Changes in the city of trees.

[netmouse]

In a response to Mrissa from an earlier thread I go on a bit about ways that Ann Arbor has changed that makes it less fun these days for me to show people around town. I grew up here, and find it much less the comfortable, casual, ideosynchratic and hippy college town it was when I was a kid. Borders has changed from a deep and interestingly unique store to a chain clone. I didn't even go into how the Art Fair has gotten less artsy and fun and more commercial. Even Zingerman's sandwiches are not as good as they once were, since they shrunk them a few years back to keep competitive in the face of Amers and other sandwich cafes.

Would you agree that Ann Arbor is changing for the worse?

What changes do you like? (having Trader Joe's and Whole Foods come in could be counted as positives, for instance).

What do you miss?

Comments

[mbumby.livejournal.com]

(Your link is funky -- I think you want to put the first 'a' inside the angle brace.)

I think Ann Arbor's not as fun as it was. I miss Drake's. I miss Schoolkids.

Back in the '70's there was a store where I could buy beads -- I think on State Street that wasn't there anymore when I came back in '79. And a leather shop (not clothing, but pieces of leather) on Main.

The Ark is a grand place, but dangit, I liked it better when it was in D&LS's living room.

Somehow I liked Wazoo better in... I guess the '80s.

I agree that TJ and WF are a good thing, but since they're not "an easy walk from downtown", I don't know that they count. And, while I've not been there in a long time, the Law Library (completed in '81) where you get sunlight 3 floors underground is a place I like to show folks.