Bowled Over
Bowling Green State University’s student paper suggests A2 as a hot spring break destination. “It definitely is a cool city, and it’s kind of overwhelming,” one Michigan student tells them. “I still don’t feel like I know everywhere and I’ve been here a year and a half.” And if that wasn’t enough to convince you, the reporter also talks to Brighton High School students who go to Urban Outfitters every week.
If you’ve ever been to Bowling Green, you understand…
posted by Scott T. on March 2nd, 2006 at 10:06 amSee! You’ve been wrong all along , Ann Arbor is great! A BSU undergrad even said so.
posted by BG on March 2nd, 2006 at 11:07 amOh, it’s overwhelming, all right. If you’re really easily whelmed.
posted by Nitro on March 2nd, 2006 at 1:52 pmI’ve been to Bowling Green to do research at the Northwest Ohio Regional Archives. I was rather startled by how little BG resembles a college town.
posted by Larry Kestenbaum on March 2nd, 2006 at 3:35 pmA similar A2 rave not too long ago appeared in The Toledo Blade.
posted by E. Michael on March 2nd, 2006 at 4:09 pmReminder: these are northern OH reviewers.
Cross the border &
MI’s Cabela’s is their Disneyworld.
MI’s A2 must seem like their Paris.
Not even a mention of Starbucks in the article.
posted by michad328 on March 2nd, 2006 at 6:31 pmThis is adorable. Absolutely ADORABLE.
posted by AlAnon on March 2nd, 2006 at 10:46 pmOkay, I’m new here, and I did come from a much larger city…but I am also originally from a really skanky small town of like 7 people (six now, because I’m here in Ann Arbor)…Could someone enlighten me….What is overwhelming about Ann Arbor?
posted by Sarah on March 3rd, 2006 at 1:41 pm“Ted Leo and the Pharmacists are at the Blind Pig? Omigod! … Whaaa…?” (Bowling Greener being overwhelmed).
Sarah, I don’t think it’s the size of the town that makes people from Bowling Green so easily overwhelmed, but rather the size-to-cultural advantage ratio.
For a town of its size, Bowling Green has surprisingly few cultural advantages, whereas, for a town of its size, Ann Arbor has surprisingly many cultural advantages.
Sure, Ann Arbor is not a bowl of cherries and, if you don’t have any money, it can suck pretty bad but, put it this way: in Ann Arbor, you can see some shows that most people in America outside of San Francisco and Manhattan will not have the chance to see.
Of course, you’ve got to pay a lot of green to see them, but they’re there.
And that sign-changing in front of the Michigan Theater, well, it’s almost as good as the changing of the guard at Buckingham … and wait ’til you see the organ inside!
posted by daniel on March 3rd, 2006 at 2:22 pmYou’re right, and I don’t always mean to be slagging off Ann Arbor.
It is a great place for its size and the fact that its quite isolated from any major city.
I have yet to figure out how your averge Joe-Shmoe undergrad can afford to live here as a broke college student, however.
posted by Sarah on March 3rd, 2006 at 2:45 pmI was told recently that the U of M appeared on some list of “best deal” colleges. But it turns out that they just compile these lists based on the average amount of debt that people end up with. It’s pretty obvious that Michigan is a great deal for a rich in-state student who isn’t going to get aid anywhere and a terrible deal for a middle-class out-of-state student, but this statistic doesn’t give any idea of these disparities.
posted by ann arbor is overrated on March 3rd, 2006 at 3:05 pm“It is a great place for its size and the fact that its quite isolated from any major city.”
Er, there’s a pretty big one about 45 minutes to the east. One could do worse in terms of proximity. Close enough to go to shows and other events, but just far enough and transit-less that it’s a pain in the arse.
posted by Brandon on March 5th, 2006 at 11:34 amthe blind pig doesn’t hold all ages shows almost every night, as they report here. it’s actually somewhat rare, only one or two a month usually.
posted by guest on March 7th, 2006 at 2:35 pmthe blind pig doesn’t hold all ages shows almost every night, as they report here. it’s actually somewhat rare, only one or two a month usually.
posted by guest on March 7th, 2006 at 2:35 pmI always wondered how they figured out those “best deal” things. Unbelievable that U of Mich would show up…rent is sooooo pricy. When we first moved here and rented we figured out that to live in the more interesting parts of Ann Arbor we’d need to fork out roughly the equivalent rent that we were paying for our “giant” (by Chicago apartment standards) 1200 square foot loft in Boystown, only we’d be living in a little tiny apartment above someone’s garage in Kerrytown.
I agree with you, Brandon, that Detroit is a “major” city…But it is a flaming cesspool of despair and poverty..and, well, that’s just not ideal when you need to do your Christmas shopping. Three casinos??? Come on, people, look alive. You can still feel the spirit of what Detroit once was when you’re there…I hope it can turn itself around. But it seems kind of hopeless. They closed the zoo. But they do have three casinos.
posted by Sarah on March 7th, 2006 at 2:42 pmActually, the zoo is in Royal Oak and I don’t think it’s closed yet.
The casinos creep me out too. What a waste.
posted by OFWinsurgent on March 7th, 2006 at 10:31 pmThe zoo creeps me out more than the casinos. I saw a monkey put a gun in it’s mouth one afternoon.
posted by Ryan on March 11th, 2006 at 6:09 pmits damnit. its. How are the shows at Live?
posted by Ryan on March 11th, 2006 at 6:10 pm