Rat Row
Josh and I were walking up sixth avenue last night on the way home from a friend's house. When we got to the block between W 4th and Minetta Lane, I was tempted to cross the street toward the cages (one of the top street ball locations) but instead we kept going past the new IFC Theater, and then onto "rat row" the string of tattoo shops, sex shops, and the now infamous KFC/Taco Bell store.
I thought the opening of the IFC would be a positive for this block. But that hasn't happened. I am now hoping the rat video uproar will have some effect. This block is a blight in an otherwise fantastic neighborhood. Let's hope that "rat row" has now hit rock bottom and is headed for better times.
UPDATE: I just saw Tom W's comment to this post and I loved it so much I am adding some audio entertainment to this post.
Hey Fred, some non-gentrification isn't a bad thing...
Also - the rats are eveyrwhere in this town. They're in the very buildings you and I are sitting in right now, they're on every block. It's just being in a city.
Now containment, especially around people and food, that's another matter. But you can walk down Park Avenue at 1 am from the Waldorf and see rats...
Posted by: Tom W. | February 27, 2007 at 09:16 AM
I don't know, Tom. Did you watch the video? Yeah, rats are common in the city, but c'mon. When you see rats, in broad daylight, running around a restaurant like they *own* the place... there is a problem.
Posted by: Dave! | February 27, 2007 at 09:42 AM
i agree, tom - for example, the loss of the somewhat shabby CBGB's is to me new york's even greater loss.
and whilst rats are pretty disturbing creatures i have seen them in some pretty incongruous places - some of the nicest parts of vienna, for example. i like that whole part of NYC and wouldn't want too much of its character compromised in an effort to make the place more swanky - as has happened around much of the village.
RIP, CBGBs.
Posted by: carl rahn griffith | February 27, 2007 at 09:44 AM
There will always be some street or neighborhood that is ghetto and then in a year or two it's the hottest place in town. Look at what happened to Chelsea.
Posted by: TheBillfold | February 27, 2007 at 10:04 AM
"Rat Row" could use use some improvement although in my opinion the street in the neighborhood that needs the most help is West 8th Street (between Broadway/Sixth Ave.) if only to ensure that the great Pio Maya gets the traffic it deserves.
Posted by: Jeremiah | February 27, 2007 at 10:14 AM
Rats on the west side, bedbugs uptown - what a mess this town's in tatters....same old!
Posted by: Tom W. | February 27, 2007 at 11:01 AM
Why the hating towards tattoo shops? We people who love to get inked are feeling discriminated :)
Posted by: Giordano | February 27, 2007 at 07:48 PM
Rats? No problem. Tuck your jeans into your socks, grab a hockey stick or a crutch and let's go behind the Main House for some Rat Patrol. I'm sure you did that a time or two, Back In The Day....
Posted by: Tex | March 01, 2007 at 10:32 PM