Welcome to the my Web site, v. XII. The blog is typically published Monday - Saturday. My primary topics tend to be the Nats, Penn State (esp. football), BeltwayLand, transportation, media, photos and more. The rest of the site gets updated as warranted and is noted on the blog.
Tony's Big Easy not playing by the rules - William World News - William F. Yurasko's blog
Wednesday, July 01, 2009
Tony's Big Easy not playing by the rules
Police: Bars ignore court order - CDT Since I still get a fair number of searches for Tony's Big Easy which was once a great State College bar, I feel like I should post this link about them ignoring court orders:
But now Tony’s Big Easy has again been cited by the state police Bureau of Liquor Control Enforcement.
Police said they found on seven different occasions that the bar wasn’t complying with terms Grine put in place in March that allowed the bars to stay open until the appeal is decided.
“It didn’t appear to us that (Sapia) was even making an effort to comply with the provisions of the court order,” said district office commander Sgt. Wayne A. Bush.
I haven't been there in exactly four years, one day and I don't plan on going back. It used to be such a good bar.
Review: Pepsi Throwback - William World News - William F. Yurasko's blog
Wednesday, June 24, 2009
Review: Pepsi Throwback
A while back my brother told me about a version of Pepsi flavored with sugar instead of corn syrup. Last week, I saw that version, Pepsi Throwback, in the stores for the first time and I picked up several packs. Part of me was hoping it would be better than regular Pepsi, but since it has a limited release, I was worried that if it was I would be spoiled by something that would soon go away. Having now had 3 or 4 cans, I can say that I do taste a bit of a difference. Throwback is not quite as sweet as regular Pepsi -- it is a little more nuanced, if that is even possible in carbonated sugar water. I've gone back and forth between Throwback and the regular stuff and not had a strong reaction either way, so I say the difference is not very significant. That being said, I'll probably stock up on the Throwback just because regular sugar isn't as bad for you as corn syrup.
I think I'm going to have to do the Pepsi Throwback Challenge though and blog the results.
Hail 2thelion tailgate - William World News - William F. Yurasko's blog
Monday, April 27, 2009
Hail 2thelion tailgate
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. -- For a few years know, I've been reading PSUGirl's football blog and hearing about the 2thelion tailgate. I've been intrigued, but since I stopped going to Penn State football games other than the Blue White game for the most part, this was my first opportunity to see it for myself.
I counted four canopies, two grills, two stoves, one oven and one turkey fryer. I did not even try to count the number of coolers. Among the offerings were ginger chicken wings, french toast sticks, pierogies, meatballs, pork sandwiches, deep fried turkey (wasn't there for that though), fried shrimp and other stuff I cannot remember two days after the fact. I am probably missing a lot. This was just spring practice for them too.
Thanks for the invitation Maddy, I enjoyed meeting you and the other tailgaters. I'll be back, someday.
In April, the Mount Vernon distillery and adjacent gristmill will open to the public for the season. And for the first time in nearly 200 years, liquor fans will soon be able to purchase whiskey made in the distillery, following Washington's own recipe.
"There's nowhere else in the country you can see what a distillery was like in the 18th century," said Dennis Pogue, Mount Vernon's associate director of preservation who oversaw the distillery's reconstruction. And the experience shows visitors an intriguing side of George Washington. "It's an opportunity to talk about different aspects of Washington's career that most people don't know about," he said.
I am quite interested to check out the distillery, though when I learned in the article that the whiskey was not barrel aged, I became less enthusiastic for actual product. Nevertheless, I'll be happy to give it a try.
Some relief may be on the way later this year: The Velocity Capitol Riverfront condominiums, slated to open at First and L streets SE in the fall, will have a sports bar as part of its ground floor retail space.
And the real estate firm Akridge, which plans to eventually turn the space of a former Metrobus garage at Half and M streets into shops, offices and residential units, is hoping to convert the now-empty lot across from the centerfield gate on N Street into something of a block party this season. "The concept is a tented event space -- partially tented, mostly open -- with live entertainment, food and beverages," says Akridge Development Manager Adam Gooch. "Half Street is supposed to be the entertainment area. . . . We're trying to get some life down here."
Permits, schedules and most of the details of the project have yet to be finalized, but, well, the idea is promising
Right now, Capital Hill and 8th Street (Barracks Row) seem to be as close as you can get to Nationals Park.
JD Land if the place to go to keep up with the growth of the Nationals Park neighborhood.
How Yuengling became one of the largest American owned brewers - William World News - William F. Yurasko's blog
Monday, March 30, 2009
How Yuengling became one of the largest American owned brewers
Yuengling poised to become largest American-owned brewer - Patriot-News When Dick Yuengling bought the Yuengling Brewery from his father, it was a small, dying business. He revitalized it and now only Boston Beer Co. (Samuel Adams) is a larger American-owned brewer. Previously owned American breweries, Miller and Busch, have since been purchased by foreign conglomerates.
I do not feel as strongly about Yuengling Lager as some of my friends, but generally speaking, if I have beer in the house or at a tailgate, it is Yuengling. The quality to price ratio is quite good and I find Nittany Lion beef franks taste pretty good when they have "marinated" in it.
Oh and sorry, Matthew, Yuengling does not appear to be heading to Massachusetts anytime soon.
Tony's Big Easy still fighting for liquor license - William World News - William F. Yurasko's blog
Tuesday, March 03, 2009
Tony's Big Easy still fighting for liquor license
No decision in case of local bars - The Collegian Sammark Inc., owners of the once great Tony's Big Easy and two other bars, will continue its battle to retain its liquor license at a Pennsylvania Commonwealth Court hearing in Harrisburg, date to be determined.
