Th contest while well intentioned really was comparing different kids of apples. Yes Amazing is the best at what does, however it's also very unique with so many shows, so much local community involvement, the wide variety of stuff and it is a largely volunteer-run operation (except the very professional team of Michael and Alice).

The mix of art and performance, nightly mid week open mikes ,mics and miques, affordable pricing, theater, and more all make it truly AMAZING. It's a strange name but it really does define a very unique place. Framingham is so lucky to have Amazing.

Agreed! Now if we can only get the rest of the South side to step up to the plate.
If I wanted a South American flair and all the nuances that go along with it I'd move to South America, but lucky me, I just have to walk downtown and save the plane fare.
Jim@ccfiile.com

Rizoli, you do realize NOBODY in the entire town takes you seriously right?

Agreed...not worth the typing or speak. Surrounding towns too.....GN

Congrats to Amazing Things. You do great work that is much appreciated throughout the region.

Bob....there you go with your half truths.....I voted in favor TJX Joe had some issues with it and rightly so.
But it's nice of you to misstate the facts as you usually do.

Ryan.....Like I worry about what people think about us....have to seen our cable shows? LOL
Jim@ccfiile.com

I am new to Framingham (1 year in the area) and am looking forward to trying out all of these great places. When I look at the Patch home page blurbs of what people are saying, it is always the same two people commenting on every article. And, their comments are not relevant to the topic but are always about the same agenda. I hope to be able to see what others are saying and thinking in the area and learning about this neighborhood from more than just 2 people. Congrats to AMAZING and I hope to check it out soon.

I don't see anything wrong with the comments coming from the Rizoli brother's. It's becoming clear that if you're not on board with team Obama, your not opinions are frowned upon at the Patch.

Bob.....Interesting you don't admit your "misstatements" about us, but that's to be expected.
Jim@cfiile.com

this thread has veered well into the "unintentional comedy zone"....

I agree with Chris and several others ... the comments on this thread now have nothing to do with the article.

And yes, Jim & Joe love to comment; and comment on every article.

Jim: If you don't like you neighborhood, and its South American flavor - feel free to move. Patch posts open houses every Friday. Just because you complain every week doesn't mean the issue will change.

Kira: My advice, just like you would ignore someone who is annoying you at the bus stop, walk away and say nothing. Eventually, they will have no one to talk to but themselves.

Bob: love that you post, but you too are off topic today.

Sue....Interesting how WE are the ones that have to accommodate everyone else.
It's like your inlaws moving in and saying if you don't like us here you can move out.
Sad reversal of events that has brought this country down on its knees.
Jim@ccfiile.com

Neighborhoods change over times. My Framingham neighborhood was once known as Little Tripoli. While I married someone with an Italian last name, I can tell you IMO, it is likely now less than 10% with Italian heritage, but I still love the neighborhood.

There were neighborhoods in Framingham that once were open space and now they are developed. Shoppers World and Route 9 didn't always look that way.

You either decide to help and make a "positive" change in your neighborhood or you can go about complaining about the "old days."

Keep in mind that this article is crossposted to other Patch sites like Milford. The two brothers are Framingham's problem. I would think the majority of the other towns would prefer generally not to hear from them or about them.

Guaranteed none of these folks commenting has seen a live show in metrowest of local live performers...GO AWAY. Better yet tell us the last time you patronized a local venue and paid money for a cover charge or a beer while a band was playing...tell us the venue and the band you saw.

Their trash talk use to stay in the Ham, .....but the word is out about these 2 incessant raciest individuals. All through out the metrowest to Worcester and beyond. They should have moved out before their property values dropped.

I've seen lots of bands in Framingham.
Come visit several of the establishments in the 'Ham - many don't charge a cover charge.
Pablo Palooza is great: they have played at The Bone & the BBC, without a charge.
And I heard "Bare Hill" at O'Connell's without a cover charge Friday night, after the 31st Annual Memorial Day Soccer Tournament at Bowditch Field.

