Remembering Berlin's Bars A new member of the FSBVG writes that he wants to know whether any of us know if any of his favorite bars are "still there," he asks. Specifically, he is interested in "Amalfi's," the "Home Bar", and "Franks Pig Pen." He was a 98C, assigned to the Russian multi-channel section in 1973. He says, "until my wife arrived in Feb. 74, I spent many evenings at the "Home Bar" listening to 'City of New Orleans' on the Juke Box." We got some replies to his query from our members. It seems we have some strong nostalgia for the Berlin bar scene. In case there are those who may decry this space, or any space at all, being used for the outrageous use of recalling the near universal visitation by FSB folk to the watering holes of Berlin, and I am sure there will be, let me just say a few words to them now. My own Berlin experience was an impoverished one in many ways, and not just monetarily, either, indeed, just as the rest of my life has been. That's sad for me to say. For example, I didn't go into a single library, or house of worship, or cultural center, except for a movie theater, the entire time I was there. I don't blame anyone but myself for those deficiencies nowadays. I wish I had taken the time and effort and courage to venture out for that kind of enrichment of my armed service days. However, I did go to a few bars. And let me say about them as well, I wish I had gone to more of them. I wish I had taken the time to have a few more cups of cheer with my friends, and with those with whom I could have had a fraternal moment to add to my treasure trove of memories of youth. Forgive me for moralizing, but it's my pulpit for this brief season in eternity, at least. This needed saying, in my humble estimation. Below are some excerpts from reports on what we have learned so far. If anyone has more interesting data on the subject, please send it for inclusion to this bar update! Also, if there is anyone who wants to have added a little space here about houses of worship or culture, we will surely set aside some room for that, too! Do let Webmeister know what you want here, on this, our cyberhome for FSB Vets. One member notes that when he left in 1980, the "Home Bar" was there, "Amlio's Bar" became another Italian Restaurant, "Frank's Pig Pen" was there, and so was the "Speak Easy" and the "What Cheer." Remember those? One member was in Berlin last summer. He went by Andrews Barracks. Andrews Barracks is now the home for the Archives from the now deceased East German Government, the Deutsche Democratische Republic, as part of the Free University, that CIA front establishment. "Frank's Bar" is gone, converted back to the apartments it was before Frank moved in. "Randy's Bar" is still a bar / restaurant, as is the "Home". We knew the "Home" as "Der Golden Sonne," a.k.a. the "Scum." Actually, Finkenstein Alle had a rather nice, quiet residential street quality about it. One of the places he used to visit for a quiet place to read, play fussball, etc., was the "Drake Ecke" (Ecke is corner), on the corner of Ring Strasse & Drake Strasse. The "Drake Ecke" looked the same. He could not find any sign of "The Old Eden". I fondly remember the latter, myself. It was decorated, when I visited, like a schoolroom, with old school desks, converted to a teen pre-disco hangout, with posters on the walls, and cult movies being projected on the walls. One fellow notes that when returning to a favorite old bar, "After a few drinks the voices from the ghosts of the past echo throughout the bar, and the memories blend in with the present." Another notes that "Frank's Pig Pen" closed some time before the wall came down. He guesses that Frank, Smitty, and probably Mary Ann retired somewhere in Spain. Before closing finally, it was the "Nashville Bar." Near Andrews, the MPs hung out in a bar called the "Landaus".....today it would be, to be honest, pretty low on the food chain, but not for the times. I also remember the near eternal "Kit Kat Club," with the telephones on the tables for calling other bar patrons and saying hello. I'm sure that's still there, and always will be. For those who don't know some of it's history, go rent the video, "Cabaret," with Joel Grey and Liza Minnelli. As a matter of fact, a production of "Cabaret" just opened in Washington, D.C., starring the beautiful Terri Hatcher! Remember her in the television series, "Superman"? Unfortunately, it only played a couple of weeks before closing. We also got more questions to find answers for: How about "Sabrina's Key Club?" Or that "grunt" bar, the "White Horse?" How about Monica? Did she finally hog tie a GI and get married? Darn! So many pleasant memories now so distant and unrepeatable! For anyone going back there, the bars we knew during those distant decades are often different from the ones some mention. Names change, so the Strasse names of where they were located are helpful in searching for their remains. Send photos and more details to Webmeister, please!