There is a new store in Monroeville Mall and I missed the grand opening. I was out of town visiting family in Detroit. A Kirkland’s has opened where Houlihan’s used to be. Another restaurant tried that space, but they were not successful. This is a Kirkland’s with a lot of space, if you have been to any of their other stores things are a little close. I hope it will be a success. Word to the wise, when you are in stores always make sure you know who is next in line. Some clerks don’t pay any attention and don’t bother to ask, “Who is next?”
On to something almost as much fun as shopping, ice cream. “I scream, you scream, we all scream for ice cream.” While in Detroit spending time with my 6-year-old great nephew, I heard the distinct sound of an ice cream truck. I looked at my nephew, he looked at me. I grabbed my wallet and we flew out the door in search of the ice cream truck. With 57 years between us, I have a different expectation of the ice cream man. In my day, the ice cream man was sometimes White or sometimes Black, but always friendly and capable of speaking to us in English. The well-worn truck pulled up to the curb and on the side of the truck we could see the limited menu. For some reason, I wanted to engage in conversation. I looked at the driver and could see that we were not going to have much of a dialogue. He appeared to be from the Middle East. He pointed to the picture menu on the side of the truck, which included the price scrawled on a piece of masking tape. We made our selections and he handed us our treats. Despite the lack of conversation, we had a fun aunt/nephew experience.
Speaking of experiences, how many of you are drawn to food trucks? Buying the ice cream last week made me think how popular food trucks have become. Recently, I saw where a friend of mine is going to have a party and plans to have a food truck come to her house so she won’t have to cook. You know that is really not a bad idea. Every Wednesday until mid-September, food trucks come to Station Square from 11 a.m. until 1 p.m. Each week there are different food trucks with things like meatballs, pierogies, pizza, tacos, jerk chicken, hot dogs, hamburgers and more. Some of the trucks do better than the others, but the food trucks have become a big deal. I used to see them on college campuses and in the Strip District, but now they are everywhere. I’m trying to get with the program.
Mark your calendars: August 20, at St. James Episcopal Church, across from McDonald’s on Frankstown Avenue, there will be a Men’s Health Initiative, from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. and I will be there with some of my gently worn fashions. Come for the health screenings, vendors and the Grillmaster Cookoff.
(Email the columnist at debbienorrell@aol.com)
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