Right ON!

Very good Susan..good venues but the Bone and BBC stages are problematic. Bone has a good PA and lights.. BBC has no lights and poor stage location. O'Connels is really good too but needs lighting.
Next up Jim and Joe...please share. Lets get this blog on track. Go away S&%T stirrers or add value.

Chip man....I am not into venues that make a lot of noise.
If I can't hear the person next to me in a normal tone I don't bother going.
Jim@ccfiile.com

I love going to the Chicken Bone, but their food has suffered since the renovations/change of ownership, still good, but not as good as back in the day.

I also do really like the Angry Ham's, but they could use more parking spaces lol

Reject
Joe Rizoli
11:30 pm on Tuesday, May 29, 2012
These comments show how honest dialogue lets people give their opinion, good or bad about things going on in the area. Ryan is not going to be attacked, at least by me, he's not going to be exposed for a racist, a hater, a anything that imparts an assassination to his character. Lets hope this starts an example here.
Please remember the Rizoli's said nothing bad about the entertainment of any arts center, they just did what Ryan did here, gave an opinion about the good and the bad of any place, which we all appreciate. We don't care how Ryan voted at town meeting if he was a town meeting member, if he's a vegetarian or meat eater. Do we all attack him for his opinion of the Ham or Bone? Of course not. Do we tell him that if he doesn't like the Ham he should leave town? You all get my drift here?

Joe Rizoli

Though I don't agree with the Rizoli brothers views, I have to agree that they have the right to state their opinion whether we agree with it or not. Just because they state it doesn't mean you have to agree with it. Though, some of the things they say my violate the tos of patch.com (I don't know nor would I spend the time looking just because someone said something I don't agree with... especially online).

My problem is when we give our opinion, the busy body's here want to complain about what we ate for breakfast, how we voted at town meeting, what hate organization put us on their hate watch campaign, nothing to do with the topic to be except a character assassination.

We deal with ISSUES. We have an opinion and that's that.
Because our opinions go deeper than some of these superficial fluffs shouldn't stop people from their opinions.

Lastly, I find it hard to believe that some here disagree with everything we say. Even a broken clock is right twice a day. As to the Patch tos. I Really don't think it's the Rizoli's that have the problem in that area. History will show you that the character assassinations of us start with others who need to read the Patch rules.

Joe Rizoli

Joe, I do think that your opinions sometimes are misguided, passionate as they may be. I think (as well as do many) that the problems facing our local communities are not as simple as you would like to think, and certainly not simply a function of race, as is your contention. You are of course entitled to your opinion, simplistic and incorrect as it is.. I just wonder if you put down the megaphone, if you might find that you really honestly are not as afraid of people as you act.

Paul the solutions are simplistic, the problem is as a slow growth cancer starts in a human body, the towns
"cancer" has turned something simple into a real problem later on because they didn't do anything to fix the problems from the beginning. Ben, you turn everything into a race and hate issue. We could talk about tires and you will bring it into a hate crime. All you do is attack us, get another hobby.

Lastly, our opinions about the Amazing arts only had to do with location go turn that into a hate crime Ben like you always do.

Joe Rizoli

Joe, again I refer you to your brother's comments. I would continue to direct you a very large percentage of your comments and your brother's comments throughout the site. You both nearly universally turn a conversation into how people who may or may not have been born in South America are ruining things, in your opinions, regardless of the relevance to the topic at hand.

You don't both get to be the instigator - which you are, consistently - and play the victim. It's about race, because you and your brother make it about race. Plan and simple.

Well said, Donald - I couldn't agree more. The Rizoli's have tons of good points, but steering people away from downtown (I live there) does absolutely nothing to "fix" it. It does the opposite.

How about a constructive suggestion, instead?

