Retro Friday: Scott Baio is 15 and Drunk

SCOTT BAIO IS… “The Boy Who Drank Too Much.” Man, they sure don’t make TV movies like this anymore!

Soju Town Emerges Victorious

In February we asked you to choose sides in the inevitable battle between Koreatown’s Soju Town and Beer Town.

Well, it looks like the boozy war has a victor: Soju Town still stands, while Beer Town has disappeared. Soju Town is apparently celebrating with purple neon.

Below, the two sides earlier this year:

Los Angeles Gets Exclusive New Starbucks Drink

Los Angeles will be the test market next month for a new line of Italian-style drinks at Starbucks. Starbucks CEO Howard Schultz hinted at the news in an L.A. Times interview:

In July we will introduce a fantastic new summer product in Los Angeles. . . . We found a fantastic new cold-beverage platform in Italy, and as a result of that we are bringing it to the market. It is a product that is both indulgent and refreshing. . . . It is steeped in Italian heritage. I can’t tell you more than that.

That got the commenters at Starbucks Gossip guessing. The consensus is that it will be some sort of sorbet-based drink, perhaps with yogurt.

Las Vegas Exploits L.A.’s Bar Curfew

In California, bars must stop serving liquor at 2 a.m. In Vegas, there’s always someone, somewhere, getting loaded. After all, whatever’s vomited in Vegas, stays in Vegas.

Get Your Soda Fix On Route 66

<img src=”http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2153/2170631296_70b7edfc0f.jpg?v=0
” width=”400″ height=”300″>

During our recent trip to Oklahoma, the Franklin Avenue crew checked out a brand new Route 66 landmark: POPS, an unusual restaurant/convenience store/soda farm/gas station hybrid.

Located in Arcadia, near Oklahoma City, the new attraction is the talk of Route 66 fans (who aren’t used to new roadside spots on the storied road), and appears to be consistently packed.

Outside, The futuristic building features a massive 66 ft. soda bottle, which lights up at night in neon colors.

Inside, hundreds of soda bottles line the walls, while refrigerated cases boast tons of exotic sodas from the U.S. and abroad. (It’s a collection that rivals our own Galco’s Soda Pop Stop, but in a much more modern setting.)

We didn’t bother trying to eat there; the wait for a table was long. We also didn’t pump any gas. But we did buy a ton of soda. (Which, sadly, we left at my parents’ house.) I was intrigued by a natural banana soda, and a honey root beer, among others.

Above, the soda fountain even featured Dublin Dr. Pepper– the version of Dr. Pepper that is still made with sugar cane.

POPS is northeast of Oklahoma City, just east of Edmond.
660 W. Highway 66, Arcadia, OK 73007

Get Your Soda Fix On Route 66

<img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2153/2170631296_70b7edfc0f.jpg?v=0
” width=”400″ height=”300″>

During our recent trip to Oklahoma, the Franklin Avenue crew checked out a brand new Route 66 landmark: POPS, an unusual restaurant/convenience store/soda farm/gas station hybrid.

Located in Arcadia, near Oklahoma City, the new attraction is the talk of Route 66 fans (who aren’t used to new roadside spots on the storied road), and appears to be consistently packed.

Outside, The futuristic building features a massive 66 ft. soda bottle, which lights up at night in neon colors.

Inside, hundreds of soda bottles line the walls, while refrigerated cases boast tons of exotic sodas from the U.S. and abroad. (It’s a collection that rivals our own Galco’s Soda Pop Stop, but in a much more modern setting.)

We didn’t bother trying to eat there; the wait for a table was long. We also didn’t pump any gas. But we did buy a ton of soda. (Which, sadly, we left at my parents’ house.) I was intrigued by a natural banana soda, and a honey root beer, among others.

Above, the soda fountain even featured Dublin Dr. Pepper– the version of Dr. Pepper that is still made with sugar cane.

POPS is northeast of Oklahoma City, just east of Edmond.
660 W. Highway 66, Arcadia, OK 73007

Mai Tai One On

(Flickr pic by Joyousx).

Hmm, maybe this is one for Huell Howser to answer. An editor I once interned for is putting together a book about the famed Mai Tai, and is looking for personal stories that somehow involve the sweet, rum cocktail.

In the summer of 1992 I interned for both Hawaii Business magazine and Aloha magazine; at the time, the now-defunct Aloha mag (which was geared toward mainland tourists) was edited by Cheryl Chee Tsutsumi.

Now a travel writer, Tsutsumi is looking for tales of first Mai Tais, romantic experiences while drinking a Mai Tai, funny stories, etc. Anyone with an interesting story will be credited in the book — drop me a line and I’ll forward the info.

Mai Tai One On

(Flickr pic by Joyousx).

Hmm, maybe this is one for Huell Howser to answer. An editor I once interned for is putting together a book about the famed Mai Tai, and is looking for personal stories that somehow involve the sweet, rum cocktail.

In the summer of 1992 I interned for both Hawaii Business magazine and Aloha magazine; at the time, the now-defunct Aloha mag (which was geared toward mainland tourists) was edited by Cheryl Chee Tsutsumi.

Now a travel writer, Tsutsumi is looking for tales of first Mai Tais, romantic experiences while drinking a Mai Tai, funny stories, etc. Anyone with an interesting story will be credited in the book — drop me a line and I’ll forward the info.

In Search of Tiki

It’s by no means a thorough list (I’m sure we could all name several right off the bat that aren’t on the list), but here’s Gridskipper’s list of its favorite L.A. tiki bars.

The Trader Joe’s Shopper: Lychee Martinis

My love for the lychee goes back to Hawaii, where you could find them on trees, peel ‘em and eat ‘em (sort of like what we used to do here with the loquats on our driveway trees… until the neighbor cut ‘em down!).

Trader Joe’s makes it easier on you, by peeling them, taking out the seed and shoving them in a can. One night I decided to make a simple lychee martini: Two parts lychee juice/light syrup from the lychee can to one part vodka. (Above, Tito’s Vodka, a gift I received at some point. Good enough.) Shake it, plop a lychee in a martini glass and serve. It’s the most refreshing cocktail you’ll have this summer. But because it’s so refreshing, you may down it like it’s juice.