Actually, most of them are not "matchless" at all. I have a collection of match books, spanning 35 years.
Both front and rear views; in some cases, they are the same.
Top: Possibly my most important one, now that it no longer exists:
The World Trade Center, Windows on the World Restaurant, on the 107th
floor. We visited there in 1976, I believe.
The View: from the Marriott Marquis in NYC. The view from that place is unparalleled in New York, and it rotates! If you want to sit by the windows, prepare to wait for days for a seat to open up.
Petunias: a restaurant in New Orleans, which I went to, but have no memories of.
La Ferme de Mougins - France. My daughter brought these to me. She spent the summer in Zurich one year, and travelled all over Europe, the lucky girl!
Papa-Razzi: a great restaurant in Georgetown, DC, owned by a Georgetown University grad. He hosted a cocktail party and dinner here during the last class reunion my hubs and I went to.
Sonora Cafe: in Los Angeles. I remember going here one evening during a "Special Event" convention. I do not remember the food.
Z'Tejas Grill: in Scottsdale, AZ. My daughter and I ate here during a trip to the Grand Canyon, and I still remember their catfish appetizer. The plate was so large and the catfish brimming over the sides were so excellent that I would really like to go back to Scottsdale just for another meal!
Peter Luger's Steakhouse in Great Neck, NY. I ate here with my husband and his parents on Father's Day, 1988. They had bragged and bragged about this place "it is world-reknowned, everyone eats here, yada, yada" and guess what, I didn't care for it. My steak was full of gristle and fat, and the creamed spinach they had touted was pasty and under-seasoned for my taste. They never let me live it down. Supposedly I am the only human to ever eat at Luger's and not fall deeply in love with the place. Sue me.
Ohhh, a friend of mine collects matchbooks. I look for them everywhere!
ReplyDeleteI have a matchbook from The Madonna Inn where my hubby and I spent two nights of our honeymoon.
ReplyDeleteIt's neat how little keepsakes from places we've been can mean a lot.
great stuff. I use to do the matchbook many years ago. I have no idea where they are today.
ReplyDeleteWow, incredible stuff! I went to Windows on the World many years ago myself. I don't even remember it, unfortunately. As always, thank you for sharing.
ReplyDeleteVery Funny about Peter Lueger..As you might remember I grew up in Great Neck but this Restaurant wasn't there..and we had NO 'World Famous' Anyting back in those days...We were lucky that was a Deli back then....(not till I was in my teens, actually...). I think that's hilarious Judy That you didn't like it....It's been my experience as I'm sure for many people, a place gets a Reputation and to live up to that standard of HIGH Quality, the Chef must NEVER leave!! And that just doesn't happen very much....
ReplyDeleteI love that you collected all this Match Books..I use to have a fair collection, but cannot remember what I did with it! And that Trade Center one...now very precious, isn't it? SHOW MORE!
My daddy always collected matchboxes wherever he went. He kept them in an oversized brandy snifter. When we were going through his things after he died I even found some from my wedding reception.
ReplyDeleteYou should check out James Lilek's blog (lileks.com)..he has an entire section on old Matchbooks witha new one every week. Plus a ton of other ephemera from the 40s and 50s.....
ReplyDeleteI used to collect matchboks Judy, till my mother made me throw them away because she was scared the house would catch on fire.
ReplyDeleteJudy, I believe they could do an entire episode of the Antique Road Show just with your collections. These are great.
ReplyDeleteThanks for helping me with some of the flower names in those wreaths. I'm saving what I thought was the most unusual one for last. Hope to get there before Christmas.
I collect matchbooks, too. Do you display them somehow or are they just put up in a box somewhere?
ReplyDeleteOh my, that many years. WOW! I don't smoke but collected them from places we vacationed at or visited from the time I was a teen on up. However, I was more vigilant collecting them when I was a kid, later when dating, and tapered off shortly after I was married. So, mine are in a box away from a heat source and no where near as many as you! I looked to see if we have some in common. Yes...... but I can't say.
ReplyDeleteOk Luger's does not do it for me either. What is even more amazing is that every place you mentioned in NY does not have matches anymore as NY is a smoke free zone.
ReplyDeleteMy mom had the hugest matchbook collection I have ever seen she had three huge pretzel containers full, she threw them out when she sold our house many moons ago. She kept them in our bar .... G-d forbid anyone ever tried to use one to light a cigarette.