A Dozen Recipes Every North Carolinian Should Know-- Part 10: Banana Pudding

The last recipe.  And, remember, the Our State Magazine has all these recipes.

Few North Carolinians can agree who makes the best barbecue, but we all agree that it should be chased with a dish of banana pudding.

However, there are many ways to take your banana pudding.  Some people like it topped with toasted meringue.  Others want billows of whipped cream.  Some want it warm, others want it deeply chilled.

Barbecue is contentious.  Banana pudding is a peacemaker.

Personally,I'd rather have peach or cherry cobbler.  But, really, who is hungry after eating all that 'cue, slaw, hushpuppies and washing it down with tea?

No Dessert for Me, Hun.  --RoadDog

Howard Johnson Diner Winds Down Its Last Days-- Part 3: HoJo Fans Still Have Hope

Owners of the Bangor, Maine, Howard Johnson, David and Sally Patel, have kept the business going the last four years as business slowed.  They are now down to just breakfast and lunch.  They note that the hotel side of the business is doing well, though.

Fortunately for HoJo fans, the Lake George, New York, one appears to be on solid ground and is open year-round.

They are even planning some renovations for this winter.

Walter Mann, of New Haven, Connecticut, said he and other HoJo fans still hold out hope that an "orange knight" will step forward and revive the restaurants.  "A lot of people have warm, fuzzy memories of a more innocent time," he said.  "People certainly crave for something like that to bring back the good memories."

--RoadDog

Howard Johnson Diner Winds Down Last Days-- Part 2: History of the Chain

Before falling on hard times, Howard Johnson took restaurant franchises to a new level.  The orange-roofed eateries once numbered more than 800, with the New England-based restaurant chain predating all those Howard Johnson hotels.

Howard Deering Johnson started the business in 1925, when he inherited a soda fountain outside of Boston.  that evolved into a chain of restaurants featuring comfort food and 28 flavors of ice cream.  The orange roof with its blue spire represented a dependable place for travelers to park the family car, grab a meal and spend the night.

The one closing in Bangor, Maine, the Howard Johnson Restaurant and Lounge, in its heyday, was popular with travelers and locals alike, including horror and science fiction author Stephen King, who lives in Bangor.  He said he used to eat there often and enjoyed the patty melts and milkshakes.

--RoadHoward

Howard Johnson Diner Winds Down Its Last Days-- Part 1

From the August 25, 2016, Chicago Tribune by David Sharp, AP.

The closing of one of the last two Howard Johnson restaurants in Bangor, Maine, in a couple weeks will mark the end of its fried clam strips, ice cream and other menu staples that nourished baby boomers and leace the once all-over-the-place restaurant chain on the brink of extinction.

The slice of roadside Americana will no longer be served up there after September 6.

The closing will leave just Howard Johnson restaurant located in Lake George, New York.

--RoadDog

500 Facts About the Indy 500-- Part 29: Danica Patrick, Blacks and South Americans

142.  DANICA PATRICK was the first woman to lead the 500, in 2005, her rookie season.

143.  She also recorded the highest start and finish for a woman in the 500.  Started 4th in 2005 and led for 19 laps and finished fourth.

146.  WILLY RIBBS was the first black man to qualify for the 500.  In 1991 with a speed of 217.358.

147.  EMERSON FITIPALDI was the first South American to win the 500.  A Brazillian, he's since been joined by Helio Castroneves and Tony Kanaan.

148.  The first SPANISH-SPEAKING South American to win the 500 (Portuagl is primarily Portuguese) was JUAN PABLO MONTOYA.

--RoadDog

500 Facts About the Indy 500-- Part 28: Women Making the Indy 500 Field

141.    INCLUDING GUTHRIE, NINE WOMEN HAVE MADE THE FIELD:

Janet Guthrie (1977-1979)
Lyn St. James (1992-97, 2000)
Sarah Fisher (2000-04, 2007-10)
Danica Patrick ((2005-11)
Milka Duno (2007-09)
Ana Beatriz (2010-13)
Simona de Silvestro (2010-13, 2015)
Pippa Mann (2011, 2013-16)
Katherine Legge  (2012-13)

--RoadDog

A Dozen Recipes Every North Carolinian Should Know-- Part 9: Dr. Bill Friday's Peanut Brittle

The late Bill Friday was president of the University of North Carolina for 30 years and host of North Carolina People on UNC-TV.  He was also famous for his peanut brittle.

