Views of the Neighborhood – COVID Accomodation

~ John W. Howell

With nothing better to report in the neighborhood, I decided to go out and do a personal investigation of how restaurants, stores, and small eating places are handling the COVID situation. This is not a Pulitzer Prize-worthy post, but hey, beats a blank page.

Views of the neighborhood
Photo by Unsplash

So I got the bus. We have a keg of margaritas, salsa, chips, and a restroom. I think we are good to go. Hop on and keep your social distance.

Views of the Neighborhood

Our first stop is the local food chain. They have curbside down to a science. You order on-line, you arrive, text the number on the sign, your groceries are delivered to your car.

A local pizza restaurant lets you order on-line then call a number when you arrive.

This shop has take out only.

These guys have take out, pick up, and delivery. I could see calling for a couple of cones delivered. Don’t ask the driver how he kept the ice-cream from running down the cone.

Pick up, take away, and delivery here as well.

The ubiquitous SubWay. Take out only.

Views of the neighborhood

Sushi to go.

Here is our vet. Pull in. Call the number, and they come to get your dog or cat or bird or whatever.

Our library has a curbside pick up too.

Here we are at the Papa Murphys. You order online, arrive, call the number, and out comes your ready to bake pizza.

Here is a pet food supplier that offers curbside or delivery. pay no attention to that idiot reflected in the glass. He obviously has a lot to learn about picture taking.

Well, it looks like the shops are doing the best they can during this challenging time. Thanks for going along. We still have some refreshments left, so if you want tho hang out for a while, you are welcome.

83 thoughts on “Views of the Neighborhood – COVID Accomodation”

  1. Out vet practise operates on a ‘call first and we’ll meet you at the door’ basis. Works well. Apart from that, we’re using delivery for most things although we have been into a couple of stores recently (fully masked up and socially distanced, of course).
    Happily, I haven’t yet had a telephone or video consultation with the medical profession – it would be tough for them to do blood tests or biopsies remotely!

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  2. We can go into most places, but at a 50% occupancy level. Most still do pick-up and delivery as well. I guess we’re all learning new ways of getting stuff.

    If you don’t mind, I’ll take a refill. I’ve got this new book that I’m reading, “Eternal Road,” it something like that.

    I hope you have a good week, John.

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  4. We have a mix of pick-up, curbside delivery and walk-in with limited capacity going here in Sarasota as well. Certainly a very different way of life. I miss chatting with people in stores, casually browsing, etc. Gonna take some time to return to life as we know it I fear. Good thing we have good books available to occupy our minds. ☺️

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  8. That margarita was great, thanks! I loved the tour of your neighbourhood food etc. outlets. Here in Spain, we can now go to our favourite restaurants/coffee shops/bars for a meal or a drink but we sit outside, which we would do anyway. It is abnormally quiet though as there are hardly any tourists or folks with holiday homes. Not sure how the businesses will survive. Only time will tell.

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  9. Thanks for the tour, John. Seeing businesses close or struggling always hurts. I hope for them and our nation and pray for all. ♥

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  10. Very much a mixture here but businesses are doing the best they can to stay afloat, some more successful than others. Admittedly, I have no desire to eat in a restaurant at the moment although an outside patio does sound enticing!🍷

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  11. Going out to eat isn’t fun these days. We usually order and pick up. Even some of our fast-food restaurants now offer delivery. I don’t think I’d want to order ice cream to go! 🙂

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  12. Wow. That is amazing. What a different scenario from here. We go into pretty much every business. The vets are mix. One is you go in, take a number and then go wait outside until they call you. I was surprised I was allowed in with Zeke as most will take your pet and make you wait outside… I’ve not gone to a restaurant yet, though my sister and family have been a half a dozen times – all spaced out and you wear your mask until your food arrives. I pass through the golf club restaurant where I work (but I’m down under the terrace so it’s a different story) and see that the tables are all spaced out… I admit I’ve not been to places other than grocery and liquor stores.
    I can’t wait for life to return to a semblance of normal!

