Dodge Theatre changes name to Comerica
by Ed Masley - Oct. 7, 2010 03:46 PM
The Arizona Republic

The Dodge Theatre will now be known as the Comerica Theatre, which is probably better than changing its name to an unpronounceable symbol like once Prince did.
Live Nation announced a five-year sponsorship agreement with Comerica that includes the naming rights for the downtown Phoenix theatre.
The first show at the newly renamed venue will Jerry Seinfeld Saturday, Oct. 9th. (Seinfeld was, coincidentally, the first comedian to ever play the Dodge.)

"I would like to acknowledge the executive team at this outstanding theater. All of us at Comerica are proud of what they have been able to accomplish and appreciate their commitment to providing quality entertainment for residents and visitors," said Meredith Russell, Comerica's Arizona Regional President. "We are thrilled to lend the 'Comerica' name to this impressive theater and are especially pleased to support a venue that features world class performances from Live Nation. From theatrical productions to concerts, this theatre clearly enriches the cultural landscape of Phoenix."
Maureen Ford, Live Nation's president of Venue Network Sales, says, "We're proud that the Theatre will have the Comerica name. As one of our naming rights clients, we look forward to working with them as part of the Live Nation Venue Network to create programs that will enable them to reach, engage and connect with passionate fans and make Comerica Theatre one of the most frequented venues in Phoenix."

http://www.azcentral.com/thingstodo/...#ixzz11ifMrzZq

I'm glad it changed names. When I think of Dodge, I think of shitty, belching, sub-par cars. To make matters worse, but more comical, they're now largely owned by Fiat (Fix It Again Tony)*

Back to my point, Comerica is horrible too. One of those corporate word mash ups that are designed to cover up what they really do.

Just feel like opinionating today. :koko:

*I'm Italian, so I get a special pass to make fun.

Dude! You didn't tell me it's a freaking roach coach! Haha I'm sitting here now under their tent canopy, it's a little after 9:00am and I'm about to bite into heir carbine aside burrito. :D

Damn, this is good.

You drove all the way down there at 9:00am for a burrito on a whim?

I liked Dodge actually. For the same reason I like Chase Field and liked America West Arena. It wasn't "Dodge Trucks Theater" or "Dodge Automotive Theater", keeping it just "Dodge" it barely sounds corporate to me. Just like how Chase sounds OK because its not "Chase Bank Field" and America West just sounded like, well we're in America, in the West and its an arena, the word 'airlines' didn't appear.

Good corporate names:
Wrigley Field
Busch Stadium
Chase Field


Bad Corporate names:
US Airways Center
University of Phx Stadium
Jobing.com Arena (one of the worst)
Quicken Loans Arena

First off you went at 9am? 2. They are actually open that early? 3. It is by far the best burrito in the city.

I had some business down at the main post office at 52nd St and Van Buren so on the way back up north, I stopped by. Great stuff, reminded me off the street food in Rocky Point. This place should have a food cart or something right downtown similar to how other big cities have hot dogs or whatever.

John...you're 1 for 1...now recommend me a great sushi place and a great hot dog stand. :)

A new plan for historic site
ML Manager shopping Hotel Monroe to hospitality execs
PHOENIX BUSINESS JOURNAL - BY Jan Buchholz

