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BS: Help me name our restaurant
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Subject: BS: Help me name our restaurant From: Dani Date: 19 Mar 03 - 02:01 PM So my partner and I bought this restaurant last year. Previously "Lu-E-g's Sandwich Shoppe", it is a beloved community gathering spot. It was a flyer-plastered, bus-your-own, paper-plate kind of place. We've completely cleaned up and renovated, kept some of the vegetarian bent, but improved (added) service, and have a wonderful menu in place. People like the changes we've made very much, and (knock wood) for these hard times we seem to be doing fairly well. Losing money at a slower rate than everyone else is, anyway! It's time for us to spend money on real signs, and we're stuck. We've gone back and forth for a year about what to do with the name. We changed it to "Lueg's" to make it a LITTLE easier for people, but it's still confusing for non-locals. And it's not necessarily Italian, so even correcting the spelling won't really work. My partner thinks we should call it "Dani's". Yuck. Double yuck. Part of who we are is also lots of live music, an old-time community that meets here almost weekly to play, jam, dance, and an eclectic lineup for Friday nights. All thoughts/questions gratefully accepted!! Dani |
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Subject: RE: BS: Help me name our restaurant From: curmudgeon Date: 19 Mar 03 - 02:11 PM It would help if we knew where you were located, what you serve, and a better idea of the general atmosphere of the place. Otherwise, you might ask Max if you could call it The Mudcat Cafe -- Tom |
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Subject: RE: BS: Help me name our restaurant From: MMario Date: 19 Mar 03 - 02:11 PM Bagatelle Berceuse Mixolydian Zwischenspiel |
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Subject: RE: BS: Help me name our restaurant From: Beccy Date: 19 Mar 03 - 02:22 PM How about: Vittles Food For The Spirit or Spirit for the Food. |
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Subject: RE: BS: Help me name our restaurant From: Sorcha Date: 19 Mar 03 - 02:30 PM What kind of menu? |
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Subject: RE: BS: Help me name our restaurant From: GUEST,WYS Date: 19 Mar 03 - 02:34 PM The EAT HERE NOW. ~S~ |
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Subject: RE: BS: Help me name our restaurant From: CarolC Date: 19 Mar 03 - 02:47 PM I like your partner's idea. "Dani's" is the first thing that came to my mind. It's easy to remember and spell, and it's a really nice name. |
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Subject: RE: BS: Help me name our restaurant From: PeteBoom Date: 19 Mar 03 - 03:14 PM Alice's.... as long as it is just a half a mile from the railroad tracks.... ;-) Pete |
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Subject: RE: BS: Help me name our restaurant From: Linda Kelly Date: 19 Mar 03 - 03:18 PM Grubs Up Manna from Heaven |
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Subject: RE: BS: Help me name our restaurant From: MMario Date: 19 Mar 03 - 03:20 PM Lembas |
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Subject: RE: BS: Help me name our restaurant From: catspaw49 Date: 19 Mar 03 - 04:08 PM How about "The Fockin' Eggplant"...????.........okay, I'll quit........"Louie G's" maybe....... Spaw |
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Subject: RE: BS: Help me name our restaurant From: Dani Date: 19 Mar 03 - 04:15 PM Well, 'spaw, that IS my favorite food in the world.... Our VERY new website is www.luegscafe.com. Since that went up the menu has been polished and updated, but you can get the general gist of the food. The new dinner menu has more and better food, some with higher prices, but still pretty accessible. Our focus is on fresh food, specials every day, simple flavors and preparations. Kind of like the music I like ; ) Some things about us: Kitchen pretty open and accessible. Noisy, friendly place where staff and customers mingle fairly easily. Prices that please anyone, with good stuff for people to spend money on if they want. Fabulous desserts. Good, inexpensive wines and beers. As much locally produced food as possible. An old-fashioned soda fountain, fabulous locally made ice cream. Turns into more of a pub atmosphere at night, in what I think of as the more traditional sense: all ages, nice but no pretention. The best part of seeking your advice like this is the opportunity to look in the mirror and figure out what we're looking at. We've been so steeped in this that it's hard to see clearly. Very much like a new baby!! And don't think I haven't thought of the Mudcat for names! But there's only one of those... Dani |
