APRIL 2011
The Washtenaw County Events and Entertainment Monthly
WWW.MISPYMAG.COM
abc expands iggy + wiz dominick’s renting 101
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chris salt year bathgate
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contents
APRIL
[sneak peek] 05 06 07
Theo’s & Opening Day
Motor City Nightmares Iggy Pop, Wiz Khalifa, and Charlie Sheen
[scene] 08 10 11
Adventures in Local Food Taste of the Month: Dominick’s Style
[features] 12 14
Wiz Khalifa + pg 7
Beer Meets Bollywood Chris Bathgate
EMU Baseball + pg 32
[around YOU] 16
Local Events
[review] 20 22
Rate It!
Kick Some App
[campus] 25 25 34
Renting 101!
Renting 101 + pg 25
emYOU! YOUmich
[depot town rag] 36
Chris Bathgate + pg 14
The Royal Train
PUBLISHER + tim adkins
EDITORIAL +
[editor in chief] amanda slater [writers] amanda slater, ryan place, adrienne ziegler, tim adkins, stefanie stauffer, paul kitti, lily duevel, joseph stromski, jason idalski, tom dodd marissa mcnees, dwight thomas
ART +
[art director] joey brandt [photographers] bruno postigo
SALES +
iSPY + The Washtenaw County Events and Entertainment Guide Pakmode Media + Marketing 124 Pearl st. Suite 307, Ypsilanti, MI 48197 Office: 734.484.0349 Fax: 734.484.0349 Sales: 734.276.0876 www.mispymag.com
[business development] bilal saeed/bilal@pakmode.com [director of sales] lily duevel/lily@pakmode.com [account executive] rob smothers/rob.smot@pakmode.com
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© 2010, iSPY. All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part granted only by written permission of Pakmode Media + Marketing in accordance with our legal statement. iSPY is free of charge, limited to one copy per reader. For additional copies you must be granted written permission, with a possible associated cost.
[SNEAK
THE PRICE IS RIGHT theo’s: the tradition AT
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It’s Thursday night in Ypsilanti. It’s been a long week of class, and you just can’t wait to kick back for a few hours with some friends this weekend. Except you don’t have to wait until Friday for the weekend party scene anymore. Every Thursday night on Cross Street, college students from Ypsilanti and Ann Arbor fill Theo’s Bar for College Night. The best part: free cover for the first 50 people 21 and up before 10:30. BY ADRIENNE ZIEGLER >>>>> At Theo’s, you’ll find DJs, dancing, and drink specials sure to bring in the crowds, with everyone looking to have one of those unforgettable college adventures – the kind where your late-night communication ends up on Texts From Last Night. In March, Theo’s college night specials included $5.25 pitchers of Miller Light and $1 off cocktails all night. Who knows the bounty that April will bring? Last month iSPY gave away Kevin Hart tickets and we’ll be giving away a pair of tickets to see Wiz Khalifa on March 24th and 31st, and swing by April, 14th for end of the semester Luau, where we’ll be giving away some cash and get your picture taken in our photo booth. All you have to do is show up! So what are you waiting for? Strap on those stilettos, throw on something fancy and go shake it at College Night at Theo’s. You’ll only do college once – hopefully. You might as well live it up.
continues
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opening day in the D BY ADRIENNE ZIEGLER >>>>>>>>
On April 8, the Detroit Tigers will take on the Kansas City Royals in the team’s Home Opener at Comerica Park, kicking off a three game series. Although individual tickets to the game are sold out, you can still find them on fan-to-fan ticket websites like StubHub ...for a price. But even if you can’t find a ticket that fits your budget, that doesn’t mean you can’t join the party. Swarms of people will throng the streets of downtown Detroit to celebrate Opening Day, many of them without a ticket, to see the new and improved Tigers play their first home game. The Opening Day Block Party is sure to attract a crowd at Grand Circus Park on the east and west sides of Woodward Avenue between Witherell and Adams Streets. From 10 a.m. to 8 p.m., hear some great music, grab some prime Tigers merch, score an autograph from Tigers alumni, or sip on some cold beer at the View and Brew Tent while you watch the game. But the action won’t be confined to the block party. A plethora of bars and restaurants surround Comerica Park, sure to be packed to the gills with Tigers fans. The Elwood Bar and Grill, State Bar,
Cheli’s Chili Bar, and Hockeytown Cafe are all within a block of the stadium, and will probably fill up early and stay bustling till long after our Tigers have gone home. Coaches Corner and the Old Shillelagh, both a few blocks from Comerica Park, are offering shuttle service to and from the game for their customers. Parking downtown can be a bit of a nightmare, so either get down there early or expect to walk a couple blocks. As a rule, the closer you get to Comerica Park, the more expensive it will be, with lots surrounding Comerica costing $25 and lots five blocks over by Grand River costing only $5. Parking in the casino garages may be an option, but in the past those seeking a casino parking spot have been asked to show a rewards card before being allowed to take a space in one of the casino structures. If you have tickets to the game and you get there early enough, you may snag one of the free Detroit Tigers rally towels that are being offered as a promotion. Remember this year’s first pitch is at 3:05pm which, if you plan ahead, should give you plenty of party time!
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motor city: weekend of horrors
MICHIGAN’S ONLY HORROR CONVENTION AND FILM FESTIVAL BY RYAN M. PLACE >>>>>>
T
PHOTO COURTESY: CLIPART.COM
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here are few places where like-minded horror enthusiasts can join together and celebrate all things morbid and terrifying—especially in Michigan. However, the Brunswicks are here to fill that void. Tommy Brunswick and her husband Todd Brunswick of Milford-based Skull House Pictures are the chief organizers of Motor City Nightmares, Michigan’s only horror convention and film fest, which will take place on April 15-17 this year at the Novi Sheraton. This year marks the third anniversary of Motor City Nightmares. “We have the Novi Sheraton booked for the next four years, so this will be a regular thing,” says Tommy Brunswick. Tommy is a long-time horror fan who grew up in Livonia, and she and Todd understand the Michigan movie scene. The Brunswicks are famous for their movie “Biker Zombies from Detroit,” which was shot in 2001 in Grosse Pointe and Canton, featuring Token Lounge owner John Anton as the lead zombie. “We’re filmmakers finishing our twelfth movie, [which is] called ‘Slab’ and was shot in Milford and Westland,” says Tommy. “We know how hard it is for low-budget, independent filmmakers, so we’re trying to help give them a platform for creative expression and publicity with MCN.” MCN Weekend of Horrors will include a film festival, film workshops, two movie rooms, art competitions, a Miss Motor City Nightmare contest, a costume contest, the Saturday Night Monster Ball party for those who are 18 and up, a tattoo contest and more. The giant Dealer’s Room will be packed with vendors selling T-shirts, posters, collectibles, memorabilia, artwork, coffin tables, rare DVD’s, action figures, steampunk paraphernalia and all manner of strange horror trinkets. This well-
organized event will feature a global crosssection of thousands of attendees and guest celebrities, such as: Dee Wallace (has appeared in over 80 movies, including “ET”, “The Howling” and Rob Zombie’s “Halloween”) Kane Hodder (played Jason in the “Friday the 13th” movies) Tony Todd (played Candyman, acted in “Platoon” and voiced The Fallen in “Transformers 2”) Tom Savini (“Dawn of the Dead,” “From Dusk Till Dawn,” “Knightriders”) Bob Causey (sculptor known for stunning, life size human sculptures and exact full scale replicas of items such as the Batmobile) Kyle Gass (lead guitarist in Jack Black’s rock band, Tenacious D) MCN is very supportive of the Michigan Film Industry, and any Michigan-made movie can be screened at the festival. If you would like your film to be screened at MCM, submit your film at Withoutabox.com. Whether you’re a filmmaker or not, MCN is a great place to chill with horror cinema celebs, load up on promotional swag, people-watch and have a great time. The Motor City Nightmares Weekend of Horrors will be held at the Novi Sheraton, which is located at 21111 Haggerty road, on Friday, April 15 from 5 p.m.-10 p.m., Saturday, April 16 from 10 a.m.-7 p.m., and Sunday, April 17 from 11 a.m.-5 p.m. The Monster Ball party is held on Saturday night, starting at 8:30 p.m. (admission is $10). Festival tickets are $20 for a single day or $50 for a weekend pass. For more information, visit www.motorcitynightmares.com.
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[SNEAK
iggy and the stooges come home BY AMANDA SLATER>>>>>>>>
wiz khalifa comes to the convo BY AMANDA SLATER >>>>>>>>
www.mispymag.com
PEEK]
Perhaps one of the most famous bands to come out of Ann Arbor, Iggy and the Stooges started making their mark on the music industry in 1967, and are said to have contributed to the rise of punk rock in addition to other types of heavier rock. After disbanding in 1974, the band reformed in 2003, and in 2010 the group was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. On Tuesday, April 19, Iggy and the Stooges will put on a show that is especially near to each band member’s heart. Not only will they be performing at the Michigan Theater and in their home town of Ann Arbor, but the show will be a tribute, honoring the band’s guitarist, Ron Asheton, who died at age 60. At the time, he still lived in Ann Arbor. The show starts at 7:30 p.m. All proceeds will be donated to the Ron Asheton Foundation, which is dedicated to Asheton’s two biggest passions: animals and music. The foundation contributes money to public school music departments, veterinary care for needy animals and more. For more information, visit www. ronashetonfoundation.org.
