It's a great day today in Toronto. Sure it's a bit cold, but the sun is out and it's a great Saturday. I got up early, ran some errands and have been to the gym. I've been going through some personal issues and it's been a long week. But today I woke up feeling good. Today is a good day. So I'm walking back from the gym, towards my destination, the Hargrave. My home away from home, my shelter in the storm, my neighborhood pub.

I don't know if you gentle readers out there are familiar with the neighborhood pub so let me educate you.

This is my place. The place I feel most comfortable. I have been coming here for nearly 10 years. Longer than any place I have lived since a child. And this place has always stood behind me, through the breakups and the fights. There has always been the Hargrave.

I walk in and immediately see a friend of mine. Excellent. I order some lunch, (healthy since I was at the gym) and we launch into a conversation. Sure it's not going to solve the problems facing our society but its good. Real good.

Lunch is polished off and I have gotten my first pint. Buddy and I head back to the dartboard. (I happen to be pretty good and beat this guy for a pint.) We shoot the shit, we talk, and no it's not anything important but it's me, just being me in a place where I am comfortable. Maybe it's because I'm from a small town originally, and I feel that need to walk into a place and know just about everyone. Fine. If that's the reason so be it. I don't fucking care. I just love it.

I'm back up at the bar and the place has gotten a bit busier, more friends I haven't seen in awhile are here. Hugs are passed around, handshakes are exchanged and goddamn I feel good.

Saturday early evenings mark the trivia challenge, the bar is lined with people with their NTN players awaiting the big event. I'm laughing about something or other, possibly some gossip I hadn't heard. Now this is fucking living. The game starts, I'm not playing, I may be good at darts but not trivia. I throw out answers to the few questions I happen to know. That doesn't matter though, because in between these questions, conversations are happening all over. The bartender is telling us about her sons hockey game, G man beside me is telling me what happened after I left the pub last night. Who cares it's all fucking good.

I fucking love this place. It fulfills this need in me to have a place where everyone knows my name. And cheesy as that sounds it's the best feeling in the world. I have to take off now, I have plans tonight. But I just can't wait until the dart tournament here tomorrow. There is a possibility of a fight between a couple guys, and there is this woman who knows her husband is cheating on her and she is supposed to be here, AND we are all going to be playing some serious fucking darts.

You can keep those fucking coffee shops, the bowling alleys and all that other shit. I'll take that Hargrave over any of those fucking places in a heartbeat.

"Sometimes you want to go, where everbody know's your name. And they're always glad you came."

Downs

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