Night 3 - Behind Enemy Lines

I am an alumnus of The Ohio University in Athens, Ohio.  One of the most picturesque campuses in the Midwest, many people would say.  I did my undergraduate work there and absolutely loved it.  But once undergrad ended, I had to make a decision: grad school or real world.  Being the discerning twenty-something that I was, I obviously chose more school...at The Ohio State University.  So yeah, I am a Buckeye.  I didn't really like OSU, but I got a good (and free) education there.  Columbus is a pretty good town, but this is a blog about Michigan, not Ohio.  So let's move along this song, and try to find the plot.

Although supporting the Buckeyes is something like a hereditary disease in Ohio, disliking The University of Michigan is a state supported religion.  I have only been to Ann Arbor to get gas and only because I was afraid I couldn't make it any further. So naturally, I move to Michigan and became fast friends with a life long Ann Arborite.  But still hadn't really visited town.  Until recently.  When I got to meet one of my friend's friends...from Ann Arbor.  Clearly, it was inevitable that I was going to visit this town. So I went down to visit my new friend one weekday night after work.  I had no idea of where to go/what to see and I was hungry.  First off was a little sight seeing while we thought about where to eat.  She finally chose a restaurant after we circled the downtown forever to find a free parking space.  Something about the principle of the thing.

So where did this fine young lady take me?  Arbor Brewing Company.  And I gotta say, it was good.  First off, they are smoke free.  Not that I care if you smoke, but I really don't feel like smelling like an ash tray after a nice night out.  Naturally, they brew their own beer.  And not being able to decide on what to drink, we just got a flight of everything!  Actually, since the taps rotate regularly, this isn't the worst idea in the world if you want to try out a bunch of their beers, but also be able to walk out the front door when you are done.  The menu is interesting.  They pride themselves on buying locally and sustainably, working with local farmers and producers.  And they are dumping high fructose corn syrup and other processed things anywhere they can.  There were a lot of interesting options with local ingredients.  And since we are talking Ann Arbor here, there are plenty of vegetarian options...some of which even looked appealing to me.  We had a roasted garlic appetizer plate that was fun to eat.  Plus, if both people are eating it, you don't have to worry about bad breath, right?

So yeah, Ann Arbor apparently isn't just a 'lady of the night.'  It is a pretty cool town.  I am sure that I will be back, spreading my love of Ohio throughout the land of my mortal enemy.  As long as they keep feeding me well and producing interesting people, I guess I can call a truce. 

Night 2 - Right In Your Backyard

When I first moved to Michigan, I bought a condo in Waterford.  It is probably best classified as a suburb of Pontiac, but by now, everything in Oakland County is just one big suburb of Detroit.  Something along the lines of Neptune in relation to the Sun.  I.e, it is pretty far away from The D.  But each of the 'levels' of suburbs have built up their own little identities.  Hole in the wall bars, very nice restaurants, fun events.  Each of them trying to create their own place in the world and separate identity, somehow, maybe, orbiting out of the shadow of The D.

In the seven years I lived in Waterford, checked out some of these cool places and events.  But, and I am ashamed to say it, I/we tended to end up at the chains more often than the local joints.  It really pains me to say it, but you have to admit you have a problem before you can confront it, right?  Waterford didn't have a ton of these interesting little joints, which is part of the problem, so you have to travel to the nearby burbs.  Slowly but surely, I visited some interesting places.  But undoubtedly, one of my favorites was pretty much right in my backyard.  Not in Waterford, of course.

Exit 91 on Interstate 75 will take you to Clarkston, Michigan.  One of the 'small towns' that are slowly being swallowed by urban sprawl in the surrounding townships.  People have worked hard to maintain Clarkston's downtown and businesses generally do pretty well there.  Head towards downtown; the south end of it specifically; and you will see the Clarkston Union (of course, they don't have a website).  Parking might be a little tight right at the restaurant, but feel free to park throughout downtown and walk around.  But I firmly believe that this is one of the best places to go for a date in Northern Oakland County.

Now that is admittedly a pretty big statement, but here's why I say it.  The seating in the restaurant (which was originally built as a Church) is family style, with big tables throughout and people sitting pretty close together...on pews.  Not elbow to elbow, but close.   Which is totally takes the pressure off of trying to constantly keep up a conversation.  Because it is a little loud.  But you can really relax, have a good time, and enjoy the food.  Which leads to the other factor of why it rules for a date spot.  The food is inventive, but isn't scary.  Their signature dish is the mac and cheese...and it is outstanding.  And you can get it with jalapenos and/or lobster or just straight up.  The portabello gratin is also well worth a try.  They have a good list of rotating beers from all over, heavy on the micros.  Some oddball ones and some well known.  All in all, well worth a night out.  Outdoor seating for the summer and apparently a basement bar type area that was described to me by a 'slightly' inebriated gentlemen as a 'f#cking grotto man!'  Although I am guessing there are no playboy bunnies down there.

Although I won't guarantee a good date, you could certainly do worse than The Union.  And if you turn out not to like it, there are a couple other good restaurants within walking distance.  Or you could check out the grotto...