Vanishing Postcards

05/06/2024

I recently had the great pleasure of traveling to the beautiful city of San Antonio to produce a piece on the restaurant Mi Tierra for The Gravy Podcast. An Alamo City institution, its walls have born witness to many changes, and is largely reflective of San Antonio’s vibrant Mexican-American community. Featuring stories, history and even a tableside serenade, give it a listen by finding Gravy wherever you get your podcasts! 👇

https://pod.link/938456371/episode/86948bba8b13a806789d00638511509b

31/01/2024

Hey friends! Evan here. Ride shotgun with me on this piece I produced for the Southern Foodways Alliance’s Gravy podcast!

https://www.southernfoodways.org/gravy/from-stuckeys-to-buc-ees/

Few brands have inspired more fanatical devotion among Texans than Buc-ee’s. Described by the New York Times as a “Disneyland of roadside capitalism,” its iconic, buck-toothed beaver mascot has been spotted not just on billboards, but on the wedding cakes and tattooed arms of its most loyal customers. Founded as a small-town gas station, today Buc-ee’s boasts 47 locations across the South, with massive floor spaces brimming with souvenirs, fudge and BBQ stations, cases of jerky, and walls of beaver nuggets.

But Buc-ee’s isn’t the first convenience chain to endear itself to travelers through clean restrooms, kitschy gifts, and road food. One might say that Buc-ee’s stands on the shoulders of the Georgia-born chain Stuckey’s, whose nutty treats sparked a mid-century rest stop empire.

Today on podcast, ride shotgun with producer Evan Stern as he explores how food has shaped both companies’ identities, how they’re grappling with change, and what their stories tell us about the past, present, and future of road snacks. Listen wherever you get your podcasts.

Pictured: SFA co-director Mary Beth Lasseter’s family meets a celebrity en route to Georgia.

22/01/2024

Deeply saddened to learn of the loss of our friend Lawrence “Junior” Puccetti. A Korean War vet and the longtime owner of Galveston institution Sonny's Place, in retirement he regularly held court from a corner booth where he famously shared off color jokes with anyone gullible enough to listen. We were honored to meet and include him in our piece on Galveston’s Sicilian history, which we produced in conjunction with the Southern Foodways Alliance’s “Gravy” podcast. Our hearts are with his beloved son Richard, and all who loved him. To hear his voice, learn about his family history and get a taste of his humor, follow the link below-

https://pod.link/1544610020/episode/e6d4f96b91c9a41a081916e7881293ba

Lawrence Puccetti Jr.
August 4, 1930 - January 22, 2024

It is with heavy hearts we share that Junior has gone to be with his lord and savior. He died peacefully surrounded by family and friends. Though we are grieving, we are comforted that Junior has been reunited with his wife, Melba , and his son, Larry. Junior was a beloved father, grandfather and friend. We know he will be missed by so many. Funeral visitation wil begin at 2 pm and services will begin at 3 pm, Friday, January 26, 2024 at J. Levy & Termini Funeral Home, 2128 Broadway, Galveston, Texas.

Sonny's Place will be closed as we take this time to grieve.

20/12/2023

Christmas came early this year! Thanks to Frank Racioppi of Ear Worthy for naming us “One of the Top 10 Indie Podcasts of 2024.” Clocking in at number four on the list, he writes- “Host Evan Stern is the connective tissue who illustrates how Americans revel in their distinctness but still have much in common.” Here’s to finding more common ground in 2024!

The Ten Best Indie Podcasts Of The Year

07/12/2023

For any listeners in the NYC area, I’ll be giving a talk/presentation next Wednesday on “The Voices of Route 66.” Here’s a link with information for anyone who might have an interest in attending-

featuring Evan Stern

23/11/2023

On this Thanksgiving, I’m thankful for YOU! Thanks for riding along with me on this journey called Vanishing Postcards. Life remains busy, but promise there’s more gas left in this tank. Until we can hit the road again, happy eating!