The grand plans for the historic Professional Building at Central Avenue and Monroe Street have been on hold for the past few years, and now the owner is counting on something totally different at the site.
“We hope someone falls in love with it and buys it from us,” said Mark Winkleman, chief operating officer of ML Manager LLC, which took back the building via foreclosure proceedings in July.
Mark Snyder, principal of Snyder Nationwide Real Estate in Scottsdale, and Don Arones, executive vice president of Cassidy Turley/BRE Commercial in Phoenix, are marketing the property, which was built in 1931 as the Valley Trust Bank Building. It was slated a couple of years ago to become a chic boutique hotel called the Hotel Monroe.
The marketing process barely was under way when the annual Lodging Conference, an exclusive get-together of 1,200 high-level hospitality executives, rolled into town Sept. 21. Snyder set up several tours of the property.
“Everybody who looked at it was from out of state,” he said.
A few boutique hotel operators expressed interest. Representatives of Hilton Corp. took a look-see, too.
“About 95 percent of our interest has been from people who would want to go ahead with a hotel,” Snyder said.
Arones said a few other uses also have been discussed.
“There’s some interest in doing residential or student housing,” Arones said. “It could be a school.”
A call for offers likely will be issued by the end of the month, Snyder said.
Grace Communities, a now-defunct Scottsdale developer, acquired the 157,000-square-foot building in 2007 and began the remodeling process with a
$27 million loan from Phoenix commercial lender Mortgages Ltd. The money ran out in 2008, and Mortgages Ltd. was forced into Chapter 11 bankruptcy reorganization by several unhappy borrowers. Grace Communities was unable to find alternative financing.
When Mortgages Ltd. emerged from bankruptcy, it was renamed ML Manager LLC with the mission to administer the company’s portfolio of loans and foreclose on nonperforming loans. The would-be Hotel Monroe fell into that category.
The 12-story building remains vacant and largely open to the elements. The marble floors have been covered with thick cardboard. The ornate brass elevator doors and molding survived with minimal damage. Most of the building has been framed out for hotel rooms.
“It’s the largest limestone building in the state and has so much character and history to it,” Arones said.
Below the limestone, the base of the exterior is granite. The architect of record was Morgan, Walls & Clements, a highly acclaimed California firm in the early 20th century.
“The architecture is called Los Angeles modern influence design. The architect who designed it also designed the Hearst Castle,” Snyder said.
Because the building is listed on the National Register of Historic Places, it’s not likely to be torn down.
“No one is even interested in doing that,” Snyder said. “They are interested in preserving the structure.”

There are only 3 sushi restaurants. Hana on 7av and missouri, yasu on tatum and cactus, and toyama on far and far i think it was pinnacle peak and pima.

What kind of hot dog? Every night there is a cart at 20th and indian school. Does sonoran style. For a chicago, there used to be two lesbians on1av and washington SEC.

Hmm, I've heard of Hana but never the other two. I usually go to Yen at 43rd Ave and Bell right now and it's pretty damn good.

Don't even know what Sonoran hot dog is and I don't like Chicago style. The best I've ever had were on the street corners in San Francisco, the boiled wiener type of hot dog that pops when you bite into it with just mustard and onions.

The Sonoran hot dog, found in Tucson, Metro Phoenix, and in neighboring Sonora, Mexico, is a hot dog grilled in a processor or on a griddle, wrapped in Mesquite-smoked bacon, topped with freshly chopped tomatoes, onions, shredded yellow or cotijo cheese, tomatillo salsa or red chili sauce, pinto beans, mayonnaise, ketchup and/or mustard, and served on bread. Often served with a fresh-roasted chili. Douglas, Arizona is known for the hot dog speciality with hot dog trucks lining many of the city's parks, the most famous being Rico's Hot Dogs who have claimed the 10th Street Park as their domain[1]

Interesting - I think of this:

http://images.thecarconnection.com/l...00145296_l.jpg

Dodge built the finest muscle car power plants ever.

What? An overpriced car with a plastiky interior, a transmission that will grenade at 60k, only can go in a straight line, and doesn't engage the driver?

Coincidentally I think of that when I hear Dodge as well.

To each his own. Those early Dodge Hemi-Cuda's apparently have more than a few fans as they have proven at auction. They'll run you anywhere from 200-400K.

You posted a new one. Can't compare apples to oranges.

FYI, "The Living Room", a wine bar and cafe has opened in Sheridan Square, which is 7th Street and Sheridan (between McDowell and Thomas), adjacent to the Coronado neighborhood. It is going in the location where trente cinque, ie 35, used to be located.

I dunno how it's going to do. It seems to be very similar to The Main Ingredient, which is very popular and which I like a lot. Doesn't seem like they'll compliment each other very well.

I believe there is another "The Living Room" in Chandler.

DEVELOPMENT NEWS AT LAST!!! And good news at that.

Company proposes an indoor snow park
Site would be on 38 acres in south-central Phoenix

by Emily Gersema - Oct. 15, 2010 03:25 PM
The Arizona Republic

pipe dream. I'd use it if it happened.

Some biomedical news:

The first round deadline was September 3. This project would almost be a guaranteed success seeing the land is going to be practically free and the demand for lab space in the adjacent area is very high.

Also related news,

I also know ASU business students are helping a new Venture Capital type firm launch spinoff projects by biotech scientist. Its still very early right now and still somewhat of a pipe dream but Phoenix may some day be able to build up enough human capital (like a Silicon Valley or Boston) to become a real player in the tech/health sector.

Only thing I am afraid of is seeing projects like Chandlers Continuum impede and maybe destroy all synergies going into the future. You need to localize all the key scientists in one or two areas and the Chandler project can only hurt Tempe BioDesign and Phoenix Biotech Campus.