My Perdido

Trader Jons Auction- A Classic for Sale

Every Naval Aviator Knew Him

Since 1953 until 1998 if you were to pass through Pensacola you went to Trader Jons.  No questions asked. It was a rite of passage or it was a reunion with the place you never forgot.  Here is a news story done for the Pensacola News Journal about the recent auction of memorabilia that would be priceless for some and just junk to others.  The passing of an era.

Walking into the auction of Trader Jon's memorabilia was a lot like walking into Trader Jon's legendary downtown bar. Both places were hot, cramped and dusty. And you never knew how much something would cost beforehand at either place.

More than 200 people crammed into Garth's Antiques & Auction Gallery on Navy Boulevard Friday night for an auction of memorabilia once owned by Martin "Trader Jon'' Weissman and his wife, Jackii Weissman.

Weissman was a Pensacola icon who was beloved across the nation. He died in 2000, and his wife died in 2005. He opened his downtown bar New Year's Day 1953, and was a downtown fixture until he closed the bar in 1998 — though it reopened in 2000 with new ownership and closed for good in 2003.

The auction started off on an appropriate note — with a painting of a nude woman. Trader Jon's once featured topless dancers. "I don't know which waitress this was,'' joked auctioneer Winston Garth, drawing knowing chuckles from some in the audience, most who were fanning themselves with auction cards and programs. "But it's a piece of history.'' And it went for $30.

Trader Jon's on Palafox Street was a favorite of Naval aviators, officers and enlisted men and women, and thousands of pieces of military memorabilia hung from its smothered walls.

Weissman was, as they say, a character, offering money to anyone who found him wearing matching socks, and selling booze at different prices, depending on who was doing the buying. If he knew you and liked you, your beer was cheaper than it would be if he didn't.  "He was a true character, and he had a million stories,'' said Woody Woods of Pensacola, 76, who spent four years in the Navy and who later retired as a banker. "Just looking through all this stuff brings back a lot of memories.''

The memorabilia was owned by Weissman's daughters, who contracted Garth's to conduct the auction. The 500-piece collection is not part of the Trader Jon memorabilia currently owned by the University of West Florida. UWF is holding its memorabilia to be used at yet-to-be-built Adm. John H. Fetterman State of Florida Maritime Museum and Research Center, which would be part of the proposed Community Maritime Park.

The auction did feature a few big ticket items — a large oil-on-canvas painting of Weissman with a group of Blue Angel pilots sold for $3,900. The owners of the Flora-Bama on Perdido Key purchased a framed picture of the Apollo 11 astronauts — autographed by Neil Armstrong and Michael Collins — for $1,250.  "I'm sure we'll find someplace for it,'' said Flora-Bama owner Joe Gilchrist. "That flight is just a special memory for me.''

Many items were ones many people wouldn't associate with Trader Jon's. Dozens and dozens of paintings, mainly featuring still life and natural landscape scenes, were sold. Pieces of furniture. Old records. Old pictures. In fact, a small black and white photograph of Weissman posing with an unknown stranger went for $15.

Weissman's daughters, Cheri Johnson and Dahl Burke, were in the crowd. What was the hardest item to part with?

"Everything,'' they shouted in unison.

"We kept it as long as we could,'' Johnson said. "But there are just so, so many things.''

Incredible Blue Angels' Video

Blue Angel versus Blue Devil 2009 Corvette

ZR1 Vette vs Jet! - Chevrolet Corvette ZR1 Races A U.S. Navy Fighter Jet

Check out this incredible video.

It runs about 20 minutes so set aside the time, it will be worth it.

True Legend, Roger McNew, Passes On

Honorary "Mayor" of Innerarity Dies

A true icon of the Perdido area died this past Friday after a short illness.  Roger McNew was known to anyone who spent time in and around Innerarity Point for his distinctive style.  He was absolutely one of a kind and typified the unique lifestye of Innerarity .  You would find Roger many days, in all seasons, rowing his polka dot boat in "gondelier" style, standing proudly  dressed in his leather thong and little else.  Here is Roger in his "winter" attire and with his beloved dogs.

Stories of Roger sightings were entertaining to say the least.  Boaters on the Intra-coastal could not miss the red boat, named by Roger but unprintable here, full of white polka-dots and usually with one or two of his dogs in the bow.  He was normally as brown as a berry and nearly naked.  A favorite past time of his was to row past the diners at the Oyster Bar and greet them with a show they likley did not expect to be part and parcel of their dining experience.  He also loved to ride his bike up and down Innerarity Point Rd, dressed in his flamboyant style with a large tam on his head, flowers in his hair and beard, and again accompanied by one of his dogs riding in the handle bar basket. Here is a selection of pictures taken by local photograher John Hill in memory of Roger McNew which makes the point.

