Just kidding about the "me" part, of course!

We've hit on the topic of coffee shops a little, but we haven't really touched on tea. The daughter and I dropped by Tranquilitea in Waynesboro this afternoon. It was such a cute, nice place. For $4.95 I had a pot of Spiced Indian Chai tea and a plate with a sliced strawberry, a few blueberries, a slice of cantaloupe, and 2 scones-one raisin nut and one cherry chocolate chip. Sooooo yummy! Can't wait to take daughter and friends (with moms) back for an afternoon out. They are open Wed-Sat 11-4 or so. I would highly recommend a visit, just leave the boys home. It would be too much fluff for them, unless they are really into tea!

Are there any other places like this around, and have you been to them? I think there is one in Gettysburg, but I'm not sure. Hmmm...maybe I can take my mom on a tea tour (kinda like wineries) when she comes in July!

I've heard some great things about the new tea room in Shepherdstown...

Been to the new tea room in Shepherdstown. Forget the name. Very cool place. Delish food. Awesome atmosphere. Highly recommended. (And then afterwards, walk around and look at the shops, like River Bend Designs. And then, when you need a drink, stop in and have a nice glass of wine at Stone Soup Bistro.)

My former co-worker and her daughter own River Bend! How funny! So where is this place in Shepherdstown? Is it easy to spot, there on the main drag or it is on a side street?

I'm a good friend of River Bend's owner... a very good friend of her other daughter. In fact, her other daughter (not the one who co-owns River Bend) is the owner of the new restaurant in Shepherdstown: Stone Soup Bistro (which is located right next to Four Seasons book store). I admit, my previous post was a shameless plug for the family. LOL

Anyhoo, the tea shop is called: Shaharazade's Exotic Tea Room. It's located at 141 W. German St., which I believe is the main street. (I'm a total doofus about directions.) Here's a little blurb I found about them:

Shepherdstown’s most unique restaurant. Casual dining with a full breakfast, lunch, and dinner menu. Specializing in freshly made soups, vegetable salads, fruit salads, grilled sandwiches...and wonderful Middle Eastern and Mediterranean items like spanikopita, hummus, falafel, couscous salad and shish kabob. Much of our food is organic and vegetarian.

In addition Shaharazade’s serves over 40 kinds of quality teas from around the world and has a full line of appetizers and deserts.

Cool, PF! I'll have to check it out some afternoon this summer. I love exploring on lazy summer days!

I've been to Sharazade's in Shepherdstown, and echo Peacefrogs praises. My only complaint had to do with the service... VERY SLOW! I was there on my lunch break, and the place wasn't very busy, so I don't know what the holdup was.

The food and tea were wonderful though! Just be sure to visit when you have time to dine at your leasure!

Yeah, I get the sense that the tea room is a place for people who want to linger--which is wonderful if you can, but lousy if you're on your lunch break from work.

Went to Shepherdstown for tea today. It was nice. The chai was yummy, but $5 for a small pot that gave about 3.5 tea cups. A plate of 2 scones was it's own order for $4.95 or so, but they weren't all that great, IMO. Had the chicken sandwich. Really good, with melted cheese and yellow and red peppers on grilled sourdough. Came with a small side of couscous salad for $8. Atmosphere was nice presentation pleasant, and decor interesting. All in all, I might go back, but didn't find it as good a value as Waynesboro.

For all you caffeine heads out there, Starbucks is scheduled to open next to the McDonald's on Garland Groh on January 13th.

Personally, I can't wait to get my first caffee lattee mocho-pocho for $6.50.

Over-priced bitter coffee.

Can they think of a worse place to put it? Unless I'm mistaken, it's going on that little, wedge shaped area in front of the McDonalds on Garland Groh. I'm trying to picture how that's going to work.

Makes sense to me...

looks like an ideal traffic pattern... NOT!

SMan, just picture a huge Traffic Jam. That should work.

I was by that McDonald's a couple of weeks ago and saw them digging up that "wedge" of land. I thought they were finally fixing the entrance to the McDonald's! I always thought it was a weird way to drive in there...a long driveway.

