Sounds like the same old Ave but amplified by empty storefronts and closed restaurants. I haven't been there in eons but it still bums me out. I shouldn't be surprised I guess. The point made above about the death of the small retail store pretty much sums it up.
I enjoyed all that 12 block stroll had to offer, living one year on 42nd and two more on 52nd...lots of good, cheap food, couple of record stores, couple of places to get a beer and even see a live band, and of course an easy place to score a razor thin slice of green bud for $10. I never minded the shenanigans and homeless.
The only thing that could draw me to visit The Ave would be getting a gyro or shawarma from Aladdin Falafel, if it's still there. I think I ate dinner at that place twice a week for a few years during school.
The only thing that could draw me to visit The Ave would be getting a gyro or shawarma from Aladdin Falafel, if it's still there. I think I ate dinner at that place twice a week for a few years during school.
I lived on Poco Loco burritos and Kiku Tempura House. There was another, Korean run, burrito joint that served a big, wet burrito that I'd hit up when Poco Loco was busy or I just wanted to sit down. One of the Indian places, Tandor I believe, had a small buffet on weekends for about $5 that we'd frequent too. Nothing like four hungover dudes loaded up with greasy meat, curry, and lentils watching football on a dreary fall sunday.
The only thing that could draw me to visit The Ave would be getting a gyro or shawarma from Aladdin Falafel, if it's still there. I think I ate dinner at that place twice a week for a few years during school.
Still there and still good. That and Thai Tom are still the kings of Ave food
When I was at UW the Ave was a dirt road but in more recent times when I had bidness in the area it seemed like about 2 blocks were seedy as shit. South of 45th was vibrant and cool still
The Ave is like recruiting, it has its ups and downs. Covid and no kids on campus or nearby apartments probably had a big impact as others have noted. When they made the changes to the street, and when they had the little police base things cleaned up substantially for a while.
When I was there 2011-2013 besides the Ave rats you'd hear alot about people getting rolled at night in red sqare or on Greek row for what ever they had. Seems logical for some less than savory dudes to go get some easy cash from the college kids. It sucks but that's the world we live in.
North Ave could get rough my last pub crawl ended the night at what was it...pizza ragzzi? Dunno its bok bok now... anyways two guys start getting into it and one pulls a gun as the other one books and he unloads half a clip at his ass . Luckly he's a terrible shot evey begins to scramble.. My buddy is trying to GTFO befoe the cops show up and my drunk ass was like " hold up we gotta wait for the pizza ". Can't buy memories like that i tell ya.
Seems to me that UW needs the Ave to be a great destination, and it easily could be. You can clean up any area - see NYC. The Ave could offer its great diversity of food and weird shops and bars (Aladdin's was my favorite also) Invest in some landscaping. Invest in a patrol of cool cops who don't bust for drunkenness but do bust for loitering or graffitti or any kind of intimidation. I may be mistaken, but it feels like campus is now the UVillage? Who the fuck wants to walk back up that hill after getting soaked on beer. You'll never make it back. Can't have the heart of off-campus life be a mall. But the Ave could actually be nice with some investment.
The other area with potential - tho it's a little further from where people live tho - is all that space down along the water below UWMC and around what used to be the wooden boat center. I've not been back there but for a couple of times at Agua Verde before I left town 20 years ago.
I would say the 45th intersection is a complete wreck compared to what it used to be.
But overall, things have gotten very ritzy on the south side of the Ave with very expensive new residence halls, 5 times better than Hagget, McMahon, and whatever those ones by Eastlake bridge were.
I actually think it was shittier in the early '90s when it was a destination hangout spot for high schoolers looking for exoticism.
There used to be a place that sold bongs and dildos and band posters when all of those were considered risque.
Tower records, cellophane square, also the old cellophane square. Magus books.
If you were a cool or smart person, like me, the ave was great. Also, believe it or not there were always hot sophisticated chicks hanging out certain locales.
For a while in mid 90s, cafe Roma on the Ave smoking weird boutique cigarettes. A girl took me back to her place and was blowing me on her bed and her mom walked in and sighed and asked her to please take out the trash before morning.
Seems to me that UW needs the Ave to be a great destination, and it easily could be. You can clean up any area - see NYC. The Ave could offer its great diversity of food and weird shops and bars (Aladdin's was my favorite also) Invest in some landscaping. Invest in a patrol of cool cops who don't bust for drunkenness but do bust for loitering or graffitti or any kind of intimidation. I may be mistaken, but it feels like campus is now the UVillage? Who the fuck wants to walk back up that hill after getting soaked on beer. You'll never make it back. Can't have the heart of off-campus life be a mall. But the Ave could actually be nice with some investment.
The other area with potential - tho it's a little further from where people live tho - is all that space down along the water below UWMC and around what used to be the wooden boat center. I've not been back there but for a couple of times at Agua Verde before I left town 20 years ago.
