The Arena: here to stay

Saw this last Friday during FoolMoon. Probably in reference to the City Council's objection to their liquor license renewal because of a failure to pay almost $9,000 in back takes and fines. You can read more on the Chronicle.

The graying of Ann Arbor

In an Ypsi/Arbor Exit Interview on MarkMaynard.com, Newcombe Clark talks about the demographic shift we're experiencing in Washtenaw County:

...over the last 30 years, the overall population of Washtenaw doubled, the same demographic balance wasn’t maintained. The net result is that a town that was once balanced, if not dominated (at least from a voting block and commercial market standpoint) by the young, is now overweighed towards the old. Many towns in America have similar demographics today. And, it’s worth noting, none of these towns are doing well today. There’s quite a bit of research on why this is, but most of it boils down to this – cities with lots of young people, who have lots of extra time to work and money to spend, tend to do better.

Growth… and frankly, in America today, if you’re not growing, you’re suffering… has been shown to be only possible with lots of young people of working age and ambition. Technology, being borderless, isn’t a driving factor economically. It’s pure math – when you’re young, you can be more mobile, and you can more easily move to cities that give you the opportunities you require. You take your money and your labor with you to these places. Other demographic groups, with less disposable means, tend to benefit from this migration if it goes towards them. They tend to suffer as it flows elsewhere.

I’m not advocating replacing any older citizen with someone who’s been around the sun less. I’m saying, however, there are consequences for all ages if so little of your total population is 20 to 35 years old.

Based on the projections from SEMCOG, which you can see below, these trends are expected to continue through 2040:

I realize this is part of a greater national trend, but I can't help but wonder what the impacts of this will be. What are the causes of this trend? It seems like despite the presence of the U of M, we are unable to retain young adults in the community. Are there too few jobs and too little sunshine? Are there too few affordable housing options?

Saltine Cracker to attend U of M?

There have been murmurs among university students on the interweb about a controversial high school student. Suzy Lee Weiss, published racist, sought to attend an Ivy League school but her lack of "two moms" really put her at an academic disadvantage. Her "struggles" mirror the "tribulations" of Abigail Fisher, another salty rejected girl. In an interview with the Today show, posted above, Weiss tries to support her deluded piece of "satire" and also hints at coming to Michigan. Here is how some university students responded to that news on youtube:

There is some significance to the timing of her coughed implication to attend Michigan. The Supreme Court decided a couple weeks back to look at the University's Affirmative Action case in October. If her name fades away now, it might be dug up again in the fall to show how hard it is to be white in America. Only time will tell if her rejection from the "Harvard of the East" will lead her to the "Harvard of the West." 

Brighton MA at The Ark tonight

Chicago based indie rockers Brighton MA will be playing The Ark tonight. They have recently been touring with Cursive's Tim Kasher, but tonight they will be playing with another group from Chicago, Stolen Silver.

This Must be the Band

David Byrne is coming to Ann Arbor in July, to perform with St. Vincent. However, for Talking Heads devotees, that show might seem too far off,  be too costly or too tangential from Byrne's New Wave roots. Tonight, Live Music Alliance is presenting a Talking Heads Tribute. Come down to the Blind Pig at nine to speak in tongues. You can buy tickets here, for ten dollars.  And to get you into the mood, The Talking Heads:

Stay classy Varsity Building

If you've been in the State and Liberty area, or walked on the Diag lately, you may have noticed some stenciling advertising the Varsity Building. Apparently, whoever was in charge of that little operation also thought it would be cool to stencil a sycamore on the Diag.

City Council Viewing Party this Monday

Greetings gentle readers, our last City Council Viewing Party at ABC was such a hoot that we've decided to do it again. So this Monday, April 15th, come on down to ABC and say hi. I hear rumor that @juliewbee is revising her hit Ann Arbor City Council Bingo boards to include "TIF Capture." In addition to DDA financing the city council will also be addressing approval of the sight plan for the controversial 413 E Huron high rise. It should be an exciting meeting. Last time we had a really great cross section of the community come. I hope we have even more folks this time. If you'd like, you can RSVP for the event through Facebook, though we understand if that's not your thing. I guess what I'm saying is that regardless of your feelings on Facebook, you should stop by because 1) it's happy hour all day and 2) it's a great way to get more informed about local politics and make new friends.

Student Political Party

The Mixed Use Party is a newly formed local political party comprising mainly U of M students. It looks like they mainly take issue with some parts of the city's zoning codes that they feel are unfair to co-ops, sororities and fraternities. According to this article in the Daily, they are planning on fielding candidates for all city council seats this fall save for the Fighting Fifth. Looks like we're in for an extra exciting city council election this fall.

Hat tip: @localinannarbor

Central Provisions at Braun Court tonight: burrata salad!!

In their words, "I know its rainy but I wouldn't miss this salad if I were you."

I think they're right! 327 Braun Court from 6 PM to midnight. Click here to learn more and see the full menu below:

Free Skool DIY Fest

Free Skool 

The Ann Arbor Free Skool is holding a spring DIY Fest. Now the theme is food, which is a good choice on their part. Everyone likes food, everyone eats food, that's common knowledge. The DIY fest can help provide Ann Arbor with some uncommon knowledge, through the workshops, skill shares and demonstrations planned. Like the poster above mentions, there is music throughout the whole thing by  peoples like Charlie Slick. It'll be starting a 4PM on saturday, at Mark's Carts and Bill's Beer Garden.