Friday, May 30, 2008
Wednesday, May 28, 2008
5/28/08
Today I took advantage of my open pre-work schedule, and took a walking tour of downtown Frederick. I couldn't have looked any more a tourist in my bright green shirt, sandals & capris with my purse slung across my chest and my camera hanging from my neck.
Downtown Frederick is hopefully easier to describe than the outskirts of Frederick which send me rushing for a thesaurus to find other ways of saying "pastoral". It's full of hilly winding streets and named alleys. The buildings are mostly original brick townhouses. There are some contemporary commercial buildings and apartments, but for the most part it is very colonial. Bright colors, lots of dental trim and wrought iron on brick. Many of the townhouses have brightly painted doors or shutters, and ornate doorknockers.
There are several parks (or one long interrupted park) that run through downtown on either side of Carroll Creek. There were plenty of people out today, lots walking dogs - Corgis seem to be very popular here - people playing tennis, reading, and doing what people do mid-day on a week day in a park. I talked for a while to a man in a wheel chair about Frederick's accessibility challenges. He said it was pretty easy to live here in a wheelchair, and that most buildings are accessible. He said occasionally he's forced into taking a service elevator or a back door, but for the most part the community is well planned around the needs of wheel chairs. I was happy to hear that.
I went in and out of many shops. There are some really really cool little boutiques and knick knack stores. Full of absolutely irresistible furniture, decor, artwork and clothing. I found a hammer shaped like a high heeled shoe, and a store where nothing is over 10.00, and most things are under 1.00. They sell apparel and accessories. The whole top floor is dedicated to jewelry, and is arranged by color on the walls. Like a giant plastic rainbow that just goes on and on. I found two hair pretties that I felt I could not live without. My total was .38. I am pleased.
I went into a bicycle shop called Wheel Base and talked to the older kooky owner about putting my bike back together. He quoted me between 12-20.00. Again good news. They sell Felt and Raleigh bikes and seem to be, judging from their service department, where people take their old cruisers to get fixed. Neat place.
On my way back through downtown I went through a memorial park, and explored more of Carroll Creek.
Afterward I was able to find my way home without incident, and used my extra time to do laundry and wash the car. Man, I have not had enough practice washing a car. And the bugs were nigh impossible to be rid of. In the end, the car is much less filthy, but no where near immaculate. My grisly grill of entomological doom has now gone down a storm drain, and I think that's good news for everybody.
Downtown Frederick is hopefully easier to describe than the outskirts of Frederick which send me rushing for a thesaurus to find other ways of saying "pastoral". It's full of hilly winding streets and named alleys. The buildings are mostly original brick townhouses. There are some contemporary commercial buildings and apartments, but for the most part it is very colonial. Bright colors, lots of dental trim and wrought iron on brick. Many of the townhouses have brightly painted doors or shutters, and ornate doorknockers.
There are several parks (or one long interrupted park) that run through downtown on either side of Carroll Creek. There were plenty of people out today, lots walking dogs - Corgis seem to be very popular here - people playing tennis, reading, and doing what people do mid-day on a week day in a park. I talked for a while to a man in a wheel chair about Frederick's accessibility challenges. He said it was pretty easy to live here in a wheelchair, and that most buildings are accessible. He said occasionally he's forced into taking a service elevator or a back door, but for the most part the community is well planned around the needs of wheel chairs. I was happy to hear that.
I went in and out of many shops. There are some really really cool little boutiques and knick knack stores. Full of absolutely irresistible furniture, decor, artwork and clothing. I found a hammer shaped like a high heeled shoe, and a store where nothing is over 10.00, and most things are under 1.00. They sell apparel and accessories. The whole top floor is dedicated to jewelry, and is arranged by color on the walls. Like a giant plastic rainbow that just goes on and on. I found two hair pretties that I felt I could not live without. My total was .38. I am pleased.
I went into a bicycle shop called Wheel Base and talked to the older kooky owner about putting my bike back together. He quoted me between 12-20.00. Again good news. They sell Felt and Raleigh bikes and seem to be, judging from their service department, where people take their old cruisers to get fixed. Neat place.
On my way back through downtown I went through a memorial park, and explored more of Carroll Creek.
Afterward I was able to find my way home without incident, and used my extra time to do laundry and wash the car. Man, I have not had enough practice washing a car. And the bugs were nigh impossible to be rid of. In the end, the car is much less filthy, but no where near immaculate. My grisly grill of entomological doom has now gone down a storm drain, and I think that's good news for everybody.
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