This is an oldie but a goodie from 2004. At the time it was the basement of the Dion Den. It was a crazy party & a great night. This set was thrown-together, and it was a ridiculous amount of fun:
☠ Misfits Tribute Set – Oct. 30th, 2004 @ the Dion Den ☠
Filmed like a stalker would film, by a guy that eventually became to be affectionately known as “Creepy Dan”, the lighting, “effects”, & continual shots of Mike’s crotch are kind of disturbing.
Misfits Tribute 2004
Sally Wiggin ❹
None can argue with the awesomeness of local celebrity, WATE-TV‘s own Sally Wiggin. If you do argue, I’ll fight you. Sally is awesome, in fact… she’s so awesome, that her hair has it’s own Twitter account. You can find Sally on Wikipedia, Twitter, & Facebook (a few times). (There’s even a page called “Sally Wiggin Out” on Facebook.) She’s a phenomenon.
Since Andrew Stockey is on Facebook all the time (he’s on Twitter too) , I was feeling goofy & decided to try & goad him into making a donation to the Pittsburgh Food Allergy Walk by invoking the name Sally Wiggin, as she’s the “Local Honorary Media Chair”…
Not gonna let Sally Wiggin get all attention...
Somehow, Sally must have interpreted this as me asking her personally for a donation, as this appeared on my wall a few days later…
I did as you asked. Can't wait to meet you and Bethany at the walk.
And she did! You can see that Sarah Wiggin has generally made a contribution to my food allergy walk donation page: http://wwwofoodallergywalk.org/aixelsyd13
(This also humorously qualifies her for a limited run “king krab orange” T-shirt from Ernie of Ernie and the Berts – planning on giving her one at the walk, wonder if she’ll wear it?)
I’m not far from getting my name in the “top fundraisers” list on the Pittsburgh walk page. Those people are still getting donations too… so keep ’em coming!
This post is to celebrate the generosity of Sally Wiggin, and to try and get other local celebrities and organizations to step up & donate… for a chance to be awesome like Sally. (I have also received some initial contact from Chick-fil-A, Qdoba, & Giant Eagle… though no donations as of yet.)
You can also donate to my wife, Bethany… she’s not quite as “aggressive” as I am in collecting donations. You can listen to this while you dig out your credit card…
There’s all kinds of stuff going on in the Ernie and the Berts world You ought to check it out…
Dare I say no food can be as unifying and polarizing as Pizza? Generally, it’s the one thing most people like. Need to feed a bunch of people quickly? Kids birthday party? Reward for good achievements? Pizza party! It’s the go-to feed a herd food. Unless someone’s lactose intolerant or has a food allergy to tomatoes or something… I’ve never heard someone exclaim anything to the effect of “Free pizza? Ew! No thank you!” I’ve heard a friend say “Pizza is like sex, there’s no such thing as bad pizza.” I’m pretty sure he’s paraphrasing a comedian, but I have no idea who. No matter where the sentiment lies on the corny scale, he’s right. Most pizza is acceptable sustenance if not worthy of writing online reviews, letters to your mom, or several stanzas of poetry.
At the same time, a simple statement like “[So & So] makes the best pizza!” can make the most passive among us throw-down in an instant. I’m pretty sure if Canada called up, and said “Hey United States, we have better pizza than you!” – there would be a full-scale invasion, and we’d soon have another big state. (Maybe minus Quebec, the Queen Mum can keep that one.) I’m guessing that unless you’re from Quebec or you for some reason hate pizza, you’re still with me, right?
Slices from SLICE
Here’s the plan: I’m going to tell you about my favorite pizza, and you’re going to tell me about your favorite pizza. We’ll all try to remain calm. When you’re wrong, I’ll tell you… so don’t be afraid. This will probably be limited to Pittsburgh due to my geographical location. So, if there’s pizza from somewhere else that you want to tell me about, you can… & I’ll assume you’re wrong until I go try it. If the place is local (to me), even better. I may go try it.
