photos/Jessie Banhazl
Larry “The Viking” Benson
Age: 81
Hometown: New York City
Bar of choice: The Thirsty Pig
Drink of choice: Genesee Cream Ale
“Thirsty Pig is one of the few places in town that actually has lawyers sitting next to skaters sitting next to old gang members,” Dave Nowers said with a laugh. Nowers, who runs the Old Port sausage-and-beer palace in Portland with his life partner in pork, Allison Stevens, added, “It’s like a melting pot where everyone can hang out. We’ve had babies take their first steps here many times.”
To the list of lawyers, skaters and gangsters who frequent the place, add one Viking, Larry Benson, an avuncular octogenarian who’s been sitting at the end of the bar several days a week for over 10 years, quietly conquering staff and customers with his subtle charm.
“He just cracks us up, and he makes us happy all the time,” Nowers said. “It’s good to see him, and when we don’t see him, we worry about him. We call or text to make sure he’s alright.”
“There’s a Genny on the table when he walks through the door,” said Nowers, referring to the legendary (and cheap) beer from Rochester, N.Y. “Genesee’s not on our menu — it’s just for him. Of course, other people can have it if they see it, but it’s Viking’s beer. He’s the only one that we do that for.
“He’s also a mystery to us,” Nowers continued. “We all have bets on what he did in his past. I was thinking something like West Side Story, like he was part of the Jets.”
Let’s meet this Viking and try to pry some details from this mysterious man…
Where are you from?
I lived in the Bronx and Brooklyn when I was a kid. My mother died when I was young, so I moved upstate with relatives. Got my education in the 24th division stationed in Germany. Then I moved back to upstate New York. I used to get down to the city, where I was a party animal. I used to go crazy and throw all my money away. I’d still do it if I was young enough to raise hell. Unfortunately, age has put a damper on that. I don’t know if it’s for the good or the bad. That’s the way it goes.
Why did you move to Portland?
I’ve lived in Portland for fourteen years. I got tired of the goddamn politics in New York. I came up here for a few weekend trips when the sign used to say, “Maine: the way life should be.” And I said, “Yes, it’s nice. I like it up here.” I was sixty-eight when I moved here.
Why do you think you were nominated for The Regulars column?
I got a lot of friends here; this is just a friendly place. This is my happy spot, and I think it’s the friendliest place in town. I started coming in when it opened because they had beer here. Back when I first came here, I went to a lot of bars, because I was younger. I had the energy and the strength to do it. Now this is about the only place I come.
They’ve also got good dogs here that are homemade. There is a hotdog named after me called The Viking Dog. It’s got onions, mustard, aioli, bacon.
I come in about four times a week, in the afternoon. I used to be a nighttime man, now I’m a day-timer. I can’t do what I used to do, dammit! Mentally, I’m a young eighty-one, but physically, I’m an old eighty-one.
We heard you’re a huge sports fan.
I never miss a Sea Dogs game. I like hockey. I’m a big Rangers fan. I also like the Bruins, if the Rangers aren’t playing. I got season tickets to Mariners games. I hung out here at Thirsty Pig with the Bruins goalie Jeremy Swayman. He drank Genny here with us.
What did you do for work?
I was a house painter. I retired when I was sixty-two. I’m also involved in the Masons. To be a Mason, you have to believe in God, believe in the hereafter, and be a good citizen. Certain things are kept secret, but I think you can find out anything on the Internet using your smart-ass phone. Basically, you do what you want, but you do service to help out. Different lodges do different things. Masonry’s good up here around Portland. We bring in a lot of younger folks, while some jurisdictions are fading because of people getting old like me and not being replaced. But up here it’s been very good.
How did you get your nickname?
By being a Swede, I guess. My grandparents came over from Sweden. I wear Thor’s hammer around my neck. It’s not a cross — I’m a damn Viking! I got a Viking sword at home, too. I can’t bring it out much — I’d get arrested, probably. It’s too damn heavy for me to hold! When I retired from the National Guard after eighteen years, the guys in my platoon presented it to me.
Do you have any favorite memories from your time as a regular here?
They threw a party for me here for my eightieth birthday. What a party that was — holy mackerel! Genesee beers going for eighty cents. I don’t know whether I deserved it or not, but I was happy to have it. Made me feel good.
Know an interesting bar regular? Recommend them to us by e-mailing theregularsmaine@gmail.com.
