March 26-April 1

Just a reminder that every week on Roadside Radio, we mention unique web sites and unique places to visit, for example, one place mentioned this week was the "Pork Roll Express" www.porkrollxpress.com. They sell Taylor Ham and so much more that people from NJ may miss, all across the country, via the mail.

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The Red Robin's (Johnson City, NY)last day of a 37 year tenure of Chris and Pat Anagnostakos was last Saturday. They will open up shortly after a remodeling. The diner is a Mountain View

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Message 5397 talked about the history of "Michigan" Sauce and Michigan Hot Dogs, so popular in Plattsburg, NY.

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Old drugstore in Saginaw, MI closes up. Pankonin Rexall Drugs has a soda fountain, and has been open for 130 years, but it won't make 131.

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Dick's Drive In Restaurants - Seattle area

http://www.ddir.com/

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When this place says Roadside BBQ. They mean it. This guy parks his vehicle and smoker on the side of the road. I've seen it personally. Didn't know it was a big time thing.

http://www.allsmokedup.com

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When chains get new uses

http://www.notfoolinganybody.com

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For Fans of Googie

THE most extensive Googie site of them all, it's
http://www.roadsidepeek.com
For even MORE Googie and such, it's
http://www.lottalivin.com
And if you *STILL* haven't quite gotten enough of that great stuff,
http://www.jetsetmodern.com

March 16-24

From the Staten Island Advance(NYC) -- The sale of the 40 year old Country Club Diner in Grasmere is expected to close in the next two months. Yawn, for a Walgreens.

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The Syracuse Post Standard said, "The former Miss Syracuse Diner? Meet Anmar Cafe, the new name for the storied diner across from Syracuse's City Hall, at 258 E. Water St." The diner is a Bixler.

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The Burlington(VT) Free Press reported that the Parkway Diner will reopen next month.

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Willies Weenie Wagon is located on Altama Ave in Brunswick, Georgia. This old landmark is still run by Willie himself! It is an old roadside stand that has been added onto several times. The hot dogs and other menu items are legendary. Willie is famous for his pork chop sandwich and people drive for miles to get one. If you ever pass by Brunswick, Georgia on I-95 be sure to pull off and visit Willie!

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Florida resident Lynn Jenkins mentioned places in St. Augustine, FL "I'd also recommend the Cracker Cafe on St. George St. for some of the best Minorcan Chowder in the area and O.C. Whites for a really great dinner."

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From the York (PA) Dispatch. "The York Drive-In Theatre is the test pilot for a new technology that will allow movies to be shown in broad daylight instead of a traditional night-time viewing" One reader reported that it's a "poseur", that it's really a large TV.

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Glenn Well's Florida gem is the Hob Nob Drive In Restaurant 1701 N Washington Blvd. Sarasota, FL 941-955-5001. His beach reading (what a treat!) "My beach reading on the trip was "Glass Bottom Boats and Mermaid Tails" by TimHollis. This book explores a nearly forgotten aspect of Florida tourism..."

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Family to part with Big Jim sculpture near Charleroi
http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/07081/771527-55.stm

100 years ago, road rage was rampant (concerning a Brian Butko talk)
http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/opinion/columnists/seate/s_498913.html

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Steve and Susan Levinson took a three-day trip to the Lehigh Valley area of PA last week-
end and ate at several good places. Post #5362 for more in depth info. Very worth it if these places sound to your liking.

In the downtown section of Emmaus (a few miles south of Allentown): Balasia, a vegetarian (actually, *vegan*) restaurant (500 Chestnut Street; 484-330-6405),

Phillipsburg, NJ (across from Easton, PA): Union Station Grill, where we ate lunch on Saturday in the renovated train dining car. The owners are a husband & wife (he's the chef and she's the server). They were very nice people and we enjoyed meeting them. http://www.theunionstationgrill.com/index.htm

Granny McCarthy's Tea Room, located in the charming historic downtown section of Bethlehem. http://donegal.com/tea_room_home.asp

Apollo Grill (also located in downtown Bethlehem). It's been voted "Best Bethlehem Restaurant" seven years in-a-row and it was easy to see why. Dinner reservations - even for early hours - are absolutely necessary. http://www.apollogrill.com

Shankweiler's Drive-In ("America's oldest drive-in theater", located in Orefield): http://www.shankweilers.com/

Yocco's "The Hot Dog King" (the original location is in Allentown, plus there are now two additional Allentown locations and one/each in Emmaus, Fogelsville & Trexlertown)
http://skew.ot.com/seven/menu/home.html

The Heavenly Hedgehog Ice Cream Company, in downtown Bethlehem:
http://www.heavenlyhedgehog.com/faq.php (the FAQs are quite amusing)

RoadsideFans in Vacation.

A few things that have happened this week, as life doesn't stop =]
Many thanks to theamericanroadside.com

Virginia OK's Drive In Theatre
The Bedford County Board of Supervisors voted unanimously Monday night to approve a rezoning request and a special use permit for Mayberry Drive-In Theatre and Diner. The entertainment center is slated to be located on a 14-acre tract on the east side of White House Road just off Virginia 122 near Moneta.
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Good news! The Committee to Rebuild O'Rourke's Diner(Middletown,CT) has raised over $150,000 to date! It won't be long before construction begins. We're looking forward to a September grand opening!
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Check out www.theamericanroadside.com for a great interview of Richard Gutman!
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http://www.news-tribune.net/homepage/local_story_074121504.html?keyword=leadpicturestory

As the evening sun sets over New Albany, the grill at Little Chef 24-hour diner is ready for one of its busiest times of the day — the middle of the night.

