The Other Hazleton Diner

Byorek's Knotty Pine
Route 309 - Hazleton, PA
We stopped at a Hazleton icon for lunch today before heading down to see the Iron Pigs game in Allentown.  I had a cheesesteak with a side of Knotty Pine Fries which are topped with gravy and scumutz, both of which were very tasty.

Knotty Pine opened its doors in 1937 and has been in business ever since, but it's not a place that I remember from my childhood other than seeing the neon sign on the side of the road when we drove down Route 309.  When I was growing up, my grandparents would go out for dinner every Saturday night after my grandmother and great-grandmother got out of church, and there were two other diners that were just a few blocks away: The Blue Comet and Pegasus (which has since been renamed The Beltway Diner), so we almost always went to one or the other (usually Blue Comet).  Knotty Pine was a few miles up the road from Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Church, so it was out-of-sight, out of mind.  You might think that driving for a few minutes would be no big deal, but if you knew my grandmother, you'd understand.  Let's just say that she's not the most patient person in the world.

It wasn't until I became an adult that I stopped at Knotty Pine to eat for the first time, and it was very good.  The place also has a very cool roadside diner vibe with thick wooden booths and paneling.  Check it out if you're in town.

Pizza, Pierogies And Popcorn

Laurel Drive In
South Church Street - Hazleton, PA
One of the best things about the Laurel Drive In is the food.  They've got a big menu, and everything is very tasty and reasonably priced.  It's perfect for a night of movies.

Summer Afternoon Nap

We got back from the Hometown Farmer's Market a little while ago.  Dad has crashed on Grandpa's recliner.

The Chewbaru Legacy

I passed this Subaru on the way to the ballpark this afternoon and my guess is that the driver is a dentist who has been hitting the nitrous oxide pretty hard.  As if the toothbrush army on the trunk and empty toothpaste tubes weren't enough, there are a row of dentures lining the top of the bumper and a mannequin head on the roof.  Not sure what all of the black and white photos are, but I'm going to assume they have something to do with teeth.

Follow The Planogram

1001 Retailing Nights
Software Etc (1991)

This was shared by capnskull on YouTube and it is pure gold for any retro gamer.  The first half of the video features a genie from the mysterious Mac-O-Wish 1001 computer who helps Bob understand the importance of visual merchandising.  The second half is a virtual tour of a Software Etc store as they existed in 1991, with spots to allow the viewer to pause the video and assess whether or not their store meets company guidelines.  Not only does it bring back memories of what video game stores looked like in the early 90's, but it's full of cheezy acting and terrible impersonations.

Off The Beaten Path: Hazleton Pitza

Off The Beaten Path (WYLN TV)
Hazleton Pitza 
This is pizza which is baked, packaged in a box, and meant to be eaten at room temperature.  It's a Hazleton original. When I was growing up, I had no idea that this wasn't a thing everywhere in the world.  There have been a number of brands that have come and gone, but two have been fixtures for nearly 100 years: Senape's and Longo's.

Texas Death Match At The Spectrum

WWF Wrestling advertisement
Philadelphia Spectrum (June 21, 1980)
This scrap of newspaper for a show that took place thirty years ago today was in something that I bought at the flea market a few months back.  It was broadcast on the Prism network.  Here are the results:

• Rick McGraw defeated Frank Savage via pinfall
• Rene Goulet defeated Tor Kamata via disqualification
• Larry Zbyszko defeated Ivan Putski via countout
• Ken Patera defeated Bob Backlund via disqualification
• The Wild Samoans and Captain Lou Albano defeated Gorilla Monsoon, Pat Patterson, and Dominic DeNucci via pinfall (best two out of three falls)
• Larry Sharpe defeated Johnny Rodz via pinfall
• Tony Atlas defeated Bobby Duncum via pinfall

Two Records For Jamie Moyer

Jamie Moyer
Philadelphia Phillies (2010)
Our ageless lefty pitched a gem last night at the new Yankee Stadium, giving up two runs on three hits in the Phillies 6-3 victory over the New York Yankees.  The win makes Jamie Moyer the oldest pitcher to earn a victory against the Yankees in the history of their franchise.  The game also marks the 48th different MLB ballpark that Moyer has pitched in his career.  This moves him past a tie with his 2008 Phillies teammate Rudy Seánez for the all-time record for games played in the most big league ballparks in the history of Major League Baseball.

