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Those Were the Days

Is Ann Arbor less cool now than it used to be? Is its currently inflated reputation based on a past that actually lived up to it? LiveJournalers share what they miss most about the old A2:

A magazine store.
A bead store.
A leather store (”not clothing, but pieces of leather”).
Limeade at Drake’s. “I always asked for extra sugar…because they made it so sour, and sometimes I’d get it.”

Well, there you have it. There was actually a time in A2 when you could get sour limeade, magazines, beads and pieces of leather, all within walking distance of downtown.

193 Responses to “Those Were the Days”

THINGS ARE DIFFERENT THAN THEY WERE LONG AGO- OH NO!!! CORPORATIONS AND GENTRIFICATION KILL BABIES!!

Someone was surprised Drake’s was gone? I moved there nine years ago and it was already gone for awhile.

People already not knowing the Del had ever existed? That was a little weird.
posted by rjwhite on March 7th, 2007 at 12:03 pm
Also- you really need to try going farther.
posted by rjwhite on March 7th, 2007 at 12:04 pm
Joes Star Lounge

Liberty Inn

That little breakfast diner next to Lucky Drugs

Lanskys Scrap Yard

Muhammeds British Motorcycle parts shop behind the Fleetwood

The Flame

Kresges Food area next to Drakes
posted by Ypsidweller on March 7th, 2007 at 12:35 pm
The Del Rio bit is hilarious — she’s pulling an “I’ve been here forever” schtick and didn’t know where the Del Rio was? Jesus.
posted by Dale on March 7th, 2007 at 12:41 pm
The Flame! What memories. The Flame was where the Alley Bar is now. The Flame, true to its name, was a gay bar. But it also was the only bar in town that opened at 7 AM — the time bars can legally open and begin serving alcohol in Michigan.
posted by . on March 7th, 2007 at 12:42 pm
Simulation Station (now Borders)

Southside Grill

Marshalls Liquor Store

Pretzel Bell

Old German

Schlenkers Hardware

Al Nali’s
posted by Ypsidweller on March 7th, 2007 at 12:43 pm
Make Waves (record store)
Joe’s Star Lounge
Second Chance (where necto is now)
School Kids as it once was
posted by JJdl on March 7th, 2007 at 12:50 pm
There you go, Ypsidweller — you said the shibboleth of the truly old school in “Pretzel Bell,” my retort to any of these punkasses who lament that there isn’t any place with cred near their comfortable OWS house (except the $7-for-a-cup-of-soup Jefferson Market).

Dammit, where’s JS when we need somebody to really go off?
posted by Dale on March 7th, 2007 at 12:51 pm
Mr. Floods Party
posted by Ypsidweller on March 7th, 2007 at 12:51 pm
Dave’s comics.

Cat’s Meow.

And there’s magazines in all of the major bookstores in town, and I know there’s at least one bead shop just on Liberty. Oh, and anyone who can’t park outside of a structure for free at any given time of day doesn’t know the good spots.
posted by ArcSine on March 7th, 2007 at 1:07 pm
53rd & 3rd

The Porn Theater on Fouth Ave.

Harrys Army Surplus (Arena Bar)
posted by Ypsidweller on March 7th, 2007 at 1:16 pm
The Pantree
posted by Ypsidweller on March 7th, 2007 at 1:20 pm
I can proudly say I never ate at the Pantree, well, the one in East Lansing once.
posted by Ypsidweller on March 7th, 2007 at 1:21 pm
“I moved out of Ann Arbor after Drake’s closed; there seemed to be no point in staying after that.”

Oh, the humanity!
posted by The Squid on March 7th, 2007 at 1:30 pm
oh, snap; when “netmouse” says AAIO is “a cute idea that… doesn’t actually go very far. ”

I find her expectations unreasonable. How much sustained snarkiness is Ann Arbor really worthy of, anyway? You’d have to be a PARTICULARLY boring obsessive-compulsive to snark more about inconsequential local nonsense than we already do. And there’s not much potential to broaden the scope to the international level without watering down the brand.

It is nice to be cute, though, isn’t it?
posted by Nitro on March 7th, 2007 at 2:44 pm
The Whiffletree
The Fifth Dimension, the previous tenant
Leopold Bloom’s (first caviar, first endive dowtown, where Bella Ciao is now)
Flick’s Bar (Monday was Pimp’s Night Out)
The Cracked Crab (first seafood restaurant)
The Oyster Bar and Spaghetti Machine (fresh tomatoes in the winter)

Mojo Boogie Band
The Carnal Kitchen
Radio King and His Court of Rhythm
The Charging Rhinocerous of Soul
Billy C and the Sunshine
The Seventh Seal
The Prime Movers

the Once festival
The U of M Folk Festival
The Promethean (coffee house, I bet NOBODY remembers that, got my first guitar lesson there)
The Sunday Concert Series in West Park, featuring the Grateful Dead
posted by Michael McC. on March 7th, 2007 at 3:35 pm
The Purple Pickle
Sun Bakery’s Napoleons (god food)
The Golden Falcon
Old German’s zweibelkuchen (more god food)
Quality Bakery
posted by stella on March 7th, 2007 at 3:41 pm
Joanne’s near the Blue Front.
posted by Ingrid on March 7th, 2007 at 3:46 pm
Joanne’s what? Even El Viejo here doesn’t remember that one.
posted by Michael McC. on March 7th, 2007 at 3:47 pm
Zingerman’s used to be good at one time.

Yeah, I remember Dave’s Comics. School Kids. Pantree (ate there a couple times). Drake’s. I liked their Grape-Limeaid.

But as they say, there is one constant - change.
posted by Kozzie_13 on March 7th, 2007 at 4:11 pm
Well this post certainly has backfired, hasn’t it.
posted by Parking Structure Dude! on March 7th, 2007 at 4:15 pm
Indian Summer Restaurant
posted by cleaver on March 7th, 2007 at 4:20 pm
The Sunday Concert Series in West Park, featuring the Grateful Dead? I’ve heard of this, but always considered the stories I’ve heard of it apocryphal. Of course the Grateful Dead played in West Park. It’s Ann Arbor! I’m not a Grateful Dead fan, but I would like this to be true.
posted by . on March 7th, 2007 at 5:25 pm
Ann Arbor 1 & 2
posted by . on March 7th, 2007 at 5:29 pm
the dead played west park on 8/13/67.
posted by nymbani yangu on March 7th, 2007 at 7:49 pm
Ah, yes, the “good old days”. Who can forget:

The Campus Theatre on South U–they used to post the inside temperature for the theatre right next to the “no refunds” sign. The only business that could make its replacement, the Galleria, seem like an improvement.

The Danish News on Fourth–not only could you buy a magazine, but they put in a nice plain brown wrapper for you.

Kline’s on Main–where you could buy things at Hudson’s prices in slum-like surroundings. The inevitable tripping on the uneven floors was so cozy.

The Ark on Hill St.–you could buy a ticket and later find that the only place to sit had no view of the musicians. Classic!

Jacobson’s at Liberty and Maynard–If you were under 25, the store always provided you with an escort wherever you went, even when you didn’t want one.

Dooley’s on Maynard–Unpretentious to a fault. A bar that knew its raison d’etre was to get as many undergraduates as possible drunk in the shortest amount of time, regardless of their ages, liquor license be damned.

The old S. Forest parking structure–You just had to look at the 2×4s holding up the parking deck over your head, and you knew you were living on the edge.

Arborland Mall–I miss the wide open spaces of a derelict mall. Damn those greedy developers!

. . . and our most recent victim:

Dinersty (or diner sty, as I prefer)–the only Chinese restaurant in town that approached the sanitary condition of a real neighborhood restaurant in the People’s Republic.
posted by halflight on March 7th, 2007 at 8:56 pm
I miss an Ann Arbor with no LiveJournal.

(For the nostolgia weepies—
The Lab.
The Pirate House.
Community Newsstand
The Del.
Kabob Palace.

That’s pretty much it. I never went to Drakes or The Pretzel Bell, so far as I can remember. Most of the things that are gone kinda sucked, honestly.)

Oh, and I don’t comment so much anymore because I read by RSS, which adds that one extra step that makes it less fun… Well, and I tend to read in chunks, so I get the last, say, three weeks all at once. And I’m planning a move to LA, so coming here reinforces my bitterness to an ugly level (I’m told). Living where I do, on the North side, I find that I have to drive just about as long to do anything here as I had to from my girlfriend’s place near Palms and Motor.
posted by js on March 7th, 2007 at 10:00 pm
Oh, and The Backroom and Brown Jug didn’t always suck. That used to be OK. And Rick’s used to have all ages shows on Tuesdays that were cool.
posted by js on March 7th, 2007 at 10:18 pm
Get Curious With Safety Girl.
posted by aack on March 7th, 2007 at 11:11 pm
There’s only one place that I’ll ever miss from auld Ann Arbor and that’s Thano’s.
posted by Dale on March 8th, 2007 at 1:11 am
Well, I already know you’re not a woman, and therefore you probably never worked there as one, so I suppose you may find some redeeming quality in him/it.
posted by stella on March 8th, 2007 at 1:30 am
the Eye of Agamotto. To heck with Dave.
posted by Nitro on March 8th, 2007 at 8:56 am
Mark’s chess-playing beatnik coffeehouse on William by the White Market
posted by Nitro on March 8th, 2007 at 8:58 am
I remember a time at Thano’s, about fifteen years ago, when a long set of nearby tables were occupied by a big crowd of about 30 guys with shaved heads, each one with in an identical white t-shirt stenciled with “S.H.A.R.P.” in black letters.

