A sad day in 18b - Las Vegas' Arts District...

This is a previous post from last Sunday but it continues being relevant considering the recent news about the arts district. As I said before we will continue moving forward and rebuild even better. 

Arts District fire...
(photo by Brian Paco Alvarez)

Saturday night in 18b was jubilant with the Contemporary Arts Center's first Beer Fest at the World Famous Arts Factory. A successful fundraiser for Las Vegas' grand daddy of Contemporary Art. Friends old and new coming together for a great cause at a great location. After a beautiful evening we were all rude-fully awakened by a massive explosion that shook the neighborhood. At approximatively 6:30 Sunday morning a power transformer exploded causing severe damage to many of the businesses along Main Street from Charleston to Gass Avenue. Sadly many great little galleries were affected.

This afternoon a fire flared up near a ruptured gas line that was damaged from this mornings explosion, possibly destroying Opportunity Village's Thrift Store. In either case we who live in or near the arts district are devastated by the destruction and as I stated to Gina Quaranto proprietor of PLACE Gallery we will do everything to help her rebuild her fabulous space. The outpouring of support from the people who live in the neighborhood and beyond is amazing and shows the dynamic of having a vibrant and livable Downtown.

Sadly as I was reading local news reports online about the explosion I was disgusted by the harsh comments left by several people about our neighborhood. These cowards hide behind their aliases and speak poison of things they know not. It is disgusting that Americans would denigrate the very businesses of their fellow citizens. It is despicable that in 21st century America that we cannot look beyond negativity and come together to support those in need.

I would like to finish and say that we Downtowner's will rebuild Main Street and we will make it better then it ever was. We are going to continue investing in Downtown; we are going to have a brand new sparkling city hall; we are going to have a performing arts center; we are going to have a new arena, new galleries, restaurants, cafe's, bookstores and we are making Downtown Las Vegas the envy of every neighborhood. Whether you like it or not Downtown is not going away because we are making it the place to live, work and play in Southern Nevada.

Thank you...

Brian Paco Alvarez enculturating Las Vegas into the millennium...