Dottie Hottie

Dot 2 Dot cafe is a fairly new establishment to grace Dorchester Ave., and by “grace,” the Dottie Hottie is not even being sarcastic. Dot Ave. is starting to see some illumination beyond the miles of forbidding storefront grates. In addition to its cheerful signage, Dot 2 Dot has accented its storefront with some tricked out mosaic work — largely in thanks to the good folks of DotArt. Huzzah!

Dot 2 Dot owner Karen Henry-Garrett says she was looking for a way to improve the “ugly” stone facade. Enter: DotArt. The organization involves local teens in arts education and with its new Clay Studio - conveniently across the street from Dot 2 Dot - the teen artists were able to give the old building where Dot 2 Dot resides something way better than Botox. Check it!

(But you’ll have to see it for yourself in living color….)

Dot 2 Dot Cafe
1739 Dorchester Avenue,
Dorchester MA 02124
617-436-2368
www.dot2dotcafe.com

Ain’t this the way it always goes? The Dottie Hottie is enjoying a banner week in Dorchester, parleying with the neighbors, noticing all the new construction and impressive rehabbing, petting the world’s most adorable pooches, grabbing the world’s most delicious iced coffees. Generally feeling fabulous about the Dottie life.

And then there it is. Homeless man stabbed to death in a playground frequented by the Dottie Hottie and MID. The Globe’s coverage includes a quote by realtor Craig Galvin that I hope will help us Dotties take heart. Galvin, a quasi Student Council President for Dorchester, points out that the slaying is insult upon injury because it took place in a park where Dotties invested heavily.

The Dottie Hottie expresses great sadness over the loss of this life. But the Dottie Hottie notes that in spite of the bad airplay that this slaying gives Dorchester, one bad seed can try to do harm but it can’t take away our spirit, our investment, our love for this neighborhood.

The Dottie Hottie is familiar with the Twelve Tribesmen and Tribeswomen who operate the Common Ground Cafe. Familiar in that the Dottie Hottie knows a cult when the Dottie Hottie sees one. Here’s what it looks like: surrendering your entire income to the religious leadership? Is a cult.

But the Dottie Hottie also knows a fresh-looking sandwich when the Dottie Hottie sees one. Here’s what it looks like: the turkey wrap at Common Ground Cafe. With a side of tortilla chips. And a complimentary muffin if it’s your first visit.

The interior of CG is cozy, think if Mother Goose had a house and baked muffins and sold herbal teas in it. The employees are friendly enough, but ask them about their position on race and they’ll likely dish you some canned nebulosity about “getting back to the beginning.” The Dottie Hottie wasn’t too keen on that. But for the occasional sandwich, the Dottie Hottie endorses CG as a rare hotspot for freshness.

Common Ground Cafe
Dorchester Ave.
Lower Mills
(617) 298-1020
www.commonground-cafe.net

Dotties about town may have noticed a truck making frequent and long pit stops whereby its back hatch was opened and bags of food distributed. What is up with that truck? Is it a farmer getting rid of surplus? A drug dealer in disguise?

The answer is: The Fair Foods truck. It’s a primitive looking truck. Doesn’t have a cute jingle like the ice cream truck and could probably be eligible for some MTV “Pimp My Ride.” But it’s purpose eclipses all aesthetic. And it was started by a group of fellow Dotties! The Fair Foods truck takes the refuse of produce that would otherwise end up in dumpsters around Chelsea piers. The refuse, which is often perfectly good except for some minor defects, e.g. cucumbers have some yellow spots, onions have some deformities, is then sold for a dollar a bag.

Fair Foods volunteer Jason tells us it’s a “dollar for dignity.” Stop by and holla with your dollah at the Fair Foods truck sometime. The truck stops at 455 Adams St. every Friday from 10:30 - 12p. Their other stops can be found on their website.

Dottie Biker invited a friend to come over and play the other night, and the rations in the pantry were low. What’s a Dottie to do? Leafing through the slick brochures so gratuitously left in our mailbox, we found our answer: Charlie’s Place on Dot Ave (right across from St. Mahhk’s Church). I wouldn’t say their menu was outrageously unique. It’s your standard deep-fried antipastos, the usual pies topped in mozzarella. But, given the choice between Dottie Biker’s Mexi-Mac (that’d be one part Kraft mac n’ cheese — it certainly is the cheesiest! — one part salsa) and a piping hot pizza and wings? I’ll keep Chuck plugged in to my cellphone.

The mushroom pizza was pretty good. Slices were filling.

The wings were delicious and very flavorful.

They delivered within twenty minutes I KID YOU NOT.

Charlie’s Place
1740 Dorchester Ave
Dorchester, MA 02124
617/265.3111

Chances are good that you Dotties have already signed the petition to Save the Fahhhhm. The Blandino family has a marvelous proposal for preserving green space and producing more greens in Dorchester. But they’re up against some condo developers who don’t appear to be unreasonable. Still, the Blandinos need our help.

The Dottie Hottie is all for posh real estate in the Dot to enhance the neighborhood profile, but this neighborhood needs another condo complex like Dot Ave. needs another nail salon. Do we need to be convinced some more or should we yank Al Gore and his rising platform to explain this further?

Read more about the City Farm here and consider signing the petition!