Autumn Joy

If grasshoppers were songwriters....And you may find yourself in another part of the world
And you may find yourself behind the wheel of a large automobile
And you may find yourself in a beautiful house, with a beautiful wife
And you may ask yourself-well...how did I get here?

Two girls in identical light-blue U of M Rec t-shirts, wandering the market loaded down with cider and bags of produce:
“Ohmygod, we HAVE to get some potatoes!”
“Ohmygod, YES! You know which ones I love? Those baby red ones.”
“YES! And they make the greatest mashed potatoes!”
“Ohmygod, and if you add some garlic – that’s just the BEST!”

Ohmygod, I can’t say that I disagree.

Kosmo Deli Disappoints

“I think I have to stop going to Kosmo!”

Alarmed, that’s what I told my friend Rachel when I called her from the Farmers’ Market on Wednesday morning.

A Little History
A couple mornings a week, you’ll find me sitting at the counter at Kosmo Deli in Kerrytown eating breakfast and reading the paper or chatting with a friend. I also pop in occasionally for lunch – I’ve been a loyal customer for several years, even after suffering food poisoning from a bad Tucker Burger (w/teriyaki sauce, cheese, grilled onions) last spring.

One of the main reasons I’ve enjoyed Kosmo is the congeniality of the kids who work for owner Don Kwon. They’re chatty and bohemian in that Community High sort of way, and always remember the “usual” order of regulars like me. But in the last couple months, there has been unrest behind the counter. Two of my favorite deli staff quit, one left for college, and one girl was fired. And I began to wonder, just what the heck is going on?

That said, I understand that food service is a volatile business and that things change. Two veterans remained, and I had just started to warm up to Dave (pink hair) and Zeke (orange hair), the new hires.

Wednesday Morning
“I’d like one egg over-easy, two pieces of sausage, and one slice of wheat toast,” I ordered. “and please, no potato products. I'm trying to diet.”

“Mandy, we only change the plates on Saturdays and Sundays, not weekdays,” Don called from behind the prep counter.

“Okay Don, but what is it about the breakfast plates?” I asked, curious. “I’ll pay for the entire meal – I just don’t want to waste the food I won’t eat.” Shaking his head, he responded “it’s not about the money.”

Truly trying to understand, I tried another approach, “if I order a breakfast sandwich and then hand Dave back a slice of the bread, would that be okay?”

“Don’t try to find a loophole!” Don fired back. “It’s a long story, but I decided a long time ago not to do it. I’ve lost regular customers over it, and I don’t care!”

And then he turned to that nice new guy Dave, and said “You’ve got to stop these kinds of orders out front.” He continued, “I’ll fire you next time!”

Cheezy, I Know, But It’s the ‘Golden Rule’ For a Reason
I probably would have gone on indefinitely patronizing Kosmo Deli, despite Don’s somewhat eccentric attitude toward breakfast plates and regular customers. After all, people have done stranger things for the food/establishments they love (see “Soup Nazi”).

But I am a firm believer in treating the people who work for you right. And if you ask me, the lower their power/wage, the better they should be treated. It’s better for business (see Zingerman’s) and it’s better for your own personal karma. And, particularly when you work with young people, you have a responsibility to set a good example.

(My god, that makes me sound old. Sigh.)

So enough is enough, and from now on you won’t find me at Kosmo Deli on Market mornings. I’ll be among the caffeine addicts reading the paper at Sweetwater’s. Better for my diet, anyway.

Remember that young woman I mentioned above? who was fired by Don last month? My friend Emily hired her, based partially on my recommendation. “She was a good find, " Emily told me when I called for a progress report. "But Mandy, I don’t think she was treated very well where she worked before.” Em continued, “She seems so surprised to be working in a friendly environment. Whenever someone is nice to her, she’s like a little sunflower turning her head toward the light.”

Tango in Ann Arbor

“Ladies, you must slide, then push,” tango artist Silvina Valz instructed the class in a lilting Spanish accent. “The foot that is sliding is all for show. It is the foot that is poooosshhhing that is doing the work!”

“Slide, then poooosssshh! Slide, then poooosssshh!”

Every few years or so, I learn of the existence of a flourishing subculture in Ann Arbor. You know what I mean – a large group of people who are fanatically involved in something, yet somehow manage to operate under the radar and don’t make the pages of the Ann Arbor News or the Observer. A few years ago, The Button and I stumbled upon Robotics.

