Sunday, August 10, 2008

Irreverent Sunday

Between the early and the late services this morning, I talked to a few parish members and learned about a community event this afternoon called Penn Fest. Some of the businesses and the City put together a small summer get-together this afternoon, and also unveiled some ideas for a planned redevelopment around the intersection, which would include making it more green and friendly for walking.

However, some people expressed concern about the future of the small businesses there. There are more than enough chain coffee shops in the area. When other areas of the city were redeveloped, none of the former tenants came back. And there are some wonderful, unique small businesses here, that no one wants to lose: Fireside Pizza, Penn Cycle, Homestead Pickin' Parlor, Koram Tae Kwan Do School, and the Lariat Lanes Bowling Alley.

There is a rumor that when Mick Jagger comes to town, he goes bowling at the Lariat Lanes.

So, maybe that's what the song, "I Can't Get No Satisfaction" is all about.

All these years, his one ambition has been to bowl a perfect game.

12 comments:

Ruth Hull Chatlien said...

I can hear it now, a lost verse:

When I'm groovin' at the lanes
and I toss that bowling ball,
but it hooks into the gutter.
Bowlers laugh and call me geek,
'cause they see I'm on losing streak.
I can't get no, oh no no no.
Hey hey hey, that's what I say.

(Yeah, I know it's lame. It's my day off.)

Lori said...

Wasn't the original lyric:

"I can't get no...uh
split pin action...."

?

Diane M. Roth said...

you guys crack me up!

Terri said...

hey, I think that's absolutely right...can't speak for the exact words...never was good at lyric-memorization...but, sounds about right to me....

Unknown said...

Wacky.

Fran said...

I am laughing so loud and so hard... Can you hear me in Minneapolis???

Anonymous said...

I'm sure you're right, Diane!

:)

Barbara B. said...

Penn Cycle looks like my kind of place! (One of our two bike shops went out of business this summer...)

LoieJ said...

If none of the original shops came back to a certain area, maybe they weren't part of the original planning??????

RevDrKate said...

I always really liked that part of town...kind of like a little village in the city. Hope the redevlopment can work out. My "coffee guy" and I were bemoaning that whole thing about going from one city to the next and not being sure where you are because it all looks alike due to the chain explosion.

Law+Gospel said...

This was great - and to read the "real" lyrics. Just the laugh I needed post-CPE while I am finishing up endorsement essays. Catching up from eariler, Diane I too have joined the Facebook nation- a must for seminary community.

Lindy said...

We are going through some of this in Austin right now. There is a big ruckus because an old-time mexican cafe won't be able to afford the higher rents in the re-development. I'm not involved in it but I know there have been lots of offers and counter-offers trying to make it work. Some other local joints have already been lost.

I remember when downtown San Angelo (Texas) did a master plan, we lost lots of businesses there too. Traffic was diverted to the point that there just wasn't any customer base. But, later, new LOCAL businesses came in. It's better than before and the city is raking lots more tourist dollars keeping property taxes low for the rest.

I hope all your favorites survive the renovation!