Let’s go downtown and have some fun!

I believe it was the late 1960’s when singer Petula Clark had her hit song, “downtown”. And yes, I know I’m dating myself when I talk about the late 1960’s…nevertheless, I liked the song because I fancied myself a “city boy”. There has always been a fascination with downtown for me ever since I traveled with my mom on a city bus to downtown Indianapolis (it wasn’t a long trip since we only lived 10-15 minutes from the city center). In my opinion it seems, in many respects, that the lure of downtowns across the country has faded for many people. The tremendous growth and sprawl of suburban America has led many folks to pretty much ignore downtowns. Heck, I live in suburbia, about sixteen miles from the heart of downtown San Antonio.

It seems like fewer and fewer people take the time to enjoy their downtown anymore. I imagine that there’s plenty of reasons for that. I’m sure that many don’t care for having to drive in on crowded freeways, or having to take long rides on public transportation. Finding a parking space is far more of a challenge than at the local malls and shopping centers (and of course parking at the mall is usually free, downtown parking usually isn’t). Depending on what events are going on downtown, many folks don’t like having to deal with crowds. In addition, many don’t want to pay “downtown” prices for meals, services, and entertainment. Here in San Antonio we have an added layer of prices we like to call, “riverwalk prices”. This means that prices along the famous Paseo del Rio usually cost a little (or a lot) more than what you’d pay in the outlying areas of San Antonio.

For me, it’s just imprinted within my make up to visit downtown frequently. I usually don’t mind the crowds and it’s always exciting to see the next big thing that might be going on in my downtown. It’s been that way wherever my family and I have lived. Since we arrived in San Antonio in 1995 the city has hosted an NBA All-star game, three men’s NCAA Final Fours, one ladies NCAA Final Four (and 2010’s is here again by the way), the annual Alamo Bowl game, and countless other nationally staged events. Typically when those events are happening my family and I are there in some capacity, taking it all in, and loving every minute of being there.

Even when there’s nothing major happening in downtown I enjoy just heading down to walk around and take in the sights of what I think is one lovely downtown (an unbiased opinion for sure). When we lived in Chicago-land we often made the 30 mile trek into downtown from our suburban home to visit “the Loop” (as Chicago’s downtown is known). Chicago’s lake front downtown is one of the most beautiful places in the U.S. (I say that with mainly the warm weather months in mind). We loved walking the lake front, Grant Park, Navy Pier, and our favorite, “the magnificent mile” (Michigan Avenue). And usually we had to top our visits off with some world famous Chicago style pizza. Oh the memories!!

My Indianapolis downtown has grown into a very attractive place as well now that it can boast a giant enclosed shopping mall (Circle City), Monument Circle, great sports venues like Conseco Fieldhouse, Lucas Oil Stadium, and Victory Field. They have several classy hotels and restaurants as well. But what I remember so well are places that aren’t there anymore like Union Station, and Market Square Arena. Those, along with City Market, were the big attractions back in my day.

I wonder how many other people have a great love of downtowns like I do? Are we too comfortable now in our little suburban worlds to head downtown to enjoy what’s available? I think we need to remember that typically downtowns were where cities got started. Downtown was the hub to most cities – the shopping was there, entertainment was there (theatres, eating places, etc.), and most businesses got their starts in cities’ downtowns.

Nothing wrong with suburban shopping areas but I still crave going downtown. Now if we could just get free parking