Posted by Jrand52 @ 06/16/2003 09:25 AM PST

Funny that this should happen to be the topic today. Because we hardly ever eat fast food, but last Saturday we had lunch at Steak 'n' Shake, and it was much enjoyed. We both got burgers, fries for Hubby and onion rings for me (and it was the first time in probably two or three years that we'd had hamburgers...we're just not red meat people, usually), and they were really excellent. I also had a cherry Coke (a genuine fountain cherry Coke, thank you very much) that came in an absolutely HUGE glass (I couldn't finish the darn thing) and it was likewise delicious. Even this morning as we drove into work, the Hubby said out of nowhere, "I still can't believe how good that Steak 'n' Shake lunch was."

And now here, favorite fast food is the topic! How about that?

BTW, for the record: NO, we did not "takhomasak."

Posted by Lulu @ 06/16/2003 09:58 AM PST

You thaid Thong of Thongs, but did you mean Thong of Tholomon?

After all The Thong Remains the Thame.

Where ith Kitty Carry All?

Posted by Thindy Brady @ 06/16/2003 09:58 AM PST

Baby talk, baby talk.
It's a wonder you can walk.

Posted by Buddy Hinton @ 06/16/2003 10:05 AM PST

Hmmm... Fast Food... Thankfully, I just had some leftover Chinese food, so I won't be making a run out for some of the "good stuff" after I type this... -hopefully...

McDonald's - Filet-O-Fish, especially when they are very fresh; Chicken McNuggets, great car food; and there are just times when I want the original plain hamburger. -Of course, with the way they streamlined their prep and cooking, the food isn't just quite the same as it was when I was a kid. -Especially the fries.

Taco Bell - 7-Layer Burritos, Gorditas, Chalupas, Mexican Pizza, Taco Salad (have yet to get a Chicken one since they started offering them), and the Cinnamon Crispas (they are addictive!). -Whenever I pull up to the drive in window, it's just a matter of deciding whether I'm in a "crunchy" or "soft" mode.

Arby's - Original Roast Beef, Curly Fries, Potato Cakes, Chicken Strips, and, if the location has them, the Jamocha Shakes. -I just wish the Arby's prices were more in line with some of the other fast food places. In Richmond, at least, a full meal can run about $8.00-10.00. OH, and Richmond has a few of those "special" Arby's where they have Barbacao Burritos, soups and stews, and, best of all, Frozen Custard - Concretes are the best!

Popeye's - The Spicy Fried Chicken, Red Beans & Rice, and the Onion Rings.

Lee's Fried Chicken - I think this may be a below-the-Mason-Dixon-Line chain. I know some people have an aversion to there, but Lee's is one of the few places you can still get Fried Chicken Livers! -With some coleslaw and cinnamon apples on the side! Oh, and honey on the biscuit!

Wendy's - The 99-cent Value menu has been a life-saver many a time. -And I always love the reaction when I ask for for two of the Jr. Bacon-Cheeseburgers with no buns. -They do it too! And the Frosty's are still good.

I think that's my usual round of suspects...

-I think I'll grab a popsicle out of the freezer now.

Posted by Jose C. Simbulan @ 06/16/2003 10:10 AM PST

Lulu! -Thank you for reminding me of Steak 'N Shake. They really are good places to eat. And they're 24 hours too! -Although, I've always wondered about the wisdom behind having a drive-up window at some of the locations - since the burgers are cooked to order, that can quite the wait. Good chili and shakes! Alas, there's only one location in Richmond - I think - and I don't think I've ever come across one around the DC area.

-Oh, and I guess Dairy Queen could be considered fast food too...

-Chet and Eileen: HELP! ;-)

Posted by Jose C. Simbulan @ 06/16/2003 10:14 AM PST

When we were growing up in the 1960's, we used to have an ice cube tray that was devoted to frozen Kool Aid during the summer.

Nice flavored cubes that weren't as handy as a Popsicle, but perfect for a quick cool down.

I liked Root Beer Kool Aid - if you ran the water fast enough when you mixed it, you even got some foam on top!

Posted by Jrand52 @ 06/16/2003 10:14 AM PST

Ahh, food, one of my favorite topics. I really like Arby’s, and being a purest I go for the original roast beef sandwich slathered with Arby’s and Horsey sauce, and served with Potato Cakes. Jack in the Box has these Chili Cheeseburgers for 99 cents that I could live on for the rest of my life, which is one reason I have to get back to my walking. But, my all-time favorite is a Tacoma exclusive. The drive-in is called the Frisco Freeze and has been in the same location since I was a babe in arms (an R / H reference?) Even one of Washington’s former governors, Booth Gardener, required his limo driver to swing into Frisco Freeze every time he passed our fair city. Their cheeseburgers and double cheeseburgers are incredible. They only have a little diced lettuce and onion, and some sort of sauce on them as condiments, and they should probably be wrung out first to get rid of the grease, but they are heaven.

Jrand - I am glad that South Pathetic went so well. We have another ten shows to go before we can retire “Dolly” for another thirty years.

BK - I also truly enjoyed your interview. I can only hope that someday all of the details of that whole sordid business can be made public.

Did I mention Taco Bell crunchy tacos with a side of guacamole?

Posted by TCB @ 06/16/2003 10:20 AM PST

My mouth doesn't like fast food. I used to work in Glendale, near Bookfellows in fact (a reminder to all about Saturday) but a couple of blocks over on Central Ave. For some reason, Central Ave. was cluttered with nothing but fast food joints. My mouth found them repulsive, and would drag me over to Brand Ave. every day to find food that was edible. I got several strange looks on occasion, trying to keep up with my mouth, but walking the two blocks to Brand Ave. was worth it.

