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Comments:
Laura - 2004-09-10 23:41:23 Rightfully so. I'm taking it right now. It's got all of these ridiculous dichotomies -- which would you prefer -- a coffee house or a bar?? Would you rather visit an art gallery or go to a sports team game? Would you rather eat sushi or eat a home-style dinner? Why can't you like all those things??? Cool people have diverse interests and are quirky and eclectic. It's the cool girl with the dreads and nose-ring who might want to gamble at a casino or eat a home-style dinner. Lazy research with stereotypes. Blech. Not cool.* * * * * * * * * * * * Laura - 2004-09-10 23:49:32 Now, Anna, see, you got to a page I didn't even get to. I just got shunted to the "thank you" page. I was weeded out because I'm 37. It's so frustrating! Yes, cool people have diverse interests and are eclectic--I could live happily on sushi for the rest of my life but I find that particular question you mentioned to be ridiculously transparent--as if there are no cool people who enjoy a home-cooked meal, or hate sushi. Oh, please.* * * * * * * * * * * * Laura - 2004-09-10 23:52:25 (does Haab's have sushi? :) I'm meeting a friend there for a hot date on Sunday).* * * * * * * * * * * * Laura yet again - 2004-09-10 23:55:52 I would just like the world to know that I have a wooden sushi press, which my handy dad hand-crafted for me, ON MY KITCHEN COUNTER AT THIS MOMENT, and I have the special sushi vinegar in my fridge. And seaweed sheets in my cupboard. I can even MAKE the stuff. But never mind, I'm an uncool, irrelevant fogeyish 37. Argh!* * * * * * * * * * * * Anna - 2004-09-10 23:57:48 You should go look at that stupid thing. Enter that you are 32 and work in a technical field if you want to get to the questions (either that or they are just choosing a random sample of people who fill out the initial info....). The dicotomies get more and more transparent... Would you rather go to an art gallery, or watch NASCAR on a big-screen TV? Blech, classist, too. Then you get to this RIDICULOUS publication which looks like a slick version of pamphlets that you might find in your hotel room and you participate in an online focus-group about it (maybe only some get this). They're just totally not getting it. The whole point of cool cities is that they're bottom-up, not top-down. The city can create the conditions for coolness (jobs, safety, schools, economy), but they can't encourage people to engage in cool activities. These people need to read Tipping Point. * * * * * * * * * * * * Laura - 2004-09-11 00:02:50 Oh, that sounds interesting--if I may ask, what is Tipping Point?* * * * * * * * * * * * Laura again - 2004-09-11 00:05:36 (I could Google it but I'd prefer to hear your take on it)* * * * * * * * * * * * Anna - 2004-09-11 00:12:07 It's a book by Malcolm Gladwell, who is a writer for the New Yorker, but very young and cool (our age; and the type they're looking for). I've actually met him. I want to have his babies, but I digress... Basically, the book is an exploration about how ideas catch on -- how do adidas suddenly become re-cool? Well, some hipsters in Williamsburg bought them in second-hand shops, then the hipsters when to music venues, then people who watch fasion at the music venues started buying them, etc. etc. The heart of the book is that there are people who are "connectors" and they determine what is cool -- they go to a restaurant, and they inform their entire social network that the restaurant is cool, pretty soon, it's being featured in New York Magazine. He says we don't have circles of friends as much as we have triangles of friends -- his friends are all connected through the same person, when he starts to think about it. It's a really thought-provoking and fun read.* * * * * * * * * * * * Laura - 2004-09-11 00:16:21 It certainly sounds like it. Thank you for a good tip, Anna. I'm putting it on my list--yet another example of how kind blogreaders lead me to interesting new finds. Thanks again.* * * * * * * * * * * * Anna - 2004-09-11 00:18:32 My pleasure. I just dug up his website: http://www.gladwell.com/ He has some exerpts -- I misrepresented it a little, there were two other groups that also are involved in "social epidemics" -- Mavens and something-or-others. You can take the "are you a connector?" quiz. I scored somewhere in the autistic range.