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Loading...Jersey Joe has another set of hilarious photos and scenes that you can only find around New York City.
What: funny photos, pictures, and scenes found around New York City
Collected by: Jersey Joe
New York City is a great place to work and even a better place to play. Whether you’re local or just visiting on a trip – take a look around. You’ll always find a funny and entertaining scene!
(No Ratings Yet)Loading...INTRODUCTION TO THE 2014 EDITION
My journey to becoming a PhD in Pork Product and being hailed as the world’s foremost expert on McDonald’s legendary and enigmatic sandwich all began with a seemingly innocuous blog that I wrote five years ago arguing that the McRib, an object of both mirthless odium and near-religious devotion, was simply the Citizen Kane of rapidly-processed culinary cuisine.
Almost immediately after publication, I came to terms with the fact that this blog would probably sink to the never-to-be-read-again seabed of the fathomless internet ocean. But a year later, a reporter, working on his own McRib story for the Wall Street Journal, read the post and reached out to interview me. With the publication of that front-page article and a subsequent NPR interview, I stepped upon the national stage to take my rightful place as the Susan Boyle of fast foodies. (Google “Ryan Dixon McRib” and 29,500 results come roaring back at you.)
My fame reached its apex when, after following me on Twitter, a rep from McDonald’s personally reached out to provide me with a yearly allotment of fifty “Free McRib Passes” to share with friends, family and, most importantly, myself. Unfortunately, my instinct for self-sabotage proved greater than my hunger for BBQ pork product. My free ride on the McRib Express ended when, in 2012, I was quoted by NPR’s “The Salt” stating that McDonald’s quest to push the McRib from beloved cult item into mainstream favorite caused the sandwich to “jump the shark.”
Despite now being persona non grata at Hamburger Central, I still eagerly anticipate the annual arrival of those banners, draped under the Golden Arches, inscribed with that immortal phrase “The McRib is Back.” And it warms my heart to know that in a period of great partisan divide, our nation is still able to come together and eat a sandwich that will fill the hearts of those who taste it with the splendor hitherto known only to suicide bombers who’ve been greeted by the 72 Vestal Virgins in Paradise.
THE FIVE REASONS WHY THE McRIB IS THE GREATEST FAST FOOD ITEM OF ALL TIME
1. The McRib is the Last of its Kind.
Let me come right out and say it: The McRib has no ribs. It is a patty of pork product with rib-shaped strips pressed into it. Even then, the rib-shaped strips don’t look like actual ribs as much as they do french toast sticks, yet that’s all the more reason to love it.
We live in an all-natural, organicized society where coastal dwelling disciples of the Michael Pollan cabal want their food farm fresh, free range and, whenever possible, real. In a world where McDonald’s now sells apple slices, KFC heralds its grilled chicken from on high, and Subway’s Jared has become the most famous calorie-killing Jedi since Richard Simmons, the McRib stands alone; a fast food Fortinbras.
The McRib’s annual re-appearance is a ghostly reminder of a time (known in some circles as the late 1970’s and 80’s) when synthetic, overtly unhealthy, “better than real” food was in fashion. All you really need to remember about the dietary choices of this era is that Country Time Old Fashioned Lemonade Drink Mix used the fact that it tasted just like real lemonade as a selling point.
The arrival of the McRib should be a cause for celebration, not scorn, for it bears witness, is in fact the last witness, to a woebegone age when we liked our fast food fake.
2. The Mysteries of the McRib are Unfathomable
Nationally released in 1981, the McRib was originally a regular item on McDonald’s menu until low sales caused the restaurant chain to change its strategy and start bringing it out sporadically for a “limited time only.” For many years after the sandwich was paired each spring with the Shamrock Shake, but then that winning combo was discontinued without explanation and the McRib’s arrival grew ever more unpredictable– sometimes the sandwich wouldn’t appear for several years, then it’d be seen multiple times in the same year or, as was the case in 2006, its arrival was called a “farewell tour,” but it was back again in 2008 and has returned, more or less annually, since then.
