As most of you dear readers know, the better part of my four years at UGA was spent working at The Red & Black. This honorable publication is consistently named one of the top 10 college newspapers in the country. Serving as Editor in Chief my final semester was an absolute dream.
Every term would wrap up with a final edition of the newspaper published on “Reading Day”: a day given to students, free of classes, allowing them to prepare for finals. Most students spent the day nursing hangovers and some would just keep the party going if they weren’t concerned about finals.
The Red & Black staff would always go downtown after putting the final paper of the semester to bed the night before Reading Day. Tradition mandated we always frequent the same place: Taco Stand.
Unfortunately this year the festivities at Taco Stand were cancelled due to fear that someone would be lurking around Taco Stand waiting to bust the underage Red & Black staff members who might partake of an adult beverage.
Personally I don’t agree with the decision to nix the long-standing tradition, but as I’m helpless to aid the situation all I can do is remember the fond memories…or at least look at photos because after several rounds of beers and strawberry margaritas the night tended to get a little fuzzy.
My dear friend, Ed Morales, who serves as The Red & Black Editorial Advisor, penned an exquisite obituary memorializing this long standing tradition.
Here it is for your remembrance:
The age of Taco Stand was undetermined.
"Are you serious?" said Lauren Patrick (née Morgan) former Editor in Chief at The Red & Black. "That's awful."
Taking place in a tucked in spot on Broad Street the day before University of Georgia's Reading Day (HA!) each semester, Taco Stand offered up the requisites for any good journalistic party: cheap beer and tacos, a host of tequila shots and an occasional plate of nachos to boot.
Taco Stand also sold pitchers of margaritas which have since become known as "Sottos" named after a former Red & Black Managing Editor who was known for taking on entire pitchers herself.
"I remember Taco Stand fondly," former Editor in Chief Michael Fitzpatrick said. "Well, I remember parts of it fondly."
No one is quite sure when Taco Stand started, though its placement can be attributed to it being a restaurant where beer is served, so underage staffers could enjoy the company of their of-age comrades without so much touching a drop of alcohol.
The event proved to be a boon for the establishment, as R&B staffers would regale in tales of journalistic achievement well into the night while chasing any non-R&B staffer out of the room to find another place to go.
Sometime during the festivities, usually before the strike of midnight, a speech would be offered to the masses. Sometimes heartfelt, sometimes cheerful and sometimes garbled, the speeches would be remembered. Maybe.
Phillip Kisubika, former Managing Editor, was one of these grand orators, dotting his speeches with a thunderous "Hey, listen up, HEY" and expounding on themes of courage and relationships. Or something like that.
Taco Stand is survived by a host of random connections that will never be spoken of again, an empty pitcher of strawberry margaritas, a row of tables slammed together and a roomful of laughter and memories.
Perhaps one day it will be buried in a pet cemetery and return to its demented ways. One can only hope.
- By Ed Morales
No comments:
Post a Comment