It’s wonderful to try new dishes, ethnic foods, but once-in-awhile, if you’re a meat and potatoes type person or married to one, or simply enjoy simple American fare then finding a place with home-cooking like Mom use to make is a welcomed change. With the global palate we have acquired, even good ole’ home cooking has become a specialty. Going the way of mom and pop neighborhood stores has been the corner café offering tried and true favorites like hot meat sandwiches with potatoes and gravy, daily specials, where breakfast is served all day long, at affordable prices. But, if you look hard enough and ask longtime residents, you are bound to find one of these gems.

Such is Julie’s Family Restaurant located on Belknap Street, in Superior, Wisconsin. “Right across the bridge,” as we refer to its’ location. Imagine a 3 egg omelet with 2 cheeses and 2 pancakes for $4.70! Daily dinner specialties after 4:00 P.M. include an “all you can eat” Fish Fry on Fridays for $6.50 includes french fries or baked potatoes, coleslaw and roll. Great down home cooking, friendly service, and affordable prices–what more can you ask for?

What is a “dive?” Usually, they are small hole in the wall places that serve fast food without any aesthetic trappings or location. Why should you consider eating at a dive? Well, if you are lucky and discriminating you might get wind of some dives that serve a limited menu, but what they do offer is a great meal at a bargain price.

Such are three places the Markdownmom chicks found while exploring the Twin cities. The MDM chicks discovered Psycho Suzi’s Motor Lounge, featured on Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives with Guy Fieri, Al’s Breakfast, and Big Daddy’s Saturday Barbecue.

The tiki shack design of Psycho Suzi’s Motor Lounge, located in North Minneapolis, welcomes young patrons and motorcycle enthusiasts. Known for its’ unique gourmet pizzas with names such as hemi cuda, Barbie Q, Suzi Quattro a large pizza will run you $19.35-$20.75.

Al’s Breakfast located in DinkyTown near the east campus of the University of Minnesota, is only open from 6a.m. to 1 p.m., you can fill up on blackberry pancakes, and other selections, a variety of omelettes. Tip: Bring cash, checks or charge/debit cards not accepted, and your own tupperware for leftovers.

Big Daddy’s Saturday Barbecue, located on University Avenue in St. Paul, Minnesota is as it name states only open on Saturdays and specializes solely in BBQ pork ribs, beef ribs, and chicken. ½ rack is $16. Corner of Dale & University. Wonderful BBQ!

Don’t let a hole in the wall deter you from finding these great places to eat. Check with the locals to find the best deals for food leave your comfort zone and get into the mode of an explorer–you may just discover a great tasting even with a colorful atmosphere.

Normally our blog’s mission, although it touches the realms of politics in that economics, personal and collective, are tied into the political winds of the day, is not as a vehicle of political discourse. However, something unusual appeared last night while viewing Fox’s TV series finale of “House™” that strikes us as odd given the venue and its’ sponsor. This TV drama for those who are unacquainted with it involves the iconoclastic, at times manic/depressive genius, addict, and medical diagnostician, Dr. House, and his solving of various mysterious causes of illness. Concomitantly, it delves somewhat into his relationships, given his unique personality, with fellow colleagues and young physicians who vie to sit and learn at the feet of the master. Although Dr. House is a natural skeptic and his dialog often contains sardonic remarks on the state of society, MDM has not considered it political until now. The scene of note takes place in a public washroom where viewers find a distraught female doctor, part of House’s entourage of young physicians, sitting in a bathroom stall. Enters Dr. House shoed foot at a 45° angle with a tap from the adjacent stall. Reminiscent of the scandal of Senator Larry Craig in a men’s washroom in Minneapolis, Minnesota, House makes a remark dealing with his taking a “wide stance,” while seated on the john. The dialog continues; however, in the camera shot of the female doctor’s stall, plastered on the back wall, is a Obama-like bumper sticker containing the words: “Vote For Change 08 .” Is this a pro-Obama or anti-Obama subliminal reference? It’s hard to say given the scene where this appears; after all, a political statement stuck above a toilet is ill-chosen one would think, if not, an ignominious placement. Have all avenues of persuasion been flushed out, to what level will we stoop? This is especially curious given that this show is part of a Republican-biased network. At the same time, this “free” advertisement, nationwide before another close, major primary, could be an advantage–a tickler to vote. Any free advertising is good, isn’t it, or is it? Is this the wave of the future? Will we see more political ads cropping up in our TV programs? Will television networks use this as a new source of revenue? MDM cannot really say.

