Thursday, April 20, 2006
The Big Monday in Chattanooga
| OK, so Monday morning I was up early (for obvious reasons I couldn't sleep) and I rode in to downtown Chattanooga with Linda. She works at Siskin Childrens Institute a place for special needs children. This place is incredible! The story of how it was started alone was worth the trip: Two jewish brothers, the son of immigrants, take over their father's steel business and when it's really booming, Garrison Siskin has an accident that almost costs him his leg. While in the hospital he prays for God to help him and in return he'll dedicate his life to helping others. He miraculously gets better and with the help of his brother, Mose, they start a lifetime of amazing charity work. You can really see the faith and dedication of the Siskins everywhere, including the large museum of religous artifacts from all faiths. I was, and am, still in complete awe of how this place works. And into this, I wander with the idea of reading a book to some children. At first you feel like you're outclassed by a mile, but once you meet the folks there you see that they value the efforts of every single person. So about 9, I go to read The Big Orange Splot by Daniel Pinkwater one of my favorite books as a kid, and more meaningful every time I read it.  Click the picture to see a few more pictures from Siskin  Click the Krystal building to see more pictures from my trip to Krystal HQ I do now know for a fact that the folks at Krystal HQ read this blog, they told me. (let me pause to wave at the friendly folks from KHQ! HOWDY!) Kenny introduced me around, I met marketing folks, advertising people, the lady who basically handles internet stuff, good grief I met a lot of people. They were all so amazingly sweet and welcoming and open to me. I now feel like a complete clod for not getting any names or pictures. I had my camera and paper and pen and everything. Hopefully they'll accept this as an apology and perhaps drop me a note so I can get names and such. OK, so sometimes I'm a goober. We all know and accept this, yes? Good lets move on. I didn't get to meet the Krystal King, Mr. Exum, but I know I did meet Michael Williams, VP for Marketing. With it being Monday morning, I suspect there were important Krystal meetings in progress. Kenny showed me around the "Krystal History Hall" a short hall with glass display cases on both sides with all sorts of amazing artifacts like Krystal Fried Chicken buckets, and a box for Krystal Donuts. Old tax returns, pictures of President Ronald Reagan having Krystals on Air Force One. Old waitress uniforms, and lots of pictures. Some of the offices had great decorations, one person has the "Combo Menu" portion of a Krystal Drive Thru menu, lots of banners and signs and stickers. I also got a sneak peek at one of the Krystal Cups they're working on. It wasn't the one of me it was another hall of famer, but you guys are gonna LOVE the cups when they come out. I spent half my time at KHQ speechless and awestruck and the rest of the time laughing and shaking my head at just how amazing this all is. I left with a big stupid smile on my face but a gnawing hunger in my tummy. It was time for food. Linda and I had scoped out the original location of the first Krystal on our drive in, and I confirmed it with kenny, so I was off to check it out. The location of the first Krystal, at 7th and Cherry St is no longer a Krystal. It is a place called the Angus Cafe.  Click the image to see a few pictures from the Cafe Oct 2004 Jan 2005 As I sat there eating my burgers, I found myself with the urge to get up and scream "This is Krystal, not the Angus Cafe!! Ya'll get out!!!" That's a good sign it's time to leave. Nothing against the current owners, but as I told Kenny, the location is BEGGING to be bought back by Krystal and turned into a history museum, with all the great artifacts from the "History Hall" plus the tons of other stuff they surely have in a closet somewhere. Plus they could cover the walls with all the folks from the Hall of Fame. I am sure the folks at Krystal have had this idea already, it's not such an amazingly innovative idea, is it? OK, so lunch is done and there's a lot more of Chattanooga to see, so I make my way to the aquarium.  Click the picture to see more photos of the aquarium Finally to wrap up for Monday's recap. I spent an hour or so wandering around downtwn Chattanooga and I know I still haven't seen everything. I will definitely have to get back up there this fall. I have a hand full of pictures from around Chattanooga as well, but this post is already WAY too long, and im tired of typing. If you're interested in seeing Chattanooga, you should go there and see for yourself. I can give you directions and hotel suggestions and such (I don't think Linda will let all of ya'll stay at her house!) But for now, I think that's enough! (Don't you?) One more (short update) coming tomorrow in Episode #3 of the Adventure including my top secret mission! Stay tuned, peoples! (And go get some krystal chiks!)  |
