>>>>>New York City's limits on sugary drinks are not legal, a state judge ruled Monday. The ban on large-sized sugary drinks was set to go into effect on Tuesday.
>>>>>
>>>>>This is a breaking-news story. Check back for updates.
>>>>>
>>>>>http://www.cnbc.com/id/100442833
>>>>
>>>>I'm curious. How would people here feel if, instead of banning large drinks, the law required that anyplace selling sugary drinks had to provide at least one actually small (8 oz. or 12 oz. maximum) size? IOW, they had to offer people the chance to buy a single serving, but could then go up as large as they wanted?
>>>>
>>>>When I was growing up, I think the standard soda cup sizes were 8, 12 and 16 oz. That 16 oz. seemed huge to us. Now, that's about the smallest you can ever find.
>>>>
>>>>Tamar
>>>
>>>I remember when McDonald's introduced the Quarter-Pounder. That was a BIG burger! And that tiny pack of fries that now is included in the mini-meal was the standard portion.
>>
>>I would tell you my first memory of McDonald's if it didn't reveal me as impossibly ancient. All right, all right, I won't be a tease. My family lived in Bangor, Maine, and not much went on there, so when McDonald's came to town it was a huge event. It was the original style, white and red tile with the signature golden arches. No booths, just takeaway. The only things on the menu were hamburgers and cheeseburgers -- 19 cents and 29 cents IIRC -- the fries you mention, and milkshakes. No soda. Ray Kroc paid the actual McDonald brothers in San Diego for the patent on their milkshakes.
>>
>>The second bomb went off when they introduced the Big Mac. 51 cents.
>
>My first vague memory of McDonalds is from a road trip. We lived in Philly; most of our relatives in DC, so several times per year, we'd drive down. Before I-95 was complete, that meant US 1 and US 40, and on one of those trips, we stopped at a (presumably new) McDonalds. I have no actual memory of the food.
>

It's not really designed to be memorable, just predictable ;-)

This point was brought home twice on a trip to New Orleans last week. The first was at the airport in Baltimore, where I had a two hour layover. There were pretty decent food choices for an airport, including more than one place featuring Maryland crab cakes. Where was the long line? Taco Bell. The second time was at lunch break on the second day of the convention in New Orleans. I was far from the only one to set out on the streets to find an alternative to the limited and expensive choices inside the convention center. In a city known for its food, where were people lined up? Subway. The line went out the door into the street.

I truly do not get that mindset. Airports themselves may be a hassle these days but I never leave for a different city without a sense of adventure. I want to try the local cuisine. I want to read the local newspaper, not USA Today. Why would I want to try to replicate what I have back home?

Here is a hot travel tip for anyone visiting New Orleans. There is a hole in the wall Cajun/creole place near the airport called Harbor Seafood. I did a google for local restaurants and found lots of raves by local customers. The decor and ambiance verged on zero. It didn't matter. The food was sensational. I wish I could eat that crawfish etouffe every day. Which of course I can't, which is my point exactly.