He admits that he borrowed it from his wife's family and is chock full of peanuts with only enough sweet candy to hold them in place..  Starting around Thanksgiving every year he would make up around 75 pounds of brittle for holiday gifting.

I Agree.  More Peanuts Is Better.  --RoadDog

A Dozen Recipes Every North Carolinian Should Know-- Part 8: Moravian Sugar Cake

The worst part of these articles are the scrumptious pictures accompanying them.

This traditional Moravian recipe has a strong connection with Easter when Salem bakers timed them to emerge fresh and warm from ovens directly after the Easter Sunrise service.

The rich dough is made with mashed potatoes and the dimpled surface of the cake holds puddles of butter and brown sugar.

--RoadDog

A Dozen Recipes Every North Carolinian Should Know-- Part 7: Strawberry Sonker With Dip

Sonker is the signature dish of Surry Conty.  This large, juicy cobbler can be made with almost any fruit, and even sweei potatoes.  During the sunny days of spring, it is hard to beat warm strawberry sonker topped with a generous pour of the sweet, milky sauce known as dip.

There is even an annual Sonker festival at the Edwards-Franklin House near Mt. Airy sponsored by the Surry Count Historical Society the first Saturday in October.  To guide folks through the rest of the year, someone mapped out a Surry County Sonker Trail.

Looks real good, but I don't know if I would have room for sonker after eating one of those great porkchop sandwiches at Snappy Lunch.

Too Full, But I'll Make Room.  Somehow.  --RoadDog

News From Along Route 66, July 2016: Funks Grove Featured

JULY 13--  Chicago plans Route 66 birthday party for Saturday on Jackson Boulevard in Chicago.  This is put on by the Illinois Department of Tourism.  Hopefully they will; do it by the "Start of Route 66 sign."  A Route 66 mural is planned for the site.

JULY 20--  Funks Grove Maple Sirip is featured on the Illinois-Made series on TV.  This is put out by the Illinois Office of Tourism.

JULY 22--  Frog Rock, always a favorite "see" for me, was officially added to the federal geology site.  It is located east of Waynesville, Missouri.

JULY 26--  Former Cafe on the Route is up for sale in Baxter Springs, Kansas.  We ate there a long time ago and the food was some of the best I ever tasted.

--RoadDog

Goodbye Summit Inn

As I mentioned in my August 11th post in this blog, the Summit Inn at Cajon Pass, California, was sold on June 27, and I was hoping the new owners would keep it going as it was.  Now, they won't get that chance.  It was destroyed by that wildfire blazing away near Los Angeles.

We ate there on our 2006 Route 66 cross-country trip.  I'm sure glad we did.

However, today in the Route 66 e-mail group, I see someone saying the new owner plans to rebuild.

Good News.  --RoadDog

Why Go Anywhere Else?-- Part 3: Three Events in One Day

SUNDAY, AUGUST 14

Busy day.

First, I went to the Rally By the Lake at the Fox Lake Lakefront Park on Nippersink Lake.  There were probably 75 classic and sports car there. A whole lot of them were GM cars from the 60s and 70s, so I especially enjoyed them

Then, I dropped Liz off at the St, John's Parish fest in Johnsburg and drove into McHenry and bought a Kinks and Mothers of Invention CD at the Vinyl Frontier record store.  I went back to Parish Fest and enjoyed the band New Odyssey.  It has three guys (the guitar player is an old friend of Liz's) and they, during the course of their show, play 30 instruments.  They had just come in from a show last night in Wisconsin and appeared at the Illinois State Fair in Springfield on Monday.  Busy guys.

I then went over to McHenry where they had a Keeping the Spirit of '45 Alive ceremony to honor our World War II veterans.  It is reported that McHenry has one of the biggest of these observations in the whole country and there were at least 500 people there as well as our sadly dwindling number of veterans from that war.  There was the surround taps, a dove release and a big band playing.

Last stop was at Sunnyside tavern in Johnsburg.

--RoadDog

Why Go Anywhere Else?-- Part 2: Cabana's and Steak

SATURDAY, AUGUST 13.

