Notes From The Other Road

Mickey, Willie and Snuffy

Back for Round 2 of this 50th anniversary jaunt.  It was a well needed couple of weeks home in Nashville during which I played on a new record for folk legend Tom Rush, a beautiful album of new songs written, sung and played wonderfully by Tom and it was an honour to share the guitar duties with him.

While in St. Paul I made my way to Mickey’s Diner.  Mickey’s Dining Car was built in 1937 in New Jersey then transported by flatbed car and deposited on the corner of 9th and St. Peter St. where it has remained open 7 days a week, 24-hours daily for the past 80 years.  Built in classic Deco style boasting a bright red and creme colour scheme and streamline design, Mickey’s has remained family operated for three generations and is on the National Register of Historic Places.  I had a spectacularly great omelette with O’Brian potatoes (hash browns with onions, green peppers and diced ham) and a fine cup of coffee.  Check out  Mickey’s here for old pics and full menu: http://www.mickeysdiningcar.com

From Mickey’s to Willie’s American Guitars, the fantastic vintage guitar shop here is St. Paul.  Well known to collectors around the world, Willie’s is comfortable, friendly and a perfect place to spend an hour drooling over their great stock of old wood and wires.  My son Nick and our friend Larry Williams were of no help, both encouraging me to purchase a relic that I instantly fell in love with.  I managed to tear myself away in the nick of time before lightening my VISA card of $3,500.00.  Hmm, there’s always tomorrow.   http://www.williesguitars.com

Just next door to Willie’s is Snuffy’s Malt Shop, classic ’50s burgers, fires and shakes.  We walked in just in time for ‘happy hour’ and topped off Mickey’s breakfast with Snuffy’s malts.  That pretty much exhausted my caloric intake for the week and it was only 3 in the afternoon.

Finally, my son Nick and I have done a joint interview about this 50th anniversary tour with Neil.  Read all about it:  http://fansite.richard-bennett.com/p/richard-and-nick-bennett-intervies-as.html

Richard