"Now ask me"

I gave candy to some trick-or-treaters at my parents'. Two little girls (dressed as Cinderella and a bridesmaid) selected their candy and then the little bridesmaid said, "Now ask me Trick or Treat."

I did, and she reached into her bag and I saw a small bag within it. She reached into it and pulled out a handful of popcorn and put it in my candy bowl. It was about the funniest Halloween moment I've had in a long time.

Black Horse and ...

"A Whoo hoo."

The cherry tree in my parent's backyard has grown too big for its britches ... and the yard. It will be missed whenever it is cut up for firewood. It was a nice tree.

Although I think their backyard will be much more functional after its gone.

Bye bye, tree!

Dante's Inferno

I wasn't sure exactly that I wanted to see "Dante's Inferno" staged in the Hot Shop of the Museum of Glass.

As it turns out, I'm glad I saw it. Tim Linnemann made a particularly striking Virgil, but he wasn't burdened with the narration that Lisa Confehr had as Dante. I liked Dashel Milligan's Ugolino and Minos a lot too. Minos in particular had a range of movement that instantly brought life to the story.

Rosemary's review was pretty accurate to the performance, although the headline is a little more sour than the production deserves ("Heat can't illuminate 'Inferno' ").

Although she does write, "The penultimate scene, where a damned soul is entombed in a glass vessel created before your eyes, is astonishing." Perhaps you would be like me and expect a person to get entombed in a glass vessel after reading that sentence. In which case you would get to that scene and wait for the tiny glass bowl to get big enough that Susan Graf would fit inside it. Alas, Rosemary meant the damned soul literally, not a full person. Ah, well.

Still a cool piece, though. I'm happy I saw it, and I'm happy a major organization like the Museum of Glass can sponsor something like this. Young cast, cool idea, and thoughtful. Good for them!

Winthrop Hotel

Update on Exit133 ... not so good for Quigg, but perhaps there is hope yet. Definitely a setback, though.

The Empty "Empty Space" - Part IV

You can view their official press release here. The title is "Final Press Release." I had at first thought they were regrouping, but this looks pretty final. It's hard to really judge what all happened, and drawing conclusions from a single theater is tricky. But there is some information in the public domain that certainly puts a context around the issue.

Every non-profit must file a 990 form with the IRS. Many current 990s are available on-line at Guidestar. They are cumbersome documents, and don't really tell the full picture. But here's what they show about The Empty Space Theater.

On 10/1/2000, the Empty Space had $407,000 in assets.

They lost $187,000 of it by 9/30/2001.

They lost another $50,000 the next year.

They lost $198,000 the next year (leaving them with just 20K in 2003).

They lost another $196,000 the next year.

So by 9/30/2004 The Empty Space was in debt $175,000. (As a point of reference, it was just two months later that TAG announced they had accrued twice that amount in debt when they shut their doors--temporarily--when the $350,000 debt suddenly seemed so looming.)

The 990 database on-line doesn't give me the 2005 picture, but the Board President of the theater was quoted as saying the debt was only $75,000.

Google News has some pieces from the Seattle papers that round out the picture. By the time the theater closed, the Empty Space had only 8--count 'em, 8--board members. And their recent home at Seattle U was their 6th since they opened in 1971.

And then there is this in the PI:

The demise of the Space is part of a two-decade trend that has seen the extinction of a number of midsize theater companies with budgets of less than $1 million. Among the theaters that have succumbed after presenting important work are the Bathhouse Theatre, Alice B. Theatre, Center Stage, Group Theatre, Pioneer Square Theatre, Northwest Asian American Theatre and Skid Road Theatre.

I'll lay dollars to donuts that none of them had an endowment. And I'd take another bet, too. That each one of them were filling seats regularly. That's the worst part of the whole thing.

Sad day.

The Empty "Empty Space" - Part III

Which I suppose gets us back to the question my dad asked me. Why start a theater? Especially one that is not a non-profit?

First, because I believe that good theater breeds good theater, and the best way to get even more people in Tacoma going to theater is to increase their options. Good theater is habit-forming, and if the Horatio can help Tacoma reach a critical mass of theatrical opportunities we might see an explosion of opportunities.

