I had never heard Menlo Park referred to as "Menlo Dark" until an article in today's Chronicle quoted someone calling it that. But I have heard our own little burg called "Boringame" since 1983. So the Chron piece about three investors buying the Guild movie theater, doing a "substantial renovation" and reopening it as a live music venue operated by a non-profit just made me green with envy. Here are a couple of bits of the article
When the theater opens, it will still be called the Guild and will have either the same or similar marquee to announce rock, jazz, country and comedy acts three to five nights a week in an open-floor configuration Drew Dunlevie said. “It’s a Silicon Valley impetus. We need more culture here,” said Dunlevie. “We are doing this because we are all tired of having to go to the city to see shows.”
The sleepy downtown, which Mueller said has earned the nickname “Menlo Dark,” has never had a stand-alone music venue. The closest it came was in the 1960s when there was live music at Magoo’s Pizza on Santa Cruz Avenue. This is where an Atherton kid named Bobby Weir joined together with a Palo Alto guitar teacher named Jerry Garcia and a recruited bassist named Phil Lesh to first perform as the Warlocks on May 5, 1965, before later becoming the Grateful Dead.
Where else does that sound like? Yep, Boringame. And a little historical factoid is that Phil Lesh was living in Burlingame around that time while attending college nearby. There are a few buildings in B'game that might work for this sort of thing and there are plenty of B'gamers who are also tired of going to the ever-dirtier city to see shows. We just need the benefactors--and some city leaders with vision and willingness to encourage such a venue to come to be. With all of the development going on one can hope that 10 or 15 thousand square feet could go for such a spot.
Update, Sunday 9/29: At least Broadway was alive last night with a solo guitar player at Il Piccolo and council woman Emily Beach playing with some guest performers for her annual BCE charity show. Sure felt nice to be able to hear music in two places on B'way. Il Piccolo is planning for Friday and Saturday music to be a regular event! Here is Rebbesoul playing last night.
Pony Express, Redwood City.
Posted by: fred | September 27, 2019 at 05:44 AM
Burlingame needs another exercise venue though Joe. Not enough in town to date for everyone's needs
Paying someone to motivate you to work out, I still dont understand and never will that concept. My drill sergeant and my own motivation was all I've ever needed to exercise for 70yrs.
Music venue is a great idea and would benefit Burlingame more than 4000 new office on the Bayfront...
Posted by: Barking Dog | September 27, 2019 at 04:27 PM
Had never heard of Boringame. I always thought we were Burlinglame. Somewhere between Snoresborough and Millbore.
Even Deadwood City now has some buzz.
Posted by: BMW | September 28, 2019 at 10:07 AM
@Fred, I'm not familiar with Pony Express. Where/what is it?
Savanna Jazz in San Carlos is kind of the model of what might work somewhere here.
@Barking Dog, you make me laugh which is something I never did in front of my drill sergeant. I did the post about some of the workout places here: https://www.burlingamevoice.com/2019/03/sweating-in-bgame.html
The total count is unknown, but certainly large and growing.
Back on topic: There appears to be some progress in updating the entertainment permit process in town so stay tuned.
Posted by: Joe | September 28, 2019 at 11:57 AM
Pony Express Pizza in Redwood City indie and punk bands like green day played there in the late 80s early 90s.
Posted by: Eric | October 01, 2019 at 05:31 AM