On the one hand, I can’t help but like the SHARPs (Skin Heads Against Racial Prejudice). On the other hand, practically all of them were smoking cigarettes, and it made the air pretty intolerable in a short time.
posted by Larry Kestenbaum on March 8th, 2007 at 8:58 am
In defense of the LJs having the discussion over there (of which i’m admittedly one), i think there’s two angles to the whole bit that may or may not coincide.

One is the “nostalgia” and/or “home-town” aspect — the independent question of whether or not Ann Arbor has degraded over time, from the perspective of some longer-term residents. (FWIW, i’m coming up on 15 years, and i DON’T consider myself one of the folks who can really speak to that. I’m more leaving that to the lifers.)

The second, though, is the question that, if the Ann Arbor really has degraded, could that be part of the reason it’s overrated? Again, not being a guy who was here “back in the day”, i’m not sure, but i do wonder about it. If it really was this neat-o kinda happenin’ mid-West artsy center with small-town character decades ago, it might help explain why the world can’t seem to stop blowing its horn now.

Lastly, i’ll take responsibility for at least one of the mentions of aaio as “not doing all it could”. I totally meant that only from the perspective that i think the whose question of Ann Arbor’s overratedness could seriously be the topic of major research. Personally, i totally understand this site’s not really about that, and i’m cool with that. I love your mission and enjoy the light-hearted snark, and didn’t want to give the impression that i’m not a fan. I am. And i’m certainly not about to go start www.annarborisoverratedisoverrated.com or anything.
posted by _earthshine_ on March 8th, 2007 at 9:55 am
(P.S. — Please forgive my idiot English errors. I banged that out a bit too quickly.)
posted by _earthshine_ on March 8th, 2007 at 9:57 am
Going back to the 70s - Central Cafe and checking out who was dining together for breakfast weekends.
Drug Help (at William and State), the Rainbow People’s Party on Hill, The Human Rights Party on city council, the Psychadelic Rangers doing first aid at the Blues and Jazz Festival, The Free People’s Clinic on Liberty (across from where the Federal Building is now). The only survivor of that group of counter culture services? Ozone House.

Goodyears on Main street would give you 5% off your purchase for every A on your report card. Gas stations on S. U. and also on Liberty. The UM providing the space for Rep. Perry Bullard to hold a fundraiser showing Deep Throat (or did I dream that? I know I attended at age 15…) I think it was Lorch Hall. Also watching The Harder They Come at Lorch Hall in a room filled with pot smokers.

The Flame also was the best bar in town for underage guys to go and drink and not get carded. A lot of not gay male high school students would end up there.

Capitol Market below the Fourth Ave. “Red Light District” was a good store, and they had he best Feta Cheese.
posted by born in aa on March 8th, 2007 at 9:58 am
I was also drinking beer at the Lorch Hall show, but it was the guy sitting next to me who dropped the bottle at the end of the show.
posted by Michael McC. on March 8th, 2007 at 10:17 am
Bimbo’s!
posted by Nina on March 8th, 2007 at 10:33 am
Phffizer.
posted by PSD on March 8th, 2007 at 10:47 am
I miss the fake grenade crater in front of the Rainbow House.
posted by Nitro on March 8th, 2007 at 11:09 am
Diner sty is closed?
posted by Dave on March 8th, 2007 at 11:37 am
Back a few comments, Joanne’s was a breakfast place owned by Hungarians. Great omlettes and the owner had a tall hair-do.
posted by Ingrid on March 8th, 2007 at 12:32 pm
the Quarter Bistro
posted by Steely Dan on March 8th, 2007 at 2:16 pm
Totally Awesome House.
posted by Brandon on March 8th, 2007 at 3:37 pm
Diamond Head cafe in Kerrytown (loved their Sunday brunch and macadamia nut waffles!)

Quality Bar (where Palio now lives)
posted by Kathy on March 8th, 2007 at 3:52 pm
Diner sty has been lost to the stripmall.
posted by CJ on March 8th, 2007 at 4:35 pm
Lastly, i’ll take responsibility for at least one of the mentions of aaio as “not doing all it could”. I totally meant that only from the perspective that i think the whose question of Ann Arbor’s overratedness could seriously be the topic of major research.

no, I liked your post. It’s all about narrow focus.
posted by ann arbor is overrated on March 9th, 2007 at 9:44 am
Anyone know what happened to the Quarter Bistro? I drove by there this morning and there was yellow police-type tape around the perimeter of the place and there were disaster relief trucks in the parking lot. Did that big garlic over the entrance fall and crush someone?
posted by . on March 9th, 2007 at 10:42 am
I heard the Quarto Bistro burned down. But I didn’t see the story in the AA Snooze

Sears
Faber’s Fabrics
Kresgees on State and on Main
The A&P on State St
The A&P on Huron St.
Marshall’s Drugs
Post Office in Nickels Arcade
Chicken in the Rough
Preketes’ Sugar Bowl
Allenell Hotel
posted by from a REAL oldie on March 9th, 2007 at 11:00 am
re: The Flame was where the Alley Bar is now.

Actually, that was it’s second location. It spent most of it’s life in a far nastier hole on Washington that is now home to Logan (can’t imagine how they ever got “that” smell out of the structure). Back then, it was thoroughly charming in a charmless skanky “don’t touch *anything* in the back” sort of way.

re: Perry Bullard
I live in the house he owned in the 80s and the neighbors always whisper that strange, possibly sexual things went on with him. Anyone know anything about him? Supposedly, some of these “things” were connected with his somewhat dark death a while back.

Gerry
posted by Gerry on March 9th, 2007 at 1:14 pm
The news about the Quarter Bistro was in the paper last week: kitchen fire.

http://www.mlive.com/search/index.ssf?/base/news-21/11733686038520.xml?aanews?NEA&coll=2
posted by Chris on March 9th, 2007 at 2:07 pm
I believe Perry died from auto-asphyxiation.
posted by a2oldie on March 9th, 2007 at 2:20 pm
Totally Awesome house was a indie rock shit hole
posted by Anonymous on March 9th, 2007 at 5:03 pm
the robert rauschenberg performance and mike kelley as a schoolmate
posted by toasty on March 10th, 2007 at 5:21 am
It’s not just Ann Arbor. I suspect that Cambridge, Madison and Berkley are all less cool than they once were. Maybe it’s just a more conservative time?
posted by LittleB on March 10th, 2007 at 4:00 pm
It’s more that there’s a consumeristic nihilism which seems to characterize a lot of the “cooler” kids. Some sorta post-Reaganite interpretation of sex and society. And all of the people I consider doing progressive work are doing things like studying urban planning and listening to folk rock, which is kinda dorky, honestly (sometimes I wonder if this was what it was like in the early ’60s, before the hippies and drugs exploded).
The sense of sanctioned transgression has yielded to concerns about raising children.
posted by js on March 10th, 2007 at 6:37 pm
I was thinking the internet killed a lot of the storefronts lamented in this thread: schoolkids, cat’s meow, etc.

When I lived in Ann Arbor ‘counterculture’ kids used to flood into ann arbor to buy things they just couldn’t get at home. Now they can get these things online, and local residents (oh, wait– I mean ’students’, not ‘the community’) would rather buy Cosi sandwiches than leather jackets and Bettie Page tee shirts.
posted by toasty on March 11th, 2007 at 4:54 am
I meant to say the counterculture kids would flood into Ann Arbor from all over the state– sorry if that was unclear … I knew this guy who would drive down from Tawas to shop for punk stuff at Schoolkids. He probably now downloads free mp3s at 7inchpunk.com or some other site like that
posted by toasty on March 11th, 2007 at 4:56 am
Some of my favorites:

Everett’s Drive In (Home of the California Burger)
The Cracked Crab
Bimbo’s
The old Middle Earth (on Liberty; where the Bead Gallery is now)]
People’s Ballroom
Joe’s Star Lounge
Stadium Tavern
The U Club (may still exist, in the U-M Union, but I doubt they have the combination of elegant table service and $2 pitchers of Molson at Happy Hour!)
Big Steel Ballroom (where the Neutral Zone was until recently, on Mosley).
Quality Bakery on Main St.
Schneider’s Bakery on W. Liberty (corner of 4th St.), and the smell of cinnamon rolls)
Ian’s Patisserie (where Gratzi is now)
Food and Drug Mart
Indian Summer (I think it was where Shaman Drum is now)
Kresge’s (where MI Book and Supply is now)
Golden Falcon
Miller’s Ice Cream (on South U and another on S. Main)
The Satellite (Ground floor of U Towers)
Orange Julius (ditto)

Three old favorites that are still thriving:
Washtenaw Dairy
Dominick’s
Dexter Cider Mill
posted by SayHey on March 11th, 2007 at 2:45 pm
Ahh! The old AA…

McDonalds on Maynard
Burger King on Liberty
McDonalds on South U
Chi Chi’s on South State
Pizza Hut on Stadium
Ponderosa on Stadium
Yes, those. were. the. DAYS!!
posted by Ja Booty on March 11th, 2007 at 8:50 pm
Waterman Gym
A big yes to the Eye of Aggamato reference..
Losing my virginity in Alice Lloyd in 71..
The Night of the Living Dead at Angel…made me think about not smoking grass for a….day.
Blue Front…the man that owned it was so funny…and so blitzed.
The basketball court on East U and Hill.
That cute little sophomore at Stockwell.
posted by saa on March 12th, 2007 at 10:20 am
I miss days when people didn’t constantly reminiscence.

