At times throughout the past year, we've taken the opportunity to take a look at the construction currently taking place in EPCOT. Even in this first phase of reopening for the Walt Disney World parks, construction projects are moving and grooving, so let's hit the pause button for a few minutes and take a look around.

Thanks to Twitter user bioreconstruct, we have some new aerial images of EPCOT. The first picture to take a peek at today has us peering down at the new fountain being constructed in front of the park's icon, Spaceship Earth. As you can see, the fountain's construction seems to be close to completion, with the rebar grid already installed for the concrete slab at the base of the water feature.

For those who haven't been able to return to EPCOT just yet, the aerial picture above gives a great overview look at the new entrance area without the presence of the Leave a Legacy monoliths. As you can imagine, guest flow has been greatly increased due to the removal of the monoliths.

A closer image shows us a clearer picture of the overall aesthetic of the fountain, which harkens back to the fountain that was housed in the same space during the park's early years. As we've seen from the ground, the lucite pylons for the new fountain will stand tall in the middle of the water feature.

I snapped the above picture of the new lucite fountain pylons during a recent walk through the park. They really are stunning.

Our virtual tour now takes us behind Spaceship Earth to look at the progression of the work in what will become Dreamer's Point. As we've covered in a previous construction update, the south side of Innoventions West has been completely removed.

We can see in the picture above that the canopy that used to provide shade for guests outside Future World's Electric Umbrella has now been removed. You can also get a feel for the extent of the work currently taking place in the original home of Mouse Gear.

The picture above is a shot that I took in July of the Mouse Gear building from the Future World East side of the building. We can see straight through the building, and you can get a grasp for the extent of the demolition.

Speaking of Future World East, our last stop for today's construction update has us taking a peek at the area. The solar panels have returned to the roof of the former Universe of Energy show building, which will partially house the upcoming Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind. As the Wonders of Life pavilion transforms into the new PLAY! pavilion, it's received new gold roof tiles. The green curved building of the forthcoming Space 220 restaurant can be seen next to Test Track near the bottom of the picture.

What are you most looking forward to experiencing in EPCOT once construction is complete?

See the rest here:
New Aerial Images Give Detailed Views of EPCOT Construction Progress - The DIS

Hello from a magically exciting day at the Magic Kingdom! The morning was bright, sunny, and perfectly beautiful, but the afternoon was quite stormy. Thankfully we got in plenty of fun before the weather turned. Lets get started!

We came into the park to Mickey & Friends greeting guests from the Train Station balcony, and Donald was ready for the spotlight! He was looking smashing in his superhero outfit.

We had a couple of construction projects to check in on today. At TRON Lightcycle Run, the canopy has been coming along nicely. Additional pieces are being assembled on the ground. We expect to see those mounted here soon.

At the Fantasyland Train Station, work vehicles were seen on the gravel path where the train tracks usually are. The tracks were removed recently as part of the refurbishment being done to the train system.

While we couldnt see what they were doing, and work was not actively being done, it was good to see that progress is being made in this area.

Guests wishing to dine at Pecos Bill Tall Tale Inn and Cafe are in for a bit of a change: the restaurant is now using the side door as the main entrance for mobile order guests.

Westward Ho Refreshments, which recently reopened with the popular corn dog nuggets on the menu, was closed today. We suspect this location will be open on busier days, similar to some locations at EPCOT.

We found several new lines of customizable MagicBands, phone cases, and magnets available in the maDe kiosk at Tomorrowland Light & Power Co. One line was this awesome set of designs for the new Mulan film.

The brushed line artwork is really striking. Were glad there are several designs featuring this style of art.

While the kiosk has options for several sizes of iPhones and Android devices, not all designs are available for all phones. As always, availability it subject to change. Please check with a Cast Member for the current availability.

No one can resist a good movie poster! Customization adds $5 to the phone case and MagicBand pricing.

The MagicBand starts at $24.99. Specialty 3D phone cases retail for $34.99, with standard phone cases priced at $29.99. Magnets are $14.99.

We also found a whole set of items for Tiana from The Princess and the Frog. You can view the whole collection here.

While in Tomorrowland we also found new customizable shirts in the maDe kiosk, including designs for Princess and the Frog, Haunted Mansion, Mulan, and some Halloween 2020 designs. Shirts start at $29.99.

