No knock
on Elmsford—I dig Sportime USA and the skating rink and the driving range, not
to mention the KFC, all of which represent Captain Lawrence’s neighbors along Rte.
9A. But for one night, Captain Lawrence went truly high class—setting up shop
at Westchester Magazine’s “Best of Westchester” bash, and commanding some
waterfront real estate at dazzling Glen Island Harbour Club down in New
Rochelle.
As Aaron Pozit and Randy Shull pour samples of the Sun Block and the Smoked Porter, a
sailboat ambles by on the inky black Long Island Sound beyond their backs.
Randy is talking up the next iteration of his illustrious “Chico” series of
small-batch beers named for his dog, a Chihuahua/Jack Russell mix. He says Chico
Pilsner will be available as soon as this week.
Megan Apicelli of Somers and Joe Scuccimarri of Pleasantville are chatting
with the CL boys at the booth. Being a “foodie”, Megan says, brought her out to
the Best of bash. “I like to go to food events in the city, so I figure I may
as well do it here in my stomping ground,” Megan says, raving about the pulled
pork offerings around the event.
She used
to live in Pleasantville, and could walk to the original Captain Lawrence. She
often did--drawn to “free beer…and Aaron,” she says. But Megan hasn’t yet been
to the Elmsford location. “Captain Lawrence is everywhere,” she says. “You
don’t have to go to the brewery now.”
[Editor’s
Note: Megan, we’d still like to see you there.]
If you
venture upstairs, past the free massages and the “cronuts” from Enrico’s in
Hartsdale and the tasty cuts from Benjamin Steakhouse, past the band playing,
fittingly, “Good Times” by Chic, and next to a pet supply booth representing
“Pawfection,” you find the Freshchester Pale Ale on tap. Mind you, it’s a Blue
Moon Brewing stand—the wheat ale is a major sponsor of the bash—but two taps
bear the trademark CL barrel.
While
Blue Moon branding dominates the bar—they’re pushing an agave nectar brew—some visitors
opt for the Captain Lawrence, this being “Best of Westchester” and all. Aurora Gross of “New Roc,” as she puts
it, got turned on to the Freshchester by her husband Joshua. “He sends me to the ends of the earth for it,” she says
with a laugh, then remembers the Mobil on North Avenue now sells the Pale Ale.
“Most beer has an after-taste, but Captain Lawrence’s is enjoyable,” she adds.
“It just hits my taste buds right.”
Aurora’s
plans for Joshua’s birthday involve Captain Lawrence, but alas—she says it’s a
surprise. No spoilers here.
Carolyn Schauber too prefers the Captain Lawrence
Pale Ale to the national beer brands. “It’s awesome, she says. “I love the
hoppiness…Can I say that?”
Of
course you can.
The band,
featuring a lively horn section, swings into Van Morrison’s “Wild Night”, and
then “Soul Man.” Women in very short dresses flock to the dance floor. I have
never seen so many attractive ladies people in Westchester at one time.
I see
the same woman getting a foot massage for about 30 minutes; perhaps she has
fallen asleep. There’s even a rumor that Bill
Murray is lurking somewhere in the upstairs lounge, there to promote
Slovenia Vodka. (If you missed him, you could catch Murray on screen when “Ghostbusters”
aired at Captain Lawrence Movie Night two nights later.)
A little
after 10, Aaron and Randy pour their last drop of Smoked Porter. Strobe lights
stream above the Sound, lighting up the clouds and confusing the sea gulls. A
sign sticking out of the water declares “Make No Wake”—words we can all live
by--and four ducks pay it heed, gliding by gracefully in a line.
The
vendors start breaking down their booths, and the foot massage woman
reluctantly gets to her infinitely relaxed feet. The next Captain Lawrence
samples we sip will be in Elmsford--but the New Roc waterfront was certainly
nice for a night.
