Spring Break
Flush hour: the best and worst of downtown bathrooms
Issue date: 4/16/08 Section: Variety
Two Red & Black writers boldly went into restrooms all over downtown Athens to identify the pinnacles and pitfalls of public facilities, rating their findings on a scale of A-F - plus-minus included.
No bathroom downtown is a nice place to spend any extended amount of time, but this single occupancy restroom is tolerably clean, sports hardwood floors, and has not only a plug-in air freshener, but also an entire bowl of fresh potpourri sitting on the convenient (and clean) end table. The scent may seem overbearing at first, but in this situation, it's better to be safe.
Overall: A-
RUNNER-UP: BLUEBIRD CAFE
This is one of the cleanest bathrooms one may find downtown, although it otherwise has little to offer. It's spacious enough, but offers very little aesthetic appeal. The walls are adorned with one simple painting of birds, which, unfortunately, are not blue.
Overall: B+
Stepping into this restroom, one can only stand in awe of such a horrific spectacle. Security here is a major issue - a light knock on the door feasibly could destroy the frail lock. The toilet paper has no holder and simply sits on the back of the toilet. Graffiti here goes beyond standard bathroom poetry, even reaching the ceiling, and sanitation is nonexistent.
Overall: F
RUNNER-UP: LITTLE ITALY
This one gets the honorable mention simply for dirty green and white tile walls that are eerily reminiscent of the torture room in the first "Saw" movie. There is also no mirror, and when sitting, the toilet paper is over head height. Jigsaw would be proud.
Overall: D
The overwhelming apple-scented air freshener is forgivable. Besides providing a handy stand to place your things on, this restroom was clean and well-lit. Granted, having two soap dispensers was a little odd considering one was so close to the sink, it wasn't accessible. Nevertheless, too much of a good thing is better than nothing at all.
Overall: A-
RUNNER-UP: HOT CORNER
Some things haven't changed at Hot Corner, including its spacious restroom with vanity and coat rack. Graffiti was painted over in dark lavender, but it's a matter of time before some coffee-addled student remedies that. A quibble: the ridiculously hard to reach toilet paper dispenser.
Overall: B+
Something is rotten in the state of the Globe's restrooms. It begins with dirty white and green tiles and ends with a board replacing the toilet's tank lid. In a cramped area, Globe worsens the effect with only two bulbs working in a four-bulb wall lamp. Further, with a flimsy lock and an unattractive exposed brick wall, this public bathroom is in serious need of a makeover.
Overall: D-
RUNNER-UP: LITTLE ITALY
Sickly pastel green is never a good color, much less for a public restroom, where "women" is written on the door with a Sharpie. The major problem is the growing-out-of-the-wall sink that looks like a 1950s relic. It doesn't seem to have been cleaned since then, either.
Overall: C-
- Seth McKelvey and Julie Leung
BEST
FIRST PRIZE: BARBERITOSNo bathroom downtown is a nice place to spend any extended amount of time, but this single occupancy restroom is tolerably clean, sports hardwood floors, and has not only a plug-in air freshener, but also an entire bowl of fresh potpourri sitting on the convenient (and clean) end table. The scent may seem overbearing at first, but in this situation, it's better to be safe.
Overall: A-
RUNNER-UP: BLUEBIRD CAFE
This is one of the cleanest bathrooms one may find downtown, although it otherwise has little to offer. It's spacious enough, but offers very little aesthetic appeal. The walls are adorned with one simple painting of birds, which, unfortunately, are not blue.
Overall: B+
WORST
FIRST PRIZE: THE GLOBEStepping into this restroom, one can only stand in awe of such a horrific spectacle. Security here is a major issue - a light knock on the door feasibly could destroy the frail lock. The toilet paper has no holder and simply sits on the back of the toilet. Graffiti here goes beyond standard bathroom poetry, even reaching the ceiling, and sanitation is nonexistent.
Overall: F
RUNNER-UP: LITTLE ITALY
This one gets the honorable mention simply for dirty green and white tile walls that are eerily reminiscent of the torture room in the first "Saw" movie. There is also no mirror, and when sitting, the toilet paper is over head height. Jigsaw would be proud.
Overall: D
BEST
FIRST PRIZE: BARBERITOSThe overwhelming apple-scented air freshener is forgivable. Besides providing a handy stand to place your things on, this restroom was clean and well-lit. Granted, having two soap dispensers was a little odd considering one was so close to the sink, it wasn't accessible. Nevertheless, too much of a good thing is better than nothing at all.
Overall: A-
RUNNER-UP: HOT CORNER
Some things haven't changed at Hot Corner, including its spacious restroom with vanity and coat rack. Graffiti was painted over in dark lavender, but it's a matter of time before some coffee-addled student remedies that. A quibble: the ridiculously hard to reach toilet paper dispenser.
Overall: B+
WORST
FIRST PRIZE: THE GLOBESomething is rotten in the state of the Globe's restrooms. It begins with dirty white and green tiles and ends with a board replacing the toilet's tank lid. In a cramped area, Globe worsens the effect with only two bulbs working in a four-bulb wall lamp. Further, with a flimsy lock and an unattractive exposed brick wall, this public bathroom is in serious need of a makeover.
Overall: D-
RUNNER-UP: LITTLE ITALY
Sickly pastel green is never a good color, much less for a public restroom, where "women" is written on the door with a Sharpie. The major problem is the growing-out-of-the-wall sink that looks like a 1950s relic. It doesn't seem to have been cleaned since then, either.
Overall: C-
- Seth McKelvey and Julie Leung
Viewing Comments 1 - 9 of 9
Brian
posted 4/16/08 @ 9:24 AM EST
Trappeze has the best bathrooms downtown.
Capt. Howdy
posted 4/16/08 @ 11:03 AM EST
They clearly never visited the men's room @ Copper Creek. They are constantly filled with $hit and pi$$, some of it actually in the toilet.
KEP
posted 4/16/08 @ 11:13 AM EST
Umm....DT's Down Under. Enough said.
Pat
posted 4/16/08 @ 5:44 PM EST
Gyro wrap has the best bathroom downtown! Its better than a newspaper.
Will
posted 4/17/08 @ 11:09 AM EST
Best: Porterhouse
Worst: Bourbon St. (its covered in cheap bourbon, natty light, freshman vomit.)
funny
posted 4/17/08 @ 11:13 AM EST
It's gone (finally) now, but the bathroom in the Eastside McDonald's was the worst - always dirty, the stalls were barely big enough for a smallish woman, let alone one larger and/or with small kids to tend to, and how they got away with it re handicapped laws is still a mystery to me. (Continued…)
RP
posted 4/17/08 @ 11:34 AM EST
If you want to see a really nice bathroom go to Kui Aura on Epps Bridge.
I have seen people come out of that restroom and they can't stop talking about the bathroom and particularly the sinks. (Continued…)
globe regular
posted 4/17/08 @ 7:36 PM EST
the globe's bathrooms are NOT that bad. clearly the writers of the article were lazy in their search, as there are far worse bathrooms downtown (above commenters agree). (Continued…)
ThirstyBob
posted 4/17/08 @ 11:03 PM EST
That alley next to Boars Head is the worst downtown bathroom..it is too dark and you pee all over yourself because there are no lights. I mean come on!!!
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