Definitely had a threat of rain all morning, but not one drop fell.  We really need the rain and when it threatens like this, there is no way I'm taking the boat out.  I like to float on the water, not have it on me.

We met some of the Usual Suspects (Glen, Barb, Kevin and Kelly) at Cabana's on the Chain on Pistakee Lake at 2:30 p.m., and enjoyed the dueling pianos.  A local favorite named Michael Lescher was one of the pianists.  Nothing like sitting outside on a beautiful (though hot) afternoon and being entertained while sipping ice cold Miller draft beer (for $7 a pitcher).  Real big crowd.

The threatening rain finally left us.

Stopped at Sunnyside in Johnsburg and had a drink.

Then went to the Spring Grove Fireman's Steak Fry at Horse Fair Park.  It cost $20 for a ribeye steak, baked potato, corn on the cob, roll, cole slaw and cherry pie.  And, for a good cause.  Entertainment was provided by jukebox deejays.  I really dislike the new group of deejays who just play music off their laptop computers and say nothing except make a rare announcement.  Definitely not my idea of deejaying.

Went back to Sunnyside and then came home.

--RoadDog

500 Facts About the Indy 500-- Part 27: Rookies and Women

137.  IF YOU COUNT THE FIRST RACE, EIGHT ROOKIES HAVE WON THE INDY 500.

1911--  Ray Harroun
1913--  Jules Goux
1914--  Renee Thomas
1926--  Frank Lockhart
1927--  George Souders
1966--  Graham Hill
2000--  Juan PabloMontoya
2001--  Helio Castroneves

(Of course, we now know that rookie Alexander Rossi won the 100th Running this past May.)

138.  JANET GUTHRIE WAS THE FIRST WOMAN TO QUALIFY FOR THE 500.  She qualified for the '77 race with a speed of 188.403.

139.  SHE WAS ALSO THE FIRST WOMAN TO QUALIFY FOR THE DAYTONA 500.  Later, Danica Patrick also accomplished this, and to date the only two women to qualify for both.

140.  GUTHRIE FINISHED 9TH IN 1978.  That was the highest finish for a woman at the 500 until 2005.

Speed, Give Me Speed.  --RoadFlash

Why Go Anywhere Else?: This Last Weekend Around Here-- Part 1

That would be the Chain of Lakes area here in northeastern Illinois.

THURSDAY, AUGUST 11:

We went to Grasslake Landing on Grasslake for our Chain Crawl passport stamp.  Sadly, this place is closing on Sunday.  We had their Thursday special of half-price pizza and pitchers.  Met up with Kevin and Kelly there.

Afterwards, Liz and I went to Antioch, Illinois, for their final It's Thursday concert with a high-energy country band called the Hillbilly Rock Starz.

FRIDAY, AUGUST 12

Did some shopping in McHenry, then went to Sunnyside in Johnsburg and then to the Fox Lake American Legion on Nippersink Lake.

--RoadDog

Best of Chicago Sports Theater: Ten Things You Really Have to See When Visiting Chicago-- Part 2

If you're coming to Chicago to run Route 66, these are some things you need to try to see as far as sports are concerned.

6.  Jake Arieta starting for the Cubs at Wrigley Field.

7.  The Chicago Bulls introducing their starters.  (That goes back to the Michael Jordan era.

8.  Notre Dame's Fighting Irish running out of the tunnel to enter the field.

9. Dwayne Wade playing for the Chicago Bulls.  (Anybody but that gone-Wilted Rose.)

10.  Opening kickoff at a Bears game.  And , hey, no pro football team has a better fight song than "Bear Down, Chicago Bears."

--RoadDog

Looking Back: WPA and Roads in 1940

From the September 27, 2015, MidWeek (DeKalb County, Ill.) "Looking Back."

September 1840.

**  WPA (Works Progress Administration) workers have been helping to improve the courthouse grounds in Sycamore."

**  "The road north of Esmond is having a coat of gravel applied..  It connects the blacktop road with Route 64."

--RoadDog

Looking Back: Road Work and Railroad Crossings in 1915

From the September 27, 2015, MidWeek (DeKalb County, Illinois) "Looking Back"

From September 1915

**  "Some twenty men and ten teams are moving earth rapidly, making that improvement which has been so greatly needed of widening the long, high pike a half mile east of Sycamore."

