Comments on: Holloway Rd: A hidden gem? http://casleygera.com/blog/2006/12/21/holloway-rd-a-hidden-gem/ Tue, 06 Jan 2009 06:52:32 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6 By: Rav Casley Gera http://casleygera.com/blog/2006/12/21/holloway-rd-a-hidden-gem/#comment-73 Rav Casley Gera Fri, 12 Jan 2007 16:54:03 +0000 http://casleygera.com/2006/12/21/holloway-rd-a-hidden-gem/#comment-73 He talks about the Northern line! The fraud He talks about the Northern line! The fraud

]]> By: RP http://casleygera.com/blog/2006/12/21/holloway-rd-a-hidden-gem/#comment-72 RP Fri, 12 Jan 2007 14:42:08 +0000 http://casleygera.com/2006/12/21/holloway-rd-a-hidden-gem/#comment-72 If you look hard enough you'll always find something to celebrate. This guy'll back you up: http://www.chriskahl.com/music.html If you look hard enough you’ll always find something to celebrate.

This guy’ll back you up:

http://www.chriskahl.com/music.html

]]> By: Josh http://casleygera.com/blog/2006/12/21/holloway-rd-a-hidden-gem/#comment-71 Josh Tue, 09 Jan 2007 20:17:06 +0000 http://casleygera.com/2006/12/21/holloway-rd-a-hidden-gem/#comment-71 Guilty as charged on the nostalgia front. Did I mention the man in the chemists opposite the libary is really friendly? He gave me some safety pins for free yesterday. Ah, Holloway Road. Guilty as charged on the nostalgia front. Did I mention the man in the chemists opposite the libary is really friendly? He gave me some safety pins for free yesterday. Ah, Holloway Road.

]]> By: Jmo http://casleygera.com/blog/2006/12/21/holloway-rd-a-hidden-gem/#comment-70 Jmo Thu, 04 Jan 2007 23:30:08 +0000 http://casleygera.com/2006/12/21/holloway-rd-a-hidden-gem/#comment-70 PC weirdness PC weirdness

]]> By: Rav Casley Gera http://casleygera.com/blog/2006/12/21/holloway-rd-a-hidden-gem/#comment-69 Rav Casley Gera Tue, 02 Jan 2007 10:59:28 +0000 http://casleygera.com/2006/12/21/holloway-rd-a-hidden-gem/#comment-69 That's just it - I'm not sure it *is* just another road - the wierdness of some of the new buildings, the mixture of new and scummy-old shops, and the faded art deconess of the Odeon - it's *not* just Islington-North East, it's something subtly different. I agree that some of the things Josh is describing are shrug-worthy - just estate-agent stuff, but some aren't. I just think it has an interesting *mood* right now - it's the familiar story of poor-area-plus-new-flats equals regeneration, but Holloway never really fit the description of your typically depressed, "vibrant" immigrant area, and there are some unusual elements to the regeneration (e.g. the architecture) now. But I haven't looked around properly yet; I might conclude it's a shithole That’s just it - I’m not sure it *is* just another road - the wierdness of some of the new buildings, the mixture of new and scummy-old shops, and the faded art deconess of the Odeon - it’s *not* just Islington-North East, it’s something subtly different. I agree that some of the things Josh is describing are shrug-worthy - just estate-agent stuff, but some aren’t. I just think it has an interesting *mood* right now - it’s the familiar story of poor-area-plus-new-flats equals regeneration, but Holloway never really fit the description of your typically depressed, “vibrant” immigrant area, and there are some unusual elements to the regeneration (e.g. the architecture) now.

But I haven’t looked around properly yet; I might conclude it’s a shithole

]]> By: Tom Wright http://casleygera.com/blog/2006/12/21/holloway-rd-a-hidden-gem/#comment-68 Tom Wright Sat, 30 Dec 2006 19:58:19 +0000 http://casleygera.com/2006/12/21/holloway-rd-a-hidden-gem/#comment-68 Presumably everybody gets sentimental about places they've lived in. Holloway Road is probably the most average zone 2 trunk artery in London, in all the best ways. And its obviously a bit nicer than most. But most people reading the list of these things that Rav and Josh have posted will simply shrug. Surely? Its just like a perfectly nice, average well-equipped town placed in the middle of North London. But, the strangeness of that aside, so what? Why not spend a day somewhere you've never properly explored, somewhere south of the river maybe? Or Bath? or, for different reasons, Beeston, or Berkhampstead? I'll join you. Sorry to be the contrarian again, but this was a true contrarian's post if ever there was one. Presumably everybody gets sentimental about places they’ve lived in.

Holloway Road is probably the most average zone 2 trunk artery in London, in all the best ways. And its obviously a bit nicer than most.

But most people reading the list of these things that Rav and Josh have posted will simply shrug. Surely?

Its just like a perfectly nice, average well-equipped town placed in the middle of North London. But, the strangeness of that aside, so what?

