Mount Vernon Plaza — Attraction in Hybla Valley

This is the local neighborhood center for my home, which is just a mile away. (My Walkscore is 40...). However it is easy and safe to reach by bicycle. It has a supermarket, large chain hardware store, auto parts, shoes, clothing, cleaners, six or seven places to eat (franchisees, mostly), a credit union, chain pet supply store, chain crafts store, chain housewares store, etc. A couple of years ago, the real estate company upgraded all of the stores, and built new ones down the center of the formerly vast parking lot, making the place considerably more welcoming. A supermarket manager commented to me that their sales had gone up significantly, even in the face of a brand-new Safeway opening up a mile up Route One. (The Safeway closed yesterday...) It is possible to walk into the development from Route One, and Audubon Estates next door has two informal pedestrian entrances onto remote parking areas behind the hardware store and the office supply store. Not welcoming, but usable. The bicycle parking is seriously deficient, and on one occasion (now) pedestrian complained vociferously that someone had just stolen his bicycle. One can only lock one's bike to street furniture such as signposts or light standards. The Starbucks and IHOP are now neighborhood institutions, at least as far as I am concerned, and are well-patronized. The parking lots are still too big, and just as dangerous as they are everywhere else. (I once saw a car leaned up against the front of the supermarket, apparently the result of a driver slamming on the accelerator instead of the brake--a very common occurrence which once happened to a good friend of mine while turning a street corner. He wound up stuffed into a...

This shopping center is super convenient to my house, and it offers most of the stores I need for daily errands (post office, dry cleaner, Shoppers Food, Home Depot, Staples, PetSmart, Bed Bath & Beyond, Michael's, Pier One, DSW, Sally's, Solace Day Spa, Solace Nail Spa, a barber, restaurants (Noodles & Company, IHOP, Ruby Tuesday's, Moe's Southwest Grill, Limon, Buffalo Wild Wings, Cold Stone, etc.), Advance Auto Parts, banks (Navy Federal, Wells Fargo, and Apple Federal), etc. It would only be more convenient if it housed a Target and an ABC store (neither of which are far away though). Generally, the plaza is clean, well-maintained and nicely landscaped. The reasons I did not give it 5 stars are that, 1) recently, there have been panhandlers at the entrance (this is a HUGE pet peave of mine), and, 2) in the crime update emails I received from the county, there seem to be more incidences of criminal shenanigans occurring in the parking lot. Regarding the latter, I will say that, other than the panhandlers at the entrance and beggars who have approached me in the parking lot, I, personally, have not...

Went to Solace Day Spa for a tropical pedicure. Hadn't done anything for myself in ages and especially since my mom died not long ago. The massage chair relieved a lot of stress. Lee spent a long time massaging my legs with mango cream and also did a callus treatment. There were lots of men there getting pedicures, so men, don't be shy. Lee did a nice job (but wished he could have understood my English as to why I was fighting tears.) Thank you Solace Day Spa for a relaxing experience and one I needed. Maybe it's too soon for me to go out and treat myself after moving my mom to Virginia 6 months ago to Sunrise of Mount Vernon. I saw her almost every day and took her to lots of doctor appointments. If they had taken better care of her, I wouldn't have felt I had to go so often. Prospective sons and daughters of parents who need memory care, beware if you are considering this place. Looks and sales pitches can...