Good thread here, once again, Jerry...

But kitchen tables are where you find them...

We had none at home when I was growing up. The dining-room table sort of was it! Even that became a place to leave quickly and move on from---a place to get away from in order to get back to your real life. My father passed away when I was five, and I never had that anchor or guidance in my life. (Could that be why I'm not a Republican? ;-)

An aside: Male role models were ones I chose for myself---often mentors from afar that I've spoken of here in many a thread.

THE NO EXIT COFFEEHOUSE AND GALLERY in Chicago became my kitchen table in the sense that this thread implies I think. As I said in greater detail in the "Great Coffeehouses" and Clubs thread, it was a multi-faceted oasis for me where songs were shared and friendships were made and dissolved--- where loves were nurtured -- and also, sometimes sadly, and other times not very sadly, dissolved. It was a place where thoughts and positions and ideologies could be crystallized---and possibly shattered---much like being here at Mudcat now that I am more isolated from our music.

I played and shared my music and ideas there at the NO EXIT for thirty-seven years---because the place was my touchstone---my KITCHEN TABLE. Carol and I hung out there---and so did our son, Chris while he was growing up because that is where his dad made music. That space in Chicago is used very sporadicallynow by
Michael James, the new owner. His main restaurant is the "Heartland Cafe" down the street. The dark brown burlap walls, and the old graffiti are painted white now.-----It is peopled my "here and now" folks---and some fascinating ghosts to boot.

Chris lives near it now. A continuum of sorts I guess!

But Jerry Rasmussen's Kitchen Table in his "guest house" where he lived while heading up the Stamford (CT) Museum And Nature Center was one of many on-the-folkie-gigging-road kitchen tables for me. Those, of necessity, became the setting for numerous road life birthday parties, New Years celebrations, Christmas times, and other holiday gatherings. Thanksgivings galore...

Thanks to all of you who made that camaraderie possible!

Art Thieme