And second, I believe there is another workable business model for theater I didn't mention earlier. The small fringe theater. A small house with high quality talent who are drawn to high quality material. Keep the production costs low, invest in the people, and reach out to an audience that is open, eager, discerning, and intellectually curious.

I firmly believe the model works and is sustainable over the long run. The Horatio Theater is founded on with that goal, and I believe will be able to deliver exceptional pieces of theater. We will be looking for founding members (more on that soon, once I can announce the location) so until then, you can sign up for the mailing list or get tickets to the first show, "It's A Wonderful Life," presented as a 1940's radio play at the Blue Mouse Theater this December.

The Empty "Empty Space" - Part II

You would think then, that there is no way theaters can make it. Theaters can't raise their ticket prices much higher because they are in a competitive market with movies, iTunes, the Internet, DVDs, and about a million other entertainment options. And it is unlikely any theater can raise enough money to beat inflation every single year.

But there are options. And the silver bullet option has got to be an endowment. In the last 25 years, the S&P500 went up 1100%. In other words, if a theater in 1981 had taken $100,000 and put it a mutual fund that tracked the S&P500, today that money would be worth $1.1 million even assuming no other donations to it were made. If donations were made on the order of ,say, $25,000 per year that endowment would be up to about $3.1 million.

Of course, theaters are going to want to take a percentage off the top every year to supplement their operating budgets, but you get the idea.

If we want to see non-profit theater 25 years from now, endowments are the best way to make it happen. Because an endowment is the only thing that will be able to beat out inflation and all other rising costs over the long run.

The Empty "Empty Space" - Part I

I should say that I have never seen a play at The Empty Space, either in its current or its former home. And I don't know the backstory or any behind-the-scenes information. But perhaps this is the opportunity to talk about what's happening to theaters around the country, but especially here.

When I told my dad I wanted to start a theater in Tacoma, he asked me, "If theaters are hurting, why would you start a theater?" It's a good question. Because theaters are hurting.

But interestingly, theater is not. Theater as an art form and a way to spend a Friday night seems to be alive and well. Every show I have seen in the last month, "Moon Over Buffalo," "Dreamgirls," "Line One," and "The Underpants" has been at least at 75 - 80% capacity. The theaters are close to full! Every show I've seen.

The trouble is the organization behind the production is fundamentally in peril. But why exactly? We all understand that ticket prices don't cover the cost of the production. That's not a surprise; that's why most theaters are non-profits. But ticket prices are covering far less than they used to.

To use a local example of the disparity, TAG makes a good reference. TAG's top ticket price in 1981 was $11. Their top ticket price today is $28. According to an inflation calculator I found on-line, that ticket price has kept pace with inflation almost exactly. Which means TAG's ticket price has not fundamentally changed in 25 years, except to keep up with inflation.

But the expenses of putting on a show have risen dramatically. Labor and material costs are higher; competition with other forms of entertainment means a higher price to get patrons in the door; the median household income has only increased 17% in the same 25 years, leaving fewer dollars for entertainment; and on and on and on. I would even add that shows like "The Producers" and "The Lion King" add a certain level of expectation for other smaller productions that force higher-cost set design to meet audience expectation.

Any way you slice it, the ticket price just can't keep up with costs whether you are TAG or any other theater. And there is no way we can expect donations to keep up, too. Think about it this way: if a theater received $100,00 in support in 1981, in order not to lose money to inflation, that same theater would have had to receive $223,000 in 2005. And that's just to keep pace, forgetting about all the other costs.

"The Underpants"

Steve Martin's play, "The Underpants," was adapted from a previous script by Carl Sternheim from the 1920's. Martin's adaptation is very good and a whole lot of fun. ACT's cast was hilarious, the jokes, as you might expect, were frequent but never "sitcom obvious." It really was a fun production.

Unfortunately, just before leaving for Seattle, I happened to read the distressing news in the Tribune that the Empty Space Theater had closed. This was somewhat in the back of my mind during the whole experience; as a guy starting a theater, it's somewhat distressing to read about another theater, 35 years old and with its reputation, that was forced to close.

I'll post some reflections on that a little later today.

Where's Erik?

Yeah, I know I haven't been blogging much. Things are really heating up throughout my life right now. Last week I started a new job as the Bellarmine Alumni Director. By day, I'm working at my old high school; by night, I'm working on the Horatio. I need a mask and a cape.