While some saw this inconsistency as a misguided marketing strategy, others began to see patterns within the seemingly patternless morass, giving birth to a host of McRib conspiracy theories (including one that had McDonald’s basing the release of the sandwich on the price of pork) that would befuddle even Robert Langdon.
The enigma that is the McRib has also created so great an epidemic of rumors and apocrypha revolving around which locations are currently serving the sandwich that the website “McRib Locator” was created to separate the lies from the truth. Despite these heroic efforts, the mystery remains. The McRib is our first Cryptofood, a culinary cousin to the Sasquatch and Chupacabra, lurking within the restaurant of our imagination.
The ephemeral nature of the McRib also reminds us all of our own mortality. With each bite we both fall back into the past– to that rainy spring day when we ate them with a father now long gone or the romantic evening spent sharing one with a college-aged girlfriend still-missed– and dream about the future, pining for the day when a yet-to-be-born son unwraps his first McRib. When finished with the sandwich, we all pray that, in the final autumn of our lives, there will be enough time to take one last bite.
3. Eating a McRib Is Nothing Like Eating a Real Rib—and That’s a Good Thing
How many times have you gone to a BBQ restaurant, saw the ribs on the menu, began to salivate at the thought of eating them, but stopped just as you were about to order upon the realization that by doing so the mess involved would cause you to end up resembling an underfed zombie who just dined on a trio of kids at a fat camp?
Like its younger, and more universally accepted cousin, the boneless buffalo wing, the McRib gives you the sweet barbecue tang of ribs without the threat of sartorial besmirchment. And, let’s face it; you get a hell of a lot more meat with a McRib than you do on actual ribs. It’s no contest really, you might wanna date real ribs, but you’ll end up marrying the McRib.
(What? You think that the McRib is actually the messiest fast food item of all time? Well, you’ll be happy to know that this year’s pork patty seemed decidedly smaller than the faux-balloon bread bun it rests between and the distribution of the sauce was far more judicious than in years past.)
4. The McRib is THE Polarizing Force in Fast Food
No one is ever neutral about the McRib. Go ahead; ask your friend, lover, parent or child about it and you’ll hear one of two things:
“I love it!”
Or
“I hate it!”
Let’s get real here folks, this isn’t an argument about whether BK’s Whopper or Wendy’s Bacon Double Cheeseburger is better, we’re in Republicans vs. Democrats, Sharks vs. Jets, Catholics vs. Protestants (circa 1600, that is) territory.
Developing the palette to enjoy a McRib is really no different from having dinner at Noma, gulping down a piece of fugu or munching on a pack of chocolate covered ants. Quite simply, this sandwich separates the posers from the true fast food connoisseur.
And now, for the fifth and final reason that the McRib is the Greatest Fast Food Item of All time…
Need. To. Eat. McRib. NOW!
(1 votes, average: 5.00 out of 5)Loading...Here it is – my fourth official season finale! True, I’ve only been writing on Been and Going since it launched about a year ago, but this blog has now been online for four complete years. It all started 182 editions ago on fierceandnerdy.com. As my season wraps, I always go back and update what I’ve written about. So, get ready as we take a quick look back…
You can click on the title of each blog to check out the original post.
This blogumn looked at the new Judge Judy slot machines that had just hit casino floors. At the time, the machines were highly popular and can still be found in most major casinos.
The popularity of this slot machine continues today. During a recent visit to Atlantic City, there was always somebody playing them and still had a line of spectators watching at both banks of machines I found at Bally’s and the Golden Nugget.
This blogumn took a look at one of my favorite video games of all time, Burger Time. The game is simple, you are the chef and your job is to assemble hamburgers in a crazy kitchen where the ingredients have come to life and are after you!
I love to play this game at Barcade, in Jersey City, New Jersey. Barcade is a cross between a bar and arcade that thankfully, is for adults only.