On the otherhand, I love Starbucks...when I have the extra cash it's a great treat!

mmm Starbucks pumpkin spice latte!

It's that time of year...Gingerbread Latte!

Okay, seems it wasn't such a good idea....

The morning paper is reporting that the building permit has been pulled for Starbucks. Seems the city wants the developer to pay for a left turn lane on Garland Groh (southbound) to hold the traffic turning into the store. The developer doesn't want to do it. The project's not dead, just "on hold".

Link to follow, when the website is updated.

Here it is:

http://www.herald-mail.com/?module=display...900&format=html

Friday September 30, 2005
As problems percolate, Starbucks plan cools

by ANDREW SCHOTZ

andrews@herald-mail.com

A proposal to build Hagerstown's first Starbucks Coffee shop, at the Centre at Hagerstown, has hit at least a snag and maybe worse.

"The developers ... informed us this week that they will not proceed with the project," City Engineer Rodney Tissue wrote in a Sept. 22 memo released at Tuesday's Hagerstown City Council meeting.

"Our department's condition of improvements to Garland Groh Boulevard were apparently not 'doable' by the developer for various reasons and therefore they decided to stop the project," Tissue wrote.

"We haven't pulled the project," Skip McKenzie, the executive vice president of real estate for the applicant, Washington Real Estate Investment Trust of Rockville, Md., said Thursday afternoon. "It's not dead, as far as we're concerned."

"We're trying to work through some issues with the city right now," McKenzie said.

Tissue was unavailable for comment Thursday.

Assistant City Engineer Jim Bender said Washington Real Estate Investment Trust and Starbucks have disagreed about who would do the road work.

McKenzie agreed that road improvements are at the heart of the issue, which he called "delicate." He said other parties are involved, too.

The proposed coffee shop would be close to McDonald's.

A building permit puts the size at about 2,000 square feet.

Bender said it would be mostly a drive-through shop, with a few tables. A site plan shows about 15 parking spaces.

Starbucks and McDonald's would share a driveway off Garland Groh Boulevard.

In order to get site-plan approval, the project plan had to include a turn lane for Garland Groh Boulevard traffic turning left onto the driveway, Bender said.

There was some preliminary work on the site, but it stopped within the last week or so, McKenzie said.

On Sept. 21, Tissue voided the building permit, which was issued in December. Bender said the developer can get another one if it decides to revive the project.

Tissue's memo concludes, "We note that from a traffic standpoint, this is a very difficult piece of land that they were trying to develop. Any use that goes in there will be faced with the same improvement requirements."

There's a new tea room, of sorts, in Hagerstown. It is called Spirit of the Lotus Tea Company. Rather than a traditional tea room, they are more like a retail location, though they will brew up a pot for you to sample. The location is 223 N. Prospect St. I think that's the old Beachley building, but I'm not sure. Anyway, it's across from Domino's Pizza. Here is the website. A flyer listed upcoming tea talks and tastings. Every Sat, beginning 7/14, at 10am and 20m. Limit 12, call 301-991-4723 for reservations.

I bought a couple things while I was there, but I'm not a massive tea drinker, so I won't be dropping a lot of money there. However, it is nice to see another local business, and I hope they can make a go of it.

They were at the flower show this spring. What I saw was really nice stuff. I have so much tea right now I could open a small tea room myself. I plan on stopping there when I do get low. Sounds nice. So, they don't have any place to sit and have a cupa? More retail huh? Too bad. I've heard of the tea room in Greencastle(?). But, thats a drive to have a cup of tea. Theres probably some place in B.Springs, or Shepherdstown that has a room.I just havn't searched yet.

I think the tea room on Burhans there by Salem Ave in the old Pharmacy building (now the Country Store or something?) is still open. I've known a few ladies who have gone there and enjoyed it immensely.

They really need to get a tea house like Teaism in DC. They have a great selection of teas from all over the world.

whatever nancy girl you can come out of the closet and say you like tea parties...no one will judge you...

my sweety greedy is back! where you been?!

any other guys use the word "immensely"? just wondering...

sent ya a PM DragonLady