ThayerAvenue.com

I know that the arcane liquor laws imposed by the Montgomery County Department of Liquor Control have made it difficult for smaller establishments to open and serve alcohol. Rumor has it that’s why many of the places in the downtown area are larger chains: they have the legal infrastructure to navigate such obstacles. Whether or not that’s actually true, I’m not sure, but it seems to make sense. Then we get to the other places of business that don’t serve alcohol…

Enter: Our venerable Jeebus Chevron. While I’ve derided its political leanings in the past, I have to say I owe the Chevron station (on Georgia, just south of the beltway) and its staff a debt of gratitude. I had a state car inspection issue (concerning taillights) that had to be resolved quickly. The Shell station across the street wanted me to make an appointment for early the next morning and wait in line for a matter that could be fixed in five minutes. I went to the Chevron station, and they came out, walked around the car, and after a few minutes I had signed paperwork and was on my way. Great service.

But advertising that Montgomery County is bad for business? Is it a political ploy given the heavy left-leaning Council or a legitimate gripe? Both are certainly possible. Ask any developer what a pain in the ass it is to get projects approved (leaving aside problems that organizations like my venerable ESSCA cause) and you may get some similar complaints.

Also, a couple of weeks ago a veil of secrecy was put over the sign (Shroud of Petrol?) with an accompanying message saying “Boycotting BP Stations Just Hurts Local Businesses.” Is this a precursor to a change in affiliation for the gas station? I agree with the sentiment of the message, but what a timing snafu for the shift if that was the case.

In Other News…
The new toy store on Fenton Street has a great selection of video games and other miscellaneous toys, but my daughter and I were both thoroughly creeped out by the Kookys.

Caveat emptor, indeed.

It appears there are some problems with permanent residency declarations at the Thayer Avenue Safeway. I always get the creeps when I walk through the underground garage, but now it appears as if people are taking to sleeping in cars.

Yes, it actually has a “NO TRESPASSING” sign and says “NO SLEEPING” on the back window. One would think that locking the doors would be an easier solution. Maybe we can call this the Sleeping Safeway from here on out.

In Other News…
From the looks of this story in the Washington Post, I don’t think the photo below, which I took during Snowpocalypse I on December 19, 2009 (at the aforementioned Thayer Avenue Safeway), was an accurate representation of actual usage. Or the stocks really dwindled too far below demand.

Thanks to BMSTT for the No Sleeping photo.

I have no idea why “signs” has been a predominant theme recently, but here we are again. Someone has been canvassing the neighborhoods – a large swath between Sligo Ave and Takoma Ave, including Chicago and Philadelphia – and pulling up signs, leaning them against fences, bending them over, taking them, etc. Then the kicker: the bozo leaves a note, supposedly from the MoCo Department of Permitting, about whatever rules and regulations the person is breaking. (If anyone has a copy of this little memo, I’d love to see it.)

Further investigation reveals that this is not the work of the County but of some unnamed Sign Vigilante. Some of the actual regulations (which contradict some of the vigilante’s rules) include:

• You do NOT need a permit to put political signs in your yard.
• You can LEAVE THEM UP UNTIL AFTER THE ELECTION IN NOVEMBER – the 30 day rule does NOT apply to political signs.
• The signs must be set back 5 feet from the property line.
• The total area of all signs must not exceed 10 square feet. Depending on the size of the signs, it is equal to 2-3 standard political signs.
• No sign can be over 5′ tall.
• Signs cannot be illuminated.

If you want more information, contact Susan Scalademley, Dept of Permitting 240 777-6255.

Makes me want to put up a big lit billboard in my front yard dedicated to some cause. Perhaps an homage to His Noodly Appendage. And if you really want to find out who’s doing this, you can follow this guy’s lead from back in 2004 during the general election.

Or as some will call it, Silver Spring Civic Building at Veterans Plaza.

While the name rivals the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim in absurdity (and length), the building is looking mighty impressive. Before we go any further, I, for one, will *not* be using this name, except in this post and occasionally in mockery for one reason or another. I will now (affectionately) refer to it as “The Box” with the area in front of it being “The Plaza” (or “The Area Formerly Known as The Turf”). I feel this is only a natural progression from The Promenade to the west. I recommend you adopt this vernacular as well. Unless you’re one of the “historical” people, in which case “The Box Formerly Known as The Armory” is also acceptable.

