Please tell me about Ann Arbor, MI

[tinkerbell615]

DS is going to a U of M football game in October and we need to know a little about Ann Arbor, MI please. He is super excited, but we know nothing about the area and thought I could ask all the experts.

Where is the best place to stay? Where would be a good place to eat.

I read there is a lot of construction in that area. Can you tell us about it?

Thanks in advance.

 

[tinkerbell615]

Hi all...

I just thought I would put this out there again to see if anyone has any suggestions, ideas or info.

You guys are usually all so full of information!

DS is leaving on Friday to drive to Ann Arbor and watch the Michigan Wolverines.

 

[squirrlygirl]

I saw this the first time and didn't answer because I'm by no means an expert. Maybe if I answer you'll get some more responses.

I like Weber's Inn for a place to stay, and if you like Italian food I hear Gratzi is good but it's more on the upscale side. I know there's a great little Japanese steakhouse downtown but I can't remember the name of it

Ann Arbor is a great town. Can't help with the construction.

Hope you get some more helpful responses!

 

[tinkerbell615]

I saw this the first time and didn't answer because I'm by no means an expert. Maybe if I answer you'll get some more responses.

I like Weber's Inn for a place to stay, and if you like Italian food I hear Gratzi is good but it's more on the upscale side. I know there's a great little Japanese steakhouse downtown but I can't remember the name of it

Ann Arbor is a great town. Can't help with the construction.

Hope you get some more helpful responses!

Thanks squirrlygirl ... DS loves Japanese food. I would love to know the name of the place. He already has the hotel and it appears to be decent. He will just be there for the weekend, so he does not have a great deal of time. I just thought it would be nice for him to have some ideas.

 

[Motherofboys]

UofM alum and "local" here

I would be more than happy to answer any specific questions (if the hotel is in a safe area, specific types of restaurants, etc).

No, there isn't a ton of construction going on right now. It is chilly though, hopefully we will skip rain on Saturday!

General A2 advice is to watch out for 1-way streets, skip the chain restaurants and try something new, and make sure you know where you are parking for the game

 

[tinkerbell615]

UofM alum and "local" here

I would be more than happy to answer any specific questions (if the hotel is in a safe area, specific types of restaurants, etc).

No, there isn't a ton of construction going on right now. It is chilly though, hopefully we will skip rain on Saturday!

General A2 advice is to watch out for 1-way streets, skip the chain restaurants and try something new, and make sure you know where you are parking for the game

I don't know about the parking. He is on his own for that one. I believe he is staying at Candlewood Suites in Ann Arbor. Like I said it is not a 4 star hotel by any means, but from the reviews we have read it appears to be okay.

I told him to stop by AAA today to get a triptik and we have been googling directions also.

Do you happen to know of a Japanese restaurant in the area as mentioned by squirllygirl? He does love Japanese food so he would probably really enjoy that.

 

[Motherofboys]

I don't know about the parking. He is on his own for that one. I believe he is staying at Candlewood Suites in Ann Arbor. Like I said it is not a 4 star hotel by any means, but from the reviews we have read it appears to be okay.

I told him to stop by AAA today to get a triptik and we have been googling directions also.

Do you happen to know of a Japanese restaurant in the area as mentioned by squirllygirl? He does love Japanese food so he would probably really enjoy that.

That's a nice location, very safe and right off of the highway. Not too far from the stadium either. Very close to the mall which has several restaurants by it/ in it like California Pizza kitchen, a sushi place, chipolte, and a pretty authentic Mexican place. There is also a huge, brand new Whole Foods down the street, a Target, a Meijer, pretty much anything he could need

Here are some links for restaurants to check out. There are several Japanese restaurants down town. As a rule, we stay far away from downtown on football Saturdays - parking and wait times can be ridiculous. If I were going to do Japanese, I would probably go out to Yotsuba since it is not in downtown, but is still on a major street (it's just off Washtenaw). The hotel is super close to Seoul Gardens, it's just over a few streets. It's also close to Godaiko, which is also over a few streets. Miki is downtown but it is not on Main Street - which gets slammed after football games.

http://www.aaseoulgarden.com/

http://www.mikirestaurant.com/about.html

http://www.yotsuba-restaurant.com/home.htm

Ann Arbor literally has any ethnic restaurant you want, and good ones too. So if he wants Ethopian, Cuban, Eastern European, great Middle Eastern food, etc - there are places I can recommend for those too

 

[tinkerbell615]

Thanks "Motherofboys". I am glad to here the hotel is in a nice, safe place. I can't wait to share all of this information with him.

I am just so excited for him to be able to take this trip. He has been a Michigan fan since he was a baby I think. His godmother.. she did it! She started him off in that direction. He has wanted to attend a game for so long. Now he is working a decent job and is able to afford to do it for the first time.

 

[Motherofboys]

Thanks "Motherofboys". I am glad to here the hotel is in a nice, safe place. I can't wait to share all of this information with him.

I am just so excited for him to be able to take this trip. He has been a Michigan fan since he was a baby I think. His godmother.. she did it! She started him off in that direction. He has wanted to attend a game for so long. Now he is working a decent job and is able to afford to do it for the first time.

