Sadly, interesting town and village names aren't too big a feature here in Westchester County Ny, and pubs - fageddabattit.

But the common names and the surrent sign discrepancy reminded me of an experience this past weekend in Binghamton, NY.

Having done my homework, I knew that B-ton is the home of the world famouus "Spiedie" (Has anyone outside of Broome County and the Southern Tier ever heard of it?) The spiedie is a sandwich of marinated pork or chicken, BTW.

I asked where the best place was to get a spiedie and was given directions to Lupo's Char-Pit, opposite the K=-Mart. We cruised that road, back and forth past the place with the big sign on the roof "S & S Char-Pit" but I said, "Oh, no, We're going to Lupo's!"

Finally, hunger won out and I drove into the S & S lot to find that each parking space was stenciled "Lupo's" and all the promos in the widows said Lupo's and inside they were selling bottles of Lupo's marinade, etc.

After ordering, I asked all the people there why it said "S & S" on the roof and nowhere did it say "Lupo's" no one knew and it was as ifnobody had noticed. Evereybody knew it was Lupo's!

And speaking of being given directions by pubs or other landmarks nstead of treet names, have you ever been told to turn at the corner where the 'whatever business' "used to be"?

I was once told that the best place to buy a guitar inMexice City was at a store "around the corner from the theater where the Folies Bergere played." It turned out that it had been about five years since the naughty French had been in town, but everybody knew exactly what was meant!