"Manny Ramirez is in jail next door!" announced a Patriots fan who had just come from Sun Life stadium and was drinking at Fort Lauderdale's Downtowner Saloon.
my wife to tell her," said another Pats fan, pacing the room as he talked on his cell. "He was just at Fat Cat's the other night," said another. "I got the pictures here on Facebook." He opened his screen while his friends huddled around.
hangovers, a Budweiser was as appealing as a glass of liver. To get to it, you either have to arrive by boat on the New River, or turn off of Andrews Avenue onto SW 5th Street, passing the jail. "This is the only part I don't like," my friend had said, pointing to chain-link and barbed wire outside the county jail, as she pulled into a space earlier in the night.
Everyone learns soon enough the front section is reserved for regulars. A group huddled in the coveted spots, deep in conversation. A couple of lawyers still in suit pants and dress shirts hung late after work, several deep, bucket of beers as a place setting.
At the end third quarter, there had been a mass exodus; the handwriting was on the wall for the Dolphins. We sat at the side bar, the cozier slip. "This isn't a late-night place," said Barbara the bartender, who works this side every Monday. She's a Key West transplant and knew my friend from when they both lived down there. While they caught up, I ate a burger with bacon done well, despite that I'd asked for medium, my second dinner of the night.
Follow Clean Plate Charlie on Facebook and on Twitter. Follow me @melissamccart
