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May 30, 2005
Pour Out A Little Windjammer
Since I've already reminisced for a spell about local bar/club history, I feel the need to mention that it was exactly three years ago tonight that one of Chapel Hill's greatest drinking establishments served up its final round of tasty beverages. Yeah, Pyewacket was a pretty nice restaurant in the minds of many Chapel Hillians, but for me and my friends it was simply the best bar in town. Sure, Henry's and Hell were/are fine places to hang out, but on a pleasant spring or summer evening, nothing really beat sitting outside on the Pyewacket patio with a Planter's Punch or a Windjammer while watching West Franklin Street and shooting the shit.
Pyewacket's final night was somewhat of a bittersweet blowout. Both the bar area and patio were uncharacteristically packed with standing people, many of them loyal customers and former employees who had heard that the 'Wacket would be closing after 25 years of being in business. Longtime bartenders Marc Formato and Breta Stroud were mixing up drinks with whatever ingredients hadn't already been used up. Later in the evening I tried to order a Bossa Nova (Myer's rum, Galliano, apricot brandy, and pineapple juice), but the Galliano had already run out by that point. So for my last-ever Pyewacket drink I ordered a Raspberry Tea (vodka, gin, light rum, lemon juice, Triple Sec, and Chambord). Ever the amazing hostess, Breta generously made me a pint-sized version of the cocktail using my newly purchased commemorative Pyewacket pint glass. The super-sized Raspberry Tea definitely packed a bit of a wallop! A nice one to go out on...
Cheers to you, Pyewacket! Thanks for all the memories...
6/01/05 UPDATE: Before Pyewacket closed I took a Pyewacket Drink Menu as a souvenir of the place. The original really ought to go to a museum someday, but until that happens, here's a scan of my favorite section, the "Specialty Drinks" list that includes all of the drinks mentioned above and a whole bunch more.
Posted by Tim at May 30, 2005 08:10 PM
Comments
Tim, you're going to make me cry.
Posted by: Natrone at June 1, 2005 09:34 AM
I miss Pyewacket too! They catered our wedding reception 15 years ago. Breta Stroud was a freshman English student of mine. I've been to the Penang on west side Manhattan, and it's dandy, but the one here just makes me depressed.
Posted by: Sally Greene at June 1, 2005 03:59 PM
My bachelor party started at Pyewacket!
Posted by: Paul at June 1, 2005 06:00 PM
From birthdays to going-away parties, I remember a lot of things going down at Pyewacket over the years. And I agree about Penang. I tried assembling a posse of fruity-beverage orderers at the Penang bar a couple of Decembers ago, but it just wasn't the same...
Posted by: Tim at June 1, 2005 09:58 PM
damn, this post made me mist up. my going away party was at pyewacket. I ordered a windjammer... there's photo evidence of that night in my room, still. richard allen looks torn up and scorbett looks impish and dangerous. I need to visit soon.
Posted by: claire at June 14, 2005 05:45 PM