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Western Child
Aug. 17th, 2014 11:18 pmLiberians loot an Ebola quarantine unit, and carry away patients blood-soaked belongings. Words really fail me here.
*****
I would have sworn that I saw a news story a few weeks back about a grocery store called 'Fresh Thyme' opening in Cupertino. I recall details. It was laid out like a faux farmer's market, with food displayed in barrels and baskets, and the headquarters was in Tempe, AZ. They were opening stores up and down the west coast, in the Bay, Los Angeles, and Seattle. I would have stood up in court and sworn to this, and in fact, sitting here now, I remember plainly reading that on Google news. I was intensely jealous, because all of the fun stuff happens in California, and we get the leftovers.
Well... Driving home late last night, I went down Sawmill Road, and what did I see where the old B&N used to be but a 'Fresh Thyme' store! They had one of those goofy-assed 'Grand Opening' inflatables on top that's supposed to look like a hot air balloon (Godzilla, IMHO, would have been a better choice), and had obviously been open only a day or two. I rejoiced! We were getting one too! They were closed at the time, but I knew I was going to shop there today.
So... Today I drove out there and shopped. I had to pass two real farmers' markets to get there (they're everywhere in the midwest). The store was everything I'd hoped for. A little over-the-top, a little superficial and theatrical, kind of pricey. It was sort of like a suburban Disneyfied impression of a farmers' market, which pleased me no end. I love that sort of thing.
They gave me a sort of news magazine about the chain. They're strictly mid-western. Illinois, Indiana, and Ohio have stores ATM, and they apparently are just now opening. http://freshthyme.com/ is the website.
I saw that article. I'm sure I did. The goofy name stuck with me, and it was supposed to be in some Cupertino shopping centre, not VallCo, which I know, but one I wasn't familiar with. I'm sure it wasn't just something I dreamed after reading about the store in Dublin, because stores like that get my attention, and I was unhappy that one wasn't going to be here. The details about the nature of the store were all correct too, so it wasn't just that I subconsciously picked up the name somwewhere. Were I a better writer, I could make a slightly unsettling story out of this.
*****
On the whole, it was an enjoyable shopping trip. I ate at Pho Chef, which I'd always passed by thinking it was just some mall-front yuppie place serving faux pho. I've been missing out, there. They serve real, serious Pho Bo, made with tripe and tendons, just like you can get at the Saigon Palace, but much closer to home. When I walked in, I was the only caucasian in the place (and it was packed), so I'm all "Oh, yes!" before I ever saw the menu.
*****
I'd not really gone into the shopping centre in question since B&N closed, but they have a Wild Bird store there too, now. That was about to close for the afternoon, but I'll be back to see that soon. I got some kitchen gadgets at Bed, Bath and Beyond, too.
*****
It all sounds kind of trite written, done, but it was a really enjoyable afternoon.
*****
I would have sworn that I saw a news story a few weeks back about a grocery store called 'Fresh Thyme' opening in Cupertino. I recall details. It was laid out like a faux farmer's market, with food displayed in barrels and baskets, and the headquarters was in Tempe, AZ. They were opening stores up and down the west coast, in the Bay, Los Angeles, and Seattle. I would have stood up in court and sworn to this, and in fact, sitting here now, I remember plainly reading that on Google news. I was intensely jealous, because all of the fun stuff happens in California, and we get the leftovers.
Well... Driving home late last night, I went down Sawmill Road, and what did I see where the old B&N used to be but a 'Fresh Thyme' store! They had one of those goofy-assed 'Grand Opening' inflatables on top that's supposed to look like a hot air balloon (Godzilla, IMHO, would have been a better choice), and had obviously been open only a day or two. I rejoiced! We were getting one too! They were closed at the time, but I knew I was going to shop there today.
So... Today I drove out there and shopped. I had to pass two real farmers' markets to get there (they're everywhere in the midwest). The store was everything I'd hoped for. A little over-the-top, a little superficial and theatrical, kind of pricey. It was sort of like a suburban Disneyfied impression of a farmers' market, which pleased me no end. I love that sort of thing.
They gave me a sort of news magazine about the chain. They're strictly mid-western. Illinois, Indiana, and Ohio have stores ATM, and they apparently are just now opening. http://freshthyme.com/ is the website.
I saw that article. I'm sure I did. The goofy name stuck with me, and it was supposed to be in some Cupertino shopping centre, not VallCo, which I know, but one I wasn't familiar with. I'm sure it wasn't just something I dreamed after reading about the store in Dublin, because stores like that get my attention, and I was unhappy that one wasn't going to be here. The details about the nature of the store were all correct too, so it wasn't just that I subconsciously picked up the name somwewhere. Were I a better writer, I could make a slightly unsettling story out of this.
*****
On the whole, it was an enjoyable shopping trip. I ate at Pho Chef, which I'd always passed by thinking it was just some mall-front yuppie place serving faux pho. I've been missing out, there. They serve real, serious Pho Bo, made with tripe and tendons, just like you can get at the Saigon Palace, but much closer to home. When I walked in, I was the only caucasian in the place (and it was packed), so I'm all "Oh, yes!" before I ever saw the menu.
*****
I'd not really gone into the shopping centre in question since B&N closed, but they have a Wild Bird store there too, now. That was about to close for the afternoon, but I'll be back to see that soon. I got some kitchen gadgets at Bed, Bath and Beyond, too.
*****
It all sounds kind of trite written, done, but it was a really enjoyable afternoon.