Side note – In case you’re new, I’m deathly allergic to shellfish (& mollusks). I’m not too excited to try pizza from places that offer shrimp, lobster, crab or any other kind of deadly sea-bugs as pizza toppings. I generally don’t feel “safe” when they can put their hands in one topping to put on someone else’s pie, then into my toppings without washing their hands… or to (even worse) perhaps drop some on my pie.
Sometimes you’re in the mood for different kinds of pizza. It’s OK to like more than one. Shocking, I know. Here’s the beginning of my run-down on local pizza:
Aiello’s is up first, because well… they’re my favorite. Their sauce is nothing short of perfection to my humble taste-buds. It’s sweet but it doesn’t lose the flavor of the tomatoes. I love pizza sauce that doesn’t have that bite that you get from tomato paste. The dough is perfect doughey goodness, yet thin enough so it’s not like you’re eating a loaf of bread with pizza toppings. Aiello’s is always clean, and it’s cool to watch ’em make the pies right there in front of you. The seemingly gruff employees just are who they are. They’re all nice guys. They call my father-in-law “Anchovy Bobby” for his dedication as a customer and obviously now I guess… affection for anchovies. Well, I did get yelled at by Joe once for being late to pickup a pizza. I was fighting traffic down Forbes all the way from Oakland to Squirrel Hill. But, he was concerned about pizza quality (and perhaps that he had been stiffed the cost of a pizza).
I guess if I’m talking Squirrel Hill and pizza, I have to mention the other guys. I’ve had Mineo’s, but to be fair… it was only once. I don’t see a reason to go back when Aiello’s is a few doors up the hill. It was greasy, and they offer deathfish as a topping. Boo, I say. One thing you can’t argue is that they have just as devout a following as Aiello’s. You’ll get lovers & haters on both sides of the issue. I think it’s probably good for both businesses to have such a famed & heated rivalry. (Legend goes that Joe worked at Mineo’s, then split to make his own name making pies his way. Check out this article, this YouTube video, and this Facebook group for more.)
I have found a new additional favorite closer to home in Dormont… SLICE on Broadway in Beechview is excellent. Hoping my father-in-law’s ears aren’t burning, I’m going to go ahead and say that SLICE is every bit as good as Aiello’s. Read the reviews on UrbanSpoon, Yelp, & Google. All those people can’t be wrong, can they? The guys that run the place seem really friendly, the place is clean, and easy to get to for me anyway. Here again, it all comes down to the sauce. The sauce here has a slightly sweet tinge to it… and it’s fantastic. The proportion of the sauce is great too, there’s no cheese sliding off of this pie on the 1st bite. The amount of toppings is respectful & not a “look how many toppings we can put on” kind of thing. These guys really just know how to put together a great pie, and I can’t wait to work my way through the menu. It’s also kind of cool to sit there & watch the T go by… even though I could also do the same thing from my front porch. They get bonus points for having “The Big Salad” on their menu and for still being excellent the next day.
A’Pizza Badamo is another great nearby shop. They, like SLICE, seem to have a “No B.S.” approach to making pizza. Fresh ingredients, simple pies, done right, & value for the money. I also need to work my way through this menu. I’m anxious to try the Eggplant Parmesan sub. The one & only thing that may give SLICE a slight edge (to me anyway) is the sauce. A’Pizza Badamo’s sauce has a little more savory flavor than sweetness. Like I said, I like sweet sauce. Then again, I think I’m going to have to try many many more pies from each place to decide who the champion is. I hope to never be able to make up my mind. These guys are also really a class act, the place is quaint, clean, and a relaxing place to hang out.
Well, those are my favorites (& one not-so favorite, I guess)… and it’s a lot to take in right now. Perhaps I’ll have to make this a series of posts. I could do a post just about the pizza shops in & around Dormont. It’s an almost endless list.
At any rate, before I continue my pizza tirade… let the comments begin! Where are your favorites?
I read about this a while ago, and kind of put it in the back of my mind, and now it’s snuck up on me again. Being a food allergy advocate (or annoyance depending on your point of view) of sorts, I really ought to go to this.
