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Two
Major Redevelopment Projects Ready For Takeoff In Downtown
Appleton
by Bob Lowe
February 24, 2005
A multifaceted showcase of the paper industry and the largest
movie screen in northeast Wisconsin are set to make their
debut in downtown Appleton.
The
Paper Discovery Center, 425 W. Water St., along the Fox
River next to J’s Restaurant, will open its doors
to visitors for the first time between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m.
Saturday and noon to 4 p.m. Sunday.
Even
though a grand opening is slated for early April, a "soft" opening will take place this weekend to
give visitors a preview of some of the center’s major
attractions, according to Val Wylie, executive director of
the center.
What
visitors will see is a hand-crafted paper-making demonstration.
They also will get a chance to explore a hands-on "Trees
to Tissue" display that examines the scientific, historical
and technological wonder of paper making.
Guests will be able to view the rich chronology of papermaking
from its roots in China to the Americas. Tom Grade, an Appleton
paper artist and sculptor, will present his creation in the
$4.3 million center that occupies the restored 1878-era Atlas
Paper Mill that Kimberly-Clark Corp. donated to the Paper
Industry International Hall of Fame in 1999.
Admission is $4 for adults, $2 for students and $10 for
families. For additional information, log onto www.paperdiscoverycenter.org.
Another
major attraction that is sure to generate much excitement
in the months ahead is the $5.1 million Big Picture Theater
of Adventure & Discovery set to open March 19
at 215 E. Washington St.
The
theater has a screen that is 80 feet wide and six stories
tall and is the second such facility of its kind in Wisconsin,
according to owners Jim Bork and Chuck Barnum. The other
is Milwaukee’s Humprey IMAX Dome Theater.
Although
not an IMAX theater, the Big Picture will focus on highly
visual documentary fare and won’t compete
with the offerings at area movie theaters, according to executive
director Ed Bisaillon. It will open with "Everest" and "Lewis & Clark:
Great Journey West."
"Everest" chronicles the 1996 expedition featured
in Jon Krakauer’s best-selling book, "Into Thin
Air," that ended with the death of eight climbers. "Lewis & Clark" is
a National Geographic film that depicts the historic journey
of explores Meriwether Lewis and William Clark through unmapped
areas of the western United States 200 years ago. The film
is narrated by actor Jeff Bridges.
A third film will be added to the theater six weeks after
the March opening. After that, a new film will be added every
month and a half, Bisaillon said. Tickets are $8.50 for ages
12 to 59, $7.50 for those 60 and older and $6.50 for children
ages 3-11. Children under the age of 3 get in free and those
attending as part of school field trips will be charged $5
per ticket. For more information, call 920-731-7700 or log
in online at www.bigpicturetheater.com.
ROUTE
66 GOES DRY – In a bid to attract a younger
audience and more revenues, the Route 66 nightclub at 344
W. College Ave., Appleton, will be alcohol-free and will
now be restricted to young people between the ages of 16-21.
The 6,000-square-foot tri-level dance club with a 500-person
capacity will open on Friday and Saturday nights and will
remain closed the rest of the week. Mike Reader, co-owner
of the popular nightspot, said the move was made because
of declining revenues, in part due to the effects of Wisconsin’s
0.08 per cent blood-alcohol limit and stiffer drunk driving
penalties.
PACKER
RESTAURANT – A Green Bay committee Monday
approved a liquor license that will allow Green Bay Packers
linebacker Nick Barnett to advance plans for a restaurant
at the former Historic West Theatre. The venue’s working
name, FiveSix, reflects Barnett’s number on the field
for the Packers. Patrons can expect a mix of music including
jazz and blues.
Barnett said he hopes to open the restaurant before the
2005 football season.
MOSS
TRADED TO RAIDERS – Randy Moss, the Minnesota
Vikings wider receiver who infuriated Green Bay Packer fans
when he pretended to moon the crowd after scoring a touchdown
at a Jan. 9 playoff game at Lambeau Field, has been traded
to the Oakland Raiders.
In
exchange, the Vikings would get linebacker Napoleon Harris,
along with two picks in the upcoming NFL draft. While the
Packers might face Moss again, they won’t as often
as they did in the NFC North Division. Last season the Packers
played the Vikings three times including the playoffs.
Based
on NFL scheduling policy, the Packers won’t
play the Raiders until 2007.
Moss torched the Packers during his seven-year career with
the Vikings with 70 catches, 1,313 yards and 14 touchdowns.
TRIPLE
ESPRESSO – Triple Espresso, described as "a
highly caffeinated comedy," will open at the 222-seat
Fort Howard Hall Cabaret inside the Weidner Center for the
Performing Arts for 12 weeks, beginning on March 10. Triple
Espresso is the story of three guys whose bid for showbiz
fame and fortune ended in 4-minutes of magnificent failure
on national television, with hysterical results. Tickets
are $36 for all seats and are on sale at the Weidner Center
ticket office. Call 1-800-328-TKTS for more information.
MAMMA
MIA! RETURNS TO PAC – The Broadways and international
smash-hit musical "Mamma Mia!" based on songs of
the groups ABBA, will make another appearance at the Fox
Cities Performing Arts Center April 19-24.
Leading
the cast of 30 is Lauren Mufson as Donna Sheridan, the
independent single mother whose carefree past catches up
with her on the eve of her daughter’s wedding. Tickets
range in price from $43 to $73.
Call
(920) 731-5000 for reservations or log into the PAC’s
web site at www.foxcitiespac.com.
OSHKOSH
SPORTS COMPLEX – The facility currently known
as Titan Stadium, serving the University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh,
is currently being transformed into the Oshkosh Sports Complex
(OSC). The redevelopment project will serve as a venue for
football, soccer, track and field, baseball, softball and
intramural competition. The four-year project, currently
in Phase 2, is a partnership between UW-Oshkosh, the Oshkosh
Area School District and the Unified Catholic Schools of
Oshkosh. The multi-seasonal, multipurpose lighted complex
will become home to Oshkosh’s middle school, high school
and collegiate athletes and will attract more regional and
national sporting and cultural events to the area.
The 10,000-seat facility will be used approximately 125
times a year, with an estimated economic impact of $25 million
annually. It will feature a synthetic turf for football and
soccer, a nine-lane Olympic-quality track, a welcoming plaza
entrance, upgraded parking, multiple practice fields, renovated
and expanded locker rooms and up to date training areas for
student athletes.
For comments or questions, boblowe@juno.com or by phone
at (920) 731-4603. |
