Speaking of tasteful.

I was speaking to a friend who just returned from a short trip to Vermont and he commented on the character of the city he visited. Lots of smaller stores with merchants doing just fine, thank you very much. It’s something we both noted was in keeping with the character Vermont tries to project (as a destination) of a woodsy, picturesque place inhabited by charming and tasteful rural folk. Mmmm, writing that I was thinking how it may be the US’s answer to Oz’s Munchkinland.

Notable was the absence of the big box store or mega mall virus which has become all too common throughout the country. If they do have the things they are tucked away, almost hidden so as not to spoil the charm of the place - ah, you’ve got to love strong zoning enforcement.

Used to be Manhattan was like Vermont and it seems that changed somewhere along the time they managed to transform 6th Avenue between 14th and 23rd. Well Brooklynites, prepare thyselves you are on the beachhead of this war and this is your d-day.

“Wal-Mart discriminates against women and destroys good jobs, and it would take away business from local businesses. I don’t want it here,” she told the operator, who promised to get her message to the mayor’s office. Gonzalez, 34, like Sikora, lives on the increasingly trendy strip of Fifth Avenue in northern Park Slope, near two sites the retail supergiant is rumored to be considering for its first store in the city.