http://www.emyouthemagazine.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/08/PakmodeWebLogo.pngBest Student Banking: Bank of America
Joseph Stromski II
joe.stromski@emyouthemagazine.com
The masses have spoken, the votes have been counted, and Bank of America was voted as the best bank for student banking.
Bank of America customers already know about the features, bells and whistles that come with opening an account. For those who don’t, Bank of America offers the CampusEdge checking account, which does not require a minimum balance; a free debit card with the Total Security Protection Package; free online banking service, including Mobile Banking; the opportunity to have select overdraft fees refunded; and, a feature called “Keep the Change,” where Bank of America will round up each purchase to the nearest dollar and transfer that change into a savings account.
The best thing about Bank of America, however, might be their new automated teller machines that create a paper trail when cash or checks are deposited directly in the machine, unlike most ATMs.
Those interested can check out the ATMs or set up at account by visiting the branch located at 2250 W. Michigan or by visiting bankofamerica.com.
Follow me on Twitter at mfstromski or visit my blog at jstromsk.wordpress.com.
Best Burger: Sidetrack
By Amanda Slater
amanda.slater@emyouthemagazine.com
Sidetrack is famous all over the country for its burgers, having been mentioned by GQ Magazine and Oprah Winfrey for having one of the top burgers in the nation. However, what makes the Depot Town bar even more famous around Ypsilanti is its happy hour specials.
During happy hour, Sidetrack offers half-off liquor and $3.00 22-ounce drafts. (And, at Sidetrack, there is actually good beer on draft. From locally brewed Arbor Brewing Blonde to Great Lakes Edmund Fitzgerald to Woodchuck, there is sure to be something to suit the taste of even the pickiest beer connoisseur.)
Perhaps the best part of Sidetrack’s legendary happy hour is that it actually occurs when most people go out for a drink – between 11 p.m. and 1 a.m. And, for those who have a case of the late-night munchies, Sidetrack’s kitchen stays open until 2 a.m. (which means no more after-bar Taco Bell runs).
At Sidetrack, patrons can have it all at once – great burgers, great beer, great happy hour prices and a great time. Maybe that’s why Sidetrack is ranked the 60th best bar in the world according to Singha beer’s “Great Bars of the World.”
Best Pizza: Aubree’s
By Amanda Slater
amanda.slater@emyouthemagazine.com
Whoever says that Ann Arbor is the best place for local nightlife and great food has obviously never been to Ypsilanti’s Depot Town. Aubree’s Pizzeria and Tavern, at 39 E. Cross St., serves as just one more example of what Ypsi has to offer.
emYOU! readers voted Aubree’s as the best place for pizza — with good reason. It’s safe to say that those who still prefer chain-restaurant pizza haven’t tasted Aubree’s “The Big Kahuna” pizza (complete with chicken, ham, pineapple, bacon, red onions, Frog Island barbecue sauce and a four cheese blend melted on top) or any of Aubree’s specialty pizza crusts.
Aubree’s is another of Ypsi’s great late-night hangouts. The restaurant’s bar boasts an ample selection of beer and keeps the specialty pizzas coming until closing time (2 a.m.). Those who would like a change of pace can go upstairs to Sticks, a portion of the restaurant where patrons can play pool, darts and cornhole in addition to enjoying food and drinks.
Although Aubree’s is slowly starting to build its pizza empire (there are now locations in Northville, Marquette and an additional Ypsilanti location), there is no place like home – the original in Depot Town. Although the other locations might offer the same great pizza, there is something about the Depot Town atmosphere and experience that can’t be found anywhere else. Aubree’s owners claim to be “simple people trying to provide an extraordinary experience,” as they say on the restaurant’s Web site. It seems they’ve lived up to their mission.
Best Place to see a show: Blind Pig
By Amanda Slater
amanda.slater@emyouthemagazine.com
It’s no surprise the Blind Pig claimed the title of “Best Place to See a Show,” because, for true concert fans, the Blind Pig has it all – a rich history, an air of exclusiveness (any big show at the Blind Pig sells out quickly, as capacity is limited), and a quaint hole-in-the-wall kind of charm.
