Jackson Jambalaya

Lovely stroll through reminders of better days (oh, yes, they were), Remind me why the term “Oriental” is frowned upon these days by the priss-pot language police?

The ad for Pasquales Restaurant in Northwood Shopping Center in one of the newspapers brings back fond memories. There was a good Mexican restaurant there, too, back in the day, the name of which now escapes me. Thanks for the memories, KF.

Do any businesses or political candidates still hand out matchbooks or has that gone the way of the dodo? Some of us still light candles, fireplaces and campfires.

7:15 - I've always understood that "oriental" refers to rugs and decor, etc. "Asian" refers to people and their cultures.

Interesting stuff even if I don't have any memory of these places. The Jade Pagoda would have been in "The" (haha) Fondren just east of where Aladdin is now, probably where the new Meridian apartments are. Odd thing with the newspaper article about the R&D Center computer is that I worked at the (former) R&D Center long ago, but after it had moved into the new tower complex at the E&R Center on the corner of Eastover and Ridgewood. Worked there for several years, but never knew or remember hearing that it had started in the former Jade Pagoda building, or any other building for that matter.

The Silver Spur almost sounds familiar, but I would have sworn that was one of those old C&W clubs at the end of Gallatin Street where it makes a 90 degree turn and becomes McDowell Road. Something like the old Boot's Hat & Cane. Problem is, it has a 362- telephone number, meaning it was in north or northeast Jackson. Hmmmm....

Oh, and to 7:32, that Mexican restaurant next to Pasquales was call El Burrito. It was owned by the folks who owned Pasquales and, if I remember correctly, even had a common inside door from one to the other. Seems like it was an early "cafeteria" style (think Moe's) when you went down the line telling them what you wanted on your taco or whatever.

Re submit you comment about the Mexican place. Accidentally deleted it. Thumbs on a mobile screen. Sorry.

Hey, 9:38, I thought the Silver Spur was near the Hat & Cane, too. My high school friends and I went to the Hat & Cane a couple of times with our fake IDs. We were born in 1954 and the plastic drivers licenses then had raised lettering and numbers. We cut the arms off the "4" so it looked like our DOBs were 1951. We quit sneaking into the Hat & Cane after witnessing two waitresses get into a violent fight in the middle of the floor, swinging and throwing busted beer bottles at each other, cutting and punching, and one yanked off the other's wig while being choked by her. Quite an education for me at that age.

After we left the H & C, I think we went to the Dutch Bar with our fake IDs. I don't remember where it was located. Maybe Terry Road? It was dimly lit and laid back, mostly quiet older guys there, no hassle for us females.

Ah, the good old days....

El Burrito and Pasquales were barely making it when I arrived in 1988....but the food was really good. Their fan base was super loyal....I think it closed only because the owners were getting older and no one wanted to keep running it.

Anon. 11:21, you were braver than I to go in the H&C! Then again, in those days I had WAY to much hair to have been allowed through the door. The Dutch Bar was in north Jackson on Northview Drive, behind Northwood Shopping Center, as previously mentioned, the location of Pasquales and El Buritto.

I will bite on the Oriental/Asian discussion.

Traditionally Oriental meant East from the Western persepctive. In European terms it included regions from Turkey all the way to China. Occidental is what we called the West.

Now keep in mind that Europe, and later the USA, colonized Asia. Today most Asians identify themselves by their unique nationalities, not by what white colonialists called them.

Lumping them all together was a racist colonial attitude. Oriental also doesn't accurately describe the Middle East, as we call it today. Back then Arabs were considered Oriental and so was India.

Now, what you need to learn is what they call us. Depending on the Asian country, they have very interesting descriptive names for we Gweilo.

Is that Mr Otho Wells?

Only they pronounce it “ Gweiro,” of course.

Old Tyme Deli! I still miss that place.

Old Tyme best Rueben ever to grace the earth!

I was in med school in the late 70's. My future wife and I loved to eat chimichangas @ at El Burritos, muffalettas at Mr. Gibb's, chocolate malts at the Seale Lilly Ice Cream place and party at Marney's - all down North State Street north of UMMC. Earlier I was a regular at the Silver Spur on wast Northside Drive, which later became B.J. Thomas's place called BJ's.. On special occasions (like New Year's Eve) he would show up and sing. The house band was the Electric Circus who were fabulous. They could do Crosby-Stills & Nash better than CS&N!! Another great performer was the fabulous Stefan Anderson who played at the Jolly Roger across from the Old Capitol until he moved to the Le Bourguignon at the Quarter.

I was too young to get in the Satellite Club (near the Hat & Cane) or the Wagon Wheel (around the corner from the Mayflower Cafe), but my older brother would go there sometimes and come back with harrowing stories of getting his ass beaten by the other drunk rednecks...........Ah!, The Good Ole Days!!

Oh how I miss Pasquales! The REAL one, not the horrible one that used the name for a time in a strip mall on Lakeland Drive.