ThayerAvenue.com

Yes, I know – the blog has become woefully neglected over the past month. Between a two-week vacation and lack of motivation, I decided to go dark and recoup my strength. But now I’m back.

And it’s time to address our fair neighbor to the southwest: Virginia. A story in today’s Washington Post talks about how Virginia feels slighted as their inroads to the District will be all but cut off for Inauguration. A “dose of Northern Hospitality,” they say. Growing up in Alabama, I was always told that the War of Northern Aggression never ended. Well, their loss is our gain.

I anticipate life will be difficult for a few days around downtown Silver Spring. And living a half mile from the District Line and two blocks from one of the major arteries into town, I’m tempted to park the car and hole up with several bottles of champagne and some friends until it’s all over. But for the economic development of Silver Spring, this could be monumental.

While the chain restaurants will no doubt garner some business, it’s an opportunity to promote more of the Buy Local initiative that’s gaining traction in the neighborhood. In the meantime, I’ll try to work up some promotional material in terms of highway signage for both us (“Get There From Here” and “Come Buy Our Stuff”) and Virginia (“Go To Maryland” and “Secret Service Blows” – hope I don’t get arrested for that one).