I just got back from touring the newly-restored D&R Theater. Gorgeous! Better than I remember. Very classy.

The chandeliers are especially amazing. Turns out there were only a couple of the smaller ones left so Yonich commissioned replicas to be made. When they arrived, the crystals had to be hung one at a time. Well, I sure wouldn't have the patience for that myself but I'm glad somebody did.

Everything has been done with good taste. The decor is simple yet elegant. This is really going to be a jewel for Aberdeen.

If the Emerald Queen comes here and if The Morck can be restored next, Aberdeen is set. Just add in the GH Historical Seaport docks/museum and Aberdeen is really gonna be back on the map.

I'm impressed and encouraged.

Very encouraging. It's very nice, and good for the harbor.

Thought this might fit here, from Beav:

. . . and if Yonich can get a bookstore here, like he has been talking about, it will be ALL GOOD.

I also toured the D&R today. Although im a little after its hay day it was very nice inside. Ive been to the coffee shop several times and the ice cream place haunts my dreams but inside the D&R was a first for me today. If you get a chance hit up the ice cream place. The portions are big and really good.

They had free mini milkshakes. I had some kind of berry-cheesecake flavor. Oh...yummmmmm!!! I will not be stopping there because the next time I need to buy new clothes, I want them to be a size smaller not larger.

Well, you'll have to be patient Jewels, but after seeing the theatre and the effort that's gone into it, I can say with some degree of confidence that the bookstore will come. Once the roof is fixed, of course...

I know I will be in the minority here, BUT . . .

Hubby and I visited the ice cream shop a while back, and I was NOT impressed. Not putting air conditioning in was a HUGE mistake. It was a very hot day, and by the time the clerk (who was SOOOOO busy chatting with his girlfriend that he asked me AT LEAST four times what my order was--chocolate sundae, DUH--), the ice cream was running down his arm!!! I thought the ice cream had an odd flavor, also.

I tried to 'shop local', but I will stick to Baskin-Robbins.

B&R is still locally owned isn't it? That counts too.

Scoops being there won't keep me from going to B-R... They have more flavors, and are less expensive, I believe. The thing that most keeps me from going there is that I hate to go down past it to turn around and come back. The one thing I must say is, that if Mr. Yonich wants something, he seems to have the will and the patience to get it. And he wants a bookstore in Aberdeen.

I want a book stroe too. Any idea where it might be going? Clevengers maybe?

Yes, Yonich has said it will be in the old Clevenger's building.

It is supposed to be Half Price Books.

I will settle for any bookstore at this point.

I love buying books on the 'net, but there is something to be said for just walking into a bookstore and browsing and smelling the wonderful fragrance of new books.

I love Half Price Books. I love buying anything locally, whenever possible. And I prefer browsing and smelling 'em in person, too.

I love bookstores too.

I especially love them when the books are free.

I'm with you. I get most of my books from the library.

I love the library. But some books you just gotta own, imho. I like to write notes in them. I'm not talking fiction.

I've found more than one library book with underlining and margin notes.

But I don't believe in defacing public property. And then I wouldn't have my notes handy.

Don't get me wrong, I own lots of books, but the number which I've read more than once is small.

The only exceptions are
The tightwad gazette
Your Money or your Life
Asimov's robot/foundation novels
several how-to books, especially ones about electrical wiring
... and cookbooks, of course

I really like the book section of the goodwill in Olympia.

I rarely buy a new book and prefer either used book stores, half-price books, garage sales, library book sales or, at times, the cheapies at Amazon even though shipping wipes out some of the savings. I also download some books, ones with expired copyrights, to my phone from the Guttenberg project. Hopefully a local half-price book shop will eliminate my need to use Amazon when I just want to feel a book in my hand or read something still in copyright.

I've re-read many fiction books that I really like although I shouldn't because there are many more I should read or want to read that I haven't read it.

I often make notes in reference books and books about things like history, social and political issues, etc.

But, really, I could sell 90% of the books cluttering up my house and not miss them. I've donated them to fundraiser garage sales and sold some on Amazon. I need to list more.

I read The Tightwad Gazette years ago. Interesting. Most of the stuff they suggested, we have applied but we're sure not as financially secure as cheaply as they are. I wonder what we missed? So, funny you should mention it, I am now reading Your Money or Your Life to see what piece I'm missing.

So have I.

As a library volunteer, much to my chagrin, so have I.

Did anyone else notice that the Clevenger's building had signs in the windows saying that it was being remodeled and opening soon?

YESSSS, I noticed that a couple days ago . . .

Hopefully it WILL be the bookstore coming soon . . .

Where I live now there's a Borders a mile from my house.

Neener neener.

Gee, Beav, I just can't see you bothering with that pesky one mile drive in big city traffic when you can just order from the comfort of your basement.

Who orders? I can go there and read a whole book if I want, and have a coffee and some danish too.

We have a place like that, without the coffee or danish.

Oh? Do tell . . .

I'll bet he means the library.

Yeah. Of course, Jewels has plenty of stuff to read, I'm sure, and has cold bottled water.

True, dat!!

I've got to check it out sometime. The last time I was in there was the early 80's and while it was showing its age it was 100 million times better than those crackerjack box cinemas at the mall.
Do they plan to ever show movies again, or is it just music etc?

Don't know for sure but I think they're going to focus on live entertainment.

As of now he has no plans to show movies. It is designed for live entertainment. The current lighting system would make it very difficult to install the screen needed to show movies.

That kind of blows.

One thing that is starting to take off now are mini film festivals, and midnite movies in 35mm shown in older theaters. People are flocking to these again instead of going to current movies.
If you can tie these in with things like horror or scifi conventions you can really rake in the cash.