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Subject: RE: BS: Help me name our restaurant From: Allan C. Date: 19 Mar 03 - 04:19 PM I have both eaten and performed at Dani's restaurant. The food and service are wonderful. I have met other musicians who have performed there who, like me, have very much enjoyed it as a venue. They said the audiences were extremely appreciative. "Dani's" is a short, easily remembered and modern-sounding name. Although "Dani's" doesn't say anything about the menu or the venue, I have always thought of it as "Dani's Restaurant" despite its current name. As for other suggestions, I can think of only a few which I will list along with my objections to each: Comfort Foods (which speaks to the atmosphere and the menu but says nothing about the music) Memorable (describes both the music and the food but I think is just not right somehow) Old Time Goodness (describes the music and the food to some degree; but denies the restaurant's more modern attributes and I think it may be an awkward name for a restaurant) Great Licks (Hm-m-m...some folks might get the wrong idea...) If you'd like to know more about the restaurant, you can see more here. |
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Subject: RE: BS: Help me name our restaurant From: Beccy Date: 19 Mar 03 - 04:35 PM I like "Lembas"... LOTR, anyone? What about A Bushel and a Peck |
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Subject: RE: BS: Help me name our restaurant From: Mudlark Date: 19 Mar 03 - 04:37 PM Have to agree, Dani's is a good "open" name, easy to remember, no ambiguity as to how it's pronounced, and meaningful as well. Vivo is the only other name that comes to mind, thinking about the atmosphere... |
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Subject: RE: BS: Help me name our restaurant From: Allan C. Date: 19 Mar 03 - 04:38 PM Pardon my ignorance, but...what's a lembas? |
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Subject: RE: BS: Help me name our restaurant From: Sorcha Date: 19 Mar 03 - 04:41 PM Wow! I'm impressed! How about just "The Pharmacy"? or, Danto's? |
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Subject: RE: BS: Help me name our restaurant From: Beccy Date: 19 Mar 03 - 04:42 PM Allan C- It's "elvish bread" from the Lord of The Rings trilogy. According to Samwise Gamgee, who "usually don't hold with foreign stuff" it was quite good. (I know I'm a nerd- no need to point it out.) Beccy |
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Subject: RE: BS: Help me name our restaurant From: katlaughing Date: 19 Mar 03 - 04:53 PM Full Plate Whole Foods Cafe du jour Plain and Fancy...Come to Clancy's! (Well, there doesn't have to BE a "Clancy**bg**) The Ambrosia The Good Earth Cafe Fortunata's (with a nod to Mudcat's own Fortunato:-) Pure and Simple Open Sesame The Return Again Cafe Returns/Repeats Welcome Cafe The Soft Spot The Regulars' Rave Cafe Okay, I'll stop...for now! Thanks,this is fun! kat |
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Subject: RE: BS: Help me name our restaurant From: Allan C. Date: 19 Mar 03 - 05:00 PM Wild Mountain Thyme |
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Subject: RE: BS: Help me name our restaurant From: The Walrus Date: 19 Mar 03 - 05:01 PM How about "Chrysanthemums" ? "When you are of Earthly goods bereft, And of all you had, but two loaves are left, Then sell the one, and with the dole, Buy chrysanthemums, to feed the Soul" Good luck with the business. Walrus |
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Subject: RE: BS: Help me name our restaurant From: GUEST,sorefingers Date: 19 Mar 03 - 05:06 PM Name that pasteboard and tinsel Sandwicker's Gnawing Exchange No Cats Please! |
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Subject: RE: BS: Help me name our restaurant From: Janie Date: 19 Mar 03 - 05:10 PM Dani---I stil vote for "Dani's"!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! xo Janie |
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Subject: RE: BS: Help me name our restaurant From: SINSULL Date: 19 Mar 03 - 06:47 PM Dani's But I am partial to "The Mudcat Cafe". Have some fun. Name it Ruby Tuesday and wait for the lawyers to attack. |
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Subject: RE: BS: Help me name our restaurant From: Night Owl Date: 19 Mar 03 - 07:07 PM It must be hard to be objective about the sound of your own name....BUT here's 'nuther vote for "Dani's". |
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Subject: RE: BS: Help me name our restaurant From: Uncle_DaveO Date: 19 Mar 03 - 07:24 PM I like The Good Stuff Cafe". Dave Oesterreich |
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Subject: RE: BS: Help me name our restaurant From: smallpiper Date: 19 Mar 03 - 07:34 PM Its gorra be "Dani's" but answer me this where the hell is it? I know its not in Hull! |
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Subject: RE: BS: Help me name our restaurant From: Amos Date: 19 Mar 03 - 08:35 PM I think you would be within your rights to call it "Friends". A |
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Subject: RE: BS: Help me name our restaurant From: Sorcha Date: 19 Mar 03 - 09:42 PM "The Ya'll Come Back Now Joint"? |
