The Sounding of Two Canons

This week, a couple of great articles in the paper on how Vision 2020 is hoping to use Downtown Midland to promote the Arts and Quality of Place:

Arts committee looks to contribute to downtown revitalization

http://www.mywesttexas.com/articles/2009/04/22/news/top_stories/vision_2020-_arts.txt

2020 builds a Midland for professionals, families alike

http://www.mywesttexas.com/articles/2009/04/23/news/top_stories/vision_2020-_quality_of_place.txt

And if any of you are skeptical on whether these “Vision” projects (held every ten years) are successful, you should check out the informative video here:

http://www.midlandvision2020.com/

We attended the Petroleum Hall of Fame last night, and we have never seen so many people in the Midland Center before (and we’ve been there many times!).  The event featured the induction of five honorees into the Hall of Fame.  Among the honorees were Jim Henry, the team of Ted Collins Jr. and the late Herb Ware, and the late Johnny Warren.  We loved the video biographies of all of the honorees.  It was truly fascinating to hear their stories of success, and how they became giants in the oil industry.

As you’ve probably heard, the fifth honoree was a certain former President.  His best line in accepting the honor was, “I’m thankful you didn’t have to find much oil to get in,” which we thought was pretty clever.  And of course, we have to mention the Presidential shout-out to Downtown Midland!  “I’ve been in front of many rallies over the past 14 years, but none held as much meaning as the 30,000 people gathered on Jan. 20th in downtown Midland.”

It’s a Midland institution.  We’re just glad it’s not closing, and that it’s staying in the “downtown-ish” area.

Grahams Pharmacy breaks ground on new, larger location

http://www.mywesttexas.com/articles/2009/04/16/news/opinion/columns/business_scene.txt

Another great quote in the same article by Joe Torres (you know, the co-owner of restaurant Cancun Grill and Cancun On the Go, part of the team slowly taking Midland over by excellent food and even better service):

“We like downtown,” Torres said.

We like it too, Joe.

Have you gotten your tickets for RENT yet?  We have…..

Experience RENT live in Midland, Texas!!  Midland Community Theatre will be the FIRST community theatre to ever have the privilege of producing RENT, now that it has closed on Broadway!  The Broadway production closed on September 7, 2008, after a 12-year run and 5,124 performances, making it the eighth-longest-running Broadway show, ever!!  For TWO WEEKS ONLY at the dates below (including a special showing on Thursday, April 30^th for the Young Professionals of Midland).   Co-Produced by Young Professionals of Midland and Mitch and Kathy Clark.

RENT is a rock musical based on Giacomo Puccini’s opera LA BOHEME. RENT tells the story of a group of impoverished young artists & musicians struggling to survive in NY’s Lower East Side. RENT has won both a Pulitzer Prize and a Tony Award for Best Musical.*

Tickets are ON SALE NOW!!! 

Showtimes are:  

Friday Apr 24, 2009

Saturday Apr 25, 2009

Friday May 1, 2009

Saturday May 2, 2009

All showings begin at 8PM at the Yucca Theatre.

*FYI - Please keep in mind this musical is not for everyone….  the show is recommended for adults because of language and adult content.

We have attended this annual shrimp boil together three years in a row, and every single year we have so much fun.  It really is one of our favorite annual events in Midland.  On Wednesday, the Permian Basin Landmen’s Association hosted the PBLA Spring Education Seminar at the Petroleum Club, followed by the Shrimp Boil at The Bar.  Many, many people came in from out of town, and out of state, to attend the seminar, and the tent and patio were full of landmen, of course, along with various oilmen and oil and gas lawyers.  The Bar had put up a huge, festive white tent for the occasion, which connected to the back patio.  We’ve never seen The Bar look better!  

The event continued with a golf and tennis tournament yesterday, which we didn’t attend but we’re sure it was great.  Back to the Shrimp Boil…. the food was excellent!  For shrimp lovers, we suggest you befriend someone in the PBLA before next year’s Shrimp Boil, because it is worth it!  Nice party PBLA. 

We’re happy to see this article in the paper today, because we were wondering how the groundbreaking went!  We were so sad to miss it, but that pesky thing called work got in the way….  J  Thanks to Senator KBH for making an appearance to help kick off the exciting renovations to Centennial Plaza.  We’re so glad to see this project become a reality!  Finally we will see the circa 1985 plaza brought into the new century.  Downtown Midland, Texas is definitely coming along, slowly but surely….

Senator helps city officials break ground on Centennial renovations

http://www.mywesttexas.com/articles/2009/04/09/news/top_stories/doc49de136688a27325677177.txt

P.S. From Cory – loving meeting girlfriends at Ground Floor in the morning before work to catch up over coffee, and grabbing breakfast tacos in the morning before work at Cancun on The Run….  Hard to believe a few months ago these places didn’t even exist in Downtown Midland….  In Cancun’s case, even a few weeks ago!  We need more!!!