Dick Barry, Don Murphy
THERE were numerous reasons for timing my trip to San Francisco when I did. One was to keep up with the tradition of watching the Indy 500 from the Bus Stop Bar at Union and Laguna, and another was to stroll through the Union Street Fair. This year's trip also included the North Beach Fair, where thousands of people enjoyed fine weather and good music while trekking through the largely Italian neighborhood. Miles O'Reilly has managed to make his Irish pub one of the most successful spots in the area despite being surrounded by Italian eateries and saloons. While there I revisited many old pals, including Ed Moose, owner of Moose's at Washington Square, and bartenders Seamus Coyle (who's worked behind the plank at more different S.F. bars than anyone) and former publican Bob Mulhern, who reminisced about a Hawaii trip during which he learned to say "thank you." As he departed his hotel, he shouted to reception, "Mulatto." ... Spring fairs and
friends in Bay cityTHE new G.M. at Moose's is young (32) Tim Gustie, who hails from Hawaii and whose parents (who live in Mililani) were over visiting him when I dropped by ... Once again I was a houseguest of Bob Mulcrevy, who used to have his own Irish bar and restaurant in the Marina. He has since sold it and now helps run the family pancake house in Millbrae, near the airport; so instead of playing Irish music, he now has to go out in search of it ... Once again I lunched with Tom Horton, a former Advertiser columnist who now owns the Stinson Beach Bar & Grill, as well as with former Honolulan Mike Sweetow and Arnold "Kelly" Kalezewski, who played basketball for UH back when games were held in Klum Gym. We sat around discussing Kelly's recent heart by-pass surgery, Sweetow's battle with cancer and my own recovery from liver disease. "Who'da thunk it would one day come to this," someone said. Others nodded in agreement ...
ANOTHER reason for scheduling things in midyear was to attend the 60th birthday party thrown by pal Dick Barry for all his cronies (many of them Georgetown '59ers) turning 60 this year. Some 46 people showed up at Lake Shasta, where Barry owns 75 houseboats. We were piped aboard a flotilla of them for up to four days of partying, water sports and the viewing of sports on water, among other liquid delights. Heading the food preparation for this hungry and thirsty bunch was yet another isle resident, the man Barry calls "Chef Dong Moo Fee," but better known in these parts as Don Murphy, owner of Murphy's Bar & Grill. He used to run the houseboat concession for Barry years ago before settling in the islands. Assisting him was Tommy Ryan, who's known Barry since high school and who ran the Kona Coast Shopping Center for the entrepreneur before he sold it. Ryan subsequently worked at Murphy's before returning to the Bay area, where he's maitre d' at Seal's Cove at Pier 33 ... Go, Lakers
THERE were still other local ties at the "60th at Shasta" event. Hands down the most popular storyteller in the bunch was Boyd Hansen, known far and wide as "Cowboy," who lived in Kona for 25 years before returning to Utah. Also at the fest was R.Q. Williams, who dabbled in real estate on the Big Isle before moving back, and Billy Howard, who lived at a Mauna Lani condo before relocating to Southern California. There were lots of isle songs sung and stories told, most of which can't be repeated ...
BEFORE the big birthday bash for all, with Maine lobster, raw prawns, grilled-to-order filet mignon served on imported china plus Dom Perignon, fine port and cigars, there was a toast to various pals who'd made their own final journey, never to attend another fun gathering. You could call it a poor person's Bohemian Club outing, except that many there could hardly be called poor. There was a collection to tip the help for the weekend, and something over $7,500 was collected. Nobody on either end of the tip complained, either. But if Barry has another similar function, I think I'd like to work it ... The party's over
Contact Dave by e-mail: donnelly@kestrok.com.