MONDAY NIGHT AT THE GRAND

Monday night Margot and I went to see "Spamalot" at The Grand Theatre. I am, you must understand, a very big fan of Monty Python. We already saw the show once, in New York, but HAD to go again. Hey... it was in Kingston!! A Broadway show... in Kingston!!

At the Grand, when the house is full, the line up at the bar can be rather long and slow-moving. So I checked the programme to ascertain when to make a dash for it. I checked with Margot- she wanted only "a brownie".
I said I thought they only sold drinks... at the bar. She said: "Well, if they have something sweet..."

I was, indeed, first in line at the bar. There were no brownies there. I bought my beer and I turned around--- and there was a FREE buffet with smoked salmon and fancy cheese and... brownies!! I was torn between surrendering my advantage and position at the front of the buffet table (featuring smoked salmon and shrimp) and grabbing a brownie for... for... I forgot who... so I grazed some more at the buffet... and SUDDENLY, Margot appeared beside me!! I was a little embarrassed. But I recovered. In a loud voice I told her: "I was just telling these ladies here that I would LOVE to have some of this lovely seafood, but my Sweetie Margot needs a brownie first. Wasn't I?" ...and I looked around for support, and they (total strangers though they were) all nodded enthusiastically. That's why I love Kingston. AND I think I got away with it...

Me (sampling seafood)

ACTRESS... BISHOP...

The restaurant I used to own was called "Mars".

People told me that it "lacked atmosphere."

DESSERT

My best idea was the dessert that we had on the menu. It was HUGE. It cost $69.00. We called it: "The Bill".

The Bill

We would ask: "Anything else?" and the customer would reply, "No... just bring the bill."

It was great for increasing the average check... lousy for repeat business. But on Mars... we didn't always get much repeat business.

ALSO....

We had a dinner item on the menu that we called "The Usual". It was not described. Total strangers would walk in, sit down, and we would greet them with: "The Usual?"

The Usual

It sold really well. If, on those rare occasions when we were busy but sold no Usuals, we would pause, scratch our heads, and say to each other: "THAT'S Unusual."

"Furthermore..."

Front Parking Lot

Mars was a little out of the way, but had LOTS of parking (see photo). From our house on Thunderbird, and depending on traffic over the causeway,  it took about... 73 years to get there. I always recommended that you call ahead... I mean, why waste the trip if we were booked up when you got there? The food was out of this world. So was the service... well, it was ALL out of this world, really.

THE STAN LEE CUP (St. Patrick's)

Ben and Peter Duke It Out

What it's all about: The Stan Lee Cup

The second edition of the Stan Lee Cup Euchre Championship of Most of the Known World was held on Sunday and what a dandy it was. The Grand Championship came down to a sudden-death, winner-takes-all match between Ben Milledge and Peter Bacon. Joining them at the Champion's Table for all the marbles were Dave Oliver, and Charlie Cooney (reprising his finalist appearance in November, 2011).

The weather was so summer-like that two of the three competition tables were located outside, and mosquitos became an issue. After three intense sessions consisting of five rotations each, we were left with an all-male table on the porch fighting for the big burrito, a foursome in the bay window comprising the two McLachlans visiting from Toronto, Coleen and Paul, as well as Margot Coulter and Leslee Oliver, two finalists from the first tournament who manged to fall to the middle bracket where only $15.00 were at stake, and a Cat's table featuring Defending Champion Missy Molloy, with Bev Bacon, Fran Cooney, and Greg Milledge.

Full results after regulation play:

I made it Spades... for my partner

1. Charlie Cooney, 61 points, and $15.25
2. Ben Milledge, 60 points, and $15.00 even
3. Peter Bacon, 53 points, and $13.25
4. Dave Oliver, 50 points, for $12.50

Dave Oliver had started the third session one point behind Margot Coulter, but caught her on the second rotation of the third session, and then passed her on the third. Whew!!

5. Margot Coulter, 49 points, and $12.25
6. Leslee Oliver, 48 points, for $12.00
7. Coleen McLachlan, 45 points, and $11.25
8. Paul McLachlan, 43 points, and $10.75

Leslee Oliver had started slowly, but with 36 points earned in the second and third sessions, she was catching fire... just a little too late.

9. Fran Cooney, 41 points, and $10.25 (Canadian Funds)
10.Bev Bacon, 39 points, for $9.75
11.Missy Molloy, 38 points, and $9.50, tied with
11.Greg Milledge, 38 points, and also $9.50

In the fifth rotation of the first session, Ben and Margot made history by scoring a 10 pointer up in the bay window. That capped a 26 point first session for Ben, and an early, commanding lead. It is understood that that 26 points is also a record for points in any one session.

Pot Luck

AFTER DINNER


After a wonderful potluck dinner, and a little wine, the Championship round was played.

Paul and Coleen

At the Cat's Table Bev Bacon  made mince meat out of the rest of us to get her name on the trophy (AND $15.00). It was Bev Bacon 14, Missy Molloy 10, Fran Cooney 7, and Greg Milledge finishing dead last in both departments with 5.

At the Queen's Table it was very close with Coleen McLachlan  capturing honours (AND $15.00) at 14, with Margot Coulter right behind with 13, and Paul McLachlan 9, Leslee Oliver 6.

Peter's Winning Hand

The real drama was saved for the Championship Table, of course. One rotation produced a tie score. Ben Milledge and Peter Bacon deadlocked with 9 each, Dave Oliver 6, and Charlie Cooney 2. There was a draw for partners and Peter won Charlie, which left Ben and Dave together. The Bacon luck held, and Bev's husband
Peter Bacon  brought home the trophy by winning the March 18, 2012 edition of the Stan Lee Cup. AND $25.00 extra for his trouble.

The Stan Lee Cup Committee would like to thank our generous sponsers:

The Bad Year Rubber Company... "Remember:  If your cheque bounces, it's a Bad Year."

(I stole that from Rocky and Bullwinkle.)



Margot and Greg Say Good Night

   

SHUFFLE THE iPOD TWO

Richie Valens

LA BAMBA, Richie Valens, from
    The Best of Richie Valens
MOUNTAINS O'MOURNE, Don McLean, from
    American Pie: The Greatest Hits of Don McLean
WHO ARE YOU, The Who, from
    20th Century Masters: The Best of The Who
YOU ARE MY SUNSHINE, Norman Blake, from
    O Brother, Where Art Thou?
ZOO STATION, U2, from


Matt Andersen

     Achtung Baby
AN INCH AN HOUR, The Tragically Hip, from
    Day for Night
GO-GO ROUND, Gordon Lightfoot, from
    Complete Greatest Hits
DEVIL'S BRIDE, Matt Andersen, from
    Matt Andersen Live at the Phoenix
I AM A MAN OF CONSTANT SORROW, John Hartford, from
    O Brother, Where Art Thou?
DESIRE, U2, from

    The Best of 1980-1990