Named “rookie of the year” by multiple publications and recently gracing the cover of Rolling Stone magazine, Wiz Khalifa is seemingly an overnight sensation. But what many do not know is that he has actually been making music for years (his debut album, “Show and Prove,” was released in 2006). However, it was the release of “Black and Yellow,” his smash-hit first single on major label Atlantic Records that put him in the limelight, working its way up to the number one spot on Billboard’s Top 100. Wiz is 23-year-old Cameron Jibril Thomaz, who was raised in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania—which explains his affinity for the colors black and yellow. His first full-length album with Atlantic Records, entitled “Rolling Papers,” will be released at the end of March—shortly after which he will be stopping by Eastern Michigan University’s Convocation Center. Wiz will be performing at EMU on April 4, 2011. Doors open at 6:30 p.m. Tickets range from $20 to $30 and can be purchased online at www. emich.edu/convocation.
violent torpedo heads to the fox BY AMANDA SLATER >>>>
If you’re a b-grade actor who is in a slump, here’s a recipe to jolt your career back to life. First, do a lot of drugs. Second, commit a series of violent offenses as a result of your drug-induced stupors. Third, say a lot of crazy stuff in defense of your outrageous behavior. Fourth, make sure all of this is televised—and, if not, be sure that you get some kind of attention by calling in to numerous radio shows. Sooner or later people will pick up on the fact that you’re a loose cannon, and you’ll transform your dead-end acting gig on a boring sitcom to a one-man show that is capable of selling out the Fox Theatre in 15 minutes. If none of that sounds logical to you, then you’re obviously a lot less creative than Charlie Sheen. Although he may not be the best actor on TV, he’s certainly one of the smartest when it comes to using even the worst circumstances to his advantage and living out the saying that “all PR is good PR.” When he unexpectedly announced his own live show, entitled “My Violent Torpedo of Truth/Defeat is Not an Option,” it became clear that, although Sheen might be crazy, he is also cashing in on his sudden ultra-celebrity status. Sheen will “perform” in Detroit on April 2 at the Fox Theatre. And, by the sounds of the show’s title, not only is Sheen completely aware of what he’s doing, but he’s milking it for all it’s worth. All we can say is, “winning.”
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adventures in local food #4 RUSTBELT REVIVAL
BY STEFANIE T. STAUFFER >>>>>>
PHOTO CREDIT: STEFANIE STAUFFER
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I know what you’re thinking. We’ve seen a whole lot of critique about government policy and the state of our food system here in the land of local food adventures. From the Food Safety Modernization Act to the USDA deregulation of genetically-modified round-up ready alfalfa, sugar beets and biofuel corn to the proliferation of unripe, grosstasting winter tomatoes, we have seen how industrial agriculture puts farmer independence, consumer choice, local economies, public health, and the environment at risk. And although we must highlight this negative side of food production in order to understand the problem at hand and raise the awareness necessary to encourage positive change, what about the good news? Well, lucky for you, since it’s April, the growing season is here, and I have pepper seedlings growing in the basement, so I figured it’s a perfect time to begin to showcase Ypsi local food triumphs—triumphs that are the
foundation of a Rustbelt Revival! However, first I should point out that misconceptions about the region leave many people unable to comprehend why Ypsilanti, Detroit and other Rustbelt cities are at the core of the local and sustainable food movement. For instance, if people don’t know about the agricultural heritage and natural resources of Michigan, then it’s much more difficult for them to fathom how Mitten cities can provide a model for the dynamic local economies and self-reliant communities essential for viable local food production. In particular, these misconceptions about Michigan and Michigan agriculture run pretty deep, and I’ve noticed that many Michigan residents have been just as surprised as Californians are to find out that the Mitten is second only to the Golden State in diversity of agricultural products produced (not to mention the clear advantage that the Great Lakes State has in terms of both available water and land). Even when reminded that most California agriculture still involves large-scale, mono-crop factory farms and that only 3% of U.S. agriculture is organic, these faulty assumptions persist. Furthermore, it’s not news to us that Michigan doesn’t have the best public image. Detroit’s abandoned buildings often get more national media coverage than its people do—can you say RoboCop statue? And, unfortunately, such an exclusive focus on images of decay serves to obscure both the vibrant DIY movement here and also the amazing innovations in yearround, sustainable urban agriculture coming out of Detroit, Flint, Ypsi and elsewhere. So when that
focus on urban decay is combined with the popular assumption that California is the one and only home of sustainable farming (or any farming for that matter), many people are subsequently unable to associate the Rustbelt with agricultural innovation. Therefore, it’s vital to document and broadcast these innovations so we can all move towards a more sustainable and localized food system. Growing Hope, Ypsilanti’s own community gardening and local food advocacy non-profit, is probably pretty familiar to most of you, so all I will mention here is their upcoming plan to convert “Clifford the big red truck” into Clifford the big red truck (farm) in order to demonstrate that you don’t even need access to land (let alone own 40+ acres) to grow your own food! The Michigan Young Farmer Coalition (MYFC), whose mission is to empower Michigan communities through viable agricultural stewardship, and Living Stones Community Farm, a non-profit working to provide former inmates with the skills necessary to reenter the workforce as farmers, are two other noteworthy Ypsi-based organizations helping folks become innovative local food producers. And of course, no discussion of Ypsi local food victories would be complete without a shout-out to all the fantastic vendors who sell Michigan products at the Depot Town Farmer’s Market and the Downtown Ypsi Farmer’s Market. In fact, the Downtown Ypsi Market has become so popular that this year there will be at least seven farms offering CSA (community supported agriculture) shares! Totally incredible. Stay tuned next time for more stories of local food victories as the discussion expands to highlight other farmers, community gardens, restaurants, and stores that put Ypsi on the local food map.
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[SCENE]
taste of the month <<<<<<<<<<<< BY RYAN M. PLACE Dominick’s has been an Ann Arbor institution for over 50 years. Not only is Dominick’s an outdoor eatery with an excellent patio in a great location, but it’s a three-level funhouse of cultural artifacts, ample seating and wonderful people—and it’s probably the closest thing to an authentic Italian café that I’ve seen in the United States. Located directly across from the sprawling, gothic U of M Law Quad and Cook Research Library, every summer Dominick’s outdoor patio fills with students and other patrons eager to partake in the restaurant’s famous sangria, pizza, pasta and more. In 1959, Dominick DeVarti moved to Ann Arbor to study engineering at U of M on the GI Bill and bought the current Dominick’s building before becoming part owner of Dominick’s Pizza with Tom Monaghan in 1960, which morphed into Domino’s Pizza. After his father died in 2001, Richard DeVarti bought his brother out and he has been the owner of Dominick’s for the last two years. Dominick’s is open from March to November each year. “Traditionally we’re open the first day after U of M’s spring break, and we close the day of the Wolverines’ last football game,” says Richard DeVarti, a former U of M student who loves Ann Arbor and the surrounding area. “Washtenaw County is a testament to diversity and tolerance. People are very accepting of each other here, and we encourage and respect that,” he says. Dominick’s is known for its colorful interior, and the interesting variety of ephemera on the walls gives the place a rare flavor. The décor is part Roman café and part college bar. On the second floor is an incredibly rare Italian movie poster for “Some Like it Hot,” and the cavernous multi-room basement features a fireplace, while the backyard is a massive beer garden with a fountain. Dominick’s is also known for its famous sangria—which happens to be my new favorite drink. Dominick’s Sangria comes in a mason jar with ice and two orange slices, and the recipe is a homemade secret. “I lived in Madrid, Spain in the early 70’s, and, when I returned to Ann Arbor, we started making the sangria here,” says Richard DeVarti.
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PHOTO CREDIT: RYAN M. PLACE Sangria prices range from half pint ($4.50) to pint ($7.80), quart ($14.45) and half-gallon ($24.80). If sangria isn’t your thing, for $21 you can get a 50 ounce pitcher of Constant Buzz, a blended mixed drink consisting of strawberries, gin, rum, vodka, tequila, triple sec, pina colada and love. Dominick’s isn’t only famous for its drinks, but also for its pizza, pasta and large Italian sub with salami, provolone, shredded greens, onions and Italian dressing (it also comes in sandwich form). I recommend trying the pasta with Dominick’s homemade tomato sauce or the Butternut Squash Ravioli with Alfredo sauce, which comes with a cup of soup and small tossed salad. Dominick’s is a great meeting spot, a great place to hang out and chat, and a great place to drink and get some work done. Richard DeVarti’s lovely establishment offers something for everyone in the community. Dominick’s is a 21+ establishment all the time, unless accompanied by a parent and is located at 812 Monroe Street in Ann Arbor. Hours of operation are Monday—Saturday, 10 a.m.—10 p.m.
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Village Grove Apartments villagegroveapts@att.net
1428 Village Lane • Ypsilanti, MI 48198
AMENITIES
step into the bright
[SCENE//STYLE]
BY DWIGHT THOMAS >>>>>
PARKING
TRANSPORTATION SERVICE AVAILABLE BASEMENT* UPGRADED APPLIANCES AIR CONDITIONING DISHWASHER* PET FRIENDLY WATER INCLUDED TRASH PICK-UP
BY AMANDA SLATER
AFTER-HOURS PATROL FAX & COPY SERVICES FREE ADDITIONAL STORAGE* ON-SITE LAUNDRY *select styles
I journeyed to the mall, and, by the end of my shopping trip— amongst bags of yet more dark clothes (you can take a horse to water but you can’t make it drink!)—my feet were delighted by an electric blue pair of sneakers! It’s a small change, I know, but it was enough to get me started. So, if this is a new avenue for you, as it was for me, I urge you to step into the bright colors of the season with jewelry, makeup or shoes! And if you have the attitude to pull off a head-to-toe statement like the ones seen here, so be it! You can’t go wrong so as long as you have fun—after all, that’s what fashion is all about. Be bold and bright this spring with electric hues that mark the end to gloomy days with a dazzling array of color.
Value, Convenience and Style. Conveniently located just minutes from downtown Ypsilanti, Depot Town and EMU with easy access to i-94.This air-conditioned, pet-friendly community offers pleasant scenery in a quiet environment.We offer several styles to choose from ranging from the simple 1 bedroom apartments to the spacious and luxurious 3 bedroom townhome! If you are looking for affordable housing without all the expense, look no further than Village Grove. COME IN FOR A PERSONAL SHOWING OR CALL TO MAKE AN APPOINTMENT.
