The Cricket and Me

 

There is a cricket in the room with me. It has a lot to say. Crickets are supposed to be a sign of good things but I would like to suggest that they do nothing for one’s concentration.

With that being said, here are a few shreds of ideas that might make a good blog post if I could only think straight. 

People on NextDoor are complaining that cricket players are peeing in the woods at Schooley Mill Park Highland. (Not the same cricket.) Are there public restrooms out there? 

An observant HoCoLocal has spotted a potential new business on Snowden River Parkway called Rehoboth Ethiopian Café and Market. 

Photo credit: Kim Steffen, Howard County Eats

Next up - - 

I realized I’ve been meaning to say something about the Columbia Association email newsletter. I like it. It’s engaging and visually appealing. I almost always take the time to read it. They don’t spend all their time trying to sell me a membership, though they do manage to slip it in. Like this:

You don't have to be a member to experience the activities here. However, if you'd like to learn how CA memberships help you do more and more affordably, take a look at our membership options. 

There’s a lot going on during the summer in Columbia which gives CA plenty to talk about. (Besides membership sales, that is.) The Lakefront Live collaboration has been drawing folks to Lake Kittamaqundi throughout the summer. Have you been to any of this year’s Lakefront events? Have you enjoyed them?

Any comments on how it isn’t like they used to do it? Columbians aren’t always good with change, I hear.

There was a letter to the editor in the Howard County Times last year that suggested that CA could do a better job in hosting a variety of diverse performers throughout the summer season at the Lakefront. It looks to me as though they took this suggestion to heart. This year’s line up can be found here if you want to see for yourself.

I wonder if anyone will write a letter to the editor giving CA credit for more diverse programming. Oh,wait. We don’t have letters to the editor anymore.

One last thing. I would like to make a public admission that I saw this:

…and my brain processed it to mean that Downtown Columbia’s Philip Dodge is directing a production of Thornton Wilder’s “Our Town.” I got pretty excited about that for a minute there. I began to imagine a production starring local notables. Have you ever seen those promotional videos for the library’s Evening in the Stacks, featuring folks from around town? Imagine that - - but a full, live theatrical production. 

When I realized my error I had a little pity party but I did create an imaginary cast for my own amusement.

In case I’ve left you wondering what Mr. Dodge is really up to, here goes:

Phillip Dodge, Executive Director of the Downtown Columbia Partnership (DTCP), launches Residences at Vantage Point Arts & Culture Collective’s Fall series of community programs with “Our Town Update,” a preview of upcoming development planned for Downtown Columbia, on Thursday, Sept. 15, 7-8 p.m., in the auditorium at Vantage Point.

No Grover’s Corners, alas. If you’re as fond of “Our Town”as I am you’ll be happy to know it’s being produced by Baltimore’s Center Stage. Performances start Wednesday. 

Holy mackerel. The cricket just stopped. The silence is really, really loud.