Local Restaurant Owner Hosts Coat Drive, Salutes Vets

GREENPORT, NY— A local business owner is opening her heart to those in need on Veterans Day this weekend.

Beth Pike, owner of the Deep Water Bar & Grille, will be hosting a coat drive on Saturday during the restaurant's rooftop bar's closing party from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m.

"Come down to celebrate the beginning of winter and the end of a spectacular summer season," she said. "The Deep Water staff would like to say 'thank you' to our old and new restaurant family friends. We ask that you wear your coat because it will be cold. Also, please clean out your closets and bring in any usable coats, hats and gloves so we can donate them to the homeless for winter."

The event will feature live music by Rick Rempe, hot chili, and chowder all night; happy hour drink prices will be offered upstairs.

Pike said she signed up to work with New York Cares for its annual coat drive, accepting coats beginning Nov. 14.

"I wanted to be able to get coats to them so I picked this Saturday and scheduled a party to help bring in the coats," she said, adding that she'd "give away some hot food to keep them warm, and some happy hour drink prices to keep everyone happy. I thought it was a good idea. It's getting pretty cold outside."

Pike said she always thinks of the movie "Elf", where the character sings, "Baby, It's Cold Outside."

For a homeless person or family, that cold can be life threatening, Pike said.

"We all have coats, hats and gloves that we don't wear any longer. Let's try to get together, have a little fun, but bring in that coat that we will never wear again. I will drive them in and donate them all myself."

And that's not all: In honor of Veterans Day, Pike is giving vets a 50 percent discount off their entree all day.

"One of the most moving days in my life was when I visited the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier on Veterans Day and watched the Changing of the Guard at Arlington National Cemetery. I went with a good friend who is a veteran. I spoke with a guest at the restaurant this summer who was a veteran and he became so alive, remembering and relating some of his service stories and was happy to have a listening ear. I wanted to show our appreciation to all veterans who may not always have a ready ear to listen and also to share our small grateful appreciation to all who have served."

Deep Water Bar & Grille is located at 47 Front Street in Greenport.

Patch courtesy photo.