What Do You Think?  Let us hear your spin on this!

If you ever journey through Wisconsin, be sure to make a stop at the Norske Nook Restaurant & Bakery. Located in Hayward, Osseo, Rice Lake, and Eau Claire, Wisconsin they have been blue ribbon winners at the National Pie Championship held in Celebration, Florida.

If you go there, be sure to sample their homemade pies especially the Banana Cream Pie. In Markdown Mom’s opinion this is the best banana cream pie she has ever bought. A slice of pie will run you $3.95, and a whole pie $21.95 (11 inches) plus a one time deposit fee on the pan (if you bring it back). MDM recommends that if there are 2 or more of you, order the whole pie because even with such large pieces, you will want more.

Wednesdays are Pie Day and you can get a slice of the featured pie and a cup of coffee for $2.49. Tuesdays, seniors 55+ get 10% off. They also have a Pie Club, get your card stamped when you purchase a whole pie and after 7 you get one free! If you love pie, and who doesn’t, you must make this a stop on your list when in Wisconsin.

If you have a special pie place, let us know at Markdown Mom so we can share it.

Everyone is on the move and it becomes harder and harder to find someone to share your life with. Entire sitcoms have been devoted to this primal quest Sex and The City even at times, the anal retentive Seinfeld. However, not everybody can partake of the smorgasbord of the large cities. An answer for many has been to turn to the internet. Although MDM does not advocate this alternative and always suggests that you check on any connection thoroughly; nonetheless, we are aware that people will continue to use this media, and who knows you may find Mr. Big or Miss Right. What MDM is looking for in any venue is a bargain, this new site allows you to test the waters for free. Chemistry claims that they will find your inner synergy and match you with up to 5 potentials for FREE based upon criteria on attraction developed by Dr. Helen Fisher. As with any dating service or matchmaker, don’t leave your common sense in a closet, and make sure that this site is only accessed by responsible adults. Having said that, Good Luck!

 Save $10 on every $50 purchase at Beauty.com™ when you tell them "Bill Me Later."

At Mikasa Save 15% off any order including clearance through March 16th.  Coupon Code:  Easter15.

Eddie Bauer® is having a 30% off  Spring Sale through April 6th.

You can’t get by without the Bare Necessities® especially when they have new styles from Spanx®. And don’t forget the Bali® and Barely There® Sale  through March 21,2008.

Calling all pet owners: PetSmart® save $10 on purchase total of $70 during March. Promo Code: SAVEMAR.  Free Shipping on order of $60 or more.

For all those American Idol fans you can now download this week’s performance at iTunes.  Plus you can download free music from new, exciting artists.

Steal of the Day is at The Company Store® with clearance of up to 75% off!  These Dots Knit Pajamas come in Spring colors, misses and plus sizes available, reg.$39.00-$44.00 steal price $8.99-$10.99. 

"New York, New York! " and if you are in New York Out On The Town near Times Square how about getting your own 15 minutes of fame for free.  Imagine your face 50 feet high 48 stories above Times Square!  Wow, what a rush!  Raul Enriquez is taking fine art to a whole new digital realm à la Christo.  Plans are to have more than 10,000 people have their faces on the 2500 foot  Lumacom screen.  Thinks it’s cool, and want to join in–yeah, who wouldn’t?  Then stop by and get your photo taken in a booth at the Chashama Gallery located at 112 W. 44th Street, Manhattan.  It only takes 30 seconds for 30 photos.   Enriquez centers on the eye and idiosyncrasies displayed in movements of each participant during the short session to reveal curious parts of their personality.   Photos are taken on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday from noon to 8 p.m.  The public art project runs through April 26th.

*photo courtesy of Raul Vincent Enriquez/Durst Organizaton

The banking community is taking a deserved beating this year with all the foreclosures and tightening of credit.  That’s why it is time to rethink joining credit unions.  Now there are credit unions, and there are credit unions. 

Some credit unions are trading off the reputation of what we remember of member-owned small facilities, by competing with large financial institutions with open enrollments and taking on the style and the impersonal attitude that we associate with large banks.

