Busboys, Poets and Disappointment

Andrea's brother was in town for the holidays, so after alittle work out at my wife's Pure Joe Pilates Studio we decided to go out for lunch at the every popular Busboys and Poets. We went to the 5th street location because it was the closest. We got pizza, a panini and some nachos - all very good. Andrea's brother commented that it felt like what Starbucks must have been like when they had only 3 locations and were afraid to offend anyone.

To our disappointment they not only didn't have a changing table in the men's room, but did not have one in the women's room either. Being a socially conscious business we would have thought they would support people with children. Where do they think we change our daughter's diapers if there is no changing table? Do they care? Do they want families to come to their restaurant? Some places don't surprise me with their lack of support, but Busboys and Poets certainly disappoint in this one regard.

Crispers in Florida

We're down visiting my family in Florida and we went to a local-ish chain that my parents like called Crispers. It is certainly decent food for a chain, but the person at the register didn't know what had dairy and what didn't, which is too bad since Adelais is allergic. But, going into the men's bathroom I was pleased to see that they did have a changing table. So, my daughter couldn't eat any of their food, but we could change her diaper if needed.

Hanna Anderson in Bethesda

On Sunday my wife, Adelais and I went over to the Hanna Anderson store at the Westfield Montgomery Mall because they were having a really good sale. We like Hanna Anderson as the stuff seems well made, they use either organic cotton or fabric that was grown using a minimal amount of chemicals and while the clothes are fairly girly they aren't overly so. They are alittle more playful and sweet. Anyway, we did use the bathroom in the store and, of course, they had a changing table - though they did not have a multi-sized seat for Adelais to sit on, instead she had to perch on the edge of the toilet while she went. But, they get a big YES.

Sweet in Old Town Ellicott City

Today - yes, Black Friday - my wife and her family decided to head down to old Ellicott City for some shopping. We hit a couple of cute stores - one, The Forget-Me-Not Factory, had more fairy stuff that I thought possible and some toy stores. Afterwards we stopped at Sweet, a cafe & bakery, for a bite and some tea. Unfortunately, we didn't make it in time and Adelais had wet her diaper(which is happening less and less these days) so I had to take her to the bathroom to change. To get to the bathroom you had to go out into a side alley, meet an employee who opened up a side door, then climb a set of stairs to a bathroom clearly used by many different business - none of which seemed too concerned with cleanliness. The bathroom certainly did not have a changing table and it had the class of a 1970s roadside gas station - not at all pleasant. I had to change Adelais on the floor (well, on her changing pad) and get out asap. The bake goods we got were pretty good, but the bathroom was not - not even close.

Takoma Park Silver Spring Co-Op

Last week I was at TPSS getting some groceries with my daughter and I needed to use the bathroom, which is in the back area where they store stuff. I was pleased to note that not only did they have a changing table, but the also had a great Bemis training toilet seat. We have home at home and it has two seats a bigger one for adults and a smaller one for children - it is really helpful because otherwise kids have to kind of perch on the side of the toilet to go while sitting. And the smaller seat is just built into the seat so you don't have to take it on and off. I guess it is not surprising that a health/natural food store would be child friendly, but it still makes me happy.

Clarice Smith Performance Arts Center

I am now taking my daughter to a Music Together class on Sunday mornings at the Clarice Smith Performing Arts Center at the University of Maryland College Park. There is a locker room right by the dance studio that we usually use to change her and it works well because there is a bench we use as a changing table. But, this last Sunday we were in the main lobby and I check in to other bathrooms (men's) and there was no changing tables. Again, I am always surprised when a newer building that serves a large range of people use doesn't put in changing tables in the men's bathrooms - maybe there are none in the women's' bathrooms either, but I, obviously, didn't check. I really like the center as it presents some wonderful performances and does a fair amount of stuff to engage the local community, but it aggregating that it doesn't supply appropriate facilities to families that might be coming to it performances and activities.

Hyattsville Target

Seems like the time to check out the chain stores in the area. I guess it's not unexpected that yes Target has a changing table for Dads - they actually have a whole "family bathroom", which are really the best because you get complete privacy and the room to do what ya need to do. So, yea Target.

Starbucks in Hyattsville

After we took our daughter to Little Gym today we stopped by this local Starbucks. We hung out for a while because some family was with us, so we needed to change diapers a couple of times. Unfortunately the men's room does not have a changing table. This surprised me - thought that Starbucks would certainly have a changing table in the men's bathroom, but they do not.

