Balducci's has 8 stores, 2 in each of these states: Connecticut, New York, Maryland and Virginia. I'm sure that they are no longer the type of store that catered mtn's wedding. They're owned by Albertson's.

I think the only one left is in Greenwich CT. It is a nice high end market but nothing like the glamour of Balduccis GV in the day.

I only know of that one. In its heyday, as described in the excerpt from the NYT above, Balducci's Greenwich Village was the pinnacle of Manhattan's foodie scene. I learned so much from that store, and the food was so beautiful! I was also a big fan of Dean and Deluca Soho back then, another fabulous temple of food!

I think the stories are similar. They offer a very special product, attain great success. Then they or their heirs sell to business people, who try to make it more profitable, and kill off everything that made it so special.

Real estate prices are a matter of perspective. An acquaintance of mine moved to Seattle to be a professor of computer science. He was asked what he thought of the high prices for houses in Seattle. He didn't think that Seattle housing was so high priced because he bought a four bedroom house from the money he received for selling his one bedroom flat in Brixton. I've seen that flat. You had to go through the bathroom to get to the back garden.

We have an amazing farmer’s market. Vendors are restricted to local produce with the exception of two larger stands that can bring in things grown in other parts of the state. Eastern Washington has a very different climate than ours, so they grow things that can’t be grown as well locally. Asparagus, artichokes, melons, sweet cherries (WA produces the most in the USA), many varieties of apples and pears. There are a few craft vendors, but the market is very selective for high quality so there isn’t junk.

Thursdays, the vendors give a senior discount and all vendors take food stamps/EBT. The two large fruit stands give free apples to kids. I am unsure how prices compare because I don’t (luckily) have to pay attention and am willing to try to support our local farmers.

" If only more of our 'leaders' would be more forward thinking about these things... "

I agree about the need for more vocational training opportunities. I don't think available programs and schools, and there are many, are at capacity as is. One problem is that the interest in and decision to enter vocational training requires more than short-range thinking. And a degree of maturity that many recent high school grads or dropouts lack. It should be a no-brainer - many are not cut out or interested in academic advancement, vocational training leads to satisfying and well-paying jobs with lifelong career opportunities.

Nothing happens until the interested person walks in a door, dials a phone number or connects on a website. Point the finger at parenting failures, not political or public ones.