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| THE MORE THINGS CHANGE |  |
|
STORY AND PHOTOGRAPHY BY
CHRIS POH |
|
Prior to our recent staff
pilgrimage to visit the truly important
landmarks in our nation’s seat of power on the Potomac, namely, the DUBLINER IRISH PUB and CAPITOL CITY BREWING COMPANY,
I hadn’t spent any significant tavern time on this turf since the first
term of the Reagan administration. And as it is now, our country was
then suffering through a harsh winter and a recession that was
described as the worst economic calamity since the Great Depression. A
wave of de-regulation led to a crisis in the financial sector. In 1983
a total of 49 banks failed, surpassing the depression era record of 43
set in 1940. Housing, steel and the auto industry also experienced a
severe downturn, and it was even suggested that General Motors might
not survive the decline. But that was then…and being somewhat the
political activist, I convinced my friend Casey that we must take our
concerns to Washington.
 A surprise snow and ice storm
crept up the eastern seaboard the morning we left Newark, New Jersey on
a southern bound Amtrak Metroliner. Four hours later we emerged from
Washington’s Union Station to find a city crippled by nature’s hoary
clutch. The streets were mostly devoid of human and vehicular traffic,
and the pellets of ice driven by a ferocious wind made walking
virtually impossible. My loosely contrived plan to corner then Speaker
of the House, Thomas “Tip” O’Neill at his favorite D.C. hangout, Matt
Kane’s Bit O'Ireland, so that he could pass along my thoughts to the
president would have to be abandoned. Thankfully though, there was
another equally inviting Irish pub just one block from the rail
terminal.
 DESPITE THE HUMOROUS CARTOON ON THEIR TEE SHIRT THE DUBLINER TRULY IS A FAVORITE HANG-OUT OF POLITICOES AND THEY REALLY DO NOT WANT IT TO CHANGE . . . NEITHER DO WE For the next several hours
Casey and I indulged our mutual affection
for Guinness Stout, and THE DUBLINER as a matter of
course pours an
outstanding pint of “The Black Stuff.” On that particular afternoon our
public servants were conspicuously unavailable; but our affable Irish
host behind the bar provided pleasant company, judicious counsel and a
couple of drams of poteen from a care package sent
from home. It was
grand experience, and while we were unable to do anything about our
national recession, we had found a wonderful way to ward off our own
personal depression.
On another bone chilling afternoon almost three decades later, I would once more walk into this revered Washington establishment. And once again in the midst of economic upheaval a new president would be promoting a new political philosophy and a fundamental change in the way we govern. As I consider the true nature of such proclamations, I find myself increasingly grateful for those things that remain constant….good friends, and great pubs like THE DUBLINER, a superb place to weather the storm . . . "and to sink your sorrows and raise your joys!" |
 THE BAR ITSELF IS IDEAL FOR AN IRISH PUB  THE DINING ROOM ABOUNDS WITH CASUAL CHARACTER AND TASTY TRADITIONAL IRISH FARE AS WELL  THESE TAPS DISPENSE LIQUID TREASURE FROM THE LAND OF THE LEPRECHAUNS (ALSO FROM OTHER LANDS)  AND HIGHER KARAT JEWELS AS WELL Editor’s notes:
• The part about me going to Matt Kane’s in order to seek out Tip O’Neill might just be a slight embellishment of the facts. • Look for an upcoming article about Capitol City Brewing from our Creative Director – Ed Petersen • Click on the poteen link for a special treat. |
| HOME |
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