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in between an elderly Contessa and
her friends, who were reliv-
Hby Carol Mark
istorically, bars in far away places were watering holes, which acted as a home away
from home. A place where conversa- tion ows easily and new friendships are forged. Much like F. Scott Fitzger- ald novels where the Gin Rickey is just as important as any of his characters.
Over the years, reading Hemmingway, even before I actually traveled, I gath- ered a sense of place and time through his writing. When I visited Venice my priority was not to see St Mark’s Square but Harry’s Bar. Tucked away in the corner of the square, a building much the same as the other centuries of mor- tar and memories within those walls. Upon entering, I sensed the people, who seemed like characters of a play. I was a silent observer. I was wedged
©Carol Mark 2015 all rights reserved
ing their youth dressed for an evening out. Being front row and centre, I
felt their mysteries of life and angst through their tones and mannerisms.
Feelings of time and place were also strongly evoked when I visited the Pegu Club in New York, established by renowned bartender Audrey Saunders. e Pegu Club is an unassuming hide- away nestled on busy West Houston St. Wedged between two stores, there is a frosted glass door with the Pegu Em- blem It signals like a password with the prestige of a private club. Behind the door was the long staircase to the entrance of the second oor.
e room is a long bar with nestled private tables for groups or an inti- mate table for two. I felt privileged to be ushered into this private space to