Of possible interest is the start of the “Downtown Tunes” concerts in Historic Leonardtown, sponsored by the energetic Leonardtown Business Association (who is probably responsible for the “historic” moniker). Every 4th Saturday there will be concerts on the square beginning at six and running around two hours. Tomorrow’s edition will feature “Country Memories”, so don’t look for me. There are more (to me) attractive offerings later in the summer. More info closer in.
One kind of bittersweet event is also this weekend. As a lot of “county folk” around here know, every year there is a “Farm Life Festival” held at the Parlett Farm, kind of near Charlotte Hall. Besides rides and stuff, it housed one of the most extensive collections of artifacts from early American farm life at least in this country. Well, this weekend, the collection will be put up for auction, piece by piece. Apparently they tried to make it available to various entities, but the collection is so large that it would involve a huge amount of resources to maintain it, and nobody wanted it. So it goes on the block. If you’re interested, just google parlett auction and you’ll find details. MFO hopes that there are not important historical documents that will be lost. We may go, but we may not..
There goes the neighborhood:
People who ply Three Notch Road to the north have no doubt noticed that yet another architectural monstrosity is being erected in the form of yet another chain restaurant. So, coming from the south, you notice the sort of California Dinerish Red Robin, then the Tuscan Villa housing the Olive Garden, and now we get this eyesore:
Pre made burger in the diner not for you? How about chicken cooked elsewhere over pasta, and pretending you’re a family member? No? Well, hang on, apparently you can wait a bit and get a hunk of steer at The Texas Roadhouse. Checking their menu on-line turns me nauseous. If you have the guts, here’s the link. The first thing that strikes me/you is that ugly architecture (which I am not sure how relates to Texas) of two towers with a gaudy neon sign between them. I can only imagine that is their plan and will replace the "Now Hiring" banner in the picture. Then the description of the food lauds “Hearty Hand Cut Steaks which are specially aged and hand-cut every day by our in-house meat cutters, who take special care that every steak is tender and lean”. Do I really think there will be a meat cutter in there? No, I don’t but I am not the most optimistic person in the world either. They also have the usual line up of burgers, ribs, chickens, and even “Dockside Favorites”. Be still my pounding heart! Or maybe be still my churning stomach. Well, we’ll wait and see. Oh, did I mention they also feature “Legendary Food, Legendary Service” My, oh my. Wonder what’s next. How about a Dean and Delucca?
Starbuck’s Rant:
Sometimes I go in there and leave happy as I see somebody I know, or the staff is friendly (mostly are), and I start my day with a smile. Well, today I left gnashing my teeth. And, not because of the staff or product, because of the behavior of the customers. As I entered I noticed a man and his son (probably) sitting at a table, reading the newspaper. After I stood in line a bit, placed my order (which they know by heart now), stood in the line on the output end for a few minutes, I noticed that same man coming back with the paper in his hand. I thought maybe he was going to use the restroom. Nope, he sort of hastily (and poorly) reassembled the paper and…..put it BACK ON THE RACK! Can you believe that? Somebody who apparently can afford a four dollar vente triple no foam soy macchiatto with an extra shot can’t afford to buy a buck and a quarter newspaper? Does the sign on the stand say “lending library”? No, it does not. And, he leaves it right on top with edges sticking out all over. Nice guy.
And secondly there is some guy who is a regular who apparently feels he’s the staff’s BFF because he always announces his presence, which you would notice anyway, as he is rather large. But aside from that what gets to me is outside. He drives one of those huge “dualie” pickups. The little plaza where Starbucks is located has not many parking places and people just deal with it. Not this guy, he’s special. Along the front, there are parking bays separated by by little islands of trees and such. Well, that’s his personal parking place. He basically parks right in the driveway, parallel with the curb across one of the islands. You can only carefully fit one car by it where normally two can pass. Very thoughtful of others, sir......Of course one of my BFF’s will once again accuse me of hiding behind my keyboard, and I am, but geez, can’t people behave nicely just because it’s the right thing to do? do people need to be told how to be civil?
Okay, enough ranting and railing. The unofficial summer season starts today and over the weekend. Certainly the weather thinks it’s summer.
Enjoy, and you can find appropriate summer like clothing to
DFD
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