Multicultural Crayons

Parents of children entering kindergarten at Mill Run Elementary are scouring area stores in search of Crayola Multicultural Crayons. (Yes, seriously, that is what they are called.) The eight-pack set of crayons, which appear on the school's back-to-school supply list, are a difficult find, frantic parents say. Teacher’s Apple in Ashburn just placed an order and a new shipment of melting-pot crayons is due to arrive early next week, said store owner Steve Bozik.

Colors in the pack include black, sepia, peach, apricot, white, tan, mahogany and burnt sienna. What, no freckled pink? (My summer hue.)

Restaurants Coming to Brambleton

Blue Ridge Grill: Restaurateur Michael Norton is opening up a second Blue Ridge Grill at the Brambleton Town Center in late September. Love the BRG in Leesburg — hate the Leesburg location (behind the DMV). Great addition to BTC, BRG!

Johnny Rockets: Opening in November, Johnny Rockets will offer old-fashioned hamburgers, sandwiches and milkshakes with a 1950s twist. Can another hamburger joint thrive in LoCo? Will Cheeburger Cheeburger, Foster’s Grille, Red Robin, Fuddruckers and Five Guys suffer when JR’s comes to town?

Cantina Cove: We have lots of Mexican choices in LoCo, including Anita’s, Chipotle, Del Rio, Tijuana Flats, Don Pablo's, California Burrito… What Loudoun needs is an upscale south-of-the-border eatery. Will Cantina Cove deliver? Owned by Osama El-Atari of Original Steakhouse and Lucky’s Sports Bar fame, Cantina Cove promises tableside-made guacamole and outdoor seating. But how will the margaritas fare? That’s my true test of a good Mexican restaurant. CC is opening in early 2009.

Kaitlyn Maher Moves On

Ashburn’s 4-year-old singing phenom, Kaitlyn Maher, returns to America’s Got Talent on NBC next Tuesday and Wednesday in a live broadcast of the show’s semi-finals. Kaitlyn won over the judges earlier this month with her rendition of “When You Wish Upon a Star.” The judges, Sharon Osbourne, David “The Hoff” Hasselhoff and that English guy, voted her through, even though Osbourne expressed concern about Kaitlyn’s young age.

I wrote about Kaitlyn's performance earlier this month on the blog, and you can see a video clip of her singing in that post. Go Kaitlyn! Way to represent Loudoun County.