Speaking of Bookfellows, I hope a number of Kimlets and Hainsies make it to the booksigning on Saturday if just to discover this fine book store. It's one of those wonderful places with tall shelves, but well lit and spacious and not at all clautrophobic. With any luck, Guy Haines will be there, too, the way he was last time, browsing through the books and being quite affable.

Posted by SWoodyWhite @ 06/16/2003 10:24 AM PST

Sorry I couldn't make the chat last night. Actually I didn't get to read yesterday's notes until today. But it was Father's Day. And my sis, her hubby, my parents, and I had lunch, watched the Grand Prix and golf, and then i made pizzas and we all had dinner (and watched more golf). No time for the internet :(

Btw re: fast food, we don't have taco bell or Popeyes. Although i love mexican and would probably camp out at taco bell every day!

I do like fast food, although I don't eat it that often. I like Big Macs. Usually if I eat fast food, it is mall fast food. Most of the malls here have food courts with numerous choices.

Posted by Jennifer @ 06/16/2003 10:35 AM PST

I'm getting HUNGREEEEE.

Posted by bk @ 06/16/2003 10:37 AM PST

I didn't have a chance to read the entire BK interview yet. But what I read seemed great. I was also quite surprised to read VJ's comments. They seemed quite harsh and unnecessary.

I didn't get a chance to post yesterday, but did anybody see Saturday night's new Trading Spaces episode? Hildi's split personality was on evil mode. OMG, i hated that room. She did a dining room and painted the walls black. And then she painted the table and chairs bright yellow.

The friends knew the homeowners would hate it, but they did it anyhow (Hildi is very inflexible).

That is one of the things I dislike about her. She has a vision and is unwilling to modify things even if she knows the people won't be happy. To me she should be trying to make a room that the homeowners will like. IT's them that have to live there.

The other thing i dislike about Hildi is that she doesn't care what the homeowners want. She just wants to be original and do daring designs.

I felt so bad this episode because the couple hated black walls and hated yellow. They were not happy when they saw the room.

I wish the friends had protested. I would not have liked to paint the walls black, but i might have been willing to try that design. But i would never have painted the table yellow (especially knowing the couple hated yellow). It was awful. I would have told Hildi to do it herself :)

Posted by Jennifer @ 06/16/2003 10:45 AM PST

My favorite show-tune is "Ewe Can't Stop the Bleat."

Posted by Bo Peep @ 06/16/2003 10:45 AM PST

I'm getting hungry too. My favorite fast food place is anywhere I can get Cherry Coke.

Jose, I love how you order hamburgers without the buns. I thought I get strange looks when I order them without the meat.

Posted by Sandra @ 06/16/2003 10:53 AM PST

RE: The Man With the Negative Comments. Der Brucer and I met him several years ago, after a David Gaines set at the Cinegrill. He had very negative things to say about The Real A over at Sondheim.com, which also seemed out of proportion at the time. Some people don't seem to change much. I've ignored his website for years, and feel healthier for doing so.

Posted by S. Woody White @ 06/16/2003 10:59 AM PST

First of all on the topic of the day, I avoid chain fast food as much as possible. I want my burger a certain way and I'll be damned if I am going to get a dirty look and have to wait while the robots who like exactally what the corporate offices says should go on their burger get served while my "special" order gets cooked. The last time I went to a McDonalds was because their hot ham and cheese looked good. I didn't know it also included hot lettuce and hot tomato as well. Local fast food burger, chinese and pizza places are fine, but I really don't care for the chains.

BK - You will have mobs at the store for your reading because Saturday is the first day Harry Potter 5 goes on sale. Let's hope a lot of the people stop by your area and buy one or both of your books as well.

Did anyone see Nathan Lane's latest attempt at being a sitcom star last night? It is no wonder that CBS is playing off this show in the summer when ratings don't count. This makes his prior fiasco look good. At least Encore, Encore had a class supporting cast including Joan Plowright (Lady Olivier) and Glenn Hedley. His new series Charlie Lawrence features Laurie Metcalf and Ted McGinley. The major problem is the writing. There are no laughs, only a few groans, and no real characters. To top things off, the first episode was directed by Jerry Zachs who should know better. Nathan should stick to theatre where he belongs (and try missing less performances). With one exception his movies have been awful and now he has had two sitcoms created for him that have to rank among the worst sitcoms in the last ten years.

Posted by William E. Lurie @ 06/16/2003 11:18 AM PST

WEL, as Jose noted, Steak 'n' Shake, though a big chain, cooks their "steakburgers" to order. Don't know if there are any in NYC, though.

RE: Nathan Lane, somebody must have it in for him. Why else would they deliberately put Ted McGinley in his new sitcom? Everybody knows that he's the kiss of death to TV shows! Even that guy (Stephen Shortridge) who's *not* McGinley but just looks like him killed Welcome Back Kotter when he joined the cast as "Beau."

I've heard that Nathan Lane, notwithstanding his "garrulous and amiable" roles, is a jerk to people in real life. (Can anybody verify or deny this persistent rumor?) Maybe if this is so, his lack of personal charisma could actually be factoring into his dismal projects? Maybe some people (subliminally or otherwise) want him to fail?

Then again, maybe I'm all wet.

Posted by Lulu @ 06/16/2003 11:26 AM PST

I really dislike fast food restaurants and only eat at one when it’s absolutely necessary. There is one exception. I like a cheese on a stick, but only from the original stand at the Santa Monica Pier.

