Come 'n' carve

Certainly you've noticed that the Woodpeckers have erected the Pumpkin Wall again. Just in time for the rains, I might add. Perhaps you've also seen the invitation:

Join us on Clement Street, between 8th and 10th Streets
Nightly pumpkin carving parties start Wednesday October 24
(Or carve and bring your own pumpkins)
Official Pumpkin Wall lighting at dusk Saturday October 27
Bring your trick-or-treaters on Halloween!
Be on the lookout for the documentary "The Great Pumpkin Wall"

Yo Joe

As readers of UtWT comments know, quirky grocer Trader Joe's is coming to the Metropolitan development in Midtown. What does that mean for Grubb's Elizabeth Avenue project? Does the nearby presence of Target, Home Depot and Trader Joe's mean lesser tenants for us? Metropolitan has a jump on Elizabeth Avenue, and it appears Grubb is having trouble luring big names. But does a dominant Metropolitan hurt Elizabeth Avenue's chances? I don't necessarily think so, although it does seem to imply that Grubb needs to get busy. There's still lots of buying power around here and the area is under-served from a retail standpoint. Let's see what happens.

OMG! Target! OMG!

Mysterious red balls in a parking garage on the edge of our 'hood? Could it be? It is! Target is open! I can confirm because my family's pocketbook is nearly $200 lighter today after being taken in by the shiny merchandise and the friendly employees at the store above the Home Depot, which doesn't appear to be ready for customers yet. I know a lot of people have been waiting a long time for this type of retail within walking distance. Who among us will be the first to get on a first-name basis with the clerks?

We'll get sprayed

Our neighborhood will be part of a $2.8 million campaign by the city to eradicate the cankerworm. As part of the effort, Elizabeth will be sprayed next spring, the first treetop spraying since 1998. You're probably thinking, "Hey -- that means I don't have to band my trees!" Wrong. You still have to band. Get busy.

Boundary change dead

The Observer is reporting in its print edition (but apparently not online) that the Eastover school boundary change is dead.