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Life Lessons from Being a Line Cook

Life Lessons from Being a Line Cook

Dec 23, 2024 | , , , , |

Ari Weinzweig and Paul Saginaw opened Zingerman’s Delicatessen in 1982. It became the cornerstone of a Community of Businesses that today has a staff of 700 and annual sales of more than $80,000,000. Along the way, Weinzweig has published more than two dozen books on food, business, and leadership. This article is excerpted from his latest, a hand-bound chapbook that connects his early life to his work today. 

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Moni Strouss

Moni Strouss

Dec 23, 2024 | |

Born Mary Margaret Lauth, she’s “always been called Moni.” At ninety-nine she still cooks her own breakfast and lunch, keeps up with numerous family members and acquaintances, writes letters, discusses politics and social trends, and reads voraciously. The books stacked on the coffee table in her All Seasons apartment are topped by Timothy Snyder’s On Freedom and Barbara McQuade’s Attack from Within.

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Keeping Warm

Keeping Warm

Dec 23, 2024 | , |

By the time the first snowflakes fell in mid-November, 1,537 local children were wearing new winter clothes provided by Warm the Children. “We’re clothing more children than we have in many years,” says program manager Mary Stewart. “The children we serve are from all over Washtenaw County—Ann Arbor, Milan, Dexter, Saline, Chelsea, and Ypsilanti, as well as the townships—and the need is growing.”

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Scarves at St. Andrew’s

Scarves at St. Andrew’s

Dec 23, 2024 | , |

Seeing guests leave the warmth of St. Andrew’s on a cold winter morning, Maureen had an inspiration: An experienced knitter, she could make scarves for them! She invited us, her sisters in PEO (Philanthropic Educational Organization, a women’s service group) to a knitting bee at her home. “This was over 20 years ago,” recalls her daughter Kate Martin.

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Artours

Artours

Dec 23, 2024 | , |

The truth is, we could quote David Karl in this space just about every month. We probably would too, if we weren’t afraid we’d have to add him to the Fake Ad payroll (which is already five figures, if you count the two figures after the decimal point).

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Holiday Guide 2024

Dec 3, 2024 | |

Warm holiday wishes from the Ann Arbor Observer! Shop local this year, and support our downtown and around town businesses and find the perfect gift for everyone on your list. Enjoy the variety of events, live shows, and...

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Question Corner | December 2024

Question Corner | December 2024

Nov 25, 2024 | |

The sign for Bell’s Diner on W. Stadium is mounted on a chimney. Old-fashioned lettering can be seen behind the sign. Only the first two (of the five) letters can be read: “Wo.” What is written there?

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Minding the Poll Book

Minding the Poll Book

Nov 25, 2024 | , |

Why did you sign up to be a poll worker on Election Day? I did it to see another side of our process and to make sure that every citizen got to vote in the manner of their choosing.

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The Agean Golden Helmet

The Agean Golden Helmet

Nov 25, 2024 | , |

We received 177 entries correctly identifying the Fake Ad on page 71 of the November issue. “Finally!” writes the very clever Linda Etter. “An ad made just for me (and all those other gray/white-haired seniors)!”

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Discoveries!

Discoveries!

Nov 25, 2024 | , |

The Observer’s call for historical artifacts earlier this year yielded an interesting range of items. Many will be documented by the Ann Arbor District Library as part of its digital archive of the city’s history.

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Gifts of Life

Gifts of Life

Nov 25, 2024 | , , , , |

Dorrie Dils became president and CEO of Gift of Life Michigan in 2016. At the time, she says, the Ann Arbor–based agency was “averaging about 280 organ donors a year.” The number has since more than doubled, to 578 last year. 

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Speed skater Jace Mendoza

Speed skater Jace Mendoza

Nov 25, 2024 | , |

In many ways, Jace Mendoza is a typical twelve-year-old. He likes to play video games with friends, watch YouTube videos, and eat pizza. But one thing sets Jace apart from his peers: He’s training to become a world-champion speed skater.

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Middle Earth and the Peace Sign Necklace

Middle Earth and the Peace Sign Necklace

Oct 25, 2024 | , |

One Saturday in May 1971, I was a sixth grader on a mission: I wanted to buy a silver peace sign necklace. At the store Middle Earth on South University, in the heart of the campus, I looked carefully at the young woman with wire-rimmed glasses behind the counter. She had frizzy hair, a macramé belt, large hoop earrings, and a choker-style necklace. She looked a little like Janis Joplin and was wearing a T-shirt with the word REVOLT and a picture of a clenched fist. This young woman looked like she would be just the right person to help me.

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