Ann Arbor's most popular bar in 2012 - 'The Bar at 327 Braun Court'
The Bar at 327 Braun Court
Richard Retyi | Contributor
Bold predictions require adventurous statements. I'm not one for hyperbole, but Geronimo: The Bar at 327 Braun Court will be Ann Arbor's most popular bar in 2012. Book it.
Student bars, brew pubs, cocktail bars, martini lounges — that's the landscape in Ann Arbor. On the surface of things, The Bar isn't much different. It's a cocktail bar committed to high-octane drinks but services the beer crowd with semi-ironic snub-nosed bottles of Genesee.
But people can get their craft cocktails and blue-collar brew elsewhere. What they can't get anywhere but The Bar is a place that feels like the living room of the coolest person you’ve ever known.
A bar you wished you and your friends bought and ran. A place with found-wood tabletops, school chairs, taxidermy and two separate issues of Good Housekeeping with Michael J. Fox on the cover. A place that seats 56 and even when half-full feels like a happening.
Sarah is too fast for film behind the bar
Richard Retyi | Contributor
The Bar fills up fast. There are three sections to discover — the north side is lined with Birch, the south side looks out on the Kerrytown courtyard but the bar is the place to be. The staff loves to chat and their interests run the gamut, from Kerri, who snaps gum and wears a TapouT T-shirt on the job to Sarah, who's happy to debate shaken vs. stirred and has a soft spot for Jameson.
Taxidermy, real and fake, at The Bar at 327 Braun Court
Richard Retyi | Contributor
The Bar doesn't have a proper sign out front. You can order meat and cheese plates or $1 hardboiled eggs. The bathroom is hard to find, and, when you do, your business is illuminated by two backlit images of waterfalls to help speed your progress.
Potted plants on the bar, a framed picture of a mewling kitten, low lighting, no TVs, fractal lamps hanging from the ceiling and singer/songwriter/tastemaker Annie Frickin’ Palmer at the bar. The article could end right here with my prediction well-proven but you paid for 500 words and I'm going to give you 500 words.
Select quotes from a night camped out at the bar of The Bar:
"It's mysterious."
"You can’t pick people up here."
"Genesee Light got me through college."
"The drinks are interesting but I can still get a low-brow beer."
"Dude, these straws are made out of paper."
Select quote from an evening sitting at my laptop writing this article:
"The Bar at 327 Braun Court will be Ann Arbor’s most popular bar in 2012. Book it."
Richard Retyi is the social media manger at Ann Arbor digital marketing firm Fluency Media and writes to column Lie to Your Cats About Santa. He has no affiliation with The Bar at 327 Braun Court or any other saloon, though he has a longstanding love affair with Ypsilanti barkeep Andy Garris and his ventures. Follow Rich on Twitter at @RichRetyi or read his blog at RichRetyi.com.
Comments
Alan Goldsmith
Sat, Feb 4, 2012 : 11:24 a.m.
"I thought Chaz brought up an interesting point, but the fact that people would have an issue with a local bar playing music off an iPod is crazy." Then if you have an inability to grasp creator rights, copyright ownership and that artists should get paid, I'm not surprised, considering the 'you are be a blogger for us for free and create context and we won't pay you a dime' model from billion dollar media corporations ala the Newhouse Family chain of Michigan 'newspapers'. This article is such a PR piece, it would make a team of junior high school cheerleaders blush. Lol.
say it plain
Sun, Feb 5, 2012 : 4:36 a.m.
I love it when people who *don't* agree that the place/thing/trend/whatever that someone writes an 'article' on is "all that" or even "worth one's time" get counted as 'crapping on whatever is close to hand' lol. I thought we were allowed to disagree, silly me! But alas, now I need to worry that there's someone out there, RR, lover of randomly tagging things with wu-tang clan, who is not into me or my comments, darn! And I get counted as someone who *only* makes negative comments (not true, though it might be true that I don't see the need for more overpriced cocktail bars in this town and have expressed this opinion). Are you *not* a marketing person Mr. RR?! Is social media strategy for promoting businesses *not* what you do for a living? Those strategies include the creation of "editorials" that "skew positive" don't they?! Save the feigned hurt feelings about what you do and your motivations for doing so for the internet winds that take with them the lost-to-crashed-computers 500-word outpourings ;-) I hope you enjoy the extra smiles as you 'editorialize positively' away at your fave, oh, I mean, Ann Arbor's most popular bar in 2012! I don't mean to offend with the suggestion that perhaps you'd get free beer for your promo, I mean, "column". But please don't let yourself be deluded into believing that it's only your being so darned positive that causes people to see how you present a 'challenge' to journalism. That's a great extra gig for a social media marketing manager, don't you think? Community contributor columns for the 'newspaper' in town, lol. It's nothing personal, by the way, though now that you've told me you'll keep tagging things with wu tang clan *just because* I (seem to, I guess you must feel) don't like it, I can never think about that tag, or clan, the same way again!
smacks
Sat, Feb 4, 2012 : 10:47 p.m.
