From the Inquirer.
Does anyone remember the Record Collector? After Pryor's moved out (and before the gentleman's club brouhaha), the corner of Pennsylvania and Bridge used to host a rather amazing and eclectic collection of vinyl LP, cassette, and CD format music.
This is an example of "what coulda been" if Morrisville was a more proactive and welcoming business community.
Too bad the DeLorean's time circuits are all kerfarbled...
Music in store
Performers share space with vintage vinyl at Bordentown's Record Collector.
By Susan Van Dongen, For The Inquirer Posted on Fri, Mar. 6, 2009
On a recent Saturday night after a particularly bad week of economic news, a few dozen people enjoyed almost more live music than they could handle, and for a song.
The Buicks, one of the region's best original blues bands, rocked the room at the Record Collector, in the tiny colonial city of Bordentown. Admission was a recession-friendly 10 bucks.
There were no overpriced drinks to drain your wallet, and no elbow-to-elbow indifferent crowds disrespecting the band. People came to the Record Collector for the music, or maybe to peruse the vintage vinyl, posters and rock-and-roll memorabilia, things like a Beatles tray, a Conway Twitty ashtray, a Monkees charm bracelet, and a Jerry Garcia puppet.
It's like this every weekend at this venue, where there is live music - or sometimes comedy - offered on Friday and Saturday nights. The Record Collector welcomes singer-songwriter Lisa Bouchelle and the all-female group the Refugees tonight. It's the Figgs and Kitty & the Kowalskis on Saturday night.
The store, housed in a renovated art-deco-era bowling alley, can comfortably seat 60 people, but the number at times swells to 75 and more. If you don't want to sit, you can hang out among the records and CDs on the lower tier - not quite a mosh pit, but a fine place to dance.
Promoter and WTSR-FM DJ Randy "Now" Ellis, who used to put on punk and New Wave concerts at the former City Gardens in Trenton, isn't hesitant to reach out to the famous and bring them to Bordentown. Pete Best, the original drummer for the Beatles, was here in October and is scheduled to return July 5.
Peter Tork of the Monkees has been in Bordentown twice with his band, Shoe Suede Blues. Rockabilly great Robert Gordon put on a lively show, as did Graham Parker, Marshall Crenshaw and Ian McLagan.
Scheduled between the better-known acts are some of the tri-state area's most talented bands and performers who play rock, pop, punk, blues and world music.
Owner John Chrambanis opened the store at its Farnsworth Avenue location in the fall of 2006. He previously had a place in Morrisville, and in Trenton before that. With more than 25 years of purveying vintage vinyl to music lovers from all over the country, Chrambanis has an amazing personal collection.
"I really do have an inventory of one million records," he says.
Currently, one of the most valuable items on display at the store is Elvis Presley's first hit single, "That's All Right" with the B-side "Blue Moon of Kentucky," released in 1954. Framed and mounted, it's valued at about $1,200. There's also a recording from 1958 by Mickey Mantle titled My Favorite Hits, with the slugger singing his favorite songs, worth about $100. Previously, Chrambanis had a copy of the Beatles' 1966 release Yesterday and Today, the famed "Butcher Cover" edition, which was pulled by their record company for being in bad taste. Chrambanis sold that record for $1,500.
The tidy, well-organized store also sells sheet music, candy and other goodies, a few kitschy books and sound equipment - including turntables to play all those great records.
Free, live concerts at this vinyl haven began about a year ago, and quickly became a hit. Ellis raised the price of admission to $3, presenting the Grip Weeds to a standing-room-only crowd last July 4.
"I realized that we had something here, so I started pursuing some bigger names," Ellis says. His real coup was getting Best and his band, the beginning of a streak of top-notch concerts that doesn't seem to be slowing down.
You'll find all generations of music lovers at the Record Collector's live shows. "Bring your kids to the show," Ellis says. "It's cheaper than a baby sitter and it's a history lesson."
Saturday, March 7, 2009
Dangers of an Abandoned School
From MSNBC.con.
Who knew abandoned schoolhouses were so prevalent.
And the dangers that lurk inside of them...
Alligator starts abandoned school fire
updated 10:12 p.m. ET, Fri., March. 6, 2009
PENNSYLVANIA: Authorities believe an alligator may be to blame for a fire inside an abandoned school.
The blaze began at the former Mount Jackson Elementary School in North Beaver Township, near New Castle.
Authorities said the man who owns the property, Brian Simpson, was living with a menagerie of animals in the building, including the alligator, about 70 rabbits and unspecified "aquatic animals."
The Pennsylvania Game Commission is now involved in caring for the animals rescued from the fire.
Fire Chief Paul Henry said the building's owner believes the alligator started the fire by knocking over a portable heater.
Firefighters removed the animal, but only after taping its mouth shut.
"I basically got on top of it," said Wes Osborne, of Crit-R-Done Wildlife Control. "One of the fellows in there had already handled it a little bit by the tail, and we were able to duct-tape it to keep anybody from getting bit."
Neighbors said they've been complaining about the rundown property for years.
"My concerns are the hazard to children that play in the neighborhood," said neighbor Missy Argiro. "It's an eyesore, obviously. I've known that he's had animals in there for many years. We can hear dogs barking every night."
The Fish and Game Commission said no laws were broken, so they're turning all the animals back over to the owner.
Who knew abandoned schoolhouses were so prevalent.
And the dangers that lurk inside of them...
Alligator starts abandoned school fire
updated 10:12 p.m. ET, Fri., March. 6, 2009
PENNSYLVANIA: Authorities believe an alligator may be to blame for a fire inside an abandoned school.
The blaze began at the former Mount Jackson Elementary School in North Beaver Township, near New Castle.
Authorities said the man who owns the property, Brian Simpson, was living with a menagerie of animals in the building, including the alligator, about 70 rabbits and unspecified "aquatic animals."
The Pennsylvania Game Commission is now involved in caring for the animals rescued from the fire.
Fire Chief Paul Henry said the building's owner believes the alligator started the fire by knocking over a portable heater.
Firefighters removed the animal, but only after taping its mouth shut.
"I basically got on top of it," said Wes Osborne, of Crit-R-Done Wildlife Control. "One of the fellows in there had already handled it a little bit by the tail, and we were able to duct-tape it to keep anybody from getting bit."
Neighbors said they've been complaining about the rundown property for years.
"My concerns are the hazard to children that play in the neighborhood," said neighbor Missy Argiro. "It's an eyesore, obviously. I've known that he's had animals in there for many years. We can hear dogs barking every night."
The Fish and Game Commission said no laws were broken, so they're turning all the animals back over to the owner.
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