30 Years of Mercy
Every Sunday night at Pinch Penny Pub
Joe Liberto (on the left, keyboards), Jim Wall (next to Joe, bass) Buddy Rogers (sax, at right), Scott Ollar (next to Buddy, drums) and Zacc Harris (seated) comprising the band known as Mercy, performing at Pinch Penny Pub since 1972. More about this legendary Carbondale jazz combo can be found on their soon-to-be released website. Buddy Rogers: saxes and flute
Carbondale's Best Restaurant?
El Bajio is best Mexican hands down, and for a hint of Greek there's Chicago Undergound, Italian? gotta go to Italian Village, Chinese? Hunan, of course. Middle Eastern? Dar Salaam, where else?
Praise Allah for its excellence-- the comfortable seating, warm service, tasteful decor, delicious appetizers, filling entrees, music, dancing and reasonable prices. It gets my vote for Best Restaurant in Carbondale, bar none (oh yeah, it serves no beer or wine). I think it's the plush booths that does it for me--that and the nice crowd.
Last night our table was visited by Mr. Dar Salaam himself, the man they call Murshid, the Sufi sheikh whose presence in the greater Carbondale community caused this house of peace and hummus to exist. He wanted to compliment me on the Shawnee Network website, which was appreciated. Given Murshid's track record, if he likes it, it must be good. About five years ago, the youthful holy man and a handful of followers (Allah has large hands) packed their bags and moved from New York City to the the little apple here in the land of Karmadale and set up spiritual shop. Since then, besides attracting "converts" to the Sufi way of life here in Carbonale, commercial ventures into the food service business: The Longbranch Coffee House and Dar Salaam--as well as an organic farm in Cobden--have been blessed with great success.
One can only hope that Murshid likes Thai food, because Carbondalliers would do well to Thai One On(tm) at the best Thai restaurant in Southern Illinois, licensed to sell beer and wine, of course. I feel another business plan coming on.
*****
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