A new thread on Joseph Santini (1817-1874), a New Orleans #bartender. "In 1840 when Joseph Santini bought the place [the late Pierre Maspero's], he invented two famous drinks, the Crusta and Santini's Pousse Cafe..." (1947). #cocktails #drinks #NewOrleans 1/ www.newspapers.com/article/the-...

Joseph Santini (bartender) and the Crusta and Sanitini's Pousse Cafe (1947).

Clipping found in The Times-Picayune published in New Orleans, Louisiana on 9/14/1947. Joseph Santini (bartender) and the Crusta and Sanitini's Pousse Cafe (1947).

newspapers.com

A second thread on the "free lunch." It is often said that it was invented by Pierre Maspero of the City Exchange on St. Louis Street, New Orleans, in the Fall of 1838. cc @libation-legacy.bsky.social @davidwondrich.bsky.social 1/ www.newspapers.com/article/jeff...

Pierre Maspero and the "free lunch" in New Orleans (1956).

Clipping found in Jefferson City Post-Tribune published in Jefferson City, Missouri on 6/15/1956. Pierre Maspero and the "free lunch" in New Orleans (1956).

newspapers.com

“They don’t lie to you because the truth will hurt your feelings. They lie to you because the truth might provoke you to make choices that won’t serve their interest(s)” (unknown, 2018). Also, "People don't lie..." #quotes #memes #lying #relationships #government barrypopik.com/blog/they-do...

"They don’t lie to you because the truth will hurt…

"They don’t lie to you because the truth will hurt your feelings. They lie to you because the truth might provoke you to make choices that…

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“Don’t ever save anything for a special occasion. Being alive is the special occasion” (Mary Engelbreit, 2002). #quotes #memes #food #money barrypopik.com/blog/dont-ev...

"Don't ever save anything for a special…

"Don't ever save anything for a special occasion. Being alive is the special occasion" is a saying that has been printed on many…

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"Free Lunch," a deep-dive thread. Many New Orleans newspapers have been digitized. Of possible interest to @SouthernFood and @davidwondrich.bsky.social. #freelunch 1/ en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Free_lu...

Free lunch - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

“American politics is professional wrestling for people who think they’re too smart to watch professional wrestling” (@Jimmymack010, 2019). “Politics is just WWE for people who think they’re smart” (2019 #meme). #quotes #memes #politics barrypopik.com/blog/politic...

"Politics is just WWE for people who think…

"Politics is just WWE for people who think they're smart" -- World Wrestling Entertainment is professional wrestling, but for…

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"Did you know: They call it socialism because you get to socialize with people while you wait in line for bread” (March 2026 #meme). #quotes #memes #socialism #socialize #socializing barrypopik.com/blog/they-ca...

"They call it socialism because you get to socialize…

"They call it socialism because you get to socialize with people while you wait in line for bread" is a saying that has been printed on…

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"Panera is literally glorified hospital food" (@Kameranb23, 2019). "Panera sells overpriced hospital food and everyone just seems to be okay with that" (@JamesMurphy, 2019). @panerabread #quotes #restaurant 1/2 barrypopik.com/blog/panera-...

"Panera is literally glorified hospital food"

Panera Bread, an American multinational chain of bakery-café fast casual restaurants, has sometimes been criticized as tasting like hospital food.…

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“The best part about having a job is being able to go through doors other people aren’t allowed to use. The worst part is everything else” (lesbianboyfriend on Tumblr, 2024; 225K likes for @dimvji, June 23). #quotes #jokes #work #job #doors barrypopik.com/blog/the-bes...

"The best part about having a job is being able to…

Doors often state "Employees Only Beyond This Point," and it can be cool to be an employee and to go through the doors and beyond that…

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“Business idea: A gym that only charges when you don’t go” & “Startup idea: A gym that only charges when you don’t go” (@blakeir, 2019; @TheOvermanEthos, 2023 and 2026). #quotes #jokes #gym #business #startup barrypopik.com/blog/busines...