We had quite the surprise today when we walked into Sir Mickeys and found almost the entire Big Thunder Mountain Railroad Minnie Mouse: The Main Attraction Collection sitting on a shelf. With no announcement or warning of any kind, guests and Cast Members alike were surprised to see this popular merchandise appear in the store. For more pictures and a full video walkthrough of the collection, see our article here.

Halloween officially arrived in the Magic Kingdom on Tuesday, but it finally seeped all the way into the Confectionery today. Halloween cupcakes have arrived, and yes theres a pumpkin spice flavor!

We indulged in a treat of our own today in celebration of Gastons Tavern reopening recently. Nothing beats a LeFous Brew on a hot day!

We found Gaston leading the Villains Halloween Cavalcade today from atop his trusty steed, rather than from the ground. We especially like the new studded breast collar Gastons horse was wearing, perfect for a Villains horse.

Also new to the Villains Cavalcade today was the Big Bad Wolf, who was walking along in front of the float.

We love seeing the Villains having a moment to shine!

It isnt all Halloween Cavalcades all day though. Some of the Character Cavalcades weve come to know and love are still running along with the Halloween Cavalcades. We got to see the Royal Princess Promenade today, which was lovely to see while looking down Main Street, U.S.A.

We had a wonderful day at the Magic Kingdom, and we hope you enjoyed coming along with us. Have a magical day!

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PHOTO REPORT: Magic Kingdom 9/17/20 (Construction Updates, New maDe Items, Big Thunder Mountain Railroad Minnie Mouse: The Main Attraction Collection,...

What a difference six months can make. Before the coronavirus pandemic forced Gov. Steve Sisolak to close all nonessential businesses including casinos, restaurants, and bars in March, Las Vegas was on a high, ready to open new convention space, dining establishments, and lounges to feed the 42.52 million tourists that visit every year.

Now restaurants, reopened with dine-in service in May, struggle to keep afloat at 50 percent capacity. Sisolak reclosed bars in July, and while those that serve food can stay open, bar tops cannot, taking away valuable tabletop games that provide a much-needed revenue stream. Casinos were allowed to reopen on June 4, but some remain closed. Park MGM and NoMad Hotel reopen on September 30, and the Four Seasons returns on September 25. Planet Hollywood Resort and The Cromwell remain closed on the Strip, as do the Rio and the Palms on westside, and Main Street Station in Downtown Las Vegas.

Other projects remain on hold. Wynn Las Vegas planned to open the supper club Delilah in May and TAK Room from Thomas Keller in the fall. Neither have opening dates now. With conventions, a lifeline of revenue for casinos and restaurants, canceled, Caesars Entertainment held off on opening the 550,000-square-foot Caesars Forum to the east of The Linq Promenade. Virgin Hotels, in the process of remodeling the former Hard Rock Hotel, planned to open on November 6, but will push that date back. But in good news, its still opening.

The future still holds promise. Arias Din Tai Fung, the xiao long bao specialist that planned to open in April, has a new debut date this fall. Area15, the entertainment complex west of I-15, opens portions of its venue, including a bar and an ice cream shop, this week. And Circa even pushed up the opening of its first five floors in Downtown Las Vegas on the Fremont Street Experience to October to debut restaurants, bars, and a year-round pool early.

Thats just a taste of whats to come. Find out about 13 of the biggest openings in Las Vegas in fall 2020.

Location: Aria

Projected Opening: October 19

Din Tai Fung takes over the former Aria Cafe, 5,580 square feet with a view through the massive tilted windows looking out onto Nancy Rubins Big Edge canoe sculpture and Vdara. Aria allocated an estimated $2.2 million in construction costs alone to renovate the dining room and an open kitchen that gives diners a glimpse of the handiwork involved in preparing xiao long bao, steamed pork soup dumplings, precisely made with 18 lucky folds, 16 grams of meat, and 5 grams of dough.

All Coverage of Din Tai Fung [ELV]

Location: 3215 S. Rancho Drive

Projected Opening: September 17

Only portions of the the 200,000-square-foot retail and entertainment center west of I-15 open with live events and art installations, with the remainder debuting in early 2021. Ice cream shop Emack & Bolios and cocktail and coffee bar Oddwood, highlighted by a 23-foot Japanese maple tree replete with twinkling LED lights, debut for fall.

All Coverage of Area15 [ELV]

Location: 8 Fremont St.

Projected Opening: October 28

The 1.25 million-square-foot Circa casino and resort plans to open the first five floors along with a parking garage ahead of schedule on October 28. The resort plans to be an adults-only experience, open only to those 21 and older. When it opens its first five floors in late October, it becomes the first casino and resort to ban underage visitors. Circa replaces the rundown, former Las Vegas Club with a glitzy, 21st century resort. The remainder of the resort opens in December.

