Murder Mary

Did you know “Stagger Lee” was a real person? I didn’t. To be fair I only associate the song to the Courtney Classic: “Shag the Movie.” Annabeth Gish dances to it in the annual Myrtle Beach Sun Fun Festival dance contest as her BFFs Bridget Fonda, Page Hannah and Phoebe Cates cheer her on. God, I love this movie.... Lemme get back on track, where was I? Stagger Lee is a person. Lee Shelton was a St. Louis pimp and gambler who, in 1895, killed a man named Billy Lyons in a barroom argument, possibly because Lyons took Shelton’s hat and wouldn’t give it back. Shelton lived until 1912, but he became a folkloric figure almost immediately; there were songs about the murder as early as 1897. “Stagger Lee” became a folk-blues standard, one that took various forms and told different versions of the story of the murder. And in 1959, the New Orleans R&B singer and former Army serviceman Lloyd Price took one of those versions to #1. I only accept the Lloyd Price version, y’all can keep your sad Nick Cave renditions to yourself.

Keep all this in mind when you head to brunch spot, Stagger Lee’s. They have all the fancy brunch fare (toast with things on it) but they also have a Bloody Mary called the Bucket of Blood. Blood Buckets aren’t just for bathing in kids! Anyway in this Bloody Mary You’ll find super spicy sriracha tabasco, lemon, chili, all garnished with lime cucumber. Word of warning, don’t take anyone’s hat.

Stagger Lee's Cafe
276 Brunswick Street Fitzroy