So the Linwood Home Tour is $22. I think that seems a tad outrageous. I did the Linwood Tour like two years ago and it was really kinda crappy. It was like 12 houses and part of it was the stupid Mayfair apartment building which was really an ad for the apartment building cuz you go in and see an empty apartment. RIDICULOUS!!! It was really seeming outrageous. The houses were not exactly like even the best ones they were just houses that were on the tour because they wanted to be.
It just seems totally ridiculous. So my question is...where does the $22 go, is it some worthwhile charity, maybe for kids? maybe to help a homeless shelter? maybe to feed the hungry? or help rehabilitate older Victorian homes in poorer areas? OR is is for the rich people to get richer and spruce up their already rich and fancy neighborhood? Why should I pay for them to make their lives even fancier and separate themselves from the rest of the neighborhood? Maybe they can take the money and build a moat!
Mike's Journal
My Podcast Link
03/30/2008 00:21 #43826
Linwood House Tour: What a Scam...03/27/2008 17:40 #43808
Risking My Life For Movies: Regal StyleSo the Regal on elmwood has gotten sketchier and sketchier over the years. Like i don't love going to a movie theater where there are like 30 police at all times checking everyone's tickets. While i see why that should make you feel better it makes me way more terrified like something bad is about to happen at all times! So we went to see Shutter the other day( a pretty good and very scary movie in my book, though Willy WOnka is also a really scary movie in my book and Alice In Wonderland television version, but i digress). Anyway, in the back of the theater there are this group of teenagers just like yelling things out and being obnoxious as all get out. (and like trust me I may talk a bit at movies sometimes but they were clearly doing this to be annoying) Other people started to get angry and saying things and this riled the kids up more. The tauntings got somewhat racially charged just making it all the more ready for an explosiion. Of course I am already as tense as can be because of the movie and now with all the fighting among the crowd and the police presence outside and the past history of riots at Regal , I was sure there was a gonna be a knifing at any moment and I would be caught in the crossfire. Then this huge man in the front stood up and said something like "YOU WANNA SAY THAT TO MY FACE" to the kids who had something like his girlfriend was ugly. Then the police came in and escorted the kids out and the audience cheered. I don't understand why people would go just to be annoying and get kicked out, it is like 10 dollars a ticket , just so you can get kicked out?!?
Oh i forogt the biggest travesty of all, i could have prolly survived it otherwise but I HAD NO POPCORN CUZ IT WAS GOOD FRIDAY AND I COULDN'T SNACK BETWEEN MEALS! That is the biggest travesty of all really!>!>!>
you know what they say a movie without popcorn is like a pipe without crack....
Oh i forogt the biggest travesty of all, i could have prolly survived it otherwise but I HAD NO POPCORN CUZ IT WAS GOOD FRIDAY AND I COULDN'T SNACK BETWEEN MEALS! That is the biggest travesty of all really!>!>!>
you know what they say a movie without popcorn is like a pipe without crack....
tinypliny - 04/05/08 17:32
How about the movie theatre downtown? Do you ever go there? Seems like a good one in general. You know what I don't get - the popcorn prices! I mean, come on, how can you expect any sane individual to pay nearly $7 for friggin popcorn. Agreed its like crack for pipe but last time I checked its only $1 for 1/2 a silo of popcorn - real price. Its like the theatres are making a bazillion% profit from popcorn alone. It just seems a little unfair. If they price it right I might buy $7 worth, just don't give me a one pack and charge it at $7.
How about the movie theatre downtown? Do you ever go there? Seems like a good one in general. You know what I don't get - the popcorn prices! I mean, come on, how can you expect any sane individual to pay nearly $7 for friggin popcorn. Agreed its like crack for pipe but last time I checked its only $1 for 1/2 a silo of popcorn - real price. Its like the theatres are making a bazillion% profit from popcorn alone. It just seems a little unfair. If they price it right I might buy $7 worth, just don't give me a one pack and charge it at $7.
jenks - 03/29/08 14:54
sara, that boat in the tunnel scene still scares the crap out of me, and I've never even seen it on acid, so you're not alone.
and- this is the regal on elmwood, by home depot and target and stuff, right? That's like the only theater I ever go to, and I've never found it at all sketchy. In fact I've always thought it was pretty nice Hmm. Maybe I live under a rock? I wonder what I'm missing, if that place is super scary... Where SHOULD I go then? I like that one b/c it's close.
sara, that boat in the tunnel scene still scares the crap out of me, and I've never even seen it on acid, so you're not alone.
and- this is the regal on elmwood, by home depot and target and stuff, right? That's like the only theater I ever go to, and I've never found it at all sketchy. In fact I've always thought it was pretty nice Hmm. Maybe I live under a rock? I wonder what I'm missing, if that place is super scary... Where SHOULD I go then? I like that one b/c it's close.
iriesara - 03/28/08 11:42
I love the original Willy Wonka, but saw it on acid once & that boat through the tunnel scene scared the hell out of me! The to the point when I watch it with my son even, I get a little jittery at that part. And that was like 12? years ago.