Marlborough has been running "Taste of Downtown" and "Heritage Festival" events on it's Main Street several times a year for many years. These events are designed to draw people and interest into the downtown areas, and have been tremendously successful. This year's "Taste and Brewfest" is June 11, here's galleries of the event from last year: http://oldemarlborough.org/

In comparison, Framingham tried something similar, but blew it completely by not having the event where it matters:
http://framingham.patch.com/articles/chamber-to-host-taste-of-metrowest-event

The cultural festivals (yes Jim and Joe, even Brazilian and other cultures) in town also draw business, interest, and people to the areas where a bit more public interest need to be- case in point, Marlborough's "French Hill" area, which is now being revitalized as art studios and coffeehouses, where there was vacant buildings and vandalism jsut a few short years ago.

I lived in Framingham for quite a few years, and lament the state that downtown has reached. Instead of staying away, the actual solution is to bring the people, the business, and the attention to the area, and the unsavory elements find elsewhere to do their thing.

EXACTLY, Paul! I thought the same thing when the Taste of Metrowest wasn't downtown. And I've often thought that art studios would be a great addition.

For years I have thought that Framingham ought to sponsor events down near the Interfaith area, as well as around by MCI. Events that will draw folks to that area.. for example, I think it would do some good to have held the Colonial Festival down in that area. What tends to happen is that people show up to areas they don't normally go, and see opprtunities. That rundown house that could be bought as a starter home by a young couple willing to put in the sweat to fix it up. The vacant storefront is a retail location with low rent. It doesn't take long for a neighborhood to improve, all it takes is people wanting it to happen enough to see opportunity rather than the current problems.

By the way, come on down to the Marlborough event.. and point the Framingham Town Council to it also. These events really do bring people to businesses and locations that they don't normally see or patronize. It's a wonderful bit of chaos. In addition, I think it does good for people like the Rizoli brothers to actually meet and chat with real people, trying to make a real go of it. The boys need to realize that demonizing entire peoples based upon the actions of a bad apple.. it's not as simple as that.

How is it that I, the farm kid from a town of 1500 people within spitting distance of Canada, have one of the least "Red" necks I seem to see?

Actually I agree with you but the problem is that the "immigrant" community will not go for this because it opens them up for scrutiny, something these people in the "shadows" certainly don't want. We really are darned if we do and darned if we don't. Framingham sadly to say has been in a wheat and the weeds mode for almost twenty
years, meaning it hasn't ever taking any responsibility for getting out the "weeds" of illegality that has anchored itself in Framingham.

This quote basically sums up what happened to Framingham when it brought in the wrong people to revitilize their town:

"When plunder becomes a way of life for a group of men living together in society, they create for themselves in the course of time a legal system that authorizes it and a moral code that glorifies it." 
Frederic Bastiat 
(1801-1850) French economist, statesman, and author. 
Source: 

I really agree with your suggestions but Framingham has been working with the devil here and now is getting scorched in many ways, it may even be on the tipping point of sinking sad to say. We've tried to fix it since 2003 but the people here seem to like to defend criminality. Downtown even has boarded up windows in the historic Amsden building. Where is the cry there from the historic preservation people? The townspeople cry about scenic roads and tree cutting, we have a downtown falling Into the "Broken Windows Syndrome"

Joe Rizoli

Ben you're a broken record. You again attack people based on what you believe, which is obviously is very narrow. Your comments have nothing to do with anything here, you just can't get out of your David Duke racist hate mode, obviously you must be a ADL plant or you got a mental illness.

The Rizolis have nothing against any race except those in that any race that act like criminals. It could be a house full of of illegal Italians, it wouldn't matter. Your accusations are nonsense and are just character attacks that are getting real old.

