It was the best of times, it was the worst of times…

Shamelessly stealing the opening line from A Tale of Two Cities, we apply that notion to survival in 2009. Now that the recession is over, we have been reflecting on the last year (and a half). Had anyone bothered to ask us in the spring of ’08, we could have reported what it took the economists another five months to admit. Things were bad, and it looked like it was going to get worse.

First plan of attack, face the facts and endure. Tom invented a “recession busting” menu and slashed prices. Wow, now that was a gutsy move! I went to work on economical, yet delicious soups (just in case the soup/bread line cued up at our door). No one really knows how bad a recession is going to get. I just recalled what Mum always said: “Be prepared for anything and keep plenty of pork and beans in the cupboard.”

In this Village, we believe, if you take care of your customers (the word “friends” is interchangeable here), your customers will take care of you. We did…and you have. As we bid 2009 goodbye, now is a great time to say: Thank you. Thank you for making the Union Jack Pub your place to meet friends and family. Thanks for filling our old wooden halls with laughter and intelligent conversation. Thanks for loving our food and drink and atmosphere. Thank you for sharing in the frivolity a community always patches together to maintain balance, while getting through the hard times.

Celebrating 30 Years

The story should be called Love in the Time of Buzz Bombing. A beautiful English Bond Street model and a young Canadian soldier meet in the middle of the London Blitz. He, training in all available modes of communication before being shipped off to Sicily; she, a WAAC, developing photos from RAF enemy line surveillance trips. The art of survival co-mingled with matters of the heart.

Fast forward to war’s end and new beginnings, a family of English/Canadians (and eventually, Americans) ends up in Indianapolis to build on the American Dream. For thirty years we have proudly brought the essence of a pub to the heart of Broad Ripple Village. Within these walls, in true Public House tradition, we have seen celebrations of life, school reunions, discussions of different wars, soccer dust- ups, parties for returning heroes and…love actually sprouting. This one’s for you, Mum. Thanks for the heritage… and the recipes.