Wednesday, February 27, 2013

Suburban Desert


When there aren’t enough sources of fresh food in an urban or rural area – it’s called a food desert.  Could this be happening in suburbia, too?



Over the past year, I’ve noticed a disturbing trend.  Supermarkets are closing.  Right here in the burbs.  At least three within a few miles of each other.  What’s going on?


Some speculate that competition from the big chains is causing these food stores to “underperform.”  Without supermarkets, it tends to make people turn to fast food.  We’re being overfed and undernourished. 


All I know is that it makes me sad. Sad that I can’t jump in my car and pop over to Pathmark.  Sad that my mom can’t step out her apartment and stroll to Superfresh. But mostly, I'm sad for the people who lost their livelihood. 

There’s always hope, though. I heard that a new market is making plans to occupy one of the empty spaces.  I know I'll never take this oasis for granted again.



Sunday, February 3, 2013

Wait ... what? Part 4


Wait … what? Part Four


In my never-ending encounters with “wait … what” moments, here are a few more I stumbled upon over the past few weeks.

An ancient statue sports a cool beanie on the Johns Hopkins campus.  He actually wears it well.



I thought it was a little odd to encounter this piece of broken peace.  It would take a brave buyer to pick this off the discount rack. It doesn’t seem to bode well, does it?


They paved paradise, but a little plant still managed to claim a spot in the middle of this parking space - through concrete - after Hurricane Sandy. We should all be that stubborn. 


Enjoy the quirky times in life that make you say, “wait … what?”