I love to read the comments - it seems like some folks will take time out of their schedules to crap on whatever is closest to hand, and that includes columns and their authors. Try not to take it too seriously, RR. Scroll through any lengthy comment thread on aa.com and you'll find it's the same 6 or 8.
Richard Retyi
Sat, Feb 4, 2012 : 8:53 p.m.
Say It Plain: I wrote a lengthy response to your capper of a comment about parasitic business models and billionaire overseers but my computer crashed (probably for the best). My angry and negative response is lost to the internet winds (again, probably for the best). I'll distill it here: I write an editorial and my editorials trend positive. If I wrote negative editorials tearing down things I didn't like, would that free me from your charge of sucking at the teat of my billionaire masters? I haven't received a single perk from any of the subjects I've written about, save for a thank you or two. If I get some free stuff one day I'll be sure to let you know. In closing, I tag my columns with Wu-Tang Clan because it amuses me. And from now on, because it annoys you.
Richard Retyi
Sat, Feb 4, 2012 : 8:07 p.m.
I wasn't aware that junior high school cheerleaders as a demographic were so passionate about hard journalism. The sport has changed a lot since I was in school.
say it plain
Sat, Feb 4, 2012 : 8:01 p.m.
Sorry I didn't mean "tags" but signs off in italics about his other ventures/roles...he "tagged" the piece with wu-tang clan lol, in some hipster-y nod to some kind of meme or other ;-)
say it plain
Sat, Feb 4, 2012 : 7:59 p.m.
lol indeed. And the writer casually tags his piece with info about his 'day job', which is as "social media manager" at a "digital media" outfit, so he's basically doing it maybe for beers at 327 ;-) It's a parasite business model, disguised as 'new media' and relying on our willingness to allow the parasites to blur the lines between advertising and every other form of communication. Plus it makes journalism poof! disappear altogether, which is convenient in a big way for the billionaires.
huh7891
Sat, Feb 4, 2012 : 11:20 a.m.
So...who do you think will win the super bowl?
A2GastroBoy
Fri, Feb 3, 2012 : 8:01 p.m.
Brilliant, Brilliant, Brilliant....the comments that is. The article, and the Bar are both fine - but it just warms my soul to watch the crazy car wreck of comments. Go #hivemind!
smokeblwr
Fri, Feb 3, 2012 : 5:48 p.m.
Why is this column tagged with "wu-tang clan"? I see no mention of them in the article and everybody know Wu-Tang ain't something to uhhh, "mess around" with!
UncleMao
Fri, Feb 3, 2012 : 5:24 p.m.
I was also at the "soft" opening over Thanksgiving weekend, and I left vowing (along with my two mates) never to return. A few years back I would have been ultimately turned off by the self-consciously trendy nature of the bar -- from the decor to the menu. But I actually liked the weirdness of the wall hangings and "indie-cool" vibe the place gave off. I actually felt as though I was in New York at a little-known neighborhood haunt with a hip group of locals. I'm not sure if I was put off more by the pseudo-intellectual-bohemian-thick glasses-and-ascot wearing crowd, or the terribly disappointing $9 drinks. No, wait I am sure. It was the $9 drinks. Overly complicated, overly sweet combinations, served in the shallowest of martini glasses. After two drinks, my posse and I had to talk ourselves out of ordering a dozen hard-boiled eggs, just to throw at the wait staff and patrons on our way out. I'm not cheap, and I even ordered a second drink to be certain that I wasn't feeling inappropriately hoodwinked, but $9 is simply not justified. And no, I don't want to drink Genesee. For $6 I'll dust off my ascot and see you there every weekend.
CynicA2
Fri, Feb 3, 2012 : 5:22 p.m.
