Happ-enings

At the urging of some acquaintances – if I call them friends, I am afraid people would question my judgment – I had the chance to discover one of central Nebraska’s true culinary gems last week.

For months, this group of “senior” gals, one of whom is my aunt, whom I happen to know pretty well, had been asking me to go on one of their weekly lunch excursions to a very famous joint just a handful of miles from my house. After myriad excuses stopped me from going with them, they finally made me put the date on my calendar, and last Thursday, we hit the road.

Our destination was none other than the famous Coney Island in downtown Grand Island.

Since the landmark restaurant on Grand Island’s Third Street predates me by several generations, I have heard a lot of stories from my parents and other relatives about its unique menu and the experience that you can only have in the Grand Island establishment.

After three decades of living within a stone’s throw of the haven for hot dog lovers, I was excited to get the chance to darken the restaurant’s door last week, and I was neither disappointed with the food nor the experience that I had.

Since my dining companions were all born during, or close to, a time when everyone “liked Ike,” we loaded up the car early on Thursday morning and headed to Grand Island.

Construction on the Eddy Street underpass meant an unexpected trip down Grand Island’s Fourth Street, which, in turn, served as a catalyst for an unexpected trip down Memory Lane.

As we drove the downtown streets of Grand Island, I was privy to tales of frequenting the lunch counter at Woolworth’s Department Store, shopping at Brandeis, or stopping into the Grand Island Candy Kitchen. While these names and places didn’t mean much to me, the stories were nevertheless interesting, and were a fun snapshot of a different time in a city that I have known all my life.

Thankfully, not all of Grand Island’s storied establishments have disappeared, with one icon from that era and beyond still enduring: Coney Island.

In all reality, I was probably too excited in advance of our trip down to Third Street. However, I am a sucker for fun, new experiences, and I also love a good hot dog.

Thankfully, Coney Island delivered on all counts.

Upon arriving, we squeezed into a booth at the very back of the joint and started examining the menu. While there were options, I wasn’t about to try anything other than the signature Coney Dog on my first outing. While I am not crazy about mustard or onions, I knew that I couldn’t deviate from the original, so I sucked it up and, alongside my dining companions, placed my order.

Last August, the University of Michigan published a study that claimed that every hot dog you eat will shave thirty-six minutes off of your life. While I have a lot of questions about the validity of that study, I will be upfront and say that losing a half-hour on earth was worth it for that Coney Dog.

In all actuality, I think that the fries and chocolate shake that I ordered to wash the dog down with will do more damage than that one sausage, so, as I walked out the door onto a sun-soaked Third Street, I didn’t regret a single decision that I had made. In fact, taking some time out of my day to experience the landmark that is Coney Island was one of the smartest things I did all week.

Typically, during my weekly ramblings, I attempt to tie a recent experience that I have had into a broader theme. While sometimes it is a stretch, I usually always manage to make some connection. Yet, this week, after belching onions for three days, I have yet to come up with any broader lesson to link to hot dogs smothered in mustard and chili.

So, I guess the only thought I can leave you with this week is, no matter what researchers at the University of Michigan say, take a moment or two out of your busy schedule to enjoy life.

And, if you have time, grab a Coney Dog.