Might College Park -- our College Park -- slowly but surely be transforming itself into a local version of Greenwich Village or Berkeley? I have in mind our cultural establishments, not their hyper-homelessness or naked students! We should, I think, enhance the possible transformation by encouraging two recently opened establishments.
Planet X, open since February at 7422 Baltimore Blvd. corner Lehigh Road (telephone 779-8451), is an easy walk from most campus offices. Owners Justine and Clint Carpenter have been quite successful in recreating a 1950s/60s coffee house. (The owners look the part!) I was sure that the Carpenters had been inspired by hangouts in Greenwich Village or Berkeley, but in fact their model was a long-closed establishment in DC called "Coffee and Confusion."
Before the visitor focuses on the food and drink at Planet X, he or she should look around. A strange and interesting statue (funky mannequin?) of a woman greets the entering customer. One sees a blue ceiling, green and red walls, some antique light fixtures, a bar-counter, and perhaps a dozen small cocktail-sized tables. Black-lights lead any needy customer down a mural-lined hallway to the wildly painted toilet rooms (women tell me their room's decorations are disorientingly terrific). Recorded progressive rock music unobtrusively fills the air most of the time, but there are also live performances: jazz at Sunday brunch, acoustic performances Monday evenings, and classical music (often a solo cellist) at Saturday brunches. Wednesday evenings feature open poetry readings. Art works are mounted on the walls.
The menu features tasty vegetarian meals and interesting non-alcoholic drinks they are served from breakfast time until late at night. Owner Clint proudly tells me that almost all his suppliers are local. I have several favorite main dishes: the vegetarian chicken salad platter ($4.50) featuring a soy and grain combination that to me tastes very much like chicken, served with lettuce, celery, green peppers, bean sprouts, and pita bread; and the hummus plate ($4.25), which comes with tabouli, cold vegetables, and pita. The menu offers salads, Mexican style hot dishes, falafel, "oblivion" and "powerhouse" sandwiches; a range of coffees (a recent coffee of the day was toasted amaretc), teas, Italian sodas, and special fruit-juice-plus drinks such as "Memory Fuel" and "Zombie Dance"; and several calorie-excessive sweets. Cash only.
Franklins General Store and Delicatessen is located at 5121 Baltimore Avenue in Hyattsville's old town center (telephone 927-2740). To reach this establishment, old-timers should head for what used to be the Hyattsville Hardware Company; perhaps one or two very-very old-timers will recall that until 1910 the space was a blacksmith's shop. For others: drive south on Route 1 about 2 1/2 miles to just past the bridge/overpass. Park in the public lot on your left or on a side street.
The deli-and-store was opened last December by Mike and Debbie Franklin. Food orders are taken at the counter in the rear dining room, and about forty seats are available placed around tables common in the kitchens of the 1930s. The deli offers sandwiches (a Reubens for $4.95, lox and cream cheese on a bagel at $4.25, hummus on pita with sesame dressing, tomato, onions, and sprouts for $3.95, and a score of other options), salad platters (e.g., a sampler of three from about a dozen choices for $4.95), beer, wine, and other beverages, some breakfast items, and various side orders. The deserts include "evil" ice cream combinations and cheese cake. On the first research visit, with Linda Sahin, the focus was salad. We rated the sampler and Greek salad "fair." The preparer's judgment on salt and sauces was a bit suspect. Return visits confirmed the "fair" evaluation. For instance, the corned beef and pastrami combination was quite acceptable but not up to Manhattan's Carnegie Deli standards.
One of the pleasures of visiting Franklins is the store. Be sure to leave time for brousing. There are coffee beans, wines, microbrewery beers, greeting cards, jams, jellies, salsas, pastas, and many other country store items.
And finally: Thanks to Manil Suri of UMBC for pointing out that Raju's restaurant, reviewed last May, should have been described as "South Indian" rather than "Hindu." Other corrections? Suggestions? (Parties?) Please write to 1117 LeFrak Hall or use E-Mail, BHANNA@BSS2.UMD.EDU.