Slim’s Radio Service

[Madison Avenue between 118th and 119th Streets, Manhattan, c. 1939–1941. From the NYC Municipal Archives Collections. Click for a much larger view.]

Quite a variety of establishments in this stretch of Madison Avenue: a grocery store, Sun Shine Lunch, Slim’s Radio Service, a fish and vegetable market (“Fresh Fish Daily”), and Ebenezer Spiritual Church. I chose this photograph for Slim’s, which might be at 1820: there are few photographs and much ambiguity for this stretch. I like Slim’s signage.

The Municipal Archives’ online materials have been reorganized: tax photographs now seem to be searchable only by address, not with the block and lot codes preserved in the photographs themselves. And the photographs are now available sans watermarks. I’ve posted an especially large version of this one: if you click for the larger view, you‘ll see many details.

Related reading
More photographs from the NYC Municipal Archives (Pinboard)

In the Proust aisle

[Click for bigger cookies.]

Elaine says that these madeleines bring back memories of Wal-Mart.

Related reading
All OCA Proust posts (Pinboard) : Madeleine (With the beginning of the key Proust passage)

[Photograph from May 31. Notice the expiration date.]

Today’s Saturday Stumper

Today’s Newsday  Saturday Stumper is by “Anna Stiga,” or Stan Again, Stan Newman, the puzzle’s editor, using the penname that signifies an easier Stumper. It was easier, but not that easy. I made three mistakes that I caught only when I read through the puzzle for choice clues and answers.

The choice items:

1-A, ten letters, “Buster Keaton silent sleuth spoof (an AFI ’Funniest’).” If it’s a giveaway, I’ll take it. This clue had me ready to like this puzzle.

5-D, five letters, “20-year Swedish coffee commercial character.” What? thought I. I’m supposed to know a character from Swedish advertising? Oh, wait.

11-A, four letters, “Bar tended at restaurants.” This one’s tricky.

14-A, eight letters, “They hold bread racks.” I was trying to think of a seven-letter word for a cash register.

18-A, four letters, “Name related to 2-Down.” And 2-D, six letters, is “Butte neighbor.” I’ve seen the answer to 18-A similarly clued in a recent Stumper. Experiential learning.

30-A, three letters, “Central casting.” I’m not sure I understand this one.

35-A, seven letters, “Fish out of water.” Clever and a bit misdirective.

35-D, eight letters, “What Ariel and Aladdin are at Disney World.” A slighty wacky anwer, and appropriately so.

36-D, eight letters, “It has the most primary interstates passing through it.” Heck yeah.

40-A, eight letters, “Lodging place?” Groan.

53-D, five letters, “Kitchen brand created from female names.” It feels strange to now know that.

60-A, ten letters, “Extreme avoidance.” One of the more difficult clues in the puzzle.

63-A, ten letters, “Don’t go straight.” Another of the more difficult clues in the puzzle. So many possibilities.

My favorite in this puzzle: 27-A, seven letters, “Mac not a PC.” So clever, and everyday life gave me the answer.

No spoilers; the answers are in the comments.

Marian Robinson (1937–2024)

Marian Robinson, mother of Michelle Obama and Craig Robinson, has died at the age of eighty-six. From the New York Times obituary:

Raised on the South Side of Chicago, Ms. Robinson was known as a loving, down-to-earth matriarch who became an emotional ballast for her daughter and granddaughters, Malia and Sasha, but also for Mr. Obama, who had rocketed to political superstardom and whose family, at times, had to scramble to keep up.

When Mr. Obama became the first Black man to win the presidency in November 2008, he sat and watched the returns alongside his mother-in-law. Their hands were clutched together as they watched their family’s future change alongside the course of American history.

Elaine and I met Michelle Obama when Barack Obama was running for the United States Senate. And our whole family met Barack Obama later in that campaign. I wish we could have met Marian Robinson too.

187 years

At his press conference In his Queeg-like ravings just now, Donald Trump suggested that he may be going to jail for 187 years.

Allay!

[A Glencairn Whisky Glass was sitting on the counter — might it get knocked over? They are not cheap.]

“I’ll allay your fears and wash it.”

“No, it's fine.”

“I’m gonna allay! I’ll allay!”

Related reading
All OCA domestic comedy posts (Pinboard)

Know the difference

[Reposted from December 8, 2018.]

I created this visual aid one day after making a post titled Felonious Trump, which began, “I’m no lawyer, but it seems clear that Individual-1 directed Michael Cohen to commit felonies.” And now Individual-1 is a felon.

Now more than ever: know the difference.

The verdict

GUILTY! On thirty-four of thirty-four felony counts.

Thank you, New Yorkers.

“Lists!!!”

From This American Life: “Lists!!!” It’s an especially good episode.

The one thing missing from this episode is the quotidian to-do list: buckle shoe, shut door, pick up sticks, &c. An Atlantic article by Amanda Mull has that covered: “Never underestimate the power of a to-do list.”

Here’s a list my daughter Rachel made (in cursive) at the age of six or seven, of supplies for an imaginary camping trip. And on a different note, a list, found in a used book, that’s puzzled me for years.

Some more OCA posts with lists
Amy Winehouse’s to-do list (“When I do recorddeal”) : John Lennon’s to-do list (“H.B.O. Guy coming between 3–5”) : Johnny Cash’s to-do list (“Kiss June”): Ralph Kramden’s list (“Basically honest when pinned down”) : Review: Liza Kirwin, Lists (A book of artists’ lists)

Cursive Peanuts

[Peanuts, June 2, 1977. Click for a larger view.]

Yesterday’s Peanuts is today’s Peanuts.

Venn reading
All OCA handwriting posts : handwriting and Peanuts posts : Peanuts posts (Pinboard)