Dad At The Beacon

The Beacon Diner
Tamaqua, PA

Danny Salami

Daniel Nava
Boston Red Sox (2010)

The bottom of the second inning of yesterday's game against the Red Sox was not a fun time for Phillies starter Joe Blanton.  Former Phillies first round draft pick JD Drew led off the inning with a solo home run.  This was followed by three consecutive singles hit by Adrian Beltre, Jason Varitek, and Darnell McDonald.  This loaded the bases with no outs for the rookie Daniel Nava, who was making his first plate appearance in the big leagues.  Nava belted the very first pitch he saw to deep right field for a grand slam.

In so doing, Nava became just the fourth player in the history of Major League Baseball to hit a grand slam in his first plate appearance.  The first player to hit a grand slam in his first plate appearance was Phillies pitcher Bill Duggleby back in 1898.  It took 107 years for it to happen again when Jeremy Hermida hit a grand slam in his first plate appearance in 2005.  Third baseman Kevin Kouzmanoff accomplished the same feat in the following season, and is the only other player besides Nava on this short list to have hit a grand slam in the first pitch that he saw in a MLB game.

I Met Her In A Club Down In Old Soho...

Lola
The Kinks (1970)

One of the greatest rock songs ever recorded is turning 40 years old today.  It was highly controversial and progressive for its time, and it probably still would be considered both of those things today.

It has been rumored that the song was inspired by Candy Darling, who was one of the inspirations behind Walk On The Wild Side by Lou Reed, but that isn't the case.  There's a few stories about the origins of the song, but the two that are generally accepted is that it's either inspired by a night that The Kinks manager Robert Wace spent with a transgender woman in Paris, or the fact that drummer Mick Avory spent a lot of time at drag clubs and transgender-friendly pubs in West London.  Either way, it's one of those songs that tells a story that grabs you from the opening line and keeps you paying attention and bopping your head from beginning to end.

My favorite version of this song is the studio version that appears on the Lola vs Powerman album, but this is the best live version that I was able to find on YouTube.  It's a stripped down version with just two instruments; Ray Davies on guitar and vocals and Gordon Edwards on piano.  Like many of the recorded versions of the song, it replaces Coca-Cola with cherry cola, but at least it doesn't cut off the end like so many radio stations did.

I met her in a club down in old Soho

Where you drink champagne and it tastes just like Coca-Cola

C-O-L-A Cola

She walked up to me and she asked me to dance

I asked her her name and in a dark brown voice she said "Lola"

L-O-L-A Lola

Lo-Lo-Lo-Lo-Lola

Well, I'm not the world's most physical guy

But when she squeezed me tight, she nearly broke my spine

Oh my Lola

Lo-Lo-Lo-Lo-Lola

Well, I'm not dumb, but I can't understand

Why she walks like a woman and talks like a man

Oh my Lola

Lo-Lo-Lo-Lo-Lola

Lo-Lo-Lo-Lo-Lola

Well we drank champagne and danced all night

Under electric candlelight

She picked me up and sat me on her knee

She said, "Little boy, won't you come home with me?"

Well, I'm not the world's most passionate guy

But when I looked in her eyes, well, I almost fell for my Lola

Lo-Lo-Lo-Lo-Lola

Lo-Lo-Lo-Lo-Lola

I pushed her away

I walked to the door

I fell to the floor

I got down on my knees

Well I looked at her and she at me

Well that's the way that I want it to stay

And I always want it to be that way for my Lola

Lo-Lo-Lo-Lo-Lola

Girls will be boys and boys will be girls

It's a mixed up, muddled up, shook up world

Except for Lola

Lo-Lo-Lo-Lo-Lola

Well, I'd left home just a week before

And I'd never, ever kissed a woman before

Lola smiled and took me by the hand

She said, "Little boy, gonna make you a man"

Well I'm not the world's most masculine man

But I know what I am and I'm glad I'm a man

And so is Lola

Lo-Lo-Lo-Lo-Lola

Lo-Lo-Lo-Lo-Lola

Strange Laundry: Ken Griffey Jr.

