#revitalizing the downtown

[wat3rm370n]

Trickle down is BS.

PA Democratic Party politicians celebrate corporate giveaway.

If we had participatory budgeting here, this would never happen. I guarantee you nobody regardless of their political leaning would vote for giving taxpayer money to a bank. Only people with privilege and power make these decisions for mysterious reasons we can only speculate make sense for them.

[bluecookiesabi]

Who needs sleep when you can bitch to your friends and brother and about the STUPID ASS decisions your city government has made

[rulesforthedance]

I am only halfway through the time I have to spend at the office today, but my pants have already become sensory hell. Bodes ill for my afternoon

[castielsupernatural]

i will say my life became much funnier after i started caring about local politics

[vamptastic]

y'know it's really fun genuinely knowing A Fucking Lot about my hometown whilst having everybody i talk to about local issues think im a big dumb stupid idiot because i look gay and therefore like, Woke and liberal. whatever have fun crying on facebook because you live near an apartment complex and there's no all-white schools to send your kids to. these people have literally zero grasp on reality outside of their own immediate comfort.

[winter-hoof]

I just realized I took a picture in 2022 that’s the same view of Ishpeming as in the opening scene of Anatomy of a Murder (1959) lol

[wausaupilot]

ARTSblock to be focus of UWSP at Wausau 'Hank Talks’ event

Jim O'Connell, associate professor and coordinator of arts management, will discuss the steps and missteps of the project.

WAUSAU – A talk looking back on the downtown Wausau development project with the expansion of the historic Grand Theatre into ARTSblock will take place as part of the fall series of “Hank Talks” at the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point at Wausau. “Hank Talks,” named after Hank the Husky campus mascot, will be offered on various Tuesdays at 7 p.m. on the stage of the James F. Veninga Theater…

[biglisbonnews]

Does New York’s Chinatown Really Need an Arch? Hochul has granted the money to build one, but younger residents ask whether the money would be better spent on other community needs. https://www.curbed.com/2023/01/new-york-chinatown-arch-gateway-hochul-grant-beautification.html

[fatehbaz]

They’ve built a “Great Wheel” on the Seattle waterfront [...].

The small timber village became a military outpost in the Puget Sound War [...], [and] soon evolved into a trade gateway, with timber tailings and other industrial trash from Henry Yesler’s mill used to fill in the marshlands [...], atop which migrant laborers raised tents and shanties [...] now working to feed raw materials into the furnaces of the Second Industrial Revolution burning in the East. [...] The first nationwide strike ripped across the country’s railways in 1877, but in Seattle the unrest took on a grim character, as thousands of unemployed white workers rioted against their Chinese counterparts [...]. Meanwhile, [...] local elites rebuilt [...] downtown [...] from scratch, hosting the tallest building on the West Coast alongside other new constructs [fueled] with money gleaned from the supply chains linking eastern capital to Alaskan gold. [...] Today the city - again rebuilt [...] - is seen as one of the primary beneficiaries of the “Fifth” Industrial Revolution in information technology, outshone only by California’s Silicon Valley. [...] The digital was increasingly thought of as somehow "immaterial," sustained by intellectual labor more than physical toil [...].

Silicon Valley myths of [...] "immaterial" labor disguise a more gruesome dynamic in which growing segments of the global labor force are being deprived even of the basic brutality of the wage, instead forced out into growing rings of slums, prisons, and global wastelands. [...]

---

Perched alongside a downtown business corridor [...], Seattle's Great Wheel seems to peer out over [...] [the] prophesied “cooperative commons,” an infotech metropolis abutting the beauty of an evergreen arcadia. But travel below Seattle’s cluster of infotech industries and the image appears much the same as that of a hundred years prior - a trade gateway, squeezing value from supply chains by selling transport and logistical support. The southern stretch of the metropolis bears little resemblance to the revitalized urban core of the city proper. Instead of the “cognitive labor” of Microsoft, it is defined instead by the cold calculation of companies like UPS, founded in Seattle when the city was one link in a colonial supply chain built first for timber, then Alaskan gold, then World War. [...]

In south Seattle, this logistics empire takes the form of faceless warehouses, food processing facilities, container trucks, rail yards, and industrial parks concentrated between two seaports, an international airport, three major interstates, and railroads traveling in all directions. Meanwhile, the poor have been priced out of the old inner city, moving southward [...]. [T]hey can be found staffing the airport and the rail yards, hauling cargo in and out of two the major seaports, loading boxes in warehouses [...]. And, beyond them, the shadow stretches out to Washington’s rural hinterlands where migrant laborers staff a new boom in agriculture and raw materials [...] - and further still into America’s long-depressed interior, where the Great Wheel meets its opposite: Memphis, the FedEx logistics city, watched over by a great black pyramid [the infamous Bass Pro Shop pyramid]. [...]