National Chili Day is TODAY -- free bowl of chili at Hard Times - William World News - William F. Yurasko's blog
Thursday, February 26, 2009
National Chili Day is TODAY -- free bowl of chili at Hard Times
Judging by the traffic I got yesterday, a lot of you are very happy that today is National Chili Day. I am afraid my wait will be considerably longer to get served my free bowl of Hard Times Café chili (with any purchase) now.
Hard Times Café has locations throughout Virginia, Maryland and even one in Raleigh, N.C. Tell them I sent you.
Are Fajita Wars the new Cola Wars? - William World News - William F. Yurasko's blog
Are Fajita Wars the new Cola Wars?
TYSON'S CORNER, Va. -- On a recent excusion to one of Tysons Corner's casual dining restaurants, On the Border, I learned that it is home to the FAJITA REVOLUTION. Apparently, they are revolutionizing the way I enjoy fajitas. I disagree as I had brisket tacos instead. That is not the point though, apparently fajitas are much more serious than I could have possibly imagined. You may recall that On the Border's neighbor, Chili's, told me I could control my own Fajita Destiny. Are fajitas the next conflict in foodstuff marketing, like the Cola Wars* of the late 1980s?
I wonder how much further marketers will take this trend. Will be seeing things like Fajita Century, Generation Fajita, or Fajita Reich?
*My Advertising 320 professor told the class a couple of times, in muted tones, that he was a "veteran of the Cola Wars."
Strange for positing that question, especially since On the Border and Chili's are owned by the same company.
# posted by Muha :
Monday, February 23, 2009 2:23:00 PM
So, it is a civil war?
# posted by WFY :
Tuesday, February 24, 2009 8:18:00 AM
Post a CommentAnother food service vendor for Nationals Park - William World News - William F. Yurasko's blog
Wednesday, February 18, 2009
Another food service vendor for Nationals Park
Washington Nationals Introduce Levy Restaurants as restaurant partner at Nationals Park - The Post Centerplate is out as concessionaire after one year in Nationals Park by what appears to be mutual agreement. They lost money on the deal and the front office wants better service. Don't we all. Levy Restaurants becomes the third vendor in as many years for the Nationals. In the end, if they cannot find employees dedicated to more than sloth, the concessionaire will be a moot point. Seriously, the inefficiency of concession stand staff makes my head hurt. Why is it that I get better, more efficient service from student volunteers at Penn State games than professionals at Nats games?
An aside, I'm dreaming of a half-smoke, I assume Ben's Chili Bowl will still be featured with Levy on board.
At this rate, anything is an improvement over Aramark.
And don't forget cheaper-priced items at Beaver Stadium! After acclimating to an $8 chicken wing basket at RFK, I about fainted when I found nachos for $2 at a Penn State game.
# posted by Fritz :
Wednesday, February 18, 2009 12:02:00 PM
I think Centerplate was a slight improvement over Aramark, but not enough. Hopefully, Levy will be better, but realistically, I am not expecting much.
# posted by WFY :
Wednesday, February 18, 2009 12:34:00 PM
The problem isn't Aramark or Centerplate. The problem is the people that they hire to run the stands and quite frankly, unless Levy Restaurants, the Nationals, and WSEC decide to use non-profit groups to staff the concession stands, nothing in terms of service is going to change.
Pepsi fixes what wasn't broken - William World News - William F. Yurasko's blog
Tuesday, January 06, 2009
Pepsi fixes what wasn't broken
My favorite soft drink, Pepsi Cola just changed their logo. Why, I cannot say. Looking at them side-to-side, it is clear to me the old "Pepsi ball" is better and the new one is just weird. I do like the new script though, especially the "e" which has a wave like the old Pepsi logo, but that reinforces that I don't like the new Pepsi ball. Why "fix" was is not broken?*
Pepsi has a flash presentation about the new and old designs on their Web site.
At least the product still tastes good. I might have to save an old can.
*Of course, by blogging about the change, I fell into the trap they set by creating a new logo.
Cooking with William & Erica: Pigs 'n blankets - William World News - William F. Yurasko's blog
Friday, December 19, 2008
Cooking with William & Erica: Pigs 'n blankets
While we could argue semantics about what pig 'n blankets are I am going simply say that little sausages wrapped in dough are what we call pigs 'n blankets. Now that this is established, I'll talk about making these simple hors d'œuvres.
Ingredients
1 package Hillshire Farms Lit'l Beef Smokies 2 tubes of crescent rolls (store brand works fine) 1 cookie sheet preheat the oven to 375° F.
Directions
Open up the crescent rolls and unwrap them. For each triangle, halve or third it, depending on dough-to-sausage preference. Wrap cut triangle around each sausage. Place wrapped sausages onto ungreased pan in preheated oven. Cook for 10 - 12 minutes.
Olga's closed for good - William World News - William F. Yurasko's blog
Saturday, December 13, 2008
Olga's closed for good
Olga's Diner in Marlton closes for good - Courier-Post, Cherry Hill Olga's, a staple of the NJ 70/73 circle in Marlton, N.J., is closed for good. There were several shutdowns over the past year.
The diner was shut down Oct. 17 because, Stavros said, he owed nearly $17,000 to PSE&G for gas and electric service.
It was the fourth time this year the diner closed because of financial trouble. Olga's closed July 2-4, also because of a PSE&G bill; and July 24-29 because of $37,000 in delinquent state taxes. That closure was extended until Aug. 1 because of yet another PSE&G suspension.
I might have eaten at Olga's two or three times in all the years I passed it on the way to Grandma's and Long Beach Island.
Customs officials searching the bags of an African man who flew into Dulles International Airport on Friday discovered three charred monkeys in his luggage, as well as deer meat and dried beef, U.S. Customs and Border Protection officials said yesterday.
While it is very odd and possibly concerning, the monkey meat found in someone's luggage at Dulles Aiport means at least one thing -- a replay of Mike O'Meara's classic "Monkey, its what's for dinner" ad.