Sadly, the machine has gone missing from this location. Barcade is in the process of opening a new location in Manhattan and I can only hope that it will end up there. Both locations will only be a PATH train ride away.
In this special edition, I discussed the new Burger King Rib Sandwich that the fast food chain had added to their menu. It was their first big jab at McDonald’s by creating their own version of McDonald’s legendary McRib.
The Burger King Rib Sandwich was added to last summer’s menu and I judged it to be far superior to the McRib. While it did sell well, the sandwich finished its summer run and was removed from BK’s menu early last fall. Sadly, it has not returned and there have been no plans announced to bring it back. I hope that Burger King reconsiders and makes this a permanent addition to their menu.
In a little over a week after online gambling was legalized and officially launched in New Jersey, I tested out a few sites to see what all the hype was about.
Like it or hate it, online gambling has generated extra revenue for both the state and the Atlantic City casinos who took part in it. Sadly, the state overestimated how much revenue would be brought in.
The state was estimating that $10.6 million would be earned in just six weeks. The total earned was $7.3 million, which is still a success. The revenue earned from legal online gambling has saw steady growth from January – March, with April being the first to see a slight decline in the amount wagered. The state still expects continued growth moving forward.
This blog took a look back at the night I was there for the final moments of the Sands casino in Atlantic City, New Jersey. With my old camera phone, I captured the final blackjack hand and security ushering everyone out, while the slots were being turned off. The casino was closed for a project, that was to build a mega casino and hotel in it’s place. Sadly, the economy went bust and the project never happened.
The Madison House, a hotel that is located across the street from the site, was once used as an additional hotel tower for the Sands. It closed when the casino did, but finally reopened this past January. Sadly, Tripadvisor reviews of the initial opening were terrible. Guests complained of slow elevators, filthy and outdated rooms, and a strong cigarette smoke smell. Many guests have commented that a renovation has begun and hopefully this will be a step in the right direction for the historic property. I plan to check it out as some point in the future.
The Sands site still sits unused, outside of a light up artist installation.
In this hilarious video I found online, we get to see TV’s Judge Joe Brown all liquored up and hitting on a group of women at some kind of resort. Joe even makes fun of his old TV show.
Since then, Judge Joe has gone back to being a lawyer in Memphis, Tennessee. Back in March, during a court child support preceding, he went on a tirade against the judge and it got him thrown in jail. (You can hear TMZ’s copy of the court room audio here.) He was sentenced to five days, but was released in a couple of hours. He is also running for District Attorney in Shelby County. Could it have all been a publicity stunt?
Name: Kicking Back with Jersey Joe
What: weekly blog on beenandgoing.com
Time: new editions post Thursday at Noon Eastern / 9am Pacific
Thanks again for all your support and for checking out my blog. I love how we get to chat like this each week. As always, feel free to comment below each post or reach out to me on twitter @jerseyjoe50.
This summer, I have a quite a treat for all of you TV fans. Starting with next week’s blog, I am going to post 10 at a time, my 100 favorite TV show theme songs. You’ll get to see show opens from some of your favorite series and a few that I’m sure you’ve forgotten. Don’t miss it – starting next week!
Image credits – Chris Marquardt, Kathrina Birkenbach,
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Can you take the classic deep fried, golden brown French fry and make it even healthier? Burger King thinks so with what they are calling “Satisfries.” I find out exactly how much healthier they are and if you should make the switch.
Burger King, opened their first restaurant known as Insta-Burger King in Jacksonville, Florida back in 1953. After the first concept failed, a year later the restaurant was re-launched as simply Burger King focusing on fast food hamburgers, fries, sodas, and milkshakes.
Many people now simply refer to it as BK for short.
French fries have been a fast food meal staple since the launch of the drive thru restaurant concept in the 1950’s. Before that, they can be traced all the way back to Belgium in the 17th century, where they were often deep fried alongside fish as a meal for the poor.
