Bryan Landaburu (aka Reno Bryan, Willie Vega, and Fuze) | Dont call me a blogger

Vote for David Bobzien - Nevada Assembly District 24

I am not a huge political activist to be frank. I find politics to be not much different than Hollywood acting. Believe in who you want, its not relevant to me. That doesn't mean I don't care, just means I am not the person who will convince you to put your faith in someone who I don't personally know. I cant endorse and stand behind someone whose party pays speech writers to come up with their stance, tone, and message. Someone who buys more media than imaginable to promote their brand. Somewhere in political messages is a shred of truth, but its rare to see much authenticity in the sense that I typically refer to it because at the highest level of politics, you lose your authenticity and become a puppet. Oh flame on you flamers...i don't care. If you were honest about it you would agree.

That said, I do believe that some people enter the political arena without a personal agenda. These needles in haystacks are few and far between. Over the last 10 years I have had the privelage to know and work with one candidate for State Assembly, David Bobzien. I dont really know what people know about David as a person, so let me tell you a few things about him, from my perspective.

Were it not for David, myself, and most of the people in our office wouldnt know all that much about local politics and how the decisions we make effect our state, positively or negatively.  David knows about both sides and pines over decisions...putting the needs of the greater good in front of any personal agenda. David is the most technology savvy candidate I know of. He is an activist for almost any non-profit who asks for his time. He is a worthy recipient of a 20 Under 40 award for 2008. The list goes on. His political alignment is Democrat, but he is also a Nevadan, and he thinks like a Nevadan. He is young, brilliant, and energetic about everything he tackles in life.  I know, because I know David personally.

I have employed David as our Director of User Experience for about 2 years now...and I hired him with the full understanding that he would need to be in session, and that he would likely have to campaign.  His dedication to his family, political career, and his job at Fuze are amazing.  I often ask him, why in the hell do you want to do this? Why go through the aggrivation? Christ man you have twins on the way...I just dont get it.  His answer is the same now as it was when he told me years ago when he ran the first time:

"Because I believe that I can make a difference."

He has, and he will, without sacraficing who he is as a person, who he will be as a father, and what he means to my company. I support David 100% in his political aspirations and hope that you will too with your vote on November 4th, 2008. He deserves this seat, and he will do what's best for our state. I cant even vote for him but if this message influences even 1 voter, it was worth writing.

Best of luck to you David, I hope its a landslide. And congratulations and best wishes to you and Lisa on your baby boys.

Your boss and friend,

Bryan

Information on David:

• About David Bobzien
• Where David Stands on the Issues
• Other than Fuze, here are some folks that matter who endorse David

Google, I'm the REAL Reno Bryan.

Certainly there's no arguing that I am the real Reno Bryan.

But, thanks to Google, I no longer can brag about this to impress nerds and the easily impressed in bars and public spaces. Their [google] last reindex has me plummeting in rank from #1 (where i have been for a year) to the unmentionable doldrums of the interwebs.  I really don't get it.  I am Bryan, I live in RENO, I've had a web development firm in Reno for 7 years, I'm on the board of the Reno Tahoe Young Professionals Network (who are having ther 2nd annual Leadership Summit next friday), and I frequently comment on the trials, tribulations, and happenings in the biggest little city in the world, more recently branded the Greater Reno[dash]Tahoe area. Even friends and other Reno bloggers like Ryan and Myrna think I am reno bryan, i just dont get it.

I am certain that all of you with companies re-test your search rankings every day right? Every week? Month? Come on...you don't think Google doesn't shuffle the cards every now and then do you? Call if you need help.

At least I can rest on the laurels that our clients are top 5 for other Reno terms like: reno riverfront condos, reno mail house, reno printing companies, etc. etc.  You cant look for any photo ID product any ID card printer under the sun and not find IDWholesaler.com or at least one of our clients. I am supposed to know how to do this, so I am on a mission.  I will reign supreme as reno bryan again.  Until then i will just have to be #4 for Bryan in Reno.  But I'll be back. Mark my words.

[maniacal hand rubbing]

I'll get you my pretty...and your little dog too.

Angry Bryan

PS
So help me if Wolfy says, aren't you in sparks, its on. I'll whack him with a tall boy next time i see him on his huffy 10-speed.

