Losing Picante Mexican Grill

[hrafn.livejournal.com]

Well, it _was_ my favorite place for brunch in the square, but when we went there today, there was a sign up on the door that after 15 years, they have lost their lease, and their last day open will be the 23rd of December.

The usual story: owner wanted to increase the rent, and the restaurant either couldn't afford it or didn't want to take the risk. They are looking for another location (they also have a Central Square restaurant), but haven't found one yet. According to the waitress, the owner did have some second thoughts about raising the rent, but by that time, he had already signed a new lease, for Mike's Hot Dogs (or maybe it was Spike's?). Hot dogs. Oh boy.

It would be great if they could find another location in the Square (or nearby), but what are the chances?

the ex-garage at Willow and Morrison

[hammercock.livejournal.com]

So. There was an auto repair garage at the corner of Willow and Morrison on Thursday morning. It was not there on Friday morning. That was the first I'd heard of that building going anywhere. :-}

I doubt it's a great spot for a retail establishment, so that means either two multi-family dwellings or a block of flats/condos. If I had to guess, I'd say that we'll end up with a block of flats/condos there.

If high-density housing is built in that location, this could present quite the sticky wicket for parking and related issues. There's already not enough parking in this area (I live several houses up Willow from that intersection). I also wonder whether what ends up there will end up being a Willow address or a Morrison address, since that has possible visitor parking permit implications, if they don't build parking into the plans.

Of course, this is all complete conjecture, as I haven't heard a damned thing about it. Has anyone heard about plans for that site, or any zoning hearings, anything at all?

Recommended auto mechanics in the area?

[guxx.livejournal.com]

I know there have been threads about this topic before and people rant about service at places such as Supreme Auto, Good News Garage, ABJ Auto, etc. Someone told me a story of their mechanic who noticed the driver door's lock was broken and rather than buying a new part, he got the owner's OK to swap the passenger lock for the driver's lock. That's the kind of mechanic I'm looking for, as well as one who knows about Subarus.

Personal recommendations, anyone?

(no subject)

[dreamgirly19.livejournal.com]

This evening I was walking home from the train station and i noticed a few ambulances and fire engine just outside of the train station but i didnt see anything going on? Anyone know what happened?

Bike riders, be careful out there

[ron_newman]

this afternoon at around 12:30 pm, I was riding my bike southbound across the temporary Lowell Street Bridge. I suddenly fell after taking the last little turn from the bridge onto the Lowell Street sidewalk, in front of the Visiting Nurses Association building. I guess I must have hit some ice but I'm really not sure.

I somehow managed to get myself up and ride home to Day Street, but I'm in a lot of pain right now, on my left side from my underarm around to my back. Probably bruised a bunch of ribs. [Edit: My doctor phoned me a couple days later to inform me that I didn't just bruise a couple of ribs, I cracked them.]

If you're riding your bike this week, be careful -- at least, more careful than I apparently was.