Building roads with horses and mules.

**  "The Great Western Railroad Company has erected new gongs in Sycamore to disturb the inhabitants and warn the public to 'Stop, Look and Listen."

Even Back Then.  --RoadDog

News From Along Route 66, July 2016: Anyone Have Pictures of John's Modern Cabins?

**  Someone in the Route 66 Digest e-mail group wants to know if someone has pictures of what John's Modern Cabins looked like when it was a business.  I sure would like to see them.  I'm well aware of what it looks like since I've been seeing it all these years.  Worse every year.

JULY 8--  The Carlyle Motel in Oklahoma City is to become a car lot.  Located at 3900 NW 39th Street.  Built 1941.  In 2013, the new owners replaced the classic sign.

JULY 9--  The Pony Bridge was added to the Endangered Places list in Oklahoma.  It is near Bridgeport.  In 2016 it was listed on Oklahoma's Most Endangered Historic Places.

It is 3,900 feet long and consists of 38 "pony" trusses.  It appeared in the 1939 "Grapes of Wrath" movie.

That is some bridge.

----RoadDog

News From Along Route 66, June 2016: Another Lowell Davis Sculpture in Carthage

JUNE 22--  Unpopular marque returning to Rialto Square Theatre in Joliet, but in the back of the building.  I am hoping the financial problems it is having gets cleared up.

JUNE 25--  Route 66 exhibit at the Missouri History Museum begins today.  It is called "Route 66: Main Street Through St. Louis" and will run through July 16, 2017.  The museum is located at 5700 Lindell Blvd. in St. Louis.

JUNE 26--  Lowell Davis creates a new sculpture on Route 66 in Carthage, Missouri at 125 N. River street.  he is a noted folk artist and has several other sculptures already on Route 66.

He is described as "The Norman Rockwell of Rural Art" and opened the Red Oak complex nearby.

JUNE 27--  Summit Inn, Cajon Pass, California, is changing ownership.  An interesting place.  We ate there in 2006.  I'm hoping they keep it the same.

Love His Art.  --RoadDog

News From Along Route 66, June 2016: Murals

JUNE 17--  Dylan Wallace, 18, completed an 18-foot high mural in Wilmington, Illinois.  It has a big Route 66 logo and is located a block north of Route 66 a block north of Baltimore Street.

JUNE 17--  A Route 66/Lincoln Highway was erected in Joliet, Illinois.

JUNE 21--  A 12 X 26-foot mural is being painted in Pacific, Missouri, entitled "The Day the Train Came to Pacific."

--RoadDog

News From Along Route 66, June 2016: Museums in the News

Taken from the Route 66 News site.  These are some of its posts, just the ones I am particularly interested in.

JUNE  13--  The L & L Motel in Bloomington, Illinois, torn down  On Morressey Drive, not actually on Route 66, actually on US-150, just a block off 66.  It had fallen into hard times the last twenty years.   Sad, but probably necessary.

JUNE 16--  Gary Mace's Route 66 Car Museum opens in Springfield, Missouri.  You can never have too many museums.

JUNE 16--  Berwyn (Illinois) Route 66 Museum may move to a bigger and more historical site on Route 66.  New site to be at 6621 Ogden Avenue (Route 66).

BERWYN?  --RoadDog.

What's in a Carolina Coastal Name-- Part 5: Ocracoke Island and Hampstead

OCRACOKE ISLAND

One colorful story on how this isolated island earned its name involves Blackbeard the pirate.  Blackbeard and his crew were anchored near the island and on the run from the British Navy.

Resigned that a battle was imminent, Blackbeard called for the day to begin, pleading "Oh Crow Cock, O Crow Cock."

HAMPSTEAD

This one is sort of doubtful, but a great story nonetheless.  After the American Revolution, General George Washington was on a tour of the new country.  When he arrived at what is now Hamstead (near Wilmington), they were going to fete him with a shad bake.  Unfortunately, the shad weren't running so they had ham instead.

Still, A Great Story.  --RoadDog

Best of Chicago's Sports Theater: Things You Really Have to See at Chicago Sports Games-- Part 1

From the August 7, 2016, Chicago Tribune by David Haugh.

