Caribou Coffee is a YES

I was doing some working in the Caribou Coffee in Silver Spring and was pleasantly surprised when I went into the bathroom and found a changing table. Adelais wasn't with me, but in the future I know that I will not be left stranded if the needs arises!

Food Matters, yes it does

Went for New Year's morning brunch today with the family and some friends in Alexandria, VA. Friends suggested Food Matters, so we gave it a try. The restaurant opened at 9am, but when we arrived at 9:30 we were the first ones there and the staff seemed alittle slow moving - I'm sure they weren't too happy to be working so early. But, the food was quite good - well prepared, tasted very fresh and they gave us free black-eyed peas as an appetizer - suppose to be good luck for the new year. Before we began to eat I took Adelais to the bathroom and, yes Virginia, they had a changing table. So, good food and a changing table is waiting for you at Food Matters in Alexandria, VA.

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.