* * * * * * * * * * * * Anna - 2004-09-11 00:26:10 BTW, I mentioned a book some time ago about a woman who goes to Italy to help save books after a catastrophic flood (falls in love, etc.), but I got some of the details wrong and couldn't remember the name. I just dug it up. It's called The Sixteen Pleasures, by Robert Hellenga. On amazon: Like the Jimmy Stewart character who gave up his dreams for his family, Margot Harrington turned down Harvard, graduate school, and a job in her preferred career to care for her ailing mother. A 29, a librarian and book conservator at the Newberry Library, Margot decides to change her life and seek adventure. She travels to Italy after the Arno floods its banks to help rescue damaged books. When her money runs short, she moves into a convent to help the sisters restore their library. Margot finds more in Italy than she bargained for: a rare volume of pornography bound into a prayer book and an affair with a married man. Margot lovingly restores the book, with a plan to sell it to save the convent's library--unbeknownst to the bishop. http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/0385314698/104-0792321-6256766?v=glance&vi=reviews* * * * * * * * * * * * Laura - 2004-09-11 00:31:25 Hmm, I explored the Tipping Point site, but must have overlooked the "connector" quiz--if you might have a link I'd be grateful. The Italian book sounds like a keeper, too- thank you for recommending it. Is it based on a true story? I shy away from fiction in general.* * * * * * * * * * * * Laura again - 2004-09-11 00:33:34 (Anna, I just love having this conversation about books with you, on the other side of the state--thanks for your comments!)* * * * * * * * * * * * Anna - 2004-09-11 00:43:49 I'm enjoying it, too -- I'm actually on the other side of the country! The Gladwell quiz link: http://www.gladwell.com/tp_excerpt2.html* * * * * * * * * * * * Anna - 2004-09-11 00:46:10 (must remember to finish thoughts before hitting The Sixteen Pleasures book is based on a true story in that there was a flood in Florence, but I believe the rest is fictionalized. I might believe "semi-autobiographical" except that the author is male and the protagonist female.* * * * * * * * * * * * Anna again (again) - 2004-09-11 00:58:16 The publication in the cool cities survey reminded me of how embarrassed I used to feel when I was a kid and they used some faux rock music (supposed to appeal to the young) in a commercial for something lime Mountain Dew. As I was reading the articles, I got the uncomfortable feeling that the people who wrote them were hopelessly square -- so much so that they didn't realize how square they were. Like the Kmart of cool.* * * * * * * * * * * * Laura - 2004-09-11 09:07:06 "The Kmart of cool." :)* * * * * * * * * * * * Eric * - 2004-09-11 12:37:43 Are you saying you've never been to Haab's?* * * * * * * * * * * * Laura - 2004-09-11 13:35:26 No, why would you think that? I've been there many times and like its folkiness. Take the parents there when they're in town. Lovely onion rings--but pretty much everything there is good. Next question.* * * * * * * * * * * * Laura - 2004-09-11 13:40:36 (for heaven's sake, Eric *, I've lived in Ypsi for more than 4 years--how in the world can anyone not eat at Haab's in that time!--of course, I have yet to try and eat one of those giant Bomber breakfasts).* * * * * * * * * * * * Laura - 2004-09-11 13:50:04 (just the thought of going to a bright, noisy, uniquely decorated restaurant at the crack of dawn and trying to surmount 5 trillion calories, instead of sitting at home and quietly incubating a cup of coffee till the mental turbines slowly start turning is a bit off-putting...but I'll get there someday I'm sure.)* * * * * * * * * * * * raymond - 2004-09-11 16:35:33 I suppose the Bomber is bright. The lighting there always seems to make everything look flat and greenish. Maybe it's the haze of grease and cigarette smoke in the air. I miss the squads of state troopers who used to eat there. They made us feel safe. We really weren't safe though as all those people Billy H. shot can tell you, except for the ones that died. Gunfire was more common down there though after the MSP post closed than it was before. Quieter nowadays I think. While it's not cool to be shot, Ypsi seemed cool in them thar days. Oh, and you could buy crap at Arlens until the fire. But that led to the glory days of the flea market.