HUGE News! :)

So, a while back I showed a picture of our local Theater and mentioned that we would soon be purchasing the building and renovating/reopening it. That process took a BIG step yesterday morning when we were presented with a check large enough to secure ownership of the property and start in on our projects! :D 

A rather 'large' check, indeed!

Our hope is to not only update and modernize the interior systems (including electrical, HVAC, the restrooms, and new digital projection and sound equipment), but to bring back what history still exists in the building.
For example, this beautiful brick facade has simply been covered up for the last 75 years - first by large glass tiles in an Art Deco style, then by metal siding. We'll strip the siding off, re-point the brick where needed, and replace the short, wide window and bold, neon signage over the marquee.

So. Stinkin'. Exciting!
The Grand Theater

An investment in this project is an investment in the entire town and our future. Not only will the reopening of this business create a couple part-time jobs in its own right, but it will help to support and complement countless other businesses in town, not to mention boost local housing sales, and create a greater pull for new businesses and business expansion within the community.
Of course, the most direct benefit is that we'll have our theater back! The place we all went for our first dates; the place many of our grandparents went for their first dates! A place to take part in the shared experience of being entertained, educated, and expanded beyond our current possibilities. In addition to new and classic films and film festivals, we'll host smaller live performances and special community events, speakers and lecture series, poetry readings and community theater. It's going to be a true jewel for our Downtown District, and for the region as a whole. Once we're operational and sustaining ourselves, any net proceeds generated by this business - if not reinvested into the Foundation - will be poured right back into the community. Very, very cool.
Our total project goal is $500,000 - if you or someone you know would have any interest in contributing to this project, please let us know! We're a 501(c)(3) Public Charity, and any contributions made to our group will be tax-deductible and VERY well utilized!
The Grand Theater Foundation, PO Box 151, Knoxville, Iowa  50138

Californ-i-a: Buildings

It’s been a little quiet around here lately..because I’ve been a busy guy lately!

First, Knoxville hosted RAGBRAI (the [Des Moines] Register’s Annual Great Bicycle Ride Across Iowa). This was the 41^st year the ride has trekked across the state, and the third time Knoxville has hosted as an overnight town. We hosted 22,000 cyclists and between 5-8,000 support staff, media pesonnel, and others just along for the party.
This year, I was on the planning committee and also in charge of the Beverage Garden and Entertainment Committees. 14 bands and $40,000 in beer sales in one night: OK!

I digress.

A few days after RAGBRAI rolled through, I had planned to take a trip to California with a group of friends to visit our friend Megan. Megan is pursuing her PhD at Claremont Graduate University – one of the Claremont Colleges. From her apartment, we fanned out and saw the sights, ate the food, and joined the parties. Pretty good fun, all in all!

I have a ton of pictures, so I’m breaking it up into three entries..the first is the ‘Building Blog’ – a little collection of some of the buildings I thought were cool (or easily replicated for a future project in Knoxville ;) )

The Village of Claremont - such a pretty little town!

The buildings were pretty much all of the same vintage and most had been really nicely updated or restored. 

Even the buildings with a little wear on them were beautiful. I really liked all the brackets everywhere.

Even their Post Office was pretty!

Loved all the big windows in these old buildings.

A neat little shop

I thought these transom windows were the coolest things ever. I don't think I'd ever seen them open?

Train Depot...whoa.

The campus Megan studies on was fantastic - I took so many pictures!

There are a handful of individual colleges in 'The Claremont Colleges'.
The most amazing - in my opinion - was the Scripps College. 

This is a dormatory. A freaking DORM! WITH BALCONIES!

Part of the same dorm building..

..as is this..

There's also a giant rose garden in the courtyard between two of the dormitories.
Because, why not?

Even their bricks were cool. Gah..

I took a lot of pergola pictures on this trip..I think that might be one of my next projects..

Mrs. Scripps died without any heirs and apparently owned a good chunk of San Diego. She left her estate to various causes around California, and a huge amount of money to - what became - the Scripps College. 

This was a section of Claremont McKenna - one of the other colleges on the campus.
Very cool!

What trip to California would be complete without doing all the touristy things?

I could get used to that..

I probably could NOT get used to that! Woof..

A new sidewalk project for me? ;)

Gahh..even the ice cream places were fancy..

Here we are walking...outside all the stores. ;)

I suppose you can do fun things with your sidewalks when you don't have to shovel them..

Dolby (formerly Kodak) Theater - home of the Oscars!

Grauman's Chinese Theater - got to match hands and feet with our favorite celebrities :)

The Griffith Observatory - pretty cool building in it's own right. I really liked all the Art Deco detailing

Of course, the great thing about an observatory is the view from the top of the hill!
Downtown L.A.

The Hollywood Sign!

From the Mulholland Drive Overlook

Hollywood Sign from the other side

Spent a good part of one day strolling up and down Venice Beach - I liked this house :)

The (HUGE) beach!

Really nice biking/walking/skating paths up and down the length of the beach.
Mountains and palm trees on the beach..almost makes running not sound so bad..

Venice Beach is famously..weird. There were plenty of odd folks and LOTS of "medical" marijuana in the air. But, it's all part of the experience :)
I thought these houses were pretty cool - great detail in the paint jobs!

There were also lots of really nice beachfront properties, so it's an interesting mix

Huntington Beach was our actual 'beach' day, and it was perfect!
After toasting on the beach for a while, we decided to brave the chilly water and go for a swim. Which basically turned into the group of Midwesterners battling the waves...and losing :)