14.8.09
This Is My Twitter
That's because I have more than 140 characters worth of things to say. Except now.
Of The Two Malls
Zaxby's or Guthrie's? Rattlers or Noles? North Monroe or Appalachee?
For those that don't know, Tallahassee has two malls proper, Governor's Square and Tallahassee Mall. Both are smaller compared to the ones we have in Tampa and Orlando, and both have their positives and negatives.
Most people I talk to are dedicated GovSq fans, and I have to say that I do have great love for this mall. It was built by the same company and in the same style as Tampa's too soon gone and much beloved Tampa Bay Center. From the skylights to the railings to a reminiscent layout, GovSq is the ghost of it's long lost sister to the south. Also, it's located on a more student friendly side of town, and one that's generally considered 'safer'. It's surrounded by trees, more shops, and located on rolling hills. And it sells Pepsi Max in it's vending machines.
TalMa, on the other hand, seems to have been built in three parts over three decades, and with little modernizing to keep the entire mall in sync with itself. In fact, it doesn't even have a straight line--it sort of meanders along and eventually can't decide whether it wants to be one story or two (it is the only 1-1/3rd story mall that I've ever heard of). The random decor has no sense of connection to anything around it. And of course, this mall is in 'The Hood' (or so I've been told). It can't seem to keep any anchor stores except Belk's. And there's only Coca Cola products in their vending machines.
Let me just say there is no Hood in Tallahassee. Sure, some streets are safer than others, but a Hood? No. And second, I always point out that GovSq is just two miles west of the Federal Corrections facility off of Conner, which is a lot closer than TalMa is to it.
The bottom line is that I prefer Tallahassee Mall. Mind you, I wouldn't kick Governor's Square out of bed for eating crackers, but here's why I came to this conclusion:
-Whenever we come to town, I think, 'Ooo yes, GovSq--let's do some shopping, I love this place!' Then, I find that a store has left or changed and ultimately am (at least a little) sad or disappointed. This trip I found that the amazing dollar store where I got my Jesus clock and Shrimp Pocket had become the most recent victims. Conversely, when we go to TalMa, the thought is, 'Wow, that's still there? And that store is thriving? Good for them!' It's rooting for the underdog. It's a happy surprise to see what is still there (and in the 8 months since I've been here it looks that a good deal has survived).
-Now that Shrimp Pocket is gone from the GovSq food court, the TalMa Chick-Fil-A (complete with it's own Facebook page) rules them all.
-GovSq has the TBC love going for it, and that is playing on my existing love for a mall. That familiarity only exploits a loss. TalMa is a quirky shopping sprawl (like that term?--thought of it today, thank you) that evokes no memory of anything. It's love is purely for it being itself. And come on, it's a 1-1/3rd story mall--how awesome is that? It's an alien creature and still a wonderful curiosity.
-TalMa has a movie theater inside; GovSq's theater is outside and down the hill.
-GovSq feels like a real mall--it has all the shops that most other malls do, like Hot Topic and Forever 21 and Charlotte Russe. TalMa feels like nothing you've ever shopped at before, an altogether different creature. For the love of God, it has a shop that only sells Michael Jackson memorial t-shirts! That's it!!! That alone gives TalMa the grand slam for the win.
-The beautiful people shop at GovSq; the rest of us go to TalMa.
So those are my thoughts on the subject. I will miss both of them, but maybe Tallahassee Mall just a wee bit more. Next debate--Zaxby's vs. Guthrie's. GO!
For those that don't know, Tallahassee has two malls proper, Governor's Square and Tallahassee Mall. Both are smaller compared to the ones we have in Tampa and Orlando, and both have their positives and negatives.
Most people I talk to are dedicated GovSq fans, and I have to say that I do have great love for this mall. It was built by the same company and in the same style as Tampa's too soon gone and much beloved Tampa Bay Center. From the skylights to the railings to a reminiscent layout, GovSq is the ghost of it's long lost sister to the south. Also, it's located on a more student friendly side of town, and one that's generally considered 'safer'. It's surrounded by trees, more shops, and located on rolling hills. And it sells Pepsi Max in it's vending machines.