Last week we went to Harrisburg, but it was closed* - William World News - William F. Yurasko's blog
Monday, December 01, 2008
Last week we went to Harrisburg, but it was closed*
The best part of Celota's -- sun shining through their sign
HARRISBURG, Pa. -- On Black Friday, The Ombudsman, aka Cliff/Matthew/Matt came to visit while I up at my in-laws and we decided to go to Harrisburg for a drink. I had inquired with several people on where to go and got a list of places in the so-called "Restaurant Row." We figured that would be a safe bet for a place to find a decent selection of bourbons. Wrong! The places I had selected were closed, though their Web sites said there were open.
We wound up going to Ceoltas Irish Pub which had the apparently unique distinction of being open. It also had a waitress who knew nothing of whiskey such as the difference between Irish whiskey, Scotch and bourbon. Oh well, at least the company was good, but when it comes to Harrisburg, color me unimpressed. If there is a next time, we'll wait until after 4 p.m. and try the Iberian Lounge in Hershey.
Serves you right for trying to find something classy and interesting to do here. Next time, I'll just have you guys over at my place for some homebrew and Senape's pizza.
# posted by Run Up The Score :
Tuesday, December 02, 2008 9:17:00 AM
Perhaps after a day of skiing.
# posted by WFY :
Tuesday, December 02, 2008 9:53:00 AM
Post a CommentFinal week of Henny's - William World News - William F. Yurasko's blog
Oh non! Les Halles est fermé - William World News - William F. Yurasko's blog
Thursday, November 20, 2008
Oh non! Les Halles est fermé
On Tuesday, I got word from We Love DC and Fritz that one of my favorite places to eat in D.C., Les Halles, has closed. Erica and I loved their frites, martinis and the atmosphere. I also loved the arguments over the correct pronunciation of Les Halles. Maybe we will hit one in New York sometime. I am really mad we kept missing the Bastille Day waiter race too.
Free Taco Bell today, but who cares? - William World News - William F. Yurasko's blog
Tuesday, October 28, 2008
Free Taco Bell today, but who cares?
Rather than give customers free tacos just because, Taco Bell came up with a contrived World Series tie-in -- Steal A Base, Steal a Taco. Yes, because someone stole a base during one of the early games of this year's World Series, Taco Bell is giving out free tacos for four hours starting at 2 p.m. today. Frankly, I think that is a really weak criterion since there is not much risk that a base won't be stolen in the World Series. They out to make it something like an outfield assist, triple or infield fly rule occurrence -- that would be much more interesting.
Penn State finally beats Michigan - William World News - William F. Yurasko's blog
Saturday, October 18, 2008
Penn State finally beats Michigan
At last the streak of losing to Michigan is over. The last time Penn State had beaten Michigan was in 1996, my sophomore year. That is way too long -- now let us never speak of it again. From now on, Michigan is just another game on the schedule and not a black cloud flying over our heads.
After A.Q. Shipley snapped the ball over Daryll Clark's head on the first play of the game, I got madder than I had been about sports in a many years. It wasn't until the Penn State safety in the second half that I began to calm down. All's well that ends well I suppose.
In the end Penn State beat a 2-4 team at home, let's not get too carried away. I did not even reach for the top shelf for the victory bourbon, Jim Beam is good enough. I'll have some premium stuff if Penn State wins next week.
Ben's Chili Bowl at 50 chat right now - William World News - William F. Yurasko's blog
Monday, August 25, 2008
Ben's Chili Bowl at 50 chat right now
Ben's Chili Bowl Turns 50 - The Post "D.C. culinary institution Ben's Chili Bowl turned 50 this month. Nizam Ali, son of founders Ben and Virginia, who runs the family business with his brother Kamal, will be online Monday, Aug. 25 at 11:30 a.m. ET to take your questions about the restaurant's past, present and future."
Fifty years of Ben's Chili Bowl - William World News - William F. Yurasko's blog
Thursday, August 21, 2008
Fifty years of Ben's Chili Bowl
Ben's Celebrates Chili Power - The Post This week is the 50th anniversary of Ben's Chili Bowl*, the venerable U Street institution. Bill Cosby loves it more than Jello pudding:
By far, Ben's biggest celebrity fan is Cosby, who will serve as master of ceremonies for tonight's Lincoln Theatre event. The comic helped propel Ben's to the national spotlight in 1985 when he held a news conference there to talk about his No. 1 television program, "The Cosby Show."
Cosby became a fan when he was in the Navy and stationed in Bethesda in 1958. During that time, he was a regular at jazz clubs on U Street. And he also took his soon-to-be wife, Camille, who was a student at the University of Maryland, to Ben's on late-night dates, where he would eat as many as six half-smokes at a time. Cosby likens a Ben's half-smoke, a plump beef and pork sausage, to a fine wine.
"You can describe it the same way a wine connoisseur would be able to tell difference between a pinot noir and a merlot," Cosby said in a telephone interview. "When you bite into a half-smoke, the skin and the way the texture and firmness and the toppings you can get on it . . . "
His voice trailed off, as if he was caught in the memory of the taste.
Six?! The man had a stomach of steel. By the way, that is not recommended date behavior.
Oh and it looks like I will be taking Cliff there real soon -- his Phillies beat the Nats for the eighth time in eleven games. The Phillies need two more victories over the Nats to clinch a Ben's half-smoke for Cliff. The Nats need to win every remaining game against Philadelphia to win me a cheesesteak. Given that the Nats haven't won in 13 games overall, I am not feeling too good about this one.
*The bandwidth limit was exceeded earlier this morning.
