New Joint

My sources tell me a new restaurant, called Hopscotch, is moving into into the former Taffy's site.

It'll serve breakfast, lunch and do some catering.

Okay, my source is the sign. I walked by it this morning.

Good to see. Looking forward to having a new lunch place.

The previous restaurant, Theory, seemed to be just that. I only saw that place open once.

An Absolute Outrage

No, not the landfill issue. I'm working on that one.

I finally made it over to 10 Center Street this weekend. They completely eliminated all the booths that faced Center Street, replacing them with a single bench and three or four small tables along with opposing chairs.

What the hell?

Not only did this reconfiguration destroy a uniquely intimate setting, one worth forgoing all other settings. But the new bench blocks half the windows making a dark room darker. Plus, I'd swear there are fewer seats in that part of the restaurant.

I just don't understand.

.

Landfill, a retrospective

As I've noted before, I'm a bit late to the landfill party. So I sought a little perspective in the archives of the Daily News.

Here are the headlines over the past year-plus when searches the archives for "New Ventures." I'm sure there are some articles missing. I didn't have time to do multiple searches, but this gives a pretty good overview of what's transpired over the past year.

Things looked so hopeful for a time....

May
Landfill deal would double truck traffic Council to discuss latest offer Monday night
Council puts off landfill request to special meeting
Owners want embattled landfill to accept more waste
Newburyport: Landfill settlement near; city in dark about contents

April
Letter: Residents must take action to end nightmare at landfill

March
Our view: An outrage that deserves punishment
DEP: Landfill owner shut off odor control City calls action retribution for latest order
Newburyport shuts down landfill... again
Letter: Get very angry that state not fixing landfill problems

February
New Ventures fined again for odors Monday
Landfill stench overwhelms neighborhood; New problem with equipment blamed
Landfill operator appeals fines as smells persist

September 2007
State makes right move on Port's troubled landfill
Judge orders fast action on landfill
'Blame the victim' game is playing out at landfill

August
Landfill owner demands Port pay him millions
State asks court to let it finish work at landfill

February
State should take over Crow Lane landfill
Landfill shut down again

January
Landfill stench lingered for nearby residents
Residents optimistic dump will be capped

For more landfill talk, go over to Gillian Swart's blog.