Spending the summer stuck in Ann Arbor

Well, if you're reading this, that means that I am, yet again, stuck in Ann Arbor. Well, maybe "stuck" isn't the best word to use. I can't think of too many other places during this time of year, that I'd rather be stuck. But for those of you who are spending your first summer in A2, I'll let you in on a little secret. This is the best time to be in Ann Arbor.

Jon Zemke St. Michael Speaking

Out of state and out of town students always rip on Michigan's temperamental/tantrum weather patterns. Where else can you wear shorts and T-shirt mid-way through December, but still be in layered clothing during the last week of school? Michigan has the weather consistency of the rock's color.

But that all changes during spring and summer term. Everything becomes consistent and, dare I say, almost normal. In these four months, Ann Arbor has leaves that are actually green and on the trees, a sky that's blue and cold beer coming not from some sort of Greek function.

The summer in Ann Arbor is an invitation to play IM softball, drink until the sun rises without worrying about consequences, and sit on your porch, ogling the sun bathers on Elbel field.

And this is just a taste of what lies ahead. So to give you a better idea of what's in store for you, I've taken the time to outline some of the highlights of a long hot summer.

The Three S's: Or better known as the Spring (or Summer) Social Scene. Sure a lot of your friends got that dope internship in D.C. and left you here to rot, but don't feel abandoned.

Thousands of students are taking cake courses masquerading as classes, and now have a lot of time on their hands and fake I.D.s in their wallets. Unless you're dumb enough to be taking orgo for three hours everyday, your class is a joke. And if you don't have classes and have a night job, campus and downtown bars will soon become a regular favorite refuge.

Athletic Department Scandal: And where there's some sort of fun and illegal activity, the Michigan Athletic Department isn't far away. Every time the temperatures start to rise in Ann Arbor, the big sports programs begin to get a little hot under the collar.

In the past our Athletic Department has lost a football coach, said the words Ed Martin more frequently and last year even decided K-mart dollar days were too expensive - all during the summer.

Tigers Baseball: An hour east is home to the team with the most character and the best ballpark in baseball. Comerica Park is the crown jewel of baseball's new string of throw-back stadiums. For once Detroit capitalized on an opportunity they would have botched in the past. Remember the People Mover? Well, it now has a practical use, transporting people to Comerica Park.

Top of the Park: It's the ultimate cheap date. This well kept secret takes place later on in the summer on top of a parking garage by Rackham. They show free popular movies at dusk, and there's even a beer garden.

Parking: For Top of the Park to be possible there would have to be available parking - much more available parking. The streets will seem barren, now that much of the campus has taken their parent's SUV's back east for their D.C. internships. Yeah, the nice weather will encourage the meter maids to come out more, but for every SUV that has left town there will be at least two parking spots to hide your vehicle from those blue uniformed devils.

And there is a lot more that makes the summer the best time to live in Ann Arbor. I didn't even get into motorcycles, lifeguards or road trips. But all of this and more mean one thing. There's nowhere else I'd rather be stuck than right here, right now.

- Jon Zemke can be reached via e-mail at jzemke@umich.edu.