WEEKEND WISHES AND CHEESECAKE

Happy Friday Guys and Dolls:

Our favorite day of the work week is here and in a matter of hours the 5 o’clock whistle will blow and we are out of here for the weekend. For all the plans you made, I hope they all work out and the weather treats you well. It’s going to be hot and humid with chances of storms down here all weekend long. No relief in sight until October I fear. Just don’t want any hurricanes.

We celebrate another food holiday today, only this time it is a dessert holiday, “CHEESECAKE DAY.” We had a great cheesecake store back in Trenton called “Michelle Lorie’s”, you name the flavor they had it, Cherry Cheesecake was my favorite. I believe it is history like many other Mom and Pop stores and now just another food memory. The Publix markets here have a fairly good bakery department and their cheesecakes are good if you have a desire for one.

A reader of mine named Skip grew up in the same North Trenton neighborhood as I and he sent me some more memories to dwell on, thanks Skip and next week I’ll try to add on my memories of those places.

Well Speakies, I’ll make it short today, have a great rest of the day and one great weekend. See ya soon and be careful out there.

NEWS FLASH - GUESS WHO CAME TO DINNER

GOOD MORNING SPEAKIES - NEWS FLASH FROM JOEY Z.

AS JOEY Z ARRIVED HOME YESTERDAY AFTER A GRUELING DAY AT WORK AND ENTERING MY ABODE, I SMELLED THE AROMA OF PEPPERS AND ONIONS ON THE STOVE. THERE STOOD ROSEMARY LOVELY AS EVER CREATING ANOTHER ONE OF HER WONDERFUL DINNERS. I APPROACHED HER AND WITH A PECK ON THE CHEEK SAID, "CHEESE STEAK OR ITALIAN SAUSAGE SANDWICHES FOR DINNER?"

BUT ALAS THE ANSWER WAS NO. LOW AND BEHOLD THE QUEEN CREATED AN ITALIAN HOT DOG WITH PEPPERS AND ONIONS TOPPED OFF WITH FRIED POTATOES AND NOW FOR "THE PIECE DE RESISTANCE", A GREAT HELPING OF CHILI ON TOP. SHE NOT ONLY SURPRISED ME BUT HONORED THE HOLIDAY OF "NATIONAL CHILI HOT DOG DAY." I CAN ONLY SAY THANK YOU MY LOVE FOR MY CHILI DOG DREAM AND THE BEST PART IS THAT I HAVE SOME FOR LUNCH TODAY, LUCKY ME, O'BOY.

MAKE MINE A CHILI DOG

Happy Thursday Speakies:

Hope you are enjoying the posts this week, I guess old JoeyZ is in a nostalgic mood, but it feels good to me. It’s ironic the memories one recalls from time to time and I know I have so many more to share about the neighborhoods I grew up in and will do so again real soon.

First of all let’s talk about hot dogs today for it is “NATIONAL CHILI DOG DAY.” I love chili dogs with all that messy chili all over the dog. If you ever watched the movie “Major League”, there was a scene of Wesley Snipes, Tom Berenger and Charlie Sheen at a fancy French restaurant in Cleveland. Snipes was holding the menu upside down and than Sheen with a dumb look asks Berenger, “Do They Have Chili Dogs Here.” What a great funny scene to honor our holiday of today.

Watching all these food shows on TV the chili dog can be served with various toppings added. I would like to try a foot long chili dog with chili, onions and coleslaw just once or should I just slap it on my waist line and not eat it. I’m still waiting to try a real Chicago Dog. There is a place downtown here that claims to serve original Chicago Dogs, I’m going to try it one day and let you readers know the results. We had a place in Trenton, NJ called the “Casino”, I know I wrote about it before but they served an Italian Hot Dog. The roll was what we called a torpedo roll, fresh and crisp like the kind you would serve a cheese steak on. The roll was covered in a slab of mustard, the dogs inserted cut in length wise and topped with fried potatoes, onions and peppers if you wanted them. If you were going to have a Casino Dog, you had to have the works. Those happy days are gone the Casino is no longer but a mere memory of hotdog heaven.

