Can you put me in touch with this man?
April 17, 2012 7:10 PM Subscribe
The post about Chicago bars got me to thinking about a 4 o'clock bar I spent some time in, and, more specifically, about the bartender who worked in that bar. I do not know the name of the bar and I don't much care, though I guess it'd be fun to know. I do not know the bartenders name, and about that I care very much.
1981. I lived in Chicago, on Walton, between Rush and Michigan, this building here. I spent some time in a 4 o'clock bar that was within a four block walk of that condo, a bit west and a bit south. I think. It wasn't far from that whole Rush Street singles thing but light years away from it. It wasn't so much in a basement, but it was definitely downstairs. Maybe it was in a basement but it didn't have that sort of feel, just more a downstairs feel. It was dark and it was small. If I recall correctly it had a back entrance too. Mixed, black and white, 4 o'clock people, mostly men, at least late. No TV, not that I recall, no sports bullshit. No live music. I'm not sure if it was a good juke or not but it was great for me, I was pretty much obsessed with Billie Holiday, esp God Bless The Child but really anything and she was all over that juke.
The barkeep? A black guy. Maybe a bit older than I, maybe thirty then, maybe sixty now. Sixty-two? I'd say if I was forced to that he wasn't terribly tall but I am not sure if that is accurate or not. He stuttered, not always but mostly in any exchange he'd stutter. I do not know his name. I know his eyes, that's what I see and that's what I saw then. He knew exactly who I was and he did not judge me at all. He knew what I was and I didn't yet but I could see it in his eyes maybe what I was. Knowing but without judging.
I've tried to find him, visits to Chicago, really ran it down hard about eight or ten years ago, missed him by a couple of months -- someone knew him, said that he was at this other bar, I went there and he was gone, and no one could tell me where. And with that I stood on that sidewalk and said "Okay, I quit." and gave it up to life -- it is what it is, let it go.
But now -- I belong to MetaFilter. Maybe I don't have to quit on it. Maybe I could thank him for his kindness and understanding. I really want to do this.
Do you know him? Can you put me in touch with him?
1981. I lived in Chicago, on Walton, between Rush and Michigan, this building here. I spent some time in a 4 o'clock bar that was within a four block walk of that condo, a bit west and a bit south. I think. It wasn't far from that whole Rush Street singles thing but light years away from it. It wasn't so much in a basement, but it was definitely downstairs. Maybe it was in a basement but it didn't have that sort of feel, just more a downstairs feel. It was dark and it was small. If I recall correctly it had a back entrance too. Mixed, black and white, 4 o'clock people, mostly men, at least late. No TV, not that I recall, no sports bullshit. No live music. I'm not sure if it was a good juke or not but it was great for me, I was pretty much obsessed with Billie Holiday, esp God Bless The Child but really anything and she was all over that juke.
The barkeep? A black guy. Maybe a bit older than I, maybe thirty then, maybe sixty now. Sixty-two? I'd say if I was forced to that he wasn't terribly tall but I am not sure if that is accurate or not. He stuttered, not always but mostly in any exchange he'd stutter. I do not know his name. I know his eyes, that's what I see and that's what I saw then. He knew exactly who I was and he did not judge me at all. He knew what I was and I didn't yet but I could see it in his eyes maybe what I was. Knowing but without judging.
I've tried to find him, visits to Chicago, really ran it down hard about eight or ten years ago, missed him by a couple of months -- someone knew him, said that he was at this other bar, I went there and he was gone, and no one could tell me where. And with that I stood on that sidewalk and said "Okay, I quit." and gave it up to life -- it is what it is, let it go.
But now -- I belong to MetaFilter. Maybe I don't have to quit on it. Maybe I could thank him for his kindness and understanding. I really want to do this.
Do you know him? Can you put me in touch with him?
Mod note: Folks, keep this thread to assistance helping the OP with the problem but if you know the person in question do not put their personal details in this thread, thank you.
posted by jessamyn (staff) at 7:35 PM on April 17, 2012
posted by jessamyn (staff) at 7:35 PM on April 17, 2012
Response by poster: thorny: "Can you post on the "missed connections" section of the Chicago craigslist too?"
Good idea, hadn't thought of it -- it's up on Chicago CL Missed Connections now.
posted by dancestoblue at 8:18 PM on April 17, 2012
Good idea, hadn't thought of it -- it's up on Chicago CL Missed Connections now.
posted by dancestoblue at 8:18 PM on April 17, 2012
The name of the other bar might be helpful as well, if you have it.
posted by Vaike at 9:41 PM on April 17, 2012
posted by Vaike at 9:41 PM on April 17, 2012
maybe?
http://www.granta.com/New-Writing/A-Bar-on-North-Avenue
posted by timsteil at 6:15 AM on April 18, 2012
http://www.granta.com/New-Writing/A-Bar-on-North-Avenue
posted by timsteil at 6:15 AM on April 18, 2012
Response by poster: Vaike: "The name of the other bar might be helpful as well, if you have it."
I do not know the name of the other bar; good idea though.
timsteil: "maybe?
http://www.granta.com/New-Writing/A-Bar-on-North-Avenue"
This is absolutely not the bar but it's damn good writing, thanks for the link. And I'm going to email Ebert, and ask him -- who knows? I'll check back into this thread if I hear back from Ebert, esp if it leads me anywhere.
Thanx for the answers!
posted by dancestoblue at 11:09 PM on April 18, 2012
I do not know the name of the other bar; good idea though.
timsteil: "maybe?
http://www.granta.com/New-Writing/A-Bar-on-North-Avenue"
This is absolutely not the bar but it's damn good writing, thanks for the link. And I'm going to email Ebert, and ask him -- who knows? I'll check back into this thread if I hear back from Ebert, esp if it leads me anywhere.
Thanx for the answers!
posted by dancestoblue at 11:09 PM on April 18, 2012
« Older What is a good entry-level DSLR camera model in... | How do I avoid straining my voice Newer »
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by thorny at 7:23 PM on April 17, 2012 [1 favorite]