Bloomfield Bridge Tavern Farewell

Bloomfield Bridge Tavern Farewell

A real Pittsburgh experience.  Bittersweet evening. After three decades of successful business, a favorite institution was closing and we were there for the final night. Gracious owners and hosts Steve and Lynn Frankowsi ensured we felt like adopted family.

SATURDAY night we drove over to Bloomfield, We got there early as by the end of the evening it was standing room only.  We ate a Polish Platter, sipped some drafts and listened to some lively music by Ploughman’s Lunch.

We purchased our souvenir BBT t- shirts to commemorate the evening.

I took photos to document the farewell party to Bloomfield Bridge Tavern.

Steve and Lynn

Our hosts Steve and Lynn Frankowski

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On the left, Mr. Stanley Frankowski, original owner of the Bloomfield Tavern . John Hayes wrote in Mr. Frankowski’s obituary “Mr. Frankowski had a soft spot for struggling artists, and the tavern became and continues to be an important entry-level venue for local rock bands. Many of Pittsburgh most popular bands, including Rusted Root and The Clarks, played at the tavern in their infancy. Years before musical concept artists Squonk Opera took their show to the Broadway stage, they took it to the Bloomfield Bridge Tavern.”

John HaysSince 2005, John Hayes has organized and emceed every Tuesday Open Stage Night helping many young singers and songwriters get started on their musical careers.

Drummer Dennis Childers and the band Ploughman’s Lunch.

Karl Mullen and John Hayes

Karl Mullen Frontman of Ploughman’s Lunch and John Hayes

Osheas

First date at BBT over twenty years and two kids later.  Meet Cynthia and Michael O’Shea.

 

Performance Artist Phat Man Dee has some wild light up shoes from Amazon.  They kept changing colors and oh say can you see, she sang a crowd pleasing number with the band.

outside the front door Liberty Ave

Sister-in-law Mary Jane wore the Bloomfield Bridge Tavern party Underwear to her Father-in-law’s funeral twelve years ago.  She held it to the light for me to take a photo.

On thing is certain.  This popular local treasure and venue is going to be missed.

 

 

 

Coppelia Diner in Chelsea 

Coppelia Cuban Diner open 24-7  where chefs dine after work 

14th Street between 7th & 

8th Ave 

Cafe Con Leche

Freshly baked pastries and cheese rolls 

Dos Huevos (over) Cuban Toast   Chimicurri Home Fries 



After breakfast we walked along the Highline where we saw this 

Artist Tony Matelli’s sculpture Sleepwalker Sleepwalker sculpture wakes you up article 


Dinner at The Olde Bar on Walnut Street

Our hotel, a short block away- The Olde Bar has been here a year- where the Philadelphia institution Bookbinders was for more than a century.

“Set in the Old Original Bookbinders, Jose Garces’ saloon offers seafood, a raw bar & retro drinks.”

I had the New England clam chowder, which was very good. And the Fish and Chips.  The chips cooked in beef fat. I asked why they were so tasty!

The shiny dark wooden bar was built in the late 1800’s and shipped in the forties from a Nevada ghost town, according to the bartender. Little candles flickering add ambiance.

Original floors, original leaded windows.

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You can see the raw bar with the oysters resting on crushed ice below

I’m not saying “eat them”

-just sharing what products caught my eye on Columbus shelves when Laura and I were out for the afternoon.

A conglomeration of color and taste.

I recommend the sriracha movie my son showed me.

  

this is beer

 

Fresh

The weekly photo challenge is fresh

fresh strawberries

smoothie carrot ginger

Laura sipping a NorthStar Shooting Star- Organic Carrot, Lemon and Ginger

Fresh PastaEataly Fresh Pasta

fresh mango

Fresh Mango NYC

doris

Remember Delores’ Fresh Cinnamon Rolls (and Key Lime Pie?) Apalachicola FL

oatmeal and latte

Fresh Oatmeall and Banana and a Latte at Big Dog Coffee

helen's salad

Helen’s Fresh Salad St. George Island July 2014

fresh ingredients

Ingredients

fresh flowers

Fresh Flowers NYC

produce boxes

Produce Boxes  NYC

Weekly Photo Challenge: Orange Guest Blog Direct from Florida

There’s been a lot of snow, ice and gray photos on the blog lately until today.

My dear friend has escaped the frigid north to sunny Florida for a vacation and

today she sent me some bright orange photos of an Orange Juice Processing Tour she’d been on just yesterday. WOW.

