Green Parrot Bar No Snivelling Zone: 09/01/2009

Root

ROOT, a new, artisanally-produced root liqueur, recently released as a small-batch spirit by crafty collective Art in the Age of Mechanical Reproduction in collaboration with the producers of Hendrick’s Gin and Sailor Jerry Rum, could be a good fit for us.

Based on a Pre-Prohibition recipe, but with a provenance going back to Native Americans' Root Tea, Root weighs in at a bracing 80 proof and perhaps, teamed with a beer befitting such a potent spirit as a partner, could provide an interesting, if more muscular, up-sell of our standard Root Beer Barrel.

photo credit Landon
We've never really felt that comfortable among the growing number of establishments that provide their patrons with hand-crafted cocktails, retro or otherwise. Seeing The Parrot as kind of a throwback anyway, we appreciate that trend but never really knew how we fit in. This may be the opening we've been waiting for, our niche, The Premium Root Beer Barrel.

Can't wait to chip a tooth on this one.

Here's what some folks are saying:

“ROOT is unlike anything else on the market today and is the first true American liqueur since the Pre-Prohibition Era.
It is lively, and rose gold in color, this rustic spirit has a full, rich smoky flavor, inspired by an 18th century Pennsylvania folk recipe, which eventually evolved into Birch or Root Beer. The recipe stems from Root Tea, which goes back to the 1700s, when Native Americans taught the recipe to settlers. Over generations, Root Tea grew in potency, particularly in Pennsylvania, where the ingredients grew in abundance. During the Temperance Movement, a Philadelphia pharmacist removed the alcohol and ironically rechristened it Root Beer. This is our creation and interpretation of a genuine potent, Root Tea.
ROOT is a certified organic spirit made with North American herbs and pure cane sugar. All botanicals are painstakingly selected and tested for purity. Using all natural, organic ingredients, like anise, birch bark, cloves and cardamom, with hints of spearmint and citrus, the sugarcane based liquor is distilled in limited batches to ensure maximum quality.”

I found this recent post on Chowhound:
"Got a bottle yesterday while looking for something else. Clerks at the PA state store says it was flying off the shelves. It is all natural and certified organic, an interesting plus.
I enjoy the bitters in my cocktails so thought I would enjoy this. Tried it straight up...it was a bit much, but then, I don't drink many spirits with out a splash of water. So I added a splash of spring water, a cherry, half a teaspoon of sugar and one ice cube. (Okay, so perhaps the cherry was not necessary, but I was turning it into some sort of cocktail at this point). It was lovely! Great mix of flavors not usually found in a highball glass. Art in the Age's marketing warns "It is NOT Root-Beer flavored vodka or a sickly sweet liqueur." and they mean it. The root beer flavor comes across right away, but subtlety with an emphasis on the "root". I would also add "Must love spices". Very refreshing and exotic. I will be trying it without the water in the near future."
In addition to a shout-out in the October Vanity Fair, you can read more about Root in The Quaker City Mercantile, and in City Paper here.

Find some drink recipes here.

The packaging is worthy of note, featuring what looks to be a maple stopper and watercolor illustrations by Michael Alan.

A few more blurbs about Root.

You Had Me at "Get Lost"

This appeared under "missed connections" on craigslist

I pissed on your lawn - m4w - 58 (Old Town)

Date: 2009-09-22, 6:11PM EDT
Reply To This Post

I was on my way home from the Green Parrot on Saturday night. I was stinking drunk and stopped to take a piss on your lawn. You were sitting on your porch and cussed me out. Even though you were very angry I felt we had a connection. I tried to apologize but you wouldn't listen. If we had met under different circumstances I think you would see that you are the one for me. I was too drunk that night to remember where you live, but I do remember the way your face shined in the moonlight when I exposed myself to you. I think I love you. So I can be sure that it is really you, put in the subject line the object you threw at my head.

Mind If I Smoke?

The Hobo Nephews of Uncle Frank

Minnesota's The Hobo Nephews of Uncle Frank will appear at The Green Parrot Bar on Thursday, October 1st with shows at 5:30 and 10 P.M.

Playing Americana that's at times raucous, a Minnesota-bred blend of The Band and Avett Bros, The Alexy brothers, Ian and Teague, grew up in the New Jersey shore town of Somers Point - the town where Bob Dylan hired The Band before the brothers were born. A (dare we say, simple) twist of fate brought them to Dylan's hometown of Duluth, Minnesota where they started the band as a duo in 2005 with a revolving cast of roots musicians helping them celebrate their original songs alongside inspired renditions of Woody Guthrie, Leadbelly, Mississippi John Hurt Muddy Waters, Hank Williams and Sonny Boy Williamson.

Simply talented beyond their years, with backwoods melodies driven by chain-gang-workin'-on-the-railroad rhythms, the brothers Alexy excel at channeling that old-timey mono-radio sensation into their modern music.