"Business idea: A gym that only charges when you…

Gyms make money overselling memberships, knowing that many people who buy memberships won't regularly go to the gym. But what about the…

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“There is no data center on Earth that’s worth the bees, water, and trees” (anxious_opposition on Threads, May 15). Also,“No data center is worth sacrificing bees, water and trees." #quotes #memes #datacenters barrypopik.com/blog/there-i...

"There is no data center on Earth that's worth…

"There is no data center on Earth that's worth the bees, water, and trees" is a saying that has been printed on many images. The…

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“It’s so hot outside I almost called my ex so I could be around something shady” (Facebook, 2016). “It’s so hot outside I almost called a politician so I could be around something shady” (Facebook, July 2026). #jokes #hot #heat #weather #politicians #shady barrypopik.com/blog/its-so-...

"It's so hot outside I almost called a…

A heat joke centers around the double meaning of "shady" -- "sheltered from the sun's rays" (providing shade) and "of…

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“We went from cows are killing the climate to let’s build 600 acre data centers everywhere” (its.angie.echols on Instagram, May 31, 2026). #quotes #memes #cows #climatechange #datacenters 1/2 barrypopik.com/blog/we-went...

"We went from cows are killing the climate to…

"How did we go from 'cows are killing the climate' to 'let's build data centers everywhere'" and "We went…

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"Judge a doctor by how hard she/he tries to get you off meds" (Facebook, 2019). “Judge your doctor by how hard he/she tries to get you off meds” (2026). #quote #memes #healthcare #doctors #meds #drugs barrypopik.com/blog/judge-a...

"Judge a doctor by how hard she/he tries to get you…

"Judge a doctor by how hard she/he tries to get you off meds" (or "Judge your doctor by how hard he/she tries to get you off…

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“Nobody sees the 4am workouts. Nobody sees me meal prepping for hours every week. Nobody sees any of this. Because I don’t do those things” (Reddit—Meirl, April 2026). #workout #jokes 1/2 barrypopik.com/blog/nobody-...

"Nobody sees the 4am workouts. Nobody sees me meal…

"Nobody sees the struggle (before/behind success)" is a popular saying. Nobody sees the effort to work out and eat healthy, for example…

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“Cannellini beans. Lini beans are delicious but I couldn’t eat a whole can” (@lenziemoss, 2020). “Where can I get Lini beans from? The recipe says use a can o’ Lini beans” (2026). #jokes #puns #Cannellini #beans barrypopik.com/blog/cannell...

"Cannellini beans. Lini beans are delicious but I…

Cannellini beans are white kidney beans. A joke has "Cannellini beans" as "can of Lini beans." "Turns out there are no…

barrypopik.com

Chicken Marbella (Sheila Lukins and Julee Russo of NYC's The Silver Palate, 1977; The Silver Palate Cookbook, 1982). Beans Marbella (Tejal Rao and Alexa Weibel of The New York Times-Cooking, 2022). #cooking #recipes #chicken #beans #vegan #vegetarian barrypopik.com/blog/chicken...

Chicken Marbella

Sheila Lukins (1942-2009) and Julee Rosso opened a small catering takeout place called The Silver Palate in 1977 at Columbus Avenue and West 73rd…

barrypopik.com

#Mamdega (#portmanteau of #NYC Mayor Zohran Mamdani + #bodega; @helps.bsky.social & @pymundgenealogy.com, 2025; @carney & @BreitbartNews, July 28). #NewYork #grocery #stores barrypopik.com/blog/mamdega

Mamdega (Mayor Zohran Mamdani + bodega)

New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani took office in 2026, and one of his campaign promises was city-owned grocery stores, where food would be cheaper…

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#Tabasco sauce, a thread. This is prompted by the digitization of newspapers from New Iberia, Louisiana. Tabasco is made at Avery Island, Louisiana, less than 10 miles away. 1/ en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tabasco...

Tabasco sauce - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

Chicken Ella (a speciality of Luna Bar & Grill, Lake Charles, LA, opened 2004). Fried or grilled 8-ounce chicken breast topped with sauteed crawfish in a basil cream sauce. #chicken #recipe 1/3 barrypopik.com/blog/chicken...