Hey Guys and Dolls, get those dogs cooking tonight, fix them up the way you like breakout a few beers and enjoy today’s holiday in style. Have a great evening.

NATIONAL MILK CHOCOLATE AND BRUNSWICK DRUGS

Good Day Speakies:

Happy Hump Day Gang. Today is "National Milk Chocolate Day", so grab a piece of that chocolate candy or whatever you like that comes in that chocolate flavor and enjoy it. I use to be crazy about ice cold chocolate milk and probably still am, I just haven't had chocolate milk in years but I did notice some in the break room refrigerator at work today in those small little cartons. HMMMM !

I'd like to wish a Happy Birthday to any of my Speakies celebrating theirs today, so have a great day and enjoy your birthday and eat your cake, hey it might even be chocolate.

I've had fun writing about my memories growing up in North Trenton and at my grandmothers in South Trenton. When I was in high school, there was a small hole in the wall drug store called "Brunswick Drugs." It was across the street from my parents house and it became a hang out for a bunch of us guys. The entry was very narrow with a telephone booth on the left hand side, a soda fountain set-up and cigarette, cigar etc area on the right hand side. If you walked back there was the pharmacist's location, to me it always looked like a pawn shop window with all the supplies stacked around the store. A great and funny guy named Charlie worked part-time at the soda fountain, he also made deliveries in a Chevy Corvair that we all rode in if the boss wasn't around. The drug store fountain became our hang out in the evenings and we just shot the bull, smoking cigs, calling the babes on the phone and crowding the aisle. Charlie made some great sodas and ice cream dishes. Our favorites were the flavored cokes, mine was a vanilla coke and when you walked in Charlie had it ready for you. What service for a dime. I'm trying to remember the guys who hung out there. There was Jack, Rich, even Charlie when he wasn't working, Butchie and I know a few other guys. I remember at times we would all hop in Rich's car and head downtown where everyone made a loop driving around and seeing who they could pick-up. Rich was a good looking guy and never seemed to have problems. We had lots of laughs and fun, a good memory.

I guess if you ever watched Happy Days on TV, I guess Brunswick Drugs was our Happy Day hang out growing up. Have a great day Guys and Dolls and be careful out there.

HERE IS TO THE BEATTY ST. BOYS

Happy Tuesday Guys and Dolls:

Thinking of the places and things you did growing up brings back fond memories not only to me but I’m sure you readers too. I had a great time growing up in North Trenton, we played baseball all summer long, played cards in the evening, we lit up punks to keep the bugs away, played flashlight tag in the alleys at night and we were never bothered by anyone. My Dad took me down to the Delaware River about 3 times a week to go fishing, it was a special time he and I shared and I’ll never forget him for that.

My time was shared between my house and my grandmother’s in South Trenton. After my grandfather passed away, I kept her company and helped her over the weekends with errands around the house and running to the local stores. It was in my first or second year of high school I reunited with an old friend name Lou, along with my cousin Tom, a new friend Richie and there as always Ralph tagging along at times. A classmate of mine Jack and his brother Jim joined in at times and we all got along great. We called ourselves the Beatty St. Boys and on a Friday night you could find us on Lou’s front porch checking out the girls walking by and hoping to connect. The evening was spent having fun in general and I mean good clean fun, there was respect in the old neighborhoods for the people who lived there. I have to admit we did chug down a few beers that we smuggled out from time to time. Now of course at times my buddy Lou had to kick some A_ _ to a few big mouths but that was neighborhood cleansing. As for me I wasn’t much of a fighter I was a lover.

Once Lou met a girl named Georgette who lived in the Chambersburg part of Trenton and her house became a Saturday night hangout for us. Her mother making homemade pizza, we listened to records and just had a grand old time. We all remained friends until the times changed and we had to go our own separate ways. Jack married Georgette later in life and it’s my understanding they are still going strong. There were so many other things we did I can not recall them all but they are lying somewhere in my memory.

I reconnected with Lou who lived in Florida and now resides back in the Trenton area. My cousin Tom found me on Facebook and we have spoken several times. I even found Richie on Facebook and spoke to him. I’ve written a tribute to those guys in my second book that I hope to publish shortly.