All well and good, but between this sort of thing and “their first album was better”: headache.

Wait, no one said the Tower Records on South U? Or Discount on State? Or Cat’s Meow (wait, damn - mentioned)? Oh well, two points for me!
posted by Anonymous on March 12th, 2007 at 1:01 pm
I miss the field at the corner of East U and South U…that was a great place to play football.

Oh and I miss Count Twists…not so much Charley’s itself…but I loved the Count Twists.

Finally I miss when UofM actually had a basketball team….
posted by andy on March 12th, 2007 at 3:19 pm
or a baseball team
posted by peter honeyman on March 12th, 2007 at 4:11 pm
How about the Blues Festival with Lightning Hawkins. Albert King, the James Cotton Blues Band, Big Mama Thornton, Howlin’ Wolf all in the Gallup Park area. By the way Uof M baseball is pretty good
posted by Danny boy on March 12th, 2007 at 4:44 pm
Well known acts in the HalfAss. I know the Necros, Big Black, and G. G. Allin played there. I think Jesus Lizard did, too. Does anyone recall whether NA or Big Chief played there? (Of course, the Joker Poker machine.)

Local acts like RoKo and the Groove Biscuits. Other posters would know more about the current status of Borax, Largebeat, and Comstock.

I caught the last couple Time Machines — one in the HalfAss and one in a basement room at EQ. If that event happened after that, I don’t recall.

I just missed Pretzel Bell. Wasn’t the Heidelberg featured in “Tom Harmon of the Wolverines”?

Question for some of the long term residents…. I’ve heard there was an art co-op near Liberty and Division that burned down sometime in the late 60’s or early 70s. Any info?

And did anyone ever eat at Earth Apple?
posted by A Different Jon on March 13th, 2007 at 4:06 am
Barry Biscuit - can’t confirm but I swear someone said married with a kid, teaching.
I don’t remember Jesus Lizard at the Halfass but we (Skinflower) opened for them with Mol Triffid at the Heidelberg. Back in the Roland and Jim days.
Largebeat - just put out a new CD “Time Chasing Time”.
Borax - Last performance was to completely confuse and scare the art fair crowd around 10 years ago. Nitro probably still has their cd available.
Comstock - I think they still do it, I could be wrong.
The Earth Apple? As in the Pomme de Terre out at the mall circa 1984? That can’t be what you mean….. can it?
posted by stella on March 13th, 2007 at 7:19 am
A different jon asks about an art co-op that burned down in the late 60s or 70s. You might be thinking of the space occupied by The People’s Ballroom, Drug Help, Ozone House, Creative Arts Workshop, Community Switchboard and I think the Free People’s Clinic was in tht space as well. It was on Washington Street, now where the parking structure is near State. I believe it was December of 1972 - I have the news clipping somewhere still. arson was suspected.
The Ballroom never came back, the Free People’s Clinic lasted a few years on Liberty Street, the rest moved to a temporary location above Mak’s Coffee House on E. William near Maynard and then to 621 E. William - right on the corner of State and William. They all did well 1973 to 1977, when the Creative Arts Workshop died a slow death. Ozone House and Drug Help and Community Switchboard bought a house through a group they called C4 - The Community Center Coordinating Council - at 608 N. Main and Community Switchboard and Drug Help also met their demise there a few years later. C4 sold the house in the late 80s I believe it was, with profits going to Ozone, which partly allowed them to buy their current home on Washtenaw.
The Creative Arts Workshop was an artist group offering classes, studio space, and activitites for homeless youth as well as a variety of others.
Ozone was created through the combined interests of The White Panthers and some church groups, the early meetings in 1969 to create something to help runaways were held at Canterberry House. Commander Cody and the Lost Planet Airmen were rehearsing above one night, playing Lost in the Ozone Again while the group was looking for a name.
posted by born in aa on March 13th, 2007 at 7:50 am
So you’re moving to LA, js? In the spirit of this post, here are a few suggestions to get you started:

- Tito’s Tacos (Culver City), El Texate (Santa Monica)
- Live music at the Echo (Echo Park), the Troubadour (W. Hollywood), the Henry Fonda (Los Feliz)
- Hiking in the San Gabriel mountains
- Lucky Baldwin’s pub (Pasadena)

Enjoy.
posted by Nick on March 13th, 2007 at 1:19 pm
Schwaben Hall,
Karl’s Hairstyling ( Liberty)
Art World (on main street) pottery classes
Central Cafe
Place on the huron river that many went skinny dipping…..Houses are there now
posted by JJ on March 14th, 2007 at 1:49 am
seeing the guy who played “Skippy” on Family Ties hanging out at that cheesy bar next to the Back Door
posted by Anonymous on March 14th, 2007 at 2:02 am
stella — Thanks for the update. The Earth Apple I’m thinking of was a very short lived restaurant between Stop ‘n’ Go and the bank.

born in aa — Thanks! I had heard about the fire back in the early 90s from a down-on-his-luck fellow in his late 50s standing near Liberty and State. I think this is what he was talking about. He seemed to think it strange that the place was destroyed with the firehouse so close by. When the artist studio place burned a couple years back, it reminded me of this.

JJ — Are you talking about “the quarry”?
posted by A Different Jon on March 14th, 2007 at 4:01 am
oops.
More favorites:
Annie’s Dugout. Where Knight’s restaurant is now (across from Vets’ Park). It was a sports-oriented bar, esp. softball. You could play horseshoes in the courtyard while enjoying a pitcher. Knight’s is great too.
Summit Medical Center (on Summit, then on Spring) Dr. Ed Pierce (later State Senator, Governor candidate, and Mayor) provided health care on a sliding scale to whoever needed it, ably assisted by Mary Anne Pierce. Packard Clinic is a successor organization.
posted by SayHey on March 14th, 2007 at 3:04 pm
That’s Mary Lee Pierce actually.
posted by stella on March 14th, 2007 at 3:16 pm
I miss going to the Round Table for lunch with my grandpa when I was little. We would sit at a round table in the window, and he’d point out the important local politicians at the restaurant. It was an age when seeing the mayor felt like a big deal.

Also, Farmer Grants market on Jackson Road. My family went there for years to buy our plants in the spring and christmas trees in the winter. Not to mention amazing berries and fresh produce all summer.
posted by AE on March 14th, 2007 at 6:05 pm
Lohr Road when it was a gravel road.

The Michigan Terminal System. Ontels. Confer.

The Food and Drug Mart.

The Japanese restaurant where Amer’s is now. Hinodae, and then Donburi before it. That place didn’t change for more than a decade.

Steve’s Lunch (the essential Ann Arbor bi bim bop place).

Main Street News, across the street from Afterwords, both gone.

The Del’s Detburger.
posted by Edward Vielmetti on March 14th, 2007 at 11:47 pm
Momma Jules hot sauce in the bottle at the Del. I miss it sooooooooo much!
posted by Worker Bee on March 15th, 2007 at 6:45 am
I thought Hinodae was where Totoro is now.
posted by Chris on March 15th, 2007 at 8:25 am
Bimbos
Bimbos on the Hill
Pantree
Discount Records
State Discount- the only record store you could also buy a bong to go along with your Dark Side of the Moon
There was a little comic book store/head shop in the basement near where InFlight is now.
Jacques Patisserie near where Breuggers is now.
Community News
Campus theater
Ann Arbor theater
Back when the State had 4 theaters and showed B-grade R music and didn’t give a crap if you were 13 watching Bachelor Party
The Purple dial-a-ride mini-buses.
Keg and Cork off of Greene Road.
Cunninghams Drugs
Buster Brown shoes in Plymouth Mall.
The Amazing Blue Machine at Simulation Station replete with their customized tokens.
Hanging out with Community High students at Kerrytown during lunch back when having red hair was really underground.
Not having all these idiotic Farmington Hills/Bloomfield Hills transplants who have transformed the city into a sterile ordinary yuppie college town rather than one that had a pulse and an edge and attitude.
posted by Ted on March 15th, 2007 at 8:57 am
Ted, there were several head shops and such in the old InFlight building and its neighbors.
I think it was the old Ann Arbor T-Shirt Gallery that finally moved down to a basement space at the end of the block near Olga’s and changed its name to Make Waves.
Back in the day, this is where we bought all of our punk gear (t-shirts, buttons, leather and studs, etc.). They also had quite a collection of imported music, but we still spent a lot of money at Schoolkids, too.
posted by aaman on March 15th, 2007 at 11:12 am
Two (count them two) Commie News stores.

