I had heard rumors that Old Town in Lansing was cool, so when I was in the area and considering applying to MSU I checked it out. All i found was a pretty lame strip of businesses aimed mainly at middle-aged Bobos… I was unimpressed.
You’re stretching your theme past the point of credibility!
Lansing is what Ann Arbor would be if it had a grimy industrial core, a losing football team, a cow college, and a bunch of state legislators. Not that Ann Arbor’s so great … but the only flow from A2 to Lansing is for jobs in state government, which tells you something.
Zimmerblog makes an interesting observation about A2 not having a grimy industrial base. I think he (she?) is right on the mark with that comment. “Industrial Highway” in A2 is a bit of a misnomer There used to be a massage parlor along there, but they closed it down a few years ago. I suppose one could think of that as a place for manual labor, but I disgress. What makes so many towns ugly are the abandoned old warehouses with the broken windows and boarded-up fronts. Thank goodness A2 avoided that fate.
What don’t you get? It clearly states that Lansing is the most underrated capitol in the state.
It’s also, therefore, the most overrated, biggest, the smallest, the most wealthy, most poor, artsiest, most businesslike, and tallest.
js
Well, I don’t really have anything to say about Lansing, mostly because I’ve never been there. But on a more musical tip, for those of you who might be interested in garage rock, the latest playlist on Grunnen Rocks Radio SHREDS! Check it out, it’s playlist #98: www.grunnenrocks.nl
Did anyone see the article about our friend Bert Sperling in the A2 News yesterday? I thought AAIO would have been all over that. I only skimmed the article, but I did notice that in addition to all the lists we know about, there is a “most romantic” cities list.
Umm… Brandon? It being an AP article makes it more likely to be online; AP feeds are everywhere.
I’m guessing this is the piece you have in mind. Or perhaps this one. Neither are actually AP, though, so perhaps not. You can also poke around here and see what looks interesting…
I had heard rumors that Old Town in Lansing was cool, so when I was in the area and considering applying to MSU I checked it out. All i found was a pretty lame strip of businesses aimed mainly at middle-aged Bobos… I was unimpressed.
posted by Brandon on April 25th, 2004 at 4:11 pmWhat I’d like to know is who is *buying* all of that hip and funky glass art and original photography?
posted by Alex on April 25th, 2004 at 6:43 pmLeave us middle aged bobos alone. Some day you might be a middle aged bobo.
posted by MABOBO on April 25th, 2004 at 6:57 pmVan Atta’s nursery/greenhouse is worth a trip to Lansing.
posted by Laura on April 25th, 2004 at 9:13 pmYou’re stretching your theme past the point of credibility!
Lansing is what Ann Arbor would be if it had a grimy industrial core, a losing football team, a cow college, and a bunch of state legislators. Not that Ann Arbor’s so great … but the only flow from A2 to Lansing is for jobs in state government, which tells you something.
posted by Zimmerblog on April 26th, 2004 at 2:03 pmZimmerblog makes an interesting observation about A2 not having a grimy industrial base. I think he (she?) is right on the mark with that comment. “Industrial Highway” in A2 is a bit of a misnomer There used to be a massage parlor along there, but they closed it down a few years ago. I suppose one could think of that as a place for manual labor, but I disgress. What makes so many towns ugly are the abandoned old warehouses with the broken windows and boarded-up fronts. Thank goodness A2 avoided that fate.
posted by Mike Gorund on April 26th, 2004 at 2:23 pmWhere the Lansing Lugnuts Stadium and parking now sit was a 4 block red-light district: Peep shows, seedy motels etc.
When a city hits rock-bottom, it can only get cooler. I guess Lansing’s okay if you don’t mind working as a line cook, landscaper, or teacher.
posted by Steven B. Cherry on April 26th, 2004 at 11:51 pmWhat don’t you get? It clearly states that Lansing is the most underrated capitol in the state.
posted by js on April 27th, 2004 at 7:54 amIt’s also, therefore, the most overrated, biggest, the smallest, the most wealthy, most poor, artsiest, most businesslike, and tallest.
js
I lived in the Lansing area for most of 25 years. I have so much to say on this that I’m speechless.
posted by Larry Kestenbaum on April 27th, 2004 at 10:12 amWell, I don’t really have anything to say about Lansing, mostly because I’ve never been there. But on a more musical tip, for those of you who might be interested in garage rock, the latest playlist on Grunnen Rocks Radio SHREDS! Check it out, it’s playlist #98: www.grunnenrocks.nl
posted by Alex on April 27th, 2004 at 11:08 amDid anyone see the article about our friend Bert Sperling in the A2 News yesterday? I thought AAIO would have been all over that. I only skimmed the article, but I did notice that in addition to all the lists we know about, there is a “most romantic” cities list.
posted by c-loh on April 27th, 2004 at 11:23 amwhere is this article? Is it online?
posted by ann arbor is overrated on April 27th, 2004 at 1:29 pmI don’t think it’d be online… it was an AP article.
posted by Brandon on April 27th, 2004 at 7:17 pmUmm… Brandon? It being an AP article makes it more likely to be online; AP feeds are everywhere.
I’m guessing this is the piece you have in mind. Or perhaps this one. Neither are actually AP, though, so perhaps not. You can also poke around here and see what looks interesting…
posted by Shmuel on April 28th, 2004 at 12:30 amRemember, you can’t spell “Ann Arbor is Overrated” without B-O-R-I-S.
That must mean something. I’m sure of it.
posted by Mr. Mindboggled on April 28th, 2004 at 4:28 pmYeah, it was that first one, Shmuel. What I meant is “not on the Ann Arbor News’ website,” rather than “not online,” I suppose.
posted by Brandon on April 28th, 2004 at 6:41 pmThat must mean something. I’m sure of it.
Don’t tell me you missed out on the Anna/Boris/Vera/Ted conspiracy theories?
posted by ann arbor is overrated on April 28th, 2004 at 7:48 pm