Cynthia's used to be in a tiny tiny strip mall in a part of Sterling that's falling apart. Parking was limited, and I'm sure they didn't get any walk-ins, stuck between Subway and a bar. Today was their grand opening in a brand spanking new shopping center in Ashburn. The place is gorgeous and they both seem so happy, so excited. I know they must be nervous, what with a new place and all the little things that can go wrong.

If you live in Ashburn, or anywhere near it, please drop by. You won't be sorry. You'll get a great haircut, have a good conversation and will most definitely become a regular. We love 'em. They're our family's first Sterling tradition, our first "regular place", and I hope they're as much success in their new digs as they can handle.

Cynthia's Salon & Spa
20020 Ashbrook Commons Plaza
Ashburn, VA 20147

Phone: 571-223-2323

This could just as easily have happened had the call center been here in the US, but I expect we'll see an upswing in this sort of occurence as more and more of our private information is made available to people around the world.

The story is here.

According to the menu, they've been around since the early 70's, and live in the neighborhood. The place has a homey feel that doesn't feel like a contradiction to the quality of the food.

Just walking around last night, I spied tons of little local places I'd love to have time to check out, especially Astro's, which looks like the prototype for the greasy spoon. If you've eaten there, let us know how it is!

The thing I realized in all this re-expression is this: this is not a radical idea. When I told people about it, to a person, they all nodded and said, "that's a really good idea... why haven't I heard that before?" I just have to shrug and tell them that I don't know. It's not crazy. It's not out there. It's not a fringe thing, which actually bothers me a little. People love crazy ideas. Activists seem to go for the radical thing. This whole site, my whole goal is not to put an end to big companies. It's not to bring an end to corporate America. My goal is to help out my neighbors, for people to help out their neighbors. My goal is small change to help small businesses, and get people to think just a little bit more.

This morning, Max and I went to Linda's Cafe wearing one of the shirts. I had a couple stickers in the notebook I took for Max to doodle in. The people behind the counter (the owner's kids, apparently), asked me what the deal was with my shirt, and when I explained it, they said "Hey, we own this place! We're local!" I smiled, laughed, and said, "I know, and you're on the site already." They thought this was really cool, so I handed them the stickers from my notebook, and walked out with a huge smile on my face. As we made it to the door, one of the girls came to the front, and slapped the sticker up on the flowerpot that's at eye level as you come in the door. My smile didn't leave until long after I told Jen about it.

I want to open this thing up to more people, and I'm not quite sure how to go about it. The original plan was to eventually move to something like Drupal. If we get there, and we have so much content it warrants it, we'll do it. For now, if you have a local story, send them in!! Drop an e-mail to lawver-at-gmail.com with your story, and make sure you include the place's address so we can post it (you know, so people can find it).

Tonight, we went to Break Bread With Brad, and I handed out ten or so stickers. I talked about the site, and hopefully will get some new story submissions for the site! If you have your own local story you'd like to share, send it to us: kevin-at-ibuylocal.info!!

I'll still he handing out I BUY LOCAL stickers, so if you see a fat guy in an orange t-shirt, walk up, say hi, and ask for a sticker. I've got a bunch.

For the moment, I am Kevin's next-door office neighbor, though I suspect that's to change soon. I am involved in this largely for the same reasons Kevin is; my somewhat more lengthy explanation being laid out here.

Once in a while I'll write something I think is witty and humorous in my personal blog, but I'm often the only one entertained by this.

And yes, this is my real hair.

Hi there. This was my idea, so blame me. I'm a geek, who thinks that blogs can save the world (which is why this is a blog and not something else). If we grow too large for a blog, then we'll probably move to Drupal. But, you don't really care about that, do you?

I'm a recent convert to the whole local/sustainability thing. I'm interested in the slow food movement and in trying to be more involved in my community. Unfortunately, I'm more at home online than I am in person (ten years online will do that to you), so this is a slow process for me.

All the personal stuff I write about is housed at my blog: Ultranormal

They're friendly, honest and right down the street, which makes them perfect for me. There's no pomp, no cloth napkins, and no glass glasses. It's all paper, plastic, and oval plates you could fit a small pig on.

They're the best part of local. They're a hub for neighbors to meet, eat and talk. On Saturday mornings they're always busy, but never so busy you have to wait for a table. It's usually rich with conversations, but never so loud you have to shout to be heard. It's where Max and I go to breakfast almost every Saturday, where we have a "usual" and everyone knows what we're going to have to drink.

Linda's Cafe
45665 W Church Rd
Sterling, VA 20147
703-433-5637

But in the last 5 years or so, the "big boys" have noticed the population and economic growth of the area, all of which was built on the backs of local business owners, and they're now moving in to take over. They've nearly killed all of the local restaurants and boutiques that gave the town it's unique identity. Every time I go back there it seems there's some new national restaurant or retail chain moving in -- Target, Pier 1 Imports, Chili's, Friday's -- and two or three more local establishments have closed.

It's sad, really. My home town, like many other towns in the U.S., is starting to look generic. It's happening all over. Local flavor is being displaced by pre-chewed corporate blandness and cutesy themed living, and it's the folks that spent their lives serving these towns that are being left behind. "Thanks for building an economy here, now get out so we can milk it for all it's worth."

The face of America is changing, seemingly out of control. I can remember as a child traveling New England with my parents, and everywhere we went we found communities brimming with unique qualities and colors. Each town was different, beautiful in its own way, and when you went from one place to the next you knew you'd gone somewhere. But more and more, traveling in America is merely a matter of hopping from one Wal-Mart or Outback Steakhouse to the next. Every town is beginning to look like every other town. Diversity under fire.

It's happening in my home town. It's probably happening in yours. That's why I'm here. That's why I care.

Note: Most of this post originally appeared as a comment over at lawver.net.