Whoa, you worked at the Ha’ Penny? Me, too! That was my first waiting job. I would have been there around the same time as you, too. Maybe a bit earlier. You’re right about the lobbyists–that’s one of the things I most remember about working there. There was this group that would come in before lunch rush, sit at the bar for a good two hours, and get hammered. Pretty much every day, too. Amazing. Don’t know how people can do that.

Many of those names don’t ring a bell, but I do remember Vicky (the DJ), her friend Sean, Rudy and Jane the bartenders, a couple of wait staff (a Welsh girl and Billy who I think became a manager), the manager Paul and a tall, skinny blond guy, and who else? That’s about it. Oh, another waiter who used to talk about the “secretary’s special–Mexican salad and iced tea.” And the old man who ordered strawberry daiquiris and sat alone at the back of the restaurant.

I ran into Rudy in San Francisco working at Kuleto’s. That was funny.

As for happy hours–I remember Samantha’s. Those office workers sure did get trashed. And I was fortunate enough to work that Friday-night happy hour at the Ha’ Penny only once or twice. I quickly learned why whoever worked that shift was loath to let it go.

I have run into regulars over the years from Hartford to Boston and Newport RI. Those were some great days/nights…we got a lot of people drunk off cheap Stroh’s beers. I think it was 18oz for $1.25.

We used to leave the Ha’ Penny after work and go over to Mike Baker’s and beverage there until close.

Thanks for posting, and to all the people who’ve kept this thread alive.

This brought back some great memories of the DC mod squad, and all the wonderful people I danced with and around and rarely talked to (unless my old university buddy Joanne was there). I remember walking home to the Potomac palisades in the wee hours soaked with sweat from dancing up a storm at Poseurs. What a place.

Has it really been a quarter century?