Vibrant Crosswalks. And Vegan Fare at Black Magic Mexican
Safety first. And walkability. Lebanon is upgrading its crosswalks around Colburn Park. And incidentally, the colors are bright and cheerful in the art-centric downtown.
Mostly you’ll see solid yellow or orange walkways edged in white. Red has been tested and found wanting, so any crosswalks with red paint will be replaced with orange or yellow in the spring. Residents and drivers had complained earlier when the crosswalks were still works in process showing only colored diagonal stripes, saying they were difficult to see. The finished walks’ solid colors seem to dispel any concerns about visibility.
Situated near one of the new crosswalks is Black Magic Mexican, a food truck delivering plant-based Mexican food. From its website:
Chef Heath has been a vegetarian for 27 years and a strict vegan for the last 5 of those. He has worked in the food and beverage industry for over 30 years. He believes in creating amazing vegan food that can be enjoyed by all. By making delicious food and showing what is possible using only plant sources, he helps save the planet – the animals on it, and promotes better health in the lives of his customer. His guiding principle when creating a culinary experience is: “Live a life worth living!”
His time is shared between the Upper Valley of New Hampshire/Vermont and Mui Ne, Vietnam.
If you haven’t yet had the opportunity to sample some flavorful vegan fare, this is your chance. I and my dining companion both ordered the Black Magic Burrito, which included plant-based chorizo, cashew queso, sweet potatoes, black beans and rice. It was delicious, and filling. One would have been enough for two reasonably hungry people. For those who are aficionados, Mexican Coca Cola (made with sugar rather than corn syrup) is available.
Cash not accepted. Walk up to the truck and order from a screen. Pay the same way. (You can also order online. Click here to see the menu.) Relax at a picnic table in Colburn Park and wait for a call or text that your food is ready for pickup. Bring your lunch back to said table, dig in, and watch the a slice of the Upper Valley go by.
(Photos by Susan B. Apel)
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And in case you are wondering . . . Susan B. Apel shuttered a lifelong career as a law professor to continue an interest (since kindergarten) in writing. Her freelance business, The Next Word, includes literary and feature writing; her work has appeared in a variety of lit mags and other publications including Art New England, The Woven Tale Press, The Arts Fuse, and Persimmon Tree. She connects with her neighbors through Artful, her blog about arts and culture in the Upper Valley. She’s in love with the written word.