Recon Report and Maine Escape

I was left to my own devices this weekend as my Favorite Panamanian attended a Musquetera birthday reunion in Northern Maine. Naturally that led to a thunder run north to my hometown for me. In my defense, I had a semi-sacred duty to perform. In a little over a month, I will take part in my annual birthday pub crawl and there was an absolute need to assess the ever changing downtown pub scene in Keene. That’s my story at least. The wife doesn’t buy it either but, as I said, she was in Northen Maine, trying, unsuccessfully to assigning me household chores to limit the damage. As the pub crawl has grown in attendance over the past few years due to the enthusiastic support of KHS Class of ’73, it’s important that I make the recon to warn the pub staff of the impending senior citizen onslaught.

Recon Stop 4, Kilkenny's
With Keene Friend and his Lady

I linked up with my crawl coordinator, Keene Friend, at his house where we first confirmed the pre-crawl meal site, 5 Guys (It’s got to be done). We then started at the Owl’s Nest, the former Penuche’s. The owner was the only other person in the place but seemed happy about their assumption, once again, as the prestigious start and initial assembly point for the crawl. We then ambled down to Main Street, ensuring enroute that both my kids were once again advised of the location where I attended kindergarten. We passed through the venerable Lab ‘n Lager, a mainstay of most thunder runs.

Obligatory Kindergarten Pic for my Kids

Our next stop was a new addition, the former Modestman which has re-opened as the Black Cloud Brewery. If a pub needs to be dropped, this will be my first choice. It’s a craft brewery which is the first strike against it, but the service was also poor. They only had one bartender even though it was fairly busy. The line stretched back to the door at times. We got to talk with the bartender who wasn’t a happy camper. She said she had married into the business and her husband was on a business trip to Germany which meant she unhappily had bartender duty. Hopefully more motivated staff will be on hand in November.

Some Funny Bathroom Signs on the Crawl

We moved out the back door to old standby, Kilkenny’s, the designated dive bar of the crawl. I love the atmosphere there and we were greeted by two friendly dogs as we entered, talk about a win! Keene Friend’s lady joined us there during a break from her security guard duties across Main Street. We continued to the Perch where she scored some needed sustenance before returning to securing the next performance of Fraggle Rock (I am not making that up). We eased around the corner to Madame Sherri’s, Keene’s LBGTQ bar which joined the crawl last year and distinguished itself. We spoke with the owner there who also informed us the Platz, a long-delayed beer garden on Court Street, had finally opened (Pub Crawl Stop #8 added!). We had a great time at Madame Sherri’s although I missed the legendary beer towers and the overwhelming sports coverage of the former occupant of that space, Scores.

Kindergarten Friend Joins Us

We achieved a significant win at our next stop, the Pour House, with the arrival of Kindergarten Friend, he of celebrated knowledge of Keene pub scene. The Pour House has expanded since our last foray there. They also had table service for the first time which directly addressed the biggest issue with this stop, getting beers when a big crowd is at the bar. The Pour House is officially relinquishing its title as the final stop for the crawl because of what we learned after leaving there and walking the short distance up Court Street to the former Methodist Church, now re-christened (😊) as the Platz Beer Garden.

The Platz

We were greeted as we entered by a guy we assumed was the owner and he gave us a quick tour. It was a great scene with a long bar and lots of tables, not to mention, free popcorn. They don’t accept cash or tips. The owner proudly stated he pays a living wage to all employees. It was a little weird because it still had the trappings of a church. I think my father’s parents were Methodists which meant this was their former church. The place has a great atmosphere and there were lots of families there, and did I mention, free popcorn!!!! So, the crawl, as of right now, has 8 stops which is ambitious but, nothing ventured, nothing gained. My thanks to the stalwart crew who assisted in this important task.

The Crew Inside the Platz

Another Funny Sign
I Think it Dates Back to Methodist Days

One of Those Household Chores
Sealing the Kitchen Counters

I returned home early this morning after breakfasting with Keene Friend. I had to return to accomplish a couple of those household chores I earlier claimed to have avoided. I figured a returning Favorite Panamanian would be more favorably inclined as to my excesses if she was greeted by these developments. We’ll have to see. She and the Virginia Musquetera had traveled to Northern Maine where friends of the Maine Musquetera had rented a large lakeside home to celebrate the 70th birthday of the Maine Musquetera. In the sketchy details I’ve received so far, they acquitted themselves with pride and honored the birthday girl as she so richly deserved. I’m interested in how my Favorite Panamanian will be since I’m sure her conversations with her two sisters (from another mother) continued into the early morning hours of each night she was up there.

The Birthday Girl's Special Shirt

Maine Musquetera with my Wife

And the Virginia Musquetera

The Three Musqueteras Together Again!

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------RECURRING CHARACTERS:

ABFA – Amazing Best Family Athlete – my daughter in law; BR3 – Blog Reader #3 – granddaughter #3; BRS - Blog Reader the Sequel - second granddaughter; Cantankerous Friend – friend since grade school who likes to argue about everything, poses as radical leftist to attract women; CRC - Connecticut Riverboat Captain – another close friend from high school, renowned sailor of the big river; Curbside Girls – close friends of my daughter acquired during her single days in Brooklyn; Czech Connection – Czech couple who’ve become good friends along with their daughter (the Czech Shadow); Deckzilla – our backyard deck which grew to monstrous dimensions once my wife got involved in planning; Favorite Panamanian - the wife (of course); FBR - First Blog Reader - first granddaughter; First Friday – celebrations to mark the First Friday of the Week; Great Aunt - my elder sister; Keene Friends 1 & 2 – friends since high school from my home town of Keene, NH; Kindergarten Friend – friend since kindergarten whom I reunited with after many years; Maine and Virginia Musqueteras – two close friends of my wife – her US sisters, my wife is the 3^rd Musquetera (musketeer); Namesake Nephew – son of Great Aunt and Soxfather named after me; Neighborhood Mafioso - wife's close friend and Panamanian mafia member; PanaGals – female relatives /friends of my wife from Panama; Panamanian/Latin Mafia – inevitable group of Latino friends my wife accumulates wherever we have lived & their spouses; PCR - Pittsburgh College Roommate – high school friend, also a “Minor Celebrity” in Pittsburgh; PCR+1 - Pittsburgh College Roommate’s wife; Riggins - also known as the Grandpuppy, son's dog; Seis Amigos - two couples from our condo complex and my wife and I; Soxfather – my brother-in-law (whom I miss more than I can ever explain); Tia Loca – wife’s younger sister; Wingman – my son in law; Upstairs Neighbors – American couple and great friends who live in condo above us in Panama; Wingmom – Wingman’s mom, of course