Burgie
R.I.P.
The memories are from a long time back, but they are lasting ones. I met Burgie in High School after he and Phil left Bishop Garcia Diego, the cross town Catholic high school, to attend San Marcos High. Weekdays, after school, Burgie worked for his dad and uncles at the El Paseo Restaurant and Somerset, before it closed. He later became the Maitre‘D at the El Paseo and managed that restaurant — many a story I could share, especially some Fiesta ones that would certainly be applicable to this blog/site. Those may remain in memory only, as will Arturo Taylor ‘Burgie’ Perez, Jr., may he rest in peace.
Just to clarify the nickname: The former Burgermeister Brewing Company was partly responsible as was a Leadbetter Beach barbeque held by his father, uncles, family and friends. The beverage in the coolers was, of course, Burgermeister beer and although I can’t name the creator, (this was in the 1960’s and I wasn’t there) one of the family or friends picked up a very young Arturo Jr. and made the reference to holding a ‘burgie’. That was it, he was forever ‘Burgie’. I think I’d known him for a month or so before I even knew what his first name was, maybe even his last name too for that matter. He was simply ‘Burgie’. To this day I haven’t run across one other individual who had the same nickname. So there was never any problem when referring to him, not once did I ever hear someone say; “no, I meant Burgie Perez, not Burgie Jones”, it was unique.
Lucille’s BBQ & the Flying Pig
Lucille’s Smokehouse is a chain that occupies many of the former ‘Big Yellow House’ restaurants when that chain closed. I once worked at the original Big Yellow House in Summerland, CA — but that’s another story, another time. Aside from the BBQ and Cajun menu, Lucille’s has two quality offerings: the music and the bar. If you like blues and southern rock you’ll love the canned music. If you like to drink, you’ll love the bar. Serving over 20 drafts on tap, there are some excellent choices: New Belgium Ranger IPA, Stone IPA, Hangar 24 Orange Wheat, Lucille’s Hefeweizen along with standards that include Fat Tire and Guinness. They serve a number of specialty drinks with influences from the South and Carribean, plus a list of Martinis made from Gin, Vodka and Rum.
Not to be confused with B.B. King’s guitar (Lucille) or his club and restaurant, you’ll find Lucille’s Smokehouse in California, Arizona and Nevada. I’ve had better ribs elsewhere although the pulled pork is delicious. The bar, named the Flying Pig, however is my favorite part of this chain.
Carbon Canyon Road – Hwy. 142
I was driving a ’96 Blazer with over 120,000 miles, not a Porsche. The canyon winds with one section referred to as the ‘S-curves’, it’s not the 15 to Las Vegas. There is no passing (legally), so if you’re stuck behind a turtle, you are screwed. At both ends of the canyon where multi lanes merge into one, there is a rush to be at the head of the parade.
So here I was stuck behind the guy that is breaking every 15 seconds, headed up to canyon crest and the Hollydale trailer park, where I was hoping would be the driver’s destination. Just as we got over the top and would head down the steep grade, the car pulled over to the right shoulder and I swerved a little to the left, passed him and happily headed down the hill towards the winding road that leads home. Just one problem…
I guess it took awhile before I noticed the lights. And why shouldn’t it, after all it’s a winding road and I needed to keep my eyes on the road in front of me, not behind me. The officer explained that he was about to call ahead and report me as a ‘chase’. I found that quite amusing and explained that it would be a fairly slow speed chase driving this road in this vehicle. He did not share my amusement. He explained in addition to crossing over the double line when I passed the car earlier (he had been waiting up a side street), that he was considering ticketing me for speeds in excess of 70 miles an hour. Again, he did not share my humor, but I would have certainly argued this one in court. It’s not that I couldn’t get the Blazer up to 70 mph without problem, but no way could I make the curves at that speed.
Carbon Canyon is a pretty drive. It’s only one lane each direction and mostly undeveloped on both sides as it parallels Chino Hills Park and Carbon Canyon Regional Park. This however is not reason to ‘off road’ anywhere along this route, but at least once a month someone has decided to do exactly this. Usually it’s speed related, and 50% of the time it’s fatal. 100% of the time traffic is held up and 10% of the time the canyon gets closed in order to tow, investigate, or repair a downed power pole that had previously been standing in the driver’s way.
Thought more about the ‘off roading” reasons and the canyon in the old days. I’d guess it was probably more alcohol related in the past. There used to be two bars in the canyon, the Canyon Corral and La Vida. Neither exist today, but both great roadhouses that deserve posts of their own, as all other indications that they ever existed are gone. Where the Canyon Corral once stood is soon to be a CVS, and if leveling La Vida wasn’t enough, a couple fires have swept through the canyon as if to ensure it wouldn’t reappear.