Jim Thome and Ken Griffey Jr.
Chicago White Sox (2008)
Future Hall-of-Fame outfielder Ken Griffey Jr. retired this week.  He will go down as one of the greatest hitter of all time, finishing his career with 630 home runs - fifth most of all time.  He will always be remembered as a member of the Seattle Mariners and Cincinnati Reds, he spent a short time as a member of the division champion Chicago White Sox in 2008.

Griffey was traded to the White Sox at the 2008 deadline where he played alongside another future Hall-of-Famer, Jim Thome.  In 41 regular season games, Griffey hit .260 with 3 home runs.  He had a rough ALDS, batting .200 and striking out in nearly half of his plate appearances.  The White Sox lost to the Tampa Bay Rays, who would go on to be beaten by the Phillies in the 2008 World Series.

Time To Play The Game

LCD Wrist Games
Tiger Electronics (1990)

Just about every nerdy kid in school had a video game watch in the early 90's, and every teacher hated them.  Looking back on it, I can see why it would be annoying to have one of your students staring down at his or her wrist and pressing buttons that make screeching beep noises, but they sure were a welcome distraction.

This ad from the back of a comic book was shared by Terrible2z on Flickr.  It shows the screens for seven different Tiger LCD Wrist Games that were available in 1990, including Batman, Double Dragon, Altered Beast, Robocop, WWF Superstars, Ninja Gaiden and Castlevania II: Simon's Quest.

Off The Beaten Path: Jimmy's Quick Lunch

Jimmy's Quick Lunch

Off The Beaten Path - WYLN TV
The best hot dogs in the world, conveniently located on Broad Street in Hazleton.

The Wisdom Of Mr. Halpern

Sh*t My Dad Says
Justin Halpern
Comedy writer Justin Halpern moved back home with his parents and he started a Twitter account to share the things his father says around the house.  It is pure gold, and now it's been published as a book.

My favorite:

"I just want silence. Jesus, it doesn't mean I don't like you. It just means right now, I like silence more."  (December 3, 2009)

Perfecto!

Roy Halladay
Philadelphia Phillies (2010)
Doc tossed the second perfect game in franchise history, and the 20th perfect game in the history of Major League Baseball with a dominant performance against Florida Marlins tonight.  The Phillies ace threw 115 pitches and struck out 11 batters to improve his record to 7 - 3.

A Phanatic Birthday

This "can you spot the difference" game was in the program from the Phillies vs. Cubs game that I went to on Wednesday.  The photo appears to have been taken last April for the Phillie Phanatic's birthday celebration.  Guests include a giant Tastykake Butterscotch Krimpet and a gathering of inflatable mascots known as the Zooperstars.  I hadn't heard of them before but they've got some pretty awesome bad pun names, including Ken Giraffey Jr, Cow Ripken Jr, Ichiroach Suzuki and Nolan Rhino.

Light Up With Power Pellets

Pac-Man 30th Anniversary Lighter
Zippo (2009)
The iconic arcade classic was first released to arcades in Japan on May 22nd, 1980.  In honor of it's 30th anniversary, Zippo has released a set of three Pac-Man lighters.

No Run Support For Jamie Moyer

Wednesday - May 19, 2010

Chicago Cubs @ Philadelphia Phillies

Citizens Bank Park - Philadelphia, PA

Pitching: Tom Gorzelanny vs. Jamie Moyer

Results: Cubs defeat Phillies, 4 - 1

Phillies 47 year old Jamie Moyer began his Major League career with the Chicago Cubs.  I was five years old when he made his MLB debut on June 16, 1986 at Wrigley Field against Steve Carlton and the Phillies.  Since leaving Chicago after his first three seasons, Moyer pitched for the Rangers, Cardinals, Orioles, Red Sox, and Mariners before the Phillies acquired him in a trade in August 2006.