You can get perfectly good cocktails at the Aut Bar, across the courtyard from "The Bar", for $5. Plus, two bars, one up, one down. Same vintage "old house redo", and some decent food. Guess I'm missing something... maybe it's just the new thing in town.
Lovaduck
Fri, Feb 3, 2012 : 5:11 p.m.
This column is a disgraceful piece of puff advertising. You should be ashamed!
hut hut
Fri, Feb 3, 2012 : 5:05 p.m.
The bartenders give a good count. Every cocktail I've consumer there was well made with more than the minimum amount of quality liquor. It's cozy, dimly lit and the people mix is diverse and different from other drinking establishments. Not a lot of "flair" or ferns. It has a smartly lo brow (not dive) aesthetic not found in any other bar in Ann Arbor. It has a different look and feel which is not an easy thing these days even if Ann Arbor seems to think it knows something about "hip". If you like to drink to get a heavy buzz it's cheaper at home. If you're anti-social, you're better off at home anyway.
smokeblwr
Fri, Feb 3, 2012 : 5:15 p.m.
Hey, I drink at home because I'm too real. The bars can't handle me.,
Atticus F.
Fri, Feb 3, 2012 : 3:57 p.m.
I just remember the original article when this place first opened , seeing the sweater that one of the owners was wearing, and thinking 'that sweater is the 2011 version of parachute pants'.
Richard Retyi
Fri, Feb 3, 2012 : 4:48 p.m.
Can't touch this.
Richard Retyi
Fri, Feb 3, 2012 : 3:50 p.m.
Hi readers. I just wanted to give you a peek behind the process of writing this piece so we can continue any dialogue with a little more context. I visited The Bar at 327 Braun Court on the first night of it's "soft" launch during the week of Thanksgiving. I brought a good friend who was back in town for the holiday and we had a really nice night catching up. I liked the feel of the place so much that on two separate nights in December and January I brought friends there on a whim to share my good experience with them. Both of them also loved The Bar and, after these experiences and talking with other people who'd spent a night in its embrace, I decided to write something about it. I'm a pretty positive and optimistic guy. When I find something I like or that interests me, I want to write about. Ann Arbor and Ypsilanti are full of really cool things. I'm fortunate to have this platform so I like to share positive and interesting stories as much as possible. The Parlour Room in Ypsi, the Ann Arbor Derby Dimes Roller Derby team, the shopping cart race, security guards who protect Art Fair at night, burger eating contests, The Bang, bike polo ... the list is long. Don't mistake advertising for interest and passion. I'm not a journalist and Lie to Your Cats About Santa is thankfully not hard journalism. I write an editorial column and my goal is to entertain and possibly inform people. That's it. If The Bar is the most popular saloon in Ann Arbor in 2012 - great. And if not, more elbow room for me. Any questions?
Richard Retyi
Fri, Feb 3, 2012 : 8:08 p.m.
Rusty, thanks for the compliment, I think? Cat, I'd never met anyone affiliated with The Bar, owners or staff, until my first time in the bar. I've still only met one half of the ownership group.
catbehindthecouch
Fri, Feb 3, 2012 : 7:49 p.m.
Yeah, how well did you know the owners of the bar before they opened it?
rusty shackelford
Fri, Feb 3, 2012 : 3:57 p.m.
No worries. You're the coolest person writing for annarbor.com. Take that as you will.
Kade
Fri, Feb 3, 2012 : 3:49 p.m.
I've been to 327 three times since it opened and here are my thoughts: Time one: Good experience-had a Mahattan, perfect style, made by the owner—a bit heavy on the sweet vermouth, despite my plea, but I lived with it. The place was busy and my drink took a bit longer than it should have, but it was the opening week and so, understandable. Had a Dark Horse Crooked Tree IPA afterwards that was great. (clean tap lines and good temperature). I sat on the "plywood" side of the bar and it was well-lit, cozy and enjoyable. Time two: Had a beer at the bar. Fine. Time three: about a month ago, went in with friends. Sat in the side room with the taxidermy. Music was way too loud (and terrible) the room was uncomfortably cold and it was dark as heck. I am a fan of ambient lighting, but I seriously needed a flashlight to see the people at our table. Our server was perhaps the worst server I've ever had in my life. Aside from appearing like and acting like she was completely stoned—which was irritating and distasteful as a customer—she was not familiar with the cocktails on the menu also took forever to come to our table, flubbed a very simple drink order, and when our drinks finally arrived, she gave me a drink I didn't order despite my contention. She then took another 567 days to come back to the table for our second round. My friend ordered the hummus plate and that took ages to come to the table as well. Onto the drinks: cocktail sizes were all over the map on this trip. All of our party ordered cocktails that arrived in the same vintage-style stemmed glass. My partner and friend ordered the same drink. The pour was not identical. It was sloppy. This last experience has made me want to wait a bit before trying another round at the bar until they smooth out their service and cocktail making-skills. I've been to many craft cocktail bars as a former Brooklynite and this bar has a bit to go to really shine. Hope they do and I wish them luck.
rusty shackelford
Fri, Feb 3, 2012 : 5:42 p.m.
