The Soapbox Archives:
I went to list a yearly event. I cut & paste their past URL and it led me straight to a porn site. However, their Facebook page was up and running. It should be embarassing to the event organizers that their visitors get directed to a porn site.
Those venues that shut down their businesses should still get everyone to stop listing them. They should also maintain the website for a few years to make sure no one grabs their URL (and their trademark) and make sure there's a notice on the front page to tell all visitors that they're closed.
When we went down to Disney World this year, we spent one day hanging out at Hollywood Studios. One of the attractions was the exhibit on Walt Disney's career. At the end of the walking tour, there was a 10-minute presentation on the new movie, "The Jungle Book. Naturally, we had to go and see it.
Unfortunately, we waited a while and finally the closest theaters to us weren't showing it anymore. We had to go down to the AMC - Framingham theater to see it. I suppose we didn't mind the drive because that was the location of our first date which must have went well because we're married now. Anyways, the movie was showing in one of their "wine & dine" theaters.
In order to step up their game against streaming and Netflix, they had to provide a different movie experience to attract customers. In theaters 1 through 6, you get a reserved reclining cushiony chair (with leg rests!) and you can push a button to call a *waiter*, even during the movie, to get food and drink (and I mean, alcohol). They don't even stop people from bringing in their own food. But being able to sit back and relax and watch a movie with someone bringing you snacks and a drink makes it worth getting out of the house and going to see a movie. One of the workers told me that the AMC - Framingham complex now attracts a better class of customers, particularly those who go to the movies on date night.
It's not your daddy's movie theater anymore.
It's the 20th Beantown Lindy Hop Camp and it's going to be another great year with the new dorms being available. Remembering my college days, it's amazing how good the food is and every day is different. Unlike some other events, you're not stuck in a hotel all weekend; you'll get outside plenty of times to enjoy the weather.
I think that Dunkin' Donuts needs to change their name; I don't think donuts are their primary concern anymore. For a while now, I'll go in during the late afternoon and not be able to get the donut I want. "Sold out", they'll say. If it's "Dunkin' Donuts", then why are they out of donuts with half a shift to go? I used to be able to go in just before closing and get any donut I want. Now, if they're out of donuts at 4 pm, I'm out of luck. This is really disappointing. I guess the beancounters figured that their marginal level of profits goes down if they have leftover donuts at the end of the day and it's not important if their customers leave a store unsatisfied.
This goes to show why competition is important in any business; it keeps everyone trying. I didn't always get Krispy Kreme donuts but it's good to know that they made Dunkin' Donuts work for their customers. I see Honey Dew Donuts at highway rest stops but never in the areas where I live; I bet Dunkin' Donuts would be offering fresh donuts all the time if Honey Dew Donuts started invading their turf.