Friday, April 3, 2009

Nostalgic Memories Of The Original AREA 51

I'm feeling a bit nostalgic today, so I thought I'd take you on a trip down memory lane to the original AREA 51 and the place where it all began. The original restaurant and lounge began as a private club in the 70's called the Le Sabre Club and I, along with many other business men and friends, became a member. It was a good place for a business lunch and an excellent happy hour watering hole.

A few years later, the Le Sabre Club closed and after a few stints under different owners, it became Delaney Street owned by my friend Kay. I must admit that over the years, I spent many an evening at Delaney Street and it was there that the name AREA 51 originated.

I am a creature of habit and I normally sat in the same chair, in the same area of the lounge. My friends also sat in the same area and over the years, it became sort of a "Cheers" area of the bar. It was a happening area and one evening a lovely young lass asked me why our area was so popular and, tongue in cheek, I told her that we were all descendants of the aliens captured in the flying saucer crash in AREA 51 near Roswell Air Force Base in the 1950's.

Our story became popular and from then on, our area was referred to as "AREA 51". A friend of mine made a white sign the size of a auto tag with the words AREA 51 boldly printed on it and fastened it above my bar stool. The rest is history and you'll see most of those printable stories in my journal from time to time.


Sadly, Delaney Street closed a few years back and the restaurant and lounge has changed hands a few times since then. My friend Emilio owned it for a while and it was called Krystel's Restaurant and Lounge while he owned it. The majority of today's pictures are from that era. Additionally, my sidebar pictures of Nicole and myself along with the pictures of Rocio and myself, were taken either inside or outside of Krystels.

AREA 51 lives on as a state of mind and not necessarily a place. Everyone has his or her own AREA 51 and I'm certain that my fellow AREA 51 journalist members are well qualified to come up with a few stories of their own.

The British Tabloids are all over Michele Obama and her meeting and interactions with the Queen of England. While I am not a fan of Ms. Obama, there comes a point in time that you have to say "enough already." Michele Obama is an intelligent woman and I'm sure she knew she wasn't going to a bar-b-cue. As for the intricacies of how to address the queen, what to do and what not to do, you do the best you can and to hell with it. I'm also quite sure that the Queen is not going to have a hissy fit with those who err or do not understand the prescribed protocol when meeting her.


This Date In History: 1721; Robert Walpole is Britain’s first “prime minister”. 1860; The legendary Pony Express begins a mail service between Saint Joseph, Missouri, and Sacramento, California. 1882; Jesse James, the notorious American outlaw, is shot in the back by a member of his own gang seeking to claim a US$10,000-reward money. 1948; The Marshal Plan, or European Recovery Program, becomes law.

Picture Of The Day: Today's Friday and I'm itching to go to Area 51 and see what's going on. The featured picture today is a nostalgic view of the bar at the original AREA 51, where I enjoyed many evenings with my friends and a number of lovely ladies. Things change and time marches on, but memories cannot be erased. I hope you enjoy this little trip to my past and present.

Birthdays: Henry IV, British king 1367, George Herbert, poet 1593, Washington Irving, American writer 1783, Leslie Howard, film star 1893, Doris Day, American film and musical actress 1924, Marlon Brando, American actor 1924, Helmut Kohl, German chancellor 1930, Jane Goodall, British ethologist and authority on wild chimpanzees 1934.

Printable Things I Never Told You: 1) I have been in a few television commercials for various restaurants and nightclubs. 2) I went to a bookstore and asked the saleswoman, "Where's the self-help section?" She said if she told me, it would defeat the purpose. 3) I don't like handling infants. They seem so fragile and I'm always afraid I'll injure them. I am, however, adept at holding the mothers. 4) My former apartment was two minutes or ten minutes walking distance from AREA 51, depending on my condition at the time. 5) Remember that a lone amateur built the Ark. A large group of professionals built the Titanic.

The Hits Just Keep On Coming:

A psychiatrist is addressing a group of people who have all had experiences with the supernatural. He asks, "Who here has seen a ghost?" Everyone puts up their hands. He then asks, "Who here has spoken with a ghost?" Half the audience puts up their hands. The psychiatrist continued, "And who here has touched a ghost?" Ten percent of the crowd puts up their hands.