French fries eventually made their way to the Americas and were even served at a White House dinner by President Thomas Jefferson in 1802.
Generally regarded as not the healthiest of meal options, the thin sliced potatoes are deep fried in oil or fat, until crisp and a golden brown. They are then generally seasoned with salt and served with ketchup. (Yes, I know some people love gravy, cheese, mayonnaise, etc.)
Burger King has decided they want to offer a healthier French fry and have created a version that they advertise as 40% less fat and 30% fewer calories than McDonald’s fries.
BK introduced the Satisfries on September 24th as part of a end of the year marketing push with a big media blitz. The restaurant sent hot samples to many TV shows and food critics. They also gave away free samples at restaurants.
My friend Max, along with several others who seem to be concerned about my terrible eating, gave me the suggestion to give them a try. For those who’ve read this blog for years, know that I am generally open to trying a new fast food item.
The two level Burger King restaurant located next to the World Trade Center construction site in New York City.
On a recent commute home from work, I stopped by the Burger King restaurant located directly next to the World Trade Center construction site in New York City. 4 World Trade Center now towers high above the two story restaurant.
I went inside a little before 7pm and there were hardly any customers. I was greeted by two BK employees arguing in the back, while others watched and laughed. The whole place had an extremely unprofessional feel, but I was promptly greeted at the cash register.
I placed an order for a sandwich and a side of medium Satisfries. She did the usual, try to get me to buy the value meal speech, but I didn’t want to handle a drink on the train. I placed my order, paid and then waited… and waited… and waited… and waited.
The idea of being a fast food restaurant, means serving up fast food. While they had an entire bin of regular fries ready to go, they had to special make the Satisfries. It took about 7 minutes and multiple times yelling at the back to get my order complete.
An order of Burger King Satisfries.
The first thing I noticed is that these fries are crinkle cut, as opposed to the straight slim cuts of BK’s regular fries. BK did this on purpose, so employees are quickly able to distinguish between the two.
I took a bite and they are quite good, but nothing special. The taste honestly reminds me of opening a bag of frozen Ore-Ida fries from the freezer section of my local grocery store. To me, there is really no difference is taste or shape.
The cost for my medium order of Satisfries was $2.89, while a medium order of regular Burger King fries was $2.59 according to the price posted on the menu board. That’s a 30 cent markup for health.
And now the health breakdown:
Judging by information provided on both restaurants’ websites, the Satisfries are much healthier than the regular BK fries and it does appear they are 30% healthier than McDonald’s as advertised. It’s up to you if the extra time and cost are worth it.
Burger King BBQ Rib Sandwich, their take on the McDonald’s McRib.
The Big King, Burger King’s take on the McDonald’s Big Mac.
And Burger King is not done yet. They’re in the process of dropping a bomb in the fast food war against McDonald’s by adding the new Big King and BBQ Rib sandwiches to their menu. They are BK’s version of the popular Big Mac and McRib sandwiches. BK has already scored a victory in the harsh New York City market, by getting their items in the hands of hungry customers, first. MYC is still patiently waiting for the McRib, while BK is already offering theirs for a $1 bargain.
Name: Satisfries
What: healthier French fries served at Burger King restaurants
Cost: $2.59 for medium order in NYC
Skip these. They may be a little healthier, but they’re really no different from frozen fries you can buy in the grocery store. They are also not worth the wait. This is fast food, after all. And if you are a health nut, you’re most likely skipping the fast food fries, anyhow.
And for some fun, flip over the wrapper for the BBQ Rib Sandwich and you’ll find a surprise! BK restaurants in Wisconsin and Illinois are also serving a Bratwurst Sandwich, which consists of 2 Johnsonville Brats, mustard, onions, and pickle on a long roll for football season. It is currently not a nationwide promotion.
Inverse side of the BBQ Rib Sandwich wrapper which could also be used for the Bratwurst sandwich.