Making the most out of my Ann Arbor visit?
This weekend I am making my first visit to A2 ever to see my first game in the big house. I'm pumped to finally have this experience. I'll be there friday evening and all of saturday. However i want to make sure i do the "must see and try" list for A2. Am i able to see Woodsons heisman? Is there a must eat at restraunt? Sorry if this post comes off as boring but alittle help from the locals would go along way in making this all it can be for my first visit.
September 14th, 2010 at 12:55 AM ^
If you go to the bottom of the Hall of Fame posts, there's a subsection all about things to do in Ann Arbor. The Hall of Fame is here: http://mgoblog.com/content/user-curated-mgohalloffame
But things I'd recommended as Ann Arbor must dos? Blimpy Burger for food, definitely. Dominic's for drinks, depending on your schedule. Just walk around campus, it's beautiful. Depending on your night-life tastes, 8Ball/Blind Pig is a great dive bar/music venue combo (plus you could go to Fleetwood diner afterwards!).
September 14th, 2010 at 1:00 AM ^
This alum's humble, simple suggestions:
Ashley's - bar with fantastic selection of foreign beers and great atmosphere
Dominic's - best sangria, hands down, and lovely outdoor atmosphere. Great to go to during Friday afternoon and early evening
NYPD - late night pizza to satisfy hunger after going out all night
Pizza House - my favorite pizza place to dine in at in AA (though others may disagree)
Mr. Spots - love the wings (I'm a wing fanatic so yeah...)
September 14th, 2010 at 1:05 AM ^
That is all.
September 14th, 2010 at 11:55 AM ^
They had the best mint chocolate chip milkshakes ever!
September 14th, 2010 at 12:01 PM ^
Never had one, but definitely heading there Saturday (the GF is a Buckeye, time to start converting her to the winged side... Pizza Bob will help)
September 14th, 2010 at 1:26 AM ^
September 14th, 2010 at 12:01 PM ^
Cottage Inn is a chain, isn't it?
September 14th, 2010 at 12:20 PM ^
el oh el. NO(well yes)
There is a cottage in restaurant that is a very good place to eat, it is a italian/pizza place. It is the original cottage inn.
The chain part of it is a pizza delivery chain, its the same company but not the same food. If you go to the restaurant and eat their food then get delivery and compare...you'll know what i mean.
September 14th, 2010 at 1:11 PM ^
For giving the gift of knowledge.
September 14th, 2010 at 1:58 AM ^
Blimpy Burger for sure, but don't use your cell phone in line, and don't tell them what kind of cheese you want on your burger until they ASK you. They hate that, and you might get yelled/snapped at for it. After you eat, go walk by the Union and spin the cube as you make your way toward campus. The Diag and Law Quad are both close by, which, for campus tours, are must-sees.
Seconding Ashley's as well. It was easily my favorite bar when I was a student there, but it's not as much of a college bar as the Brown Jug or Charlie's. It always seemed like more of a grad student crowd, but obviously it depends on your own age whether or not that's tenable.
Oh, Maize and Blue Deli! It's got signatures on the wall from many of Michigan's former athletes. You can pick out your favorites (did someone say Scott Dreisbach?) while you wait for your sandwich, which will be huge and awesome. Great lunch if you can make the time for it.
September 14th, 2010 at 1:59 AM ^
I echo the suggestions above, except you may want to skip Blimpy Burger on this trip. I love that place and all, but it's never a good idea to eat at Blimpy unless you have guaranteed access to a good shitter and plenty of time to sit on it.
Another A2 institutiona to check out is Zingerman's, the famous deli. I recommend ordering the sandwich called "Dave's Open Road."
September 14th, 2010 at 2:12 AM ^
but I highly dis-recommend Zingerman's. I was in town for a weekend when I was living in Palo (Shallow) Alto and was wholly unmoved by my sister's dragging me to the Z. Probably because everything in there seemed to have been imported from California and wasn't anything I couldn't have gotten by walking down the street from my house.
I was dreaming of a Coney dog and Vernor's or a square pizza and I stood in line for 45 minutes to get an overpriced corned beef sandwich and a faux-throwback soda.
I really think this has to do more with my hatred of the state of California (it's second only to the four-letter state IMHO) than the sandwich shop. Stick to the dives and you'll be sassified.
