The Frozen Clown

It's been a long time since I had been to The Rose and Crown Downtown. Last night I was there because my sister was in town on business and she invited me out for a 'few' cocktails. What makes the Rose and Crown special is the atmosphere, not so much created by the staff, but it's simply the music and one man who plays the boogie woogie on piano like no one else. He's engaging, he's entertaining, witty, and very talented.

His name is Don Johnson. No, not of Miami Vice fame, but someone with real talent. He's not "searching for a hearbeat", or anything like that. Don plays a variety of songs and styles and has an excellent tenor voice.

You see, the story is this ...

Back in "tha day" (circa 1990-1993), I used to frequent at the Rose with friends and being some of the younger crowd in a mature bar we thought we were kings. We'd sit at the piano bar and listen and sing along with Don, chat it up with any decent looking woman under 30, and have a great time. Yeah, we had successes and misses, but it was all in fun. Don had been playing there regularly from like 1984 to 1995, then he opened up his own bar called "Don Johnson's Piano Bar" on the Boardwalk, then took off to San Antonio for many years. Well, he's back home. And it was great to see him again. He remembered my name.

As many of you know, my half-sister found my mother and me in 1998. Mom gave her up for adoption at birth. All that time, I had no idea she existed. And now she's in my life with her two kids and husband. We've hit it off really well - I think she's amazing.

Okay, here we go ... you see, my sister used to also frequent at the R&C around the same time as me, back in "tha day". She also knows Don from being in the hospitality business with hotels and stuff. (I think you see where this is going.) That's right, ... this is crazy ... there's a pretty good chance that while sitting at the old piano bar crooning with Don, that at one point, I think, I'm pretty sure, that ... that, I hit on my own sister back in 1990! I know, it's crazy - you're crazy man, but I like you.

Well, thank God she turned me down.

So last night, my sister and I had a "reunion" at the R&C because we knew that Don had returned. Don had no idea my sister and I were such, and when we told him our story, he started playing "We Are Family". Then he played the old classics where he'd change the lyrics for more hilarity - "...and the microphone smells like a scotch...", etc.

So my critique today of the Rose n Crown (aka "Frozen Clown" after a few pints) is this: The bar prices are about $1 more than they need to be, but the food is good. They renovated it since last time I was there - now it's very open and a bit more modern. No dart boards anymore, but a neat private room with a pull down screen for presentations, etc. There are several snugs to give it that old English pub feel. The fireplace is still there and the bar is open rounded style - very chic.

But again, there were some old faces -- remants of the "All Virgin Choir" and good ol' Don tickling the ivories. Even the Edmonton Police Piper and Drum band were there. That was cool. Seeing Don play again and hearing the old songs is what makes the Clown that fun, entertaining place it is. Don said to me last night that he kept playing after payroll (without pay) because there were people still having a great time, dancing, and singing. He said especially with all these hospitality people, you want them to remember and return. He's a true ambassador for Edmonton.

So balancing all this out, Snak gives the Frozen Clown Downtown with Don, 4.37 fists out of 5. Without Don, it's like a 2.435.

Don Johnson plays at the Rose and Crown from Tuesday through Friday every week. He plays a mean harmonica as well.