Old Orchard Shopping Mall

I feel inclined to write this post because Old Orchard shopping mall is seriously one of my favorite places.  It's neat, it's clean, it has great stores.  Despite the fact that some of the clientele is a little 'uppity', if you will, it's generally a very nice place.  It's a source of both many a childhood memories and much credit card damage.

However, recently, a problem arose.  Well, first, there was the tiny blip where they quasi-renamed it 'Westfield Shopping Center'.  I know my mother personally sent a letter of complaint (she couldn't have been the only one).  In the end, they called it 'Old Orchard-Westfield Shopping Center', or something like that, but it's still known to the general public as 'Old Orchard'.

Anyhow - the problem I speak of today.  The food court.  They redid it.  And not for the better.  Well, they think they did.  They USED to have that wonderful 'Pizzaaaah' joint, where one could get a heaping large slice of pizza (1 1/2 inches thick!) and a bottomless pop (along with a lot of other food court staples - mcdonalds, subway, etc.).  Now they have a new area in the food court called "Wilde & Greene" or something ridiculous like that.  It looks nice and fresh and healthy and all that.  I'm sure it's nicer.  I'm sure it's fresher.  I'm sure it's healthier.  I'm not having it.  It's kind of like the dining section in whole foods or mariano's, but on steroids.  They've got that giant roasted rotating meat on a stick, or a build-your-own-pasta area.  It sounds good, in theory, but it's just not.  It's not mid-shopping trip dining.  At least not in my world.

Dear Old Orchard - please go back to your Old Ways.  I miss them.  I loved them.  I realize this probably cost you and arm and a leg to create.  But I really wish we could just pretend this didn't happen.

Love,

One of your Long-Time Fans

I Fell in Love...

...with the new grocery store, Mariano's.  I LOVE it.  They say one can't go back to the farm after having seen Paris.  I don't think I can set foot in a Jewel again.  It was like an amusement park.  I even bought a three foot long tube of buttery popcorn and a giant candy apple.

Is this official a sign of getting older?  I am this excited about a grocery store?  Is this a sign I need some more excitement in my life?

Don't judge until you set foot in the place.