James's Journal
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01/27/2009 11:50 #47535
Take on MeIf you are reading A-Ha I think this would make an excellent storyboard for your comeback music video.
01/26/2009 21:11 #47525
Architectural tourismBuffalo is a little rough around the edges, but a beautiful city. We have some absolute gems in this town and many homes of the middle class from the turn of the century have more character and charm than in other cities. Architecture is clearly part of what makes this city so beautiful. With the Darwin Martin house and renewed talks (and endless studies) about the Richardson Complex a phrase I keep hearing is "architectural tourism". Tourists will flock to the city. Bringing with them money for hotels, restaurants, and entertainment venues. Why the Richardson/Olmstead Complex website even says that architectural tourists "spend a great deal more than the average visitor to the area."
So, I decided to google this architectural tourism to see what sort of pony shoes other cities were putting on to draw money spewing tourists. First result: flickr. Ok, a fluke. Second result: Buffalo as a Museum. What followed was a series of sites on the various cities of Italy. From the tower of Pisa to the Vatican. We are so fucked.
I have to assume that our local organizations are taking us for a ride, inventing this brand of tourism. I always wondered, who are these tourists? Who gets a yen to go see the work of their favorite late 19th century architect and make a whole vacation out of it? More so, can these people exist in such numbers as to justify spending this kind of money of fixing up crumbling buildings?
Now, I firmly believe that fixing up the gems is essential to bringing back this town from the dead. But not to draw a dozen tourists to gaze in wonder at an insane asylum, but to draw business and keep people here. Our mentality seems to be we have passed our prime and our best years are behind us. So, we wont tear down a few run of the mill homes to build a hotel. We will jam up a successful business expansion over two years because that means ripping down a home with a faulty foundation. We are scared to damage already damaged specters of our golden age.
makes me wonder if our benefactor has abandoned the Statler Tower yet.
So, I decided to google this architectural tourism to see what sort of pony shoes other cities were putting on to draw money spewing tourists. First result: flickr. Ok, a fluke. Second result: Buffalo as a Museum. What followed was a series of sites on the various cities of Italy. From the tower of Pisa to the Vatican. We are so fucked.
I have to assume that our local organizations are taking us for a ride, inventing this brand of tourism. I always wondered, who are these tourists? Who gets a yen to go see the work of their favorite late 19th century architect and make a whole vacation out of it? More so, can these people exist in such numbers as to justify spending this kind of money of fixing up crumbling buildings?
Now, I firmly believe that fixing up the gems is essential to bringing back this town from the dead. But not to draw a dozen tourists to gaze in wonder at an insane asylum, but to draw business and keep people here. Our mentality seems to be we have passed our prime and our best years are behind us. So, we wont tear down a few run of the mill homes to build a hotel. We will jam up a successful business expansion over two years because that means ripping down a home with a faulty foundation. We are scared to damage already damaged specters of our golden age.
makes me wonder if our benefactor has abandoned the Statler Tower yet.
metalpeter - 01/27/09 19:20
Here is my view on Issa and this is Just me. He was all gung ho and had people working on stuff. Then the unions got there thing going and than all of a sudden he had problems and cash flow problems. I think what happened is his plans where based on spending a certain amount of money and then if he had to pay union $$ that messed everything up, so blame the unions on that one.
In terms of preservation there is a fine line that is often tough to figure out. I like the Richardson complex and it reminds me of s shorter version of something you might see in Prague (never been some of you may know the building I mean that looks like that evil tower from the Lord of the rings movies). I think that any old historic building that can be should be saved. I think that if someone owns a building and doesn't keep it up and lets it fall apart they should be held accountable.
I haven't been to a lot of places but what I have heard about places like Toronto, NYC and boston are that they have ethnic areas to visit. But see there are also mondern things like museums and new buildings so there is a good mix. I only have been to Toronto so I don't know. I don't know if people really visit to see buildings alone. I think it is part of the reason. I think though the US is hurt in the historic travel because nothing is really that old. Well ok the grand Canyon is. There are no Aztec Pyramids, or any of the Ancient stuff. I do think though that a mix of Galleries and Cool looking buildings and history could bring people to Buffalo. But that being said I'm not sure. With the economy why not just look at pictures on say Flickr or Webshots, I know it isn't the same. As an example I want to go to Chicago and see Millenium Park. I would like to see when they turn the water running through the city Green. I have never been to NYC to see the Statue of Liberty and get a blow job in times square, well ok can't do that anymore say go to the hard rock see something on mtv and go to Fuse as well.
