Shoes and Socks, Gone Wild . . .

Flickr photo by Thurrock Phil


I remember when it hit me. Why then, and not years earlier I do not know. I am sure that the change was not as sudden as it appeared at that moment. I was standing in front of the sock rack at the JC Penney's in the Northeast Mall, dumbfounded, looking for the black and blue socks; the soft acrylic, half-calf kind that everyone, including me, wore. Besides blue and black, there was brown and gray. I had purchased my socks at the same place, in this small corner of Mr. Penney's fine establishment for years and today I wanted a three pack of navy blue. That's it: drive up, park, get the socks, pay, go home.

No problemo, pero, no mas.

The old, modest JC Penney sock rack had been replaced with rows of socks, and hundreds of varieties. A whole fancy wall of socks with dozens of colors, lengths, and materials. Where were the normal-guy blue socks? I looked but never found them. I have been more or less sock-testing ever since. And dissatisfied.

(Next post: toothpaste. I can't find the white Crest. And who buys red, white and blue gel with flavor specs?)

Pop's Safari

More than a few years ago, my boys, their friends and I would spend an occasional evening in a local pub discussing all sorts of things; theology, philosophy, literature, politics and anything else good and unrelated to everyday usefulness.

As the evening passed the pub's music would increase in volume and we would be forced to take our pitchers of beer and conversation elsewhere. We all liked music as much as the next guy but some evenings we were there for the discussion. In that light, this report just in from the eldest son, after a trip to Pop's Safari with 10 other guys on a Monday night:

"Dad, a few notes you can perhaps expand."

Pop's Safari: Exotic decor a little odd, but very comfortable setting. 10 guys sat comfortably together in an arrangement that allowed everyone to talk to everyone else. No music on Sunday, Monday, and Tuesday -- a big plus. A few good beers on tap and quite a few in bottles. Huge cigar selection. Good ventilation so that it's not smoky. Overall very pleasant. And I went thinking I would hate it.

Pop's Safari is in the Cultural District near Casa Manana.

Live music: Wednesday -- Saturday, enjoy conversation without music Sunday, Monday, Tuesday.

Pop's Safari Room
2929 Morton St.
Fort Worth, TX 76107

A Good Southern Biscuit

LaDonna Hilton, prize-winning biscuit maker. New York Times.

Does anyone know where (in FW) to get a good, freshly baked, southern style biscuit?

The question came to mind after reading a New York Times article on the change in ownership and operation of White Lily Flour, the gold standard of authentic Southern biscuits. It seems folks in the deep south are concerned, and I don't blame them. They have been baking with White Lily, milled in Knoxville, Tennessee since 1883. The new owners are moving production to Ohio or some such un-southlike place.

I got thinking about the last time I had eaten a really good white flour biscuit. I can't say that I have found a great one since the sale of the old Black Eyed Pea.

Any Fort Worth suggestions?

Requirements:

1. Served warm with real butter. Butter preferably cold.
2. Moist inside but not doughy; some texture but not dense.
3. Slightly browned and light crust exterior.
4. Honey would be nice, too.