Reno Airport vs. Las Vegas Airport "Free" WiFi

So this is a post that came from a "Tweet".  Originally I posted these to TwitPic, but today, in an effort to get organized I was cleaning my desktop and came across these 2 photos that contrast the "free WiFi" in Nevada's 2 major airports.  It got me thinking that I haven't ranted enough on the topic.

Here at the Reno Tahoe International Airport (RNO), the local fishwrap (RGJ) has made it their charter to "monetize" free WiFi access at the airport...turning access into a profit center through the "magic" of abundant banner advertising. See ad's circled below:

In comparison, our friends to the South, Las Vegas McCarran International Airport (LAS) have a version of "free WiFi" that is not littered with banner advertising. See below (notice no pink circles):

One must wonder how in the world Las Vegas survives and puts shoes on their kids without "monetizing" their free WiFi. Must EVERYTHING be a streaming ad? 

Speaking of RGJ...on the RGJ's redesigned site (which I think is a vast improvement over the previous rev) you are still served irrelevant ads non-stop - constant pop-outs, video ads, display ads, and random links disturb the user experience on the site. Other newspapers seem to manage without it (ex. TheGuardian).  So, if one must have ad's to keep ones publication alive, then cant one serve the ad's contextually and relevant?

The ad's on RGJ are rarely (if ever) served contextually.  Example: I am reading a story about Artown, so OF COURSE I am REALLY thinking about Carpet Cleaning (a video ad for Evergreen carpet care was served in the article).  An example of a good contextual ad here would be something for downtown bars/restaurants, art galleries, or something that GOES WITH ARTOWN.  My theory for the reason ads on RGJ.com are most often OUT of context and irrelevant is that they don't have enough advertisers to be contextual and relevant.  They just need to fill inventory.  To their advertisers, they call this Johnny Appleseed disbursement of advertising "value-add" but I call it "wasted-cash".

Anyway, I don't [necessarily] want to rant on our local news rag because they publish many (1) articles about Fuze and Me. I just think the free WiFi should be free.  Simple, no?

BL

I've Been To Reno...err Greater Reno[dash]Tahoe

Was passed this today by some of my more creative friends and i am going to try to spread it "virally" to my 10's of loyal readers.  From Corey McAbee, comes this Sundance Short Film Entry on our fair city.  Lyrics are damn funny if you're from here.

Here is also a link to Corey's Sundance Institute interview on the concept.  It's cool, not just cause I said so.

Enjoy it a plenty.

BL

A Tale Of Two Dennis' - American Greed Body Double

Boy oh boy, this has nothing to do with marketing.  As always, I have my CNBC running background in my office here all day and this afternoon I caught the first episode of their new docu-series American Greed featuring the STELLAR Dennis Kozlowski who stole millions from his company ($30Mil for his NYC pad, $1mil for his wife's 40th b-day party, etc.).  As I watched this guys rediculousness, I started to realize how much he looks like Northern Nevada's own pimp, turned business mogul, a one Mr. Dennis Hof. My friends, I think we have a body double on our hands:

   

Both named Dennis, both rich, both love women and hookers, yet, here is an interesting epiphany for the world: Nevada's most famous PIMP, owner and proprietor of the "world famous" Moonlight Bunny Ranch, is a better guy all around than the former CEO of the Tyco corporation.

Yes, I will be taking credit as the first one to put this sexy pair together.  Ohhh sweet irony...

BL

More Email Superbad - EDAWN

Sorry I have to be the police on this but another poorly crafted email hit my inbox today, this time from my friends at EDAWN.  Here are some issues:

• Message renders illegible in Outlook2007, no option to view online.
• No identity/branding/logo that shows who this is from or what it's about.
• My sweet hot-pink box below represents what the typical "preview" area is in most mail clients.  As you can see in this case, that entire area is blank.

I dont mean to bash EDAWN, we are members so I am very receptive to, and interested in all their emails and events.  This series is a mess.

I get off on these rants sometimes because things come in waves.  Last year it was mobile phones, this year so far, email.  Alas.

Hopefully EDAWN will get it sorted out and then i can give them some McLovin.

BL

Fuze Icon Borrowed [stolen]

This morning my desk was graced with the presence of the Northern Nevada Addy Awards Program.  As I leafed through it, I noticed my prediction was correct that the great Walker Lake advertising swept pretty much every category from ads, to copy, to photography, to web, to eblast, to bathroom stall art, etc. While I don't really "get" the premise of the ads, they are in fact, lovely. Congrats to R&R. 

