New Blog | TheVenue

Land excavated

The land has been excavated and these pictures are looking from the Museum lot back fence.

The stage will be situated somewhere to the left of the white trailer. The hill coming up to the museum fence will be terraced. To the far left will be a basketball court that will double as a dance area.

This

This area is where the musicians bunkhouse and hostel will be situated.

Keep checking back for more progress photos. We'll be updating the website as we have more information to share with you.

Our 1st official planning meeting

Like the Phoenix rising from the ashes The Venue lives again.

Tonight, Dec 09 we had our first official planning meeting for the new venue. I don't mean to imply that we've been doing nothing up to this point, to the contrary, we've been working really hard at several projects to put all our ducks in a row.

We met with Gillian and Glendon to discuss our plans moving forward. Glendon had the plans drawn up for the "bunk house" and the "hostel". The bunk house is where musicians will stay when they're travelling through and playing at The Venue. WOW!! It is great! Private bedrooms with bunks, a kitchen, TV room, dining area, bathrooms and all done in a luxury style that few musicians have experienced before. The plans are going into the town for approval so we can't show them online just yet. As soon as they're approved we'll put them up but here are some of the highlights we talked about:

1. The hostel, the 2nd floor of the bunk house, will have a large deck attached, so we'll be able to provide "VIP balcony seating with table service",

2. The hill coming off the back of the museum lot will be terraced for seating, similar to Millennium Park.

3. The stage will have a huge grass area in front of it for seating which will provide a beautiful view of the Creston Valley looking west.

4. There will be a basketball court off to the side that will double as a dance floor.

5. There will also be an onsite concession stand, a food truck area, storage for stage equipment, a spotlight deck on the terraced area on the hill and much, much more.

We are putting together the plans for the stage right now. This is very exciting. Stay tuned for more information.

Dismantling your dream

... with no place to go is very unsettling.

There is a strange feeling inside that something is amiss. It is very sad, The Venue as you have come to know it - located beside Erickson School - is no longer. I must vacate the building on or before the 15th of July. I'm a bit lost at the moment. Things are up in the air and I'm not sure what is going on as far living arrangements or entertainment facilities are concerned. I don't want to see the dream of The Venue die. I will work tooth and nail to keep the dream alive and figure out how to re-invent or rebuild it elsewhere. Thousands of hours of community effort and sweat have gone into making The Venue what it was. I appreciate all that have helped, visited, emailed and shown their support in so many ways. The positive comments, love and offers to help have been overwhelming and have encouraged me to continue on - somehow, somewhere. That reminds me of a song by Vera Lynn:

We'll meet again, don't know where, don't know when
But I know we'll meet again some sunny day
Keep smiling through, just like you always do
Till the blue skies drive the dark clouds far away

So will you please say Hello, to the folks that I know
Tell them I won't be long
They'll be happy to know, that as you saw me go
I was singing this song

We'll meet again, don't know where, don't know when
But I know we'll meet again some sunny day

Thank you my friends for allowing me the privilege of serving you by providing live music and entertainment in the community and a place for local and touring musicians to display their talents. I look forward to an opportunity for you to enjoy the benefits of the dream that is The Venue again in the near future.

I also want to thank all the great musicians that have played here. I love everyone of you, your enthusiasm, your support, overlooking our short falls and quirks, your willingness to give your all no matter the size of the crowd. I have many special memories that I will cherish forever. Some of my most prized possessions are the mounted tickets with your signatures on them. This is what makes the music community such a special group, the love of a common denominator, the love of music and our fellow wo/man. It's the spirit of the 60's relived in constant motion. I love all of you.

Adieu for now ... but not forever.

A New Start

Like the Phoenix rising from the ashes The Venue lives again.

I have been reluctant to reveal what has been happening in the background until now. The night that Carl Erickson was involved in the run-a-way truck accident was the night I was to meet with the new owners of Valley View Motel the cozy holiday hide-a-way cabins behind the Creston Museum, Glendan & Gillian. I was there, among other things, to discuss me moving into one of their cabins and work as their handyman. With the accident, little was discussed but it turns out they were not only looking for a handyman but they wanted to build a stage and have a place for live entertainment. Well .... it turns out I know something about that. Plans are not finalized yet and I'll let you know more as things are decided upon. Until then, keep watching for more news right here on this spot. As news comes in I'll be moving the old stories to The Venue Blog so you can easily review what has been happening. Thank you again for your support and I look forward to this new venture with excited anticipation.