Dining Prospects Are Looking Up for the Old Town Area

This past week with our ongoing Spring like weather I was thinking about how fortunate we are in Old Town Laurel that in the past year two new – and very different – eateries have joined our community. It’s no secret that I’m a fan of Salute Italian restaurant. Last week was their first anniversary. Congratulations to Meriem and her lovely family. Their eggplant alone should keep them on the map for a long time.

Double Dip is our other excellent addition. Readers might remember that back in the Fall I was happy they were coming but wistful they were not on Main Street. I still am – but they’ve made a perfect home for themselves on Montgomery – and I have to believe the proximity to Pallotti and St. Marys provides a good continuous and hungry group of customers. I’m also pleased to report a very good experience, too with their sandwiches.

The new deck and patio with benches was a nice place to enjoy that dish of chocolate last week. Our warm spring has meant Ken & I have had many (too many) trips to the DD for ice cream – and hot chocolate made with real milk and syrup on those cold days. None of that wimpy packet stuff. I predict as the weather gets even warmer we’ll see lines out the door.

Put these two new additions with our other eateries, and the prospects are good and growing for Old Town to be the place to go for non-chain food. Salute, Double Dip, Linnys (still the best chicken salad around), Toucan Taco (had the queso there today with the LHS Volunteers), RHB (we were their second outlet so chain doesn’t apply), Tampico, and La Mia. All walkable. All good. Isn’t that what we want in a neighborhood? What’s your favorite walkable dining place?

Entrepreneurs, Trains, Tampico and Libraries

Saturday morning, sitting on our front porch (a front porch is one of the benefits of an old Old Town House) drinking coffee I noticed a most enterprising man. I assume he was hired to landscape or do yard clean up in a neighbor's house. What was surprising was not his yard work -- but how he got to being able to do the yard work. This man, for whatever reason, did not have a car or truck at his disposal. Instead, we saw him make multiple trips on his bicycle. On one he was carrying an orange item (Perhaps an electric hedge clipper). On another he had an extension cord around his arm as he peddled down the street. His third trip was the best. Leaving the work house, he returned -- and bicycled back down the street -- power mower in tow. Now that's a work ethic.

Rail Travel
The day before (Friday) I took the 4:03 train to meet up with husband in Alexandria. Sigh. Train was right on time -- and made only 2 stops: Muirkirk/Greenbelt then on to Union Station -- we were there by 4:25. 22 Minutes. Think about that next time you're stuck in traffic. Or wish you could make a quick trip on weekends downtown for a show. I was at King Street Metro by 5:00 -- less than an hour from leaving Laurel, without the driving. A reminder of how our transportation COULD be.

Question; The Marc conductor clearly pointed out that Greenbelt was the last stop before Union Station. Here's a modest suggestion: Just run 1-2 cars regularly between Baltimore & Greenbelt -- folks can transfer at the latter for Metro. It's time to explain to CSX that they're obligated to meet our public needs. If we can virtually nationalize banks and car companies, surely we can get some better rail service.

Tampico and the PTS

This Thursday the PTA is holding a fundraiser at Tampico. Kudos to Eileen Collins and the PTS committee who are making their KaBOOM playground dream come true with persistence and dedication. Kudos also to Eduardo at Tampico -- for his more than generous offer of support - 50% of proceeds. This won't be a stretch for Ken & me since Tampico is easily our favorite local Mexican restaurant. The only question for me: Carnitas or Tinga Taco.

Went to the third LHS movie on Saturday: Attack of the Bodysnatchers. Pretty silly -- bit it did move along and the group enjoyed the Popcorn etc. (thanks Scott). Kudos to Lindsey for arranging the series. Her May 23 collaboration with the Laurel Mill Playhouse should also be fun -- Museum, Eats at Old Town Tavern and Theater: Pillow Talk.

And about the library

Haven't heard much more, but I noted in the last Leader the serious concerns of many Emancipation Park area residents over anything that will affect that historic area. As I've noted earlier, a new Library on the site of the Police Department's soon to be vacated site offers the potential of Main Street revitalization, a beautiful location that will bring people to underused but lovely Riverfront Park, and as an extra bonus, the opportunity to give the Grove area a new community center facility in the ultimately-vacated library building. Talk about a win-win