734-487-4557 www.mispymag.com
In the wake of spring, winter’s morbid tones of ashy whites and cool shades of grey have surrounded us for what feels like decades. For months, the only colors that emerged were the red in our frosted cheeks and the purple of our chattering lips. That is why I, for one, anxiously await the birth of spring’s green fabric beneath my feet. And what better way is there to celebrate spring’s approach than with exhilarating color? I’ll be honest—I found this a difficult task because I’m so fond of wearing black from head to toe (I’m a hairdresser down to my bones), but I would never talk the talk without walking the walk. I rummaged through my closet, pulling out any and all non-black items (there were only two that lived amongst their inky counterparts—a navy cardigan and an eggplant button down). Even my “colors” lacked the injection of energy I so desired, but my color excursion would not be ceased.
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[FEATURES]
BY AMANDA SLATER >>>>>
beer meets bollywood ARBOR BREWING COMPANY GOES INTERNATIONAL
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Many patrons have fallen in love with Arbor Brewing Company and the Corner Brewery, owned by husband and wife team Rene and Matt Greff. The Greffs founded Arbor Brewing Company in 1995, modeling it after neighborhood pubs that they’d fallen in love with in England, Ireland and Germany. “We loved the fact that pubs were the social hub of many neighborhoods and communities. Unlike the sports bars we were most familiar with at the time, these pubs were family-friendly. The pub was the gathering place for weddings and wakes and everything in between,” says Rene Greff. In addition, the Greffs had a great appreciation for “good beer,” which Rene describes as “fresh, full-flavored beer, made with quality traditional ingredients.” This love was initially sparked during Matt’s time spent studying in Germany in 1987—which was before the craft beer movement swept the Midwest. When Matt returned to the states, he was unable to find any “good beer,” and decided to try his hand at homebrewing. “He took to homebrewing like a fish to water. Within a couple of years, he decided that he enjoyed brewing much more than he enjoyed being a database analyst and decided that he wanted to be a professional brewer,” says Rene. “After exploring many options, from getting a master’s in brewing in Germany to getting a job at another brewpub, we decided to open our own place.” Thus, the Greffs developed Arbor Brewing Company, an establishment deeply rooted in the community and steeped in the history and traditions of beer. Arbor Brewing Company’s environment, as well as commitment to buying local and supporting environmentally sustainable agriculture and business practices, are some of the components that
have made it so successful. “Through our travels, we had just begun to discover the amazingly rich variety of beer styles and their fascinating histories,” says Rene. “So we wanted our place to be all about the beer, but we also wanted it to be a friendly environment for beer novices to come and explore, experiment, and learn about beer.” It was important to the Greffs that their establishment not only be a great place for patrons to hang out, but also a great place to work. Rene says that she and Matt worked to create an environment that rewards employee input, equips employees through training without micromanaging and values work-life balance— discouraging working more than 45 hours a week and offering flexible scheduling options. “I love the camaraderie among our staff and with the industry in general,” says Matt. “I am so lucky to get to work with fun, close friends every day. We share jokes and beer and music, but when it’s time to get to work, I know I can count on them. And we are in the most open and supportive industry. People freely share not only best practices, but lessons learned the hard way, sourcing and technical information, and, when we all gather at conferences, it is something like […] a family reunion (or better yet, a family reunion with a kegger).” Located in downtown Ann Arbor, Arbor Brewing Company is now a community institution. “Ann Arbor is a wonderfully diverse and progressive community. I love that the people are so engaged and passionate. All of those factors together create an incredible energy,” says Rene. “I love the vitality and walkability of the downtown and the diversity of the people in the streets, cafes and pubs on any given
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[FEATURES] evening,” says Matt. The success of Arbor Brewing Company inspired the Greffs to expand their business even more. One area for possible expansion that they identified was being able to sell their beer to retailers. “Michigan law incorporates a three-tier system for alcohol, which means that there are manufacturers, wholesalers and retailers. Manufacterers sell to wholesalers who sell to retailers, who sell to the public,” explains Rene. Since Arbor Brewing Company has a brewpub license, they are considered a retailer—which means that their beer can only be sold directly to customers. Thus, in order to distribute beer to other bars and restaurants, the Greffs needed a microbrewery license. Thus, in 2006, the Greffs opened their own microbrewery in Ypsilanti called the Corner Brewery. “We opened it in Ypsi because we’ve lived there for 20 years. We are committed to the city and wanted to be a part of its renaissance. There is such a great vibe in Ypsi right now with lots of artistic, creative and entrepreneurial energy, and a new generation is really starting to get
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involved and help shape the future of the community,” says Rene. The Corner Brewery not only enabled the Greffs to distribute beer, but also to extend their family-friendly pub environment into Ypsilanti, making it an almost instant favorite local hangout that plays host to everything from art fairs to concerts and more. Now, five years later, the Greffs are in the midst of an exciting new business opportunity—only this time they are upping the ante. Rather than delving into another neighboring town, the Greffs have opted to try selling their beer on an international scale and are currently in the midst of opening a brewery in India. When the Greffs first opened the Corner Brewery, doing business internationally was not something that they saw in their immediate future. However, they were approached by an Arbor Brewing Company regular, Gaurav Sikka, about the possibility of expanding to India. Initially, they turned down his offer. However, he remained persistent, suggesting that Matt and Rene come to India to meet his family
and hear more about the proposed project. “Since we love to travel and have always wanted to go to India, we decided to take him up on the offer and figured that, in the worst case scenario, if nothing came of it, we at least got to take a great trip to India,” says Rene. But, as the story goes, the Greffs fell in love with Gaurav, his family and the country. And they saw a great business opportunity. “The laws in [Sikka’s] home-state of Karnataka have just changed to allow brewpubs, and [ours] could be the first, or at least among the first, to open in Bangalore,” says Rene. The Greffs decided to partner with Sikka in a new company they called ABC India, which holds the rights to the Arbor Brewing Company brand throughout the Indian sub-continent, where it has the rights to open branches and license franchisees. “Our role is primarily as consultants to design the brewery, help with the layout and design of the restaurant, install the brewery, hire and train the staff and assist with menu development,” says Rene.
Rene says that the brewery in India will, in many ways, be the brewery the Greffs always wanted. “Cost structures in India make it possible to do a lot more customization than our budgets ever afforded in the U.S. So, in addition to designing the brewery to spec, we will also have custom furniture, shelving, lighting, etc.,” says Rene. “Gaurav has included many of his favorite elements from Arbor Brewing Company and Corner Brewery in the design, so regulars from Michigan will feel right at home here. In terms of beer, we will be brewing a lot of the same recipes and will also be creating some special recipes for the Indian market. The food menu will also be similar to the menus at ABC and Corner, with some spicy Indian twists.” “My guess is that there will be a lot of recipe sharing between the three breweries, so I wouldn’t be surprised to find a masala porter on tap at Arbor Brewing Company or Corner Brewery sometime in the future,” adds Rene.
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[FEATURES]
chris bathgate WE SAT DOWN WITH CHRIS AND DISCUSSED HIS UPCOMING ALBUM SALT YEAR, THE LOCAL MUSIC COMMUNITY AND MORE
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BY AMANDA SLATER >>>>> Chris Bathgate is one of the biggest names in Michigan’s indie music scene. Locally based bands from Frontier Ruckus to Misty Lyn and the Big Beautiful know and love him, and Bathgate’s music is well respected on both the local and national scale. A U of M alumnus, Bathgate majored in art— particularly sculpture, but also ended up doing audio and video art, ceramics and bookmaking. He got his start performing while at U of M, playing everywhere from the Blind Pig to house parties. Lately, a lot of exciting things have been happening for Bathgate and his band. They recently performed at one of the biggest music festivals in the country—South by Southwest in Austin, Texas. Bathgate’s music was also featured on NPR’s “Awesome 100” sampler. We had the opportunity to meet up with Bathgate at Woodruff’s for an exclusive interview, during which we discussed everything from his former metal band to his upcoming album release.
What are your favorite Ypsilanti and Ann Arbor hangouts? Woodruff’s, Beezy’s and the Ugly Mug are the three places you’ll see me the most often in Ypsilanti. If I go to Ann Arbor, I typically hang out at Old Town. (I currently live north of Ann Arbor in Pinckney.) What do you like about the local music community? The scene is small enough that a lot of us know each other, and it’s easy for us to stay well connected. There’s a comradery. I don’t think people always expect Michigan to have as many talented musicians as it does. I don’t think so either. I think there’s a lot of state pride here. You see it all over the place. Do you see any similarities between Michigan artists? There’s an Americana aesthetic, there’s a lot of flannel and there’s a lot of “Michigan folk” and indie folk. How would you define folk music? Folk music is music of the people. Essentially, all music, in my opinion, is folk music. To describe folk as a genre of music, it has traditional roots, it’s typically acoustic—which may not [describe my music]. We’ve got traditional ideas in our music, but we’re not acoustic anymore. Is it sort of like when Bob Dylan went electric? Sort of—but maybe it’s less significant. If we play a show with electric guitars, BBC’s not announcing it. There are still elements of folk or the idea of folk in our music. The music is definitely still singer/songwriter. We are a more song-oriented band. We don’t have long jam sessions. Are there any times that you play music that your fans would be completely surprised by? Occasionally I do. There was a heavier version of my music performed under the name Wrathgate, which was sort of a joke, but it was definitely a really harsh, loud version of our songs. We did it was mostly to play with this band we really like called the Jehovah’s Witness Protection Program. That was at Savoy awhile ago. I read that at one time you were in a metal band. Is that true? I was in a heavy metal band for two and a half years when I was in high school. What was your band’s name? I can’t tell you. Sorry. It’s really bad. There is a big contrast between metal and the music that you play now. What changed that made you decide to get involved in folk music instead? There was never a change. I would play a metal gig, then I would go home and play acoustic guitar. It wasn’t like I was only playing heavy metal, then suddenly switched to folk. I had both interests going at the same time. I was listening to a Wilco record but also the Deftones at the same time.
