Niffer's Archives - There Goes Connie

Suggestions for Parents of Auburn Students – Part 4 “Get Outta Town!”

09/12/2016 By: CCPearsoncomment

If you come into Auburn for a football game intending to just spend a few hours with your student/child, have a meal, see the game and then head back home, you might as well face the fact that you will be in a crowd, a big ol’ crowd. At all of the eating joints within walking distance of the stadium, you’ll be standing in line or waiting quite awhile for a table. If you’re a tailgater, then you’ll have your own food with you, so that’s another subject altogether. In the mid- to late-90’s when our kids were there, we used their dorms or trailer as our gathering spots. Many students have much more deluxe accommodations these days, I hear. Don’t tell our kids. 🙂

However, if you have the luxury of coming in a day early or staying for a day or so AFTER the game, or if you come for a visit when there’s no ballgame on tap, then I have another place for you to enjoy. Head 10 miles down the road to nearby Opelika and find the railroad tracks. A beautiful area has been developed on South Railroad Avenue with eateries of all kinds and live music is scheduled frequently. There’s a nice parking area, and the landscaping is lovely. Several of the restaurants have outdoor dining patios you can enjoy when the weather is nice. A few fun shops also welcome browsers.

The two places Steve and I tried on South Railroad Street recently were Ma Fia’s Ristorante and Niffer’s at the Tracks, but you could also choose Side Track Coffee, O Town Ice Cream, Irish Bred Pub, Jefferson’s, or 8th and Rail. 8th and Rail, I must say, has a menu that doesn’t seem to fit its name — sushi and cocktails. ??? What’s up with that?

If you want to “eat like the students eat,” then go to Niffer’s. I mentioned it briefly in a blog post a few weeks ago. There are other Niffer’s locations in Auburn and at Lake Martin with the same tempting menu. Get a basket of corn nuggets with honey mustard sauce for starters. You’ll be glad I told you. Ah-may-zing. Burgers take center stage at Niffer’s. Choose from 5 different types of patties — beef, black bean vegan, vegetarian, chicken or turkey. Then, pick from an array for toppings and sides. This is a multi-napkin experience. So delicious.

Niffer’s — a favorite of the Auburn faithful.

Eclectic decor of Niffer’s interior.

Looking toward the front door of Niffer’s.

Veggie patty, topped with pineapple and mozzarella with a baked potato.

Ma Fia’s was formerly a simple pizza place, but now it has an extensive and mouthwatering Italian menu. I loved the eggplant parmesan, and Steve gave his pizza 2 thumbs up. The foccacia bread at the beginning was great, too. The atmosphere at Ma Fia’s is more intimate than that of Niffer’s. Think smooth jazz and cozy tables.

Opelika is half the size of Auburn, but it has much to offer. I hope you have a chance to find this neat gathering spot by the tracks.

Oh, and one more thing, here is a link to my article about Railroad Avenue recently posted in MilesGeek.com.

Memory Food and Photos for Auburn Grads (title suggested by daughter Laura)

08/15/2016 By: CCPearson2 Comments

Steve and I recently spent a few days in our beloved Auburn — the place where we spent the first year of our marriage, from which we both have hard-earned degrees, and to which we both sent much hard-earned money when our kids were there. We needed to get away. We’ve had a lot of sorrow and stress since February of this year. We wanted to just “be” for a few days. Whipping out my Travel Writer Hat, I started researching the latest and greatest restaurants that I could review. Our kids, instead, balked at that idea and said we should stick to the “tried and true.” We managed to do both. In a future post, you will read about restaurants that have appeared on the scene in recent years and have begun gathering their own loyal followers.

For those who know The Loveliest Village on the Plains well, you will recognize the places in the photos, and hopefully, they will conjure up great memories.

Laura says, “When I think of Auburn, I think of chicken fingers. My two favorite places are Guthrie’s and Tenda Chick.” So Laura, these photos are for you. I hope you get to eat some soon.

I hear the chicken fingers are amazing.

Niffer’s is another traditional place for Auburn alums and for present students. I tasted their corn nuggets with honey mustard dressing for the first time this week. Oh my! Steve and I shared a basket and seriously couldn’t make ourselves stop eating them. Positively addictive. Niffer’s has great burgers. They have so much variety that even vegans and vegetarians can dine there with plenty of choices.

Niffer’s for terrific burgers.

Cheeburger Cheeburger is right down the sidewalk from Toomer’s Drugs as you go toward the railroad tracks. Or, if you’re merely thirsty, stop in at Toomer’s for lemonade.

Cheeburger Cheeburger! I wonder why they left spelled it that way??