And now I’ve discovered Argentine Tango.

Earlier this year, a friend told me about the tango classes she’d been taking at the U. “It’s a lot of fun with a really diverse group of people,” she told me. “And, Mandy, the SHOES! It’s worth it just for the beautiful shoes!” So I signed up for a beginner class with the Michigan Argentine Tango Club, and have been taking private lessons for a couple months.

Last weekend the Club hosted it’s 6th Anniversary Dance Festival. 180 dancers participated in classes, practicas (practice sessions), and milongas (dances) over the course of four days. Along with the five guest instructors, 70 of those participants were from out of state. Silvina and her partner, Oliver Kolker, taught a “Tango Walk" class. As Silvina was telling us “slide, then poooosh,” I had a bit of an a-ha moment, realizing that it’s a little like ice skating (another activity to which I bring enthusiasm, but very little skill).

Silvina and Oscar performed a wonderful fast-paced, whimsical tango (view clip) at the final milonga in the Ballroom of the Michigan Union. As an undergrad, I shared an office on the second floor of the Union and in all those years I don’t think anyone ever told me to stop dancing in the halls. Maybe it’s a Homeland Security thing.

I also took the “Waltzing It Up" class, taught by Tomas Howlin, my favorite instructor of the weekend. His self-deprecating sense of humor put the beginners like me at ease. But an interesting contrast – as Tomas danced with his partner Rebecca Schulman at the final milonga (view clip), the expression on his face was very focused and intense.
I noticed this watching the experienced dancers over the weekend. I know these people are having a good time, but boy, if you go by the expressions on their faces you’d think they were doing their taxes. I’ve heard it said that Argentine close embrace tango is like “sex on hardwood.” So perhaps like sex, some people laugh, some people cry, and many are simply transported by the intensity.

And some of us are still just trying to find our balance.

Summer's Last Gasp

Enjoy it while you can...


The Terraplanes perform during lunchtime at Liberty Plaza, courtesy of the Ann Arbor Area Chamber of Commerce.

Jake Is On the Move

My senior year in high school in the hinterlands of Michigan, my parents allowed me to make the occasional field trip to Ann Arbor, that den of iniquity and free-thinking.

After my first visit, I remember very clearly giving a "trip report" at dinner. "...and we saw this old, weird black guy. They said he was called 'Jake the Shake!'" I told my family somewhat breathlessly. "You mean Shakey Jake!" corrected my (much) older brother, who attended the U of M in the early 70's.

Listen to this wonderful archived audio essay on Jake by Jennifer Guerra for NPR's Weekend America. Like Jennifer, I remember many times when Jake told me he was "on the move," and I always wondered, where?

Buca di Bob Sparrow

“There’s no bad time to wear a Hawaiian shirt. GOD wears a Hawaiian shirt!”

That was photographer Cary Walker’s response when I asked him if he and Diane were wearing their shirts in honor of an occasion. My brother, sister-in-law, and I were seated near the couple at dinner Saturday night. And we all agreed that "God wears a Hawaiian shirt" bumper stickers could make someone a lot of money, particularly at Jimmy Buffet concerts.
We had this exchange over dinner in Kerrytown, at an "afterhours" meal hosted by Bob Sparrow, owner of the meat and produce market. Once a month he and his staff push back all the produce displays, set up long tables with white linens, and serve a multi-course meal to about 100 people.

This month’s dinner was Italian themed, and for $45 each we enjoyed salad, stuffed beef tenderloin with polenta, chicken marsala, lasagna, and mini-cannoli. The fresh, high quality products of the market are the focus, and Bob and his staff manage to prepare the entire meal in their tiny little kitchen behind the cash register.
Dinner was excellent, and I especially enjoyed the beef tenderloin. Given Sparrow’s cred as a butcher, it’s no surprise that the meat was wonderfully flavorful, and he wisely chose a preparation that did not suffer for arriving at table well done. And everyone remarked on the flavor of the polenta. With its splash of red sauce, something about it was just right, a great comfort food.
By the time the cannoli were served, we were absolutely stuffed, but I somehow managed to force them down. Rich, creamy mascarpone, with a surprise of chocolate chips in the pastry garnished with slivered almonds. And I especially appreciated that Rico sent us home with extras for The Button.