Say that you're coming to Chicago to start your trip along Route 66 and are in mind of getting out to a sporting venue, these are Mr. Haugh's picks of things you just have to see in 2016.

1.  Cubs new reliever Aroldis Chapman in the 9th inning.

2.  Jim Cornelison singing the "Star-Spangled Banner" before a Blackhawks game at home.

3.  Hawks player Patrick Kane during a shootout, or, really, anytime.

4.  A Chicago Bear quarterback Jay Cutler deep pass to Alshon Jeffery (if it is not intercepted).

5.  White Sox pitcher Chris Sale starting a game at Comiskey Park.  (I don't call it by that other name.)

Play the Game.  --RoadDog

500 Facts About the Indy 500-- Part 26: "Baby Borgs"

127.  The first "Baby Borg" was handed out in 1988.  The 18-inch replica of the big one has been given to the winner ever since.  Kind of sounds like something Star Trek would fight.

129.  A second "Baby Borg" is given to the winning car's winner.

131.  The tradition of "Kissing the Bricks" was started by a "Brickyard 40 winner.  In 1996, NASCAR's Dale Jarrett and his crew chief knelt down and smooched the "Yard of Bricks" at the start/finish line.  It caught on with both 400 and 500 winners.  Now, a whole lot of folks kiss those smelly, hot old yucky bricks.

134.  The Borg-Warner trophy always turns up at the 500 Festival parade, under heavy security, of course.

135.  The Borg-Warner has appeared in two films:  "Winning" and "Turbo."

Borg Me Up, Scottie.  --RoadBorg

What's in a Carolina Coastal Name-- Part 4: Corolla and Kill Devil Hills

Places located along the North Carolina coast and how they got their names.

COROLLA

In 1889, when the U.S. post office established an office in the village of Jones Hill they solicited the help of the community to come up with a new name for the town.

Jones Hill and Currituck Beach were submitted along with the name Corolla, a reference to the flower petals of the local wild violets.  Guess who won?

KILL DEVIL HILLS

Rum played a prominent roles in the theories as to how Kill Devil Hills received its name.

One story is that a band of pirates climbed the top of a tall dune and indulged in rum so powerful that it could kill the devil.

Another is that bottles of the rum brand "Kill devil" washed ashore after a shipwreck and littered the area beaches with an alcoholic windfall.

Time Flies When You're Having Rum.  --RoadDog

What's in a Carolina Coastal Name-- Part 3: Pamlico Sound and Oriental

PAMLICO SOUND

This large lagoon was named by early explorers after the Pamouik, a Native American tribe that lived throughout the shores.

The term "sound" refers to a saltwater lagoon.

ORIENTAL

Originally known as the town of Smith's Creek, Oriental was named after a Union ship that ran aground near Bodie Island in 1862, during the Civil War.

When a post office was established there in 1886, the postmaster's wife felt that a new name was in order.  Out beachcombing along the Outer Banks she found the name plate from the wrecked ship and thought it would make a great name for the town.

--RoadOriental

What's In a Carolina Coastal Name-- Part 2: Frying Pan Shoals and Bear Island

FRYING PAN SHOALS

This narrow, treacherous and hazardous prolonged sandbar reaches almost thirty miles out to sea from Cape Fear, much like the long handle of a frying pan.

Like a spider's web, this sandbar has been snaring vessels since the early days of sailing.  It played a huge role in the blockade of Wilmington during the Civil War.

BEAR ISLAND

Part of hammocks Beach State Park, Bear Island is assumed to be named after the large furry mammals.

Early maps, however, identify the island as Bare Banks due to its lack of vegetation on the island.  It is theorized that a map maker made a spelling error and listed the island as Bear Island.

Bearly  --RoadShoal

What's in a Carolina Coastal Name-- Part 1: Baldhead Island and Cape Fear

From the 2016 Our Coast Magazine  "What's in a Name."

How places along the North Carolina Coast got their names.

BALDHEAD ISLAND

Named after a tall sand dune barren of vegetation, a "baldhead" used by early sailors as a navigation landmark along the mouth of the Cape Fear River.

The white sand of the dune stood out against the surrounding vegetation and guided ships entering the river.

