Reviewing the reviews

Much to my chagrin, my computer troubles continue, but at least I've diagnosed what I think to be the problem now. Shouldn't be much longer now. Building one's own computer should not be this hard.

Lots has happened over the past month! Some quick thoughts:

Please watch movies!
Did you all hear the pleas from the fine folks at Columbia City Cinema in early October? Apparently rent couldn't be made, tenants in the lower part of the building were delinquent, and the future was hazy. The admiral and I did our parts by going to the movies, and thankfully it sounds like they pulled out of it. Here's hoping they have enough funding now to get through to the opening of a couple more screens.

This was, unfortunately, a new low in their on-again off-again relationship with their movie viewing public. I don't doubt that running a single screen movie theatre is not the best way to see the money roll in, but I must admit I'm starting to notice the frequency with which the pleas are happening. Are we sure that the neighborhood is big enough to support a movie theatre? Are we sure that they're managing their money appropriately? I sincerely hope the answer to both is "yes". Is it too much to ask, in the name of truly making this cinema a neighborhood cause, to open up the books for the public to see?

Where are all the good coffee joints?
I was chatting with a friend recently who lives in lower capitol hill, close to pike and broadway. He was commenting on how his neighborhood is truly spinning up, with lots of great new restaurants (like Cafe Presse) and coffee shops (stand bys like victrola, bauhaus, and new ones like stumptown). I of course didn't miss a chance to talk of the wonders of La Medusa and Kallaloo and all the other great restaurants, but I had to admit the only real coffee place we have is Starbucks.

I know, I know, there's always solstice right across the street from PCC, and it does serve pretty great coffee, but it doesn't quite have the ambiance of a Vivace or a Bauhaus. Where are those new coffee shop entrepreneurs? Columbia City needs you!

Sending mail might get hairy
The Columbia City Newsletter reports that "The Parcel and Post business on South Edmunds west of Rainier is reportedly for sale. Michael provides such an important array of services; here's hoping we don't lose this Columbia City mainstay."

More later. But in the mean time, don't forget the big up and coming halloween attractions this wednesday:

• It's the last day of the Market this season! Come and buy your winter veggies now, and have your face painted free while you're at it (only for kids, or those who are kids at heart and really good at convincing other people of that fact :))
  
• Retroactive Kids will have craft projects going on
  
• Trick or treating will happen all along the business district
  
• Geraldine's is hosting a costume contest for the day
  
• Columbia City Cinema will be showing a couple of scary slasher flicks to celebrate the evening that are locally filmed, starring Columbia City's own Danella, waitress extraordinaire at Geraldine's.