It's time to Skate Again!!

This past weekend, I took the family skating at the local rink. I had not been skating in about 30 years! It was a friends birthday party at a place in Bushkill, PA and I know it was 1988 because this was the first time I heard the new smash hit song "Nightmare on My Street" from the up and coming rap duo DJ Jazzy Jeff and the Fresh Prince. It was so much fun and I was hoping to create those type of great memories for my kids. 

The place was a total throwback! From the airbrushed graphics on the walls, the skate shop, disco ball and black light special skates it was like I was back being a kid in the 80s.

I was a little scared to get back on the skates since it had been so long, but my kids took to it almost immediately. We took a few laps around on the carpet just so we could all get a feel for the wheels, but after that we hit the floor and didn't leave for about 2 hours. Yes, there were some falls and yes my son did take me out a few times, but it was so much fun!!!

They also had a small but pretty nice arcade inside the building. There were your standard games...

like Skee-ball. Which my youngest daughter hit the jackpot on.

Then there was this retro styled 50-in-1 arcade cabinet that had all the classics like Centipede, Donkey Kong, Space Invaders and a ton more. My son decided to play Congo Bongo. I have not seen this game in decades and it took him out pretty quick. He wasn't too upset about that, but he was upset when he learned this machine did not spit out tickets.

With the arcade tickets they earned, my kids were able to get a few piece's of candy and a plastic lizard. I am so glad we decided to go. Not only was it a fun and enjoyable family day out, but look at that carpet in the picture above!!! I wish I could carpet my entire house with this stuff! If you have not been skating in a while and you have a rink near you, I highly suggest checking it out. It really brought back some great memories for me and I hope it can do the same for you.

Comic Book Pick 3/27/19

This week the comic book I am most excited to read is...

DETECTIVE COMICS #1000

After 80 years, it's here-the 1,000th issue of DETECTIVE COMICS, the title that literally defines DC! This 96-page issue is stacked with an unbelievable lineup of talent that will take you on a journey through Batman's past, present and future...plus a sensational epilogue that features the first-ever DC Universe appearance of the deadly Arkham Knight! But who is under the mask? And why do they want Batman dead? The incredible future of Batman adventures begins here! Will have decade appropriate trade dressAfter 80 years, it's here-the 1,000th issue of DETECTIVE COMICS, the title that literally defines DC! This 96-page issue is stacked with an unbelievable lineup of talent that will take you on a journey through Batman's past, present and future...plus a sensational epilogue that features the first-ever DC Universe appearance of the deadly Arkham Knight! But who is under the mask? And why do they want Batman dead? The incredible future of Batman adventures begins here!

(W) Peter J. Tomasi, Brian Michael Bendis, Paul Dini, Warren Ellis, Geoff Johns, Tom King, Dennis O'Neil, Christopher Priest, Kevin Smith, Scott Snyder, Others (A) Doug Mahnke, Neal Adams, Greg Capullo, Tony S. Daniel, Steve Epting, Kelley Jones, Andy Kubert, Alex Maleev, Dustin Nguyen (CA) Scott Williams (A/CA) Jim Lee

 SRP: $9.99

Synopsis Provided By: PreviewsWorld.com

Throwback Jam of the Week: 3/25/19

Throw on your hoodie, cut your hair in the fresh half-fro style and hit the rooftops as we take you back! Without further ado, here is the 20 Years Before 2000 THROWBACK JAM OF THE WEEK...

Artist: Method Man ft. Mary J. Blige

Song: All I Need

Album: Tical (1995)

Peak Billboard Hot 100 Position: 3

Bonus Fun Fact: This song won the 1996 Grammy Award for Best Rap Performance by a Duo or a Group. Ranked #44 on VH1's "100 Greatest Songs of Hip-Hop" list.

Comic Book Pick 3/20/19

This week the comic book I am most excited to read is...

