| Author | Message | ||
     Wendyn Supporter Username: Wendyn Post Number: 1347 Registered: 9-2002 |
The parking thing is definitely perception. Like Meand I usually have one or two small kids with me. The idea of struggling to walk with them for several blocks in a busy downtown without them running out into traffic is just too stressfull. But when I am by myself I have no problem walking across town for something I want. | ||
| growler Citizen Username: Growler Post Number: 413 Registered: 11-2001 |
It's funny where some people have problems finding parking. I cannot ever find a spot in the village however have never had a problem on SA. I think there is more parking on SA if you know where to look. The huge lot behind Burnett BBQ is a great spot to park and there is always parking. Plus it's within 1 block of all the stores listed. Maybe there should be a "Shop Locally" week/month. Like the "Turn Off the TV" program for kids. Instead of only one resturant, it could be the whole town. | ||
| SoOrLady Citizen Username: Soorlady Post Number: 1762 Registered: 9-2003 |
growler - I like it.... let's get buttons made & take out an ad in the News Record! We've never had a hard time finding a parking place - but we may if "Shop Locally" is successful. We try to do just that - kids' gifts at Scrivner's or Wooden You Know, family & friend's gifts at Richard Robert's, Bee & Thistle, Kokoro. Dining or take out at most of the local establishments, framing at Classic Design Framing (she also has some nice gift items), cards at the Stationery store. We Netflix our videos, but used to get them in town. Based on the posts, I'll definately start buying books at Goldfinch. | ||
| Meandtheboys Citizen Username: Meandtheboys Post Number: 159 Registered: 12-2004 |
"There is absolutely no parking problem in downtown Maplewood." You're kidding, right?  I go to the village in my car (before anybody gets all up in my face--yes, I walk there too!) at all hours of the day and evening and there most definately is a parking problem in downtown Maplewood. A very well known and often discusses parking problem, I might add. Why else would there have been talk of building a multi-level parking garage? | ||
| ril Citizen Username: Ril Post Number: 285 Registered: 6-2001 |
Yeah, what's up with the (lack of) guacamole at Carmelita's? As much as I like the food (used to go there when they were in Hoboken), the excuse that avocados are out of season is lame. When is avocado season, anyway? If I could count on guacamole, I'd go there more often. Still, I'll give it another try this week. I'd hate to see them close... | ||
| Meandtheboys Citizen Username: Meandtheboys Post Number: 160 Registered: 12-2004 |
Wendyn: When I'm by myself I actually enjoy a nice liesurely stroll through the village, window shopping, stopping for a cup of coffee, etc. Unfortunately, I'm not often by myself! | ||
| Wendyn Supporter Username: Wendyn Post Number: 1348 Registered: 9-2002 |
 My downtown strolls by myself are a bit too leisurely, to the point where I get the "where the hell were you?!" when I get home... | ||
| drewdix Citizen Username: Drewdix Post Number: 823 Registered: 7-2001 |
There is absolutely no parking problem in downtown Maplewood. I have small kids too. The stress or hassle in walking with kids for 90 seconds/2 blocks usually comes from the need to hurry due to my own self created lack of time management -- which is my fault, and has nothing to do with parking. The talk of a multi level parking garage (!!) seems to have predictably died away. | ||
| Wendyn Supporter Username: Wendyn Post Number: 1350 Registered: 9-2002 |
My stress is not time related, it is trying to carry a squirmy toddler who wants to walk AND hold the hand of a preschooler who wants to run ahead, or letting said toddler old walk when she refuses to hold my hand on a crowded sidewalk next to a busy street. And try to do any of that while carrying a cup of coffee. Seriously I think in a couple of years it won't be an issue for me, and I can usually find some kind of parking in whatever town I visit. And I do try to shop in Millburn (where I live), Maplewood, SO and Summit, as well as other local towns. I found at Christmas that Toys R Us was sorely lacking in the stuff I wanted for the kids...I found it all at Meyer's and The Carriage Trade. I do admit to being a Starbucks and Amazon addict though. And I am a chain store clothes buyer. | ||
| Meandtheboys Citizen Username: Meandtheboys Post Number: 162 Registered: 12-2004 |
Oh. O.K. drewdix. So all those afternoons when I've gone to town to get my haircut at Garubo's (thereby supporting a local business) and have driven in circles looking for parking, any parking, for a good 15-20 minutes--checking all four of the lots in town and looking on the street--only to end up parking in the Women's Club lot (which I'm sure is a no-no), that was all a figment of my imagination? Or perhaps just a dream I had? Or maybe I was on drugs again? Silly me!  As a matter of fact, the girl who cuts my hair even commented on having seen me driving in circles looking for parking, when I finally arrived late because I had had such a hard time. Or what about that Friday night a couple of weeks ago when it was 19 degrees out and all I wanted to do was get a couple bucks out of the BA ATM at around 7:30 PM, and I couldn't drive through Inwood because people were parked illegally on both sides of the street picking up food at Trattoria. And the lot behind the bank was full, as were all the others. And there were so few spots on the streets that traffic was jammed for blocks because cars were waiting for the one car that happened to be pulling out by the movie theater. I guess I must have been hallucinating again. | ||
| marian Citizen Username: Marian Post Number: 560 Registered: 9-2001 |
Dave, LOVE you Carmelitas "Week" idea! We'll be there. | ||
| marian Citizen Username: Marian Post Number: 561 Registered: 9-2001 |
p.s. Yes, someone should definitely tell Carlos about it! | ||
| eliz Supporter Username: Eliz Post Number: 988 Registered: 5-2001 |
Yes and tell him avocadoes are 2 for $3.00 at Whole Foods this week and there is a cartload of 'em. | ||
| Tom Reingold Supporter Username: Noglider Post Number: 5424 Registered: 1-2003  |