Busy? Certainly. But I've found if I'm not busy sloth sets in. And I get a lot more done when I'm busy.

I'm watching much less TV, too. Studio 60 really disappointed Monday, but Veronica Mars picked up. Lost is good, and the new episodes of South Park are fabulous. And that's about all the television I've watched since Sunday. 3 1/2 hours worth, plus a few random episodes of Robot Chicken on the Cartoon Network, which is only 15 minutes long, but one of the funniest creations I've seen in a very long time.

I'm seeing a lot of theater, which is good. Last week was Line One at CHAC. Tonight it's Steve Martin's play about underwear (really!). This weekend I'd like to see Dante's Inferno as staged in the Museum of Glass Hotshop. And next Friday I'll be at the UPS production of A Midsummers Night Dream.

I'll try to fill in more soon, dear readers.

Audition Announcement

The Horatio Theater is looking for people to audition for a Christmas production of "It's A Wonderful Life." The show will be produced as a radio play at the historic Blue Mouse Theater, with just three performances.

Audition information is here. If you're interested, schedule an audition for Sunday, November 5.

Travel Blogging

The News Tribune is keeping Tacoma in touch with the greater world through local students. Ryan Moss of UPS will be blogging for thenewstribune.com as he journeys through Costa Rica for three months.

I would say this is an odd thing for the Trib, since it's not exactly news. But on the other hand, they published an article I wrote in 2000 while I was a college student about my 6 weeks aboard the SSV Westward through the SEA program, and that wasn't exactly news either.

I believe that a travelogue is one of the best uses of blogs; when I was in Torino for the Olympics in February many friends checked in on this blog to keep in touch, plus I always try to post pics from wherever travels happen to take me. And my friend Angela is studying in England right now and kept a blog through her trips in Croatia and Scotland.

On the other hand, you could choose to travel like this guy:

,

Possibly my favorite travelogue ever. :)

Ryan, you know what to do! Mark Briggs at the Tribune is looking for other student travelers to keep their journals on the Trib's site. Worth looking in to!

George Will Against Prohibition

An astute and wise conservative man, George Will skewers the prohibition of on-line gambling with about one reason per sentence in his newsweek column. His case is pretty clear, I'd say:

Granted, some people gamble too much. And some people eat too many cheeseburgers. But who wants to live in a society that protects the weak-willed by criminalizing cheeseburgers? Besides, the problems—frequently exaggerated—of criminal involvement in gambling, and of underage and addictive gamblers, can be best dealt with by legalization and regulation utilizing new software solutions. Furthermore, taxation of online poker and other gambling could generate billions for governments.

Good reading from a good writer.

Winthrop Hotel

If you've been following along on the Winthrop Hotel process like me, Exit133's report this morning is filled with mixed news. A deal fell through, but something new may be in place by Friday.

Keep it up, guys! Good luck!

Pillaged and Plundered

Ouch, Joe. Your Vikings were true to their name.

Good for him

Barak Obama is quite a guy, I'd say. And earlier today he said he was considering an '08 Presidential run. Good for him. Check out his bio on Wikipedia.

Go Seahawks!

While I do have affinity for my ol' Vikings from my Minnesota days, I still gotta say ... "I hope we trounce you."

Sorry, Joe.

Abracadabra

"The Prestige" looked like The Movie I wanted to see this fall. It was a bit of a letdown. Not bad, not great. Kind of along the same lines as "The Illusionist" in terms of quality. I appreciated many scenes, and others were quite good too, but all in all the film just didn't work for me.

If you're really looking for a good Magic Show, "Carter Beats the Devil," is the book to turn to. Skip these movies and pick up the book.

Hello, Line One

What an odd piece of theater at the Capitol Hill Arts Center. "Line One" puts about 7 or 8 actors on stage, each with a cell phone and an earpiece. Callers from all over the country call in and are asked a question that is displayed on a screen. The actor then repeats, word for word, exactly what they hear.

The theme of the evening changes every night. Last night's was "body and hair." The result was a surprisingly intimate and funny evening. A young man asked a woman, "What lead you to decide to get a face lift and what effect has it had on your life." And then we heard her describe her reasoning, relayed through the man.