Lost Yelper--I'm actually kind of hit or miss on the place. Sure, I'm drawn to it in a way. But so are a lot of people who remind me of me. And I can't really stand myself, so...
rusty shackelford
Fri, Feb 3, 2012 : 5:36 p.m.
Richard--I think by now those issues of Cat Fancy are the 2nd dirtiest issues of that magazine in existence. Every other issue being tied for 1st.
Richard Retyi
Fri, Feb 3, 2012 : 4:54 p.m.
C'mon Rusty! Isn't the point of comments to ... comment? I'd love to hear what other people think of The Bar, positive and negative. For instance, Rusty ... what's your take on the bathroom? I'm 99% sure there isn't a light switch in there and that all "business" needs to take place under the warm glow of the back-lit artwork of waterfalls.
Kade
Fri, Feb 3, 2012 : 4:51 p.m.
Rusty- It's clear that you love the bar. Great. Glad you expressed that opinion. I also expressed my opinion (most of it positive) based on the three times I visited the bar. Relax.
rusty shackelford
Fri, Feb 3, 2012 : 3:56 p.m.
What is this, Yelp?
Richard Retyi
Fri, Feb 3, 2012 : 3:53 p.m.
Good review! From talking to the owners of The Bar, I know that they're keen to gather any and all feedback to constantly improve things. I still haven't seated myself in the birch room. Someday soon.
mGill
Fri, Feb 3, 2012 : 3:46 p.m.
What makes a "crafted" cocktail 9.00?
Griffin Wright
Fri, Feb 3, 2012 : 3:01 p.m.
Yes, if you like not having a spot to sit and getting half-size drinks at twice the price, then this is the best bar in Ann Arbor. I don't mean to sound crass, but this place is way overrated. I'll take a Scotch or Ale at Ashley's over this any day.
hut hut
Fri, Feb 3, 2012 : 5:09 p.m.
Ashley's =lowest common denominator particularly for loud drunk students.
Ron Granger
Fri, Feb 3, 2012 : 2:59 p.m.
Bars in Ann Arbor typically lack character, atmosphere, and soul. They are bland. With students eager to spend money, who can blame owners for not caring about much besides the profits? Some bars look like they were bought as a kit. Like all the fake wall decorations came out of a giant box that was ordered from Bars R Us - like Conner O'neills. There is a lot of room in this town for improving the public bars. Of course the best bars in this town are private. They don't get featured here, or in any publication.
treetowncartel
Fri, Feb 3, 2012 : 5:18 p.m.
You should check out the bars in Ypsi, they are great.
Richard Retyi
Fri, Feb 3, 2012 : 3:34 p.m.
My favorite comment so far! I agree Ron. When I see bar owners put a lot of time and effort into the feel of a place, their staff and the patron's experience, I tend to go back. Now, about the best bars in town being private ... if you want to throw a few invites my way I promise not to write about them.
cgerben
Fri, Feb 3, 2012 : 2:32 p.m.
Bars like this are a dime a dozen in most major cities, down to the kitch of things like "low brow" beers and fake taxidermy. Had this article been written in 2002 the author may have been on to something (though he'd then need to note that everyone was wearing ironic trucker hats, too.) It 2012 this just reads as the definition of jumping the shark. If you want to have a real conversation about the best bar in Ann Arbor, let's go no further than talking about the Raven: the hippest, yet classiest, scene in town and the best quality drinks in the area.
say it plain
Sat, Feb 4, 2012 : 4:22 a.m.