Posted by Jane @ 06/16/2003 11:33 AM PST

Just catching up now as I have been without a computer the last couple of days. Kerry and MusicGuy, my sympathies on the loss of your sweet Mazal. I know only too well how much you are hurting.

Posted by Jane @ 06/16/2003 12:04 PM PST

RE: BK being self-promoting, I, personally, meaning me, feel that one must be self-promoting of their talents to make it in this world, in anyway they have to. Going from contract to contract, from show to show, or movie to movie, sometimes your rep just isn't enough no matter how good you are. We all must be self-promoting. Geeze...

Fast Food -

Taco Bell - steak quesadilla with extra cheese HOT, not warm

Arby's - anything with a potato cake

In and Out - you can actually get your In and Out burgers without the bun and they don't blink an eye.

Posted by Matthew @ 06/16/2003 12:08 PM PST

Craig - I love the burgers at In & Out too! I like their fries (their not frozen but made fresh right on the premises). Out where you are is there a Green Burrito or a Carl's Jr. with Green Burrito? If so, try their fish tacos.

P.S. Not so long ago, I heard an interview with the writer of "Fast Food Nation." The book was on the bestseller lists for ages (it's now in paperback). After he investigated what was in all those foods and how they were manufactured, he won't eat at any fast food establishment EXCEPT In & Out Burgers.

Posted by Donna - Cabaret West @ 06/16/2003 12:15 PM PST

Bo Peep - it's worse than you think, I just heard a song called 'There Will Never Be Another Ewe.'

Posted by Roddy Ram @ 06/16/2003 12:20 PM PST

Speaking of all this wonderful fast food -

What did everyone like to eat at the drive-in movies? I mean besides popcorn?

I loved the hot dogs and fries! The "fancy" drive-ins had pizza! Cheeseburgers with LOTS of pickle slices were great, too!

Why am I so hungry? Sometimes we would take a picnic basket to the drive-in with us. And some drive-ins around here had grills so you could cook your own dinner!

Talk about classy! "Honk your horn, the Tingler is loose at the drive-in!!!"

Posted by Jrand52 @ 06/16/2003 12:24 PM PST

Just read on cnn.com that Hume Cronyn has passed away. He will be missed..

Posted by Craig @ 06/16/2003 12:29 PM PST

Another great loss.

Posted by Jane @ 06/16/2003 12:38 PM PST

Jrand, I just came across an article about how drive-ins have experienced a surge in popularity. At the end of the '80s, there were only 200 nationwide; now the number is 450 and expected to top 1000 by the end of the decade (!!).

Our folks wouldn't usually spring for tons of food from the snack bar (most of my drive-in trips were made as a little kid), but I do remember that once we were allowed to get a pizza. It was a Tombstone and somehow (drive-in magic?) it was delicious when we were sitting outside in lawn chairs, gazing up at the huge peeling screen, slapping mosquitoes and listening to the crackly soundtrack of The Love Bug, but it tasted downright crappy when we actually bought a Tombstone pizza at the grocery store and heated it up at home. Go figure.

Posted by Lulu @ 06/16/2003 12:48 PM PST

BTW, I remember getting into the Westlake drive-in (that was our favorite; they had the best playground. As a kid, I just knew I would grow up to move into one of those apartments that faced the screen, so I could watch all the free movies I wanted to, all the time!) for $5 per carload.

When my cousin, her husband, two kids and neighborhood kid went recently, it cost $35 to get in!

Posted by Lulu @ 06/16/2003 12:51 PM PST

Hey, Bruce that was a fun interview to read! You know when I started posting on this board I didn't actually know much about you, other then your list of credits on the IMDB.com (which I might add are rather impressive, and one day I hope to come across some of those old TV episodes that you were on...buy what no ROOM 222 or MOD SQUAD???), but the interview really gave me a fuller picture of what Bruce Kimmel has been up to for the last 30 some years!!

Anyway, even thought I know very little about anything Broadway or the like, I always enjoy reading the posts and the various daily discussions of odds and ends. And soon I will have your first book in my hot little hands and life will be good! And as for the unseemly break...I will be most curious to find out more about that as I don't know nothing about it!

Posted by MBarnum @ 06/16/2003 12:52 PM PST

Oh, I also learned that I should proof read my posts before hitting that little button...sorry for all the mistakes above! LOL!

Posted by MBarnum @ 06/16/2003 12:54 PM PST

Ahh the Westlake - now demolished.

Traffic was backed up a mile down 10th Street in both directions the night 'Planet of the Apes' opened.

AND 'The Party Crashers' starring Miss Frances Farmer opened there in October, 1958, on the same day she started her tv show 'Frances Farmer Presents' on WFBM-TV, Channel 6!

Posted by Jrand52 @ 06/16/2003 12:55 PM PST

I, too, read the article on drive-ins making a comeback. I've been predicting this for five years. They are always so quick to declare something dead because of a few bad years. I'm glad they're coming back, they were a part of the American landscape. Now if only they'd have some more non-movie complex movie theaters - you know, restore all those theaters on Hollywood Blvd. and leave them as they were - one theater.

Posted by bk @ 06/16/2003 01:17 PM PST

Fast food: I like anything; I'm not picky. But I usually avoid it, because it's too fattening. I love Fazoli's and Baja Fresh, in particular.

Sandra orders her hamburgers without the meat. She especially likes to order a cheeseburger, hold the cheese, hold the burger.

