Hardly a "blitz", but some GREAT tenants announced here, obviously with many more to come.
Although, Loft 610 owner Brian Twomey described Midtown Crossing this way in the article on MTC's Facebook:
World-class shopping, restaurants and residential all in one convenient spot with covered, ample parking and a beautiful park … that is pretty special.
"World class shopping?" I'm hoping he's privy to details that have not yet been made public!
"The right to have access to every building in the city by private motorcar in an age when everyone possesses such a vehicle is actually the right to destroy the city."
Lewis Mumford, The Highway and the City, 1963
Oh, I know. It could have just slipped out as an adjective meant to describe the development as a whole. I was just hoping .
"The right to have access to every building in the city by private motorcar in an age when everyone possesses such a vehicle is actually the right to destroy the city."
Lewis Mumford, The Highway and the City, 1963
Loft 610
Located at Granite Park in Plano, Texas, the original Loft 610 is a 2008 Dallas Observer Critic's Pick. Twomey described Loft 610 as an "urban styled, upscale restaurant and lounge. It is dressed up and laid back. It is a place where fine art on the walls is juxtaposed with diamond polished concrete floors. The food is prepared in-house every day and our mixologist bartenders make the most innovative cocktails in town."
The menu is classic American with a twist, Twomey said. "We start with the best possible ingredients and prepare them simply to bring out their best natural flavors. The result is extraordinary," he said. Garlic stuffed beef tenderloin served with brick oven mac-n-cheese and tomato essence is a specialty, as is fresh seafood.
Unique to the Omaha Loft 610 will be an Italian glass mosaic created by American artist R. Kenton Nelson of his painting "Mending." It will sit on a two-story wall behind the bar, Twomey said.
Midtown Crossing was the only Omaha location Twomey considered for his second Loft 610.
"First, I was attracted to Omaha. The city has made huge investments in arts and attractions. Add to that Fortune 500 businesses and darn nice people. I believe Omaha is poised for real growth," he said. "Midtown Crossing was the only site that we considered seriously. It is a beautiful setting conveniently located between the central business district and the main residential areas of the city. World-class shopping, restaurants and residential all in one convenient spot with covered, ample parking and a beautiful park … that is pretty special."
The Omaha Loft 610 will employ approximately 100 people, Twomey said. Ben Ackland has been named head chef for the restaurant. Ackland is a graduate of London's Westminster Kingsway Culinary School and is a veteran of the kitchens of London's The Ivy, Soho House, J. Sheekeys and the Wentworth Golf Club in Surry, England.
Parliament Pub
An English pub with a rock-n-roll edge, Parliament Pub will open at Midtown Crossing in the spring of 2010, said Parliament partner Dave Jensen.
With art dedicated to English rock bands ranging from the Beatles to Led Zeppelin to Coldplay, a large outdoor patio overlooking the newly renovated Turner Park and a stage for live music, the Midtown Crossing Parliament Pub will have a slightly different feel from the west Omaha location, Jensen said.
"This location will be quite a bit bigger, with a stage for live bands, a more open atmosphere and a patio that's four times larger than our first location. But the atmosphere and vibe will be essentially the same," he said.
The dynamic location attracted Parliament Pub's owners to Midtown Crossing, Jensen added. "As soon as we saw what was going on at Midtown Crossing, we thought we'd be a great fit for it."
That Kenton Nelson painting Mending will be worth it alone.
You can find it here with a little clicking. Stupid flash sites. http://www.kentonnelson.com/
I thought it was kind of funny that Marcus Theaters spoaksperson Carlo Petrick said Midtown Crossing "will be a great benefit to the downtown area." Haha, he sure knows the project, huh?
"The right to have access to every building in the city by private motorcar in an age when everyone possesses such a vehicle is actually the right to destroy the city."
Lewis Mumford, The Highway and the City, 1963
I thought it was kind of funny that Marcus Theaters spoaksperson Carlo Petrick said Midtown Crossing "will be a great benefit to the downtown area." Haha, he sure knows the project, huh?