I remember the TV Alice in Wonderland from when we were kids and I remember thinking that was slightly frightening also. Kind of like an acid trip in itself, although obviously now I realize that's fitting. I didn't know that when I was 9 though, so to me it was just....off, in a really peculiar way.
I love the original Willy Wonka, but saw it on acid once & that boat through the tunnel scene scared the hell out of me! The to the point when I watch it with my son even, I get a little jittery at that part. And that was like 12? years ago.
I remember the TV Alice in Wonderland from when we were kids and I remember thinking that was slightly frightening also. Kind of like an acid trip in itself, although obviously now I realize that's fitting. I didn't know that when I was 9 though, so to me it was just....off, in a really peculiar way.
mrdeadlier - 03/27/08 23:41
I will only go to that theatre if I have absolutely no choice because of incidents like the one you described. I almost got in a fight (me... in a fight) with some guy behind me like 5 years ago while seeing some Hugh Grant/Sandra Bullock movie. Hugh Grant and Sandra Bullock! Typically I'll willingly waste the time and drive out to Transit Regal just so I can avoid the frustration. But even that has been going downhill over the past several years.
I will only go to that theatre if I have absolutely no choice because of incidents like the one you described. I almost got in a fight (me... in a fight) with some guy behind me like 5 years ago while seeing some Hugh Grant/Sandra Bullock movie. Hugh Grant and Sandra Bullock! Typically I'll willingly waste the time and drive out to Transit Regal just so I can avoid the frustration. But even that has been going downhill over the past several years.
03/18/2008 20:46 #43724
Ill Punch Your Heart Out HahaThis is my favoritest clip from Golden Girls of all time. Too bad Sophia isn't in it! I seriuosly laugh hysterically for hours everytime I see this episode!!! I love dorothy's face during the parade!
tinypliny - 04/05/08 17:56
Yeah, way to go kid. :) Hahahaha
Yeah, way to go kid. :) Hahahaha
libertad - 03/19/08 20:26
I never saw that one. The kid at the end is so cute when he says happy birhtday dorothy.
I never saw that one. The kid at the end is so cute when he says happy birhtday dorothy.
jenks - 03/19/08 19:56
haha, i love dorothy too.
She reminds me of my mom/grandma. Or vice versa, not sure which.
haha, i love dorothy too.
She reminds me of my mom/grandma. Or vice versa, not sure which.
ladycroft - 03/19/08 14:47
you know, i REALLY needed a laugh today, and the golden girls are always a guarantee. dorothy was always my favorite, she had the best 'looks'.
you know, i REALLY needed a laugh today, and the golden girls are always a guarantee. dorothy was always my favorite, she had the best 'looks'.
03/17/2008 22:46 #43711
HAPPY BIRTHDAY JILL!!Today one of my bestest of friends , (e:jill) turns 25! Quarter life folks! HAPPY BIRTHDAY JILLIAN JIGGS!!
tinypliny - 04/05/08 17:45
I was born this month too, many many years ago. Happy birthday to the cool Piscean in you Jill!
I was born this month too, many many years ago. Happy birthday to the cool Piscean in you Jill!
matthew - 03/18/08 18:48
Happy Birthday fellow Pisces!
Happy Birthday fellow Pisces!
metalpeter - 03/18/08 18:37
Happy Birthday Jill
Happy Birthday Jill
ladycroft - 03/18/08 02:47
Happy Happy Birthday Jill!
Happy Happy Birthday Jill!
lilho - 03/17/08 22:48
i would like to second that emotion! happy birthday jill! a toast to the most fashionable lady i know!!!!!!
i would like to second that emotion! happy birthday jill! a toast to the most fashionable lady i know!!!!!!
03/13/2008 18:39 #43654
2 Years on The ToiletOMG there was a story today in the Buffalo News about a woman who has spent the last two years on a toilet and her boyfriend who was bringing her food and water finally called the police. I guess she refuesed to get up for two year and now her legs have atrophied and her skin has literally grown around the toilet seat! UNBELIEVABLE ...HERE IS THE LINK...no this isn't the national enquirer this is the real news here...
tinypliny - 04/05/08 17:58
I guess it was a wise choice to choose the toilet if you chose to spend two years of your life sitting. Human intelligence at work right there.
