Last month’s Fake Ad for the Norwegian American Association of Michigan (page 62) asked readers to come up with the name Matt Groening, creator of The Simpsons. One of the clues was that he created the longest-running TV show in history.
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“Lovely door, lovely venue,” writes Suzanne Tainter. October’s “I Spy is the Kerrytown Concert House on 415 N. Fourth Ave.,” writes Rudi Hauleitner. “Great place for small-scale concerts with marvelous acoustics!” he continues. “Looks good on the outside, sounds great on the inside!” agrees A.J. Kydd.
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We received 132 entries correctly identifying the Fake Ad for Bespoke Monorail Cars on page 86 of the September issue.
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“This month’s I Spy is the Thelonious Monk mural by Brian Whitfield on Ashley Street,” writes Silvia Ruiz. David Karl identifies it as “the old Del Rio Bar building,” which Dyke McEwan adds is now home to “the Cellar by Grizzly Peak.” The mural, writes Kathy Scott, honors both Monk at the bar where he sometimes performed. Dan Romanchik credits his wife Sylvia for spotting it, even though “I walk by there all the time—so if I win I’ll have to give the prize to her.”
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We received 130 entries correctly identifying the Fake Ad for Proletariat Bourbon on page 50 of the August Observer. Included among those was this one from Elena Chagnovich: “My dad, an avid bourbon drinker, spotted it from across the kitchen table. At first glance, he thought it was an ad for Blanton’s Single Barrel Bourbon, since the bottle was the same shape and had an animal on the cork. However, he quickly realized this was a sham!”
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“I spy the Ann Arbor Art Center’s ‘Urban-Fetti’ alley art installation,” writes Alandra Meade. It’s “on the alley wall of the Alley Bar at 112 W. Liberty Street,” adds Eric Sobocinski, and Joe Cialdella notes that it’s behind Pretzel Bell. “This mural literally cascades off the wall to the alley pavement,” says Ginny Weingate, citing the clue. “I like how the mural stretches down to the ground,” says Shannon Kohlitz, “although I wish it could get touched up!”
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“The Fake Ad is on page 42 for the Whippoorwill Bar and Grill,” writes the always reliable David Karl. “Ah yes, who hasn’t been driven to insomnia by the constant nighttime singing of the Whip-poor-will. I know I have. But unlike Thurber’s Mr. Kinstrey, I just took a sleeping pill and called it a night. Much easier, less hassle and mess free.”
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“The OG Dentistry building at 299 Fletcher has such beautiful lines in their glasswork,” says Mary Adams.
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“I spy: the Land Title Building at 106 N. Fourth Ave. designed by Albert J. Rousseau,” writes Kate Pasola.
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Last month’s Fake Ad for Mickey’s Heating and Cooling on page 48 of the June Observer elicited 196 correct responses.
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You know how sometimes you’re in a group chat and you come up with a really funny comment and you text it to the group and… nothing? No “haha.” No 🤣. Not even the humble :). Just… nothing.
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“The birds are from a mural by Jacob Dwyer on the Phoenix West building at 117 N. First St.,” writes Kathy Scott about May’s photo.
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“[April’s] I Spy is the Jolly Pumpkin Brewery and Cafe at 311 S. Main Street,” writes Silvia Ruiz.
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First, the facts: We received 156 entries correctly identifying the Fake Ad for Boundaries Books on page 68 of the April issue.
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We received 154 entries correctly identifying last month’s Fake Ad—including one from the winner’s husband, which is a first for us.
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“March’s I Spy is on the exterior of the Clements Library at 909 South University,” writes Susan Wineberg. “The angel relief sculptures hold the library name,” says Barb Tester.
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“The January 2024 Fake Ad, for MUNY in St. Louis, challenges us: How real can a Fake Ad be?” mused Eric Sobocinski.
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“Ann Arbor is a good place to be vegan, this block is a big reason why,” says Sam Firke, praising the “outstanding cauliflower wings” from the adjoining Detroit Filling Station.
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“Only someone as cold as Walter Hobbs, Buddy’s mercenary biological father in Elf, could write a Christmas reindeer meat cookbook!”
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“It was erected in 1998 by Warren Avis … the founder of Avis Car Rentals,” writes David Karl.
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