The multiple courses were almost too much of a good thing. While I understand the Italian concept of the primi and secondi dishes, it seems like we had a “terzo” (third) plate thrown in. In the future, Bob might lose one of these entrée-like selections and substitute a shared tray of appetizers prior to the salad. When my family and I were seated, we spent a few minutes introducing ourselves to nearby table-mates, and the sharing of a tray of apps would have smoothed the way in that little social exchange.
Which was my favorite part of the evening. Chain restaurants like Buca di Beppo tout a somewhat forced version of “family style” dining, but Sparrow's dinner was real, friendly, and much more comparable to the spirit of meals I’ve enjoyed at old-school restaurants in neighborhoods like Little Italy or North Beach. In addition to Cary and Diane, we found ourselves beside Andrea and across from members of the extended Sparrow "family." Rita and Frieda are, respectively, the mother and “Nana” of Rico and Rosaria, two of Bob’s skilled, longtime staff. Once I managed to get her name straight ("Nita?" No, Rita. "Aida?" No, RITA!), I complimented Rita on her kids – both are without fail always friendly and knowledgable when I shop in the market.

Sparrow can’t serve alcohol, but because the evening was considered a private party guests were free to bring their own. We enjoyed a crisp Orvieto during introductions and salad, and then a smooth Cab blend during the main courses. Dinner lasted almost three hours, but the time passed so convivially as my sister-in-law and I chatted up a storm with everyone, and my quieter, accommodating brother kept our wine glasses topped off.

Buon amici, buono pranzo, e grazie mille Bob Sparrow e assistenti! ("Good friends, good dinner, and many thanks Bob and staff!" – talk about your "restaurant Italian")

Friday Night Lights

Not to give away my age, but I haven’t been to a high school football game since October 1984.

With The Button a freshman at Pioneer, we attended our first home football game against the Lincoln Railsplitters. Ann Arbor residents know that the Pioneers have had a rough few weeks. The team forfeited victories from their first two away games when it was discovered they had an ineligible player, and then we were thumped last week at Saline.

But there was finally some good news last night at Hollway Field. The first quarter saw the Railsplitters ahead 13-7, mostly due to some sloppy playing by Pioneer. It actually was feeling a little bit like recent events at the Big House up the street. But then the Pioneer team, and particularly QB Nader Furrha, found their groove and Pioneer ultimately beat Lincoln 58 to 13.

Some things appeared to have changed a lot in high school football since 1984. For instance, quarterbacks have learned to pass (and receivers to catch) – Furrha has a great arm, and appears to have a lot of poise on the field.

Other things haven’t changed, like the Marching Band playing oldies during halftime (view clip). Only now the "oldies" are some of MY songs! The Button is highly embarrassed by my ability to sing along with "Eye of the Tiger." She can't even imagine – wait ‘til the band adds “Almost Paradise” to their repertoire.

the subdudes play The Ark

I have two (much) older brothers I love dearly. But if I could add five to the family, it would be the members of the subdudes, who performed two concerts this week at The Ark. Why? Most obviously they make fantastic music that I just LOVE. They’ve got the whole blue-collar, roots rock, New Orleans zydeco-y thing that reminds me of the raucous music, sweaty dancing and "huge ass beers"of my favorite Bourbon Street bar.Tommy Malone, lead singer and guitarist, seems to me like Louisiana’s answer to Bob Seger. He smokes on the guitar, and his vocals are strong, resonant with the experience of years on the road. John Magnie, on keyboard and accordion, is the eccentric counterpoint to Tommy’s earthiness. John tickles me ‘cause with his long goatee he looks a little like Jefferson Davis – the Confederate President was supposedly a distant, shadowy branch on our family tree. At Monday night’s performance Jim Messa physically stayed more in the background, but to me his guitar work spoke deeply, richly and held its own with the other members’ more flamboyant styles. And back-up vocals and rhythm by Tim Cook and Steve Amedee certainly helped bring everyone together into a cohesive whole.

These guys have been making music together for years in one iteration or another (at one point they were just “The Dudes”). Band members mix and match writing almost all their own songs, and their latest album is “Street Symphony,” released earlier this month with all post-Katrina material. They sprinkled the Ark performance with selections from the record, which has generated positive buzz for the quintet at the national level.

