Shanghaiist: Where have all the flowers gone?

Paul

Wed, 15 Mar 2006 23:03:06 +0800

It was indeed originally the Canidrome dog racing track that could reputedly hold 50,000 spectators. The Morriss family, who lived on the Morriss Estate, now the Ruijin complex and Guest House, were big dog owners and could conveniently walk their muts over the road. Arguably even more of a loss was the building at the side which was the old Canidrome Ballroom where Buck Clayton famously played before having a fight with the lowlife bouncer from the Venus Club, Jack Riley.

girl

Wed, 15 Mar 2006 15:49:05 +0800

It's supposed to be turned into a theater, which is much better than say a luxury high rise apartment complex. It's nice to see the city trying to improve its cultural options, even if it means tearing down an old favorite. Whatever, the flower market was getting too expensive anyway; vendors were always ripping me off left and right.

Nadnerb

Wed, 15 Mar 2006 14:23:37 +0800

It sucks that building is being torn down huh, someone told me it used to be an old grey hound race track. Wandering around the desolate construction site at night and imagining the old school scene of punters going mad and dogs flying after fake bunnies in that cool building kinda sums up how depressing the whole architectural "look to the future" attitude this city has adopted is. On the plus side it does allow for some pretty cool photos. I hope the music plaza does it justice.