Sometimes I wish I could close my eyes, make a wish and go back in time to spend one weekend in my youth with those guys again. That was what friendship was about with those guys and I’ll never forget them. Have a great day Speakies.

THANKS SKIP

Good Monday Morning Speakies:

Hoping to find you all in good spirits at the start of a brand new week. Looks like the country is in full swing with the summer heat according to the news reports. This morning here it was 82 degrees at 6:30 a.m. and highs today will be in the mid 90’s. I wish I could spend it by a pool or under a palm with a nice hammock and a gin and tonic being cooled by the breeze of fans held by two charming women in bikinis. Oh well only in my dreams. See what the hot weather can do to you.

Roe had to fix up my blog site, there were some site changes and she just changed it completely. The word Speakeasy is from the 1920’s dark and secretive, the new colors reflect it and I like it a lot. Thanks Honey.

I have received several comments on my blog from Skip. Skip lived around my neighborhood when we were young and we remember a lot of things growing up in North Trenton. The old 5 & 10 cent store Willett’s, but Willett’s had everything you needed, my mom and I could spend hours in there or as my dad would say as we got home, “What did you do, get lost.” I could still here those words today. There was a candy store across from the Catholic school we attended owned by two brothers who could easily loose their tempers if you did not know what you wanted. They also sold model planes it was a neat place but you better have had your choice of candy made and money ready or out the door you went.

I remember the bakeries my favorite was Service Bakery on Heil Ave. they had what we called finger cakes. It was a long cake donut filled with white cream and topped with powder sugar, that with a glass of milk or as I got older coffee what a breakfast. Mack and Tom Glover recalled similar donuts at Prior’s Donuts in their neighborhoods. We also had Eagle Bakery on Olden Ave., another great Polish bakery, great cakes and breads. Rye bread to die for. There was a batch of small stores on Brunswick Ave. between Olden and Spruce St. There was a Jewish Deli, can’t remember the name, good lunch meat, bagels and rolls on a Sunday morning after Church. There was a camera shop called Deal’s, Old Doctor Greenwald and later Dr. Moses dental offices. Harbourt’s Drug Store on the corner and two great doctors, the Drs. Franzoni. If you were too sick to come to their office, they came to you after hours. I know I got shot plenty of times in my butt with penicillin when I had the flu.

There was a great gas station and auto repair right across from my parents house an ESSO station owned by Ed. Very honest and I’ll just call him Honest Ed. There was an appliance store, a Food Fair, Stanley’s Tavern, Top Road Tavern, Top Road Dress Shop and a few other places I can’t remember.

In one of my future posts there was a favorite hang out of mine in high school called Brunswick Drug Store, a bunch of us hung out there. That’s for later.

Well Skip see what you did making me recall all those memories, love every minute of it. I’m sure you readers have memories too. Feel free to share them on this blog. Speakies have a great day and day dream of those fond memories.

TO ALL YOU GORGEOUS GRANDMOTHERS

Good Morning and Happy Friday:

Well Speakies it is Friday and I hope the day is sweet and fast. I read there is a holiday today called, “Gorgeous Grandmother Day.” I had to do some reading on this one to update myself concerning this holiday. What it really boils down to is that all Grandmothers should consider themselves gorgeous, not to look back on the past but towards the future. Do the things they want to do and just enjoy life to the fullest. That sounds good to me. I know that’s the way my wife Rosemary lives her life and I’m proud of her in every way. I wish at times I had the energy to do the same. So to all you Grandmothers out there, get on the stick and start to enjoy those golden years ahead and not worry about life’s little ups and downs.

I’d like to wish “Happy Birthday” to all my Guys and Dolls who are celebrating it today and this weekend. Enjoy and have a piece of cake for me. We have some famous birthdays today dead and alive.

Arthur Treacher – Announcer for Merv Griffin Show. He opened a chain of Arthur Treacher’s Fish and Chips. We had several stores back in Trenton, NJ; I know Roe use to eat at the one uptown when she worked in the city. Good Fish and Chips.

