Ballardites have been scrambling for reasons to keep our beloved Denny's.

Really, the reason is that we like it and don't want it to go away to make room for an ever-growing scourge of soulless condominiums. It's important to us that the crossroads of Ballard has some symbol of our collective quirkiness. Fremont has its Lenin statue, we've got our goofy Denny's.

But all that aside, if you're looking for a reason why our Denny's shouldn't go away, here it is: Where are 16 to 20 year olds in Ballard going to go late at night now? I grew up in Ballard - high school class of `95. When my buddies and I wanted a late night out away from our parents, which was almost every night, we usually ended up at Denny's - or sometimes Sunset Bowl, which I hear may also close.

These were the only all-ages places open after hours and we always bumped into our friends there. Going to Denny's usually kept us out of trouble. It was the nights we didn't go there that mischief ensued.

Where will they go now? Golden Gardens? Salmon Bay Park?

Eric Bruckbauer

Ballard