OT: What's your favorite Ann Arbor bar?
Sitting at work nostalgic about AA and also wishing I was at happy hour. Naturally led me to this topic.
For me it's Dominick's. A sunny afternoon with a constant buzz in hand in the backyard of Dom's is about as happy of a setting for me as there is. Bill's Beer Garden is a close second. I just love the outdoors + drinking combo if you can't tell.
What's your favorite Ann Arbor watering hole?
East Ann Arbor
My old childhood friend helped found that place. They really are committed to serving the community and they donate a lot of resources to help feed the less fortunate.
I like cultivate but I swear half the time I go in there I'm the only guy without a man bun. Feel a little out of place.
I'd say more beards than man-buns. Still, Depot Town is pretty cool and far less pretentious than Ann Arbor, which I like.
that it's pretentious as hell.
Circus tbh
Correct.
I went there last summer, and it was not at all the same as it was when I was in school (2011ish.) Way more expensive and different vibe than it was back then.
Last time I was there was spring of 2016 unfortunately :( at that time it was still pool tables, karaoke, weird taxidermy, popcorn, bad lighting, and 50 cent PBR.
They got new owners in 2017. They moved it downstairs, it was okay but not the same. It has been closed indefinitely since Halloween and I don't think it's likely to reopen
They got new owners in 2017. They moved it downstairs, it was okay but not the same. It has been closed indefinitely since Halloween and I don't think it's likely to reopen
This bar has an integral part in my weirdest night out in college
Always a weird time at Circus, it’s great.
has it's charm. I always seem to wander in the basement even though there are much less dank pits in the area.
Played darts at the Berg every Tuesday night in grad school. 2 dollar beers, and darts all night. Damn, I have very fond memories of that place.
I met my future wife playing darts in the basement of the Berg. It was never a favorite spot (I was there for a friend's b-day party that night), but it will always be an important one for me.
The Jug was probably my favorite bar in undergrad.
great choice. I frequented south u trio of Charleys, Blue lep and Brown Jug probably too much when I was in school, always a good time (except for the time i knocked a tray full of beers off a waitresses hand).
I liked them, but they messed up my beer pitcher orders so often (and by giving me cheaper beer than what I ordered) that I'm convinced it was being done on purpose.
Yup, of the early 2000s era student bars, the Jug was by far my favorite.
Undergrad me would have answered Ricks/Charleys
And Dooley's.
Where was Dooley's? Is that where Skeeps is now?
That location has changed hands more than a professional poker player.
and it smells even worse now than it did then.
Ricks definitey and Dooley's from 1979 through 1982 when I was <21 and still was served at both bars.
Memory from the fog...
I think I remember $5 pitchers of Long Island Iced Tea at Dooley's.
Geesh, I remember Rick's Happy Hour $2 pitchers and Long Islands in the late '80s.
put in the mini Taco Bell we thought it was the greatest day ever. It was such a long 1 block walk through the alley.
I worked at Arbor Brewing Company and they had a very strict rule about having a drink on the job. So, on our breaks we’d go down to the Del Rio and say that we work at ABC and are on break, they would give us a free drink.
but the financials didn't look good. Everything in the joint needed to be replaced, too.
Best pizza I've ever had in A2, and it's where I went with a cute young art student/future wife in 1976 on a first date.
Sunday night jazz at the Del was the best free music in Ann Arbor; and their library of recorded music on the wall (mostly cassettes) was the largest I've encountered.
But, my favorite bar was Mr. Flood's Party (where the West End Grill now sits). It was the epicenter for hippie/townie culture in the 70s and 80s, and my band was the house band every Friday Happy Hour. Tiffany lamps; peanut shells covering the floor; huge picnic tables where you could meet new people every night. Hated to see it close in the 90s.
Del Rio was great, too bad. I believe Old Town is still there though.
Wife and I frequented the trio of Charley's, Jug and Blue Lep for most of bar time in college. Great memories at all three.
Still not over Habana closing tbh
I liked Mash, but mostly because they were bad at spotting fake IDs (or didn’t care). I went back about a year ago and it wasn’t what I remembered.
Never cared for Mash either. Crowded residential basement feel to it.
The Half Ass Inn in the basement of EQ . No “drinks” but good food and atmosphere plus some bands on the weekend. (BYOB or Weed and you have your bar).
rip half ass. rip clove cigs and flasks full of rich and rare
it was pretty out of control!
blew a fuse and blacked the whole room out.
and fish tacos in town, for sure,
There was nothing really to it as far as build out and the Irish theme was easy. Pre Conor O’Neill’s. Always had a good time there!
I spent many a good evening at O'Sullivan's myself back in my matriculating days. Of course, now, it doesn't even exist anymore. Got absorbed into Charley's years ago.
O’Sullivan’s was my spot. Mostly due to proximity to B school and less crowded/$.50 Black Label Mondays. Can’t remember regular bartender’s name but used to catch a bunch of Wings games there bsing with him.
a lot of time at the Blind Pig/8 Ball when I lived in A2.
I loved the pig and the 8 Ball!
Good time charlies was actually pretty cool as well.
jdon
Had to get a tetanus shot after a bachelor party that ended up at 8 ball... good times
Did you stand in front a live game of darts or something? There has to be a good story involved here.
It's so hard to pick a favorite in Ann Arbor, but the 8 Ball, as one of Ann Arbor's last surviving dives, has to be right up there. My wife and I still go there on occasion.