Nearly three years after Urban Gourmet burned down the property has been reopened as Eat at Jumbos. Like Urban it is a pizza and burgers shop. Jumbos would like you to know "Eat At Jumbos is not affiliated with Tufts University" - I have no idea why they want you to know this, but it is printed on the menu. The nearest part of the Uni is several blocks away so I'm not sure where the confusion is. [update: I'm told that "Jumbo" is the Tufts' mascot. Worst. Mascot. Ever.]

The Powderhouse Pub has been renamed to just The Pub. Good luck googling that. This probably happened six months ago when they redid the joint but I didn't notice until I saw that the sign had a jagged edge. They simply chopped up the old sign; if you want to own a 3' by 8' piece of wood that says "Powderhouse" you can find it in the alley behind the bar.

Talking with Luigi of Pescatore Seafood and Crowley's Liquors: the restaurant traffic is pretty even despite the economy. The beer & liquor business has shifted into an all-beer business. I would have guessed the opposite because liquor has more booze per buck. Then again I don't understand why $2 airplane bottles sell so well at the counter. Or lottery tickets ...