Peppers

A trip to see the brand new Safeway this morning was my final Berkeley stop for this visit. This was a very old store that was crowded with people, displays, mediocre produce, and meat that I wouldn't touch with a bargepole. The parking lot was large and dangerous, with entrances and exits on two different streets. I hated going there.

It is now a huge new edifice with a courtyard, a Starbucks, a "real" butcher, as opposed to plastic wrapped selections, and artfully arranged produce. The parking is on top of the building. On closer inspection, however, I still wouldn't buy the meat and fish, and management apparently intends to realize its investment in fancy new digs with hugely inflated prices on the produce. It remains to be seen how well it all does. The neighbors hate its fortress-like walls in the midst of a block of small, independent businesses…a butcher, a French bakery, a greengrocer and two coffee places and unsuccessfully fought its construction for years.

I am now back home and Tim, Owen and Olive have just arrived, having been banished from Maya's 9th birthday slumber party with eight girls.