ThayerAvenue.com

I know we have plenty of grocery stores with good meat counters. Snyder’s is one of the best, and it’s more affordable than Whole Foods (though WF has some good stuff of their own). But that’s just not cutting it any more. I want a guy who I can always rely on to be behind the counter. Someone who knows me by name and always has my favorite stuff behind the counter. Someone who I can call for half a pig and pick it up the next day. Someone who will take these charts and bring it down to a level I can easily understand and afford.

In short, I want a real butcher. A one-stop shop that has meat. And only meat. As much as I’m into barbecue, I’d fire up the grill even more if I had a resource like this. And if I could easily get my hands on a whole pig, I would buy one of these in a heartbeat. I would think an area this big – with such diverse, meat-eating cultures – would have enough people to support a dedicated butcher shop, and I’m sort of shocked we don’t have one.

If I’m missing something, please do tell. And while I know there are good halal and kosher butchers around, that’s not what I’m talking about (i.e., PORK). If I won the lottery tomorrow, I would quit my job and take an apprenticeship at a butcher in New York or something and do it myself. If there are any aspiring butchers out there thinking about taking the plunge, I can gather a small horde of carnivores to support you.

In other news…
Unfortunately it’s in Germantown, but it looks like Montgomery County is finally on tap to get a Wegmans grocery store. And while I continue to push for a Harris Teeter in the (will-it-ever-happen) Falkland Chase Development, a Wegmans a little closer to home would surpass (and perhaps eliminate) the Giant. And the crappy Thayer Avenue Safeway.

Some of you may have seen the commotion over the weekend, but last Thursday saw the locked doors and sign postings at Magical Oils on Bonifant. This was taken by alert reader Bonifant More Sinister Than Thayer Thursday evening.

Turns out there was a fire in the back of the building. And since there would have been plenty of oil for fuel, all they needed was a spark. This was the scene on Sunday afternoon as the owner/proprietor was forced to clear everything out.

I know there was always talk about this place being a front for a brothel or something, and I’m not a big believer in the power of magical oils, but it’s a shame it all had to end like that. No word yet on plans for reconstruction and/or reopening. For the time being, the place is unfit for occupancy.

It appears the repreive for the Silver Spring edition of Borders Books & Music was but temporary. According to the Washington Post:

There will be no storybook ending for Borders. The 40-year old book seller could start liquidating its 399 remaining stores as early as Friday.

The chain, which helped pioneer the big-box bookseller concept, is seeking court approval to liquidate its stores after it failed to receive any bids that would keep it in business. The move adds Borders to the list of retailers that failed to adapt to changing consumers’ shopping habits and survive the recession, including Circuit City Stores Inc., Mervyn’s and Linens ‘N Things.

There’s no indication as to when our store will close, but you can expect signs like these (currently found in the closing Pier 1 on Ellsworth) to start popping up in the not too distant future.

Now comes the inevitable discussion for the replacement retailer. I think before another retailer moves in, we should have a huge rave in the empty space. Perhaps with some zombies. Who’s with me?

The Horse is Dead
Last night, the Montgomery County Planning Board voted unanimously against a draft amendment to the Master Plan for Historic Preservation, thus bringing to a close attempts to declare the First Baptist Church at Wayne & Fenton a historic landmark. The most interesting remarks came from Commissioner Norman Dreyfuss:

I’m persuaded by the fact that the HPC [Historic Preservation Committee] had heard all of this testimony from everybody and had reached a conclusionIt seems like they have more historic preservation expertise than certainly I have.

And from Planning Board Chairwoman Francois Carrier:

I’m inclined to defer to the HPC. …their judgment was that there’s no reason to designate this as a historic property.

So, thanks for wasting time and money, historical people. This was already decided by the HPC, but I’m sure the taxpayers in the community as well as the church really enjoyed forking out for the salaries of people to be there. More here courtesy of the Gazette.

