Very good memory, Dropkick. I remember this well because it got past the copy desk and into print without anyone noticing that it said “Strangest Use of Quotations Marks.” Nothing like having a typo in your rip on someone’s bizarre punctuation. Oops.
Speaking of Twice “But” Nice, here’s a great post from 2004 where Starfire wound up with the tape from Twice “But” Nice’s answering machine, after they donated it to St. Vincent de Paul. The messages are pretty damn funny.
Ha, I forgot all about those answering machine messages! I’ll bet I’ve still got the Bettie Mae one saved on my computer somewhere–that one was my favorite.
girlfromnorthcountryon February 18, 2010 at 9:24 am
Torke Weinachten was a Christmas/import store that also sold specialty chocolates. It closed about a year ago after one of the owners passed away suddenly.
Speaking of signs, I see that 101 Deals in West Duluth got rid of that awesome orange and yellow acid trip thing and replaced it with one that wouldn’t look out of place hanging above Stargate.
HR: Punctuation isn’t a big deal in emails and informal notes, blog posts, etc. But as far as I’m concerned, when you are advertising your company, everything you put in print reflects on it: So the apparent lack of care or attention to detail in punctuation could be inferred–consciously or unconsciously–a lack of care in all other areas, such as the products or services one sells or produces. If Blackwater doesn’t care enough to have a properly punctuated sign, I can only assume they probably don’t give a damn about the quality of the drinks and food they serve. But hey, that’s just me. It’s kinda like the menus at Chester Creek Cafe: the design says “greasy spoon” but the prices say “trendy artsy cafe.”
Good point, Barrett. I guess to me “actual swank” means an establishment does not have to “try” to be swanky; it just IS due to it’s history, style and “classiness”…Manny’s Steakhouse comes to mind.
I personally feel that Blackwater set out to create the appearance of swank, which doesn’t work. It just feels cheap to me. The unfortunate apostrophe underscores this feeling.
Let me rephrase: I know what fake swanky is, but I’m not sure I’ve ever been somewhere that is actually swanky. It always feels like places are just trying, so that they can serve rail vodka and Apple Pucker in a cocktail glass for $9.
Arrowhead Supply in the West End specializes in “kitchens and bath’s” according to their sign.
Lee’s Pizza, also in the West End, used to have “Hmm… good” on their awning (I may be misremembering the ellipses). That always amused me because it implied you had to think a minute before declaring their pizza good.
The sucker who very briefly owned Live Downtown Bar told me, “that Slim Goodbuzz said everyone who goes to the Black Water is a shithead. Well, I hang out there!”
It was the eighties maybe when three ‘friends’ dressed in black pin-striped suits, brown shirts … suit collars turned up and wide-brimmed felt hats pulled low – retro 1930s – dark shades and all carrying violin cases … strolled into a then-swanky eating establishment on London Road. Sat down at the bar; ordered martinis (martini’s). No one said anything and the bartender watched as he polished his glasses. Customers glanced sideways … looked at each other over their prime ribs.
After a sufficient amount of time the three left.
Cool cats experimenting on human reaction to the absurd or the unfamiliar, but who received little reaction; positive or negative.
I quess that is the definition of ‘Minnesota Nice’?
So what would ‘Martini’s’ do … offer the trio a free beer … who knows?
There you go vicarious–its does NOT have an apostrophe when in posessive. For some reason. This is an annoying rule but even more annoying when it’s (contraction) broken. This is Fourth grade grammar, people. If you want to hear bad semantics turn on Channel 6 News any time. get a glance of this or a glimpse at that. Once I could not even tell who did what–ta whom? Wish I’d written that down, don’t quite have no life enuf. So when did it change that there is a chance “for” rain rather than a chance of. The rain is not the gambler. ANYway the apostrophe-s should just be banned in all cases also the word then (misused instead of than”). See article about endangered adverbs.
Brown Water.
Faux Swanky.
I only enter that place when on a date — with Hung.
When I first saw that sign, I thought “Martini’s? I thought Black Woods was in there- not some place called Martini’s!”
yeeeech
That’s HORRIBLE!
I’ve been scowling about “Condo’s” on the Wieland Block for over a year.
And then there’s the Co-op, “open everyday.”
Anyone remember the consignment store out near 57th West and Grand called Twice “But” Nice?
I recall it getting an award from the Ripsaw one year for something to the extent of “Most Confusing Use of Quotation Marks”
Very good memory, Dropkick. I remember this well because it got past the copy desk and into print without anyone noticing that it said “Strangest Use of Quotations Marks.” Nothing like having a typo in your rip on someone’s bizarre punctuation. Oops.
From the March 21, 2001 Ripsaw:
This is from the same Ripsaw. It has nothing to do with punctuation, but it is sign related.
I believe the handrails at the Norshor also made best phallus one year. Funny stuff.
Twice “But” Nice later changed their name to 2wice But Nice, which is still strange but somehow makes more sense.
Speaking of Twice “But” Nice, here’s a great post from 2004 where Starfire wound up with the tape from Twice “But” Nice’s answering machine, after they donated it to St. Vincent de Paul. The messages are pretty damn funny.
Betty Mae? Are you there? Who-whoo. Who-whoo.
Isn’t torke weihn — you know, the chocolate place that closed on Superior Street — isn’t it a caf’e?
I also like their other awning that says “Sushi” and “Flatbread”
very classy.
