NJ Day 7 - Convenience Stores, Casinos, and Cupcakes: Leaving NJ along the Jersey Shore
Today started with sitting around and watching Community with Mike. I had stopped watching the show after Dan Harmon was fired, so I missed all the episodes after he came back and Mike wanted to show me the best ones. It really was a great show, with a smart balance of goofy situations and honest character pathos.
I took the bus back to Hoboken to get my car, and set out for Delaware with a few stops along the way. My first stop was seeing the QuickStop from the movie Clerk. Unfortunately the video store Randall worked in is closed now and Jay and Silent Bob are too famous to just hang out there any more. That being said it was really cool to see where it was all filmed. The movie's certainly dated, but given the budget constraints (Kevin Smith literally sold his comic book collection to finance the movie) it's really a hugely impressive achievement, one that really defined the 90's counterculture, spawned a lot of terrible imitations (but a pretty decent sequel), and was for a while the most stolen VHS tape in the country. I think Kevin Smith's fallen out of fashion a bit lately, and to be fair his recent output has been disappointing, but Clerks and Dogma as far as I'm concerned are enough to cement his value as a filmmaker.
After my indie filmmaking pilgrimage, I went to get gas and lunch at Wawa. I always just thought Wawa was a PA thing, but a friend said it's a really big chain in Jersey too. It's like if 7-11 had really good food and drinks, and also the cheapest gas in town. I got a mint coffee which was shockingly good, and a hot turkey and gravy sandwich that was also surprisingly delicious and only around for a limited time.
With my belly and my car fueled up, I drove to Atlantic City. I walked along the boardwalk, and it was really beautiful to get to see the sunset there. With the giant casinos and resorts, it was definitely the most overwhelming chunk of Jersey I encountered, and I think as far as the shore is concerned I preferred the more low-key Asbury Park. I did have fun though. I went toBally's Wild West Casino. I played Connect 4 and a penny slot machine. It was fun but a bit of a rip off. I did beat the computer at Connect 4, and it said I was supposed to get tickets but nothing happened. The best part of the casino was Boardwalk Cupcakes. They had giant cupcakes, and I bought one that was chocolate with kahlua and bailey's fudge. It was pretty spectacular.
After that I got a big ol' slice of pizza, and left to set out for Delaware. In my mom's friend's house in Dover, the day ended as it began with the works of Dan Harmon as I watched the Rick & Morty season finale. The rabid fanbase of the show can be frustrating, but it's honestly one of the best works of science fiction on television besides being solidly funny. Dan Harmon, what a twisted genius you are.
Favorite Random Sightings: A man matter of factly saying "Your Welcome!" to a guy who didn't say thank you after he held the door; "We are NOT Kosher"; Dyke's Lumber; "Check Cashing Station: We also cash checks!"
Regional Observations: I saw more strip clubs on one street in Atlantic City than I've seen in my life so far.
Albums Listened To: Dreaming my Dreams by Waylon Jennings; Drunk by Thundercat (another album that mixes high and low brow with incredible jazz bass playing over very immature lyrics); Drunken Lullabies by Flogging Molly; Dub Side of the Moon by Easy Star All-Stars (reggae covers of Pink Floyd, but I just have Money and Eclipse); Duck & Cover by Mad Caddies; Duit on Mon Dei by Harry Nilsson (maybe the only album that makes a case for virtuoso steel drum playing); Duke Ellington & John Coltrane by Duke Ellington and John Coltrane
People's Favorite Jokes:
This is actually the second time someone has said this is their favorite joke. It's great, but it would be too hard to write out the entire transcript
NJ Superlatives:
Favorite Restaurant: Porta in Asbury Park
Favorite Diner: Summit Diner in Union
Favorite Ice Cream: Luigi's Ice Cream in Red Bank
Favorite Bar: Roxy and Duke's Roadhouse in Dunellin
Favorite Beer: Cape May Brewery's Honey Porter
Favorite Coffee: Cloveberry in Sparta
Favorite Mic: 10th Street Live
Favorite Attraction: Most Pure Fun- Silverball Museum in Abury Park; Best All Around- Morris Museum in Morristown
General impression of the Scene: Rough and tumble content wise, but one of the most supportive communities off stage that I've encountered yet. I think social commentary and relationship material generally went over best, but they had a fairly high tolerance for silly stuff.
Song of the Day:
I love this man
