Why I Love My City
By: Anya Parampil, AAB writer
My English teachers always taught me to “show” not “tell”. Simply because Ann Arbor rests in the lower peninsula of Michigan can I actually show you better than tell you where exactly she’s located- only one living on said peninsula can use this little trick. Take your right hand and flip it over, palm facing up. Voila, there you have Michigan. Now with the index finger of your other hand trace about 3/4s of the way down from the tip of your thumb to where your wrist starts, and then move your finger about half an inch towards the other side of your hand. That’s about where you’d find Ann Arbor; about 45 minutes drive east of Detroit.
Now, what exactly does Ann Arbor have to give? Population wise about 114,000 people, with a little over 30% of those residents being students. That’s most likely because five universities share the city, most notably the University of Michigan, also cited as the cities largest employer. It’s the perfect medium of an extraordinary college town and ideal city to raise a family. I lack time and space to underline the landscape (all rivers, trees and parks), ideas, and people that make “Tree Town” what I’d call exceptional. But here’s a brief introduction to the Midwestern city you probably never thought twice about.
First, there’s food. If it’s 12 am or 12 noon, there’s the classic 62-year-old Fleetwood Diner (looks like it’s about to fall of a hill, but that really adds to its charm) serving up plates of it’s legendary “hippie hash” every hour of the week. We are also home to a celebrated burger joint, Blimpy Burger, which was featured on the Food Networks “Drivers, Dine ins, and Dives” for its rather unique twist on the hamburger. For the less casual times, our main street is dominated by the lavish Main Street Ventures restaurants; highlighted by The Chop House and my personal favorite stop- La Dolce Vita in its basement. Award-winning Zingerman’s food company started as a deli in our backyard. An authentic Irish Pub , high end bistros and lounges riddle the streets between used and rare book stores, amusing gift shops, and darling music stores (these are just a few examples).
Probably most notable about Ann Arbor is its fantastic appreciation for the arts. At least once in their life, everyone should visit the famous and fabulous Ann Arbor Art Fair during which the streets are shut down and lined with artists from all over the country displaying and selling just about any medium you could imagine, and the ones you couldn’t. The University of Michigan Art Museum is also truly remarkable, where I saw iconic photos taken by Dorthea Lange only before seen in textbooks. And this town is never lacking free entertainment- an Ann Arborites favorite thing to do in July is head downtown to “Top of the Park” (TOP)and catch everything from local to international live music (from jazz to salsa). Once it’s dark, the festival features films projected movie theatre style on the side of a building for all to see, all outdoors and all free. This years selection included Avatar, (500) Days of Summer, and of course, Casablanca.
Our local music scene is no joke either. A home-grown favorite, My Dear Disco, now nationally recognized for their signature “Dancethink” style music came home this summer to perform music only they could create alongside lively Lady Gaga and Annie Lenox covers. Indie group Tally Hall also calls our city home. With internationally renowned music club, The Ark, situated on Main Street, acoustic icons such as Ingrid Michelson and The Abrams Brothers frequently walk the streets. The State Theatre is also a main attraction for popular personalities. Foodie Anthony Bourdain gave his Alice Waters/local food movement bashing talk right in our very own theatre. Down the street from the very first Borders (one of several companies started up in Ann Arbor), it’s not uncommon that admired artists (even a personal favorite, Natalie Merchant) give free shows at the bookstore before scheduled concerts.
People always laugh when I tell them I was born in Berkeley California and raised in Ann Arbor. Why? Because Ann Arbor is essentially a mini Berkeley: a superbly diverse and liberal college town ripe with politically active residents that supplies an all around good time. Synthesist and bag-pipe extraordinaire Tyler Duncan began to close a recent My Dear Disco gig with: “There is no better place than Ann Arbor in the summertime”. Tall brick buildings shadowed by green trees and the faded sun? I couldn’t agree more. Maybe I’m wrong. All cities offer something special; I am probably naïve to think that mine is a gem among them. Maybe Ann Arbor is just another college town, unremarkable and incomparable to the massive cities this world has to offer. You’ll just have to come and decide yourself.
Anya Parampil is an AAB student writer living in Ann Arbor, Michigan. She can be reached with questions and comments at anyaparampil@gmail.com.
