Hi Neighbor!

The other night my husband and I sat on the couch wearing slightly dazed expressions (a day of homeschooling, upended routines and messy kids will do that to you) while watching a mind-numbing reality show. In one scene, the show’s cast members strutted into a packed restaurant, sat down and proceeded to argue their way through dinner and endless rounds of drinks. At one point my husband turned to me and said, “Remember when we used to go out to dinner?” I thought of our favorite family restaurant in Wayne and how I used to play tic-tac-toe with my middle daughter until our food came. It felt like a lifetime ago.

Sometimes I can’t believe how much my world has shrunk in a matter of weeks. Things I did without a second thought—like going out to eat, taking a class at the gym or popping into a local shop—now feel fraught with risk. (And literally impossible—everything’s closed!) It’s an especially tough time for small businesses; many have closed their doors, laid off employees and been forced to reinvent their business models overnight just to survive.

MainLine Neighbors wants to help. We recently launched a special promotional section called LOCAL LOVE. If you’re a local small business or restaurant with a special announcement, update or new services to share—such as virtual classes, expanded delivery options or gift card promos—just in**@ma***************.com" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">e-mail us and we’ll publish your message on our Web site or in our newsletters FOR FREE! (You can also sign up here to join our Web site as a business member, and we’ll waive the yearly fee.)

Readers can show small businesses and local restaurants some love by purchasing gift cards, ordering takeout (and tipping generously), shopping local online when possible and rescheduling (rather than cancelling) appointments.

Much love,
Kate