Chicken Ella

"Chicken Ella:" is a dish popularized by the Luna Bar and Grill in Lake Charles, Louisiana (opened in 2004). "The 'Chicken…

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#Hoagie, a thread on the famous sandwich. 1/ en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Submari...

Submarine sandwich - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

Cataract City (Niagara Falls nickname). "Cataract" means "waterfalls." Cataract Hotel (1834); Cataract House (1840); Niagara Falls Cataract (1895 newspaper). In 1881, some citizens tried to make "Cataract City" the official name. #NiagaraFalls #nickname barrypopik.com/blog/niagara...

Niagara Falls: Cataract City (nickname)

Niagara Falls, New York, has been called the "Cataract City." The word "cataract" means "waterfalls." "EAGLE AND…

barrypopik.com

#Censorship check, 1 of 2: I did a thread on "America the Beautiful" on July 3rd, on X and on Bluesky. Checking "girl from badgerland," I see my post on Bluesky. bsky.app/search?q=%22...

Honeymoon Capital (Niagara Falls nickname), added to the New York State section of my website. The nickname dates to the 1920s. By 1958, the Poconos also tried to claim it, and by the 1970s, Florida claimed it. #NiagaraFalls #nickname #honeymoon barrypopik.com/blog/niagara...

Niagara Falls: Honeymoon Capital (nickname)

Niagara Falls (both in New York and in Ontario, Canada) has been called the "honeymoon capital of the nation" or the "honeymoon…

barrypopik.com

“If you see someone smiling naturally on a Monday morning, avoid them. That level of instability isn’t safe” (Facebook, May 2026). #quotes #jokes #work #job #Monday barrypopik.com/blog/if-you-...

"If you see someone smiling naturally on a Monday…

"If you see someone smiling naturally on a Monday morning, avoid them. That level of instability isn't safe" is a jocular saying…

barrypopik.com

Rainbow City (#Niagara Falls. NY, #nickname, 1898, still used today). Rainbow City (#Buffalo, NY, nickname, 1900, used to describe the colorful buildings at the 1901 Pan-American Exposition, no longer in use). For the New York State section of my website. barrypopik.com/blog/buffalo...

Buffalo: Rainbow City (nickname)

The 1893 World's Columbian Exposition (Chicago World's Fair), at Chicago, Illinois, was dubbed the "White City" because so many…

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Major League Betting (Major League Baseball or MLB nickname, 2024). #baseball #betting #gambling #MLB #nickname 1/2 barrypopik.com/blog/major-l...

Major League Betting (Major League Baseball or MLB nickname)

Some people believe that Major League Baseball (MLB) is all about gambling, and that the games are rigged. An MLB backronym (back acronym) is…

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“The ONLY people who stay well are those who stay well away from doctors” (July 2026 #meme). #quotes #memes #health #healthcare #doctors barrypopik.com/blog/the-onl...

"The ONLY people who stay well are those who stay…

"The ONLY people who stay well are those who stay well away from doctors" is a saying that has been printed on several images. The…

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“A man collapsed in the lentil aisle of the local supermarket. Fortunately, when the paramedics arrived, they found a pulse” (@markysumm, 2019). "Someone killed my lentils. I couldn’t find a pulse" (@petervhale, 2023). #jokes #puns #lentil #pulse barrypopik.com/blog/a-man-c...

"A man collapsed in the lentil aisle of the local…

A "pulse" can mean a palpable beat of an artery, and a "pulse" can also mean an edible seed of the legume family. A joke…

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Engagement Chicken (Glamour magazine, January 2004). Supposedly, a man becomes so impressed with this dish, an engagement follows--for the cook, not the chicken. #chicken #recipes 1/ barrypopik.com/blog/engagem...

Engagement Chicken

"Engagement Chicken" led to "Marry Me Chicken," and other similarly named recipes. A woman who cooks such a dish for a man will…

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