Well, "Joey With A Tie," you tell a pretty good story yourself! When I was running the roads down south with New York Blackie & Buddy, whenever we'd make a score or pump up, they'd say, "Where do you want to head now, Mare?" & I'd tell them, "Sport Palace! Been craving some of Pete's shrimp!!!"
I grew up on Long Island so all the sights & sounds & smells of the South & especially New Orleans were new to me & I loved it! Hey, the Sports Palace was the first time I'd ever seen shrimp with the heads on! Louie showed me how to snap them off & peel them in two seconds - man, they were so good you didn't even need hot sauce! As big as chicken legs too! $3 for a pound bag...I'd tell Louie to keep the bags coming until I couldn't eat one more shrimp - usually 3 or 4 bags!
I remember one time it was pouring rain outside & the water started coming in the door...I was playing in a $10 ring game & all the guys started taking off their socks & shoes & rolling their pant legs up...they told me I'd better do the same thing. Within 15 minutes, the water was sloshing around our ankles & rising but the action never stopped! Just a little slower because no one could move too fast!
I loved that place...you said it right, Joey! Action galore! Name your game & name your price! Never wanted to leave but we had to - it was a matter of economics...couldn't keep Blackie from getting sheared in the card room out back!
Thanks for the memories, "Joey With A Tie!!!"