation choices along South Main Street.
When you visit Ann Arbor, make sure to check out South Main Street, just one of the many great places in the area.
For more information accommodations in Ann Arbor, click here. To begin planning your trip, click here.
Tuesday, September 22, 2009
The Fairy Doors of Ann Arbor
Do you believe in fairies? If not, a visit to Ann Arbor's several fairy dwellings is sure to change your mind! Video courtesy of Ascalon Films.
Friday, September 11, 2009
Ann Arbor for Students and Parents
News flash: Parents and students have different ideas on what constitutes a rockin’ weekend.
So while Johnny and Jenny “study,” hit an all-night kegger and scarf down fried veggies at Krazy Jim’s Blimpy Burger (whose motto is Cheaper Than Food), here are some extracurricular activities to keep the grownups busy in this quintessential college town:
Taste some ‘Top Chef’ cuisine
Eve Aronoff recently got bounced from Bravo’s “Top Chef” competition, but she’s still cooking at her intimate, upscale eatery, Eve.
“This is a really strong food community; people are passionate about things being local,” said Aronoff, 40. The Cordon Bleu-educated chef opened her eponymous restaurant six years ago in Ann Arbor’s historic Kerrytown district.
Many of Aronoff’s ingredients are local, but her flavors span the globe. One item her customers won’t let her take out of the constantly changing menu: “Inspired Nachos,” delicious fried wontons stacked with avocado, black beans and goat gouda.
Eve’s prices are out of reach for your typical ramen-eating college student, but on Thursday nights she offers complimentary appetizers at the restaurant’s wine bar.
“A DJ plays really interesting music, and it’s a fun chance for the cooks in the kitchen to experiment,” Aronoff said. “It’s ideal for a college budget.”
The Wright stuff
Spend a few memorable nights in Ann Arbor’s most architecturally significant home: the 2,000-square-foot Palmer House, designed in the early 1950s by Frank Lloyd Wright.
“It’s one of the half a dozen or so houses of his you can stay in,” said Jeff Schox, a University of Michigan graduate who, along with his wife, Kathryn, bought the home from its longtime owners in March. They began renting it to overnight guests this summer.
The home is classic Wright: no 90-degree corners, views of the natural surroundings from every room and furniture designed by the architect himself. Sleeping up to five people in three bedrooms, the home sits on two acres of a “beautiful wooded area, very serene, by Nichols Arboretum,” Schox said. “It’s a 20-minute walk to downtown or a five-minute car ride.”
Nightly rates range from $299 during the week to $499 on football weekends.
From "Big House, Big Times" by Lori Rackl, published in the Chicago Sun Times September, 2009.
Monday, August 31, 2009
In Search of Green Beer
In most places, green beer means St. Patrick's Day. In the foodie paradise of Ann Arbor, Mich., it means Earth-friendly microbrews.
Downtown, Arbor Brewing Co. has won awards for microbrews as well as environmental responsibility. Matt and René Greff's company opened in 1995 following Matt's "beer epiphany": All-natural brews had fuller flavors.
Though perfecting an organic beer, the Greffs say their current beers can't be labeled organic. Although the malt is organically grown, most of the hops aren't. Controversies about the label "organic" have mad recent headlines, but organic is not the only way to go green. "We try to make the brewing process as eco-friendly as possible," René Greff said. Instead of sending spent grain to a landfill, they give it to local farmers for use as livestock feed and compost. How much? "Over 3,000 pounds a week."
A water recovery system routes water used to cool beer after boiling to a holding tank. As it cools the beer, the water gets hot--ideal for cleaning equiptment and for making the next batch of beer.
Having gone "local, natural, and sustainable" at home long ago, the Greffs began applying that ethos in 2007 at their brew pub/restaurant.
To read the rest of this article, click here.
Friday, August 21, 2009
Ann Arbor Hot Spot: Farmers’ Market
The Ann Arbor Farmers' Market, located in vibrant, eclectic Kerrytown, is where the local chefs go for their produce. You’ll often see local culinary celebrities, such as chef Eve Aranoff, shopping there.
Ann Arbor has a farm-to-table tradition and one of the joys of summer is seeing the beautiful produce brought fresh to the market.
Read the rest of this article here.
The Ann Arbor Farmers' Market is held year-round on Saturdays from 7 a.m.-3 p.m. The market also takes place on Wednesdays from May-December.
For more information about the Ann Arbor Farmers' Market, click here.
Wednesday, August 12, 2009
Logan: An American Restaurant
Chef Thad Gillies, his brother Ryan and Kevin Hobart, sommelier, own and operate this Ann Arbor-based bistro, offering exclusive wines and an eclectic menu, all with an American twist. Video courtesy of Ascalon Films.
Wednesday, August 12, 2009
Liberty Street Robot Supply & Repair
"What's going on in here?" is the question they get asked most often. Here's a brief glimpse into the Liberty Street Robot Supply & Repair store and 826 Michigan. Video courtesy of Ascalon Films.
Monday, May 11, 2009
For a Hearty Midwestern Appetite, Ann Arbor
From The Chicago Tribune, by
ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- The first time I heard that people lived in Orlando, I couldn't shake the idea: Where would such people sleep? The Magic Kingdom? There's a government? A mayor who doesn't wear a mouse head and pose for pictures?