Don’t get me wrong: I really like the building. And today, you can get inside and see it for yourself. It’ll be an afternoon of music, dance, and other entertainment, followed by an official opening ceremony. Schedule is thus:

• 2:00 to 2:30: GapBuster’s NAACP-SO Gold Medal Winners: Singer Melissa Blue (Blake High School) and Guitarist Delano Broad Water (Bethesda Chevy Chase High School
• 2:30 to 3:00: Truth
• 3:00 to 3:30: Truu Soul
• 3:30 to 4:00: Jonny Grave
• 4:00 to 4:30: Hey Day Players & Mighty Shock
• 4:30 to 5:00: Los Charlys Nativos
• 5:00 to 5:30: Contradiction Dance
• 5:30 to 6:00: The Memphis Gold Band featuring Charlie Sayles
• 6:00 to 6:30: Washington Revels

At 6:30 pm, Montgomery County Executive Ike Leggett will preside over a inaugural ceremony ribbon cutting, after which the public will be invited to enter The Box and see the new space. The Downtown Silver Spring site has even posted a handy virtual walkthrough, complete with goofy stand-in people.

I’m surprised some boneheaded group hasn’t lobbied for a pedestrian bridge from the parking garage at Fenton and Ellsworth.

Hope to see you there!

First of all, I know things have been quiet here. But beyond restaurant openings and such, there’s just not that much I care to write about. Plus, when ESSCA is out of session there’s less fodder for ridicule. I do love the listserv, though.

For example: A 24-hour laundromat is going in at the old TOTAS location on Fenton, and someone on the list was concerned about it being open 24 hours – presumably because, you know, crime might happen. Like the crime-ridden (not) 24-hour 7-11 or the Greyhound bus station right nearby. Oh – and for those of you who don’t have enough to complain about, El Cafe Caracol on Sligo Ave plays loud music at night. And there may or may not be a constant drone from the air handlers on top of Silver Spring Towers that keeps some people up at night. Welcome to the ESSCA listserv.

In other news…

Thayer Avenue WSSC Work

Basically, they’re about to come in and rip shit up like they did on Georgia Avenue. But they were much nicer about it. If you didn’t get the notice…

We’re happy to advise you that we will be rehabilitating the water main infrastructure in your neighborhood. This letter provides you with important information about the upcoming construction.

Work began on or before June 7 and completion estimate is August 11, 2011. Ouch.

For the record…
I, for one, will not boycott the 9:30 Club. I just went to see OK Go there last month, and as long as Seth puts on great shows, I’ll go. His problem? Once the Fillmore is built, I will certainly go to 9:30 less often. Something he’s just going to have to deal with. This is a minor blip, as far as I’m concerned.

And one more thing (UPDATE)
Some woman going by the name of Cynthia is panhandling on Thayer Avenue. She went knocking on people’s doors after midnight on Monday saying her boyfriend hit her and she needed cab fare to Germantown. And evidently she also made some other offers for moneymaking that weren’t so timid. Police were looking for her but no word yet on whether or not she was picked up.

Never forget those who sacrificed everything so we could enjoy the lives we live today.

A little jaunt through downtown yesterday netted some interesting finds…

It’s Done Blowed Up

Torn down, actually. Two auto repair shops, a hair salon, and the venerable Moose Lodge. All taken out within the span of a day to make way for the new library. I do feel a bit of nostalgia, but mostly I’m excited for a new library. Without the footbridge.

The Brits Call it a Cashpoint

I actually call this one a gateway to hell. That seems to be what it looks like. But if any of you have seen or stood in the line for the Bank of America ATM at Georgia and Wayne, you’ll recognize the need for this. It just went in below the stairs in The Promenade, just outside of Eggspectation.

I have a secret ATM that I go to where there is NEVER a line. And I’m not gonna tell where it is. The fee is lower than any other around – which actually doesn’t matter, since my bank reimburses me for any ATM fees. Oh – and they also let me take photos of my checks with my iPhone to deposit them. I haven’t set foot in a bank in years. Bank of America can suck it.

Chicken and Chicken
I still feel shocked by the sheer number of chicken places going up everywhere. Case in point: there are now two going up within 2 blocks of each other. We all knew about the imminent arrival of Nando’s Peri-Peri. The construction signs and barriers finally went up between Ann Taylor Loft and Maryland Youth Ballet. There’s a joke in there somewhere, but I’d rather not reach.

Now someone actually got the space between Piratz Tavern (Rubin & Rubin Lawyers, specifically, but grog is much more important than those jokers) and our favorite caramel shop, Velatis.

I can’t find any reliable online references to a Mr. Chicken franchise, but I am disappointed that our Mr. Chicken won’t have the fabulous signs that some others do. Better yet, Lost’s sad demise on Sunday makes me yearn for a Mr. Cluck’s Chicken in the neighborhood. Alas, it’s only fiction.

