| Author | Message | ||
     cmontyburns Citizen Username: Cmontyburns Post Number: 1992 Registered: 12-2003  |
To the angry masses debating whether or not the village should proceed with SOPAC, you'd better kick it into gear. According to the Gaslight, SOPAC opens Nov. 3 with performances from Yo-Yo Ma and Paula Poundstone, and the movie theater opens the same day. (Gaslight advertises $1 movies for the first three days.) That only leaves about 8 weeks to stop construction and get the building dismantled. I know no one except for the evil village government wants to see SOPAC built, and no one will show up for the opening because there isn't anywhere to park, so it's probably all a moot point. Just passing the info along so we have something to chitchat about. | ||
| Soda Supporter Username: Soda Post Number: 4181 Registered: 5-2001  |
It's been lotsa fun being a SOPAC volunteer over the past few months, reading the carping and sniping about just about anyone associated with the venture from the usual band of MOL suspects. I can't wait to be there to welcome some of 'em to their first movie night, or concert, or whatever perfomance they deign to finally attend... -s. | ||
| joel dranove Citizen Username: Jdranove Post Number: 1026 Registered: 1-2006 |
Where is SOPAC? How will people locate it? Is it that place in the parking lot, without any entrances visible from any streets? I want it to open already, if that is it. jd | ||
| Hoops Citizen Username: Hoops Post Number: 2101 Registered: 10-2004  |
dont worry cmonty, I will walk there. | ||
| Just The Aunt Supporter Username: Auntof13 Post Number: 6106 Registered: 1-2004  |
What movies will be shown there 3 November? | ||
| cmontyburns Citizen Username: Cmontyburns Post Number: 1995 Registered: 12-2003 |
According to the web site, they say the performance schedule will be posted after Sept. 15. | ||
| melissa Citizen Username: Mfred208 Post Number: 25 Registered: 2-2006 |
Where are all these people coming to see YoYo Ma and going to see the movies and going to see the other artists going to park? You think everyone is going to fit in that one parking lot? I wish they would fix that situation fast - just pave the lot across the street and make some more parking. I can't wait to go the SOPAC. Lucky for me I can walk there. But in November and December I don't think I'm going to want to walk to far. | ||
| cmontyburns Citizen Username: Cmontyburns Post Number: 1997 Registered: 12-2003 |
Where do all the people going to see movies at the Maplewood Theater (which has four parking spaces) and Millburn Theater (two parking spaces) park? Both places are packed on weekends. | ||
| wnb Citizen Username: Wnb Post Number: 558 Registered: 8-2001 |
I still buy the "nights and weekends" argument for parking. I do not see where it is even remotely difficult to find parking at 7:30 any evening in South Orange Village. I've gone through the full season lineup and the only problem I have with it is I don't know how I am possibly going to fit all these shows into my schedule. BTW here is the link: http://www.sopacnow.org/p-season.php I have counted no less than 27 of 55 shows that I want to see. Now that is exciting for me! I'm especially geared towards the classical and jazz lineups as well as the childrens' programming for my kids. There's some really cool looking stuff here. I for one am looking forward to seeing a lot of these shows. Go SOPAC! | ||
| MHD Citizen Username: Mayhewdrive Post Number: 4621 Registered: 5-2001  |
South Orange PAC unveils first season http://www.nj.com/entertainment/ledger/index.ssf?/base/entertainment-0/115760924 6140820.xml&coll=1&thispage=1 Although, I must admit I have never heard of most of these acts. | ||
| Cali6buff Citizen Username: Cali6buff Post Number: 83 Registered: 4-2006 |
I'm with wnb. Enough with the parking. Also, aren't we all EX-NYCers? Didn't we walk miles upon miles everyday? There will be plenty of space in the area. And why are people lobbying so hard for a parking lot smack dab in the middle of town. No thanks. I'll wait for something to get built. I'm looking forward to "Dirty Sock Funtime Band". Lots of fun with the kids. | ||
| Phenixrising Citizen Username: Phenixrising Post Number: 1908 Registered: 9-2004  |
I don't see the BIG deal in parking in SO. I think parking is limited in Maplewood than South Orange. At least we have options. If folks don't mind walking, I'm sure the lot by Third street will be available on weekends. Also, by the bank there are a few spaces. | ||
| MHD Citizen Username: Mayhewdrive Post Number: 4625 Registered: 5-2001 |
The Star Ledger article says "The South Orange Performing Arts Center is at 1 SOPAC Way", although I have always heard the address referred to as "1 Trenchard Place". Is that an error in the Star Ledger or is the Street being renamed? Maybe one of the SOPAC volunteers can actually add some value here. | ||
| Alison Citizen Username: Alikoz Post Number: 184 Registered: 8-2002 |
Paula Poundstone?????????  | ||
| mrosner Citizen Username: Mrosner Post Number: 2943 Registered: 4-2002 |