Opening in October:

Barry S. Dakake returns to the Las Vegas dining scene with Barrys Downtown Prime, a vintage steak and seafood restaurant. The clubby restaurant features dark wood and a long and glowing bar. Aside from steak and seafood, Dakake promises table-side presentations with some dishes.

Michigan restaurateur Paul Saginaw opens Saginaws Delicatessen with a roster of Reubens, matzo ball soup, onion rings, salads, latkes, chopped liver, breakfast specialties, and more.

Victory Burgers & Wings Co. from the family behind the 102-year-old American Coney Island anchors the three-story screen in Circas sportsbook and features its own radio booth. Five specialty burgers including a half-pound Victory Burger that uses a blend of short rib, brisket, and Angus beef in the patties and the Michigan Olive Burger a beef patty topped with a mixture of mayonnaise, chopped olives, and olive brine make the menu along with an array of chicken wings, fries, and beers.

And Project BBQ from chef Rex Bernales brings Carolina-style barbecue dishes such as pulled brisket, pork, chicken. That restaurant features a patio on the Fremont Street Experience with picnic tables and an outdoor bar.

Vegas Vickie, the kicking cowgirl who sat outside Glitter Gulch, now hangs inside the three-story atrium at the resort. The bar features seasonal cocktails and retro lighting.

Mega Bar, a 165-foot-long bar with flair bartenders, 40 TVs, 120 beer taps, and bar-top gaming, arrives in October.

The three-level sportsbook includes Overhang Bar sitting on the top floor of the venue. Circa owner Derek Stevens, a native of Detroit, created the bar as an ode to Tiger Stadium.

Circa Bar with flair bartenders, 24 varieties of frozen cocktails, and a blue wall behind it, opens at the front of the resort on the Fremont Street Experience.

Circas new year-round pool dubbed Stadium Swim features a multi-level pool amphitheater with a massive screen for showing games and entertainment, two swim-up bars, and a deejay booth for spinning tunes.

All Coverage of Circa [ELV]

Location: 1214 S. Main St.

The Players: Justin Kingsley Hall and Kim Owens

Projected Opening: Fall 2020

The former chef at the Kitchen at Atomic brings a comfort food restaurant to the Arts District. The restaurant has kept a tight lid on details, although chef Justin Kingsley Hall has done a few popups to showcase potential dishes. A preview dinner showcased hop-smoked stuffed chicken wing; torched wagyu skewer paired; oxtail empanada; and chocolate pot du creme in waffle cone with torched marshmallow.

All Coverage of Main St. Provisions [ELV]

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3100 Las Vegas Boulevard S., Las Vegas, NV 89101

3131 Las Vegas Blvd. S. , Las Vegas, NV 89109

8 Fremont St. , Las Vegas, NV 89101

Fremont Street Experience, Las Vegas, NV

8 Fremont St. , Las Vegas, NV 89101

7945 S Rainbow Blvd Ste B, Las Vegas, NV 89139 (702) 888-3110

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The biggest restaurant and bar openings in Las Vegas this fall - Eater Vegas

The Big Biscuit is adding a new restaurant in the Sonoma Plaza shopping area just east of I-435 along West 87th Street Parkway. The owners hope to open by March 2021. Photo courtesy The Big Biscuit.

The Big Biscuit is opening its first location in Lenexa.

Coming soon to Sonoma Plaza, a developing retail area just east of I-435 along West 87th Street Parkway, The Big Biscuit is a local breakfast and lunch restaurant company with multiple locations in Johnson County and the Kansas City metro area.r

The new restaurant will be located between Starbucks and McKeevers Market grocery store. Framework construction on the building that will house The Big Biscuit is already coming along.

Chad Offerdahl, who co-owns the company alongside David Offerdahl and Jay Carpenter, said they hope to open the new restaurant in late winter or early spring, perhaps by March.

Weve been targeting Lenexa as an area that we thought we would do well in for quite some time, but weve really just been holding out for a location that really, we thought, made sense for us, said Chad Offerdahl. Weve been seeing all the impressive growth just on the other side of 435, with all of the new Lenexa City Center area. When this opportunity came up to be in the new Sonoma development in front of McKeevers, we just couldnt pass it up.

