BGR and questions
Walking into BGR early Wednesday night, the music was Springsteen, and I was sold. Playing was Tunnel of Love. Next up was Rosalita. I'd never heard that double-shot before in my life, and chances were this was the first time it had occurred outside of New Jersey since 1989.
Born to Run hung on a wall between Prince and plasma. 'Nough said.
The burger place, subtitled "The Burger Joint," next to The Italian Store — Lyon Village is so very declarative — was still working out the kinks. The kitchen was overcrowded, and orders were slow, even to the beer tap and back. The burger itself was decent, not yet of Elevation or Five Guys quality. The music was too loud to talk easily when we came in.
But they fixed the volume shortly. The bun and the toppings — lettuce, tomato, BGR-ordained mojo sauce for me — were delicious. The beer, while slow, was "Come back for refills" because there were no pitchers yet. (Sold.) The kinks were there, but in the words of The Animals, the intentions were good. The staff — some to stay, some to head back to the Alexandria franchise, some due for a coming Baltimore franchise — were uniformly friendly. I was glad to have them in Arlington for now.
I like the idea of it. Drive to Lyon Village shopping center, stride across the parking lot and road abutting those stores and ask oneself, staring at two doors, "Good Italian or good burgers?" How can one go wrong?
So, good stuff. A return visit is going to happen. In the restrooms, the music was the the Schoolhouse Rock take on the Preamble. Good stuff.
After, Emily and I made it to 31 Cent Scoop Night at the Baskin-Robbins up Lee Highway, 15 minutes before close. It was a good cause, aiding the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation. The line had been out the door until an hour earlier, the clerk said, and he was smiling but beat. We got scoops and talked about the firehouse up the highway. When staff urged us out the door soon after, we left happily, without issue.
But a question. In BGR, there were two pictures we couldn't identify. I e-mailed four music-loving friends for their guesses, with no luck. How about you? Midnight Oil — Beds Are Burning — was a guess on the first, but there seem to be one too few people. Just who are these people?
April 30th, 2010 at 11:09 PM
Update: On Facebook, friend Steve identifies the second photo as The Band's Robbie Robertson, possibly from The Last Waltz, which I've never seen but should.
May 1st, 2010 at 8:41 AM
Numerous comments!
1. After I went to BGR one time in Alexandria, and got soaked $40 for two burgers, two sides, one water and one beer — all of which I had to pick up at the counter — I got on with my life. The burgers were good but $40 is a price point where I expect someone to bring me my food.
2. I'm thinking that might be The Clash in that first photo, although it's too far away to tell. It's not Midnight Oil — their lead singer is incredibly tall and incredibly bald and — to quote one of my favorite all-time Rolling Stone snippets — looks like Mr. Clean after atomic radiation.
3. Yes, that's Robbie Robertson; yes, that's the Last Waltz; yes, you should see it because it's the best damn rock 'n' roll movie ever made. I own a copy and still watch it all of the time. I never even listened to The Band until after this movie came out, and they because a huge influence on the music I subsequently played.
May 1st, 2010 at 9:56 AM
Adding Lost Waltz to my Netflix queue, moving to the top of the list.
You're the second music-loving Randy in the last 24 hours to guess The Clash, and that was my guess in the restaurant. I probably need to go back and take a better picture. Oh no, more burgers… (Will try and make it out for less than $40.)
September 9th, 2011 at 10:18 PM
The top photo is The Clash. Left to right: Jones, Strummer, Headon, Simenon. I wish I knew who took it so I could get a copy.