I can relate, I was born with Maize and Blue blood

I hope he has a wonderful time! There is nothing like walking into the Big House for the first time! For a lifelong Michigan fan, it is truly

Ann Arbor is a great city, small and safe with lots of cool stuff. You should come too next time!

 

[ZephyrHawk]

Hello! Also an alum and local (with the added bonus of being a full blooded Wolverine).

Your son's choice in hotels is probably good: inexpensive (for AA) and not too far from the stadium. However, it would be a bit of a hike on foot. I used to walk from the mall area to the stadium, but it wasn't something I enjoyed. As such, he might want to think about taking one of the buses to get closer...or else drive to tailgate. If its the latter, there are some things he should know about tailgating in Ann Arbor.

Number 1- You can't park in the parking lot. It's taken. In order to get invited into a spot in the parking lot your name has to have been on a donation list for a certain ungodly sum for just about forever. Number 2- It's expensive. The golf course (where my parents have parked for the past 40 years) is $40 to park for the day. However, I personally think it's the best place to park. There are places a little farther off (people's driveways and the like) which run between $10 and $20 (depending how far you're willing to walk).

Things to know about the games: October is cold here. The local bank thermometer said 33F this morning. The stadium is usually a little warmer than the ambient air (a result of all those bodies crushed together), but not much. I've been to games that were absolutely miserable (including one lovingly referred to as the "Ice Bowl"). Layer is all I can say. Also, are his tickets in the student section? If so, he should be prepared to stand...yes, the entire game....on top of his seat.

Other than that, Michigan games are great. There's nothing like cheering along with 100,000+ of your closest friends. The first step into the stadium is disorienting (it's a lot bigger than it looks on the outside!). If he gets there real early and wanders around to the side of the stadium where there are steps next to Chrysler Arena (the basketball stadium) he'll get to see a lot of truly crazy tailgaters and can get a free marching band concert if he sticks around.

As for food in the area, Ann Arbor is a wealth of great restaurants. Most are downtown which, as another poster has already mentioned, is crazy on football Saturdays. However, if he's arriving the night before he should take a stroll and see what there is to offer. You mentioned he liked Japanese cooking and the restaurants already mentioned are great for "traditional" fare. However, if he likes Japanese steakhouses (like me) he shouldn't skip Champion House, a combination Chinese Restaurant/Japanese Steakhouse downtown. Other local favorites: Grizzly Peak (also downtown, with some of the best brews available anywhere), Zingerman's Roadhouse (just one exit west from where he'll be staying), and The Brown Jug (very Michigan themed and located on the main campus).

If you have any questions, please feel free to ask.

 

[Motherofboys]

Champion House is likely the Japanese restaurant that the first reply had mentioned, I couldn't remember the name!

I will give a strong second to Grizzly Peak, and also throw out The Blue Tractor and Cafe Habana - all places that are great to go downtown!

If it were me.....I would go grab some Washtenaw Dairy donuts in the morning before the game too Or Sunday morning before I leave town

 

[tinkerbell615]

Thank you so much everyone!! It is also Sweetest Day on Saturday, so I am sure every place will be really busy.

Do you know if any of these places accept reservations?

You guys are awesome!! I knew I could count on my disboard friends. I really am so excited to share this info with him.

 

[squirrlygirl]

Yes, Champion House is it!!!
Hope your son has fun at the game.. it's been several years now since I've been to one!

 

[sloneta]

I'll second Grizzly Peak and The Blue Tractor, and throw in the new Jolly Pumpkin on Main Street as well.

Also, I don't know who is going to the game with your son, but no bags/purses of any kind are allowed in the Big House. They do have a bag check at Crisler arena right next door, but the lines to get bags after the game can be long.

 

[ZephyrHawk]

As far as I know all the places mentioned accept reservations. The only place I can think of that doesn't (or at least, didn't a few years ago) is Mongolian Barbeque, which used to have a policy that you couldn't reserve a table for a party of less than 6. I'd completely add Mongolian to the list of excellent Ann Arbor eateries, if it weren't for the fact that getting into it is hard enough on a regular week night, let alone a weekend evening.

Good point about the no bag rule they recently started enforcing at the stadium. Also, no alcohol, and I think umbrellas get confiscated as well.

 

[FireDancer]

All I know about Ann Arbor is that it is a great place to visit on the 3rd Saturday of November in odd numbered years.

 

[ZephyrHawk]

All I know about Ann Arbor is that it is a great place to visit on the 3rd Saturday of November in odd numbered years.

Tsk! At least I know Columbus has a very nice pub downtown and a good gym for fencing meets.

 

[Diznotyzed]

Just want to thank the OP and the locals who answered. My b-i-l is headed to Ann Arbor the end of this month to crew on a film. The production companies usually take great care of cast and crew, but it's nice to have some ideas of places to hang in their rare off times (brewpubs especially ).

 

[tinkerbell615]

All I know about Ann Arbor is that it is a great place to visit on the 3rd Saturday of November in odd numbered years.

LOL. What makes this so fun is that we live in OH and my son is headed to MI to watch his favorite college football team.

How did I know that someone from OH would find this thread.

Thanks again everyone.