Posted by Laura @ 06/16/2003 01:30 PM PST

Dagnabbit, I just found out that PBS showed episode 2 of "An American Family" (not seen in 30 years) back in January, right after the premiere of the new docu about Lance Loud's last days. I have been wanting to see An American Family for simply EVER (it hasn't ever been available on video, and I don't think it's been shown on TV since its original airing) and I can't believe I missed my one chance to see at least one episode of it. Rats!

Did anybody here get to see the show when it was on? Either in January or back in '73? How was it?

Posted by Lulu @ 06/16/2003 01:43 PM PST

Of course, the best fast-food is
usually from local places,
rather than the chain giants.
My fave is Campus U-Tote-Em
in my hometown (and their
sister establishment,
Rossow's). Very good
burgers, excellent milkshakes,
fantastic fried mushrooms,
and their tartar sauce is local
legend and a perfect match for
their french fries.

As for the chains, the Arby's
Original Roast Beef (with a
healthy squirt of Horsey
Sauce), Wendy's Jr. Bacon
Cheeseburger, Jack in the Box
breakfast sandwiches, and the
McChicken at McD's.

Posted by Jed @ 06/16/2003 01:44 PM PST

Neat info about the Westlake, Jrand. I was sad when I heard it was no more; but not like when I found out they explodicated Market Square Arena! My dad used to take my little brother and I to hockey and basketball games there. I think little bro (now a Chicago attorney) may even still have his Pacers scarf autographed by Dancin' Harry! *sniff* Memories...

Posted by Lulu @ 06/16/2003 01:46 PM PST

I am week behind with my post! thanks to a DR I eventually caught up with the Tony Awards last night. Now I know about Def Poetry - it lived up to my expectations!
Why Oh Why do they use Radio City. Impossible plac. I guess the Billy Joel show may be quite fun and Hairspray looks worthwhile. I will blame the song selection for the view Of MOLA - I love BSM but it was not the right venue to sing an Impossible Dream. Nine looks good but once again not a good choice of number (no pun intended). "Gypsy". I have no idea why people stood. Were they leaving? IMHO a truly awful performance. "Frog & Toad" did nothing for this viewer but maybe it is cute is yu are there. I agree with so many of the DRs. "Amour" would have been wonderful to see. La Boheme sounded "all over the place". An interesting night's viewing but it could have been so so so much better. The host (?) at least showed people he good sing. He looks so much better with short hair.
Fast food. No thanks. Breakfast here soon.
Once again thank you to the DRs who helped out this OZ boy with the video.

Posted by Tom from Oz @ 06/16/2003 01:47 PM PST

Lulu---
I saw all episodes of An American Family when they were first broadcast plus the January special and the one episode that was run from the initial series at that time (not 2). This was reality television, not the #$%& that passes as reality today. They certainly picked an interesting family, although it was mostly the parents and Lance... the other kids were sort of dull. I was happily surprised to see how well it held up when the special and episode aired in January.

Posted by William E. Lurie @ 06/16/2003 01:50 PM PST

WEL, I couldn't disagree more strongly about nathan Lane's sitcom last night. I found it fresh and funny and a universe better than ENCORE! ENCORE! He underplayed which was a new sensation for Nathan on TV, and I found it much funnier than something like LIFE WITH BONNIE or YES, DEAR. I endured 20 minutes of BECKER waiting for Lane's show to come on, and BECKER was totally devoid of laughs. I found the writing quite witty, actually, and enjoyable. But I know it's a dead end street to debate comedy with anyone. What one person finds funny another person can find inane or dull, so we'll just say I enjoyed it, and I'm sorry you didn't. BTW, CBS obviously didn't enjoy it either since they're burning the episodes off this summer and plan on making no more than the original six. And the ratings were not good last night for it or BECKER.

Favorite fast food: Jack-in-the Box's Ultimate bacon cheeseburger. I also like the Twister Combo at Kentucky Fried Chicken.

Posted by Matt H. @ 06/16/2003 01:55 PM PST

Thought some folks might get a kick out of reading another view of one of the popular message boards. Click on my name.

As for BK being guilty of self-promotion...well, duh. Of course he is promoting himself and his work. That's how one makes a living.

Posted by Dave @ 06/16/2003 02:00 PM PST

I too read and enjoyed the interview immensely. And it made me want to rush right out and read all about Kritzers of all types. Can I find the first book in a bookstore near me?

As for fast food, the only real fast food that I love are KFC's biscuits and potato wedges. MMMMMMMMmmmmmm. Wonderful. Cholestorol in a little yellow circular wedge, both of them. Simply marvelous.

On a less typical fast food edge, I love all things ice cream (I'm sure that's a shock) and I really love those yogurt/granola/fruit parfair thingies that you can now get at Au Bon Pain and City Markets and the like. Quite yummy. They're somehow always better when someone else makes them. Granted, when someone else makes them they cost two dollars, adn when I do, it's somewhere around 20 cents. Ah well.

Posted by Anna @ 06/16/2003 02:12 PM PST

ATTENTION: For those of you DR's that have not purchased your copy of "Kritzerland" or God-Forbid "Benjamin Kritzer" consider yourselves deprived, errant and truant and should be bitch-slapped from here to Mars. This book will pull you out of the dulldrums, put a smile on your face, and make you feel really good when you are done, and it feels like you've made a friend when you finally put it down. And when you're done, post a review on amazon.com and the barnes and noble site.

Posted by Matthew @ 06/16/2003 02:23 PM PST

Interestingly enough.. Kevin Chamberlin is doing Dirty Blonde with Sally Mayes again.. here are the details

http://www.playbill.com/news/article/80168.html

He talks about the show in his unseemly interview on this very site!

