They're these open-air urinals placed throughout the entertainment zone. Evidently popular in Europe. Preferred in Old Town, I'm told, because they don't allow for the shenanigans of your standard-issue portable toilet.
I don't understand why it's alright for the city to fund an "entertainment district" every weekend, but they balk at spending money on something like Last Thursday. Maybe I'm missing something but this seems like the same situation, but instead of pissing and moaning the city is rolling with it, and quite well might I add.
I think its because the entertainment district is permanent, and Last Thursday is a street festival which many other eastside streets manage to fund for themselves.
I don't know about you guys, but I don't care how drunk I get; I'm not sticking my wiener into one of those dark, cavernous, holes. Who knows who or what might be hiding in there? It could be a meat grinder for all I can tell.