Upon entering the Club Sport Madeirense, the Barflies were hit with a wonderful waft of Portuguese cuisine emanating from a backroom kitchen and were struck by the liveliness of a happy, boisterous crowd. The clientele were diverse with respect to age, ethnicity, gender, and social strata, just the way the Barflies like it, even if jumps with a vibrancy reminiscent of the cantina scene from Star Wars (although Mr. Draft may have been influenced in this perception by Mr. 3BPOES dead-on vocal impression of the tinny, post-jazz music from that particular scene). The Club Sport Madeirense has been a staid fixture on the corner of Acushnet Avenue and Madeira Avenue for many years, and the Club is the primary sponsor of the annual Feast of the Blessed Sacrament (more familiarly known, simply, as "the Portuguese Feast," an event which is said to rival New Orleans' Mardi Gras for the amount of beer consumed). The Club is also responsible for sponsoring any number of youth sports activities, from soccer matches to Little Leagues, and annually awards scholarships to many local students. It stands as a shining example of the tavern as good neighbor, quite committed to the local community. The bar itself is a bit rundown, its' age showing, but it is comfortable, and the walls are lined with old black-and-white photographs that detail its' history and membership. Also on the wall was a sign warning that the Club is a drug-free zone. Much to the distress of Mr. Mix and Mr. Elixir, the Pac-Man machine was not working but some good Portuguese grub took their minds off that. The Barflies were offered a deck of cards at the table which they had occupied but most of the Barflies don't play games that don't include a video monitor. 
(Mr. Draft, Mr. Merlot, Mr. Sazurac, and Mr. Cork are excluded from that generalization.) One note that struck Mr. Draft: an elderly woman, who might be described in the unpolitically correct vernacular as a "bag lady," slept quietly by the door, unperturbed by the noise and seemingly as welcome to be there as any of the folk who were drinking cocktails or beer, playing pool on the blue felt table, or eating a linguica sandwich. That act of kindly indifference knocks this place up a rung. The Club Sport Madeirense rates a 7. Roll Call: Mr. Draft, Mr. Mix. Mr. Merlot, Mr. Sazurac, Mr. Elixir, Mr. 3BOES.
Club Sport Madeirense
William H. Carney Lodge #200 (B.P.O.E.)
First, a little history lesson, with the help of Wikipedia: William Harvey Carney was the first African-American to be awarded the Medal of Honor. Carney was born a slave in Norfolk, Virginia and escaped to Massachusetts through the Underground Railroad. He later served in the 54th Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry as a sergeant, and took part in the July 18th, 1863 assault on Fort Wagner, South Carolina. He received his medal for saving the American flag and planting it on the parapet, and although wounded, holding it aloft while the Union troops charged. Recognizing that the Federal troops needed to retreat under fire, he wrapped the flag around himself and struggled across the battlefield, getting wounded twice more, before returning the flag to the Union lines. Later, he modestly said, "Boys, I only did my duty; the old flag never touched the ground." He died in Boston many years later, and is buried in the Oak Grove Cemetery. The west end elementary school, the Carney Academy. is named after him. As is the William H. Carney Lodge #200 (B.P.O.E.).
The lodge itself is like many neighborhood lodges, clubs and fraternal order meeting spots, in the sense that is a bit rundown and has definitely seen better days. The members of the Carney Lodge partake in a number of fund raising events and activities, including hosting a Christmas party for neighborhood children and seeing that they receive holiday gifts. Although open to the public, it is necessary to ring a doorbell at the Lodge to be admitted. The Barflies rang the bell, were welcomed in, and one Barfly guest was asked to remove his baseball cap in order to comply with the posted "no headgear" rule.
There were four or five patrons seated at the bar, all but one of African-American descent. The Barflies, by social circumstance and not by any design, are all lily-white. The Barflies membership, as it is, includes an openly gay man, a Chinese woman, a Jew, a Katrina-displaced New Orleans resident, and a first-generation Quebecois, as well as those of German, English, Irish and Portuguese descent. But, to date, no African-American, Latino or Native-American drinkers have joined the Barflies. (No application necessary...all are welcome- respond to this site in order to receive an itinerary!) All that aside, the Barflies were made to feel quite welcome.
Mr. Merlot immediately struck up a conversation with a female customer, who he had known for years, and she (Carol) also recognized Mr. Mix, having worked on the campaign of Governor Duval Patrick, alongside the politically outspoken Mrs. Mix. Other non-Barfly patrons, and the barmaid, Cynthia, were friendly and conversational.
Mr. Draft veered away from the beer selection, and opted for a CC-and-ginger, the whiskey dispensed from a lazy-susan type device that held the liquor bottles upside down and assured of delivering a perfect one-ounce shot. All the other Barflies, with the exception of Mr. Mix. drank bottled beer, and Mix settled on a White Russian. Mr. Mix also bought a cheeseburger, which he thoroughly enjoyed, and for which the proceeds from were to be put in the fund for the aforementioned neighborhood children's Christmas event.
Located on the corner of Cottage Street and Mill Street, the Lodge is not particularly inviting from the outside, but is comfortable and warm once within. The yellowed walls could use a paint job, and a few more beers could be offered. but it was an enjoyable visit. It gets a 6.
Roll Call: Mr. Draft, Mr. Mix, Mr. Merlot, Mr. 3BOES, Mr. Moonshine
United Fisherman's Club
The UFC, established long ago by a few fisherman, was, until recently, a dark and smoky place. Anti-smoking ordinance and a bold renovation changed that. Located on the industrial end of Orchard Street, the UFC has been transformed into a brightly lit and tastefully appointed bar and function room, appropriate for a party, wedding reception or mayoral inauguration celebration. On the evening of the Barflies' visit, a friendly and vivacious Brazilian barmaid- Ireni- warmly welcomed the crew and poured our drinks. Mr. Merlot took note of the substantial wine list, which offered
a good variety of Portuguese vinos, all at excellent price. The Barflies snacked on small bowls of battered codfish, at the remarkable price of fifty-cents each. Mr. Mix drank a drink suggested by Ireni, in an enthralling accent, that was similar to a mojito. It was made with sugar and muddled lime but substituted Brazilian "moonshine" for the usual rum. Mr. Mix seems to recall that the drink was called a Hyperion, but the drink had such dizzying effect on him, 
that his recollection is not to be trusted. Ireni warned him to sip...slowly. He didn't. A few men sat at the bar, but most of the customers, mostly older Portuguese men, sat at tables playing cribbage or dominoes. A pool table was available but unused. The UFC is a pleasant and expansive barroom that fills a niche in the New Bedford bar scene..it rates an 8. (Roll Call: Mr. Draft, Mr. Cork, Mr. Mix, Mr. Merlot, Mr.3BOES)