But there are others that still offer that first name basis, without looking at your deposit or withdrawal slip, and will take a chance on you despite any credit problems, because they know you and have a history with you.  If you can find such a financial establishment, join and rather than looking for the lowest interest rate, consider other factors of loyalty and support that are so important should you run into problems down life’s road. 

Not only is Markdown Mom’s credit union run with the care of being a member of a community, but they have fun doing it.  Do you know of any New York Bank that would offer a buffet dinner for $7per person, cash drawings, and other fun at their annual meeting? 

Not only do you get a voice in the running of the credit union, but you get a terrific inexpensive meal and a chance to win cash.

That’s better than playing the lotto! 

One of MarkDownMom’s favorite movie series is Indiana Jones.  Can you believe it has nearly been 19 years since Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade (LC) was featured in the movie theaters?  Now, almost on the same date as the LC, Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull will hit nation wide on May 22, 2008. 

If you can’t stand the wait, click here► to watch the newest teaser trailer of Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull. 

Before the fourth movie hits, you might want to revisit Indiana Jones previous movies, which come in a available at Wal*mart®,  box set reg.$59.99, sale $33.96

Anime, the Japanese art of animation was first developed in the early 20th century but did not gain world interest until the 1980s and 90s.  Now fans every where enjoy the unique storylines, colorful characters, and facial expressions that differentiates Anime from Western animation.  

Now even those shoppers out there who have never seen an Anime episode before can test drive the New Amazon Unbox Anime Store which is offering FREE episode downloads on top titles such as Natruto, Afro Samurai, Bleach, and Death Note. 

Also, for a limited time you can purchase Anime through Amazon at 30% OFF!

With the writers guild on strike, Markdownmom thought she had become a permanent resident of Wisteria Lane.  Luckily, the ringing in of the New Year means returning shows and some late night talk show writers.  Since many shows like, LOST, 24, Ugly Betty, etc. , will be airing at the same time, MDM says now is the time to upgrade your TV arsenal and get a TiVo®.  The best TiVo® available at a great price is the Series2 Dual Tuner Digital Video Recorder with 80-Hour Capacity.  The Series2 allows you to record two shows at the same time, MDM plans to tape the 24 premier and the Jane Austen special on Masterpiece Theater!  MDM has listed the best sites she found to purchase the TiVo® Series2 Dual Tuner Digital Video Recorder with 80-Hour Capacity.

1) Amazon.  The original TiVo® cost is $215.99 but Amazon is offering Free Shipping and $150.00 Rebate.  The final cost of the TiVo is $65.99.  The rebate can be done online or through the mail.

2)  Best Buy.  Best Buy has TiVo® priced at $249.99 but, like Amazon, has a $150.00 Rebate.  In addition, you can sign up for the Best Buy Reward Zone and earn points.  TiVo® with rebate is $99.99.  The item is on backorder so you will have to wait a few weeks for TiVo® to ship.  Offer ends 1/26/08.

3)  TiVo.com.  TiVo® is also priced at $99.99 but the site also has service plans.  Service plans range from 1 month to three years.  MDM likes the service plan for 1 year at $129.00.  Offer expires 02/02/08.

4)  Target.  The Series2 runs at $249.99.  Target offers a 10 percent  discount when you spend $100 or more in electronics.  Discount is only available for online orders.  Final Series2 price is $229.99.

5)  Ebay.  What can’t you find on eBay?  On eBay you can find TiVo® running from $10.51 to $399.00.  Beware: Check shipping costs.  Shipping can be anywhere from $45.96 to $65.00. 

Don’t you just love those ads featuring William Shatner as a World of Warcraft (WoW) shaman?  Somehow ads always speed up during the last few seconds and you miss crucial information, like a website featuring a free trial.  A free 10 day trial can be found on the World of Warcraft site and you can chose the original game or The Burning Crusade.  WoW is a massive multiplayer online role playing game so be prepared to interact with other people.  You choose a character avatar and throughout the game may view the landscape, fight monsters, preform quests, interact with other avatars, and build skills.  If you like the game, you may purchase a subscription to it for $29.99.

Prices this year have brought the HDTVs into the realm of possibility for many shoppers.  But before you buy, ask yourself the following questions:

1.  What room will the TV go into?  A rule of thumb for HDTV is the bigger the better.  However, wall space is a consideration when opting for the bigger models.  If you are one of the lucky ones with a dedicated entertainment room, then go for the 60" TV; however, for a smaller space like a bedroom, 37" may be a better size.

