by jon bosworth jaxvillain@yahoo.com
Harpoon Louie’s is the definition of a neighborhood tavern. Calling themselves “An American Pub” the people of the Riverside/Avondale community consider it the local restaurant. Located on Fishweir Creek, Harp’s has a patio deck with a waterfront view. While you enjoy your dinner, you might see an egret, a turtle, or even a wandering alligator.
Although the Sundays have been brisk lately, Harps is continuing their “Grills and Guitars.” Current owners, Justin Watkins and chef David Witt (the chef that designed the original Henrietta’s menu) took over the neighborhood stalwart last year. They kept the burgers-and-seafood-type of menu that made the place a classic, but upgraded the menu to include better burgers and southern entrees. On Sundays David slow-smokes ribs on the patio and serves them up with spicy collard greens and baked beans. The other new addition to Sundays is the live acoustic music by Dan Shepard and friends.
Between traditional Southern dishes and bluegrass and folk versions of classic American songs, this is the other face of the Riverside local scene. Unlike the young punks closer to Five Points and the old money in Avondale and Ortega, these are the true Riversiders. Dan Shepard is a Riverside local that runs with an underground group of musicians in the over-thirty realm of Riverside, playing acoustic music and bluegrass every Thursday in some undisclosed home in the area and then bringing some of those collaborations to the patio at Harpoon Louie’s.
“Everyone has a good time. It’s relaxed and kicked back,” says Shephard.
This is the sort of event that locals walk to, so expect to see some well-behaved dogs, and listen to acoustic renditions of Bob Dylan, Janis Joplin, Grateful Dead, and Steve Earl, as well as a selection of songs from the Oh Brother Where Art Thou soundtrack. From the Crush wait staff to people that live in the neighborhood of Harpoon Louie’s, locals are consistent at Harp’s on Sundays, but that doesn’t mean they’re cruel to outsiders. When you are one of the ones at Harpoon Louie’s on a Sunday, you become a Riverside local.
“I just love to play,” Shepard says.
Shepard and fellow guitarist, Ray Hart, are sometimes accompanied by Erik Svenson on Banjo when they perform on Harp’s patio.
“Erik Svenson is a hydrogeologist that is also one of the best banjo players I have seen around here. He’s from North Carolina,” said Hart, “where a lot of banjo players come from.”
Ray also plays in this insider Riverside group of bluegrass and jazz musicians with a group that incorporates banjo and standup bass. They played at Harp’s recently and are likely to return. Dan and friends play mostly for tips, and the restaurant feeds them beer and dinner, but essentially it is just a public offering that forms from their weekly jam sessions, which have been going on for almost three years. Come to Harpoon Louie’s on any Sunday (weather permitting) and enjoy Dan Shepard and some delicious barbecue with one-dollar Pabst Blue Ribbon or a bucket of five domestic beers for eight dollars.
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