What do you miss most about the olden days of MAPSO?
Jaytee said:
joan_crystal said:
They did have a liquor license when they became the VFW Post and took over the VFW's club license.
Yes, I know, but it really didn’t help much. They just didn’t have that “pub” vibe going there. The place was a hangout spot for the aupairs in the beginning, before they got the VFW license. Art and Willy tried so hard to make it work, they just couldn’t sustain it. Lots of people had opinions on why it didn’t work, location, etc. I was sad to see it closed though.
Speaking of lots of people with opinions about how a place should be run, everybody - everybody - had an opinion about C'entanni. He needs to do this, he needs to do that. Menu. Chairs, Acoustics. Wine list. Entertaiment. Everyone was an expert back then.
It was a fun place, and Chris was a great host. Everyone had a good time. I Deejayed there for a long while and it was always terrific fun for me. He let me play whatever music I wanted to play. I'm trying to remember who the bartender was when I was deejaying there. She treated me swell. I slowly got loaded on wine and Chris kept saying turn the volume down.
Those were the days, my friend. If you remember them say Amen.
The_Soulful_Mr_T said:
Jaytee said:
joan_crystal said:
They did have a liquor license when they became the VFW Post and took over the VFW's club license.
Yes, I know, but it really didn’t help much. They just didn’t have that “pub” vibe going there. The place was a hangout spot for the aupairs in the beginning, before they got the VFW license. Art and Willy tried so hard to make it work, they just couldn’t sustain it. Lots of people had opinions on why it didn’t work, location, etc. I was sad to see it closed though.
Speaking of lots of people with opinions about how a place should be run, everybody - everybody - had an opinion about C'entanni. He needs to do this, he needs to do that. Menu. Chairs, Acoustics. Wine list. Entertaiment. Everyone was an expert back then.
It was a fun place, and Chris was a great host. Everyone had a good time. I Deejayed there for a long while and it was always terrific fun for me. He let me play whatever music I wanted to play. I'm trying to remember who the bartender was when I was deejaying there. She treated me swell. I slowly got loaded on wine and Chris kept saying turn the volume down.
Those were the days, my friend. If you remember them say Amen.
I would have settled for decent service.
C'entanni before Chris took over was also good with Giacomo running the place. Real Italian guys front and back of house. However, I didn't go back after the mouse on the bar incident, though. And no, I didn't point the tiny rodent out immediately, but mentioned it quietly on my way out so not to create a panic and potential run for the door that could entail possible fatalities.
Jaytee said:
The_Soulful_Mr_T said:
We lived next door on Ridgewood Road for a few years. Laura Otis (and her husband Clyde) was the proprietor. Are they no longer open?
They moved further down Ridgewood towards maplewood village.
Gefken Flowers is still on Ridgewood (432). I worked there for many years - I miss all three greenhouses - and the pool.
jamie said:
Jaytee said:
The_Soulful_Mr_T said:
We lived next door on Ridgewood Road for a few years. Laura Otis (and her husband Clyde) was the proprietor. Are they no longer open?
They moved further down Ridgewood towards maplewood village.
Gefken Flowers is still on Ridgewood (432). I worked there for many years - I miss all three greenhouses - and the pool.
We lived at 434.
I’m not even gonna touch c’entanni…. Not in a hundred years…
I was in the basement a couple of times helping Chris out with some issues. He was overwhelmed, landlord sucked.
Mr T, yes the music and hanging out there was fun on the weekends… until the drama with the mamas started …
But I kinda miss the place.
Jaytee said:
I’m not even gonna touch c’entanni…. Not in a hundred years…
I see what you did there.
John Kaufman put up a valiant fight to block the tear-down of Grunings on the mountain that is now The Top but unfortunately didn't get much support. That was a big turning point for Maplewood.Jaytee said:
Formerlyjerseyjack said:
I’m sure I’ve heard about Grunings in south orange on Taylor place in that shopping area that’s all gone now, replaced by the apartment building. Behind the old blockbuster store. It was a restaurant for years after Grunings closed. Two locations.
yahooyahoo said:
The_Soulful_Mr_T said:
Jaytee said:
joan_crystal said:
They did have a liquor license when they became the VFW Post and took over the VFW's club license.
Yes, I know, but it really didn’t help much. They just didn’t have that “pub” vibe going there. The place was a hangout spot for the aupairs in the beginning, before they got the VFW license. Art and Willy tried so hard to make it work, they just couldn’t sustain it. Lots of people had opinions on why it didn’t work, location, etc. I was sad to see it closed though.
Speaking of lots of people with opinions about how a place should be run, everybody - everybody - had an opinion about C'entanni. He needs to do this, he needs to do that. Menu. Chairs, Acoustics. Wine list. Entertaiment. Everyone was an expert back then.
It was a fun place, and Chris was a great host. Everyone had a good time. I Deejayed there for a long while and it was always terrific fun for me. He let me play whatever music I wanted to play. I'm trying to remember who the bartender was when I was deejaying there. She treated me swell. I slowly got loaded on wine and Chris kept saying turn the volume down.
Those were the days, my friend. If you remember them say Amen.
I would have settled for decent service.
It was really tough getting more than one drink sitting at the bar if the bartender wasn't a close personal friend. I spent a few Pub Quiz nights shockingly sober in that place while the bartender stood at the other corner not 20 feet away jabberin' and ignoring me.
And yes, we ALL had opinions on how that place should have been run!
Meeting up with Jerry Ryan for a pint or two of Guinness at St. James Gate.
The roofed shelter at the lookout on the south part of the reservation.
It would also be a good idea if they would get rid of the poison ivy around on edges of the lookout.
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Yes, I know, but it really didn’t help much. They just didn’t have that “pub” vibe going there. The place was a hangout spot for the aupairs in the beginning, before they got the VFW license. Art and Willy tried so hard to make it work, they just couldn’t sustain it. Lots of people had opinions on why it didn’t work, location, etc. I was sad to see it closed though.