Nice piece in the Tribune today about the many merchants who are making a go of it around the now-hap'nin' intersection of 28th and East Burnside. Includes a handsome picture of Joe Esparza, who goes way back in that neighborhood and whose Tex-Mex soul food is still exquisite. Where else do you go for ostrich enchiladas and a stiff margarita, amigo?

The Trib article made a nice point, too. The folks down there have done it all without the help of the city's obscene Real Estate Developer Welfare program that props up houses of cards in places like the Pearl or the Son of Pearl (North Macadam). Unlike Vera and Neil's real estate cronies, Joe Esparza don't need no stinkin' handout.