Located at 208 S. First Street in downtown Ann Arbor, the Blind Pig’s name comes from a slang term that was used to refer to police officers who were bribed to ignore illegal speakeasy establishments during prohibition. Originally an abandoned furniture store, two college seniors purchased the space and renovated it in 1971. The venue started out as a classy jazz and blues club by night and a café that served cappuccino and pastries by day.
Over time, it transformed into a primarily rock venue, which now showcases many indie and local bands. In its heyday, musicians from Jimmy Hendrix to John Lennon to Nirvana performed at the relatively small club (capacity of about 400).
Years later, the Blind Pig is still one of the best venues around. Its small size is part of what gives it its charm. Every show is intimate as artists are often only an arm’s reach away from the audience. The small space also allows for just the right acoustics, guaranteeing better sound quality and performance. (After all, it’s always nice to actually be able to hear the musicians, and, likewise, for them to be able to hear themselves.)
All shows are standing room only, as the Blind Pig doesn’t offer seats other than a few bar stools and tables. Although this can result in cramped conditions, it adds a lot of energy to the overall atmosphere. Finally, for those who need an occasional break from the excitement, the club offers two bars – one on the main floor (where the bands play) and one in the basement (where there is seating, pool tables, etc.). Thus, if things are getting a little crowded upstairs, patrons can always sneak away for a drink and a game of pool.
Best EMU Team: Women’s Soccer
Joseph Stromski II
joe.stromski@emyouthemagazine.com
EMU’s 2009 women’s soccer team was voted as the best sports team at EMU by readers of emYOU! The Magazine.
“It’s an honor to be recognized,” senior midfielder Katherine Lozar said. “All of the girls on the team work very hard and it is nice that the work is respected by others at Eastern.”
For the season, the team ended 11-4-6 overall and 6-1-4 in the Mid-American Conference, good for second place. In Eastern’s final regular-season game, it tied league-leading Central Michigan 1-1. It was the only goal CMU gave up in 14 MAC games.
Lozar and forward Ashley Rodrigues were on the MAC All-Tournament Team.
“I could not be more grateful to have been able to play for and represent Eastern Michigan soccer,” Lozar said. “It’s not easy being a student-athlete, and I feel like every athlete deserves praise for what they do.”
EMU’s women’s soccer team will begin next season in the fall of 2010.
Best Vegetarian: Green Market Bistro
Marissa McNees
marissa.mcnees@emyouthemagazine.com
If you’re a vegetarian out there looking for good food close to home, look no further. The Bistro is the go-to eatery of veggie lovers everywhere.
Located on the first floor of Eastern Michigan’s Student Center, The Bistro offers vegetarians a wide variety of tasty, meat-free meals that are sure to please.
One of the main features of The Bistro that keeps customers coming back for seconds is their weekly menu change. Every week there are two new entrée options such as eggplant pita or vegetarian quesadillas, not to mention the fan-favorite hummus and pita chips that come with each entrée.
While this bistro primarily serves vegetarians, they haven’t forgotten about their vegan friends out there. Along with their staples such as hummus and pita chips and assortment of salads, The Bistro offers some vegan options as well, such as a vegetable medley entrée.
Austin Tracy, an employee of The Bistro and EMU student said: “We have enough variety to keep people coming back, and anyway, who doesn’t love our pita chips?”
The Bistro accepts all Meal Plan, Flex Plan, E-Dollars, Eagle Express, Eagle OneCard, credit (Visa and MasterCard only) and cash. Hours of operations are: 10:30 a.m.-9 p.m. Monday through Thursday, 10:30 a.m.-5 p.m. Friday and noon-7 p.m. Saturday & Sunday.
Best Student Org: TKE
Jason Idalski
jason.idalski@emyouthemagazine.com
Eastern Michigan’s Web site says there is more than 280 student organizations at EMU, ranging from Student Government to The Goat Society.
Of all of them, EMU students voted Tau Kappa Epsilon the best student organization in emYOU! The Magazine’s “Best Of” competition.