Meanwhile one of the actors had volunteered to get a tattoo during the show. As she walked to the tattoo parlor, an actor relayed her words during the entire tattoo process. When she got back a half hour later, she showed everyone the tattoo we heard her get.

There were some interesting pieces: a conversation relayed between a stylist and a customer while cutting hair. We heard two actors recreating the scene. The distance created an intimacy, and the humor of the situation was not lost, either.

Even at 75 minutes, it was a little long, but it was still a great piece of theater.

Can This Work?

"High Fidelity," a great book and a possibly greater movie, is now a Broadway musical. Again ... can this work?

This is a very "guy" movie and book, I think. Sure it's a romantic comedy, but it is pretty honestly male in all of its insecurities and hang-ups and plot. Will it get guys as a Broadway musical? Can it get couples or hipsters or ... or ... exactly who is going to come see this?

Actually, I might.

The Cola Wars and Baseball

While I traveled to and fro across the country this weekend I found time on planes for a couple books that were both pretty fascinating.

The first was "The Other Guy Blinked," written by the President of Pepsi USA about the '85 Cola Wars. At its best, it explores New Coke and how it came to be. At its worst (which isn't actually that bad) it's a textual Pepsi ad.

Far more interesting, for my money, was Michael Lewis' "Moneyball," which came out in 2003. I really dug this book. I like baseball and I like stories about the underdog, and how the Oakland A's have been able to field an AL West 1st or 2nd team since 1999 with only a few million dollars.

Both books fundamentally deal with how businesses compete with each other. "Moneyball" is superior, but both are good.

A few more of The Bean

It does crazy things with reflections. I'm in this picture a number of times, actually.

See my pictures!

Finally got them to work. Sorry about that!

I've thrown in a couple more below. Remember when the Project for Public Spaces was in town? They would have loved this Corporate Plaza. A Picasso scultpure...


An eternal flame (helping the pigeons, of course) ...


And a halloween fountain.


I guess Chicago really likes to dye their water. Orange fountains at Halloween and a green river in March.

Something Tacoma could learn from Chicago

Think big.

Visiting Millenium Park in Chicago was like a wake-up call to me about the potential of open public spaces in Tacoma. The park is beautiful, the location is perfectly placed between the Loop and the Lake, and the art is great. Great and big.

Cloud Gate (AKA The Bean) is a great blend of art and appreciation of the city's architecture and skyline. The picture below is pretty clear why. The Bean shows off the entire city.


And the fountains below, while a little odd and unorthodox, followed with the same idea: think big. (If the fountain had been on there would be a spout of water coming out of the guy's mouth, right in the middle of the LCD screen that created him.)



They've created a wonderful public space with just these two pieces of art. There are many other things to do at the park, of course, but their good use of art stood out the most.

Chicago update

If all goes well with the weather in Illinois and Texas, I'll be home by midnight tonight. We'll see.

I did get to spend some time at Millenium Park today, which exceeded my expectations of what a public space could be. I'll post some pics tomorrow (real pics, not just cell-phone snapshots).

Slow day in Hinsdale, IL

Most of the guests to the Strickland-Lopez wedding left today amid a long morning of goodbyes. I'm left and am now hanging out with the husband and wife with a long day of casual ease after two days of non-stop action.

I learned how to play Pinochle and read part of a book and it's been very good. Tomorrow I'll explore some of the Loop and Millenium Park before my afternoon flight, which unhappily takes me through Dallas, making for a long night home.

On the plus side, I get to see Caleb in Dallas for all of an hour or so maybe tomorrow evening. As long as my plane isn't late or anything again.

All done

No hitches, except for--of course--the big hitch. But other than that, much fun in Chicago (Hinsdale, actually, SW of Chicago). If I can muster the energy I'd like to go in to Millenium Park tomorrow and visit "The Bean."

Outdoor Wedding Called Off

Had it been above 55 degrees and with no wind, we may have been outdoors, but 49 and gusty wasn't looking to promising. So we're indoors.

Sign of the times that the Ramada - Burr Ridge has free wireless I guess. It's expected everywhere now. Although I got an e-mail from Boeing today that announced they have decided to drop their "Connexion" service, which is what I used to blog over Greenland on my way back from the Olympics. So I guess it's not available everywhere.