Every Seattle is capable of creating an eco-friendly, “cooperative commonwealth” tended by apps and algorithms only insofar as there is a Memphis that can provide human workers to sort the packages, a Shanghai to build the containers that carry them, and a Shenzhen to solder together the circuits of the machines that govern it all.

---

All text above by: Phil A. Neel. "The Great Wheel". Brooklyn Rail. April 2015. Published online at: brooklynrail.org/2015/04/field-notes/the-great-wheel. [Bold emphasis and some paragraph breaks/contractions added by me. Text within brackets added by me for clarity. Presented here for commentary, teaching, personal use, criticism purposes.]

[kry3talline]

🌆Downtown Miami Diet~🌆 Inspiration: @h0neysugarfree Basic Principles/Guidelines: Oh, the way the fiery hues of the sunlit sky seamlessly blend to create a breathtaking tapestry, mirrored by the gentle lull of crystalline waves, all set against the twinkling city skyline—Miami! What’s not to love? One of the most stunning coastal cities on Earth, brimming with tourist attractions, retail outlets, natural beauty, and more! And with its vast, sprawling landscape, it’s practically begging you to get your steps in! -You are yet another onlooker bewitched by the magic of the city,captivated by its allure; currently staying in a luxurious suite on South Beach, you have all you need to fully transform yourself and immerse yourself in this amazing city, purging and beautifying your body and soul.

Diet Rules: -Walk, walk, WALK! After all, the beach walk is right there, a vast, enticing trail, brimming with the prospects of a brisk walk or jog! Try to walk around 1-5 miles at sunrise and sunset, and any desired time in between; perhaps if you're tired, your legs burning after a good sesh, you can take the trolley back to the hotel! If the strip isn't for you, you can always traverse and explore the nearby neighborhoods, or perhaps take an Uber into the city and walk the parks. Regardless, aim for an 8k step minimum. -Hydration is key; after all, spending so much time in the sun is exhausting! Replenish your body and ward off pesky hunger pains. Matcha is a good substitute, but I don't recommend it after one PM! -Prioritize rest; sleep revitalizes your body and skin, whilst lowering levels of the hunger hormone and increasing the fullness hormone. Furthermore, you burn more calories! Eat Plenty of seafood! After all, you're quite literally near the ocean! If that's not up your alley, alright. Try to keep your breakfasts light (cottage cheese/yogurt with fruit) and your lunches filling yet lean , especially if you're eating out (depending on where, you can sue this to your advantage; just dont do it TOO much!). As for dinner, either try to skip it or eat some yogurt with fruit and perhaps a bit of nuts? After all, you're going to sleep soon afterward anyway! -Aim for a calorie limit of 700-1200 cals a day!

Note(s)- -None of the photos used above belong to me in any way,shape,or form! -I've been seeing 'theme' diets trending all over 3dblr lately; I was bored, and decided 'well,why not?' Sorry if it sucks, haha- -This is actually based on my Miami trip from spring break earlier this year; my family has been going every year since 2022! I'm not sure why, but this March, when we got there, I got ON THE GRIND! I lost SO much weight, and I included some of the tips that helped me. This isn't an extreme diet or anything, and isn't focused on restriction (at least from my perspective; I didn't really restrict. the main thing was I didn't eat dinner and walked a lot lol-) I lowkey should start this diet, because past me must've been doing something right lol. -Good night angels!

[vintagelasvegas]

Construction of Fremont Street Experience, c. November 1994

Photo by Pam G.

Facing a stagnant economy and fearing that mega-resort projects on the Strip would further drain visitors to downtown casinos, Las Vegas City Council and downtown casino execs collaborated to create an attraction downtown which would become Fremont Street Experience.

Timeline of Fremont Street Experience

'91: Feb., Mirage Resorts chairman Steve Wynn suggests Venice-style canal attraction for Fremont St. Jul., City council forms committee to study downtown revitalization.

'92: Jan., Downtown Progress Association hears redevelopment proposals from three firms, rejects all. Apr., City begins purchasing property for future development use. Jun., Architect Jon Jerde presents plan for Fremont Street Experience.

'93: May, LVCVA approves $8M funding for FSE. Aug., City Council approves tax increase for financing the construction. Nov., City begins procedures to condemn property of owners who refuse to vacate on 400 block of Fremont St.

'94: Mar., Demolition of 400 block Fremont St. Sep. 7, Fremont St closed to traffic, and construction begins.

'95: Jul., Construction completed. Inaugurated Dec. 14.

2004: The canopy's 2 million incandescent bulbs replaced with 12.5 million LED lamps. The new light show dubbed Viva Vision debuts Jun. 14.

2014: Slotzilla zip line opened Apr. 27 (lower zipline) and Aug. 31 (upper zoomline).

