Ann Arbor: The Greatest City in the Nation

I’ve traveled to many places around the U.S. and the world, but one place keeps me coming back time and time again: Ann Arbor, Michigan.  Of course I grew up just outside Ann Arbor, so I am biased.  However, at the very least, everything I’m about to describe is at least reason to visit the great little city.  During my time in high school, I went to Ann Arbor to shop and dine, but I didn’t really come to know the city until I attended  the University of Michigan.

Best College Town

The University of Michigan is the heart of Ann Arbor.  The school is rated in the top 10 of U.S. News and World Report for many categories such as the Engineering School, Part-time MBA, and Med School.  It draws thousands of students to the city each year which brings unique perspectives from all over the world.  The buildings and landscaping of the University bring a prestigious and collegiate feel to the architecture of Ann Arbor. My favorite place on campus is the Law Quad. In the courtyard, it is the perfect place to study on a blanket in the summer, and a nice place to stroll in the winter to

admire a newly fallen blanket of snow.  Within the Law Quad is my favorite place to take pictures and study.  The Law Library’s cathedral ceiling and beautiful stained glass windows offers a picturesque setting to study in.  On north campus, there is the state of the art library known most commonly as the Dude, short for the Duderstadt Center.  The Dude is home to 4 floors of engineering and architecture books, private study rooms, Mac and PC computer pods, and a holographic research facility.  The University of Michigan provides free lectures to the public which makes Ann Arbor a place to learn throughout one’s life.

A Tradition of Sports

You can’t talk about Ann Arbor without mentioning the sports which cause people’s blood to run maize and blue. Michigan football drives the beginning

of fall semester at the University of Michigan.  Each Saturday during football season is devoted to tailgating prior to the Michigan football game and then making the long walk down to the Big House to watch the Maize and Blue players take the field.  In the winter, Michigan hockey attracts hundreds of students to the historic Yost Ice Arena to see future NHL stars take the ice. The tradition of Michigan chants and songs at every sporting event make Ann Arbor the best city for any sport enthusiast.

Restaurants

Ann Arbor cuisine ranges from fine dining to college pubs.  Whether fine Sushi to a steakhouse to ethnic food is to your taste, you will find it in Ann Arbor.  the buildings themselves add to the ambience of the dining experience in Ann Arbor.  Potbelly’s, the toasted sandwich restaurant is a favorite of college students, is located on the corner of State and Liberty.  The building has the

original wooden tiled ceiling which makes lunch at Potbelly’s more than just a quick meal; it’s an experience in historic Ann Arbor.  If you’re interested in breakfast, Angelo’s is open daily until 2pm and serves the best breakfast around.  There’s nothing like a tall order of chocolate chip pancakes on a cold morning in March.  Another great area in Ann Arbor is Kerrytown.  It’s a neighborhood in Ann Arbor which has a unique collection of shops, market, and restaurants.  Every weekend there is a Farmer’s Market along the cobblestone streets of Kerrytown.  Zingerman’s Deli is an Ann Arbor favorite which serves up homemade sandwiches with fresh meats and cheeses.  Whatever your palate desires, you will find it in Ann Arbor.

Culture

From the variety of people from all different intellectual levels to museums to theater to unique shops, Ann Arbor offers a very unique blend of culture.  The State Street theater boasts a vintage theater to catch a brand new blockbuster or an old classic.  The Michigan theater offers people to see films unique to Ann Arbor or straight off the silver screen from the Cannes Film Festival. There is a comedy club just down the street which draws famous comedians, and further down the street from the comedy club is a place for Poetry readings.  There are unique shops in Nickel’s Arcade, and all along State Street.  Not far from State Street, Cake Nouvou is a wonderful little cupcake place where the chef was featured on the Food Network for her amazing cake designs.  The museums throughout Ann Arbor and on Michigan’s campus allows people to learn about art, history, and science.  The people of Ann Arbor offer college kids, professors, and liberal natives alike a diverse culture in the Pubs of Ann Arbor.  The Little Brown Jug is a homey pub which has drink specials catered to the University students.  At closing time, one is guaranteed to hear the Michigan fight song here.  Another great pub is Dominick’s, although it is only open seasonally, it is a must see .  There is patio and rooftop seating.  It’s very common to see college kids finishing up homework or professors correcting papers, and of course they’re drinking either beer from mason jars or Dominick’s famous Sangria.  It’s also worth a visit to the Blue Leprechaun or Good Time Charley’s.  Finally, the Union and League on Michigan’s campus are two places to find a unique blend of restaurants, coffee shops, art, and study areas with amazing architecture.

Ann Arbor is the Place to Be

All in all, Ann Arbor offers something for everyone.  The collegiate traditions of the University of Michigan, the rich culture of the city and people, and the many sports provide a structure upon which Ann Arbor can be argued as the greatest city in the nation.  It may be smaller than most cities, and may even be called a town, but Ann Arbor has a bigger heart than most.