OT - Help requested with what to see in AA
Hi everyone, I thought I would ask the board for some input. I am headed to AA for the first time. I always hoped that my first time would be to a game. Unfortunately, my Dad is at UM in the hospital. He found out last week he has stage IV Lung Cancer which has spread to his liver and spine. Not a great prognosis, but at least I know he is in a great place to be treated.
I know I can't spend every hour visiting with him so I would like to swing by The Big House. Not sure what I would have access to but would like to know of any good photo opportunities like Bo's statue. Also a good recommendation to get a craft brew, both bar and carry out options would be great! Thanks for reading and GO BLUE!
EDIT:Thanks to all of you! It's great to have access to such wonderful people.April 20th, 2015 at 10:16 PM ^
Little follow up, it's free and open on Monday, Thursday and Friday 9:00-4:00. My only trip there was post-Hoke but pre-Harbaugh, it would be interesting to see anything new done for him.
Look to your right, you'll see Harbaugh. Look up and you'll see Harbaugh. The man is everywhere!
Man - im sorry to hear that. He is in the care of the very best. I will be praying for you and your family!
Bo's Statue is right out in the open, so you can easily get a picture with it. Same with Michigan Stadium... The gates are locked, but its hard to miss.
Craft Beer - Ashleys and Hop Cat are both world class beer bars. Both are right off of campus with good food. If you go to the corner of Liberty and Ashley, there is the Beer Grotto. They do Growlers and Howlers to take with you. Last week they had some Bells that wasnt available in bottles.
Thank you! And also thanks for the tips.
Do you live in West Virginia or Kentucky?
Parkersburg, WV.
First of all, I'm very sorry to hear about your father's condition and wish him the best. A good starting point and a funny read is the Where to eat in Ann Arbor post by Brian from 2011 (so it doesn't include some new places), which can be found in a drop-down menu under "Useful Stuff". I don't really agree with some of his opinions, especially concerning his take on Blimpy Burger, but it's still a good overview. In terms of beer, I have to put my hat in for Ashley's.
As a side note, though I don't really care for Hopcat they have been essential in competing with and therefore reigning in Ashley's (yay capitalism!). Now there are great specials on weekdays like 20% off premium wiskeys or 3$ Michigan pints.
Thanks! I will have to check his post. So the premium wiskeys are at Ashley's? I am also a quite the wiskey fan.
Yes if you are in to craft beer or whiskey then you definitely cannot leave town without going to Ashley's.
If you want to go to an actual brewery I would recommend in this order: 1) Jolly Pumpkin, 2) Grizzly Peak/Old German (which is in the basement), 3) Blue Tractor, 4) Wolverine (beer only, no food last time I checked) 5) Arbor Brewing (overrated IMHO)
Sorry to hear about your father
That became my and my parents' favorite place to go.
Have had sandwiches and bar food for some months. Also, BBQ. Kitchen expansion in progress.
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April 20th, 2015 at 10:13 PM ^
I had my first turkey rueben there and it was pretty good, spicy though. I don't know if they followed through on it, but apparently they were moving away from live music starting in December.
Sorry about your Dad, OP.
http://mgoblog.com/content/guide-ann-arbor-eating-drinking
...in case you're on mobile and can't easily access the Useful Stuff menu.
First and foremost, sorry to hear abour your father. Good vibes being sent in your direction, man - he's in an excellent place to get the care he might need.
Second, if you want a nice craft brew experience, either Arbor Brewing Company or Grizzly Peaks would suit that nicely. You can get growlers at either place to take with you as well as food, but the dine-in experience isn't bad at either location.
If you want to have a fun good meal, Frita Baditos kicks major ass.
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Sorry to hear about your father.
April 20th, 2015 at 10:51 PM ^
floating down the river is a great time. It's even more fun if you bring a small cooler full of. . . Sandwiches. Yeah, just sandwiches. Don't check my cooler.
April 21st, 2015 at 10:51 AM ^
The oncology nurses at the U. are wonderful!
GRBluefan already mentioned my two fave's from when I was in med school. I'll add that the Arb has a lot of side trails off the main paths, if you want to be alone for awhile. It's a short walk from the Med Center to one of the entrances, and it's free, so you can go over there anytime from dawn to dusk.
I'll second that. My mother had to go in for skin cancer surgery last fall, and the nurses - hell, everybody - at the Oncology Center treated her like gold. (That goes for the staff at the Reconstructive Surgery center in Livonia, too.)
I'm sorry to hear about your father. Cancer blows.
April 20th, 2015 at 10:18 PM ^
I gave a million on everyone's behalf. Should last a week.
April 20th, 2015 at 10:40 PM ^
about the burgers at Casey's. That place is still a non-negotiable lunch stop whenever I'm back in town (which will be this weekend to assist the MGoDaughter move out of the dorm). Only thing that would make it better would be a draft Stroh's.
