Fennimore Than Meets the Eye

Lots of action on Fennimore today. Looks like 65 Fen, the neighborhood's chichi wine shop, is realizing its longtime dream of expanding to next door's Unique Mart. Granted it's taking place under sad circumstances - the death of Unique's longtiime owner, Delroy "Fatty Boo" Wilson. As Mrs. Q was talking to one of the Michaels (both of 65 Fen's owners are named Michael), I noticed a lot of muralesque activity across the street, and sure enough, there was local gentryman Bob Marvin overseeing a multi-artist project on the walls of the opposite side building.

The project involves many of the same daubers who brought us the inventive visuals over on Lincoln Road, around the still vacant development lot. It's always nice to see people beautifying neglected and graffitied buildings.

And in a completely unrelated feel-good story, it was also a morning of beautification at Prospect Park, brought to you by the Girl Scouts. Yes, they do more than sell Thin Mints! According to the Mama Scout who was leading the well-attended cleanup party, the Scouts have a community service contract with the Park to do regular debris removal days in the area around the Oriental Pavilion (incidentally the site of Mr. and Mrs. Q's wedding).

I was struck by the invocation at the start of the day's activities, wherein the Girl Scouts recited their promise: "On my honor, I will try: To serve God and my country, To help people at all times, And to live by the Girl Scout Law." A little antiquated sounding to be sure, but heck, the Girl Scouts are 100 years old. The Scouts take pains to make sure that girls can interpret the word "god" however they see fit. Though I'm pretty sure the "country" they're to serve is the good ol' US of A. As would any curious blogger-type, I just had to look up the Girl Scout Law. And maybe it's just the Q's time of the month, but I got downright weepy when I read it:

I will do my best to be
Honest and fair,
Friendly and helpful,
Considerate and caring,
Courageous and strong, and
Responsible for what I say and do,
And to
respect myself and others,
respect authority,
use resources wisely,
make the world a better place, and
be a sister to every Girl Scout.


Nice!

(except that respect authority line, of course. that's a little creepy).

Thanks Girl Scouts, for making our side of the park a little bit sweller.