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The city of Ann Arbor kicked off its 17th annual Restaurant Week<\/a> Jan. 18, offering University of Michigan students and community members the opportunity to try different cuisines at discounted prices. The event, organized by Main Street Ann Arbor<\/a>, features deals lasting until Jan. 23, with most restaurants offering complete meals at a fixed, lower price. Certain spots also feature \u201cmenu for two\u201d deals for couples or friends and family meals to go. This year\u2019s event featured a variety of restaurants including Miss Kim<\/a> and Mani Osteria<\/a>, as well as cafes such as Le Bon Macaron<\/a>.<\/p>\n In an interview with The Michigan Daily, Ashley Schafer, executive director of Main Street Ann Arbor, said she believes the event is a great way to stimulate the downtown community and uplift residents.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cWith it being cold, this really is kind of a way to get people outside of their houses post-holiday,\u201d Schafer said. \u201cOur businesses need that traffic, because it does slow down pretty substantially for them in these colder months, but it also really showcases the things that our restaurants offer kind of on a year-round basis.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n Schafer said Restaurant Week is an opportunity for locals to experience more of Ann Arbor\u2019s cuisine and without being deterred by prices.\u00a0<\/p>\n