Monday night, as much as the subdudes had everyone stompin’ and hollerin’ (view clip), the quiet moments were my favorites. A little over an hour into their two-hour set, the band unplugged and wandered into the audience to perform a cappella, a bit of a ritual at their concerts. My friend and I had great seats on the aisle, and the subdudes wandered over to sing right next to us. “Play ‘The Rain!’” bellowed a guy behind us who had clearly had several Rolling Rocks. And as if the whole room couldn’t hear him, he shouted it three or four more times. Tommy “shushed” the guy, and the band eased into one of their gentlest, most subtle songs. Written by John and Tim, I especially like the following lyrics:

I wish that I could lay around all day with you
Listen to the rain pounding on the roof
But I’m in Oklahoma only half way home
Driving though I barely even see the road

I recorded it, but without the stage lights it was too dang dark – so here’s a video clip of the song from another performance. In a post-Katrina world, I wonder if the band finds their song about gentle, romantic rain somewhat ironic?

The subdudes are simply a great “everyman” band. And, short of a dive bar in Jefferson Parish, The Ark was a great place to see them in action (view clip of "Papa Dukie" closing song). Their concert wasn’t an example of a relationship between performers and audience, it was between friends who have known one another for years. They’re the guys you knew in college who always had the best porch parties. The guys who lose good-naturedly every year in league softball. The guys who are your neighbors down the street, provided we all live in one big suburb of New Orleans.

Yup. Without a doubt, Tommy, John, Jimmy, Tim, and Steve are the five extra older brothers I would have in an alternative universe.

Kerrytown BookFest

What a beautiful afternoon for the 5th Annual Kerrytown BookFest!

Dozens of booksellers, bookcrafters, and authors exhibited in the market place at Kerrytown. Like illustrator Leslie Evans, whose sister lives in Ann Arbor. She traveled here from Boston to host a booth for her Sea Dog Press. And in addition to the obviously book-oriented exhibitors, some of the regulars from the weekly Sunday Artisans’ Market also participated. Heather O’Neal, friend of The Brou, set up a table for her Of Global Interest business. And Heather and Anna, (friend of The Button) told a Nepalese folktale in the Children’s Tent. It was hopping with all sorts of paper-oriented activities for kids as well, including volunteer Melanie very patiently teaching origami.

“It’s a popup book I made with pictures of where I used to live,” Diane told me, after I admired the handmade book she and her friend Carol were looking at as they took a break. They were at the BookFest to take part in the Engineering Paper 101 class at Hollander’s.

“’Ann Arbor?’... ‘Michigan’s largest adult daycare center.’” That’s author Charles Baxter quoting a friend in “Hybrid City.” It's his essay in "Ann Arbor (W)rites," a collection of Ann Arbor-based stories that Ira Lax was giving out for free at the Ann Arbor District Library table. (Say Ira’s name fast. When I asked him about it, he assured me “I’ve heard ‘em all.”)

The Main Tent hosted several panel discussions by local writers, including “Novelizing History” with authors Karen Harper, Robert Alexander, Travis Holland, and Elizabeth Kostova. Moderator Robin Agnew, owner of Aunt Agatha’s, asked the panel if sometimes they don’t get “swallowed by the research” aspect of writing historical fiction. “Research is more like an addiction to chocolate or coffee,” observed Kostova. And Holland pointed out that the great thing about research is that “I could tell myself I was working, when I wasn’t actually writing anything!” Agnew asked Kostova how she came up with the Dracula theme for her bestseller “The Historian” – view the video clip of her answer.

So disheartened with the course of today's game, my 80-year-old neighbor Howard WALKED home at halftime, leaving his son and grandson to continue working the sidelines.

(And we do not live in what normally would be considered walking distance.)

"In 57 years of football," he said, "I've never seen anything like it."

Game Day

Riding my bike home from Farmers' Market this morning, I stumbled on the Michigan Marching Band's drumline making it's way up Division to Elbel Field. So I detoured to watch rehearsal (video clip) for a bit, despite urgent voicemail messages from The Button and her overnight guest ("Mom, did you get the donuts?").

It's amazing - the strains of "Temptation" still give me goosebumps. And the ignominy of last weekend's loss fades in the bright sunshine of a beautiful fall morning in Ann Arbor.

Returning home (donuts a little smooshed in my backpack, but otherwise none the worse for the wear) I saw my neighbor Howard and told him about enjoying the band. You may recall that Howard is a retired police officer who has been working U of M football games for over 50 years. "Not many people know this," he told me, "but Dr. Revelli developed the script Ohio for a game here in Ann Arbor. And then he gave it to OSU to use."

