Maxwell Silverman’s invades Union Station
Seems like a mostly good idea, even if the nepotism boarders on grotesque. I just hope the city administration and Mr Giordano realize the true potential of Union Station and keep the disco balls at Maxwell Silvermans.
The five-year lease, with a five-year renewal option, calls for Mr. Giordano to operate Maxwell Silverman’s Banquet and Conference Center and Luciano’s Café in 5,000 square-feet of first floor space formerly occupied by The Restaurant at Union Station. The restaurant closed last August.
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Original post by Brendan
Massachusetts still the most tech savvy state
Congratulations, Massachusetts.
Massachusetts remains the “gold standard” for other states thanks to its institutions, cutting-edge firms, and ability to retain a skilled work force.
1. Massachusetts
2. Maryland
3. Colorado
4. California
5. Washington
6. Virginia
7. Connecticut
8. Utah
9. New Hampshire
10. Rhode Island
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Original post by Brendan
Outlawing the future
Looks like some new water colors are in order! I can only imagine this rendering from the official City Square website was created in error. To think Berkley Investments would suggest street vendors could actually play a role in the revitalization of Downtown Worcester. Who do these people think they are? Urban planners!?!! Look how smug that cartoon vendor lady looks as she steals business from legitimate brick and mortars! The nerve.
Original post by Brendan
A tax on people who are bad at math
Looks like Councilor Smith actually took his batshit insane local lottery proposal to the council floor today. While the proposal is fanciful and mostly ridiculous for a number of reasons, according to the Worcester Magazine blog Mr Smith said something tonight which he really needs to be called out on.
He also wants the City Manager to work with the delegation to change the funding formula to more accurately reflect what Worcester put into the system. It shouldn’t be our job to subsidize the other cities and towns.
While on the surface I agree with this sentiment in totality, reality says it’s time Mr Smith read the second paragraph of the preamble to the constitution of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
The body politic is formed by a voluntary association of individuals: it is a social compact, by which the whole people covenants with each citizen, and each citizen with the whole […]
Original post by Brendan
Don’t quote me on this
Some interesting happenings in the local booze and boobies markets today, with the City Council Public Safety Committee moving to amend our adult entertainment zoning in such a way that I may be forced to start wearing pants in my own shower. But the interesting thing about today’s coverage in the T&G was not the amendment coverage itself, but one tiny little detail which appears to be the lynch pin in the cities argument.
Back in Jan, when all this was kicking up, Zoback over at WoMag crafted a great story laying out exactly what is at play in this debate. He included a quote from a memo to City Manager O’Brien from Chief Gemme which stated:
“My concern is with the criminal activities associated with adult entertainment establishments. Numerous studies have shown that there is an increase in criminal behavior in the areas surrounding adult entertainment establishments and that […]
Original post by Brendan
Lights! Cameras! Are you kidding me?
Today’s big story in the T&G is the Scorsese film being shot at Medfield State Hospital, which is the same Scorsese film that should have been shot in Worcester. The story is a good read for a number of reasons as the focus are the benefits being seen by local business in Medfield. For whatever reason, Worcesters leaders cannot wrap their heads around the concept of secondary effects of film for Worcester. That’s not hard to understand, Worcester being such an isolated community, many provincial locals are sure to believe we’ve got it all right here, which is quaint, but obviously not true. For example, my whole life I’ve run into people who have no connection to the city of Worcester other than one night at Ralphs Diner. There is a population of people scattered throughout the world who truly believe Worcester is a great place […]
Original post by Brendan
The history of everything
During this mornings 508 I mentioned that the push by the Montvale Neighborhood to expand their historical district, as reported in yesterday’s T&G, may be the single most disgusting move I’ve seen by the city in my time here.
Here’s the short version of the story for those of you just tuning in.
In 1812 Isaiah Thomas founded the American Antiquarian Society in Worcester, MA to protect the collected works of early American history.
Sometime in the early part of the 21st century Worcester City Clerk David Rushford decided the property value of his home ($520,300 according to the fiscal 2008 city assessment), which is adjacent to the AAS, was more important than the revolutionary war.
The American Antiquarian Society is that funny looking, near windowless brick building over on the corner of Park and Salisbury; I only point that out because I honestly had no idea what it was till I […]
Original post by Brendan
L.B.’s right-on
This may be the one and only time I will ever agree with L.B. Worm, but the dude is spot on.
So far, the booking at the Hanover looks like it’s catering to the recently deceased. Someone fix that, please.
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Original post by Brendan