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Empty restaurants. And a gloat.
Dec. 18th, 2008 07:39 amIt's unbecoming, but I must do it -- gloat. Because my holiday shopping is finished. The baking (such as it was) is done. The only thing left is to write out the last of the cards and drop them at the post office on Saturday. Maybe build a gingerbread house from a kit. Oh, and put up the little tree, which doesn't get done until the week of Christmas.
I walked home from the train station last night, instead of taking the bus, so I could detour by the Cheesecake Factory for gift cards. The relative lack of business visible in all of the restaurants in the harbor pavilions was a frightening demonstration of the economic situation. Normally at this time of year, the businesses are doing brisk business as offices have their holiday happy hours or dinners or what-have-you. Last night? Every restaurant was nearly empty, even the Cheesecake Factory, which normally has a crowd waiting for tables, even on the coldest day of the year. Since there was no wait, I ate dinner in the bar. The wait staff was bored and just hanging around, waiting for new customers to come in. It was the most attentive service I've ever gotten there. Which is saying something, because their service is good and attentive generally.
Walking home, though, I noticed that the business malaise affecting the harbor seems not to bother a couple of the restaurants in my neighborhood. The Thai place (very good) had a huddle of people waiting for seating (all seats taken), and Regi's and Mother's seemed to be doing okay.
I walked home from the train station last night, instead of taking the bus, so I could detour by the Cheesecake Factory for gift cards. The relative lack of business visible in all of the restaurants in the harbor pavilions was a frightening demonstration of the economic situation. Normally at this time of year, the businesses are doing brisk business as offices have their holiday happy hours or dinners or what-have-you. Last night? Every restaurant was nearly empty, even the Cheesecake Factory, which normally has a crowd waiting for tables, even on the coldest day of the year. Since there was no wait, I ate dinner in the bar. The wait staff was bored and just hanging around, waiting for new customers to come in. It was the most attentive service I've ever gotten there. Which is saying something, because their service is good and attentive generally.
Walking home, though, I noticed that the business malaise affecting the harbor seems not to bother a couple of the restaurants in my neighborhood. The Thai place (very good) had a huddle of people waiting for seating (all seats taken), and Regi's and Mother's seemed to be doing okay.