September 14th, 2010 at 2:52 AM ^
Perhaps your expectations were off. Zingerman's is great, but expect to pay a price.
September 14th, 2010 at 8:08 AM ^
I agree. I've lived in Ann Arbor my whole life and have yet to understand the obsession with Zingerman's. It's so over-priced for what it is.
September 14th, 2010 at 8:09 AM ^
...Zingerman's because you were dragged there while dreaming of Vernors and Little Caesar's pizza and were disappointed because you got food that reminded you of California, a state you hate?
So what you're saying is: Don't go to Zingermans because it's a high end NY style deli that doesn't serve junk food.
Alrighty then.
September 14th, 2010 at 9:21 AM ^
You realize that Zingerman's prides itself on using ingredients from Michigan, right? Take a look next time you're in there or go look at their website. They actually go out of their way to buy local.
September 14th, 2010 at 9:30 AM ^
September 14th, 2010 at 2:14 AM ^
Has anyone else eaten at Cloverleaf? I used to eat there all the time when I lived on 4th and Packard. Now that was a place you never wanted to be too far from a bathroom after eating at.
September 14th, 2010 at 7:59 AM ^
Cloverleaf has gone downhill - at this point, no better, and perhaps worse than your average Perkins.
Take it from my two kids, who will devour anything of a breakfast nature and come back for more, and who were entirely unimpressed with the offerings there.
But the bathroom comment holds true.
September 15th, 2010 at 5:37 PM ^
I made the mistake of eating there once, probably because I didn't want to wait in line at Afternoon Delight. I'd only recommend the Cloverleaf if you want to Barwis-ize your digestive track.
September 14th, 2010 at 2:50 AM ^
the student pregame which is normally a must see will be slightly muted because it is on Yom Kippur ... last yr every house on state got a noise violation for pregaming on it ... also the fact that michigan's large jewish population will be off to services or just fasting ... too top it off its a noon game against a FCS team .... i suggest just sticking to the adult version south of campus
September 14th, 2010 at 8:09 AM ^
seriously? that's ridiculous.
September 14th, 2010 at 7:11 AM ^
QUICKEE BURGER!!!!
And check out maizenbrew.com's list off the Top 100 reasons to love Ann Arbor for more ideas...
September 14th, 2010 at 9:27 AM ^
Massive sandwiches...I have to get one every time I'm in AA. Mo's Mess a personal favorite.
September 14th, 2010 at 12:34 PM ^
Go to somewhere like Blimpy burger or Pizza bobs before the game. Good cheap food.
After the game go to Chop House or Palio or somethin on main street. That way you'll get both types of Ann Arbor food!
September 14th, 2010 at 7:51 PM ^
Friday do the central campus walking tour. A map is on PDF at the U website. Blimpy Burger for sure (west of the law school just west of west quad). Friday night do main street area, the irish bar O'Neils, Vinology, Arbor Brew. If you have not had too much to drink drive to North Campus drive around and look around, and back to Central Campus--the hospital coming from North at night is quite a sight.
Sat do the tailgates, game, then start at Ashley's (three blocks north of the Union) and then head to Scorekeepers and Charleys.
September 15th, 2010 at 4:59 PM ^
Thanks guys so much. I wrote down this info and plan on visiting several of your suggestions. I do however have two questions. The first is were are the Heisman trophys on display and can i see/visit them? The second is, were is the best place to park? Thanks again guys for coming through and being so helpfull.
September 15th, 2010 at 5:42 PM ^
I presume the trophies are at Schembechler Hall, which is on South State Street next to Yost ice arena. I am not sure what the deal is for public access to Schembechler Hall, or if there even is any.
For parking on game days, you can usually park on some student's lawn for anywhere from $10 to $50 depending on how close to the stadium you want to be. But if you're going to be in town all day on Saturday, you might as well just a grab a spot anywhere you can find on a neighborhood street.
September 15th, 2010 at 8:17 PM ^
Margaret Dow Towsley Sports Museum
This museum deals exclusively with Michigan athletics, including all 25 varsity sports; touch TV screens, mini videos, display cases. It is located in Schembechler Hall, 1200 South State Street. For more information, call 763-4422.