Theecarey's Journal
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05/07/2009 13:53 #48619
e:vincent and The Summit Park MallCategory: reflection
Wow, (e:vincent,48610) your post just took me back 17 years or so!
agreed (e:paul)- awesome journal (e:vincent). Of course, I really had been there pretty much at the same time as you! This is the only time that a mall brings positive feelings.
I wrote a comment in response, but found it getting much too long, so I've opted to post it as a journal (pretty much everything written here was in the comment box!). I kept writing because I simply found myself sitting here thinking back to those days and how a single public structure was the catalyst for so much fun experience and later nostalgia.
Please don't mind my piggy-backing off your post, (e:vincent). All kudos to you for mentioning it!
And so, I have to chime in, as should (e:ladycroft) and (e:pyrcedgrrl)!
The arcade located at the main entrance that also housed the food court was the hub of activity for 12-17 year olds. Walking back and forth ('doing laps')along the simple one floor straight stretch layout provided mass opportunity for socialization, flirting and following/keeping track of cute guys/gals from both our home school and local area schools we'd yet to know about. (ie; "Sweet Home, where is that?!'- is it long distance to call you?")
Shopping was the least of the activities, although when we (girls) did, it was off to "The Limited" for the highly coveted Forenza and OutBack Red (brand tags were on the outside allowing proof of brand purchase) The shoe store, "Whites" was the only place to buy our Tretorns and penny loafers. Any place else even if the same brand, was not the approved protocol. We used our status symbol post-purchase empty store bags to carry our gym clothes to (and through the) school. I'm thinking some people still do- and it has nothing to do with recycling.
It was more than ok to be a 'preppy'- so at the time it was considered a really good thing to visually blend in. I was a full blown "preppy"- and like everyone else, raised my nose in the air to anyone who was a "grub". In a nutshell, it was more than clothes- being preppy embodied being on the honor roll, being active in clubs, not smoking cigarettes, being clean looking and shopping the "in" stores. Oh and the appearance of money (I gag on all this now, snicker at those still holding close those 'values', but I digress.) A Grub was essentially the opposite. They stood outside before and after school sneaking cigarettes, wore a lot of dark non descript clothing, had mediocre or poor grades, but were probably much more authentic in comparison. Obviously there are much more deeper levels to the difference and sameness of each 'category', and what any of that really meant- but I'm relaying what I remember of the perceptions of a 15 year old. However, even then I remember that my thoughts, actions and words often belied a much more wise and non conformist undertone- a non-preppiness, I guess. I recall you stood out from the crowd in that manner as well. I always appreciated that in you and the small handful of others that existed.
anyway, back to the mall....
How often a bunch of kids would walk back and forth between the interior mall cinema and the "general cinema" across the street, to see where the best movies and movie times were? That theater has been long gone, sadly.
I remember having 'dinner and a movie' dates at that York Steak house you mentioned and then walking across the hall to the theater. One time in particular I remember seeing, the River Phoenix film "A Night in the Life of Jimmy Rearden" with Todd K. on a date. His mom was with us! We were 13.
As for McCrory's-yeh, that was a cool little crap store, one of the first stores anyone would see after leaving the food court, and just to the side of the cinema. And yes, (e:vincent) the image of the ICEE machine still is still clear in my memory. It was convenient to wander in there and stock up on candy before heading into the theater. Also, it was the store that many kids tried out their first stealing attempts.
Many of my mall adventures were with (e:ladycroft). It was a big thing for us to head out to the mall on a friday night. Our parents were often reticent to drive us, so we would often beg her bigger sister to take us along with her on her way to work, which was at the mall! (a shoe store, maybe Payless, i think?)
the main mall entrance had/has a convenient and safe spot to quickly pull up and drop off then later pick up. good times!
(e:ladycroft) and I usually bought and shared a cheap order of fries and a drink from Tijuana Taco during the course of the evening. Any other money we brought with us was usually wasted at the Arcade. I wonder how many miles we logged walking that mall?
You pegged the time line correctly in it going down-hill from 1994 on. I remember working there at GNC, and sometimes I would be shipped over the The Factory Outlet (now Prime Outlets or something like that). And I hated going over there because it was a dead mall. No one was ever there! It looked like it was sure to close, especially compared to the ever hopping Summit Park Mall. Then.... the two situations switched. The Summit became a dying mall and the Outlet began to thrive.
The construction of The Galleria Mall in '89 didn't help matters, it seemed.
I've been in "The Summit" a few times this year for some small business work shops. I thought it interesting that the mall held very few stores but several community related sites and a barrage of mall walkers. I thought that this could be a very good thing if marketed correctly. That it should be used less as a walk-in take a chance shopping complex (ie traditional mall) and more of a dedicated spot of specific and/or business & community offerings. Something that people go their intentionally. Also, the building and lots are clean, lots of parking, convenient location, a structure that is still in great condition and is aesthetically pleasing etc.. I wonder what the plan is now?
well, again, thanks for the trip down memory lane, (e:vincent)!
05/06/2009 13:22 #48603
reviews as entertainmentCategory: potpourri
Again, reading product reviews at Amazon.com can offer hours of entertainment.
