Only in the EBX

Filed under, “Really?”  The EBX, taking a break from its weekly dose of dissing AC Transit, Ron Dellums, or Don Perata, has decided to celebrate the wonder of wonders that is the Tribe.net Alamedan’s Not So Anonymous forum.   Speaking of AC Transit, Oakland blogger, V Smoothe, was none too happy with the liberties taken by Robert Gammon in his piece about AC Transit, apparently the first of two parts.   My personal opinion on the VanHools, they are okay.  I liked the old buses, and the new ones are fine.   The only buses I loathe are the coach style ones that make you climb 20 stair steps and squeeze through the tiny little aisles.   They may be comfortable for a long haul, but are a bitch to navigate into.  But I digress.

Anyway according to the EBX, unlike you all mud-slinging commenters, the touchy feely goodness currently happening over at Tribe.netis refreshing in its non-snarkiness.   I guess EBX must have missed the touchy feely goodness that went on for weeks and weeks in the comment section of the Pork Product post.

But speaking of alamnonanon, check out the two threads where they veer off  pedestrian subjects like where to buy rosewater in Alameda or “an open letter to all the douchebags at fit-lite” and decide to tackle the more political.    One is on the Theater project and another is on the closure of Video Maniacs.  A special shot goes out to someone with the avatar Tara, who decides to go on a rant about government “renewable” projects, and then seems to mistake Robb Ratto for the George family who own Pillow Park Plaza.   Attributing to Robb R.:

…Then the greedy Rattos of the world (remember he pushed out the pizza place and another small shop to increase Pillow Park) lay their covetous eyes on your property and use their pull with the politicians and throw you out on you butt… Let’s not forget the restaurants who had to close for the theater. They will be replaced my more expensive upscale places. The people who worked there lost their jobs too.

…

The Rattos of the world delusionally thinkthat people will stickaround and come buy sofas in his store. the irony is by making the parking garge connected to the theaters, Outside customers will not be on the street to see what is available. They will conveniently walk back to the elevator that takes them to the car…

Of course, nevermind the fact that other posters sort of corrected her to let her know that Barceluna did in fact briefly live in the old space that was Kelly’s, but has now turned into the HobNob and that Barceluna will indeed continue to exist in the old Lucianos space.  

And then her rant on the Theater thread:

…Of course many of the policies of the Park street merchants assn. ( Pillow Park Plaza the leader here) and their goons Johnson and Materessi, have driven out many quirky local businesses ( the used/new book store, antique stores) over the course of this project in the name of modernization. These businesses have in many cases been replaced by CHAIN (quiznos, starfucks, tomtino,) stores which then, ironically, does not make Alameda UNIQUE enough for people to drive here as a destination…

Someone clearly was unhappy with her sofa purchase at Pillow Park Plaza, else I’m not sure why there is so much venom directed toward them.   Also, in my opinion, there are more than enough antique stores in Alameda, and the new used book store: Blue Rectangle is a perfectly pleasant place as is the new book store: Books Inc.   And while some of the quirky local businesses may have closed down there are many factors that could have led up to that other than being driven out by the big baddies at the Park Street Business Association, there are now a lot of quirky local businesses that make Park Street a whole lot better like the Alameda Marketplace, the two bookstore mentioned above, the District, Mints, Daisy’s, Dog Bone Alley, Fudgelato, etc etc…  Also, the last time I was at Fudgelato, I had to point out that one of the small signs advertising some sort of fudge was misspelled. 

While we can lament what used to be there and decry that it will never be as good as it was.   And that we would rather have the 50 million antique shops lining Park Street rather than have a “Starfucks” (tell that to the folks that line up for their daily fix).  The least we can do when we rant about the good old days is be able to rail correctly at the subject of our ire.   If you are unhappy that Pillow Park Plaza is slowly taking over Park Street peddling their sofas and other home furnishings, direct your anger toward to Georges.  All other complaints can be directed to Robb R.

Although I do have to say that the thread referenced in the EBX blog was a rather nice one, extolling the virtues of Alameda service workers.   With notable folks like Scott of Scotts Shoes and Kate Pryor of Tucker’s.   I have one person to add to the list, the guy who owns Play N Trade at Bridgeside Center.  Nice guy.