On the Street - January 29, 2010

Drynk finally opened at the corner of S. Howard and Platt Street. Delayed by over a year, the final product is a modern and clean looking design. Property owner Hank Brown when reached on opening night expressed relief that the opening date had finally occurred. Roof problems, permit issues, and other delays seemed to keep showing up. The club is now open on a limited basis. While food service is planned, it is not currently available.

Former Strings and Rings may soon be a new restaurant. Located on the North West corner of Howard and Platt, this former restaurant had been blindsided by limited hours imposed by the City Council. With only a beer and wine license, Strings and Rings had been required to be closed by 8 pm on most weeknights and no hours allowed on Sundays. Those restrictions made it impossible for former owner Alan Smolar to survive. New owners, Tony Blanca and Michael Gonzalez, are currently seeking a 4COP Restricted Full Liquor License with hours from 7 AM and until 11 on weeknights and until 1AM on weekends. The request may be voted on by the City Council on Feb. 18.

Bern Laxer Park is gradually being completed. The City will be announcing an official grand opening event soon. Watch for the Historic Hyde Park Neighborhood Association to get more involved in fundraising to complete the details of the small park in front of Ceviche on South Howard.

SOHO Cigars located just north of Platt Street on Armenia has requested a change in zoning and the allowance for an outdoor seating area. The business has been little noticed and has operated for sometime without those changes.

Over 300 parking tickets have been issued during the past 90 days in the SOHO area. Let’s see - 300 x $30 means over $9,000 and that doesn’t count any costs for other tickets or towing services, or pay to park areas. Some residents have been calling for a significant increase in the fine amounts expressing that many partiers just consider the fine a cost of going out.

Oscawana-Courier City residents should look for an invitation to a block party on Saturday, Feb. 6.