Boy do we rate this summer, don't we? Forbes magazine lists us as No. 17 on its best places to live, Money magazine makes us No. 8, not to mention being a good sports community, enjoying leadership in the arts and great quality of life, as noted in a variety of other publications. Of course, I think we're No. 1. We have great suburbs to raise our children in, where they can go to great schools and all the rest, but we also have a great jewel in the Historic District of Ellicott City.

The town has so many wonderful old buildings, most of which you can enter, as they are shops or restaurants. Enter some on the south side of the street and go to the back -- more often than not you will enjoy a view of the Tiber River there.

Several decades ago, Main Street was very utilitarian, filled with grocery stores, furniture shops and even car dealers. In a way, Route 40 did us a favor by attracting most of those businesses away to the strip malls, leaving us with individual treasures such as Yates Market, The Forget-Me-Not Shop and Ellicott's Country Store. Please support these one-of-a-kind shops -- no more, "I've been meaning to get down there," just go!

Hula Hoops

Today, Aug. 8, is National Hula Hoop Day. That really takes me back to hot summers growing up in Catonsville, working away in our backyard to perfect my hoop skills. It's good exercise and great fun. If you happen to have misplaced your hula hoop, here's a reason to come to "downtown" Ellicott City -- Mumbles and Squeaks Toy Shoppe on Main Street has a fine supply of them, hanging right in front of the shop. Get there while supplies last.

'Historic'

Not to complain or anything, but I wish more people knew that there is more than one "historic" organization in the Historic District. In my office at Historic Ellicott City Inc., I regularly field calls from some of the others. As in "I'd like to rent an apartment." Well, that would be Historic Ellicott Properties. Or, "I need to do research in your library." That's the Howard County Historical Society in the old Presbyterian Church on Court Avenue. Or, "I'd like to buy tickets for the ghost tour." Ahem, Howard County Tourism's Visitor's Center. Or, "Can I paint my Historic District house purple?" That's the Historic District Commission.

My friend, Herb Johl, has written about this problem in a paper called "How Many Historics Are There?" He wrote it in 1998, so I guess a lot of people didn't see it, as the situation continues. Not that I really mind -- I figure all the rest of those folk are answering questions about the show house and the mill project for us.

Email news and events taking place on Main Street to janetkusterer@juno.com.

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