HAPPY 45TH BIRTHDAY CHART ROOM

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It was happy birthday time yesterday! The Chart Room’s 45th!

The Pier House may have changed/been remodeled over the years, but never the Chart Room. It is as it was in the beginning. Looks the same as when Jimmy Buffett sat in the corner singing for change.

So many people. I only knew about 20.

Charlotte came in. From North Carolina. She visits Key West 3-4 times a year. The Chart Room is her favorite haunt.

I screwed up. You recall I mentioned the peanuts were gone, but some beauty was lying in the barrel instead. I failed to recognize the lady. It was Charlotte! Sorry.

Charlotte came especially for the birthday celebration.

Marty did not come. I felt bad. Marty introduced me to the Chart Room.

Never saw Che. Everyone wanted to know where he was. I assume he showed after I left.

Met Mike from Liverpool.

I went to the bar to pay my tab. The gent sitting to my left asked if I was Key West Lou. We talked a bit. He is Mike from Liverpool, England. He is in the restaurant and bar business. He reads my blog every day! Thank you Mike. It was a pleasure meeting you and I hope our paths cross again. Keep reading!

JJ was bartending. He greeted me with a gift. A box of frozen hot dogs! Hot dogs were available free last night as they have been for years. However no more under the new management. Last night was a one shot deal. The last shot.

I left around 6:30. Decided to eat at the A & B Lobster House. The last time was a couple of years ago.

A & B is a top shelf operation. I enjoyed the Maine lobster appetizer at the bar. Filling. No dinner required afterwards.

Met some one new at the A & B. Gage. The bartender. He is originally from New Hampshire.

I was home early. Wanted to watch the Heat game. Again fell asleep. I woke with two minutes to play. I was shocked at the score.

I just found out I am having dinner Saturday night at Lake Maggiore in Italy. Hemingway’s Lake Maggiore from A Farewell To Arms. At a restaurant on the very small island of Pescatori. The island sits on Lake Maggiore.

My hometown Utica had  a Pescatori’s restaurant. I have to assume Pescatori the owner back when must have come from Pescatori Island. Most Italian immigrants took as their last names their home town or province.

There is a service at one today for my friend Cathy. At La Trattoria. It will be sad.

Tomorrow is Tuesday. Which means…..Tuesday Talk with Key West Lou. Blog talk radio. The show a mere four months old. Two thousand people a week follow the show. Amazing!

Join me for a fast paced half hour. www.blogtalkradio.com/key-west-lou.

Enjoy your day!

TENNESSEE WILLIAMS AND ERNEST HEMINGWAY

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Robert has been talking about the Symphony since he and Ally attended recently. Perhaps a musician in the making.

Robert mentions on occasion that the Symphony was at the Tennessee Williams Theater at the College. I asked if he knew who Tennessee Williams was. He did not, nor did Ally. I explained briefly.

There was a method to my madness. Tennessee Williams lived on Duncan Street, the same street as Lisa and family. One block and a half away. He had lived there for 40 years. I explained he was an author and had written many books while living there.

I took the grandkids for a ride. Stopped in front of Tennessee William’s house. A well maintained white bungalow. Both Robert and Ally exclaimed they knew who lived there. The people who gave them candy on Halloween while they were treating and tricking.

I explained Williams was dead. The people were different. Williams had lived there some time before them.

They will probably speak of Williams every time they walk past the house.

Since we were into authors, I asked if they had ever heard of Ernest Hemingway. No, they said. I explained who Hemingway was, that he wrote also, and that he had lived in Key West for ten years.

I wanted to show them the large stately home where Hemingway lived. Initially, I did not drive over to the home on Whitehead. Instead I took them to the hotel on Simonton, just off Caroline. I explained that the hotel was where Hemingway had first stayed when arriving in Key West, the car purchase story, and Hemingway having to wait for delivery for several weeks. Deciding he liked Key West and was going to stay, Hemingway bought a house.

I drove over to the big house on Whitehead. The Hemingway home everyone knows. Some day I will take Robert and Ally on a tour of the house. I told them about the six toed cats they would see on that first visit..

Yesterday turned out to be a raising Robert and Ally’s awareness day! A good thing for them and me.

Enjoy your Sunday!