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[FEATURES]
WASHTENAW DENTAL ASSOCIATES DENNIS DONOHO D.D.S. CREATING HOLLYWOOD SMILES COSMETIC & FAMILY DENTISTRY
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How do you feel about your new album? “Satisfied” I think would be the term. It took a really long time to make …at least two years. I’m really happy that it’s finally done and that it’s on the brink of people being able to hear it as a full album instead of just singles. What inspired you lyrically in this album? The whole record is about love versus time. Metaphorically, that’s the common thread between all songs. Lyrically it’s inspired from intense peaks of personal experience. I’ve read that you are inspired by authors like John Steinbeck. Is this true? I listen to a lot of music, but I also read a lot of books and poetry. Sometimes I don’t have the attention span to carve through deep novels, and it’s the most instantly satisfying emotionally for me to read a single poem. Vonnegut is a big influence. A lot of what I read plays into what I write. Why do you think that music is important? It’s a form of communication that has adaptable interpretation. I feel like people listen to music and internalize it in the perspective of their own lives. But, at least as a creator of it, it’s a great way to say what I want and document it and have other people share it who aren’t necessarily bound to my precise intentions, I guess. Everyone can enjoy music. [Through music] you can express a vibe or emotion or the intention of it without being bogged down by words. [It’s about] communication. What do you do in your spare time when you’re not working on music? If I’m not working on music, the networking side, or writing music, I’m
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usually cooking. I don’t know exactly how to cook. I’ve never really learned, but I’ve been working it out. I think most people would say I’m a great cook, but I want to wield any dish into existence without spending an afternoon beforehand. Do you have any favorite TV shows? I don’t own a TV. I got really hooked on “Lost”—I’ll be honest. Any reason you don’t own a TV? It seems like there are better things I could be doing with my time. It’s sort of like protecting myself a little bit because it’s easy to get sucked in, and then I’ll be there every week when I should be doing something else. I like films. I saw the “Adjustment Bureau.” It was okay. I liked “Inception.” There seems to be a lot of these heady indie films breaking into the mainstream. I like the Marx Brothers. I’ve seen every single Marx Brothers film. I’m obsessed with them. I watch them all the time. I have some memorized. I think they’re totally brilliant. What should people know about your next record or about what is coming up? We’re doing a large tour of the state of Michigan. I’m bringing two of my favorite songwriters with me for that whole tour. The new album, “Salt Year,” will be released locally on April 21 at the Blind Pig. I’m doing a talk at U of M the night before called “How I Write,” where I’ll give a short talk about how I write music and perform a song. Admission is free. The album will be released in stores on April 26. For more information and updates, visit www. chrisbathgate.org.
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APRIL 2011
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[REVIEW]
ARTIST: Radiohead ALBUM: The King of Limbs 4/5 TOWERS: BY PAUL KITTI “Don’t blow your mind with why,” warns Radiohead frontman Thom Yorke on the eclectically arranged album opener “Bloom.” Instead of asking why “The King of Limbs” was released within a week of its announcement, why the band chose to include only eight tracks, or why the album feels like an eerie mixture of all their previous work, Radiohead just wants you to listen. And maybe dance. For some people, “King of Limbs” won’t initially sound like an album worth breaking into. When I first heard the single “Lotus Flower,” I was a bit perplexed. It was mysteriously beauti-
ful in a very Radiohead way, but it was the type of song I would expect to find stashed at the bottom shelf, revealing its brilliance through repeat listens. Interestingly, the most formless, alienating single in the band’s history happens to be the most structured and inviting track on this album. “The King of Limbs” is not passively ingested musical entertainment; it’s an album you have to break into, whereupon you will witness Radiohead surrendering their instruments to sonic turbulence, dancing wildly around the fires of psychedelic expression and pausing occasionally to catch their breath upon a bed of tranquil musical landscapes. The music video for “Lotus Flower” is a vital counterpart to this collection of songs, in which a somehow peacefully frenzied Thom Yorke dances and claps his way through the music, instructing listeners on how the album is meant to be experienced. “I would shrink and
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disappear,” he explains. “I would slip into the groove.” The album often feels atmospheric and paranoid, with scattered moments of fantastical grooves and ethereal sound samplings. The lyrics unfold like an impromptu extension of the instrumentation, making perfect sense with the music but almost no sense apart from it. Deep, thumping bass lines and infectiously catchy, experimental percussion act as the anchor of these eerie dance-rock melodies. Songs like “Feral” and “Morning Mr. Magpie” are what you would most likely hear if Radiohead seized control of your local dance club. In the dreamlike “Codex,” perhaps one of the most beautiful songs Radiohead has ever recorded, Yorke fantasizes about an endless fall over leisurely progressing piano chords. While the apparent lack of structure and the sparse, difficult-to-interpret lyrics can initially be frustrating, “King of Limbs” rewards those who just keep
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listening without questioning. This is the kind of music your mind can dance to—especially if you prefer not to have auto-tune, excessive noise, or typical lyrics about night clubs and belligerent behavior interfere with your rhythm.
PHOTO COURTESY: RADIO-HEAD.COM/ DEADAIRSPACE
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Eyes, and frantically jammed it humans and starting a spiral of What results is a mysteriously CONOR OBERST PHOTO COURTESY: SADDLE-CREEK.COM into the disc drive. Then somegood and evil that will weave cohesive mixture of indie rock, thing went terrifically wrong. This its way through history right up folk, and punk, with Oberst’s band wouldn’t let me make a to our present time – which is self-aware sensibilities and rebel quick decision and move on to typical Conor Oberst stuff, as pride directing the orchestra. “I the next cd. I listened intently as he often opens his albums with go umbrella under my arm into the entire album played through, cryptic musings. What’s not so the green of the radar…” he then I started it again. typical is the subject matter that optimistically sings over upbeat Conor Oberst has come follows. He’s done describing guitars and meandering wave a long way since “I’m Wide cities and trains and shorelines; synths on “Jejune Stars.” The Awake, It’s Morning,” the on “The People’s Key,” Conor is haunting piano ballad “Ladder critically-acclaimed 2005 album more concerned with spirituality, Song” contemplates death and from his brainchild musical alias, apocalyptic visions, and how it all friendship before the energetic, Bright Eyes. His rickety, adolesrelates to our own little personal contented surrender of album cent vocals and modest, folksy lives. Lead single “Shell Games” closer “One For You, One For acoustic strumming has since finds him wrestling with his past Me” (“One for the bread lines, evolved into something a little while trying to make sense of his one for the billionaires/One for more mature and accessible, yet new direction: “I was dressed the missing, one for the barely no less powerful and emotionally in white, touched by something there/One for the certain, one for Sometime early in high school, captivating. He has graduated pure, death-obsessed like a the real confused/One for me, I remember racing home after to playing in stadiums and on teenager; sold my tortured youth, one for you”). class with a huge stack of cds late shows, but somehow still piss and vinegar, I’m still angry There are rumors that this will my friend had lent me. Excited sounds like a boy belting out his with no reason to be.” be the last Bright Eyes album, about expanding my musical feelings in his bedroom. His latMusically, “The People’s with Oberst focusing more of his ARTIST: Bright Eyes influences, I inserted disc after est release, “The People’s Key,” Key” combines elements from efforts on other projects. Until ALBUM: The People’s Key disc into my laptop, only allowis yet another album that won’t 2005’s experimental “Digifurther notice, I refuse to ac4.5/5 TOWERS: BY PAUL KITTI ing the music to play a couple let me take it off rotation. tal Ash in a Digital Urn” with cept this possibility. But if “The minutes before deciding whether The album begins with an 2007’s “Cassadaga,” a beautiful People’s Key” really is the last or not the cd was worth importunfamiliar voice rambling about album that alternated between chapter of the Bright Eyes story, ing. I got to a cd labeled Bright amphibious aliens breeding with down-to-earth and grandiose. I couldn’t ask for a better ending.
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PHOTO COURTESY: THEDEARS.ORG
ARTIST: The Dears ALBUM: Degeneration Street 2.5/5 TOWERS: BY PAUL KITTI The only thing harder than making it to the top of the world is surviving the fall back down. After 2003’s “No Cities Left,” Montreal’s energetic indie rockers The Dears were cast under the international spotlight, selling out shows in stadiums and receiving widespread critical acclaim. After a string of dazzling live performances and another successful album, The Dears were poised to occupy the spotlight for some time. Then came the comedown. It could have been the pressures that tag along with success, the question of what new direction to take, or the clashing of ideas among band members, but something shook up The Dears. The band went through numerous lineup changes and would have disappeared entirely if not for the perseverance of frontman and founder, Murray Lightburn. He managed to reorganize the band, and returns with “Degeneration Street,” an album that sounds like an exhausted group of individuals trying to find their sound. Album opener “Omega Dog” layers a somber but incredibly catchy guitar progression over a casual drum loop with Lightburn’s mournful voice leading the track into an instrumental breakdown. It’s a promising start, but it blends into an album full of sound-a-likes. There are fourteen
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tracks here, most of which sound determined to top the alternative rock charts. This type of ambition is admirable, but it’s also a shortcoming: The Dears sound too intent on crafting anthemic masterpieces and regaining their steam, the songs become detached and formulaic. Still, there’s some great moments within the orchestral, atmospheric “Degeneration Street.” The Dears seem confident on “Thrones,” pairing sardonically-themed lyrics with a triumphant sound, and the refreshingly upbeat “Yesteryear” finds the band enjoying themselves, with Lightburn almost sarcastically recalling their shaky history (“What the hell just happened here?/A falling out of favor since yesteryear,/ain’t no doubt about it.”) As a whole, however, the album is rather exhausting. Somewhere beneath the sixty minutes of cryptic lyrics, angsty vocals and indulgent instrumentation is a band capable of making a great album. “I heard there’s no rest for the wicked,” Lightburn aches on the album’s self-titled closer, “so I won’t be sleeping when I’m dead...” Considering all this band has battled through, it seems natural that they won’t rest until they’ve regained their position in the spotlight. Hopefully “Degeneration Street” is a just a detour on the way back up.
