In 1981, I was managing Nite City and usually worked six nights a week. One day, I went to work at my normal time of 6:30 (we opened at 7:00), and I found a note telling me to take the rest of the night off. I was in shock! I went over to the Lafayette, a French restaurant and my all-time favorite place to eat in Sioux Falls. I went into the bar, sat down and ordered a Glenlivet and water. Fletch, the bartender who I knew very well (R.I.P. Fletch), and I started talking about golf, when another distinguished looking gentleman with a curly mustache and a monocle came in and also ordered a Glenlivet water with a distinct British accent. Fletch laughed and said that we should talk to each other since we both ordered the same drink, so he sat down next to me and introduced himself as Carlyle. He was in town to do some special advising for Citibank, which was just opening up. I told him how I had come to South Dakota on a basketball scholarship and knew only one person.....my basketball coach, and now I managed a nightclub with over 40 employees and thousands of customers. He told me stories of England and Scotland and Ireland and his other travels around the world that left me spellbound. We talked for over an hour, when Andre, one of the owners came around to say hello to me. I introduced Carlyle to him and Andre then asked what we were drinking. When we both said Glenlivet, he laughed and said he had a bottle of Glenlivet 18 in the back that they were waiting to open for a special occasion. Without missing a beat, Carlyle smiles and says: My being in South Dakota for probably the only time in my life has to be about as special an occasion as youre ever going to see!!! Andres smile turned to a frown as he realized Carlyle was serious. He went and got his brother Jean, they opened the bottle and all four of us had a drink. Then Andre put the cap back on and quickly took the bottle back to the office. Nope, I never saw Carlyle again, but I will never forget him!!!
Posted on: Fri, 21 Mar 2014 12:49:05 +0000
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