THE recession is such a bummer. Wouldn’t it be nice to time travel to a simpler era the 1950s when money was plentiful, appliances were shiny, and rock was just beginning to roll? A carefree time, when wiggling a Hula Hoop rather than watching the Dow plummet was the favored pastime, and love could be found at a sock hop. Happily, a DeLorean time machine a la “Back to the Future” isn’t necessary. Doo-wop shows, record hops, and soda fountains are all here. As it turns out, happier days can be had again.
SODA FOUNTAINS
* Junior’s Opened in 1950, this cheery spot is known for its cheesecake as well as its Skyscraper Ice Cream Sodas and Mountain High Sundaes. (386 Flatbush Ave., Brooklyn; 718-852-5257)
* Tom’s Restaurant The diner-style restaurant began as a soda fountain in 1936 and
survived the 1950s peak of the soda-shop era. Order a
cherry-lime ricky or a malted milkshake at the vintage counter Richie Cunningham would most definitely approve. (782 Washington Ave., Brooklyn; 718-636-9738)
* The Soda Shop A conglomerate nostalgia fest with “penny” candy, comfort food and milkshakes. (125 Chambers St.; 212-571-1100)
TUNES
* WFMU It’s rare when CBS-FM Oldies plays ’50s tunes, but you’ll find old rock ‘n’ roll, country, soul and pop on this station’s shows such as “Fool’s Paradise,” “Music To Spazz By” and Michael Shelley’s show of No. 1 hits. (91.1-FM; wfmu.org)
LIVE
* Kenny Vance and the Planotones Joined by Milton Love and the Solitaires, Cleveland Still and the Dubs, the Chiffons, and Emil Stucchio and the Classics, Vance brings doo-wop back this Friday at Town Hall. “When people are transported back in time, we become teen idols again,” says Vance.
(123 W. 43rd St.; 212-840-2824)
* Little Richard The 72-year-old piano-storming madman behind “Tutti Frutti” and “Lucille” brings his screaming and glaring self to B.B. King Blues Club on June 7. (237 W. 42nd St.; 212-997-4144)
* The Ultimate Doo Wop Show Jimmy Beaumont & the Skyliners, the Contours, Shirley Alston-Reeves (of the Shirelles) and others perform June 6 at the Beacon Theatre. (2124 Broadway; 212-465-6500)
FOOD AND LIQUOR
* The Cub Room Named after the Stork Room’s VIP lounge, which drew the likes of Grace Kelly, this SoHo place offers drinks such as the Frank Sinatra a blend of Absolute Vanilla, blue curacao and Cointreau. Not sure what the Chairman would have thought of that. (131 Sullivan St., at Prince Street; 212-677-4100)
* Donohue’s Steak House This Upper East Side dining room, a one-time neighborhood joint for Bernie Madoff, hasn’t changed its mood since it opened in the ’50s. (845 Lexington Ave.; 212-650-0748)
RECORD HOPS
* Legion The club draws a dance crowd with a few ’50s/’60s events each month. These include tonight’s Honeysuckle, in which Mr. Fine Wine and the Paw spin vinyl platters of doo-wop, blues, R&B and stomping soul artists such as Chuck Berry and Big Maybelle. The fun repeats itself the third Saturday of every month. On the last Friday of every month (this Friday), Chickaboom! spins rockabilly, R&B and bubblegum. (790 Metropolitan Ave., Williamsburg, Brooklyn; 718-387-3797)
* Rebel Night Throwback tiki bar Otto’s Shrunken Head hosts a monthly sock hop that encourages ’50s fashions, but the focus is on twisting, jiving and strolling to everything from rockabilly country to Bo Diddly beats and garage surf. It’s held the third Friday of the month; mark your calendar for April 17. (538 E. 14th St., near Avenue B; 212-228-2240)
* The Wang Dang Doodle Host Phast Phreddie and deejay Todd-O-Phonic Todd promise to turn the tables with the wildest, trashiest records they can dig up. Next doodle is Thursday at the Trophy Bar. (351 Broadway, Williamsburg, Brooklyn; 347-227-8515)
HAIR AND NAILS
* Martinis and manicures Polish your outsides and soak your insides at the vintage Beauty Bar. (231 E. 14th St.; 212-539-1389).
* Tomcats Barbershop Pining for a pompadour? This retro rock ‘n’ roll spot has haircuts, grease and beers and it can even pinstripe your ride. (130 India St., Greenpoint, Brooklyn; 718-349-9666)
JUKEBOXES
* The Great Jones Café This New Orleans joint, with a bust of Elvis keeping watch, serves gumbo with a side of 45-rpm singles on its classic
jukebox, which includes ’50s artists such as Lefty Frizell, Sonny Burgess and the Hollywood Flames. (54 Great Jones St.; 212-674-9304)
* The Lakeside Lounge The East Village bar’s music box is loaded with ’50s blues, New Orleans soul and rockabilly. (162 Avenue B; 212-529-8463)
THEATER
* Guys and Dolls Revival
of the 1950 Broadway musical
that mixes gambling, missionaries and strippers. (Nederlander
Theatre; 208 W. 41st St.; 212-921-8000)
* The Marvelous Wonderettes A jukebox musical about four teenage girls’ 1958 high school prom and their reunion 10 years later. (Westside Theater; 407 W. 43rd St.; 212-239-6200)
marymhuhn@nypost.com