The newly-planted trees at Toomer’s Corner will finally be ready for rolling with the upcoming football season. Let’s just hope that exuberant celebration event gets to happen many times beginning September 3, 2016 when Auburn plays Clemson. In case you were in a foreign country after Auburn won the National Championship in 2010, Google “Harvey Updyke” or “Toomer Trees” to read the full story. It has been a massively expensive restoration project to be able to bring this tradition back to the Auburn campus.

New trees are finally big enough to roll again. War Eagle.

Do you need a new Auburn t-shirt or sweatshirt? The 3 top places to look would be J & M Bookstore, Anders Bookstore and Tiger Rags. Tiger Rags is also the place to get your Game Day shirt when you arrive on a future fall Saturday.

A great place to buy Game Day shirts and Auburn gear of all kinds.

THE iconic building at Auburn is Samford Hall. It has provided the backdrop for thousands of family photos. Two grads — one from 1971 and one from 1972 — couldn’t resist the photo op either. Have I mentioned that I graduated the same day that Pat Sullivan did?

The building that represents Auburn to many people.

Samford Hall with 2 old grads in front.

“2 bits — 4 bits — 6 bits, a dollar. All for Auburn, stand up and holler!!!!! War Eagle!!!” 20 days until kick-off!!

Jordan-Hare Stadium with its massive Jumbotron!

Auburn, Alabama — A Fall Saturday Place to Be and to Follow Traditions

09/30/2015 By: CCPearsoncomment

Steve and I had a great trip to Auburn for a game a few years ago, but we messed up one big time. That was in our restaurant choice for dinner on Friday night. We reasoned that we needed to “be good” and stick to the low-carb diet we’d been on, so when we saw a bright, shiny, new place with Diner in the title, we thought, “It’s bound to have meat, vegetables and salad, so why not try it?” Big mistake. HUGE. The service was lackluster, and the food tasted bad, really bad and was overpriced to boot. When we left, I sent a text message to the kids spelling out our tale of woe. Matt quickly responded with a text of his own: “Who goes to a diner in Auburn???” The clear implication was that he wouldn’t be caught dead there. His choices would be Chuck’s BarBQue, Guthrie’s, Cheeburger/Cheeburger, or Niffer’s. He wouldn’t be looking for healthy, home-cooking. He’d be wanting to feel like a college student again. Laura’s text said: “Why would you go anywhere besides Cheeburger or Guthrie’s?” When I told her that we decided to be a little bit adventurous, her reply was classic — “You don’t go to Auburn for what’s different. You go because of what is the SAME! War Eagle!”

See why I love my children so much? They are such delightful people, and they were exactly right. Why do the old grads like Steve and me make pilgrimages back to the Loveliest Village on the Plains? Because of what’s the SAME. The traditions!

We learned our lesson the hard way and spent the rest of the weekend reminiscing and enjoying the tried and true.

The top picture shows the back of my t-shirt purchase on that day. Notice that “rolling the trees on Toomer’s Corner” was featured because their fate had been so much a part of the news since the previous winter’s vengeful poisoning by the disgruntled fan of a rival team. In the next picture, you can see for yourself how the trees at Toomer’s Corner were faring. Look closely at the tops, and you’ll see some sick-looking yellow and brownish leaves, especially when you compare their color to the trees behind them. Sadly, those trees have since been removed.

I always enjoy walking past Langdon Hall, the site of my Senior Piano Recital given in December of 1971. I started my college journey at Samford, studying with my much-beloved teacher Dr. Betty Sue Shepherd. But, I gave that up to marry Steve and ended up here. I’d do it all over again, dear Steve.

This is Gargis Hall where many of my music classes were held. It was old then, so it’s REALLY old now. 🙂 Stately architecture, though, don’t you think? And there’s a glimpse of Samford Hall’s iconic clock tower in the distance.

In this photo, Steve and I are headed to the game, and you can see Jordan-Hare Stadium in the background and Haley Center. I hear that they’re planning to tear down the Haley Center. I guess that piece of landscape will change soon — hopefully for the better.

Here is Aubie — award-winning mascot — entering the stadium before game time. Our grandson Luke aspires to “be Aubie” when he gets to college. Wouldn’t that be fun??

With 30 seconds left in the game, the score was 42-38 and thankfully, it stayed that way to the end. It was another day of chanting the cheers, singing the fight song, and pulling for the Tigers.

This is not the place to color outside the lines. We’ll stick more closely to what we know and love next time — hopefully in the not-too-distant future. War Eagle, everybody!

P.S. One of my favorite parts about being an Auburn fan is that whether we win or lose, we’re still Auburn fans. After disappointing losses on several occasions, I’ve still joined with the crowd chanting “It’s great . . to be . . an Auburn Tiger, yes, it’s great . . to be . . an Auburn Tiger . . . “

P.P.S. This coming Saturday Steve will be taking our 3 oldest grandsons to Auburn for a game. Memories will be made. Traditions will be passed down.

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