As I continued turning pages I came across a program ad that sure got MY attention.  Seems the Bauserman Group has paid their friends at Fuze an homage in the form of "bomb" advertising (as depicted below):

This simply MUST have been an oversight, right? Oh well, after 5 years, we're kind of tired of that bomb so if you guys want it, hell, keep it.

Sorry I missed the Addy's this year, I bet it was a hootenanny.  Alas, there was a re-run of Deal or No Deal on Friday night. Boy, I love that Howie Mandel.

BL

Airline musings. March edition.

Things are a little hectic around the Fuze camp. Primarily because I have been jetsetting like a madman. I just realized I am sitting across from David LaPlante from Twelve Horses on this flight. It was nice to catch up a bit since we've been trying for months to schedule a meal together. Anyway, I am heading out now on my 3rd venture to San Diego in 6 weeks. Lots going on down here. I am nearing speaking paralysis these days. I haven't done a slide count but I believe I have prepared about 200+ Powerpoint slides for various events in the last few weeks. I just wrapped up at SMX West and the Miva Developers conferences last week. This week is NFRA. See other posts for show wrapups.

The hive is buzzin with things to do. I think Calder and I (mostly Calder) have done an excellent job of positioning ourselves within the ad space in northern nevada which is keeping him, dan and the other artists plenty busy. David is hangin tough on the interactive side and is really becoming loved by the clients. Our development crew's plate is pretty full for the remainder of the quarter and our pipeline also looks good. That seems to be common among my peers in the space as well. Things seem steady on the web side. We've expanded our relationships and service offering with our email marketing providers, commerce platforms, testing platforms, and our analytics providers, further strengthening a line up that was already pretty strong. My charter remains to continue to cart our course to a diverse client mix that is industry & geo balanced. So far so good. We have also revamped our client review and project management processes to be much more systematic. We have formalized all our internal procedures - many of which were just in need of evolution vs. revolution. So anna our agency coordinator has her work cut out in order to keep all of us on track. We have added media strategy and media buying to our business, out of necessity mainly, but Fong is very capably manning that ship. Finally we have extended our services even further by adding full-service Public Relations through our partnership with RKPR who are helping us win, and manage these great new, and existing accounts.

We added the following new clients in Q1:

• Clearstar Credit Union - agency of record
• Magiko Carson Valley - agency of record
• NNDA (the other white meat in the Econ.Dev space) - agency of record
• Reno Tahoe Blues Fest - agency of record
• Lazaro SoHo - for email marketing
• Food Bank of Northern Nevada - interactive agency
• Cashill Law - agency of record
• True Blue Gaming - agency of record
• The Gaming Standards Association - agency of record
• Legends Reno Tahoe Open - while not a new client, we have formalized our relationship with the tournament and will take on all interactive Agency tasks in 2008
• Titan Construction Supply - agency of record
• JP Menante Real Estate - interactive agency

We have completed site launches for:

• The Entrust Group
• University Health System
• Boyd Gaming
• You Name It Events
• Fennell and Associates
• those are off the top of my head...there are probably others.

If you're wondering how we get it all done? Its with a team of about 15 folks who are dedicated to their craft and making big shit happen. We are also getting ready for another round of hiring, though the positions are already spoken for (in our heads). There is a lot on the plan for the remainder of 2008. We WILL launch a new website(s) to better represnt who the hell we are. Its brewin'. Trust me its brewin'. But, as most are aware, we are not big on exploiting our work, so in the meantime you probably won't see things like:

"Fuze awarded a website job", or "Fuze chosen to build an ad" in the business journal, awards events, or the local fishwrap. Those items are hardly newsworthy.

We rather enjoy our underground status...it let's me write from the cuff, typos and all, and simply let the work speak for itself.

Thanks to all who have helped get our 2008 off to a great start. Come on baseball season...opening day countdown. T minus 4 weeks...

BL


(another treo post...sorry for the typos)

Reno is cool now...we have a District!

In an ongoing effort to "hang" with the big cities, we have our first official "district". Welcome to SoDo. It's official...we're real now.

