Is it “Donut Dip” or “Do Nut Dip”?

Some time back, I dropped off some artwork for the upcoming Big E competition. This involved me driving up the Mass Turnpike, exiting at the renumbered Exit 45 (somewhere along the line, the Pike changed its exit signage to reflect mile markers), take US Route 5 into West Springfield, and we’re there.

US Route 5 is an amalgamation of businesses and side streets, and apparently every main street in Springfield is under construction in one way or another. Potholes, reroutings, all of that. But one thing I did notice – and made sure to stop at on my way home – was the Donut Dip. Specifically, this place.

This place serves handmade donuts and bagels and some very tasty coffee. Great for a road trip back to the 518.

And it’s also a neat little spot to capture an image or three. It had rained earlier in the day, so I thought I could get a nice “reflection” shot in the parking lot. Something like this.

Not bad. Maybe needs more rainwater.

As I walked over to the other side of the sign, I noticed something in the sign’s neon. Two of the letters – the “D” and the “O” in the word “DONUT” were not lit.

This is what I captured.

Ha. So is this the “Donut Dip,” or the “Do Nut Dip,” or just the “Nut Dip”? Insert goofy Beavis and Butt-head giggle here.

Hey, signage illumination is important. Comedy singer Carla Ulbrich did an entire song about how important it is to make sure every letter in the restaurant sign “WAFFLE HOUSE” is properly lit, lest you’re driving along the highway and notice a restaurant that sells “WAFFLE HO S” or something like that.

Yeah. Take a few letters off of a RadioShack sign, and it suddenly says “adioS.” Which, apparently, is what eventually happened to RadioShack. 😀

Will I do something with this Donut Dip sign? Maybe. Maybe in the future. I’ll definitely have to take it under consideration.

And whether or not I show it as “Donut Dip” or “Do Nut Dip” or “Don’t Dip” or something of that nature …

I’ll have a smile on my face when I do it.