The End of an Era

First off, it's been forever since I've posted.  My apologies!  Please ignore any errors, as I have not had time to edit today.  That said, today is the end of an era. After almost 40 years, today is the last day the Imperial House Restaurant will be open for lunch. Don't worry kids. They are still open for dinner and drinks at night, but only Tues-Sat now.  However, bets are being taken on how long before they close the whole operation.

Opened in the late 1960’s by the Kelly family, its menu really hasn’t changed, nor have the stiff drinks.  Most of the staff has been around for the duration as well.  In the most recent years the lunch crowd has been referred to as “The Wrinkle Room”.  There is a large group of business men who hold down the far end of the bar on a daily basis.  Judges, Lawyers, liquor vendors, insurance brokers, steel barons, old sports heroes...they are all part of the Impy fraternity.  Gin after Gin, Bourbon after Bourbon, beer after beer, these guys never shut up.  Each one has his special position at the bar.  Unless you are a woman, don’t you dare take one of their seats.  And if you are a woman, be prepared for colorful conversations. 

I'm heading down for the final lunch now. I'm being sponsored by one of the old-timers. I've had the pleasure of taking part in the daytime crowd from time to time over the last 10 years.  I guess I’ve earned my spot at the bar with the guys.  I was invited to the final lunch today by one of them.  It’s their playground, and I am just an occasional visitor so I didn’t feel comfortable accepting.  After a bit of cajoling, I hesitantly agreed.  I didn’t want to intrude on their final game.  As a compromise, I decided just to come down for the drink portion of the schedule. 

It’s a full house at the bar as expected, but not expected are the full booths.  Word got out to the senior citizens that lunches are done, so they all hobbled in for one last Steak Tar-tar. Blue haired ladies in their finest, old gents in their suits...For a moment I feel like I am in an episode of Mad Men.  Heck, even the outfits are the same.  Something tells me the rest of today’s story will be fuzzy.  I don’t make it a habit to drink this early in the day, but it is a special day after all.  Any details I can remember are to follow.