In May of 1997, the night before Memorial Day, a few of my friends and myself were sitting out in the rain for our first Memorial Day Bash so when we began to get tired of that "fun" we found shelter in my one car garage.  It wasn't to long before the temperature in the garage dropped to beer temperature and we found ourselves in the unfinished basement.  I think somewhere between the rain, cold and beer - the idea was hatched.  "A BAR!"

Over the next few years construction started and stopped with my trips to Montana and soon the artesian crafts began to fill up the walls of what was appearing to be a cabin.  Around the turn of the century (how old does that make you feel?) I began an annual trip to Key West to fish and from Sloppy Joe's to the Hog's Breath - more ideas poured into the pit.  Soon saltwater reels and rods, pictures and Hemingway artifacts began to add another "west" flavor.

The name the Goose Pit - came from my niece Kali and nephew Cooper, when they were running names by a local art fair and with a name Goose - and hunting terminology from an 8 and 5 year old came a name that stuck!  "The Goose Pit".  Well as the building of just a bar in the corner -became a whole basement event making the entire basement  a full working establishment of a  Bar & Grill and including a working urinal things got just a bit carried away..  Yep, just like papa Hemingway's - a bar, a good story and a urinal, just a few miles north and west of the Keys.

I guess without a liquor license, you can't really have a Bar unless you want to go to jail.  (ah the pirate thing again) But in the tradition of the neighborhood bars of the twenties - it is really here - a little speak easy (don't want to wake the neighbors).  The owner of a local bar once commented, "Jamie you have everything here - just like my bar, except one thing.  A cash register!"

Well that is someday in the future - two bars, one where it all began and one in Key West.  As my boss once told me - "You have to dream it, See it and then Live it!"  So I guess it is that dream that had to start somewhere at sometime.  Stop by visit the Art Shoppe  - buy some art work or a t-shirt.  Wish I could buy you a drink - but that is not an option at this bar!  - Yes lawyer friends - I know, can't serve 'em up here!  Can I give them ice and a glass though?