They are renaming the street - and it came as a surprise to me too. I just got notification last week, so I have no idea who made the decision or how it came about. | ||
| joel dranove Citizen Username: Jdranove Post Number: 1029 Registered: 1-2006 |
What about a really, really, big sign, neon, art deco-letterage, illuminated at night, blinking if necessary, which will light the way to the parking lot inner sanctum? The sign should be on the top of the building, and visible for miles. jd | ||
| MHD Citizen Username: Mayhewdrive Post Number: 4626 Registered: 5-2001 |
Renaming the Street as SOPAC WAY??? I thought SOPAC was looking to sell the naming rights to "SOPAC". So, potentially we could have "Beifus PAC" or "Calabrese PAC" that is located on SOPAC Way? Someone should rethink the rush to do this. | ||
| red_alert Citizen Username: Red_alert Post Number: 333 Registered: 3-2005 |
Like in the flashing sign in "BettleJuice" | ||
| joel dranove Citizen Username: Jdranove Post Number: 1031 Registered: 1-2006 |
Wasn't that a small sign? Help me on that. I was thinking something like the COLGATE sign on the Hudson in Jersey City. I think it was that brand. Or, the HOLLYWOOD sign above Hollywood Hills, CA. jd | ||
| Flying_char Citizen Username: Flying_char Post Number: 431 Registered: 8-2005  |
I think this thing is great for the town. Think about all the theater goers we will be seeing in e.g bunnies... Also, the fun sock band. My kids saw it at the PNC center and they loved it. | ||
| Dufus Citizen Username: Dufus Post Number: 6 Registered: 8-2006 |
Paula Poundstone... better keep the kids at home.. http://www.eonline.com/News/Items/0,1,8813,00.html Otherwise, having comedians at SOPAC is a great idea. Good alternative to rascals. | ||
| Jim Murphy Citizen Username: Jimmurphy Post Number: 290 Registered: 5-2001 |
Does anyone know if there are plans to put a sign on the wall of SOPAC facing the train station? Seems like an easy way to inform thousands of people riding the trains each day that SOPAC really is Coming Soon! We do want to attract out-of-towners - don't we? | ||
| oots Citizen Username: Oots Post Number: 478 Registered: 6-2001 |
Yes-if you want to pay off the note! oots | ||
| Bob K Supporter Username: Bobk Post Number: 12608 Registered: 5-2001 |
I just heard that the theater is going to open with two french language films, an Irania film in Parsei and a documentary about Antartica. I can hardly wait. ps: there will be subtitles on the foreign language films. | ||
| cmontyburns Citizen Username: Cmontyburns Post Number: 1999 Registered: 12-2003 |
Do people really believe no one is going to be able to find SOPAC? How many thousands of people walk past its front door every day? | ||
| MHD Citizen Username: Mayhewdrive Post Number: 4631 Registered: 5-2001 |
THOUSANDS??? I am quite certain there are not 1000 (let alone several thousand) that park in the NJ Transit lot and take the train every day. On the bright side, now that the street will be called SOPAC WAY, it will be impossible to miss, right?  | ||
| extuscan Citizen Username: Extuscan Post Number: 703 Registered: 6-2001 |
The SOPAC way... this means it will be a toll road. The sign will say 25 cents, but when you get there it will be four bucks. Now if that isn't the SOPAC way I don't know what is. -John | ||
| joel dranove Citizen Username: Jdranove Post Number: 1040 Registered: 1-2006 |
Which street are you talking about? The front doors are on a little traffic circle in the parking lot, invisible to the region's streets. There is no street fronting the building, each and every perimeter wall of it. About one thousand commuters take the train each morning. They are mostly post-movie going age, but for selected releases. Teens are the target audience of most movies. They don't commute much. jd | ||
| Cali6buff Citizen Username: Cali6buff Post Number: 84 Registered: 4-2006 |
jd - city planner. MHD - and there are 17000 people in South Orange. I'll bet you 100 bucks 1000 of them commute to NYC. Throw in the neighboring towns, and I think it's closer to thousands, than not. But I've got an email into NJTransit, so we can all know for sure, and understand what "quite certain" really means when it comes from you. | ||
| MHD Citizen Username: Mayhewdrive Post Number: 4635 Registered: 5-2001 |
Cali, Not to split hairs, but cmonty suggested that "thousands of people walk past its front door every day". In order to walk past the front door you would almost definitely need to be parked in the NJ Transit lot. You really think THOUSANDS of people every day do that? | ||
| Amateur Night Citizen Username: Deborahg Post Number: 1992 Registered: 5-2001  |
MHD, you're wrong there -- I take the jitney or walk to the station, along with tons of others from SO and WO. HAven't parked in that lot. | ||
| Rastro Citizen Username: Rastro  Post Number: 3804 Registered: 5-2004  |
I'm confused. Who has the authority to change the name of a public street in town, without going through the BOT? Personally, I couldn't care less about the name, and I'm glad to see SOPAC opening. But I do wonder who made the decision (and had the authority) to rename a town road without BOT approval. | ||