The weekly photo challenge is ORANGE. Perfect timing.

I invited her to be guest blogger for orange and then she sent me the Bird of Paradise flower.

She’s anonymous for now as no one needs to know she’s away and full photo credit can be posted upon her return home.

Thanks for the orange photos.

She writes-

“The oranges are handpicked”  “The oranges are very thin skinned because they are so juicy.” “Very Heavy”

“The marks on the oranges are from the ocean breeze making limbs brush across the fruit as it grows”

“Cutting a Honey Belle Orange”  She says it is the “best tasting”   A small family farm Al’s Family Farms®

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Bird of Paradise

Eddy Teach’s Raw Bar- St. George Island FL

As I write this post at almost midnight, I can hear the music still. Eddy Teach’s Raw Bar.

My friend Kristin and I  walked by tonight.  And of course I had my camera.

 

Eddy Teach's Raw Bar

 

 

 

They were playing Rocky Top (Tennessee) originally recorded by the Osborne Brothers in 1967

 

 

This is Kryptonite to My Son

I really wanted to grate some fresh nutmeg again.

As I left Ohio for home, I stopped off at Kroger and saw this in the dairy case. Thought I’d give it a try when I got home to Pittsburgh.  My mother used to make homemade eggnog before anyone talked about salmonella and the risks of consuming raw egg.  Mark feels the same way about mayonnaise.   It just disgusts him.

Goes down easy for me. Comfort. Silky smooth.

I grated the wonderful little nutmeg that has the most intricate design inside.  Maybe the eggnog needs some more fat in it.

Lowfat eggnog?  One good thing about this particular brand is it did not have that fake-o rum flavor.

And now I’m settling down for the winter’s nap to rest for the last week of school before the break.

 

eggnog pouring into glass

The little hand painted glass is from that fun gift shop I blogged about , the shop in Lawrenceville  named  Divertido

 

freshly grated nutmegYes, the nutmeg kept just fine on the shelf in a bag.  I love looking at the interior design  of it.  And the smell of it when you are graing it is so inviting.  The eggnog  intoxicating without a drop of spirits.

State Fair Food, Signs and 2000 Pounds of Butter

As promised yesterday, here’s a sampling of the food available at the Ohio State Fair.

People were generous in allowing me to photograph the food they purchased and were about to consume.

I’m sorry I didn’t get pics of the actual Roast Beef Sundae and the Donut Burger.   There is a lot more to see and eat.

 

 

Chocolate Dipped Frozen Banana

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Chocolate Covered Frozen Banana with Sprinkles

 

The Ribbon

 

The Ribbon (potatoes fried) with Cheese and Ranch Dressing.

Deep Fried Everything

Deep Fried Everything

Deep Fried Buckeyes

Deep Fried Buckeyes

Cotton Candy and Pirate

Cotton Candy Booth

Roasted Corn

Dipping the Roasted Corn in Butter

 

Donut Burger

A Burger in a Donut for a Bun

 

 

on the grill

Peppers and Onions on the Grill

 

 

 

 

 

Muddy Pigs

 

Muddy Pigs Booth

 

Cooking Chicken

 

Grilling Chicken

Eating Food at the Fair

Fairgoers eating Deep Fried Turkey Legs?

Butter Sculpture

The Butter Cow  Sculpture

(I wanted to see this as I remember seeing one a long time ago when I was young)

I read an interesting obituary in the New York Times Norma Lyon, the Butter Cow Lady in 2011

Cow and Calf in Butter

543 Hours to Create the  Butter Sculpture Display Kept at 46 degrees F

Ohio Fair Choir

Ohio State Fair Youth Choir Founder, Glenville Thomas  (d. 1991)    Honored in Butter Sculpture

Kettle Corn

Kettle Corn Booth

French Fries Stand

 

French Fries Booth

Gyros Booth

Gyro Booth

Funnel Cake

Funnel Cake with Powdered Sugar on Top

 

Funnel Cake Stand

When a Dog Smiles at the Camera

You have to take a picture. I asked the owner’s permission.  She looked as if she had just been on a run or about to go on one with some friends.

His name is Oliver!

Oliver is a Heinz 57 mutt and he was smiling for the camera!

He’s six months old and has that puppy energy and enthusiasm.  What a happy guy.

I’d just come out of the end of the year faculty meeting/gathering at the Hofbrauhaus on the edge of  South Side Works near the riverfront trail.

So thanks Oliver (and your owner also- sorry I didn’t get your name)

I know Murphy smiles for the camera, too.

What a great personality!