I guess it was a wise choice to choose the toilet if you chose to spend two years of your life sitting. Human intelligence at work right there.
lilho - 03/17/08 22:49
that's fucked up. only you would post about this. i wonder if they still had sex???
that's fucked up. only you would post about this. i wonder if they still had sex???
james - 03/14/08 09:39
It is usually easy to keep my cover and not reveal that I am an android from the future, but after reading that I have to say humans are gross.
It is usually easy to keep my cover and not reveal that I am an android from the future, but after reading that I have to say humans are gross.
fellyconnelly - 03/14/08 09:26
uhhh wow...
uhhh wow...
ladycroft - 03/14/08 04:08
wow. That's some serious agoraphobia.
wow. That's some serious agoraphobia.
mk - 03/13/08 22:08
ok i don't even want to click on the link. that is totally dsgusting.
ok i don't even want to click on the link. that is totally dsgusting.
A gate sounds like more maintenance money to me. If they build a gate, they need more money to maintain and where will that money come from?
TO clear up a few things:
1. I never meant that the people's houses who are shown benefit financially from this. I meant that the money goes towards say building a fancy gateway at the beginning of the street. And while yes most fancy streets have those stone gateways, Linwood does not, don't you want to preserve it how it was. I always found those gateways to serve as a warning like you don't belong here and as a separation from the rest of the community, like now you are entering the nice place. It seems a bit pretentious to build one.
2. I just took a quick look online and things like the Parkside Tour the money goes to an association that yes does use money to spruce up the neighboorhood but also creates a summer arts program for kids and gives loans to poorer members of the area to help spruce up their homes. I can't find anything about Linwood doing this but i can't find anything saying it doesn't, so I guess I would like to know if it does.
3. Clearly there are lots of people willing to pay the $22 to see it and I guess that is why I think you could take something like that, where you know you have an asset people want to see, and use that to raise money for something other than just beautifying your own street. (e:paul) even had a suggestion which was like helping fund restoring old homes in parts of the city that are not so well to do and could use more improvements.
The tickets are only $17 in advance. The idea is to preserve this district and beautify it. People really spend a lot of time strolling down our street in the fashion of a park. It is definately a community resource in terms of public space.
I know it is hard to believe now, but before this neighborhood was pretty run down and some of the houses were in serious disrepair. People who really cared about historical preservation (in a recognized historical district) put a lot of time and money into their homes to change that.
You have to look at it as the money is going to maintain and preserve this historical neighborhood and the unique architectural character of Buffalo which is the whole point of the tour.
I agree that the gateway is a little pretentious but what fancy street doesn't have one? And (e:lilho), you actually live in a gated community, so whatever.
As for the price, I agree that cheaper would be more appropriate - like $15 - especially considering that some of the venues are not even homes such as artspace. It is only $17 in advance.
I think that was definitely a big mistake to include artspace, possibly a bigger mistake was last year with the free advertising that was the apartment building tour. Whoever thought that was a good idea made a big mistake. On the other hand they sold 800 tickets last year.
I have a feeling it can be much better in the future and hopefully we can hopefully change that.
"maybe they can take the money and build a moat." ahahahahaha. i actually laughed out loud, more than once. you make my day mike. if they charge $22, they should make the people with the best houses participate, by force. then, it would be more worth it. and people should put on a show or, provide drinks or snacks, right?
Question? Can you take pictures inside the houses? I can see why people wouldn't want pictures of there home where they have family pictures. But if they are showing off the insides of there houses you would think they would want their hard work to be shown other places. Yeah $22 dollars does sound like a lot but if you can take pictures of all the great homes with great wood inside of them. Well from your house with that cool entrance way and the wooden sliding doors I assume the rest of the houses would look great inside. Another question when is the tour and how would tickets be bought. You might as well let people know that.
i guess i should have mentioned that i live on linwood, i am a member of the linwood association , and my house will in fact be on this years tour. so i probably took it too personally.
wow mike, this is the most misinformed journal entry ever. "OR is is for the rich people to get richer and spruce up their already rich and fancy neighborhood" You already know the answer to this question. I agree the price is very high for a home tour, but regardless the money is not going into linwood's private residents pockets like you suggest. It's being used to beautify and enhance the street. Like replacing trees, fixing potholes, building gateways, recognizing buffalo's architectural history, and reminding people that there are beautiful neighborhoods and communities to live in in the city. (things you'd think tax dollars to the city of buffalo would take care of...but they rarely do)(and things that benefit all of the neighboring residents) I know the linwood association isn't doing anything purposely selfish or wrong by putting on a home tour. They really put a lot of their time, effort, and work into events like these.And they are truly proud of their homes and want to share them with others Also, the tickets always sell out. So obviously some people are willing to pay. And they don't seem to be bitching about where they spend their money.