2019: The Viva Vision display is rebuilt with 49 million LED lamps, competed Dec. 31. The new canopy can operate in daylight hours.

Demolition of Fremont & 4th (block 35), 1994. City of Las Vegas acquired the businesses on this block, partly through eminent domain, and demolished everything to make way for the Fremont Street Experience parking garage. Last building standing is Cornet 5-10-15 (401 Fremont). Photo taken from the garage of Fitzgerald’s Hotel & Casino by Roadsidepictures.

Section of scale model of Fremont Street Experience. Photographed Dec. 15, 1994, by Greg Cava. A 22-foot long scale model of Fremont Street Experience was built at the office of Atlandia Design, which supervised the creation of the attraction. Greg Cava Photograph Collection (PH-00399). UNLV Special Collections and Archives.

The “Vegas Vic” sign re-installed at Pioneer Club, December 23, 1994 - Photo by Las Vegas News Bureau. The sign was removed days earlier while the platform was extended from the building and the character’s hat was shortened, to accommodate the construction of the Fremont Street Experience canopy. The “Vegas Vickie” sign at Glitter Gulch casino was also lowered to fit under the canopy. Before the work was done on the two signs, a marriage ceremony was held on Fremont St for Vic and Vickie. Vic’s best man was Vaughn Cannon of YESCO. Guest of honor was Edna Sherrill who had played a “Vegas Vickie” character as a hostess at Pioneer Club in the 60s.

Sources include: Creative thinking needed downtown. Review-Journal, 2/25/91; H. Stutz. Wynn proposes Venice-style downtown project. Review Journal, 5/21/91; J. Gallant. Council, casinos plan revamp panel. Review-Journal, 7/18/91; C. Scarbrough. City, casino execs discuss three themes. Review-Journal, 1/30/92; C. Scarbrough. Megaresort projects threat to downtown. Review-Journal, 1/31/92; C. Scott. “Tourists to pick up most of project tab.” Las Vegas Sun, 4/17/94. S. McKinnon. “Downtown celebrates neon nuptial.” Review Journal, 12/17/94. Chris Jones. A vision of things to come. Review-Journal, 6/9/04.

[pis3update]

Obsidian Falls - Populated by Jreamwave

"Step into Obsidian Falls, a tropical paradise sculpted by future ambitions. Volcanoes and waterfalls weave a backdrop for settlers, tourists, and scientists exploring its natural wonders. Amidst a bustling downtown and upscale suburbs, the influence of capital megastride shapes the city, echoing wealth and ambition. Yet, beneath the surface, a cryptic undertone whispers of something more. What exactly is all this scientific research about? Is it just the flora and fauna that pique their interest, or is it something..... supernatural? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QErwMi7Oajw Originally conceived as a personal project, this world reached completion around 2014. However, in 2022, I embarked on a journey to revitalize and enhance it, working on it intermittently over time. Everything, except for most of the terrain and textures, underwent a complete overhaul. Today, what you see on the screen is the culmination of this passion project.

...continued + more pictures on MTS."

More Info + Download @MTS.

[killervelveteenrabbit]

"The Ghost and Molly McGee", Ten Years After

Molly’s ongoing work to improve the economic, cultural, and mental well-being of Brighton has earned her the love and respect of everyone in town, a few write-ups in statewide and national publications… and a full scholarship to the University of Iowa’s civil and environmental engineering program. She’s returned to Brighton, working for City Hall as assistant city planner (with her dad as her boss, which isn’t awkward at all, really) while earning her master’s online.

Molly wasn’t alone while she attended UI—Libby was her dormmate all four years that she was there. She earned a scholarship of her own, majoring in English. She also returned to Brighton after graduating, becoming a part-time reporter for the town newspaper while helping run her mother’s bookstore. All of this is in addition to her literary career. Matias, her father, took a second look at the fantasy novel she wrote and realized it was publication-worthy. It wasn’t a best seller, but the royalties from this and two other books Libby has written since let her live comfortably and pursue her passions in life. Her latest project is a series of books helping small children understand and live with the effects of divorce.

Molly and Ollie hit a rough patch after an admittedly stupid argument during their senior year of high school, and their two-month breakup proved just as hard on their respective families as it was on each other. They got back together just in time for graduation from Brighton High, only to part ways as Molly went to UI and Oliver headed for Iowa State. But they carried out a successful medium-distance relationship (it was only a two-hour drive between the two campuses).

Ollie has parlayed his experience as a researcher for his parents’ MeTube videos into a career as a freelance researcher for an assortment of psychological and medical foundations. While he travels all over the Midwest and occasionally beyond, he’s based out of Brighton… specifically, the rental house he shares with Molly. Ollie and Molly are practically married already, but their parents are eager for them to make it official. The couple are waiting a while to save enough money to stage the dream wedding and after-party they always wanted without breaking the bank.

