The Three Statistics That Every Downtown Should Live By

Editor’s note:  This is phenomenal advice for all downtown shopping districts and their umbrella organizations i.e. Pottstown Downtown Improvement District Authority.

Lancaster and its James Street Improvement District are prime examples of living by these three simple rules!  I suggest a field trip for any struggling downtown merchants or downtown organizations who want to see what is possible!

I call this the 7-8-7 rule because of the three most important statistics that make a downtown a successful and vibrant destination. Think of your favorite destination downtowns. Are they beautiful? Do they feel safe? Are there things to do after 6:00 pm?

Read more: http://www.rogerbrooks.org/2012/04/30/the-three-downtown-statistics/

More Blockbuster Stores Closing

Say farewell to Blockbuster, the video chain that was once one of the biggest brand names in America.

The chain’s new owner, Dish Network (DISH +1.58%), has said it will close 500 under-performing Blockbuster locations with expiring leases, and it may close more beyond that. There were only about 1,500 Blockbuster stores left, so the announcement is one of the final nails in the coffin for the former video powerhouse.

Not that many people are complaining. Former Blockbuster customers still grumble about the chain’s strict return policies.

Remember the days when you raced to the store to get that movie back on time?

Read more: http://money.msn.com/top-stocks/post.aspx?post=e4ad0423-bd75-4a2c-a689-2837c7ae6729

Hollywood’s War Of The Wages

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The second season of a Simon Cowell-free “American Idol” started this week. Cowell ditched the popular talent show last year to launch a U.S. version of his British music competition “The X Factor,” which he vowed would attract 20 million viewers. It fell short, topping out at 12 million. Now there’s word that the new “American Idol” judges, Steven Tyler and Jennifer Lopez, had been joking backstage that they would be “devastated” if they didn’t get 20 million viewers. (They did for the season premiere, but just barely.)

Lopez may be winning the ratings war, but Cowell is winning the war of the wages. The music executive earned $90 million last year thanks to “The X Factor,” which he owns a share of, and his record label, Syco. Lopez earned $25 million. Most of that came from “Idol” but she also has several movies coming out and a new clothing line.

Read more: http://tv.msn.com/tv/article.aspx?news=697139

Blockbuster Closing More Stores

Blockbuster Video plans to shutter all but one of its remaining Lehigh Valley stores in the coming days, according to several sources.

The beleaguered movie rental chain plans to cease rentals as early as Monday, Dec. 26, at stores at 2221 Lehigh St., Allentown; 2918 William Penn Highway, Palmer Township; and 756 Memorial Parkway, Phillipsburg, according to employees who answered the store phones Wednesday.

Liquidations are planned to start next week, according to the clerks.

Read more: http://www.mcall.com/news/breaking/mc-allentown-blockbuster-closing-more-stores-story-20111221,0,4779144.story

City Of Wilkes-Barre Christmas Parade, Saturday, November 19th

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If you love Christmas, and all things associated with it, the place to be tomorrow is Wilkes-Barre.  Saturday, November 19th is the Wilkes-Barre Christmas parade plus a fun-filled day of holiday activities in the city.  The best part of all is that it is FREE!

The fun starts at 10am with the showing of A Christmas Story at Movies 14, downtown.  If you bring an unwrapped toy to benefit Toys for Tots, you get in FREE!

From noon until 1pm, you can enjoy a free Christmas concert by the King’s College Cantores Christi Regis Singers in the lobby of the Ramada, also downtown.

At 12:30pm, for those who aren’t in the mood for a concert, there is Storytelling at Barnes & Noble.  You can meet Mrs. Claus and enjoy a Christmas story.

At 1:30pm there is a concert at the F.M. Kirby Center.  The YOUniveristy Suzuki Strings will be playing in the lobby.  Come out and show your support for these young people!

At 2:00pm there is a Christmas Carol sing-a-long on Public Square.

From 2:00pm until 6pm there will be holiday face painting on Public  Square.   That will cost you $5.00 per face

At 3:15pm the main event begins.   The Christmas Parade featuring Santa, floats, music and tons of fun begins at South and S. Main Street.  There are four divisions this year.

