Posted on 05/09/2014 5:55:39 PM PDT by SamAdams76
It's amazing how quickly technology is changing. When I was in my teens and started having some extra money, I would buy those vinyl LP records. At the time, I thought it was an investment. I used to carefully take those vinyl records out of the sleeves and ensure that the needle was ever so carefully placed on the outer grooves of the record (if you did not own a auto-cueing record player). I had visions of handing these vinyl recording down to my kids and then my kids handing them down to their kids.
Yes, I actually thought that my grandchildren would take pleasure in playing "Frampton Comes Alive" or "Don't Shoot Me, I'm Only The Piano Player" on their own turntables in the year 2027.
Then during the late 1970s to early 1980s, we had the audiocassette format. It cost around $7.99 for a cassette album of say "Candy-O" by The Cars or "Breakfast In America" by Supertramp. And I bought them, thinking they would also last for generations to come. Until the cassette player in my 1976 AMC pacer started eating them. One summer, I had "Hi Infidelity" by REO Speedwagon stuck in the tape player and I couldn't get it out. So that's all that played that summer in my car. People thought I was really into REO Speedwagon but I wasn't. It was my girlfriend's tape. Seriously. Eventually, my brother got it out with a butter knife.
I kind of missed out on the whole 8-track thing. My father had one in his car and he always played Johnny Cash and Wanda Jackson on it. Maybe Glen Campbell too but I'm not sure.
Then in the mid 1980s, the compact disc came into fashion. Now that was the thing. We all thought compact discs would last forever. So I ended up mostly buying all the music again that I already had on vinyl and cassette so that I could have the same songs in a pristine digital format. In a weird retro way, I would then dub cassette "mix tapes" from my growing CD collection so that I could have the songs I already had on cassette (and CD) on a cassette in the order that I wanted.
I ended up buying hundreds and hundreds of CDs over the years. Then they started with the MP3s and suddenly I was converting all my CDs to MP3 and then re-burning them on blank CDs so that I could have the songs in the order that I wanted them. I used to get the blank CDs in spindles of 100 and I'd have to throw half of them away because I would get errors burning them and the whole CD would be useless at that point.
Then Apple came out with those "iPods" and suddenly I could have all my songs in my pocket and I could set up playlists so that I could play the songs in the order that I wanted. But once I finally had that capability to play my entire library of music in the order that I wanted, I no longer use that feature. Instead, I just hit "shuffle" because setting up playlists is a pain in the neck. Meanwhile, all my CDs, cassettes and LP records are up in the attic in boxes gathering dust. I tried selling them on Ebay a few years ago but I was getting crap money for them. In fact, it would cost more to ship the damn things than what people were willing to pay me for them.
Now even MP3s are getting obsolete because everybody is pulling their music "down from the cloud" with Spotify, Pandora, and whatnot. I
It's crazy how fast everything is changing.
So anyway, I went to this steakhouse a few months back and I can't remember the name of it. What I do remember is that it was crowded and you had to wait like an hour to get a table. But that was okay because they had this large waiting area with benches and a big barrel of peanuts that you could grab a handful of while you were waiting.
The best part about this is that they let you just throw the peanut shells to the floor. I thought that was such a great idea! You didn't have to be prissy neat about it. Just crack the shells, pop the peanuts in your mouth and toss the shells to the floor. Just like you were in your own backyard except you were surrounded by strangers doing the same thing.
Eventually they called us to our table and the peanut fun continued. Each table had a small pail of peanuts on it. Except they didn't want you throwing the shells to the floor in the dining area so they gave you an empty pail in which to toss the shells in - which was okay by me because the pail was right there in front of you. So it wasn't that much extra work.
The steak was unbelievable, it melted in my mouth like butter, and they brought me glasses of beer in 22 oz glasses.
Peanuts, steak and beer. It doesn't get better than that. But I can't go back there because I can't remember the name of the place and I forget where I was when I went there. It wasn't Outback or anything familiar like that. In fact, I don't even think it was a chain even though it looked like it could be a chain.
Bingo!!!
That place is awesome!
Haven’t been in about three years.
Texas Roadhouse.
Very upscale. They even pre-chew it for you!
Sounds like The Peanut Barrel to me.
I have to vote for Texas Roadhouse, too. Awesome food. Why not try it out if you’re not sure, the worst you’ll get is an excellent experience.
Texas Roadhouse. Best salads, great steaks.
>> Peanuts, steak and beer.
If you Mich Ultra, that would be one diabetic friendly meal.
Around here (Grand Rapids, MI) that’s the Texas Roadhouse, or as the seven year old says, “we’re going to Texas!”
Texas Roadhouse.
5 Guys doesn’t do steak, but good burgers.
Uh, Mom’s in Westwood Village CA about 1965?
Roadhouse 101,Lincoln City,Oregon.
I don’t know of a chain like that. Years ago I ate at a place I think called Dixie’s Roadhouse that I think was a chain but it may have moved out of my city.
I don’t recall if they had peanuts but it would’ve fit in.
MANY years ago Pat & Pete’s Blues Burger downtown had that (plus live music).
Blame Warner Brothers. They claim to still own "Happy Birthday To You" for the next 15+ years (100 year copyright) even though the song lyrics and melody ("Good Morning To You") are older than that. So places have to substitute "their own song".
Logan’s
Place was packed. About an hour wait for the table. But got to eat about a pound of peanuts while waiting, and they allow you to - no, they encourage you - to just toss the shells to the floor!
I like this place.
Thick, juicy steaks. Huge mugs of beer. Even at the table, they gave you a pail of peanuts.
The only thing I don't like about it is that if it is somebody's birthday near you, the entire staff crowds around clapping their hands and doing all kinds of nonsense.
Even the peanuts are fair to poor
OTOH, Oliver's Taverene, Essex, CT does the shells-on-the-floor. Decent sandwiches, very casual,friendly staff.
Handlebar Saloon, Santa Ana, California - early 1970s
This is no sh!te, they had 10 cent beers until 10 pm, and free peanuts.
So we stocked up a few extra beers under our chairs.
i remember when ground round did that.. there’s still a location left here on long island, ny out in shirley. also, theres a bunch of local/regional steakhouses in diff parts of texas that do the peanut thing still. but texas roadhouse is the giant chain that is known for it. as for good steak . theres a local family owned chain here on LI called J&Rs. they have hands down the best steak around. better than steak from premo restaurants. the dinner service is always packed and sorta chaotic. but when you get that steak, the quality is unbelievable. would really like to know their supplier. only other steak i had better than this was 90 day dry aged porterhouse from old stove pub in Sagonaponack, ny - $65 ala carte .... 3 course porterhouse steak dinner special at j&r’s -25.99.. done rambling now...lol just crazy to compare differences in quality in the restaurant world
It’s not Ruth Chris. They gave me dirty looks when I did that.
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