The Village Focus
Webster Herald
Wednesday May 3, 2010
by Carol Klem
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The Irish Rover
Everyone watched the transformation of the little space at 7 West Main Street in the village, and were excited as the sign went up in late January announcing (finally!) the arrival of the new Irish pub.
When asked over and over again if I had been there, I sadly answered negatively. That is, until late last Thursday afternoon when Mike Sorenson, editor of the Herald, and “me self” met to check it out.
Begorrah! It was a good afternoon indeed.
Typically I, am not a beer drinker but, when in an Irish bar, - well, it’s like being in Rome - you do as the Irish do, and have an Irish beer.
With great skill, the bartending beauty, Amy Montrois, a Webster native and 1998 graduate of HW Schroeder High School, poured us a Guinness. Pouring a Guinness on tap is an art form. It is a thing of beauty. Because the beer is run through a cooler to chill it to the required temperature, the nitrogen bubbles become agitated and as it pours it creates the creamy, yes, creamy goodness that makes Guinness so famous. So pouring the “perfect pint” is a multi-step process that involves topping off the initial pour after it has settled for some time. Guinness says it takes 119.53 seconds to pour the perfect pint. I believe that is what we had - the perfect pint (20 ounces) in a perfectly beautiful glass. Amy topped it off with a shamrock. That is no blarney, and Mike, the Irishman, will attest to that.
If you have trouble making decisions, you may have trouble ordering from such an extensive menu of beers and wines. Johnny the manager and hospitality specialist introduced us to 24 beers on draft and definitely these were not your everyday variety. We also sampled raspberry wheat from the Southern tier.
Delicious. It was a girly girl’s drink. I was reminded of Benjamin Franklin’s famous quote “Beer is proof that God loves us and wants us to be happy."
For those wine lovers, The Irish Rover has 47 different wines available – wines for the most discriminating palate. I heard no “whining” from a couple who were sitting a few feet away enjoying a bottle of Cabernet Sauvignon. They often meet after work, they said; enjoy a little vino before going home for supper. They love this place.
A full bar of mixed drinks, cokes and other non-alcoholic beverages are available as well.
I find that fine wine and great beers are always best when they are served proceeding or with good food. Eleven specialty deli sandwiches are on the menu – all served on sour dough, black Russian or wheat berry bread with chips. Choices include the sandwich named Bill Casey from Dover which features turkey, lettuce, tomato onion, bacon with cranberry chipotle mayo for $6.75. Selections are endless.
Also you may want simple starters such as bacon wrapped scallops or Irish Nachos, artichoke dip with crackers, or mini open faced Reuben’s. Soups are on the menu daily.
For those who require more than food, drink and hospitality, great entertainment will be available on week-ends. On March 5 the very popular Dady Brothers will be appearing at 9 p.m.
Many fun social ventures are in the works. Johnny would love to feature such events as beer tastings to educate all of us about beers- which would be run very much the same as wine tastings. Also in consideration is the formation of a Beer Club. Management plans on being a visible presence in the village, for all of our special events including the Jazz Festival and Village Days.
So, one pint of Guinness and an hour and half later, I bid Mike good-bye, left for home concluding that this is not some run of the mill bar. It’s a great place to meet. It is attractively decorated, boasts beautiful wood trim, tin ceilings, but best of all are the classy glasses…the equivalent to linen table cloths.
I think everyone should pop in – besides – according to the Irish-
The future is not ours to know, and it may never be –
So let us live and give our best and live it lavishly!
Hey Glenn…GOT Gas?
Down by the station early in the morning, you can find the NOCO station manager, Glenn Smith, stocking coolers and doing typical routine paperwork, ordering stock, and taking care of very early morning customers. Glenn gets there usually at 3 a.m. Strange as it may seem, a number of people are up then. “Some drop in waiting for Golden Boys Restaurant, (located next door) to open,” he said.
Glenn began his career of managing convenience stores with Exxon. After 20 years with that company, he made the switch in September, 2006, to the little station/convenience store on Main Street and Corning Park, in the village that he was raised and in the neighborhood he loves.
He feels secure there, in the wee hours of the night and early morning because he’s always felt that way growing up in the village.
“I think of NOCO as home away from home,” he said. Glen makes his home off of Lake Road with his wife, Valerie, and four year old dynamo, Leo.
For each customer the small store means something else, he said. “We sell a decent variety of everything. For some we're the corner gas station, for others it's the morning coffee spot or afternoon beverage / grocery store, and still others use us for their lottery needs, over and over again, on a daily basis.”
“We typically try to honor all requests or needs - things like prepaid cell phone minutes, emergency supplies, propane, full dairy offering, frozen foods, eggs & fruit, bread-chips-snacks & candy, newspapers / magazines, including the Webster Herald. For some we might only be that one time stop for emergency or directions.”
When it comes to getting directions, Glenn knows his way around.
“We treat everyone with our best customer service - foot forward. Locked keys in a car might earn a cup of coffee while waiting for someone to arrive.”
Lost? Many get lost, Glenn said. Travelers are pointed in the right directions and often shown on a map where they want to go. Glenn has seen many a customer say, “follow me, I’ll show you the way.”
It seems as though NOCO may be the next best thing to the Chamber of Commerce.
“I've been in this business over twenty years and the customers at this Noco are the best I've dealt with. They are funny, loyal, amusing, patient- you name it. They rank among the best I've ever served and that’s the best part of the job.”
Glenn hears lots of stories and tells lots of stories. “Generally I know something about everyone…or a few minutes talking with a stranger will generate a common link. The small town “feeling” is still there. “Webster is the smallest 40,000- plus population community in the world,” he said.
Glenn comes from a long line of Websterites and is related to more people than you can imagine. His parents are village residents, Leo and Nancy Smith, and his grandparents were the late Frank and Agnes Lefrois Smith from 1477 Ridge Road. . Agnes is from the famous old Peter Lefrois family tree which spun off the Willmes’ the Maiers, Schutts, Clearys & Purdy clans. Glenn brings to NOCO an amazing knowledge of people, families, and memories of growing up in Webster and is this end of the village’s good will ambassador.
Another event planned at Nest Things Upstairs
A special event is planned for Saturday, March 6 at Nest Things Upstairs. Dressed in authentic costumes of the 18th century, Amy Codding and Valerie and Heather Elder will host an 18th century tea. This will be an accurate re-enactment of a tea, typical to the Revolutionary War era. Tea and selected food items will be served on authentic china. Be advised in advance that soldiers of the Crown Force Regiment may be in attendance, but no muskets will be discharged.
Attendees are welcome to come and go throughout tea-time.
The program is offered free to the public, but space is limited. Reservations may be made by calling Nest Things during business hours at 265-9240 on Tuesdays through Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 4 p. m. Entrance to Nest Things Upstairs is by the west side back door.
Like Frasier says, “I’m listening.”
Starting this March 11 the Village Hall will be open until 7 p.m. Mayor Peter Elder will be available to talk with anyone with concerns or requests there each Thursday from 5 until 7 p. m. “We feel it is important to provide this convenience and access to Village government,” he said in his column which runs bi-weekly in the Herald and on the Village website. This is being accomplished at no additional expense to Village taxpayers.
It’s Snow time
Everyone has an excuse for being late when it’s snow time. The biggest snowfall of the winter fell Thursday night snowing many people in but….not our village employees. According to Carol Moranz everyone reported to duty ON TIME Friday morning. Congratulations.
Thanks also to the Department of Public Works who fought a great battle with the snow…and came out of this victorious.