13/10/2023

If you’ve listened to the latest podcast episode, you know the story of kolaches and how Texans have reimagined them over time. Evan Stern, who produced the episode, also created an oral history project for SFA, “The Keepers of Kolaches: The Evolutions of Texas-Czech Baking.” The collection explores kolaches’ evolutions through conversations with bakers who make the pastries today, representing a diverse range of backgrounds and informing questions about the future of kolaches. See the interviews at the link below.

📷 by Callaghan O'Hare
Pictured: Vatsana Souvannavong of Koala Kolach

https://www.southernfoodways.org/oral-history/the-keepers-of-kolaches-the-evolutions-of-texas-czech-baking/

12/10/2023

Had a delicious time working on this piece with our friends at the Southern Foodways Alliance’s “Gravy” podcast. Czech it out, Y’all! 👇 🎧

Today’s new podcast is all about kolaches—the pillowy, ye**ty confections filled with fruit and sweet cheese that trace back to the Czech Nation and 19th-century Moravian immigrants.

In America, kolaches aren’t ubiquitous like Danishes, and they have yet to enjoy a trendy moment like the cronut. Save a few corners of the Midwest, they aren’t easily found outside Central Texas—and even there, you’ll hear a range of definitions, depending on who you ask.

Join Evan Stern of Vanishing Postcards (Vanishing Postcards) on a return trip to his native Texas to explore the origins and evolutions of kolaches through the voices of Texas-Czech bakers preserving tradition, like Lydia Faust, and others making kolaches a vessel for bulgogi and kimchi, including Vatsana Souvannavong of Koala Kolache. Listen wherever you get your podcasts.

📷 : Callaghan O'Hare (Callaghan O'Hare)

21/09/2023

Like podcasts? I want to hear from YOU about how they fit into your life, what you get out of them, what you like about Vanishing Postcards, or if there’s maybe anything we could do better. If you’re up to chat, shoot me a DM and let’s find some time to talk one on one! ♥️

21/08/2023

Hey friends- Evan here. If it’s been a while since checking in, it’s because I’ve been busy. Most recently I had the honor of interviewing bakers and eating my way across Texas for an oral history project I conducted on kolaches for The Southern Foodways Alliance. Check it out!

"The Keepers of Kolaches" oral history project seeks to explore some of the evolutions of baking techniques and recipes that are used to create kolaches.

25/06/2023

Honored to be featured alongside some truly esteemed company as a keynote speaker at this fall’s Miles of Possibility Conference, in Bloomington-Normal Illinois.

The eighth annual Miles of Possibility Route 66 Conference will be Oct. 19-22 in...

11/05/2023

The US-Mexico border is a constant fixture in today's 24 hour news cycle. But often lost amidst the noise of talking heads and pundits is any discussion of the rich culture and humanity that can be found there, and how turmoil on both sides has altered the region's social dynamics. Forgotten as well is that for decades Mexican border towns were renowned for elegant, white tablecloth restaurants where jacketed waiters catered to a café society that transcended international boundaries. Among the most legendary was Nuevo Laredo's Cadillac Bar which famously served delicacies like frog legs and Ramos Gin Fizzes for more than eighty years until shifting dynamics forced its closure in 2010. Join us on a trip to Laredo in our latest episode, where we'll retrace memories of the Cadillac through its founder's Granddaughter Wanda Garner Cash, and others who experienced it firsthand. We’ll also explore how its influence persists on the American side through visits to such establishments as The Border Foundry and Bar Nido. The result is a paean to the bonds that unite these cities in the face of evolving divisions. Listen wherever you get your podcasts or via the link below-

https://pod.link/1544610020/episode/f8ae98a227aa75698397075802bd8847

04/05/2023

The author and folklorist J. Frank Dobie once said, “The boundaries of culture and rainfall never follow survey lines.” This is certainly true of Dobie’s native South Texas which is a region shaped by both the cultures of Mexico and the American West. Perhaps few dishes embody this geographical philosophy more than cabrito- a delicacy of roasted, milk-fed baby goat that is prized on both sides of the Rio Grande. In our episode “Communion Through Cabrito,” Evan Stern journeys below the Nueces River to get a taste of this meat at the YY Ranch where he joins the Avila and Aguirre families for a celebratory reunion and cookout. Amidst the revelry, the history, ethics and future of cabrito are explored through conversations and stories resulting in a rich tapestry of voices and celebration of cross-border connections. Listen wherever you get your podcasts or via the link below- 👇

