One of the Gastronomical Three bloggers writes, “I’m not tired of them yet. Are you?” She’s referring to the seasonally ubiquitous tomato, and provides a recipe using heirloom and cherry tomatoes: Strip Steak with Blue Cheese Butter, Marinated Heirloom Tomatoes and Salsa Verde. Mmmm. [Source]
There was no swarming herd of fans like you’d find at Michigan Stadium, but the action was just as smash-mouth and the passions just as high today as the Ann Arbor Women’s Rugby Football Club played Detroit at Riverside Park.
The Ann Arbor Women's Rugby Football Club battled Detroit on Saturday at Riverside Park. Ann Arbor players are in white jerseys.
MGoBlog has started a live blogging thread for today’s game against Miami of Ohio. The game starts at noon. [Source]
Toledo Blade sports columnist Joe Vardon says Michigan’s Big House isn’t that daunting anymore. “Not only were the Utes not intimidated when they came to the Big House last week, but they did most of their damage in the first half. They were certainly well aware of the recent success teams have had in Ann Arbor and probably thought: ‘Why not us?’” [Source]
To preview today’s 50k race in Hell, the Freep does a piece on ultramarathoners, including Mandi Tuite, who teaches at Daycroft Montessori in Ann Arbor. She says she enjoys the long training runs: “I use the parks as my Zen, my mental playground. I give my cares over to the world. It’s entrancing when you get into the woods. You lose the moments. You lose the time. You’re just out there.” [Source]
A Freep article on the McCain/Palin Friday appearance in Sterling Heights reports that Ann Arborite Laurel Federbush, a Democrat, went to Detroit Metro airport to greet the candidates and plans to vote for McCain, citing his opposition to torture. [Source] Federbush explained her position in a Friday letter to The Ann Arbor News. [Source]
In a Columbus Dispatch article about Honda sales passing Chrysler’s to land in the top-three spot, David Cole of Ann Arbor’s Center for Automotive Research says, “It doesn’t necessarily indicate a long-term trend.” [Source]
corner of packard and sylvan: beer pong, country music
The regularly-scheduled city council meeting for Sept. 8, 2008 will start at 6 p.m. instead of 7 p.m. so that council can go into closed session. A phone call to the Larcom Building confirmed that the meeting would begin with a motion to go into closed session, that council would conduct its closed session, and then at 7 p.m. the meeting would start as it usually does, complete with its public commentary segment. [Full Story]
Dozens of folks showed up today for Community Television Network‘s 35th anniversary open house, a chance to look back at its roots and celebrate new digs on South Industrial, across from the AATA headquarters.
The Hoover Street Rag posts a video of the 1976 Michigan Marching Band playing at the Orange Bowl. The clip includes a formation that shows a boy being eaten by a giant shark – remember “Jaws”? [Source]
The recount of votes cast in the August Democratic primary for the Ward 5 city council seat has been rescheduled for Sept. 9. Originally slated to take place this morning in the basement conference room of the County Building at 200 N. Main St., the recount was moved to Tuesday, Sept. 9, due to a scheduling conflict with the board of canvassers.
The original vote tally put Vivienne Armentrout’s total at 1,552, and Carsten Hohnke’s at 1,610. Six votes were counted for unspecified write-in candidates. Part of The Chronicle’s interest in being physically present at the recount is, if possible, to document what names, if any, were filled in the blank … [Full Story]
As news of The Ann Arbor Chronicle’s launch trickles out into the internet, folks are starting to write about their first impressions of the publication. And Ed Vielmetti has compiled some of the earliest reviews. Apparently, there’s poetry that needs to be written by the time Christmas rolls around. [Source]
In The New York Times, two locals weigh in on the resignation of Detroit mayor Kwame Kilpatrick, and its aftermath. Doug Rothwell, president of Detroit Renaissance and a Superior Township resident, says “I think we can get the momentum back that we had before this happened. There’s no question that things have been put on pause during these eight months.” And this from Vincent Hutchings, a UM political science prof: “This plays to some of the stereotypes about the city, that it is corrupt and has issues with crime and various social ills. The elephant in the room is the issue of race. There is an urban core-suburban conflict, which is also a black-white conflict.” [Source]
A North American Press Syndicate article urges you to check what things your health insurance covers. It quotes Anita Liberman-Lampear of UM’s Orthotics and Prosthetics Center: “People who have had an amputation need prosthetics, as well as rehabilitation that can cost as much as $200 per session. But right now, most private insurance just isn’t covering it. As a result, people are having to find other methods of covering the costs.” [Source]
We’ve all seen the ubiquitous stencil art around town – often, but not always, making some pointed political or social commentary.