The Big Biscuit is growing operations across the metro area and just opened its newest location in Westport last week. Offerdahl said the Westport location has a new design and refreshed look with new elements and an open ceiling. The Lenexa location will sport a similar new look and feature a covered outdoor patio on the east side of the building.

For anybody living in the Lenexa area thats familiar with our Shawnee location or other nearby locations, this is going to be a much different look than what theyre used to, he added.

The Big Biscuit will begin the approvals processes through the city of Lenexa once they complete architectural blueprints.

Hours of operation will be 6:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. every day of the week.

See the rest here:
The Big Biscuit breakfast and lunch restaurant bringing its first location to Lenexa - Shawnee Mission Post

Willis Smith Construction's Nathan Carr feels comfortable about making a dinner reservation for next spring.

He expects to be dining at Waterside Place in Lakewood Ranch.

"We all will be coming here with our families," Carr said.

Carr supervises Willis Smith's project managers and he notes that Waterside Place project manager Angel Ortiz has everything running smoothly and right on schedule.

The Lakewood Ranch construction company was awarded the Waterside Place contract late in 2016 and broke ground in October of 2018. Carr and Ortiz said last week that the contracted work should be completed on schedule by March 1, 2021.

Willis Smith construction was celebrating a project milestone last week after capping all 11 of the buildings that will make up Waterside Place. All the metal trusses are set.

"That allows the interior work to commence," Ortiz said. "It allows us to do the build-out of the common areas, finish the drywall, do the trim."

Reaching such milestones on time is more impressive considering COVID-19 had slowed down many construction projects.

"We have rolled with the punches," Carr said.

Those punches includedelays in needed materials. Ortiz and his workers kept everything moving forward. Fortunately, the hired contractors have not had many cases of COVID-19 to shelve the workers.

"I'm proud of our team," Ortiz said. "These guys have been working hard and they've faced a lot of challenges."

Waterside Place is taking shape as it advances to its opening in the spring.

While many projects consisting of 11 buildings would be done in phases, Willis Smith is building Waterside Place simultaneously. For example, if a roofer is finishing all the buildings at the same time, he has to have the manpower to get it done. COVID-19 could have affected the availability of the workforce, but didn't.

Ortiz said he hopes everything continues to go smoothly, but Mother Nature plays a role.

"I don't have a crystal ball to predict natural delays," he said. "We can't operate lifts with rain and lightning storms."

Potential weather delays aside, developer Schroeder-Manatee Ranch has been thrilled with Willis Smith's progress.

"Fortunately, everything has gone smoothly," said Kirk Boylston, the president of SMR's Lakewood Ranch Commercial."We have not had a lot of COVID impacts. There is so much detail in this project, but Willis Smith has been diligent and outstanding."

Carr said the Waterside Place project is Willis Smith's biggest undertaking in terms of numbers of buildings. Booker High School's construction included 11 buildings as well, but one of Waterside Place's 11 buildings Building C is actually three buildings connected by two walkways.

"It takes a lot more coordination," Ortiz said of managing such a project.

When Willis Smith finishes its role, more construction will be needed. Boylston said the biggest restaurants that sign for Waterside Place will need to build out their space, which basically will be a shell, and that could take four to six months for the larger restaurants.

Boylston said Waterside Place will experience a staggered opening. However, he said the office, retail and entertainment hub will have enough businesses opening together in the spring that the public will be drawn there. Then during the rest of the year the major restaurants will follow.

Ten leases have been signed at Waterside Place, which is built on a 36-acre peninsula and will include seven park areas, and Boylston said he is in negotiations with four more, including one for office space, one for retail and two for restaurants. He categorized one as a major restaurant.

Ortiz is excited about finishing off the project, especially when he sees the businesses take over their spaces.

"I love seeing the owners' smiles," he said.

Willis Smith's Nathan Carr and Angel Ortiz say their workers overcame many challenges to keep on deadline to finish Waterside Place.

See the original post here:
Another Waterside Place milestone by Willis Smith in Lakewood Ranch - YourObserver.com

September 17, 2020 Community News, Restaurant/Bar News

Reade Street between Hudson/Greenwich and Duane between Hudson/West Broadway will be closed to traffic as part of the citys Open Streets program that extends till Oct. 31 to benefit restaurants.

Restaurant Marc Forgione is listed as the partner in the Reade Street closing. Hours are Wednesday through Sunday, 4p to 11p. Khe-Yo is the partner in the Duane Street closing and the street there will be closed seven days a week between noon and 11p.

