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There’s been some buzz recently about Mayorga moving somewhere in Silver Spring, once they announced they were closing their Georgia Avenue coffee shop. Word has it, though, that they’re bailing on Silver Spring for the time being and setting up shop in the People’s Republic of Takoma Park. Assuming this is true, this surprises me some and none, all at once.

None, because it’s close, the people of the Republic tend to treat local businesses well, and nothing goes better with the scent of patchouli than coffee. On the other hand, I rarely drink coffee without a big slab freshly seared foie gras. They go so well together. But they frown on that there. And they don’t like me anyway because I think East Silver Spring should not designate itself as an historic district, much like the one those people came in and pushed at an ESSCA meeting some time ago.

Don’t get me wrong: I’m happy for Mayorga. I really am. But for the sake of the people in Takoma Park, I hope that the food is better, they provide more vegetarian and vegan options (because nothing tastes better than fried vegans), and the service is less sucky than what I’ve experienced over the past several months. I will say it could be a great complement to Mark’s Kitchen, one of my (seriously) favorite places in the greater DC area. And I hope they continue to serve the booze. That was a bonus. I might actually trek down there for that.

Otherwise, it’s Highland Origin for me.

Yeesh – has it been that long? Shame on me. No, I haven’t died. I think it was just the tryptophan. At any rate, I’m back, and a lot is going on in the ‘hood these days…

Mayorga Blogger Mayhem
As you have no doubt seen from The Gazette, the plethora of blog posts, and the press release from the horse’s mouth, Mayorga’s fuel-injected enterprise is coming to a close. (Props to SoCo Eats for being the one to sent the InterWeb into a flutter with his mention.) As everyone has mentioned, things have been going downhill there lately. The food had become subpar, they took the French Cuban sandwich off the menu, and servie was spotty at best (bar notwithstanding).

And as a parent, I can say this: Mayorga is NOT the place for parents to sit and chat while their children run wild, yet that’s what it turned into many weekday mornings. At any rate, it will be interesting to see where the daily campers with their computers end up. And if you never went for beer pong (sponsored by Hook & Ladder), you really missed out.

In Less-reported News…
On or about November 23, Montgomery County Police reported an arrest was made for drugs at Red Lobster in DTSS. How this did not make the wider gossip circle for ridicule, I’ll never know, but I’m gonna push it. I, for one, have never eaten at that Red Lobster, but my wife and I continue our threats to go in order a drink, ask for several baskets of Cheddar Bay Biscuits, chow, and leave. Stay tuned to the Twitter stream for up-to-the-minute action.

But I digress. What drugs? Patrons or workers? Dealing or using? The mention in the crime report, of course, contains no details, but the place always seems to have a pretty good crowd. And for the record, searching Google images with the keywords “lobster” and “drugs” brings back some interesting results.

Have a slice. Don’t cost nothin’.
Silver Spring’s new pizza joint, Flippin’ Pizza (8517 Colesville Road, across from Discovery), is having their Grand Opening on Tuesday, December 15. You can score two free slices (cheese or pepperoni) and a drink for free from 4:00 to 7:00pm. Expect a big honking queue for that one as it gets RTed all over the Twitterverse over the next five days.

Celebrity Panhandler
There’s been much hullabaloo on the listserv about some guy (white male) panhandling from door to door in the neighborhood. He’s apparently making up stories about needing to get somewhere or his mother being sick, or some other such nonsense. Everyone and their mother has called the cops on this guy, yet he continues to evade apprehension. Theoretically, walking up to someone’s door and asking for money is not against the law, but I can see the public nuisance issue. Posts about his exploits have become so ubiquitous on the listserv that someone busted out the term “Our Neighborhood Celebrity Panhandler.” (Well done, Jerry!) I can only hope this guy surfs the Web from the library or something from time to time and recognizes his status.

On a serious note, if you run into him or he comes to your door, call the Montgomery County Police Non-Emergency Line at (301) 279-8000.