Seeking Mgoblog Advice for UM visit and A2 lunch destinations.
Will be accompanying my daugher on college visits next week, and Michigan will be stop #1 on Monday. Both of us are looking forward to this visit, but as she is my oldest child, this is uncharted territory for both of us. Any tips on making the most of our time on campus?
Also, would like to grab a bite to eat afterward in Ann Arbor. I have seen the suggestions in the blog's "Useful Stuff" tab and wondering which would be the place to go or if anyone has other favorites in town.
Feedback appreciated!
and the daughter you raised and thought you knew will be gone forever.
Wolverine In Exile- and beautiful picture.
I was going to respond with a simple "commit"
My usual game day stops:
For brunch (if you get to A2 a little early): Afternoon Delight on Liberty@5th. Order a pancake (singular, not plural). Awesomeness. The omelettes are superb. Salmon eggs benedict, too. When I do this for the noon kickoffs and and I usually can't breathe comforably until halftime.
For a casual lunch: lost in the PR shadow of Maize 'n Blue Deli and Zingerman's is Amer's State@ N University. The sandwich menu is so broad it's a little intimidating at first, but you'll find something delicious. It's just a good, old-fashioned deli.
Speaking of Zingerman's, you hear a lot about the deli, but I'm partial to Zingerman's Roadhouse for sheer comfort food (unless one of you is a vegetarian). It's not in downtown but about a 10 min.drive (Maple @ Jackson, near 94). It doesn't get as much love as the more famous deli, but I'm a bit of an addict, and when 3.30 games end around 7, it's usually a mad dash over there to beat the line. It's removed from campus, though, so maybe not the best for a campus tour.
Other people have mentioned doing a walk-through of the Law Quad; for sheer ambiance of being in an academic institution, that's hard to beat (not sure what state of renovations are at the moment, though, it may be full of scaffolding). Undergrads are allowed to study in the cathedral-like law reading room. Check out the stained glass with all the seals of other universities.
I didn't notice on the other comments, but did anyone suggest a walk through the Nichols Arboretum? It's nice to know you've got a refuge like that for a long walk when school or social life overwhelms you a bit. If you've got the time, mark off 30 minutes for a walk.
I agree with another commenter that most of the places being recommended are for hungry, broke college kids, and either won't stand out versus other college towns or aren't in a price range your kid will be able to afford as a student. Afternoon Delight is one of the best lunch places in town, especially if you want something lighter. I think the cafeteria appearance keeps people from trying it (table service is only on weekends), but my female friends in undergrad always preferred frozen yogurt with really high quality fresh fruit and a gigantic muffin on the side to an overpriced deli sandwich or another greasy burger.
....if a vegetarian Seva is great...
- Krazy Jim's Blimpy Burger - it is an institution... but is moving end of this month(where TBD) - have to go to the original spot. I just went a week ago with my kids for last time. Get there earlier or later in afternoon. It is also around the corner from the Union, South/West quad and close to Law Quad and Central campus
Everyone else has covered some really good suggestions
Get her an appointment with the Sports Marketing Professor...
Some of my favorites:
Blimpy Burger
Tio's
Maize N Blue Deli
Zingerman's (fantastic, but over-priced for Michigan)
Porch at Dominick's in the summer. Not really going to take your daughter for a pitcher of Sangria, but she'll have some street cred if she knows about it.
Navaho Fry Bread at the Prickly Pear on Main Street.
Tour of campus is always impressive (Did you know there is a North Quad now?) Seeing a couple of dorms might be informative (WQ/SQ and the Hill dorms). Meeting an academic advisor and seeing where her particular school will be. North Campus used to be a trek.
Zingerman's prices are absurd. I've had visitors from NYC laugh at them.
Ali Baba's, which is over on packard south of south quad. The garlic sauce they make is amazing, and for some reason most students graduate without knowing about that place.
I like Ali Baba's, and used to frequent it when I lived on Mary St. in undergrad, and again when I lived on Hill as a grad student, but the ambience isn't really very impressive. Nowadays the only thing I get there is mulberries from the little tree on the corner.
Man you can tell this blog is full of testosterone. Pizza Bob's? Maize N Blue deli? I mean, they are good campus eats for sure, but geared towards college kids wanting lots of food for little money. As a townie, they don't even close to rank anywhere near the top for places I would take people.
On campus - go to Sava's or Red Hawk - both are on State Street - Sava's is near the new North Quad complex, next door to Lane Hall. Red Hawk is about a block closer to campus. Neither are expensive and have great, interesting options. I would say Sava's has a bit more range (breakfast all day, amazing sandwiches and salads, get the sweet potato fries), Red Hawk's burgers are to die for. Both serve booze if mom and dad need a beer with lunch. If you are looking for something more ethnic, I love Tomukun (asian noodle bar) on Liberty, just down from the Michigan Theater.