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[REVIEW] his success as a writer in the thriller genre, Nolfi was perfect for the task at hand. In the end, even though this flick wasn’t as action-packed as “The Bourne Ultimatum” or as star-studded FILM: The Adjustment Bureau as “Ocean’s Twelve,” it still succeedDIRECTOR: George Nolfl 3.5/5 TOWERS: BY JOSEPH STROMSKI II ed at roping me in from the beginning and taking me on one wild ride When they meet by chance in the through the streets of New York—ulmen’s room of a New York hotel, timately leaving me with a renewed David Norris (Matt Damon) and Elisa appreciation for a fine fedora. Sellas (Emily Blunt) share an irresistible chemistry right from the start of “The Adjustment Bureau,” George Nolfi’s directorial debut. However, as fate would have it, the two lovers are kept apart from each other as the result of the plan of the Chairman—a powerful force who runs the Adjustment Bureau. The Adjustment Bureau is a team of supernatural agents who keep the Chairman’s plan on track by making little changes to the daily lives of unknowing humans. When David accidentally stumbles upon the bureau and becomes aware of the Chairman’s plan, he does everything within his power to reconnect with Elise and write his own destiny. At first, “The Adjustment Bureau” seems to be your average secret government program flick as it has all the classic elements: unknowing politicians, attractive female leads and plenty of mysterious men in fancy hats and suits. But as it turns out, the film includes a much appreciated twist that literally kept me guessing about what was coming around the next corner for the entire length of the film. Both Damon and Blunt do a fine job in their roles, and their romantic connection is very convincing, but the real star of the film is the man behind the camera, writer-director George Nolfi. Nolfi started his career in Hollywood as a writer with “Timeline,” starring Paul Walker, but quickly STARRING: redeemed himself with the plotdriven scripts of “Ocean’s Twelve,” MATT DAMON, EMILY “The Sentinel” and “The Bourne BLUNT AND JOHN Ultimatum.” And, with two films starring Damon under his belt and SLATTERY
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[REVIEW]
kick some app!
VS.
PUSH TO TALK: HEYTELL VS. TIKL BY TIM ADKINS >>>>>>>>
Remember five years ago how cool it was to have a Nextel so you could Push to Talk (PTT) and walkie-talk it up with your buds? Remember how you needed a backpack to lug it around because your Nextel was built to withstand any and all possible damage? And of course we all remember how annoying the constant “beep beep” could get. I remember it all too well, and the nostalgic feeling of simpler days is why I want to figure out which of these two apps is better. Both HeyTell and Tikl are like direct connect 2.0, and the apps are both free in the AppStore and the Android Marketplace. Both Tikl and HeyTell are available for iPhone, iPad, iPod and Android phones and work across all networks via WiFi, 3G, 4G, EDGE and GPRS. And both are good solutions for avoiding texting while driving tickets.
>>>>Why these kick app: HEYTELL
Open the app, easily add friends from your contacts or your Facebook friends, press to speak, and voice messages are sent. Conversations are all saved, and you can even email individual messages to yourself or a friend. HeyTell is GPS friendly and shows you on a Google map where messages are sent and received from. The user interface is really simple and very easy to operate and explore with. You can also purchase app extras for group messaging, a voice changer and more. Messages can be listened to whenever it’s convenient for you, as they are downloaded to your phone (however, this can be really annoying when you don’t have service—like, say, in the EMU Convocation Center …cough, cough—and your crew is trying to get a hold of you).
TIKL
Tikl is perhaps best described as an instant, real time walkie talkie. Tikl is closer to a true PTT service. It’s fast and comes along with the “beep, beep” sound effects for your alerting pleasure. You can easily add contacts from your address book and Facebook in Tikl, and the interface is very minimal. You are alerted that a message has been sent based on the background color, which changes from blue to red, but the top and bottom ads actually make it look less plain (when viewing on an iPhone). But, if you miss a message, it’s lost. You’ll just have to ask for it to be repeated.
THE WINNER
And the winner is …HeyTell—hands down. Both are free apps, and, while I like the immediacy of Tikl, HeyTell offers a lot more in regards to what I’m able to do with the messages I send and receive. It looks nicer and makes adding contacts easier, while communicating without the annoying “beep, beep” sound.
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Late Night Breakfast Kick-off before finals! For more info visit emustudentgov.org
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STUDENT GOVERNMENT PRESENTS:
AFTER THE SHELLACKING: Obama Presidency & the Fight for 2012
Join Sheryl to discuss how President Obama reshaped his agenda, his administration and his relationship with Republicans in the wake of the midterm elections. Additionally, to discuss how he is positioning himself for a re-election in 2012. Sheryl Gay Stolberg has been a White House correspondent May 2006. In this role Ms. Stolberg covers the administration of Barack Obama and, before that, spent more than two years covering the administration of George W. Bush. Previously, she was a Washington correspondent, covering congress, from 2002 to 2006. As a Congressional correspondent, she covered a wide range of stories, including the battle G. Roberts Jr. as chief justice of the Supreme Court.
APRIL 7 â&#x20AC;˘ 7PM Student Center Auditorium
FREE & OPEN TO THE PUBLIC
[CAMPUS //
EMYOU!]
RENTING 101 PRESENTED BY PENINSULAR PLACE PENINSULAR PLACE
1000 N. Huron River Drive • Ypsilanti, MI
It's that time of year again, you know, the one where we give away a FREE one year apartment lease! Join us Tuesday April, 19th in the Grand Ballroom in the EMU Student Center from 12pm - 3pm for FREE food, tunes from DJ-Zu, (tons (and I mean tons) of goodies) and give aways and for your chance to win a FREE one year lease! Until then, here is some information on the communities that will be at this year's Renting 101. Join us at www.mispymag.com for more conversation and information on participating communities.
(734) 485-9999
Live like you mean it at Peninsular Place, the best in Ypsilanti student living! At Peninsular Place you will have the privacy and lifestyle you deserve in an off campus student community that is built specifically with you, the college student, in mind. Peninsular Place has been voted “Best Apartments” by Eastern Michigan University students for three years in a row! Peninsular Place is located across the street from Eastern Michigan University, is on the Ann Arbor bus route (The Ride), and is within walking distance to class, Rynearson Stadium, and Depot Town. You will also enjoy our amenities including a clubhouse complete with a stateof-the-art fitness center, computer lab, theatre room, upgraded game room, volleyball court, FREE parking, and much more.
SCHOONER COVE APARTMENTS
5050 Schooner Cove Dr. • Ypsilanti, MI
(734) 485-8666
Schooner Cove is the Michigan Apartment community for you! These apartments in Ypsilanti offer a community of expertly designed efficiency. These one and two bedroom apartment homes are located on the banks of beautiful Ford Lake. As a resident you will enjoy boat dock access, beautiful lake side living and Free WiFi in the clubhouse. Its superb Ypsilanti location around the corner from I-94 allows you easy access to downtown Ann Arbor, The University of Michigan, Eastern Michigan University, and The Detroit Metropolitan Airport. The minimum apartment lease length varies.
THE VILLAS
2911 Bynan Dr. • Ypsilanti, MI
(734) 434-1743
A fantastic community of Ypsilanti apartments, the Villas offer large 1 & 2 bedroom apartment homes that are sure to fit any lifestyle. Surrounded by serene wooded wetlands, these Ypsilanti apartments at Golfside Lake boasts peaceful patios and balconies, large apartment floor plans with great closet space and an unbeatable location near U of M, EMU, WCC, St. Joe s and Route 23. Come see why The Villas is quickly becoming the most sought after Ypsilanti apartment community in which to live!
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ROUNDTREE APARTMENTS
2835 Roundtree Blvd. • Ypsilanti, MI
(734) 434-1470
When you’re ready for some recreation, Roundtree Apartments has it all! Actionpacked tennis and sand volleyball allow for great entertainment while a glimmering pool and sundeck shower you with relaxation. Enjoy your fabulous 24 hour fitness center when you need to relieve the stress of a busy day. At your Ypsilanti apartment, you will receive the ultimate combination of quality apartment living and professional management with 24-hour emergency service all in an unbeatable location near Ann Arbor and Ypsilanti. Leasing terms are flexible.
ASPEN CHASE
2960 International Drive • Ypsilanti, MI
(734) 434-0297
These great apartments in Ypsilanti have recently changed management and are here to make your Michigan apartment search simple. At Aspen Chase Apartments in Ypsilanti, you’ll discover a lifestyle of comfort and convenience. Our fine one and two bedroom Michigan apartment homes paired with unbeatable customer service make Aspen Chase Apartments in Ypsilanti the perfect choice. Conveniently located near St. Joseph Mercy Hospital and Ypsilanti’s Eastern Michigan University, your Ypsilanti apartment is just minutes from I-94 and US-23, allowing easy access to everything from entertainment to your daily business needs. Finding an apartment in Michigan has never been this easy!
THE LAKE SHORE APARTMENTS 2500 Lakeshore Blvd. • Ypsilanti, MI
(734) 482-2800
The Lake Shore provides residents with all they could desire in a distinctive apartment home. With the comforts, class and flair of resort-style living. The Lake Shore is a controlled-entry community nestled along the shores of Ford Lake. Our country-club style amenities, accessible location and picturesque setting create the perfect atmosphere to call home. The Lake Shore offers breath-taking views and the tranquility of a natural terrain. The exceptionally large floor plans and extraordinary service, invite you to come.