Ya see, it's the "dime a dozen in Chicago, New York, Seattle" vibe that makes it a turn-off to some (me included). Then it becomes like a sort of Epcot Center version of 'cool bar', you know? Like, oh, yeah, you know those bars in Brooklyn that look like someone's living room and have like weird taxidermy on the walls and paneling and quirky service and overpriced cocktails plus genesee? Here's one! But, whatever. Probably there are people for whom the 'ideals' expressed here are deeply held and for whom there was no doubt that this place would be "the most popular bar of 2012" or any other year. I don't know what the social-media marketing wisdom is about how to drum up business for the demo "The Bar" is aimed at, but probably articles in online "newspapers" that make "book it!" predictions about who'll get the "best bar in town" vote in online click-contests, written in cool-kid word-counting style, adheres to the guidelines!
cgerben
Fri, Feb 3, 2012 : 3:34 p.m.
That's just, like, you're opinion, man.
Richard Retyi
Fri, Feb 3, 2012 : 3:32 p.m.
The Raven's Club is a really cool place, but the demographics for the two are wildly different. I also agree (sort of) with your 2002 comment. Though bars like this might be a dime a dozen in Chicago, New York and Seattle, this is Ann Arbor, and The Bar is something unique to the city and to Kerrytown in particular.
Top Cat
Fri, Feb 3, 2012 : 2:29 p.m.
Piffle! This place has about as much character as JC Pennys. Give me the Old Town Tavern any day.
Scott
Fri, Feb 3, 2012 : 2:13 p.m.
Also voted the place to most likely see ironic mustaches, oversized glasses and vintage cardigan sweaters.
Richard Retyi
Fri, Feb 3, 2012 : 3:30 p.m.
The Bar and 8 Ball are a push on this one.
Tesla
Fri, Feb 3, 2012 : 1:59 p.m.
Voted most popular bar...By who? You do realize we are 34 days into 2012 and you've already deemed this the most popular bar....before it happens? Seriously. Why do half the article (so called) around here read like over written advertisements.
Amy Sumerton
Fri, Feb 3, 2012 : 4:15 p.m.
Who said it was VOTED most popular? He says in the first sentence it's a PREDICTION. 34 days in seems like a good time for a PREDICTION.
Richard Retyi
Fri, Feb 3, 2012 : 3:29 p.m.
Tesla, I've been to The Bar three times so far and I really, really like the place. I took that extremely positive experience and made an adventurous prediction about how popular I think the place will be based on my history in Ann Arbor and my personal tastes. For all I know, The Bar could fail spectacularly in 2012 and I'd be proven wrong. But I'm betting that it will be a hit. As for reading like an advertisement, it kind of sucks that anything overly positive in an editorial immediately reeks of payola. I'm a positive guy. I like to write about things I like. That's all.
Tesla
Fri, Feb 3, 2012 : 2:06 p.m.
Which makes it even stranger. Who paid Mr. Retyi... for these 500 words then?
Peter Baker
Fri, Feb 3, 2012 : 2 p.m.
There was no vote, it was a prediction, by the author, in an editorial column.
aabikes
Fri, Feb 3, 2012 : 1:47 p.m.
Don't you know that hipsters scatter from the media spotlight?!?
Chaz H
Fri, Feb 3, 2012 : 1:40 p.m.
If they are using an iPod for the music, my guess is that they are not keeping track and paying ASCAP and BMI proper royalties. They could be fined thousands of dollars if they are not paying and these agencies find out. <a href="http://www.ascap.com/playback/2009/09/features/member_education.aspx" rel='nofollow'>http://www.ascap.com/playback/2009/09/features/member_education.aspx</a>
Chaz H
Fri, Feb 3, 2012 : 11:56 p.m.
Honestly, I was not suggesting that they should be in trouble, or that anyone should be upset if they are not paying (except perhaps musicians signed up with these royalty agencies). I figured the owners would likely read about their own bar in this little blog and may want to look into what, if any, legal trouble they could run into by playing music this way. Jake C is absolutely correct... it is also illegal to show movies in bars without proper payments. Another article mentions a film screening room at this bar. They had better look into the legality of that, too, if they have not already. I remember when Fox Sports was still PASS, and the bar I worked in did not have a subscription because the fees per month were WAY higher for a bar than home service.
Richard Retyi
Fri, Feb 3, 2012 : 6:31 p.m.
Okay ... 23 people voted "YES" for this comment? Really? We should burn calories worrying about bars with a capacity of 56 that play Rush albums on an iPod? I thought Chaz brought up an interesting point, but the fact that people would have an issue with a local bar playing music off an iPod is crazy. Can we go back to ragging on the Occupy Ann Arbor tents and David Sincere Nobleman in Liberty Square already?
