Stretch on P&L and Parking

[kucer]

More and more people are coming down here. It's kind of like a concentric-circle thing: first your homeless, then your artists, then your yupped-up developers, then your yuppies.

Downtown doesn't need to look like Leawood. The biggest failure this city has is 18th and Vine. It's candy-coated crap that was done from a boardroom by people who don't know the city. The Power and Light District? It's not real. It's not authentic. I mean, I've never been asked about it.

http://www.pitch.com/Issues/2006-12-28/ ... ure_2.html


You can read all of his comments in the Pitch. I "get" what he is saying, but one of his own scultpures is technically IN the P&L District???? 

[LenexatoKCMO]

Its not "real" or "authentic" because he wasn't asked about it?  P&L may ultimately be completely fake and inauthentic but i am suprised to learn that consulting Stretch is aparently the end all and be all for establishing authenticity. 

[voltopt]

he comes off as a whining baby.  i can't believe people still bitch about having to pay for a permit.
as far as parking - PARK LEGALLY.  then you won't get a ticket.

and as far as east crossroads goes - we thank him for his greasy spoon, but development in that area was inevitable, and would happen eventually whether it was his restaurant or someone else's.
i love the restaurant, but incessant, elitist bitching doesn't solve any problems.
maybe he's mad because his waitstaff took 2 hours to complete his order and didn't bring him the right beer.

[LenexatoKCMO]

I like his restaurant - I like his art - but god that dude comes off like the biggest self-important ass in town everytime he speaks to the press

[chingon]

maybe he's mad because his waitstaff took 2 hours to complete his order and didn't bring him the right beer.

i'm glad i'm not the only one who's had this problem...no amount of cool makes up for the glaring incompetence of grinders staff.  i mean, i am paying to be served correct?  i always assumed i was getting the hipster cold shoulder, but apparently other people have noticed the steep decline in quality of service (and food) at grinders.  i can't justify drinking there anymore.

disclaimer:  stretch himself has always been both personable and professional to me and my family while eating at grinders.

[chingon]

and, additionally, i pretty much agree that the city kowtows to large-scale, legacy projects and turns its back on organic development.  i think assigning resources to parking control in a city that apparently lacks the police force to patrol and respond to crimes with even a modicum of promptness is near criminally negligent.  moreover, i also think our liquor licensure laws are insidious.  i assume the dance permit stretch is referring to has something to do with alcohol regulations and permits.  i agree with him about 18th and vine being a fucking disgrace (although i think kc's populace is more to blame than city hall for this cultural waste),  and i think the recent raid on the foundation is an illustration of these problems - an illustration that makes me ashamed and heartsick.

[KCMax]

Yea, I appreciate what Stretch has done, but he does come off as a bit whiny there. "Raping" everyone that comes down there? I hope parking tickets are strictly enforced. Why cater to autocentric customers? Urban areas should discourage parking and encourage mass transit and walking.

What is the $125 dancing fee? Is there dancing at Grinders?

He's right that the Crossroads doesn't need to look like 18th and Vine or Leawood, but that's a really, really weak strawman. There's no reason the city can't incubate a nice organic neighborhood like the Crossroads while still enforcing the rule of law, discouraging parking, and guiding a sustainable, liveable community.

[DaveKCMO]

he does drive one of those awful hummer things, right? that should be an automatic citation for being ostenatious and artificially inflating one's carbon footprint.

[kcmetro]

he does drive one of those awful hummer things, right? that should be an automatic citation for being ostenatious and artificially inflating one's carbon footprint.

I thought he was supposed to be some liberal hippie dude. What kind of "artist" drives a Hummer? 

[KC0KEK]

^^ I think it's because -- as I read on this board -- he said he needs a big vehicle to transport big pieces of art.

[Beermo]

  thank you! wait till beermo or whatever his name is, reads this. I mentioned this in another thread and he accused me of wanting to date him. when in fact he is the one swinging on his (stretch) nuts.

yes, i have been watching this thread since it's inception and was wondering how long it would take before  some numbnut would bitch about his vehicle.

yes i did say that and i doubt if there is any room at all to swing on stretch's nuts. there's a lot of other folks in front of me. like you.

my problem with people bitchin' about hummers is that they seem very ignorant about how vehicles work and what's under the hood. they just see this giant tonka toy and assume it's the worst gas guzzler on the planet. it's not. my truck is much worse. i get about 8 mpg, sometimes 10. a hummer will get twice that. 

telling everyone how much you hate hummer's might be cool in your circle of friends, but you're definitely barking up the wrong tree.

let me know what kind of vehicle you drive so when i see you broke down somewhere trying to figure out what's wrong with your vehicle or how to change your tire, i don't have to bother to stop and help.

[schugg]

took you twenty minutes to post that? 

sorry, my car won't break down anytime soon! the thought of that just cracks me up!

[Beermo]

took you twenty minutes to post that? 

sorry, my car won't break down anytime soon! the thought of that just cracks me up!

ya got me. i had to phone stretch and ask him for permission to post first. then i had to wait while he filled up his hummer with 90 gallons of gas and then for him to call me back to dictate what he wanted me to write on the board.

[schugg]

as we all know, you need permission from home first.

do you pump his gas for him when you have a 1500 pound arts and craft project in tow?


tell him to quit bitching and pay the fees.

[Beermo]

as we all know, you need permission from home first.

do you pump his gas for him when you have a 1500 pound arts and craft project in tow?


tell him to quit bitching and pay the fees.

you funny guy.

i think he just hires someone to pump his gas.

you tell him. don't be scared. he can smell fear on others.

[Beermo]

I thought he was supposed to be some liberal hippie dude. What kind of "artist" drives a Hummer? 

and you got that idea from...........

[Beermo]

he does drive one of those awful hummer things, right? that should be an automatic citation for being ostenatious and artificially inflating one's carbon footprint.

yes he does.

citation. hmmm. i dunno. maybe you could bring this up at the next city council meeting.

[schugg]

I have seen him in person   there is nothing to fear. I'm sure he is a nice person, If you were someone in charge of a project that required a sculpture.  forum tyrant in training?  sheeze! I hope not. as my ass will be banned.

[Beermo]

^^ I think it's because -- as I read on this board -- he said he needs a big vehicle to transport big pieces of art.

no that's not correct. although he has used it to haul stuff and pull trailers.

the real reason he has that silver hummer is to piss you guys off. that's all. btw, it drives great.

[KCMax]

I thought he was supposed to be some liberal hippie dude. What kind of "artist" drives a Hummer? 

Seriously! What's wrong with driving a VW hippie van powered by peace, love and understanding?