Hungry for food and seeking a shelter from the storm as a downpour was rolling through the city, we manned our umbrellas and waded our way over to The Avenue Tavern, #109. This is a bar we've already been to this year, but the lack of any resemblance of a waitstaff interested in serving us for the 15 minutes we were there caused us to leave. It's no surprise, the building that houses the Ave Tave used to be the Law Offices of Worth, Less & Staff. I'll be here all night folks.
The first person to greet us was our not-waitress, and the way she recited the beer list led us to believe she was a robot. Vicki from Small Wonder had more personality than this charmer.
Our real waitress eventually showed up...she thought she had a ticket on her car and was checking on it, only to find out it was a flyer for one of the 5,381 Thai restaurants on the northside of Chicago. After telling her we weren't interested in the aluminum bottles with Cubs logos on them (really, that's 2 strikes right there and I haven't even gotten to what kind of beer it was) we ordered a couple of $2 PBR's. We also ordered 2 BBQ Pizza's, and she was concerned that was too much food for us. We're not exactly a couple of Deep Dish Bertoletti's, but we've been known to put down some food.
FYI -- the pizza probably comes out of a box. No wonder it's $6.50. At least our bill was cheap. I had enjoyed visits here before, but the last two left me kind of flat. Let's ask the Magic 8-Ball if there will be a return trip: Outlook not so good.
Moving on...
On June 20th, 2005, when I lived at the 907, I had been out and about probably in the suburbs during the day. As I drove back home that summer evening my attention was mostly captured by the giant growing plume of black smoke coming from the area where I lived. Praying the 907 warehouse wasn't burning down because Selfy decided to use the oven for the first time, my fears were allayed when I arrived home and the smoke cloud was further north and east of home. Where was that smoke cloud coming from?
3012 Broadway, where a Dominick's was up in smoke and locals sat outside across the street at Monsignor Murphy's, #110, drinking beers and watching firefighters extinguish the blaze. Tonight, when Rick and I visit, there is significantly less drama. Murphy's is a pretty solid Everyman bar -- if you don't feel comfortable hanging out here you've got some serious social anxiety disorders, or you're just a prick. A couple of Shocktop's and Stella's, crooners are piping through the speakers and the Sox game is on (they would later blow the lead...but then trade for Jake Peavy the next day and COMPLETELY REDEEM THEMSELVES).
A chubby 9-year old comes running in from the outdoor beer garden. "That kid aint 21."
Trivia: Andy Petite is 4th in all-time career wins for the Yankees. Who are 1, 2, & 3? I'd be shocked if many people knew this. (answers listed below in the post tags)
We exit Monsignor Murphy's and walk past the still empty lot where what would be our nearest grocery store does not stand. Immediately after the fire Dominick's promised they would rebuild. That was 4 years ago. No signs of progress in the City That Works.
There has got to be a way.
Burning down the house.
