Franktown Cafe

Photos from our Photo Page on washoevalley.org has shown up in a couple of publications (I donated them) recently and that is fun to see them in print. One, chosen for a cover, I didn’t even recognize as mine it looked so good but it was from last spring when we canoed from Big Washoe north up through the slough. There aren’t many people or animal shots on the site and I’ll have to work on that more. Also, we have been shy of good sunsets over the couple of years and haven’t gotten many more of those. Hopefully the Gods will relent and send us some soon- along with some rain or snow!

The Washoe County Planning Department is suggesting “Clustering” as the ideal answer for the conflict between development and open space. You build the houses on small lots on a bigger parcel to leave undeveloped space in the parcel that can’t be developed later (ha ha). Anyway, the concept has become intertwined in my thoughts along with the big, new steel warehouse I see every time I enter or exit my front door. We live a couple doors down from the new commercial stables and their 85×200′ steel “barn” here in New Washoe City.

The more I think about it, and consider the opinions of others that have written in, my mind is changing on the subject. We went from disbelief to shock to simmering anger over the placing of a huge commercial building next door, surrounded on three sides by houses. Now, I’m beginning to see the light.

In my previous comments on the subject, on washoevalley.org here I stated that I had had a “reality-check” and realized I was thinking a little too highly of our neighborhood. The real value in New Washoe City, the real beauty, is not in manicured lawns and perfectly trimmed, wood or stucco houses, but in the freedom we have here. And that freedom means the freedom to do with your property what you want (within the confines of county ordinances, of course). More than often, it means homeowners don’t do much at all with their properties. It also can mean they do things that might upset the neighbors in a more “uptight” neighborhood somewhere else. I just had to be reminded what type of neighborhood we live in.

What does this have to do with clustering? Well, lets take it one step further. With increasing oil prices and energy costs, it will be more efficient and economical for as many people to work near their homes as possible. We should open up New Washoe City to all businesses, not just commercial stables and the other type of business allowed under current zoning- fast food/convenience stores. Obviously, it is not the type or size of building that is otherwise banned in our neighborhood, it is the use. Who cares what the use is if it is contained in any kind of building you want? Here in New Washoe City, we’re not concerned with what our neighbors do, nor are they concerned about our activities and that is why we chose to live here. Let them build whatever they want.

If you drive around and really look, there are vacant lots all over the community that could be used and if one group of residents can have a big warehouse in their backyard, everybody ought to have the oppurtunity- especially the property owner of the business.

Worrying about the proposed Weston/Lowden subdivision seems a little silly, this is New Washoe City, after all.

We went on over to Washoe City last Saturday night to try out Washoe Flats (ex-Cattleman’s) fo dinner. Wehad previously been there and had a pleasant drink and snack at the bar with the welcoming, friendly owners on a late afternoon and had a good time.

How about on a busy Saturday night though? We were pleasantly surprised that even though we went at 5:30pm there was already several tables being served and while we had a cocktail and chatted with some neighbors, we had to put in our names to get a table for 6:30. We visited with local John Manley (http://www.manleyclayworks.com/) briefly as he stopped in to pick up a to-go order. We were seated and the three of us ordered the baby-back pork ribs, Steak Delmonico and a chicken fried steak. All were really good and the service was prompt and very courteous. We are glad the new owners are having a good turnout even though it is “post-holiday” January and we are looking forward to going back soon.

We went to the new BJ’s Brewhouse in the new Summit Sierra shopping center last week for a friends birthday. Walking up to it, I felt like another ant headed for a sugar cube as people were headed for it from all directions. I didn’t think we had a chance at all for getting a table. One of our party though, got there 20 minutes early and put his name in so by the time we got there we went right to a table- good strategy. The service was great. You can seem to tell which places impress upon the servers the importance of customer service and those that don’t. The food was so-so. I hope the problems are associated with opening disorganization and being slammed every minute. The dishes we ordered were overdone and seemed like they had been “warming awhile”. Two of us ordered steaks and the doneness got switched, but we dealt with it by chomping anyway. We thought it reminded us of Claim Jumpers but not even as good as that. Right now, I give it a 5 out of 10. Send in your reviews to editor@washoevalley.org.