There was a memorial service at The Point Restaurant where Roger was eulogized by his niece Ipo Blanchard.  Hundreds of folks made up the eclectic crowd who turned out for the pot luck dinner.    The family wore flowers in their hair as Roger would do and flowers were handed out to those in attendance as a nod to Rogers sweet spirit.  He was a true character and will be sorely missed.

Crab Cakes and Joe Patti's

Here is one of my favorite recipes and dinner menu

I was out in Pensacola the other day, away from my Perdido haunts and my favorite fish mongers (see the blog entry  of July 27th).   I stopped at Joe Patti's instead of Perdido Seafood and I am sure Johnnie and Joy will forgive me but I am never sure about T.C.  She is not the forgiving kind. Joe Patti's seafood is an institution in Penscola with maybe the finest selection  of fish, shrimp, crustaceans and specialty seafood anywhere.  They had jumbo lump crab meat on sale for $13.99 so I grabbed some for crab cakes along with superior Italian crusty bread from their bakery and I headed home.  I stopped for some grape tomatoes and begged my assistant Louisa for some fresh herbs from her garden.  Armed with ingredients which included fresh basil, thyme and parsley  I was ready for one of my favorite meals. Here are the recipes if you want to try this at home. I promise you will not be disappointed although I doubt you can find jumbo lump at such a spectacular savings.  You can use regular lump crab meat if you want to save a few dollars.

Crab Cakes:

• 3 tablespoons butter
• 1 green onion, finely chopped
• 2 tablespoons finely chopped red onion
• 2 tablespoons finely chopped red bell pepper
• 2 tablespoons finely chopped poblano pepper
• one jalapeno pepper finely chopped
• 1 garlic clove, minced
• 3 tablespoons heavy cream
• 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
• 1 egg slightly beaten
• 1/2 teaspoon minced fresh parsley
• Cayenne pepper
• 1 cup bread crumbs
• 1/4 cup grated Parmesan
• 1 pound white or claw crabmeat, picked free of any bits of shell
• 2 tablespoons vegetable oil

Melt 1 tablespoon of butter in a heavy skillet over medium heat. Saute the onions, peppers, and garlic until the pepper is limp, approximately 3 minutes. Let the onion/pepper mixture cool. Then add the cream, mustard, 1 egg, parsley, cayenne pepper and 1/2 cup bread crumbs, to taste, and mix well. Gently fold in the crabmeat.

Form the mixture into 8 patties, about 1/2-inch thick. In a mixing bowl, combine the remaining 1/2 cup of bread crumbs with the Parmesan. Pat this topping onto both sides of the patties. Refrigerate until firm, about 2 hours or pop into the freezer for 15 minutes until firm.

Heat 1 tablespoon of olive oil on medium high heat and then melt 2 tablespoons of butter in a saute pan that can handle 4 cakes.  Saute for about 2-3 minutes a side or until golden brown.  Keep warm and do the second batch if you are cooking for four people or just freeze the remainder for the next time you get hungry for crab cakes.

Ancho Chili Cream Sauce with Cilantro

• 3 tablespoons thick ranch dressing
• 3 tablespoons sour cream
• juice of half of a lime
• 1 tablespoon of ancho chili paste from can or jar of smoked jalapenas
• 2 tablesspoons of chopped fresh cilantro

Mix all ingredients adding more ranch dressing if too thick or more sour cream if too thin.  Consistency should be like mayonaise and served as a dipping sauce.  As an option you can add finely diced fresh tomato with out the juices.

Garlic Grape Tomatoes with Fresh Herbs:

• 8 ounce package osf grape tomatoes
• 2 tablespoons of olive oil
• 1 large or 2 small cloves of garlic finely chopped
• 2 tablespoons of fine chopped shallots (or red onion)
• 2 tablespoons of chopped fresh basil
• 2 tablespoons of chopped fresh parsley
• 2 teaspoons fresh thyme leaves
• salt and pepeer to taste

Heat olive oil  to medium heat and "sweat" garlic and onions for 30 secs, do not brown.  Toss in tomatoes and heat for 2 minutes.  Add fresh herbs and continue to cook for 5 more minutes until tomatoes begin to split, seasoning with salt and fresh ground pepper to taste.

Serve with creamy grits.  Cook regular or quick grits (not instant) according to the package for numbered served but substitute milk for two thirds of the water.  When nearly done add 2 hands full (for 4 servings) of white shredded cheese and whisk to a creamy texture with a whisk off heat.

Enjoy!! Please send your comments along.  I would like to hear how you liked these recipes.