LOCAL NEWS Neighbors grieve demolition of Melrose Diner in South Philadelphia
CBS NEWS PHILADELPHIA
Buck Atom’s celebrating Halloween with werewolf mask
From Fox23 News: TULSA, Okla. — Buck Atom, a 21-foot-tall statue near 11th and Peoria, is a popular Route 66 sight. Each year he’s dressed up in a giant mask for Halloween, created by a local artist.
“Right now, I’m about 72 hours into the project,” said Adam Carnes, the artist creating the costume.
This year Carnes is creating a huge werewolf mask.
Illuminated ‘ghost signs’ offer glimpse into history of Winnipeg’s Exchange District
The ‘Porter Milady’ sign on McDermot Street. This weekend, the two layers of this ‘ghost sign’ will be illuminated. ghostsigns.ca
From Global News: Some of the Exchange District’s fading advertisements will get a shiny new lease on life, beginning at this weekend’s Nuit Blanche festival.
The downtown area is home to upwards of 150 ‘ghost signs’ — advertisements painted on the sides of buildings that are in various states of fading and decay, giving passersby a glimpse into Winnipeg’s history.
Brand strategist and urban archaeologist Matt Cohen told 680 CJOB’s The News he has been working to find the city’s oldest ghost signs, and with the help of new technology, illuminating them — permanently — for nighttime visitors to the Exchange to enjoy.
The Historic Downer Theatre Is Closing
Photo by Brianna Schubert
From Milwaukee Magazine: Downer Theatre announced its closing online Tuesday night – but that might not be the end of the historic theater’s story. The theater’s post read: “Landmark’s Downer Theatre is now closed. We are proud to have served its community over its many years of operation. We thank you for your support.”
On Wednesday, hints that the theater may see new life emerged in a Facebook post by Groupware Technologies CEO Andy Nunemaker.
“Just wait! The next phase in this historic theater’s life is going to be amazing!” read the post from Nunemaker, a local philanthropist who holds positions on various art boards, who in 2021 bought a different East Side staple, the former UWM Alumni House on Kenwood Boulevard. “I can’t wait for it to be announced officially!! When it is, everyone on the East Side and in greater Milwaukee should be very happy.”
The post (unverified by Milwaukee Magazine) was in the Facebook group Old Milwaukee.
Art Deco Center City office building is being eyed for a residential conversion
1618 Chestnut Street, Philadelphia. Elizabeth Robertson / Staff Photographer
From The Philadelphia Inquirer: One of Philadelphia’s Art Deco gems, the WCAU building at 1618-22 Chestnut St., is slated to be transformed from six floors of empty office space to 67 apartments.
Built in 1928 as the headquarters for its titular radio station, the building now houses an Old Navy on its first two floors and above contains offices that once used by the Art Institute of Philadelphia.
The owner is Gazit Horizons, the North American subsidiary of an Israeli real estate company. It acquired the building in 2019 for $30.8 million and planned pre-pandemic to renovate and upgrade its office space to better compete for tenants.
But that calculation changed post-2020.
Seattle’s disappearing neon history
Tai Tung Chinese Restaurant in the International District was Bruce Lee’s favorite restaurant. Photo: Matt Hucke
From Axios Seattle: Seattle is believed to have one of the best collections of historic and contemporary neon signs in the country but that heritage is fast disappearing.
Why it matters: While Seattle’s not known for neon the way cities like Singapore and Las Vegas are, the city’s collection is recognized as important due in part to the influence of early neon artist Bea Haverfield.