| jayjay Citizen Username: Jayjayp Post Number: 768 Registered: 6-2005 |
Is that even a public road? I thought it was a NJ Transit owned driveway? If it is, how can they (whoever "they" is)name it anything? Isn't it's address whatever the address is for the transit lot? | ||
| cmontyburns Citizen Username: Cmontyburns Post Number: 2000 Registered: 12-2003 |
Far more people are dropped off in the circular drive and walk into the station than actually park in the NJ transit lot. As for "renaming the road" -- it sounds largely symbolic and entirely harmless. Though I'm sure folks will find a way to turn that into a conspiracy, too. | ||
| Jersey_Boy Citizen Username: Jersey_boy Post Number: 1833 Registered: 1-2006  |
It's easy:  Do it here: http://www.customstreetsigns.com/ J.B. Jersey Boy Way, South Orange, New Jersey 07079 | ||
| Cali6buff Citizen Username: Cali6buff Post Number: 85 Registered: 4-2006 |
Because splitting hairs is the only way to try and save face. What he meant was, thousands of people see SOPAC every single day. It's not a mystery. And you know that, so don't hide behind a "split hair". This isn't a court of law. | ||
| MHD Citizen Username: Mayhewdrive Post Number: 4641 Registered: 5-2001 |
cali, Let us know when you get a response from NJ Transit about how many people park in the NJ Transit lot and take the Jitney so we can confirm THOUSANDS "of people walk past its front door every day". | ||
| Cali6buff Citizen Username: Cali6buff Post Number: 86 Registered: 4-2006 |
i will. And - for the record Yer Honor - I asked for the average weekday ridership from South Orange to Penn Station and Hoboken. I think we can agree that anyone on the platform sees, and knows, where and what SOPAC is. | ||
| wnb Citizen Username: Wnb Post Number: 562 Registered: 8-2001 |
This is of utmost critical importance, MHD. The much anticipated and much mocked inaugural season lineup of SOPAC is announced, it's a full lineup with some great looking stuff, and you twiddle around about a street name and how many people happen to walk past it on one side vs the other side. This would be silly if it wasn't so sad. Not to mention this is the kind of goofball stuff that turns people off and loses elections for a certain political element as well. | ||
| SOrising Citizen Username: Sorising Post Number: 799 Registered: 2-2006 |
wnb, I think the issue is how well SOPAC can be marketed to non-residents, given that the front door is difficult to find. I think even architects will tell you a public building in which the front door is hard to find is a bad idea. If the lack of foresight and planning evident in something this simple and basic is any sign of overall planning, its a cause for real concern. Most posters here are bright enough to hope it will succeed. But glaring errors with the basics do not bode well for anything more complicated (like a business plan, for example). | ||
| wnb Citizen Username: Wnb Post Number: 565 Registered: 8-2001 |
Most posters here are bright enough to realize these poor wandering souls may be guided by a few well-placed signs to speed them on their way. I don't think most people plan to attend performances based on the placement of the front door of the theater, or for that matter the name of the little non-street the theater happens to sit near. These things are hardly going to dissuade people from buying tickets for events. Perhaps, at worst, the door placement will cause a little confusion the first time somebody attends an event, with an associated 3-5 minute delay as some of them figure out how to get into the building. This thread is about the newly announced SOPAC lineup. Why not start a new thread if you want to complain about which direction the door faces or how to get a scientifically accurate measurement of the number of people who walk past it every day? Can't you people at least try to say something constructive about the actual performance schedule? | ||
| cmontyburns Citizen Username: Cmontyburns Post Number: 2002 Registered: 12-2003 |
"I think the issue is how well SOPAC can be marketed to non-residents, given that the front door is difficult to find." You honestly dont think nonresidents will be able to find the train station? | ||
| SOrising Citizen Username: Sorising Post Number: 802 Registered: 2-2006 |
I think carelessness in a design feature of an arts center (supposedly concerned about such things as design) is symptomatic of amateurish handling of a multi-million dollar, tax-funded project that has no cap on spending, no business plan and poor consideration of architectural features such as where the public entrance to it is. None of us will have to wait long to see how it all pans out. The lack of professionalism is disturbing however, which is all that can be said about it thus far. | ||
| Soda Supporter Username: Soda Post Number: 4214 Registered: 5-2001 |
And exactly what professional-level of expertise in any of "the basics" do you claim as basis for your across-the-board negativity and carporrhea? -s. |