But you’ll prove you really know the city if you can identify the locale of this work:
Close-up of a large work of stencil art.
A Washington Post article about how GOP convention delegates coordinate their outfits quotes Wendy Carter, a delegate from Ann Arbor. “We’re always jealous ’cause Texas does such a great job.” [Source]
Jeff Masters, meteorology director of Weather Underground in Ann Arbor, is interviewed for a Bloomberg News article on Tropical Storm Hanna. “The U.S. is getting pounded this season. The Carolinas will see winds near hurricane strength from Hanna. And Ike looks troubling, especially for Florida.” [Source]
The City Place project, proposed along South Fifth Avenue just south of William Street, was brought tonight for a third time before the Ann Arbor Planning Commission by developer Alex de Parry. Although commissioners Joan Lowenstein and Craig Borum found enough about the revised proposal to give it their support, even they did so with no great enthusiasm – Lowenstein citing her sadness that the seven houses would be demolished, and Borum lamenting the “faux historical” architecture of the proposed project as harmful to the city.
With only two votes of support, the project was rejected. In the city staff summary of the project’s history, it was noted that City Place was first brought to the commission in January … [Full Story]
United Press International reports on UM research showing that babies born to mothers with depression are more likely to have irregular sleep patterns. Lead researcher Roseanne Armitage: “We think we’ve identified one of the risk factors that may contribute to these infants’ going on to develop depression later in life.” [Source]
Jason Barczy of The Bleacher Report blog gives tips to Wolverine fans on how to prepare for a losing season. “2. Find Something to Pound On: Like a little brother or something. Just kidding. No, but find something to take your frustration out on, like a punching bag. Or start going to the gym regularly. You’ll feel a lot better about yourself than you did when you were watching the 4-3 zone get picked apart.” [Source]
Greg Dressler of Ann Arbor gets his question answered by Thomas Friedman in Time magazine. The question: “It seems unlikely that we can continue to support the low-density demographics of much of America. How can we sell the public on the advantages of urban density?” (Friedman will be speaking in the Ann Arbor area on Sept. 17 – details here.) [Source]
Local photographer Edda posts some cute kid photos on “the mean streets of Ann Arbor.” [Source]
bumper sticker reads Political Graveyard; hey, I know that website; hey I know that GUY BEHIND THE WHEEL; it’s Larry Kestenbaum himself
Shailesh Saigal has owned his red hybrid Honda Insight since 2000, but it’s only been within the past year that he’s turned the car into a mobile canvas.
“I wanted to put stuff out there that makes me me,” says Saigal, who lives in northwest Ann Arbor.
Shailesh Saigal's stickerized Honda insight.
Jennifer Hall is now chair of the DDA board, not vice-chair as she was described in a previous story. The error is noted here and in the original piece.
“On the low end, mid 60s, to low 70s on the high end,” said Josie Parker, director of the Ann Arbor District Library, in her remarks to the DDA board. And she wasn’t talking about the weather forecast. Or an age bracket of heavy library users. She was talking about dollar amounts. Millions of dollars. But before diving into money talk, it’s worth noting that some things are free.
For example, one detail not often reported about the noontime meetings of the Downtown Development Authority board is that lunch is provided – to anyone who shows up and would like to partake. Susan Pollay, executive director of the DDA, explained that they started providing … [Full Story]
PrideSource.com profiles the Washtenaw Rainbow Action Project and its board president, Barry MacDougall. The story previews OutFest, held on Sept. 13 in the Braun Court area of Ann Arbor’s Kerrytown. MacDougall says, “Ann Arbor’s a great town, but this is kind of the gay neighborhood. Except for parking, it’s great.” [Source]
The New York Times covers Gov. Granholm’s hearing on whether to remove Detroit Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick from office. The article quotes John Chamberlin, a professor at UM’s Ford School of Public Policy. “I’m sure the governor was wishing it wouldn’t come to this, because it puts her in an awkward position. But as much as it complicates politics for her and the Democratic Party, it was time for this.” [Source]
In a letter to the editor of the Livingston Daily Press & Argus, Howell resident George Saba rails against the WALLY commuter rail line proposed to run between Ann Arbor and Howell. “Let’s let the state pay for U.S. 23 road work. Why should I pay millions of dollars for train enthusiasts to have their wine and cheese on the way to a Michigan football game?” [Source]
