Fab Five Friday
Voila*: My list of the five best bar namesakes:
1. Larry Gross (pictured) of Captain Larry's, 601 E. Fort Ave.
Dude is an ex-cop who used to pierce people's ears in the bar (after sterilizing them in a shot of vodka, of course). There are bullet holes in the ceiling. Enough said.
2. Kooper of Kooper's Tavern, 1702 Thames St.
Kooper was bar owner Patrick Russell's yellow lab who used to hang out in the bar. Kooper is rumored to have saved at least one life in his day. He passed away last May.
3. Liam Flynn of Liam's Pint-Sized Pub, 911 N. Charles St.
Flynn has an apartment just across Charles Street, but he lives at the bar. That's one of the reasons why I love the place. But Liam's has been popping up on too many of these lists. So I'm retiring him after this one.
4. Roland Muir, Muir's Tavern, 36 E. Fort Ave.
It's all in the family at Muir's, and I like that. Old man Muir opened his bar back in 1944. His son, Roland Jr., still runs the place.
5. Bertha E. Bartholomew of Bertha's, 734 S. Broadway
Back in the day, Bertha's owner Tony Norris found a stained glass window dedicated to the memory of Bartholomew. No one knows who she was, but Norris named the place after her and hung the window above the bar.
(Photo by Nanine Hartzenbusch/Sun Photogapher)
*Voila is French for 'There it is.'
Erik Maza is a features reporter at the Baltimore Sun. He writes for several sections of the Sun paper and contributes weekly columns on music and nightlife. He also writes and edits the Midnight Sun blog. He often covers entertainment, business, and the business of entertainment. Occasionally, he writes about Four Loko, The Block, the liquor board, and those who practice "
Comments
Good call on retiring Liam's. They've definitely had their fair share of accolades on here.
Posted by: Andrew | March 7, 2008 9:48 AM
Larry Gross WAS an ex cop? So what is he now? A cop?
Posted by: Tony G | March 7, 2008 10:19 AM
Fine, fine, I changed it. Gimme a break, grammarheads.
Posted by: Sam Sessa | March 7, 2008 10:23 AM
Any back story on the bullet holes??
Posted by: Greg | March 7, 2008 10:57 AM
Kooper's is probably one of the best places to meet strange people in Fells.
Posted by: Drew | March 7, 2008 11:26 AM
Here's some citizen reporting. (Because the Sun is to lazy to do it themselves). Larry (Capt. Larry) sold the bar over 5 years ago and moved to Florida. (I think it was Florida, whatever, he got the hell out of Baltimore)
The bar has been completely redone, inside and out. It looks great and the food and booze are fantastic!
Posted by: Drunkard~ | March 7, 2008 2:39 PM
Drunkard,
Thanks for the feedback. I don't live far from Capt. Larry's and go there a decent amount. I know he's been gone for years. But he's still the namesake. That's why he's on my list. Heck, Kooper the dog is dead and he's still on the list. So read the post before getting all bent out of shape, Drunkard.
Posted by: Sam Sessa | March 7, 2008 2:44 PM
Read "Drunkard"s message above then drive further down Fort Ave., turn left on Andre St., go down two or three blocks, and on the northeast corner, you will see J. Patrick's Irish Pub. Meet the owner and I'm sure he will make your next list.
Posted by: 1854sailor | March 7, 2008 3:50 PM
Anyone remember Joe the Parrot at Capt Larry's? If the ear piercings get a mention, so should Joe!
Posted by: B&T | March 7, 2008 5:20 PM
Voila is French for 'There it is.'
It's so nice to see "voila" spelled corectly on the internet. I cringe everytime I see it spelled "viola".
Posted by: Hal Laurent | March 7, 2008 11:03 PM
Captain Larry lived in Key West until a year ago now he is some where in WV.
Posted by: smcoomes | March 8, 2008 6:02 AM
The old Captain Larry's embodied all that's good about Baltimore. It was what it was, nothing more nothing less, and everyone was welcome. The new owners seem nice but I suppose had to change the place with the times. I hear it's still a good place, but reading this made me nostalgic for something you just don't find quite as much anymore.
Posted by: bmh | March 8, 2008 2:52 PM
Unfortunately, I never made it to the Original Captain Larry's, but the new owners are great people. Everybody is still welcomed. You should definitely check it out. Great food and a great atmosphere. RRRRRR!!!!!!
Posted by: jason | March 9, 2008 12:25 AM
Best and smartest comment; Larry got out of baltimore, just like anyone else with any brains at all does! Go Larry, good for us we got out!
Posted by: Michael B. | March 9, 2008 8:19 AM
I was a bit sad when I went to Larry's on saturday when it was pouring rain and my dark n stormy was full price waaaaaah.
Posted by: Evan | March 10, 2008 12:25 PM
evan, ivars says he will refund you your three dollars. he loves you and misses you.
Posted by: abigail | March 11, 2008 10:01 PM