In today's Kennebec Journal, you can read a story about how Augusta is trying to turn up the voltage on its July Fourth events. Maine's capital city is trying hard to use the riverfront areas to its advantage, and this is the latest example. You can read the story here: Officials planning a capital Fourth of July

Will it work? I don't know but it's worth the try. Lewiston-Auburn and Bangor are basically trying to do the same thing. Some folks in Waterville are talking similarly, and hoping the Hathaway mill project is a big step in that direction.

On the other hand, Augusta is an oddly segmented city. It has jewels — the Capitol, U-Maine Augusta, the underdeveloped riverfront areas, and now two major, new shopping areas.

But unlike Portland, Portsmouth, N.H. and even Boston, it's hard to get from here to there. You can't walk from the riverfront area to the Capitol complex without risking your life crossing Western Avenue. UMA is a gem that glitters more with each year but it's a geographic island. You have to get in your car to get there and get in your car to go from there to any of the places I list above.

We recently did a series about Augusta's promise and challenges. It was called, "Augusta Comes of Age." You can read it here: The Future of Augusta

You know what Augusta needs most? A dining district. There are good restaurants scattered around, such as the Senator and others. But there's no critical mass.

We all will welcome the Slates' reopening and that's great for Hallowell. Augusta should have three or four Slates, and preferably you and I could walk to all of them from the same parking garage.

When that day comes, the appetizers are on me.