He shoots, he scores.

"My tits just went 'Ahhhhh,' " she says, before capably handling the crush of the bar crowd.

Once Bill gets to the lobster and meat portion of the raffle, the scene grows a little surreal. Men sitting at the bar with eight-pound lobsters squirming in beer boxes. Women with raffle tickets spread out before them like Bingo cards at the local church.

Through it all, Big Bill remains a calming influence. "In the event of a crash," he says, "please grab the fattest drunk you see and use them as a flotation device."

< prev  1  |  2  | 
  Topics: This Just In , Meat, East Providence, lobster
| More


Most Popular
ARTICLES BY VICTOR PAUL ALVAREZ
Share this entry with Delicious
  •   JUKEBOX HEROES  |  April 17, 2013
    The sign behind the bar reads: "Nick–A-Nee's: Best Jukebox, 2012." At the time it was an honor. Today it's a relic. The Phoenix dropped the "Best Jukebox" category this year. There just aren't many true jukeboxes left in the state.
  •   IN SEARCH OF CUMBERLANDITE  |  March 06, 2013
    Rhode Islanders are fond of saying "only in Rhode Island," even when it's not true. This isn't the only state teeming with corruption, long-toothed palookas, or landmarks that "used to be" something else.
  •   THE BEST THINGS IN LIFE ARE FREE (OR AT LEAST INEXPENSIVE)  |  January 23, 2013
    Rhode Island has a lot going against it. The state ranks last or close to last in most economic indicators. Taxes are high and jobs are scarce. Our most prominent cultural export may be Pauly D.
  •   IN EAST PROVIDENCE, RAFFLING MEAT AND LOBSTER  |  November 21, 2012
    It is Saturday night at the Lincoln Bar & Grille in East Providence and Big Bill is in firm command of the room. He's the kind of guy known in these parts as "funny as a bastard." Flirts with the women. Zings the men.
  •   AT MULDOWNEY’S, THE DIVE BAR LIVES ON  |  October 31, 2012
    There used to be more dive bars in this city. The Safari Lounge, the One Up, Splinter's. I got to thinking about this over a short glass of bourbon at one of the city's last dives — Muldowney's Pub on Empire Street.

 See all articles by: VICTOR PAUL ALVAREZ