Wallyhood took it on the road today, walking up 45th Street, visiting businesses and dropping off these beautiful cards (right) designed by Wallingford graphic designer Heidi Smets (thanks, Heidi!).

It was a great opportunity to meet business owners we didn’t know and simply go in shops we’d never been in (like Seattle Mopeds, who promised to let us know when their upcoming fundraiser party would be). After determining that we weren’t trying to sell anything, they were all gracious and excited about the Wallyhood community blog…

…With the exception of the rude crone at the Erotic Bakery, who inexplicably just kept yelling “What? What? What?” at us. If one can taste the love in cooking, her attitude goes a long way to explaining the flavor (or lack) in their frosting bombs, which have nothing to recommend them beyond a passing resemblance to genitalia. It amused us to find, when visiting their affiliate link, our browser warning us that the site was infected and dangerous. A sex shop web site with the crabs. Who knew?

A better welcome came at Sutra, Wallingford’s delicious vegetarian, restaurant. Three of its four owners, Amber, Colin, and Aaron, were there preparing the night’s prix fixe feast along with baby Gaia. We dropped off a jar of our Wallingford honey that we promised them in the Fall and got a tour of the beautiful garden they have hidden behind their restaurant (which is also conveniently behind their home). Watch the menu this Spring for very local produce.

In addition to great conversations, we collected quite a bit of information about classes, concerts, tastings and readings that we’ll be sharing in the coming weeks.