The departments criteria require that a neighborhood group OR a group of three restaurants apply for the program in the case of Reade Street, I would guess Forgiones application was in conjunction with Reade Street Pub and maybe Jacks? On Duane, Khe-Yo has Weatherup on one side and Sushi of Gari on the other. The partner restaurants as a group are responsible for collecting trash during those hours, notifying neighbors about the closure and setting up and removing the barriers.

Now, if Duane is closed as an east/west thoroughfare, it is a major mystery why the city would not also close Duane between Greenwich and Hudson, especially when there are five restaurants in that stretch that would benefit. The Friends of Duane Park applied for the program back in May, and the city is just taking this action now four months later. Tokyo Bay is already gone, and The Hideaway is on the edge all for what? To wait until it is almost too cool to eat outside and for when the traffic starts to pick up?

Too little, too late is the conclusion here.

See the original post here:
Parts of Reade and Duane will close to traffic - Tribeca Citizen

SALT LAKE CITY A new online tool from the Salt Lake Chamber is aiming to help business owners stay current on Utahs relative economic health as COVID-19 continues to wreak havoc on residents physical well-being.

The Chambers Road to Recovery dashboard collects some of the states leading economic indicators which, while among the highest-performing in the nation on many fronts, are still showing areas of commercial activity that are in extremely rough shape.

In its September debut, data on the dashboard reflects a handful of positive trends, including a near nation-leading 4.1% unemployment rate, taxable retail sales volumes that are well ahead of 2019 levels and unemployment claims that have been heading back toward pre-pandemic levels since an early May peak. Also, the Utah construction industry is booming with jobs in that sector up some 7% over 2019.

But other statistics reflect a bleaker side to the states fiscal health just over six months since the first case of COVID-19 appeared in Utah.

Jobs in the leisure/hospitality industry are down almost 17% since a year ago. Unemployment claims, while significantly reduced since this spring, are still north of 35,000 and about four times the pre-COVID-19 rates. The states powerful travel and tourism industry, one that accounts for 1 in every 11 Utah jobs, has been decimated and isnt expected to recover for years. And local retail and service industry businesses without their own fiscal resources could be facing the hardest chapter yet as federal help has run dry and Congress has stalled on efforts to re-up emergency funding options.

At a Monday virtual press event for the new online tool Natalie Gochnour, chief economist for the Salt Lake Chamber and director of the University of Utahs Kem C. Gardner Policy Institute, called the recessionary impacts of COVID-19 a standout in the nations history of economic downturns.

I have had eight recessions during my lifetime, Gochnour said. The COVID-19 recession is the most severe ... in terms of the biggest and fastest drop.

Salt Lake Chamber President/CEO Derek Miller said the dashboard data, which will be updated regularly, is provided to help business owners make informed decisions on strategies to navigate ongoing fallout from COVID-19.

Salt Lake Chambers primary objective with the new Roadmap to Recovery is to empower the private sector to create jobs and opportunity for individuals and families throughout Utah, Miller said in a statement. In that effort, we are just beginning. We need to see beyond the horizon to view opportunities as they are manifest, so our businesses can make decisions accordingly.

While the effects of COVID-19 will be felt for years to come, and we are concerned by the current increases in the number of Utahns testing positive with the virus, from an economic perspective we know that in Utah we have a solid foundation upon which to rebuild.

Downtown Alliance Executive Director Dee Brewer said Salt Lake Citys downtown has been hit with a trifecta of losses thanks to restrictions brought on by the novel coronavirus. Brewer noted the citys commercial core, and state economic epicenter, is driven by three major groups of customers: those who commute to work downtown; those who travel to Salt Lake City to attend conventions and meetings; and those who visit the city for sports and cultural events.

The tens of thousands of daily downtown commuters? Brewer said that volume, as of last week, was around 23% of its usual. The 700,000 who annually attend conventions and gatherings in Salt Lake City? Essentially evaporated amid the pandemic with occupancy rates in the convention core just 30% of last years. Jazz games, ballet, opera, theater and cinema engagements? Once at a standstill and now, most venues, if open at all, offering very limited programming.

Still, even though downtown businesses may be well short of thriving, Brewer noted the many ways in which the capital citys commercial sector is finding ways to survive.

Downtown Alliance data shows 135 downtown restaurants and bars are back to offering take-out and/or dine-in service, an increase of 69% since May 12 when just 75 restaurants were open for limited service. And 90% of downtown retail stores are open with operators reporting that traffic continues to grow each week. While customer numbers are down over last year, the alliance reports some stores are seeing sales closer to last years performance.

