Want to blow up a stadium?

Normally wanting to blow up a sports stadium would get you labeled as a terrorist, but now eccentric millionaire pyrotechnics (or perhaps movie producers) have an opportunity to do so and be called good Samaritans.

The Dallas Cowboys are moving to their new stadium and they want someone to blow up the old one.

This is, like, so waaaaay cooler than hip bike racks.

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A Hipster Committee?

In last Sunday's issue of the Dallas Morning News (Aug. 3, 2008), Garden Columnist and Home Section Editor Mariana Greene suggested that Downtown Dallas needs to become the hip place to be (or, in her words, more like Chicago).

Among her more typical Downtown Revitalization suggestions (with albeit a bit of a gardening slant) was the idea of having a "hipster committee" appointed to "find ways to move downtown's image from corporate to cool."

Certainly being "cool" can be great for an area's economic future (and as Greene points out, "If the stylish and hip hang out downtown, the rest of us will, too"), but is this really something that can be governmentally implemented? And is committee work hip enough for most hipsters?

It seems to me hipness generally appears where living is (relatively) affordable and opportunities to create abound. Rather than asking for hispters' opinions, I'd suggest creating venues for them. That means places you're allowed to play music on the street, cheap warehouse-style spaces that can be converted to various temporary uses and plenty of bulletin board space to post free listings (whether it's an opening in a band or a new art exhibit).

(I should note, to Greene's credit, affordable housing makes her list.)

Here's Greene's full list (check out her article for some additional interesting ideas she suggests stealing from Chicago, maybe your city ought to steal them, too):

Subsidize rents, instead of grocery stores, in a limited downtown core. If there are residents, retailers and service providers will follow.

Close Main Street to vehicular traffic between Field and Harwood from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m.

Encourage independent boutique-style retailers on Main's walking-street blocks.

Change ordinances to ease prohibitions for sidewalk cafes.

Plant hardy but lush flower boxes, maintained by organic practices.

Bring back Hop-A-Bus to connect the City Hall side of downtown with the Arts District.

Appoint a green czar to visualize large and small ways to green the city.

Appoint a hipster committee to find ways to move downtown's image from corporate to cool. If the stylish and hip hang out downtown, the rest of us will, too.

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