I was furtively wandering down Queens Boulevard on Tuesday, occasionally pausing to wipe off my glasses, as the Illness Mask fogs up glasses as hot breath is redirected onto them. I was still north of Union Turnpike/the Jackie and thus, considered myself still in Forest Hills because by my lights, Kew Gardens begins south of Union Turnpike, when I spotted this classic plastic-lettered sign across the pedal-to-the-metal Boulevard of Death.
Outside of New York City, I doubt you see many signs advertising “bialys” and “appetizing.” A bialy resembles the better-known bagel, but has a depression, not a hole, in the center like a bagel, and it comes with a filling such as onions or poppy seeds; is simply baked without boiling (bagels are boiled before baking). Bialys can be served with cream cheese, smoked fish or other extras, but many prefer them alone. Bialys were originated in Bialystok which has been in Poland, Germany or Russia depending on who was conquering who.
Note that the usual English orthography is thrown out the window. Usually, y with a consonant in front of it changes to “ie” for the plural, but “bialies” would look sort of awkward, so “bialys” it is.
“Appetizing” is one of the few words ending in “-ing” that can be used as a noun, as well as “inning.” In Jewish food store lingo, it comprises foods that can be put on bagels, such as lox (smoked fish), and cream cheese. Kosher delis skip the cheese products in combination with the lox or any other meat.
All classic bagel sidewalk signs have flames somewhere on them. See if you can spot them here.
So with a name like Walsh, I probably have gotten some stuff wrong. The floor is yours in Comments.
Check out the ForgottenBook, take a look at the gift shop, and as always, “comment…as you see fit.”
12/22/20