Cville Dave

If you haven't already, be sure to check out my fellow councilor Dave Norris's new blog. He shares his collection of vintage postcards as a way to shed light on city issues and city history. Great blog!

EAT Local

At last week's Thomas Jefferson Planning District Commission meeting (I am one of two city reps, along with Planning Commissioner Jason Pearson) we had a presentation on EAT Local. This organization stemmed from a Spring 2006 UVa class "Planning for a Sustainable and Secure Community Food System" taught by Tonya Denckla Cobb and Tim Beatley. EAT Local Workgroups include Urban Community Supported Agriculture, Farm to School, Composting and a Local Food Directory. There are plans for a statewide conference on the Local Foods movement this spring, in Charlottesville.

EAT Local is meeting tomorrow night (Wednesday Dec 13, 6 pm, at the new Albemarle County Office Building), followed by the film The Future of Food at 7pm ($5 donation, to support the co-sponsoring organization, One Seed at a Time).

This is a timely event. Last week there was a city meeting on our very successful Saturday market, to address vendor issues and make this venue for local agriculture even more successful. Having this be an issue for the planning district is important. Supporting local agriculture is essential to dealing with global warming and energy issues - does it really make sense to import food from thousands of miles away?

Blue Moon Diner

Great news! The Blue Moon Diner is back in the restaurant business, after a two year hiatus while owners Mark Hahn and Rob Gustafson concentrated on their catering business (Harvest Moon Catering) - and I am pleased to report it is better than ever! Laura Galgano and Rice Hall, formerly of Bizou, have joined the Diner, bringing local and heirloom ingredients to the Diner's tradition of high-quality affordable food. Jean and I ate there last night and thought it splendid. Nice selection of beers on tap, including my new favorite, Eggenberg Pilsner.

My chiropractic office used to be a few doors from the Blue Moon Diner, and I've enjoyed it through a long series of owners. Buzz and Allison White had it when I began my practice in 1982, and I got to know Jerry Danner when he ran it. Maybe my favorite incarnation was when Maggie Cox and Martha Tharpe (now Martha Woodroof, commentator for WMRA, and the original Martha of Martha's Cafe) ran it in the late 80"s. In any event a great place, with breakfast anytime.