Here are a couple potential other districts:

• SoMo - South Meadows area (obvious)
• NoDo - lets hurry and classify the university area NoDo because the University District takes too long to type.
• E40 - east of downtown on 4th street where you can easily score a 40. Don't tell me 4th street is all hip now cause my dad rustles off sleepy folks from his business porch daily.
• HoHo - this district is 5 miles east of sparks where prostitution is legal.
• JethHo - this is the area with the ill fated Park Lane Mall which was never acquired (but not for lack of effort) by Max Baer (Jethro Clampet)
• 2WD - a hip spin on double-wide for Sun Valley (our neighbor community to the north). Still sporting two entries in the Guiness for being the worlds largest trailer park, and for having the highest concentration of convicts.
• others? Submit some...I'll post 'em.

Ok you Reno purists, before you start flaming and hurling on me...take it easy...this is a joke. I like reno. I like living here. I like having my business here. I am a 4th generation native Nevadan...so I am authorized to make funnies about my home town. If we can't laugh at ourselves, then what have we become?

That said, I am starting to think we can't we come up with ANY ideas of our own. Does everything have to be a copy of what exists someplace else (and we have it too)? We have some cool "San Francisco style" restaurants. And a couple swell "Vegas style" nightclubs. We have some hip "New York style" urban highrises. What is Reno-style? Anyone know anymore? Sometimes I think we chase our tails trying to be a big city when the charm of this place is in the city's moniker: The Biggest Little City In The World. Still works for me.

I don't see our area as being cool because we have districts, and "xyz-style" stuff. Rather, Greater Reno(dash)Tahoe is unique because of the people, the mountains, the world class skiing, world class recreation, miles of open trails, 2 stroke vehicle accessibility, all the nearby lakes, the climate, the location & proximity to so much. The river redevelopment is cool, california avenue is cool, the first street bar & nightclub areas are cool, downtown Sparks & the marina are getting cool (though I am partial), Grand Sierra has turned into a very cool casino resort (and is doing original and interesting things people said "will never work here"), outside of Gotham center/urban-ia, our neighborhoods are still safe & nice, traffic ain't that bad (though the skill level of drivers is low), and in spite of rising/falling housing costs, this is still an affordable place to live - in comparison to a big city.

Folks, lets all vow to keep reno weird! Oh wait, that's Austin...oh well, use it till we sort something else out.

WBV

[another treo post - sorry for the typos]

EDAWN Launched A New Website

The Economic Development Authority of Western Nevada, and 'friends of ours' launched a new website today.  Comments on the site and "can do" reserved, we loved this particular section:

I'll say that I know most everyone on this page and this is not a flattering photo of any of these people (David excepted because he's so damn photogenic).  They may have a grievance to file with SAG.  Anyway, congrats to EDAWN on launching their new site (finally replacing the tired, chopped up version of the old one WE BUILT for them in 2000).  Much luck with the new improved web presence.

WBV

The Reno Tahoe Open has a new title sponsor: Legends

Senator Randolph Townsend speaks at Reno Tahoe Open Press Conference at Montreux.

We are excited, as always, to be so involved with the Reno Tahoe Open and today we are very excited for our PGA tournament who just announced their new title sponsor. The tournament will now be known nationally as:

The Legends Reno Tahoe Open

Title sponsor, The Legends at Sparks Marina (a RED Development project) is a little $1.2 Billion master development in our home town of Sparks, NV.  The Legends project is terrific for Sparks, and will be a giant entertainment, dining, residential, gaming, resort destination and is under construction now. Today's press conference had an amazing turnout and demonstrated a great amount of support for the event from sponsors, influential leaders like Senator Townsend, Mayor Geno Martini, RSCVA, Montreux, and on and on.

This new title sponsor is a great fit and will energize this tournament. As I have said before...get out and support this tournament. It is a fantastic event that supports our communities and drive enormous traffic to this area.  More press to follow.  For more information about the event visit: www.renotahoeopen.com

Sparks is on the map folks. Game on!

WBV

[another treo post - sorry for the typos]

Sweeter deal - iPod Touch Giveaway @ RTYPN Summit

To sweeten the deal, and to encourage attendance at our incredibly interesting booth at this year's Reno Tahoe Young Professionals Leadership Summit, we decided to give one lucky young professional, their choice of:

• the New Apple iPod Touch [more info]
  or
• a month of beer
  or
• 2hrs of our undivided attention

Thats a little something for everyone [we think]. All that for dropping your business card in our crystal chalice. Who says you cant have something for nothing. Join us wont you?!