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Subject: RE: BS: Help me name our restaurant From: Dani Date: 19 Mar 03 - 09:56 PM Well, it's in Hillsborough, NC, about 10 miles north from Chapel Hill and Durham. Interesting community: plenty of university (Duke, UNC) influence and culture, but also plenty of rural heritage. I've got some photos to post tomorrow. One of the things we're considering is using the "James Pharmacy" that you'll see on the building front. Would "James Pharmacy Restaurant" be really wierd? You'll understand better when you see the building why it might make sense. The facade is lovely old glass and art deco lettering. Hard to compete with by adding new signs. There's also a Historic District Commission to deal with that would frown on our covering up this lettering. I REALLY don't like the idea of using my name. What if something happens with my partner, and I, like Wally Amos, lose control of something that my name is on? Without sounding falsely modest ('cause I AM a good cook), I just don't feel comfortable with something named after ME. The menu could on any given day include: - Southern-style chicken and dumplings - pierogie - homemade lasagna - tofu and corned beef reubens - shrimp scampi - patty melts ..so it's as hard to quantify the food aspect as it is the music! Dani |
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Subject: RE: BS: Help me name our restaurant From: Amos Date: 19 Mar 03 - 11:25 PM Well, you could give a nod to the town's history by calling it the Bill of Rights Cafe. The State Constitutional convenion that was held there just after the Revolutionary War was a key factor in getting the Bill of Rights added to the Consittution. A |
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Subject: RE: BS: Help me name our restaurant From: Allan C. Date: 20 Mar 03 - 01:53 AM I, too, had considered working the old pharmacy sign into the name, Dani. Here in Charlottesville there is a very popular restaurant that is called "The Hardware Store" because that is what once occupied the building. I think there is something rather cool about it's being called that. I am not so sure that "The Pharmacy" would be as well received. But that's just my opinion and I have been known to have been wrong at least twice. |
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Subject: RE: BS: Help me name our restaurant From: open mike Date: 20 Mar 03 - 02:21 AM my first opinion would be on re-spelling the current name as "Louie G.'s" as was suggested by an earlier post.. however if you use the pharmacy idea imagine the sub-titles: cures what ails you, what the doctor ordered, heals you, hey -- how about the Balm of Gilead? isn't Duke University into some spiritual pursuits, like channeling, automatic writing, or other para-normal events? spiritual? And is Edgar Cayce institute near by? maybe something other-worldly, cosmic, or? I like the idea of the bill of rights too.. ties in to a good local history fact! isn't it the home of the red clay ramblers in that neck of the woods..chapel hill or there-abouts? many people all over the world would feel at homoe there if it bore the name of mudcat cafe'! we did a play in chico years ago based on the appalachian spooky stories of Manly Wade Wellman. It was called the Ballad of Silver John. He was a hero that vanquished demons and spooks with his silver-strung guitar...there would be your music tie-in as well as area legends... are you in Appalachia? how about something from the hill people traditions? something song-catcher-ish? something of local initerest like the little girl's statue that came to symbolize Savannah... is that music box museum still in hillsboro? whatever you call it the food will still taste as good, and the people will still come and the music will sound as nice. good luck! |
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Subject: RE: BS: Help me name our restaurant From: Dani Date: 20 Mar 03 - 07:18 AM A good point, Mike. One of the most important things here is how it gets explained to and among people. A name that needs explaining all the time is a big pain in the butt, forever. Thank you all so much! I'll be thinking about local history, today. Dani |
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Subject: RE: BS: Help me name our restaurant From: MMario Date: 20 Mar 03 - 08:20 AM I think Ipen Mike has a point. A respelling to make the name match the phonetics and thus not needing the explanation might be the best way to go. |
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Subject: RE: BS: Help me name our restaurant From: catspaw49 Date: 20 Mar 03 - 08:29 AM Hey Dani.......Although I'm glad open mike liked my respelling, the place is different now and although tradition and history are nice avenues to explore, you really need to go with Dani's. You have a lovely name, quite suited to the purpose at hand. Easily remembered and short, it's a name with a friendly tone about it as well. What else could you ask for? Spaw |
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Subject: RE: BS: Help me name our restaurant From: Amos Date: 20 Mar 03 - 10:01 AM Open Mike: Duke is not into channeling and spiritualism as far as I know -- but it was the site of the first serious efforts to develop meaningful tests of abiltiies such as are sometimes called parapsychological. These were constructed on scientific priciples of controlled experimentation and statistical results. I suppose you could call it "Psyche's": it is as easy to say as Dani's, although less pretty. A |