“It’s not just academic, and it’s not just socially, and it’s not just service, but all that together makes you a better person; it makes you well-rounded,” new member educator Jamie Linn said of the fraternity. “Plus, it’s fun. It’s a great experience.”
Linn said the Delta Pi chapter of TKE hopes to win an overall excellence award from the national organization this year. He said he considers Saginaw Valley State its main competition in Michigan.
Service-wise, the fraternity volunteers with Meals on Wheels every Friday, plans to have a root beer pong tournament to benefit SOS Community Services and helps with H1N1 drives.
Athletically, TKE was the EMU champion in softball and second among Greeks in soccer, becoming the winner when the first-place team got disqualified.
Linn also said that most Greek organizations provide their members with the same beneficial experience as TKE.
“I think that most fraternities on this campus are actually very, very good,” he said.
Best Street to Party on: Normal
Marissa McNees
marissa.mcnees@emyouthemagazine.com
Even though its name says otherwise, Normal St. is anything but ordinary.
On a typical Saturday night in Ypsilanti, this street, known for its out-of-control parties, is filled with party-going students looking for a good time. It seems as though there’s a party at almost every other house! As always for you party-hoppers, make sure to travel with a buddy.
There’s plenty of houses and plenty of people making Normal St. the weekend and/or Wednesday-Sunday hotspot! With so many options, there’s no excuse for sitting alone in your dorm on a Saturday night.
The most important thing to remember, though, is to stick with friends and be safe. You don’t want to have your good time cut short!
Best Off Campus Living: Peninsular Place
Jason Idalski
jason.idalski@emyouthemagazine.com
Any apartment complex that reserved the Internet domain ypsistudenthousing.com must be one of the most popular for Eastern Michigan students.
Peninsular Place is, having been named best off-campus living in emYOU! The Magazine’s “Best Of” competition.
For those who think the phrase “luxury student housing” is an oxymoron, consider the amenities Peninsular Place offers, including a computer center, fitness center, sand volleyball court and recreation center (which has billiards, foosball, air hockey and darts). All apartments are furnished, have hardwood-style floors and come with complete kitchens and a washer/dryer.
Rent starts at $395/person/month for a three- or four-bedroom (and bathroom) apartment, $499 for two bedrooms/bathrooms, or $680 for a private one-bedroom. For those in multi-bedroom apartment, leases are individual, making it easier to avoid potentially unpleasant situations. Cable TV and Internet are the utilities included in rent.
Peninsular Place, at 1000 N. Huron River Drive, is in its fifth year as an apartment complex. It was built in 2004 and 2005 on the site of the former Peninsular Paper factory, which had been standing since 1867 along the Huron River. The generator house and large “Peninsular Paper” sign still stand as a tribute to the site’s history.
Those interested in more information can take a virtual tour online at the previously mentioned Web site or call 485-9999.
Best Dance Club: Club Divine
Jessica Brent
jbrent@emich.edu
No matter what your taste in music, Club Divine is the place to move to it. Winner of multiple awards this year, Club Divine takes the title of emYOU! The Magazine’s “Best Dance Club” as well. Located at 23 N. Washington Street in downtown Ypsilanti, Club Divine is the place to get your heart rate aligned with the beat and bass of your favorite song.
If you’ve ever been there you’ve experienced the sensation of great music pumping through you as it radiates out of the sound system. Mixing techno with rap or top-40 alternative hits with hip-hop, the composition always gets you on your feet. Maybe you’ve even taken a leap onto the stage set above the dance floor or a swing around one of the poles nearby.
If you haven’t yet visited Club Divine put it at the top of your “to do” list. It’s a great place to bring classmates or new friends out to party and get to know better. It’s also a great place to throw your hands up and shake it with old friends with whom you know you’re guaranteed an awesome time. Club Divine even has an extensive bar and pool area where your less-mobile friends can hang out and have a good time too. Wear your hottest shoes, and we’ll see you on the dance floor.
