The Stranger’s Charles Mudede wrote an article titled “The ‘Ave’ is Dying Again. Here’s How to Save It.” and it struck a chord. Everyone has their favorite spots in the city. For many, it’s a park or a small hole-in-the-wall. For me, it’s the Ave.

Let me explain for those who are new to Seattle. The Ave is what those in the U-District lovingly call University Way because it runs parallel to the UW campus. Starting at the bottom, you can grab a pretzel and bratwurst at Schultzy’s, go up a bit more and grab some Greek fries at Aladdin’s, go even further and you’ll find one of the two Starbucks and the infamous Thai Tom.

The Ave is one of the most unique, eccentric places in Seattle and it’s not just because it’s right next door to a college. Walk down the street and you’ll see Seattle—immigrant-owned restaurants, students studying in coffee shops, young creative types perusing thrift stores, and the young houseless folks who have made the neighborhood their own.

As a recent UW grad, the memories I have of the Ave are still fresh. But already they’re getting murky as I try and recall “what used to be where the new Target is” or “when that cafe went out of business.”

Consider this my plea for you to pay the Ave and its businesses a visit. With in-person classes canceled for the most part this fall, the Ave is going to be a ghost town. There isn’t really anywhere else you can go in Seattle and pass Korean, Indian, Vietnamese, Arabic or Thai restaurants, all in the span of a 20-minute walk.

I’m not promising you’ll fall in love with the area—it’s not the cleanest and sometimes you’ll question if the restaurant you’re in is really up to code. But it’s a piece of Seattle that still has some of that old Seattle feel. And I, for one, would like to keep it that way.

Fellow UW alum/U-District folks/anyone who’s been to the Ave—send me an email at [email protected] sharing your favorite business and why you love or hate the street. And if you haven’t been, go this weekend and tell me about your visit!

Here’s what else you need to know today:

A number of cops with credibility issues remain on patrol for SPD. Both the city and county keep a list of officers with “sustained findings of dishonesty, evidence of racial bias, or criminal charges or convictions.” While many SPD officers on this list no longer work there, nearly a third remain employed. (South Seattle Emerald)

The mountains are calling crowded. If you’ve visited Mt. Rainier during the summer, you know just how busy the park can get. The National Park Service is soliciting public input for how they might address the congestion until Oct. 10, and they held a virtual town hall yesterday on the topic.  (King 5)

Dealing with bad air during a pandemic. Seattle has seen some dangerously smoky skies from wildfires in the past few years. Now, with resources being spent on the pandemic, King County Public Health is simply telling people to stay home if we see smoke-polluted skies. There is no plan for those who are unsheltered or living in their cars. (KUOW)

Eat in the shadow of the iconic Pike Place Market sign. A number of the market’s restaurants have set up pop-up patios for diners. Tables can be reserved by contacting the specific restaurant you’re patronizing and social distancing rules are observed. (The Seattle Times)

Have a great rest of your hump day and take it easy out there. ✌️

—The Evergrey