D Nuts || November 22, 2006
One rumor that had flown in our comments section has now come closer to being a fact; as Cindy Chaffin reported at finelinelive.com this morning, the Trees reopening effort may have been served a roadblock thanks to its all-ages desires. The full bulletin posted by TreesLives' MySpace page yesterday is as follows:
"The final say is up to the city council," Annino counters. "Like anybody else in town, if you didn't want something coming in, the Association would represent the group that would have some influence, but it's not the final say. They could still pass."
Annino begins by passing the buck on the city: "The teen ordinance does not allow teen clubs. We wouldn't have a say in that." When asked about clubs that permit under-17 patrons (The Door consistently, Gypsy Tea Room occasionally), Annino answers: "They are not CO'ed as teen clubs. They just have dance hall permits. First of all, you couldn't promote yourself as a teen club, under 17. You can't say you're a teen club. That's an illegal use from the city of Dallas, that'd be like opening a topless club. If someone's over there, has a teen show, under 17, it's really not a legal use."
But what if a venue runs some shows that are all ages and others that aren't? "I think it's grey."
From here, Annino dodges some of our questions and answers others less than fully. Rather than retype all of that, we're providing an MP3 of the rest of the interview HERE. If you'd rather skip the eight-minute MP3, though, know that by the end, Annino does make a declaration: "It's never been said that we don't want undera--we don't want 18-year-olds in Deep Ellum...It's not about the kids, it's not about anything else. We want [Trees] to be good curators, and whatever they give us [in a business plan], we want them to follow it...We want to encourage the live music."
Our thoughts? Annino is mighty careful with his words in our interview, and while we don't blame him, it doesn't ease our fears and worries about the ultimate situation at hand. We knew this SUP business was weird back when Laura Miller and her pals touted it as a tool to stop "rowdy" dance clubs in the district; we knew it could eventually be applied to rock clubs as well. At this point, though, that decision appears in the hands of the Dallas City Council more than anyone else, and anyone who doth protesteth might be wiser to direct their letters and phone calls that-a-ways.
We're in Deep Ellum two to four times a week, and from the busiest nights to the slowest, the most consistent variable is the teen presence wandering around the streets and checking out the stores. Music clubs in Deep Ellum are already teen-unfriendly enough; say what you want about Trees' chances or your opinion on its potential new booking, but as a stark advocate of increasing music options for teens--the kids who are willing to brave crappy clubs and rowdy crowds to see independent music--we have a huge problem with any roadblocks to reigniting that crowd in Dallas. But hey, how is Deep Ellum gonna build its eventual Gap, Banana Republic and Starbucks with new music clubs in the way? DART Tunnel + SUP = Laura Miller's Yuppie Dream. -SM
From: TREES LIVESWe were tipped off by another Dd operative about this, who had actually responded and gotten a response from the Trees reopening camp; the e-mail alleged that Barry Annino, President of the Deep Ellum Association, has the ultimate say in whether or not Dallas' City Council grants the club its Special Usage Permit (SUP) and has denied it himself.
Date: Nov 21 2006 1:49 PM
We were in process of getting all of our permits. We were told that we need a "Special Use Permit". When we applied for the "Special Use Permit" we were told that we would not be approved. That the Deep Ellum Association does not want underagers in Deep Ellum anymore. As a matter of fact we were told to look elsewhere.
Currently The Door, Gypsy, and the other venues are grandfathered. However, if they ever want to make a change that requires a permit from the city, or to change ownership they will be denied, unless they stop the underage shows.
I think that this is a really stupid move by the Deep Ellum Association. But we have to make a decision, do we open or not. Please give us your feedback.
"The final say is up to the city council," Annino counters. "Like anybody else in town, if you didn't want something coming in, the Association would represent the group that would have some influence, but it's not the final say. They could still pass."
Annino begins by passing the buck on the city: "The teen ordinance does not allow teen clubs. We wouldn't have a say in that." When asked about clubs that permit under-17 patrons (The Door consistently, Gypsy Tea Room occasionally), Annino answers: "They are not CO'ed as teen clubs. They just have dance hall permits. First of all, you couldn't promote yourself as a teen club, under 17. You can't say you're a teen club. That's an illegal use from the city of Dallas, that'd be like opening a topless club. If someone's over there, has a teen show, under 17, it's really not a legal use."
But what if a venue runs some shows that are all ages and others that aren't? "I think it's grey."
From here, Annino dodges some of our questions and answers others less than fully. Rather than retype all of that, we're providing an MP3 of the rest of the interview HERE. If you'd rather skip the eight-minute MP3, though, know that by the end, Annino does make a declaration: "It's never been said that we don't want undera--we don't want 18-year-olds in Deep Ellum...It's not about the kids, it's not about anything else. We want [Trees] to be good curators, and whatever they give us [in a business plan], we want them to follow it...We want to encourage the live music."
Our thoughts? Annino is mighty careful with his words in our interview, and while we don't blame him, it doesn't ease our fears and worries about the ultimate situation at hand. We knew this SUP business was weird back when Laura Miller and her pals touted it as a tool to stop "rowdy" dance clubs in the district; we knew it could eventually be applied to rock clubs as well. At this point, though, that decision appears in the hands of the Dallas City Council more than anyone else, and anyone who doth protesteth might be wiser to direct their letters and phone calls that-a-ways.
We're in Deep Ellum two to four times a week, and from the busiest nights to the slowest, the most consistent variable is the teen presence wandering around the streets and checking out the stores. Music clubs in Deep Ellum are already teen-unfriendly enough; say what you want about Trees' chances or your opinion on its potential new booking, but as a stark advocate of increasing music options for teens--the kids who are willing to brave crappy clubs and rowdy crowds to see independent music--we have a huge problem with any roadblocks to reigniting that crowd in Dallas. But hey, how is Deep Ellum gonna build its eventual Gap, Banana Republic and Starbucks with new music clubs in the way? DART Tunnel + SUP = Laura Miller's Yuppie Dream. -SM
1 Comments:
So the association approved a place called “Club Shiznit”, but has some issues with allowing a place for minors to see a rock show? What, are the Fat Daddy's people wanting to open it too close to Condom Sense?
Post a Comment
<< Home