More details on the end of Henny's - William World News - William F. Yurasko's blog
Thursday, August 07, 2008
More details on the end of Henny's
I searched for Henny's news, but only found out about this when my dad mentioned that he saw something in the Cape May News Herald:
The vacant lot on the corner of 96th Street and Third Avenue will soon host the highly anticipated resort, as will the current Henny’s Restaurant property on the corner of 97th Street and Third Avenue; this will be its last season open. The resort will gain the Henny’s liquor license once the sale is finalized.
The reconstructed Henny’s property will include a large day spa, cafe, wine bar, and restaurant with 12 bi-level suites in a Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) building, an environmental standard in creating eco-friendly buildings. Construction will not begin until next winter, Architect Richard Stokes said.
I don't care whether its called pork roll or Taylor ham - William World News - William F. Yurasko's blog
Wednesday, August 06, 2008
I don't care whether its called pork roll or Taylor ham
STONE HARBOR, N.J. -- I am a late adopter when it comes to pork roll, but better late than never, right? This processed meat could probably qualify as N.J.'s state foodstuff, provided you are not including Jersey fresh produce like tomatoes, corn (soooo good), peaches or blueberries (Hammonton boasts being the blueberry capital of the world). Taylor, of Trenton is probably the best known variety although there are a few others.
I like my pork roll grilled with the traditional four cuts to keep it from curling up. I eat them on a hamburger roll, no condiments, but many people have mustard and/or relish or have it on an english muffin with an egg.
# posted by Fritz :
Wednesday, August 06, 2008 12:07:00 PM
You want to call them steamed hams, despite the fact that they clearly are not burgers? Does the dateline indicate it was from upstate N.Y.? Now, if you'll excuse me I'm watching aurora borealis in my kitchen.
# posted by WFY :
Thursday, August 07, 2008 8:31:00 AM
Love pork roll. I also love the Simpsons. Makes me want to watch that episode right now...or when I get home.
By the way, for my dad's birthday, we gave him the book Jersey Diners by Peter Genovese, now of the Star-Ledger who runs the Munchmobile blog. Check out the Munch Map. Anyway, my dad is really enjoying the book. I took at a look at it; Olga's is in there.
Overheard: Henny's to be sold, demolished - William World News - William F. Yurasko's blog
Monday, August 04, 2008
Overheard: Henny's to be sold, demolished
STONE HARBOR, N.J. -- I was surprised to hear the rumor that Henny's, now in its 77th summer, may not see a 78th. Apparently, the land is for sale and a potential buyer has been found. The new buyer would knock the venerable Stone Harbor institution down and replace it with a hotel.
When I was a kid Henny's had honey-dipped fried chicken that I thought was out of this world. When I started going back to Avalon/Stone Harbor, I was kind of disappointed they did not have it. Henny's has been Yurasko favorite for most of those 77 years, it will be sad to see it go if this rumor is accurate.
Tony's Big Easy in big trouble with liquor board - William World News - William F. Yurasko's blog
Thursday, July 17, 2008
Tony's Big Easy in big trouble with liquor board
Bars fight to regain licenses - The Collegian Three State College bars, including my former favorite Tony's Big Easy, might be losing their liquor licenses.
The future of Tony's Big Easy and two accompanying bars is uncertain after the Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board (PLCB) declined to renew their parent company's liquor license last week.
After multiple incidents and violations on the premises -- including a murder in 2006 and a February fight which saw four arrests and a crowd of 200 surge into the street -- the board voted against renewing the license for Sammark Inc., owner of Tony's Big Easy, Lulu's Nightspot and Candy Bar & Lounge, all located at 129 1/2 S. Pugh St.
The Big Easy, circa 1998-99 was one of my favorite bars ever. It had good background music -- jazz, salsa, swing, big band, and great martinis. That Penn State's sweet young things thought the bar was worthy of little black dresses also had something going for it too. However, in the years after I graduated, the bar went downhill. The music was changed the same thing in every other bar in town and the service went downhill. After a lackluster evening their the night before I got married, I decided I would not bother going back, it was merely a shell of the bar it used to be.
Dress like a cow, get free Chick-fil-A - William World News - William F. Yurasko's blog
Friday, July 11, 2008
Dress like a cow, get free Chick-fil-A
I don't think I am going out on a limb when I say that dressing like a cow to get a free Chick-fil-A combo meal makes more sense than getting a free Slurpee for doing nothing. Chick-fil-A is pretty good stuff, so if you have a cow costume lying around, I say go for it, celebrate "Cow Appreciation Day" with them and get some free food.
You can download official Chick-fil-A "cow parts" too.
Free slurpees are probably overpriced - William World News - William F. Yurasko's blog
Free slurpees are probably overpriced
Since today is 07.11, 7-Eleven is giving out free Slurpees, if you are into that kind of thing. I have had about four1 in my life and after having one last year2. I remembered why pretty quickly.
I will not think less of you if you get one though, honestly.
I don't think I even need to post a store locater.
There is even better free food news coming up at 10:00.
1One of them came in a Fernando Valenzuela cup that is probably still in a cabinet in my parents' basement. For some reason, he had something that looked like a tear near one of his eyes.
Fajita destiny? - William World News - William F. Yurasko's blog
Wednesday, July 09, 2008
Fajita destiny?
TYSON'S CORNER, Va. -- A recent excusion to the Tyson's Chili's with co-workers revealed this unusual marketing campaign for fajitas.
I did not get the fajitas for three reasons:
Economical: When dining at Chili's, Friday's, Flingers, etc. I find the best way to handle the situation is order the least expensive tolerable food possible. Fajita's were something like $15 I think. I wound getting some sort of chicken fingers selection for something like $8. Think of it as damage control.
Gastronomical: I am not a big fan of fajitas and all those peppers don't work too well for me.
Semantic: I'm no Calvinist, but isn't destiny preordained? Fajita destiny is just a bit over the top, no?
