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Showing posts from June, 2011

Common Grounds: 1996-2011

"Fifteen years is a good, long run" for any business, but for a venue in Gainesville, Florida -- a city where the scene seems to shift as often as the tides -- 15 successful years is a record. And, regretful as I may be to even mention it, the doors are closing on Common Grounds tonight one last time. This is the epicenter of my young-adulthood. This is my home-base: my favorite place in not only the city, but anywhere. This is the place I am certain to feel at home -- a place I've walked into alone countless times, and left only after making a handful of new friends at whatever concert; a place I've gone to fully anticipating celebrating with strangers only to find I knew half the crowd. This place is my Cheers. When they made the announcement in mid-June, I was too rattled to truly absorb it. But as time has gone on and the nightmare has turned to reality, I have come to accept it. Begrudgingly so, but still. I cannot fault Nigel or anyone else for being ready to mo