Sorry about your Dad. I wish him, you, and your family all the best.
Go to the lacrosse game next Saturday against Penn State inside the Big House.
April 20th, 2015 at 10:35 PM ^
I can get you in to see the stadium for free if you really don't want to see the Lax game - possibly in the tunnel and locker room if it's past halftime. Games at six so 7:15 would probably work. Just come to the top of the steps and find the helpful Event Team Member. "Exceptional Experience for Every Guest" is our Credo. (I'm one of the few who isn't over sixty and overweight, name tag says Ann Arbor.)
By the way, is that heart shaped mini-rapid still there? I assume so because you can still see it on Google and other mapping services. When I was in school back in the 90s there was an old guy who would collect $ on the diag for an orphanage. The same guy could be seen arranging the rocks in the Huron to create that heart shaped riffle.
also I second the previous vote for Dominick's. Especially if you are in the mood to drink pitchers of sangria out of ball jars.
Bo's Statue-(duh)
Schembechler Hall- football museum is really cool. Check to see the hours it's open, it's limited to certain days.
Law Quad & Library- very beautiful, old architecture, you get an inspired feeling walking into the library
Ross School of Business- state of the art, Ross put a lot of interesting artwork in there as well
Diag- beautiful on days with nice weather, it's always busy with people on nice days.
Michigan Union- JFK gave a famous campaign speech on its steps, it gives me chills when I walk up there because he was very complimentary of Michigan- he likened it to Harvard. They have a plaque for it.
The Cube- very cool piece of art, give it a spin.
Ashley's has an excellent selection of great beer, also Hopcat is now open, but that isn't unique to Ann Arbor. Additionally, I'd recommend Jolly Pumpkin. Enjoy your trip to Ann Arbor and enjoy the time with your father, he has some of the best doctors in the world.
April 20th, 2015 at 10:11 PM ^
across from the Michigan League. Try to catch it when the carillon is being played.
April 20th, 2015 at 10:46 PM ^
Being that it is spring sports season, try taking in some action over at the Wilpon Complex. Our Michigan Softball team is in the middle of one of those magical seasons where the sky might be the limit; the Michigan Baseball team has been improving game-by-game and right now is playing as well as any team in the B1G.
My brewpub choice near Ann Arbor? Jolly Pumpkin, without a doubt. But if you're wanting to stay right in town, I really like Arbor Brewing for their great combo of food and ales.
April 21st, 2015 at 12:23 AM ^
Drive up to the Big House first thing...doesn't matter what time of day or night you arrive, but bring a drool cup. Next, find Bo's statue, stare at Bo's statue, commence nirvana. Upon waking you will be hungry, find Zingermans, commence gluteny. Of course, you will be thirsty, find the Arbor Brewery and try EVERY draft. Hope your dad recovers soon...speaking of recovery, get a hotel and sleep it off! Enjoy every minute with Dad and the scenes of AA!!!
U of M Hospital and Michigan Stadium / Schembechler Hall are not close to each other. You'll spend a good 45 minutes walking there. That said, Ann Arbor is a great pedestrian city, so I highly recommend the walk. You can stroll through campus, you can stop by Ashleys (wide beer selection), Charley's (nice outdoor seating), or Dominicks (good sangria, also nice outdoor seating).
Sorry that your visit comes under such sad circumstances. Best wishes to your father.
April 21st, 2015 at 12:12 PM ^
I'm sorry to hear about your dad.
If you'd like some cool views of town to see or take photos of there's the corner of Spring and Sunset at the top of Hunt park and a spot on Ceder Bend off of Broadway (not the part off Fuller). If you go to the first one then stop in at the Big City Bakery at Spring and Miller. A cool local biz with weird and interesting artwork on the outside.
The wave field by Mya Lin might be something you'd like http://public-art.umich.edu/the_collection/campus/north/38
All surrounding the diag and near Ashley's are the kelsey museum (mummies) the natural history museum (a full T-Rex etc.) & the UM art museum.
The Michigan Theater is a couple blocks away, a beautiful ornate movie palace from the 20's, a cool place just to check out even if not to see a movie. You might be able to get a showing of the historic theater organ. It rises out of the floor and is not only connected to the big organ pipes on the walls, but the keys that play instrament sounds like drums or a horn are playing the real instraments hydraulically activated inside the pipes.
If there's anything going on at Hill auditorium that's a great place to see also and whatever they have going on will be good.
The League courtyard is a nice spot where you could eat your Zingerman's or relax for a bit
http://uunions.umich.edu/article/study-spot-september-0
All of that is right around the diag. While you're there, check out the Nichol's Arcade, a beautiful place to walk through and the path you should take between if you're going to both Ashley's & Hop Cat.
Well that's a few alternate ideas anyway