July is National Hot Dog month - William World News - William F. Yurasko's blog
Tuesday, July 08, 2008
July is National Hot Dog month
The National Hot Dog and Sausage Council has a good video on hot dog etiquette, but I'll use ketchup (and prepositions at the end of sentences) if I want to!
Bull market for bourbon - William World News - William F. Yurasko's blog
Monday, July 07, 2008
Bull market for bourbon
Bourbon producers see amber-colored future - AP/MSNBC Lionel Hutz must be pleased to know that the "brownest of the brown liquors" is so popular at home and abroad. Bourbon distilleries Wild Turkey, Maker's Mark, Jim Beam and others are all expanding to meet increasing demand. Sales are robust enough for the distilleries that they won't be passing along the rising cost of corn onto consumers for some time too.
One pet peeve about the article though, it mentions Jack Daniel's, a Tennessee sipping whiskey. Bourbon does not need to be charcoal filtered like Jack.
Dining Review: Eammon's - William World News - William F. Yurasko's blog
Thursday, July 03, 2008
Dining Review: Eammon's
ALEXANDRIA, Va. -- Eammon's bills itself as a Dublin Chipper, but having never been to that Irish city, I cannot validate the claim. I can say that it is a hole in the wall that is tastefully done. The interior is dark stained wood with big windows facing the corner of King and Columbus. The tables are wooden with benches along with a small counter with stools. If the seating capacity exceeds 25, I would be quite surprised. It is a pleasant place to have a meal. Diners order from the front and take what ever seats are available, so be prepared for a little jockeying.
As for the meal, the cod is breaded and fried and is fairly unremarkable – it is cod after all. It comes in two sizes, small which a bit wider and deeper than a deck of cards and large, which is double the small size. The chips (french fries to the rest of the English speaking world) are quite attractive to the eye -- thick and golden brown. They are not that flavorful though, so plenty of ketchup is required which is fine if you like ketchup. Malt vinegar is also on the table if that is how go like your potatoes. All in all, okay but nothing special.
Beverage-wise everything is in bottles except for Guinesss which is on tap. I ordered a bottle of Harp, since that compliments fish and chips better in my mind.
Our final bill came to $32 with a tip that was overly generous. It struck me as a little pricey. For that reason, plus the limited space, I would only recommend Eammons as a impulse decision if you are in the mood for fish n' chips while walking around Old Town.
LaVar turning Sports Cafe into Linebacker U. bar - William World News - William F. Yurasko's blog
Tuesday, July 01, 2008
LaVar turning Sports Cafe into Linebacker U. bar
LaVar eyes 'Linebacker U' bar - CDT LaVar Arrington is one of the investors in "Linebacker U." the new bar that is coming to the old Sports Cafe location on W. College Ave. in State College.
Actually, I was right about Cereality - William World News - William F. Yurasko's blog
Thursday, June 26, 2008
Actually, I was right about Cereality
Downtown cereal spot closes shop - The Collegian I did not need to backtrack from my "not enough for a successful business model" comment about the State College Cereality after all. The store on W. College Ave. has closed.
Ballparks food tour omits half-smoke - William World News - William F. Yurasko's blog
Tuesday, June 17, 2008
Ballparks food tour omits half-smoke
Buy Me Some Sushi and Baby Back Ribs - The Times A Travel writer samples food at all MLB ballparks and comes up with hits and misses. For some reason, he does not sample a Ben's Half-Smoke all the way, getting the curly W pretzel instead. Endless Simmer has a great follow-up post that wonders how that could happen.
I still have to get a curly W pretzel. It was a concept I endorsed in the Nationals Instant Tradition contest back in 2006. I also submitted "Heart," thereby disqualifying myself by entering twice. By the way, was there ever an actual winner of that contest?
I will concur avoiding the Geno's cheesesteak in Philly's Citizen's Bank Park too, the one I had on Opening Day 2005 was disappointing.
Free A&W Root Beer floats today - William World News - William F. Yurasko's blog
Monday, June 16, 2008
Free A&W Root Beer floats today
A&W is giving away free root beer floats (Business Wire), no purchase necessary, today. There are not that many locations on my side of the Potomac (Chantilly and Woodbridge), but Maryland has a few.
Truth be told, I don't like floats that much (despite liking ice cream and root beer in frosty mugs, individually), but I bet a number of you do.
J. R. Simplot, a billionaire who grew up in a sod-roofed log cabin and dropped out of school at 14, then marshaled luck, spunk and inventiveness to fashion an entrepreneurial career that included developing the first commercial frozen French fry, died on Sunday at his home in Boise, Idaho. He was 99.
I paid tribute this American hero last night with some tasty Ore Idas. If he only knew how much I appreciate his innovations.
Which cheese belongs on cheesesteaks? - William World News - William F. Yurasko's blog
Monday, May 26, 2008
Which cheese belongs on cheesesteaks?
Cheez Whiz is overrated for cheesesteaks - The Inky The proper cheesesteak cheese -- American, provolone or Whiz is debated. I prefer the Whiz myself, occasionally with raw onions.
Speaking of cheesesteaks, the 2008 Cheesesteak/Half-Smoke Challenge is now tied, 3-3.
La Coupe Hauxer wrap-up - William World News - William F. Yurasko's blog
Tuesday, May 20, 2008
La Coupe Hauxer wrap-up
VIENNA, Va. -- We had the annual La Coupe Hauxer season-end trophy presentation on Sunday at the Vienna Inn. Brad, representing the NJ Devils, won La Coupe Hauxer for the third consecutive time. He has gotten so nonchalant about the whole thing that he did not wear a Devils sweater. At least he didn't put that wussy peach malted beverage in the coupe this time, electing for the more respectable choice of birch beer. This shouldn't be a problem next year, as the Devils reign is coming to an end.