Stockade Grub and Whiskey
It’s been a long time since I’ve driven up Hwy 18, along the Rim of the World Hwy, and into Crestline. I still own some property, but everyone I knew up there has since died or has moved away and all that remains are the memories. The Stockade Grub and Whiskey has it’s got a spot reserved in my memory, and will probably still be in business long after I’ve retired and/or expired.
It’s a bit bigger inside than it looks from the outside. The inside front, facing Lake Drive is the bar with pool table. Towards the rear are tables, as there should be when you’ve added the word “Grub” in your name. The bar is good, and appeals to me as I favor the roadhouse, mountain, rural and rustic look. That’s the “Whiskey”. You really can’t go wrong on the whiskey side.
As for the “grub”, I only went at dinner, but I understand the breakfast is good. The dinners were great. I can only speak for the steak smothered with mushrooms. Smothered so that the little life this steak might have had left by ordering it medium rare, had been extinguished by a huge portions of sauteed mushrooms covering it. Each visit, this was how the steak came time and again.
It’s time to point the truck north and take a drive up to Crestline. The original “Roadhouse” on Hwy 18 up towards Running Springs doesn’t exist anymore, but I know by taking Lake Drive, the Stockade is still standing on the right. If you go but have trouble finding it, just look for the Skull and Crossbones flying under the Stars and Stripes.
Nepenthe – Hwy 1, Big Sur
Nepenthe is a drug of forgetfulness mentioned in Greek mythology.
The word “Nepenthe” first appears in the fourth book (vv. 220-221) of the Odyssey of Homer. Literally, it means “the one that chases away sorrow” (ne = not, penthos = grief, sorrow). In the Odyssey, “Nepenthes pharmakon” is a magical potion given to Helen by an Egyptian queen. It quells all sorrows with forgetfulness.
Many scholars think that nepenthe might have been an opium preparation, perhaps similar to laudanum. At any rate a visit to the Nepenthe Restaurant, on Hwy 1, Big Sur, will certainly create a feeling of calm and peacefulness.
The Nepenthe was built atop and along the cliff overlooking the Big Sur coast and the Pacific Ocean. The building was designed by architect Rowan Maiden,a student of Frank Lloyd Wright.
Nepenthe’s Verandah is like the prow of a ship. From this deck, visitors can enjoy a view of the early morning sunrise over the Santa Lucia Mountain Range, a relaxing afternoon, or a spectacular sunset over the Pacific Ocean. While there can be a wait for this small deck, it is worth it.
Dinner is not as high priced as you might think. The Ambrosiaburger lists at $13.50, and an 8 oz. Nepenthe Steak at $35.50. Beers run at $5, but a glass of California wine and view of the California Coast is priceless.
If you are driving Route 1 between Cambria and Carmel, make the stop.
Ruth’s Diner – Emigration Canyon, Utah
2007 marks the seventy seventh anniversary of Ruth’s Diner and makes it the second oldest Restaurant in Utah Unfortunately, Ruth didn’t live to see it. She passed away in November of 1989 at the age of 94. She was a great story teller–a spirited woman whose language could embarrass a gangster.
As a young woman, she was very pretty, shown by the photos on the diner wall. Ruth performed in some of the bars around Salt Lake City as a cabaret singer from about 1912 to 1916. She tells of being dragged off the stage one night by a jealous woman with a fierce grip on her hair, although “the biddy regretted herself for some time to come.”
In 1930 she started the diner as Ruth’s Hamburgers downtown in the Meredith Building at 120 East Second South. The location was directly across the street from a very small house of ill repute and Ruth fed the girls and listened to their stories about various police, politicians, judges and other clients.
After many years of flipping burgers downtown, her building was sold and demolished. So she bought a Salt Lake Trolley car and moved it up Emigration Canyon where she reopened in 1949. Ruth built an apartment onto the back of her trolley car (it’s now the lower dining area and kitchen) and lived on the property alone with her Chihuahua dogs for almost forty years.
Ruth was extremely independent but did make two known concessions late in her life. When she turned eighty, she switched from Lucky Strikes to a filtered cigarette, and she finally placated the health department by posting a hand written sign on the wall next to the door which read “No Smoking Section – First Bar Stool Only.”
During the 50’s and 60’s, Ruth’s became a familiar stop for the fraternity boys looking for a cold beer and some local color. ID’s weren’t carefully checked since Ruth didn’t think any more of that law than she did the new smoking ordinances. “They can enforce their own laws!” Her dogs were just as spirited as she was and often tried to bite any customers they didn’t know.
