At one end of the long table at The Saloon, 200 E. Chestnut St., sat Smashing Pumpkins manager Joe Shannahan in a black turtleneck; at the other, personal injury trial lawyer Phil Corboy Jr. Joining them for lunch were a photographer, art gallery owner, computer rep and a couple of journalists-all gathered at the behest of Saloon co-owner Ted Kasemir to chew the fat and eat some beef.
If Kasemir has his way, an ever-changing crew of gabbing guys, nicknamed Lads Lunch, will in time become an institution equal to the Ladies Who Lunch, who for years met at Cricket`s every Monday to network and dish the dirt on their socialite pals.
So what did these guys talk about? Conversation included the zen of playing blackjack, the thrill of smuggling drugs through Texas, and the joy of spotting wild jackalope-the legendary oversized rabbit with antlers-in the Nevada desert.
And lest there be any doubt that these were sensitive men for the `90s:
Consider that there wasn`t a drop of alcohol consumed, and not one word about Da Bears, Da Bulls or the Cubs.