Here is my view on Issa and this is Just me. He was all gung ho and had people working on stuff. Then the unions got there thing going and than all of a sudden he had problems and cash flow problems. I think what happened is his plans where based on spending a certain amount of money and then if he had to pay union $$ that messed everything up, so blame the unions on that one.
In terms of preservation there is a fine line that is often tough to figure out. I like the Richardson complex and it reminds me of s shorter version of something you might see in Prague (never been some of you may know the building I mean that looks like that evil tower from the Lord of the rings movies). I think that any old historic building that can be should be saved. I think that if someone owns a building and doesn't keep it up and lets it fall apart they should be held accountable.
I haven't been to a lot of places but what I have heard about places like Toronto, NYC and boston are that they have ethnic areas to visit. But see there are also mondern things like museums and new buildings so there is a good mix. I only have been to Toronto so I don't know. I don't know if people really visit to see buildings alone. I think it is part of the reason. I think though the US is hurt in the historic travel because nothing is really that old. Well ok the grand Canyon is. There are no Aztec Pyramids, or any of the Ancient stuff. I do think though that a mix of Galleries and Cool looking buildings and history could bring people to Buffalo. But that being said I'm not sure. With the economy why not just look at pictures on say Flickr or Webshots, I know it isn't the same. As an example I want to go to Chicago and see Millenium Park. I would like to see when they turn the water running through the city Green. I have never been to NYC to see the Statue of Liberty and get a blow job in times square, well ok can't do that anymore say go to the hard rock see something on mtv and go to Fuse as well.
james - 01/27/09 13:32
paul: there are totally people who would do it, Matthew especially. But how much money can a few dozen people bring to an area over the corse of decades?
Jim: Oh god, it is the fifth result. We are never climbing out of this hole.
paul: there are totally people who would do it, Matthew especially. But how much money can a few dozen people bring to an area over the corse of decades?
Jim: Oh god, it is the fifth result. We are never climbing out of this hole.
jim - 01/27/09 13:24
This journal is now the #5 result for architectural tourism. Way to go!
:::link:::
This journal is now the #5 result for architectural tourism. Way to go!
:::link:::
paul - 01/26/09 21:42
Although, I don't think it is a big market, (e:matthew) is exactly that kind of person. I find it kind of fun myself. Would I plan a whole trip around it? - probably not - but he definitely would.
Although, I don't think it is a big market, (e:matthew) is exactly that kind of person. I find it kind of fun myself. Would I plan a whole trip around it? - probably not - but he definitely would.
jenks - 01/26/09 21:16
have you noticed that those damn houses on forest and elmwood, the ones that all the hubbub was about, that couldn't possibly be torn down to build a hotel because they are all such "historic gems"- are for sale? At least some of them.
have you noticed that those damn houses on forest and elmwood, the ones that all the hubbub was about, that couldn't possibly be torn down to build a hotel because they are all such "historic gems"- are for sale? At least some of them.
- $%%^
01/24/2009 20:45 #47513
Local Television is the best TelevisionNo,
Thank the heavens, I am not going to go on about having a viable local TV station here in Buffalo. No, that would be much to crass and I am sure the Buffalo Rising readerhip has already contemplated how to get millions to move here with the finest in public access. Rather, a moment to highlight some of the finest in local TV adverts.
John Waters. I understand your work now!
rap music. It sells clothing. Dinette sets? Not so much.
That crap.. it just boggles the mind
Already I want to move millions to Rockingham county!
Thank the heavens, I am not going to go on about having a viable local TV station here in Buffalo. No, that would be much to crass and I am sure the Buffalo Rising readerhip has already contemplated how to get millions to move here with the finest in public access. Rather, a moment to highlight some of the finest in local TV adverts.
John Waters. I understand your work now!
rap music. It sells clothing. Dinette sets? Not so much.
That crap.. it just boggles the mind
Already I want to move millions to Rockingham county!
libertad - 01/24/09 21:28
That last one is great. "I am a fiscal conservative AND a support of athletics and the arts"!
