Today’s column is free to all. Subscribers get access to all 3 of my columns every week. Plus the entire archive of nearly 150 pieces, and counting. All I ask is $5 a month. For that I’ll meet you at Clarke’s and buy you a drink. If you grew up in my section of Dunmore, Buddy Clarke's was your bar.
Good bit today - love it! my grandparents had a bar in a small town and sometimes, on Sundays my small self would 'get' to wash out the ash trays and sticky tables and in return, get orange soda and jax (cheese puffs) at the long wooden bar for my efforts. Best days ever, I'd get a couple quarters to play the slide bowling game or pinball. Fast forward to my 19 yr old self, I confidently challenge my grandmother there, on her home table, to play pool..... she broke, ran the table, and i stood there motionless, cue in hand, in awe yet again....
Great piece T! You totally captured the soul of “The Buddy Bar” perfectly!
I liked the redskin peanuts in little celophane bag with a staple. I think they were .10
Count me as a part time 'regular' in the 70's. Buddy's, Igoe's, George's, Drinker Cafe was our round robin. A lot of stories!
Wonderful read my friend, spent the better part of a decade in there, I would still pop in for a drink and a bite to eat!
Only live 3 blocks away, might have to become the old dude with his own stool and relive my 20’s.
Hope to buy you a drink sometime soon!🍺🥃
Terrific essay, Tom! Before it was Clarke’s, that bar was called Vanstons.
Good bit today - love it! my grandparents had a bar in a small town and sometimes, on Sundays my small self would 'get' to wash out the ash trays and sticky tables and in return, get orange soda and jax (cheese puffs) at the long wooden bar for my efforts. Best days ever, I'd get a couple quarters to play the slide bowling game or pinball. Fast forward to my 19 yr old self, I confidently challenge my grandmother there, on her home table, to play pool..... she broke, ran the table, and i stood there motionless, cue in hand, in awe yet again....