Honorable mention: Last Stop at the Mermaid

The pressure was on. I had to find a venue in Hermosa that could accommodate 100 people for Donald McVicars surprise 40th party, set for Dec 12. “Save the dates” invites had been sent a month earlier. We hadn’t pinned down a bar or restaurant to host this gig, but assumed it’d be a no brainer. We’d just rent a party room on a Saturday night during the busiest day Christmas party season. No problem.

My first stop was the Lighthouse. I thought, “How cool would those commemorative T-shirts be with the Lighthouse logo. I was already sketching it out in my mind, when I walked in to speak with the manager. He explained how the booking worked. They look at the revenues from the same date, one year prior, and that’s how much it cost to reserve the bar. $4,300.

Next stop, Hennessey’s. We could have the entire outdoor patio for $1,000, including food and drinks.

I texted the other party planners. Outdoors would be cool, but what if it rained? The manager said risk was gonna be all mine.

I turned to leave and there it was, the Mermaid. I cruised across the plaza and stepped into 1957. I was a little intimidated by the regulars at the bar. An older guy sitting in the corner said, “Talk to the bartender!” I banked a 45 degree angle and was face to face with Diana Albergate.

“Here’s the deal,” she said. “You can rent the back room for the night, but bring your own food. We’re not cooking for you. The cost is gonna be $185. Nonrefundable”

Huh? Have they not upped the price since Ike was in office? I forked over the cash, and texted everyone involved. The commemorative birthday T-shirt would feature the Mermaid coat of arms — A martini glass, a paddleboard, and the HermosaCityseal. B

Comments:

comments so far. Comments posted to EasyReaderNews.com may be reprinted in the Easy Reader print edition, which is published each Thursday.