Dog Days of Summer

Wieners in the News and Drinks for the US Open Tennis Tournament

Lois the Dog at Rockaway Beach, Queens, New York City, August, 1982. Also: Happy Belated National Dog Day. Photo: Barbara Alper/Getty Images

The “Dog Days” of summer are officially over, but since it’s going to be 90+ degrees Fahrenheit in Chicago this weekend, I’m unofficially extending them. But what, exactly, are they?

The Dog Days of summer are from July 3 to August 11 each year. They’re usually the hottest and most unbearable days of the season. The phrase is a reference to Sirius, the Dog Star. During the Dog Days period the Sun occupies the same region of the sky as Sirius the brightest star visible from any part of the Earth.

— The Farmer’s Almanac, 2023

Alrighty, then.

Since the long Labor Day weekend here in the US is ahead of us, and outdoor barbecuing will be in full swing, I thought now would be the perfect time to share more of your choices for best hot dogs— your “Dog Stars”, if you will—and your favorite hot dog joints and brands. The list appears at the end of this post.

But first, the US Open started today and last year I wrote about the official drink of the event, the “Honey Deuce” which is absolutely delicious. I included some other fun ways to serve melon, including frozen as ice cubes that flavor sparkling water and are so cold and refreshing to eat when it’s this steamy outside.

Here is the post from August, 2022. Click on “Read Full Story” below for the Honey Deuce recipe and more.

Wieners in the News

Then…

The Weinermobile, 1950. Photo: Getty Images

And Now…

The Frankmobile, 2023. Photo: Business Wire

The beloved Oscar Mayer®️ Weinermobile is now the Frankmobile.

For the first time in nearly 100 years, the iconic Weinermobile gets a beefy new name, The Frankmobile, inspired by the tasty new recipe for Oscar Mayer’s 100% All Beef Franks.

— Business Wire, May 17, 2023

But not everyone is happy.

I had a chance to hang out last month with my friend, the brilliant and truly hilarious historian

Annette Laing

who writes

Non-Boring History

here on Substack.

Capturing the zeitgeist (ok, it was just the two of us) she’s incensed about this and will only refer to it as “The F-mobile.”

To read the full rebrand story on Business Wire click: Here

Meanwhile, at the Wieners Circle, A Star Serves Dogs

Ed Sheeran at the Wieners Circle. Screen grab from video @teddysphotos on Instagram. Watch the video if you get a chance, it’s really fun.

The great Ed Sheeran served hot dogs at the Wieners Circle just a few hours before his sold-out, record-breaking- attendance-concert (70,000) at Soldier Field in July. He posted this about the visit on his Instagram, @teddysphotos.

Served hotdogs at Wieners Circle today. This place is legendary in Chicago for serving hot dogs and insulting their customers. I loved it. See you at the stadium tonight. x

— Ed Sheeran, July, 2023

“See you at the stadium tonight.” Talk about cool. Also: part of the fun at the Wieners Circle is the good-natured “banter” (translation: expletives, a-plenty) between staff and customers.

Reader’s Choice

Thank you all so much for sharing your favorite hot dogs, brands and places, and if I forgot any or you’d like to add to the list, please leave in comments. I’d love to keep this going. It’s lovely to see all of the different places you are writing from — I really appreciate this little community we’ve built. So, here we go! 🌭

The Wieners Circle, Chicago.

Superdawg, Chicago.

Grays Papaya, NYC.

Ted’s, Buffalo, NY

Pinks, LA

Bunnings, Australia

Sonoran Dogs, Phoenix, AZ

Hummel Brother’s New Canaan, CT

Flo’s Cape Neddick, Maine

Coney Island Dogs of SE Mass/RI

Kökka hot dogs, Finland

Zwiegel’s Hot Dogs, Rochester, NY

Danish street vendor dogs, Denmark

Hebrew National Brand

Chili Cheese Dog, Atlanta, GA

Lafayette Coney Island Dogs, Detroit,MI

Nathan’s, Coney Island, NYC

Home Depot Dogs

Charlie’s, Albany, NY

Gus’s, Albany, NY

Dodger Stadium Dogs, LA

Hempler’s BunBuster’s,Washington State

Vienna Beef, Chicago

Make a Chicago Dog. Vienna Beef, since the 1893 World’s Fair. Photo: Vienna Beef

Labor Day Special!

Between now and September 5th, yearly premium subscriptions are $35.

Or, if you’d like to ‘buy me a cup of coffee” every month, I’d really love it and be oh-so-happy if you’d sign up for a $5 monthly subscription and I’ll do just that! ☕️ ☕️ ☕️

Take care, everyone and thanks again. See you soon!

Jolene