I think the sentiment is still there. I don't honestly expect a statement from a national company to be anything more than general and appropriately positive, especially when opening a new location. It's not like the theatre is in Westroads and he claimed to be adding to the Midtown scene... *shrug* it's a corporate statement.
Oh I get all that. I just thought it was kind of funny. Especially considering "MIDTOWN" is in the name of the development. That's all. I know it was a generic corporate statement.
"The right to have access to every building in the city by private motorcar in an age when everyone possesses such a vehicle is actually the right to destroy the city."
Lewis Mumford, The Highway and the City, 1963
Well, I believe these will be the closest theatres to downtown. Closer than Star Cinema. And 35th is 30 blocks from the Missouri River. A lot farther from the true mid town part of Omaha (90th st.) in a city that now stretches past 204th St. It is all semantics.
Well... Technically Midtown is the only true midtown. There's the geographic center of the metro area... if that's what you mean. I know this has been gone over many times.
It is semantics. Not sure what you were getting at. It IS definitely going to be the most convenient "mainstream" theater to Downtown.
"The right to have access to every building in the city by private motorcar in an age when everyone possesses such a vehicle is actually the right to destroy the city."
Lewis Mumford, The Highway and the City, 1963
Although it's a little more high-end than I would like it to be... i.e. right off the bat it seems a little too exclusive and pricy.
I can see a date night at this theater easily costing $75 or $100.
I LOVE that Midtown Crossing is getting a theater, but I would have been satisfied with an urban format of just your everyday, run-of-the-mill theater, too.
I think a concept like this is long overdue in Omaha. I guess I just wish both options were available in close proximity. We're going from having a completely underserved movie theater market, to one that is the top of the line in cinematic theater experience in all of the region. What about the middle ground?
"The right to have access to every building in the city by private motorcar in an age when everyone possesses such a vehicle is actually the right to destroy the city."
Lewis Mumford, The Highway and the City, 1963
God. I can't WAIT until that park opens, along with other businesses, in a month or two! That's going to be the new, hip place to just chill outside with a book, have a picnic, lay out, walk your dog, play Frisbee, etc.
Memorial Park, Elmwood Park, Hanscom Park, and the Gene Leahy Mall will still be awesome urban parks, but Omaha's about to get a new flagship!
"The right to have access to every building in the city by private motorcar in an age when everyone possesses such a vehicle is actually the right to destroy the city."
Lewis Mumford, The Highway and the City, 1963
Stargazer wrote:Not nearly big enough to be a 'flag ship'... but it is certainly a FAR better green space than what it used to be.
I didn't realize there were size requirements.
"The right to have access to every building in the city by private motorcar in an age when everyone possesses such a vehicle is actually the right to destroy the city."
Lewis Mumford, The Highway and the City, 1963
I agree with stargazer it looks like a nice addition to the park system but I don't see it as the 'new' flagship. I don't see people make it a destination (unless they live in the neighborhood) like they do for some of the other parks mentioned.
On the Midtown Crossing Facebook page it said that no grocer had been selected yet to open up, but that they expect one to be selected, and the store open sometime in spring 2010.
Considering it's going in the Element Hotel building, there's no way it could open before major construction on that building is complete anyway. I'm still hoping for Trader Joe's, or better yet, a locally owned/operated but similar concept.
I noticed on Farnam St. yesterday that parking on the south side of the street has been painted in keeping with the one-way west nature of Farnam. As Brad talked about, I'm sure it will open and still be one-way briefly, and then they will just close it down and repaint everything overnight. Seems a bit inefficient, but whatever.
"The right to have access to every building in the city by private motorcar in an age when everyone possesses such a vehicle is actually the right to destroy the city."
Lewis Mumford, The Highway and the City, 1963
They sure as heck don't mount the admiral's flag on a tug or mine sweeper, they put it on a battle ship, cruiser or aircraft carrier... this is a small park, I don't think it could even host a game of ultimate. It's well done... but it doesn't fit my definition of 'flag ship'.
