After enduring an annoying delay getting over the Rainbow Bridge to be admitted to Canada, I drove to Niagara-on-the-Lake. I picked up Patti and Phil Abbott at their bed-and-breakfast and we zipped over to St. Catherine’s to the Book Depot. Have you ever visited a bookstore where you needed a shopping cart? The Book Depot is a huge warehouse filled with remaindered books. I like it because British editions sometimes show up there for incredibly cheap prices. Both Patti and I did very well in the “bargain book” section where books were priced $2 a book. Irresistible! Then we had another annoying delay on the Rainbow Bridge to enter the U.S. I took Patti and Phil to lunch at Guy Fieri’s favorite restaurant from DINER, DRIVE-INS, AND DIVES: Pizza Junction. Phil and I ordered pizzas while Patti tackled the Philly cheese-steak sandwich. Then I took Patti and Phil to another remainder bookstore, The Book Outlet. More economic stimulus! When we picked up Diane, Patti and Phil got a tour of the Kelley Collection 2 (aka, The Bat Cave). You’d think Patti never saw 30,000 books in a basement before! We finally caught a break traveling back over the Rainbow Bridge (no delays) and we dropped Patti and Phil back at their B&B. We met up again later in Niagara-on-the-Lake for a quick snack (thanks, Phil!) before we attended the Shaw Festival’s wonderful play, An Ideal Husband by Oscar Wilde. Great conversation, great fun! Let’s do it again someday, Patti and Phil!
Sounds like a great day. And you’re making me hungry!
As I can testify, George and Diane are gracious hosts.
PIZZA JUNCTION was one of the highlights of our day, Jeff! I’ll be happy to take you and Jackie there next time you visit!
The important question is: did anyone order the Beef on Weck Pizza?
Art Scott expressed interest in the Beef-on-Weck Pizza, Jeff. Or, was that the Pulled-Pork Pizza…
Excepting the waits at the border, it sounds like a wonderful time, and I envy all involved. No, wait, envy is a mortal sin. I’m jealous…wait, jealousy is a bad thing too. Well I sure do wish I could have been there. (Wishing is okay, right?)
As for the pizza, what the heck is Beef-on-Weck? For that mater, what is a weck? Why would you put beef on it? Do they also have sausage-on-a-weck? Pepperoni-on-a-weck? And how about the weck of the… nevermind, I’m getting out of control here
Weck is bun with a salt topping, Rick. Very tasty and very addicting! You would have had a wonderful time booking with Patti, Phil, and me. I’m sure you would be delighted with the food choices at PIZZA JUNCTION. And, you would have found AN IDEAL HUSBAND intriguing.
Just arrived back home and I have to tell you that it would take three people to get through that Philly Cheese steak but not wanting to take a chance on irking those pesky customs people, I left it behind. I don’t know who had more books George or the bookstores he guided us to. Thanks so much! And next time, you must all come to Detroit-All of you guys and your wives. We have some pretty fine food here.
All the portions at PIZZA JUNCTION are huge, Patti. You did a pretty good job on that Philly Cheese Steak sandwich. Pesky Customs inspectors, indeed! Could you believe it when we were interrogated about our blogs? As I may have mentioned, books are my domain.
Glad everyone enjoyed themselves. Being in the company of friends, books, and good food is a wonderful way to pass the time.
George, when you said there was interrogation about your blogs, you were kidding…right?
The Customs Inspector asked how Patti and I met. Foolishly, I spoke the truth and answered, “Through our blogs.” “What kind of blogs?” he demanded. Blah, blah, blah. Finally, he was satisfied and let us proceed.
“interrogated abut our blogs”??
They asked you if you have a blog? When we came into the US from Canada (Vancouver) in 2008 there were no such questions. It’s Orwell’s 1984, just 25 years late.
I was also asked, “Do you have a loaded firearm in your vehicle?” Rick. That was a new question. Usually the Customs Inspectors ask the purpose of the trip and your country of origin and your destination.
I’ve heard–well, read in Macleans–that the Canadians are distinctly unhappy with the way we’ve tightened-up border security since 9/11. apparently it has made trade more difficult.
And why the hell would a customs inspector care how you two met? It really is kind of Orwellian.
I think the Customs inspectors were in the grips of the G-20 security mania, Drongo. I’ve traveled to Canada a hundred times and never had these kinds of questions. Orwellian…and annoying.
Maybe he was bored? Or maybe there was just not enough new gossip about Lindsay Lohan or the Kardashians?
Who knows? Rick, beef or weck is a famous Buffalo-area sandwich, much like Buffalo chicken wings. Apparently Pizza Junction has turned it into a pizza. Actually, I’ve had one in Brooklyn – the sandwich, not the pizza – and it was pretty good.
I’ve actually had the Beef-on-Weck Pizza, Jeff. Yum!
When he asked George what our blogs were about I was on pins and needles afraid he would say crime. But luckily he said the more innocuous “mysteries.” Over the course of the three days, I was asked by customs officials what B and B I was staying in. What is a B and B. What plays I was seeing? Why did I go back and forth between the two countries so many times. Was I carrying any firearms. She also informed me AN IDEAL HUSBAND was not at Stratford and I reminded her I had said I was going to Niagara on the Lake. Naturally the truckload of guns ahead of us sailed through.
I was expecting to be strip-searched next, Patti.