Posted by Craig @ 06/16/2003 02:28 PM PST

Fast food? In-N-Out, of course! Double-double naked is my favorite.

BK: I do believe I will be able to make it to the book signing this Saturday. It will be good to meet you face to face and perhaps meet other Hainsies and Kimlets in attendance.

Dear readers: Going by a strong review in the L.A. Times and the recommendation of a friend whose judgment on such matters I trust, I went to see Sam Harris in his one man show this past Saturday night. Can someone please explain him to me? The reverb on the sound system was up to its maximum setting, I am sure, and the volume was waaaaay too loud for the rather intimate theatre where he is appearing. I am sure he has a good voice, but the electronics got in the way, as far as I am concerned. And, at times, I was convinced that Mr. Harris and Mr. Richard Simmons must have been separated at birth.

Comments?

Posted by Jay @ 06/16/2003 02:31 PM PST

Anna - it's not so easy to find the first book in book stores, although they will special order it. It IS available right here on this website, signed, and it's available at all the online places like amazon.com. If you want to get it here, just click on the "Handy-dandy links to new sections" icon and then on Benjamin Kritzer. Plus, I just found two more copies of the special Benjamin Kritzer CD, wherein Guy Haines sings songs from the book. The next two people who order get the CDs.

Re article in the CT paper - I did the interview on Thursday, then this article comes out on Sunday and is the living proof of exactly what I was talking about - i.e. the press feeding these sites. He just doesn't get it, yet he ascribes "power" to a site that, if it weren't for people like him, would have none. I mean, it HAS none, but they all sit there and pat each other on the backs and think they do - you should have seen the posts yesterday - the ego is beyond belief.

Posted by bk @ 06/16/2003 02:40 PM PST

Dear esteemed, suave, literate, guapo, and sinewy BK....

A BIG congratulations on your interview with DR Craig; I thought it was a very good balance of information, personal history, and entertainment. The only words of advice for sniggly naysayers comes from my dear old Grandpa..."tell them to go piss up a rope!" That was his version of "damn them, damn them all to hell." DR Kerry and I will be with you in spirit this coming weekend...our actual bodies have to be in the Chicago area, where we are presenting our annual fund-raising concerts for Hopeful Heart, Inc. All the best on the reading and signing.

One of my favorite fast-food memories was from the 50's in southern California, and going to Foster's Freeze. Both the food and the ice cream were unique....it wasn't just the same as Dairy Queen or some of those nowadays. I also really liked to get take-out from Love's Wood Pit Barbecue. Today, I think it would be an In-N-Out Burger, but with Jack In The Box Onion Rings.

Finally, a big, collective, space-age hug to everyone who has sent Kerry and I so many nice public and private notes with kind thoughts about Mazal. It is very appreciated.

MMMMWWWWWAAAAAAHHHHHHHH !!!!

Posted by MusicGuy @ 06/16/2003 02:44 PM PST

No quiero Taco Bell.

The best fast food I've encountered anywhere is La Salsa, followed fairly closely by Rubio's fish tacos. Unfortunately there isn't a branch of either within about 2,500 miles of here. I quite like Wendy's - especially the salads - and Subway, and locally Quiznos - grilled subs - are pretty good, though they're not cheap. And Tim Horton's, of course. Mmmm, Timbits.

Enjoyed the interview.

Posted by Stephen Farrow @ 06/16/2003 02:48 PM PST

You lucky New Yorkers, you. Read about an exhibit on original cast recordings at the New York Public Library at Lincoln Center:

http://www.nytimes.com/2003/06/15/arts/theater/15ZINO.html

Posted by Jay @ 06/16/2003 03:08 PM PST

First off, sorry for only dipping my toes into the chat yesterve. Next time I'll try to stay longer (and hopefully by then we'll have moved on to new unmentionables to mention over and over again).

American fast food dilletantes lend me your stomachs! Yes I know dems are fighting words - but you Yanks have nothing fast food wise on the true greasey heavens of true Québecois quick fare IMHO.

One word. Poutine. That's french fries covered in gravy and cheese curds. Yes, CHEESE CURDS. Take me out of la belle province for more than a week and I will gladly kill for one of these heart attacks in a bowl. Add a Scwartz' Montreal-style smoked meat and I am in bliss.

Beat that!

Posted by emily (aka elkerette aka whatever nickname she's already forgotten about) @ 06/16/2003 03:26 PM PST

ooh... Timbits!

Posted by em again @ 06/16/2003 03:27 PM PST

To all you wonderful DR's who sent (and I'm sure are still sending) positive vibes my sister's way, thank you immensely.

To Rachael re: late post/early post yesterday - it's good to find another Yes-head on this here site.

Now, as for todays topic - Taco Bell chicken chalupa! Alao, even though it's not fast food from a chain restaurant, I can't live without my pre packaged Drakes cakes, especially Funny Bones, which are chocolate cakes with chocolate icing and peanut butter cream in the middle. YUMMMM! I know it's all sugar and chemicals, but hey, it tastes damn good!

Posted by Ray @ 06/16/2003 03:36 PM PST

Welcome Em and happy to have you join our merry troupe. Jennifer has told us all about Poutine, and I look forward to sampling it some fine day. By the way (BTW, in Internet lingo) we always mention unmentionables here at haineshisway.com. If you ever get around to reading Benjamin Kritzer you will know why.

