What to do while in Ann Arbor

Walking around Main St at night is really neat on a Friday before a football game. It appeals alot better to the adult crowd. If yall are up for chugging beers with frat boys you can go down South U. If theres an arts performance on campus those are always great. There should be a pep rally on campus the Friday before.

Zingerman's Deli

For food? Blimpy Burger and Zingerman's are a must.

For bars? It's probably changed since I've been there but the Jug is a nice crowd if you want a college scene but still want to act your post-collegiate age. Ashley's if you're a beer connoisseur. Rick's if you're like me and often indulge your inner undergrad upon returning.

Other sites? I'd say definitely just stroll around the quad if it's nice out. Maybe grab a mason jar's worth of sangria at Dominick's and hang out outside and enjoy the day. Law quad is also a definite must see. 

Damn it, now I'm longing.

UMMA (across from the Union and they have an amazing collection including some original Picassos), the Natural History Museum, and there's a few others. Maybe try to sneak in to see the trophies in Schembechler Hall?

If she's into shopping and you don't mind going with her, there are some nice vintage stores on State St. as well as other places (Bivouac, Pitaya, various M-themed stores, some stuff on Main)

If she likes beer- go to Ashley's.

1.  Grab Chipatis for lunch at Pizza Bob's

2.  Get Blimpy Burger

3.  Main Street for a nice dinner.  Personally, I recommend Palio.

4.  Catch a music show at the ark or the blind pig.  

5.  If they're playing, go to a michigan hockey game.

6. Take her to a nice sunday brunch at the gandy dancer, or if you feel like rubbing elbows with the students, go for deep fried french toast sunday morning at angelo's

There are a ton of other things to do, these are just a few, but regardless of what you pick, you guys are gonna have a great time.

Best "walk in the park" that I've ever had.  Make sure you leave an hour or two on a nice day to do this, you won't regret it.

Best Vegetarian Indian food I have had outside of India.  Buffet style good lunch option near State Street Theater which is always playing good movies.

the argus 1 building in the old west side vicinity has a really cool free museum featuring some old cameras and really rare paraphernalia of the like (the building used to be the factory for argus before sylvania, and eventually u-m, bought it). no one's heard about it but it's a neat place.

Thanks to everyone who posted!  I really appreciate all the help and I am so excited to do this trip with my wife.  She will finally experience "all" of the events that I have tried to explain but simply don't do justice.  I have wrote notes on the following posts and will make plans accordingly!  Thanks again to everyone and keep it coming!

I met my wife in Bolivia and we lived there for close to a year before coming back to California. I talked about Michigan enough that her whole family always rolled their eyes when I went on about it and called it MEECH-igan. 'Aye! Esso MEECH-igan otro vez!'

When  I first brought her to AA, along with a mutual friend from Mexico, they were slack-jawed at everything listed above and had the time of their lives at the game and everything about it before and after. Tailgating, after-parties, etc. They still talk about it 7 years later.

When we were back there for X-mas in 2005/6 and I skipped a family/religious gig to catch the bowl game and was catching heat from my mother-in-law, my wife ran interference b/c by now she had become a huge fan and understood.

I had bribe someone to keep their internet cafe open late so I could follow the bowl game on a gametracker. That was a terrible, terrible game to 'watch' that way. Nebraska, ugh.

take her over to the MDen and have her model some go blue gear for you!

Only good things will take place, and remember, it's great to be a Wolverine.

...all great suggestions. 

Here are some more:

• Check out what the University Musical Society has on tap if you're looking for something more cultural. 
• Try the eponomously named restaurant of Top Chef Season 6 contestant Eve Aronoff.
• If you dig Zingerman's, try Zingerman's Roadhouse for some outstanding classic American cuisine.

I know you're getting flooded with restaurant suggestions, but here are my top picks:

Good Time Charley's for classic college bar and burger experience (be sure to order the Count Twists appetizer).

Raja Rani has excellent Indian: http://bit.ly/9vE0yB

Cafe Habana is inexpensive but excellent Cuban: http://bit.ly/agROz4

Pacific Rim is definitely on the pricier side, but I think I had the best meal of my life there: http://bit.ly/1bJY7R

As for culture, The Ark is a great acoustic music club. The schedule for October isn't up yet, but if you like anything from Celtic to folk to jazz, it's worth checking out. www.theark.org

Finally, the U-M (fittingly) has one of the top two public university music programs in the country (Indiana is the other), so that schedule is definitely worth checking up on once fall rolls around. Take into special consideration anything in Hill Auditorium, which is a world-class venue. http://bit.ly/atYkyB

Grizzly Peak. Best drinks, best food, best atmosphere. No need to go elsewhere.

Zingerman's for lunch, Gandy Dancer or Gratzi if you feel fancy for dinner, the Heidelberg or Ann Arbor Brewing company if you want alcohol without breaking the bank.

Shows at the Blind Pig, the Ark, and BTB Cantina (yes, really) are usually pretty chill with decent to good music. This is kind of a shameless plug because my band does a lot of shows at the Pig. There will likely be a free or cheap classy concert at Hill Auditorium or elsewhere on campus. A walk in the Arb is always a classic.

Ann Arbor is one of the top ten cities in the nation to retire to (according to some TV show) because it's loaded with artsy things to do...free or cheap artsy things to do, mostly.

If you want "to blow her socks off" I think you'll have to put together an ensemble piece.  (Though I'm sure she has her reasons for marrying you already.)  The "one-off WOWs" that I can think of are:

* Football game and it's surroundings

* Arb (around Oct. 9 there should be some color)

* Grad steps looking up toward Rackham.  Even more impressive if you can do a rail slide without breaking your neck or getting your board confiscated. 

You haven't let on to your age, pocketbook, level of fitness, or tastes, so perhaps try to put something together from these:

* There is a local triathlon group that has periodic races around Hell.   I am uncertain of schedule, but that may be fun. 

* If you have bicycles available, it's not too hard to get out into a semi-rural area.  Take a ride and then drop into Casey's.  Or ride the trail along Gallup Park.  There is (or there used to be) a little nature trail NE of Concordia.  Then go to Dominick's.  

* If you have a car, head out to one of the surrounding burgs for early season hayride.

* Tickled Fancy Burlesque.  Dance at the Masons'.  There's Roller Derby coming.

* Local brew pubs in Ann Arbor and Dexter.  (Are there any in Ypsi?)

* Talk your way into a student party.  

* I haven't seen mention yet, but Jerusalem Garden, Le Dog, Fleetwood, Earle, Village Corner, Shaman Drum, and Dawn Treader.  Are the Moveable Feast and Escoffier still around?  Knight's.

Darn. Now I want to drop by.  Any more ideas?