Michael Jordan's Weblog

Yesterday's post got me reminiscing about the Tune Inn in Washington, DC. It's one of those sets of memories you just feel must go out into the world...Sorry about the stream of consciousness but if you've ever worked on The Hill, you can relate. The Tune Inn (aka "The Tuner") is where my friends and I all hung out from about 1991 to 1995 (when I left DC).

Memories and Memory-Joggers about The Tuner

• The Tuner is where I almost got in a fight caused by Hilary Clinton. It was election night, 1992, and I had come off spending more than a year as a volunteer on George Bush's reelection campaign. We weren't too happy to lose. And, late that night, Hilary is on tv. I yelled tasteless remarks at the tv. Caused offense. Had to leave.
• Hard to remember if I had more lunches or more dinners or more late nights at the Tuner. Sometimes all three on the same day. More than one Saturday or Sunday, my friends (roommates, co-workers, et al) ate all three meals there.
• The old jukebox had old songs and only took coins. And, yes, as a matter of fact "I was drunk the day my mom got out of prison."
• Ari used to park his Saab convertible at the gas station on the corner and pay a "local" to watch it for him while he spent time in the Tuner.
• Dana once did the centipede on the (dirty) floor of the Tuner. It's ok -- it was her birthday.
• Judy was there the longest but Dee was the only one ever to give me free food (a plate of fries). I think that was the only time free food was ever dispensed at the Tuner.
• We could get the big booth whenever we wanted.
• General Schwarz.
• Greer took Paige there on a quasi-date but then ended up watching tv all night. (She broke up with him later that night.) Lesson: Don't go anywhere with Greer where he can see a television.
• If you asked for a menu you should have been kicked out. If you had to look at the menu (on the wall) you better have been there with people who knew better.

What I wouldn't give to be sitting in this booth about halfway down the right side of the restaurant, with that song playing, with Karin, Camille, and other good friends, pitchers later, burgers gone, singing that song at the top of our lungs right now.

Ahhhh....the Tuner.