WBV

Reno Tahoe Young Professional Leadership Summit 2007 - Join Us

Please join us this Friday for the Reno Tahoe Young Professionals Network Leadership Summit 2007.  The event is expected to have over 500 of the areas young professionals in attendance and engaged in an interactive series of breakout sessions, exhibits, and events, including the first annual 20 under 40 Awards (co sponsored by the Reno Gazette Journal).

At the summit, Fuze will be exhibiting as a founding sponsor (fun freebies will be available to all), and I will be speaking as part of a panel in their "Grow" breakout session:

Professional Development and Entrepreneurship

Guest Speakers: Hal Lenox, President, AT&T Nevada; Jean Venneman, Senior Vice President of Product Development, IGT; Bryan Landaburu, Founder/President of Fuze; Claude Sapp, Founder of Infinifuel Biodiesel

What resources exist for young professionals in Greater Reno-Tahoe? Whether growing your career or your entrepreneurial business, this session will provide practical information from those who have been through it.

There is still time to sign up, so jump on over to the event site for more information or click here to register for the event online.

----------------------------------
More information and articles:

• blog.renotahoeypn.com/2007/09/18/20-under-40-awards-nominees-announced/
• news.rgj.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=2007709260420
• news.rgj.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=2007709250305
• www.nnbw.biz/ArticleRead.aspx?storyID=9618

What's happenin' & where in the world...

Ahhh me-n-the airlines are getting cozy again as I embark on another quarter of travels.  We have been racing this year to grow and keep up and it has just been a whirlwind.  Things are running real stable at the mother ship.  Here's some press-ie style news from the Fuze camp:

New Hires

• Calder Chism - Creative Director
• David Bobzien - User Experience Director
• Anna Satterfield - Agency Coordinator

Promotions

• Dan Waugh - promoted to Sr. Designer

New Client Wins

• Boyd Gaming Las Vegas, NV (nationwide) - Corporate website and interactive agency of record
• Lennar Homes - Reno, NV - Marketing strategy
• The Entrust Group - Oakland, CA (nationwide) - Interactive agency of record
• Spartan Staffing - Tampa, FL (nationwide) - Interactive agency of record

---

Of course there is much more going on that my fingers don't have the energy to type so hang tight for that.  Lookin' forward I am officially booked through April 2008 for travel.  Here are some of the notable trips, engagements, etc. as the Fuze Road Show comes to a town near you:

• September 7-9th - WAR! Giants v. Dodgers - San Francisco, CA
• September 24-27th - ASIS International (client show) & Client meetings - Las Vegas, NV
• September 28th - Reno Tahoe Young Professionals Summit - Speaking - Grand Sierra Resort, Reno, NV
• October 7th - Social [freakin'] Distortion Show - Rose Ballroom - Nugget Resort Casino, Sparks, NV
• October 10th - Sparks Business Forum (exhibiting) - Nugget Resort Casino, Sparks, NV
• October 11th - Web 2.0: Why It’s Important to YOU (speaking) - Advertising Association of Northern Nevada  (A2N2) - Harrah's - Reno, NV
• October 11-12th - going under the Laser - Lasik surgery - out for a few days
• October 18th-19th - Influx Ideas Conference - San Francisco, CA
• October 31st-November 2nd - SEMA Show + Client meetings - Las Vegas, NV
• November 6th-10th - Future of Web Design Conference - New York, NY
• November 22nd-December 2nd - VACATION (undisclosed remote location with ample rum cocktails, but, no access to any technology)
• December 10th-14th - Florida tour (Miami/Tampa) - client meetings
• January 24th-27th - San Francisco Supercross - AT&T Park, San Francisco, CA
• March 17th-21st - Search Engine Strategies 2008 - New York, NY
• April 14-18th - Ad:Tech 2008 - (speaking/exhibiting) - San Francisco, CA

Well then, that'll about do it.   I am certain that  we will have several additional dates get added to this tour with pending trips to Florida and a Euro-trip forth coming.   I'll update like usual, whenever I feel like it.

Goals for the voyage: Plunder. Meet new people. Learn valuable new skills.

Up, up, and awayyyyyy...

WBV

Bragging rights - RTO Pro-Am Champion [and minor celebrity]

Every once in a while something happens around these parts that I feel compelled to brag about.  This week it is our team's 1st place finish in the Reno Tahoe Open Pro-Am.  Let me go on a rant, then i will come back to kissing trophies.