The psychiatrist then says. "And who here has made love with a ghost?" One little man in the back row puts up his hand. The psychiatrist looks down from the podium at the little man and says, "Do you mean to tell me that you have made love with a ghost?" The man replies, "Oh no! I'm sorry. I didn't hear you correctly. I thought you said 'goat'."

A farmer was driving along the road with a load of fertilizer. A little boy, playing in front of his house, saw him and called, "What've you got in your truck?" The farmer replied "manure " The little boy asked, "What are you going to do with it?" The farmer replied, "Put it on strawberries." The little boy said, "You ought to live here. We put sugar and cream on ours."

HOW TO TREAT A WOMAN: Wine her. Dine her. Call her. Hold her. Surprise her. Compliment her. Smile at her. Listen to her. Laugh with her. Cry with her. Romance her. Encourage her. Believe in her. Pray with her. Pray for her. Cuddle with her. Shop with her. Give her jewelry. Buy her flowers. Hold her hand. Write love letters to her. Go to the ends of the earth and back again for her.

HOW TO TREAT A MAN: Show up naked. Bring chicken wings. Don't block the TV.

That's it for today my little extraterrestrials. Have a great weekend! I'll see you tonight in AREA 51 and more on Monday.

Stay Tuned !

17 comments:

Heli gunner Tom said...

At least--Tom said 'hey.'

tom S

Helen said...

Very interesting entry. Helen

garnett109 said...

Jimmy I had a few area 51's over the years, this year my back patio is going to be my get away.

Rose said...

I like the first picture of the bar....I already have my seat picked out......just like "Cheers" in Boston where everyone knows your name!

Hugs,Rose

Julie said...

I have my area 51 even though I am relatively certain I have gotten food poisoning there twice, the beer though and company is always good.

Paula said...

We always sat at the same table at our Area 51. If there was something special going on we would call ahead to reserve our table. We drank water but we sure did dance a lot Nice pictures you posted.

Penny said...

Enjoyed reading today . . .got a smile . . . giggle . . . from me ~ thanks. Blessings, Penny

mxmotomom said...

"Sometimes you wanna go where everybody knows your name and their always glad you came..."

Hugs Kendra

Pamela said...

I haven't had an "Area 51" for years. I know that some of the best times can be had in that setting. I'm glad you have such a good group to have fun with. I sure wish I lived closer to you so I could be an honorary guest of Area 51. At least I am an honorary member, right?
LOVED the jokes! You always make me laugh, Jimmy!
xoxox

Nancy said...

I really enjoyed this post, Jimmy. I never really understood the origin of Area 51. I can see why it's meant so much to you. Ever have any reeses pieces in there?
Just curious.

have a great weekend

Linda's World said...

I've never had an 'Area 51'...well other than the place next door to me and I've told you that story. I just don't get out much, don't ya know ?!? Linda in cold Washington

Pat said...

I liked this post Jimmy, even though I already knew about Area 51 after I asked you about it a few months ago.

My brother Terry has his own Area 51 in his local pub, they put a sign above his seat at the bar too!
We're going to Folkestone to spend the weekend with him today and we'll be joining him in his Area 51!

Martha said...

Ah yes, nothing like the area 51's of our lives. Have a great weekend jimmy :-)

Ally Lifewithally said...

Jimmy thanks for explaining about Area 51 I did wonder about it ~
I had heard of UFO Landings though was that true or just hearsay :o) :o) ~ Ally x

Coelha :B said...

:) I hope you are enjoying your weekend... I wish I was a fly on the wall at Area 51--sounds like a very happening place! :)

Cathy said...

Nice post - d'you think the CIA and NASA will ever reveal what was held in the original Area 51? Course not, easier to let us moronic Americans make up stories w/o knowing we're so close to the truth. As for Jesse James, I always found it perfectly American that Robert Ford was sentenced to death for murder after shooting Jesse in the back, the coward, as many a song tribute relates. He of course, was spared in time to spend his reward.

Joann said...

I'm even MORE proud to be an Area 51 member now!! LOL!! Great pics!! I love that we got to see close-ups of you... you're a very handsome man!! Yes, I have (in past years) had a few different Area 51's... Ah, the memories!! LOL!!

LOL!! I LOVE #3 of printable things... LOL!!