Posted by bk @ 06/16/2003 03:42 PM PST

guess what BK?

my amazon order has already been made :)

Posted by emily @ 06/16/2003 03:44 PM PST

Matt - I'm glad someone liked Nathan's show. It wasn't the performances, it was the typical sit-com writing. Sitcoms used to be my favorite form of television but the only one I watch now is REBA. I still laugh at Lucy (the first show, not all the post-Desi ones), M*A*S*H and other shows from that period but really haven't cared for most sit-coms in years. Even the better ones are often ruined by poor writing or stupid supporting characters. Cindy and Penny as Lavern and Shirley were very funny but the moment Carmine and the other regular men came on (not guest star BK) I had to change the channel. Family Ties started out promising until Michael J. Fox became so popular that instead of the ensemble show it was meant to be it became all about his character. I can give you more examples, but it is usually in the writing. There have been a few good comedies over the last few years, most notably Remember WENN, but if I really want to laugh I listen to the classic radio shows. I laughed more yesterday at Baby Snooks than at any television comedy I've seen in the last six months.

By the way, most critics didn't care very much for Nathan's show either. I'm glad you enjoyed it though.

BK - Rhino Handmade just released the soundtrack of "Broadway Melody of 1940" and to fill out the disc they included "Rosalie". Readers of Kritzerland will understand why I am telling you. Is that song going to be on the Kritzerland CD? I'm sure Guy's recording will be much better than Nelson Eddy's.

Jay - I have never cared for Sam Harris either, but then I don't like most over-emotional boy sopranos. Also I've seen the exhibit at the Lincoln Center Library. The only bad thing about it is that BK is practically ignored. He is only represented in the Plays on CD section, and none of his other recordings are included. I have an extra copy of the brochure that goes with the exhibit. Click on my name and send me your address if you want it.

Posted by William E. Lurie @ 06/16/2003 03:59 PM PST

Ignored? I will NOT be ignored. Boiled rabbits for anyone who ignores me.

Those who have not read Kritzerland do not know from whence Mr. Lurie speaks, thus you simply must read Kritzerland immediately (but only AFTER you've read the first book) to know from whence he speaks. If you do not know from whence he speaks then you will not be in the know, and we simply cannot have that, now can we?

Posted by bk @ 06/16/2003 04:04 PM PST

Huzzah! Another new Hainsie/
Kimlet! We seemed to have a
bit of a lull for awhile in new
members of our merry troupe,
but they're flocking in like crazy
over the past few weeks. And
we love it!!!

How can we help but become
the most popular site on the
internet?

Posted by Jed @ 06/16/2003 04:06 PM PST

Greetings from beautiful Winchester, Virginia! -Actually, it is quite nice weather-wise here in Winchester right now - even the humidity is down, quite a nice sunset outside my window. -And the corporate housing/hotel I'm in this time is actually quite nice. And best of all, the first rehearsal tomorrow morning isn't until the afternoon, 1:00pm. I can sleep in!

Well, I guess all this talk of fast-food rubbed off on me after all. Once I arrived here in Winchester a few hours ago, I headed over to Wal-Mart to stock up on varied and sundried foodstuffs and supplies. Well, when I was checking out the fried chicken counter, I noticed they had chicken livers, and something new. So, I got me a few chicken livers - which were quite good - and, believe it or not, a deep-fried corn cob! WOW! What a splurge! -This is the last day off my diet, so... And everything else I bought was very Chet and Eileen friendly. Rehearsal periods seem to be good for my diet. I guess it's the set schedule.

Oh, and since I did drive by a few... I also like going to Chick-Fil-A - which I think is also mainly a southern thing, but I know they're making inroads into other states. They claim to have invented the fried chicken filet sandwich, and whether or not that's really true, it is quite a tasty sandwich. And really good waffle fries too. And lemonade.

-And something tells me I'll be finishing off my day with a Blizzard from DQ...

Oh, and BK - Any chance I could snag one of those Benjamin Kritzer CDs? We could trade it for a vocal arrangement... ;-)

Posted by Jose C. Simbulan @ 06/16/2003 05:22 PM PST

"Without a thong, the day would never end.
Without a thong, the road would never bend.
When things go wrong, a man ain't got a friend,
Without a thong!"

Are you like me? Do you ever go into a Taco Bell just to get a "Choco Taco" ice cream sandwich? What are the relative nutritional merits of this and the other tacos served?

Also, I noticed on the FSM site, that the Houston Grand Opera is putting on a new version of "The Little Prince" by film composer Rachael Portman. Here's a link to the article:

http://www.filmscoremonthly.com/articles/2003/16_Jun---The_Little_Prince.asp

What with this new work, and DR td's "One Prince Show," we may be in the midst of a Little Prince Renaissance!

"I'll never know what makes the rain to fall,
I'll never know what makes the grass so tall,
I only know there ain't no love at all,
Without a thong!"

Posted by Sigerson Holmes @ 06/16/2003 05:25 PM PST

Thing a thong of thixpenth, a pocketful of rye....

THe THells THEATHells Down Bethide the THEA THore.

THugar in the mornin', THugar in the evenin', THugar at THuppertime..

Be my little THugar and love me all the time!

THomebody THtop me!

Posted by Thylvethter Cat @ 06/16/2003 06:07 PM PST

Thanks for the links, Dave & Jay & Craig. Interesting sidebar reading.

Actually, Jay, I saw Sam Harris do JOSEPH AND THE AMAZING TECHNICOLOR DREAMCOAT and thought he did okay. He signed autographs afterwards and was very nice... Nice and short!

I don't know if I could listen to him and ONLY him in a show, but as Joseph, he was okay.

Hello to Em, and your little dog, too.

