Dive In

A hush fell over the crowd of 50 or so revelers, who already took up most of the space in the bar. Someone asked, “Is he here?” Everyone turned toward the door, and after an extended pause, a distinguished-looking gentleman appeared. He was wearing a white leather jacket, a black turtleneck, white trousers, and a fedora. The crowd erupted into applause. “Happy Birthday, Sonny!”

Sallie is 83 years old, and she kicked my ass. Five times.

Sallie used to play professionally. Darts, that is. For the Palomino Lounge, that place on Delmar you’ve passed a hundred times, but never gone in. It is just east of the ever-expanding Loop, but isolated enough that you wonder if you should enter.

Get over it, go in and pull up a chair. The Palomino is friendly and warm, as I discovered on Super Bowl Sunday, when 10 other folks and I watched the New York Giants upset the New England Patriots in the last minute of the Championship game.