I had a work event in Columbus this past week and made a special (very) short trip down to Athens to check it out for the first time in about 5-6 years. My observations:

10. We have a darn nice looking athletic campus (obligatory sports reference to keep this post relevant).

9. The old Oasis at the top of Morton Hill is gone. I think it's been gone for a while, but there's still nothing there. Seems like some prime real estate for some pop-up shops.

8. Why is 33 and the area around Peden under construction again? Feels like it's always been lined with orange barrels. Oh and that roundabout...

7. The drive from Columbus was much more pleasant than I remember. This Nelsonville/Lancaster bypass is really something. Plus, they had just repaved 33 and didn't have lines painted, so I felt like Kramer adopted the highway.

6. The new Baker Center. I saw it before, but I still can't believe that this space was just a giant evil staircase when I was there.

5. E. State Street. So great that there are so many new developments on E. State now. When I was there, shopping, dining and hotel options were slim.

4. Walmart. Come on, Walmart. Racks of Buckeyes gear and no OU gear? Awful.

3. Goodfellas Pizza. TWO locations Uptown?

2. That old Kinko's development at Court and Washington. I remember that being under construction for a while when I was there. And it opened as a mini-mall of sorts with different businesses anchored by Kinko's. Now, it's a "church"? Nothing against churches, but that seems like that is not what the intended use of that space was for.

1. Court Street. Wow. I can't believe I lived through that for 4.75 years. On a Wednesday night, that place was hopping with...wow.

Thanks. I didn't see it when I was there. Maybe they sold out? I looked all over and one of the employees "helped". No dice.

The Oasis is where the food truck goes every day. Over priced, bad dining hall food on wheels.

i sure coukd go for a Late Night Pizza, shrimp and pineapple was my go to pie during finals week

or...a burrito from the buggy.

and a flavored coffee from Front Room.

I got in late, was staying at a hotel near there and needed some sundries...

So the plan is for the university to tear down all of what we used to call "new south". They're building another set of new dorms, like the ones they built where Wolf Street Apartments used to be, but over where Foster was. Those new larger dorms will replace the smaller dorms they tear down. I believe the Mill street athletic fields will move over to south green afterwards. I'm an Atkinson guy myself...lots of good (some fuzzy) memories there.

Looks like I'll have to go back once more before the tear down happens (if it hasn't already) with my roommates and toast to the old residences. I loved the single rooms in those that had a common area for guys and gals. I did not like getting caught with a beer by an RA.