PA is the same.
Who is craving a Dark & Stormy right about now?
May you have the Happiest of Days!
PA liquor laws suck.
Maryland. And Wegmans has a liquor store that’s right next to them - except the general public doesn’t know the details of the ownership.
Dinner sounds lovely, you had me at cheesecake. Oh, I love gardens, enjoy and happy birthday to you and BIL.
You think they’re bad now? I recall “state stores” (before they rebranded to “Fine Wine and Good Spirits”) where my dad had to select his bottles from a catalog and the clerk would go back and get it for him. The alcohol was kept in the back, no need\ability to peruse the bottles yourself. And never alcohol on Sundays. Weekdays and Saturdays they closed at 5:00 or 7:00. Beer could be purchased by the case or keg at distributors (again, not on Sunday). Quarts and 6-packs of beer could be purchased for take out at specially licensed bars or delis at highway robbery prices.
We can now choose our own bottles of wine and booze. Buy alcohol on Sundays. Buy beer or wine at select grocery stores (at a dedicated cashier). Buy less than a case at a beer distributor. I predict by the 22nd century we’ll even be able to buy beer, wine and liquor in one stop
Speaking of thread drift . . . I doubt @Harters cares about alcohol purchases, let alone purchasing in PA.
Umm, I was going back in time in the early 80’s on a family camping/canoe trip halfway between Massachusetts and Ohio. Both of our States had Blue Laws. In both MA and OH we could buy beer and wine (except on Sunday) at the same store, but hard liquor was only sold at State Stores. In PA, we had to buy our wine at their State Stores which were very few and far between. We were into a California chardonnay at the time and was met with a blank stare by the clerk, As I recall, we suffered a MD/ 2020 hangover the next day. Then we tried finding a place to buy beer - they sent us down a dirt road to a warehouse where they did have cold beer and and pushed some “beer coolers” that chicks really love…
Fortunately I was in Philadelphia where there were plenty of stores.
I recall mid-80s Ohio when I was a student. Equally strange laws as you say. Did I imagine you could purchase low-proof versions of Southern Comfort?? Talk about a hangover
Yes, even now in Ohio they sell low-proof versions of hard liquor in grocery stores along with beer and wine. But I can’t recall any fun times with Southern Comfort!!
Who said anything about fun?
“Yes, even now in Ohio they sell low-proof versions of hard liquor in grocery stores “
Now ThAT should be against the law.
And gosh, didn’t we hear a lot of that in 2020 and 2021. I think of freedom not just in terms of “freedom to” do/eat/etc whatever I want, but also more communally - “freedom from” hunger/gun violence/unnecessary exposure to danger, etc. In your son’s case, freedom to eat at a restaurant with a reasonable level of safety when disclosing an allergy.
I know the menu is set, but for future meals with similar constraints, a Mediterranean/Middle Eastern type feast might tick the boxes. Something like
Mezze - warmed marinated olives, hummus, baba ganoush, dolmades, sliced cucumbers, g/f seedy crackers. You could do pita bread if everyone could be trusted to eat exclusively from their own plates and not dip into the bowls
Roasted marinated/rubbed (or smoked paprika) chicken, lemony Greek potatoes, carrots, and shallots cooked under the chicken. Or grilled chicken and veg kebabs with dilled yogurt dip on the side.
Green salad with radicchio and sumac dressing (e.g. the one in Persiana)
Purchased baklava or homemade pistachio cake, ice cream, coffee
I well remember shopping at the state stores when taking a bottle of wine to a dinner, Coming from Northern California, it was “different”, We always found something.
Or if he’s travelling. Or while he’s in college. Thank you for your words of support.
Here in Upstate NY, those liquor stores are owned by members of the Wegman family. It has never been a secret.
Who said anything about recall?
Wegman’s is fairly recent to Maryland. Our liquor laws forbid liquor/wine sales in groceries, unless you’ve been grandfathered in. There’s at least one family grocery I know of who has that exemption.
Sad but true. I did see a group able to drink beer at a big table at the rtm instead of drinking it right at the bar there. Clever folks got a growler to go and then enjoyed. But but thread drifts are the funnest.