Wednesday, September 9, 2015

When you're 86...

Wisconsin Memorial  Union Remodeling










So -- what? Like another 20 years? I hope I can wait that long.

The second phase of this remodeling project has now begun. Peet's is closed and will open again in its new location -- somewhere in the remodeled east end -- vacating the current location in what used to be the arcade.

They have moved the ice cream place into one of those little rooms across from the Stiftskeller and they serve coffee there as well. On my first visit I bought one of these coffees (my Peet's coffee card wouldn't work since Peet's is gone.) I sat down in the Rathskeller but as you can see from the pictures below, it's very weird in there now. The room is still open but all the arches are boarded over and it is very claustrophobic.

It is also very empty, at least at 8:00 in the morning. Not a soul sitting and rarely anyone walking through. No background music. No conversations. Nobody studying or reading. No teachers meeting with students. No friends meeting and talking about the day (or night). Just very quiet stillness and, perhaps a couple ghosts.

So I will give the 'new' Union a try. Next bike ride to campus I will stop at the Union South. I hear they have a Peet's coffee shop.

September 2015 - so it starts
Feels a little claustrophobic
Rathskeller is deserted -- feels like a dungeon.