[Tim]

What about Santa?

I guess this is another generation gap question. When I was a kid Santa's house was located on at the intersection of Franklin and 6th - I think it was 6th. It was the street Walgreen's was on. It was a little read house on the southwest corner of the intersection. It seems like the name Pytinia (sp?) rings a bell as to who was Santa during those years. I know his Santa suit used to be displayed at the Old Lighthouse Museum at Christmas.

Speaking of Christmas, the owner in my restaurant question had a birthday right around Christmas - so every year he'd have a big party with a little band from Chicago.

Anyone?

[kharris]

I guess this is another generation gap question. When I was a kid Santa's house was located on at the intersection of Franklin and 6th - I think it was 6th. It was the street Walgreen's was on. It was a little read house on the southwest corner of the intersection. It seems like the name Pytinia (sp?) rings a bell as to who was Santa during those years. I know his Santa suit used to be displayed at the Old Lighthouse Museum at Christmas.

Speaking of Christmas, the owner in my restaurant question had a birthday right around Christmas - so every year he'd have a big party with a little band from Chicago.

Anyone?

Actually I think walgreens was on the corner of 7th and franklin (the northwest corner) ... it is now an empty lot.

[Tim]

Actually I think walgreens was on the corner of 7th and franklin (the northwest corner) ... it is now an empty lot.

Yeah - I thought either 6th or 7th - but was too lazy to dig into my MC pix to find out!

[Ang]

When I was young we lived across the street from Mr. Pytynia. And I do remember my mom telling me that he used to play Santa every year. Mr. Pytynia was the neatest old guy and a really great neighbor. At halloween he would have special goody bags for all the kids that lived on my block with double the candy that he gave every other kid.
Aahhh....
May he rest in peace.

[Tim]

The restaurant in my question was Maxine & Heinie's. Heinie had collected promotional liquor bottles for years and had them displayed on a little shelf that ran all the way around the restaurant up by the ceiling. I always wondered where those went when he passed on. It's Maxine's now, right? Maybe they're still there.

[krk]

The restaurant in my question was Maxine & Heinie's. Heinie had collected promotional liquor bottles for years and had them displayed on a little shelf that ran all the way around the restaurant up by the ceiling. I always wondered where those went when he passed on. It's Maxine's now, right? Maybe they're still there.

No, they aren't. You've never been to Maxine's? You should go. The pot roast is fantastic.

[Tim]

No, they aren't. You've never been to Maxine's? You should go. The pot roast is fantastic.

Thanks. Those bottles had top be worth some dough. I hear good things about Maxine's - but every time I'm home I'm on a "travel budget" - so Swingbelly's and Albano's is as wild as I roll.

[Roger Kaputnik]

Albano's has slipped a lot. I now favor Miller's over by Al's on Karwick.

[Southsider2k12]

Albano's has slipped a lot. I now favor Miller's over by Al's on Karwick.

Since Jim Albano passed and obviously isn't cooking there anymore, I actually favor the LP locale's pizza a little bit over the MC spot. Its still great though.

[Tim]

Since Jim Albano passed and obviously isn't cooking there anymore, I actually favor the LP locale's pizza a little bit over the MC spot. Its still great though.

Yesh - but how much of the cooking was done by Jim? Before he took the big dirt nap, I mean. Ever since I can remember it's been and endless, revolving stream of kids in there. Your thoughts?

I'm 53 and I still remember ALbano's phone number! Wacky.....

[Roger Kaputnik]

The sauce is not the same--it is a lower grade. The sausage is definitely not the same--and I do not mean better. The cheese has more filler; you can tell because there is no or very little oil on top when it is cooked.

On another pizza note, I have heard that at Charlies, the Shaia have gone back to the old pizzas like Charlie the former proprietor made.

[Southsider2k12]

Yesh - but how much of the cooking was done by Jim? Before he took the big dirt nap, I mean. Ever since I can remember it's been and endless, revolving stream of kids in there. Your thoughts?

I'm 53 and I still remember ALbano's phone number! Wacky.....

I don't know that he was doing much cooking, but he must have made sure it was done right.

[Tim]

Stop! I don't think I can take too much more bad news about a life-long family institution! Next you'll be telling me AJ's is closing!

[Tim]

Easy one. What was the name of the drug store chain in MC that was replaced by CVS?

[Southsider2k12]

Easy one. What was the name of the drug store chain in MC that was replaced by CVS?

Hooks

[Ang]

When I was little, the way the H was in the sign made the word appear as Flooks. That's what I called it when I was little.

[Roger Kaputnik]

Stop! I don't think I can take too much more bad news about a life-long family institution!

It is a very sad time in MC when Albano's is gone cheapo. When my father and mother moved away, he would remember how delicious and special the sausage pizzas were. I would not have the heart to tell him the current state of things.

[digger262]

When I was young we lived across the street from Mr. Pytynia. And I do remember my mom telling me that he used to play Santa every year. Mr. Pytynia was the neatest old guy and a really great neighbor. At halloween he would have special goody bags for all the kids that lived on my block with double the candy that he gave every other kid.
Aahhh....
May he rest in peace.

My dad was good friends with Mr. Pytynia and we were fortunate to have him come to our house every Christmas eve to give us presents my parents would put into a Christmas bag. We used to know there were fake Santas but believe Pytynia was the REAL Santa. I still remember my shock when I went out onto the front porch one Christmas eve before Santa came and found the bag with presents. Many years later my brother used that same canvas bag to haul his dirty laundry home from college. Talk about a huge career fall from Santas special bag to laundry bag.

I also remember Mr. Pytynia would give me baseballs he would find at his job of maintaining the old Ames Field. Those balls were scuffed and water logged but I thought they were just about the best things in the world. What a great man.

[Tim]

Hooks

Hook's, actually - but close enough!