After months of construction on the corner of Morewood Ave and Center Ave, the Davis Center has finally opened. The walls are freshly painted and the air still smells like a construction zone. While students have become quickly acclimated to the space, our eyes are venturing toward our new neighbors, whom we are eager to meet.
Surrounded by a plethora of food options and deep in our teenage years, students are often found eating. A community favorite is of course GetGo, where students grab snacks and drinks to help them balance the demands of schoolwork, a social life, and extracurriculars. Chipotle is also a popular stop after school (and NEVER during free periods), where food assembly lines and robotized drink dispensers create a teenage heaven. An Asian food mart, Penn Station Subs, KFC, Masala House, and Einstein Bros Bagels are all within walking distance of the new Davis Center. We love our new neighbors.
But I am more intrigued by our new neighbor two doors down on Morewood Ave. Not the Chipotle, not the preschool, and not the GetGo, but the building in between with no windows and only a door. I was told I could only talk about the door and not what is behind the door. We all know what I’m talking about.
As someone who has lived in Shadyside for almost four years, I often pass by this building. But I recently noticed it had a new door. A faux metallic door covered in faux bolts with a faux golden snake handle, caught me off guard the first time I saw it. First, it was the objectification of women but now it’s the objectification of women AND a fantasy-casa-mojo-dojo-house-Dungeons-and-Dragons-esque door.
In terms of society and culture, I think there is something interesting about our neighbors that should be dissected in intellectual conversations during our history classes (which happen to take place next door to the dragon door).
But beyond the intellectual jargon, I’ve heard gossip that the place is under new management and will soon have a new name: Medusa’s Lair. And perhaps that’s the reason for the new door. Either way, I’m excited to get to know our new neighbors better and can’t wait to talk about gender roles in history classes in the new Davis Center. I wonder what the preschool next to us thinks of the new door.
I think we should get one too but with a bear head on it.
P.S. The old neon Cricket sign is for sale on Facebook Marketplace. Maybe our Public History class should purchase it as a historical relic…