This is an occupied territory. Not a city.
To that list, add Ann Arbor.
If you've ever lived in this bucolic college town (population 114,000), gone to school here (at the University of Michigan), worked here (home to Domino's Pizza and Borders world headquarters) or dreamed of living here (Ann Arbor routinely lands on those Best Places To Live lists), you might take umbrage -- but never has a nice Midwestern town been so dominated by a delicatessen.
This is Zingerman's Delicatessen, a red-brick wedge of a building on a cobblestone street. As I learned recently, with all the classes and special dinners and tours and gorging it offers, one can spend days at Zingerman's -- the way one might spend days at Disney World and barely see Orlando. Or rather, one can spend a weekend, going from Zingerman's to Zingerman's Roadhouse to Zingerman's Bakehouse to Zingerman's Creamery and also Durham's Tracklements, Kosmo's lunch stand -- to the many like-minded establishments here that emphasize quality comfort food. What I'm proposing, basically, is a food trip for those who can't afford a food trip to San Francisco. Here, the dream is reality, the makings of a va-HomerSimpson-cation, an entire trip around the eating of excessive amounts of corned beef, Guinness-based gelato, burgers coated in pimento cheese, and waffles made with grits.
To read the rest of this story, click here.
Friday, May 01, 2009
The Gandy Dancer, Ann Arbor
Executive Chef Loren Halprin of the Gandy Dancer restaurant near downtown Ann Arbor talks about some delicious offerings from the kitchen.
Wednesday, April 15, 2009
BTB Party Bus Runs on Churro Power
Party buses in Ann Arbor are are turning to clean fuels --like used vegetable oils-- to transport revellers.
Excerpt:
BTB Burrito is already Ann Arbor's go-to spot for bar-goers who crave a late-night snack after last call.
Now, BTB wants to give them a ride home, too - on a shuttle bus fueled by the waste oil that their churros were fried in.
The BTB Party Bus - a bright-red, 14-seat, former airport shuttle - is powered by a diesel engine modified to run on used vegetable oil. It's indistinguishable from a normal diesel shuttle, except for the 20-gallon tank of grease that sits behind the driver and the tortilla-like aroma that lingers near the tank and emanates from the exhaust pipes.
The homegrown mini-chain has been known best for fast, inexpensive Mexican food and a decidedly Ann Arbor attitude, from its funky interior design to its line of Hash Bash-themed merchandise. The turn toward eco-friendly transportation stems from the owners' interest in green innovation.
Read the rest of the story here and a story on Ann Arbor's two electric cars here.
Wednesday, April 15, 2009
Looking for Fairies in Ann Arbor
The little things in Ann Arbor continue to make a big splash around the world.
Excerpt:
Is there a truth emerging from the urban legend? There are so many fairy doors in Ann Arbor. Are we about to encounter this elusive life form?
The first fairy door discovered in Ann Arbor is documented at the Urban Fairies website.
Read the rest of the story here.
Wednesday, April 15, 2009
Praise Flows as Visitors Flock to New University of Michigan Museum of Art
The University of Michigan's newly refurbished Museum of Art has reopened to rave reviews in Ann Arbor this weekend.
It was no quiet "Sunday Afternoon" by Seurat, nor a chaotic "Night Watch" by Rembrandt. Instead, the painting Saturday night at the newly remodeled University of Michigan Museum of Art was of a happy crowd celebrating a community institution and its long-awaited reopening.
When the front doors flung wide at 6 p.m. sharp Saturday evening to the peal of bells throughout campus and Ann Arbor, a crowd of several hundred cheered and began pouring inside. The initial throng of visitors kept coming for a solid quarter-hour, welcomed with the soft applause of museum staffers and volunteers standing just inside the entrance.
It was first time the public has been able to step inside the museum since it closed for the $41.9 million renovation in mid-2006.
Read the rest of the story here.
Thursday, March 19, 2009
Ann Arbor’s Tea Culture
Ann Arbor is the place for Tea Drinkers! Video courtesy of Ascalon Films.
Thursday, March 19, 2009
Vault of Midnight
Your inner comic book geek (and your kids) will love Vault of Midnight on Main Street in Downtown Ann Arbor. From comics to gaming rooms, they serve the nerd in all of us. Video courtesy of Ascalon Films.
Thursday, March 19, 2009
The Ark
If you love folk music, make sure to visit The Ark on Main Street. The Ark is Ann Arbor's premier venue for acoustic music, drawing local, regional, and national acts on a nightly basis. Video courtesy of Ascalon Films.
Thursday, March 19, 2009
Downtown Ann Arbor
Downtown Ann Arbor is often called "The Best Downtown In Michigan." In this video, a local Google employee explains why he loves Downtown Ann Arbor.
Thursday, March 19, 2009
Ann Arbor: A Foodie’s Delight
Ann Arbor is a food lovers dream come true! From fine dining to farmers markets, the Ann Arbor area is very food focused!
Monday, February 23, 2009
Blimpy Burger on Food Network
The Food Network's Guy Fieri features Ann Arbor's own Krazy Jim's Blimpy Burger on an episode of Diners, Drive-Ins, and Dives.