https://pod.link/1544610020/episode/13820058898fa7b10813b39fa2e5b935

27/04/2023

Churches are made of people before brick and mortar. Perhaps few congregations illustrate this more than Saint Paul’s Catholic Church in the seaside village of Rockport, Texas. Founded in the early 80s by a group of Vietnamese refugees who in the aftermath of Saigon’s collapse followed work in fishing and sh*****ng to the Texas coast, its chapel was destroyed in 2017 when Hurricane Harvey slammed the Live Oak Peninsula. But while rebuilding has proven a challenge, its congregants remain undaunted as they dutifully gather each month to raise funds through a Saturday cook off. In our episode “Blessed Egg Rolls by the Bay,” we’ll hear stories from these remarkable individuals that reveal not only the history and challenges of resettlement, but hope of the American promise and parallels shared between small town Texas and Vietnam. Listen via the link below or wherever you get your podcasts-

https://pod.link/1544610020/episode/befff683b1ba89dffdc09afc4df953af

20/04/2023

Once perhaps the greatest town of significance between New Orleans and San Francisco, Galveston’s influence began to cede to Houston following the Great Storm of 1900 and today its population doesn’t even crack the top fifty of Texas cities. But while Austinites are occasionally known to refer to their community as a small town with growing pains, some Galvestonians might argue that theirs is really a big city disguised as a small town. Much of this perspective is owed to its rich immigrant history. This heritage is explored in our latest episode where we’ll get a taste of Galveston’s Sicilian side as visits to island institutions like Sonny’s Place and Maceo Spice not only reveal ties to the old country, but reminders of the once thriving corner stores that populated its dense, grid patterned streets. The result is a rich compilation of voices and stories spiked with the flavors of spaghetti, sausage and sandwiches. Listen wherever you get your podcasts or via the link below-

https://pod.link/1544610020/episode/e6d4f96b91c9a41a081916e7881293ba

13/04/2023

The village of Serbin sits about an hour east of Austin. The last time it was included in the census was more than 20 years ago when its population hovered around 37. Yet the sign on County Road 2239 announces it as Home of the Texas Wends, and the town reawakens on the last Sunday in September when descendants of this Slavic culture, that ranked amongst the smallest of Texas’s European ethnic minorities, convene here for Wendish Fest. In our latest episode, which is the first in a miniseries proudly co-produced with our friends at the Southern Foodways Alliance, you’re invited to join us on a visit to Serbin on this momentous occasion where we’ll meet a few who are working hard to share and maintain the history and traditions of this proud people through the seemingly simple practice of noodle making. Listen via the link below or wherever you get your podcasts-

https://pod.link/1544610020/episode/f608de747848ec2d84bdd901c07a52c8

27/02/2023

Our hearts are with Luana Priess and the family of Lawrence Gold, the patriarch of Gold Orchards, Inc., whom we were honored to meet and include in our piece on Fredericksburg peaches. A hard working, quiet, but kind and thoroughly decent man, he was a surviving link to the Hill Country’s German, agrarian history, who will be missed by many. In his memory, we are re-posting below a link to the piece, where he can be heard sharing a few words in German-

https://pod.link/1544610020/episode/3862893a9e47e3f70d319be6e0701f2a

With great sadness, Gold Orchards would like to let all of our friends know of the passing of Lawrence Gold, Luana’s dad! He will be greatly missed! May he rest in eternal peace! 🙏🏻 🍑

20/02/2023

Congratulations to our friends at Strong Sense of Place whose new season started releasing earlier this month. For those of you who love books and travel, theirs is a podcast we’re happy to fully endorse, and recommend you consider taking a trip to New Orleans in their latest episode!