Immediately after the parade, there will be a tree lighting ceremony on Public Square.  There will be photos with Santa for $5.00 to benefit Valley Santa, courtesy of Boscov’s.  There will also be complimentary (free) hot chocolate from the Salvation Army and the Wilkes-Barre Lion’s Club.

The Downtown Wilkes-Barre Business Association sponsored a window decorating contest this year (Window Wonderland) and over 40 businesses have decorated their windows to add even more holiday spirit to this year’s event!

It’s Christmas time in the city!

Carmike’s New Upland Square Theater Grand Opening Delayed To 11-18-11

The Fishwrap is now advertising the opening date for the new Carmike Theater as 11-18-11, which is this coming Friday.  There must have been an unforseen delay that caused the original opening date to be pushed back.

Pottstown’s long-awaited new movie theater is opening 11-11-11.  The new 12 screen complex will open at Upland Square Shopping Center in West Pottsgrove Township, next to Target.  Head on over and check it out!

Yet Another Movie To Start Filming In Pittsburgh!

Pittsburgh is becoming Hollywood East.  Another movie, starring Tom Cruise, will begin filming in Pittsburgh in October.  The movie, One Shot, will film through the end of the year.

Tom, Katie and Suri were spotted in Wexford, PA over the weekend on a family outing.

One Shot has a targeted release date of February 2013 according to Paramount Pictures.  The movie is a murder mystery.

Pittsburgh Scores High Marks From Abduction Cast Member And Producer

Great article from the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette about the filming of Abduction, which opens in theaters today.  The movie filmed in Greater Pittsburgh for 51 days and stars Taylor Lautner from Twilight.  The movie includes scenes from around Pittsburgh and even Fiddle’s Diner in Brownsville, Fayette County.  The Pittsburgh area is becoming an increasingly popular location for Hollywood film makers along with other areas of Pennsylvania.

To read the article, click here:

http://ht.ly/6D7l9

Pittsburgh Goes Batty – Filming For “The Dark Knight Rises” Wraps Up

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Pennsylvania’s second-largest city is going Hollywood.  Pittsburgh, or more aptly named “Glitzburgh”, has hosted some serious movie action as of late.  The biggest movie to film in the area is the latest installment of the Batman franchise, The Dark Knight Rises

The Batman franchise has been commercially successful.  The last installment, The Dark Knight grossed over $1 BILLION! Bringing the film to Pittsburgh has been an economic boon for many downtown businesses and Greater Pittsburgh in general.  In addition, I read there were 3,000 extras hired for the film while in Pittsburgh.  9,000 people showed up for a chance to be in the movie.

Read the article from the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette and see what impact a big-budget film can have on the hosting community.

http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/11232/1168640-53.stm

New Pottstown Area Carmike Theater Progress

The new Carmike Theater being built at Upland Square is moving right along.  Here are some pictures of the progress!

Harrisburg’s 3rd In The Burg And Jazz Festival Tonight!

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A great deal of activity is going on in our capital city tonight.  It’s 3rd in the Burg night (Harrisburg’s version of First Friday) and the Central Pennsylvania Friends of Jazz Festival takes place today, Saturday and Sunday, at venues around Harrisburg!

For more information about tonight’ s 3rd in the Burg events:

http://3rdintheburg.com/

For more information about tonight’s Jazz Walk and this weekends 31st Annual Central Pennsylvania Jazz Festival events:

http://www.cpfj.org/festival_2011.html

Get out there and enjoy the arts in PA!

Hollywood Legend Elizabeth Taylor Dies

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Elizabeth Taylor was as famous for her off-screen antics as she was for the movies she starred in.  Taylor, once one of Hollywood’s biggest stars and sex symbols, led a tumultuous life filled with many marriages, divorces and a myriad of health problems and surgeries which eventually left her wheelchair bound.

Taylor made over 50 movies and received countless awards and honors for her films and charity work.  She exemplified the golden age of Hollywood and was a bona fide movie star.  She lived her life in the public eye, which at times worked in her favor and other times made her the butt of jokes and the object of much ridicule and hate.  She was once even chastised by the Vatican for her off-screen escapades with Richard Burton.

