Verdant blog.

Signs of spring ascendant: It's warm. A gnat flew into my face this evening. In the time between my morning walk to the train station and my evening one -- which is now just before the sun sets -- some of the trees acquired a tincture of green. Real leaves are days away. The grass has been green for weeks, but near the train station the dread dandelion has made an appearance. I myself have no quarrel with that innocuous flower, but not everyone in my house feels that way.

But the real sign of spring today was the guy on the riding lawn mower, doing his lawn.

Got a press release the other day: "Beer Hall of Fame Founders to Select Permanent Host City in National Search." I suppose that's related to commercial real estate.

"Severna Park, MD, April 09, 2004 -- The U.S. Beer Drinking Team and Beer Radio announce their national search to select a permanent host city for The Beer Hall of Fame. The Beer Hall of Fame will be the ultimate travel and tourism destination for the 90,000,000 beer drinkers in the United States and hundreds of millions more from around the world."

Well, at least they're thinking big: "The Beer Hall of Fame will house fine beer themed restaurants, a museum of beer memorabilia, Beer Radio broadcasting studios, music and entertainment venue [Ist das ein keg of brew? Ja, das ist ein keg of brew!], education center, and enormous selection of beer and the actual Beer Hall of Fame."

I have no idea if this is for real, but if it is, the organizers are fishing for municipal subsidies for their project. Any city willing to pony up could have it, even, say, Salt Lake City. It worked for the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.