Surefire ways to tell
you're a "Bridgeporter"
(This
is believed to be the work of Black Rock resident Tim Holleran)
1. "Iranistan" has only three syllables, and none of them
contain an "i." Can you say "Ar-run-stun"?
2. No matter what store they put on the corner of North and
Park, it will always be called King Cole.
3. The Duchess at the nexus of North and
Boston will forever be "Maraczi's". Tomlinson is also "The Greek's."
4. The mall in
Trumbull is better known as Korvette's.
5. You're used to hearing people
pronounce "Shelton" without a semblance of a "t."
6. Anywhere north of Trumbull is called
"up the line."
7. You had a bike from Rocky Voccola's.
8. You actually shopped
downtown, especially at Christmas.
9. You're used to asking people what parish they are
from.
10. You have no problem going to urban places like Yankee
Stadium.
11. You couldn't tell the Candelite from the Pix.
12. You attended
cartoon-laden matinees at the Hi-Way, Merritt or Beverly.
13. You are fully aware of,
and don't have a problem with Greek pizza.
14. On the same topic, terms like
"ahbeets," "mani-goat" and "scamotes" need no translation.
15. When you mention Central
High School, there is no need to throw in the city's name as a
qualifier.
16. The paper is still the Bridgeport Post.
17. Notre Dame H. S.
and SHU are still in Bridgeport.
18. You know NOT to tell the guy at the Canteen
"what's on that dog" until he has it in the cradle.
Additions to the list from our readers....
19.
You went to Seaside Park to watch the Nighttime Submarine Races.
20. You actually know who "Jenny Lind" was and what she was
famous for.
21. You ate Pizza from Mario the Bakers if you were in the North End and
Jennys on the West side.
22. Seaside Park is still the only beach in the area with no homes built on
it and a dump behind it - never stopped any of us from going there - day or
night.
23. You went Ice Skating on Sunday afternoons at Wonderland of Ice.
24. You went sled riding at Fairchild Wheeler or Beardsley Park depending
upon who was driving; parents Beardsley Park - friends Fairchild Wheeler
25. You knew when someone said "The Point" they meant the end of Seaside
Park.
26. You ate your Hot Dog's at Homas next to
Remington at the Point.
27. You knew The Midway was the social event of the summer.
28. You knew it was and always will be the Barnum & Bailey Circus at Seaside.
29. You knew St. V's needed no further explanation to define what it was, e.g., "He's at St.
V's."
30. You knew the various areas of town, if not defined by parish, were called the Hollow, the
NorthEnd, Southside, Eastside, East End, etc.
31. You knew the East End, which started at Yellow Mill Bridge, was a separate and distinct
area from the East Side.
32. You shopped at Skydels? Or Nydens?
33. You had at least one meal at DrumStik Barbecue or the Galaxy Diner?
34. You knew the parking lot across from McD's on Main St as "The Lot" (Mr. & Mrs. Pool
hall).
35. You knew if you were from the East Side you ate pizza at Valley Farms.
36. You knew, as most East Enders did, that "C&C" pizza was the ONLY pizza worth
eating in the East End.
37. You knew the Harding/Central game was the only Thanksgiving Day Football game that mattered.
38. You walked to Grants on Boston Ave. or Shoppers Fair at the other end.
39. You knew where Bull's Head was.
40. You knew that Reservoir Ave was called "Whiskey Hill".
41. You knew the road to the airport (Lordship Blvd.) was called "The Burma Road".
42. You knew the ferry boat that went from the downtown dock to the Pleasure Beach dock
was called the "Brinkerhoff." You got off the boat and rode a miniature RR into
the amusement park.
43. You knew the old wooden boat to Port Jefferson was named The Martha's Vineyard.
44. You knew that if there were
"Chop Sides" you didn't want to be on the weaker team.
45. You remember the groceries going underground at King Cole.
46. You knew that Pacelli's had the best jelly donuts in the world.
47. You knew the difference between Yurdins and Irv Yurdins
48. You knew that
a hard roll was fresh and it came from the Jewish Bakery on Madison Ave near
Conti's Liquor.
49. You knew Blins was the Best toy store in the
city.............Downtown.
50. You knew whenever you needed anything written
on a shirt or jacket you had to go to the east side and let Viscont's do the
work.
51. You knew almost all the Apizza places - Jerry's, Jennies, Mario
the Baker, Alberts, Captians, DiNittos, Sally's, A lot of us from Whiskey Hill would know the "Red Parrot" that was on the lower
end of Reservoir Avenue for pizza (there are more - send them
in!)
52. You knew the only place to buy 8 track tapes was The Tape Deck on the corner
of Madison and North from the Tape Ape.
53. You got hot
bread from Pacelli's delivered to your door as well as the milk.
54. At the beginning of summer you always had to jump off the rocks at Devils Glenn in Weston. The water was always ice cold.
55. You got gas at Mike's (D'Biodgio's) Arcco at the Five Corners. Mike had a great 51Merc that he totaled in the late 60's.
56. You ate the fruits from the trees at McLeavy's Field before Blackham School was built.
57. You knew the best place to get an ice cream soda was at Ambrose Pharmacy on Main Street near Ponzi's...Who can forget Andy
Gump?
58. You went to Doc Edo's on Pembroke Street for a coke after mass at St. Mary's.
59. You went to Richelsophs Bakery behind St Mary's for delicious hot rye bread and onion rolls.
60. You have eaten at least one chow mien sandwich.
61. You attended at least one event at the "tent" during a summer at Seaside Park.
62. You knew that the Christmas Season had arrived when King Cole put up their
beautiful tree, the downtown and the East Side areas had their decorations up,
and you went to
see Santa all dressed up at Read's.
63. Your 16th birthday cake was an Italian Rum Cake from Del Prete's.
64. Your Mom took you on the CR&L Line bus for 5 cents to shop at HOWLAND'S for
school clothes.
And here are even more,
all
sent in from " Bridgeporters" from all around the country: Read.
Do
you have some you'd like to add to this list?
If
so, E-mail them to Jim Sullivan at: jvsullivan@ipass.net
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