* * * * * * * * * * * * Ypsismeller - 2004-09-11 19:48:25 The Bomber sucks.* * * * * * * * * * * * Laura - 2004-09-11 20:09:33 Ypsismeller, I'd be curious to know what you don't like about it, never having been there. It was written up in some food mag or other...perhaps solely due to the fabled portion sizes.* * * * * * * * * * * * Laura - 2004-09-11 20:23:33 Raymond, I'm very curious: what was the Billy H. incident at the Bomber?* * * * * * * * * * * * Willit Run - 2004-09-11 20:26:56 The place just sucks. A bunch of racist Ypsi hillbillies who think five pounds of greasy ass bacon is breakfast. Too loud. More like an old boys reunion than good food. Cheasy ass posters of old planes. Big deal. Lucas (pukas) is way better, and the Greek waitresses are hot. Or the Wolverine. That place is good, but I call that place "The Silvey egg" as one of my eggs had a little piece of mercury like substance one time. But its still cool, even if I didn't fill out a survey. Screw Grandholm and her stupid survey. She should go back to Canada.* * * * * * * * * * * * AAsucks - 2004-09-11 20:33:59 Who cares about the sizes. I'd rather pay less and get a lttle less. There's too many fat-ass Americans now anyway. I hope that place closes.* * * * * * * * * * * * Laura - 2004-09-11 20:46:41 I agree with you completely. I can rarely finish what I'm served in any restaurant in town and always wind up taking extra food home, since I can't in good conscience waste it. I also would rather pay less and get a normal portion.* * * * * * * * * * * * Laura - 2004-09-11 20:58:41 And you are certainly right, there are too many fat Americans. I've noticed a huge upswing in the past 10 years. * * * * * * * * * * * * Boycottthekeg - 2004-09-11 20:59:42 Ypsi will never be known for its food or restaurants. Sure, there are a few that will do. But why bother when main st. AA is an adult theme park of resturants. Ypsi can't compete. And people from AA ain't gonna drive to Ypsi to eat food. I think Ypsi is fine the way it is. I don't need a designation to say its cool. People say Ypsi is coming back, or Ypsi will be really cool soon. But I have heard things like that for 20 years. Don't fix what ain't broke. It's a nice place and the bad reputation it has actually keeps the lemming masses away. I grew up in Livoni which is supposed to be one of the best places in the country to raise children according to some surveys. I'd rather have my skin torn off by fire ants than move back there.* * * * * * * * * * * * Laura - 2004-09-11 21:02:38 (I take it this is ypsidweller and wonder if you've done any new explorations lately).* * * * * * * * * * * * Laura - 2004-09-11 21:11:01 (oops, you beat me to the comments) I agree. I also love Ypsi as it is, and I also agree that its undeserved bad rep keeps the lemmings away. I've never had the slightest problem as far as crime or whatever, despite a good deal of wandering around alone in the off hours. It's a sweet place to live.* * * * * * * * * * * * Laura yet again - 2004-09-11 21:14:52 (ypsidweller, if you were to start a blog, I'd read it religiously)* * * * * * * * * * * * Eric * - 2004-09-11 21:37:55 Ypsi's bad rep keeps the lemmings away as well as the shoppers. At least there are a lot of empty storefronts, and isn't that what everyone really wants?* * * * * * * * * * * * Laura - 2004-09-11 21:52:17 I dunno. I like Ypsi the way it is. Yes, I'd like to see a thriving Michigan Ave., but it isn't going to happen anytime soon for a variety of reasons. In the meantime I enjoy Ypsi as it is. * * * * * * * * * * * * Eric * - 2004-09-11 21:55:24 What do you think those reasons are?* * * * * * * * * * * * Laura - 2004-09-12 08:46:01 Well, you and Raymond and others who've been here longer would know better than I--what's your thought?* * * * * * * * * * * * Otis - 2004-09-12 13:48:34 Billy* * * * * * * * * * * * Laura - 2004-09-12 13:54:37 Yikes. Just the look on his face gave me a start! But what an interesting resource--I hadn't known anything like that was online; thanks "Otis."* * * * * * * * * * * * Laura - 2004-09-12 14:02:09 Phew--100 years and no fewer than *7* sentences for murder! Good heavens--what, did he spray the whole place with a machine gun? Was this at the Bomber? Boy, does he have a crazed look in his eye.