In a message dated 9/16/98 9:34:20 PM, [log in to unmask] wrote: <<Elizabethan back alleys are the best . ...I can site several in England, France and Germany not to mention some of the notorious back alleys of the Muslim world; Turkey and the North African coast come to mind.....There in the din of humanity one has the oppurtuinity to experience a perspective worlds away from the Disney Mcdonalds ,Mall culture..and give thanks that we have a food inspection program..other great alley cultures are Glasgow Scotland and Edinburgh; and Vancover and most certainly Hong Kong... certainly Pompey offers the ultimate classical example ..but lets talk USA...and the examples afforded here...Chicago, New York have authenic alleys of comericial renoun; their Chinatowns are proably the most real; alleys are always unique until "discovered" So Ho was unique until discovered; The Mews in Greenwich Village were unique; Brooklyn water front .Georgetown D.C..the fishing shacks in Bilioxi were unique until developed.. .so whats new ? From a blue collar perspective I will vote for Phila.Penn;( little Italy.but all over) Providence Rhode Island; of having the most thriving alley culture.. .if we can call small colonial steets "alleys.. . on a small scale Hoboken, "On the waterfront" alley.... Newarks Iron bound; Cleavland ohio ....Jersey City New Jersey;Cincinatti; Castro Street S.F. Lexington Kentuckey Sausalito and Memphis all having one or two unique alleys ..well worth the visit.. New Orleans French Quarter is proably the most famous "alley"historicaly if I can strech the word..Key West has palm tree alleys.. criteria for me is vernacular architecture; preferably masonry;cobblestone that is primarily pedestrian; at least one blue collar restuarant where a hard hat can go; and alley usually has no parking; and a famous watering hole; the historic ones have built parking; and to some extent there is a vibrant steet scene; and " creative" steet pedlers; to delight and entertain us .. ..well heeled alleys can be found on Nantucket (straight Warve) Marblehead; Hilton Head; Laguna; Santa Barbra; and Taos and Sante Fe no fortune tellers or seedy book stores here...but the clam chowder and mequite grill is memorable..as well as a $20,000 piece of art....Good Luck ..Michael>> Sheesh. I'm jealous. All we do in our alleys in Chicago is dump the garbage and shoot up crack.