Several years ago, an ill-advised deal involving a shipment of counterfeit designer smartwatches and the Uzbek mafia landed Darryl in hotter water than usual. He’s lucky all he got away with was lockdown in juvie until his 21st birthday… which got commuted to two hundred hours of community service and time served due to an unexpected (and slightly suspicious) governor’s pardon. At any rate, the whole debacle soured Darryl on similar schemes. He’s kept his nose clean since then, barring a few school detentions. He takes business courses at a local community college with plans to transfer to a four-year institution this fall. His current side hustle involves promotions and advertising for assorted boutiques and under-21 nightclubs that have popped up in Brighton's revitalized downtown.

June lives away from home, majoring at Drake University. But she remains Darryl’s best friend, the only person outside his family who’s consistently been there for him after his schemes blew up in his face—figuratively and almost literally; she was the one who detected that leak in the ammonium nitrate storage tank Darryl stashed out near the water tower. They even dated for a while before mutually acknowledging the situation was “weird” and deciding they were better off as friends. On a related note, maybe Esther shouldn’t have paid out all that money to have her wedding dress remade.

Pete and Sharon are still happily married. Pete takes great pride in the improvements he’s helped make for his adopted hometown of Brighton, and he’s especially flattered that his daughter is following in his footsteps. The town’s successes have become Pete’s successes—in the last ten years, he’s fixed up the family home and bought his first non-used car. He’s even dusted off his vinyl for a few gigs at some of the new clubs downtown. Meanwhile, Sharon offers painting classes at the local community center and retirement home. These days, she primarily uses her Gig Pig account to set up painting parties in and around town, sometimes as far out as Perfektborg.

The Chens’ enlightenment about the true nature of ghosts has led them to step away from their “Ghost Chaser Chens” MeTube channel. Ruben has had far more luck marketing his brand of small-batch root beer, now available in grocery and convenience stores all over the state. Recently, Esther inspired Ruben to introduce a “spiked” version flavored with Habanero peppers. Reception has been mixed.

Grandma Nin and her friend Patty are the self-described “Bad Girls of Brighton Hills”, but their adventures have proven more constructive than mischievous. They’ve organized concerts at the bandshell, joined the Senior Construction Crew on home-repair projects for needy families, and hosted a weekly potluck dinner/board game session in the home’s cafeteria. These dinners always feature Patty’s homemade gumbo—Nin helped her fine-tune the recipe so now it’s actually edible.

The McGees look forward to David and Emmie’s annual visits, a chance to catch up with family and connect with their heritage. The Thai lessons Molly took on Triolingo have helped her feel slightly more at ease when the Suksais come to call. Also, Sharon has tried practicing some Thai dishes, with Pete’s assistance and (critically) while Nin isn’t in the vicinity.

A year after Davenport’s closed its doors, the family rolled the dice and started a supermarket specializing in organic groceries, local produce, and hard-to-find foreign brands… items Bizmart couldn’t or wouldn’t accommodate. The gamble paid off, and Davenport's Turnip Patch sells and ships to customers across the region—yes, even to Perfektborg. (Sharon and Nin are frequent visitors since they carry Thai specialties like jackfruit, pandan extract, and even durian.) Andrea maintains the store’s computer systems but pointedly avoids appearing in advertising. She’s back on her socials, but not as an influencer. Her “Girl Code” series on MeTube provides tips and tricks for entry-level coding enthusiasts. The videos feature occasional cameos by her girlfriend Alina, who’s also taken an interest in the subject.

Three months after Scratch cast off his Chairman’s robes, they settled upon the recently departed spirit of a retired manager of an IRS branch office. Since then, the Ghost Council has basked in bureaucratic bliss, leaving the denizens of Ghost World alone and happy. Not long after Todd left, Molly conducted a séance and told Geoff what happened to Scratch. He realizes it will be a while before he sees his friend again, but at least he has Jeff to keep him company.

Todd and Adia have photographed wild horse herds in Montana, kayaked off the Antarctic Peninsula, biked through Croatia, snorkeled with manta rays in Hawaii, and helped refurbish a centuries-old mosque in Brunei… and that’s just in the last year! Their adventures included a meditation retreat in India where Todd astrally projected his spirit out of his body for a few minutes. He “came back” talking about a young lady back in Brighton who showed him how to live even though he was already “dead”. On their next swing back to the United States, Molly is the first person they plan to visit.

[amnestria-the-elf]

I need Wyll Ravengard to be the lead male character in a sappy rom com where he is the owner of a struggling Small Town coffee shop / bakery which is the heart and soul of downtown.

My Tav can be the City Woman who works for Corporation who comes to Small Town looking to revitalize downtown. She's had a hell of a time getting to Small Town and just wants a decent goddamn latte, and Wyll makes her the best latte she's ever had in her life.

