The Automat in 1936 (Photo from Bob Bobster) Once upon a time, five cents went a long way. You could make a phone call, ride the subway, or buy a newspaper (though you couldn't get a "good cigar," apparently…) This was especially true in Manhattan, when New Yorkers with a fistful of nickels could eat, if not the best food in town, certainly the fastest, by going to the Automat. Automats in America were an invention of the Horn & Hardart Company. While there were never more than a handful in New York and Philadelphia, they made a quick and indelible mark on American society, beginning on July 7, 1912. The idea behind the restaurant was simple and democratic. Anyone with a nickel -- from socialite to panhandler -- could enter the restaurant, sit at one of the immaculate tables, and enjoy hot meals, sandwiches, macaroni and cheese, pies, and what was reputed to be the best coffee in town, served hot from a chrome dolphin’s head. Horn & Hardart pioneered drip-brewed coffee and the java served was never more than twenty minutes old. In the 1950s, they served more than 90 million cups annually. (By comparison, in 2006, Starbucks sold nearly 1.5 billion cups of joe -- but since they had more than 12,000 locations; that's only 125,000 per store.) While the bill of fare at the Automat was never more than what you’d find at a really good cafeteria, it was the uniqueness of the method of payment that brought folks back. Patrons could enter with bills or coins, go to the central change booths (staffed by "nickel throwers"), and get as many nickels as they needed. Once they had their change, diners would proceed to a wall of small glass doors (behind which waited cold and hot foods), and drop as many nickels into the slot as were needed to pay. They’d then slide the door open, remove the food (which was instantly replenished from the huge kitchens on the other side of the wall), and sit down (or stand at the post office-like counters for a "perpendicular meal"). Of course, for some, not even nickels were necessary; many Depression-era diners were able to enjoy hot meals by making "Automat Tomato Soup," which combined the restaurant’s free hot water and ketchup. As with most good things, the Automat couldn't last. The combination of rising prices and the proliferation of fast-food restaurants (not to mention real estate values) made the Automats museum pieces, fit only for nostalgists. The spaces were converted to Burger Kings, and in 1991, the last Automat closed. (And even that space has since been turned into a Gap.) In 2006, a trio of entrepreneurs opened an updated version of the concept in New York's Greenwich Village, but it, too, shuttered earlier this year, a victim of costs (and mediocre reviews). That may seem like the end of the road, but a 35-foot section of the Philadelphia automat lives on at (where else?) the Smithsonian Institution in Washington. Unfortunately, there's no pie behind those windows any more. Suggested Sites... The Automat - the history, recipes, and allure of Horn & Hardart's masterpiece. Meet Me at the Automat - history of the restaurants from Smithsonian Magazine. Bamn! - the recent attempt at recreating the Automat format. Automat Recipes - recreate the mac and cheese, baked beans, and creamed spinach. Last Day at the Automat - listen to an audio report on the closing of the last Automat.

Directory categories: Restaurants, Fast Food, New York Restaurants, Manhattan History, Food and Drink History

Archived under: 1910s, 1930s, American History, Anniversaries, Disappearances, Eating, Fast Food, Food and Drink, New York, Pennsylvania, Restaurants, Tourist Attractions, United States

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Groundhog Day 2005 in Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania We have to admit that we don't get it. Why take a helpless rodent out of the warmth of his burrow and subject him to freezing cold, just to come up with some kind of prediction about how much longer winter will last? (A prediction that's apparently correct only about a third of the time.) But today is Groundhog Day, so 30,000-40,000 people will find their way to Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania -- a town of about 6,500 the rest of the year -- to watch a bunch of guys haul Punxsutawney Phil from a fake log and give us all a supposed sneak preview of the next six weeks. The good burghers of Punxsutawney are not alone, though. All over North America, in towns as small as Shubenacadie, Nova Scotia (home of Shubenacadie Sam), and as large as New York City (where Staten Island Chuck resides), groundhogs will earn their yearly keep by playing weather woodchuck for the day. No one really knows how the whole thing started. It's apparently a combination of the Christian holiday of Candlemas and the Julian Calendar's placing of the Vernal Equinox six weeks after February 2nd, but there’s no clear origin. Not only that, but there's tremendous variety in the ways February 2nd is commemorated around the world. The day is known in France as La Chandeleur, when the French celebrate by eating crepes, and in Mexico, Día de la Candelaria is a time to eat tamales. And it’s not like predicting the weather is exclusive to bucktoothed rodents. If it rains in Germany on June 27 (Siebenschlaefertag), the rest of the summer will be rainy. Same with England's St. Swithin’s Day (July 15). Depending on the weather that day, the next forty days and nights will be rainy or sunny. (Given that it's England, our money's on rainy.) We're writing this in sunny California, where the climate over the next six weeks is likely to be the same as it was the last six. It might seem as though we're in a never-ending loop of nice weather, so if we wake up tomorrow to the strains of "I Got You Babe," it may be time to worry and start rethinking our lives. Suggested Sites... Greetings From Punxsutawney! - official site for the big Groundhog Day doings, with news, schedule, and travel guide. Groundhog.org - media, fan club, predictions, and more than you want to know about Groundhog Day. The Groundhog Fraud - Slate.com exposes the shenanigans in Punxsutawney. Holiday Spot: Groundhog Day - you know; for kids. History of the holiday, quiz, greeting cards, and more. Wikipedia: Groundhog Day The Movie - background, fun facts, and more about the classic 1993 comedy.

