Where to go when you need to go in Manchester, NH
Saturday, October 30, 2010 at 9:38PM After driving about an hour through the Scottish countryside last Sunday, my wife and I arrived in the town of Balloch, on the bonnie shores of Loch Lomond. And when we got there, the missus had go. And I mean really, really go.
The only places around that had facilities, however, were restaurants and pubs — places where one is expected to buy something in exchange for use of the loo. But alas, we did not have time for a wee pint or dram of whiskey.
But then, miraculously, we can upon this:
The sign posted to the left of the door informed us that for a mere 10 pence (about 16 cents at current exchange rates), we could use this spacious (about the size of four standard port-a-potties) water closet, which cleans, disinfects and air dries itself and the floor:
Seeing this quite popular contraption in action got me wondering: why don't we have anything like it here in Manchester, NH, where unless you're willing to buy something, it can be difficult to find a place to go when you need to.
In downtown, there are public bathrooms, at least in theory. But you can't exactly count on them being open. Indeed, the public bathrooms inside City Hall have been closed for years due to "misuse of facilities":
The most reliable bet downtown is the bathroom on the main floor of the Manchester City Library:
But then again the bathroom at the library is only open during library hours. If you're downtown and need to go at night or on a Sunday, you're out of luck. Ditto for the unadvertised bathrooms in such semi-public office buildings like the Beacon Building which, unlike a number of other buildings downtown, has both unlocked bathrooms and a lack of security guards screening those who enter:
And this is just downtown, where at least you have a chance. What about places like city parks and walking trails? Good luck finding a (legal) place to go while there. I can't count the number of times I would have gladly paid a quarter (or more) to use facilities at places like Livingston Park or the Piscataquog Trail.
So where do you go when you need to go in Manchester, NH?
Manchester NH, bathrooms, downtown, parks, toilet in Miscellaneous Manchester
Reader Comments (6)
The side door to the Radisson that faces the TD Bank, go to the right up the stairs. Very spacious, well lit and clean. In my experience hotels always have a bathroom on the first floor not far from the lobby and well very rarely turn you away from their bathrooms, unless they know for sure you're not a guest. The Red Arrow is always an option.
Hi Will.
The mill building with the SEE Science Center and Millyard Museum has bathrooms! I've stopped there a couple of times when walking from home to DT:-) I'll check and see if its locked on Tuesday, but Child Family Services on Lowell and what used to be Granite Credit Union have a bathroom in the lobby before you enter CFS. We've also gone into the lobby of the Hilton by the FisherCats Stadium to go when running. We also stop by Elliot Hospital if we are in that area - theres a park by Elliot that we like to frequent. Same goes for CMC. Ok. its a little sad that I know all the good bathrooms in Manchester, is it not? Between me and Morgann, its good for us to know where to go.
We end up taking Miss Morgann into the woods at Livingston when we are there and she HAS to go, and I am just thankful our house is a stone's throw away from the walking trail. ;-)
PG and Abbey, hotels never occurred to me, but what a great idea. They're open 24/7! The same for hospitals.
Abbey, you're a wealth of Manchester bathroom knowledge - I am impressed!
Well the hospitals are open 24/7, but you have to enter through the ER's after 8 p.m. for Elliot, not sure what time for CMC, think it is 8 p.m. as well. But there are bathrooms in the ER too. But I hate hate hate ER bathrooms. They are GROSS. Especially late at night or on the weekends!! EEEEEEEEEEEEEW.
Another bathroom I just remembered: 62 Lowell Street. Go up the stairs to the 2nd floor - where Dialogue Church and Law of office of Meredeth regory are - there is an open access bathroom there. You wont "see" anyone either because its in a hallway before you enter the offices.
Another west side location is the Mill building with DCYF, State District Office, Moore Center, and Quest Diagnositcs. I recommend going in the door near Quest Diagnostics, there is a public bathroom in the hallway. The DCYF/State District Office has bathrooms if you walk into the lobby area. They are to your left passed the check in desk.
Potty training is the best way to learn all the bathrooms in Manchester - especialy with a child that refused to go in a pull up.
I saw a guy peeing on the side of Citizens Bank on Manchester St. Though I didn't think it a modest choice of location, I didn't say anything, assuming he was homeless. Then he proceeded to get some cash from the ATM. That's what I call Manchy.