Return of the Water

Yeah for the return of water and heat late last night!

Also, the sun is out, but it's still not exactly warm, either.

Winter Wedding?

Snow this morning in Chicago and very cold weather this evening. Wind chill and all, it made for a cold evening. And the cold seems to have snapped a pipe near Peter and Jenny's so we're without water tonight. And heat, since the radiator is water-based.

Which means we'll probably try to get to the hotel early tomorrow for showers if it's not fixed by then.

But it's a good time to be back in Chicago after three whole years!

Chicago Bound!

I'm off to Chicago tomorrow morning for the wedding of Jennifer Lopez and Peter Strickland. Not the J. Lo, but two Carleton friends. Blogging will be light, but I hope to post some cell phone pics of Chicago. I'll probably take my camera too since it's such a pretty city.

GritCity asks ...

Cole at GritCity fills in the blanks to "You know you're from Tacoma when ... " Here's a couple on GritCity:

• You watch “10 Things I Hate About You” and say “here’s where my friend comes in”
• You remember when Pizza & Pipes shut down and the Roller Rink closed in the SAME YEAR!

I'd add the following. You know you're from Tacoma when ...

• You know how the lights are timed on 11th and 9th.
  
• You can spot the moose silhouette on Mt. Rainier at a glance (only visible from Tacoma!)
• You bring a $20 bill to the Rainiers $1.00 beer night and call it "exact change."
• You laugh at people who don't understand that you can go either North or South on I-5 to get to Puyallup from Tacoma.
  
• You automatically brace for a redneck joke when you hear "you know you're from Tacoma when."

My Buddy and Me

This video is made by the creators of the Onion in preparation for an "Unauthorized Autobiography of George W. Bush." It really is a must-see. It's very very funny, but I think you'll find it's just a gentle satire, not anything too over the top or mean-spirited.

It comes highly recommended by this blogger.

Oof Da

Tonight's episode of Veronica Mars was disappointingly bad. Too bad. I hope the reason of Season 3 can get it together.

"A Wealth of Memories"

TAG's staged reading this month was good fun again. Called "A Wealth of Memories," it was a fairy tale of sorts. If you've never been to the free Second Mondays at TAG when a new play is read, check it out! The next show is November 13, and is "Another Day in Baghdad."

Pantages

I know the lobby of the Pantages is under reconstruction (and opens Friday with a grand gala) but I think someone needs to take a look at their marquee before then. This thing needs some serious help.

$1.65 Billion

That's how much YouTube is worth to Google. Not bad for a website that is less than a year old. Now that's a pretty awesome business model.

Here's the Wikipedia page on the them. The NYT has the breaking news scoop.

In Defense of "The Wall"

Public comments on Exit133.com and KevinFreitas.net have been overwhelming against the History Museum's construction of a donor wall that will block access and views to the Bridge of Glass. The wrought iron fence that has been there the last few years blocks only access, so many are worried about blocking the sightlines.

I've hung back for awhile because I haven't seen what all the fuss was about. I don't mean to be a contrarian, but I'd like to say a few words in favor of the donor wall (note: I am not a donor, and my name will not be on the wall).

First, I'd like to point out that a wall is actually preferable to the fence. Given an either/or scenario, the wall is definitely superior. Why? Because the fence looks temporary, like it's blocking an entrance (which it is, of course).

But while I was at the Convention & Visitor Bureau, I remember at least two complaints from tourists that said they couldn't get to the Bridge of Glass "because it was closed off." This is because the tourists could see the Bridge through what appeared to be a gate, not a permanent fence. A wall will leave no doubt: "the entrance is somewhere else, so go find it." I'm assuming a small sign could also be erected to make the point, too.

Now, plenty have said that it's not about whether there is a fence or a wall, it's about pedestrian flow. But I rather like the pedestrian flow as it is now.

I think of the WSHM Arch as a part of the arrival and experience of the Bridge of Glass; without it, there is no Grand Entrance to the Bridge. In fact, the Arch is even more important going the other way; it marks the entrance to downtown from the Museum of Glass, too. Visitors who could skip the arch would arrive mid-street. No crosswalk, poor sightlines (the inviting UWT stairs are not easily visible from that point) and no clear direction.