There are fewer shoppers but a high percentage of those shoppers are purchasing products, one downtown merchant said.

Brewer said the Downtown Farmers Market, while operating on an abbreviated basis, has proven a boon for local farmers and specialty item merchants.

We made the market a little bit smaller and re-organized it, Brewer said. But the farmers who are participating are doing better than ever.

Brewers group also launched a downtown Open Streets event last weekend that will be running through Oct. 10. Open Streets closes down a section of Main Street to automobiles from 6-10 p.m. each Thursday-Saturday, turning part of the street into an open market for merchants, restaurants and entertainment.

Brewer said the events debut weekend featured different musical acts every half-block and restaurants and retailers expanding their venues to the outdoors. He said they were still gathering information but reports from downtown businesses suggest the effort was a hit.

It appears to have been a huge success, Brewer said. The Salt Lake Arts Council brought in some of their Living Traditions performers to Exchange Place, we had buskers performing up and down Main Street.

One restaurant reported their sales were up 30% ... and were hoping to build momentum over the next three weekends.

See the article here:
Utah on Road to Recovery, but plenty of pain remains, economist says - Deseret News

In oversized brewery news, New Belgium is taking over the massive new space from Little Creatures in Mission Bay. The Australian brewery, named after the mini organisms in their floral brews, was able to sell a few crowlers in the spring, but went dark over the summer. A tipster spotted a sign indicating a change of ownership in the Little Creatures window, which a representative for New Belgium the company has confirmed. The cherubic beer brand is officially taking wing and departing San Francisco.

Little Creatures was the first U.S. outpost for the Australian brewery, opening only last summer at an ambitious 6,300 square feet. New Belgium, of course, is the Colorado-based brewery known best for its bicycle theme. But this is not a sad tale of small breweries struggling during the pandemic; its actually a brand merger, which was already in the works. New Belgium insists this takeover is, in effect, keeping it all in the family, as both breweries are now owned by the same parent company.

Both Little Creatures and New Belgium are owned by Lion in Sydney, which is a subsidiary of Kirin in Japan. (As an aside, Anchor Brewing, our 100-year-old historic brewery, is owned by Sapporo, another Japanese giant.) New Belgium was acquired at the end of 2019, after several decades as an employee-owned operation. Lion is now rolling it up into a group called Little World Beverages, which includes New Belgium, Magnolia, and Little Creatures. And while local beer fans were excited to try Little Creatures, far more are familiar with New Belgium, making it the stronger fit for San Francisco, the company says.

Still, it may be a sad closing for some. Little Creatures was a serene industrial space, washed in blues and drenched in sunlight. It received solid reviews in the short half-year that it was able to have doors open, under the unfair circumstances. And there are surely fans who will miss the arugula-peppered steak sandwiches, beer-steamed mussels, and sticky toffee pudding, as well as the several dozen beers on tap, a few specifically crafted on site by brewmaster Dennis Stewart.

This is New Belgiums first full-service restaurant, aside from its taprooms in Fort Collins and Asheville, which feature a few food trucks. The brewery isnt just slapping on a fresh coat of paint: it is under construction for a full renovation and will be debuting a totally fresh menu and space. They are currently narrowing down a shortlist of chefs and brewmasters, and plan to feature existing beers, as well as introduce a few specifically brewed on site. True to the brand, expect its usual bicycle decor. The pandemic keeps pushing back the timeline, but New Belgium is hoping to open by the end of 2020 or the beginning of 2021.

By coincidence, that might be when the Warriors are finally back in action at the new Chase Center. What might be most remarkable now is how time seems to have skidded to a stop in the neighborhood. A year ago, when the new Chase Center burst wide open, Mission Bay saw a rush of new restaurants, inside the stadium, outside the stadium, and in the surrounding neighborhood, from outrageous underground wine vaults to a deluge of soup dumplings. Little Creatures was one of two massive new breweries to land in the area, with Seven Stills opening its huge new flagship location only a few months later.

A representative for Chase Center confirmed that of the dozens of food and drink vendors previously opened and announced, only one is in action right now Dumpling Time. Thrive City has still been hosting its farmers market, attracting regulars from the neighborhood, as well as a few healthcare workers from neighboring Kaiser. The Warriors have been coming in for individual workouts and just started mini camp group practices last week, in the hopes that the next NBA season will tip off in December as promised.