Best Happy Hour: Sidetrack
By Amanda Slater
amanda.slater@emyouthemagazine.com
Sidetrack is famous all over the country for its burgers, having been mentioned by GQ Magazine and Oprah Winfrey for having one of the top burgers in the nation. However, what makes the Depot Town bar even more famous around Ypsilanti is its happy hour specials.
During happy hour, Sidetrack offers half-off liquor and $3.00 22-ounce drafts. (And, at Sidetrack, there is actually good beer on draft. From locally brewed Arbor Brewing Blonde to Great Lakes Edmund Fitzgerald to Woodchuck, there is sure to be something to suit the taste of even the pickiest beer connoisseur.)
Perhaps the best part of Sidetrack’s legendary happy hour is that it actually occurs when most people go out for a drink – between 11 p.m. and 1 a.m. And, for those who have a case of the late-night munchies, Sidetrack’s kitchen stays open until 2 a.m. (which means no more after-bar Taco Bell runs).
At Sidetrack, patrons can have it all at once – great burgers, great beer, great happy hour prices and a great time. Maybe that’s why Sidetrack is ranked the 60th best bar in the world according to Singha beer’s “Great Bars of the World.”
Best College Night: Club Divine
Jessica Brent
jbrent@emich.edu
First and foremost, thank you! Thank you to everyone who has ever come and hung out with us for “College Night at Club Divine sponsored by emYOU! The Magazine.” You’ve voted our college night the “Best College Night” in Ypsi and we couldn’t be more excited about it. We’ve worked hard to make it what you wanted, at the right price, and a guaranteed amazing time. So thank you for being there on Thursday nights, and partying with us for the last two years.
“College Night at Club Divine” is a night out you’ll remember; or at least, some of it. Drink specials, including $1 Miller Lite drafts and $2 “you call it”s, may play a role in that. Or maybe it’ll be a night you remember forever because of how great you looked, how great you felt, and how every picture of you taken with your friends under the black lights was perfect for posting. Plus emYOU! loves giveaways: concert tickets, cash prizes, and all of our new emYOU! swag. Join our Facebook group for more information.
So next time you’re looking for a night out to hang with your fellow Eagles or some of our friends, meet us on Thursday night at 23 N. Washington St. in the heart of Ypsilanti for “College Night at Club Divine.” Ladies: you get in for free before 11 p.m. Call your friends up later, too: after 11 p.m. cover is just $2 for 21+ and just $5 for anyone 18-20. See you there!
Other Winners:
Best Karaoke: Tower Inn
Best Dive Bar: The Elbow Room
Best Place to be at last call: The Elbow Room
Best Place to hook up: Theo’s
Best Drink, Beer or Shot: ABC Strawberry Blonde
Best Delivery: NYPD
Best Chinese: Golden Wall
Best Sushi: Ichiban
Best Breakfast/Diner: Double Eagle
Best Coffee: Ugly Mug
Best Deli/Sandwhiches: Beezy’s Cafe
Best Spring Break: Panama City
Best Place to get your car fixed: Belle Tire
Best Computer Repair: Jafferson Computers
Best Liquor Store: The Keg
Best Hair Salon: Thomas Blondi Salon
Best Nail Salon: Happy Nails
Best Tanning Salon: Tanfastic
Best Tattoo Shop: Liquid Swordz
Best Bookstore: Mike’s Bookstore
Best Professor: James Todd
Best On Campus Food: DC1
Best Dorm: Downing
Best Building: Pray-Harrold
Best Place to be in between class: Student Center
Best Place to Study: Halle Library
Best Hide Out: 3rd Floor Halle Library
Best Place to hang out on campus: Student Center
http://www.emyouthemagazine.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/08/PakmodeWebLogo.png
For those of you who read this article before 1 a.m. Tuesday (or in print), it should be noted there was a mistake in the student organization story. TKE will have a “root beer pong” tournament to benefit SOS, not a “beer pong” tournament. My apologies to TKE for the error.
Jason Idalski
Editor-in-chief, emYOU! The Magazine
Amazing photo choice for the women’s soccer team entry.
I’m sure that wedgie-picking player is happy at least that her number isn’t readable…