Life in Interesting Times

*My catchphrase. You can use it, as long as you credit me!

Here it is, a rainy Friday afternoon, and I at last have time to blog a little. I’m going to play catch-up from the past week or so, on great times Downtown.

One of the best things about living in a small town like DeLand is getting to know people. I’ve gotten to know some great ones in DeLand – like Todd and Rose Carpenter, who own Abbey and Norville Barnes. Todd is committed to a business that enhances the Downtown presence, and he runs a tight ship. There’s no funny business. Just good friendly service.

Would you believe Abbey has been open for three years now? It’s hard to imagine Downtown DeLand without it.

Todd and Rose celebrated last week by inviting regulars to Norville Barnes for dinner. The courses just kept coming. It was a wonderful celebration, accompanied by tastings of fine beers. Talk about a customer-reward program.

A few days earlier, Phil and Chantell Martin did an advance of their new restaurant, Ground Chuck’s (“udderly good burgers”) at the corner of Plymouth and Woodland.

You may not know Chantell is a devoted volunteer at Good Samaritan Health Clinic. She and Phil invited all the volunteers for the pre-opening sampler, and that got me in the door.

I got attorney Tanner Andrews, who works upstairs, to break away from his chronic overwork, and go as my guest.

The burgers were utterly delicious, and so were the selections of toppings and onion straws and fries. I want Tanner to go back and take them up on the burger challenge: if you can consume an udderly HUGE burger, it’s on the house.

Afterwards, we went up to Coffee Bistro 101, where we heard Jeff Shepherd and George Sword play some great jazz, to the accompaniment of great coffee.

Next, we hit Abbey, where Sonny and Flip were playing. Apparently, it was their last engagement together, which is too bad, because they play some of the best 60s rock-and-roll around.

A number of musicians, including Jeff, sat in, and they were shaking the house. People got up and danced to the music. It was a happening. Even Tanner danced. It’s true, despite his protestations to the contrary.

Where else but in DeLand? DeLightful, DeLovely DeLand?

This entry was posted on Friday, June 5th, 2009 at 5:18 pm and is filed under out and about. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Both comments and pings are currently closed.