Spotted: Duct tape exhibit at Mon Ami Cafe

[Chief]

http://www.columbian.com/news/localNews/2008/02/02202008_Spotted-Duct-tape-exhibit--at-Mon-Ami-Cafe.cfm

Wednesday, February 20, 2008
BY LAURA MCVICKER, Columbian staff writer

Like a carpenter, Reid Trevarthen creates his products by cutting, shaping and matting. And like a carpenter, Trevarthen uses a household product.

His products, however, aren't tables or chairs - but brightly colored artwork that closely resembles paintings.

**SCHNIPP**

I'm putting this up to see if any of you are familiar with the Mon Ami cafe...

This business is a prime example of the kind of business that the City is constantly moaning about helping out via taxpayer supported Downtown Redevlopment. Everything from the City Center Visioning Plan to proposals from the Columbia Crossing project are meant to ultimately prop up businesses like the Mon Ami.

Has anyone other than me ever dropped in down there for coffee??...

[tefen]

Oddly Chief, it's a popular place with a lot of the neighborhood folks, but no. I've never been there.

[Chief]

I don't know what's so popular about it, because it's a real rat-trap. It smells funky inside, none of the furniture is functional for a coffee shop, and all of it is second hand.

This isn't Starbucks, and while many welcome little Indy businesses like this, Mon Ami (and several more just like it) aren't businesses worth spending public dollars on.

[Waterbuffalo]

Sounds like a Portland type special that I'll probably not waste time on.

Though I do love the name "The Grind" off Mill Plain. Never been in there, just love the name..

Brewed Awakenings I've been to over on 164th is good..

[Chief]

Brewed Awakenings I've been to over on 164th is good..

Yah, we have a Brewed Awakenings up here near the house, and Mon Ami sure ain't it...

::)

[Waterbuffalo]

You ever wondered WHY I love living out here on the East side Chief? There is only two places on the West side of Vancouver I'll live, one is Hough (Waves to Steve Stuart!) and Heathersgate (NW of Tefen, Waves to the Mayor..)

The east side is so vibrant, so active, so youthful. Who wants to go down to that area where there is NOTHING? I have walked a dozen times over the the past three weeks from the old 7th street TC to MIll Plain, from City Hall to the old federal building.

Except for the County's work on the Public services building that seems to have some life, most of downtown Vancouver is DEAD!?!?!?!?! Go any evening from now until April 1st and please any one show me there is any thing to do down there? 5pm or later, preferably.

No, I don't want to go down to th Hilton for every governmental speech or commentary.

If the City wants to attract my ages range 30-45 or so, then young professional with family, they're going to have to do more to bring people down to those area to do things until the Gramor or other buildings are started. Even then, it probably will still feel like going along Hawthorne, Halsey, Sandy Boulevard and many other Portland streets where there is just a lot of buildings with nothing to do.

Is my brain cell that a lot of the condos and other business type are going in are to be aimed at affluent, office workers and many other people than just your average schmoe?

There are two nice, low income buildings in that area (near Esther Short Park.) But I'm speaking of the new of all of the new construction going in.