TalMa, on the other hand, seems to have been built in three parts over three decades, and with little modernizing to keep the entire mall in sync with itself. In fact, it doesn't even have a straight line--it sort of meanders along and eventually can't decide whether it wants to be one story or two (it is the only 1-1/3rd story mall that I've ever heard of). The random decor has no sense of connection to anything around it. And of course, this mall is in 'The Hood' (or so I've been told). It can't seem to keep any anchor stores except Belk's. And there's only Coca Cola products in their vending machines.
Let me just say there is no Hood in Tallahassee. Sure, some streets are safer than others, but a Hood? No. And second, I always point out that GovSq is just two miles west of the Federal Corrections facility off of Conner, which is a lot closer than TalMa is to it.
The bottom line is that I prefer Tallahassee Mall. Mind you, I wouldn't kick Governor's Square out of bed for eating crackers, but here's why I came to this conclusion:
-Whenever we come to town, I think, 'Ooo yes, GovSq--let's do some shopping, I love this place!' Then, I find that a store has left or changed and ultimately am (at least a little) sad or disappointed. This trip I found that the amazing dollar store where I got my Jesus clock and Shrimp Pocket had become the most recent victims. Conversely, when we go to TalMa, the thought is, 'Wow, that's still there? And that store is thriving? Good for them!' It's rooting for the underdog. It's a happy surprise to see what is still there (and in the 8 months since I've been here it looks that a good deal has survived).
-Now that Shrimp Pocket is gone from the GovSq food court, the TalMa Chick-Fil-A (complete with it's own Facebook page) rules them all.
-GovSq has the TBC love going for it, and that is playing on my existing love for a mall. That familiarity only exploits a loss. TalMa is a quirky shopping sprawl (like that term?--thought of it today, thank you) that evokes no memory of anything. It's love is purely for it being itself. And come on, it's a 1-1/3rd story mall--how awesome is that? It's an alien creature and still a wonderful curiosity.
-TalMa has a movie theater inside; GovSq's theater is outside and down the hill.
-GovSq feels like a real mall--it has all the shops that most other malls do, like Hot Topic and Forever 21 and Charlotte Russe. TalMa feels like nothing you've ever shopped at before, an altogether different creature. For the love of God, it has a shop that only sells Michael Jackson memorial t-shirts! That's it!!! That alone gives TalMa the grand slam for the win.
-The beautiful people shop at GovSq; the rest of us go to TalMa.
So those are my thoughts on the subject. I will miss both of them, but maybe Tallahassee Mall just a wee bit more. Next debate--Zaxby's vs. Guthrie's. GO!
13.8.09
Notes On A Sushi Menu
Notes written on the back of a sushi menu in blue biro - Orlando, Florida - 29.07.2009:
Lunched at my favourite Japanese restaurant, a small hole-in-the-wall that's been there for years. Simple decoration and unadorned functional chairs that make IKEA look ornate. I imagine this is right out of a common work street in any big Japanese city. The lack of Asian decor would be enough to put off the casual tourist but would be an anime fan's wet dream. The distinct and authentic taste and smell. It's home. The American equivolent would be a 'greasy chopstick'.
Further notes - Tallahassee, Florida - 14.08.2009
Surreal and perfect, the morning was something I don't get much in Orlando anymore, and that is surprise and new experience. Earlier I had gone to a Lil Champ convenience store in a suburban neighborhood that I had not been to many times. The cashier, it turns out, was Samoan. We showed each other our Polynesian tats and bid good day. Then I decided to go the aforementioned dining establishment (for those who are curious, it is Aki at the strip on the corner of Carrier and Universal). There was a Wednesday lunch crowd consisting of about half workers from surrounding offices and half Japanese diners. To the casual observer, this place is nothing special. In fact, it would probably make most think twice about even dining there. It's not distinct, nor is it seem to try very hard. No flash, no guys with Ginsus flipping shrimp tails into some Midwestern tourist's cleavage, and no fancy sushi rolls with foi gras, rabbit-digested parsley, and a lemon-caramel wasabi puree. No, it's a mom and pop place, like an Asian Denny's but independently owned. And they make a fine product. (I wonder if Vale has been there--I should mention it to her.) I like going there just as much for everything they aren't as well as for everything they are.
