RANDOM LINKS FOR 12/2/13
December 1st, 2013 by Clark Humphrey
A long-delayed batch of randomosity (the first in more than a month) begins with the discovery of the newest local "mainstream microbrew." Underachiever Lager appears to have begun as a promo vehicle for Tacoma designer-casual-wear company Imperial Motion, but is now being rolled out as its own thang in select local bars.
The countdown to the possible decimation of King County Metro Transit continues, with professional Seattle-haters in the Legislature officially not giving a damn.
Could the Seattle Monorail Project really be brought back from the dead?
About eighteen years past due and not a moment too soon, there's finally a local music show back on local TV. It's Band in Seattle, and it airs at 11 p.m. Saturdays on the once-mighty KSTW (which hasn't had any local programming in ages).
Dj and promoter Derek Mazzone offers a fond remembrance of Ace Hotel/ARO.Space/Tasty Shows/Rudy's Barbershop entrepreneur Alex Canderwood.
We must also say goodbye to Dee Dee Rainbow, a longtime Meany Middle School art teacher, a fixture at just about every jazz show in the region, and a figure of joy and celebration wherever she went.
As has been expected, a mega-developer is buying the old "Fairview Fannie" Seattle Times HQ. The 1930 art deco façade features might be retained.
Monica Guzman has seen one of Amazon's new "webisode" sitcoms and finds it to be a dreary dude-fest with female characters decidedly de-emphasized.
Sinan Demirel at Crosscut remembers homeless-housing projects of the past, and ponders whether they contain any lessons for today.
Is there really such a thing as "The Seattle 'No,'" depicted as a passive-aggressive copout response? I've certainly had few problems saying a firm "No" to questions just like this one.
City Councilmember-elect Kshama Sawant isn't even in office yet and the carpers, local and national, are already circling.
The Daybreak Star Indian Cultural Center is in severe financial straits and might not survive.
One of my fave hangouts, Bill's Off Broadway at Pine and Harvard, closes Monday nite. Yep, redevelopment strikes again. The pizza/pasta joint and sports bar has already opened an exile location on Greenwood Avenue, and should be back in the rebuilt corner in 20 months' time.
To the surprise of very few, David Meinert and his partner Jason Lajuenesse are taking over the Comet Tavern.
Matt Driscoll at Seattle Weekly describes Boeing's single, unacceptable, set of take-it-or-leave-it demands for labor givebacks as the "dick move of the week." But don't worry; billionaire CEOs have made plenty of dick moves just in the two weeks since then.
Lemme get this straight: A local ad agency is trying to convince other ad agencies to make ads here in Wash. state by playing on the image of this as a place where people don't like being advertised to. Or something like that.
KIRO-TV salaciously described the sidewalks surrounding City Hall Park and the Morrison Hotel as "The Most Dangerous Block in Seattle." A local merchant there begs to differ, and asks that the down n' out be treated with "your hope, not your contempt."
We're learning that every time there's a closed subculture run by leaders who demand total obedience, there's apt to be child abuse. Latest example: NYC's ultra-orthodox Jewish community.