A box of Sky Bar candy bars, now made in Sudbury, MA.
via skybarcandy.comI am once again in the grips of nostalgia, so I feel compelled to wax poetic about New England's own Sky Bar, the best-ever candy bar.
If you grew up in the Boston area in, say, the last 80 years, chances are you've scarfed down a Sky Bar or two in your lifetime. The confectionary delight was introduced all the way back in 1938 via a skywriting campaign. Because back in 1938, that's how you got the word out on something new: you hired a plane. Today, we have the internet. Far less fun. We should get back to skywriting.
The Sky Bar was made by NECCO, the New England Confectionary Company. They had manufacturing facilities all over the Greater Boston area; I remember the one in Cambridge. They're likely best known for their infamous Necco Wafers and Valentine's Day staple Sweethearts Conversation Hearts. But it's their Sky Bar that I celebrate the most. Because in ever Sky Bar is every candy bar.
An Ode to the Sky Bar, My All-Time Favorite Candy Bar
It's a stroke of sweet genius, really. A chocolate bar that features not one, not two, not three, but FOUR different flavors: caramel, vanilla, peanut, and fudge. Each flavor is lovingly--and separately--ensconced in delicious milk chocolate, offering the candy consumer four scrumptious munching experiences. The trick was always to peek at the bottom of the bar and try to figure out which was which.
Wakefield Bowladrome had Sky Bars in their vending machine when I was a kid, and it was always my go-to bowling treat back in the '80s. Years later, when the candy became harder and harder to find, my then-girlfriend tracked down a distributor and ordered an entire box to be shipped to our apartment in Albuquerque, NM. A taste of childhood, a taste of home. I savored them all.
And that's why I think the Sky Bar sits atop my personal candy bar ranking. It was one of my early favorite candies because of its uniqueness. But it was also homegrown, which created a more intimate relationship, if that doesn't sound too weird. You can love a Milky Way, sure. But everyone could get those. New England kids could get a Sky Bar. Kids in other parts of the country couldn't.
When NECCO closed back in 2018, the Sky Bar went the way of the dodo, but only for year. The rights and recipe were purchased at auction, and today the Sky Bar is made right here in Sudbury, MA. Pay them a visit and pick up a bar or two. Oh, and if you want to eat yours like I eat mine, do it like this: vanilla first, then fudge, followed by peanut, then caramel.
’90s Nostalgia: The Toys, Food & Trends New England Loves Most
Here's a heavy dose of '90s nostalgia for whenever you need it. And if you're like me, you need it all the damn time.
I was born in 1977. That's the year punk exploded, but I'm too young to remember that. Being born in '77 means I was a kid in the '80s and I came of age in the '90s. In fact, my February of '77 birthday put me in line to spend the entirety of the '90s--1991 through 1999--in high school and college. Those are typically the formative years of a person's musical and pop culture tastes. I'm no exception.
I've written extensively about my Gen X tastes and memories as they pertain to the '90s. I've covered everything from junk food to drinks to video games to '90s bands to '90s slang. So when this new state-by-state study of American's obsessions with all things '90s came across my digital desk, I couldn't wait to dig into it. And I can't wait to share it with you. Along with my observations, of course.
'90s Nostalgia: The Toys, Food & Trends New England Loves Most
So here it is, An Analysis of ’90s Obsession Around the U.S., courtesy of The Shane Co. And here's the methodology: "We started with a list of 45 popular snacks, toys, and accessories that defined the ’90s. From there, we analyzed Google Trends search interest for each of the items in every U.S. state over the past 12 months." And they even made a cool, interactive map, which you can view here.
As always, I'm most interested in what's making the list in the six New England states. I've shared below the top snack, top toy, and top accessory from each. Take a look and prepare to be taken back to the last pure decade before the internet ruined everything.
Connecticut
Top Snack: Hubba Bubba
Top Toy: Easy Bake Oven
Top Accessory: Faux Flowers
I was always more of a Bazooka kid, but I respect the Hubba Bubba nostalgia.
Maine
Top Snack: Mini Chiclets
Top Toy: Tickle Me Elmo
Top Accessory: Scrunchies
Tickle Me Elmo was to '90s kids what Cabbage Patch Kids were to '80s kids: your parents almost got killed by their fellow shoppers trying to get you one for Christmas.
Massachusetts
Top Snack: Potato Sticks
Top Toy: Game Boy Color
Top Accessory: Stick-on Tattoos
I will still destroy an entire canister of Potato Sticks if left to my own devices. So crunchy. So salty. While playing my Game Boy Color, of course.
New Hampshire
Top Snack: Mini Chiclets
Top Toy: Polly Pocket
Top Accessory: Fanny Packs
Mini Chiclets were a big deal in Northern New England back in the '90s, apparently. I can't believe I was able to find the old commercial with Tone Loc.
Rhode Island
Top Snack: Trix Yogurt
Top Toy: Easy Bake Oven
Top Accessory: Anklets
The '90s really did a great job of picking up where the '80s left off with regards to defiling food items. "Yogurt? That's too healthy. How can we make it junky? Make it taste like Trix!"
Vermont
Top Snack: Dunkaroos
Top Toy: Easy Bake Oven
Top Accessory: Bandanas
Literally singing the "Dunkaroos" commercial jingle while I'm typing this sentence. The '90s ruled, but they ruined my brain.
