The University offered to buy out their lease, on the condition that they don't let the door hit them in the ass on the way out of Hyde Park. There were several weeks of tortured neighborhood debate, none of which really touched on what I see as a major issue. Hyde Park, on the (heavily African-American) South Side, has aspects of an urban food desert -- there are relatively few grocery stores for the population size. The Co-Op is the only major supermarket in the neighborhood. We've got Village Foods, which is small and will do in a pinch, and Hyde Park Produce, which is good for produce (durr!) and a few specialty items, so we're better off than some South Side neighborhoods. But when the Co-Op closes, that's a major deal.
Well, I learned last night at singing that the vote finally came in. The Co-Op will close, effective about twelve days from now. I went shopping today, and they'd already started to shut down. The produce section was almost cleaned out, and one bank of fruit stands was completely gone! I have to say, it was quite a surprise to see things moving so quickly. In theory, the deal with the University states that another store has to occupy the space within two weeks. If this is realistic, then I am Marie of Romania. There's still no word on what might move in when the Co-Op is gone. But I hear also that Hyde Park Produce awaits only a health inspection before moving itself into a bigger and more convenient (for me) location.
A location, I might add, that used to have a branch of the Co-Op, run at a major financial loss for many years before they gave it up. How the worm do turn . . . .
- Current Music:The Worst Pies In London
Comments
Oh gosh. We'll have to start sending you care packages. Do want white or yellow grits?
Um . . . sure? I think.
Now, you'll have to decide. Stone-ground or Quaker? I mean, there are so many decisions when faced with forty-eleven different brands of grits.
Maybe you better research it and let me know. And go ahead and compile your whole list so I'll know how much dry ice I'll need for the fatback and hog jowls.
Oh, honey, modern medicine is a miracle. They can clean out those arteries faster than you can say myocardial infarction.
You should only know from a nice piece kishke.
I'll send you some of that too...as soon as I find out what it is. We might have some around here someplace...probably tucked between the collards and the black-eyed peas.
Oh, sugah, we got that down here, only without the matzo meal. We call 'em chittlins'. Don't touch 'em myself.
So...how about something more along the line of bagels and Spam?
bagels and Spam
Bagels, sausage and Spam
Spam, bagels, sausage and Spam
Spam, Spam, Spam, bagels, and Spam
Spam, sausage, Spam, Spam, bagels, and Spam
Lobster Thermidor aux Crevette with a mornay sauce served in a Provencale manner with shallots and aubergines garnished with truffle pate, brandy and with a toasted bagel on top and Spam . . .
Well, you ain't smelled 'em. When the one bite I tried to take got within twelve inches of my nose, I backed away like the General Lee coming up on the sheriff. The cats and dogs wouldn't even go near it. Therefore, I can't vouch for its fat content or its flavor. I'll take your word for it.
Lobster Thermidor aux Crevette with a mornay sauce served in a Provencale manner with shallots and aubergines garnished with truffle pate, brandy
I know where I can get a frozen lobster and some brandy. Will that do?
I know where I can get a frozen lobster and some brandy. Will that do?
If you go heavy on the brandy.
Will do. I've got it: bagels, Spam and brandy. It's in the mail.