Young People
The Arena’s proposal to close down a block for a March NCAA basketball celebration ran into some opposition at tonight’s City Council meeting, although it narrowly passed. Wendy Woods pointed out that the event might involve “young people,” of whom “many will be responsible, but many will not.” Chris Easthope argued that there was little difference between this event and Oktoberfest, but Joan Lowenstein disagreed. The basketball party would be “more likely to attract college students,” she said, and “drinking is a severe problem on campus.” By voting against this event where a bar would be serving alcohol presumably just to people with IDs, “we could do our part to show that we don’t approve of this.”
Well, we and a few unnamed co-conspirators have been talking about a drinking game for watching City Council on channel 16 for some time now, and a new rule has just suggested itself: “If Joan Lowenstein says something, drink.” Keep in mind that this game would likely attract young people, possibly even some in the binge-drinking-prone urban planning PhD student demographic. Councilmember Lowenstein, your duty is clear.
You know, in all the years that I’ve owned a bar, I’ve never been able to distinguish between a student and a non-student based on their appearance. How anyone could say that “I didn’t see any college students at Octoberfest” is beyond me. Ummm, I had several pints with students as I recall.
“Do they have an ID?” is as far as this discussion should go.
I do have to say that I’m impressed that a single business could shut down a major thoroughfare for a party. Maybe we need to shut down Main Street for some made up holiday like “Starkbierfest” (strong beer festival)? Hmmm.
Or maybe a AnnArborisOverrated(tm) festival? Or would the franchise fees drain all the profits away? Hmmm.
posted by todd on January 24th, 2006 at 12:38 pmScotchtoberfest? 90 schilling for everyone!
posted by ramsey on January 24th, 2006 at 12:57 pmWell, if drinking on campus is a severe problem, this is perfect; the Arena is nowhere near campus, and should draw all the drunken insanity more in the direction of Main St.
posted by Nick on January 25th, 2006 at 12:28 pmI’ll drink to that!
posted by Dave on January 25th, 2006 at 1:50 pmFor what it’s worth, the Arena was probably my favorite place to drink in Ann Arbor. Smoky as hell, bad lighting, and nowhere near the quality of beer as the nearby ABC, but the staff and the regulars really make it a good place to hang out.
posted by Nick on January 25th, 2006 at 4:09 pmTodd, I’ll vote/sign a petition for Starkbierfest or AAiO-Fest… As long as either is held in summer…
Is the Arena aware they’re located in Michigan, where an outdoor party in March has a decent chance of being (or Murphy’s law demanding it is) held on/under 6″ of snow? Or at least a nice, cold mix of ice and rain?
posted by FAA on January 25th, 2006 at 5:55 pm… everyone will be too drunk to notice.
posted by Sketchy on January 25th, 2006 at 9:00 pmDrinking Game here.
posted by Dale on January 25th, 2006 at 9:49 pmHello Ann Arbor!
The 313, an improv group featuring Larry Joe Campbell (According To Jim), Keegan-Micheal Key (MAD TV), Nyima Funk (MTV’s Wild N Out), and Joshua Funk (MTV’s Wild N Out) is coming to Ann Arbor to perform. We’ll be at The Improv Inferno July 28 and 29, 8and10pm.
THESE SHOWS ARE TO BENEFIT THE WENDY WOODS FOR MAYOR OF ANN ARBOR CAMPAIGN !!!!!!
(Wendy Woods is Nyima Funk’s mother)
posted by Nyima Funk on July 9th, 2006 at 6:29 pmFunk off!!!!!!
posted by Parking Structure Dude! on July 9th, 2006 at 10:59 pmHey Ku Kluxture! Hood, I didn’t think you could sink any lower, but you have…
posted by David Boyle on July 10th, 2006 at 12:43 amnyima’s myspace account says she’s 97 years old. how old does that make wendy woods? aa will set some kind of record for oldest mayor if we elect her.
posted by Tim on July 10th, 2006 at 2:14 amElect her! It’ll get Ann Arbor into the Guinness Book.
posted by nyima funk on July 14th, 2006 at 12:40 am