Then They Came for the People Who Didn’t Want to Sit in Luxury Boxes
If the police station near the library wasn’t enough to shake you out of your complacency, this letter in yesterday’s News, providing compelling evidence linking the new stadium luxury boxes to Albert Speer and Nuremberg, should be enough to prove once and for all that A2 is heading down the path to Nazism.
…aaannnd Godwin’s Law comes at long last to the Ann Arbor news.
posted by rjwhite on November 1st, 2006 at 12:54 pmThat particular letter is in a class of retardation by itself.
posted by Dave on November 1st, 2006 at 5:04 pmUm, the writer is uncomfortably like something in 6th grade persuasive writing unit. ps - hate the Nazis, not the buildings.
posted by poly c on November 1st, 2006 at 9:56 pmCongratulations, AAIO! Best Local Blog in the Ann Arbor News Readers’s Poll. That puts you up in the Pantheon with Krazy Jim’s (Best Place for a Burger) and Kohl’s (Best Place for Kid’s Clothing).
posted by kjc on November 1st, 2006 at 10:55 pmColor me ignorant, but…
What is this Krazy Jim’s of which you speak? Do they make real burgers or is it another crappy grease house annointed with the oil of ‘UM tradition’ that makes some places impervious to good taste or criticism?
posted by dcwp on November 2nd, 2006 at 10:09 amKrazy Jim’s = Blimpie Burger on S. Division near Packard.
posted by Larry Kestenbaum on November 2nd, 2006 at 10:37 amI know I’ll regret asking, but is there, in fact, a Jim? And (with equal trepidation) is he Krazy?
posted by David on November 2nd, 2006 at 11:27 amI don’t know, David, but I propose an outing to fi nd out!
posted by Heidi on November 2nd, 2006 at 11:46 amThere was a Jim, but he passed away within the last year or so.
posted by Chris on November 2nd, 2006 at 12:00 pmGod I hate this town.
posted by Stephen Haas on November 2nd, 2006 at 1:20 pmI think the Third Reich letter and associated website are sort of funny—you don’t think that was his point?
posted by Huckett on November 2nd, 2006 at 1:21 pmAh, so Krazy Jim’s is exactly what I described. I’ve eaten there several times now in my eight years as an Ann Arborite. I don’t really get it. The burgers are alright I guess, but there really isn’t any flavor to them since they’re pressed to 1mm thin and fried until there’s only grease drenched carbon left.
All of this would be fine, I’m a fan of grease and the fried veggies are quite nice, but they don’t even live up to the motto. “Cheaper than food?” Hardly. Only marginally cheaper than the Red Hawk where you can get a nice juicy burger loaded with all the bobo toppings one expects in AA. Not to mention the ‘quaint’ rudeness you get from the counter staff is really no plus in my book.
Is the need to belong so great that people feel validated by knowing the order of operations at Blimpy Burger? Is this how one establishes an “Ann Arbor tradition?”
Sorry to vent, bad night bowling.
posted by dcwp on November 3rd, 2006 at 12:38 amNot exactly on topic here but I wanted to say that I left Ann Arbor 8 years ago. I live in New York now and remember my hours in “A2″ of being bashed for my whiteness, my maleness, etc. And now I often dream of Ann Arbor– imaginary Ann Arbors, rather. It is like it somehow got lodged inside me.
Yes, the town is like this little experiment in sophistication thought up by a small garde holding its own in a hinterland that it does somehow manage to “escape” from — Detroit proximity I suppose plays a role. But it gives way to fantasy by this equation; it luxuriates in its own idea of separateness — and its ability to define the dark world around it. Those who come in from the civilized world can see it for what it is. Those raised too nearby join the fantasy, and sign the endless petitions that raise spectres of absent constituencies.
Any threat of revealing this absence is called “Right Wing.” And I think thus the Godwin’s Law too-ready hand.
posted by toasty on November 3rd, 2006 at 3:01 amA2 is a funny little town. It hates racism, but has (de facto ) segregated public schools. It’s all for women’s rights but, at least to my eye, is a very sexist environment. I love it and I hate it. Yep, there’s no place like home!
posted by LittleB on November 3rd, 2006 at 9:42 am“I live in New York now and remember my hours in “A2″ of being bashed for my whiteness, my maleness, etc.”
Yes, I barely make it to work each day through the gauntlet of white-male-bashers. It’s harrowing.
“But it gives way to fantasy by this equation; it luxuriates in its own idea of separateness — and its ability to define the dark world around it.”
Good grief; this comment could merit an aaio post of its own.
posted by Bruce Fields on November 3rd, 2006 at 10:13 amAh, I remember coming to Ann Arbor and being regaled with stories of the intrepid A2 settlers as they fought their way through the feckless inhabitants, nay, occupiers of the hinterlands. How they bravely waded through the blubbering masses in Reford and Livonia, crossed the pristine banks of the Huron, and bravely set up their first espresso shop.
Many a night spent, my mouth agape, as resident after resident, natives all, stood on the balcony of Gandy Dancer or a corner of the Farmer’s Market to tell tales. Glorious tales of how their fearless ancestors fought back the onslaught of Detroiters making their way across these lands to fight the Christians in the West. How they mercifully cleared the path from DTW to Zingermans for all those weary travelers from the civilized regions.
