Don’t let a person who claims to play poker with the ghost of Harry Truman plan your celebration.
That was only one lesson I realized whereas waitressing on the Prime of the La Concha someday round 1980. (Different classes included by no means slicing sizzling peppers with out protecting kitchen gloves, and ensuring the door to the women’ room was locked earlier than holding a romantic rendezvous there.)
The seven-story La Concha Lodge was unrenovated and closed at the moment, however its rooftop bar known as the Prime was a hangout for high-rollers and attorneys with workplaces on close by Whitehead Avenue.
Whereas county officers routinely carried out enterprise on the Chart Room, the notorious pocket-sized bar on the Pier Home Lodge, native authorized dealings typically happened on the Prime. It made sense as a result of the courthouse, public defender’s workplace and state lawyer’s workplace have been all virtually subsequent door to it.
The Prime’s bartenders included Becky Ludacer, Aenne Medell, Cathy Flanagan, Andrea “The Greek” Weitz and Mikey Duncan — all beloved for offering sturdy drinks and quick-witted banter.
One in all my jobs as day waitress was to name the state lawyer’s and public defender’s workplaces to tell their employees of the kitchen’s every day lunch specials. Regardless of often opposing one another in courtroom, the workplaces’ younger attorneys exhibited pleasant camaraderie over sandwiches and potato salad.
In the event that they seen the less-than-legal exercise that generally occurred on the Prime, they by no means talked about it. Even when an “importer” strolled in with a big paper bag full of money, absentmindedly leaving it open on the bar for hours whereas he drank, they politely ignored the scenario.
The kitchen on the Prime was overseen by Bobby Carroll, an easygoing grey-haired man with a keenness for cocktails. By some means he had turn into caretaker of the then-empty and as-yet-unrestored constructing referred to as Harry Truman’s Little White Home, and he lived alone on the property.
It was well-known that Truman, who spent 11 working holidays in Key West throughout his 1945-1952 presidency, loved enjoying poker on a desk that had been custom-built for him.
Based on Bobby Carroll, the previous POTUS’ ardour for the sport didn’t finish together with his loss of life. The truth is, Bobby mentioned he steadily performed poker at night time with Truman’s ghost.
In the future throughout my waitress shift, as I moped over boyfriend woes, Bobby realized my birthday was approaching. Impressed by the spirits he secretly imbibed within the kitchen, he decided to cheer me up by throwing me a lavish celebration.
It might be a pig roast, he determined. They might prepare dinner an entire pig within the conventional method, in a single day in a “caja china” field whereas the cooks consumed copious portions of alcohol. And they’d do it on the grounds of the Little White Home. What might presumably go unsuitable?
Initially, a number of issues went proper. The pig finally received roasted, although not almost as quick because the over-served cooks anticipated. Many individuals, together with my favourite prospects from the Prime, confirmed as much as want me effectively.
But earlier than the get together’s finish, I discovered myself working in haphazard circles across the Little White Home grounds, unnerved and shrieking. Why? As a result of longtime pal Vic Latham, co-owner of the Full Moon Saloon, was inexplicably chasing me whereas waving the decapitated head of the pig — which had dripped sufficient barbecue sauce down his all-white outfit to make him appear like a sufferer in a slasher movie.
The ghost of Harry Truman remained absent. Or invisible. Or possibly he even materialized with out being seen within the common commotion.
A few years later, lengthy after leaving the Prime, I celebrated one other birthday on the Little White Home — by then fantastically restored and open for excursions.
Pork was not served.