LU LU’S A NO-NO?

Poor Lu Lu. From what I gather, the sign—“Lu Lu’s Coming Soon”—that festoons the establishment formerly known as Andy’s refers to a woman who used to waitress for Andy. But she will soon wait tables for the guy who allegedly “bought Andy’s out.” I have lost track of the number of conversations I’ve heard about people who will boycott the new establishment, which is very behind on its launch date. Some folks are strategizing to put Lu Lu and her coworkers in the unemployment line before the grand opening because they “don’t like the new owner.” They haven’t met the owner, haven’t experienced whether the establishment is decent…who knows, it may offer a delish $4 burger…but they “know” a hostile takeover when they hear gossip about one. People complain about the mediocre food offerings on the Eastern Shore, but I can guess the clique-ish “I like you I’ll patronize you” way some people vote with their feet isn’t going to improve things. Isn’t favoritism lame? Shouldn’t merit trump the herd mentality? Why are so many things around here popularity contests? If I choose to snub Lu Lu and her boss in the future, it’ll be because I can find better elsewhere.

Sale Announced

WHAT: USED BOOK SALE
WHERE: 408 HIGH STREET, CHESTERTOWN, MARYLAND 21620
WHEN: SEE DATES BELOW
WHY: FUNDRAISER FOR THE FRIENDS OF THE KENT COUNTY LIBRARY

THE FRIENDS OF THE KENT COUNTY LIBRARY HOST USED BOOK SALE

Looking for some great books to get you through the winter? You will find hundreds of gently used hardcover and paperback books at the Friends of the Kent County Library’s Used Book Sale. This is an excellent win-win situation for readers as well as the library: 100% of the sale’s profits go directly back to the library. The used book sale is in conjunction with the Chestertown Book Festival.

Enjoy the exclusive Members Preview Night Thursday, November 12, 5:30-7:30. Join at the door for $10 (single), $20 (family), or $50 (free book bag or T-shirt).

The sale is open to the public as follows:
Friday, November 13, 10-6
Saturday, November 14, 10-4
Sunday, November 15, 10-4
Monday, November 16, 10-6
Tuesday November 17 10-6

All books very reasonably priced. For more information about the sale, call (410) 778-3636.

Volunteers are needed to help sort books into categories in advance of the book sale. They also are needed for the days of the book sale. To volunteer, contact Chrsitina Showalter at (410) 810-1487.

Many of us are looking forward to the upcoming book festival. Here’s a brief description, courtesy of organizers: “The Chestertown Book Festival is the first and only book festival on the Eastern Shore of Maryland. It is a celebration of the authors, books, and literary traditions of the Eastern Shore. The inaugural event will take place November 13-14, 2009 with author visits in shops, restaurants, and other gathering places throughout Chestertown.”

Local The Black Eyed Susan in the Kent Plaza Shopping Center is vacant now. The business’s web site is still working, so it may be offering catering services. But the cafe looks kaput.

I Had Forgotten This One!

So a few of us were hanging out at Joey’s–newcomers: that’s where you get your car repaired if you want a fair price and good service–and the conversation turned to odd places to go shopping. (In an earlier post I mentioned that around here merchandise turns up where you least expect it: Scottie’s Shoe Shoppe is where to pick up a newspaper. Fresh produce is for sale at the gas station.) One guy mentioned that if you want some tailoring or mending, you go to the Christian Book Store on High Street.

Blessings be upon ye!

If it purrs, crawls, slithers, or barks, it can receive an abundant blessing here from Reverend Will Crossan himself. He will let the magic words fly at the ‘Blessing of the Animals’ at Christ Church on Saturday, October 10, 10:00 a.m. “Everyone is welcome to attend the ceremony. Bring your beloved pets and join us for a period of prayer, music, sharing, and community spirit.”

Is it just me or H1N1 the new Y2K?
At work today, I received an email about the flu formerly known as swine. The message mentioned the word “pandemic,” installation of 70 new sanitizer dispensers, a specially purchased software that will track absences, and so on. I hope it’s all hype.

Politics as Panic or Real Threat?
I’m hoping the threat to close Upper Shore Community Mental Health Center is just that old tactic of elected officials who seek something (such as tax dollars) and threaten to shut down needed services. The strategy is a pressure builder, and I wonder if the employees who received pink slips are really on the chopping block or simply budget hostages. Don’t look for answers at the useless Huffington Post:”Frankly, I don’t know whether the health center should remain open or close. I have no idea how its patient load and impact compare with other institutions and don’t know how the State of Maryland might address the community’s health needs through other institutions.” Did the writer get paid to publish that? Had he asked anybody who lives here, he might have gotten a clue. The updated story is here.

Adios, Tienda Ramirez

WordPress has this nifty feature that allows you to see how visitors end up at your blog. Interestingly, I posted a while back about Bimbo baked goods. And people who googled “bimbo” wound up here. Ha! I bet they weren’t looking for a blog entry about the Mexican version of Little Debbie snack cakes.

Well, I have an update about the availability of Bimbo baked goods here in Chestertown. Sadly, the building that housed Tienda Ramirez is now vacant. Sigh.

Slow food movement here at home

It’s almost time to sign up for 2010’s offering of local organic produce here on the upper shore. CSAs are a great way to support local farming. You can watch a video about Colchester Farm here.

Nuts about the Eastern Shore

At the risk of you actually shopping here, I give you http://bumpernuts.com/.

I haven’t personally seen them, but I have heard reports of truck nut sightings around town, on the back of [this probably could go without saying] pickup trucks. 

Back to school already? What will you wear…

In Chestertown, there are certain things you can always count on. Donna Whicher writes killer blog entry. The Farmer’s Market offers fresh fruit to die for. (Crossing the street to get there is something else you may die for.) And if crab cakes or pizza is your thing, they’re here. And there. And there. And there.

But when I write about shopping, things get dicey. Merchandise turns up where you least expect it, a friend pointed out to me when I was new here. Scottie’s Shoe Shoppe is where to pick up a newspaper. Want fresh produce? Hit the gas station. For clothes, some popular places to shop in Chestertown include the Internet, Delaware and the Outlet Mall in Queenstown, where first-time visitors are surprised to find there is no food court. There’s the back of Chesapeake Gourmet, where you can get a $12 container of chicken salad for lunch, and Subway, where dinner is often accompanied by entertainment: the drama of ravenous beach tourist meets overburdened staff. I recently saw a woman dragged out by her husband and a security officer. It seems her pizza was burnt (have I mentioned pizza is popular here?), which led to a confrontation. Because of limited well water, the county is reticent about issuing the necessary water license that any new restaurant in the mall would need for a  bathroom, so the dining options will remain Zen for some time. There are rumors that Rocky Mountain Chocolate may reopen there under new ownership, which will satisfy those who crave an $8 candy apple. For the rest of you who need back-to-school stuff, pack a sandwich before you make the 45-minute drive.

Grape sighting in Church Hill!

I was driving back to Chestertown from the Bay Bridge, and I noticed a new sign bearing the image of some slickly painted waterfowl and advertising one “Cassinelli Winery and Vineyards.” I did a doubletake and saw that the subtly undulating hills were dotted with carefully measured posts: grape trellises! I flashed back to Sonoma Valley, a place I’d visited a couple times back when I was living in California and attending San Francisco State University. I’ve passed by Cassinelli a couple times now, and this new winery in Church Hill looks to be a continuig work in progress, with more posts going up.