That last one is great. "I am a fiscal conservative AND a support of athletics and the arts"!
01/24/2009 01:39 #47504
I WANNA GO!I love filth.
Too bad I will be a good puritan that weekend.
Too bad I will be a good puritan that weekend.
paul - 01/25/09 01:18
JOhnny Hazzard is so hot!
JOhnny Hazzard is so hot!
01/21/2009 17:34 #47475
SOS poolHey everyone,
Looks like our beloved Senator Clinton was just confirmed by the Senate as Secretary of State. So now the ball is in Gov. Patterson's court. Who will he appoint?
Names like Caroline Kennedy and Andrew Cuomo have been circulating from the beginning. But people like Brian Higgins and Byron Brown have been getting focus here.
Who do you think is going to get the appointment?
Patterson is not very popular right now. And if his budget slices and dices every program he is going to be even less popular. He very well may face a primary challenger next year and Andrew Cuomo is just the man to do it. Appointing him would take Patterson's biggest challenger out of the game possibly.
The other way he could play the popularity game is to appoint Kennedy. The world adores a Kennedy and having an ally like her in the Senate could mean both a boost in popularity and a fund raising machine in Washington who owes Patterson big time.
I would like Higgins to get it, but I doubt he will.
I would not like Brown to get it, and I doubt he will.
Kirsten Gillibrand is a congresswoman from just outside Albany. She is white, she is a woman, and she is marginally upstate (Albany is its own economic and cultural morass that has issues different than the burnt out hulls of Buffalo/Rochester/Syracuse). In political games things like race and gender are a big deal. She would be a good choice, and an ideal compromise candidate.
So, throw your imaginary money on the table. Who are you betting for?
My Monopoly money is on Gillibrand. Why? Because this is the season of optimism in the face of a gathering storm.
Looks like our beloved Senator Clinton was just confirmed by the Senate as Secretary of State. So now the ball is in Gov. Patterson's court. Who will he appoint?
Names like Caroline Kennedy and Andrew Cuomo have been circulating from the beginning. But people like Brian Higgins and Byron Brown have been getting focus here.
Who do you think is going to get the appointment?
Patterson is not very popular right now. And if his budget slices and dices every program he is going to be even less popular. He very well may face a primary challenger next year and Andrew Cuomo is just the man to do it. Appointing him would take Patterson's biggest challenger out of the game possibly.
The other way he could play the popularity game is to appoint Kennedy. The world adores a Kennedy and having an ally like her in the Senate could mean both a boost in popularity and a fund raising machine in Washington who owes Patterson big time.
I would like Higgins to get it, but I doubt he will.
I would not like Brown to get it, and I doubt he will.
Kirsten Gillibrand is a congresswoman from just outside Albany. She is white, she is a woman, and she is marginally upstate (Albany is its own economic and cultural morass that has issues different than the burnt out hulls of Buffalo/Rochester/Syracuse). In political games things like race and gender are a big deal. She would be a good choice, and an ideal compromise candidate.
So, throw your imaginary money on the table. Who are you betting for?
My Monopoly money is on Gillibrand. Why? Because this is the season of optimism in the face of a gathering storm.
museumchick - 01/22/09 12:24
My money is still on Fran Drescher.
My money is still on Fran Drescher.
jim - 01/21/09 20:00
I'd like to submit my name for consideration. Not too late I hope.
I'd like to submit my name for consideration. Not too late I hope.
james - 01/21/09 19:28
Bloomberg is a registered independent, so I don't think he would be getting the nod (though I would be perfectly happy if he did).
Oh man, I was be pleased as punch if she did.
Bloomberg is a registered independent, so I don't think he would be getting the nod (though I would be perfectly happy if he did).
Oh man, I was be pleased as punch if she did.
jason - 01/21/09 19:25
Apparently according to some hot off the press news, Caroline withdrew herself from consideration.
Apparently according to some hot off the press news, Caroline withdrew herself from consideration.
metalpeter - 01/21/09 19:24
How about Bloomberg the Mayor of New York, not sure if he is in the running but that is my guess.
How about Bloomberg the Mayor of New York, not sure if he is in the running but that is my guess.
That's awesome
oh my god....i just sat here with my kid reading the whole thing.....till the end. yeah, she got a kick out of this one.
Hee!
Ahh, truly chuckle-worthy.