Austin American-Statesman from Austin, Texas • 103

Austin American-Statesman Saturday, June 3, 1989 DINING STAMPS Welcome to the house of fun Food, frolic now earn equal billing at wacky Magic Time Machine Don't expect a mint for old collections E14 By Barth Healey New York Times Service Dining out Stomps By Diane Payton Gomez Special to the American-Statesman It's been years since I visited the Magic Time Machine, and the thought of Fun House-style dining (which was new and trendy in the early '70s), featuring a steak-and-shrimp menu, didn't hold much appeal anymore. But we went because the Magic Time Machine seemed like a good place to take a 7-year-old birthday boy who insisted on dressing up like a clown when he learned that MTM's waiters wore wild costumes and performed slapstick comedy. Inside it's still the same old entertainment-oriented Magic Time Machine with dark, angular passageways, odd, little dining nooks, a salad bar-in-a-car and yards of dingy, wildly patterned cut velvet. (The manager said the restaurant is up for refurbishing soon after the UIL state-event crowds leave. It seems many Roman-orgy food fights occurred during their visits.) But the big surprise was that the Magic Time Machine has considerably improved its menu.

There's still prime rib, plenty of steaks and shrimp (now also breaded-and-fried instead of only steamed), but you now can order chicken (marinated or with mushroom sauce), fresh fish (broiled, blackened, fried or grilled) and pasta Alfredo. There's even a three-meat sampler platter. And best of all, the quality of everything we ordered was outstanding. All the greens at the salad car were crisp and fresh and came with Staft photo by Lynne Dobson A fine selection of steak, shrimp, and a salad bar-in-a-car make the Magic Time Machine, 600 E. Riverside Drive, worth checking out.

Looking back over a year's worth of mail from readers, two problems seem so common that they deserve some solutions in print. The first is a variation on: "I used to collect stamps when I was a child, and I just found this old album in the attic. What are the stamps worth?" The second is: "I have all these old mint stamps but they are stuck together. How do I separate them?" Let's look at the collections. First, it is unlikely that any youngster bought expensive stamps.

The young collector of the 1930s or '40s or '50s could buy stamps for a penny or two because they were so abundant. Indeed, there may have been tens of millions. A lot have been lost over the decades. But even if there are only a million or so of each stamp left, that does not begin to approach the degree of rarity that would force up the value. Granted, there might be a gem in the dross.

But this brings up another problem when a collector wants to sell an old-time collection: few dealers have the staff or the time to prowl through a fat, old album looking for a few stamps that have rare perforations or watermarks. Most dealers will make a flat offer for the lotand probably will sell the collection intact, or perhaps country by country. Only a dedicated hobbyist, for whom such a search is a pleasure rather than a job, will bother assessing every stamp. This applies equally to some specialized collections, such as plate-number blocks and commercial first-day covers. Privately produced first-day covers, because they usually were made in such small numbers, are a different matter; a specialist dealer must evaluate those.

In seeking an assessment, check the local Yellow Pages for dealers near you. The dealer should be a member of the American Stamp Dealers Association or the American Philatelic Society. Either group will be glad to McDonald, "broke" bread by loudly slamming a fresh, hot little loaf down on the table. Fortunately, such abuse still left the bread tasty. A Pick-a-Pair of fried shrimp and prime rib ($16.99) couldn't have been better: fresh butterflied, crispy shrimp and medium-rare beef that was tender and juicy.

The veggie choice of yellow squash and zucchini was nicely seasoned with lemon pepper and butter. The Machine does venture beyond ye olde squash medley by rotating steamed broccoli with an oriental vegetable mix. Dining out in review MAGIC TIME MACHINE Address: 600 E. Riverside Drive Telephone: 444-3537 Hours: 5:29 to 10:01 p.m. Sunday through Thursday and 5:29 to 11:01 p.m.

Friday and Saturday Reservations: Recommended Smoking: Separate section Accessible: to wheelchairs Credit: All major cards Rating: The Sampler Platter ($15.99) featured a hearty chunk of fresh, grilled swordfish, perfectly seared filet mignon and moist, grilled chicken breast that had been marinated in Italian dressing. Both a baked potato with all the fixings and a delicate rice pilaf decked with bell pepper, green onion and celery brought satisfactory nods all around. And the Machine gang lauded attention on the little birthday guy. He thoroughly enjoyed his junior platter of fantail fried shrimp, tater tots, soup and salad, plus chocolate chip cookies Diane Payton Gomez's weekly restaurant review is based on her experience during an anonymous visit. Additional information may be obtained later by telephone.

the Oyster Kracker to the list of restaurants with good meals priced under $10. A variety of fresh seafood specials (served chargrilled, fried or broiled) are offered along with tasty small seafood restaurant fare of oysters, catfish and shrimp. Spicy Cajun gumbo, thick Boston clam chowder, fried frog legs, soft-shell crab and scallops round out the menu. (April 8, 1989) Wanfu Chinese Restaurant, 2400 E. Oltorf, 462-3535.