The other portion of the "ceremony" was Wiley relinquishing the Stanley Screwdriver. His Flyers bounced back quite well from a 1-19 season last year to find themselves in the middle of pack. Washington with a disappointing 5-7 record, reclaimed the Stanley Screwdriver. Fritz and I will each "host" it for six months.
Over chili dogs, fries and Bud drafts, we settled the pressing matters of the league, most importantly, the playoffs. Head-to-head matchups in the playoffs between La Coupe Hauxer teams count. There was also a very disappointing final game of the Eastern Conference on in the background.
Free and cheap ice cream update - William World News - William F. Yurasko's blog
Wednesday, April 30, 2008
Free and cheap ice cream update
Last night Erica and I enjoyed free scoops of ice cream from Ben & Jerry's in Old Town. I had vanilla while she had Cheesecake Brownie. We waited in line for about 15 minutes. I could not convince Erica that we needed to go through the line again.
Free Cone Day! - William World News - William F. Yurasko's blog
Tuesday, April 29, 2008
Free Cone Day!
Today is Free Cone Day at Ben & Jerry's. It will probably be the only day that I have any of their tasty, but otherwise overpriced ice cream.
I have one piece of advise -- don't go through the line too many times. I knew somebody in college who once had so much ice cream that she got hysterical from all the sugar.
More on Jersey diners - William World News - William F. Yurasko's blog
Tuesday, April 15, 2008
More on Jersey diners
Spud Mountain or Bust: A Jersey Diner Diary - The Post My dad sent me this story about diners in New Jersey. There are over 600 of them, making Jersey the diner capital of the U.S. He also adds commentary:
The Mastoris Diner (mentioned in the article) in Bordentown was owned by the family of a schoolmate at Peddie.
My favorite Jersey diners were Weequaic in Newark (I believe the original diner), Swingles in Hillside on RT 22., and OLGA's at the Marlton Circle.
Swingles by the way designed and constructed diners.
The Amphora in Vienna, Va. is very close to a Jersey Diner and I understand that the Manhattan Diner in Fairfax is very good. We will have to try it.
(By the way, my mouth is actually watering for a piece of coconut cream pie from the Weequaic diner.)
In Jersey, if you wanted a good filling meal at a decent price, you headed for the diner. Back in the day, I did a lot of hitchhiking and diners were a great resource! There goes the watery mouth thing again when I thought of the world's freshest eggs at Swingles. They were brought in from a farm every morning. Hell, they may have still been warm from the chicken!
I do not have a specific favorite, but I've eaten in diners all over Jersey. I remember there was a great Absolute ad with a stainless steel diner shaped like a bottle that said "ABSOLUTE JERSEY."
Best cheesesteaks in Philly list - William World News - William F. Yurasko's blog
Thursday, April 10, 2008
Best cheesesteaks in Philly list
I like cheesesteaks and despite it being Hate the Flyers Fortnight (more or less, why do the NHL and NBA stetch 7 games series out so long?), I'm still going to alert you to a list of the best cheesesteaks in the Philly area, birthplace of the cheesesteak. I like the cheesesteaks and I won't let even the thuggish Flyers ruin that for me.
The list is compiled by WIP, the radio station that invented the dark morning of the soul known as Wing Bowl (ESPN Page 2). That fact either proves WIP is perfectly qualified to judge cheesesteaks or should never be taken seriously ever under any circumstances.
My favorite, Jim's Steaks, comes in at #12 out of #45. Geno's, which I had on Opening Day 2005, comes in at #35, an assessment I cannot fault. I have not yet been to Geno's 9th and Passayunk rival, Pat's, but maybe I need not bother since it comes in so low at #42. I've been curious about #8 Tony Luke's and #30 Rick's, but apparently I to go to John's Roast Pork if I want the best.
For all the (Fast) Foodies - William World News - William F. Yurasko's blog
Friday, April 04, 2008
For all the (Fast) Foodies
Ode to an Onion Ring, and Other Fast Food in the Slower Lane - The Times "The less prominent the establishment is, compared to McDonald’s and Burger King, the gluttonous Gargantua and Pantagruel of the industry, the happier its menu makes me."
The death of Popeye's founder, Al Copeland, prompts the author's nostalgia for smaller fast food chains.
Turnpike dining - William World News - William F. Yurasko's blog
Thursday, April 03, 2008
Turnpike dining
The United Plates of New Jersey - The Times A look at some places to eat near the Turnpike that offer a Jersey experience more satisfying than Vince Lombardi Service Area. I would not have been surprised if all the places selected were diners (Jersey has got to have more diners per capita than anywhere), but a few other kinds of places are featured.
On April 4, all dining commons will be serving the famed chicken cosmo sandwich for the last time. A popular menu item for over 26 years at Penn State, the cosmo has been a staple at almost all campuses' dining operations and is a favorite of both students and alumni.
"Students like them. Alumni love them," Director of Residential Dining Lisa Wandel said. "It reminds them of their college days. I think alumni will be more disappointed than anyone."
Penn State Food Services sells approximately 600 to 700 cases of cosmo patties a month, or 274,000 cosmos every academic year. However, it's the chicken vendor that is putting a stop to the cosmo. Pierce Chicken Products said Penn State is the only institution that buys the patties – a fact that can be attributed to the cosmo's legend at the University.
I am ambivalent (living off campus, I never had meal plan) about this development, but I know some will disappointed. It isn't like the 3D burger is going away, right?
There will be a contest as well:
Through its long history, the cosmo has been a part of thousands of lunches, dinners, and late night snacks. Food Services wants to hear some cosmo stories in their Cosmo Essay and Video Contest. Students and alumni are encouraged to send their favorite cosmo stories (100 words or less) to 111 Redifer Commons, University Park, Pa. 16802 or cosmoNOT@psu.edu by April 25, 2008.
