When I chose to go to college at the University of Michigan, I wasn’t all that excited, to be honest. But the school won me over, and I ended up absolutely loving it (and finding it impossible to even contemplate what it would have been like to go anywhere else). A big part of that was because I ended up loving Ann Arbor so much. I think the reason is because Ann Arbor isn’t a super-crowded big city, but it still has such a variety of cultural and culinary attractions.
But, I’ve always had a nagging regret that I didn’t take full enough advantage of Ann Arbor’s awesomeness during my four years of undergrad (I mean, seriously, how have I never had brunch at Angelo’s??). So, when I made the decision to return to Michigan for law school, I sensed an opportunity to right that wrong.
In that spirit, I’ve compiled my “Ann Arbor Bucket List,” a list of all those things I’m planning to work in over the next 3 years. Some are things I’ve done before – quintessential Ann Arbor experiences that naturally must be repeated. And the others are things I missed the first time around but am determined not to miss again. As I check things off my list, I’ll be posting recaps here.
And here we go:
- Have a sandwich at Zingerman’s – DONE
- Go sledding in the Arb
- Walk on the field at the Big House
- See a movie at the State Theater – DONE
- Take pictures of the Law Quad in the fall
- Grab a drink at Comet Coffee – DONE
- Eat Hippie Hash at the Fleetwood Diner
- Karaoke at the Heidelberg
- Have dinner at Palio
- Eat at the Gandy Dancer
- Drink the sangria at Cafe Habana
- Have drinks and tapas at Rush Street
- Go to Top of the Park
- Share a shark bowl at Rick’s
- Have breakfast at Angelo’s
- Volunteer at Mott Children’s Hospital
- Eat at Jerusalem Garden
- Eat at Seva
- Eat at Sava’s (yes, 18 and 19 are different) – DONE
- Have a Collider at Rod’s Diner – DONE
- Have ice cream from Stucchi’s
- Visit the Kelsey Museum of Archaeology
- Go to the Wave Field
- Eat at Afternoon Delight
- Drink a foreign beer at Ashley’s
- Have brunch at Cafe Zola – DONE
- Eat at Grange Kitchen and Bar
- Drink Constant Buzz with old friends at Dominick’s
- Eat at the Jolly Pumpkin – DONE
- Visit the Farmer’s Market in Kerrytown – DONE
- Stargaze at the observatory atop Mason Hall
- Have onion rings at Blimpy Burger – DONE
- Go to a hockey game
- Eat the lobster bisque at Le Dog – DONE
- Eat at Mani Osteria – DONE
- Spend an afternoon wandering around the art museum
- Go to the Art Fair in the summer
- Shop at Blue House Ann Arbor
- Make a late night Big Ten Burrito run
- Buy smoked salmon at Tracklements and make my own bagel with it
- Visit the Exhibit Museum of Natural History
- Go to a movie or concert at Michigan Theater
- Browse Westside Books
- Eat at Selma Cafe
- Have a margarita at Prickly Pear – DONE
- Explore North Campus
- Have breakfast at the Broken Egg – DONE
- See a performance at the Power Center
- Browse the shops in Nickels Arcade
- Eat at Mark’s Carts – DONE
- Have dinner and wine at Vinology – DONE
- Eat a Fragel at Bagel Fragel
- Grab a sandwich from Kosmopolitan Deli
- Eat at Jamaican Jerk Pit
- Eat at the Blue Nile – DONE
- Buy a baked good from Jefferson Market and Cakery
- Browse Monahan’s Seafood Market
- Buy chocolate from Schakolad – DONE
- Have a cupcake from the Cupcake Station – DONE
- Eat at Frita Batido’s – DONE
Sixty. Wow. That seems like a lot, but I have three years, so really – 20 a year? Not bad. Let’s do this.
Progress so far: 19 down, 41 to go.
Awesome idea… You’ll enjoy a lot of them. i do #30 every Saturday. Unfortunately, I do #39 ALMOST every Saturday, too…
http://www.foodandwinehedonist.com
Thanks for reading! I cannot fault you for frequently indulging in BTB
Skip the Gandy Dancer and be sure you order a burger at Krazy Jim’s Blimpy Burger. Also, to be a true Ann Arborite, you gotta buy some liquor at the Blue Front.
Thanks for reading! I’ve had a couple people tell me Gandy Dancer is overrated as well. And I used to live right by the Blue Front during undergrad, so that one was checked off my list awhile ago
First, congrats on being Freshly Pressed! I got so excited when I saw that you’re in Ann Arbor. I went to UofM for my undergrad as well. Sadly, there are so many things on this list I didn’t get to do before I moved away
It’s such an awesome city and I love getting to go back to visit. This may be a bit random, but I saw that you haven’t walked on the field in the Big House. Were you part of the Class of ’08 too?
Thanks so much, and thanks for reading! And yes, I was Class of ’08 – I’m looking forward to finally getting onto the field when I graduate from law school
Although we hold our special place in history, I still wish we had gotten to graduate in the Big House
Good luck with finals!
Saw you on Freshly Pressed and decided to explore a little. My boyfriend is from A2 and I’m pretty sure I love it there more than any place I’ve been. So glad that Blimpy’s on your list – it’s freakin’ spectacular. So is the Arb! Not sure what else we’ve done that’s on your list, but I’m takin’ notes.
also convinced that absolutely anything made by Zingermans comes directly from heaven.
Glad to have a fellow Ann Arbor enthusiast reading! And yeah, Zingerman’s is totally amazing
Love it, I have done so many on the list! I grew up around there and I definitely miss it sometimes but my parents are still there so I get to visit the old haunts. There’s several pizza places I recommend: I soooo miss Cottage Inn pizza wish there was one nearby me, also you’ve got to have lunch at Domino’s Farms sometime. Yes I know they both seem like “chain” stores around AA but it’s pretty cool to go to the Domino’s headquarters and have lunch like it’s no big deal.
I love Cottage Inn, but I’ve never been to Domino’s Farms – it’s definitely on my list, though. Thanks for reading!
Wow, i never thought that people actually make bucket lists . . it always seemed to me romantic stuff from the movies . . great bucket list!
You can cross of “Get Liebster Award” off your list… What? It wasn’t on there? I just got it and I’m so-so about the award itself. But it’s nice to be acknowledged and I think you deserve the shout out, too… http://foodandwinehedonist.wordpress.com/2011/12/26/i-won-an-award/
This is REALLY great i just started my UofM blog recently and my most recent most was also the Michigan Bucket list. do you mind if i link your blog?
Thanks for reading – glad you like it! And sure, you can like to my blog.