Why not spend a day somewhere you’ve never properly explored, somewhere south of the river maybe? Or Bath? or, for different reasons, Beeston, or Berkhampstead? I’ll join you.

Sorry to be the contrarian again, but this was a true contrarian’s post if ever there was one.

]]> By: Rav http://casleygera.com/blog/2006/12/21/holloway-rd-a-hidden-gem/#comment-67 Rav Mon, 25 Dec 2006 22:25:05 +0000 http://casleygera.com/2006/12/21/holloway-rd-a-hidden-gem/#comment-67 I think we may be talking about different buildings; I don't think I went by the tube station that day. I'm writing this at 10.27 on Christmas Day, so I win the Sad Contest. I think we may be talking about different buildings; I don’t think I went by the tube station that day. I’m writing this at 10.27 on Christmas Day, so I win the Sad Contest.

]]> By: Josh http://casleygera.com/blog/2006/12/21/holloway-rd-a-hidden-gem/#comment-66 Josh Sun, 24 Dec 2006 23:43:59 +0000 http://casleygera.com/2006/12/21/holloway-rd-a-hidden-gem/#comment-66 Actually, I will comment. I think the new keyworker blocks behind the tube station are revolting, a patronising folly shortly to be foisted on the unsuspecting hoards who will be forced to live in hurried, incongruous, ugly buildings sandwiched between a waste processing plant and the main GNER line out of London. You mentioned planning rules, but interestingly, areas of the west side of lower Holloway Road are listed (God knows why), so the prospect of Liberskind being let loose on N7 with another vanity project that wouldn't get approved anywhere else in Europe are unlikely (I'm sorry, but I've been inside and it's awful. I feel sorry for people who have to have lectures and seminars there). And yet, I love it. From the logo of Holloway Cycles showing the evolution of humans from reptile to man to man-on-bike, to the Coronet, to the tackily opulent Odeon complete with permanently empty bar, to the 'Mexican', to the Swimmer, to El Molino to, hell, even the frickin' Big Red. Only two people got murdered during my three year tenure (not including Archway and that one on a bus), and in return we get the best transport links you could ask for in zone 2, Waitrose, Marks & Spencer and Safeway/Morrisons within spitting distance, and just about enough dodgy offies to keep you happy. Swimming Pool at Highbury Corner end, Islington's Central Library part way up, Nambucca (which seems to be 'good' these days) further up, and Laser Quest at Archway, plus another swimming pool WITH A SLIDE. Your day trip should definitely start and conclude with a quick dip. To be honest, I can't believe you didn't notice any of this before Rav. Holloway Road has many features, but subtlety is not one of them. And I cannot believe I'm writing this at 11.50 on Christmas Eve. Actually, I will comment. I think the new keyworker blocks behind the tube station are revolting, a patronising folly shortly to be foisted on the unsuspecting hoards who will be forced to live in hurried, incongruous, ugly buildings sandwiched between a waste processing plant and the main GNER line out of London. You mentioned planning rules, but interestingly, areas of the west side of lower Holloway Road are listed (God knows why), so the prospect of Liberskind being let loose on N7 with another vanity project that wouldn’t get approved anywhere else in Europe are unlikely (I’m sorry, but I’ve been inside and it’s awful. I feel sorry for people who have to have lectures and seminars there).

And yet, I love it. From the logo of Holloway Cycles showing the evolution of humans from reptile to man to man-on-bike, to the Coronet, to the tackily opulent Odeon complete with permanently empty bar, to the ‘Mexican’, to the Swimmer, to El Molino to, hell, even the frickin’ Big Red. Only two people got murdered during my three year tenure (not including Archway and that one on a bus), and in return we get the best transport links you could ask for in zone 2, Waitrose, Marks & Spencer and Safeway/Morrisons within spitting distance, and just about enough dodgy offies to keep you happy. Swimming Pool at Highbury Corner end, Islington’s Central Library part way up, Nambucca (which seems to be ‘good’ these days) further up, and Laser Quest at Archway, plus another swimming pool WITH A SLIDE. Your day trip should definitely start and conclude with a quick dip.

To be honest, I can’t believe you didn’t notice any of this before Rav. Holloway Road has many features, but subtlety is not one of them.

And I cannot believe I’m writing this at 11.50 on Christmas Eve.

]]> By: Josh http://casleygera.com/blog/2006/12/21/holloway-rd-a-hidden-gem/#comment-65 Josh Thu, 21 Dec 2006 18:05:09 +0000 http://casleygera.com/2006/12/21/holloway-rd-a-hidden-gem/#comment-65 no comment no comment

]]> By: rmg http://casleygera.com/blog/2006/12/21/holloway-rd-a-hidden-gem/#comment-64 rmg Thu, 21 Dec 2006 17:44:29 +0000 http://casleygera.com/2006/12/21/holloway-rd-a-hidden-gem/#comment-64 dont get mugged. ;-) dont get mugged. ;-)

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