Alicecooks
@alicecooks
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alicecooks How the open window became a neighborhood living room
alicecooks The Miami Ventanita
Grab a sweet colada at the window on the street, Keep the cool air inside while we talk in the heat.
alicecooks A strict social schedule dictates who visits the window throughout the day.
Fun Fact
Ventanita counters: They are traditionally built at elbow-height to allow patrons to lean comfortably while chatting.
alicecooks Ventanita design maximizes airflow and speed while creating a tactile gathering space.
Glossary
ventanita (noun)
A small window, especially one used as a walk-up counter for food and drinks. Felipe Valls Sr. designed the first modern version in 1963 at Miami's El Oso Blanco market.
A small window, especially one used as a walk-up counter for food and drinks. Felipe Valls Sr. designed the first modern version in 1963 at Miami's El Oso Blanco market.
Quiz
What is the main design feature of a ventanita that physically connects the sidewalk to the restaurant kitchen?
Quiz
Which famous Miami restaurant, opened in 1971, popularized the ventanita as a political and social hub?
Quiz
Who is the founder of the iconic Versailles Restaurant in Miami's Little Havana?
Quiz
In which decade did the first walk-up coffee windows, or ventanitas, begin appearing in Miami?
Quiz
What is the primary material used to build the durable outdoor counters of Miami's ventanitas?
Quiz
At what height are Miami's ventanita counters typically built to encourage customers to stand and socialize?
Quiz
Which specific neighborhood in Miami is considered the historic heart of the ventanita culture?
Quiz
What is the Spanish term used to describe the fast-working barista or bartender who runs a ventanita?
alicecooks Fair president R. L. Thornton bought a giant Santa frame to build the cowboy Big Tex.
alicecooks Before becoming Big Tex, this giant Santa Claus encouraged holiday shopping for two seasons.
alicecooks Jack Bridges added a hinged jaw so announcer Jackson McElroy could speak Big Tex's legendary greeting.
alicecooks Big Tex
I used to be Santa Claus (ho ho!) / Now I'm the tallest cowboy around (howdy!)
alicecooks Big Tex made his official debut at the State Fair of Texas in October 1952.
Fun Fact
Santa Claus origin: Big Tex began his life as a giant Santa Claus designed to boost holiday shopping in a small Texas town.
alicecooks The State Fair of Texas bought the giant Santa Claus frame in 1951 for just 750 dollars.
Glossary
santa claus (noun)
A legendary patron saint of children who brings presents on Christmas Eve. In 1949, a giant version of this figure was built in Kerens, Texas, before becoming Big Tex.
A legendary patron saint of children who brings presents on Christmas Eve. In 1949, a giant version of this figure was built in Kerens, Texas, before becoming Big Tex.
Quiz
What was the iconic first phrase spoken by Big Tex to fairgoers starting in 1953?
Quiz
In which Texas city does the State Fair of Texas take place every year?
Quiz
What material was used for the beard of the original giant Santa Claus in 1949?
Quiz
Who was the first person to provide the speaking voice for Big Tex in 1953?
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Which Texas town was the original home of the giant Santa Claus before he became Big Tex?
Quiz
In what year did the giant figure that would become Big Tex make his debut as a giant Santa Claus?
Quiz
What physical modification was made to Big Tex in 1953 to allow him to speak?
Quiz
How much did the State Fair of Texas pay to purchase the giant Santa Claus frame in 1951?
alicecooks Jersey Diners
Chrome palaces, chrome palaces / Always open on the highway tonight!
alicecooks Post-World War II diners adopted shiny stainless steel and space-age curves to attract drivers.
Fun Fact
Diner origins: The first mobile lunch wagon started in Rhode Island in 1872, but New Jersey perfected the stationary, prefabricated design we know today.
alicecooks Early stationary diners mimicked train cars to fit narrow municipal lots and appeal to daily commuters.
Glossary
diner (noun)
A small, inexpensive restaurant, typically shaped like a railroad car, that serves American comfort food. In 1912, Jerry O'Mahony built New Jersey's first stationary food car in Bayonne, sparking a massive boom.
A small, inexpensive restaurant, typically shaped like a railroad car, that serves American comfort food. In 1912, Jerry O'Mahony built New Jersey's first stationary food car in Bayonne, sparking a massive boom.
Quiz
Which architectural style emerged in the 1960s to make diners look like permanent stone structures?
Gossip
Where is the ultimate place to sit inside a classic diner?
Quiz
Who created the first horse-drawn lunch wagon in Providence, Rhode Island, in 1872?
Quiz
What shiny, rust-resistant material became the signature exterior of post-World War II diners?
Quiz
Why did early mobile lunch wagons operate primarily at night?
Quiz
From what phrase did the word 'diner' actually originate?
Quiz
Why did early stationary diners mimic the shape of railroad passenger cars?
Quiz
What classic tabletop feature allowed diner patrons to play music directly from their booths?
Quiz
What major US highway system expansion in the 1950s fueled the boom of roadside diners?