Elizabeth Taylor died yesterday of congestive heart failure at the age of 79.  She is survived by four children, ten grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.  A private family funeral is planned for later this week.

Carmike To Build At Upland Square – Commerce Corner Sputters

Looks like Carmike is heading across Route 100 to Upland Square shopping center.  Frankly, I would rather see Upland Square get filled up before we build another shopping center on the same intersection.  By the way, I would really like to see Pottstown Plaza get filled up!!!

Read the entire story from my good buddy Joe Zlomek over at the Sanatoga Post:

http://sanatogapost.com/2011/01/13/carmike-switches-sides-of-rt-100-to-upland-square/

New Film Chronicles Former Pennsylvania State Treasurer R. Budd Dwyer’s Controversial Death

One of the most horrific events to ever befall Pennsylvania politics was the suicide of R. Budd Dwyer at a press conference in Harrisburg.  The embattled PA Treasurer was facing jail time for supposedly taking a bribe in office.  He shot himself and the footage was broadcast live.  The media assumed the press conference was to announce his resignation from office.  Instead, Dwyer pulled a .357 from a manila envelope, placed the barrel in this mouth and pulled the trigger as cameras rolled. 

23 years later, a new film has been made to examine this tragedy.  “Honest Man: The Life Of R. Budd Dwyer” is showing at Harrisburg’s Midtown Cinema today through November 18th.  Shows are at 3:00, 5:00 & 7:00 p.m. daily.  The film is unrated.

Midtown Cinema, 250 Reily St., Harrisburg.

Cost: $6 matinee, $7 evenings.

Voice:  (717) 909-6566 

Internet:  www.midtowncinema.com.

Disney Set To Make Wizard Of Oz Prequel

Disney has signed epic Hollywood director Sam Rami and box-office titan Robert Downey, Jr. to direct and star in a prequel to the 1939 movie classic The Wizard of Oz.  Downey has been tapped to play the Wizard of Oz.  Sami Rami recently walked away from directing Spiderman 4 and Robert Downey, Jr., is flying high off the huge commercial success of Iron Man 2. 

The movie will be called Oz: The Great and Powerful.  The film is being referred to as a big-budget epic.  Sounds like a winning proposition!

Wizard Of Oz Munchkin Dies At 94

One of the last handful of surviving actors from the Wizard of Oz dies.  A timeless classic for the ages.

http://uk.news.yahoo.com/5/20100411/ten-munchkin-coroner-in-wizard-of-oz-die-8a3eada.html

Avatar Takes All Time Revenue Record From Titanic

Avatar’s domestic revenue total has reached $630.1 million.  Directed by James Cameron, “Avatar” surpassed his own “Titanic,” which had held the domestic revenue record at $600.8 million.

With a record $2.2 billion worldwide, “Avatar” also soared past the $1.8 billion “Titanic” took in globally.

Miramax Bites The Dust

Film Studio Miramax has closed.  80 people are unemployed and a half dozen movies will probably never be released.

Here is a link to a list of all the films Miramax produced:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_films_released_by_Miramax_Films

Legion, A Review

Caught Sony’s new flick Legion on Friday at the Fairgrounds Mall Cinema in Reading.  Good crowd for an afternoon matinée.

Two apocalypse films in one week, LOL!  Two very different films for sure.  The premise for Legion is that God gets fed up with us again (imagine that) and he is going to wipe out human kind.  Since He promised to never again flood the earth, he was sending his angels to do the job.

Dennis Quaid, Kate Walsh, Charles Dutton and Tyrese are the big names in the film.  Interesting premise, good special effects and the story is good.   I saw some not so good reviews but everybody has their opinion.  Lots of action and the ending was cool.

I liked it.  Maybe you might as well…hard to say.

The Book Of Eli, A Review

I saw The Book of Eli this afternoon.  My friend and I were the only people in the theater, which was awesome!

The movie was nothing like I expected, but nonetheless it was awesome.  The story is totally compelling and Denzel Washington is outstanding as the main character.   Great supporting cast!

The movie is being compared to Mad Max (by some) but other than the fact that it is a postapocalyptic setting, the similarities end there.

The ending is mind-blowing and a major plot twist.

Loved this movie!  Hope you do to!