Reno and Beyond: Everybody’s Happy Nowadays
- So the big local news last week was that the rest of the city found out about the possible plans for the Lear Theater. In order to save it, the non-profit Lear Theater group is proposing selling the land beneath it so that they can move it to another, yet to be discussed location. I actually think this is a shame. Not only is the Lear Theater an important historical building thanks to the man who designed it; internationally acclaimed African American architect, Paul Revere Williams, but it lends a gentility and dignity to the corner of First and Riverside streets, not to mention the rest of the downtown. As a city, we should be doing what it can to save buildings that make up our historical heart. What a way for us to signal the end of Black History Month.
- I never got around to writing a real review of The Who concert on Friday night, but I did want to say that one of my favorite performances of the night was the gorgeous “Man In The Purple Dress.” Here’s a video of the song as performed on Letterman.
- Leola McConnell is at it again. The former gubernatorial candidate is allegedly publishing an ebook called “Lustful Utterances.” I think we can assume its a tell all having to do with her days as an active dominatrix. That’s sure to be a page turner, and about as exciting as the trials and tribulations of our elected governor.
- Unfortunately, Nevada institutions are engaged in a fight for resources. Which do you think are more important? Roads? Education? Or prisons? It may be news to some, but education not only reduces the likelihood of someone ending up in prison, it also keeps reduces recidivism.
- According to some sources, approximately 17,000 viewers would see a Democratic presidential debate broadcast by Fox than, say, by CNN. In fact, the cable news audience is nothing to write home about in general. Well, that’s not exactly accurate because more people would tune into Fox News just to see the debate. 1.7% of Las Vegas’ night time TV audience watches Fox News on any given night. Astonishing isn’t it? Are 17,000 viewers really worth a staunch defense by Howard Dean, the Nevada State Democratic Party, and the mysterious Western Majority Project? Chris Bowers has more on this subject at MyDD.com
- And while we’re on that subject, Jon Ralston called me a terrorist and makes an illogical argument. He begins by criticizing bloggers for moving against the Fox News debate, but then asks why local Democrats don’t protest the Las Vegas Review Journal. If Ralston had actually followed his own line of argument, he would have criticized local bloggers for not protesting against the Las Vegas Review Journal along with Fox News because of its biased coverage. But he can’t do that because local bloggers DO criticize the Las Vegas Review Journal on an almost daily basis. And conservative bloggers also criticize the local media coverage–Eric Odom just criticized the Reno Gazette-Journal on his website for its alleged biased coverage of Jim Gibbons and that’s not the first time that’s happened. For me the real point is not that Fox News provides biased news coverage, but that some of Fox News’ hosts and pundits are a bit too fond of eliminationist rhetoric and other forms of hate speech for my liking. I can’t really say the same for the Las Vegas Review Journal, NPR, or Air America. Surely fighting to elevate the professional political discourse would result in something other than a “Pyrrhic” victory or prevent a Democrat from being elected president–quite the opposite. By the way, I agree with Ralston on the whole Clinton apology crap. If she did it now it would only be to win people over who are already upset with her. And what would be her reward? An instant curse of inauthenticity. Yeah sure, that would be really smart.
- And now for something with almost no political implications at all, have you been noticing the surge of edgy early eighties music in advertising lately? The Buzzcocks (who still play by the way) for AARP (”Everybody’s Happy Nowadays“), the Violent Femmes for Arbys (”Blister In The Sun“), The Pogues for some car company (”Sunny Side of the Street“) and Iggy Pop for Carnival Cruise Lines (”Lust for Life“)? I suppose if you don’t know what any of these songs are actually about, you can just enjoy them as catchy tunes, but talk about taking things out of context. Do you really want to think about masturbation while you’re eating a Beef-N-Cheddar? Isn’t it ironically stupid to make the ironic ironically meaningless?
- The Bush Administration wouldn’t really try this would they?
- I didn’t actually watch the Oscars but I read James Wolcott on the Oscars which was probably more entertaining (and certainly shorter). Not only did Al Gore’s “An Inconvenient Truth” win the Oscar for best documentary, its lesbian songwriter won for best song. I predict that the conservative blogosphere will be positively “shrill” on the subject today.