Prior to the start of the season, Moyer had pitched against the Cubs seven times, going 3-1 with a 4.60 ERA.  Last night was the 8th time he faced the team where he began his career.

Moyer pitched seven strong innings.  He struck out seven batters and gave up just two runs on four hits and a walk.  Unfortunately, the Phillies couldn't give him much in the way of run support.  Ryan Howard and Jimmy Rollins singled in the bottom of the 2nd, and Carlos Ruiz was hit by a pitch to load the bases with two outs, but this brought up the pitcher's spot in the lineup and the Phillies were unable to score.

The Phillies didn't have another baserunner until Shane Victorino walked to lead off the bottom of the 6th.  They didn't put a run on the board until the 8th when Ryan Howard grounded out with one out to score Placido Polanco from third.  It was their only run of the game.  The team went 1-10 with runners in scoring position and took the 4-1 loss.

 

Dewmocracy

Dewmocracy
Mountain Dew (2010)
There are three new flavors of Mountain Dew which are part of a promotion called Dewmocracy.  Fans are encouraged to vote for their favorite flavor, with the winning flavor being chosen as the next permanent flavor of Mountain Dew.  I tried all three of them and these are my thoughts.

The first one that I tried is called Distortion, which is meant to be "lime blasted Dew".  I guess it does sort of have a lime aftertaste, but it didn't really taste too much different from regular Mountain Dew.  It's not bad, but I doubt that anyone will miss this when its gone assuming that it loses the vote (which I suspect that it will).

The next one that I had is called Typhoon, which is a "punch of Tropical Dew".  This one definitely tasted different from regular Mountain Dew.  As the copy on the label suggests, it had a flavor that reminded me of fruit punch, as if you were at a fast food soda fountain and mixed Hawaiian Punch with Mountain Dew.  This one gets my vote.

 

White Out is my least favorite of the three Dewmocracy flavors.  The label says that it's a "smooth citrus Dew", but it kind of just tasted like a generic store brand version of Sprite or 7-Up.  It's not terrible, but if this flavor appeals to you, you might as well save yourself some money and just get Twist Up from Wal-Mart.

If I'm being completely honest, none of these three flavors really blew me away.  Typhoon was the only one that struck me as being significantly different from the existing lemon-lime sodas on the market, but even that one wasn't amazing or anything - it was just the best of the three.

The Stand Bookmark

Twenty years ago, The Complete and Uncut Edition of The Stand was published.  This was the version of The Stand that I first read.  It's by far my favorite novel.

Robin Roberts Seafood Restaurant

Robin Roberts Neptunalia Seafood Restaurant
Thunderbolt, GA and Savannah, GA

While looking up the career of the late Robin Roberts, I learned that he was the president and part owner of the Neptunalia Seafood Company (makers of Gold King frozen shrimp) since March 1956.  At that point, he still had another 11 years remaining in his MLB career, so the ace anchored the Phillies rotation while simultaneously running a large seafood producer and distributor.  I also found a postcard which shows that he owned two seafood restaurants in Georgia - one that was on East Victory Drive in Thunderbolt and Highway 17 (1 Mile South) in Savannah.

source: Charlotte Observer (January 30, 1962)

I wasn't able to find out what happened to the restaurants or to the seafood company that supplied their food, but there were a few articles written about Mr. Roberts' business ventures outside of baseball during his playing career.

source: Bristol Herald Courier (March 29, 1956)

source: Philadelphia Inquirer (January 24, 1957)

Moyer Blanks The Braves

Jamie Moyer
Philadelphia Phillies (2010)

Last night, Jamie Moyer became the oldest pitcher in the history of Major League Baseball to throw a complete game shutout.  At 47 years and 170 days old, the left hander gave up just two hits and no walks in the Phillies 7-0 victory against the Atlanta Braves.