A couple of pro baseball players today, Pee Wee Reese and Don Drysdale.

Don Imus – Radio Man, had a great show in the 60’s and 70’s. Changed his style later.

Finally Woody Harrelson – That bartender from Cheers. Plays some strange bird characters in many films.

Have a great weekend gang, have loads of fun but be careful out there.

TOOT AND HOOT TODAY

Happy Thursday Guys and Dolls:

Read the news last night and there were some interesting headlines in the news. Strange but real, these are the headlines we like to read about instead of the hatred that fills our news broadcasts and papers everyday. Let’s take a brief look at some with maybe a little JoeyZ commentary.

Elvis’ Embalming Instruments to be Auctioned – Now there is something every Elvis fan will be bidding on. Are they holding it on E-Bay or at Sotheby’s in New York or London? Maybe a nice Sunday Auction at Graceland.

Two Fisherman Catch Massive 130 Pound Catfish – Friday Fish Dinner for the entire town of Moose Breath, Montana.

Truck Crash Covers Road with Frozen Chickens – I can see them bouncing like ping-pong balls all over the road. Big sale coming your way at your local grocery stores, dented chickens 56 cents a pound.

Heart Attack Victim Saved by Pizza Man – Gave him a whiff of that Anchovy Pizza, better than an 81 aspirin.

UFOs Reported Over China – Klatuu is coming after you.

The weather guys down here are starting with their 2nd Tropical Depression scare that may occur and come near Florida. They’ll keep that up until the storm hits somewhere. This storm if it develops becomes Bonnie. Right now Bonnie lies over the ocean, don’t bring this Bonnie to me. No storms at all this year would be great.

Today there is a holiday to be observed and that is “Pied Piper Day.” The piper was hired by the town of Hamelin to rid the town of rats. After the job was done the town refused to pay him for his services. He played his pipe and all the children followed him out of town and disappeared never to be seen again. Sounds like something from the Twilight Zone.

I may check back later if crazies or bozos are uncovered but if not blow a flute or a kazoo and celebrate Pied Piper Day. Have a great one Speakies.

TOMATO PIES, CHEESE STEAKS OH MY

Happy Hump Day Speakies:

Well the work week is half-over so grin and bear the rest until Friday comes. My blog buddy Mack put up another DeLorenzo’s Tomato Pie coming out of the oven on his blog and my mouth starts to water. Roe and I are still in the search for that kind of pie, but I think Mack is right in his comment; it’s the water up in the northeast that helps the dough. We will keep looking and I’ll keep posting on every pizza we try whether its thumbs up or down.

Now my son Joe heard from a guy he works with about a place in Orlando called Laspada’s Original Cheese Steaks. It is located at 1010 Lee Road in Orlando. You can check out their website on the net. My son had one of their cheese steaks and said it was great, fine chopped steak, crispy roll the works. Phillies, Eagles pictures on the wall even Rocky Balboa is there. Now a friend I work with went there Saturday and said the sandwiches are delicious and even showed me the half she brought to work on Monday. I have to get down there and try it out for myself.

Rosemary had a great cheese steak sandwich several times at a local place in St. Cloud, Florida called Philly Steak and Sub located at 2009 13th Street. Now I heard they are moving or opening another shop but their menu is posted on the net. That’s another place I have to try. I write about these places but I need a taste to quench my yearnings.

I post this stuff for those Jersey or Philly transplants to know about and for you visitors to try while you are down here. So many restaurants are just bland or as I say suck. Just ask the locals for the places to dine or write me JoeyZ at my blog and I’ll try to give you the straight arrow answer. Don’t be shy.

Now I bid you a great day and evening and remember be careful out there.

GOODBYE LOU BROWN

Sad News Speakies:

For those Speakies who love baseball movies, actor James Gammon passed away on Friday in California of cancer at the age of 70. Famous for his role as Manager Lou Brown in "Major League", he also starred in many movies and as the father on the TV show "Nash Bridges."

Lou is up there now in the Big Leagues, managing those Boys of Summer or selling white wall tires. Rest in peace Jim.