930 Forums
=> GENERAL DISCUSSION => Topic started by: Sir HC on July 11, 2012, 10:08:02 am
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So, as of Sunday it is permently closed.
http://www.baltimoresun.com/entertainment/music/midnight-sun-blog/bal-music-venue-sonar-closes-for-good,0,6892626.story
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Too bad. Went to some really great shows there.
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(psst, I posted this a couple of days ago on the 'just announced' thread!)
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folks might have missed this in the "dropping like flies" discussion of the demise of sonar:
sonar was a front for a pot-smuggling ring?
Feds Name-Drop Baltimore?s Sonar Nightclub in New Pot-Conspiracy Indictment
http://blogs.citypaper.com/index.php/2012/05/feds-name-drop-baltimores-sonar-nightclub-in-new-pot-conspiracy-indictment/
"They also are accused of laundering money together by wiring pot-dealing proceeds to ?purchase sound equipment for Sonar? in July 2007." - sweet!
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Too bad.
I also saw some great shows there.
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Good riddance. Crummy venue. Saw decent shows that could have been much better in another club. Bands didn't really enjoy performing there either.
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I saw a few good ones there well. I have to think that something will take its place eventually.
Hope Ottobar can stay afloat.
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I will miss some things about Sonar (the flexibility of having three stages, the awesome sandwich shop down the road, etc.), but the venue got more and more difficult over the years-- adding the parking meters across the street a year ago was really annoying (glad there was the free upstairs garage).
Also wasn't a huge fan of the fact that they seemed to be a largely pay-to-play venue for locals.
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The important thing to me...
Does this mean DC will get more good shows and Baltimore less?
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Does this mean DC will get more good shows and Baltimore less?
Well they moved Summer Slaughter from Sonar to Richmond, so who knows.
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DC will get more metal shows for sure.
The important thing to me...
Does this mean DC will get more good shows and Baltimore less?
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Great! JAXX is within walking distance of my house.
DC will get more metal shows for sure.
The important thing to me...
Does this mean DC will get more good shows and Baltimore less?
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DC will get more metal shows for sure.
OK, at what venue? Empire (formerly Jaxx) seems to be booking a lot more metalcore and hip-hop nowadays. Jay still does the occasional booking there, but it's not the metal venue that it used to be before he sold it. Kreator and Morbid Angel are both playing the Howard Theatre, but I don't see that venue becoming a regular metal tour stop. 9:30 doesn't get a lot of metal, nor does the Black Cat or Velvet Lounge-- sure, there are some, but not a lot. There are tons of DIY spaces (Asefu's, RAS hall, St Stephen's, etc. - mostly booked by Chris Moore from Magrudergrind and by Simon from Midnight Eye) that have sprung up when the Corpse Fortress closed, but those don't book the same kinds of shows that went to Sonar.
vs. Baltimore, which gets metal shows at the Ottobar, the Sidebar, Baltimore SoundStage, etc.
I guess time will tell, but I'm just curious which DC venues you see absorbing the metal shows that used to stop in Baltimore.
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Great! JAXX is within walking distance of my house.
DC will get more metal shows for sure.
The important thing to me...
Does this mean DC will get more good shows and Baltimore less?
I hear your sarcasm loud and clear. ;D ;D ;D
Trust me, South Baltimore will make sure they get their Metal, even if they have to put it on in a Heavy Metal Parking Lot! Not my scene in the very least but there are just way too many fans in the lower regions (mostly Southsides and Remington) for these people to let them all pass by their own territory.
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I sure hope Ottobar and Golden West gets them. Sidebar doesn't book quality metal, unfortunately.
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sounds like goldenvoice in ca
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Great! JAXX is within walking distance of my house.
Except JAXX is no longer there. It's now called Empire, with new owners, etc. :)
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Good riddance. Crummy venue. Saw decent shows that could have been much better in another club. Bands didn't really enjoy performing there either.
I played there 3 times (All different bands) on the club side and enjoyed every time we played. The first time was the best since it was still owned by Lonnie Fisher and had that club's shit together.
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Great! JAXX is within walking distance of my house.
