Bring on the Hate Mail
We finally dragged our bleary-eyed self out of bed early enough to make it to Kiwanis. Talk about overrated. At least as far as clothes are concerned, Value World in Ypsi has much better stuff, and they’re open every day. And not only is Kiwanis inaccessible in terms of their 9-12 Saturday hours, they throw in a little extra inconvenience: an inexplicable policy where you’re not allowed to take an item out of its not-clearly-demarcated “area” (keep in mind that the entire place is about as big as half of a department of Value World) without paying for it. Maybe we just went on a bad day, but as far as we’re concerned, bring on the park.
On the upside, the new Kerrytown Sweetwaters is cute, if a little too Starbucksish in decor, not too crowded and open until a practically-unheard-of 11.
I figured you OFW folks would appreciate the new Sweetwater’s - somewhere to study and hang out in K’town after 6pm.
posted by Nick on June 18th, 2005 at 2:16 pmI can’t believe there was never anything like it before. I’m posting from there right now (woohoo Commie High wireless.)
posted by ann arbor is overrated on June 18th, 2005 at 2:19 pmCreepy! I’m, like, in Braun Court right now! I do hear that the Kerrytown Sweetwaters’ has awesome chicken pasta salads.
posted by Lazaro on June 18th, 2005 at 2:31 pmwell, stop by and say hello - I’m in a black sweater over a red shirt.
posted by ann arbor is overrated on June 18th, 2005 at 2:36 pmI always thought that the Zingerman’s cafe was open pretty late up there?
I think I’ll continue to eschew both of them, however.
Once you move to OWS(NWS) you’ll have to get Washtenaw Dairy’s “coffee.”
posted by Brandon on June 18th, 2005 at 2:50 pmActually I don’t mind the Main Street ERC too much, and that Chocolate Cafe on Main is actually not a bad place to go to sit in obscurity. Ambrosia is close enough that I just walk the extra few blocks typically.
Unfortunately, I’m in the midst of a volunteer shift, otherwise I’d come on over. I did manage to let loose a “good Lord, no!” when asked to sign their petition outside the entrance by the “Friends of the Greenway” while veggie-shopping this morning.
posted by Lazaro on June 18th, 2005 at 3:43 pmInteresting fact: we can’t get our wireless from the 3rd floor at Community (the airport is on the first).
P.S. How is Washtenaw Dairy coffee? I may have to start getting to “work” earlier.
posted by Matt Hampel on June 18th, 2005 at 3:49 pmTragically, y’all were gone by the time I saw this and wandered over from the DDA office (3rd floor, kitty-corner across the farmers’ market). We all need transmitters so we know when we’re close to people…
posted by Murph on June 18th, 2005 at 3:55 pmMy home internet was down the past few days and I went to Sweetwaters to see if I could get wireless, but it was no go (or at least there were passwords involved). They are going to get a hook-up in a few weeks (I was told). I think their coffee is nothing to write home about, but the tea is OK, and I like hanging on the market floor at Kerrytown. I had to go to Zingerman’s to log on and get some work done (a drag when it’s crowded).
For the record Nick, Zingerman’s Next Door is open until 11. Aut Bar is open until 2 and is always a fun destination as well (probably not for studying, however. Cafe Verde is open until at least 10 too.
posted by OFWinsurgent on June 18th, 2005 at 7:00 pmMatt, Washtenaw Dairy coffee is THE nastiest coffee ever. I can’t believe Brandon can drink it.
Kiwanis is better than Value World simply because you can walk to get to it.
posted by Dale on June 18th, 2005 at 7:38 pmThe man on the PA makes it for me.
Remember, if you commit the double atrocities of driving to Kiwanis and parking in the lot next door, you will be towed.