I think the reason that he didn't go that route is that he sees the 7th Street to be a more appropriate venue for that kind of thing. At least, that's how I understood it.

Well I sure hope it works out for them. At the very least it might bring in more popular acts on a regular basis.

News from a very reliable source at the Backstage Coffee shop tonight that January 1st 2010 is going to be Grand Opening of Theatre. Gloriana and Steel Magnolia huge country stars are going to be opening act. Robert Cray in mid-January, Queensryche in February, Manhattan Transfer in May, and LeeAnn Rimes in August. Others, but I couldn't write them down that fast.Also, Yonich purchased Elks where he will be holding pre and post function events. I guess downtown is waking up.

Sounds like it could be looking up a bit. Thanks for the info and welcome to the forum.

Went to the Steel Magnolia show and just bought tickets for Cray show. Imagine just two years ago this theater was in ruins. Say what you want about Yonich, he did what he said, without tax dollars and the projects that he has up an rolling I am definitely now going to be a supporter. By the way the show was great, and the best part was the idea of using local acts to open for the national acts. Ericka Corban is going places after that performance.

Ericka Corban rocked the house.

Meghan Linsey has a phenomenal set of pipes.
The way she uses them does not bode well for longevity,
but she can sure sing now.

Josh was floating in Nyquil and booze.

D&R looked pretty dang cool.

Skittles were fresh!

Unfortunately, I'm told that Queensryche, while it really was scheduled, has been cancelled.

Well that sucks.

Can I complain about Yonich NOT getting a break on ticket taxes??? I already posted a comment on The Daily World, but they have not printed a few of my comments (no profanity, not sure if they just don't censor...)



"laughable??

It was given consideration when Sidney's (the gambling joint) asked...why so funny now??

This is a new business that has potential to really help do something positive for downtown, dying Aberdeen.

Oh never mind, let's go cut some timber instead.
sad."

I don't get why this is an issue..I did NOT go to school with Mr. Yonich, so I bring no pre-conceived notions about him. Just saying that he has obviously invested not only a LOT of money, but a big part of his heart in this endeavor. Yes, he is looking to make some profit, but the City needs this shot in the arm (and a few more...), I don't understand, really, why the negative reaction.

I'm going to go to the Irish Rock show coming up, really excited about that! My sons went to Robert Cray and loved it! (they told me Dick Cheney was playing keyboard...lol, even looked the guy up, I guess he was really good)

Too funny! I didn't think of it at the time, but now that you mention it, I can see where they got that. And yeah, he is a great player. Enjoy your Irish Rock show. I hope that place thrives.

I am just wondering why they don't add the two bucks to the ticket price and forget it? What is the issue? Will people go broke paying it? Or is it just because some round number sounds better?

I am not getting this.

I plan on continuing to see shows at the theater, but still don't see an issue with the tax as it stands. It seems to be inline with ticket taxes I've seen elsewhere, and that are usually included in the ticket price.

Have fun at the Irish Rock show. Unfortunately, I am pretty busy that day, I would love to see the Clumsy Lovers again. That would take me back to college.

I don't know for sure, but I'd bet it is a situation of Yonich not taking the tax into account when ticket prices for previous events were decided. Now, the tax is due and an unexpected cut into hoped for profits is uncomfortable.

In one article I recall a "I didn't even know..." comment.

Sidney's had no control over gambling prices. They couldn't raise the price of a one dollar chip. Yonich can raise the price of a $30 ticket to $32.

The tax has always existed. The movie theater has always paid it and it is part of what anyone pays for a ticket to see any movie (same in most cities).

It has come up now because it is exactly as you said, the tax was not originally taken into account because he did not know about it. That part I believe has already been paid so is not even an issue(of course I've been wrong before).

The fact is you cannot play favorites as it seems Debra wants. It cannot be lowered for the D&R and left the same or raised for the movie theater. It can however, be raised, lowered, changed to a flat rate, etc for everyone. There is nothing saying this wouldn't be a future consideration. Personally I don't know where I fall on this issue yet. Since I'm not on the committee who discussed it I don't have all the facts.

From what I hear from a very reliable source is that Yonich has no problem charging for the tax. He just wanted to know what it was for and where it waqs going. If he wanted to, he could easily create a non-profit corp as everyone else has and not pay the tax. He's not doing that. Also, from a person that I know who works for him, on all of the shows to date he has broke even and even lost money of this shows. He needs to raise prices, but I guess he want to keep them as afordable as possible. it appears to me that he defintely hasn't forgotten his roots. Just look at his prices for his shows. Way less for the exact same ones in the larger cities. My hats off to him and I will contimu to support his endeavors.

Cool.

Not sure why you responded directly to me. I don't recall criticizing Yonich.

I have nothing but the utmost respect for the man. He has spent big bucks back in his hometown, restored a well-loved building (by those of us old enough to have memories of going to movies at the D&R), and has even more plans for downtown. I would never criticize anything he's done.

I do think it's odd he wasn't informed of the tax when he applied for the licenses.

I was well aware the problem was pretty much solved but am not going to speak for John. My post was speaking to the subject in general. The poster seemed to believe the city was not supportive of what was happening at the D&R. We still need to treat everyone the same and not play favorites. Basically work hard to help but realize that all business is important and don't play favorites.

FWIW Lounge Acts which was the very first show at the Theatre and as much of a grand opening as the Josh Turner concert (no matter what Chris Rush editorial last week might state) and was charged no fee for the Theatre. We were given full run of the place, of course we also helped wire the sound system and got it set up. When we asked what the final total that we needed to pay would be we were simply told, "Don't worry about it" with out John even batting an eye. So I fully appreciate what he's done and what he is doing.