Except JAXX is no longer there. It's now called Empire, with new owners, etc. :)
I thought that was common knowledge at this point! For those who weren't aware, I wrote an article about Jay's sale of Jaxx to Outerloop last year (http://www.tbd.com/articles/2011/09/will-jaxx-s-new-owners-honor-true-metal--67118.html).
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I'm willing to bet that 99% of people in the DC area don't know. Or care.
Great! JAXX is within walking distance of my house.
Except JAXX is no longer there. It's now called Empire, with new owners, etc. :)
I thought that was common knowledge at this point! For those who weren't aware, I wrote an article about Jay's sale of Jaxx to Outerloop last year (http://www.tbd.com/articles/2011/09/will-jaxx-s-new-owners-honor-true-metal--67118.html).
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I'm willing to bet that 99% of people in the DC area don't know. Or care.
Great! JAXX is within walking distance of my house.
Except JAXX is no longer there. It's now called Empire, with new owners, etc. :)
I thought that was common knowledge at this point! For those who weren't aware, I wrote an article about Jay's sale of Jaxx to Outerloop last year (http://www.tbd.com/articles/2011/09/will-jaxx-s-new-owners-honor-true-metal--67118.html).
Just like people stopped reading TBD when ABC/Channel 7 bought them out ;)
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Sonars best years were definitely the Lonnie Fisher years. I hated when they took out the lounge and put the 'talking head' there. I will miss it though, since it is in walking distance of my place.
It sounded like nothing 'music related' will take its place - who knows
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The Caton years were amazing. Tiny club, huge djs spinning to tens of people. Then they moved, kept most of the vibe, but that slowly went away. I remember seeing Shrinebuilder there and the mixing board took a dump right before they went on. That sucked.
Shellac there was awesome, Baltimore audiences are more "in the moment" and less reserved for shows like that.
Other shows there were in between, but some huge things in the club room will now be missed.
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I saw dozens of great shows there. Sometimes the place sucked but mostly I had a great time. That Jesus Lizard show was unforgettable.
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Show quality had gone way down in the last couple of years. Best shows there were Beach House on the club stage and Regina Spektor on the main.
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I'm willing to bet that 99% of people in the DC area don't know. Or care.
DC-area is one thing. But people who care enough about music to post on the 9:30 club's forum, that's where I get surprised.
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He just likes being a dick for the sake of being a dick in case you have not noticed already. Don't mind him.
I'm willing to bet that 99% of people in the DC area don't know. Or care.
DC-area is one thing. But people who care enough about music to post on the 9:30 club's forum, that's where I get surprised.
No mention of that marathon Swans show yet?
And yeah, Shellac were incredible.
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To me, JAXX always seemed to cater to a niche audience. Speaking for myself, I never paid any attention to any news regarding the place. I'm sure (some) others would probably say the same thing.
I'm willing to bet that 99% of people in the DC area don't know. Or care.
DC-area is one thing. But people who care enough about music to post on the 9:30 club's forum, that's where I get surprised.
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Yeah, swans, Jesus lizard, shellac were all great recent shows. Also Dan deacon / dat politics / black dice show was pretty great. And that deacon no age deer hunter craziness.
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Psychic TV was fairly recent. That show was great! Death Fest this year with Electric Wizard, Saint Vitus, Rwake, Church of Misery etc was insane.
Another recent one was Red Fang & The Sword. Red Fang SLAYED 'em!
The Deftones / Dillinger Escape Plan show that almost got shut down was awesome too.
The Shellac gig was pretty rad as well.
All those shows were a year or less ago. I'd say the music quality was as good as ever. For my tastes anyway. I will miss Sonar and Talking Head Club. I hate Ram's Head Live. Sidebar and Ottobar havn't been getting quality shows lately. Thank God for Golden West Cafe. They always have excellent shows.
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Death Fest this year with Electric Wizard, Saint Vitus, Rwake, Church of Misery etc was insane.
well, DeathFest is put on by its own people, not by Sonar, and they've already announced that they've got 3 potential venues in Baltimore for next year.