Yes, Lulu, Market Square Arena, site of Elvis' last concert has bitten the dust. It is now just a memory. We saw many a concert, Racer Hockey, and Pacer Basketball Game there. In fact, back in the day I performed some half time shows during the Pacers games and was nearly trampled as the NY team left the dressing room. Those guys are TALL! Not a Sam Harris in the bunch.

Posted by Jrand52 @ 06/16/2003 06:30 PM PST

Well, since food is le topic, what did you all have for dinner? I had a foot long Subway club, something I've been craving. That is all I've eaten today and yet I feel as if I have eaten twelve Subway clubs.

Posted by bk @ 06/16/2003 07:08 PM PST

I have a lovely bit of Swiss
steak cooking away right now,
very soon to be my dinner.

Posted by Jed @ 06/16/2003 07:32 PM PST

Dinner is almost done for DR Kerry and I... tonight, slow-simmered Halibut in butter and white wine, with lemon zest, shallots, and fresh diced tomato on top, basmati & brown rice, and spinach with butter and fresh lemon juice.

We deserve a good dinner! Big hellos to all the Hainsies/Kimlets..... a special hello to Em ; Girl, you better be braced for a slew of "Wizard of Oz" jokes!

Maybe later, a bissel (sp?) Brownie with some vanilla ice cream.
bye all.

Posted by MusicGuy @ 06/16/2003 07:37 PM PST

I had boneless spare ribs from the local chinese joint and it was quite tasty... and now I am QUITE full!

Posted by Craig @ 06/16/2003 07:46 PM PST

Nice interview. I agree with your perspective on the internet, although it can be a civilized place if you know how to handle the trolls. Unfortunately, the moderators of that site haven't a clue. It's not your fault they're incompetent.

Posted by Christopher @ 06/16/2003 07:52 PM PST

Did anyone mention this one?

With a thong in my heart
I behold your adorable face
Just a thong at the start....
I forget the rest.

I had my mom's tuna casserole for dinner. Yummy.

Bienvenue to new DR Emily! I am a relatively new DR myself, but you will find that this little group is about as enjoyably eclectic as it gets.

DR William--I agree with you that Remember WENN was a great show, and I miss it. My favorite character was the burlesque queen Maple (someone who really knew something about thongs), played by the terrific and insanely gifted Carolee Carmello. They should show re-runs.

BK--As I told you on chat yesterday, the interview was great. Maybe you self-promoted a little, but so what? If no one ever did that it would just be show, not show business. Pay to mind to internet jerks who try to put you down. Oh--and I'm almost done with Benjamin Kritzer--will be ordering Kritzerland soon!

Favorite fast food--the chicken Santa Fe Gorditas from Taco Bell, Chicken Cordon Bleus from Arby's and the Cajun Rice from Popeyes.

Well, I suppose I should change into my pajamas soon. ;-)

Posted by Maya aka Sandy Duncan @ 06/16/2003 08:00 PM PST

Just wanted to check in again today to be with friends. Not a good day in my life.
Thanks Bill for the 1982 show.

I wonder how Bill & Joe are getting on.

Posted by Tom from Oz @ 06/16/2003 08:18 PM PST

Ye Gods, I can be a ditz sometime.

BK had With a Thong in my Heart as the title for today's entry.

Posted by Maya @ 06/16/2003 08:25 PM PST

MusicGuy, your dinner sounds so lovely, you've made me extremely jealous.

Mine was a couple rice cakes with peanut butter, apple slices, and sunflower seeds. :-(

I think I'm going to go eat some soup now to make myself feel better.

bk: thanks for the book info. I will definitely go about ordering.

Posted by Anna @ 06/16/2003 08:33 PM PST

Welcome, Christopher! I agree wholeheartedly.

Maya: You had your mom's tuna casserole? What did she eat? You took her tuna casserole - I hope you left her SOMETHING.

We do hope Disney gets around to releasing Thong of the South someday.

I'm so hungry from reading all your foodstuff posts.

Posted by bk @ 06/16/2003 09:03 PM PST

So curious Chris and BK that it's ok for the owner of the chat board in question to write a vile post and it stays up there, but then someone refutes the post and calls a spade a spade and the thread vanishes...

If they were going to delete the thread because it was objectionable... perhaps it could have been deleted last night after the owner posted..

Posted by Craig @ 06/16/2003 09:26 PM PST

Anna, your dinner menu was mine for lunch: rice crackers with peanut butter, and apple slices. That's just too too.

And for dinner . . . . hmmmmmmmm. A vegetarian item called seitan, cooked with sauerkraut, and steamed carrots, plus some dried peaches for dessert. It was all too healthy, so, to balance it, I went out and had a cup of Starbuck's White Chocolate Mocha Coffee. LOL

Posted by Susan @ 06/16/2003 09:39 PM PST

Well, Susan's meal just took care of my hunger since it made me ill just looking at all that healthy food.

Posted by bk @ 06/16/2003 09:44 PM PST

Maybe that's the trick, Bk. I'll email you my menu each day and just reading it will keep you on your diet.

;-)

Posted by Susan @ 06/16/2003 09:50 PM PST

Ooops - I accidentally posted this to yesterday's posts... twice! So here goes....
Hmmm..... So I finally go to check out the interview, and the site seems to be down... ????

I guess I'll try later.

-Oh, and for the final splurge tonight - a Krispy Kreme Key Lime Donut!

Posted by Jose C. Simbulan @ 06/16/2003 09:52 PM PST

Jose--

it's working for me.. here's a direct link..

http://www.broadwayworld.com/viewcolumn.cfm?colid=23

Posted by Craig @ 06/16/2003 09:53 PM PST

Susan, that is a fine idea. Just hearing about kelp, and vegetables ala raw will have me down to my fighting weight in no time flat.

