(Actually the memory started a little earlier than that when I was reading about Versaille and a photo of a black and white checker floor triggered a scene I play in my head sometimes because I've never been able to figure out if it was a dream or a memory- where I'm in the kitchen of a very grand and old house, after being carried through a dark unfurnished room late at night. My sightline is barely above the island butcher blocks leg and I'm staring up at my aunt Lillie while she's taking a sip out of a glass- and that's it- it's all I can remember or dreamt)
back to Hamburger Mary's...
My parent's would take me there to visit my aunt Charlotte when she was working as a chef in the late 80's or early 90's (I can't remember exactly). My favorite thing was the pinball machine and how loud and urban it was. I remember waiting to play the pinball machine and this guy was already playing and he had a bunch of free games (I assume he was a regular there because he was very good) and I was too shy to ask him if I could play so I told my dad. To this day I remember how startled that guy looked when my dad tapped him on the shoulder and said, "hey man! Let him play!" the guy was apologetic and let me have his free games. I remember feeling so bad but happy I had free games.
My aunt would send out bar food and it was just so cool to know someone on the inside. My family was so popular- everyone wanted to meet Charlotte's brother or her sisters or nephews- it was really exciting as a kid!
I don't know what made me think of this place at all really. Some people had written reviews about their memories on Yelp- it was pretty cool to read because I was so young so it kind of reinforced how I remember it being. It's closed down a while ago but seeing how it's a mini-chain now I doubt it would be now what it was then: a hip, loud, off-beat, urban watering hole in a not so good part of town, but I'd like to go back and have a drink after all these years and make a toast to my aunt.