I was excited to see this article today via the Food Allergy Daily: FAAN Walk for Food Allergy: Moving Toward A Cure Coming Back to Pittsburgh
This especially caught my attention:
The Walk is a non-competitive 2-mile course and participation is free. Families can enjoy samples from allergen-free food vendors, music and children’s activities. Joining us this year will be Sally Wiggin (WTAE-TV), and singer and songwriter Kyle Dine (http://kyledine.com), to educate and entertain with his songs about food allergies.
FoodAllergyWalk.org
Kyle Dine rules! Kyle is also a soldier in the #FoodAllergyDudeArmy (a covert special ops branch of the #FoodAllergyMomArmy) on Twitter. Of course, Sally Wiggin is also a local legend. The walk is taking place at Hartwood Acres.
At any rate… I know there are many many walks for many many reasons, but I see this as an opportunity to do something other than whine about food allergies on the internet and send restaurants annoying (and hopefully entertaining) emails about deathfish.
The article above also drops these fascinating facts:
Food allergy is the leading cause of anaphylaxis outside the hospital setting and the CDC reports that food allergies result in over 300,000 ambulatory care visits each year among children. Eight foods account for 90 percent of all allergic reactions in the U.S.: milk, eggs, peanuts, tree nuts (walnuts, almonds, cashews, pistachios, pecans, etc.), wheat, soy, fish, and shellfish. Food allergy afflicts one in 25 Americans overall, and one in 17 under age 3.
The official FAAN page for Pittsburgh is here: FoodAllergyWalk.org | 2011 Walk in Pittsburgh, PA
I’ll sign up to walk as an individual, or I can put together a team if anyone’s interested. The individual suggested goal is $300. The suggested team goal is $1,500.00.
So, here’s where I ask for help. Does anyone want to donate, or walk with me?
Think “Team Deathfish” sounds like a good name?
I recently had some correspondence with Panera Bread (The Great Panera Bread Swindle & Panera responds to my insanity, so I write back…), and I still have no reply to my last email. I assume they think I’m an idiot and will not continue any further correspondence. The experience reminded me of being bombarded with catering advertisements when I’m already at a restaurant. I called out a few other places, but Boston Market does the same thing with the catering barrage. I have a long history with them & letters, pre-dating my WordPress blogging days even.
At any rate, it struck me that they both seem to be fighting (or at least nagging) for catering business. If we’re already in the store, and signed up for your mailing lists… we probably know that you will cater if needed. How about focusing the catering advertising on local businesses around each location?
Or, I have a more interesting solution…
From: Waldo Lunar <world.and.lunar.domination@gmail.com>
Date: Wed, Aug 10, 2011
Subject: So, do you guys cater?
To: RCordova1@bost.com, isabella.contactus@panerabread.comCiao Colossal Catering Czars!
I can’t help but feel overwhelmed lately when I visit any of your fine establishments. I just go there to get a meal, but you have mercilessly force-fed your catering services to me and throngs of other customers in the form of signage on the wall, window-clings, pamphlets, menus, table signage, place-mats, tweets, & emails. I get it. I feel like I’m in a giant commercial every time I walk into one of your previously welcoming establishments. (Bob Evans is highly annoying with the take-out mantra too, but they’re not quite as relentless in their efforts.) I applaud your tenacity, Panera Bread and Boston Market. Despite your valiant and exasperating efforts, I have not yet used either of you to fill my catering needs. In fact, I don’t have any catering needs. I’m able to make a sandwich spread, some soup, a salad, & even prepare a holiday meal… all for less money than what you can offer, and it has the added bonus of being homemade.
Your incessant plugging of your catering service smacks of so much desperation, that it struck me with an idea. You’re both figuratively fighting for my dollar, why not an actual fight for my dollar? I’m not suggesting fisticuffs, although your frequency of mentioning catering services suggest that you may indeed jump right in. I’m suggesting you each prepare a meal for a party, and I will only pay the not-quite-fast-food chain that makes the best meal. Fight for my dollar! Sorry, I can’t really contain my excitement at the prospect of such a tournament. I bet we could get a reality TV show in on this. If not, I could certainly get someone with a digital camera, and we could post the contest & the results on YouTube. I’m sure it would go viral. Can you imagine the bragging rights?
