Have you ever had a favorite band, book, television show, restaurant or bottle of wine that you knew was something you would be a fan of for the rest of your life? No matter how popular or obscure this thing that brings you joy is, isn't there something satisfying in knowing that only YOU (and maybe a select few other enlightened souls) really love and appreciate a particular author, musician, actor, restaurant, bar or whatever?

Hey, somebody probably saw The Beatles in some club and just knew one day they were going to make it big. Right?

For example, long before he blew up with the "Supernatural" album, I was a big time fan of Carlos Santana and his music. I have nearly all his albums on CD and vinyl, have seen him almost a dozen times live and just generally dug the hell out of his music before the bandwagon got crowded. Just before he hit it big with "Smooth" we saw Santana play in a outdoor venue that was half-filled, but he rocked the house all the same. AFTER the album started winning every Grammy in sight, he came back to the same place, but by now the ticket price had soared and the joint sold out with all these "new" Santana fans that had "suddenly" discovered how bad of a guitar slinger Carlos is.

Don'tcha hate when that happens? On one hand you're glad to see an artist or author or whomever achieve some success, but what fun is it when all the newbies and wannabees stampede all over the loyalists who stuck it out when times were lean?

The subject for debate is:

Tell us about a musician, band, actor, author, artist, restaurant or what have you that YOU discovered before it became well-known or a success (or you're still a big fan of and it HASN'T become common knowledge to the unwashed masses.

I was a stand up comic for 6 years, and opened for a few big names, but Brad Garret I got to know the best and partied with the most, while he was still a club comic- he plays Raymonds little (but very tall) brother on Everybody Loves Raymond.

He was one of funniest guys in the club scene, as far as being funny while we are all drinking at the bar and attempting to, um, make time with the ladies. He did a Munster impression that would freakin kill you with side aches from laughter- and I saw it a thousand times, and still cracked up when he did it.

I was doing comedy right when the Seatlle music/ grunge scene was getting big, so I got to "hang out with the bands" like Alice in Chains and Soundgarden and such, though they were just starting to get national attention.

Midway between the expressway's business route and the paper mill, a couple of blocks off the lake, and close to the Railroad Tracks, "The House of China" restaurant lacks just three things needed for a successful business, location, location, and location.

The ambiance is unique. If it can be plugged in and lit up, it is:
hanging from the ceiling. (electric grapes)
covering the electrical panel (a flashing mirrored shadow box)
next to the cash register (a fog machine)
standing on the floor between the bathrooms (a vulture pumping water)
surrounding a painting of a Chinese empress (Christmas tree lights)

On dark days he has a light show which plays on the ceiling.

When I stopped in this morning, they were debating what they could unplug so that they could plug in the open sign.

Our daughter claims that she is the first one to have made friends with Charlie and Li, the owners. PE is learning a few words of Chinese. When we visit other restaurants in the area, like the Chinese restaurant that used to be a McDonald's and specializes in Broasted Chicken and BBQ ribs, PE greets them in Chinese, and they discuss Charley, Li, and their children. Our daughter has accepted several invitations to go to their house and play with their children.

Our daughter loves to order off the menu. A few days ago, a new waitress was trying to ask her, how am I going to explain to the cook what you want? She introduced herself, then said, "Just tell Charlie I'm here. He'll know what to cook."

When someone wants to meet with us, it is a comfortable (for us) "neutral corner" where we can meet and chat.

That's the background on the restaurant. In Thursday's Muskegon Chronicle, is a regular column, Lorenz at Large, in which an egotistical critic routinely points out everything that is wrong with our community. This Thursday, he was complaining about lists defining the sexiest men, best movies, etc. Then he decided to finish the article with a brief list of what is right with Muskegon. On Friday, the restaurant was filled with people asking our favorite waitress if she had seen the article which listed The House of China as the no. 1 place on the list, ahead of such attractions as a major amusement/water theme park. No one at the restaurant had seen the article, and none of the customers had brought in a copy. And that, is why I dropped in this morning, so that at least they would know why they were suddenly so popular...

As my daughter and I were leaving, someone drove up and asked me, "Do you know when they open?" I checked my watch and said, "about 15 minutes ago." I turned the closed sign around to read open, and she parked; but I suspect that she had her doubts. There were after all, no fluorescent lights lit, no lights lit over the tables, etc. It's only bright back in the kitchen. Their electric bill is likely already too high.

And they were still looking for an extension cord so that they could plug in the neon light which reads "OPEN."

Eddie Brickell and the New Bohemians played in Dallas at a little bar, outdoors. There might have been only 50 of us. She sung that song that eventually made her popular, but I thought at the time- she will make it because she is good, except that all her songs sound alike and she needs to change that.

She was a one hit wonder, until recently when she released an album that she said was non-commercial and something she herself really wanted to do. I like the title track to it but havent heard the rest, but kudos to her for bucking the system and getting true to her music, for herself.

I think I was on the discovery level of (Glaceau) Vitamin Water. I have turned so many people onto this stuff by now that I can exponentially account for a huge sales in their department, and some losses to diet drinks and especially Mountain Dew. For those looking for low sugar, healthy drinks besides water, these are the bomb with enough flavors to suit anyone and you can get the 50 calorie or no calorie version with no artificial sweeteners either, just better water. Loaded with electolytes and vitamins, they dont taste like it, they are light, fresh and 100% natural. Check them out, ( in the health food section) and get all your B's C's and anti-ox. Its NOT 'gatorade' either. http://www.glaceau.com/
I dont mind sharing this one since its already nationwide.

The thing I hate sharing is that little known vacation spot , swimming hole, hiking or fishing place or Bed and Breakfast you love so much that keeps changing and getting more crowded or harder to book through the years.
Or, your true local spot, a peaceful sanctuary, a little known hotspring for example!