That's the University of Michigan - not only a heritage of excellence, but of good sportsmanship, too. And I'm sure the football team will remind us all of that today.

Go Blue!

No Stop Lights? What Were They Thinking?

What brain trust decided football season/school starting was a good time to replace stop lights downtown?

Readers Respond to THE LOSS

Readers of The Brou are cast across the U.S., many of them alumni and fans of the University of Michigan. As we in Ann Arbor prepare for this weekend’s game against the Ducks of Oregon, I asked out-of-town friends for their reactions to last Saturday’s loss to Appalachian State University. Some responses….


"Embarrassment and curiosity…Embarrassed that they lost, at home, to a Div. 1-AA school, have now lost 3 in a row, and have embarrassed the entire Big 10. I’m catching flack from my friends out here big time. Curious as to why they scheduled App State, how bad is the defense, and how loud are the calls for Lloyd Carr’s head?" Joe, California

"I would summarize the whole thing as utterly demoralizing. I was very thankful that my Michigan State officemate had to go to a funeral. I never would have heard the end of it any other way!" Melissa, Maryland

"Everyone loves an underdog story, including the New York Times. If the uberdog, Michigan had won, the “Times” would have devoted at most a paragraph to the game. But when it turned into David beats Goliath, there was a full article on Sunday and then three, yes three, articles on Monday, including a front pager (below the fold mercifully). A lot of ink was devoted to a change in Lloyd Carr’s contract which would allow him to step down after this season as head coach, but remain in some other capacity. Another key conclusion–which might offer small comfort to the Wolverine faithful – was that the Division I schools in the Southeast won’t play ASU, because they are known to be so competitive. So maybe it wasn’t quite the upset of the century that it appeared to be, but more of a sucker bet that cost Michigan 400 grand and the “distinction” of being the first ranked Division I team to lose to Division IAA, or whatever it’s called now." Tony, New Jersey

"The whole thing is just cringe-worthy on all fronts!" Dan, Illinois

"I'm so embarrassed! For years I have defended and bragged about the football team from Michigan. I was there a few years ago when we lost to the Washington Huskies here in Seattle. We went to a Rose Bowl party this year and I had to endure relentless jabs from my friends and relatives. But now, oh my! They will never let me forget this one. The worst fallout has come to my 14 year old son, a loyal Michigan fan. The kid next door just won't let it go, I can't wait 'til he hears that Michigan has dropped from the ranks, you know how obnoxious teenage boys can be. Hoping for some kind of redemption..." Janet, Washington

"Life as a grown-up gets in the way of watching every game, and I tend to ignore the ones I consider glorified scrimmages, expecting to come home later and watch the recap on ESPN depicting the Blue second string decimating the opponent. Boy, was I shocked this past Saturday! BUT C'MON, FANS! So the Blue didn't bring their A-game because they didn't think their opponent was worthy–what of it? This is not an unprecedented situation in sports. And it's not like ASU killed us. The point now is to GET OVER IT AND WIN EVERY REMAINING GAME. Perhaps this loss was just the humiliating jolt necessary to do just that. Don't throw away a whole season because of one bad (okay, REALLY bad) game!" Lynnette, Illinois

Mandy’s Last Word:
Okay, these aren’t exactly my last words, but I have to say my feelings about Saturday’s loss are reflected in the comments of my neighbor. Howard Zeck is a retired Ann Arbor police officer and has been working at football games for over 50 years. Yes, you read that correctly – over 50 years! Howard told me “you know, at least it wasn’t Ohio. And in all my years on the sidelines, I’ve never seen a group of kids so happy. If you could have seen those players from ASU and how excited they were!” So I'll try to keep it in perspective this weekend – they’re kids. Playing a game.

By the way, if you’re interested in checking out what ASU fans are saying in the blogosphere, check out Popcorn Dreams. And of course, if you’d like to continue to self-flagellate, go to MgoBlog.com

2-Bit Review: Sushi Cafe

One or two visits. A few hundred words. Sometimes that’s all it takes.

Many sushi fans in town are not aware that there’s a little joint for raw fish in Briarwood Mall.

Sushi Café is in the north side corridor off the Sears wing, across from California Pizza Kitchen and sandwiched between Pearl Vision and World of Nails. It’s a tiny little place, with dine-in seating for 10 people max, But they cut a nice piece of raw fish.