Our new podcast episode is out in the world today, and we're taking you on a virtual trip to The Big Easy with New Orleans: Pass a Good Time.

It's often said there are good times and good stories — New Orleans promises both. From the everyday magic of beignets and jazz and voodoo to the once-a-year razzle-dazzle of Mardi Gras, NOLA is a serious party.

In this episode, we dig into a little bit of history and a whole lotta music and food, including the magic of jambalaya and the difference between cajun and creole. We also tell you how to find the best parades during Mardi Gras and get real about a haunted house.

Then we recommend great books that took us there on the page, including:
- a fantasy novel with voodoo zombies and enchanted graffiti
- an over-the-top cookbook that captures the spirit of the city
- an exploration of Katrina's impact on nine different lives
- a historical murder mystery with tons of atmosphere
- a gorgeous novel that weaves a family saga with sci-fi

Listen on your favorite podcast app — or our show notes page, where you can feast your eyes on videos, photos, and a slew of interesting links.

http://strongsenseofplace.com/podcasts/2023-02-20-new_orleans/

Photo courtesy of Florian Wehde/Unsplash

18/02/2023

A heartfelt congratulations to our dear friends, The Avila Family, whose Texas Conjunto Music Hall of Fame we were honored to visit and profile in Season One.

The Texas Conjunto Music Hall of Fame and Museum will open in a new space more than twice the size of its previous location.

15/02/2023

Y’all ready for another Texas road trip? 🤠

Gravy takes us to the small, Central Texas town of Serbin, where the locals take their noodles seriously.

13/02/2023

We are deeply saddened to learn of the loss of our friend, Rosie Ramos, who was the guiding force of Fender's River Road Resort in Needles, California. We were honored to meet and capture a piece of her spirit in our episode this season on Route 66’s innkeepers. “I'm blessed,” she told us. “I know thousands of people I would've never met if I hadn't have moved here.” Our thoughts are with all who knew and loved her-

https://pod.link/1544610020/episode/3aca19ac3727d0c148dc7b5e543b815d

08/02/2023

Well, friends- the cat’s officially out of the bag! Ready for another Texas road trip? Find and follow “Gravy” wherever you get your podcasts! 👇

https://pod.link/938456371

Get ready for a new season of podcast!

Producer Evan Stern of Vanishing Postcards gives listeners a taste of his native Texas beyond Houston and San Antonio, exploring small towns and little-known communities with culinary traditions as rich as their histories. In Central Texas, Wends make noodles by hand. Up the Nueces River, a Texan-Mexican family roasts whole goats. On Galveston island, the legacy of Italian and Sicilian grocery stores lives on, while Vietnamese refugees win over locals with bun on the Gulf Coast. On the border, the memory of an iconic restaurant connects sister cities across political lines. Tune in next Wednesday, February 15, for the first drop in this five-episode season, available wherever you get your podcasts.

02/02/2023

Well, friends- After nearly 7,000 miles logged on the odometer, over 100 interviews, and 17 episodes, our season long adventure on Route 66 ends today above the Pacific at The Santa Monica Pier. We’ll introduce you to a few of the characters who can be met there, but also reflect on the journey of Route 66 with a few familiar old friends including Michael Wallis, Jim Hinckley, Jim Livingston Art, Rhys Martin, and more! Listen wherever you get your podcasts or via the link below- 👇

https://pod.link/1544610020/episode/f4d458ad578f89e480f319f8da88c170

19/01/2023

Between the years of 1930 and 1940, some 3.5 million Americans fled the Great Plains, with the Dust Bowl blowing roughly 440,000 out of Oklahoma alone. For many, the end destination was the promised land of California and Route 66 provided a path of exodus. Some, with cars loaded, followed the road all the way to Los Angeles, but at Barstow many more detoured north to the San Joaquin Valley. In the process, these migrants not only transformed California, but in Bakersfield created a sound that forever altered American music. Join us in our latest episode as we explore the roots of this most American genre by tracing the footsteps of such artists as Buck Owens and Merle Haggard with author Bob Price, and attempt to get a finger on the pulse of this city's scene today. Listen wherever you get your podcasts or via the link below-