Shoot for the Moon... if you miss, you'll land among the stars.
OK, Jeff. Let's call it Omaha's new, FLAGSHIP urban green space. Does that work for you?
"The right to have access to every building in the city by private motorcar in an age when everyone possesses such a vehicle is actually the right to destroy the city."
Lewis Mumford, The Highway and the City, 1963
If you're driving by Midtown Crossing tonight after dark, Marcus Theatres will be testing the exterior lighting. Come see it all lit up.
I'll be busy tonight... Any of you wonderful photographers care to get out there?
"The right to have access to every building in the city by private motorcar in an age when everyone possesses such a vehicle is actually the right to destroy the city."
Lewis Mumford, The Highway and the City, 1963
StreetsOfOmaha wrote:Also from MTC's facebook/twitter:
If you're driving by Midtown Crossing tonight after dark, Marcus Theatres will be testing the exterior lighting. Come see it all lit up.
I'll be busy tonight... Any of you wonderful photographers care to get out there?
You know I was going to mention the sign was up. It looks good. I will see if I can get down there. I have to drop a piece off at a clients house out west tonight so may be after that.
I saw it lit up for the first time tonight. The Theater looks amazing. I love the "old style" marquee and the subtle LED lights specked in short lines on the facade of the building.
Also, the condo building at the top of the crescent on Turner Park had blue-hued architectural accent lighting.
Seeing the lights being tested adds to the already high level of excitement and anticipation for the big opening.
Streetwise, it does appear that Farnam Street is being prepared to go two-way very soon. The diagonal parking spaces in front of M of O Bank were oriented for east-moving traffic, and the double striped center line has been "impressed" upon the street, but they haven't laid the paint.
"The right to have access to every building in the city by private motorcar in an age when everyone possesses such a vehicle is actually the right to destroy the city."
Lewis Mumford, The Highway and the City, 1963
StreetsOfOmaha wrote:I saw it lit up for the first time tonight. The Theater looks amazing. I love the "old style" marquee and the subtle LED lights specked in short lines on the facade of the building.
Also, the condo building at the top of the crescent on Turner Park had blue-hued architectural accent lighting.
Brad --> Well, I heard a plug for you on NPR either last weekend or the weekend before (at least I think it was you). So now that you're a super-famous photographer, I understand it's hard to pencil time in your schedule to snap some photos of measly MTC.
Midtown Gal wrote:Brad --> Well, I heard a plug for you on NPR either last weekend or the weekend before (at least I think it was you). So now that you're a super-famous photographer, I understand it's hard to pencil time in your schedule to snap some photos of measly MTC.
Not really... I actually had every intention of going last night and dozed off on the couch about 6:30pm... Woke up about 10:30 and had to do laundry so I didn't go. May be tonight if its not raining.
the plug was on KFAB the past 2 weekends. If it was on NPR, I did not know about it.
StreetsOfOmaha wrote:I saw it lit up for the first time tonight. The Theater looks amazing. I love the "old style" marquee and the subtle LED lights specked in short lines on the facade of the building.
Also, the condo building at the top of the crescent on Turner Park had blue-hued architectural accent lighting.
Did you get any pictures? Say yes!
I wasn't able to... SORRY I may try tonight.
"The right to have access to every building in the city by private motorcar in an age when everyone possesses such a vehicle is actually the right to destroy the city."
Lewis Mumford, The Highway and the City, 1963
StreetsOfOmaha wrote:I saw it lit up for the first time tonight. The Theater looks amazing. I love the "old style" marquee and the subtle LED lights specked in short lines on the facade of the building.
Also, the condo building at the top of the crescent on Turner Park had blue-hued architectural accent lighting.
Seeing the lights being tested adds to the already high level of excitement and anticipation for the big opening.
I haven't seen it lit up yet, but I agree. The signage for the theater is freaking awesome. It's such a large presence going along Farnam.
Does anyone know the price range for a theater like this? Is the the same, just more for the food? I have no idea how those work.
.
I may try tonight.
