Butts At The Varsity

by Debbie Evans

In looking through the pages of the newly released Home&Harvest Magazine I came upon a picture of downtown Moscow with the paragraph below asking to share your memories. I thought yes, indeed.

Old downtown Moscow and I was fresh from New York in the early 70’s. Moscow felt so quaint and I enjoyed walking around and talking to everyone. One place in particular I loved was the Varsity Cafe!

My first time there was on a date, as a young handsome man had asked if I would like to get a cup of coffee with him. You bet, I told him. I can remember so clearly as we entered through the back door of the Varsity Cafe. You could see the old soda counter and the leather booths, just the right size for a young couple to snuggle in. The waitress asked, “What ca I get ya?” My date smiled and said, “We will have two butts and two coffees with cream.” My, I thought, what’s that? As we were waiting, I noticed the small jukebox tucked into the back wall of our booth and it was full of tunes. We put in two bits and made a few selections – what fun! Just then the smell of coffee filled the room and as I looked up I was being served a cup of coffee along with a round pastry with just the right amount of melted butter on it. The aroma was heavenly! As I enjoyed every bite of my butt (which I learned was the local lingo for butterhorn…) and never having one before all I could think of was yum!

We spent many wonderful hours and ate many meals at the Varsity, especially that winter, sitting in the round front booth overlooking Main Street in all of its Christmas splendor with snow falling so softly. That handsome man and I planned our wedding for that next spring, always enjoying our two butt and coffee. Yum! I miss that place.

p.s. That young man and I? We’ll be married 40 years this spring.