Downtown - you can hardly go wrong with any place you stop in. My suggestion is to try to get in to either Mani Osteria (which is a casual italian place with authentic wood fired pizzas - you know it's good when Mario Batali is a fan) or Islita (a casual mexican - not tex mex - place. Yum fish tacos!) They're right next door to each other at the intersection of Liberty & Division. They aren't super expensive. Lots of restaurants downtown can be bonkers and hard to get into if you show upright at 6 or 7, so prepare to wait... I love Zingerman's Deli - the lines are way less bad then they were before the expansion, and Monday's shouldn't be crazy. If you decide to go, the townie hint is to look at the menu online and call your order in ahead of time. Then you can skip the line, pick up your food and the cashier building and go ahead and eat there.
If you are coming into town on Wed-Sat (Art Fair) all bets are off. Get the heck out of downtown to eat. You'll have NO LUCK getting in anywhere with all the hoards.
So, if you have to drive out of town - Zingerman's Roadhouse (I-94 and Jackson Road) is a great sit down place (and not to be confused by the Zingerman's deli which is also good, but downtown), but I would make reservations NOW. Especially during art far, the Z name makes it impossible to get in. Other out of downtown places - Lotus Thai (thai food, duh) is great and is in the Target strip mall off of Ann Arbor Saline Road. Cardamom (indian food) just openned to great acclaim off of Plymouth Road near North Campus.
Another note to be prepared for - this is constructions season on campus. The law quad is under renovation, and it looks like east quad's fences just came down. South U is closed at State Street for repaving. The front entrance of the LSA Building (where I work) is getting redone. The football stadium re-painting project and Schembechler Hall "renovation" is underway. It may take a little creative visioning to see everything. But campus is also lush with greenery, Monday should be a bright clear sunny day, which puts everyone in a good mood.
I hope you and your daughter have a great visit and Go Blue!
Angelo's for breakfast.
Stuchis ice cream
Zinger mans for lunch
Amers
Pizza house for lunch
Diag
walk up and down south state
Walk through the law quad
She's going into college not on the food network.
and I'll definitely say that for a first visit I'd want an institution type place (Zingermans gets my vote, usually get the cuban and reuben both on sourdough and split the sandwiches) but if we're talking about Ann Arbor food options my aunt and uncle own a cafe open for breakfast and lunch. It's great food and from what I hear is gaining a good following after opening just a few months ago.
It's called Juicy Kitchen Cafe and is located at 1506 N Maple. annarbor.com, Yelp and Urbanspoon all have positive reviews and I can vouch for that as well.
Also, for breakfast, Angelo's is the best. You might have to wait for a little bit for a table, but the food is amazing and well worth the wait. Fleetwood Diner just off of Main has great, cheap breakfast, too. The gyro omelet is godlike.
Within the campus area - I'd recommend Pizza House or Original Cottage Inn for food that she might actually eat on an evening out as a student. Mani Osteria is really, really good but I don't see a lot of students hanging out there - it's a bit more upscale. I strongly recommend it if you want Italian food that is a little more imaginative. I love Blimpy Burger, but never feel very good a couple hours later. Angelos is definitely the best place near campus for breakfast.
Zingermans is the place for foodies and Kerrytown (the neighborhood it is in) is worth a visit for local atmosphere. Zingerman's Roadhouse on the the west side of town is also very good - but again, not a likely place she will get to as a student.
Frita Batidos is also great as is Mark's Carts for casual dining. Both are downtown, off of Main Street. There are a lot of nice restuarants in the Main Street area. If you want to splurge for dinner, I think Logan and the West End Grill are the best fine dining places in Ann Arbor, but they may be better choices for family visits when she is a student and you really want to celebrate something.
five pounds of nachos. . . that is all
I don't know why everyone is failing to say the correct answer, but the correct answer is obviously Big Boy.
Last time I tried, and this was before all of the rennovations and whatnot, the front doors at Yost were open during the summer, although I don't know if that's true any more and I didn't try to go through the concourse at all. Not much to go on, I know.
i go straight to jerusalem garden
I don't think I saw it mentioned anywhere listed in this thread suprisingly but Cherry Republic is a must to visit. It's In the middle of downtown and it' a place, as you can guess, with everything cherry flavored that you can imagine and there are FREE samples everywhere.
cheap faves: Argerios, Jerusalem Gardens, Blimpie, Red Hot Lovers (still around?) -- mid-priced faves: Red Hawk, Zingermans -- pricey faves: Graty's, The Earl, Gandy Dancer. If you are there during Art Fair, you will have plenty of street meat options to choose from.
that's Gratzys. for desert: dark chocolate covered pretzels from Kilwins, or White Russion Fudge ice cream from Stucchi's. old school choice no longer available -- coke and ice cream sandwich from VCs -- Diag and people watchin'. Dang...wish i was heading that way myself.