Give Me The Top Five Reasons This Was The Best of Times
“Two men walk into a bar…”
I know it sounds like the beginning of a joke.
However, it turned out to be the beginning of something brand new.
On a Wednesday night over four years ago, my friend Joe and I went to a bar in Whitehouse Station, New Jersey.
The Rail.
It wasn’t on our usual rotation of bars, but it totally wasn’t off our radar either.
As luck would have it, it was Trivia Night (more like Family Feud), and I love trivia.
I walked up to a woman who was all smiles and couldn’t seem to stop dancing. I asked her about the game, and she directed us to the host.
A few minutes later, we had paper and pen in hand, and started to play.
Fortunately, that smiling, dancing woman sat next to us. Her name was Marvalyn. I say fortunately because I played on her trivia team for the next four years.
Side Note: Joe and I won our first night of trivia (more like Family Feud).
I started to play on Marvalyn’s team (The Island Beats) a few weeks later.
Quick rundown on the game.
Trent and Lisa were the hosts. Trent asked the questions, and Lisa collected the answers.
Between questions and between rounds, Trent played the best music, and people danced (at a trivia game!).
Best of all, he encouraged the crowd to be part of the game (and not just answer questions).
“And every time a train goes by we…”
Oh, wait, I haven’t told you about that yet.
Trent went to the University of Delaware. Nearby was The Deer Park Tavern (Edgar Allan Poe supposedly wrote there, hence the Raven in their logo).
The bar was near a train station. One night, when a train went by, he was surprised when everyone raised their glass and yelled, “Social!”
I asked him once why they did it.
He replied, “I don’t know.”
Did I mention The Rail is next to a train station?
The dynamics of Marvalyn’s team changed over the years. Joe dropped out a short while later, but returned from time to time as a guest player.
Eventually, we ended up with the core four: Marvalyn, Bill, Chris, and myself.
But our team was not the only thing that evolved into something special.
Because the entire bar did as well.
Each team began to carve out their own identities.
Crazy Train (literally) would blow a train whistle and decorate their table for every event.
I Drink and I Know Things (a line from Game of Thrones) wore identical black t-shirts with gold lettering in a wine glass.
The Whitehouse B. J's (for Brandon and Jackie. Mind out of the gutter, people).
How We Roll wore t-shirts with dice on them (up to that point, I thought their name was Howie Roll).
Ski had blue t-shirts with ‘Ski’ on them (I thought they just liked to ski until I learned their last name ended in -ski).
The Rat Hawks became the Heel of the bar (wrestling term for the villain in the show).
Being the Heel meant they were booed each time attention was drawn to them.
But it was all in fun (I think).
Most teams customized the paper slips they turned in with answers, adding team logos.
We didn’t realize that all that was about to change.
Over the last few weeks, there were whispers that the owner was going to sell The Rail.
Very quickly, rumors became reality.
We had only one more night of trivia before they closed.
That last Wednesday was very emotional. A lot of hugs, a lot of tears. The crowd was three times the normal size.
It was like telling funny stories at a funeral.
“Remember the time…”
So, like the bonus round of our trivia game, here are the top five reasons this was the best of times:
Teams cheered you on, even when competing against one another.
Friendship and relationships made because “two men walked into a bar.”
As a group, we celebrated each other’s birthdays, anniversaries, and life achievements.
Jackie, Carlo, and the entire staff of The Rail, who served us each night with laughs and a smile.
Trent and Lisa, the best hosts ever, who made every night a party.
So until this trivia train pulls into a new station.
Wherever you are.
Whoever you are with.
Raise your glass into the air and say:
“Social!”