There are lots of specialty dishes from tangy spicy lamb to gingery shredded tea-smoked duck. Wanfu's version of crispy shrimp with walnuts is one of the best, and so are the pan-fried noodles, a perfect balance of soft and crisp textures blended with lots of chicken, shrimp and vegetables In a smooth sauce. We also recommend the lemon and soy-marinated cold scallops with ginger and seaweed which are not on the menu, but definitely worth calling and ordering In advance. (April 1, 1989) TWO SCREENS 1 I TWA troctue two screens! IrOO-KMS mnui 7:1010 STEREO confirm membership, and the ASDA can supply the names of members who might deal privately and not be listed in the Yellow Pages. What can be done with mint stamps that have stuck together, or stuck to their album pages? Alas, very little.

The first option is to soak the stamps or sheets in tepid water until they separate, then dry them face down on a blotter or paper towels. This will remove all the gum and greatly reduce the value of the stamps. In the case of panes of mint stamps, however, very few U.S. issues after 1940 are worth much more than face value. The only way to rescue any value is to use the stamps as postage on correspondence.

It is perfectly legal to use glue to attach unused stamps to envelopes; it is illegal to soak stamps off envelopes that have passed through the mail and re-use the stamps. In the case of pre-1940 stamps, the situation is more complicated. Some of these may have some value if they can be separated and the gum left more or less intact. One possibility is to steam the stamps apart by holding them over a boiling kettle. This is tedious and will remove some gum.

Another is to use a warm dry iron. Place the stuck stamps face up on an ironing board, then lay a clean lint-free towel over them. Run the iron over the towel several times, testing frequently to see at what point the stamps can be peeled apart. Finally, in the case of more valuable classic 19th-century issues that may be stuck to old album pages, speak to a dealer about selling the stamps "as is." Dealers can ask a professional to suggest the best method of lifting the stamps, and will be better able to judge the acidity of the album paper, such acidity damages stamps, and counteracting it is a job for a professional. With its delicate mix of counter culture wit and traditional values, it's a movie that could have been made only in the U.SA.

For viewers who leave their hearts open, the rewards are -David Anjen, NEWSWEFX MAGAZINE A UNIVERSAL REEASE eiiiiMxiHionni-aoiiw presidio theatres pflllllMjOj 10:00 Ban While 444 0552 H0GAN NO HOLDS BARRED grated carrot, pickled Italian peppers, cherry tomatoes, shredded cheese and the Machine's great cheese croutons (like little cheesy cookies). The soup-of-the-day was homemade tomato dotted with celery and onion and served in miniature kettles. Other nights' soup might be Canadian cheese, French onion, beef vegetable or cream of broccoli. We were prepared for goofiness of the highest order, especially because we had been seated in an area called the "Nut House." Sure enough, as soon as we sat down with our salads, our waiter, Old omelettes, French toast, all-you-caiveat salad bar (60 to 70 Items), potato bar soup bar (four choices daily from 75 rotated recipes) and half-pound hamburgers with homemade white or whole wheat buns. There's a make-your-own sundae bar, fresh squeezed orange ulce, dark, rich chicory coffee and smoothies, too.

(Oct. 15, 1988) Hyde Park Bar Grill, 4206 Duval 458-3168. Friendly nelgborhood bar and grill Includes burgers wifffRyde Park's signature french fries (dipped in buttermilk and peppered flour before deep-frying), soups, salads and sandwiches such as smoked tenderloin, chicken salad and pastrami reubens. Entrees including rlbeye steak, Dljon-artlchoke chicken and dally fresh fish specials, are all served with homemade rolls, choice of soup or salad and fresh veggies. (Nov.

26, 1988) Magnolia Cafe South, 1920 S. Congress Ave, 445-0000. This Informal cafe offers no-frills dining, but what's lacking in the primitive setting Is made up for with well-filled plates of tasty food at very low prices. The evening specials are especially appealing. The flavorfully marinated terlyakl chicken was resplendent with green and red peppers and served over a bed of brown rice.