Joe Rizoli

J&J.. It isn't that you aren't correct about the 'inner city' issues that some areas face, what first must be realized is that you are dealing with a city, and not a quaint town.. And also that the issues are the result of some sort of conspiracy. You frequently swap cause and effect in your statements.. Crime moves in after business moves out. Poverty moves in after affluance moves out. If you want to reduce the crime, the decay, you need to bring the money back. That means business grants to open retail on Main street, and comingnup with solutions for vacant locations (like holding community events) that keep them actively used until demand for thenspace arises. None of these things have anything to do with any subject other than standard urban planning.

Urban planning is the issue, and the sooner it's handled that way, the sooner improvements will occur.

Paul - we need you in Framingham - move back!!!!

This behavior is considered blog hijacking..If we click
flag as Inappropriate" does it it remove the posters comments? We need to flag these guys that hijack a trail..It is ruining this resource. or limit internet access at the institute.

There is a "Flag as inappropriate" button in the corner of every comment box on Patch. Perhaps folks should make frequent use of it.

Paul I have to correct you here. Framingham did what you just wrote about. They brought in "immigrant" businesses gave them loans and they failed. Probably used half the monies and then left town. So it was tried.

The solution?
Bring in honest legal businesses that aren't storefronts for illegal activity. Really KNOW who these businesses are, WHO they hire, are they legal and conform to Federal and state hiring practices. That hasn't 't been done and Framingham just took any Tom Dick or Harry to fill the downtown spots.

Sure you fixed a leak but in the long run the ship sank later, you need a whole new clientele for downtown. You got to stop this little Brazil happening before our eyes of shipping, money transfers, and other silly short term businesses from coming downtown.

If you keep putting this revolving door of questionable businesses downtown you'll fix nothing. This has been going on for to long.

Joe Rizoli

Twenty five years ago, I arrived in Framingham with everything I owned in the back of a Toyota pickup truck, deciding that Framingham was about the right distance from the Big City at about thirty miles. I checked into the Hojo's on nine, got a Middlesex News the next morning, and by the end of the day I had a studio apartment at Pondview, a job at The Farm Stand, and had gone up to Framingham State to see what their undergrad programs were like. I had decided that Framingham and this local area met my desires for educational, employment, and entertainment... I was moving from a town of six hundred, a half hour north of Dubuque, Iowa.

You have to understand, in my home town, the ethicities range the gamut, from Caucasian to White, with religions spanning the broad reaches covered from Lutheran all the way to Methodist. The son of a neighbor "came out" as gay when I was in High School, I am not sure if he ever returned home again.

I truly don't understand how, here... where education DOES exist beyond what most Americans have access too, where there ARE people of different ways of life and ethnicity and such, where interaction happens on an every day basis. Meeting people always seems to dispose of the fear that causes prejudice. Meeting actual people removes the "other", and you see that the other guy really isn't that different.

I find it sad that here, where it's so easy to be educated, that people instead CHOOSE to be stupid.

Henry....so your solution is to stop us from having our say....Nice!
That doesn't solve the problems, as they would just continue.
In regards to us Rizoli's having "good" points....Ya think! If the town just listened to us in the beginning WE wouldn't be in this fix today.
Now we have a town that has been hijacked by illegals and there is no turning back, the damage has been done and the only thing to solve it is an amputation.
Downtown will never be revitalized until the "trash" is taken out.
Those who think otherwise are misguided and naive.
Jim@ccfiile.com

Jim, believe it or not, you need to understand that it is attitudes like your own which are the issue.. not some scary (and presumably brown-skinned?) supposed plan to destroy Framingham, America, or the World. If the first thing you see is race, as is the case in the posts I have seen literally for years from you two, then any problem you see you can easily attribute to race. I simply challenge you to not run away from the brown, yellow, purple, polka dot people until you have met and shaken their hands. All I see is the whinings of a coward, not the spine of a man capable of facing his irrational fears.