The first few moments entering downtown are far better if you pass under the Arch.

The donor wall will remove confusion about where the entrance lies; it will also prevent tourists from losing a precious sense of arrival. Diverting pedestrians under the Arch may be inefficient, but I think if you stand around there for a few minutes you'll see that its a worthwhile inefficiency. For many, the Bridge of Glass and the History Museum Arch serve as Tacoma's front door. We should preserve that Grand Entrance.

UPDATE: Derek at Exit133.com has closed comments on his site on all posts regarding the donor wall debate. That was probably wise; comments were flying fast and furious. As I said before, I'm really not sure why the opposition is so strongly against the wall, but it seems an unlikely target.

Dreamgirls

The new show at TLT is well-done community theater. The voices of the three Dreamgirls are strong, and the music is good, too.

I may have considered giving a mike to help amplify some of the early songs which seemed a little quiet, as well as conversations that are muffled by the drums and keyboard. The Dreamgirls story itself is what you expect from almost any backstage bio, but it's served well by the music.

I'll be at the movie in December, I'm sure.

Ta ta, Yanks

Here's a brutal stat from today's Yankees-Tigers game: "The Tigers did not swing and miss until Wright’s 37th pitch."

Thanks to the NYT for keeping track. Go Tigers!

(Joe, you'll be happy to know I am not rooting for the AL West Winner the A's. I can't cheer for anyone who clobbers Twins. As a Gemini, I'm opposed to that.)

From the Film Festival Opening

Big searchlights light up the front of the Merlino Art Center at tonight's Film Festival opening. Check out films through the week! Here's the link again.

That Spirit of '76

I finished 1776 yesterday and was surprised by how incredibly readible it was. McCullough's book does a notable job of keeping his focus on Washington, the soldiers, and the actual fight against the British. He avoids the considerable temptation to show the myth of 1776, with Jefferson writing the Declaration of Independence, the Continental Congress meeting in Philadelphia, and all the other stuff we know about.

His focus is narrow: how a single man, Washington, pieced together a rag-tag group to keep America's hopes alive. McCullough shows Washington's brilliance and his incredibly bonehead errors equally, but it is Washington's capacity to live past the errors that is striking.

Well worth the read, and well deserving of the Pulitzer.

Film Festival

Tonight begins the 1 week event of the Tacoma Film Festival, sponsored by the Grand. It looks like a lot of good movies, so check some of them out.

What else are you going to do in this drizzle? Here's a riddle. What follows two days of rain in Tacoma? ...... Monday.

Jazzbones sale

According to Ernest Jasmin's blog on the Tribune's site, Jazzbones has changed hands. The very brief post says, "Friday's show with alt-country artist Fred Eaglesmith is indicative of the direction the new owner wants to go in."

Which leads me to suspect a re-name to the very catchy "Altcountrybones."

Sound Transit Ridership

Today's article in the Trib about the "commuter culture" was a great plug for how the Sounder is doing. If only Burlington Northern would work with Sound Transit a little better to add some more trains. (I understand they are dragging their feet; yet another reason I want to nationalize the railroads. End soapbox). More trains would help keep crowding at bay and make it even easier for people to use the system.

But there was an interesting tidbit of information in the article:

Boardings on the entire train system jumped 47 percent during the first quarter of this year, compared with the same time last year, said Sound Transit spokesman Lee Somerstein.

That seems like quite a jump.

I know personal experiences about the Sounder vary by case. Many find it frustrating, but for some it's ideal. I think one of the key questions to whether someone likes it is whether that person's office is close to King Street Station in Seattle. The farther away, the biggest the hassle.

Does anyone know whether it would be physically possible to extend the train further into Seattle to an additional stop or two? Using Google Maps, I can follow tracks along the water under the Alaskan Way Viaduct. We could add a stop in the general vicinity of Seattle Art Museum and Benaroya (although my memory of the topography in that area is spotty), another along at the water near Key Arena (again, my topography is not very good) and again at the Ballard Locks. That might make the Sounder much easier for a much greater percentage of people.