Equally good was the mlle-hlqh 03 1000's of NEW VIDEOS 9 to $29" USED VIDEOS $499 to $1T ADULT VIDEOS $9 to M995 HOLLYWOOD KITES 3202 Guadalupe 454-9110 EVERYDAY 11-7 Gene Wilder THIATWfl tmn tun TTIul i6S9r 7:35 9:5 1fc05 1:1 1 nn "A Magical And Moving Ride. The following are restaurants featuring different kinds of cuisine that Diane Payton Gomez has reviewed. The date Is the date of the review. Garden of Chung Tu Gate Mongolian BBQ, 7010 Texas 71 West, 288-5776. For a Chinese restaurant that offers something different, try Garden of the Chung-Tu Gate.

Mere you select your meat (pork, beef or turkey), fresh vegetables and sauces, then watch the chef cook It on the giant round steel griddle. The result Is a healthy, delicious meal and prices are extremely reasonable: $7.99 for all you can eat soup, barbecue, Chinese dumplings, onion bread, rice, dessert and choice of tea or soft drink. Reduced prices for older children while children under 6 eat free. (Sept. 17, 1988) Qutro't Mexican Restaurant, 614 E.

Oltorf, 447-7899. Guero's Is a primitive little interior Mexican-style eatery with lots of character. A jumble of prints of Mexican artwork and photographs of the Mexican revolution color the walls and the delicious smell of Mexican spices fills the air. "Homegrown" corn and flour tortillas, filled with a variety of meats from steak al carbon to chicken marinated in orange juice and achlote, hit the spot. Aguas frescas (tamarind, hibiscus and lemon), queso tlameado loaded with chorlzo and freshly made hot sauces are all winners.

Guero's makes some of the best vegetarian-style frljoles In town. Disposable cutlery, do-it-yourself service, but modest prices. (March 18, 1989) 'A Hickory 8trt Bar 8 Grille (brunch), 800 Congress 477-8988 has a cheery setting In a high- celllnged building decorated with old-tlmey photographs and other paraphernalia from the past. Breakfast plus lunch equals brunch with a choice of New Orleans-style breakfasts, mlpas, Richard Pryor MIHOIQ fSBiSb mm SEE CRUSRDE KEVIN'COSTNER Field qeDreams slab of five-cheese lasagne. Menu favorites Include green enchiladas, chicken fajltas, giant salads, burgers, omelette combos and gingerbread pancakes.

Desserts such as the ln-house deep dark chocolate cake and Dutch apple pie from the Wlmberley pie company are not to be missed. (June 25, 1988) Mike and Charlie's, 1206 W. 34th 81, 451-5550. This neighborhood restaurant and bar whips up some of the best burgers (my personal fave Is topped with three cheeses, grilled onions and jala-penos) on buttered, grilled buns and ce-vlche In town. Fresh seasonal fish specials such as grilled baby halibut come with a variety of sauces or a choice of flavored butters (poblano, Dljon-basll, sun-dried tomato).

Be sure and save room for some Babe's delight (chocolate custard over pecan shortbread). (March 25, 1989) Oyster Kracker, 911 W. Anderson Lane (at Interpofnt Center), 458-3915. Add TWO SCREENS 120420 "wtiipio tMirn j46ijj TW0 CREEN EEHSTEREO S-'MM0 HMIilTH.r HA I PRESIDIO THEATRES I 22i Bn While 444-0552 Jf LRST 1 1 to a it I PG 0), PHEsioio theatres 1 1 i oooo HcsiMtch 34693 MIL, NO RING-NO REF-NO RULES DSILM DOGXIOBK smTTTWT JSSSSR I0O0O nMt'cn 11:45 1:50 M5 I HCtlHUMoni, 4HMB imnim, mm ttWv JSP'- Ol A UNIVERSAL RELEASE I PRESIDIO THEATRES I IH 35 ft Bon While 1 i CIO IZS1.DS ElflipEil i m-Jr NEW LINE CINEMA Presents HULK swung KURT FULLER JOAN SEVERANCE TINY LISTER Written 6y DENNIS HACKIN Produced oy MICHAEL RACHMIL Directed by THOMAS J. WRIGHT MM I NEW LINE CINEMA All HiMivrt 1 MIOUlf HiKVItLillO.

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