https://pod.link/1544610020/episode/f56fa70c356c3a2c3d109648993bc62b

06/01/2023

Diners are fundamental to the Route 66 experience- not just for burgers and milkshakes, but because of the connections they facilitate. In our latest episode, we invite you to join us as we step inside Adrian, Texas’s Midpoint Cafe, Stroud, Oklahoma’s Rock Cafe, and Westside Lilos in Seligman, Arizona to hear stories from their remarkable owners who not only labor hard to serve mouth watering pies, but compassion to those who enter. Listen wherever you get your podcasts or via the link below-

https://pod.link/1544610020/episode/217406fd1bf3db6e52b1bf60917c90cb

24/12/2022

Wishing Y’all some Happy Holidays! In honor of the season, here’s a link to last year’s Christmas bonus which featured a reading of an essay penned by Charles Kuralt in which he recalled his favorite gift from Santa… Your host’s will always be Teddy Ruxpin. What’s yours?

https://pod.link/1544610020/episode/cabea4de093b686b6adc754a1f0f2635

15/12/2022

In 1903, President Teddy Roosevelt addressed a crowd at The Grand Canyon. When speaking of this natural wonder, he said- “Man cannot improve on it; not a bit. The ages have been at work on it and man can only mar it. What you can do is keep it for your children and your children’s children and for all who come after you, as one of the great sights which every American, if he can travel at all, should see.” More than a century later, hundreds of millions have heeded those words, and the Canyon is an essential detour for travelers who find themselves motoring along Route 66. But Route 66 is as much about the journey as it is any destination. And that journey is front and center in our latest episode, as we invite you to join us and some other sojourners as we ride Grand Canyon Railway from the town of Williams, Arizona to the edge of the South Rim. Listen wherever you get your podcasts, or via the link below-

https://pod.link/1544610020/episode/c9a50d8d490e80bccfd37e6d72ca7a0b

12/12/2022

“These episodes left me breathless in their quiet poignancy- giving voice to people who feel forgotten... Vanishing Postcards finds comedy, comfort, wisdom, and beauty through a single line across a corner of this country. It is eye-opening in a way that isn’t shaming because this podcast isn’t here to shame. It is here to coax these places out of the dark and the dust, for those that came from these places, and those of us that have never been.”

These episodes left me breathless in their quiet poignancy- giving voice to people who feel forgotten. They are crisp episodes, recorded with an ambient delight...

01/12/2022

A cigar chomping nun. A suicidal gambler. A naked property manager. And a wounded bank robber. These are just a few of the hauntings whose stories are shared in our latest episode which features a sampling of tales collected in old hotels along 66’s western stretch about guests who checked in, but never left... Listen wherever you get your podcasts, or via the link below-

https://pod.link/1544610020/episode/63e2f54c40cea807d3521fc9ec331145

17/11/2022

Santa Fe has consistently lured free thinkers and intellectuals of different stripes. People like Georgia O’Keefe. DH Lawrence. And Robert Henri who in 1917 said, “Here painters are treated with that welcome and appreciation that is supposed to exist only in certain places in Europe.” It was around then, on a hill about a mile past the main plaza, a colony of artists began to spring up on Canyon Road. Their imprint remains in the fact that six of its blocks today house over 100 galleries. These spaces are supported by visitors from Aspen and Scottsdale who gladly drop thousands on landscapes before sampling the tasting menus at Geronimo. But on the district’s eastern fringe sits a low slung building of stucco and cedar beams whose walls house an establishment that bridges this district’s well heeled present to its Bohemian past. Its name, as announced by its wooden sign is El Farol. Officially recognized as New Mexico's oldest continuously operating restaurant, our latest episode not only explores its history, but through stories, music and an evening of flamenco, provides a taste of the place's bewitching atmosphere, or as singer Vicente Griego calls it, "embrujo." Listen wherever you get your podcasts or via the link below-

https://pod.link/1544610020/episode/4b934e420250a30276bc75d3e3cba999