Hinodae was where Totoro is, yeah.

Chubb’s on State St, where my great uncle Alfio worked to put himself through school in the 30s.

The Wolverine Limited train, which let you commute to Detroit from Ann Arbor by rail.

The old Borders store on State St with Steve working the computer section.

Stevens Coop (lost in a fire).
posted by Edward Vielmetti on March 15th, 2007 at 9:33 pm
i miss the old aaio, before the nostalgia invasion
posted by peter honeyman on March 15th, 2007 at 11:08 pm
when these was the Big Woods; when a new immigrant could be sent to die for the Negroes in Lincoln’s War so that a participant’s great-grandchild could be called a racist by some campus liberal 150 years later, here in the always free north (free with a fee)
posted by Anonymous on March 16th, 2007 at 4:48 am
When Ann rode up the Potawatomi Trail that hugged the shoreline of the Huron River and got her buggy stuck in Mallets creek. Luckily Ezra Maynard lived nearby and could pull her out so she could go visit the town her husband named for her six months earlier. The dozens of stakes marking Ann Street was quite a sight then.
posted by Ypsidweller on March 16th, 2007 at 8:35 am
I miss the mastodons…and the mile-thick slabs of ice. Ann Arbor hasn’t been really cool since the glaciers subsided.
posted by Nitro on March 16th, 2007 at 8:44 am
No pun intended, I’m sure.
posted by Chris on March 16th, 2007 at 9:09 am
I miss the gifted trilobites.
posted by Ypsidixit on March 16th, 2007 at 9:18 am
I miss McGovern for Trueth.
posted by Ypsidweller on March 16th, 2007 at 9:20 am
I can’t believe I forgot U Cellar Bookstore! (basement of Michigan Union). A nonprofit collective formed after a huge student protest against exploitative textbook prices. A very funky place to shop and read. A little after the trilobites, a little before the yuppies…
posted by SayHey on March 16th, 2007 at 7:12 pm
Domino’s on State
most of all, though, Good Time Charlies.
posted by randomguymike on March 16th, 2007 at 9:09 pm
Frank Allison & the Odd Sox

Being able to dance on the roof at The Blind Pig

Top of the Park (before it became horrible)

Kerrytown Bistro

Cracked Crab and the weird blinky neon crab sign

The Round Table for breakfast and the senile waitress who would never write anything down and always forget the order. Still, the place was a classic.
posted by (former) OFWinsurgent on March 17th, 2007 at 2:08 am
one time I was eating at dinersty (or “Diner Sty” as someone pointed out, upthread) and got a band-aid in my chicken curry noodle. Thing was, the copious MSG in the dish made me almost want to suckle said band-aid. Even the plastic fork was abounding with flavor. I suckled the fork and wanted to go down on the splattered chairs there: not just simple plastic chairs, as my dear oldskool AA companions know: but velvety, robustly generic flocked swiveling chairs completely spackled in kung-pao, general tso’s cricket sauce, starch, krill paste, and late nite fugue: why are we in ann arbor, and WHO exactly has the most clout? Is it asia? Or should I just keep my mouth shut and hope “teecher” tells me what to do next tomorrow?
posted by toaster sty on March 17th, 2007 at 5:15 am
“So you’re moving to LA, js? In the spirit of this post, here are a few suggestions to get you started:

- Tito’s Tacos (Culver City), El Texate (Santa Monica)
- Live music at the Echo (Echo Park), the Troubadour (W. Hollywood), the Henry Fonda (Los Feliz)
- Hiking in the San Gabriel mountains
- Lucky Baldwin’s pub (Pasadena)”

Where in Culver is Tito’s? My girlfriend lives pretty much at Palms and Motor, so she’s right over there (and is looking for a new place ni that neighborhood).
posted by js on March 18th, 2007 at 1:12 pm
“Well known acts in the HalfAss.”

Uh, Castanets, His Name is Alive, My Brightest Diamond, Telefon Tel Aviv, Nomo, Saturday Looks Good to Me, and numerous other nationally-known acts have played tghere in the past year.
posted by Brandon on March 18th, 2007 at 4:39 pm
Tito’s is on Washington place just off Sepulveda. http://www.titostacos.com.
posted by Nick on March 19th, 2007 at 10:27 am
I remember “well known acts” at East Quad, but not clearly enough to remember if they were well known before or after their show there.

Just sayin’.

Oh, and for relation-to-other-article - Nomo was featured semi-prominently in a Toronto weekly article (Now, maybe?) about a local African-beat band. So well-known, sure. I’m always somewhat surprised to see a Ann Arbor shout-out in another city’s paper, for some reason.
posted by Jen on March 19th, 2007 at 11:28 am
Ohmigosh.

I actually do miss the Communist Newspaper that always got handed out on the diag, with Amerika and U$A and the whole bit. Wow. Never thought I’d be nostalgic for that writing, but when an article was really good it was on par with the Onion, unintentionally.

I do miss Discount Records. When I was a kid visiting Ann Arbor for the day, I’d always end up stopping in and getting something RecordTime didn’t have. Le sigh.
posted by Jen on March 19th, 2007 at 11:32 am
JS, if you’ll be living in Culver City here are a couple other west-side things to check out:
- a Cuban restaurant on Venice Blvd just east of the 405 called (who knows why) Versailles
- Father’s Office at Montana and 11th in Santa Monica, if you like Belgian beer
- Temple Bar at Wilshire and 11th in Santa Monica - it’s a very “LA” place, but the DJs and bands can be incredible
posted by Nick on March 19th, 2007 at 11:39 am
is it just me or does ann arbor not have -
any semblance of coolness/hipness. it seems like everyone goes to chicago or detroit for their clothes, furniture, art etc. so much disposable income but not much to spend it on…
posted by pshaw on March 19th, 2007 at 9:14 pm
JS, Go to Señor Fish in South Pas, LA or Glendale. That’s my fave Cali taco fix.
posted by (former) OFWinsurgent on March 19th, 2007 at 9:18 pm
I still lissen to His Name is Alive’s “beech boys” cassette every few months or so — I think bands like scissors sisters etc. probably learned a thing or two from it
posted by toasty on March 20th, 2007 at 2:33 am
I miss people who aren’t totally gay.
posted by wurd up on March 22nd, 2007 at 9:29 pm
Any of you LAites got any advice on good dark beer? Or bread like Ed’s?
posted by js on March 29th, 2007 at 2:41 pm
Oh, don’t forget that wonderful Otto’s…the tiny carmel corn store on Liberty. Fresh cheesey popcorn, THE best carmel corn ever made in a giant copper pot right in front of your eyes, Divine!

Bimbos on the Hill. I’m from Chicago and it was the only really decent pizza east of Chicago. God, I miss it. And they had that wonderful player piano with the little horns and accordion to accompany a tune for 25cents I wish I had know that piano was up for sale…I found out too late. Who owned Bimbos?
posted by carlye on March 30th, 2007 at 10:34 am
Does anyone remember Curtis’ restaurant on Main street and their awesome Strawberry pie?

Someone needs to write a book about the A2 memories of the 60’s and 70’s. I’ve never been able to find one, and am slowly forgetting lots of really cool places that I KNOW I loved.
posted by Jeni Dull on April 7th, 2007 at 3:26 pm
Oh, and Marti Walker, and the Marilyn store on Liberty/State, and the Bead Bag on State with the creaky wooden floors, Discount Records, and Saks College store?
posted by Jeni Dull on April 7th, 2007 at 3:28 pm
Mickey Ratz pinball
Bimbos
Wilkinson Luggage Volkswagan Van made to look like a suitcase
Pretzel Bell
Old World Mall at Westgate - cheesy shopping type mall -
The old time corner store that used to be where Zingermans is now
Magic Pan - Chain restaurant, but very 70’s
ditto for Arthur Treacher’s Fish N’ Chips by Veteran’s Park/Pool
posted by fitz on April 30th, 2007 at 7:20 pm
I left Ann Arbor in 1985. Graduated from Community High (yes, there was a time, in the 80’s when they threatened to close Commie High because the enrollment was so low. The student body was made up mostly of strange teens (who were great) and you didn’t have everyone in Ann Arbor pawing to get in because it was so *cool*).

I miss the Olympic Diner on the corner of Main and Miller and drinking cup after cup of coffee served by Elliott, the nicest waiter.

Kerrytown when it was filled with small mom and pop shops where you could get killer vegetable tempura, tasty garlic bagels and enormous granny smith apples and not pay through the nose for it.

Pizzeria Uno (before the hospital ate up all of that property)

The neighborhood by the cemetary and the arb that was eaten by the U of M. I had friends who lived there.

Raiding the drop box of the Salvation Army.

Pimping beer outside of the Velvet Touch massage parlour at the Captiol market on 4th Ave.

Drinking cold quarts of beer at Vets park on Stadium and Dexter.

Vascio’s grocery store on the corner of Liberty and Stadium.

Rink’s and Arlen’s in Westgate.