CAPE FEAR

In 1585, sailing north to Roanoke Island, explorer Sir Richard Greenville and his crew sailed their ship behind a sandy spit of land at the mouth of a river.

Fearful they would wreck on this headland cape, they called this feature Cape Fear.  The name eventually also referred to the river as well.

Fear the Bald.  --RoadDog

Austin Peay, Tennessee's Road Governor-- Part 2: He Sure Did

Since this is a road blog, I will concentrate on his impact in that area.

When Austin Peay took office in 1923, Tennessee had only 244 miles of paved state highways and bridges spanned few of its major rivers.

Under Peay, more than half  of the state's total expenditures went to road projects.  By the time of his death in 1927, Tennessee's system of paved roads had expanded from 244 to over 4,000, with a paved highway connecting Memphis in the west and Bristol in the east as well as four north-south roads.  In addition, there were 17 new bridges over rivers.

I'd Vote for Him.  --RoadDog

Austin Peay, Tennessee's Road Governor-- Part 1

From the Tennessee Encyclopedia of History and Culture.

(1876-1927)  A successful and progressive Tennessee governor during the 1920s.  Although he was just governor for a little more than 4 years,  his impact on the state was more than most of its chief executives.  He completely reorganized the state government, improved the tax system, reformed education, expanded and improved the state's road system, established the first state park and assured the establishment of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park.  He also worked with agriculture and improving rural life.

On one of our road trips, we drove through Clarksville, Tennessee, and came upon Austin Peay State University.  I had heard of then in the NCAA Basketball Tournament, but had no idea where it was.

Now, I know why it was so-named.

--RoadDog

Concerts in the Cape Fear Region (N.C.)-- Part 3: Ocean Isle and Sunset Beach

There are two other beach towns south of Wilmington which have concerts during the summer, both featuring many Beach Music bands.  One really good thing is that they have their concerts on different days.  I always hate it when towns hold their concerts on the same day.  The Holden Beach concerts are on Sundays.

OCEAN ISLE FREE CONCERT SERIES

Concerts 6:30 to 8 p.m. Fridays in the parking lot of the Museum of Coastal Carolina.

Most of the Beach bands in the previous post will be playing as well as Tommy Black Band and Too Much Sylvia.  Every Friday from May 27 to September 9.

SUBSET BEACH CONCERTS

Held Wednesdays at The Village Park from 7 to 9 p.m..  Pretty much the same bands as well as Big Time Party Band, Liquid Pleasure and The Legacy Motown Review.

--RoadConcertDog

Concerts in the Cape Fear Area (N.C.) This Summer-- Part 2: Beach Bands at Holden Beach

That   would be Beach bands as in those who play that great Beach Music.  Many bands in the coastal North and South Carolina area, play at least some Beach Music, but these are some of the "Biggies" on the Beach Music scene.

I'll be seeing Jim Quick and the Coastline Band at Goldsboro's Center Street Jam on Thursday.

These concert sites are all south of the Cape Fear River and heading towards the South Carolina Border.

HOLDEN BEACH CONCERTS  Held Sundays at the Holden Beach Pavilion at 6:30 p.m.  Free.

June 5:  Jim Quick & Coastline
June 12:  Mark Roberts Band
June 19:  Gary Lowder & Smokin' Hot
June 26:  The Embers  (the Original Beach Music Band)
July 3:  Steve Owens & Summertime
July 10:  Entertainers
July 17:  Fantastic Shakers
July 24:  Tim Clark Band
July 21:  Band of Oz
Aug. 7:  Sea Cruz
Aug. 14:  Holiday Band
Aug. 21:  Blackwater Rhythm & Blues
Aug. 28:  Carolina Breakers
Sept. 4:  Imitations

If you wanted to see the best of Beach Music, this would be the place to go,

Concerts in the Cape Fear Area This Summer-- Part 1: Tribute Bands and Locations

From the July 2016, Beach Scene Magazine: Guide to the Cape Fear Coast (Wilmington, N.C.).

There are weekly concerts all over the area, including Wilmington's Downtown Sundown, Fort Fisher Summer Concert Series, Carolina Beach's Summer Fireworks By the Sea and Boardwalk Gazebo Music, Boogie in the Park at Kure Beach, Arlie Gardens (Wilmington) Summer Concert Series and there will be five concerts at the Surf City Concerts in the Park.