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GLENCOE HILLS
2201 Glencoe Hills Drive • Ann Arbor, MI
(734) 971-5455
Glencoe Hills Apartments in Ann Arbor, offer stately trees and lush rolling hills that tantalize the senses. Nestled amidst over 65 acres of rolling hills in a natural country setting, these Michigan apartments are still only minutes away from the University of Michigan, Eastern Michigan University, and Washtenaw Community College. Matching convenience and comfort, these Ann Arbor apartments stand out as Michigan’s best. Maximize your Ann Arbor apartment living experience by choosing Glencoe Hills. Relieve the stress of a busy day in your fully equipped fitness center, or challenge a friend to a game of pool in the billiards room. Enjoy the two story clubhouse and discover Glencoe Hills Apartments in Ann Arbor and live the ultimate lifestyle with professional management that cares about you.
EVERGREEN APARTMENTS
3089 Woodland Hills Dr. • Ann Arbor, MI
2345 Woodridge Way • Ypsilanti, MI
Riverrain is dedicated to providing the finest and most convenient EMU campus area apartments. Their great location near campus and the river gives you the perfect setting. Each two bedroom, two bathroom unit comes with a variety of amenities. In addition, they offer three bedroom, two bathroom townhouses located at 706 Pearl Street. Riverrain understands how important it is for you to find just the right campus apartment, one that will allow you to maintain a busy student lifestyle worry-free.
THE HAMPTONS OF CLOVERLANE 4685 Hunt Club Dr. • Ypsilanti, MI
(734)-572-0300
If you are looking for a community that values what the residents want, then look no further than The Hamptons of Cloverlane Apartment Homes. When you make the Hamptons your new home you will enjoy the comforts of country living without having to drive hours for the city experience. Situated at the crossroads of two major universities, the Hamptons satisfy a modern lifestyle with convenient time-saving access to major expressways and destinations.The choices are endless. The Hamptons offers ten unique floor plans with a variety of exciting features including fully appointed kitchens with disposal, fireplace and vaulted ceilings, walk-in closets and full-size washer and dryer or applicable hookups.
UNIVERISTY GREEN APARTMENTS 799 Green Road • Ypsilanti, MI
(734) 487-5750
University Green Apartments is the newest and best valued community, servicing EMU, WCC, UofM and all of Washtenaw County. With spacious 1, 2 and 3 bedroom homes and nine unique styles to choose from there is certain to be the right home for you. University Green Apartments provides its residents with that peace of mind needed to relax after a hard day. Take a swim in our newly renovated pool, workout in our brand new fitness center, and don’t even worry about the rising price of gas because University Green Apartments has you covered there as well. Enjoy free heat, water and WiFi! At University Green Apartments the number one thing that we value is you!
(734) 434-1016
Turn into the drive of Golfside Lake Apartments and you’ll never want to leave. Nestled within the city, you can enjoy city convenience with the luxury of sparkling lake views and lush wooded settings just outside your door. Golfside Lake’s expertly designed efficiency, one and two bedroom apartments in Ypsilanti and oversized two bedroom townhomes are sure to suit your every need. Bright cheerful windows and peaceful patios with balconies are an everyday luxury. So come home to Golfside Lake Apartments and Townhomes and discover the lifestyle you deserve. Lease terms vary. Carport parking spaces are available for $25 a month. Free covered and assigned spots with townhome. www.mispymag.com
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(734) 487-9511
1130 Huron River Drive • Ypsilanti, MI
(734) 971-2132
For an apartment in Michigan with great prices and customer service, look no further than the Evergreen Apartments of Ypsilanti! Rent here and see the difference! This Ypsilanti apartment offers the perfect combination of quality living and incomparable value in an unbeatable location. Just minutes from both Ann Arbor’s University of Michigan, and Ypsilanti’s Eastern Michigan University, this apartment in Ypsilanti is the best choice for convenience, and affordability. Evergreen’s oversized one, two, and three bedroom Ypsilanti apartment homes are sure to suit your every need. The open apartment floorplans are filled with bright cheerful windows and vast closets and storage space.
GOLFSIDE LAKE
RIVERRAIN APARTMENTS
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RENTING 101 PRESENTED BY PENINSULAR PLACE BEAL PROPERTIES
221 Felch, Suite 6 • Ann Arbor, MI
(734) 662-6133
With over 50 apartments to choose from, we’ve got something for you! Beal Properties welcomes most pets, is close to campus and most apartments include heat and water in the rent. Whether you’re looking for a spacious loft in Downtown Ypsi or an efficiency that’s as close as you can get to campus, we’ve got it all. Our friendly and helpful team will work with you to provide the best of an off campus living experience! Our office is conveniently located in Ann Arbor. Give us a call today at 734.662.6133 to schedule a tour of your next home.
HURON VIEW APARTMENTS 815 Green Road • Ypsilanti, MI
(734) 483-6007
Huron View is a fantastic community of spacious two and three bedroom apartment homes, each with one and one half baths, plenty of storage space, and situated in a neighborhood setting alongside the Huron River. Ideally located, Huron View is convenient to the entire Ypsilanti area, is within walking distance to Eastern Michigan University, and only a few minutes drive from St. Joseph Hospital and the Ypsilanti downtown area. Huron View is lined with mature shade trees, adding to the allure of your home.
RIVER DRIVE APARTMENTS 1420 Gregory • Ypsilanti, MI
(734) 482-5611
River Drive is situated on 12-acres of natural wooded beauty and offers award winning one and two bedroom apartment homes with a number of different styles and floor options. River Drive has a friendly staff, affordable prices, flexible lease terms, great amenties and “the best address off campus!”. The only thing missing is you.
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VILLAGE GROVE
1428 Village Lane • Ypsilanti, MI
(734) 487-9048
Conveniently located just minutes from Downtown Ypsilanti, Depot Town and EMU with easy access to I-94. This air-conditioned, pet-friendly community offers pleasant scenery and professional management team. We offer several styles to chose from ranging from the simple 1 Bedroom Apartment to the spacious and private 3 Bedroom Townhome! Several apartment homes have vaulted ceilings and renovated kitchens including new appliances. Additionally our community offers gorgeous landscaping, FREE fax and copy services for our valued residents, FREE additional storage facilities and on-site laundry facilities. Come see your new home Monday through Friday 10am to 5pm and Saturday 11am - 3pm.
THE PINES OF CLOVERLANE
4907 Cloverlane Dr.• Ypsilanti, MI
(734)-434-3455
If you are looking for a community that values what the residents want, then look no further than The Pines of Cloverlane. When you make The Pines of Cloverlane your new home you will enjoy the comforts of country living without having to drive hours for the city experience. Situated at the crossroads of two major universities, The Pines of Cloverlane satisfies a modern lifestyle with convenient and time-saving access to major expressways and destinations. Once you arrive at your new home you will find seventy-three beautiful acres of naturally wooded terrain, wildlife and ponds. Take a quiet walk while exploring the beauty of this site. The choices are endless. Enjoy freedom and flexibility while using our Java Internet Café and wireless accessibility. Benefit from a robust workout in our state-of- the-art Cardiovascular Center, or enjoy some quality time with your child in our Children’s Creativity Center.
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HOUSING/
emich.edu/dining (734) 487-0418 emich.edu/housing (734) 487-1300
Residence Halls and Apartments More than enough options.
[CAMPUS //
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JASON LEINEKE BY RYAN M. PLACE >>>>>
LEINEKE: YEAR: Senior Studies MAJOR: Electronic Media & Film THREE DESCRIBE YOURSELF IN entertainer WORDS: Outgoing, laidback, FAVORITE BOOK:
Vegas” “Fear and Loathing in Las owski” VORITE MOVIE: “The Big Leb
FA Y IF YOU COULD HAVE AN ULD IT BE: SUPERPOWER WHAT WO
“I LOVE LIVING IN YPSILANTI AND GOING TO EMU. THERE ARE A LOT OF GREAT OFF-CAMPUS SPOTS HERE LIKE DEPOT TOWN, FROG ISLAND PARK AND RIVERSIDE PARK.” Eastern Michigan University has a wonderful variety of students culled from the local environs, including lifelong Michigan resident Jason Leineke. Born in 1989 on Detroit’s Upper Eastside, Leineke lived in Detroit city proper for the first five years of his life before his family moved to Grosse Pointe Park. He graduated from Grosse Pointe South High School in 2007 and immediately enrolled at Eastern Michigan University. Leineke is the vice president of Eagle Radio, EMU’s student-run radio station, located in Halle Library. “I’ve been with Eagle Radio since 2008,” he says. “I’m also one of the [station’s] directors and an on-air personality. I host my own two hour show every Monday and Wednesday night.”
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Leineke also works as a Producer for 89.1 WEMU, where he helps prep for shows, pulls records, records promo spots, and does research and some board operations. “Working at a radio station is a blast,” he says. “I plan on going into broadcast radio on the production or talent side.” Leineke’s greatest inspirations for going into radio have been Arthur Penhallow (WRIF’s Big Daddy Arthur P), late night talk show hosts Conan O’Brien and Craig Ferguson, and the unconventional “Free Beer and Hot Wings Morning Show” on 97.9 WGRD out of Grand Rapids. Leineke says that he chose EMU because his uncle earned his teaching
The ability to fly
degree at the university and had such a positive experience that Leineke was inspired to apply. “I’m very glad I did,” he says. “I love living in Ypsilanti and going to EMU. There are a lot of great off-campus spots here like Depot Town, Frog Island Park and Riverside Park. Leineke says that one thing he appreciates about the university is its instructors. “The teachers here are great,” he says, adding that many of his instructors had a large impact on him. The one thing that Leineke wishes he could change about the school is that he wishes that more students lived on campus. Because of EMU’s commuter-heavy nature, many students miss out on the many clubs and extracurricular activities the school offers. However, Leineke feels that these organizations are an important part of the college experience, and encourages students to get involved—even if they commute. In addition to his work in radio, Leineke is the vice president of EMU’s German club. He speaks German
fluently, is of German ancestry, and has been affiliated with the club since 2007—although he has yet to experience the German culture firsthand. “I would love to go backpacking all over Germany,” he says. As far as what the club does, Leineke says, “We have bi-monthly Stammtisch meetings where those interested in Germany’s culture can get together and discuss all things German.” The German Club also does fun things like going to the annual Christkindlmarkt, an open-air German Christmas festival in Chicago. Outside the classroom and studio, Jason enjoys playing acoustic guitar, film production, screenwriting, soccer, and fast cars. (“Ferrari’s, Lamborghini’s and classic 50’s Ford’s and 70’s muscle cars,” he says.) Leineke will graduate in April 2012, upon which he’d like to get some work experience before possibly returning to get his master’s degree. However, he says that if he decides to pursue a master’s degree, it will probably be at Eastern Michigan University.