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  13. Good morning, John,
    It’s basically the same here. Have you any idea if at all those places the attendants wear masks? When we did pick-up at our favourite Mexican restaurant [“Hilda’s Tortillas”] here last Saturday, the guy who brought the food out wasn’t wearing one, and when my wife reminded him that he had to, he gave a curt “We don’t wear masks here!” My wife then told him that in these circumstances we – regular customers for more than 10 years – would not come back, he simply shrugged his shoulder with another curt “That’s fine!”
    I still have to let the management know about this.
    Have a great Sunday,
    Pit

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  15. Fun tour and looks similar to ours except they are doing outdoor eating in the streets. Same with our vet which makes it easier for me so I can take 3 pets in at a time for shots, which I’m doing next week twice:)

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      1. I’ve had some experiences with my dogs at the vets before, I hope they keep it this way. They do behave much better without us there I think…lol.

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  17. Although restaurants here allow inside dining, outside dining is doing well. Can’t believe that will be so on December! We’ve only eaten outdoors and carryout. Have a wonderful long weekend.

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  18. You make a great tour guide. Looks much the same around here and people are doing what they can to stay open. I am glad you are venturing out beyond the neighborhood and invited us along. Margaritas make anything better!

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  21. I loved this post John, its great to see how life is in Texas, London is like apocalyptic in the Centre, I have a photo at 2pm midweek in Leicester Square it was virtually empty about thirty people wandering around, all the stores are open, the tube is open, the buses running. The cafe, you normally can’t get in there, was quiet I felt compelled to buy an omelette just to give them some business rather than just a tea and we had a half price meal deal where the government paid half the price of a meal Monday to Wednesday up to £10 per head.

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  23. Why, John? Your reflection in the shop-window is a breeze of fresh hope for better times! Your local suppliers are smart. I see that the areas are deserted. Our picture was different. As soon as our first MacDonalds was open, there was a little crowd somewhere around. 🙂 🙂 🙂 Thank you!

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  24. It’s the same here – even at the library where I work! I think people everywhere are getting the hang of curbside. I’d like to have an ice cream cone delivered 🙂 By the way, you would laugh at the number of pictures that include me in a reflection or have my shadow overcoming my children!

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  25. You had me at party bus, Boss.

    Interestingly, I order out even less now. I kind of got into a rhythm with making up different dishes and rep-purposing leftovers. And I prefer my own pizza these days.

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  26. Thanks for the tour and the margaritas, John. They hit the spot since it’s 109 outside. 😀 It sure is a different world out there, isn’t it? I can’t imagine the challenges for businesses these days…

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  28. Mostly the same here, except certain branches of our library are open to limited capacity inside. We’ve been out to a few restaurants and have felt completely safe, but I know with some restaurants that isn’t always the case. Thanks for the margarita!

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      1. I know you are. The one restaurant here that remained open and clever gave out a roll of toilet paper early on, with every take-out order. Did I order? You bet. So did many others. They now are thriving, even under the guidelines. We need to support our locals.

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  31. Okay is WP still cooperating ? I must have gotten here two days late ? Where is the bus and are the margaritas all gone ? My ability to ‘like’ comments is un-predictably WP affected. I will let you guess which ones. A margarita will enhance your chances. Ah the variety of covid-19 options. If only we had an option to select someone who is sane to put national guidelines in place. Instead they spin the wheel of fortune covid-19 guidelines in random 15 minute intervals. Sorry I would rather get my surprises from a Kracker Jack box. Do I have to wait till next Sunday for the margarita bus to come back around ! ? ! ? ! Where is the sign to text for margarita bus delivery ! …okay now to see if WP thinks I should still be allowed to comment

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    1. I’m not sure why you are leaving links to Amazon Pets on my space. I also see you are new to blogging and so you should be aware doing this is quite rude and I am requesting that you stop. You should also know If you are an Amazon associate this is the quickest way to have those privileges suspended. Thank you.

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