Watering Holes and Dives
The Miami Herald reported Friday on the closing night for the Fox Lounge in South Miami. The South Miami bar and food joint lasted sixty nine years. Back in 1973 it had a little bit of elegance compared with other places I would stop for a beer. The lounge area was dark and always a little bit smoky. If you went in during the daylight ours you were well advised to watch your step and kind of feel your way around until you eyes adjusted. My parents enjoyed dinner there when they visited Miami, food was good, and they drank martinis and manhattans back in the day. Thursday night was prime rib night which affordable but you had to reserve one. Snooze you lose if you forgot to call ahead before leaving from work.
Once, while waiting to eat at the bar, who should I see sitting two stools down the bar but Dave Barry, Miami Herald humorist and author. I told him I liked his book about being 40. He nodded and we both went back to our drinks. Another customer engaged him after a couple of minutes. Dave went into a comedy monologue that lasted about ten minutes and the whole bar got a free show.
Driving home I wondered if this was something that happened every time a celebrity went out to dinner or if he was just trying out some new material for a book or column.
More than a few places where I drank beer have closed, the 19th hole, the Pine Tree, the Stampede, the Uke, Rogers, Bill and Ted's. Times have changed, smoking inside anywhere isn't tolerated let alone cool, and driving after more than one beer isn't very bright either.
The Fox will be missed by others more than I will miss it. One good thing about South Miami and my condo is walkability. Sort of like Morgantown, West Virginia if you really needed some company you didn't need a car.
Once, while waiting to eat at the bar, who should I see sitting two stools down the bar but Dave Barry, Miami Herald humorist and author. I told him I liked his book about being 40. He nodded and we both went back to our drinks. Another customer engaged him after a couple of minutes. Dave went into a comedy monologue that lasted about ten minutes and the whole bar got a free show.
Driving home I wondered if this was something that happened every time a celebrity went out to dinner or if he was just trying out some new material for a book or column.
More than a few places where I drank beer have closed, the 19th hole, the Pine Tree, the Stampede, the Uke, Rogers, Bill and Ted's. Times have changed, smoking inside anywhere isn't tolerated let alone cool, and driving after more than one beer isn't very bright either.
The Fox will be missed by others more than I will miss it. One good thing about South Miami and my condo is walkability. Sort of like Morgantown, West Virginia if you really needed some company you didn't need a car.
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