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Favorites were definitely Shellac and Jesus Lizard. That Jesus Lizard show was one of the best I've ever seen.
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No big loss with Sonar going. It has to be the second nastiest, filthiest, dirty, and all around worst venue I have been in (nation which used to be in DC tops that list and it closed as well). I'm making no judgement on the owners and staff of the club, just the place itself sucked goats.
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No big loss with Sonar going. It has to be the second nastiest, filthiest, dirty, and all around worst venue I have been in (nation which used to be in DC tops that list and it closed as well). I'm making no judgement on the owners and staff of the club, just the place itself sucked goats.
Yep. Saw the Mountain Goats there. Venue sucked them/him.
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They should just have Death Fest at Merriweather. Hey Seth!?!
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No big loss with Sonar going. It has to be the second nastiest, filthiest, dirty, and all around worst venue I have been in (nation which used to be in DC tops that list and it closed as well). I'm making no judgement on the owners and staff of the club, just the place itself sucked goats.
Really? I think Ottobar is way fucking shitter than Sonar. It's no 930, but I didn't have a problem with the place at all. Saw some awesome shows there. I always thought the stage was a little weird and it was kind of hard to see if you couldn't get right directly in front of the stage. Had a ton of fun times. Thought the shows had dropped off and I definitely lost a lot of interest when they stopped doing Taxlo parties there.
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Love Ottobar but I agree that their schedule has run hot and cold for me of late.
Golden West is really nice, too. Don't want to get all Birchmere about it but I really do like the food there.
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Love Ottobar but I agree that their schedule has run hot and cold for me of late.
Golden West is really nice, too. Don't want to get all Birchmere about it but I really do like the food there.
Food at Golden West is awesome. I had my first day with my fiancee' there.
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No big loss with Sonar going. It has to be the second nastiest, filthiest, dirty, and all around worst venue I have been in (nation which used to be in DC tops that list and it closed as well). I'm making no judgement on the owners and staff of the club, just the place itself sucked goats.
Really? I think Ottobar is way fucking shitter than Sonar. It's no 930, but I didn't have a problem with the place at all. Saw some awesome shows there. I always thought the stage was a little weird and it was kind of hard to see if you couldn't get right directly in front of the stage. Had a ton of fun times. Thought the shows had dropped off and I definitely lost a lot of interest when they stopped doing Taxlo parties there.
I much prefer the Ottobar to the 930 club. Much smaller place and cheaper beer. The quality of shows hasn't been that good lately. But bubuilt to spill is coming and i saw the cults recently.
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check plus on the food at Golden West. Their vegan burrito is aces. (Disappointed that when I went up there for the Whitehorse/Batillus show a few weeks back, their evening chef didn't show up, so they weren't serving food. Argh!)
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check plus on the food at Golden West. Their vegan burrito is aces. (Disappointed that when I went up there for the Whitehorse/Batillus show a few weeks back, their evening chef didn't show up, so they weren't serving food. Argh!)
Not to mention Whitehorse played first! and I missed them ARGH!
Next time I'm at Golden West I am gonna have some food!
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Golden West is the new Birchmere?
dammit.
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No big loss with Sonar going. It has to be the second nastiest, filthiest, dirty, and all around worst venue I have been in (nation which used to be in DC tops that list and it closed as well). I'm making no judgement on the owners and staff of the club, just the place itself sucked goats.
Yep. Saw the Mountain Goats there. Venue sucked them/him.
LOL
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No big loss with Sonar going. It has to be the second nastiest, filthiest, dirty, and all around worst venue I have been in (nation which used to be in DC tops that list and it closed as well). I'm making no judgement on the owners and staff of the club, just the place itself sucked goats.
Really? I think Ottobar is way fucking shitter than Sonar. It's no 930, but I didn't have a problem with the place at all. Saw some awesome shows there. I always thought the stage was a little weird and it was kind of hard to see if you couldn't get right directly in front of the stage. Had a ton of fun times. Thought the shows had dropped off and I definitely lost a lot of interest when they stopped doing Taxlo parties there.
I have never been to Ottobar so I can not speak to that comparison.