PF Chang's in Kennsington

OK, so, yea, we went to PF Chang's for dinner last night. We are not ones who usually visit chain restuarants, but we had some gift certificates so headed out. Took us forever to get there because of the crazy traffic on the beltway and almost lost our reservation, but, luckily (I guess) didn't. Well the good news is that YES they had a changing table in the men's room. Though I must say I wish they put the changing table in the larger fully accessible bathroom. It is alittle odd changing my daughter's diaper in the middle of the bathroom with people (meaning, men) walking in and out all around us - and this isn't just PF Chang, but many places. But, they had a table and that is excellent!

American City Diner in DC

The American City Diner was supposedly the only true diner in DC for a long time - not sure that's true or not. Now, there is little reason to go - except it is next to Child's Play, a wonderful toy store. Anyway, ACD was somewhat broken down, food OK and no changing tables in either the men's nor women's bathrooms.

Calvert House in Hyattsville, MD

Went to a neighborhood favorite place tonight for dinner and realized that Calvert House doesn't have changing tables in the men's room, nor the women's according to my wife. The restaurant has recently cut its size in half (more or less) and now the whole place is located in what was just the bar before - and, hence, only has the bar bathrooms now, and, as stated, they don't have changing tables. Seems unfortunate that a sit-down, family style restaurant wouldn't think of that. Of course, the other half of what was Calvert House is suppose to be an Indian restaurant soon....yum!

Cosi in Friendship Heights, DC

Had alittle bite yesterday at Cosi in the Friendship Heights in DC. They did have a changing table in the Men's bathroom and I love the bread they give with everything. 

Dance Place in DC

This weekend I was designing lights for CrossCurrents Dance Company at Dance Place. I have been there many times - use to work there - and generally feel completely at home there. But, now that I'm paying closer attention I couldn't help but notice that there was no changing table in the men's room.

Chadwick's at Friendship Heights in DC

Went to the Friendship Heights location of Chadwick's last night for a drink. It was pleasant enough, but the bathrooms are downstairs, down a hallway and with no changing table in the men's bathroom. Walking past the women's bathroom I noticed a sticker indicating that there was a changing table in there, but not the men's room. What do they think dads are going to do when they are alone with their child who needs to be changed? 

Mayorga Coffee in Silver Spring, MD

Right now I'm hanging out in Mayorga Coffee Factory in Silver Spring, MD enjoying a mint green tea and trying to get some work done. Went to the bathroom and though I don't have Adelais with me I noticed that they do have a changing table. It makes sense as they have had a variety of activities for kids - music events, play area, etc. - and I would guess that a lot of dads with kids in tow come in here to get work done. 

National Arboretum & Alero

Yesterday I went to the National Arboretum in NE Washington, DC and again was so thrilled to be there - it is truly a "best kept secret" of our nation's capital. And in, at least, the Arbor House's Men's bathroom there is a changing table. In the main Visitor's Center's Men's bathroom there is not a changing table, but I'm not sure they could fit one in there and it doesn't look like it's been redone since 1950, so I'm giving them a break there. Of course, there's lots of open fields to plop the little one down and change where ever and when ever there's a need.

Unfortunately afterwards we headed over to Alero on U Street NW - a totally hip, trendy part of town with lots of overcrowded restaurants - including Alero. My burrito was nothing to return for and there was no changing table in the Men's bathroom.  

Barnes & Nobles - Bethesda, MD

I didn't check out all the bathrooms at this Barnes & Nobles, but the men's room upstairs next to the café has a changing table - though, the bathroom was kind of a mess, the changing table had graffiti on it and there were no paper towels... So, yea, the bathroom was more gas station than upscale book sellers, but it did have the changing table.

Little Gym of Silver Spring

This is the gymnastics school that we take Adelais to on Saturdays. Since it is mostly for kids 18 months to 12 years it, of course, has a changing table in one of its bathrooms. Both bathrooms are gender neutral so it's not specifically for men/dads, but one is available to dads. The odd thing is that the bathroom that has the changing table is located in such a way that you have to walk through the room in which they hold the dance classes. This is fine most of the time because they don't have dance classes as often as gymnastic classes. But, when they do you have to use the bathroom that doesn't have a changing table - in which case it is difficult for dads, and moms. But, mostly this isn't a problem and Adelais LOVES her class there.

REA College Park

I went this morning to the REI store in College Park to pick up a few things with Adelais and the first thing we had to do was change her diaper and I'm happy to report that they had a changing table in the men's room. It was a little small for my daughter - she is 2 years old now - but, worked just fine. 

Plato's Dinner in College Park, Maryland

I love Plato's Dinner for its total dinner experience and for the fact that it is totally OK for my daughter to run around when she has the urge. But, they just redid the bathrooms and did not put a changing table in the Men's room. I complained to the hostess and she said she had received other complaints and has told the owner.