HIHOWAYA! I'm so glad that Ben has taken up my suggestion and created the alum forum for Horsefeathers et. al. I was very interested in seeing what ever became of some of the most interesting and incredible people I've ever know. In the summer of 1980, I was visiting relatives in Portland while on vacation from college, and stumbled upon the opening of Horsefeathers in Portland. I was one of the first persons interviewed for a job and became a bartender for that first summer. The next year I came back and worked as a waiter, and lived with Niall MacGarvey, who was like an old, lost Irish brother. It was an incredible run and the friendships forged back in the day will forever be etched in my memory. The music, the food, the people ... it's no wonder so many people loved Horsefeathers in Portland. I'd love to know what became of so many of them. I'm now the executive director of the Maine Games. We are the 41st state to hold such an event — an Olympic-style sports festival. I have a wife of 18 years, three great children, and a huge mortgage, all holding me in place here on the edge of the earth. I live in Saco, so the next time your travels take you through Southern Maine, hoist one for me and all the 1980-81 waitrons and bartenders, kitchen staff and management from the Top of the Old Port. Cheers! Jeff Scully
I was never an employee at Horsefeathers in Portland, but I have been accused of recieving my mail there!
This was a great idea as I have had some of the very best times of my life at that dearly departed spot. I've forged some lifelong relationships with some of the very best people in the world at Horsefeathers, and we all have Ben and Brian to thank.
As the Advertising/PR guy at the Cumberland County Civic Center, I set up a number of different promotions with events at the Civic Center and the restaurant. And being the very conscious marketing person that I was, I was soon spending many hours at the Jazzbah Casbah attending to those tedious details. Ben, Brian and Brookie McDonald and I spent very many hours.pouring over the complicated details of restaurant/Civic Center promotion. (RIGHT).
I have just taken the position of Assitant General Manager/Marketing Manager for Qualcomm Stadium in San Diego, CA. Home of the NFL Chargers, San Diego State Aztecs, former home of the San Diego Padres. For the past 5 years I operated my own Special Events business in Florida. I've been in the Facility Management field since Portland.
Thanks to Jeff for writing. Hope more folks do the same. Thanks RB for getting this going. Hope you all are doing well, Miss you.
Mike McSweeney
PS. What ever happened to "Lamb Bam Thank You Maam" and "Dinosaur Bones"?
I worked there as a server from 1986-1991 with so many of the most wonderful, interesting, hard-working, and hard-playing individuals who served our incredible and loyal customers who came back not just for the Harvey sandwich with horse fries- (#75 on remanco?) but also for Kayo, Kevin, Laura, Mike, and Brook behind the bar and me and my fellow servers; Rick, Michelle, Russell, Ginger, Karin, Peter, Elise, Sheila, Foggy and Kelly, and Annie and Jen our supervisor and managers, kitchen crew- Malcolm, Steve (Sobo) Andy, and so many others that I cant remember right now but yet I can still remember a lot of the remanco order numbers and modifiers! Thank you Ben and Brian for one of my very favorite job experiences of all times. The acronym and term FOMO Fear Of Missing Out could have been used because Horsefeathers was the place to be on any night as evidenced by many employees coming in on their nights off just to see who was around and to stop in for a drink or bite to see their friends & customers.
Much love to you all! I would love to see a reunion, sorry Im late to this site.
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Julie Daignault
Date:
RE: Portland, Maine at the top of the Old Port! Horsefeathers in the 1980s.
I have so many great memories of my 4 years of college working as a server there. Ive been trying to get a hold of Ginger P. but dont have her latest number or contact info so if anyone does please reply here if thats possible. I noticed that this thread started quite a long time ago.
Julie Daigainau... Can't tell you just how many times I have thought of you expecting to see you on TV as a stand up comediane. You were, and I am sure still are, wonderful! Dan Michaud, I have thought of you too. Those were some CRAZY times. Mostly the very best of times. Jeff Scully, wow now that is a blast from the past. That was when there was true kinship with working partners and amazing people.
Lifetimes ago but so very dear.
Stay safe & enjoy life. You all have made my life that much better!!
