Published: Monday, October 19, 2009
IN OUR VIEW / BEHIND THE HEADLINES
Deck the malls with booze
Let's opine on the headlines:
n “Alderwood mall to get liquor store.” From Nov. 1 through Dec. 31, the State Liquor Control Board plans to sell a small selection of spirits, wine and liquor-related gifts at temporary stores at Pacific Place, Alderwood mall, The Commons at Federal Way and Bellis Fair Mall in Bellingham.
The stores are projected to post sales of $3.8 million over two years, according to liquor-board spokesman Brian Smith.
“It's an opportunity to help contribute money to the state's budget deficit and provide, in a tasteful way, the type of products our over-21 population might be looking for as gifts,” Smith told the Seattle Times.
Is it time to question whether the state should be in the liquor business? Is this fair to wine shops and grocery stores?
Surely some private entrepreneurs wouldn't mind selling tasteful alcoholic gifts in upscale malls and help the state budget the old-fashioned way. The state's tasteful working slogan: “Make it mall liquor, not malt liquor.”
n “Gandhi's statue a rare gift in recognition of Bellevue-India ties.” A statue was dedicated on the south lawn of the Bellevue Public Library Saturday in a daylong festival and reception attended by Ambassador Meera Shankar, the Indian ambassador to the U.S., just days after Congress passed a resolution congratulating the visionary leadership of Mahatma Gandhi.
The library lawn was a natural choice for the statue because it is already home to a growing collection of outdoor artwork, the Seattle Times reported.
Sites that were rejected for the bronze statue include in front of the new, super spendy “The Shops at The Bravern” or any of “The Shops at The Kemper Freeman.” For fashion, not philosophical, reasons. Gandhi was great, but that outfit needs work.
n “Balloon family blah blah blah.” Self-promoter Richard Heene inadvertently comes up with a great idea for a reality show. Each week Americans vote to send a bothersome publicity hound up in a balloon, and then watch and perhaps bet on what happens.
The attention seeker is left incommunicado in the basket, giving him/her lots of time to think about how they've annoyed us and what it's like to really be alone, and adrift.
n “Bikini baristas to dispense drive-through flu shots.” OK, we made that one up. Just making sure everyone is awake. A double shot of penicillin, perhaps. Sorry, that was a cheap shot.
Possible franchise names include “Innoculatte Hut,” “Jab ‘n' Go” and “Vaccinate ‘n' Caffeinate.”
n “Alderwood mall to get liquor store.” From Nov. 1 through Dec. 31, the State Liquor Control Board plans to sell a small selection of spirits, wine and liquor-related gifts at temporary stores at Pacific Place, Alderwood mall, The Commons at Federal Way and Bellis Fair Mall in Bellingham.
The stores are projected to post sales of $3.8 million over two years, according to liquor-board spokesman Brian Smith.
“It's an opportunity to help contribute money to the state's budget deficit and provide, in a tasteful way, the type of products our over-21 population might be looking for as gifts,” Smith told the Seattle Times.
Is it time to question whether the state should be in the liquor business? Is this fair to wine shops and grocery stores?
Surely some private entrepreneurs wouldn't mind selling tasteful alcoholic gifts in upscale malls and help the state budget the old-fashioned way. The state's tasteful working slogan: “Make it mall liquor, not malt liquor.”
n “Gandhi's statue a rare gift in recognition of Bellevue-India ties.” A statue was dedicated on the south lawn of the Bellevue Public Library Saturday in a daylong festival and reception attended by Ambassador Meera Shankar, the Indian ambassador to the U.S., just days after Congress passed a resolution congratulating the visionary leadership of Mahatma Gandhi.
The library lawn was a natural choice for the statue because it is already home to a growing collection of outdoor artwork, the Seattle Times reported.
Sites that were rejected for the bronze statue include in front of the new, super spendy “The Shops at The Bravern” or any of “The Shops at The Kemper Freeman.” For fashion, not philosophical, reasons. Gandhi was great, but that outfit needs work.
n “Balloon family blah blah blah.” Self-promoter Richard Heene inadvertently comes up with a great idea for a reality show. Each week Americans vote to send a bothersome publicity hound up in a balloon, and then watch and perhaps bet on what happens.
The attention seeker is left incommunicado in the basket, giving him/her lots of time to think about how they've annoyed us and what it's like to really be alone, and adrift.
n “Bikini baristas to dispense drive-through flu shots.” OK, we made that one up. Just making sure everyone is awake. A double shot of penicillin, perhaps. Sorry, that was a cheap shot.
Possible franchise names include “Innoculatte Hut,” “Jab ‘n' Go” and “Vaccinate ‘n' Caffeinate.”
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