"Nee Haw Peterborough!"

Well I'm delighted to report that an empty business in downtown Peterborough is soon going to be brought back to life. The always evolving venue of Club Vibe is once again getting ready to open it's doors. Club Vibe is a fairly large venue (12,000 square feet) so keeping up attendance has been a challenge in the past. The former owners and organizers often put on all ages events to help fill this vast venue and provide a place for teens to get out and dance. Unfortunately underage drinking and filling the place to capacity have proved difficult in the past. Frankly, the flavour of the vibe wasn't anything new or exciting. Downtown Peterborough already has it's share of dance venues.
Restoration on the rather dank building is already underway and the new owner hopes to open up "CJ's Country Bar" in 6 to 8 weeks. Just in time for a Cowboy Christmas I hope!
During an interview in the local paper the new owner said..."The main bar area is 5,000 square feet and you can’t walk on it without stepping on a piece of gum. It’s that dirty. I’m doing an extensive renovation."

"Ideally I need to modernize the outside of the building. It’s an eye-sore in the downtown core," he said. "It will be repainted. I’m putting in new doors. Believe it or not there is black marble on the front of that building and I want to polish it and utilize some of the original architecture of the building."

I think it's awesome that this guy isn't just slapping up a coat of paint and hiring a coat check girl/guy. He sounds like he's going to give the old building the respect it deserves. It's seen alot of ugliness over the years.

Originally the Club Vibe building was one of Peterborough's local cinemas. If memory serves it housed two theatres, the main one on the first floor and a smaller one upstairs. I think it was the Paramount? I remember sneaking in to the upstairs theatre to watch that racy film "Grease", even though I'd paid to see something rated PG on the main floor. Good times! But enough about me and how I use to spend my $2.00 allowance.
This time around the new owner is proposing a Country Music Bar for the space. I love it. Diversity in the downtown core! We really don't need another place that plays bass laden music with monosyllabic lyrics. Sure those places have their merits but Peterborough needs an alternative and I'm pretty excited that someone is stepping up to the plate. Or moseying up to the bar...so to speak and making the investment. Clearly the country music scene has become increasingly popular over the past few years. People 18 to 35 years of age are really starting to dig the scene. It may not be everyones cup of sarsaparilla but I hope it's going to be a big hit. It's hard to see such a large store front remain empty in our downtown. It's also hard to think of all that wasted gum ground into it's dance floor.
Mr. Bob's update - due to drug charges their liquor license has been revoked. Though the restaurant remains open we're not yet sure if a dry venue will be able to survive. Maybe as a breakfast/lunch place like the Queensway restaurant? Time will tell.
Hopefully CJ's can fill the void by providing a natural way to "Stay High". Heck! I might even dust off my 10 gallon hat!
Don't fret haters I'll be back with a rant soon.
B-spot in the chilly North!

"Stay High"

Hey Deuces! Long time no blog. Things have been pretty slow around PeterPatch since the big "Bridal/Boxing Blowout" Weekend at the Trentwinds. Don't worry, lots girls are still doing their thing even though the Trent Canal system has shut down for the season. Sure, without the barrage of oversexed male houseboat renters, tips will be scarce but our girls will be okay.
Thanks for your concern.
Anyway...I was checking my local newspapers website last night and was assaulted by a "News Alert". These alerts are always highlighted on a red backdrop. I always think it's going to be something devastating to warrant such an alarming colour choice. Alas it was a report about a local business owner being busted on drug charges. I think this news alert could have been put forth with a more subtle colour like lemon or rust. Lets face it the guys not a saint so what's with sending up the flare of surprise?
I found a brief account of the story on another website and have copied it below (in rust);

A prominent business owner and local philanthropist is accused of running a lucrative drug ring out of his family pizza parlour and now faces numerous drug-related charges. Tracy Robinson, 46, along with three other employees at Mr. Bob's Gourmet Pizza and Restaurant, were arrested Monday (Oct. 15) after police searched The Queensway business and seized more than $30,000 worth of cash and drugs.
After getting over the shock that this was considered "Gourmet Pizza" (having once heard Mr. Bob's pizza referred to as "something that looked like an un-wiped babies arse), I was most struck by the word philanthropist in this short piece. I suppose you could say that his crime was motivated by his altruistic concern for human beings and their need to "Stay High" which was inscribed on every baggie of cocaine that was seized. But maybe the writer was referring to Robinson's endless supply of borderline entertainment that wafted through his bar/restaurant over the years. His establishment, which moved ever closer to a local highway over the years (I suppose that provided for easier access for suppliers and buyers) was a hub of no name talent. I applaude you Mr. Robinson for the endless parade of singers/musicians and comedians whom you gave voice to and...for the ladies you provided the counterpart to Thursdays all female review, promoting "Exotic Male Dancers". In short, something for everyone and you even served breakfast. Wow! You are a philanthropist. Sadly I don't think this champion of the people will be able to continue his good deeds where he is going. What will become of "Mr. Bob's Gourmet Pizza"? Where will all the guys with acoustic guitars and a song in their heart sing now? Will male dancers by left shivering in the cold?

Will Mr. Bob's go the way of the Bake & Make (pictured on the left) where they finally figured ya gotta bake'em before ya make'em?

Is Peterborough, like Trenton, NJ about to lose another local institution?
Only time will tell.
"Stay High" my friends - this ones for "pants down man", nobody pumps it better!
B-spot on the northside.

Signs O Change

Well folks, it's been a busy weekend in Peterborough. Once again the Trentwinds Conference Centre has been hopping 24/7. You remember the Trentwinds, home of Thursdays where you can get down with "ice cold beer lots girls"?
First and foremost this multi-faceted venue hosted a bridal show on Friday night. Cheap signs lined the boulevards in and around Peterborough all week, calling out to bride-zillas everywhere to come and get some great ideas for centrepieces...you know the ones you can always use again! As you can see the sign mavens at the Trentwinds had to squeeze a rather elongated "R" into the word Bridal to get the message out. Actually I think it might be an 8 that they worked their magic on. Just seeing this sign alone made me want to camp out over night so I could get through the doors first! Wow can you say Poppin' with Pizzaz!
All night long, the floor of the International Ballroom (I kid you not - that is the name of the main room) was draped with party favours, wedding gowns and cooing brides to be.


A mere 24 hours later after bridal dreams were fulfilled the owners were prepping for the
main event...Live Amateur Boxing.
The promoters obviously brought in their own sign, not willing to leave anything to chance, for the occasion.
Yes kids from bridal show to boxing. Just think while all of this was going on...a bevy of beauties were shakin' their money makers out back at Thursdays (where I imagine they benefited from the 600 attendees of the boxing match after the final bout).
I checked out the final results in the Peterborough Examiner. There was a short interview with one of the boxers a Timo (TNT) Smith who hails from the small town of Bethany South West of Peterborough. He was pretty pumped about winning a victory in his hometown - wait a minute isn't he from Bethany? And I quote...
“It was in my hometown and it was a big deal to have everyone come out for me,” Smith said. “Everywhere else I just care about my performance. As long as I put on a good performance I don’t care about the decision, unless I get totally ripped off but when it’s here, I really, really hope I pull it off.”
So is he saying he didn't bring his "A game" to Peterborough? I'm confused.
Oh well my main point is that it's hard to believe that a venue can go from satin and taffeta to head shots and lost teeth within the span of 24 hours. But then again many weddings go down that road as soon as the toasts are done, so maybe the Trentwinds has got it right?
I'll ponder that when I'm slow dancing with Jolene at his company Christmas party on the dancefloor of the International Ball Room at the Trentwinds in December.