Area bars offer a variety of appeals

Picture this: you're a University student and you've just turned the magical 21. You're finally legal ... So what do you do?

Most students blessed with conquering this coming of age crisis, reply, without hesitation ... "I'm going to the bar."

Despite the numerous fraternity, apartment and house parties that line the streets on any given weekend night, there seems to be something special about going to the bar for many students.

Ann Arbor is by no means in short supply when it comes to this hot commodity.

Sometimes it needn't even be the weekend for students to decide to frequent a bar.

MARGARET MYERS/Daily Bars often hire live entertainment to attract students such as these above at Mitch's Place Tuesday night. Most students say they will head to the bar even sans bands and music, but having some form of entertainment usually doesn't hurt.

"I heard it's dollar-pitcher night, so why not?" said Medical school first-year student Jeff Angobaldo, who stood last Wednesday night in a lengthy line that snaked around the corner outside Rick's Cafe, 611 Church St. "They're playing dance music tonight, plus our schedules this week are so light."

Whether it's a break from studies or a way to avoid hitting the books all-together, bar-hopping during the week is a favorite Ann Arbor pass time.

"Tuesday night is the most popular night because Jerry Sprague plays," said LSA junior Rebecca Marshall, a waitress at Mitch's Place, 1301 South University Ave. Sprague is joined by local sensation the Remainders at Mitch's on Thursday, drawing equally large throngs of students, Marshall said.

Atmosphere and special deals can also play a role in boosting bar turnout.

"People like the atmosphere of the bars. There are some regulars that come in but it's more of a student crowd," Marshall said. "I always see tons of friends meeting here."

Mitch's offers certain kinds of mixed drinks and bottled beer for $2 or less on Thursday nights. Not to be out-done, Scorekeepers, 310 Maynard St., offers pitchers for $2.50 and Long Island Ice Teas for 99 cents on Thursday nights. Just about every bar open for business offers some kind of similar specials some night of the week.

Students say the promise of cheap beer and drinks are an added bonus but not their only incentive for frequenting local joints.

Casa Dominick's, located on 812 Monroe Street, has its own unique qualities that attract the bar-goers. With outdoor seating and limited seasonal operating hours, it is known on campus as a more laid back, early bird's bar.

On the other end of the spectrum -and on the other side of town - lies Touchdown Cafe, which has the reputation of being one of Ann Arbor's more raucous bars.

It was hard to escape chants of "let's go Orange" - even over the blaring big screen TVs and the clanking beer bottles Friday night before Saturday's disaster at the Big House.

Business third-year student Rich Hoh, who works as a one of Touchdown's doormen, said thrill-seekers have long recognized his bar as a place to find crazy fans.

"Last year Fox 50 news came when Michigan played Penn State and the place was packed," Hoh said, adding hints that fights erupting between opposing fans are not uncommon.

With murals of the legendary Wolverines, football, basketball and hockey stars alike, adorning the walls and big screen TVs hugging every corner both up and downstairs, some say Touchdown is the perfect place to go before a home game and during an away game.

"We come back every year for the home opener because it has the sense of family, part of the Wolverine family," said Sandy Diamond, a recent University graduate.

Fine food and drink are not the only enticing qualities of the local bar scene. Socializing ranks at the top of most students priority lists when it comes to making it a night out on the town.

"I like going to the bars because I see people that I normally wouldn't see at parties, people I haven't seen since freshmen year," said Michelle Gonder, an SNRE senior.

Just about every day and night of the year, all bars in and around town possess their own specialties, sights and sounds ranging from the quiet atmospheres with expensive brews to the rowdiest venues with mountains of cheap pitchers, live music and dancing.

The options are endless and the enthusiasm is contagious - with those newly turned legal catching on quickly and those already veteran bar-going students hanging on to their youth and good times for awhile longer over another round.

09-17-98