The big Christmas tree style wires with lights at Arborland. (You’d have to remember it to understand what I mean).

The 2nd Chance

Joe’s Star Lounge

Rick’s American Cafe

Movies at the MLB (Modern Language Bldg). They were cheap and interesting and there was always something to see.

Mickey Rat’s (Williams and State)

Focus (on Packard)

Orange Julius on South U.

Hoagie shop on Broadway (used to be next to the KFC there)

Hallmark store (that looked like a gift) on Broadway

Sack-a-Taco (was on Williams) They had the best tacos and used extra sharp cheddar cheese on the tacos.

Pan-Tree restaurant at Liberty Plaza (was upstairs above the magazine stand).

Bimbo’s on the Hill (went to many b-days there)

SLK (ska band from early 80’s)

University Drive-In

Scio drive-in

Ypsi-Ann Drive-in

Willow Run Drive-in

When the Street Art Fair hadn’t turned into a monster with no head. and people still called it “the Art Fair” and not “Art Fair”. Where’s the fucking preposition????? Are you going to “art fair” what? No, I go to San Jose, not art fair.

I miss that regular working-class people can’t afford to own an home in Ann Arbor. It was a better place then. It really was.

The most alarming thing since returning to Michigan is seeing everything in Ann Arbor get a cutesy name. “old west side” used to be more edgey and iffey and nothing had yet been deemed “historic” or “tree town” gag, puke puke puke
posted by A-Squared Ex on May 4th, 2007 at 6:02 pm
Forgot, Wooden Spoon bookstore on 4th.
posted by A-Squared Ex on May 4th, 2007 at 6:03 pm
Professor “Captain Eddie” Rickenbacher (sp?) taking attendance for 300 students in his World History course at Angel Hall - and remembering to thank you for the pitcher of beer last night (class hisses).

Who remebers which bar he used sit in on Wednesdays? You have to be about 65 to answer this one.
posted by Jim G on May 18th, 2007 at 3:33 pm
Muehlig’s which had the old fashioned wire/cannister payment system. THey would zip the money to the office on the mezzanine.

Lamplighter

Cunningham’s drug store

Delahant’s dime store
posted by Evelyn on July 8th, 2007 at 10:19 pm
I was born and raised here.I have seen alot of what I loved so dearly about my city go. I loved Old German and Fowlers Pancake house where I tasted Boysenberry syrup for the first time.Most of all I still dream about Everett’s Drive In’s beef delight sandwich with horseradish sauce.I have tried to replicate it with no luck. I loved the Beef Buffet on Stadium and waiting for Spring to go to the A&W on Stadium. So sad to have it all gone.
posted by Christina on August 17th, 2007 at 11:29 am
What about the Gandy Dancer on Depot, Olgas on State, Franks, and Shakey Jake.
posted by A2 Mike on September 30th, 2007 at 10:28 pm
The Gandy Dancer was still there yesterday. Is it gone this morning?

The Legislature was up all night trying to work out a budget deal, and we’re only still discovering all the things that were affected by a ton of hastily passed legislation. Did they move school elections to November? Not even the Bureau of Elections knows for sure this morning. Did they wreck the Gandy Dancer too? You never know what a sleep deprived state senator might do.
posted by Larry Kestenbaum on October 1st, 2007 at 10:12 am
olgas on state…..yeah those were the days
posted by christina on October 1st, 2007 at 7:10 pm
I agree with so many of the postings. I worked at the Fifth Forum (now OZ?) I miss Stadium Tavern, even tho’ I wasn’t a regular. P.J’s, too, on State. Of course Drakes. I actually miss Klines. Where can you buy underwear (non-designer or “green” or “hip” in downtown Ann Arbor? What if you just needed a utilitarian pair of skivvies?

My in-laws ran Circle Books in the 60s. I was too young to be caught hanging out there. Ah, those were the days.
posted by anne on October 3rd, 2007 at 8:16 pm
Oh yes, I miss Jake. I really miss him and all that he went through here in Ann Arbor. He knew it all. Business by business. God bless him.
posted by anne on October 3rd, 2007 at 8:17 pm
Sorry, one more. The Lamplighter. I couldn’t believe it was gone.

I reminisced recently with 70s friends over drinking cherry cokes when we were teens.

Gosh almighty, I’m dated….I’m old. So what.
posted by anne on October 3rd, 2007 at 8:24 pm
I graduated from Huron High in 1970, moved to
Seattle, and now I live in LA. A2 was the cooliest
place in the world! I will never forget seeing Howling Wolf at night, howling, with his hat on backwards,
with a big full moon behind him. All the places mentioned, in retro spec, were more hip than hip can be, it’s all gone…But, the memories of smoking pot, underage drinking and the excitement of the 60’s will live in…dont’ forget Nicholoson’s Motorcyels…Roy and Ray were popping whellies in front of the Brown Jug
during the riots, and the state police had a dozen
buses filled with riot police and dogs…ah, such sweet memories. Oh, by the way, I live at National and Overland in Palms, and speaking of over-rated, Tito’s Tacos suck! The best Mexican food in LA is at Pueblo Viejo on Washington and Motor. Also, forget Pinks, thats for tourists. The undisputable best chili dog in LA is Marty’s Combo on Pico and Prosser. Ann Arbor was the tail end of the 50’s back in the day, and I don’t know if any place is hip anymore. LA is one big giant
yellow stained shithole, but from what I hear, it was
the bomb back in the 70s. Just try to make where ever you live hip by being cool and doing the non-corporate
small biz, indy thing, the entire show biz structure in LA is falling apart, more and more each day, and small groups of people are still doing good work. Death to
the corproation! Power to the People! Where’s John
Sinclair when you need him? peace out, c
posted by Carl Kocis on October 10th, 2007 at 2:49 pm
I had dinner with John Sinclair (and a couple other folks) at Taqueria La Loma in Ypsilanti a couple months ago. No kidding, and yes, I do mean THAT John Sinclair.
posted by Larry Kestenbaum on October 10th, 2007 at 4:32 pm
wasn’t huron high’s first graduating class 1971?
posted by peter honeyman on October 10th, 2007 at 4:44 pm
Reading this list makes me wonder - everything I remember seems to be gone. I haven’t lived in AA since 1980.
But the town I saw as a child and teen lives on in me. I remember the music at the art fair, that’s right - live amplified music. Madcat Ruth, Lightnin’, Shakey Jake, Headwinds, my hero Lou Smith, and a zillion others. There were even free rock concerts over where they were building Huron High.
And whoever it was in Maiden Lane apartments who was blasting the radio out the window every day in ‘68-’69 - with the Who, Santana, and the rest of the giants - you changed my 6 year old life. Thanks!

Now, whatever happened to Pinball Alley?
posted by GeorgeTheNorge on October 14th, 2007 at 1:27 am
Hmm, Pinball Alley? Must have been before my time, I lived at The Crosseyed Moose, Arcade 5, Campus Pinball and Mickey Rats. Oh, and eventually Focus Pinball.
posted by stella on October 14th, 2007 at 5:21 pm
For safety’s sake I am checking with some old buddies that are a couple years older than me. Pinball Alley (and some others) came before Crosseyed Moose, at least, not sure about Arcade 5.

And adding to the live band list -
Vantage Point! I can quote the Ann Arbor Observer verbatim: “Mr. Flood’s Pub - Thursday Oct. 4. Vantage Point, led by Don Savoie’s beefy Hammond B3, have returned to their blues based roots.”
posted by GeorgeTheNorge on October 15th, 2007 at 4:29 am
Who remembers “Wizards” in the basement of Marks’ Coffeehouse (now NYPD) on William St. If I recall, that was Ann Arbor’s first pinball alley (mid 60’s). My dad used to play there while my mom studied in Mark’s coffeehouse - I later became a regular at Mickey Rats, which was upstairs in the same building.
posted by Stephen Kunselman on October 15th, 2007 at 3:22 pm
pinball alley was on south u, i think where pinball pete’s is now.

back in the early 70s, my roommate worked the midnight shift there, so i would spend long nights playing with the glass off — omg, it is loud! and dangerous when the ball makes an ultrafast leap, aimed right at your forehead!
posted by peter honeyman on October 15th, 2007 at 3:27 pm
Then there is one more pinball place I am struggling to remember - more towards Main than directly on campus. We are talking 1972-1974.
posted by GeorgeTheNorge on October 16th, 2007 at 3:18 am
you mean the dragon inn? it was on the corner of washington and fourth ave, where arena sports bar is now located. they had a very loose “tilt” on their machines — you could play all day on one quarter, but you had to abuse the equipment, which is what i did until i was banned from the place.
posted by peter honeyman on October 16th, 2007 at 10:35 am
Here’s the report from my childhood buddies, maybe this will help jar some memories loose:
A whitewashed old gas station on the edge of downtown, sort of like on the corner of Miller or one of those parallel closer in, just before the dip to the rr tracks.

