I’m launching the first super-official Adopt-A-Restaurant Program in Howard County. Well, assuming I have such authority, that is. Did you know: Restaurant Week for Howard County starts Monday? I’m supporting this initiative in a community knowledge management sort of way. And I’d like about 10 minutes of your help, if you feel so inclined.
About three years back my frustration at what I perceived as the visual dominance of Corporate Restaurants over locally owned establishments grew. I do believe that how and where people eat food speaks much to their experience of community. Mega restaurant = high food volume, lower price, more people around, but lower connection to community. And while it’s certainly not an absolute rule by any means, locally owned establishments support coziness, connection and community, in my mind.
So, in my frustration, I took action and created HocoLoco Girl.
But, by myself, the site is just a bunch of data, sorted through my perspective. I need a few local heroes to help make it more of a community site about community resources.
Here’s how you can help.
- Pick one of the locally owned Howard County restaurants that you like and want to support.
- Check to see if it’s listed in Hoco-Loco Girl. (Please do tell me to add the restaurant if it isn’t, and provide me the data I need to add it.)
- For restaurants already posted, scan the list of categories I’ve assigned the restaurant on the right-hand side of the screen. Am I highlighting the restaurant properly and helping others get a sense for the place? Tell me where I’m right, wrong, missing info, etc.
- And, if you really want some extra points in Hoco Heaven, write a nice comment about the restaurant, too. Maybe even ask a friend or two to Adopt-A-Restaurant themselves.
See, I need you. I need your eyes, your perspective, your knowledge. I can’t do this alone.
Rock on.
****
PS - If anyone out there knows CSS and can help me get a better WordPress template loaded and customized a bit, that’d be fabulous. (Time-banking dollars is what I have to pay you … lots of them, too.)