Jake C
Fri, Feb 3, 2012 : 5:32 p.m.
@Richard: Yes, it is a violation of copyright law to use the consumer versions of Pandora or Spotify in a business setting, just as it's a violation to play music off an iPod or CD in a business setting without registering & paying the proper agencies. For example, there's a free consumer version of Pandora, and a $25/month business version. <a href="http://help.pandora.com/customer/portal/articles/215200-playing-music-in-a-commercial-setting" rel='nofollow'>http://help.pandora.com/customer/portal/articles/215200-playing-music-in-a-commercial-setting</a>
treetowncartel
Fri, Feb 3, 2012 : 4:48 p.m.
It is a violation of copyright laws to play music and movies. I just forwarded the article on to the powers that be.
West of Main
Fri, Feb 3, 2012 : 3:46 p.m.
Oh, what a bunch of scofflaws! Sue them ASAP.
Richard Retyi
Fri, Feb 3, 2012 : 3:26 p.m.
This is an interesting thing I've never thought about. Chaz, I'm no law expert, but is it illegal for area restaurants and bars to play music off iPods without paying royalties? What about using services like Pandora or Spotify? I'm genuinely curious. Ditto for bars that play movies. Do royalties have to be paid for those?
aabikes
Fri, Feb 3, 2012 : 1:49 p.m.
Great point!
smokeblwr
Fri, Feb 3, 2012 : 1:21 p.m.
I get drunk and eat hard boiled eggs practically every night at home....will The Bar enhance this experience for me?
smokeblwr
Fri, Feb 3, 2012 : 4:44 p.m.
My wife is at home and she's a babe. Overheard quote from my house: "What the heck happened to all the eggs?" "When are you going to get off your rear end and fix the roof?" "I should have married a business man!"
Bob
Fri, Feb 3, 2012 : 3:32 p.m.
One word: babes.
Richard Retyi
Fri, Feb 3, 2012 : 3:23 p.m.
Do you have taxidermy on your walls? Issues of Cat Fancy in your water closet? If so, then it might be a push.
rusty shackelford
Fri, Feb 3, 2012 : 1:53 p.m.
Best comment ever
rusty shackelford
Fri, Feb 3, 2012 : 1:06 p.m.
OK, we can all officially stop talking about this place now. Yes, it's awesome. Let's stop advertising it's awesomeness lest too many people come in search of awesomeness and it become douche-central. Sound like a deal?
rusty shackelford
Fri, Feb 3, 2012 : 1:52 p.m.
I actually meant "[that] it's [i.e. it is] awesomeness." As in, it is awesomeness incarnate. Either that or a typo, I forget.
lugemachine
Fri, Feb 3, 2012 : 1:48 p.m.
* its Don't worry, rusty. I have read nothing here that will attract the doucheoisie... or anybody else.
smokeblwr
Fri, Feb 3, 2012 : 1:23 p.m.
Douche-Central!?!? This term will now enter my personal lexicon.
The Picker
Fri, Feb 3, 2012 : 12:53 p.m.
It seems that A2.com has a hard time distinguishing between journalism and advertising.
Richard Retyi
Fri, Feb 3, 2012 : 3:22 p.m.
My brain is broken! Lie to Your Cats About Santa is an editorial column written by me, a freelancer with no ties to AnnArbor.com. They don't tell me what to write about and I have no affiliation with The Bar. Just making an adventurous prediction.
Morris Thorpe
Fri, Feb 3, 2012 : 2:23 p.m.
I'll play along! Seems you have a hard time distinguishing a feature column from an editorial (an opinion piece written by the editorial staff at the news organization.)
Peter Baker
Fri, Feb 3, 2012 : 1:59 p.m.
Seems you have a hard time distinguishing journalism from editorial columns.
Machine
Fri, Feb 3, 2012 : 12:44 p.m.
$9.00 cocktails? No thanks. There are plenty of more reasonably priced places to get a cocktail. I'll leave this one to the hipsters.
Craig Lounsbury
Fri, Feb 3, 2012 : 11:31 a.m.
"The Bar at 327 Braun Court will be Ann Arbor's most popular bar in 2012. Book it." I think if you changed " Ann Arbor's most popular" with "my most favorite" "but you paid for 500 words and I'm going to give you 500 words." as a reader I certainly didn't pay anything to read this. Did you mean to write "Ann Arbor.com paid for 500 words so I'll give you all 500 words to read" ?