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Subject: RE: BS: Help me name our restaurant From: Dani Date: 20 Mar 03 - 10:38 AM Don't know if the above links will work, but it'll give you some idea what the place looks like. The last is the storefront. It actually looks much prettier than this photo came out, but it'll show you why I'm considering "The James Pharmacy Restaurant". There are lots and lots of old Lueg's fans who will hate the fact that we're changing the name, despite their liking the other changes we've made. That proprietary sense will lead them to HATE my naming it after myself, I believe. Dani |
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Subject: RE: BS: Help me name our restaurant From: Sorcha Date: 20 Mar 03 - 10:42 AM This looks like a FUN! place. Wish I was closer. |
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Subject: RE: BS: Help me name our restaurant From: katlaughing Date: 20 Mar 03 - 10:49 AM I think ya'll oughta get the drift and leave off on her using her own name. I think her reasons are valid and I support her in that.:-) The pharmacy idea is kind of neat, but also kind of cumbersome...it doesn't roll off the tongue very easily. If it were shortened to just "the pharmacy" or "james'" it would be easier, but I am not sure those are very good solutions. Like AllanC, I would be a bit concerned about the negatives, also, even though "pharmacy" denotes legal drugs.*bg* A few more ideas: The Bide A Wee Tarry On (rather than Carry on) The Debate Team (with a nod to the Bill of Rights discussions) LOL, kat |
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Subject: RE: BS: Help me name our restaurant From: Dave Bryant Date: 20 Mar 03 - 10:56 AM You could always borrow the name from a UK TV series - Pie in the Sky. And of course there's alway Danni's Diner. |
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Subject: RE: BS: Help me name our restaurant From: Stephen L. Rich Date: 20 Mar 03 - 11:11 AM How about "Ralph". That's a nice name. *G* |
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Subject: RE: BS: Help me name our restaurant From: John MacKenzie Date: 20 Mar 03 - 11:57 AM Try again, halfway through my first post the text disappeared. The Food of Love The Love of Food From the quotation, "If music be the food of love, play on." Eggplant in Italian is something like Melanzane [mell-an-zah-nay] And in French it is Aubergine, this would give you the bonus of a wordplay on the French for an inn, Auberge. There is also a long running UK radio programme called "Friday night is music night" Batman thought,"Dinner dinner, dinner dinner, DANI'S" I think I'll mosey along now, my medication's wearing off!! BG Giok |
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Subject: RE: BS: Help me name our restaurant From: Mudlark Date: 20 Mar 03 - 02:39 PM I've always loved the word aubergine! Can imagine you wanting to work in words from a great sign but somehow pharmacy/food is a bit off-putting, no matter how neat the sign is, ditto drug(store), chemist, etc. When the right name comes along, you'll know it. Good sess to this new enterprise! (lol...you could call it The Mother Ship) |
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Subject: RE: BS: Help me name our restaurant From: katlaughing Date: 20 Mar 03 - 02:44 PM Got It Right Cafe Aubergine Dream (I like that word, too!) Dani's Little Dividend (just for fun!) Blue Plate Special (tip of the hat to Mudcat) Ring Our Chimes Cafe |
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Subject: RE: BS: Help me name our restaurant From: jeffp Date: 20 Mar 03 - 02:53 PM How about Down on the Pharm Pharm-Fresh Food Jack's Pharm - See? OK, now I'm getting silly. jeffp |
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Subject: RE: BS: Help me name our restaurant From: Blues=Life Date: 20 Mar 03 - 03:21 PM Old Drug Store Cafe? James Pharmacy Cafe? Names of local places are funny things. There used to be a place in Mt. Pleasant, IA called Goo-Cheez. It was not Italian (so it wasn't a mis-spelling of Gucci's) They didn't serve Goo. They hardly served Cheese. Nice restaurant, nice bar, great food, unexplainable name. I like the looks of the place, Dani, next time I'm up that way I'll stop by. Good luck, Blues |
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Subject: RE: BS: Help me name our restaurant From: Mr Red Date: 20 Mar 03 - 03:47 PM How can I better some of those above (and why should that stop me?) Bar Getz Tuna Sandwich the Drum Kettle Staff Nosh Station Aural Gratification (I defy your mind not to wander) the Ploughman's Bunch the Food of Love (less subtle but more accessable than that above) Repast Times Jigs and Meals or Jugs and Reels the Mad Platter Music While You Wok (ref to old UK radio program) the Musical Noodle Polonaise & (only joking) the Bad Salad, Riff Raphael's, Vilikins and his Diner, HillBully Beef, Corn on the Throb, Swallows and Amazing Tunes, Kitsch Inn, Meal in a Minuet, Cakewalk On balance I would counsel a name change - you will never please everyone. But it has to be your place, personality sells as much as food. |
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Subject: RE: BS: Help me name our restaurant From: C-flat Date: 20 Mar 03 - 04:32 PM "The Musical Gastronomer" "Sing for your Supper" "Yaskers Pharm" "The Tuning Fork" I agree that "Dani's" is a good name! |
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Subject: RE: BS: Help me name our restaurant From: Allan C. Date: 20 Mar 03 - 04:59 PM Wow, C-flat, I really like "The Tuning Fork"! |