Murphys on Tap- Not only in Ireland but in Crofton!

After a vacation to the motherland in the Spring, we became infatuated and obsessed with Murphy's Irish Stout- a bit kinder and less bitter than Guiness but the further we ventured from Dublin the harder it became to find. When we returned to Maryland it became a quest to find Murphy's on Tap. We called everywhere, DC, Boston, New York- any large city on the Eastern Seaboard. We called all the Mc's and the O's we could find and came up empty handed time and again. We found friends who along the way would say if you find it give us ring and keep us in the loop. Our local Crofton Pub, "The Irish Channel" was the last stop on our quest and low and behold this pub around the corner had Murphy's on tap. We were ecstatic but then we were concerned. Maybe they didn't hear us, perhaps they misunderstood. We called three times to confirm and then made the trip. It was there - in all its glory, and the bartender was all, "Is this really that hard to find?" We were all, "YESS." We sat in silence enjoying our pint and our discovery. If Murphy's is your thing make the trip down Route 3 or up Route 3 to Crofton Maryland- the Irish Channel Pub is a wonderful little find. Slainte.

The more I think - the less I know.

I've been thinking about places lately. Thinking about how to connect. I'm not really good at that but this summer my neighbor Jean and I have been striking up conversation about our shared front lawn. You see, in the land of condo living and shared walls, one is constantly reminded that they are not alone- the pounding of video games through one wall carried over the front street sounds-kids playing and and on the 4th FIREWORKS going off in the parking lot? IS that necessary? But I digress- Jean and I have enjoyed through a wonderful little play of how can we make our front lawn stand out- a new conversation. One that revolves periphally around the watering schedule - the new plant additions and the carefully selected discussed topic of cohesion and color for our little lawn. And when I say little I mean little. But the thing that has brought us together in this exchange is a little patch of green that is no bigger than my living room. Can place do this? Create an exchange that brings pride and glory to a little postage stamp of a garden? I do believe it can.

Wegmans- Is it the best? I don't know...

Does Wegmans bring in the bucks? I would like to know the studies done about Wegmans' and see the numbers regarding what a Wegmans in our backyard will bring the area? Will it close let's say a Giant, a Safeway and a Shoppers that all co-exist within a mile of the proposed site? Will it congest route 3 beyond recognition? Don't get me wrong I'm all for progress- But progress with a plan is best. If Wegmans joins the ranks of Route 3 supermarts, what will happen to the shopping strips along the way? Waugh Chapel South? Will it be connected to Waugh Chapel North in a thoughtful and realistic way? Will I have to get in my car after I get my hair and nails done at Robert Andrews to go to Wegmas to buy Wasabi encrusted Tuna steaks at 16.99 a lb? I don't know. I want to add jobs to the area but I don't want to add them at that at the risk of closing down other opportunities that already exist. Does a facelift really need to happen to Ledo's pizza? does that increase the bottom line? What ever happened to if you build it they will come. If you offer an outstanding product and provide it a price that is reasonable and doesn't do much to you bottom line- then arent' you running a successful business? The only thing going on at Ledo's is a facelift!! Really Crofton? You aren't more than that? I'm afraid of the consequences for the Giant center and La Fiesta and the other stores involved in that area- I'm afraid a facelift won't be enough to save them from impending doom.

Photo: http://tujreview.files.wordpress.com/2009/04/wegmans-color.jpg

PRINCESS CENTER- REALLY?

I'm here as a 5 year resident of Crofton to ask what in the hell is going on with Route3? I mean its fantastically scary- the sprawl that is happening before our very own eyes. Should we continue to build and connect Crofton to Baltimore? That is what it feels like- I'm so tired of this and of maudlin design. Yes I said it, the Princess Center is a disgrace- if this what we allow in our community than I am ashamed for all of us out there who should and could demand better from the community. The facelift that is happening over at LEDO's will be happening to the Princess Center in 10 years if that monstrous yellow and gold stucko does do itself in before then. I refuse to drive my car into that place- I don't care what is in there- I'm sorry for all the stores that are there- you probably offer wonderful services and great products but I am boycotting the bad design and poor use of space. We can do better and we should always strive to do so. Crofton can be considered a suburb of basically any larger city here- DC, Baltimore, Annapolis but what about Crofton as a destination? As a place for creative people to set up shop and thrive - where you can walk to Waugh Chapel for a summer concert and not have to get in your car. Where people who work along route three and live nearby can walk to work on a safe sidewalk that does not marginalize them or their opportunity to contribute. Crofton has an economy that should be honored but based on the route 3 plan I'm not sure we are contributing anything much other than more congestion- bad design- and more opportunities for us all to be so disconnected from one another that we might as well shut the doors, turn on the video games, and disengage entirely from culture, connection, and the neighbors and future friends that we'll never meet because there is no strong place to gather, and because there is no master plan!!

Image: Citygarden Plan St. Louis. Nelson Byrd and Woltz Landscape Architects. Photo copyright Hedrich Blessing