In a downtown area several blocks larger than East Lansing, Ann Arbor offers a wide variety of old-fashioned charm and modern-age sophistication in its assortment of restaurants, bars, galleries and theaters.

For students traveling to Ann Arbor for the MSU/U-M football game Saturday and staying for the weekend, the city's downtown has several different forms of entertainment.

"It's just kind of like the business and nightlife hub of the city," said Nick Miller, communications director for the Ann Arbor Area Convention & Visitors Bureau. "It's just where everybody goes to eat, drink, have a good time.

"It's just kind of a hub for entertainment."

From classy, upscale restaurants to small, cozy diners, the downtown district caters to multiple demographics, not only college-age students, Miller said.

MSU international relations junior Chris Gregg said he lives in Canton, about 15 miles from Ann Arbor, and that he has visited the city several times.

"One thing I always like about Ann Arbor is they have a lot of culture," Gregg said. "It's the whole town. It's not just one strip, it's the whole town."

Conor O'Neill's, 318 S. Main St., offers patrons a traditional Irish experience, through the food, the music, even the furniture, said manager Shane McCann, adding that everything in the restaurant is authentic from Ireland.

The restaurant has two big-screen TV sets for football game days, and is always crowded on game days and after-dinner hours, McCann said.

"Friday and Saturday, we get a lot of students in the evening," he said. "This place is hopping at nighttime."

Other nighttime spots include a nearby brewpub - Grizzly Peak Brewing Company, 120 W. Washington St.

Grizzly Peak brews all of its own beer, featuring mostly ales and some seasonal drafts, said manager Chris Paule.

During football games, Paule said fans will gather in the pub. On occasion, Paule said he's witnessed fans screaming out opposing fight songs from different sides of the bar.

"We get a great mix of everything," he said. "We're not just U-M only."

Katherine Lister, a 23-year-old Ann Arbor resident and 2003 U-M graduate, was seated at a table waiting for her food last Saturday afternoon. Lister said she has eaten at Grizzly Peak several times before.

"When I was in college, we came here because it's kind of Ann Arbor flair," Lister said.

Besides food and drink, downtown Ann Arbor also is a place to shop.

Miller said there are about 30 independent bookstores just within the downtown limits, which is unique.

After Words, 219 S. Main St., sells books as they start to go out of print, or as they are transitioning into the next print edition. Bookseller Jason Councell said the books are rare, but none so old as having gone out of print 40 years ago.

"It's more the type of place you'd come in to look around than if you came in to look for something specific," Councell said, adding that students and faculty members visit the store. "The best way to describe it is that it's an ideal browser's bookstore.

"You never know what you'll find when you come in."

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Michigan munchies and music

Arbor Brewing Company, 116 E. Washington St.

What it offers: The locally-owned pub serves food until midnight and remains open until 1 a.m.

Fleetwood Diner, 300 S. Ashley St.

What it offers: Open around the clock, the diner offers classic favorites in a 1950s setting - complete with checkered floor tiles.

Firefly Club, 207 S. Ashley St.

What it offers: Jazz performers and live music, sometimes even nationally-known artists.

Conor O'Neill's, 318 S. Main St.

What it offers: Authentic Irish dining, including the food, the music and the decorating. Many drafts are imported. On game days, two large-screen TV sets broadcast the game.

Grizzly Peak Brewing Company, 120 W. Washington St.

What it offers: Located in a historic building, the pub offers homemade beers and traditional American dishes with a twist. Pizzas are cooked in a wood oven. The pub is open to the public all day.

Source: The State News