ann arbor is a quirky town. we end up on a lot of lists like "best places to comfortably exist if you're wealthy, liberal, outdoorsy, artsy, and smart... assuming winter doesn't bother you much."
we have portals to fairy world here. seriously. we also have a jewish deli on so many steroids it has turned into a restaurant, cultural attraction, event service, and jason segal movie. we have a semi-legit film festival, and other stuff i would find incredibly charming if i were a tourist instead of a local.
though i can't say i'll miss LIVING in this city when i leave (what can i say? i like open spaces and parking places), i know the minute i leave i'll be missing ann arbor itself very much. yet for how many lists we end up upon and for how many gimmicks we have to earn us mild amounts of street cred on the travel channel, the best thing about ann arbor, in my opinion is the way it is a completely customizable town. no two people are going to live it and love it here the same way. so if you're thinking of spending a day in my city, here is MY list of local gold:
bab's underground lounge
bab's is a sneaky bar, with a missable sign, tucked away beneath a mixed use building on ashley street. they specialize in martinis, scotch and champagne, but the boys tend to like their bourbon and beer special (yes that's literally a shot of bourbon with any bottled beer). it's obscure enough for elbow room and reasonable conversation volume, but fun enough for crowds to gather at hot times. bab's is a dive bar with class, exceptional wait staff and more reasonable prices than much of main street.
the earle
some people criticize the earle for failing to be properly updated over the years. but in my opinion, if it isn't broken don't fix it. the earle has phenomenal food and it is renowned for its wine selection. a door made of corks, live jazz after eight, and unbeatable veal? it's reliably awesome for the same price as places that are gourmet touch and go.
barton nature area & the huron river
i'll admit, the townhouse my sister and i shared before we both moved was not entirely ideal. the neighbor lady wanted to barbecue us breakfast at 2 am, and the road between us and town was closed for construction 80% of the time we lived there, but if we hadn't been out on the west side of town i never would have discovered on of my favorite places in town. barton nature area is full of adventures waiting to be found. there is access to the railroad tracks, and innumerable private places to sit by the river. as folks who grew up less than an hour from lake michigan, steve and i became pretty attached to the little bit of water we've been able to play in here. inner-tube floats down the lazy river were easily the highlight of our summer last year.
the law quad
the fact that steve and i got engaged in the law quad is icing on the beautiful gothic cake. the law quad was my favorite part of ann arbor long before i ever lived here. i used to sit in the sequestered courtyard and write when i was still a teenager and you'll be hard pressed to find a prettier combo of natural and man made beauty anywhere nearby.
the blind pig
popularly whispered about as kurt cobain's favorite music venue on the planet, i've yet to go to this hole in the wall and not have the night of my life. the blind pig really isn't much to look at; a bar that only takes cash, a dirty room with some beams and a stage? but names bigger than the venue play there all the time and it's rare that a ticket will run you more than $20. the blind pig is like a private party in a friend of a friend's basement. and the free popcorn doesn't hurt either.
savas
savas took the millennial obsession with brunch and turned it into a delicious restaurant. it's a place that has an air of everyday decadence. their smoked gouda mac and cheese and sweet potato fries are almost as spectacular as their fish tacos and nutella crepes. at happy hour, $2 will get you a STRONG beefeater gin and tonic and since they are mere steps from my office they're awfully hard to resist. sadly, their hiring manager has been known to make a few questionable employee choices, but i'll forgive most waiters who brings me such deliciousness.
ann arbor looks wonderful! I'd love to visit it someday
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