With a heavy dose of Dylan and "American Beauty"-fied Dead, fans of roots music are in for a treat.

Not a cheap imitation of folk-rock legends nor the messiahs of a musical revolution, they are of the same breed of songwriters that put folk on the map.

Genre-busters of epic proportions, The Hobo Nephews have been called "the new kings of Highway 61.”

The Green Parrot is your Southernmost center for Culture of All kinds located at the corner of Southard nd Whitehead Sts. For more information call 294-6133

Hobo Nephews Of Uncle Frank ~ Go on Back Home

The Hobo Nephews of Uncle Frank's will appear at The Green Parrot Bar on Thursday, October 1st with shows at 5:30 and 10 P.M

Way to Go Charlie

Abe gives Charlie as "Atta' Girl"

This Letter to the editor appeared in the Key West Citizen and the heroine is none other our Charlie of Ron and Charlie. While we commend her for her honesty it doesn't surprise anyone who knows her because, "hey, that's just the kind of hairpin she is".

The Letter to the Editor in The Citizen was titled:

Thanks to the woman who returned my wallet

and read as follows:

Although my friend and I had a fun vacation this past April in Key West, the highlight of the trip for me was my belief in the goodness of our fellow man was reinforced by the action of one of your good citizens.

I didn't even realize I had lost my wallet until I received a call on my cell. ... It contained cash, credit cards, identification, receipts. From one of these receipt, she telephoned and got my cell number.

My heroine refused the offer of a reward and was just pleased to know that we were enjoying our time in Key West. After several inquiries, I have discovered that this kind lady's full name is Charlene Bell, and she works at Key West Conch Traders. ... I believe a woman with such integrity and honesty should be recognized and would especially like her family and friends to know of the kindness she has shown to a visitor from Toronto. ...

Valerie Marie Parsons

Toronto, Canada

The truth is Charlie could have kept the wallet, bought a new hat, and been in New Orleans before anyone knew what had happened.

Here's what Charlie looked like last year at Jazzfest.

But here's how we'll all see Charlie when she walks in the Parrot from now on

Lonely Planet Review

Hot on the heels of Fodor's uncluttered, white-bread, but broadly positive description of the "sometimes rowdy" Parrot comes another publication with their distinctly different, edgier, yet almost whimsical take on us.
It's The Lonely Planet Guide wherein we're branded as a "rogue cantina" (I like that) and then for good measure they throw in clouds of smoke, howling blues bands, inked-up city attorneys, termite shit and "a most entertaining urinal talk piece"???

"The oldest bar on an island of bars, this rogue's cantina opened in the late 19th century and hasn't closed yet. The owner tells you the parachute on the ceiling is 'weighed down with termite turds,' while a blues band howls through clouds of smoke. Defunct business signs and local artwork litter the walls and, yes, that's the city attorney showing off her new tattoo at the pool table.

Men: check out the Hieronymus Bosch-like painting 'Proverbidioms' in the restroom, surely the most entertaining urinal talk piece on the island."

Here's our Kenny, unwittingly standing in a most perilous position under what could potentially be a metric ton of termite droppings.

"I'll Show You Rowdy!"-Eric Bissell

Maybe this was the afternoon they came in for their review.

Fodor's Review

Fodor's gives the Parrot a positive if somewhat innocuous review here.
"Pause for a libation at the open-air Green Parrot Bar. Built in 1890, the bar is said to be Key West's oldest. The sometimes-rowdy saloon has locals outnumbering out-of-towners, especially on weekends when bands play."

a few sometimes-rowdy locals at The Parrot's Old Time Fiddler's Contest

See their take of Key West in general here, and their snarky but spot-on snapshot of our Main Street here:"...Duval Street looks like a miniature Las Vegas lined with garish signs for T-shirt shops and tour company offices. Cruise ships dwarf the town's skyline and fill the streets with day-trippers gawking at the hippies with dogs in their bike baskets, gay couples walking down the street holding hands, and the oddball lot of locals, some of whom bark louder than the dogs."

Although not included in the Fodor review I did manage to find this picture of a tourist clutching her cell phone camera while racing to photograph what she must consider an interesting character on Duval Street.

From Our Archives

We've lately been looking over some images for a web-site face-lift. Here's a few, picked at random, with brief captions
MIchelle and Girard with Suenalo

Tony

Jolly

Inaugural Day

Brand New Funky President 1501

The Flakes

Brown Derby Guy

Flames w/ Diddly Bo

Ben's Cigar Box Guitar

Ben Prestage

Songwriter Fest

The Parrot Has Feng Shui Out The Ass but not without CAUTION, as the boys try to evaluate the geographical, psychological, philosophical, mathematical, aesthetic and astrological impact of the new Green Parrot awning they have just built in relation to the space and energy flow of the bar.