Those who travel here still, to this day, can see their efforts wrought in stone and steel; the soaring edifices of Main Street, the tranquil beauty of the Plymouth corridor, and the unique styling of Briarwood Mall. Truly, this is the land of destiny.
posted by ryan on November 3rd, 2006 at 12:36 pmdcwp,
posted by andy on November 3rd, 2006 at 1:56 pmFirst off I love Blimpy Burgers, however I will admit I’m not always in the mood for this type of greasy burger…at those times I would recommend the Aut Bar, these are probably the best “quality” burger in town. I would also recommend going to Ypsilanti and hitting the Chick-N at Prospect and Holmes and ordering a Paul Bunyan Burger!
FYI: Casey’s burgers, Aut Bar burgers, Kosmoburgers, Red Hawk burgers (and many more retaurants) all use Knights Market beef. Crazy Jims uses the same grinding techniques. All good burgers.
posted by stella on November 3rd, 2006 at 2:21 pmNever had a Paul Bunyan, but then I’m burger leery unless I know the origin.
mmmm… Aut Bar burgers are indeed very fine. Someone was just telling me about the Chick-N yesterday. I guess two recommendations in two days means that the universe wants me to try it this weekend!
I don’t totally dislike Blimpy. The fried mixed veggies are good and I am a fan of places that cover you in grease. I just don’t get the obsession with it and definitely don’t think it’s the best burger in town.
I do think, though, that there’s something to be said for Blimpy as a case study in making an Ann Arbor tradition. It’s got the greasy yum that makes it vicerally appealing no matter how low-brow your tastes are, but there is a certain amount of esoteric knowledge involved in ordering correctly so that ‘veterans’ can mark themselves apart from the freshmen and out of towners. It’s just pleasant enough to make you willing to come back, but downstream enough to make a first-timer think ‘gee, this isn’t so hot, but everybody loves it so I must be missing something.’
posted by dcwp on November 3rd, 2006 at 3:01 pmWould you say that Dominick’s is another version of Blimpy, but with pizza and ho-hum sangria?
posted by AAMom on November 3rd, 2006 at 3:06 pmhaha; i remember the first and only time i ever went to dominicks. i ordered a pint of oberon and when the bar tender came back at me with the price, i had thought he misunderstood me and assumed that i wanted a whole god damn six pack! the only thing you could ever even come close to rationally ordering there is this stupid jungle juice, err, sangria, and that still costs the same as a real drink at a nice bar. i dont get it. worst bar EVER
posted by stc on November 3rd, 2006 at 4:20 pmYeah there was an open season on white males back in the 90s (at least around the Anthro department.) I wasn’t saying the area around A2 is actually “dark” — just that many people think it is.
Sorry if my comment was perceived offensive in intent.
posted by toasty on November 3rd, 2006 at 6:37 pmI have pretty mixed feelings on Dominick’s. I like a nice outside beer garden and the selection of beer is pretty good, but pricey. Some of the food isn’t all that bad either, but you’re dead-on with the Sangria. I always think it tastes like bubble gum, yet people go on and on about how you MUST have it when the temp goes above 65.
My biggest problem with Dominick’s is that when the weather is nice enough to hang out there, it is so jam packed with people that it’s hard to find a place to sit. That’s not really their fault though, just not enough other beer-gardens in the area.
posted by dcwp on November 3rd, 2006 at 8:30 pmthe other down side to dominick’s is the 10pm close time and the air raid sirens that notify everyone in the county of closing time. dominick’s is like candy corn for me. every year i think, hm…i’ll try the candy corn this year, maybe it won’t taste like wax. but then, everytime it does, and everytime i berate myself for forgetting the previous year’s experience.
posted by tim on November 3rd, 2006 at 11:10 pmthe guy who made the Nazi comment to the AAnews is a UM prof, scary.
Blimby burger employees are damn right polite compared to how they used to be.
if you want a good burger that is different from the rest and can still get ‘blimby style service’ (if Demo is working) go to Demo’s Deli across the streed from the stadium postoffice for the best ‘non-traditional burger in town’;
typical phone call
Demo “hello, demo’s”
Demo “what do you want on that?”
Demo “anything else?”
Demo “what do you want on that?”
Demo “anything else?”
Demo “ok” then hangs up
or
Demo’s Dad “Demos, what do you want?”
posted by Just a Voice on November 4th, 2006 at 3:46 amDemo’s Dad “Blah, blah” can’t remember what he said, but with strong foreign accent
Demo’s Dad “young lady, I speak for languages, thank you very much”. then hangs up
Doh, that last line should read
Demo’s Dad “young lady, I speak FOUR languages, ……
posted by Just a Voice on November 4th, 2006 at 3:47 amDimos -also a Knights beef user. The burger on rye is awesome. I can’t remember if they properly call it a patty melt or not on the menu, but whatever they call it it’s fantastic. Good donuts too.
posted by stella on November 4th, 2006 at 10:04 am