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The Lear Theater is a tragedy yes…I had mixed feelings when I first broke this story two weeks ago.
The problem is, people with money in this city obviously don’t care about it, or its renovation would be done by now, it would be open, and we’d all be going to go see plays and musicals there.
Unfortunately that hasnt happened, people haven’t donated enough to finish repairing it, and now the owner of that property realized his property is basically a goldmine for development. Do I blame the owner? Heck no. Do I blame the whiney people who are now crying over the prospect of losing it? Hell yes. Where were these people 2, 3, 4 and 10 years ago while the building was just sitting there? Did they not see the big ‘Donate money for construction’ sign that has been on the Lear for years? It’s just like the Mapes. Sat empty for years and years and years. No one really cared about it until they were going to lose it.
I’m grumpy and bitter this morning, I think because it’s Monday. And the crane tease on the Waterfront lot was so not fair! LOL
I’ll be doing a writeup soon on turning the Lear into a town hall venue. I think the project was doomed from the start. The plans were too ambitious, and the theater scene in Reno is sadly not big enough to support building Reno Little Theater on Wells Ave let alone getting the Lear done as they proposed. A low opportunity cost refurb project that gets the building regularly hosting events would do more for it than trying to find the money to move it so some developer can tear it down and build another “Making it great!” sign.
BTW Minx — it’s Wendy’s not Arby’s that’s using the femmes. First time I saw that commercial I couldn’t believe what I was witnessing.
LOL Those Making it Great signs are funny. I especially like the one on the property of the empty lot where a homeless center is to be built, which says ‘Completion January 2007′, or the graffiti’d Waterfront ‘Making it Great’ signs, or the ‘Completion 2008′ for the canopy and retail building for the 10 North Virginia Plaza.
there were many people who worked for years to save the mapes before it ever went down, but being that it was a privately held property for so long, and then owned by the city (who had no love for it), there wasn’t much that could be done in the end.
the lear has been “saved” as far as anyone knew until you broke the story, Mike, and then Karl Breckenridge wrote about it in his column over this past weekend. quite different scenarios, but both are looking to have the same result. money wins out over history in reno almost every time. next up: the virginia street bridge.
I like the Virginia Street Bridge plan to refurbish it, which also gives us River Access on the north flood wall. From what I have read, the plan to just replace it doesnt include any other kinds of improvements, and only provides for an 80 year flood while the refurbishment plan can widthstand a 10 year flood, right?
I see what you are saying about the Mapes, and the Lear, and the differences, my bad there….however the Lear is privately owned land too, and I don’t know if you can force him to save it unless it’s profitable for the property owner, yes? Unfortunate, but a lot of people think that way.
i think that’s right regarding the virginia street bridge — i’m not really up on all the facts on that one, to be honest. from what i’ve read by people i trust to be informed on it, though, the refurb is better all around than building a new one, even though it costs more. the refurb is projected to last 100 years, while the rebuild is projected to last less than that.
true about the private owner’s rights for the lear, too — the owner can do whatever s/he wishes. there’s the rub! it’s all about educating the owner about the long-term value in keeping a singular historical property vs. the “get money quickly with a condo” mentality.
Somebody’s asleep at Wendy’s. (Well, that goes without saying) But someone in corporate, maybe. Using “Blister in the Sun,” a song about masturbation to sell your food…food by the way that I already need to take a rape shower after eating…now I’m forced to think of Gordan Gano’s ejaculate, too? I don’t rike this at all.
Who runs the Reno Redevelopment Agency? I realize the board is the city council, but who is the director? Is it time for some new blood to get some life into ideas downtown and get them finished? Losing the Lear just like the Mapes is yet another downtown tragedy.
Anybody read last week’s Reno News and Review and the coverage on the downtown businesses?
There is no director of the Redevelopment Agency right now, however they just hired one and I think he starts soon. So your wish for Fresh Blood is granted NVMojo!
Yeah, but I just read the Mynx’ last post about who it is …gee, hope it works out for him. Time to start paying attention!