When I was a kid, and we used to go to the Topanga Plaza Mall, I always hoped my parents might find it in their hearts to swing me by the Orange Julius.
You couldn’t miss the Orange Julius — over beyond the Cracker Barrel (or was it a Hickory Farm?), turn left at the Radio Shack, just before the Miller’s Outpost and there it was — the bright orange sign with the curvy type beckoning you.
It wasn’t quite a storefront, yet was more than a stand. In a glass case was a tower of oranges, just to show you that they actually made the drinks from fresh squeezed. I remember the building sense of anticipation as the line moved forward and we approached the counter.
Forget the sexy teenage girls in their impossibly high hats, knee-high boots and TWA stewardess-inspired one pieces. It was the drink I was after. An ambrosial blended concoction of orange juice, milk, vanilla and ice. Every straw-sucked slurp from the wax-coated paper tumbler was pure heaven, and when I reached the foamy ice-flecked bit at the bottom, I was thoroughly satisfied.
For awhile, there were still a few Orange Julius shops around, hold-out testaments to an earlier, more innocent time. I haven’t seen one in a long while and am not sure if they’ve gone the way of the dodo. But I figured the drink out. So that that one time when I said to my children, “Come closer, let me tell you the story of the Orange Julius…” and initiated them into the legend, and they replied, “Dad, will you take us?” I could ease the inevitable heartbreak with the words, “But I can make you one…”
I call it “Orange Julius-ish,” just in case there are any toupee’d 70s-era vintage copyright lawyers out there in the ethernet, waiting to pounce.
Enjoy!
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Orange Julius-ish
serves 2
1 cup orange juice
1 cup milk
1 tsp. vanilla
1 tbsp. sugar
6-8 ice cubes
Place ingredients in a blender. Blend on high. Pour into glasses, add straws and find sexy teenager in knee-high boots and tall hats to serve.
skinny girls & mayonnaise 
Apr 19, 2021 @ 15:39:26
Hey Seamus!! How’re you doing? How’s the fam? Lori and I are doing great! Been to San Francisco quite a few times lately but don’t get to SoCal at all. That might change. Who knows. Anyway hope y’all are doing great! pal-O
On Mon, Apr 19, 2021 at 11:25 AM skinny girls & mayonnaise wrote:
> scolgin posted: ” When I was a kid, and we used to go to the Topanga Plaza > Mall, I always hoped my parents might find it in their hearts to swing me > by the Orange Julius. You couldn’t miss the Orange Julius — over beyond the > Cracker Barrel (or was it a Hickory Farm” >
Apr 19, 2021 @ 15:46:16
Howdy Pal-o! I haven’t even gotten to SF anytime lately… Mostly going up to the Sierras, etc. Glad you’re well, all good on our end! Heading out to the Adirondacks again this summer.
Apr 19, 2021 @ 15:46:18
I’ve been thinking about trying this stuff… Concord Orange Smoothie Mix, 2-Ounce Packages (Pack of 12 ) https://www.amazon.com/dp/B071WDMXJ7/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_glt_fabc_13FZFSM2ACNCJB71R7WZ
But your recipe sounds good too!
Apr 19, 2021 @ 15:47:15
Sooooo good, especially for kids. Try it! Try it! Not sure if maybe it was just a So Cal thing?
Apr 19, 2021 @ 18:54:55
Oh no… they have them everywhere. Last place I got one was in Wisconsin. But I grew up in Ca. 😉
Apr 20, 2021 @ 04:59:22
Good post. Love me some Orange Julius. I’m from Wisconsin and though I haven’t been back in awhile I think there was still one at the Mayfair Mall in suburban Milwaukee. Around here I seem to remember them in the Valley and South Bay.
Apr 20, 2021 @ 16:30:54
Someone else said they had them in Wisconsin. Huh, who knew?
Apr 20, 2021 @ 16:22:48
I can’t believe I’ve never heard of this concoction…. but it sounds really good! I wonder if it would be good made with vanilla ice cream? Yum!
Apr 20, 2021 @ 16:30:31
Ummmm… yeah!?