A Veritable Blogfest
The University of Toledo’s student paper provides a guide for those taking vacations in the “veritable culturefest” of Ann Arbor over fall break. Particularly singled out for praise is the “not-found-in-Toledo appeal” of Ann Arbor’s retail scene. “[W]hatever you’re in the mood to acquire will have a retail outlet in Ann Arbor. However, this isn’t the crass commercialism you’re used to. Bourgeois bohemianism is the rule here, so shoppers can be stylish and socially conscious while spending to their heart’s content.” The writer does, however, display a better-than-average feel for A2 life: “[T]wo groups compose the city’s population: college students and rich people.”
Not true!
There’s only a group in A2 - lefties!
posted by __earth on October 21st, 2005 at 12:11 pmA Toledano could probably pull together a reasonably painless day trip to Ass Arbor. All you would need is nine hundred dollars, a penchant for Petoskey stones, and plenty to read.
But Toledo definitely has the better art museum, and a far more interesting response to Nazi parades.
posted by morbidly midwestern on October 21st, 2005 at 12:11 pmWe have better beer here, though. And they left out the third group: panhandlers.
posted by Dave on October 21st, 2005 at 12:30 pmCollege studnets, rich people…but don’t forget the RICH college students. I’m thinking a large chunk of the college kiddies here fall into that category. Who else in there right mind would have their entire wardrobe supplied by Urban Outfitters?
posted by JT on October 21st, 2005 at 2:41 pmI work in Toledo, and when I mention I live in Ann Arbor, I always elicit sighs of envy. Tree Town is where all Toledoans of any means at all want to eat, drink, shop, and people watch. Toledo is the Glass City, but all the glass seems to reflect a vision of Shangri-La hovering a mere 45 minutes away on US 23.
posted by shupac on October 21st, 2005 at 2:47 pmIs there an official title one calls a person from Toledo? Since they work there, I’ll trust Shupac’s “Toledoan”… But I sort of like “Toledano” from before - it sounds more European. How about “Toledoer” or “Toledist”?
posted by FAA on October 21st, 2005 at 3:29 pmcome on FAA, I mean word play is fun and all, but you must be a real wanker.
posted by the anti-Safire on October 21st, 2005 at 3:35 pmas a toledo native, i prefer “holy toledoan”
posted by ellen on October 21st, 2005 at 3:42 pmToledo: town without pity, town without pride.
posted by Holy Toledoan on October 21st, 2005 at 4:03 pmI love “Holy Toledoan”!
the anti-Safire - you are quite the paradox. You have the cognitive ability to detect word play, yet hurl insults like child… Like an ape that knows sign language but still throws feces. If it was something I said, or if I beat you up on the playground twenty years ago and you’ve just now tracked me down and decided to exact an internet textual revenge, I’m sorry on both accounts. But please keep your dung flinging to yourself.
posted by FAA on October 21st, 2005 at 5:35 pmAnd please refrain spreading poop on Ass Arbor.
posted by morbidly midwestern on October 21st, 2005 at 7:17 pmThis Toledo native and Ypsi resident fondly remembers Tony Packo’s and cabbage rolls. And, as was said, a far better art museum.
posted by lima bean on October 21st, 2005 at 8:19 pmSo much hate! I thought only ppl in A2 has problem with A2. =)
posted by __earth on October 22nd, 2005 at 12:35 amSickness. I’m not a student and I’m also poor. Chopped liver?
posted by Sarah on October 22nd, 2005 at 9:49 amSame as Sarah. I really don’t have anything witty to contribute, but the generalizations piss me off (big surprise). I guess it’s to be expected, though, as the town seems DESIGNED for college students and rich people (or combinations thereof, and mainly the latter).
posted by Lazaro on October 22nd, 2005 at 10:12 amYou’re right, _earth, mostly it’s who’ve lived in or around AA who have a problem with it. In most places, if you say “Ann Arbor”, you’ll get a blank look, or people will start talking about UM sports.
posted by Anna on October 22nd, 2005 at 2:33 pmI feel like this article was done using Google, UMevents, and asking friends “hey have you ever been to Ann Arbor? Whaddathey got?
posted by mike on October 22nd, 2005 at 4:46 pmas a high school kid in ann arbor i would like to say there are alot more than just two groups in ann arbor. ann arbor does have a lot of rich people, which therefor means we also have alot of republicans, believe it or not. its just we try and hide them because theyre a bunch of rich bastards
posted by zach on October 23rd, 2005 at 1:25 amAnd of course the rich Democrats here are like sunshine and flowers.
posted by Brandon on October 23rd, 2005 at 6:05 pmWhat’s wrong with being well off? All other things being the same, I would rather be rich than poor.
posted by JCP2 on October 23rd, 2005 at 6:31 pmPersonally I prefer freedom and flexibility to better pay.
posted by OFWinsurgent on October 23rd, 2005 at 7:13 pmThere must be some minimum amount of income you would need to have freedom/flexibility. I imagine that the ratio of your income to fixed costs should be relatively high to have true freedom and flexibility. When I say rich, I mean total income and net worth, not just wage income.
posted by JCP2 on October 23rd, 2005 at 8:02 pmoh, you mean “TRUE freedom and flexibility…” shit, I don’t have that. I only have “semi-freedom and flexibility” which will do in a pinch.
posted by OFWinsurgent on October 23rd, 2005 at 10:17 pmby freedom and flexibility, do you mean radical choice and the ability to do the splits?
posted by Real Big on October 23rd, 2005 at 11:58 pmExactly what Mike said: somebody asked a few Ann Arbor friends what was good around there, and that seems to be about it.
Even if I was in Ann Arbor for a weekend (and not an Ann Arborite,) I’d have a lot of trouble trying to come up with a lot of things to do. I’d go shopping, eat food, go to The Necto, The Pig, Firefly Club / Goodnite Gracie’s, or Leopold Bros. (depending on your musical tastes) for a night.
On the next day, I’d have absolutely nothing to do. I’d eat again, but aside from that I’d realise that I’m out of interesting things to do other than eat. Maybe I’d go to the State Theatre and then to the Comedy Showcase in the evening, but I’ve still got a whole lot of time to kill…
Needless to say, maybe I’m just disillusioned because I’ve done everything here. If one thing’s for certain, I’m turning into an American Apparel model. In terms of how much crap I have from that store, that is - definitely *not* the “extremely hot” part of it. Not even remotely hot. I guess I’m more of an American Apparel Animatronic mannequin.
Also, Ann Arbor has a hell of a lot of non-rich people as well. I’ve seen both sides of the income bracket in this city. Oh, and zach: stop being a whiny little high school kid. Back up what you’ve got to say if you’re going to attack a generalised group of people ad hominem.
posted by eston on October 25th, 2005 at 4:48 pmFunny, was just talking last week to a guy who went to UM in the late 1940s, when (he says) students were told to keep an eye on their coats, purses, etc., because “people from Toledo come up to steal things.”
Maybe that article was simply code for, “Ann Arbor: go steal some stuff.”
posted by Sam on October 25th, 2005 at 8:21 pmI am not sure what you call a person from Toledo, but we have two of them on the U of M women’s basketball team so maybe I’ll ask them at the next game I go to!
posted by Jerrybear on October 26th, 2005 at 3:47 pmWant to change your jet ?
Want to rent a Yacht ?
Like fast and expensive car ?
Go to Europaluxury : http://www.europaluxury.com
FOR RICH ONLY !
posted by bob on November 7th, 2005 at 5:07 am