Nine million in unmarked inspiration

[randy_byers]

Strange coda to the story I posted about the other day about the Triangle Tavern being replaced by a gangster-themed bar called Nine Million in Unmarked Bills. According to a column in the Stranger, the name of the new bar is taken from a piece of neon artwork by Jeremy Bert. Bert's piece, made from mismatched salvaged neon, says "Leave Nineteen Million in Unmarked Bills." The owner of the bar is upfront about deriving the name of the bar from the art piece, and in fact he initially tried to buy it to display at the bar, but was turned down. The column by Jen Graves is well worth reading for the examination of the ethics of the situation. I still think it's a dumb name for a bar, but this story at least personalizes it a bit.

Comments

[mlamprey.livejournal.com]

If they had the piece hanging in the bar, it would be an awesome name for the bar. Lacking the piece, it just feels like they were poor sports and stole the name for something they couldn't own. Now whoever does buy the painting is pretty much excluded from naming their bar or pet grooming facility or preschool after it.

[randy-byers.livejournal.com]

But nobody is going to actually say, "Let's meet at the Nine Million in Unmarked Bills for a drink!" People will probably call it the Mill or something instead. Shoulda got a moulin rouge to put outside the door.

[mlamprey.livejournal.com]

They should call the bar "Unmarked Bill's" (ideally if the owner is named Bill and has no tattoos) and then people will just naturally say, "Let's meet at Nine at Unmarked Bill's."

[randy-byers.livejournal.com]

Okay, that hurts!