* * * * * * * * * * * * raymond - 2004-09-12 14:06:23 Yesterday I looked up some information about the plaza at Riverside Arts Center. One of the items my search brought up was a 51 page <.pdf> file touting the hipness of Hipsilanti. Much mentioned was Henrietta F., with Rubber Soul a close retail second. Also in the running for hipness were the Elbow Room, the so-called Flour Mill building, and of course the cultural magnet Riverside AC. The Water Street development served as the hip jewel in the crown. Not once in 51 pages was mentioned the Ypsilanti District library branch, the Wolverine, any bookstore, Deja Vu, any other bar, restaurant, or retail establishment. Or maybe there was one mention and I missed it. Those <.pdf> files are hard to page through. I'm guessing that downtown Ypsi is host to four or more hair braiding parlors and several Afro-style hair shops. Perhaps the busiest business in downtown is Puffer Red's. The 21-35 year-old white people sought by the hucksters of cool don't go to those places much. I made a rare trip through town last night after dark, and there they were: the cool young white people largely absent during the day.* * * * * * * * * * * * Laura - 2004-09-12 14:11:16 Our jewel of a (Whittaker Rd.) library should most definitely be on the list--and the Elbow Room is certainly a community institution. You have to wonder who made that list...* * * * * * * * * * * * raymond - 2004-09-12 14:12:49 oh the bikes and the new hat shop. i forgot. btw i wear hats and i vote* * * * * * * * * * * * Laura - 2004-09-12 14:15:06 hmm, haven't seen the new hat shop.* * * * * * * * * * * * Laura - 2004-09-12 14:19:24 And the bikes, yes--if it survives the supposed upcoming change in management.* * * * * * * * * * * * lynne - 2004-09-12 15:04:14 Well, I guess I am probably too old to be considered cool but fwiw, I like Ypsilanti a lot the way it is although I would like to see more successful stores downtown. * * * * * * * * * * * * Laura - 2004-09-12 16:42:05 Yes, I'm out of the cool range too I guess by virtue of age. There are worse things.* * * * * * * * * * * * Eric * - 2004-09-12 17:04:24 It's call the City Hatter. It's been there since February or something. I guess people really don't go downtown.* * * * * * * * * * * * Laura - 2004-09-12 20:54:44 no...it's a mystery to me where those new bike tires came from. And the inner tubes? Who knows? And the spare chain and chain wrench? An enigma! I'm so confused.* * * * * * * * * * * * raymond - 2004-09-13 08:34:10 There are possibly as many as 50 hats around our premises. We don't need more. Well, maybe a few more.... * * * * * * * * * * * * Leighton - 2004-09-13 09:50:19 I think downtown should give up on becoming a Briarwood, in a world of fat no-walkers. It could become a residential / entertainment-only business district very easily. Other business will follow, later.* * * * * * * * * * * * Leighton - 2004-09-13 09:52:23 Also, the Bomber is amazing as the Bomber. Whenever I take out-of towners from big cities to the Bomber or Dalat they want to move here. Haab's tends to sacre them, but I kind of like its understated blandness. * * * * * * * * * * * * raymond - 2004-09-13 11:10:14 The Water Street condos are supposed to furnish customers for the thriving downtown business/entertainment district. By the way, I passed the Riverside Arts Center Saturday night on the way to the Sidetrack and the parking lot was filled, presumably with people in or seeing PTD's "Mousetrap."* * * * * * * * * * * * Leighton - 2004-09-13 16:04:12 Thursday nights after 11 are the most dense time pedestrian-wise in downtown. Waterstreet might have some draw / incentive to further renovate the upper floors of older buildings to decent / cheap / non-crackwhore apartments. Then things could slowly get better. And these p[eople will need to shop when there are enough of them... * * * * * * * * * * * * Laura - 2004-09-13 16:57:55 I think Leighton has a good idea in Mich Ave being a residential/entertainment district. Don't laugh, but a country music bar might be a hit...(and I might even go, myself, so long as it's not "young country") Raymond, I'm glad that the play was packed. I've heard "The Mousetrap" opened in 1952 and has never closed to date.* * * * * * * * * * * * Laura - 2004-09-13 17:04:05 Well, it sounds as though the Bomber is worth trying, at least; it's such a local institution. Also, I have my suspicions but wonder why Thursday night is the busiest for foot traffic?* * * * * * * * * * * * add your comment: |