The Cross: Creating A Social Environment

“I often think that the night is more alive and more richly colored than the day.”-Vincent van Gogh

After the arduous endeavor to survive the week, whether it be due to obligations at work or school, we all greatly anticipate the freedom that accompanies the weekend. Friday and Saturday nights come alive like no other with (mostly) the young, wild and free party-people. 

In keeping pace with the high food consumption patterns of younger generations many fast food outlets are popping up to service the cooking-challenged and the 'work hard play hard' populace.

Now known as 'The Cross', the urban space pictured above is always stirring with activity on Fridays and Saturdays from nightfall to the wee hours before sunrise. Numerous food stalls line a side street which runs parallel to the Rienzi Kirton Highway and is the main source of attraction for party-goers and even just the late night munchers. Some may drop in to pick up a quick corn soup, burger or any of the other comestibles on sale before heading back to their party or home. For others, The Cross is a place for socialization: to park vehicles, blast music and enjoy a quick meal in the company of friends and strangers. Some nights bystanders may even be entertained by a quick 'drag-race' along the highway stretch as The Cross was once a notorious site for illegal street racing. 

Photo taken from www.fastclassics.co.uk

But of course, The Cross was not always this way.These small food vending stalls were originally stationed along the street to the front of Gulf City Mall, serving the same purpose and was more easily accessible to late night limers of the clubs that were once tenants at the mall. Late night disturbances to the Gulf View residential area influenced the relocation of the vending stalls by the San Fernando City Corporation, and 'The Cross' was born.

“But that's the whole aim of civilization: to make everything a source of enjoyment.” ― Leo Tolstoy, Anna Karenina

Here a range of social worlds collide and it is an exceptional example of an urban space where the three presences, as stated by Hall and Barrett (2012), that are at work in the public realms of cities are clearly represented. That is, an arena for the inscription of authority and regulation (as vendors pay the City Corporation fees for using the plot they are allocated and are under regulations of such regard), where there is an intersection of multiple rhythms of life, and it is a site of resistance, revolution and ceaseless transformation.

REFERENCES:
Hall, Tim and Heather Barrett. 2012. Urban Geography. 4th ed. London and New York, Routledge Publishing. 248-253