Those people who know me are aware that there are very few things in life I like better than potato chips. Alright, maybe a glass of decent beer, but even that is all the better when accompanied by a bag of chips. Moonlight I can take and, strangely enough, as I get older, I am becoming quite fond of motor trips of the kind my parents and their generation used to call "a run" : a rather pointless meander along country lanes.
Where on earth is the old fool going to, I can hear you all asking. Well the answer, as anyone who is familiar with the 1941 film "Babes on Broadway" will already know is "New York in June". The word came through this morning that we had managed to secure a place on next years' Arcadia cruise to the east coast of the USA, the high point of which will be two days in New York. In June. So I give fair notice to all my American friends : I will be wanting recommendations on what to see, where to find decent potato chips, and - particularly important - where to get a decent pint. I can't get the singing of Frank Sinatra out of my mind this morning, how about you?
From now onwards I suspect I am going to become a regular visitor to web sites specialising in New York history such as the Gotham Centre For New York City History. Maybe I will find some old sepia shots of the city, which reminds me that the Linky List for Sepia Saturday 21 is now up : sign up and join in.
Potato chips... now we're talkin'!
ReplyDeleteI have to have them with my pizza.
I love the old crooners too! You are sure to find sepia saturday in NYC. "Those little town blues are melting away. To be a part of it, New York New York"... Let's go Alan
:) The Bach
chips as in fries or chips as in crisps?
ReplyDelete35mm camera, 24mm lens and a few rolls of FP4 film. The buildings cry out for photos, but wide angle is a must. And then there is so much with so little time.
ReplyDeletekylie brings up a point for clarification...but I dinna ken any places in N.Y. ( my area no problem, heh... )
ReplyDeleteAnd just love that snap above here :)
Kylie et. al. : You raise a very important point. Whilst I enjoy both potato crisps (which I believe the Americans call chips) and chips (which they insist on calling French Fries) it is the latter which I am particularly addicted to. Cut from a Maris Piper or a King Edward and fried, if possible, in lard or dripping.
ReplyDeleteJohn : Can you still buy FP4 film!!!
ReplyDeleteI never ask where you are going - I love following the windy route you take!
ReplyDeleteI expect a full potato chip and beer report on your return, of course.
Word verf today is 'Caphow' - perhaps blogger is picking up on the reference to Gotham...
Alan; FP4 (125 ASA) and HP5 (400 ASA) are both very available, those are the two I use all the time. I don't process them as there is a 'traditional' camera shop in Reading and they take them. Get the negs and prints a week later.
ReplyDeleteI am nutty for potato chips, too, but try not to eat too many of them. I love all kinds, the really crunchy kettle chips, the extra thin cut and the wavy. No fancy flavors for me, I like the straight potato flavor. Mmm.
ReplyDeleteOh, I see now you were talking fries. Well, if I had to choose, the fries would win over chips any old day of the week! I like mine with a big puddle of ketchup. Actually, I just adore potatoes. Must by my Irish DNA speaking.
ReplyDeleteHmmm... About a good pint in NYC I have no clue. But if that East Coast itinerary includes Newport, Rhode Island (and we're always a stop on those coastal cruises), I know several places who draw a good pint, two of them traditional-style Irish pubs - the Fastnet Pub and Busker's. And yes, they both have Bass on tap, as well as Guinness.
ReplyDeleteOh, I'm envious! Visiting New York City is on my bucket list. I can't help you with the search for chips or beer, but perhaps you'd find this site helpful:
ReplyDeletehttp://www.nycgo.com/
Willow : I am not sure if there is a term "potato-head" (an almost obsessional lover of potatoes)but if there is I too am one.
ReplyDeleteRoy : The boat does indeed stop in Newport RI for the day and therefore at some stage nearer the time (it is still 13 months away) I will want details of those pubs from you. I shall be viewing the wonderful pictures on your blog with even greater relish over the coming months.
Nana Jo : Thanks for the link.
Sounds lovely, Alan!
ReplyDeletenice. you will have to keep us updated on when you are heading this way. i'll bring the potato chips...
ReplyDeleteI do really hope you're not one of those people who dips them in mayonnaise.
ReplyDeleteBrian : Will do. It is a long time away yet but nearer the time I will let everyone know and see if I can meet up with some friends.
ReplyDeleteFran : What a dreadful idea. A touch of vinegar, a dash of salt and nothing else.
I'm glad you clarified, Alan, as I was thinking our chips...your crisps...which my triplets are very fond of! ;) Personally, I'd rather have fries...yum.
ReplyDeleteBetsy : As always, I completely agree with you. Nevertheless, I sometimes wonder whether our chips (quite thick, quite soft, very tasty) are exactly the same as your fries (which I always think of as thinner and crisper). In the interests of research I will buy myself a bag of chips sometime soon and scan them.
ReplyDeleteWell, you can't go wrong checking with Leah. I bet she'll have some good ideas!
ReplyDeleteMy mother gives up potato chips for Lent. Every year. The first thing she does on the Monday? Buys a bag and puts it in her desk drawer, so she can be sure of having some whenever she wants during the week!
How fun! Unfortunately I do not have any recommendations for NYC (as it is not my city) but if you ever venture to Santa Monica I can tell you all the great places to buy chips! :)
ReplyDeletein australia crisps and fries are all just chips, it's confusing :)
ReplyDeletefries are called hot chips if anyone can be bothered saying "hot"
Jealous much? Hell yeah! I don't know a soul who hasn't enjoyed a trip to NYC. You still shoot on film? How quaint!
ReplyDeleteThat's wonderful! I don't know NYC all that well, but have a good friend who lives there--maybe I can come up with some suggestions thru her.
ReplyDeleteOld Blue Eyes is a favorite of mine. You have some very catchy tunes in your head as of late! (Including Daisy, Daisy.) Adorable the picture of your parents on a tandem bike ... what a wonderful world.
ReplyDeleteI believe the nicest and sweetest days are not those on which anything very splendid or wonderful or exciting happens, but just those that bring simple little pleasures, following one another softly, like pearls slipping off a string.
ReplyDelete