Fenton Street Market and the Future of Silver Spring
Imagine it and they can build it. Or at least sketch it. Here’s the announcement:

The public is invited to a free, fun brainstorming session with local architects on the future of downtown Silver Spring on Saturday, May 22. Stop by this informal workshop anytime between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. to share your vision of what Silver Spring should look like in 5, 10, and 20 years.

This is just asking for a library bridge with moving sidewalks or something. The Silver Spring Historical Society, along with many others, will be there. I plan on causing havoc. Mainly with the historical society.

Have a great weekend, everybody!

I figured the business there would go down in flames because of the much better restaurants around it. Never thought it would *really* go down in flames.

These photos are from 2:30 Saturday afternoon, after the flames had been extinguished and people were allowed to actually walk by. The shot you see of Olazzo’s front door (8235 Georgia Avenue) shows where the fire crews had to poke holes in their ceiling, through the creepy wig shop next door. Lots of smoke and fire damage to the neighboring businesses as well. I don’t believe anyone was hurt, but the reports I heard could be mistaken.

Being one who frequents Olazzo, I am none too pleased, and I know the owners at Nicaro aren’t either.

At the risk of bringing enormous vitriol, I have to weigh in on the proposals to charge for parking on Saturday in Downtown Silver Spring. And the rub is this: You people have had your parking SUBSIDIZED ever since the development of Downtown Silver Spring. Times are tough. There’s a huge budget shortfall every time the County Council fires up budget discussions. This is a small, per person price to pay for using county-provided shelter and parking.

My take? SHUT THE HELL UP AND PAY THE NOMINAL PARKING FEE.

There. I said it. It provides revenue for the county, and the detriment to local businesses isn’t half of what the Chamber of Commerce and others make it out to be. Plus it’s CHEAP. $0.75 per hour? Even at a dollar an hour, that’s a steal. The East Silver Spring Civic Association people (who you know are my near and dear friends) have sent out links to online petitions that I won’t have the decency to post here decrying the parking fee as unfair, business averse, blah blah blah. And then there was this:

A big part of the Market’s success is the fact that parking in the lots and garages next to it is free on Saturdays so losing that would be a serious blow to the Market’s chances of success.

In a word: BULLSHIT. I love the Fenton Street Market. I walk to it almost every weekend it’s in session, and this is a red herring if I ever saw one. Any of these people will pay a dollar to park if they have to. And let us not forget: They’re using County-provided resources that took time and money to build. If they want to drive here and use the public garages on Saturday, let them pay some pocket change to the County to get our revenue back up. Or they can schlep several blocks from free parking elsewhere. Because, according to the “petition”:

For starters we believe that extending parking meters to Saturdays will unfairly benefit the new Downtown Silver Spring development since they will have the distinct advantage of being able to offer free parking on Saturdays.

Like I said, they can park at the Wayne Avenue garage, drop by the Fresh Farm Market on Ellsworth and then walk down Fenton to the “other” market. I, for one, have seen a dramatic increase in foot traffic between the two since the inception of Fenton Street Market. And isn’t getting people out of their cars and walking by local businesses part of economic development?

To be fair, I don’t have to pay for parking. I live walking distance from all these things. I park my car in my driveway on Friday evening and rarely move it until Monday morning. And if I do want to park it on the street, I have an orange East Silver Spring parking permit sticker. So there. Unfair, you say? Not in the least. That little bit of bonus added a good 10-20% to the cost of my home, with the additional property tax percentage to boot.

You want to come into my neighborhood and park in my garages? Reach into that pocket and pull out a couple of quarters. You’re gonna need them. And well you should.

Getting to Know your Civic Building and Veterans Plaza

The Silver Spring Regional Center is hosting a “must-attend” event to learn everything you may or may not have wanted to know about the big, arching construction that so rudely displaced our beloved turf. It’s looking kinda cool, actually. Meeting goes down March 23 from 7:00-9:00PM at Discovery Communications (enter from the Wayne/Georgia intersection).

The event is billed as a way to “find out what’s going to happen in the building and on the plaza; discover how you, businesses, and organizations can use the facility; and get information on how to rent, schedule, and access the space.”

Your Silver Spring Photo of the Day

Okay – so it’s not in Silver Spring, but I thought it was worth mentioning. As a Crimson Tide fan, it was hard to beat having front row seats (from which I took this photo) to the East Room ceremony at the White House with President Obama, Nick Saban, and the entire Alabama football team to honor their National Championship. Roll effing Tide, folks! And special thanks to MR for the access.

On a sad note…
A beloved Silver Spring resident and activist, Harry Sanders, passed away today. Harry focused a lot of energy promoting transit solutions for this region, and while he was a big Purple Line advocate, he was active in a vast array of community issues. He will certainly be missed.