SPIDER-MAN CITY AT WAR #1

PRESS START ON A BRAND-NEW MARVEL UNIVERSE! Showered with worldwide acclaim, the blockbuster Marvel's Spider-Man has everyone's spider-sense buzzing! Now you can experience the emotional and shock-filled story that takes favorite characters (including Mary Jane, Aunt May, Norman Osborn, Otto Octavius and Miles Morales) and spins them into an all-new and unexpected web of drama, spectacle, and classic Spidey action in the Mighty Marvel Manner...with more original stories to come! After years of seeing Wilson Fisk escape criminal prosecution, the wise-cracking web-slinger finally has the opportunity to team with the PDNY to help them arrest his fearsome foe. But when the Kingpin of Crime is removed from the mean streets of the Big Apple, how will the mysterious Mister Negative's ascent to power bring Peter Parker's civilian world and Spider-Man's superhuman worlds crashing together? Plus: All-new story moments never seen in the game and bonus behind-the-scenes content!

(W) Dennis Hopeless (A) Michele Bandini (CA) Clayton Crain

SRP: $3.99

Synopsis Provided By: PreviewsWorld.com

Throwback Jam of the Week: 3/18/19

Throw on your doo rag, cut your hair in the fresh baldy style and hit the street ball courts as we take you back! Without further ado, here is the 20 Years Before 2000 THROWBACK JAM OF THE WEEK...

Artist: SWV

Song: Anything

Album: It's About Time (1992)

Peak Billboard Hot 100 Position: N/A

Bonus Fun Fact: This song was featured on the "Above The Rim" movie soundtrack. There is a remix of this song that features the Wu-Tang Clan. This was the final single to be released from this album.

Whatever Happened to Fruit Islands Cereal?

In 1987 Ralston introduced the world to King Ayumayuma and his delicious cereal called Fruit Islands. I'm going to be honest with you, if it weren't for the beautifully animated commercials with the catchy music I probably would have never even tried Fruit Islands Cereal. They seemed like a rip-off of Fruity Pebbles cereal which was and still is a great cereal. Thankfully for me, I did get suckered in by this well crafted advertising campaign and pestered my Mom to buy us some Fruit Islands Cereal!

 

The gimmick that separated this fruity flavored favorite was that each piece of cereal or island had real bits of apple baked into it! If my memory recalls, this gave the cereal a unique texture. There were several flavors of Islands you could eat in each bowl including Cherry, Orange & Lemon. I do remember really liking the taste and getting more boxes after we gave it an initial trial run. I remember they had some pretty good premiums packed into those boxes. From boxes of Nerds to fruit scented pens to...

FRUIT ISLANDS PLAYING CARDS!!!! I can't find anything on these cards anywhere on line, so I created the above picture based on what I remember them looking like. They were mini cards and very small, but each card featured King Ayumayuma on the back and they were fun to play with. Did anyone else have these or am I going crazy?

Despite Ralston's best efforts the cereal did not last long and the final push I can recall was Fruit Islands contest to help the King and his BFF Hee-Hee find there way home to the Fruit Islands. They gave away some great prizes, but it must not have stirred up enough additional revenue for Ralston to keep the cereal on shelves. So what ever happened to King Ayumayuma and Hee-Hee? This will forever be one of the greatest cereal based mysteries of our life times. If you see him around tell him I'm looking for him and we miss him!

For more info visit the Fruit Islands page at Mr. Breakfast.com

Comic Book Pick 3/13/19

This week the comic book I am most excited to read is...

SPIDER-GWEN: GHOST SPIDER #6

After the life-changing events of SPIDER-GEDDON, Gwen Stacy of Earth-65 has resolved to stay on her home turf and resume her normally scheduled super-heroics as GHOST-SPIDER. But in the wake of the Hand's downfall, SOMETHING sinister has begun stalking the streets of New York at night. Will Gwen be able to track down the thing that goes bump in the dark, or will she become one more victim of the MAN-WOLF?!
 (W) Seanan McGuire (A) Takeshi Miyaza (CA) Bengal

SRP: $3.99

Synopsis Provided By: PreviewsWorld.com

Throwback Jam of the Week: 3/11/19

Throw on your fedora, cut your hair in any style and head out to the NY jazz club Birland this evening as we take you back! Without further ado, here is the 20 Years Before 2000 THROWBACK JAM OF THE WEEK...

