“Thus it is the pub as a phenomenon which must be sought out, not any one particular house.”
Michael Jackson – The English Pub
“Oldenburg believes that the powerful need in humans to associate with one another will inevitably lead to the revival of places where, as the theme song to the TV show Cheers so aptly put it, 'everyone knows your name.' We'll drink to that. -- Booklist
Review of the book: The Great Good Place by Ray Oldenburg.
RB wrote eloquently about this subject in his article entitled “Homes Away From Home” on the Louisville Beer.Com website last Fall. http://louisvillebeer.com/blog/2011/11/ ... from-home/
Holy frijole's.…...JackieR sent me a message asking if I would be at the Fireside on Thursday evening. Uhmm....I will if you will! Now this wasn't exactly out of the blue. I'd been pestering Jackie to come over and check out my favorite local since she'd first made the mistake of acknowledging me on the forum way back when. I had finally worn her down; the poor girl. After months of hints and casual references, she said she would come. It's a good thing too. My copy of Cyber Stalking - subtitled “How to Influence Foodies on 20 Gigabytes a Day” had just arrived. Too bad, it looked promising...oh well.
Ok, so now I was about to realize the coup that I'd hardly dared to hope for. A real live Hotbytes A-lister was coming across the bridge (anathema to most hedonistic truffle munchers) to check out this little nondescript building that had housed a bar and grill for over 26 years. Since Neal Smith from Sellersburg had kidnapped his beautiful Beantown brunette, Patty, all those years ago and then realized the only way he could keep her in this foodie forsaken backwater was to give her something exhausting to do (and ply her with cheap Indiana wine as necessary). It worked.
Jackie was coming at 7:00, and by noon on Thursday that reality sank in. I began to worry. Yes, I love the Fireside. I go there twice a week most weeks and I'm treated like family. Well, maybe not close family but everyone there knows my name. Ok, maybe not everyone, but at least they've stopped asking to run my credit card before serving me a beer. Yes, I'm a regular now. I've recently found myself referring to what's going on there as “we're doing this and we're doing that at the Fireside.” Who knows? My daughter may be the newest Fireside hostess!
The bar at the Fireside is nicely turned out, but it is not one of those fancy places regularly featured on this forum. Jackie has sampled the finest restaurants and been an insider at some of Louisville's elite dining establishments. Would she saunter in and with a single look, expose my Fireside infatuation as nothing more than the ass shaped soft spot on this rural rube's worn out basement sofa? I thought she might. Honestly, I wouldn't doubt her judgment for a second.
I dreaded that moment. We would both smile as Jackie and I desperately negotiated a verbal string of non-talk that would include the words “nice” and “yes” and “certainly” more than once. “You brought me over here for this?” her eyes would accuse. Any meager credibility I might have established by my constant, overdone praise of my beloved Fireside would evaporate like vapor off a tired old balsamic reduction. Oh cruel world! We would go through the motions but I knew a bright shiny “UnFriended” would be waiting for me when I returned home. Tragic!
This must not happen!
When we walked in, I was relieved to see that Patty was roaming the tables; doing her thing. Just hearing her Boston accent completely devoid of “R”s made me feel more confident. We sat at our favorite table in front of the fireplace. “Are you sure you want to sit here?” Donna asked. “Why not? It's where we always sit.” “What about the fireplace?” she asked. “What about it?” I replied. “Well, what if she gets too hot.” “She's a foodie but she's still a girl, she won't get too hot. You'll love her,” I said. “I'll just sit here quietly while you two talk about whatever it is you talk about.” She replied. For crying out loud, she's a normal person and she doesn't talk about food all the time.”
Then I spotted trouble. Caisey was tending tables, but who was that new girl? As Lauren (the owner's daughter and best beer slinger ever) passed, I asked if we were at one of Caisey's tables. If you want to be – you are.
I watched the bar door constantly; I wanted to be sure to greet Jackie as soon as she came in. So I was surprised when Lauren spoke behind me, “Shane, you have a guest.” There she was and it was a little surreal to see her - in my place. Jackie, always at ease and the coolest person in the room, slid into her seat and greeted Donna and I like old friends. Patty came over and took her drink order and I forgot all about my worries.
We were joined by my best friend, Chris, who stayed for an hour or so. As he left, our friend Jason slid right in and we never missed a beat. Jackie got on with everyone and those of you who know her will not be surprised. I was drinking Schafly Stout and Jackie had Crooked Tree IPA. My filet was medium rare, and I swear it was the best steak I have ever had at the Fireside. Jackie had grilled salmon but she didn't eat much. Before she left, Jackie asked Lauren to bring us a bottle of Woodchuck cider and a pilsner (maybe Brooklyn). She mixed the drink herself and in England we would call it a Snakebite. Far from venomous though this drink was tasty enough to feed to babies. I'd waited a long time to toast JackieR and it was sweet.
Here's to you Jackie and always choosing cake. We had a ball, as we always do at the Fireside, but sharing our great good place with you was a special experience. Cheers!
. I liked her a lot.