• Sunday-What'sUP November 16 - 11:35 pm

As we make preparations for the upcoming Thanksgiving - Christmas season here at Pasty Central, we fondly remember the early days of this special project, which helped keep the doors open for many years at the Home for the Aged where it all began. And we fondly remember the wonderful Seniors who enthusiastically took part in giving birth to this fundraiser. I had the priviledge of telling the story almost 9 years ago at a State of Michigan "Information Technology Summit" held in the L.P. at the turn of the century.

Let me set the stage for this week's audio Pasty Cameo (Part I): I found myself sitting in the front of a huge auditorium with a panel of industry heavy-hitters from companies like Microsoft, IBM, Ford and GM. As more-or-less 'comic relief', they had me recount the start of Pasty Central, which occurred very nearly at the start of the Internet itself. We had some fun that day, teaching the audience how to say P-A-S-T-Y, and using the ever-present 'hand map' to point out the U.P. and the Keweenaw in particular. Sorry we don't have the video (maybe a good thing), but you'll just have to use your imagination.

We enjoyed a Pasty Central pasty with some friends at The Hut in Kearsage last night, and I was reminded again why folks order more every year for home delivery around the holidays. The miners and their wives definitely had a hearty diet for such hard work, with the pasty as a complete hand-held meal. We are honored to carry on that tradition.

Have a good week :0)
...and we'll see you next Sunday for Part II

Thanks for posting the Pasty Cameo! This is a fantastic story, and I really like the "rabbit with its ears sticking up" analogy. Have a good week everyone.

Loved the cameo, Charlie. When I heard you say "The tippy top of the UP" I laughed out loud because that's exactly how I describe it when I'm trying to explain where I'm from. I swear there are people who never took a geography class or something, lol. They don't even know we exist. Looking forward to next week.

WHEN I DESCRIBE WHERE CALUMET IS AT IN THE KEWEENAW PENINSULA, I HOLD UP MY RIGHT HAND AND BEND MY INDEX FINGER A LITTLE BIT AND SAY, 'IT IS IN THE UPPER TIP OF THE UPPER PENINSULA, THEN I POINT TO THE TIP OF MY FINGER, AND SAY THE LITTLE PART THAT GOES OUT OVER LAKE SUPERIOR.' THEN I ALSO TELL THEM IT IS IN THE VERY NOTHERN TIP OF WESTERN U.P. SOMETIMES PEOPLE UNDERSTOOD WHAT I WAS SAYING AND OF COURSE THERE ARE PEOPLE WHO DID NOT UNDERSTAND BECAUSE THEY HAVE NEVER BEEN TO THE U.P.
I KNOW THERE ARE SOME PEOPLE WHO REMEMBER SONNY ELLIOT? EVERY TIME HE MENTIONED A LITLLE TOWN IN THE KEWEENAW PENINSULA HE WOULD TAKE THAT LITTLE PART OFF HIS WEATHER MAP DOWN AND POINT TO IT.;O)) (HE WAS A DETROIT WEATHER PERSON)

A Las Vegas Pasty? Hilarious, but I think you may have been sucking up to the crowd, Charlie. (Ooops)

Had you seen the hand motions, the laughter would have made more sense. Remember this was before the infamous 'wardrobe failure' in the Super Bowl

LET ME CORRECT MYSELF:
I MEANT TO SAY WHEN I HOLD UP MY LEFT HAND.

Charlie, thanks so much for this week's cameo. I knew a little about the start of all this but hearing you tell about it was great. Can't wait to hear the rest next week. I had my first Pasty in St. Ignace many years ago and really didn't think to much of it. Then I found this website and read about how much everyone enjoyed them. This past September I had my first one from Pasry Central. In October I placed my first order and now I know I will order often.

Thanks, Charlie and to all the others who got this great site going.

"right here in Enga-denga-denga-denga-dine"

I found this site one morning and thought how cool,the pictures,the comments from so many.
Its awesome. I had no idea what this was all about until I listened to the audio.WOW!
I will stay tuned.

My wife makes me a batch of homemade venison pasties at the start of deer season every year. I eat them for three days and they bring me luck and keep me full in the cold weather.
Pasty Central has the perfect recipe for store bought pasties. I get around to them after the deer is in the freezer.

Reid, To quote Sonny, " Enga denga ringa denga dine." Hung out in his estableshment for some years back in the old days. He had a bar at the Detroit airport on Gratiot. Called it the Weather Station. He is still on the radio doing the weather. He has a million jokes and loves telling them.

Thanks for pointing that out, Charlie. I would have gone to Vegas, ordered a pasty and received tickets to a show instead.

By the way, is the assisted living home still in existence and do they accept donations?

SONNY ELLIOT WAS A REAL CUT UP CHARACTER. MY BOYFRIEND STILL LISTENS TO HIM ON THE RADIO.

Still Waters, the assisted living home, finally had to close. It was a terrible shame. Both my parents had been there, and it was a wonderful place.

Hey Mikie!!
Your quoting Sonny was what I remember him saying. He would take a portion of his UP map out of the UP , stick his finger in it and twist his finger which would make a squeaking sound. I remember it being Engadine because we had relatives there by the name of Clark. Sonny was a favorite of most everyone. He was pilot also. I believe he kept his plane at Detroit City Airpot.

To all:

Sonny Elliott was also one of my favorites and you can see him in action in a CBS interview at http://www.wwj.com/pages/6684.php Click on the B&W video, there is a clip that shows the Keeweenaw that was at the top of his weather board along with his squeak.

JT

Hi Charlie,

I was working at Stillwaters when this picture was taken. How I miss those dear residents and the entire Pasty family. I have never known a more loving and caring environment. I remember the delicious smell on pasty baking days, and the beautiful garden.
Hope you are all well and happy,
Martha

Martha, it's great to hear from you. Those were certainly some happy days when the home was doing well, and your smiling face greeted everyone who came in the front door.

is that mrs.looker about half way up the table on the right? if not, she has a twin, and if so, the oleksy family sais hi!!!

My Uncle was here for a few months and I fondly remember visiting him in this very room. He is still in good health and is happily back in his own home. I have ordered a few pasties from Stillwaters and they are wonderful. It is a shame it closed down. The U.P. is in need of a good quality nursing home.