I'm actually still full from the one and only sandwich I ate today, and yet I am also hungry for onion rings and breakfast jacks, and filet o' fishes. I will, however, try to be a good boy and not leave the house.

Posted by bk @ 06/16/2003 09:56 PM PST

Hmmm.. The site is still not coming up for me... ???? I'll try later.

Posted by Jose C. Simbulan @ 06/16/2003 09:59 PM PST

Craigy, the site is not happening - one gets an error message that says the site can't be found.

Posted by bk @ 06/16/2003 10:06 PM PST

Christopher - Welcome to
another new Dear Reader (or
at least new to posting here)!
By your e-mail address, I
recognize that you are the
same Christopher who used
to create delightful crostic
puzzles over at sondheim.com
back in the days when I was a
regular there. I greatly enjoyed
them, and hope you will
become a regular here.

Posted by Jed @ 06/16/2003 10:38 PM PST

Yup, that was me. Thank you for the warm welcome. Those crostics are still available at www.finishingthehat.com (although I haven't made a new one in years.)

I'll check in from time to time, but Mark has me moderating Sondheim.com now (which I enjoy greatly, but does take the bulk of my internet time.)

One final comment on the troll festival site. Did anyone see VJ's patting-himself-on-the-back post a couple days ago in which he made the claim that the site operates without censorship? Does he even believe that himself?

Posted by Christopher @ 06/16/2003 10:50 PM PST

I shouldn't be up this late, but since I am, welcome to Christopher.

(I just tried a crostic--I consider myself a pretty big Sondheim fan but those are HARD). Which is, of course, a compliment :)

Posted by Maya @ 06/16/2003 10:59 PM PST

Dear erudite, insulated, curvealinear, & svelt BK,

I have to beg a 6-day hall pass, with eyes downcast and a suitably contrite look on my face. I must off to Chicago tomorrow morning for several rehearsal days, and then concerts on Saturday & Sunday. I'll be holding good thoughts for your reading/signing this weekend, and I'll try to play a movie theme or 2 for you!

God, I hate to travel.. (you always encounter the wrong people, that Noel Coward wrote about.)

Posted by MusicGuy @ 06/16/2003 11:04 PM PST

Welcome all new people! Pull up a keyboard and make yourselves comfortable.

As for the chosen topic of the day: I love and have loved a lot of fast food. I don't care for Arby's (although I do love their curly cheese fries) and I've never had In and Out Burgers (they're not in the Northwest). I really love McD's Filet-O-Fish (I get it with slivered onions added to it) and their fries are the best fast food fries in the world (in my opinion-IMO in Internet lingo). I like Burger King's BK Veggie (Bruce, you have a sandwich named for you!) and the Whopper with no mayo (have to save calories somewhere) and extra everything else. I love Wendy's salads as well as Taco Bell's Cheesy Gordita Crunch (although they don't have it anymore) and their new enchilada rice bowl thing and the Big Beef Burrito Supreme. I like the Jumbo Jack With Cheese at Jack in the Box and the chicken strip basket at Dairy Queen. The orange chicken at Panda Express (billed as "gourmet" Chinese-but you still have to get your own tray) is really good. As for sub-type sandwiches, there are Quizno's (regular turkey light), Blimpie's, Port of Subs and Subway. There is a new place called Taco Del Mar where they have the best (and biggest) burritos (I get a super veggie). Except for Wendy's, every place that I've just mentioned is within two miles of where I work.

Tonight I went to my parents' house right after work and had dinner there. I made a couple of turkey sub sandwiches. They were good but a little plain. And my sister made strawberry shortcake for dessert. Mmmm....

Posted by George @ 06/17/2003 12:01 AM PST

Welcome to our new DRs. For dinner last night (since it is Tuesday morning) I had the Broadway Chicken Sandwich at Barrymore's, a restaurant in the Theatre District in NYC. A friend from Tucson was visiting and we had dinner before he went to see Gypsy. Since it was his birthday also, we finished off with a lovely and rich piece of chocolate cake.

Fast Food: I rarely eat it anymore but if I do, I prefer Wendy's. As a teenager I loved Dairy Queen and yes, the infamous White Castle. Oh, those lovely little square burgers. I could eat bags of them back then. Now, I don't know if I could do one.

For dinner tonight, it's another friend's birthday (from May 18th through June 20th I have more friends and relatives with birthdays - 15 at last count than any other month in the calendar) and we will be having a simple, comfort food dinner at a place called Home, on Cornelia Street in the village, then we will meander around ending up at Cafe Rafella for a sumputous piece of birthday cake. Now, I needs must have my breakfast, a bowl of oatmeal with a banana and raisins.

Posted by Ben @ 06/17/2003 04:49 AM PST

I just got my two Rhino Handmade discs this morning so I will be listening to Fred and Eleanor dance their way through Broadway Melody of 1940 and Judy sing her way through Paris in Gay Purr-ee.

Posted by Ben @ 06/17/2003 07:22 AM PST

We seem to be on Cinerama this morning.

Posted by Ben @ 06/17/2003 07:23 AM PST

Brilliant post.

Posted by Rachael @ 06/17/2003 07:47 AM PST

Yep. Not content to rest on the laurels of his devastatingly good looks, Ben is also quite the wit and raconteur. All hail Ben! :)

Posted by Lulu @ 06/17/2003 07:57 AM PST

Welcome to Christopher.

Posted by Jrand52 @ 06/17/2003 08:55 AM PST