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[CAMPUS // Some EMU grads stay in Michigan. Others, like 1989 EMU Homecoming King Allen Fazio, head west to fulfill their dreams. Born in 1966 in Ann Arbor, Fazio grew up in Westland, Mich. and graduated from EMU in December 1989 with a B.A. in Accounting Information Systems. Fazio is now vice president of global business technology strategy for Disneyland resort in Anaheim, California, but fondly recalls his EMU days. “I was Resident Advisor for four years BY RYAN M. PLACE >>>>> at Best Hall. We trained in crisis-management, negotiations and dealt with kids from different backgrounds. I loved being in the dorms and living on campus. It really immerses you in the full college experience,” he says. Fazio received many scholarship offers but didn’t want to be just another face in the crowd at a bigger university. “I liked the PHOTO COURTESY: EMU ATHLETICS size of EMU’s campus. They have the right balance of students to professors. My life’s trajectory was changed dramatically by EMU professors, faculty and staff—especially Professor Kruse. You really get to know your professors at EMU. She taught accounting and helped me switch majors and get hired with a public accounting firm. I graduated December 22 and was hired for work January 7,” he says. On getting hired into Disney, Fazio explains, “Disney was looking for internal systems auditors in Florida, and they have a great reputation for advancing auditors, so, in 1993, I jumped at the chance and have been thrilled to work for Disney ever since.” “Management Audit is the best way to learn the inner-workings of a company, and the great thing about Disney is that it’s many businesses rolled into one. I went from logistics to retail, […] to food and beverage.” Fazio then became IT Director for Disney Cruise Line. “In 1999, I was the brand new IT Director for Disney Cruise Line and, while on a celebrity cruise, found out, thanks to Hurricane Floyd, that saltwater and
ALLEN D. FAZIO
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computers are not a good combination. Disney owns its own private island in the Bahamas called Castaway Cay, [which is] reserved exclusively for Disney Cruise guests, and our executive leadership team had to rebuild the cruise ship’s entire technology on the small, deserted island,” he says. In 2005, Fazio started working for Disneyland Resort and became VP of Global Business Technology Strategy, which is his current role. He is responsible for overseeing the application of emerging global technologies to the theme park business. Fazio loves his job, saying, “Disney is loaded with talented people who love to be here, which makes it fun to come into work every day. Disney has five locations: Anaheim, Orland, Paris, Hong Kong and Tokyo, so our perspective is global, and we focus on strategy across the world.” Disneyland Resort in Anaheim encompasses two theme parks (Disneyland and Disney California Adventure), three hotels (Disneyland Hotel, Disney’s Grand Californian and Spa and Paradise Pier Hotel) and the Downtown Disney retail, entertainment and dining district. Fazio says that the next new attractions on the horizon for Disney are a new vacation club property in Hawaii and a forth cruise ship, the Disney Fantasy. “Millions of people have visited Disneyland annually since Walt Disney opened it in 1955 as a safe, clean place where families can spend time together and create lasting memories, and the best part about my job is the ability to see what we do come to life,” says Fazio. “I build systems in the IT industry, and getting to see them deployed and impacting the business, manifesting themselves in an amazing environment, makes it very worthwhile.” In his rare leisure hours, Fazio enjoys outdoor activities such as mountain biking, jet skiing, snow skiing and golfing. He is married with three kids and loves spending time with the family outdoors.
"My life’s trajectory was changed dramatically by EMU professors, faculty and staff."
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EMU baseball team battering bigger foes
PHOTO COURTESY: EMUEAGLES.COM BY JASON IDALSKI >>>>>
For most Eastern Michigan sports fans, Feb. 19 was a noteworthy day because the Eagles’ basketball teams swept a doubleheader at the Convocation Center—the women beating Northern Illinois and the men beating Jacksonville State. And with the calendar reading February and the amount of snow on the ground, baseball was probably not in the forefront of people’s minds. But the bigger win for EMU came about 700 miles to the south, as EMU’s baseball team defeated No. 4 ranked Clemson in South Carolina, 7-6, while an announced crowd of 5,407 watched (four times the amount of people that watched the basketball doubleheader). Commenting on the game, coach Jay Alexander said it was “a hostile environment” and “one of the best college baseball venues I’ve ever been to.” “It’s electric, but at the same time nerve-wracking,” he said. The Eagles looked to make an emphatic statement when they led 6-0 after four innings, but Clemson tied it at six before a wild pitch in the eighth brought
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home Daniel Russell (who went 4-for-4 with the winning run). Corey Chaffins pitched the last three and a third innings for the win. With top starter Kendall Lewis out for at least a couple months with a stress fracture in his elbow, Alexander’s decision to put Chaffins in the bullpen and
was no fluke when it took two of three from Kansas of the Big 12 a few weeks afterward, winning the last two games of the series by a combined 18-5. And so, at a time when smaller Northern schools are taking their lumps, travelling to the South to play powerhouses, as of St. Patrick’s Day, EMU has the best record in the Mid-American Conference at 9-6, thanks in part to a win in the second game of the season that has it believing it can beat anybody. “Our chest is pumped up […] pretty big right now,” Alexander said. “We’re getting help from people that we haven’t gotten help from in the past, which helps out tremendously.” Among those players is Adrian junior Brent Ohrman (whose numbers right now are “like video game numbers,” according to Alexander) and Russell, a sophomore from Grandville batting third and playing like he wants to keep that role, hitting almost .400. Shortstop Tucker Rubino, a junior from
“I THINK WHAT LAST YEAR DID WAS TELL US THAT WE NEED TO PLAY EVERY GAME, ALL THE TIME.” use him if they had a chance to win one of the series’ first two games paid off. Lewis’ injury has thrown the pitching staff in flux, and Alexander admitted he has “no idea” what Chaffins’ role will be moving forward. Eastern showed that the Clemson loss
Scottsdale, Ariz., anchors the defense. Rubino is “one of the unsung heroes that makes our defense tremendously better,” said Alexander. “He has made phenomenal play after phenomenal play.” As EMU enters MAC play, it looks to erase the bad memories from its MAC tournament exit last year, in which it blew a five-run ninth-inning lead in a 10-inning loss to Kent State. “I think what last year did was tell us that we need to play every game, all the time,” Alexander said. That’s especially true at home, where the Eagles begin MAC play March 25-27 against Buffalo. Alexander said winning at Oestrike Stadium is very important to him. “I value home more than I do anything,” he said. “Losing at home, to me, is not an option.” If Eastern’s roster can play as well as they have at the start of the season, Alexander should have nothing to worry about. Want more info about EMU Baseball? Visit www.mispymag.com for more about their series win against Kansas and the Inaugural Oestrike Classic.
www.mispymag.com
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women’s track: worst to first
BY JASON IDALSKI >>>>>>
In 2007, Eastern Michigan’s women’s track team finished last in the 12-team Mid-American Conference indoor championships, tallying seven points in an event where the winner had 136. It was coach Sue Parks’ first year, and she knew she had a five-year rebuilding job on her hands. Her efforts were right on schedule, as in late February the Eagles scored 118 points to win the MAC indoor title, the team’s first indoor crown in 11 years. “Overall it was just a really good team effort. We pretty much scored really well across the board in all the events,” Parks said. “Everybody really came ready to go. That’s what you need to do to win. You have to have the talent, but you have to have the will, and the girls really had the desire and they really wanted it and ended up coming through for us.” While track is inherently an individual sport, it is also more of a team sport than say, basketball, where one player can take over a game. To win in track, just about everybody needs to perform well. EMU benefitted from contributions from many athletes, including Southfield sophomore, Ashlee Abraham, who broke a conference record in the 60 and also won the 200. Lauren Quaintance and Beverly Elcock were 1-2 in the 800 and Courtney Calka set a school record in the 5,000. Eastern capped the meet by winning the 4x400 relay, an event Western Michigan had owned for the past few years. For Parks, the win capped a gradual resurgence. The daughter of legendary EMU track coach Bob Parks (who won more than 40 MAC championships in crosscountry, indoor and outdoor track in his career), Sue Parks has been around Bowen almost her whole life. She has memories of tagging along to practice and trying to run with the guys.
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An EMU alumna, Sue Parks was an assistant at Michigan, Michigan State and Arizona before taking the head coaching job at Ball State, where she won eight conference championships and picked up a few seconds. Leaving a MAC school with a good program to take over a MAC school with a struggling program might have raised eyebrows, but, for Parks, it was time to come home. “You can always do more, but I sort of felt like I’d taken [Ball State’s] program to where I’d wanted to, and I wanted a new challenge,” Parks said. While it’s impossible to replicate her father’s run of dominance (especially considering that there are more women’s teams than men’s teams), Parks looks to continue the family run of success, starting with the outdoor season currently going on. Parks said the head-to-head format benefits Eastern, but potential negatives are that the Eagles have a target on their back as the indoor champs, and that outdoors emphasizes field events a little more, an area that isn’t EMU’s strong point. On the bright side, it will be slightly easier for Eastern to qualify runners for the NCAA Championships. Despite its MAC crown, no Eagle qualified for the indoor championships, mostly because the NCAA takes fewer qualifiers indoors. “Sometimes some of the larger schools have bigger budgets to get to more big meets, so they’re able to post the marks they need to get indoors,” Parks said. “But outdoors it’s a little more of an even playing field.” The outdoor MAC championships are May 12-14 at Northern Illinois. Olds/ Marshall Track hosts the EMU Twilight meet on April 22 and 23.
