Hamilton Street Pub Crawl

09.07.2003

Went out w/ Matt last night. It's always too long between our seeing each other, and he's not an internet person at all (he doesn't even have email, if you can believe it!). So we quickly catch up on each others' lives, reminisce about our younger wild & carefree days, and smoke cigarettes.

We started out at Steamer's w/ his & his packs of Camel Turkish Golds. Sat down at a table and caught up on his new studio space (he's a painter) above Adomaitis Antiques and how amazing his son Emmet is.

Around 1am, we crossed Court Street and tried some other pubs. Retro Rocks was too crowded, so we braved the $1 cover charge at Woody O'Brien's. I'm glad we did. While Steamer's has a smoother, casual feel, Woody O'Brien's is the urban equivalent to the honky tonk. Loud, w/ a cover band playing and broken conversations, and carefree folks dancing on an overcrowded dance floor between the stage and the bathrooms.

Jeff Scott was lead guitar. He used to own Jeff Scott Music, sold me my first guitar (a Guild hollowbody electric). I coached his son's kindergarten soccer team. Here he was, fifty-something, playing his heart out for a happy crowd, tearing his way through "Brown Eyed Girl."

Matt & I watched the crowd, knocked our bottles together, and drank to Saginaw. Because this city's dead; it should just give up. It's been kicked so many times while it's down, one economic catastrophe after another. But it's still here. And in Woody O'Brien's, watching wannabe cowboys and could've been homecoming queens and used-to-be state finals football stars, I knew this city won't give up.

The band played loud, while the sons & daughters (especially the daughters!) of old GM line workers danced and sang the night away. They're not hip and they're not beautiful. Last call approaches and everyone's just looking for someone to talk to them. It won't happen. But they still hope. And they'll do it again next week, probably tomorrow even. But in the meantime, they shake their fists at the heavens: "Give us your best shot! We ain't finished yet."

Yeah, I'll even miss Saginaw.

Posted by Miguel at 12:44 PM

Comments

I don't miss Saginaw, maybe cause I never kept in touch with those people who I had god memories in the town with... Wait, I never really had good memories in that town! It is an odd little town, good description. I think something will eventaully come and save Saginaw from itself, but until then... I am staying away.

Posted by: sam at September 7, 2003 11:09 PM

I've been catching up on your blog.. sounds like you are having a ok time in Saginaw. Living only 1hr away and having most of my HS friends here at State makes me not miss it that much. But, whenever I do go back and Brett and I go play tennis at the Heritage courts... it just feels right. Like we should be doing this when we are 40 on the same courts with light at night... as long as you have 25 cents.

Posted by: Andres at September 8, 2003 01:04 PM

I didn`t realize how behind Michigan is and in particular SAGINAW until having been gone for 19 years (from Saginaw,... 11 years from MI)

"Matt & I watched the crowd, knocked our bottles together, and drank to Saginaw. Because this city's dead; it should just give up. It's been kicked so many times while it's down, one economic catastrophe after another. But it's still here." ( like Flint )

Thanks to you and your (very nice) blog I KNOW I have no desire to return to Saginaw as it has not and may never change.

Posted by: Steve at March 30, 2004 01:51 PM

I guess it is all how you look at things. I have lived many places and every city has positive and negative points. Travel when you are young, and when it is time to raise a family, return to Saginaw. There is more here than just 'Old Town'.

Posted by: Carmen at May 20, 2004 01:37 PM

No offense, but I don't plan on raising a family in Saginaw. Not ever. I can appreciate the town, but it's not for me. First, because I'll be looking for a job teaching at a small, liberal arts college. Saginaw has nothing of the sort. I plan to move out East.

Posted by: Miguel at May 20, 2004 06:18 PM