The 24 Hour Diner

Last night at the Harvester, I was looking across the street at Tully's and was disappointed to see that they were closed at 8:30 at night. It is deeply distressing to me that some of the most prominent coffee shop locations downtown are owned by Tully's and are not open after 8:00 pm. (I believe that when I lived above the Tully's in the Bostwick in 2002 it closed even earlier.)

But as I was sitting there, it occurred to me that I could have been looking out the Harvester's window at 2:00 am and it wouldn't look too much different. Which then prompted the question, why isn't the Harvester open at 2:00 am?

It seems to be that there are a couple businesses in town poised for 24 hour service; the Harvester and the Old Milwaukee Cafe. Breakfast all night, perhaps? Flapjacks at 4? The great thing about the OMC is that it is so close to the clubs and nightlife that they can pull in the post-clubbing crowds. And the Harvester is surrounded by residents and students.

Since Stadium re-opened, I've noticed a lot more people around the school and in the Stadium District at night who are seeing games, meets, performances, etc. The area has come alive again, and extending that life into the wee small hours of the morning would help make the neighborhood even more friendly. Stadium Thriftway is already open past midnight, let's add the Harvester, too!

Broken Record

If you're all ready tired of me telling you to watch Veronica Mars, tough. First, get the first two seasons on DVD. Second, buy a time machine and go back to 9:00 tonight and record the premier of Season 3.

On my list of Good Television, VM is below Lost, The Office, and Arrested Development, but above 24 and Studio 60. If you're counting.

Speaking of television, here's the opening paragraph from the review for Friday Night Lights in the New York Times. I'm not sure I've ever seen a more glowing review of anything. Friday Night Lights? SayWA?

Lord, is “Friday Night Lights” good. In fact, if the season is anything like the pilot, this new drama about high school football could be great — and not just television great, but great in the way of a poem or painting, great in the way of art with a single obsessive creator who doesn’t have to consult with a committee and has months or years to go back and agonize over line breaks and the color red; it could belong in a league with art that doesn’t have to pause for commercials, or casually recap the post-commercial action, or sell viewers on the plot and characters in the first five minutes, or hew to a line-item budget, or answer to unions and studios, or avoid four-letter words and nudity.

I don't know that this will be high on my list, but those are two powerful sentences.

Ladies and Gentlemen, please turn on your cell phones

The Chicago Sinfonietta tried an experiment: orchestrating the audience's cell phones into their world premier of the Concertino for Cellular Phones and Symphony Orchestra. Audience members were encouraged at a light to activate their cell phone ringers. Four amplified cell phones were operated on stage with variations on the theme.

Something new for the Northwest Sinfonietta to tackle next season? I'll bring my cell. It plays the Super Mario Brothers theme.

Jackass: Yes, I really saw it

And it was funny. Very painful. Very funny.

You've got to give these guys points for sheer creativity. "A Firehose Rodeo," where you dangle a firehouse from a large boom and then ride it. Or a new game, where you put a double-see-saw in the middle of a bull ring, and try to avoid the bull. Or put an anaconda in a child's ball pit and have Johnny Knoxville and his friends try to catch it.

Of course, many of the stunts were also incredibly gross or incredibly disgusting; so much so that a description here would do you a disservice if you were to read this over your lunch break.

But I liked it. Amazingly, so did Richard Roeper and guest host Fred Ward (although he pretty much liked everything he saw). Roeper put it pretty well: these guys found something to do together that keeps them from doing drugs or killing themselves, so kudos to them.

I agree, I just don't want to be their friend. They pull some awful pranks on each other.

Oh, if the rumors are true!

Exit133.com has some rumors on its site about a possible development of the Titus car lot in the Stadium District. If that parking lot--and it's a massive space--were converted in a series of phases into mixed use, with residential above streetside commercial, Stadium could really come into its own. Currently the biggest problem with the Stadium District is that all the businesses are essentially clumped between Division and First on Tacoma. There's just not enough there.

But the residents have been there for some time, and expanding the residents and expanding the services in the area can only mean good things for the neighborhood and, by default, downtown Tacoma. Why downtown, too? Because Stadium is downtown. It's the northern end of the downtown slope and the condos along St. Helens and Broadway are only serving to bring the Theater District together with Stadium. With any luck, Stadium will be fully integrated into downtown by 2010.

Here's hopin'.