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ANDREW AITKEN
BY PAUL KITTI >>>>>
FENCING TEAM VICE PRESIDENT AND U OF M STUDENT
It is no secret that the University of Michigan has one of the most successful athletic programs in the country. What most people don’t know, however, is that this success has been made possible largely in part by the consistent dedication of student-athletes on the less-publicized sport teams. One such student-athlete is Andrew Aitken. As the Vice President of the University’s fencing team, he has been making great strides in maintaining U of M’s reputation of athletic excellence while fulfilling responsibilities in the internationally esteemed Stephen Ross School of Business as well as the Delta Sigma Pi business fraternity. Aitkin grew up playing soccer in Tennessee and moved to Michigan just before the start of high school. It was about a year later that one of his classmates introduced him to fencing. “Fencing overshadowed my interest in soccer very quickly,” Aitkin recalls. “I began taking fencing classes and acquired an appreciation for the level of physical and mental accuracy that the sport required.” With only six months of fencing experience under his belt, Aitkin entered into the 2009 National Junior Olympics Fencing Tournament qualifiers, which showcased two hundred of the best fencers in the country. “I was lucky to get this experience because, at this time, there wasn’t a ton of competition among potential qualifiers from the state of Michigan,” says Aitkin. “When I got there, for one of my first bouts, I went up against a fencer who was the 17-and-under World Champion from the year before, and he completely owned me!” Aitkin views this loss as pivotal moment in his fencing career. “Despite the tough loss, the experience showed me that this kind of skill was attainable. It wasn’t so far away that it wasn’t worth trying for,” he says. Following the tournament, Aitkin spent the remainder of
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his high school career preparing to be a successful student and fencer come college. “I knew I was either going to go to U of M, Michigan State or Wayne State, and, looking back, I’m confident I made the right choice,” Aitkin says. “The student body is the best thing about Michigan. Everyone around you is constantly motivating you to do better, especially in the competitive environment of the business school. Also, [U of M] affords all its students multiple opportunities to pursue interests outside the classroom.” Aitkin has been able to grow tremendously at U of M as both a student and a fencer, building his own skills while working with other team members to make them competent and successful fencers. “Fencing is great mental and physical conditioning,” Aitkin says. “It is different from other sports in that if you’re getting frustrated, you have to quickly calm yourself down because fencing isn’t a sport where you can take out your emotion physically. In addition to giving me mental toughness, it has helped me develop my leadership skills, as well as great friendships.” On March 13, 2011, at the Division II North American Cup in Detroit, Aitkin finished third place and obtained B-rank status—just one ranking away from the coveted A-rank. This will give him and his team an extra boost of confidence as they travel to Chicago in April for the National Collegiate Club Fencing Championship, where they placed second last year. They are currently ranked first among club teams in the Midwest Fencing Conference, and, along with rivals Northwestern University and the University of Florida, are expected to be a dominant force again this year. “I think it’s cool to live like the ‘Man in the Arena,’” says Aitkin. “If you’re out there trying, you’re doing something right.”
AITKEN: >>>>>>
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YPSI’s BEST HAPPY HOUR! Mon-Fri 4pm-7
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201 West Michigan Ave.,Ypsilanti MI 48197 W W W. TA P R O O M Y P S I . C O M
734-482-5320
[DEPOT
TOWN RAG]
Depot Town Rag
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By Tom Dodd
A Royal Visit to Ypsilanti
By: James Mann The royal couple of William and Kate is to be married, and will then go on their honeymoon to some romantic location where they can be alone with the world press corps who will document everything they do. Their honeymoon will most likely not include a stop in Ypsilanti, Michigan; their loss. Then again, Ypsilanti has no need of William and Kate, as royalty has stopped in before. Early in the 20th century, Philipp Ernst, 8th Prince of Hohenlohe-Schillingsfurst was on a tour of the United States. The train pulled into the depot at Ypsilanti where it seems a small ceremony was
held for the prince and his wife. As part of the ceremony, a little girl presented flowers to the wife of the prince. These flowers came from the Michigan Central Gardens which graced the grounds of the depot. The couple, in the words of tourists everywhere, asked: “Where are we?” They were told, “Ypsilanti.” “Ypsilanti!” the couple cried. The prince asked that the train be held five minutes, and the two ran to the depot to purchase postcards. They addressed the cards to family in Europe, and requested the postmark to be clearly stamped on each card. As the two prepared to board the train, the prince said, “As you know, before we were married, my wife was the Princess Ypsilanti of Greece. Your station agent’s use of this knowledge deeply moves us.”
The response of the agent is not known, except that he had no idea she was the Princess Ypsilanti. The city is named for Demetrius Ypsilanti, a hero of the Greek War for Independence, who was called “The George Washington of Greek Independence.” This acclaim caused Judge Woodward to name the small village on the edge of the frontier after him. Demetrius was one of five brothers, only one of whom, George, married and had children. His daughter, the Princess Chariclee Ypsilanti was born in Paris on October 8, 1863. She married Philippe Ernest Marie, Prince of HohenloheSchillingfurst in Vienna on January 10, 1882. The couple had no children. She died in Schillingfurst on June 22, 1912.
What really happened when the “Royal Train” stopped here in 1905:
Prince Hohenlohe: Ye gads, darling! Seems this cattle train is stopping again! Princess Hohenlohe: Oooooh! Princey, get out there are shoot somebody. Tell them your princess is tried and needs to get her sleep so she doesn’t look too tired when she finally gets on her Royal Oceanliner back to civilized Europe. Prince: Yes, my Royal Pincushion. I will defend your honor and dignity, even in this jerkwater western outpost. (Calls to his porter)
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Prince: Open the anti-peasant bulletproof steel door and put down the steps for me! I am about to depart the coach! (Servant bows obsequiously; it’s a long way back to the Fatherland) Prince: (On the platform) Station Master! Where the devil is the Station Master? I’ll have him drawn and quartered! Agent: (Scurrying along the tracks with a stopwatch in his hand) I am the Station Agent, sir. How might I be of service to you? Prince: Are we in danger here? Are
there wild savages in the area? Or did we stop for yet another cow on the tracks? Am I going to have to have someone whipped? Agent: Your train has stopped to take on water in Ypsilanti, Michigan, sir. Prince: What? Ypsilanti? Why, that’s my wife’s name––almost. She is the Princess Chariclee Hildegaard Maria Ypsilantis, niece of the heroic general of the Greek War for Independence from the Turks! Agent: Well, have a flower! We’ll wipe
off the sign on the depot so she can see her name on it. (Signals to engineer to hold the train another five minutes). Prince: (Back in his private rail car) Darling, you won’t believe this, but they’ve got your name up on the depot wall––and it’s in error. Get your duster on and get out there on the platform. Be gracious. Just don’t let on that you know these bumpkins have spelled it incorrectly. ...And the rest is history.
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TOWN RAG]
Tracing nobility requires leapfrogging through upward mobility For Depot Towners hoping to trace their connection to this year’s royal wedding from Prince Hohenlohe’s 1905 visit, this handy guide may prove helpful. Follow the family connections and see if you might qualify for an invitation to this month’s big wedding: From Ypsi tourist Prince Hohenlohe (1904) to bridegroom Prince William (2011), we only have to go as far back and 1865 House of Saxe-Coburg-Gotha George V, Saxe-Coburg-Gotha 1865-1936 (m. Mary of Teck) Growing up with a name too long for casual introductions and at about the time of The Great War, Britain’s King George V concluded it was not good PR for the British Royal Family to flaunt their German name and heritage in front of the folks who were paying his rent. To placate the masses, George V took the name of the world’s largest castle (45,000 square feet at the time) and announced they should call him “Windsor” thereafter. That’s probably why we who are related to anything “Ypsilanti” are not invited to Prince William’s wedding on 29 April. In changing the family name from Saxe-Coburg-Gotha (popularly known as Brunswick or Hanover) to Windsor, he relinquished all German titles and family connections, saying goodbye to all his royal German kin including Hohenlohe and Ypsilanti connections. Renounced by their Brit branch of cousins, the Hohenlohe family got into German politics, i.e: World War I, World War II; you know the rest. With the background of the
U.S. Revolutionary War, War of 1812, War of Western Washtenaw County, et al., things never did get patched up satisfactorily enough to want to reconnect the family names. We won’t need to keep going to the mailbox for our invitation to the wedding. House of Windsor 1917-present 1A. Edward VII 1894-1972 Real name: Albert, sobriquet: Bertie the Stammerer (see the movie), (abdicated) 1B. George VI 1895-1952 (m. Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon, later known as “The Queen Mum”) 2. Elizabeth II 1925(m. Phillip, Duke of Edinburg) 3. Charles, Prince of Wales 1948 (m. Diana, Princess of Wales, d.) 4. Prince William 1982 (marrying Kate this month) Windsor name goes way back to 1070–1350, even older than Depot Town’s buildings Often featured on the HGTV Channel as a gone-too-far-remodeling project, Windsor Castle was originally built by William the Conqueror, who reigned from 1066 until his death in 1087. His original wooden castle stood on the site of the present Round Tower. The castle formed part of his defensive ring of castles surrounding London, the site chosen in part because of its easily defensible position. Early in William’s reign he had taken possession of a manor in what today is Old Windsor, probably a Saxon royal residence. Today, Windsor Castle is to England what the Hutchinson House is to Depot Town.
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120 E. Cross Street • Ypsilanti, Michigan ph 734.483.0339 • fx 734.483.3130 email info@ypsistandard.com www.ypsistandard.com
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