On the plus side, at least it isn’t written in Papyrus.
Ha, I forgot all about those answering machine messages! I’ll bet I’ve still got the Bettie Mae one saved on my computer somewhere–that one was my favorite.
Torke Weinachten was a Christmas/import store that also sold specialty chocolates. It closed about a year ago after one of the owners passed away suddenly.
Wasn’t the bar in It’s a Wonderful Life named Martini’s?
Drifter – Yep, it was. But the punctuation was correct because the bar was named for the owner.
At least they got most of the pigeon off of it.
Speaking of signs, I see that 101 Deals in West Duluth got rid of that awesome orange and yellow acid trip thing and replaced it with one that wouldn’t look out of place hanging above Stargate.
More phone messages!
You guys care that much about punctuation?
HR: Punctuation isn’t a big deal in emails and informal notes, blog posts, etc. But as far as I’m concerned, when you are advertising your company, everything you put in print reflects on it: So the apparent lack of care or attention to detail in punctuation could be inferred–consciously or unconsciously–a lack of care in all other areas, such as the products or services one sells or produces. If Blackwater doesn’t care enough to have a properly punctuated sign, I can only assume they probably don’t give a damn about the quality of the drinks and food they serve. But hey, that’s just me. It’s kinda like the menus at Chester Creek Cafe: the design says “greasy spoon” but the prices say “trendy artsy cafe.”
While dining at the arts (art’s?) cafe last night, my friends and I decided to have a nightcap at Black Water as none of us had ever been in there.
It looked like some bar you would go score coke at if you were a character in the movie Less Than Zero.
Still, our beer’s and scotche’s were good and reasonably priced. I’d take Hung there on a date.
The Red Star is faux swanky. At least the Black Water doesn’t try to do the Roxbury bit in Duluth effing Minnesota.
I would describe Red Star as “trendy” rather than swanky or faux-swanky.
‘Let’s eat Grandma!’ or, ‘Let’s eat, Grandma!’ Punctuation saves lives.
Serious, non-sarcastic question: What’s the difference between “swanky” and “faux-swanky”? Is there one?
Good point, Barrett. I guess to me “actual swank” means an establishment does not have to “try” to be swanky; it just IS due to it’s history, style and “classiness”…Manny’s Steakhouse comes to mind.
I personally feel that Blackwater set out to create the appearance of swank, which doesn’t work. It just feels cheap to me. The unfortunate apostrophe underscores this feeling.
Blackwater = “Swank” for when Hermantown goes out on it (the town, that is.).
Let me rephrase: I know what fake swanky is, but I’m not sure I’ve ever been somewhere that is actually swanky. It always feels like places are just trying, so that they can serve rail vodka and Apple Pucker in a cocktail glass for $9.
My eyes immediately gravitated to the Open sign, which, in that pic, looks like “O pew”.
Arrowhead Supply in the West End specializes in “kitchens and bath’s” according to their sign.
Lee’s Pizza, also in the West End, used to have “Hmm… good” on their awning (I may be misremembering the ellipses). That always amused me because it implied you had to think a minute before declaring their pizza good.
somebody stole a purse…..
^ for drifter & barrett.
The sucker who very briefly owned Live Downtown Bar told me, “that Slim Goodbuzz said everyone who goes to the Black Water is a shithead. Well, I hang out there!”
Last time I went to the Blackwater I got thrown out for hassling George Kessler. I had fun there though.
Evil Jeffy reports that the floor of the Blackwater is good for roller skating. The patrons, however, do not agree.
Also you cannot wear Starter Jackets into the Black Water. So says the sign at the door.
Question: Who wears Starter Jackets, didn’t they go out in early ’90’s?
Sounds like something on This American Life
I still wear my Starter jacket every once in a while. Carolina Panthers.
It seems like the dress code at Black Water is based on descriptions of possible gang attire drafted up by the Duluth Police Department in 1990.
It’s about as swank as you can get, when you’re owned by the same people as the Perkins across the street.
It was the eighties maybe when three ‘friends’ dressed in black pin-striped suits, brown shirts … suit collars turned up and wide-brimmed felt hats pulled low – retro 1930s – dark shades and all carrying violin cases … strolled into a then-swanky eating establishment on London Road. Sat down at the bar; ordered martinis (martini’s). No one said anything and the bartender watched as he polished his glasses. Customers glanced sideways … looked at each other over their prime ribs.
After a sufficient amount of time the three left.
Cool cats experimenting on human reaction to the absurd or the unfamiliar, but who received little reaction; positive or negative.
I quess that is the definition of ‘Minnesota Nice’?
So what would ‘Martini’s’ do … offer the trio a free beer … who knows?
Black Water used to have a doorman — don’t know if they still do.
Mero, are you thinking about “Blackwoods” instead of “Black Water”?
There you go vicarious–its does NOT have an apostrophe when in posessive. For some reason. This is an annoying rule but even more annoying when it’s (contraction) broken. This is Fourth grade grammar, people. If you want to hear bad semantics turn on Channel 6 News any time. get a glance of this or a glimpse at that. Once I could not even tell who did what–ta whom? Wish I’d written that down, don’t quite have no life enuf. So when did it change that there is a chance “for” rain rather than a chance of. The rain is not the gambler. ANYway the apostrophe-s should just be banned in all cases also the word then (misused instead of than”). See article about endangered adverbs.