Lengthening Chains..(?)..

Another link being forged (maybe, read on).. In the space beside our La Quinta motel, after a flurry of activity applying a “Spanish flair” exterior, it sort of lay fallow for a while, but now for certain it is a

 

 

 

 

Not exactly sure where the “plaza” came from, as it certainly doesn’t fit the normal definition of same: “A public square, marketplace, or similar open space in a built-up area”.  And I am not completely sure that it is a chain… my usual cursory google search doesn’t seem to turn up any “home pages” that chains are so fond of.  There is a “La Tolteca” in Waldorf, so maybe it is independent.  Perhaps some of the readership has some ideas.  I think it’s a bit gutsy opening another Spanish/Mexican place almost right across the street from Chipotle, which, judging by the parking lot census technique is wildly successful.  Plus this is what, the fourth? fifth? place to take a stab at a restaurant in this location.  One might think (as previous owners apparently did) that a general restaurant next to a motel would be a winner..  Not so much.  Anyway if you’re driving south (or North) on 235 you now will be unable to miss it

 

McKay's (again) 

Last night, MFO and I were going to attend the little forum of community groups, so since we were in Leonardtown we stopped at McKay’s for “dinner”.  Very pleasant.  I did notice a couple of signs of items on the food islands that I need to take a photo of.. worth seeing.. if you are there early enough (we were there shortly after five) the wine is priced for “happy hour”.  And I discovered last night that you and buy a “family” version of the little card for the wine bar that you can keep so any value on the card remains from trip to trip.  And I know it is NOT a restaurant and is set up for take away food, but if you are “eating in” you’re stuck with an amazing array of Styrofoam clamshells that are very difficult to manage, especially if you are more than alone.  Was a good crowd, so hopefully they have found something…

A Legend Speaks

And lastly I can’t help but comment on a basketball game I watched last night between Arizona at Washington. I have seldom seen a game played with as much intensity as this one was.  Intensity is a bit of a misnomer, it was pretty much out of control, helter-skelter basketball, racing up and down the court.  Arizona won there by a little, first time in five years I think.  But what was most fun was listening to one Bill Walton (whom you may remember) who was the color commentator.  Oh, my gosh he gave new meaning to the term.  The players weren’t the only participant out of control  No wonder you don’t see him much (at least I don’t).  Of course given that the home crowd was in a frenzy of high energy in the Washington gym, I guess it was infectious.  A small sampling:

After a breakaway gorilla dunk:  “He’s feeding the salivating crowd!”

Following a give away by the home team:  “the worst possession in the history of Husky Basketball!”

After another showboat dunk: “defying Galileo and Isaac Newton!”

And now I don’t remember how this came up, but he got off on Warren Zevon. I think maybe some player was from the same town or high school, but the first thing you know he was doing “Werewolves of London”, complete with the “a woo hoooooo, a woooooooo hooo"s.  That even made it to the following sports center.  At the end of the broadcast he said “Thank you Seattle for giving us this day in our lives!”  Gotta love it, much more entertaining than Dicky V and his diaper dandies…

Have a good weekend.   We’re not sure about First Friday tonight in Leonardtown, we’ll see.. if you go, you might want to replace “Dinner” with “Cold” and

DFC