Anyhow. Zingerman’s cafe is open til 10.
posted by Jen on June 18th, 2005 at 10:09 pmSorry, OFW, you’re right - 11.
posted by Jen on June 18th, 2005 at 10:10 pmI’m pretty sure it’s only 10, unless they let people hang out there for an hour after they officially close. Anyhow, as much as I like Zingerman’s, I’ve never found it a good place to do work.
posted by ann arbor is overrated on June 18th, 2005 at 10:14 pmsee, Dale, I just assumed because it wasn’t open very often, it was AWESOME. Like those stores that don’t advertise their addresses and you have to be Madonna or someone to get in if you do find it.
posted by ann arbor is overrated on June 18th, 2005 at 11:57 pmthe only place to work at Zingerman’s is in the upstairs rooms, which are quite often empty. Downstairs is a clusterfuck most of the time.
posted by OFWinsurgent on June 19th, 2005 at 12:14 amI don’t often find treasures at Kiwanis by browsing, rather by having something in mind and checking in for a few weeks, then snatching up a great deal.
I also think it’s an interesting indication of Ann Arbor’s wealth. I’ve gotten 2 damn good suits there for 5 bucks apiece and there’s about two hundred coffee and espresso machines, along with some nice watches and other things I NEVER would have thought of parting with.
Two weeks ago there was a 1918 crank phonograph with about two dozen needles in almost perfect working order. God, I wish I would have had the old-timey record collection to justify such a purchase.
So, AAiO, let me know when you need an old board game or a box fan [and you will]; when I find one for a buck, you will think Kiwanis is great, too. Maybe.
posted by Dale on June 19th, 2005 at 12:41 amNo one has mentioned the other awesome part of Kiwanis, which is that they not only sell stuff, but they take your old stuff. With the quarterly holiday of Discardia coming up soon that’s important to know.
posted by Edward Vielmetti on June 19th, 2005 at 1:14 amDale, I have 2 cases of vintage 78s (from the old Liberty Inn jukebox, circa 40s and 50s) in my garage. If you see the Victrola again, let me know.
posted by OFWinsurgent on June 19th, 2005 at 9:54 amI have to agree with Dale on this one: While the Ypsi Value World has its fair share of treasures (like the 1968 Smith-Corona Electra 120 I bought last week for $3.50), it’s about half an hour away, and I’m still gonna have to stroll down to Kiwanis one of these weekends for a new ribbon (which I know they have a shitload of). Also, no thrift in the area has such a massive selection of totally cracked out housewares. Plus, it’s right next to the Fleetwood, so I can fuel the long hike up Liberty back to my craphole apartment on campus.
posted by phalex on June 19th, 2005 at 12:20 pmYes, our Value World rules. And, as you note, it’s open every day. My entire wardrobe comes from this fine establishment, at bargain-basement prices. Kiwanis, feh.
posted by newt on June 19th, 2005 at 11:44 pm“Two weeks ago there was a 1918 crank phonograph with about two dozen needles in almost perfect working order. God, I wish I would have had the old-timey record collection to justify such a purchase.”
actually i’m pretty sure it was not in “almost working order” - my survey of it (probably like 6 weeks ago) seemed to indicate more significant problems. I’m assuming we’re talking about the same thing here, how could there be more than one?
Kiwanis is also better than value world because of the prices. I haven’t been the the Ypsi one, so I can’t really say, but the ann arbor one sells things for $2 that would be 25 cents at kiwanis.
It is however very true that it’s hit or miss. Also the time you go affects what you’ll find very much…if you go past 11 I’d say there’s pretty much no point.
posted by s on July 8th, 2005 at 12:54 pmI put a record on and it played, but too fast. It wasn’t a matter of switching the speed (which was an option), but that the internal spring was detached from the switch. I think it was a minor (if time-consuming) adjustment or repair from working like it was only 30 years old.
posted by Dale on July 8th, 2005 at 1:23 pmValue world is awesome, I will agree that Ypsi value world is out of my way but it has nicer selection—beats the hell out of me—Ann Arbor is sooooo snobish but ypsi has better clothes!!! I found new RL shorts for 3.80– awesome!!
posted by Zina on July 30th, 2008 at 10:23 am