They keep running into each other as she's wandering around downtown, scoping it out to get a sense of what the future plans will look like, and eventually he offers to show her around.

And he's so fucking charming, and she's smitten with him in spite of herself, and he shows her the real heart of Small Town, and she starts to question whether Corporation is doing the right thing.

There's some barely plausible reason why they have to stay up late baking 800 cupcakes together at the last minute. Queue montage where they end up breathlessly laughing as they're both covered in flour.

And then- and this is important- they KISS in the RAIN.

She eventually confesses to him that she works for Corporation, and that she's here to tear down and rebuild downtown, including his business. He's angry and leaves.

She calls up her boss to tell him to fuck off, she's not going to ruin this downtown. And her boss is angry and reminds her that her job is on the line, and she tells him she doesn't care, he can fire her if he wants.

She goes back to Wyll's bakery/coffee shop and tries to plead her case, tell him that she told her boss off, that she'll fight to save the downtown.

And then Ulder Ravengard, her boss, shows up. Yep, turns out Wyll was supposed to inherit his dad's business but walked away because of Corporation's predatory behavior.

So she helps Wyll and Ulder reconcile with each other and they save downtown and they live happily ever after running coffee shop/bakery together.

[30sims4ever]

Willow Creek - 30+ Sims4Ever Save File

Lore

There has always been a rivalry between San Sequoia and its smaller cousin, Willow Creek. Mostly friendly, it has included sports rivalries, festivals, and contests, but it has recently spilled over into the political arena as well. As a result of the mayor of San Sequoia passing more favorable tax bills for businesses, most of the major industries have deserted the small city for the bustling metropolis. The biggest industry left in Willow Creek is tourism, and even that is beginning to fade.Desperate to revitalize the city, the mayor relaxes several local restrictions to allow more fishing and restart the previously decommissioned riverboats. Meanwhile, he heavily advertises to the movie industry, leading to a surge in movie tourism after a major period drama is filmed there. The movie shoot itself isn’t without issues. The leading man goes missing for nearly 48 hours, causing the crew to panic and eventually call in the local sheriff, who finds the star in a compromising position with a young waitress.Overall, the plan works, and Willow Creek begins to distinguish itself as a destination, but the costs are high. The historic downtown area is cleaned up but also gentrified, and many workers can’t afford to live nearby, being pushed to the outskirts of Newcrest. The fishing and riverboats have brought in tourists but also gangs of environmental protesters, angry at the pollution and habitat destruction. But hey, the money has been good, and construction on the mayor’s new estate has finally finished.

Unit 1:

Unit 2:

Unit 3:

Unit 4: Chamberlain

Kiersten Chamberlain, yes of THOSE Chamberlains, has led a charmed and carefree life. A little too carefree life it seems. Her latest antics have caused Daddy to cut her off. She had enough of her allowance for the month left to cover the first, last, and deposit on a place at Garden Essence Townhomes, but she's not got much left. Now she's got to find a job and learn to make it in this world on her own.

Traits: High Maintenance Snob Lazy Aspirations: Leader of the Pack Career: Unemployed for now.

image to be updated *

Unit 5: Brower

After years of barely making it, Brandon and Cierra have spent their nestegg buying the Garden Essences Townhomes. Now the 6 of them are crammed into a 3 bedroom apartment and Brandon is juggling being a landlord and a Code Monkey in between a wild toddler, a vocal, troublemaking dog, and a teen who wants to be everyone's friend, Cierra's got her hands full just keeping the home going. Young Elena just wishes she could find some peace and quiet to keep up on her studies.

Traits: Brandon - Geek, Childish, Loyal Cierra - Love Outdoors, Erratic, Active Brock - Outgoing, Insider Elena - Practice Makes Perfect Brittanie - Wild Goldie - Friendly, Troublemaker, Vocal Aspirations: Brandon - Computer Whiz Cierra - Bodybuilder Brock - Friend of the World Elena - Mind & Body Career: Brandon - Tech Guru - Code Monkey (Lvl3) Cierra - Stay at Home Mom Brock - Manual Laborer

image to be updated*

Unit 1: Havili

Angelo “Angel” and Reyna “Rey” Havili were born identical twins. Estranged from their family, they live together in an apartment taking on the world together. Angel is transmasc and a computer nerd, he wants to get into programming/gaming/computer science and is a bit of a neat freak. Rey is more of a free spirit who wants to become a musician, she’s very kind hearted but is a bit of a slob and steal’s Angel’s clothes all of the time which drives him insane. Despite sometimes getting on each other’s nerves, they have a close relationship. "Bean", full name Itsy Bitsy Teenie Weenie Pink Little Paws Beankitty, was a stray Rey found by a dumpster and took her in without consulting Angel. At first he was mad and wanted the cat gone, but now they’re not-so-secretly the best of friends.