The judges would be those in attendance to my party. You can certainly do your own background checks and interviews to ensure no partiality or preconceived bias. I can even leave myself out of the proceedings, as I find you both equally annoying with the catering propaganda. I could write up a review/summary at the end of the experience. The only thing you would have to lose is the cost of catering a small party… but the potential to gain respect and more advertising for your catering services. I’m enabling you, my friends. I can feel the hunger dwelling deep within you.
I can assure you of my impartiality, as I have hosted several Chili Cook-off events at my home, and have photos to prove it. I can provide you with copies of our ballots to show our proficiency in scoring food vs. food on several points. We would of course have to devise a system to compare the proverbial Boston Market apples to Panera Bread oranges, but you can trust my ingenuity on the matter, and can employ a crack team of analysts.
This would be epic, my friends. Imagine being a pioneer in this type of event! What would be next? Qdoba vs. the Honey Baked Ham Co.? The KFC bucket vs. your local grocery store’s prepared foods? If you don’t like my idea, I may sign you up for my mailing list under the guise of getting coupons for my awesome letter-writing and ingenious idea services… only to solicit and re-solicit this very idea ad nasueam. Using your own logic, you will have no choice but to comply!
Or, you could just have your CEO’s arrange a fist-fight in some parking lot, and I’ll literally give the winner a dollar.
Thank you for your time, I really hope that you give my idea serious consideration. I will be ready when you say yes to the event. We can work out the event and the details quite easily. I actually have a “Batman movie night” coming up, and it would be great to cater that. (Although, my wife may be making some Batman logo cookies… but we’ll make sure no one can vote for her catering services, she would most likely win hands-down with Batman cookies at a Batman movie party.)
May the best chain win!
-ERiC AiXeLsyD
Vaunted food contest professional.
Panera wrote back first…
Date: Wed, Aug 10, 2011
Subject: RE: Contact Us [Something not on this list] — MESSAGEID(288118)
To: world.and.lunar.domination@gmail.comDear Waldo,
Thank you for taking the time to contact Panera Bread. We are sorry to hear about your disappointment with our catering advertising. The current promotion is simply one way to let our catering customers know that the option is available. We always strive to provide a wonderful meal, great service and a welcoming environment for our all our customers and hope that you will continue to enjoy Panera Bread. I will let our Marketing decision makers know how you feel, so that your opinion will be considered.
Thanks again for contacting us. We appreciate your business and value your comments.
Sincerely,
Isabella
Customer Comment Coordinator
Oh yeah, Waldo? With Google+ getting all crazy & stuff, I didn’t want to merge my “regular” Gmail address with the fake one, so I change the W(aL)D email name to Waldo Lunar. So, my email comes as Waldo Lunar, but I still signed it “Eric AiXeLsyD”.
From: Waldo Lunar <world.and.lunar.domination@gmail.com>
Date: Thu, Aug 11, 2011
Subject: Re: Contact Us [Something not on this list] — MESSAGEID(288118)
To: Isabella <isabella.contactus@panerabread.com>Thanks Isabella,
I’m glad that you understand my frustration at being pummeled with advertising, and that you’re willing to pass the sentiment along to the appropriate parties. I applaud you for your efforts, and the swiftness with which you replied! I’m on the fence with Panera bread due to this whole “holding the dressing” thing, and the “healthy” chicken noodle soup debacle. I mean, those homemade-looking noodles were awesome. The little square things lying sparsely in the greasy broth are sad little stabs into my heart. Perhaps I must move on to the broccoli soup.
Has anyone else written to you in regards to the barrage of advertising? More importantly — Is Panera interested in the catering “battle royale” that I proposed? If we can get Boston Market on board, I think this will be a stellar time. You were much more expeditious with your reply. I trust that you believe in your brand/product enough to put it to the test? I can try to get some TV people on board once I get confirmation from the principal parties. I’m sure you can see from my first email that I’ve already put much thought into the logistics. The prospect of it all has me quite excited.