The only one that charges is the Arlie Gardens Summer Concert Series at $9 for adults.

There are a lot of tribute bands like Abbey Road Live (Beatles), Liverpool (Beatles), Red Zeppelin (Led Zeppelin) Satisfaction (Rolling Stones), Funky Monks (Red Hot Chili Peppers), Slippery When Wet (Bon Jovi), Same As It Ever Was (Talking Heads), Skydog (Allman Brothers), Tuesday's Gone (Lynyrd Skynyrd) and Departure (Journey).

These bands are playing at Wilmington's Downtown Subdown.  I am a big fan of tribute bands which most often come closest to the way these bands sounded back during their younger days.

A Concert and a Brew.  Count Me In.  --RoadDog

Pop Goes the Cake-- Part 3: Sun Drop Shortcake

Well, Sun Drop Soda Pop was actually invented in Missouri in 1928 by Charles Lazier.  A few years later he shared the recipe with his friend Charles P. Nanney, a soft drink bottler in Gaston County, N.C..  Nanney tinkered with the recipe to suit his taste and then added it to his production line.

As his first marketing attempt, he teamed up with Red Bridges, owner of the Bridges Barbecue Lodge in Shelby, who agreed to serve seven-ounce samples of Sun Drop with his barbecue.  The first slogan of the bright-yellow, citrusy soda was, "Refreshing as a cup of coffee."

For this one, you use 1/2 cup of Sun Drop, not diet.

--Drop me.  --RoadDog

Pop Goes the Cake-- Part 2: Cheerwine Poke Cake With Cream Cheese Glaze

The "Nectar of North Carolina" hails from Salisbury (as does those great Chocolate Uglys).  It is made by the Carolina Beverage Corporation and Cheerwine Bottling Company.  This is the oldest continuously operated, family-owned soft drink company in the United States.

Because Cheerwine is not a wine, this sometimes confuses people.  The name comes from its red color and the "cheerfulness" its drinkers get.  The original label said, "It's full of good cheer."

Poke cake is so-named because you puncture the cake with several holes and then pour syrup, gelatin, or other sweet liquid into the openings.  (I have to admit I was wondering just what a poke cake was.)

For this recipe, you use 1 and 1/2 cups of Cheerwine (not diet).

Reckon With All the Other Stuff In It, You Don't Have to Worry About Anything Diet.  --RoadDog

Pop Goes the Cake-- Part 1: Cooking With Pepsi

From the June 2016 Our State Magazine by Sherry Castle.

Well, now you don't have to just drink your soda (pop is called soda or soft drink here in N.C.), but you can have it in your cake.

PEPSI AND PEANUTS FUDGE CAKE

In 1893, Caleb Bradham created a soft drink in New Bern, N.C. which became an overnight sensation.  yet he aimed for his drink to not only be a refreshment, but also a tonic for indigestion.

he named his new drink Pepsi-Cola and gave it the slogan "Exhilarating, Invigorating, Aids Digestion."  Later, he shortened it to "Drink Pepsi-Cola.  It Will Satisfy You."

The recipe calls for two cups of Pepsi-Cola (not diet).

A Real Case of Having Your Pop and Eating It Too.  --RoadDog

Pharmacy Fizzes in N.C.-- Part 3: Brown-Gardner, Sutton's Drug Store and Dee's Drug Store

BROWN-GARDNER in Greensboro

This phamacy managed to survive the opening of an Eckerd Drug across the street.  The Eckerd's is now closed.  A power lunch would be an orangeade, crinkle cut fries and a hot dog.

SUTTON'S DRUG STORE in Chapel Hill

"The consistency of the ice is key.  Crushed ice holds all the flavor.  It melts and dilutes the sugar, and it really makes it colder.  The best thing about it is you get to eat the crushed ice when you're done,' says owner Don Pinney.

They no longer sell drugs, though.

DEE'S DRUG STORE in Burgaw

Opened in 1916.  The business has been sold and will be moving to a nearby Piggly-Wiggly but the soda fountain won't be going with it.  It is unclear what will happen to it.  This will happen in the fall, so there is still time to get your treats.

I am thinking of stopping by on my way back to Goldsboro in a few days.

Get It Before It's Gone.  --RoadDog