The Ace Of The Whiz Kids

Robin Roberts
1926 - 2010

The legendary Robin Roberts passed away yesterday at his Florida home at age 83.  The Hall-of-Famer is one of the greatest Philadelphia Phillies of all time, and among the greatest pitchers who ever played the game.

This lithograph of the seven time All Star was created two years ago by artist Bill Purdom for the Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown.  It depicts one of the most memorable games from his long career.  It was October 1st, 1950 - the final game of the regular season.  The Phillies were in Brooklyn playing the Dodgers with the pennant on the line.  Roberts pitched a 10 inning complete game shutout to clinch the 1950 National League pennant for the Whiz Kids.

I found out about Mr. Roberts' passing while we were in New York waiting for the theater to open for the A-Ha concert.  I took this picture of the ABC News ticker at Times Square Studio (where Good Morning America is filmed) just a few moments after I found out.

He Feels The Need...

Cannabis Connoisseur Fundraising Drive
We met this gentleman before an A-Ha concert in New York City.  I donated a few bucks to the cause in exchange for the photo.

Ending on a High Note

A-ha: Ending On A High Note Nokia Theater, New York City - May 6, 2010
This is the farewell tour for A-ha.  I've long been a fan of the group and of new wave and synthpop in general, but this show had a special meaning to me.  My girlfriend and I have been together now for almost four years and "Take On Me" has been our song from day one.

The show began with Foot Of The Mountain and The Bandstand, which are two tracks from their 2009 album, Foot Of The Mountain.  It's an incredible record, by the way.  I discovered it earlier this year and absolutely fell in love with every song.

This was followed up with the title track from their 2005 album Analogue, and then Forever Not Yours off of Lifeline, which was released in 2002.  It was about this time that I noticed a pattern start to emerge.  They began the show with their most recent hits and then worked their way back through their catalog from there.  Sure enough, the next song stayed true to the pattern.  It was Minor Earth Major Sky and Summer Moved On off of their 2000 album, followed by Move To Memphis from the 1993 album Memorial Beach.

Next came four of their hits from their phenomenal 1988 release Stay On These Roads, including The Blood That Moves The Body, the album's title track, and The Living Daylights, which is the band's 007 song that was featured in the opening credits of the first of two Timothy Dalton Bond flicks.  This was followed up by And You Tell Me, which is a beautiful ballad from their 1985 debut album: Hunting High And Low.

After these first eleven songs, the pattern of newest to oldest broke.  They performed Early Morning off of their 1990 album: East Of The Sun, West Of The Moon and then played six of the ten tracks from their second studio album, Scoundrel Days, which was released in 1986, starting with the title track which was followed by The Swing Of Things, We're Looking For The Whales, Manhattan Skyline, I've Been Losing You, and Cry Wolf.  I wish they would have kept going through the album and played one of my favorite A-ha songs, Soft Rains of April, but no such luck.  Still, I have no complaints at all.  This was amazing!

They came back and did two encores with the three biggest songs off of their debut album.  The first encore was The Sun Always Shines On TV and Hunting High And Low.  The second encore, of course, was the iconic Take On Me.  It was the perfect end to an incredible show that I never thought I'd ever have the chance to see in person.  I cannot find the words to express how happy and thankful I am to have seen this.

This was my first time to the Nokia Theater.  It's a really awesome venue that sits in the heart of the biggest city in the world, but it has a very intimate feel.  We had a perfect spot in the front and dead center of the raised general admission riser, surrounded by other A-ha fans, but with room to breathe and a completely unobstructed view.  I couldn't have wished for a better experience.

Here is the full setlist from the show:

What Flavor Of Kool Aid Goes With Pork

The Argyle Sweater
Scott Hilburn (2010)

Springtime Horror

Garden Drive In
Hunlock Creek, PA
Tonight, they're showing the remake of A Nightmare On Elm Street and Mel Gibson in Edge Of Darkness.