Farewell and More Books

Several years ago I was searching out a nice, neighborhood Italian restaurant that served true rigatoni noodles, not penne pasta. I remembered one that had catered my niece's wedding, one where she used to work when she still lived in the old neighborhood, dropped by to try a meal, and was hooked. So from that time, for the past several years, I have been dropping by on my way home from work on Saturday nights and ordering take-out for dinner. As is the case with many small businesses in today's economy, they were impacted. But not in a good way. Restaurants have had a tough go of it, and many have closed their doors, but Bascali's forged ahead. Unfortunately the economy finally caught up with them, and today is their final day of business. I'll pick up a final take-out order tonight, and we'll find another place for our weekly no-cook treat, but I always mourn a bit when a small, independent business ends. I think it leaves all of us a bit poorer and a bit more pushed into large, uncomfortable boxes of same-ness.

I'll miss you, Bascali's.

( three more books I love follow below the cut )