"BBQ" oil on canvas (18" x 24")
Affectionately referred to by many as “The Circle” this deco style diner is no longer located in the Highlandtown/Dundalk area in Baltimore, MD. It is rumored that in the 1960s it was THE big, East- side, hang-out for motor heads who packed it with jacked-up, souped up American cars. Conversations about “popping wheelies” and “laying rubber” could readily be overheard. Former patrons have said that until it was sold in the 1990s tasty Bar-B-Q sandwiches were prepared by the same husband and wife team for many years. If you walked up to the side window to order you could see the lady in the back room surrounded by gallons of milk and ice cream while preparing milk shake after milk shake. The husband kept a close watch on how the patrons behaved. In 1987 I had my first experience with the restaurant. As I pulled up in my huge 1976 Buick, we had the only car on the lot. So we casually parked and walked up to the service window on the side. Since we were inexperienced and new we had no idea of the parking regulations. The man sternly made us readjust our parking before he would make our Bar B Que sandwiches. You see since it was a round building the patrons were required to park on a diagonal representing angled rays around the building. Made sense to me once I knew the rules.
I lived in Catonsville but went to the Circle many times after dances at Unity Hall which was right down the street. My girl friend, whom I met at St. Mark's CYO in Catonsville while she was visiting her cousin, lived near the Circle so I would ride the 8 streetcar and 10 bus to see her. This was the place to be and be seen back then. Another hang out was the Thunderbird, not too far away on Eastern Ave. in Essex.
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ReplyDeleteI spent a lot of time in Dundalk btwn 1950s thru 1970s and practically lived in the circle barbecue. What I'm asking does anyone remember Long Haired Jack Carter who visited there back then? If so where can I find him or any of his close friends. My name was Reds and I drove a motorcycle back then. He drove an El Camino.
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