September 24, 2003 l’m Not a Drunk, I’m a Historian Amanda Aikman Culture Editor Have you ever been on one of those historical walking tours? I'll bet those are nice, what with all the walking and talking about history and everything. Say, you know what would be even better than walking, and talking about history? Drinking and talking about history (of course, to me drinking is like ketchup—it goes with everything. Come to think of it, drinking and ketchup actually go together quite nicely, you oughtta try my Heinz and Gin martini sometime, it’s very refreshing). It just so happens that the Lower Mainland is home to a number of historically inter- esting place’ where you can drink yourself silly. So the next time you are pounding back Chocolate Choo- Choos at your local tavern, take a moment to think to yourself, “Purple monkey dishwasher.” No wait, that’s not what I meant. What was I talking about again? Oh yeah, you should think about the bar’s historical significance or something. I should admit that I have already consumed a few beverages of ill repute today, strictly in the name of research mind you. What can I say; I’m a dedicated journalist dammit. So before I sober up and attempt to convince the Other Press's new accountant to reimburse my tab, I'd like to invite you to pull up a barstool and join me on a journey into the past. First stop: The Cambie. The Cambie. 300 Cambie Street, Vancouver. 604.684.6466 Vancouver's oldest original pub, built in 1897, the Cambie was once considered to be at the centre of the city’s social scene. These early days saw travelers from all over the world lifting pints at the Cambie while passing through on their way to stake mining claims or embark on wilderness adventures. In the prohibi- tion era of the 20s rumrunners and bootleggers would deliver their wares via underground tunnels that con- nected the bar's storeroom to False Creek. In the 40s patrons relaxed over a beer or two after shelling out five cents to watch the boxing match next door at what is now the General Store and Bakery. The Cambie has undergone a number of renovations in recent years, including its conversion to a hostel in 1997, returning it to its original splendor. Still con- taining the original Tiffany ceiling lamps that were installed in 1896, along with original finishes, hard- wood floors, tartan bricks, leaded glass, weathered communal tables, and 15-foot ceilings, the Cambie has remained a comfortable, popular, no-nonsense Vancouver watering hole for lo these many years. The Penthouse. 1019 Seymour Street, Vancouver. 604.683.2111 With a checkered past and a firm place in the cul- tural and social history of the city, The Penthouse has been a Vancouver fixture since 1947. The Seymour Street location began its infamous rise to fame when Joe Philliponi remodeled the lower floor of his trans- portation company building into the Eagle Time Athletics Club for boys (the upper floor became a drinking club). When the Athletics Club officially got its liquor licence in 1947 it was raided on the first night, and continued to be raided so frequently that a buzzer was installed to alert the patrons when the police were on their way. Newspapers dubbed the constant police attention as raids on Joe’s “penthouse” which is how the venue eventually got its current name. Over the years it has been a supper club as well as a restaurant called the Steak Loft. In the 50s big- name Las Vegas performers would entertain swinging Vancouverites as they dined and danced the night away. As time went on the club began to move toward featuring burlesque acts and eventually strippers, cul- minating in the raid and closure of the club as part of the city’s prostitution clean-up campaign. After yet another remodeling job The Penthouse has returned under the direction of Joe’s nephew, Danny. Danny has retained the 50s flavour of the venue, with its pat- terned carpet, silver curtain, original barstools on the upper floor, and the old VIP room where his uncle once entertained the likes of Louis Armstrong and Sammy Davis Jr. Oh, and there are still strippers too. The Railway Club 519 Dunsmuir Street, Vancouver. 604.681.1625 Established in the 30s, the Railway Club used to limit its membership to railway workers from the CPR Station on Seymour Street (now the Seabus Terminal). “The Rail,” as it is affectionately known by its frequenters, was one of only three venues granted licences by the province immediately following prohi- bition. The other two—The Artic Club and The Quadra Club—are long gone, but the Railway Club remains a popular gathering spot for thirsty Vancouverites to this day. Boasting an eclectic mix of live music, in a city where live-music venues are dying faster than SARS victims, this cozy laid-back bar is the perfect place to lift your spirits on a rainy Vancouver evening. Or draft for that matter, if spirits Culture © theother press © BOO Cea UN Bawa) aren't your bag. The Fabulous Commodore Ballroom 868 Granville Street, Vancouver. 604.739.4550 For more than 70 years the Commodore Ballroom has been synonymous with the Vancouver entertain- ment scene. After a 1999 closure (followed by a 3.5 million dollar facelift) the local live-music institution, with its legendary sprung dance floor and art deco décor, continues to be the premiere concert hall desti- nation in Canada. In both its remodeled and original condition, the 1000-seat venue has been host to such notable acts as Talking Heads, Dizzy Gillespie, Kiss, Nirvana, The Clash, Emmylou Harris, the Rheostatics, and Snoop Dogg. True, you may have to take out an emergency student loan in order to afford the drinks, but where else are you gonna go? This is Vancouver remember. The Met Bar & Grill 411 Columbia Street, New Westminster. 604.500.1967 Built in 1892, this building was originally known as the Burr Block. The establishment is one of only two buildings in New Westminster’s downtown core to survive the fire of 1898. Dark, mellow, inviting, and housed in a classic Victorian building with red brick and terra cotta ornament, the Met is a welcome alter- native to the more obnoxious drinking venues on Columbia. And the nachos are great. 7 This Week In History... Amanda Aikman Culture Editor October 1, 1972. bands on the road. September 29, 1976. September 30, 1977. http://www.otherpress.ca Jon Mark, guitarist for the Mark Almond Band, loses the ring finger of his left hand while in Hawaii on tour. What those resourceful rock stars won't do to get out of wearing their wedding Jerry Lee Lewis, attempting to shoot a soda bottle somewhere in the distance with a .357 mag- num, hits his bass player Norman Owens twice in the chest. Luckily for Lewis, the soda bottle, who survived the incident, corroborated his story. A clash occurs between Lynyrd Skynyrd roadies and a sound technician during a concert in Louisville. The Skynyrd crew claimed the technician deliberately turned off the sound during the band’s set and then attacked them when he was asked to leave. Many historians consider this the jumping off point for the violent roadie/sound technician wars that raged throughout the 80s. + A Page 11