But in the meantime, the $1.4-billion-dollar Chase Center stands mostly empty, waiting for thousands of sports fans and concert goers to return for craft beer and fried chicken sandwiches.

One Mission Bay 1000A 3rd Street, SF, CA

Originally posted here:
New Belgium Takes Over Little Creatures Brewery in Mission Bay - Eater SF

Reid R. Frazier is an energy reporter for The Allegheny Front, a Pittsburgh-based public media outlet covering the environment in Pennsylvania. His work has aired on NPR and Marketplace.

Updated: September 21, 2020 | 9:26 am

Reid R. Frazier / StateImpact Pennsylvania

The site of a proposed ethane cracker in Belmont County, Ohio.

At a marina in Moundsville, West Virginia, Dan Williamson looked out across the Ohio River at a quiet stretch of land on the other side.

Theres a little activity going on, said Williamson, a spokesman for PTT an oil and gas company based in Thailand that wants to build an ethane cracker on the far side of the river, in Dilles Bottom, Ohio. But really were kind of in between phases right now.

The plant would turn the regions plentiful natural gas into plastics. Its taken years to develop, and a final decision on whether the company would build the plant was due this summer. But then came the pandemic.

It just kind of changed the game for all industries, including this one. And so they have had to put off their announcement of a decision, Williamson said.

For years, industry boosters in Appalachia have promoted the idea of a building boom for petrochemical plants like the PTT ethane cracker.

Oil and gas backers have said theres enough gas in the region for four or five chemical plants like this. But so far, only one of those plants is a go Shell, with the help of $1.65 billion in state tax breaks, is building a giant plastics plant in western Pennsylvania.

But other projects have either been dropped or put on hold, and now the pandemic has left some some communities in the Ohio River Valley wondering if those plants will ever get built.

A project in West Virginia was canceled last summer when its Brazilian owners backed out. A planned $84 billion Chinese investment in West Virginias gas and chemical industry has yet to materialize. And PTT has watched as potential partners backed away from the project. Matsubeni, a Japaneese company, initially signed on as a partner but was out of the picture by 2016.

In July, Daelim, a Korean chemical company that had agreed to invest in the PTT plant, cited the pandemic when it backed out of the project, which could be the largest of its kind ever built in the U.S. according to PTT.

Williamson says PTT is still looking for investors, but he says the real barrier for the plant is simple: COVID-19.

I believe and the project leaders believe that if not for the pandemic, it would be under construction right now, Williamson said.

Some arent so sure.

Dont believe company announcements believe the ribbon cutting, said Kathy Hipple, an analyst with the Institute for Energy Economics and Financial Analysis, a left-leaning think tank that works toward sustainable energy.

She says Daelims decision to pull out of the PTT project is a red flag.

We view this as a market signal that the project has possibly become far too risky for them to continue, Hipple said. The other possibility is that the economics of building a petrochemical complex have changed tremendously.

Hipple said the price of plastic has fallen by around 40 percent since PTT first announced its interest in the site five years ago, pushed down by new supply from new plants built on the Gulf Coast. She thinks a wave of environmental policies around the globe like bans on single-use plastics could threaten the industrys bottom line.

Steve Lewandowski, an analyst at the research firm IHS Markit, thinks there will still be demand for plastic in the next few decades.

But he also wonders if delays in the Ohio project might be a sign that the $10 billion plant is looking too expensive for investors.

If it was such a compelling case to build there, that cracker would have been approved under construction and then it probably would be another one on top of that and its not, Lewandowski said. So theres something going on that is causing companies to say, Thats probably not the right place to be.

Lewandowski said Northern Appalachia has advantages Ohio, West Virginia and Pennsylvania sit atop the Marcellus Shale, the biggest natural gas formation in the country. And its close to East Coast and Midwest manufacturers that would use the plastic. But he thinks companies might want to keep their production centered on the Gulf Coast, where dozens of similar plants have been running for decades.

Were assessing that the cost to build (in Ohio) is higher than on the Gulf Coast. And we would we would argue its probably going to be a bit more expensive to operate only because theyre not really in a cluster of industry.

If a part breaks down at a plant in Louisiana, theres a better chance that a supplier nearby will be able to replace or repair it than there would be in Ohio, he said.

But closer to the proposed Ohio plant site, there are fewer doubts. In August a senior Trump administration official visited the site and said it would boost the Ohio River valleys economy.

Reid R. Frazier / StateImpact Pennsylvania

Shadyside, Ohio, a few miles from where PTT has proposed building an ethane cracker in Belmont County, Ohio.

