Happy Belated B-Day to Richard Brautigan (31. January 2008, 12:39 by Erik) ~ Words words words
So, as GritCity pointed out, yesterday was the birthday of Richard Brautigan. He would have been 73.
As one of our readers pointed out to us via e-mail, Tacoma hasn’t really “claimed” any of its authors the way we have claimed Chihuly, Bing Crosby, or even Tugboat Annie. Why is that?
She writes:
I’ve been in Tacoma a year and a half now and I’ve never heard anyone mention these writers. I’ve never seen a drink named after them, nor bar, nor park … not even a bench or a cupcake. I like their work. I read their work when I was in my twenties and I still carry images from their books. Are we not proud of them? Was there a falling-out? Please shed some light.
We do have a fairly good list of authors from Tacoma. And they fit our image, too. Certainly Frank Herbert, author of the “Dune” novels, knows about grit (his books are very sandy). And Gary Larson’s brand of humor is part of the heritage for our new budding cartoonist.
But we especially like our reader’s suggestion of naming drinks after Tacoma authors.
“Bartender, I’ll have two Lindquist Liqueurs!” Perhaps someone can come up with a good Herbert Highball or a Bacardi Brent Hartinger.
So what do you think? Should Tacoma start hosting an annual Dune Festival? A Richard Brautigan Day?
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i’ve always liked the poem “our beautiful west coast thing…”
“i think i’ll get up and dance around the room…here i go!”
1 | Posted by tom waits | Jan 31, 12:43 PM
In honor of Frank Herbert:
DRY gin martini, garnish – Korean pickled garlic. Very Tacoma. Or maybe Lakewood.
2 | Posted by Ginkgo | Jan 31, 03:28 PM
The Gary Larson: Margarita. On the Rocks. At least one piece of fake ice with fly inside.
3 | Posted by Erik Hanberg | Jan 31, 03:44 PM
I’ll show up for Dune day especially if you’re showing the Lynch movie.
Perhaps the problem is that Mr. Brautigan, who came to Boulder a few times when I lived there, kept his distance from Tacoma the same way Jimi Hendrix kept his distance from Seattle. Sorta the polar oppostie of Stud Terkel or John Steinbeck who stayed put.
4 | Posted by Patrick the Sales Guy | Jan 31, 04:11 PM
The RR Anderson:
Wild Turkey heaping with shaved dry ice, served in a Pyrex lab beaker. Lit Sparkler twizzle sticks, and a frosted fake cupcake chaser.
5 | Posted by Mofo from the Hood | Jan 31, 06:00 PM
How about Dash Hammett? He wasn’t raised here, but spent a bit of time here working for the Pinkerton Agency. “Barkeep, I’ll have a Hammett” has a certain ring.
And mofo, I’m only drinking your RR Anderson if it comes with Sassy McButterpants on the side.
6 | Posted by Squid | Jan 31, 07:21 PM
Brautigan about the impending second clause to an as yet unfinished sentence:
“The ‘but’ that crouched like a sailor there in the doorway…”
Unforgetable.
7 | Posted by Rick Jones | Feb 1, 03:52 PM
According to the birth records, Richard Brautigan’s first home in Tacoma was at 813 E. 65th. It appears the house still stands unless the houses were renumbered on the street. For a time his family also lived in an apartment over a candy factory. That would be some time during the 30’s and 40’s. The only apartment building that I could come up with that fit those specifications was the old Maefair Apartments on the 700 block on Fawcett. The Maefair was the site of one of Tacoma’s most tragic fires in the 40’s and is now gone. The fire started in the candy factory. If someone else can find another apartment over a candy factory for that era I’d like to know about it.
8 | Posted by Crenshaw Sepulveda | Feb 1, 07:51 PM
um, I have claimed Brautigan and um, Bukowski…a stretch I know. Hey didn’t I leave a comment recently claiming tacoma-ites other than the glass pirate, and der bingle? hmm.
Brautigan drink. White trash Beer with a bottom-shelf whiskey chase stirred with a dirty finger and a side of trout. Or rotgut wine. So Tacoma.
oh, has anyone noticed Tacoma had/has a lot of candy factories. Because we’re sweet…..or obese…..or something.
One of my favorite stories by Richard Brautigan was about the Kool Aid wino, a short story in Trout Fishing in America. No doubt a drink could be concocted along those lines.
10 | Posted by Crenshaw Sepulveda | Feb 1, 10:11 PM
A Dune Day treat seems natural to be made from spice: cinnamon and nutmeg.
I browsed the Brautigan link. Seemed a sad, determined life just a step-up from the street. Fishing and poetry saved him as long as they could. His drink might be Wild Turkey served on a napkin scribbled with verse.
Ehrlichman I did not know was from Tacoma. He brings to mind origami with intricate, hidden folds. Perhaps an Ehrlichman stew.
And our own RR Anderson reminds me of Mr. Wizard. Perhaps a quirky drink like Fizzies- something dayglo that bubbles – an Airborne cocktail?
11 | Posted by Sharon S | Feb 2, 01:25 PM
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