I'd offer examples, but there are just too many, and if you have ever looked for a review on something, than you know exactly what I mean.
and the comments that often follow someones "review" can be priceless; better than snark blogs at times.
Even though I kill a few brain cells knocking my head on the desk in wonderment at reading some these, I suddenly feel a bit smarter, too.
05/04/2009 21:54 #48591
getting there..Category: weather
Nothing can beat that feeling of ripping off plastic on windows.
my heat has been turned off for a very long time- probably longer than what is sane, but I went a little cheap this year on heating. Gotta say, it worked.
Front door w/ screen has been opened to let that fresh air in on occasion, but it is only now that the temps at night seem more stable that the windows/plastic have been liberated. yay!
omg, it's been so hot for so long, you guys still have the plastic on? we've had all the windows open for weeks now and the heat has been turned off for a good month. i would die of suffocation otherwise.
Let there be air!! of the fresh unpreviously breathed upon variety.
I'm so tempted to leave the plastic on.
04/17/2009 15:36 #48421
needing to uncompressCategory: nerd
the most recent CD purchases:
Bjork-Post (typical sound for her work, but I don't have any of her Cds, just MP3s, so this is a nice addition)
Bjork-Vespertine (melodic, breezy, pleasantly surprising- love it)
Ella Fitzgerald- Love Ella (the original versions)- good mix of stereo and mono. Awesome voice. Prefer her sound on vinyl, but this is pretty great to have on CD.
Ella Fitzgerald- Ella for Lovers (most intimate songs)- mono, but with limited noise reduction, so the sound is more pure.
soundtrack to Slumdog Millionaire (energetic, pretty, multi dimensional sound)
I'm very pleased with these purchases.
I'll be seeking to acquire a few more CDs of varying genres soon.
any audiophiles out there?
suggestions for my eager listening experience? :)
04/13/2009 17:12 #48378
Waterguns and Pussy WillowsCategory: holiday
Happy Dyngus day!
Dyngus Day Buffalo site:
from Holiday Insights,
Dyngus Day
When : Always the Monday after Easter
Dyngus Day, also spelled Dingus Day, is a Polish Holiday. It is very popular in Poland, and in Polish communities in America. After the long Lenten holiday, Dyngus Day is a day of fun. And, perhaps a little romantic fun. It is always celebrated on the Monday after Easter.
There area all sort of ways for boys to meet girls. But, this one takes the cake.
Guys, on this day you get to wet the ladies down. Sprinkling or drenching with water is your goal. Chase after the ladies with squirt guns, buckets, or other containers of water. The more bold and gallant boys, may choose to use cologne. Hitting (gently, please) the ladies on the legs with switches or pussy willows is also common.
Yes ladies, you can strike back. Ladies , you get your revenge on Tuesday, when tradition has it that you throw dishes or crockery back at the boys. It has become increasingly popular for the ladies to get their revenge on Monday, tossing water back at the boys.
Note: Dyngus Day is also called Wet Easter Monday. Hmmmmm, I wonder why!?
Origin of Dyngus Day:
When exploring the roots of Dyngus Day, Historians point to the baptism of Polish Prince Mieszko I in 966 A.D. Baptism with water signifies cleansing, fertility, and purification. Somewhere along the way, the tradition of tossing water on the girls and hitting them with pussy willows evolved.
Always a holiday in WNY! enjoy!
Yeah, looked like fun. By the time I got home last night, I was feeling a little old and lame (or just flat out tired) to go partake. A couple polish ales at the Sportsman Tavern made me think mostly of a nap.
Caught some of the silliness from the Terminal on the late news.
Good times, good times. The flirting component is something my irish brethen should copy for St. Patrick's Day.
wow, someone was just talking to me last night about buying a record at cavages. ha!
OMG. Do I ever remember that. Of course I couldn't afford Limited or real tretorns, but thankfully Reina worked at "Fayva" shoes and I could mildly scrape by with minimal criticism on my fake footwear. Sigh.
Large order of fries often followed by those brownie cupcakes that had about 8,000 calories each.
Where IS sweet home anyway, I still don't know....
Remember the old movie theater..Nuns on the Run!
Endless miles lapping the mall stalking boys and for some reason, the tool department in Sears.
I do remember Cavages but from the Main Place Mall in Buffalo, I wonder who bought them out or if they just went out of business......
Don't forget the name of the record store in that place Cavages. Plus if you're mentioning food you have to bring up Leon's Pizza and back during the last of the good times there was LuLu's Burgers.
The one thing that I can really stay really imprinted in my mind was the 1st store on the left as you walked into the Mall from Sears. I think back in the day it was a Musical Organ/Sewing Machine Store. I was so pumped last December when I saw a similar store in a mall in Sarasota complete with old bluehairs playing some home organ with all of the buttons and switches.
Wow I feel so out of the Loop, I think I have been to that mall like maybe once and I'm sure it was at its point of death or maybe to see like a cheap movie not even sure. I love how you describe a "Grub" Never heard that term before. I guess the big question was there a place to buy acid washed Jeans or stone washed Jeans (yes they looked the same almost)? I won't even get into my Galleria Mall talk and what it did to the Buffalo Area.