Good eats, great music in Liverpool
Big Ed liked fried bologna; Sam ate eggs on top of it all.
Two daily specials served at the village’s American Diner are named in honor of a couple of guys who meant the world to diner owner Mike Tassone.
The Big Ed Special — fried bologna and cheese with french fries, for $5.29 — is named for Big Ed Zacholl.
“He was a big man, well over 6-feet. He was a tremendous softball player and a real hero to us kids, a real father-figure,” Mike recalled. “I always said if I ever open a restaurant, I’m going to name the fried bologna special after Big Ed. I’m still good friends with his son, Eddie Zacholl, who plays with The Z-Bones band.”
Sam’s Special
Sam’s Special — three eggs up cooked over bacon, toast, and taters (either home fries or hash browns) and coffee stirred to the right, all for $5.59 — is named after Mike’s dad, Sam Tassone.
“That’s the way he always ate his eggs,” Mike said, “right on top of everything else. We’d make that breakfast for him every day.”
Sam and Ed have passed on, but they’re memorialized in Mike’s meals.
The American Diner (formerly Choo Choo Chessy’s) is located along the railroad tracks at 314 Old Liverpool Road. It’s open daily 6 a.m. to 2 p.m.; 451-4462; americandinerny.com.
Pulled-pork picnic
Speaking of good eats, Liverpool’s First United Methodist Church hosts a pulled-pork picnic from 4:30 to 7 p.m. Friday, July 23, at 605 Oswego St. If you dig saucy barbecue sandwiches, you’d better get there early. As soon as the meat’s gone, the picnic ends. Plates cost $7 each.
Jamie on the patio Saturday, Prime Time Tuesday
The outdoor performances continue through the summer on the patio at The Retreat. Songwriter Jamie Notarthomas plugs in next to the newly enlarged outdoor bar from 7 to 10 p.m. Saturday, July 24.
When he asks for requests, I suggest you shout out, “Crow Convention,” his song about the flocks of black birds that fill the sky over Auburn every evening. Or ask to hear “Deet Deet Deet,” his onomatopoeic commentary on the gizmos that define life in the 21st century. Both of those tunes are tracks on his latest disc, The Cayuga County Crow Convention.
Another talented tunesmith, Michael Crissan, returns to the patio microphone at 7 p.m. Monday, July 26. And on Tuesday, July 27, the patio people welcome back Prime Time featuring Liverpool’s own Paul Valentino.
For a compete list of summer entertainment there, visit retreatrestaurant.com. For dinner reservations, dial 457-6358.
Lily’s Hora on Radio LPL
Liverpool Public Library has instituted its own online radio station, and it’s dedicating well-deserved airtime to local musicians.
This month, Radio LPL’s Local Artist Spotlight program which airs daily at 1 and 7 p.m. features Klezmercuse bandleader Jonathan Dinkin and his vocalist wife, Aveeya Dinkin. The couple discusses the origins of klezmer music, often dubbed “Jewish jazz.” The Local Artist Spotlight showcases three tunes from the new Klezmercuse CD, Lily’s Hora, which is available for checkout at Liverpool Library.
To listen to yours truly conduct the Dinkin interview, visit lpl.org and click on Radio LPL.
Klezmercuse will perform a live concert for Liverpool Is The Place at Johnson Park at 7 p.m. on Wednesday, July 28.