That has people like Matt Coffland confident.

Im 100 percent positive that this will be a go, Coffland said. No doubt about it.

Coffland is a big proponent of the PTT project and its easy to see why. He owns Matts Tiger Pub a tavern in the town of Shadyside, Ohio, a few miles from where thousands of hungry construction workers could one day build the project.

I mean, its three miles away from my doorstep. And youre talking an influx of close to ten thousand people at one point, Coffland said.

Coffland sees the plant as a good thing not just for his restaurant but for his part of southeastern Ohio which he says has been neglected by the state in favor of the three Cs Cleveland, Cincinnati and Columbus.

I think we deserve it by now, he said. Finally, something is going to land right here in our lap. You know, its about time.

Someone else whos hoping the project moves ahead works in a school building a few blocks away.

John Haswell is superintendent of the Shadyside Local School District.

On the wall of his office hangs a set of drawings showing what a K-12 school complex would look like.

If PTT builds its chemical plant, the company agreed to pay for the new building.

Any time that I can build something or we can build something for $30 million and it does not cost our taxpayers a cent thats a pretty good deal, Haswell said.

The districts 700 students are in a school built 1932, and Haswell says a new building is badly needed. Uncertainty over whether the PTT project will go forward or whether hell have to ask taxpayers for more money to build a new school has made him anxious.

I would really love to get really busy on a building project, but until we have that final investment decision, I cant do anything but sit. Sit and wait and wait and wait, Haswell said.

Reid R. Frazier / StateImpact Pennsylvania

The proposed Shadyside, Ohio school complex would be paid for by PTT, the Thai company which has proposed building an ethane cracker in Belmont County, Ohio.

If the delay has made Haswell antsy, its been a reprieve for Amanda Petrucci. She and her husband live with their four children and seven goats on a hillside across the Ohio river in Moundsville, West Virginia.

On a recent afternoon, she pointed out a few landmarks a hilltop across the river where a well owned by an ExxonMobil subsidiary blew out in 2018, releasing 60,000 tons of the potent greenhouse gas methane, a natural gas processing plant a half-mile from her front door, which flares gas at all hours, and a Superfund site just down the hill.

The site used to house a chemical plant. In the 1990s, the U.S. EPA declared it a superfund site, and began a cleanup. Around that time, her family endured a spate of health problems her son developed a rare blood disorder, her husband was diagnosed with asthma, and she developed Tourettes syndrome and migraines.

Petrucci blamed dust from the Superfund site for their health problems. (The EPA says dust levels at the site never endangered human health.) She worries about the oil and gas infrastructure that ring her property, and isnt happy about PTTs proposed ethane cracker a mile from her house.

I think were going to get hit with more toxic air. How many more layers can we throw on everybody in the community? Petrucci said.

She says shes been thinking about moving somewhere where the air and water are clean, and theres no oil and gas. But she hasnt found anywhere that fits that bill just yet.

So it was welcome news for her when she heard PTT was delaying a final decision on its ethane cracker.

I (felt) like I could kind of just hang out here for a little bit longer and enjoy life here, she said. I feel relieved and feel like I can enjoy my property a little more.

See the original post here:
In the Ohio River Valley, with the pandemic's help, the petrochemical boom is on hold - StateImpact Pennsylvania

In April of 2019, we told you about the upcoming new Flying Pie Pizzaria location on Overland Rd. in West Boise. The new restaurant the local chains sixth would bring habanero pies, beers and more to the area.

Earlier this spring, most of the construction work wrapped up on the new restaurant in the Elms Park Shopping Center at Overland and Five Mile. Hiring started. Now, with summer days away, the restaurant sits empty.

While our attempts to contact Flying Pies ownership went unanswered, they recently started the hiring process again in the wake of COVID-19. Scores of social media comments from customers asking when the new restaurant also went unanswered.

The $1,000,000 buildout converted two spaces in the shopping center next to Hooligans Pub. The location will use the bistro format first launched at Flying Pies Broadway location, adding items like pastas, chicken wings and more to the traditional pizza menu.

The chain launched its first restaurant in 1978 and grew slowly over its first few decades. It built up to three locations, then back to just two after closing a spot near Boise State.

In 2011, original owner Howard Oliver (the guy behind theexclamation point on the Boise Library!)sold the businessto Florian Penalva. Under Penalvas ownership, Flying Pie started to expand again, nearing six locations.

More here:
Construction on the new Flying Pie is done. When will it open? - boisedev.com