Latest news with #SilverCity
Press and Journal
19-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Press and Journal
Look back at Mega Bowl as John Lewis revamp hopes to bring back the magic to George Street
Mega Bowl on Aberdeen's George Street was a cherished spot for generations of city youngsters. It was where they would while away the hours on school holidays, and a go-to destination for high-spirited birthday parties. And at night, it would turn into a bar filled with revellers. It closed at the end of 2005, and the majority of the building was later knocked down – leaving only an unassuming frontage behind. But now, developers are looking to bring back some of the magic to forlorn George Street with massive plans to transform the old John Lewis building. Under the vision, it would become a 25-lane bowling alley with laser tag upstairs – along with a bar, restaurant and go-karting across two floors. The building actually started out life as the City Cinema in 1935. According to the Silver Screen in the Silver City book, it was 'one of the widest cinema auditoria in Scotland'. But with the rise of TV in the 1960s, new uses were being found for many buildings across Aberdeen and beyond as attendances fell. When this one closed, owners Associated British Cinema (ABC) spent £300,000 turning it into a 10-pin bowling alley known then as Aberdeen Bowl… Continuing the movie theme, actor Jess Conrad, actress Jess Foster and notorious film legend Oliver Reed opened the new venue. Throughout the following decades, it was passed to different operators and underwent a revamp in the late 1980s. It was later known as Super Bowl, where it advertised 'serious fun with a laser gun' in the form of Quasar. An advert in the Evening Express from the start of 1997 promotes its 'January Sale' – with a free Molson beer for anyone buying two games of bowling. But by the turn of the millennium it became the Mega Bowl most noughties kids now look back on with nostalgic wonder. As well as bowling lanes, the venue had a range of arcade and slot machines ready to gobble up handfuls of pocket money. Party packages would be on offer, comprising the ultimate day out of bowling and laser-quest – with a bite to eat at the cafe in between. We've gathered up some archive images showing off the venue in its glory days. Can you spot yourself in any? The area for grown-ups upstairs was home to some equally high-spirited scenes over the years. We had our photographer go along for a works Christmas night out to capture some festive fun from the early days of the 21st Century. It was in May 2005 that the first hint of trouble emerged, as the landlord put the site up for sale. Optimistic bowling bosses hoped they would be able to relocate the business. But bittersweet final games were played in 2005, as Mega Bowl closed that December – leaving 30 people out of work. Manager Alan Tough said the closure was due to rising rent costs and competition from other bowling venues In 2007, the massive rear of the building was demolished to make way for the new Hilton Garden Inn hotel – which itself shut in 2020 and is now student flats. Gallery: Looking back at the changing face of George Street in Aberdeen New Aberdeen go-karting mecca at John Lewis 'will bring forgotten George Street back to life' Gallery: Look back at nights out in The Priory over the years as fans relish return of Aberdeen nightspot
Yahoo
19-05-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
3 fires still burning in Grant County; largest 50% contained
EL PASO, Texas (KTSM) — Three wildfires continue to burn in Grant County east of Silver City, New Mexico, but firefighters are making progress in containing the largest of the three, officials with the Gila National Forest said Sunday afternoon, May 18 in an update. The three fires started Saturday, May 17 and were caused by lightning, fire officials said.' They are located east of the tiny town of San Lorenzo and south of New Mexico Highway 152. The Carrizo Fire has reached 137 acres but is 50 percent contained as of Sunday evening, fire officials said. Four engines and a state firefighting crew are being used to contain the fire. Forward progress has stopped on the fire, fire officials said. The Gallinas Fire is at 11 acres and two interagency hotshot crews are assigned to that fire. Fire officials reported moderate fire behavior with fire moving from heavy log to heavy log in the Silver Fire Burn Scar. The Outlaw Fire is at 30 acres. One hotshot crew is fighting this fire. Fire behavior is reported as being moderate. A fireline has been built three-quarters of the way around the fire. Both the Gallinas and Outlaw fires, however, are at 0 percent containment, fire officials said. Aerial resources were effective in applying retardant on all three fires on Saturday. However, no aerial resources could be used Sunday because of the 'red flag' windy conditions. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
18-05-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
Gila National Forest: 3 wildfires burning in Grant County
EL PASO, Texas (KTSM) — Three wildfires are burning in Grant County, New Mexico, east of Silver City on Saturday, May 17, the Gila National Forest said. The fires range from 20 acres to 7 acres and were caused by lightning, officials with the Gila National Forest said. They are located east of the tiny town of San Lorenzo and south of New Mexico Highway 152. The Carrizo Fire is on private land and was last reported to be at 20 acres, Gila National Forest officials said. Resources there include a hotshot crew, two other types of fire crews and four engines. The Gallinas Fire, south of Sawyers Peak and east of the Black Range crest, is 7 acres. The Outlaw Fire is 15 acres and is located between Outlaw Canyon and Gallinas Creek. The last two fires are at 0 percent containment. No further information was available about the Carrizo Fire. Two large air tankers and two single engine air tankers are responding to all incidents. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
ABC News
15-05-2025
- Entertainment
- ABC News
TikTok content creator Bridey Drake renovates outback homes to unwind
On a mostly empty residential street in far west New South Wales, the piercing drone of power tools can be heard as a father-and-daughter duo breathe new life into an old home, one floorboard at a time. What sets them apart, however, is their renovation project has an invisible audience in the millions through social media. Bridey Drake, 24, started gaining an online following a few years ago during the COVID-19 pandemic, with audiences loving her down-to-earth personality and infectious laughter. She now has millions of followers on TikTok, Instagram and YouTube, and was recently named the 2024 Australian TikTok Creator of the Year. But it was a road trip to Bourke with her mother a few years ago which put her on a journey that now blends her love of content creation and time with family. "I said I wanted to see where my family came from so I just got in the car with my mum and we drove to the outback," Ms Drake said. Ms Drake's spontaneous purchase and decision to renovate the house herself came as a surprise to her father Casey, who also became involved in working on it and two further houses his daughter has since bought in the Silver City. Updates on the renovations and the pair's associated adventures become a major source of content for the young creator whenever she visits. Mr Drake, a recently retired schoolteacher who had always lived on the coast, said he was initially sceptical but realised it presented an opportunity to regularly connect with his daughter. "The driving force was largely from Bridey's mum. I think she also looked up the rental returns out here which are very good," Mr Drake said. "The town's really grown on me. But I can't drive home and spend two weeks there and come back out." Ms Drake credits her father with much of the labour-intensive tasks but has not completely shied away from the tools herself. "I can use a drill, I can use a sander, I can paint anything and little tips and tricks like how to find a stud in a wall," she said with a laugh. She also prided herself on finding second-hand furniture at the local tip-shop and revitalising it for use in the home once it was fully refurbished. More than anything, however, she said her semi-regular trips to the city were perfect to help her unwind away from her busy life on the coast. "It's a place where I don't have to be anyone or do anything or show up in any way, I just get to be myself with my dad," she said. "Having that one-on-one time with him is really beautiful and also he loves to renovate. He's really good at it so it's nice to be able to see him do what he loves." Mr Drake said he tried to put as little pressure on his daughter as possible while on their outback trips, instead preferring to pass on life lessons. "The best time is when we finish for the day and go and have a schnitty and a couple of drinks," he said.
