Manayunk Memoir (Part 2)
Where did I leave off?
Ah, restaurants, a slew of them once called home. Winnie’s, Fat Lady Brewing, Zesty’s, Bar Jawn, and finally, The Goat’s Beard. At each stop, relationships were forged and lessons learned. Looking back, I see now that every place was a necessary step, each one guiding me, anchoring me, to The Goat’s Beard.
It was there that I wasn’t just reborn, I was revived. In that space, I found my dignity again. I reclaimed my strength. I remembered my worth.
After all, it’s the small moments that make the human experience so profound. A refuge like Jess (visit her at Daisy), who (without even realizing it) gave me the strength to walk away from my abusive relationship. And yes, I refuse to call it anything else. It was abuse.
A father figure like Brendan, who introduced me to Jeff Colahan, who ultimately led me to a safe place to live in Conshohocken.
And still, I’m grateful.
I’m grateful to Winnie’s, mostly because I made thousands of dollars bartending when it was still relevant—and paying its employees.
I’m grateful to Fat Lady Brewing for connecting me with lifelong friends, and for holding up a mirror that made me inspect my own choices. Let’s call it motivation.
I’m grateful to Zesty’s, where I learned about Greek culture and enjoyed some truly delicious motherfucking food. Period.
Then there’s Bar Jawn. I became very familiar with the law there. I could probably pass the bar exam. It was a chilly, expensive experience.
And The Goat’s Beard? It gave me warmth I didn’t even know I was missing.
Speaking of warm spaces, I included a few others in my book, These Words Are for Me, Not You. Places and people that will forever hold my heart.
I left some out of the book, and I regret it, so I’m adding them now. Because I can. Be on the look out for some new feats within the next few weeks for places like Pop Up Garden (closes for the season after Halloween) and the Hotel Bar, which are two MUST try hot spots, and more local spots like Cuddies, Ryan’s, and the one and only, Pitcher’s Pub.
If you learn one thing from me it should be that words are powerful.
People can hurt you. People can steal your money. People can try to ruin your reputation.
But these words are mine. My story cannot be erased, nor can I.
To be continued…