Avocado definitely has a season. I'm not sure, but it might be summer. I can understand that Carlos doesn't want to serve it canned. I really believe the parking problem is one of perception. That doesn't make it false. Perhaps the town should post signs hinting at parking places so that there are no secrets. Once again, the problem with parking is because (1) you have to cross property lines between your car and your destination and (2) the time it takes to find a spot varies widely. It doesn't take long very often. When you compare this to a mall, it seems bad but it isn't. You often have to walk more than five minutes from your car to your favorite store at the mall, but you don't notice because of (1) and (2) above. Thanks for the news about Goldfinch. Now if my relatives could send me Goldfinch gift cards instead of Amazon and B&N gift cards! | ||
| marian Citizen Username: Marian Post Number: 562 Registered: 9-2001 |
Tom, I bet they could call Goldfinch and charge a gift certificate in your name and have Goldfinch mail it to you! I've done that with local stores in towns where friends of mine live when I know they happen to love a particular local boutique or something. | ||
| Bill P Citizen Username: Mrincredible Post Number: 29 Registered: 1-2005  |
One little innocent comment about parking and look what I've started! I think a great deal of my personal frustration comes from situations like Meandtheboys describes above ... illegal parkers on Inwood, people waiting for spots on Maplewood Avenue (and yes I've been one of those and for the record whenever I vacate a precious spot on Maplewood Ave I do it quickly, without even looking where I'm going or putting on my seatbelt because I know someone's waiting for the spot), people waiting in the lot for NJ transit commuters (the lot on the town side, not the park side) and the occasional tractor trailer inching its way down the alley next to King's. I don't mind parking on a side street, although I scoff (scoff! scoff!) that there is always a place to be had within 90 seconds of any destination within town(scoff again!). I do not mind walking 5 minutes or so, though, but sometimes it's a matter of guessing the right side street to go down to find a spot. Try parking on Woodland, fr'instance, when there's a show at the BCC when you just want to grab your pork fried rice from Bill and Harry's and get home. Maybe the spots right on the Avenue should be converted to 15-minute spots for folks running short errands, especially those with kids (and no, I have none of my own, I'm sticking up for the harried moms of the world since I did my fair share of harrying mine). Now I'm really asking for it. No, I did not mention the word "meters" and don't intend to. | ||
| ril Citizen Username: Ril Post Number: 286 Registered: 6-2001 |
Tom, Another idea: http://booksense.com/ This site supports independent booksellers. You can buy gift certificates redeemable at any independent bookseller that participates in the program (and Goldfinch does). Purchases can also be made online. | ||
| ashear Supporter Username: Ashear Post Number: 1676 Registered: 5-2001 |
Re Goldfinch, they will give you a discount (I forget if its 5 or 10 percent) if you are member of Friends of the Maplewood Library. http://maplewoodlibrary.org/friends.html Re parking, I'm in town pretty often at various times, both with and without kids. I've never found parking to be that big a deal. I never have to walk more than a couple of blocks an it never takes more than a few minutes to find a spot, but I grew up in the city where parking within 10 blocks of your destination is considered a great feat. My kids have also been in the city a lot so they are well trained re walking on sidewalks and crossing streets. | ||
| greenetree Supporter Username: Greenetree Post Number: 3856 Registered: 5-2001  |
Bill - not for nothing, but local merchants need to be more responsible about their own parking habits and those of their employees. I know of several who park near their stores all day & one larger business who has many employees in the 3 hour lots all day long. I know the local beat cop think's it nice to not ticket merchants, but it is not a good long-term plan. It always blows my mind that, in the middle of the day, stores are empty, yet there is not a spot to be had. I never thought about the mom/dad with a couple kids in tow & I can understand why walking with that kid & a shopping bag for two blocks is a pain. It has been raised before that employees have to park somewhere, but it seems to me that if people are concerned about losing business, customers being late to appointments, etc., that they themselves should park further & walk. Heck, most of us have to do it. Whether walking from Valley, Park, Oakview, etc to the train station; across town from Penn Station; across a gigantic mall-sized parking lot in our suburban corporate office parks, etc. As a merchant, why wouldn't you want to make it convenient for people to visit your store? And, as an employee, don't you realize that if your store doesn't get foot traffic, you could be out of a job? If we could get all the store employees (or, for that matter, anyone who is parked for more than, say, 5 hours) to park legally for one day, I'll bet shoppers would have plenty of options. | ||
| LilLB Citizen Username: Lillb Post Number: 407 Registered: 10-2002  |
I try to patronize local businesses in town whenever I can, but I do find the parking situation frustrating. Try running a 2 minute errand on a Friday evening around 7:00 (pick up wine, take out food, etc.)-- forget it - don't even try to get a spot close, and expect to wait forever while the person 5 cars ahead of you waits 3 minutes for a person to vacate a particular spot (and this will happen to you at least twice while you try to find your own spot). It's not that there isn't a spot *somewhere* outside of the village (e.g., Woodland, Durand, etc.), it's just that when your errand takes 2 minutes you feel like you should just be able to park close, get out of your car, and be on your way in 5-7 minutes time. Plus, those of us "eternal optimists" truly think there must be a closer spot (I inherited this annoying trait from my father -- I'm convinced that I'll get lucky and find a spot, so I admit, I'll waste a little time trying to get close to my destination even when the town is clearly busy). It's not laziness, but a quick errand should be quick. I'll get my exercise when I'm at the gym or have changed into some sweats.... I do like the idea of 15 minute parking spaces along the Avenue though - I think that would be great. |
