by Robert Thompson

A ten year search for a piece of art began when I purchased a building
at 3133 Ponce deLeon in 2001. At the time it was destined to become
Fair Grinds Coffeehouse, but it had been many things before.

Neighbors would often appear during the renovation and tell me of the building’s history. Several things intrigued me. One was the place had been a notorious bar named “Daisy Mae’s” and the other was the Shirley Rabe Masinter had painted an early “hyper-realist” painting of the building.

Over the years I heard stories and reference to “Daisy Mae’s”, but nothing more of the painting by the famous local artist. I made inquries of several galleries and persons close to the artist, but with no result. Then a few months ago I sold the place.

It happened I needed a document for the sale notarized, so while eating at Liberty’s Kitchen on N. Broad, I went upstairs to the legal offices of David Band. A familiar face emerged to help me, a customer who I recalled would sometimes visit my coffehouse in his vintage Rolls Royce.

Then the revelation, in converstaion he revealed he now owned the painting I’d been searching for!

Dave sent me the picture you see above of the painting, a glimpse
into what had gone on before on Ponce deLeon, and a tribute to the
work of the well known Faubourg St. John artist Shirley Rabe Masinter.

There, in all its glory, was Daisy Mae’s, and Cafe Degas’ former tenant – a barbershop!

Many thanks to David Band for allowing FSJNAdotORG to use an image of his treasured painting and to Robert Thompson for relaying this great story!

The Magical Mystery Tour continues every Wednesday at FSJNAdotORG. You can check out previous stops along the Magical Mystery Tour in the link below:
https://fsjna.org/category/magical-mystery-tour/

Do you have anything about Faubourg St. John that you’d like to share? Please send it to [email protected]