Located on the corner of Market and Bank streets in downtown New Albany since 1957, the diner provides a 24-hour refuge for night owls in search of a home-cooked meal and a native atmosphere.

March 2-8

http://newsminer.com/2007/03/03/5650/ Published March 3, 2007
Randy Jones said Harley's Diner MC is the only true diner in the state of Alaska. "And without a shadow of a doubt," he added, "it is the northernmost diner in the world." The mark of a true diner, he said, is that it has to be manufactured by a factory and moved to a permanent site.

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http://www.wzzm13.com/news/local/grmetro_article.aspx?storyid=71826
Rosie's Diner on 14 Mile in Rockford was damaged in the Thursday's winter storm. The neon sign above Rosie's now just says "Diner".

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ypsi-slim mentioned more than a handful of restaurants on the Lincoln Highway in Ohio. Message #5314 Note that ypsi writes a Lincoln Highway e-newsletter

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Johnson and Wales diner exhibit was brought up:
Moderator's note: The exhibit is "Diners: Still Cooking in the 21st Century" and it is based on the collection (and considerable diner knowledge) of Richard J. S. Gutman, author of "American Diner Then and Now." Part of their exhibit is the Ever Ready Diner, a Worcester Lunch Car that still needs considerable restoration. The Culinary Archives and Museum of Johnson & Wales is in a nondescript warehouse-like building a little ways out of downtown Providence, but the exhibit is definitely worth seeking out. Their web site:

http://www.culinary.org/dinerpage/index.htm

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Cara sent this message out: I am from the Flint MI area originally and there is no longer a Kewpie's there in Flint. That chain was morphed into Bill Thomas' Haloburger which is still going strong. Bill was an employee of Sam Blair. Another man bought the rights to the Kewpie brand name after the death of Sam Blair and then later Bill changed the name of his business to Bill Thomas Haloburger.

http://www.kewpee.com/flinthistory.php
http://www.haloburger.com/main/

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The American Diner Museum was mentioned and Glenn Played the role of Switzerland, without the illegal hording of money by one or both sides. =]

Randy St. John of the Nest Diner(owner) commented, "I'll be the brave one. Why does no one mention the American Diner Museum? Perhaps the Executive Director would weigh in? He occasionally
posts to this group. Does this mean the museum is officially kaput? I know for a fact that Mr. Zilka associated himself with the museum as recently as two weeks ago regarding a local diner soon to change hands. Perhaps Greg A could weigh in in his staid? What about the American Diner Museum? If the Heritage Harbor project site in Providence is no longer a viable option, where will this museum be located? When?"

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Just under the gun for this week's edition: Help save Coney Island from, no, not killer tomatoes, something worse, Condos.

Please write to Amanda Burden to let her know that you support her position that there should be NO CONDOS in the Amusement District. The area is currently zoned C7 for Amusements only! This C7 zoning should be preserved! http://www.observer.com/20070312/20070312_Matthew_Schuerman_finance_newsstory1.asp
You can write to her at: http://www.nyc.gov/html/mail/html/maildcp.html

Feb 23 - March 1

There was talk of America's love with Travel Trailers. From this article:

http://www.azcentral.com/arizonarepublic/arizonaliving/articles/0223shady0223.html

One poster said: "And, consider these incentives for camping or traveling with a trailer: 1. We were in love with America, our big wonderful country, and we could "really see" the country as we traveled through it (not something that can be achieved by air) and we could choose our own routes (not something that can be done by rail) ... 5. The city-folk who rented trailers were people who wanted to "escape" the more sophisticated way of doing things."

We were also reminded of "The Long, Long Trailer" starring Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz

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There was talk about New Jersey, and the oft made comment about residents of New Jersey giving directions by exits of of highways. We were reminded that there is much more to New Jersey than the highways like the Garden State. We were also reminded that much has changed in New Jersey's landscape in the last 50 years, though.

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The Colombia Cafe, former Chatham Diner in Chatham, New Jersey, earned a mention in the New York Times last August. Unfortunately, the diner's days may be numbered as a new three story building is being proposed for the site in downtown Chatham. The diner is a Silk City

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here's an interesting-sounding book about Michigan's "Vernor's":
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0472066978/roadsidefans-20

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Silver Diner in Pawtucket. Looks like it will be sold.

http://www.zwire.com/site/news.cfm?newsid=17906540&BRD=1713&PAG=461&dept_id=2449\
1&rfi=6

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Susan Levinson gave us two links:

Despite the name of this company - which could be construed as a double entendre - this sounds like the "real deal" if you like handmade Kentucky bourbon candy: http://www.gethappyballs.com/

And here's the web site for the Rebecca Ruth candy factory (also in KY), which has been in operation since 1919 (be sure to click on "The Ruth Booe Story", as it's quite interesting): http://www.rrcandy.com/