Paul...(Not your real name) I would think...I've worked with more people of color than you probably ever had.
My brother even more so. don't give me this pompous lecture of people of color. Your comments are ridiculous! You sound like a knucklehead!
Stick with the issues and don't put yourself off the track with such stupid comments.
In regards to Framingham being "destroyed" it's past tense Framingham is a lost cause unless something extreme happens.
I doubt that will happen. As the town sinks deeper in debt, and people like you fantasize about better days ahead....I look at the world in real time.
Jim@ccfiile.com

I remember the days when random musicians would show up and jam at Sorrento's. Great music.

Jim, click on my name, or better yet, click here:

http://marlborough.patch.com/articles/q-a-marlborough-man-donates-time-and-talents-by-volunteering

That's the special Op-Ed spotlight on me and what I do, Marlborough's Christmas Editorial for Patch.com

I don't lie, Jim. I'm not your kind of coward.

Paul - I recognize how off-topic we have gone here, and I apologize in advance to Susan (sorry!!!), but you are an inspiration. You seem to be able to find a way to look for the good, celebrate the good, and even CREATE the good in otherwise bleak conditions (my cousin has Crohn's, so I understand how devastating this disease can be). I think your comments and ideas have tons of merit - if Marlborough can "revitalize", so can Framingham. I hope you and your family come down to Amazing Things and catch a show (then dinner at the new little Colombian place if you can!). Thanks - you made my day!

By the way Jim/Joe.. I am disabled, slowly dying from an incurable genetic illness I never knew I had. When the corporation I worked for found out how sick I was, they took the steps necessary to terminate my employment and take my disability insurance in such a way as to be unprosecutable. The "Welfare Cases" you whine about- that is ME. And why? Because of the "legal" influence the company has in this area.. I am relegated to poverty level income, on the public dime, instead of the policy I paid for. These are your precious local corporations that do only "good".

Quite, Kim.. sheesh, having mainly been connected with Marlborough's site, and having gotten sick of the Rizoli brother's hate speech years ago, I forgot the talent the buffoons have for derailing reasonable discourse. I guess I had hoped they had grown up a little, but this crossposted story from Framingham really does show just how much of a public problem they really are. It's truly sad how racist and intolerant Framingham as a community appears due to these two very shallow and hate-filled people, they truly have no purpose or function other than crying out in public how scared of the boogie man they are.

Paul...this racist bit is getting a little tiresome.
Jim@ccfiile.com

Paul please show the "hate" speech you claim the Rizoli's make. Jim on his last cable show said he would DEFEND illegal immigrants who were being cheated out of pay. He said that on TV. So please back up you statements because now your getting into slander. None of you blowhards have any facts to back up anything you say.
Who what where when. If not then keep your lies to yourself.

Joe Rizoli

Please keep the comments focused on the article, and not each other. This is cross posted to several communities, whose readers are seeing these comments.

As usual we play by the rules and we get slandered by the peanut gallery.
I will not allow anyone to slander me without a fight.
This thread was about the AA but as it goes the real haters show their faces and
Try to take us off track.
Jim@ccfiile.com

It wasn't the Rizoli's that took this off topic. We never said anything bad about the "arts" we wholeheartedly think these programs are great. Like I said for Framingham we just had an opinion about the location, that was all. These people who have turned this into a character assassination of individuals should be ashamed of yourselves. Show me ONE post where we spoke disparingly of the arts programs? I'll wait..........

Joe Rizoli

Enough...

@Jim & Joe - I agree with Mary - you started the conversation off topic ...

YOU FROM ABOVE -- "Now if we can only get the rest of the South side to step up to the plate. If I wanted a South American flair and all the nuances that go along with it I'd move to South America, but lucky me, I just have to walk downtown and save the plane fare."

You've had your say!
Why don't you turn off your computer for a while; Have a nice dinner and try conversing with live people and not here on this report.

And yes, J&J, the correct answer in this case is to take away your megaphone. Enough is enough.

The name calling on this post needs to end. It is not appropriate.

Hi, all - we've heard you loud and clear and are disabling comments for this article. This has gotten quite off topic. Thanks.