When you enter, the owner and his staff always shout “Hello! How are you!?” like you’re a long lost cousin. You can peruse the special, which might be something like a bento box with California roll, four shrimp gyoza, and edamame for $7.

I almost always order the spicy tuna roll, along with one piece of salmon and one piece of unagi (freshwater eel) sushi. You get a cup of miso soup with your entrée, too. All that, plus a diet coke, runs $10. I like Sushi Café’s spicy tuna roll because they chop the fish and mix it with the spicy mayo before rolling, and then top with a healthy dollop of more of the spicy mayo and a few chopped scallions.

I will occasionally stray and order a Caterpillar roll (cucumber, avocado, and unagi), which has always been nicely done, too. Unagi is my favorite, but every once in a while you get some that tastes funny – like an old sock or something stale. I’ve never encountered this problem at Sushi Café – their fish always tastes very fresh and yummy. And, dine in or carry out, they are always fast. This is a plus when you need all the extra time possible on your lunch hour to shop in the new Sephora across the way.

South Fifth Apartment Complex?

The Brou presents a guest post by Connie Crump, esteemed colleague, Old West Side homeowner, and woman of impeccable taste...

Preservationists and downtown fans are alarmed by a new $22 million proposal to replace five landmark homes on South Fifth Avenue with an 84-unit apartment building. The City Place project is proposed by Alex de Parry, is targeted for middle-income renters, so-called workforce housing, according to the Aug. 21 issue of the Ann Arbor News.

Neighborhood observers are concerned that it may become student housing if de Parry can't find enough workforce tenants to fill all the one- to three-bedroom units. Mostly they're concerned about the loss of architecturally significant houses on a highly visible block downtown. The homes that would be razed are not in pristine condition but they are restorable. Currently rental properties, they hold 22 units just south of the library on the east side of Fifth Avenue. de Parry owns one more house on the SE corner of Fifth Avenue and William Street that is in a historic district - the other homes are not protected.

Compared to some of the ratty derelict houses in the Old West Side Historic District that have been preserved by actions of the Historic District Commission, the Fifth Avenue homes are in great shape. The purported new design will resemble a "series of Boston browstones," de Parry told The News. Eeck. Not in character with the neighborhood, already ill-served by the looming hulk of the abandoned Y. And The News neglected to report on an important aspect of the project (Surprise). It will be financed by deParry's partner, Bluestone Advisors, a local commercial real estate powerhouse.

On an unrelated note, The News' inexperienced editorial staff also managed to place the project on the wrong side of Main Street by confusing Fifth Avenue with Fifth Street. Real Ann Arborites know that Fifth Avenue runs north and south, east of Main Street, while Fifth Street, also a north-south street, is several blocks west, in the Old West Side neighborhood. Stay tuned.

Mandy's Last Word:
Friends of The Brou will be amused to learn that I was busted yet again. Landlord Alex de Parry cornered me as I was taking the photos above. de Parry was somewhat confrontational–not to mention a close talker–as I chatted him up about the proposed project. "It will cost me more to renovate these properties than it will to build new," he reasserted. "Have you ever been to Beacon Hill? That's what I'm going for." I pointed out that brownstones aren't exactly Ann Arbor vernacular, that maybe he might have more success proposing something sympatico with the other buildings on the street. "There's no such thing as Ann Arbor architecture!" de Parry proclaimed.

I then asked de Parry who would live in these 'Beacon Hill' like apartments. "The same people who are renting now - U of M staff, grad students, and students." He said this with an absolutely straight face as we stood watching several obvious undergrads schlepping boxes into one of his houses. I pointed out that this contradicts the media reports, which mention the mysterious, seldom-seen middle income workers. "Google," de Parry said waving his arm northward, "I'm targeting the people who work at Google." Riiiiiggght.

Folks, more often than not I'm pro-density, and tend to be sympathetic to developers who need a course in Tea Leaf Reading to work in Ann Arbor. You can probably hear my indignant squawking all the way to Toledo when a Magic 8-Ball is necessary to predict whether City Council will accept the recommendations of its own Planning Commission. But when I was in school I lived in a hideous apartment building on East Madison that I'm sure seemed like a good idea when it was approved and built by the guys in leisure suits in 1974. I'd hate to see the same thing happen to that stretch of South Fifth.