Artist: Us3

Song: Cantaloop (Flip Fantasia)

Album: Hand on the Torch (1993)

Peak Billboard Hot 100 Position: 9

Bonus Fun Fact: Us3 sampled Herbie Hancock's "Cantaloupe Island" for this song. The intro is spoken by Pee Wee Marquette and was taken from Art Blakey's first album titled "A Night At Birdland Vol.1". This song is featured on the Super Mario Bros. Movie soundtrack!

TMNT Sewer Squad!

Months ago I was doing some digging on the Playmates Toys web site and stumbled upon the Rise of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Sewer Squad Membership page. I looked it over and saw that for $15 you could become a part of the squad and receive 4 Rise of the TMNT action figures, a membership certificate and a membership card! Sign me up!

I love the fact that a TMNT fan club is still a thing in 2019, that alone sold me. But to get 4 exclusive action figures for $15, that is a steal. These toys go from anywhere between $8-$10 a piece. I order the club membership and had to wait a pretty long time before my box came in the mail. When it did it was a joyous day in our household.

Since the ordering of this box of mutated goodness, Christmas had passed and my son had received the entire first wave of Rise of the TMNT figures as gifts. So, we didn't really need a whole other set. I am holding onto these guys first of all as a collector and second, just in case one of the other toys breaks or looses some pieces. Here is a closer look at the ninja teens!

 DONATELLO

 LEONARDO

 MICHELANGELO

RAPHAEL

As you can see, there are some minor differences to these toys versus what you can get on the pegs at the store. First off each of the members of the green machine come bagged instead of on cardboard backers. Second each turtle has a slight variation in the paint scheme, such as the bandages on Raph and some of the details to the shells. Lastly the weapons have extra painted on details. 

It's a crazy good deal to all this for just $15 bucks. If you or any of your kids are Turtle fans I suggest you check this deal out today. You can visit the Sewer Squad page by clicking HERE and you too could be a part of the Mean Green Machine! COWABUNGA!!!

Comic Book Pick 3/6/19

This week the comic book I am most excited to read is...

ASTRO HUSTLE #1

Chen Andalou, the black sheep of a prominent activist family, returns after being accidentally put in cryo-stasis for sixty years. Chen, a cosmic criminal, wakes up to find his younger brother is now the President of the Galaxy. Chen does what he knows best:  he steals stuff and causes a problem.

(W) Jai Nitz (A) Tom Reilly (CA) Greg Smallwood

SRP: $3.99

Synopsis Provided By: PreviewsWorld.com

Throwback Jam of the Week: 3/4/19

Throw on your Kangol, cut your hair in the fresh baldy style and watch an episode of In The House as we take you back! Without further ado, here is the 20 Years Before 2000 THROWBACK JAM OF THE WEEK...

Artist: L.L. Cool J

Song: Ain't Nobody

Album: Beavis & Butthead Do America (1996)

Peak Billboard Hot 100 Position: 46

Bonus Fun Fact: This song was released as the second single from the Beavis & Butthead Do America Original Motion Picture Soundtrack. It reached #4 on the Billboard Hot Rap Singles Chart and was nominated for a Grammy in 1998.

80s Commercials From The East Coast 2

I had such a great time finding these nostalgic commercials from my childhood on YouTube a few weeks ago, that I decided to do a second post! Once again these are the commercials that would run on our local stations when I was a kid living in New Jersey. Most of them ran in the Summer when us kids were home in the daytime to watch multiple hours of TV in between pick up basketball games and Nintendo marathons. Man these really take me back. Enjoy!!

Westchester County Fair in NY

Crazy Eddie: Beat The Heat Sale

Young People's Day Camp

Action Park

New Jersey Tourism Ad

Raceway Park

D'Agostino's Grocery Stores