Traits: Angel: Practice Makes Perfect, Geek, Neat Rey: Generous, Party Animal, Slob Bean: Clever, Affectionate, Playful Aspirations: Angel: Computer Whiz Rey: Musical Genius Careers: Angel: Quality Assurance Rey: Amateur Entertainer

Unit 2: Caldwell

Jasmine is known around the neighborhood for favoring ensembles in one jewel tone and having multiple articles of clothing she's knit/sewn of her cats, and also knits sweaters for her cats. When you get past her wardrobe and obsession love for her fur babies, she's a great mentor and holds a lot of wisdom. She also kinda speaks to ghosts some times.

Jasmine: Wise, Cheerful, Cat lover Walter: Aloof, free spirit, skittish Gretchen: Glutton, Lazy, Affectionate Franklin: Clever, Playful, Curious Aspirations:Friend of the Animals Careers: None/retired(edited)

Unit 3: Rossi

A single mom to Luna, the father is not in the picture. Sharing a single bedroom apartment with a baby crib wasn't how she pictured her early adulthood, but now she's willing to do anything to provide a good life for Luna. Her experience with the bio father has left her romantically reserved, but she remains hesitantly hopeful she'll find someone to be a true father to Luna.

Traits: Family-Oriented, Loyal, Romantically Reserved Aspirations: Super Parent Careers: Sofia: Substitute Teacher

Unit 4: Williams

Unit 5: empty

Unit 6: empty

Novak Family

Meet the Novak family: Luke, Paulette, baby Starla and faithful doggie Donna. Luke and Paulette work hard to make means to an end. After their hometown of Willow Creek was the home of a movie set, Paulette's gotten her eyes up for acting - will the small town family life be enough for her and her big dreams?

Traits: Luke: Erratic, socially awkward, family oriented, outdoor lover Paulette: Lovebug, ambitious, gloomy, outgoing Starla: intense Aspiration: Luke: Big happy family Paulette: Master actress Careers: Luke: Backhoe operator (manual laborer) Paulette: Sales floor clerk (retail employee)

Ryder

Ryder loves developing different skills. His high school obsession with video games got him a scholarship to UBrite. Now freshly graduated with an Honors Fine Arts degree, he nabbed a job as a set painter in Willow Creek's burgeoning film industry. With a new house that's all his, a new gym membership, and a new interest in gardening and juice fizzing, He's got plenty to fill his time. Maybe learning to dress will come later.

Traits: Practice Makes Perfect, Creative, Geek Aspirations: Painter Extraordinaire Career : Master of the Real

Horne Residence

After being promoted to VP at her job, Bethenny's realized money isn’t everything. Her husband, Richard, is distant and obsessed with proving his worth to his now deceased father. Their only child, Stephanie Anne, has grown up spoiled and wants to become a famous actor with her own section in the town’s film center. Will Bethenny’s mid life crisis help bring the family together or push them to achieve their own, separate, life goals?

Traits: Bethenny is a Snob, Art Lover, and Squeamish. Richard is Ambitious, a Snob, and Proper Stephanie Anne is Materialistic and Self-Absorbed

Aspirations : Bethenny wants a Big Happy Family (as a result of her midlife crisis Richard wants to be a Mansion Baron Stephanie Anne wants to be a World-Famous Celebrity Careers: Bethenny is a Vice President Richard is a Hedge Fund Manager

Walsh

image to be updated*

Maerina Walsh is practically an urban legend in Magnolia Promenade. The business owner is known for being an especially strict and tyrannical boss and few employees last long. Some people say her business is haunted by the ghost of a former employee and their body rests in the basement. It's a common hazing ritual for teens to dare friends to sneak down there to try to find it. There is in fact a body in the basement, but it's her former husband.

Aspiration: Renaissance Sim Traits: Mean, Overachiever, Snob Career: Registered with Ministry of Labor as a business owner

Unit 1: Patten

Clementine is an avid partier. She loves feeding her friends and family, and then dancing off that sugar high. Her neighbors don't always appreciate her outgoing ways, and poor Prince is constantly having to go next door and ask her to keep it down. Clem owns the bakery in Magnolia Promenade and prides herself on being the go-to baker for birthdays and weddings.

Traits Childish, Foodie, Party Animal Aspiration Appliance Whiz Career Culinary(edited)

Unit 2: Stone

Prince has an uncanny ability to see the positive in almost any situation. If anyone dug a little bit, they'd see that his uplifting exterior hides a broken heart after losing the love of his life too early. To his neighbors Prince is "the plant guy", or "the cat guy". To his customers he is a gift - always knowing the right floral patterns and herbal smells to improve their spaces. When he isn't working in his garden, or at his shop, Prince is very busy spoiling his cat, Myrtle.

