I just happened to be checking out the website for Rhombus Pizza and couldn't help but notice a couple of quotes that looked familiar. Check out the bottom of the website. Here we see positive quotes from "Lisa" and "Tom." Actually, the quotes were originally comments from this blog back last April...check out the last comments on this blog post. The funny thing is, both of those comments were by anonymous readers. Where did the Rhombus guys get "Lisa" and "Tom" from?
Hey guys, I'm feeling lonesome. Why? Because you seem to have forgotten about sending me interesting tips and rumors. I used to get a couple of good tips each day. Now...no tips. I'm feeling neglected! Your tips help to make Grand Forks Life more interesting and more frequently updated. So, come on...send me some tips, people!
Keep this email address handy: grandforkslife@yahoo.com
As I write this, Senator Barack Obama's plane has either touched down at Grand Forks International Airport or will do so very shortly. From there, he will make his way to Grand Forks' Alerus Center where he will give the keynote address for the North Dakota Democrat-NPL convention. While he is speaking, Senator Hillary Clinton will make her way to this "grand city" where she will also address her supporters.
I have no doubt that the next President of the United States of America will be speaking in Grand Forks tonight. I'm not sure if that leader will be a black man or a white woman, but I feel that either candidate would make a great president and their election would be a historic milestone in our nation's history. Tonight, we will see the future of our country in our own backyard.
Of course, as many of you probably know, there are numerous other events going on in Grand Forks tonight and over the next few days. In all, tens of thousands of people will be attending the various events that, together, are turning this into one of the most historic times in Grand Forks history. Welcome to all who are in Grand Forks for the first time or who are making a return visit.
And again, a very special welcome to the two inspirational individuals who will be addressing our city, our state, and our nation this evening. Welcome to Grand Forks!
According to aleruscenter.com, "There will be no Public Walking this Friday, April 4th, due to the Democratic National Convention." Wow, pretty good for Grand Forks!
Ryan Schuster has an interesting article in Thursday's Herald about potential future uses for the Civic Auditorium property in downtown Grand Forks. He also has a post about this over at his blog.
According to the article, there are two proposals for the property. One would see the building demolished and replaced with an apartment complex. The other would see the building remodeled and put to a new use. The name of the company that would like to buy and renovate the building is not currently being disclosed. However, I have a feeling I might now what company we're talking about here.
According to the agenda for the Growth Fund Committee's March 18 meeting - a meeting which was cancelled and rescheduled for next month - urban development director Greg Hoover states that "Jamie Lunski from HB Sound and Light has expressed an interest in purchasing the auditorium."
Now I'm wondering what a company like that would want with the old Civic Auditorium...any ideas?
Here's a first look at the new "Shoppes at Aurora" strip mall currently being built on the south side of Grand Forks. The 20,410 square foot mall will be located directly north of the Aurora Medical Park complex and will face South Washington Street.
As far as potential tenants, I've heard that there will likely be some sort of restaurant in the mall. One chain that I have heard mentioned is called Souplantation (Wikipedia article). Anything special you would like to see in this strip mall? Any other rumored tenants that you know of?
As many of you may know, the Columbia 4 movie theater recently went from a first-run format to a discount/second-run format. This means that you can now see a movie in Grand Forks for just one dollar. That's right...literally one dollar.
Personally, I'm excited that Grand Forks once again has a dollar theater. I used to go to the old Plaza Twin discount theater at South Forks Plaza frequently back in the late 1990s. I was disappointed when that theater shut down a few years ago.
I have to admit that it is a little odd to have a discount theater right in the heart of the city's busiest shopping district. It seems like such theaters are usually in older or even blighted neighborhoods. I wonder what Columbia Mall thinks of having a theater like this located on one of their busiest entrances? Is this a sign that Columbia Mall is becoming Grand Forks' next South Forks Plaza? Let's hope not!
Also, the Columbia 4 building and property are clearly in poor shape. The front of the building hasn't seen a fresh coat of paint in years and looks terribly faded. The parking lot and landscaping are also in rough shape. The sign on the south side of the building has read "thea" instead of "theater" for years and years. Let's not even start talking about the inside. Needless to say, Carmike has neglected the building for ages.
Interestingly, Carmike's own business practices are what ultimately forced their formerly first-run theater to become a second-run theater. At least that's how I see it. The corporation's high ticket prices coupled with poorly maintained facilities led to the development of the locally-owned River Cinema 12 in East Grand Forks last year. That theater's success forced Carmike to turn around and convert the Columbia 4 into a discount theater.
Oh well, even if the paint is faded and the interior of the building is depressing, I'm still going to frequent this theater. A dollar doesn't exactly buy very much in 2008, but now it does buy a couple of hours of entertainment and escapism.
What do you think of the Columbia 4's new format? Do you think you'll use this theater more or less now that it has moved to a second-run format? Anyone willing to chip in for a fresh can of paint?
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