Over the past few months since our restaurant Esquina opened, I have experienced a new and simple daily pleasure – I read the chalkboards we have in the bathrooms. If you haven’t visited the restrooms at Esquina, both the men’s & women’s restrooms have a giant chalkboard and chalk. I don’t know what I was expecting, but I am constantly amused by what is written on the boards. With a writing utensil and a little privacy, people do the darn-dest things. Here are the most common themes:

declarations of love – especially in the ladies room
inspirational quotes – from Lennon to Gandhi
communication to management – “put a hook in here, please”
thoughts about the food – “love the fish tacos”, “chips too salty”
doodles & drawings – like rainbows and happy faces
self promotion – websites, shows, etc.
potty humor – well, it is a bathroom, phallic references (and representations for that matter!) in the men’s room especially
kids’ scribbles and drawings – I can even recognize my own girls’ work now
song lyrics – at least that’s what I think they are, I often don’t recognize them
I exist themes – “Mary was here!!!”

I wonder if you blog readers are also the customers who write on the chalkboards at Esquina. I hope that me writing about them doesn’t affect the content on the board. Keep it up, it may be the only chance during your day to put your thoughts onto a surface in a kind-of public arena with anonymity, no login, or profile pic.

Perhaps the most satisfying aspect of the boards is wiping them clean daily. All the beautiful sketches, compliments, and complaints all cleaned off in the morning. Maybe it’s how school teachers feel at the end of the day, but I love taking it all off and starting anew with an uncluttered surface and a way to make a new mark on the world separate from what was done yesterday.

PS – I am not pregnant, the child that I wrote about expecting is a restaurant – The Burger Stand at the Casbah! Expected delivery July 1st.