Traits Loves Outdoors, Green Fiend, Good Aspiration Freelance Botanist Career Retired Gardener (floral designer)

Unit 3: Metzgers

Freddy and Solomon met at a university art event. They were both vying for the same painting, and decided the best answer to the problem was to just... fall in love and move in together to share the art. The Metzgers are homebodies, but enjoy entertaining - or any excuse to show off the newest addition to their antique collection. Local hospitality businesses especially love this couple - Freddy is always ready to give a good deal to a neighbor, no matter which neighborhood they're from.

Traits Freddy - Art Lover, Proper, Adventurous Solomon - Bookworm, Good, Snob Aspirations Freddy - Archaeology Scholar Solomon - Careers Freddy - Writer Solomon - Art Critic

Unit 4: Bouras

Astraia owns the salon in Magnolia Promenade. She's always got the good gossip around town from her clients and friends. Her husband, Dion, dreams of being a professional athlete. He played sports in school, but after an injury he had to take some time off. Their pup, Opie, is the apple of their eye. They love to dress her up and show her off!

Traits Astraia - High Maintenance, Materialistic, Insider Dion - Active, Slob, Romantic Aspirations Astraia - Fabulously Wealthy Dion - Curator Careers Astraia - Business Dion - Athlete

River's Family

Drborah Rivers grew up with her brother Ricky and his best friend Ezra Waite. She eventually fell off with them in high school to focus on her friends and boyfriend. After school she became a nurse, got married and had 3 kids right after graduation. She is still is in touch with Ezra, and sees Ricky at family gatherings but isn’t super close with either of them anymore.

Bobby Rivers - Husband Kimberleigh - Daughter Brody - Son Addyson - Daughter

White Family

image to be updated*

Ezra White's family has been in Willow Creek for decades, so it's not a surprise when he easily won his election for Mayor. It was not long after that he met Lillian, a Simfluencer who just looooves helping people at a city function. Lillian championed Ezra to suggest a number of ways to reinvigorate the town, and maybe help themselves along the way. There's nothing wrong with that, right? What politician doesn't have their own slush fund.

Traits: Ezra - Bookworm, Loyal, Loves Outdoors Lilian - Ambitious, Materialistic, Romantic Merle - Couch Potato, Independent, Sleuth Rex - Jumpy, Loyal, Sleuth Aspirations: Ezra - Friend Of The World Lilian - Mansion Baron Career: Ezra - Politician (Councilman - Level 7) Lilian - Nano-Simfluencer

Hawthrone Family

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The Hawthrones have lead the North East Hub for generations. Terrance Hawthrone was a beloved leader loved by the people and for the people. During the last election he stepped down and had his son Ronald Hawthrone proceed in power. This decision to step down was due to Damien Mesquite of the South Eastern Hub. Damien Mesquite has a plan for the North East Hub that will be revealed in the next phase of the save file. Ronald however despite being a good person is very disliked by the people and while everyone is focused on what Ronald is doing, they should probably be watching Evelynn..

Henry Hawthrone Traits: Romantic, Outdoorsy Aspiration: Serial Romantic Activities: Captain of the Football Team Grades:B Harper Hawthrone Traits: Perectionist Aspiration:Social Butterfly Activities: Llamacorn Scout Grades:A Terrance Hawthrone Aspiration:Neighborhood Confidante Traits: Good, Cheerful, Loyal, Gregarious Career:Retired Political Leader Angela Hawthrone Aspiration:Mansion Baron Traits:Snob, High Maintenance, Materialistic, Buisness Savvy Career: Retired Housewife Ronald Hawthrone Aspiration: Successful Lineage Traits: Generous, Ambitious, Cringe, Domestic Career: National Leader Evelynn Hawthrone Aspiration:Seeker of Secrets Traits:Evil, Insider, Overachiever, Dastardly Career:Corporate Raider

The remainder of the lots for willow creek will be posted with Magnolia Promenade due to a photo capacity limit *

[yuzurujenn]

[2024.11.25] Weekly Toyo Keizai Nov issue: Saga's efforts to connect Yuzuru Hanyu's performance to regional revitalization

Performances as an opportunity for regional development Saga's efforts to connect Yuzuru Hanyu's performance to regional revitalization

During his competitive years, Yuzuru Hanyu attracted fans from across the globe to competitions. Many travelled from places as far as Canada and Northern Europe to support him for just 7–8 minutes of his short program and free skate. After turning professional, Hanyu has been energetically performing in solo shows and headlining ice shows across Japan, while based in Sendai. Fans eager to watch him perform travel from distant places to attend these events. For local governments seeking to bring people in and create excitement, Hanyu’s performances provide a unique opportunity for regional revitalization.

Hanyu's "RE_PRAY" Saga performances were held at SAGA Arena on Friday, January 12th and Sunday, January 14th, 2024, with approximately 5,500 people from Japan and abroad attending each show. Saga took full advantage of this opportunity. In preparation for the performance, Saga Prefecture and Saga City jointly planned the "#RE_PRAY_SAGA_ Hotomeki Project." "Hotomeki" means hospitality in the Saga and Fukuoka dialects.