Lunched at my favourite Japanese restaurant, a small hole-in-the-wall that's been there for years. Simple decoration and unadorned functional chairs that make IKEA look ornate. I imagine this is right out of a common work street in any big Japanese city. The lack of Asian decor would be enough to put off the casual tourist but would be an anime fan's wet dream. The distinct and authentic taste and smell. It's home. The American equivolent would be a 'greasy chopstick'.
Further notes - Tallahassee, Florida - 14.08.2009
Surreal and perfect, the morning was something I don't get much in Orlando anymore, and that is surprise and new experience. Earlier I had gone to a Lil Champ convenience store in a suburban neighborhood that I had not been to many times. The cashier, it turns out, was Samoan. We showed each other our Polynesian tats and bid good day. Then I decided to go the aforementioned dining establishment (for those who are curious, it is Aki at the strip on the corner of Carrier and Universal). There was a Wednesday lunch crowd consisting of about half workers from surrounding offices and half Japanese diners. To the casual observer, this place is nothing special. In fact, it would probably make most think twice about even dining there. It's not distinct, nor is it seem to try very hard. No flash, no guys with Ginsus flipping shrimp tails into some Midwestern tourist's cleavage, and no fancy sushi rolls with foi gras, rabbit-digested parsley, and a lemon-caramel wasabi puree. No, it's a mom and pop place, like an Asian Denny's but independently owned. And they make a fine product. (I wonder if Vale has been there--I should mention it to her.) I like going there just as much for everything they aren't as well as for everything they are.
Radio Nowhere (Now I Understand That Song Title)
There's nothing quite as magical as driving on unfamiliar roads late at night, especially in a frontier town, and turning the dial of the AM radio around. Gospel preachers, sports talk, hell fire and brimstone, classical pieces, pop songs, sad country western music, Sinatra, Rush Limbaugh, Fredrick K. Price, news, presidents, Spanish, static--all bleeding together in a sonic stew, bits from here, bits from there. Radio stations from hundreds of miles away, waves bouncing off the clouds. The Bee Gees coming in from Panama City with Rosemary Clooney and Shostacovich backing them in a sea of white noise and radio hum. They never sounded quite as lonely, beautiful, and perfect as that.
Ground Rules (A Slight Return)
Hello. Again.
I'm back here on Blogger for the bazillionth time, but with much lowered expectations for myself:
-I don't expect to update this every day. I might. I might go months between entries. I might go minutes. But I will contribute when and what I deem relevant. Or not.
-Not everything will be gold. Nor should the reader expect that there be even obligatory logic in my posts. Maybe some will be funny. Maybe some will be tragic. Maybe some will make absolutely no sense. Perhaps none of those. Don't expect enlightenment.
-And dear reader--I don't assume there will be any at all, so if you've read this far then you've already exponentially overreached any vision I had when starting (again). Thank you.
Have fun. Have a thought. Have nothing. Have or have not.
Wow, that' was pretty enlightened.
Welcome. Back.
I'm back here on Blogger for the bazillionth time, but with much lowered expectations for myself:
-I don't expect to update this every day. I might. I might go months between entries. I might go minutes. But I will contribute when and what I deem relevant. Or not.
-Not everything will be gold. Nor should the reader expect that there be even obligatory logic in my posts. Maybe some will be funny. Maybe some will be tragic. Maybe some will make absolutely no sense. Perhaps none of those. Don't expect enlightenment.
-And dear reader--I don't assume there will be any at all, so if you've read this far then you've already exponentially overreached any vision I had when starting (again). Thank you.
Have fun. Have a thought. Have nothing. Have or have not.
Wow, that' was pretty enlightened.
Welcome. Back.
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