If you aren't familiar with the Reno Tahoe Open [RTO], you should get familiar with this great PGA Tour event.  The RTO has been a Pro-bono a client of Fuze for several years.  We handle all their digital marketing (websites, online systems, ticketing, email marketing, hosting, etc.), and this event is one of the best produced events in the area in spite of the fact that: it probably takes the biggest amount of scrutiny, gets the least notoriety, and, every year has to fend off rumors that "it's not going to make it".  To support my sentiment here, In today's RGJ - the primary local news rag - John Smetana wrote an article that is simply perfect and accurate.  He says:

In the past two years, nearly two-thirds of the players who made the 36-hole cuts in the three major U.S. championships were RTO golfers. Seven of the top 12 finishers in the U.S. Open and six of the top 12 at the Masters this year were RTO alumni...So, this week provides another chance to watch in person a future major championship winner or Ryder Cup player (and some past). Pity we can't give you their names right now... [read full article here]

He simply could not be more dead on in his article.  Come on Reno, get behind this event.  One good reason?  How about the fact that this and the Reno Rodeo [questionable] are the "only major professional sports league regular-season events in city history"?? I am proud to be a sponsor of the event, and I encourage other businesses to consider supporting the event (at least by attending) as a sponsor when you are torn between this or picking up the tab at yet another pankake breakfast schmooze-fest.

We [Fuze et al] love this event, and the people who put it on and thats why we get behind it every year.  Jim Kline, and Rich Green are about the best guys you can ever meet [do business with].  Honorable, honest, dedicated, and realistic, these guys year after year put together a mega event with TWO FULL TIME HEADCOUNT, a crap-load of volunteers, great sponsors, and a little agency support from Fuze, BBC, and RKPR.  If you see the magnitude of this event, you will see how big a feat this is.

Anyway, back to ME ME ME.  I am pleased to announce that our team, captained by the baby walrus Kevin Stadler, locked in a 3 way tie for 1st place in this year's Pro Am.  We walked, yes walked Montreux in 100 degree heat [with my dad as my caddie], and despite my half-assed contribution, our team managed to work our way to 17 under par [55] and take home the crystal! Kevin was a great pro to play with - like playin with of my buddies - and man can he swing it.  It was a great day, and winning sure made playing hookie from the Fuze mothership worthwhile.

OK, enough about me.  Don't believe the rumors about the demise of this event, or that its hard to park, or that no good golfers show up.  Its all BS.  Take a day [or 2], drive up to beautiful Montreux, ride in the air conditioned shuttle that drops you off at the first tee box, take a wine walk, oogle houses you'll never afford, and watch some of the up and coming stars of the PGA Tour make shots that you wont believe. Support this event won't you?  Tivo it and watch yourself doing rabbit ears behind your bro-sif's head on camera.

I'll make it easy for ya: Buy RTO Tickets Online Here

Best wishes to the RTO and its volunteers for another successful year. And THANK YOU for putting on such a fabulous, first-class event. Please invite me back to defend my title :-)

Tee it up. Hit 'EM straight!

WBV

One Good Reason...

UPDATE 10/9/2007:  Grand openin' - grand closin' - Alas mateys, the Pirate Ship be a closed. RIP.

The goodly folks at EDAWN have asked us to submit our "OneGoodReason" for why we like "greater reno (dash) tahoe" and I think I found a new one. What other town has a restaurant that is the shape of a dry-docked pirate ship? That's right...nobody.

My one good reason is The Pirate Ship restaurant on Greenbrae Drive in good ol' Sparks. I remember this from my childhood roots - where I would cruise my Huffy over to the "sev" (aka 7-11) to mix up a suicide Big Gulp (way back when Big Gulps came in a measly 32oz size), and ponder what I could pull a wheelie over. The pirate ship used to be known as the China Clipper and while it was closed for many years before being reborn as The Pirate Ship, it never met the demise of the wrecking ball like the ill-fated Mapes, or Harolds Club did in downtown reno. Oh no...Sparks protects its landmarks...and thank goodness.

The food here is decent...i give it a B-, the service a C, but the atmosphere is an A+. I am certain as the guys work out the kinks over the coming monhths things will be good all around.

Give it a visit...enjoy a hearty cask of your favorite Mead...maybe after you get a good dose of pirate from the latest Depp flick this weekend.

If you don't agree with me that this place is great, well then you are obviously wrong.

Plunder on...

WBV
(another treo post...sorry for the typos)