DIY shutdown in Athens
I’m a week late, but just read about Athens trying to shut down their house-show scene. Yeah… not getting a lot done today at work.
Combined with the city’s frat culture (that makes OSU’s greek system look like a bunch of uncoordinated faggots), fights, nonstop porch insults, sidewalk puke that seems to be everywhere, loud and lame music (even by college standards), and lack of entertainment not associated with binge drinking, this shutdown is another reason why Athens is the worst place in Ohio.
I mean, the city always looks like the reptiles have escaped from their cages, got wasted on Natty Light and whatever cheap liquor they could get their claws on, and now it’s time to procreate. The worst part is these monsters never tire.
Occassionally, it’s worth braving these deplorable conditions to visit the punks and skatepark, so is there anything that can be done to help?
Should we be concerned here in Columbus?
Stay tuned…
July 1, 2009 at 3:44 pm
Athens has its shitty frat-folk, and efforts to shut down D.I.Y. shows are a buncha bullshit, no argument there, but I’ll take exception with it being “the worst place in Ohio.” I suggest a trip down there in the summer, when 95 percent of the student body has left (and therefore the piles of vomit are lessened significantly). Check out the farmers market; go to eateries such as Purple Chopstix and Casa Nueva; head out to Stroud’s Run to canoe; look at some of the fine work being done by Passion Works; go for a hike at the Ridges … I could go on and on (um, I guess I have), but really, Athens is great, even if the presence of obnoxious college kids can make it less so sometimes.
July 1, 2009 at 4:19 pm
I second that. Also check out Bagel Street Deli, O Betty’s, Random House, Donkey Coffee, The Village Bakery, The Farmacy, the city’s Community gardens, the bike path, the Burrito Buggy…
Definitely visit in summer or mid-december, when there are few students.
Even with all the students, this town is one of the best in Ohio.
July 2, 2009 at 11:22 am
Thanks for the suggestions. I have only been to Athens during the school year, and OSU land is much better during the offseason.
I forgot to mention, but I am a fan of Casa Nueva and the Burrito Buggy. Both are better “Mexican” food than we have in Columbus.
July 2, 2009 at 5:10 pm
I used to spend a lot of time in Athens. I hate it there. There are some good kids down there but it’s just such a bizarre place. For some reason there are very attractive girls there that are cool which is surprising. And everybody is looking to fuck because the are not from the town and there parents aren’t around. I only go down there when I’m forced to in bands these days. The insane asylum is beautiful. It is one of the best places in Ohio for enjoying nature. Skatopia is totally the shit too. You know there are bodies buried in that place.
July 14, 2009 at 1:06 am
[...] Brown Town Update According to Max from Brown Town, the active show space in Athens will be around for another year despite threats from the city to shut ‘em down. [...]
July 15, 2009 at 4:12 pm
I think you need to look a little harder at Columbus Sir. Athens may seem outrageously stupid, but I think you have to consider the size of Athens Vs. the size of the university. Ohio University has 20,000+ students and only around 5,000 non student residents. Also, the places where the majority of the fights/out control parties take place can be narrowed down to two or three blocks.
For a mental image of the shit storm that takes place in Athens most nights, take the entire expanse of High Street and condense it into two short blocks. Now, imagine a street that is right off of that little mini fucked up high street with nothing but rude frats. That’s the worst of it. High Street is just a stretched out version of Athens’ main street.
However, the rest of Athens is filled with friendly folks, beautiful scenery and a thriving music/art scene. I can imagine from an outsider’s perspective all you would see was the party school side of Athens. Maybe you are just hanging out in the wrong places. I’d suggest coming to Athens for the weekend with the goal of exploring everything this city has to offer instead of just the campus and the uptown bar scene.
Personally. I’ll take Athens over Columbus any day.