There was one in Nichols arcade (or just around corner at entrance) - Nichols Arcade, on corner of diag.
posted by GeorgeTheNorge on October 17th, 2007 at 12:55 am
a squared ex, you might be happy to know the Arborland sign is still there. I can’t believe the owners haven’t replaced it with something more modern. We used to ride our bikes to Arborland as kids.
And Hurons first graduating class was in 1969- having never had a class in the new school…
posted by a2saint on October 18th, 2007 at 7:46 am
The owners of Arborland kept the big red “A” because they discovered that it had almost universal recognition throughout the region.
posted by Larry Kestenbaum on October 18th, 2007 at 10:35 am
Frankly, I peddle nostalgia full-time so this sentimental journey has been really interesting. Generally I agree with netmouse’s more detailed thoughts - she was at CHS the same time I was, though I didn’t know her very well.

CHS itself is a great symbol for what happened to A2 - as described, once upon a time it was the “scary, alternative” school.

Tom Dodd (journalism teacher) used to reminisce about its early years as “Earthworks” where students could bring their pets, and the halls would reek of doggy poopy. My parents refused my oldest sister a chance to attend after a major scandal in the late ’70s — a teacher was pulling a Pamela Smart in the CHS parking lot, in a shag-carpet van.

Around 1990, despite the battles with the very conservative school board that had come to power, there was a plan to graft all 9th graders into high schools, making Pioneer and Huron bigger than ever. Faced with increased student/teacher ratios, people started to investigate CHS (only 325 students, doncha know) and how strong the school was academically. Gradually, there are less punks, hippies, skaters, geeks, nerds, alterna-kids and those with creative or adventurous ambitions, and more helicopter-parented kids who ask, “Will this be on the test?” A year after I graduate, a friend shows me the “tent city” erected on the CHS lawn, so that parents can get into registration. It sounds like this has happened to A2 too - it’s still got a lot of charming places, but it’s no longer affordable for young locals, and even many of the students.

I’ve not been back in about eight years so it was sad to learn about some businesses that didn’t make it, and especially about Shaky Jake’s recent death. In some ways A2 is still the same, though - you can make it around most of town on foot, and there’s lots of youthful energy from the college students.

BTW - I worked at Olga’s almost twenty years ago - believe me, if you saw how we made the muffins, or what the lamb “mix” looked like before they peeled it, you wouldn’t miss the place.

Though I do remember the guy who came in every weekday and liked to put hot sauce, pepper on his lemon muffin everyday.
posted by dame Noir misses Lucky Drugs ... and Drake's on October 18th, 2007 at 4:20 pm
was any one here for the ypsi killer, or the riots?
posted by blaa on October 23rd, 2007 at 7:34 am
The student riots are still very much etched in my memory. My dad and I sat in an old International pickup at the corner of Huron and Division Street (what was then Drakes? gas station, now Papa Johns pizza) and watched Harvey’s Sherriff’s in riot gear beat the unarmed student protestors with their night sticks. We obviously didn’t stay very long - it was very scary for myself as a 6 year old but I will never forget watching the students being beaten in the head by men in riot gear, their arms swinging down with great force, the german sheperd guard dogs chasing the protestors, snarling, gnashing, and attacking students for protesting a war that they didn’t what to die for. I remember it well, and to this day, wish I had as much heart and conscience as those young men and women who believed in peace and led the way in ending a war that made no sense - where are they now when we need them?
posted by Stephen Kunselman on October 23rd, 2007 at 11:10 am
They’re totally stressed out about their property values, Stephen. But take heart, we just elected two of them to join you on Council.
posted by Parking Structure Dude! on October 23rd, 2007 at 3:04 pm
Ann Arbor seems to change every time you go downtown. I miss the soup and grilled cheese at Drakes and that you could reach into a huge jar and get Oreo’s for like 25 cents. And I miss Frank Allison and the Odd Sox playing at the Blind Pig. At least they still have Zingermans and the Michigan Theater and the Art Fair. Go BLUE!
posted by amy on November 9th, 2007 at 12:04 pm
I forgot about DEL RIO! GARLIC PIZZA! Yum.
posted by amy on November 9th, 2007 at 12:05 pm
God, you know what I miss? HONEY BAKED HAM!!! Yes, I said it Ham!!!
posted by Dale on November 10th, 2007 at 12:59 am
I’ll be the perv to say it: I miss the Naked Mile!!
posted by Dean on November 13th, 2007 at 5:30 pm
i miss people who werent so shallow,or judgemental.
stephen i would love to here more from you and p.s.dude.
posted by blaa (thirsty 4 knowledge) on December 17th, 2007 at 3:32 pm
fukc you yeha
posted by who wants to know on December 26th, 2007 at 12:48 am
I miss the wiffletree, the blind pig, the old german and THE DEL RIO. It was my home away from home. I miss the community, the conversation, the ever changing art, wonderful music, cheap, nuitrious food and the fish tank.
It’s been years, you’d think I ‘d get over it, but I miss it so !!.
posted by joan on January 5th, 2008 at 11:18 pm
I’m Stephens stepdad and can go way back almost further than anyone who’s posted here. For example: Record holder on several machines and Winner of several tournaments at Pinball Wizards below Marks.. They actually gave me a private room to get prepped in (you figure out what that prep was). Went on to the state finals (gee, can you say Mafia sponsorship?), where I finished dead last. Guess my prep wasn’t strong enough. Have pictures I took during the S. U. “riots” when the closing street sweeping lines of AAPD and Washtenaw Sheriffs were less than 20′ apart, w/ me between them. Minox 3b was the spy camera. My wife, Steves mother, said “time to go” and I squirted up an alley that I’d strategically placed myself beside. Gee, the second night was only a repeat performance by KK, (not the only KK in AA at the time), (She may still be alive, and I respect some privacy rights) of balling some guy on the hood of a car in front of the Brown Jug. Funny how the saying of that time was:
Rock and Roll, Dope and F’ing in the streets; which has been perverted into Sex, Drugs and Rock and Roll. Guess which sells more. Also I was the L.D. and Sound guy at the 5th Dimension for a significant portion of its lifetime. We only had Mitch Ryder and the Detroit Wheels open the club, then a few other “unknown” acts like the Yardbirds, the Who, JImi Hendrix (when he got paid $750 a set), and the funniest combination of Ted Nugent and the Amboy Dukes opening for Frank Zappa and the Mothers. Having to go pull Van Morrison out of the Century Bar (next door to the 5th D (originally the Century Lanes (bowling alley). Let’s not forget the Pleasure Seekers, an all girl band w/ Pat and Suzi Quatro, who played a mean “Shake a tail feather”. We did party. Plus the 7th Seal, Billy Kirchens first band, after playing the club, he and band went to the Lodge (secret) and I arrived while he was only in the second song three hours later. Others I will have to remember later. And dancing to the Grateful Dead in West Park, when they showed up many hours late, and everybody was starting to come “down”. Richard Lee, photog for the Freep, took a picture of me dancing w/ Vera Collaro that went national. My dancing has been described as looking like a praying mantis w/ the clap. HO HO. What was really scary was that the head of the local John Birch Society lived on the perimeter of the park and got pissed when one of the band (playing electric on a damp floor) asked for some blankets to put down on the floor and somebody threw an American flag to the stage, The next thing we knew, 7 AAPD squad cars were screaming in all the way across the park to bust everybody they could lay their hands on. End of party, damn.
Many more stories, but like has been said, If you remember the 60’s, you weren’t there. But I was, and I do.
Ann Arbor was great back then, but I couldn’t afford to live here now w/out special circumstances. It’s still got great spirit, but all people want to do now is make money, which they have to do to survive in the current scene. Damn.
Oh by the way the Quarry was north of Ypsi Ann at a gravel pit. We had many skinny dipping parties very late at night there in 1966.
Anybody remember the hill climbing jumps at North Campus, before Huron Parkway was built? The AAPD used to come out to watch.
Plus Charlie Thomas, leader of Direct Action Committee?He was the reason the cops wore helmets for several years. When you can take down several cops after you’re cuffed, thats hutzpa.. Charlie went on to found BEDL, which was a good thing for black youth development for many years. We met in NYC in 64. He took me up to 113th, where white boys didn’t stand much of a chance of surviving. If Charlie was w/ you, it was no problemo. He joined the Marines @ age 15 and was very good, not counting killing 2 of his trainees later on, which got him a discharge.
Plus Ray/Roy would start at Nicholsons w/ a wheelie, turn the corner from 1st onto Liberty (uphill), turn left onto Ashley, turn left onto Washington, (downhill), and then turn left onto 1st and come back to the shop. And the front wheel never came down, this w/ a passenger on the back end. I don’t think anybody could do this now.

Has AA lost it, who knows? But some of us do. Those that are still alive.
posted by technoido on January 19th, 2008 at 10:53 am
Did you know Stanley Andrews? My partners father. I am researching an article/paper (maybe eventually book) on him and the other sound/light people of the time…
Any info very appreciated.
posted by stella on January 20th, 2008 at 12:52 pm
Finally, someone who was here before I came to town in ‘71.

Watch out technoido, you might get accused of preserving something in amber.

Not many of us remember Marks, Pinball Wizards, the Sun Bakery or Nicholson’s. Do you remember the Argus house on Arch St? Ken Kelley published the underground paper there. I ride by it a couple of times a week, It has hardly changed since then.