Lol no UW students hang out at U Village except for the RAM on trivia nights
Seems to me that UW needs the Ave to be a great destination, and it easily could be. You can clean up any area - see NYC. The Ave could offer its great diversity of food and weird shops and bars (Aladdin's was my favorite also) Invest in some landscaping. Invest in a patrol of cool cops who don't bust for drunkenness but do bust for loitering or graffitti or any kind of intimidation. I may be mistaken, but it feels like campus is now the UVillage? Who the fuck wants to walk back up that hill after getting soaked on beer. You'll never make it back. Can't have the heart of off-campus life be a mall. But the Ave could actually be nice with some investment.
The other area with potential - tho it's a little further from where people live tho - is all that space down along the water below UWMC and around what used to be the wooden boat center. I've not been back there but for a couple of times at Agua Verde before I left town 20 years ago.
Lol no UW students hang out at U Village except for the RAM on trivia nights
When I was there 2011-2013 besides the Ave rats you'd hear alot about people getting rolled at night in red sqare or on Greek row for what ever they had. Seems logical for some less than savory dudes to go get some easy cash from the college kids. It sucks but that's the world we live in.
North Ave could get rough my last pub crawl ended the night at what was it...pizza ragzzi? Dunno its bok bok now... anyways two guys start getting into it and one pulls a gun as the other one books and he unloads half a clip at his ass . Luckly he's a terrible shot evey begins to scramble.. My buddy is trying to GTFO befoe the cops show up and my drunk ass was like " hold up we gotta wait for the pizza ". Can't buy memories like that i tell ya.
Rolled in Red Square? Wtf? How?
Uggh Greek row too? You guys weigh like 140 or something?
When I was there 2011-2013 besides the Ave rats you'd hear alot about people getting rolled at night in red sqare or on Greek row for what ever they had. Seems logical for some less than savory dudes to go get some easy cash from the college kids. It sucks but that's the world we live in.
North Ave could get rough my last pub crawl ended the night at what was it...pizza ragzzi? Dunno its bok bok now... anyways two guys start getting into it and one pulls a gun as the other one books and he unloads half a clip at his ass . Luckly he's a terrible shot evey begins to scramble.. My buddy is trying to GTFO befoe the cops show up and my drunk ass was like " hold up we gotta wait for the pizza ". Can't buy memories like that i tell ya.
Rolled in Red Square? Wtf? How?
Uggh Greek row too? You guys weigh like 140 or something?
Actually the kid I talked too was pretty skinny couldn't of been more than 160. I'm not talking like strong armed but dudes rolling up with guns ans pistol wipping dudes. Don't matter how big you are with a gun in your face. I got the impression the people pulling theses off wernt local they headed to campus late looking for easy pickings.
Personally old habits die hard and while I grew up in a small town I was old enough to be aware of walking down poorly lit unpopulated spots late
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I enjoyed all that 12 block stroll had to offer, living one year on 42nd and two more on 52nd...lots of good, cheap food, couple of record stores, couple of places to get a beer and even see a live band, and of course an easy place to score a razor thin slice of green bud for $10. I never minded the shenanigans and homeless.
Seems logical for some less than savory dudes to go get some easy cash from the college kids. It sucks but that's the world we live in.
North Ave could get rough my last pub crawl ended the night at what was it...pizza ragzzi? Dunno its bok bok now... anyways two guys start getting into it and one pulls a gun as the other one books and he unloads half a clip at his ass . Luckly he's a terrible shot evey begins to scramble.. My buddy is trying to GTFO befoe the cops show up and my drunk ass was like " hold up we gotta wait for the pizza ". Can't buy memories like that i tell ya.
The other area with potential - tho it's a little further from where people live tho - is all that space down along the water below UWMC and around what used to be the wooden boat center. I've not been back there but for a couple of times at Agua Verde before I left town 20 years ago.
But overall, things have gotten very ritzy on the south side of the Ave with very expensive new residence halls, 5 times better than Hagget, McMahon, and whatever those ones by Eastlake bridge were.
I actually think it was shittier in the early '90s when it was a destination hangout spot for high schoolers looking for exoticism.
There used to be a place that sold bongs and dildos and band posters when all of those were considered risque.
Tower records, cellophane square, also the old cellophane square. Magus books.
If you were a cool or smart person, like me, the ave was great. Also, believe it or not there were always hot sophisticated chicks hanging out certain locales.
In retrospect that could have meant myself.
Uggh Greek row too? You guys weigh like 140 or something?
Put the cuffs on the police, give free shit to bums and allow lawlessness to flourish, that’s what every major city in the state is morphing into.
The Ave just had a head start.
Personally old habits die hard and while I grew up in a small town I was old enough to be aware of walking down poorly lit unpopulated spots late