Monday, November 10, 2014

MOTUS’ TWILIGHT NOCTURNE LOUNGE: EDMUND FITZGERALD EDITION

 

MOTUS-TNL jazz sign

The MOTUS Twilight Nocturne Lounge will be open briefly this evening to commemorate the sinking of the The SS Edmund Fitzgerald in a hellacious Lake Superior storm on November 10,1975 resulting in the loss of the entire crew of 29. Dewey from Detroit started our annual commemoration night back in 2009, when there was very little else to celebrate. I try to continue the tradition each year because Great Lake shipping is about as American as a job can get, and the men who worked the freighters are a special breed – the Mike Rowe dirty jobs kind of men that have built and maintained American greatness for generations. And because we still don’t have that much to celebrate.

For the history buffs, this is a good video of the ship’s last journey on that fateful night:

Tonight’s musical selection is, of course, Gordon Lightfoot’s tribute to the ship and crew:

And while you’re free to order anything you want, the only beverage that properly commemorates the Fitz is the drink known as a “dark and stormy” elsewhere, butt christened a “Gale of November” by Dewey. They both start with black rum, preferably Old Whaler’s or Goesling’s Black Seal, to which ginger beer is added. Only in Detroit, the ginger beer is replaced by Vernor’s, because “it’s what we drink around here.” 

Vernor's sign art print

So step up to the bar, pull up a stool, and order your drink of your choice: rum and Fever Tree Ginger Beer if you want the Dark and Stormy,

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rum and Vernors if you want the authentic Detroit Gales of November.

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Or maybe you want to keep it simple with a Great Lakes Porter:

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Just remember to honor the poor souls who were sent to their icy, watery death 39 years ago tonight in an early winter storm generated from an Arctic Vortex - just like the one headed our way!

snowsanta. maggies farm

DAMN YOU GLOBAL WARMING! DAMN YOU ALL TO HELL!!