More from Panera

I haven’t been blogging for a couple of months.  Sometimes life just gets in the way of things.  Now, I am back to my table at Panera.  Actually, I didn’t leave. Just stopped writing.  For those of you who might care to read, I’m going to try it again for awhile.

Little kids!  I’ve mentioned them in my Panera blogs before.  Everyday, toddlers and pre-school kids come with their moms to hang out at the P.  They’re great, some in particular like little Gio!  This handsome little boy feels that the front area of Panera is his special playground.  He scoots around, often with a very serious expression, to visit with the regulars he has met before or with new acquaintances.  Gio is really a toddler, maybe 18 months old, but so personable.  Recently, he toddled up to Terry, who was eating a scone.  Gio raised his arms to be picked up, and Terry obliged.  For the next several minutes, Terry and Gio shared the scone.  Gio would make a little “some more, please” sound whenever he wanted another bite.  His mom is a very smiley, young woman.  You can understand why she is happy when you watch her little boy joyfully interacting with a room full of mostly senior citizens.

Here’s another observation about little ones and Panera Bakery.  The kids are fascinated by the floor.  It’s tile, probably 12”x12” pieces, and they love bouncing across them.  I get a particular kick out of a little girl who is wearing her rain boots each time I see her.  They’re pink; she must just love them!  She just is overjoyed by galumphing along in her big boots over the tiles.  I’ve noticed also that some kids must still know the rhyme, “step on a crack, you’ll break your mother’s back,” that we always chanted when we were kids.  It’s great to watch them navigating the tiles with out hurting mom’s back.  Of course, some of them stamp right down on the cracks!  This probably occurs on days that Mom has been forced to be a disciplinarian.

It’s time to move away from kids, and over to coffee, but not Panera coffee!  Starbucks on the corner of Genesee Street next to Romano Chrysler Jeep is expanding their shop into their parking lot, where there was already limited parking!  Now parking will be cut by a third.  Why enlarge, when there aren't enough places already?  I have a way for them to deal with this dilemma.  The new casino in Chittenango, short on parking, has made a deal with St. Patrick’s Church, which is down the road a bit.  For what I have heard is a nice fee, the church is allowing casino overflow to use their parking lot when it is not in church use.  They even have a shuttle to transport the gamblers from the church to the casino.  Here’s a chance for a Fayetteville Church to make a few bucks.  Supply the overflow parking for those folks who just must get their Starbucks’ fix.  Of course, this most certainly won’t happen, but pick a church, anyway, and start a fun rumor! Greg Ellstrom

P.S.  Final irony: A catholic church providing parking for a place that includes bingo!