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There are a number of bars I've frequented over the years, but I can't honestly claim to have ever really been a regular at any of them. And that's too bad.
Maybe it's because of "Cheers" or something, but I always kinda thought it would be cool to be a regular at a bar. Not a sad, always-drunk, pathetic regular, but one of those folks who pops in a few times a week, never needs to order because the bartenders always know what you want and feels right at home among all the familiar faces.
Sure, in the late ‘80s and early ‘90s I was at Landmark every Tuesday night, but so were hundreds of other people, so the scene was much too hectic to get that kind of warm, fuzzy feeling of being a regular.
The closest I've come is at Club Garibaldi, where I do actually feel quite at home and where Win always knows what I want. That's because I want whatever Win suggests. He knows I'm happy to always try something different, so he makes I suggestion and nine times out of 10 I say, "sure!"
And Tag and Joe feel like long-time friends -- most likely because I've known them since the days 15-odd years ago when my band practiced weekly -- and played frequently -- at Points East Pub, where they both worked before taking over on the corner of Russell and Superior.
But even in a good year I only generally get to Garibaldi once a month. Sure, that's "regular," but I certainly can't claim to be a regular like the folks who are there every weekend.
But, my days of hanging out in bars on a regular basis are over, at least for now, and I'm OK with that.
Even if I do get back to going out a lot again someday, I suspect my hankering to try different places -- call it my bar wanderlust -- will likely again prevent me from becoming a regular.
In the meantime, I'm happy if Tag, Joe and Win continue to let me be an irregular regular at Club Garibaldi.
Are you a regular? Tell me where using the talkback feature below.
Born in Brooklyn, N.Y., where he lived until he was 17, Bobby received his BA-Mass Communications from UWM in 1989 and has lived in Walker's Point, Bay View, Enderis Park, South Milwaukee and on the East Side.
He has published three non-fiction books in Italy – including one about an event in Milwaukee history, which was published in the U.S. in autumn 2010. Four more books, all about Milwaukee, have been published by The History Press.
With his most recent band, The Yell Leaders, Bobby released four LPs and had a songs featured in episodes of TV's "Party of Five" and "Dawson's Creek," and films in Japan, South America and the U.S. The Yell Leaders were named the best unsigned band in their region by VH-1 as part of its Rock Across America 1998 Tour. Most recently, the band contributed tracks to a UK vinyl/CD tribute to the Redskins and collaborated on a track with Italian novelist Enrico Remmert.
He's produced three installments of the "OMCD" series of local music compilations for OnMilwaukee.com and in 2007 produced a CD of Italian music and poetry.
In 2005, he was awarded the City of Asti's (Italy) Journalism Prize for his work focusing on that area. He has also won awards from the Milwaukee Press Club.
He has be heard on 88Nine Radio Milwaukee talking about his "Urban Spelunking" series of stories, in that station's most popular podcast.