See you next year, Chompy
Discovery won’t be putting up the infamous inflatable shark this year to promote its Shark Week, but he should return next year for the event’s 25th Anniversary. In place of Chompy, Discovery plans to, among other things, show Shark Week features on a giant, inflatable screen on Veterans Plaza. I think they should have a late-night showing of Jaws. Anybody with me?

Go to Fenton Street Market Tomorrow
A survey will be going on this weekend at FSM to gather information about spending habits at the market. It seems the bonehead bureaucrats in Rockville are making it difficult for the FSM organizers to have the plaza next year. The market itself doesn’t really fall into the any of the facilities use models they have, and rather than find a way to perpetuate success, they are leaning toward eliminating that which frightens and confuses them. Idiots.

The weather is supposed to be spectacular this weekend. Get out, spend some money, answer some questions, and help keep this where it needs to be – on Veterans Plaza – next year.

On Sunday, May 15, the Taste of Fenton Village will be coming to the area bounded by Wayne, Fenton, Sligo, and Georgia. Something like this has been a long time coming, and with the diversity of food in this area, I can’t think of a better place to have such a shin-dig. The parking lot next to Highlands Cafe will be turned into the starting point (complete with a stage and live entertainment) where you can pick up your “passport” that has a list of all the participating restaurants. And it’s just about *all* of them. That means Thai, Burmese, Ehtiopian, American (“new” and old), Italian, Indian, Nepalese, Greek, Latin, Moroccan, Peruvian, Jamaican, West African – you see where this is going.

Each participating restaurant will be offering small plates or appetizers in the $3-5 range. Go. Eat. Get a stamp in your passport. Walk next door. Repeat. I’m hoping that if you get a stamp from every single place you win a prize. Maybe a free membership to ESSCA? Wait – that’s not really a prize. Nevermind.

As mentioned before, there will also be entertainment and activities, and I’m told non-food vendors strategically placed throughout. Unfortunately, this coincides with the Taste of Wheaton, scheduled on the same day. Don’t get me wrong – I love Wheaton and they have a great selection of cuisine, but it ain’t no Fenton Village. The depth and breadth you’ll find here is second to none.

Be sure to thank the Silver Spring Advisory Committee for spearheading this effort, plus Peterson Cos, Montgomery County, and all the participating community organizations and restaurants for their hard work in setting this up.

In other news…

FSM

Don’t forget – the first (and supersized) Fenton Street Market is this Saturday at Veterans Plaza. Weather should be spectacular.

The “Dreary” Section of Georgia Avenue

That’s how they described the area of 8711 Georgia, between the Wachovia Bank and the Social & Scientific Systems Building. The Gazette reports that what was once approved as office space is now a planned development “that will bring 160 residential units, retail space and an outdoor urban oasis to a ‘dreary’ section of Georgia Avenue in Silver Spring.” I used to work in the 8757 building, and while it could use a little “livening up” over there, I can’t wait to see their definition (and execution) of said oasis.

Last, but certainly not least…

My heart goes out to my family and friends in my home state of Alabama because of the devastation they went through yesterday. Watching the videos of the tornadoes ripping through the state made me ill. We seemed to have dodged a big bullet up here in comparison. Please keep them in your thoughts and prayers.

Checked out Joe’s Record Paradise on Georgia Avenue this morning. Very impressive, but it’s what I expected. Great, eclectic selection of vinyl, CDs, cassettes – the works. Even some inexpensive (and functional) turntables, posters, tchotchkes, and books.

One of my favorite things is the shrine. Not sure about the story behind it, though, and I was in a hurry so I didn’t get a chance to ask. One thing I did thumb through, though, was the selection of 45s. I have a soft spot in my heart for these, growing up with a nice little collection myself. They have some good stuff here.

This actually got me looking through my own collection, which I think I might start cataloging. I regret to admit that it includes things like “Urban Chipmunk” and “Pac-Man Fever,” among all the Rush, Pink Floyd, and Jethro Tull.

Welcome to the neighborhood, Joe!