Amherst Cinema building. Combination art/graffiti
Eagle Crest Property Management graffiti (probably a disgruntled customer of either Eagle Crest or APD)
Art Works, Main Street (definitely art)
Snell Street Bridge. Due for replacement this year (not because of graffiti)
8 comments:
Ha! Ha! Artworks is the sign for their gallery. It's not graffiti.
"Save the Drake" is more historical than anything else -- and does sow how the Amherst of the 1970s was far more student friendly than today.
The people who actually were Willie's customers at the Drake's bar must be what -- in their early sixties now?
Something like that. As such, they are a perfect fit for Amherst Town Meeting.
The Drake was a dive. The Rat Cellar, Willie's home, was even worse.
When I went to UMass the Drake was a great place to hang out, not nearly as obnoxious as the 'traditional' student bars. Cheap pitchers, good jukebox, interesting crowd. (We ventured downstairs once. And ONLY once.) And yes @10:42, Amherst was more student friendly...but the students were more town-friendly too. Or at least too stoned/buzzed to make much trouble.
Love the Drake!
upstairs... downstairs... all just depended on your mood of the evening - mellow or rowdy.
I'm 55 and they close the Drake shortly after I graduated, so not too many younger than I would have frequented the establishment.
The Drake was cheap...went there often and never remember anybody arguing or fighting like a lot of clubs now. I'm 57 now, and it closed four years after I graduated, so it's a legend to most folks who aren't in Amherst for 30th or more reunions, or bringing their own kids out for four years at UMass or Amherst.
I seldom went downstairs. Too rowdy. Too smoky! Upstairs the food was good. You could rent a room for the night or the week. I also worked across the street at the Amherst Cinema in the late 70's. I did the concession stand. One night I phoned the Whole Wheat Pizza place and offered a trade. I would give them a big bag of popcorn. They would give me a cheese pizza. We both scored! Another night there was a parade and music down Main Street to "take Back the night". The teen girl standing next to me was grinding her hips to the music. I thought, "honey, do you understand what this is all about?" Now the Drake is called The Perry. And the Amherst Cinema? You wouldn't recognize the place.(We were doing a Reagan review during the week that Ron visited his son at Amherst College.) That was so long ago.
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