On the way home from work today Jeremy and I passed a new restaurant on Harvard Street that we hadn't noticed before. It was the B Good real fast food place. Thinking we could try something new I pulled a u-turn, got a nasty look from an elderly pedestrian who didn't seem to believe that I was turning around and not attempting to murder her, and pulled into a full lot at the store. I had been reading the Metro in the morning and among the information in it was an interview with William Gibson. The discussion in the interview centered around how he was able to successfully predict certain developments in his science fiction like cyberspace and robotic sex daemons. So as I reviewed the menu I realized that I had thought a similar idea a few years ago about how the world was ready to accept a more family friendly health conscious fast food. Folks who I talked to about it including Yuval and Peter can testify that I was thinking something similar although not identical to the B Good concept. I don't want credit since it's the environment that creates the trends. I just was interested in the concept. Another chain that seems to be benefitting from this trend is Panera Bread. After reading about the founder in Brookline magazine I am likely to buy some stock in the company.

What I discovered upon arrival at the B Good store was a sign that said "Our dream house will be opening tomorrow." It was interesting enough since Sarah and I are closing on our new home tomorrow as well. But having invested in a Brookline U-turn Jeremy and I weren't about to come up empty handed and not eat a freshly ground healthy burger with non-fried french fries. At B Good these are called real fries which still doesn't make sense given that the French part isn't the issue in describing the product using the word fries. BTW - Their web site is www.bgood.com. So we poked in the window and asked whether the busy crew inside was open or not. The answer that came back was that they were opening tonight at 7PM and giving away free burgers.

JACKPOT!

Since it was 6:40 we had somehow inadvertently stumbled upon a free burger scenario. So to kill time we parked in the TJ Max lot, wandered inside TJ Max to find they have great deals on dress shirts for men but didn't purchase one because the line was too long, and then returned to the growing scene building at the B Good dream house. Things were beginning to buzz with a band setting-up shop inside, roller derby people with matching shirts skating around, and a crowd building. We realized we needed to focus on being near the door for the 7PM opening and managed to be among the first 20 people to get our free burger and a seat. I vowed to blog about it as a return for the free burger.

The burger I got was a guapo and had a piece of bacon, onions, and some sauces in it. I was surprised that it came in a whole wheat bun since that never happens with burgers but it was quite agreeable. They offer some odd combos like removing your bun and replacing it with veggies for 25 cents extra that I thought were noble for those weight reduction times in my life. I'll need to make a run of such things after the business passes by. I rate the food as quite good and probably fast in a different situation where we wouldn't be in a mob queued for a free burger. I liked their "style" which includes some 50's styled logos, a car with fire painted on it, a clean internal look, and odd references to weird family members who probably don't exist. They suggest they don't need a fry cutter because there is some guy who does it and have his picture in it. The web site gives some evidence of the style as well. I'm not sure if they will succeed, have succeeded or what and Jeremy cited Boston Market as a failure in the healthy food fast market. But they are certainly a welcome tenant of Brookline and fit with the local culture well. But I won't be living in Brookline for long.

Today is the big day for the closing on the purchase of our house. It was easy enough to put the concept of moving into the future tense until recently but now things have moved into full gear. The money is ready for the down payment to be put into one big scary check, the arrangements have been made for executing the mortgage and purchase and sale including co-ordinating the lawyer, insurance company, mortgage broker, buyer's broker, and seller's broker. All of these people have been very nice and helpful but it is hard to have them all know what is going on. Mostly I feel like mixed messages get passed around between all of these folks and it would be better if there was a secure site where all of the information could be consolidated amongst the parties with utilties to co-ordinate the closing time, upload the insurance binder, post the P&S, etc. and different views depending on role. Maybe the Redfin's of the world can build such a thing. It likely isn't anyone's priority but as an example of collaboration it seems like there is a lack of simple tools.

Sarah worked with some local high school students to pack a lot of stuff in boxes. I cancelled the monthly subscription to Hollywood Video rentals. We got the gas and electric set to be assigned to our name when we arrive. We had Nick and his team move a swing set/play structure that the seller's agent offered us for free if we could move it from a more posh home near Brae Burn. I haven't even seen it but I heard from Nick that they need another day to move it because it is so big and complex. An HVAC company is coming on the 16th to install the central air conditioning. We are moving with a moving company on the 25th. Lisa and Dave are going to move into the condo in Brookline in October giving us time to move out. Things are happening all around. I'm thinking as I walk around the condo... I'm going to miss this place.