Directory categories: Groundhog Day, Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania, Weather, Groundhogs, Groundhog Day - The Movie

Archived under: Animals, Calendars, Celebrations, Events, France, Germany, Holidays, Mythology and Folklore, Nature, Pennsylvania, Religion, Small Towns, Tourist Attractions, United Kingdom, United States, Weather, Winter

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Lancaster: it's more exciting than you might think (Photo by Jeremy B. Yoder) When we saw that Lancaster, Pennsylvania, had been the capital of the United States for one day -- September 27, 1777 -- we were prepared to mock the town for losing its sole claim to immortality. Little did we know.... After some research, we discovered that given Lancaster's history, it would have been more remarkable if the town hadn't been a U.S. capital. Unconvinced? Take the following quiz and see if you don't agree: * What city was connected to Philadelphia in the nation's first long-distance paved road? * Where did Meriwether Lewis travel to learn how to plot latitude and longitude? * What community boasts the oldest continuously running theater in the U.S.? * Where did Milton Hershey start his candy business and Frank W. Woolworth start his chain of five and dime stores? * Which U.S. city first adopted the German custom of the Christmas tree? The answer to all of the above is, of course, "Lancaster." So, on this, the 230th anniversary of only one of Lancaster's (and that's pronounced "LANK-i-ster," if you please) many achievements, we salute a town that, pound for pound, can take on any other. Suggested Sites... City of Lancaster - official site for the world's most important city. Lancaster County and Pennsylvania Dutch Convention and Visitors Bureau - there's more than the Amish to be found in southeastern Pennsylvania. Pennsylvania Turrnpike Commission - they've come a long way since 1795. Fulton Opera House - presenting shows since 1852. Christmas Trees and More - who knew one little fir tree would go so far?

Directory categories: Lancaster, PA, United States History, Lancaster County, PA, United States Capitol, Pennsylvania Turnpike

Archived under: American History, Anniversaries, Cities, Government, Hershey, History, Pennsylvania

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Hershey's Chocolate World, part of Hersheypark (Photo by Noel Dietrich) Today, company perks are big part of an employee's total package. One Silicon Valley Internet giant dishes out free meals. A software company in Southern California doles out $5,000 each year to be used on paid vacations. Back in 1907, it wasn't so common. So when Milton Hershey opened the Hershey Park picnic and pleasure grounds for employees who worked at his chocolate factory, it was a sweet deal. It was all part of his model town plan: comfortable homes on tree-lined streets, public transportation, quality schools, and a place for family recreation. The park started out simply, with a baseball field and grandstands, boating, a vaudeville stage, and a few rides. Later, bowling alleys, tennis courts, a railroad, and a zoo were added. A merry-go-round and roller coaster soon followed, and although it was built for Hershey employees, the open park was popular with the public. By 1971, fences enclosed the newly re-named Hersheypark and while today it is known for its exciting thrill rides, it all started out as a cool company perk. Suggested Sites... Hersheypark - celebrating "100 Years of Happy" with rides, the zoo, and a new boardwalk for 2007. Hershey Museum - explore the town "built on chocolate" with new exhibits, original working machinery, and artifacts. Hershey's - it's not just about chocolate. The town, the founder, company history, and educational resources. Hershey, PA: The Sweetest Place On Earth - plan a trip this summer. What to see and do, and where to stay.

Directory categories: Amusement and Theme Parks, Hershey, Pennsylvania, New Urbanism, Salary Information

Archived under: Amusement Parks, Hershey, History, Parks, Pennsylvania, Philanthropy, Work

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