Barfly: Sharkeez on the move, open mic at the Fishack, and the truth about Cinco de Mayo

barfly martini

barfly martiniNow Open: Let’s hope the Feng Shui has come full circle to the infamous Harry O’s, Highland Ave, MB, which failed miserably as Upper Manhattan, ($6 beers in plastic pint “glasses,” seriously?). Well, last week the site was re-opened under the star power of Greg Newman’s Sharkeez mini-chain as the new Baja Sharkeez which hopped the border of Rosecrans to take over. It has all the things we know and love about our Sharkeez, (HB, MB), in a beautiful newly remodeled space. Call (310)545-8811 or check out sharkeez.net for more info…

It’s Baaaack: Due to the increasing popularity of Hermosa Beach open mic events for musicians, the Fishack, Pier Plaza, HB, is back hosting its own on Wednesdays, the only open mic night in the downtown area. The usual procedure remains: Sign-up at 7 p.m.; music starts at 8 p.m.; each artist gets to play three songs or fifteen minutes, whichever comes first; full liquor bar and restaurant menu available. Season two kicked-off at the beginning of April and is already booming. Great room with awesome acoustics and an amazing crowd run by musicians for musicians. The Fishack boasts an intimate venue for acoustic soloists, duos and trios. There is no house band but plenty of guitarists milling around to accompany singers. It’s also a great atmosphere for non-performers who just want to kick back and enjoy. This venue has been a dream for local artists ever since Jake & John (now at Genghis Cohen and Room 5), and Paige Brown (now in Nashville), were discovered here last season. All ages are welcome (until 10 p.m.; 21 and over until the last note is played somewhere between 11p.m. and12 a.m.). One of the highlights of this season for me has been a highly original octogenarian who hobbles on stage with his walker and jams spoofs of spoofs, with homemade props and everything. You can’t help but be inspired and you’ll get a chuckle to boot. For more info on this unique weekly event, call (310)379-5550 or log on to fatfacefenners.com. Go support local artists or become one yourself. Your mic is calling…

The Myth of Cinco de Mayo: Ok, so it’s not really a myth, it’s just the ignorance that usually leads to the most sought after bliss, in this case will lead an hermano to call you “el stupido.” Luckily you have me to straighten you out; and you don’t even have to footnote me. Plagiarize away: Although many people believe it to be so, Cinco de Mayo is not Mexican Independence Day, that glory belongs to September 16, 1810, when Mexico declared and won its independence from mother Spain. Cinco de Mayo (May 5) commemorates the Mexican army’s unlikely victory over French forces at the Battle of Puebla in 1862 after years of French occupation stemming from the Mexican-American War of 1846-48, the Mexican Civil War of 1858 and the 1860 Reform Wars. At the time Napoleon III attempted to establish a Latin empire in Mexico that would favor French interests but Mexican prez Benito Juarez said “non Frenchies!” and proceeded to crush the French army (8000 strong, the best army at the time and undefeated for almost 50 years) with his 4,000 man Mexican army. Although this holiday is not widely celebrated in Mexico, it is a day for Mexican-Americans to say “Ole!” and drown themselves in tequila along with their American-American counterparts who are only to happy to wrap themselves in the Mexican flag and drink along with them. If you don’t know where to go today to celebrate then you don’t deserve to have that margarita, so bust out your sombrero, pencil in that flippy mustache, walk outside and open your ears. You’ll find the party that suits you. Salud…

Questions? Comments? Contact DebL at BarflyDebL@aol.com. ER

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