As has been reported elsewhere, and in this morning's Neighborhood News Roundup, Capitol Hill's Cafe Presse has a new sidewalk deck. While we applaud outdoor seating long and often, this deck takes a big bite of the available sidewalk. What with curb parking (and car doors opening suddenly) and Presse's curb signs, you now have to curve all the way to the curb and pass single file. As we understand it, there's supposed to be......

We were walking down Broadway at lunchtime trying to decide on the perfect uncrowded, sun-soaking lunchspot, when it came to us. Actually, it was printed on a sign that advertised La Puerta's lunch specials. That's when we remembered that La Puerta has an upstairs deck overlooking Broadway -- and that their food is resolutely mediocre, virtually guaranteeing light occupancy. How right we were. Just one couple was sitting outside, discussing a California "growing" operation. We......