Companies have used video games as a means of advertisement since the 1970s, when McDonald’s was prominently placed in Atari’s Lunar Lander. It was then that the concept of “advergaming” was born. Each year, hundreds of millions of dollars are spent in this often-hidden form of publicity. But last month’s release of Pokemon Go has triggered a new, indirect form of revenue-g … [Read more...]
Gateway Changes
The Gateway Mall has been sold! We’re dancing in the streets (for those of us living in the surrounding hood) with as much hope as when the place first was built just before the 2002 Winter Olympics. There are a whole lot of changes coming from the reigning lords of open air malls, Vestar. With 50 such retail properties from Arizona to Texas, they appear to know what to do w … [Read more...]
October Activities from Utah Stories
October 6: Third Annual Underfunded Film Festival. Held at the Riverwoods Shopping Center, 4801 N. University Avenue, Provo, Utah from 9 am to 11 pm. Showing family friendly films and promoting local, independent filmmakers. Visit http://www.uffest.com/ for more information. October 16: Pumpkin Festival at the Gateway, 50 South Rio Grande, Salt Lake City. Held from … [Read more...]
Babs In the City
Utah’s economy is hot hot hot, and vacancy rates for apartments, office and retail space are as rare as the steak tartare at the Paris Bistro. Here’s the news, take it as good or bad, happy or sad, about what’s happening in our city. After all, closures encourage new beginnings, right? The gourmet hot dog shop next to Juniors Tavern will soon be a Greek souvlaki joint. After … [Read more...]
City Creek Center Epitomizes Crony Capitalism
Part II of the Empire Strikes Back Brigham Young would be rolling in his grave from the lessons he learned: local economies are strong when residents support “home industry.” The malls are full of chain stores which send the profits to Wall Street and corporate headquarters. The former local businesses supported local newspapers, local farmers, local ad agencies, attorneys an … [Read more...]