So my wife and I get a rare chance to go to dinner...

[underpants]

Stay over "pajama party" for the little one at daycare.
We don't get out much any more just the two of us.


We decided to go to a place called Pasta Luna. A restaurant in Richmond's west end that was THE top Italian restaurant 5, 6, or 7 years in a row according to the local eatery/style magazine.

Turn into the parking lot--lots of spaces available I think, "wow it looks dark" I say to my wife...we pull into a parking spot right in front of the front door (a rarity). Closed. Empty. GONE. No tables left nothing. Closed. Empty. GONE

I called 411 to see if they had moved, no listing. Closed. Empty. GONE

We just sat there. Damn, this place was PACKED all the time. From people at the bar to families to dates. You could get a good Italian dish to order or giant "family size" servings so big (served in the pan they were made in) even *I* couldn't finish one and that was (still is) saying something. Always had to wait at Pasta Luna and it is a strip mall with a higher end Chinese place, a movie theater, a huge Gold's Gym, etc. Great location and name recognition that was unbeatable. Closed. Empty. GONE.

Apparently the shut down at the beginning of the year.
http://www.timesdispatch.com/rtd/business/local/article/LUNA09_20090108-211908/173054/
The Italian restaurant at 8902 W. Broad St. in western Henrico County closed last week after nearly 15 years in that location.

Executive chef Peter T. Caserta blamed economic reasons for the restaurant's demise.

"We had a long run, a good run," he said. "But location has changed everything; everything has shifted to more out west."
"So many restaurants are way off ," he said. "We thought we'd take a rest. But we may come back when the economy gets better."

We went over to the Starbucks a few doors down and the coffee guy said that they started opening sporadically for a month or so and then just shut down.

WOW

[JerseygirlCT]

1. So far our favorite places are doing well

In fact, the Mexican place has been packed the last two times we've been in. Which is good, b/c they're great folks.

But I do notice that I never have to wait for a table anymore.

[greatauntoftriplets]

2. Ever tried Sticky Rice in Richmond?

The son of friends of mine own it. I've been to the one in DC and recommend it.

Sorry that the place you wanted to go to was closed.

[underpants]

3. Years ago when it first opened

just haven't been back-don't know why or why not

They support a lot of good stuff around here (local radio and the like)

[greatauntoftriplets]

6. Good.

Sushi and tater tots are kind of an odd combination, but then the owner has that kind of sense of humor.

His mother and I grew up next to each other.

[Tab]

7. If you want odd combinations...

Try http://thisiswhyyourefat.com/

Go through all 7 pages.

Ask no more.

[greatauntoftriplets]

10. Those are truly bizarre.

Thanks for sharing.

[underpants]

11. THIS looks good

12 Bird True Love Roast

Contains 12 different kinds of bird: large turkey filled with goose, chicken, pheasant, aylesbury and barbary duck, poussin and guinea fowl, partridge, pigeon squab, quail and mallard duck. Breast meat from 48 different birds + 8 types of stuffing.

"The Garbage Plate" is how I eat sometimes-anything in the fridge (my wife over cooks). But it is all healthy I call it "Garbage scow-ing"

[Tab]

12. As someone who cooks

it sounds like a hell of a lot of work, and I can't imagine the taste benefit.

Most of the other stuff, though - my arteries clog just by looking at the pictures.

[zbdent]

16. chicken stuff on a stick ...

and a dessert stuff on a stick ...

to go ...

[Raine]

4. So far I haven't noticed

a slow down here in the Los Angeles area (along the coast).

[oregonjen]

5. Hope you still had fun, though

It's so hard to find time to get out and enjoy just being a twosome. :hi:

[underpants]

8. We went to a nice seafood place

really nice

I couldn't have any seafood though (gout) :evilfrown:

[notadmblnd]

9. There was an upscale restaraunt that opened near us a couple years ago.

They had a 3 month waiting list for reservations. I mean you couldn't even drop by for a drink at the bar. I drove by the other day and they're advertising a happy hour. Too bad really, I'm not interested in trying it any longer.

[woodwrite]

13. Sorry to hear it

I lived and worked in Richmond for a dozen years or so,... first the Times-Dispatch, and then a couple of ad agencies,... then moved down to the Bay. But I've seen a few of my own Richmond favorites vanish, and it can be an unsettling trip. A few of the Chesapeake's four-stars have gone down the tubes, also. I live in a county that went solidly for Bush - Bush - McCain, and I never let them forget that this is what they brought down of themselves,.. on all of us.

[underpants]

14. Welcome to DU

:hi:

if'n I haven't before

I grew up in York County

[jedr]

15. My job has me on the road; about 150 mi/day;

Pittsburgh and surrounding counties. Each day of late I play a game of seeing how many business have closed since the last time I was there (normally 30 days or less) .......4 or 5 each time. The strip malls in the suburbs have gaping holes in them that grow larger each time. It's getting bad. My guess is that they can't get stop gap loans to get them through the slow months. Even my Sirius radio that gives me relief from the Clear channel bull sh*t is in question for next week.:shrug:

[underpants]

17. Two problems

1. Commercial loans are about to see what real estate saw. 60 Minutes had a great piece on it a few weeks ago.
2. Loans-are they loaning money again?