Ann Arbor Hot Spots

I have not been out and about in Ann Arbor nearly as much as I should be, mostly because I'm tired all the time and go from the store back to the hotel and back again.

However, I have a few favorite spots thus far, and hope to add some by the end of the stay.

1. Nichols Arboretum . Very pretty 100+ acre gardens, river, trails, and lovely spot on campus. Watch the canoe-ers go by and laugh as they get stuck or sit and read a book for an hour.

2. Charley's (I think it's Good Time Charley's or something like that) is a restaurant/bar that have had good food both times we've had dinner there. I still need to try the 64 oz Long Island, but they have a decent selection of beer as well. Whatever blue shot I had was also good (even though it was blue).

3. The Blue Leprechaun is a new bar, but seems to be a pretty happening spot (Michael Phelps was there the night I didn't go out) and was a good mix of classy and collegy.

4. The campus itself has the same feel as U of I, so I guess it feels pretty homey to me. Driving around campus sucks and people walk wherever the hell they feel like it, but there's a good mix of older town feel and trendy college areas.

5. If you're going to stay around these parts, the Residence Inn really is awesome. They do your grocery shopping for you for free, internet, printing, free breakfast and dinner as well. Only complaint thus far is they were closing the hot tub literally as we were in our swimsuits, book in hand, walked down there, and they were draining it for the season. Oh, and they almost always have cookies sitting out at the front desk.


I still need to hit up Blimpie Burger, which was apparently on Diners, Drive-In, and Dives. Not sure what other spots are a must go-to here, but plan to find some.

Turning left in Michigan sucks.

The Apprentice

So, a month later, and I'm back to documenting my travels.

For the previous two, and next two weeks, I'm in Ann Arbor, Michigan where I'm apprenticing at the store on South University. I'm already sick of being referred to as "the apprentice" all the time, but most of the time I just tell the in-shoppers I'm training to be a manager. It's easier.

Ann Arbor is a nice town, very collegy, and reminds me a lot of Champaign. The downtown area and campus area are pretty much the same place, so there are always a ton of people around. Don't worry Illini fans, I have stayed true to my school spirit and refused to cheer for Michigan in any sort of way, and next week when the Illini are here, I am wearing my Illini gear whenever I am not physically in the store.

My days consist of getting to the store between 5am and 7am, work work work, then leaving between 5:30pm and 6. They are long days, but I'm pretty used to it now. It makes this three day weekend I'm about to have (was supposed to be four, but I got sick one day and messed it all up) all the better.

Other exciting news, I found out my schedule for the four weeks after my apprenticeship, which includes two weeks in the north suburbs of Chicago, and two weeks in West Palm Beach, Florida. I'm psyched about Florida, and there had better not be any hurricanes when I plan to go.

I think whenever I'm done with a town, I'm going to list the bars and any of points of interest to remember for anyone other travelers out there. Oh! If you ever get the chance, stay at a Mariott Residence Inn. It's awesome and doesn't even feel like living out of a hotel.

Two more weeks in Ann Arbor, the whore.