Thorough "Hotomeki" Efforts

The project was remarkably straightforward in featuring "RE_PRAY." Based on materials prepared by Saga Prefecture, the initiative was depicted on a map, as shown on the left. Large banners and flags featuring the key visual adorned the streets, creating excitement for fans. Public transportation was also involved, with train stations and even temporary bus routes decorated to match "RE_PRAY." Illuminations were extended to coincide with the event, further enhancing the city’s appeal.

For the project meetings, three people from the prefecture and four people from the city attended each time. The prefecture was in charge of the area around the station, while the city handled the central downtown area to the south.

Mai Ejima from the Saga Prefecture SAGA Arena Convention Bureau recalls, "The arena is located on the north side of Saga Station, but the area with many restaurants and shops is on the south side. What the prefecture and city focused on was how to create a flow of people to the south side of the station."

In the bustling area south of the station, large photo-worthy tapestries were installed in places like Tojinmachi, just a short walk from the station, encouraging fans to explore the city. On social media, many posts were shared with hashtags like "#RE_PRAY_SAGA_ほとめきプロジェクト" (Hotomeki Project) and "#ほとめきプロジェクト" (Hotomeki Project), featuring information about local cuisine. Encouraging people to walk and enjoy local food helps revitalize the city.

Hotomeki from Local Businesses

As part of the "Hotomeki" initiative from local businesses, the souvenir shops inside Saga Station, where arriving visitors first stop to look around, attracted a lot of attention from fans. According to Ejima, the PR representative of "Ocha no Suezakien," handmade illustrated POPs were displayed in the sales area, promoting their "Ureshino Kocha Yuzu Blend," which evokes "Yuzuru" (結弦) (Yuzuru ゆづる → Yuzu ゆづ→ Yuzu ゆず). He mentioned that sales during the 3-day event reached the equivalent of a year's worth of stock. "Saga Kobo" also displayed welcoming POPs, promoting products like yuzu pepper.

Daisuke Shin, from the Saga City Central City Revitalization Office, said, "We didn't have enough time to publicize the plan, so there were some challenges in engaging with downtown businesses. However, I think it was positive that we were able to cooperate with them through initiatives like the coupon campaign."

The information was made publicly available in September 2023, and the first meeting between the prefectural and city officials was held in November, two months before the performance, so the time was limited.

According to Miho Yonekura, who was in charge of attracting events to the SAGA Arena, "We have been putting a lot of effort into attracting large events in the first year of operation, and I had been persistently pushing to bring Hanyu's performance to Saga, so I was really happy when it was finalized. However, we couldn't disclose the details until the information was made public. Initially, all we told the local government was that we were 'considering an ice event.'"

This is the first time that the prefecture and city have jointly carried out a welcoming project linked to an event. Yonekura notes that it is rare for an area to set up such a strong collaborative framework. "Both the prefecture and the city have a strong will to use the SAGA Arena not just as a venue, but as a tool for regional revitalization. The city's full support for the event is something that could only have been achieved in a rural area," said Yonekura.

The organizers were also cooperative in this effort. The prompt provision of key visuals allowed for the smooth production of tapestries and flags used for city dressing in the southern area. The prefecture spent approximately 200,000 yen on production, while the city spent about 1 million yen. Additionally, they were able to implement hospitality efforts by leveraging existing events and initiatives.

482.1 million yen effect

The economic ripple effect of the "RE_PRAY" performance was substantial, with Saga Prefecture estimating it at 482.1 million yen. This figure is based on an input-output table of visitor and organizer spending on accommodation, food and drink, and souvenirs, and includes the impact of the Hotomeki Project. Both the local government and Saga Arena personnel expressed satisfaction with the outcome, saying it exceeded their expectations.

The prefecture, city, and SAGA Arena officials all agree that the excitement exceeded expectations and that they felt a strong sense of accomplishment with this initiative. What were the factors behind the success? Several reasons can be considered, but one of the most significant was that the people involved in the Hotomeki Project and local businesses genuinely welcomed Yuzuru Hanyu and "RE_PRAY," treating them with respect. Many fans expressed their gratitude on social media, praising the "warm welcome" and the "city-wide enthusiasm."

The fact that the local community cherished the event and its visitors contributed to increased interest in Saga’s local culture, food, and attractions. While the high purchasing power of Hanyu's fans and their enthusiasm for tourism and food likely played a role in the success, Saga's example offers valuable insights into "regional revitalization centred around events."

Source: Weekly Toyo Keizai 2024/11/30 issue, pg 70-71 https://toyokeizai.net/articles/-/841561 Info: https://www.amazon.co.jp/dp/B0DM558RM9