Thank you once again for your time and diligent response. Have a great day, and I hope to hear from you again soon!
Hungry,
-ERiC AiXeLsyD
Vaunted food contest professional.
I sort of got a response from Boston Market…
From: <sbrooks1@bost.com>
Date: Thu, Aug 11, 2011
Subject: Boston Market suggestion response
To: world.and.lunar.domination@gmail.comGood Afternoon
Thank you for submitting your suggestion to our catering department. We certainly appreciate the time you took to write and do value all customer feedback. Upon receipt of this information, I will create a report and forward your comments to the Market Leader for your region and our Marketing Department for consideration.
Again thank you for your feedback
Syrenia Brooks
Guest Contact Center Specialist
Huh? I smell a standard “please don’t bother us” email here. I still think my idea has merit, and I want a catering throw-down. Think I can push it any further? I’ll certainly try.
So, happy Star Wars Day! Be sure to check out my old Star Wars related posts for some goodies. Maybe click on a picture or two and you’ll get a surprise. (Check out the Star Wars Mix Tape or Dark Lord of the 5th Day posts if you’re in a YouTube mood… and last year’s post.)
Excellent news on the content of the Star Wars Blu-ray set today, check out FlyGuy.net for all the details: Star Wars Blu Ray Press Release & Details…Check out Disc nine!!
If you need other ways to celebrate the day, check out “10 Easy Ways You Can Celebrate Star Wars Day” from Death Star PR.
So, I had ordered the Allergic Girl book a while ago, and did finally finish reading it, but a lot has been going on in life lately so I didn’t have any time to sit down & give it the thoughtful review that I felt it deserved. Now, I have the time to do that.
Allergic Girl: Adventures In Living Well With Food Allergies
The author Sloane Miller has a popular blog, and is so very easily contacted via Twitter… which as I’ve remarked before, is easily now my go-to resource for any food allergy related news or information. Twitter is how I discovered Sloane, her food allergy advocacy empire, and this wonderful book. I’ll warn you now, this may read more like an advertisement than a review… but this is the first book of its kind that I’ve ever picked up… if there are even any more like this out there, and it really spoke to me.
The first thing that hit me about the book is that it’s an excellent balance of “hey, you’re not alone” and “we’ll work through this”. It’s a comfort & a guide all at once. Of course, the writing style pulled me in right away. In the prologue, you’re dropped into a situation that could easily be a sitcom plot (or your weekend), but the seriousness is not lost in the humor… it’s underscored by it.
The book then moves into accounts of discovering and dealing with food allergies, one passage in particular that I’m going to highlight before I give it to friends & family to read… it describes the anxiety that builds after just an inkling in your mind that a certain food is unsafe (or could be unsafe) for whatever reason. I felt like Sloane had read my mind & put down my thoughts. From the order of thoughts jumping to other thoughts, to the hidden (or hopefully hidden) panic, down to the actions in dealing with such a situation… it’s uncanny. It’s a hard thing to convey to people, even if they are supportive & understanding.
The book covers dating, which can be harrowing… but luckily I have my incredibly supportive wife, and I don’t have to worry about that any more. This is a great guide to anyone in a dating situation, or for younger people with food allergies about to get into dating… or any social situation.
Allergic Girl is thankfully chock-full of resources for everything from websites to support groups to products to help you deal with your food allergies. There are also bullet-points at the end of each chapter, not unlike a textbook… they can work as a personal checklist for you.
This book will help you get organized… build support, learn to pick your food allergy battles, and maybe even to expand your comfort zones. This is what I personally need to work on. Dining out can be a paralyzing fear for me, and I need to learn to find people and restaurants that will work with me to feed me & keep me safe. Whether it’s starting the dialog the right way, using chef cards, or making calls ahead… they are all viable options of acquiring a safe meal.
If you have food allergies, have a friend, relative, or other loved-one with food allergies and want to understand their situation a little more… you need this book. No joke.
Seriously.
I need an album full of complete songs, not just snippets.
A tour would be cool too, Anchorhead.
Best video ever? Probably.
World (and Lunar) Domination 