Hallo? What's this I hear?
It's a weekend night downtown and as the pretty boys in tight miniskirts circle the block around Market Square and the crack queens ply their wasted wares at passing motorists, a wailing guitar riff fills the air, bouncing off the 1840s circa brick walls.
The music is coming from a ragtag group of musicians banging on bongo drums and tambourines as the unmistaken sound of 70s rock riffs emanate from Marshall speakers.
The Crescent Moon, a new gathering place for fortysomethings and the college crowd off 10th St. and Adams on the alleyway behind Rio Radio, is rocking.
Faces you would expect to see at Cobbleheads or in the modern clubs of
None other than Chief Municipal Judge Ben Neece and his associates like Sandy Stillman and Tad Hasse – tired of the lip service from politicians and would-be saviours of historical downtown – have put their money and sweat where their mouths are and took the plunge to inject downtown with an infusion of their own money and optimism.
"We've got to start somewhere," said Neece, putting down his electric guitar between sets. "This building used to be a tannery and it's really neat to be playing in here. We're hoping we can expand and restore the original arches in the walls that have been filled in by subsequent tenants in this place."
Down the street on Adams, pizza and music lovers congregate in Barcelona Nights, a daring enterprise by owner Daniel Lenz,who had the for having the gumption to open up a business in the area just around the corner from the burned-out Hotel Economico.
Not only does the restaurant feature pizza you can't get anywhere else in town, but we found out that Thursdays are Jazz Nights at the eatery/hangout.
The Charles Hearn Sextet entertained there last September and Lenz said he's planning other events in the coming days are scheduled there, but if you want to take a walk on the wild side one of these nights, call Dan at (956) 551-5655 and find out.
It's time for historic downtown Brownsville to make a comeback, and it'll be small business owners like Dan, Ben and others who will make it come alive again.
6 comments:
Ben Neece is a DICK! He has done nothing for this city except to take. He is on the public tit and enjoys it...assuming a position of superiorty while breaking lots of laws himself.
He and others seek to return Brownsville to the 19th Century.....no rules except their rules.
Sacalo!
How's that for some positive reinforcement.
Ben
It would be nice if other businesses in the immediate area would be featured here so that the community finds out about them. The Art and Cultural Center and the Brownsville Historical Museum are in the Market Square area between 11th and 12th and Adams and Washington. These are two non-profit organization. Check them out.
I think is a great idea to renew our downtown are and anybody doing it should be commended for resurrecting the image of our downtown after years of neglect by those who could have done something and didn't. And excuse me but contrary to what some may say, Judge Neece is a great contribution to our City as a professional and business person and has the right future plan for our City when he invests in what we should have done a long time ago ourselves ,so instead of bitching, be glad, we have natives that are willing to invest in our downtown region, in need of attention.
Y tu, annonymous, que no tienes los huevos pa' poner tu nombre, ya callate el hosico, el juez Ben Neece is good for our community
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