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Sometimes, the griminess of a venue like Sonar is fitting.
And yep, the food at Golden West is good. Still yet to see a show there.
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Sometimes, the griminess of a venue like Sonar is fitting.
And yep, the food at Golden West is good. Still yet to see a show there.
The food is good, but the servers there have always been so rude! I have yet to see a show there too.
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No big loss with Sonar going. It has to be the second nastiest, filthiest, dirty, and all around worst venue I have been in (nation which used to be in DC tops that list and it closed as well). I'm making no judgement on the owners and staff of the club, just the place itself sucked goats.
Really? I think Ottobar is way fucking shitter than Sonar. It's no 930, but I didn't have a problem with the place at all. Saw some awesome shows there. I always thought the stage was a little weird and it was kind of hard to see if you couldn't get right directly in front of the stage. Had a ton of fun times. Thought the shows had dropped off and I definitely lost a lot of interest when they stopped doing Taxlo parties there.
I have never been to Ottobar so I can not speak to that comparison.
Yeah, that's why you think Sonar is shitty then hahaha Ottobar is a dive bar with a big open floor and tiny stage. Nothing at all wrong with it, I love that place. The upstairs lounge area is nice and open too. Pool tables, nice bar, couches.
That's a bummer though, right around the corner Bourbon Street closed as well. Weird that 2 big venues so close to each other would close within a few months of each other... Are there any plans for either of those spaces? Bourbon Street was fucking gargantuan!
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Sometimes, the griminess of a venue like Sonar is fitting.
Exactly. Added to its charm.
Im definitely in the Ottobar love camp. Every show I have seen there was great, from Mates of State to Dope Body and everything in between.
Same with Sonar. Taxlo was cool. The Spank Rock Christmas parties were great (I know U St does them as well, but i just cant see them being as fun with a non Baltimore crowd) and I even was able to catch the Decemberists there right before their meteoric rise to Merriweather and beyond.
(plus its the only place I have ever seen Bonde do Role, which was PHENOMENAL)
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The food is good, but the servers there have always been so rude! I have yet to see a show there too.
That's their rep but I have never had anything but good service there.
Bourbon Street was a horrible set up, in my opinion. Long and thin, like the Black Cat used to be. Plus they seemed more focused on their "Girls Gone Wild" crap than booking good bands.
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Sometimes, the griminess of a venue like Sonar is fitting.
And yep, the food at Golden West is good. Still yet to see a show there.
The food is good, but the servers there have always been so rude! I have yet to see a show there too.
Jenn of Wye Oak was my server a couple of times. I haven't had a rude server yet in the 15 times or so I have been there.
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The food is good, but the servers there have always been so rude! I have yet to see a show there too.
Well, when they've got a show going on, they take down and move all the tables, so you just order food right at the bar. Never had a bad experience with a bartender there.
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That's a bummer though, right around the corner Bourbon Street closed as well. Weird that 2 big venues so close to each other would close within a few months of each other... Are there any plans for either of those spaces? Bourbon Street was fucking gargantuan!
Almost a year, actually-- Bourbon Street shut down in September of last year.
It seemed like most of their staff at the time (and all of their remaining shows) moved to Baltimore SoundStage, which was new at the time, right next door to Rams Head Live.
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No big loss with Sonar going. It has to be the second nastiest, filthiest, dirty, and all around worst venue I have been in (nation which used to be in DC tops that list and it closed as well). I'm making no judgement on the owners and staff of the club, just the place itself sucked goats.
Really? I think Ottobar is way fucking shitter than Sonar. It's no 930, but I didn't have a problem with the place at all. Saw some awesome shows there. I always thought the stage was a little weird and it was kind of hard to see if you couldn't get right directly in front of the stage. Had a ton of fun times. Thought the shows had dropped off and I definitely lost a lot of interest when they stopped doing Taxlo parties there.
I have never been to Ottobar so I can not speak to that comparison.
Yeah, that's why you think Sonar is shitty then hahaha Ottobar is a dive bar with a big open floor and tiny stage. Nothing at all wrong with it, I love that place. The upstairs lounge area is nice and open too. Pool tables, nice bar, couches.
