| Last Saturday night a friend of ours had some | | | | Patsy Klein, Elvis Presley, etc. |
| visitors from out of town, and asked us to meet | | | | Around 10 PM, the real troopers -including some |
| with them at The Rum Bar for a 'fun night." And | | | | big name celebrities- from the Broadway shows |
| a fun night it was! | | | | begin to filter in to regale the audience with some |
| The Rum Bar is located in the lobby of the Edison | | | | of their own personal favorites. |
| Hotel, right off Broadway, on 47th Street. | | | | Last Saturday night I had the pleasure of listening |
| Although I'm not familiar with the hotel facilities | | | | to "Sam the Drummer," who not only sang some |
| -and I understand the place has many that they | | | | oldies, but also told some jokes with such perfect |
| are proud of- I am much acquainted with the | | | | delivery that would put to shame Jerry Seinfeld, |
| Rum Bar, for over the years I've spent quite a | | | | or even Jay Leno. And should I mention that Sam |
| few nights there. | | | | is 89 years young? Who cares? The man showed |
| For those of you who might be wondering why | | | | the younger set what laughter and music can do |
| I'm writing this piece, let me set your mind at | | | | for the soul and the body! Anyway, for anyone |
| ease: I'm in no way connected, get paid, or | | | | to follow him would have been a tough go indeed. |
| receive gifts from the either the hotel or the bar. | | | | But his wife followed him, and she outdid him! She |
| To inform my readers of what a New York City | | | | sang some delightful comical songs that were |
| fine time is, is my motivation. | | | | even more hilarious than Sam's jokes. |
| Two sections are immediately discernible as you | | | | As I walked around and mingled a little, I met lots |
| walk into the joint; the largest piece of real estate | | | | of people from Europe: a couple from Wales, a |
| belonging to the long bar -the altar- where the | | | | group from London, and another from Norway. |
| serious worshippers of the god Bacchus not only | | | | And of course there was a contingent of |
| offer their libations, but also they make them | | | | Chicagoans, who were drowning their sorrows |
| disappear faster than I can change channels with | | | | away at having lost their bid to Rio de Janeiro for |
| a remote. A piano/organ occupies the smaller | | | | the 2012 Olympics. |
| remainder of the space. | | | | For the price of a few beers and drinks (no |
| I'll talk about this: the piano bar section. | | | | cover), New Yorkers and visitors can have a |
| Karen Brown, the resident musician and gifted | | | | grand time. The Rum Bar is a smoke-free facility |
| pianist-organist, plays and sings just about any | | | | and safe to boot. No one hassles you and if |
| song anybody can think of and request. Her | | | | people get loud and obnoxious, the waiter -Thai, |
| repertoire is just fabulous. And if she doesn't | | | | who also sings by the way- will escort them out. |
| know a song by heart, she will dig up her indexed | | | | For 14 years the gorgeous Karen Brown has |
| music books and in no time she'll produce the | | | | entertained her crowd of faithful followers five |
| sheets. Since I don't sing, I pretty much observe | | | | nights a week from 9 p.m. to 1:30 a.m. The |
| and enjoy watching Karen accommodate | | | | wood-walled bar is just right for this kind of open |
| requests and those who wish to sing. | | | | mike entertainment. Even if you don't sing, soon |
| Besides having a prodigious musical memory, | | | | you'll be joining in and mouthing "Crazy," "Fly Me to |
| Karen also seems to be endowed with name | | | | the Moon," or "The Girl from Ipanema." |
| recall and 'face recognition' virtues, for she never | | | | Whether you are an American or a visitor from |
| gets a name wrong. | | | | other lands, and are coming to New York City, |
| For a while she sings the crowd's favorites, which | | | | and if you ever want to see and hear a woman |
| range from Cole Porter, George Gershwin, Rogers | | | | with perfect pitch-come to The Rum Bar: Karen |
| and Hammerstein to Broadway Show songs, and | | | | Brown will welcome you. Just make sure you tell |
| on to more contemporary songs made famous | | | | her Marc sent you. |
| by Sinatra, Streisand, Tony Bennett, Vic Damone, | | | | |