E-MAIL CHRIS   PRINT   2008 COLUMNS   ARCHIVES   SEARCH ARCHIVES LORE AND LIBATIONS IN WEST PALM BEACH By Chris Barnett February 7, 2008 -- Scoundrel, sportsman, steel-mill laborer, shrewd 19th-century speculator. Just a few of the items on the curriculum vitae of E.R. Bradley, whose name adorns the hottest saloon in West Palm Beach. Other career skills: gold miner, gambler, cowboy, horse breeder and owner of four Kentucky Derby winners. Bradley is also said to have been a pal of gun-toting peacekeeper Wyatt Earp. And consider this: Bradley graced the cover of Time magazine on May 7, 1934, looking quite prosperous at a time when the nation was deep in depression. His history doesn't exactly live on at his namesake, E.R. Bradley's Saloon. But that doesn't stop the Florida faithful from enjoying the local gathering place. And with six bars, 21 barkeeps on a busy day, bargain buffets, stunning views of the Intracoastal Waterway and an endless parade of boats, Bradley's is a legitimate hot spot. But it's hard to imagine Edward Riley Bradley himself entertaining a crowd that ranges in age from 2 to 80. It includes squadrons of thirsty business travelers quaffing Patron margaritas or boogying to Justin Timberlake late into the night, when the place morphs into a dance club and you can barely find a square inch to shimmy. Lore mixes well with the libations, but take it all with more than a few grains of salt. This saloon is billed as a former private gambling den dating back to the early 1900s. Not exactly true, says George Ortega, a loyal patron for the last 14 years. "I started at the original E.R. Bradley's," Ortega says, nursing a Miller Lite. "It was a small, dark bar in the Bradley House across the bridge on the island of Palm Beach. That was once a private casino. But you should talk to one of the regulars from the 1940s or 1950s for the real history." Regulars from 60 years ago are hard to come by, but owner Frank Coniglio knows the real story. For years, he owned bars and restaurants in the Washington area, including the first Bradley's in Bethesda, Maryland. "As a horse owner and gambler myself, I felt an attachment to him," he says. In 1983, Coniglio and wife Gail moved to Palm Beach and found a boarded-up restaurant across from Bradley's old gaming casino. "It was manna from heaven," remembers Coniglio. That's how E.R. Bradley's Saloon opened up in Florida. The original Bradley's was nondescript and an instant hit with celebrities and politicos who wanted to dodge the groupies, reporters and paparazzi who camped out at the palatial Breakers Hotel in nearby Palm Beach. Coniglio soon moved Bradley's to its current locale on Clematis Street--and it is anything but small and dark. In fact, you can do an entire tropical tavern pub crawl without ever leaving the premises. Start off at the C-shaped Tiki Bar with its perfect view of the Jet Skiers. Check out the hopping Main Bar inside and then move on to the open-air Deck Bar, which offers the best view of the Intercoastal's nautical conga line. Drop by the DJ Bar, where bartender Mike Steinberg skillfully takes requests, slips in CDs and mixes cocktails without spilling a drop. Then cozy up to one of the five stools that front a huge fountain at the Rock Bar, which is fashioned out of massive stone and slate. Add in a portable bar that current boss Nick Coniglio, son of Frank and Gail, rolls out on Friday and Saturday nights, and it's easy to see why the action here continues almost nonstop. Bradley's opens for breakfast at 8 a.m. Last call is a few minutes before 4 a.m. "We serve food until an hour before we close. On weekends, the last hour is a full BBQ," says bartender Debbie Neale. Neale, who's been here just under five years, is like all of her colleagues. She introduces herself by name to everyone she serves. It's a smooth touch. Neale and her bartending buddies make lots of full-pint Bradley Bloody Marys, crafted with Absolut Peppar, some fiery secret mix, spices and fruit and veggie garnishes. The Golden Margarita is an uptown wedding of Patron tequila, Cointreau, Grand Marnier and a fresh sour mix. Overall, the alchemy isn't all that adventurous since this is a high-volume thirst parlor. One exception: the Life Saver, anointed the "beachie drink." It's a bucketful of Malibu mango, pineapple and coconut rums; pineapple and orange juices; a dash of grenadine for color; and a float of 151-proof Ronrico rum. E.R. Bradley Saloon customers are big brand name droppers--Jack, Stoli, Goose--and most people don't go for the basic well drinks. But they order no-name California house chardonnay and seem content with a bottle of Budweiser or Miller. But Bradley's also serves Guinness; Kalik, a Bahamian beer; Red Stripe from Jamaica; and many more. Bradley's 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. weekday happy hours have a cool rule: Two drinks get you entry to a free buffet with roast beef, shrimp, sushi, pizzas, pot stickers and make-your-own tacos. Old E.R. is no doubt chuckling in his box seat at the big racetrack in the sky. The gambler knew that if you let the players win a few hands, they'll always come back.

ABOUT CHRIS BARNETT Chris Barnett writes about business-travel tactics and strategies that save time and money and help minimize hassles. He is based in San Francisco and has written for a wide variety of major newspapers and national magazines. Barnett on Business Travel is syndicated by Copley News Service. THE FINE PRINT Joe Brancatelli makes this space available to Chris Barnett in the spirit of free speech and to help encourage editorial diversity and the wider discussion of important travel issues. All of the opinions and material in this column are the sole property of Barnett. This material may not be reproduced in any form without the express permission of Chris Barnett. A NOTE TO EDITORS Barnett on Business Travel is available biweekly through Copley News Service. Contact: Glenda Winders. This column is Copyright © 2008 by Chris Barnett. JoeSentMe is Copyright © 2008 by Joe Brancatelli. All rights reserved.