The past year or so, big changes have been afoot in the area around my alma mater. I never even knew until I saw in the local paper that "The Flying Tomato" (I can never think of it as JUST The Tomato, as its been known for the past decade or so....it's a habit.) was having to close.

UNT, in Denton, Texas, is famous for its music school, its art school, Mean Joe Green, Phyllis George, Larry McMurtry, Norah Jones, Don Henley...and other talented folks.

I spent a good portion of my life here, from 1984 through 1987, and then I returned from 1994 through 1998, when I finally graduated (I was on the 7 year hiatus plan). My days were full of studying, a pop into the Sound Warehouse in 85 for the edgiest in New Wave vinyl, coffee drinking, hanging with friends, beers and darts at Riprocks or Cool Beans, consuming a quick slice before class, chilling with a Bailey's on the Rocks on the roof of Cool Beans absorbing Renaissance architecture before my next test, or enjoying the wacky Denton musical scene at Fry Street Fair. Fry Street Fair is now a piece of history. The founders are not continuing it.

Recently, a prick developer from Houston purchased the historic properties at the main intersection of town, and is intent on tearing them down, one by one. He bought them, he has already torn down Mr. Chopsticks (the spot for a killer bowl of chicken rice soup on a cold day), and now he's getting rid of The Tomato (a landmark since the early 80s) and multiple other businesses in that block.

Anyone who has attended school here knows and loves the corner of Hickory and Fry. Say goodbye folks. It's going going gone. And I couldn't be more depressed. So many memories, so much history, so much amazing culture (buildings are from the 1920s)....and they are being razed for more Starbucks and other corporate crap.

The students attending UNT from now on will never know the funky, quirkyness of Hickory and Fry ever again.

Pictures of what we're losing:
http://www.savefrystreet.com/photos/main.p...