If you contact Joe Tiboni about sound and light people of the time, he might remember.

The Bentley Library has some good stuff on local history.
posted by mucho gusto on January 20th, 2008 at 10:02 pm
yup, I remember Stanley, but never knew him very well. He was a bit of an odd duck. Then, of course, there was Peter Andrews, first director of UAC/ Daystar, which org. eventually became the Office of Major Events. Thank God its last director is gone. Although the replacement program did lose its ass on its first presentation. Have you talked with David and Linda Siglin of the ARK? They can tell you much more than I could. I was always too busy working as a stagehand to hang out.
Funny how working during the same hours as other peoples partying time cuts into ones life. Or is it that we just start partying later at night?
posted by technoido on January 22nd, 2008 at 11:51 am
Sheesh, I must know both you guys. I promoted the Dead show, I don’t remember being late (I rode in from Detroit with them, and I had to turn on the power) but that’s only to be expected. Glory days…8^)
posted by a2oldie on January 22nd, 2008 at 12:25 pm
I didn’t live in Ann Arbor back then — didn’t move here until ‘90, after a stint in NY — but as a kid in East Lansing, I read the Sun from time to time, and visited people here. I went to concerts at the Ark when it was in the house on Hill Street, and I spent the night at the Quaker house across the street (I forget why) the same weekend that the old Ark house was demolished.

I knew lots of Deadheads, but to my great regret, never got to see the band in person. I didn’t know they played at Vets Park.

Good friends of mine took part in the unsuccessful takeover of Huron Towers as a co-op in the late 70s.

In terms of name-dropping, I have met/know/knew Jamie Kenworthy, Bob Harris, Marty Somberg, Peter Madcat Ruth, T. Casey Brennan, S.J. Elden, Joe Tiboni, and John Sinclair. But I never got to meet Arwulf Arwulf, George Sallade, and probably dozens of other notable folks from those days.
posted by Larry Kestenbaum on January 22nd, 2008 at 1:07 pm
did something happen to Arwulf Arwulf?
posted by Christina on January 22nd, 2008 at 1:46 pm
i saw him at PFC a couple weeks ago
posted by peter honeyman on January 22nd, 2008 at 6:59 pm
Sorry….I read Larry’s comment really quickly, and thought that he would never meet him based on how it was worried….my mistake.
posted by christina on January 22nd, 2008 at 9:25 pm
from a councilman’s touching recollection of radicalism and police violence first hand, to a heartfelt question as to the whereabouts of aarwulf, this has been an interesting discussion. those of us born and raised here at least 52 yrs. ago recall how young people were involved in the political “process” from city hall to the white house. a sense of community and fellowship came when college students and locals joined to fight common problems of rent control, parking, over development and of course the big fight then but a non topic now, marijuana vs. alcohol and unjust police prescence. when the councilman asks where are the radicals of today he expresses a navaite’ that coupled with his focus on a skateboard park, legalization of city chickens and his love of comcast, suggest a lack of depth, awareness or compassion for those suffered the social and economic consequences of front line radicalism. the police state created and vigorously enforced by the u of m scares the shit out of most of us including those poor fuckers duped into signing on. when the stakes of protest are raised, the need is more clear. i really don’t want a neighborhood full of chickens, isn’t there more relevant to really fight for? i think the answer is yes. if you don’t, you’re talking to the wrong people.
aarwulf is alive and well, probably listening to sun ra or opera.
posted by hairball on January 22nd, 2008 at 11:10 pm
Thanks for the tip Technoido. i will follow that up asap as, seemingly, people are dropping like flies. Anyone else with info/memories of Stanley (Eric) Andrews, Portable Audio Systems, Morbius or the other guys who worked there please feel free to contact me.
stellamagdalenatyahoo
I am at a disadvantage because much of the knowledge we gleaned about Stan popped up after he died. We had had no idea who he was and what he did for the world of music. Because he was, indeed, an odd duck.
posted by stella on January 23rd, 2008 at 8:09 am
Oh for chrissake. No one, I notice, mentions the Campus Smoke Shop or Ray in the same breath as the Blue Front or notes any other thing by its given name: Brewer’s owned the gas stations. Stricklands still manages to be there. And the Betsey Ross and Bolgos and Wilsons and Millers Dairies are also conspicuous by their absence(s) And what about Fisher’s Hardware and Drugs and Schlenkerers not to mention Hertler Brother’s ?

You call your selves townies?

Please.

And Ted aka Wulfie is doing just fine, thanks, and listening to Bix Biderbeck (sp) more than like.

I know his last name, too. Most of us do.

I miss the mean old women at the Round Table. They only remembered what you wanted if they felt like it by the way. And they did so rarely.

I know. They liked my Dad alot better than they liked me.

And how about those crazy shell sculptures? Anybody remember them?

What a wonderful town.

A2 Exhile
posted by Anonymous on January 30th, 2008 at 1:20 am
Ypsi killer, John Norman Collins, still in Marquette Pen. He was the one responsible for the first round of security lighting on the UM campus. I worked on the movie of his “exploits” in 1977. It was “Now I lay me down to sleep”, starring Bob Purvey, and even had Dominic Devarti, as JNCs father. Picked up by Paramount and thank the gods put on the shelf forever. Had Firzsimmons (prez of the Teamsters} niece in it too. In 1977 his motorcycle (used to pick up his victims) still was existant, but the movie people didn’t want to touch it. I have had talk w/ the suicide watch officer (secret) who had to babysit him during trial, and JNC wasn’t the only one involved in the killings. Check out the Californication connection if you dare. Quote from the director “There’s not one dime of Mob money involved in this production.” Ha Ha, how do you think 2 of the Purple Gang were involved? As body guard for the director and also the head carpenter? Learned some interesting moves from them. During idle moments, I was the mechanic on Candys Cadillac, cuz he trusted me not to plant a bomb in the car. Did I realize the ground I was treading on?, not then.
So who remembers what was there before Olgas? Some franchise w/ a sports figures name. And before that an old house that was the headquarters of the Michigan Historical Society.
The PJs on State was actually the “Other PJs”, the original was on South U.
OK, lets go way back to Buddy Jack, killed when his Jeep hit a bridge abutment. Think Mr. Floods.
The car repair shop on Miller at First was owned by Jeff Hoff. Name was “the Pit Stop”. He raced as a privateer in Europe in 1964 on a Honda 250. i believe the bike was sold on Ebay in the last few months. Final price-around $2000.

OK folks, lets hear some more of the good stuff.
posted by technoido on February 13th, 2008 at 5:11 pm
No, no, the old house at Washington & State was the HQ of the Michigan Municipal League.
posted by Larry Kestenbaum on February 13th, 2008 at 5:19 pm
You’re right, Larry my mistake. memories are such tricky things.
posted by technoido on February 13th, 2008 at 11:22 pm
Buddy Jack died in an Jaguar XKE, not a Jeep. He gave me my first free beer, when Flood’s opened. He also put on concerts in West Park in ‘66, the year before they started running every Sunday, his were on Saturday. Great guy.
posted by a2oldie on February 14th, 2008 at 8:57 am
memories are tricky, like I said. At least I got the first letter -J- right.
posted by technoido on February 14th, 2008 at 12:00 pm
now thats what im talken about, i dont care about food or colthes,well except for the things made in our own homes.i love to here about the people and events. i was not born hear and have only lived hear for 12 years,in that 12 years i have seen a lot of change the world is becoming one big franchise, its scary and dishartening. to read your words and get an idea of what it use to be like is fascinating and wonderfull, you fought for freedom and look at how the yonger gen uses it . your words can inspire them,teach them, that thay dont have to sit on thair asses and take it(shut off the fashion channel and do something about the world around you!)yeah… rite?
i love the history of whair i live it makes me wish i was born 30/40 years earlier.thank you for sharing it.
posted by blaa on February 18th, 2008 at 3:34 am
If technoido, a2oldie would like to meet for a coffee at the PFC, please let me know. The first one’s on me. Bring your own Metamucil.

A neighbor of mine dated Ted Kaczynski, the Unabomber, when he attended the UM. A past girlfriends girlfriend dated John Norma Collins in Ypsi.

I met Jerry (Gov Moonbeam) Brown, Gary Hart(pence) and other candidates at Dominicks. And Arwulf when he was a teenager hanging out at 1510 Hill St. Saw him a couple of weeks ago at the PFC. My condolences to his family on the recent loss of his mother.

I was looking through my archives the other day and found a copy of the Ann Arbor Eye, a trasnition magazine from the hippie dasy to the gentrification eriod of A2’s history.

I went to the Ann Arbor Film Festival when it was located at Lorch Hall.

The Blue Front was the only place in town where nudist and girlie mags were available. When Ray passed away, his girlfriend (whose name I can’t recall) sold a lot of the tchochke that he had squirreled away. I have a couple of novelty pipes and old toys.

I was thrown out or Mr Floods Party on my birthday for doing at our table what they were doing in the basement. Then walked in the back door and down to the basement to get high with the staff.

