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2019 My John B. Keane

28th,

August

| Week End Downunder
EXAMINER By Jonathan Bowen another pub to listen to some Irish called white nights. This display was European Bier café where I walked up

I then walked across to the
or those that read Mike’s arti-
at Carlton Gardens and the themes of
Trad music and have a pint of
cle a couple of weeks ago, I
IRISH Fhad what can only be Magners Cider. There I met two this year’s events were based on the the stairs to the rooftop bar. There I
ladies who turned my quiet night of
Mad Max movies and fantasy stories.
sat over by the window where a 30th
birthday party was going on next to
described as my John B Keane
drinking and reflection into a night of
The show was something to behold.
weekend. So, what is a John B discussions of life back home and It was a mixture of a laser lights dis- me. The birthday girl locked her
Keane weekend I hear you ask? drinking far too much for all of us to play, music and moving pictures as drunken eyes on me and made her
Well John was famous for creating remember. The two ladies were cele- well as artists who moved about in move from behind me. Her uncle
situations in his pub or when brating their victory in the magis- creative and abstract ways, it was all (thank God) came and pulled her off
meeting friends where he would trate’s court where they had a dis- very absorbing and compulsive view- me and apologized to me. The girl’s
ask a controversial question to a agreement with their landlord. The ing. boyfriend was not too happy with
person or a group of people and girls won their case and deservedly The following night I decided to do me, only for the uncle to explain to
sit back and watch as they would so. They told me the story behind a pub crawl. The first rule of any pub him that it was not my fault. That did-
debate the merits of the question. why they ended up in court which crawl is to first line the stomach, n’t help the situation, so I hurriedly
In some cases it would lead to started with the line “I work for the which I did at one of my favorite finished my drink and got the Hell
interesting points being made and government and I had a victory in restaurants in Melbourne, out of there. I then went and saw the
stories being told and in some court today,” so straight away they Pellegrini’s! My favorite chef Rosa last of the white night’s laser show at
cases the Garda would need to be had my attention. As the drinks was working in the kitchen and she Birrarung Marr along the Yarra river
called to stop the fighting, all the flowed so did the stories. The girls smiled at me as she always does when before walking home.
while John would be sitting there were from Mayo and Limerick and she sees me. I sat next to this older Once I got home my night didn’t
at the side of his bar taking notes they loved to talk. Music was the glue gentleman who was from Italy. He get much better, Manchester United
and observing what going on. that kept the conversation going. It is spoke in broken English and was los- lost to Crystal Palace and Ireland
So my John B Keane weekend funny how music, drink and being ing his hearing (so he told me). He were soundly beaten by England in
started on Friday night when I decid- Irish is all you need to have a great told me stories of what it was like to the rugby at Twickenham.
ed I would catch up with some friends night on the Craic. grow up in Italy and how much Sunday brought a promise of bet-
for drinks after work. I hadn’t caught After I had finished with the ladies Melbourne had changed since he first ter times with good weather and a
up with this group in a while, so it or I should say they had finished with arrived in the city after the war. I left friend mine just returning from
was good to sit there and listen to the me, it was a balmy warm night, so I Pellegrini’s and started another pub Ireland the night before. They
stories of what everyone had been up decided to walk home; while walking crawl. I first stopped at one of my old returned with stories and food from
to. I then left this group and went to I checked the amazing lights show haunts The Charles Dickens. This home. They also brought me two
pub was a lot like the Nevada Smiths copied of my favorite music newspa-
Sean Downes back in the day. It was a small bar in a per Hot Press. I was most grateful.
downstairs basement which was dedi-
We sat and chattered over the Sunday
cated to showing sports, primarily roast dinner at PJ O’Brien’s in
Attorney at Law rugby and football (soccer) on the Southbank.
TV’s. The place felt different this time So, I hear you ask where is. The
67 Wall Street, Suite 2401 when I went in and it was. I found out John B Keane moment in this story?
New York, New York 10005-3101 that the old man who use to own the Well I experienced and witnessed all
Telephone: (212) 248-3232 Fax (212) 248-2848 bar sold it two years ago. It was sort these events and here I am writing
Representing those injured in: of an end of an era for me. I spent down the stories and telling the tales.
SCAFFOLDING ACCIDENTS CONSTRUCTION ACCIDENTS many a night drinking, sleeping and What can be more John B Keane than
MOTOR VEHICLE ACCIDENTS MEDICAL MALPRACTICE
AND ALL OTHER ACCIDENT CASES watching football and rugby in that that!
pub. Until next time. C

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