Cosmo lovers can also submit a 30 to 60 second video about their favorite cosmo moments. Contestants can post their videos on Youtube.com and send the link to Food Services at cosmoNOT@psu.edu. For more information on the contest, please visit http://www.foodservices.psu.edu/.
The participant with the best story will be awarded his or her very own case of chicken cosmos – the last of their kind.
Oddly, Safeguard Old State has not commented on this decision, but I am sure they will because I can't imagine they are just an elaborate Web site designed only promote a consequence-free environment for mindless binge drinking in Happy Valley.
As founder of Safeguard Old State, I do wish you had taken the opportunity to contact me before making what appear here to be snap judgments about our motives.
We seek to reinvigorate and reawaken the Penn State student spirit of old, and while I was certainly a fan of the Chicken Cosmos when I lived in East Halls as a freshman, the type of change we are working towards is more fundamental.
Thank you for your readership, regardless, and let me again stress that we are always open to any communication.
All the best, Tom Shakely
# posted by Tom Shakely :
Thursday, April 03, 2008 4:37:00 AM
I'd be delighted to speak with you. I'll get in touch over the weekend.
# posted by WFY :
Thursday, April 03, 2008 12:49:00 PM
Seriously... that last paragraph about SOS really made my day! Keep up the good work!
# posted by Anonymous :
Monday, April 07, 2008 2:31:00 AMPost a Comment
Let's not get carried away, vol. 1 - William World News - William F. Yurasko's blog
Let's not get carried away, vol. 1
Overhauled Offense Shows Promise - The Post Swing music has Nats grooving - The Wash. Times Yes, the Nationals offense looks a lot more formidable right now and on Monday they did score 11 runs (in a tiny ballpark), but before we get too excited, let's not forget that they went something like 23 consecutive batters without getting on base on Opening NIght. Can we at least give it a week before we proclaim how much better the lineup is this year? Two games isn't a great sample size.
Nats’ Johnson picks up where he left off - The Wash. Examiner Having 1B Nick Johnson back at first base is a big factor in the lineup looking better. Dmitri Young was a good story as comeback player of the year, but Johnson is a more effective hitter and first baseman.
Step Up to the Plate - The Post Slimmer Pickings at the Park - The Post More From the Concession Stands - The Post The Food section covers the ballpark cuisine. I'll agree that the prices are steep, but the quality is improved over RFK. Don't forget that you can bring in your own food (single serving packages) and water too.
TODAY'S CHATS
Washington Nationals - washingtonpost.com Washington Post writer Barry Svrluga will be online Wednesday, April 2 at 1 p.m. ET to take your questions and comments about how the Washington Nationals.
Live Chat with Mark Zuckerman: Wednesday at 1 p.m. - washtimes.com "Mark Zuckerman will be here at 1 p.m. on Wednesday to talk to you about the unbeaten, first-place Washington Nationals. Sounds crazy, doesn't it? He'll also be ready to field questions about the new stadium and the first road trip of the year."
Free Range on Food - washingtonpost.com "Each chat, we will focus on topics from the day's Food section. You can also read the transcripts of past chats. Do you have a question about a particular recipe or a food-related anecdote to share? The Food section staff goes Free Range on Food every Wednesday at 1 p.m. ET."
Chico headed to rotation; shut up, FLop; Ben's! - William World News - William F. Yurasko's blog
Saturday, March 22, 2008
Chico headed to rotation; shut up, FLop; Ben's!
For Starters, Chico Looks Like One - The Post Chico kicks it old school - The Wash. Times Last year, Matt Chico led Washington in starts, innings and wins. His pitching didn't exactly inspire anyone, but his toughness impressed his coaches. Now, having gone back to his natural, high leg-kick, pitching motion there is reason to believe he can be a much better pitcher. The leg-kick puts a few miles on his fastball, lets him throw his curve again and puts less stress on his arm. All of this and the end of the John Patterson experiment seem to ensure that Chico has a spot in the rotation.
López Could Go From the Bench To Cubs' Infield - The Post Lopez playing his way out of job - The Free Lance-Star IF Felipe Lopez is batting average is around the Mendoza Line and he has made four errors this season. Yet, he insists that he is "not a bench player" even though the two other middle infielders are batting no less that .100 more than him. Despite this bad attitude, the Cubs are interested in acquiring Lopez. I wonder how Lou Pinella would deal with FLop's attitude. By the way, Manny Acta is dealing with it by saying "I'm going to try to keep my best team on the field and do what I can to keep as many guys involved, but attitude is a choice and I can only control mine. . . . I'm not going to make my decision based on what a guy says in the paper, or what [is written in the media] or what any of those guys think."
Mets overpower Nationals - Florida Today The Mets beat the Nats 8-2. Two of those Mets runs came on a David Wright homer after a FLop error. Paul Lo Duca caught his first Grapefruit League game of 2008.
My Conversation With Nizam Ali--Ben's Chili Bowl - Nats320 Ben's Chili Bowl - Nats320 SBF speaks with the owner (and son of the founder) of Ben's Chili Bowl, Nizam Ali. Centerplate, the food vendor, realized that getting Ben's in the park was a no-brainer. Ali says that he feels like Centerplate has partnered with Ben's. Hopefully, this will be a long, fruitful relationship for all involved.
Succumbing to the commerical: Chipotle - William World News - William F. Yurasko's blog
Thursday, March 13, 2008
Succumbing to the commerical: Chipotle
After many years of saying, "no, thanks" when the Chipotle fax sheet came to my cube, I finally decided to give it a try. I will admit that this is largely because of the Pork, Pork, Pork song (chipotlog) in the Chipotle radio ads.
I went ahead and ordered carnita crispy tacos. I enjoyed them -- they are good, but ultimately, the song is better.