2.  What are the different types of HDTV?  It may seem at first that salespeople are speaking a different language:  LCD, Plasma, LCOS, and DLP.  It’s important to have a cursory knowledge of these terms.  All will give a great picture; however, what makes up the majority of your viewing will play a part in this decision. 

• Plasma is considered great for movies.  Plasma uses electricity to charge tiny areas of gas molecules to radiate light.  Each area is a pixel and together the pixels produce a high resolution picture.  Plasma will consume more energy and the picture won’t blur, but will fade over time.  They usually are cheaper than LCD TV’s.

• LCD for daytime viewing and sports because the crystals can filter out light produce black, let all the light in, or filter out wavelengths to produce variety of color.  They are more energy saving than other HDTVs.  The downside is that the crystals when doing this, change shape and  can create a blur with fast actions.

•  LCoS, Liquid Crystal on Silicon, is used in projection televisions.  Whereas in LCD light passes through the crystals in LCos, liquid crystals are applied directly to a coated silicon chip and is  highly reflective.   This makes for higher resolution than Plasma or LCD, and thereby is less expensive. You will find this technology used in rear-projection tvs.

• DLP® chip or Digital Light Processing is an enhancement of LCoS in that it relies on a single chip and is used in televisions, home theater systems , and business projectors.  In the 3 chip projectors, DLP can produce 35 trillion colors and you will find these projectors in movie theaters–over double the number of colors that the human eye can detect.   It is less expensive than plasma and lcd.

3.    Additional costs. 

• Don’t forget for an all around quality experience you will need a sound system. 

• Maintenance Costs.  DLP and LCoS, although less expensive, will need replacement of bulbs after 3,00-5,000 viewing hours; whereas, LCD & Plasma bulbs last between 20,000-30,000 viewing hours before being replaced. 

• Monthly high-definition service from your cable/satellite provide is necessary for the actual High Definition picture. 

• HDMI plug to hook-up system eliminates multiple wires since it carries both video and sound.  Here again, since price of this plug varies greatly, be sure to do your research for the best price.

4.  Do Not Get Stuck On Resolution.  Lower resolution models are less expensive and unless you have a severe myopic problem, perfectly good for viewing.

5.   Do Your Homework, Then Shop Around.  Popular electronic retail stores are convenient, but check online for cheaper prices plus free shipping and no sales tax.  Don’t be afraid to ask the salesperson what is his/her "best price."  Plus many stores to close a deal, may throw in extras for free like the HDMI plug.  Some retailers will match their competitor’s advertised price and take an additional percentage off, too. Check for close-outs and display models with an additional 20% off.  Remember this is a highly competitive field, if you have done your homework, know what you want before buying, and researched the best price, you’re bound to end up with a real bargain.

Gamers have a lot to wish for this holiday with games like Halo 2, Silent Hill Origins, and The Simpson’s Game.  However, gift givers may have a difficult time finding these in the stores, not to mention finding the correct format (PSP, PS2, XBOX360).  Gift givers may want to ask themselves "what happens when the gamer has completed all levels?", the answer usually is collecting dust or propping up windows.  The simple solution that pleases both buyer and gamer is a gift certificate to GameFly.  GameFly essentially works like Netflix.  The gamer selects videogames that he/she would like to play and will receive them within 1-2 days.  You can keep the videogames for as long as you want without incurring a late fee.  When you’re done ship it back in the envelope it was sent in.  It’s as easy as defeating the zombies in Doom!  Gift certificates can be purchased for 1-12 months (1 month is $22.95, 2 games out at a time).  You may have the gift certificate sent to the recipient via e-mail or print it out and hand deliver.

We have all awaited with bated breath our own copy of the Harry Potter and The Order of the Phoenix DVD, based on the 5th book  of the J.K. Rawlings’ Harry Potter series. 

Well, now you can finally exhale and pre-order it today at  Amazon®.  Get the 2 Disc Special Edition reg.34.98 sale priced at $21.99.  Pre-order price guaranteed.  If price goes higher you will still pay this amount; if it goes lower, you will be charged the lower price.  Win, win situation.

Also, find this at Wal-Mart® online $19.96+sh.