Although she sold the diner in 1977 (to one of the college boys who’d been a regular for 20 years), Ruth lived out her last years in the duplex behind the diner. On her 90th birthday, a waitress paid Ruth a visit after her shift. She sat down on the couch, but felt something hard. She reached between the cushions and found a gun. She said, “Ruth, this gun is loaded!” Ruth replied, “Well, it wouldn’t do me any damn good if it wasn’t.”
Visiting a friend in Salt Lake City, we drove through the Emigation Canyon area and stopped at Ruth’s for a beer. Didn’t get to meet Ruth, but just pulling in and seeing a trolly car atop a mountain, you know you’ve found a place with history.
Moons Over MyAmmy
Although the title is Backroads, this post certainly covers backsides and instead of a road it’s a train track. It’s an event that one might consider worth seeing once, although many believe this is preety assinine. From inside one of the trains headed south, the scenery outside the window is a few hundred yards of California butt, big ones, small ones, wide ones, rows of backsides like billboards along the freeway all with the same ad. As a greeter to Amtrak riders, one waits for the passing of the next train at which point everyone butts up along the chain link fence and promptly smiles accordingly.
The annual Mooning of Amtrak event takes place every July at the Mugs Away Saloon in Laguna Niguel. Although it’s not organized in any formal way, it draws thousands of people out to order the Moons Over My Amtrak. This order is generally served with beer whereas Denny’s® “Moons Over My Hammy®” feeds thousands of people, is available 24/7 365 and is usually served with a cup of coffee.
This event isn’t just for pranksters, although mooning is rapidly becoming a lost art. As you can see from the photo of 72-year-old Carol Wichenheisser, (top row, 3rd photo in the photo grid) the event attracts people from all ends of the rectum, I mean, spectrum. Back at you, as shown in the photo above.
For an entire day, a diverse squadron of mild exhibitionists line up along a fence outside the saloon and flash the Amtrak trains that go by. That’s it.
It’s become such a popular local ritual that sometimes people ride the trains in order to reciprocate, in fact, tickets sell out for many moons in advance.
I’ve even seen a picture of the rear of a man who was driving one of the Amtrak trains. Not only did he put the loco in locomotive, he effectively provided future plaintiffs their Exhibit A in any lawsuit against Amtrak for negligence.
This ritual started back in July 1979 when K.C. Smith offered free drinks to anyone in the bar who would moon the next train to pass the saloon. This became an annual tradition and Mugs Away just celebrated its 28th anniversary of inebriated arse-airing. Butt aways behind is the annual mooning of the Metrolink, next year will celebrate only year three.
Little Superstar
We’ve lost James Brown and we’re not sure exactly sure what, where, or when it all went wrong regarding Michael Jackson, but it appears the void they have created has finally been filled.
It comes in a small package and surprisingly from afar, India to be exact. The little guy’s stage name is Thavakalai (Tamil for “frog”), an adult Indian actor who made his acting debut back in 1983, and usually playing the role of a child. At first I was quite impressed after watching the video, but soon found it to be a bit disturbing. I can’t quite describe how or why, but the more I watch it, the more weird it all is to me. Oh well, live with it…got to hand it to the country, if you have a question and use the telephone to ask it – you’re probably speaking to someone who lives there. Tech support, customer support, medical transcribing, data processing, they do it all. Move over Hollywood, I expect that a country with over 1 billion people will produce a lot more little superstars?
Hot Creek Road
I first visited Hot Creek back sometime in the 70’s. It was not the place to take the family back then, but a “hot” spot for party goers. Swimsuits were optional, but rare, and there was not much in the way of advertising its location to visitors. I went back years later and although the creek is much the same, the National Park Service, or maybe the Forest Service now maintains the area, and it ratings have gone from ‘AO’ adult only to ‘G’ General Audiences, all ages admitted.
Finding Hot Creek is much easier now also. Hot Creek is 25 miles south of Lake Mono, near Mammoth Lakes. It’s located two miles south of the Mammoth Lakes turnoff from route 395, turn left onto Hot Creek Airport Road and follow the signs for about three miles. There are two bathing areas, one at the bottom of the trail that leads down from the parking lot. Continue along the trail and you will arrive at the second, just slightly less popular, but just as good.
The waters are unique as the hot water bubbles up from the bottom of the creek, where the waters are heated by magma three miles below the surface. This hot water mixes with the cold creek water, and with a few adjustments, you can find the perfect mix.
If the creek is crowded, there are also a number of natural and man-assisted hot tubs in the valley below Mammoth. Most all are well-known — almost all of the tubs are described in a guide book, so if you find one that doesn’t have someone sitting in it already, it’s not that you’ve discovered anything rare, you’re just lucky. Most are small, so when 50 people show up it’s time to drive back down route 395 and head for Grumpy’s Bar or the Whiskey Creek Mountain Bistro.