Gotta have a Wawa? - William World News - William F. Yurasko's blog
Wednesday, March 05, 2008
Gotta have a Wawa?
This morning I heard another Wawa ad on WTOP. I remember hearing that Wawa was going to charging into this market two years ago, but the nearest Wawa to me is Woodbridge, not exactly close. In fact on our drive down to the Carolinas, we passed at least four on the I-95 corridor. There is at least one in Virginia Beach too.
Generally, I'm indifferent about convenience stores, but Wawa makes a pretty good sub. Between them, Sheetz and PotBelly, I've grown to accustomed to having a sammich with good meat, so I don't visit Subway anymore. It would be really helpful to have Wawa in Tysons, but I fear they are going the Sheetz route and only opening up in the outlying areas where land is cheaper.
Their BLTs are awesome, far better than other places I've tried. I also like their sweet tea, and all the fruits and salads they make. Royal Farms tries to be like them, but they still fall short. The closest one to Columbia is about 15 minutes away. There's also one in College Park than Christine and I would swing past on the way home from work, but that's when we taught in Bladensburg. Now that I'm in Beltsville, that's really out of the way.
# posted by Brad Stratton :
Wednesday, March 05, 2008 3:01:00 PM
They're all over the place down in Spotsylvania and Stafford. Like you said, they're just putting them in cheap land areas and developing exurbs where the morning commuters head for cheap coffee and gas before hopping on I-95.
# posted by Michael :
Wednesday, March 05, 2008 7:28:00 PM
Post a CommentState College's Sports Cafe having problems - William World News - William F. Yurasko's blog
Monday, March 03, 2008
State College's Sports Cafe having problems
Former workers may sue local bar - The Post I did not know that the Sports Cafe & Grill in downtown State College had been closed since last year. I also didn't know that former WR (not tailback, Collegian) Joe Nastasi '99 was one of the owners. Money problems may have shut the place down, but there are apparently new investors coming in to rebuild and reopen it.
The Sports Cafe, originally Sportscenter Cafe (I think, I know Sportscenter was in the name so where), was a wholly unremarkable bar with occasionally good lunch specials and outdoor seating. I typically only went there if the Cafe 210 West was too crowded and haven't been back since I graduated.
I went there for lunch with a buddy several times during my last semester (Spring '01). They had excellent wing specials as I recall, something like 10 or 20 cent wing specials in the afternoon. And of course, they had the trivia games which always made for a good time. Going there on the weekends was a drag because of the large crowds, but I always enjoyed my lunch-time visits. Also, I think by that point the "Sportscenter" name was already removed, though to be honest I don't think that name stuck very long.
# posted by TMBC :
Monday, March 03, 2008 3:24:00 PM
Restuarant Review: Moore's Barbecue - William World News - William F. Yurasko's blog
Restuarant Review: Moore's Barbecue
KENLY, N.C. -- We were not feeling as adventurous on the way back north as we had been on the way down, so we didn't stray far from I-95 for our final meal of the drive. Moore's barbecue, located next to the exit 107, gave us the convince we wanted, but would it deliver on food? The answer -- sorta.
Moore's has a pleasant dining area that you set yourself in after ordering food cafeteria-style. I went ahead and got a plate of pork, potatoes and hushpuppies. Pork rinds were thrown on top of the plate, but "being-gastronomically-honest-to-the-local-cuisine" be damned, I'm not eating pork rinds!
The pork was tasty, though not as tender as Parker's, the place we ate at on the way down. Moore's uses more peppers, so it has a bit more zing. I enjoyed it as it came and with the pepper sauce. The potatoes were pretty good, though a few were overdone, and the hushpuppies were fine. Erica had another pork sandwich this time and enjoyed it.
I was enjoyed Moore's and would go there again, but I wouldn't go out of my way for it like I did with Parker's. Moore's convenience from I-95 meant good barbecue was good enough. I'd be quite happy to have barbecue of this caliber in my neighborhood.
Fast Food review: Bojangles - William World News - William F. Yurasko's blog
Friday, February 29, 2008
Fast Food review: Bojangles
CONWAY, N.C. -- Not long after visiting Coast Carolina University, we needed to make a pit-stop. Since I was a little hungry and certainly curious, we stopped at a Bojangles' Famous Chicken 'n' Biscuits, known for . Not needing a full meal, I ordered a two-piece and biscuit combination, ($2.18), for us to split.
Now, I've eaten at a few fried chicken places over the years; KFC, Popeyes' and even El Pollo Campero and I have to say that even with this limited sample size Bojangles emerges as superior. The piece I had was hot, juicy (not just greasy) with spices that were complimentary and not overpowering. Seriously, that was some good chicken. The biscuit was also quite tasty and not too greasy like a lot of places. I will try and go back to one the next time I am down South.
By the way, there is a chain called Maryland Fried Chicken down there.
It's National Chili Day! - William World News - William F. Yurasko's blog
Thursday, February 28, 2008
It's National Chili Day!
WTOP passed along some very important news this morning -- today is National Chili Day! To celebrate, Hard Times Cafe is giving out free bowls of chili. They have locations throughout suburban Virginia and Maryland. They will have a D.C. location in Nationals Park too.*
I'll see if I can get more details at lunch time.
UPDATED 6:55 p.m.: I went to the Old Town Hard Times to get my free chili. It turns out you have to make a purchase to get the free chili. Not a big deal, since you want something to drink with chili anyway. I had a Hard Times draft root beer with a bowl of Texas chili. Not bad for under $3 total. I was disappointed with the slow service though, it took several minutes for the bartender to acknowledge me. Had I not been getting a mostly free meal, I would have been out of there.
*I still need to comment on the recently announced ballpark food offerings. I'll get to that soon.
Tony's Big Easy, State College, Penn State, liquor control board
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