There’s Air Conditioning in the Tunnels. Hey, look. It’s a story about why you should like the downtown underground tunnels. They have air conditioning. So you can drive your car to your garage, go to your office, and then go to the tunnels and never have to see the sun. (I was trying to be facetious with that last bit. But then I remembered yesterday’s half-mile walk to work. If only those tunnels actually connected…)
Offensive Doll Kicked Out of Pool. DJ Allan Peck’s daughter left her doll floating around at the Holmes Aquatic Center in University Park. Apparently, parents found the doll offensive. They want it to look more like a doll. So the only way it can return is if it’s dressed in a swimsuit. Peck said he’d just leave it at home next time.
It’s hot. And it’s going to stay that way. And we’re running out of water. Happy Thursday!
13 comments
If i was working as a lifeguard there i wouldn’t care if it had a bathing suit or not. I just wouldn’t want a doll that lifelike floating in my pool. Poor kid probably did a double take every time he thought he saw a baby floating face down.
But… but… but… the all-knowing urban planners told me the tunnels were evil and all the woes of DTD would be gone if the tunnels were closed. They know best, don’t they??? After all, most “urban planners” wear suits and have real jobs, right?
Oh, sorry. I guess I didn’t make that clear: I don’t like the tunnels. I agree with the urban planners. I want to see that life aboveground. If you live downtown, they are pretty much worthless to you as they shut down before you get home and don’t open on the weekends. The one time I actually do need the tunnels, they’re again worthless as they don’t connect.
Love the tunnels. I go from my garage at home to my garage at work getting to my office via tunnel. I scrounge for lunch via tunnel. It’s great for summer and the now mythical rainy season.
You have a job where you have to wear a suit in July? Damn those urban planners! This is all their fault!
Krista & Daniel :
I am overjoyed that you like being on street level. I hope all your dreams and hopes and wishes are fulfilled while walking down Main St. in August. I simply ask you to respect those of us who do not share your enthusiasm; in short, stay out of my business and do not tell me that you know what is best for me and where I should walk. And Daniel, I will be sure and relay to the bossman that the new urbaners/pseudo-employed feel that I should be allowed to draw completely theoretical renderings of streetscapes all day and wear ironic t-shirts.
My dream is to see all the vacant buildings be filled with businesses, restaurants, boutiques, coffee shops, and everything else that makes a downtown great. If I keep walking on street level in August and encouraging others to join me, perhaps that dream/hope/wish will come true, Amelia. We’ve got some momentum now with two new restaurants and a floral shop opening. I hope it continues.
If the tunnels are worthless and don’t connect, how can they be killing off street life
Amelia,
There’s an old saying in urban-planning circles — “Your right to walk in subterranean, air-conditioned comfort ends at the tip of my nose.”
And the T-shirt isn’t “ironic,” by the way, even if my use of quotes around the word “ironic” is meta-ironic, and my further commenting on it is kind of meta-meta-ironic, for which I deserve some kind of award. But the T-shirt? I really do like Mr. Bubble. He tickles!
Would D staffers use the tunnels if they expanded them one block over and connect Saint Paul Place?
“Holmes Aquatic Center?” AKA the U.P. pool?
City elders rechristening it with a new name last year doesn’t change longstanding, on-the-ground reality.
Local vernacular: “Mom, I’m goin’ to U.P. I’ll be home by dinner.”
Abbynormal: “Mother dearest, I’m departing for the Holmes Aquatic Center and shall return anon.”
BrandonS, nope. There are a lot more connections that are missing. Trust me. I’ve tried.
Buckeye, I said the tunnels are worthless for people who live downtown. Obviously, those who work downtown like them. Or else we couldn’t be arguing about it right now.
Krista,
There are secret, unmarked connections you may be missing. The most important connection, though, was the segment under 1600 Pacific, which was closed because the building is vacant (Fire Marshall stuff, I guess). It’s not a long segment — but then, neither is Central between Mockingbird and Lovers. If it were still open, you could enter at Thanksgiving Square and walk all the way to One Main Place. If you were a sociopath, that is.