That's a bummer though, right around the corner Bourbon Street closed as well. Weird that 2 big venues so close to each other would close within a few months of each other... Are there any plans for either of those spaces? Bourbon Street was fucking gargantuan!
I never said anything about the Ottobar, let alone that any other venue is shittier than it or the other way around. IN fact I said I could not speak to the topic of that venue! :)
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For those who are trying to figure out where the Sonar shows are moving to, we're keeping a list as updated as we can (http://showlistdc.com/sonar.php).
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Is the Gehenna / Young and in the Way show definitely moving to Ottobar on 8/11? If so, fuck yeah!
n/m....it's on Y&ITW's facebook page. Fuck yeah!
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No big loss with Sonar going. It has to be the second nastiest, filthiest, dirty, and all around worst venue I have been in (nation which used to be in DC tops that list and it closed as well). I'm making no judgement on the owners and staff of the club, just the place itself sucked goats.
Really? I think Ottobar is way fucking shitter than Sonar. It's no 930, but I didn't have a problem with the place at all. Saw some awesome shows there. I always thought the stage was a little weird and it was kind of hard to see if you couldn't get right directly in front of the stage. Had a ton of fun times. Thought the shows had dropped off and I definitely lost a lot of interest when they stopped doing Taxlo parties there.
I have never been to Ottobar so I can not speak to that comparison.
Yeah, that's why you think Sonar is shitty then hahaha Ottobar is a dive bar with a big open floor and tiny stage. Nothing at all wrong with it, I love that place. The upstairs lounge area is nice and open too. Pool tables, nice bar, couches.
That's a bummer though, right around the corner Bourbon Street closed as well. Weird that 2 big venues so close to each other would close within a few months of each other... Are there any plans for either of those spaces? Bourbon Street was fucking gargantuan!
I never said anything about the Ottobar, let alone that any other venue is shittier than it or the other way around. IN fact I said I could not speak to the topic of that venue! :)
Oh no, I completely understood. Sonar was a king's palace compared to Ottobar hahaha Sonar will be missed though. I haven't been out to the Soundstage, anyone been there?
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Oh no, I completely understood. Sonar was a king's palace compared to Ottobar hahaha Sonar will be missed though. I haven't been out to the Soundstage, anyone been there?
Yup. It's fine. Feels very NEW. They have decent food too (including a vegan sandwich). A little pricey. Also, they validate parking, which is a big help in that neighborhood.
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From Sonars Facebook Page:
I just want to let everyone know that I will at some point be telling this whole story but right now I am being advised to hold off. "there's an old saying about not pissing off the alligators until you've crossed the swamp" my Lawyer said that. My situation is very precarious at the moment and I have to be very careful how I handle this for now. But very soon there will come a time when I just have nothing left to lose and I will be getting the whole story out there.
On another note I personal want to thank everyone that has supported Sonar over the years, Thank you. I hope to be bring music and art back to baltimore as soon as possible in some way.
And To all of the people that did damage to Sonar, hurt it over the years, cheated it over the years, to all the companies that did all they could do to bring it down I have one thing to say for now, FUCK YOU. I ask you this, how did Baltimore or music and arts benefit from your attacks of Sonar? This was never just business for me. I got in "the business" because I love music and wanted to do something good for my town and it's people. I believe and live my life based on Karma. I know I did all that I did for the right reasons. I take away from this experience many great memories and the knowledge that I participated in a wonderful and helpful experiment of freedom and expression.
Can the haters say the same, you know who you are!
More to come soon
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http://citypaper.com/news/sonar-set-for-new-owners-1.1352581
Oh yeah! I love Sonar!
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That city paper article makes the people trying to buy it sound super sketchy
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That city paper article makes the people trying to buy it sound super sketchy
Tell me about it! It made me think that the 'new' ownership will be just another panel in the revolving door. Wonder how long this one will last? Six months?
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Sonar guy's ties to DC real estate:
http://www.washingtoncitypaper.com/blogs/citydesk/2012/09/10/d-c-real-estate-tangled-up-in-baltimore-pot-bust/