I know that I have posted about the genuine imported English pub across town. I only go there for very special ($$) occasions. And I remember posting something about fancy beer taps two years ago. None of that applies to this place, the local saloon. What they do offer is friendly service. I’m not a regular, but after not being able to come in for a year, she still remembered my favorite bevvy, and what I liked to eat. So what sort of place is this?

It was originally a somewhat fancy pub, but that was a number of years ago. It has gotten a bit shabby over time.

It is an interesting place, there is an outside patio extension for smokers, but a certain type of smoke is prohibited.

I don’t know why this sign is necessary in the ladies, and I am not sure that I want to know.

There are no fancy beers on tap here, and please notice the fine wine selection in the cooler. The decor is the standard sort of sports bar thing: lots of televisions showing various sporting events, which no one appeared to be watching, signed athletic memorabilia, and neon signs advertising various kinds of beer. What is not visible, is that they offer great bar food. Among other things they serve green chile covered hamburgers (my favorite), beefy quesadillas, and something called “pork wings” (perhaps this is why pigs no longer fly). “Pork wings” (whatever they might be) were so popular that they were sold out on this day, perhaps I shall find out what they are on my next visit, when my political drinking group meets again next month.

Years ago I wrote some little posts about statues of men that could be found around town. Now that the town has grown, there are new statues of men. I found these rather interesting because the previous lot were mostly erected by the city as a point of civic pride. But these new ones are all on private property and I presume that they reflect the interests of the company that put them there.

I hope that this one is recognizable to all Americans, why it’s George Washington holding a copy of the Declaration of Independence. And of course his picture is on the one dollar bill (see your wallet for details).

Less easily recognized is Thomas Jefferson, a frumpy picture of him can be found on the two dollar bill (which is hardly ever used, except by eccentrics). He was a natty dresser and is shown holding a copy of the Bill of Rights.

I was quite surprised by this statue of Ronald Reagan, his informal dress and pose made him quite popular for selfies (also his face is not on any money) (yet).

Lincoln is another president who is easily recognized (after all, he does appear on the five dollar bill). He is sitting here contemplating the Gettysburg Address, his most famous speech. Because he has such a friendly pose, it was also popular to sit on his lap for selfies. But this is not the only Lincoln statue on site.

I’m sure by now that you’re wondering what these statues are in aid of. Why it’s part of an enormous sporting goods store. On this end the animatronic Lincoln is endlessly reciting the Gettysburg Address, while on the other side an animatronic John Elway (an American football player from the past), is going on about something. And in between these two is the Ferris Wheel and taxidermied animals of every sort, just what one expects in a shopping experience. I did go in to purchase new swim gloves, but in spite of having a vast inventory, they had never heard of such a thing. Oh well, perhaps I shall need something sporty from them in the future (I don’t need any selfies).

I suppose that I should have realized that when I saw the perfect parking space, open right in front of the door of the shop, that the store would be closed. But, I had parked, and plunked my hard-earned money into the parking meter, so I had better find something else to do. And a quick look around took me down the alley.

There aren’t any alleys in my neighborhood, the developer did not want to waste any space for trash cans and such, but our tiny downtown was laid out when such amenities were popular.

Who could resist such a sign (except those like myself who are against tattoos, however artistic). There is also the painted blue brick border that shows that this is no ordinary alleyway.

I suspect that these two buildings were originally stables, converted to garages at a later date. They are both currently art galleries, and of course they have been shuttered for months. I have occasionally been to art events in the past (cheap box wine and a few nibbles) at the one gallery, before it was all done up.

And where did I end up? Why here of course. Because they had opened up at the same time as the other shop closed. It’s styled as a speakeasy of old, and is quite popular with the millennial set late at night (when the parking meters are turned off). So I enjoyed a quick bevvy (I didn’t want my parking meter to run out) in solitary splendor, then it was off to home, lest I ended up regretting something (like a parking ticket).