I spent a weekend in Harvey’s Hotel (old county jail), now a parking lot across from the Main St party store and it wasn’t for pot or shoplifting Indian tapestries from Middle Earth when it was located on S State. Middle Earth owner, Cynthia Shevel knows a lot about Ann Arbor from those days.

I helped Jeannie Plamondon dig (bomb) craters on the diag and was in attendance at the first Hash Bash. Man, she was a hot hippie chick (and she’d kick me in the ‘nads for that sexist comment)!

I was a Psychedelic Ranger (hippie “security force”) at some free concerts at Gallup park, the A2 Booze and Grass Festival, and the Free John concert with John and Yoko at Crisler.
posted by mucho gusto on February 19th, 2008 at 10:27 am
to mucho gusto,

It would be interesting to meet. a2oldie are you in?

Pick a time and a way that we won’t be paparazzied.

maybe the webmaster of this blog can tell us each others e-mail?

Hope the B.S. doesn’t get too deep.

Stayed home the night of 2 for 10 , never ended up going to the after party w/ John and Yoko. There’s a broken 45 of their song in the rafters of Crisler from that show.

John S. and i would cruise in the “flying trapeze” doing various illegals.
posted by technoido on February 20th, 2008 at 5:15 pm
Whoops,

10 for 2
posted by technoido on February 20th, 2008 at 5:16 pm
The Del Rio is gone? Bummer.

Saw Dream Syndicate at Joes. Still have ‘Birds with Ears’ disc that I got at Make Waves. Drakes was overrated.

I did meet Arwulf, but not John Sinclair. Although he was in Ann Arbor way before my time, I eventually met Chandler Davis in the 90’s.

Saw Lee Bollinger in 1998 talking to alumni about how much he loved free speech and how old Al Connable was a great defender of free speech, even though Al voted to fire Chandler. I think Bollinger loved making six figures studying free speech a lot more than he loved free speech.

Ingested at Pantree. No one misses it. Steves Lunch is something to miss. The decline and misguided resurrection of Hash Bash.

I totally agree, Ann Arbor is overrated. You’d have a hard time selling that to the kids from Flint, Saginaw, etc. though.
posted by Tommy Times on March 1st, 2008 at 11:21 pm
Can we wake up this blog again? please

there’s a lot more to be said

mucho gusto and a2oldie please respond, you know who i am
posted by technoido on April 11th, 2008 at 6:13 am
I don’t, actually, although I probably would recognize you if I saw you. And it was starting to sound like annarborisunderrated on this particular post, which goes against the grain with all this cynicism floating around this blog.
8^)
If AAIO puts up something else, like a comparison (Marshall’s vs. Borders, no contest for the Massive Cool Factor award) then I’ll chime in again. Go well.
posted by a2oldie on April 11th, 2008 at 3:14 pm
There was a sweet, gentle, longhair named “Free” who used to give/sell mimeographed sheets of his poetry and drawings. There were the 2, caught halfway between hippie/glam, hookers Mindy and Nina, and their pimp Prince.
T-Bone and his woman Chevon were so visually striking, when not literally striking each other. Why is it that the majority of rapists grow out of it but drunkass wife beaters never seem to?
There was Morningstar. There was Arwulf wearing a dresser or a TV.
Mr. Woods keepin’ an eye out on the littlest, stupidest, kids.
Free dinner at the Creative Arts Workshop. Some kind of veggie mush brought over in tubs from the Indian Summer.
posted by stella on April 12th, 2008 at 8:01 am
technoldo (& other roving bands of godless anarchists),

I’ve been awol for a while and will be back in A2 mid May. Let’s meet at the PFC this summer.
posted by mucho gusto (surreal oldie) on April 19th, 2008 at 9:17 pm
Sure, the PFC is fine, although I vastly prefer ABC. Using our old pal AAIO to communicate is a little strange, though.
posted by a2oldie on April 23rd, 2008 at 2:27 pm
ABC?
posted by Larry Kestenbaum on April 23rd, 2008 at 5:32 pm
Arbor Brewing Company
posted by a2oldie on April 24th, 2008 at 10:28 am
OK

I’m game to meet both of you, a2oldie and mucho gusto, either place. Just email me. check the um directory for all the haven.
figure it out.
posted by technoido on May 12th, 2008 at 4:31 pm
Hi, Jim.
posted by a2oldie on May 13th, 2008 at 10:24 am
I’m back. The bus ran fine.

ABC it is. The first round is on me.

When?
posted by mucho gusto (on the bus) on May 13th, 2008 at 12:43 pm
Anyone remember The Whistle Stop on Maynard Street? Or the Purple Pickle on 4th? Or PJ’s and The Other PJ’s? The Betsy Ross Cafe in Nickels Arcade? The Virginian restaurant? Charcoal House? The Wheel? The General This ‘n’ That Shop on Packard?

The Fifth Dimension
Centicore Bookstore
Whitham’s Drugs
Orange Julius
Stefan’s
Red’s Rite Spot
Blazo’s
The Martian Room at Drake’s (featuring M-burgers)
The nickel Coke machine at the Michigan Daily
posted by Barry Garelick on May 14th, 2008 at 8:52 am
Ann Arbor Volvo Mazda where Sloan Plaza now sits
posted by mucho gusto (on the bus) on May 14th, 2008 at 9:40 am
How about ABC at 4:00 today, Wednesday the 14th?
posted by a2oldie on May 14th, 2008 at 10:51 am
The Whistle Stop had a communal management scheme right before the South U. riots, of which I was a member. (The restaurant, not the riots.) Everybody ran the restaurant, not one person, and we all shared the money. We had excellent cheesecake and real corned beef sandwiches.
posted by a2oldie on May 14th, 2008 at 1:37 pm
Does anybody remember us crazy kids at Doctor Camblys “University Center” up on the hill? We were in school of music’s backyard. Teenage and younger.We were our parents “throwaways”. I was there 1971-72. I remember the crater digs on the diag and the “Free John Now” rally. I was there for the fist hash bash on the diag. Anyone remember Diane Rittenhouse? She was my first love. What a great town Ann Arbor was when I was 13-14. Loved U of M campus. We used to get free food from the Gandy Dancer when we were hungry. Anybody remember that queer Glen Davis and his “Rainbow Peoples Party? What a bunch of freaks. Yes, I have fond memories growing up on the streets of Ann Arbor and the U of M campus. Best wishes to any of us/you kids that made it out alive.
posted by David H on May 14th, 2008 at 6:42 pm
Hi all,
My partners and I at Modern Major Films are putting together a documentary about A2. All this reminiscing has made fascinating reading. We’re conducting background reseach right now by talking to people around town, especially those who can tell us about the old days 1960-1980. We had a great talk with Larry Kestenbaum a few weeks ago. We’ve also met with Al Haber, Andy Sacks, Jeff Taras, Bunyan Bryant, Alma Wheeler Smith, and others. If anyone in the area would like to help us out we’d love to sit and listen for as long as you’d like to talk. Even if you aren’t in the area we’d love to hear your stories via email or phone. You can get the email address through our web site http://www.modernmajorfilms.com/ . Thanks!
posted by Alan Glenn on May 29th, 2008 at 9:51 pm
much gusto, please contact me
posted by Larry Kestenbaum on May 30th, 2008 at 1:16 pm
sure do remember doktor kambly’s and especially that queer (2 ns by th way) and his rpp - john would be happy - guess i inherited it when it changed its name from white panther party - perty expensive place to throw kids away - jerry, john with the ‘33 plymouth, hershberg, bill f, little richard, doc wife, the lovely ginny and his mercedes diesel - bart c, fester - thanks for the remembrance
posted by gd on June 4th, 2008 at 8:18 pm
Yeah I remember Glenn Hershberg, sort of the walking boss of the place. He beat me up a few times. Little Richard (Richard Maupin ? from Columbus?) Fat Rick and his Corvette? Steve F (Chimp). I remember Bill F, I almost lit his long brown hair on fire once on a concert trip to Detroit. I’ll never forget the look on his face. Yep, I had a few rides in Kambly’s mercedes. Kambly was the mold for pedifiles everywhere. I can’t remember his name but I was there when the guy on the third floor got killed in a rafting accident. I lived across the hall from him, He turned me on to Pink Floyd. He used to hang out with that space cadet Amyl. Do you remember Tex? That sawed off little trouble maker from Burkburnette, Texas. We used to party in the old haunted house across the street from the center. Learned about Boones farm there. Did my first sugarcube at the U of M co-op next door. Man I could go on forever about that place I lived a couple of lifetimes in two years. I can only imagine by your initials who you are. I went to a free concert behind Huron High with you and John (If I’m right) Take care. Jesus, that place would be a weird movie if anyone had the nuts to do an Ann Arbor drug abuse film
posted by David H on June 6th, 2008 at 3:33 pm
Does anyone remember the artist Greg Sobran ?
posted by wanda Sobran on June 6th, 2008 at 3:55 pm
The guy that drowned was Charlie Lipton, I just remembered. Damn Flashbacks…
posted by David H on June 6th, 2008 at 6:26 pm
wanda Sobran asked: “Does anyone remember the artist Greg Sobran ?”

Well, yeah, I could not and would not forget: http://www.homelessdave.com/tt20080215gr