Rob Galbraith: Rubber Ducky You’re the One
One of the things that adulthood usually demands is forsaking a childhood treasure: the rubber ducky floating in the bathtub. But agonize no more. There is a cure for rubber ducky angst: the upcoming rubber duck race at the Pattaconk 1850 Bar and Grille’s fifth annual Music Fest and Charity Duck Race.
The event, featuring six bands, runs from Friday, April 27 to Sunday, April 29 with the Duck Race, sponsored by Chester Rotary on Saturday, April 28 at 4:15 p.m.
“It’s one of the biggest weekends of the year,” says Pattaconk general manager Rob Galbraith, who came up with the idea for the duck race five years ago. “I thought it would build business and help charity at the same time,”
For a contribution of $5, rubber duck enthusiasts can buy their own racing fowl at the Pattaconk, write their name and telephone number on the bottom, and hope for a winner. There’s a wide selection of ducks in a rainbow of colors.
“Bikers chose biker ducks; kids go for superheroes; little girls like unicorns; some people go for the Viking ducks,” he says.
Rob has bought a unicorn for his granddaughter and a Viking for his grandson. He is not buying a duck for himself.
“It wouldn’t look too good if I won,” he says.
People spend a lot of time deciding which style of duck has the best aerodynamic shape for a winning ride, Rob points out that it really doesn’t matter. Something foul happens to the fowl.
“Most of the ducks turn over anyway,” he says.
The race course starts at the Pattaconk Brook behind what is now Grano Arso restaurant on Chester Main Street and runs along the brook to about 50 yards beyond the Pattaconk 1850 Bar and Grille. A front-end loader scoops up the ducks and deposits them at the start. According to Rob, the parking lot behind Chester Main Street is always crowded with spectators to get a glimpse of the action near the finish.
For the first two years, the funds collected went to a dog rescue organization in Haddam, but as the event grew, Rob brought in Chester Rotary, which distributes the funds among the many local organizations it supports, among them the Rotary scholarship program, Camp Hazen, the Chester Hose Company, the Shoreline Soup Kitchen, and Tri-Town Youth Services.
“It was getting big enough so that I really wanted to bring in Rotary for the charity part,” Rob explains. “That’s what they know how to do right.”
In addition to the organizations to which Rotary regularly donates, this year Homeward Bound, a group that aids rescue programs shelters find homes for abandoned dogs, will also benefit from the race. Sue Hotkowski of Chester is the president of the organization.
Ducks to benefit Homeward Bound can be bought at Strut Your Mutt, a shop devoted to canines and canine products, on Chester’s Main Street. There will be two other events over the weekend to benefit Homeward Bound, a doggie ice cream social (vanilla for the dogs, varied flavors for the owners) on Friday, April 27 from 5 to 7 p.m. and a dog walk, with two courses, a one-mile loop and a two-mile loop on Sunday, April 29 from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Refreshments include water for dogs and coupons for drinks pets should not sample at the Pattaconk for owners. There is a suggested contribution of $5. In addition, Strut Your Mutt will have a series of dog-themed events over the weekend.
The first year of the race, there were only 300 ducks. So far, this year, more than 800 have been sold. The goal is 1,500.
“We really want to go for broke, and make this into a town-wide celebration,” Rob says. “People are on Main Street; we hope they go into the shops, make it good for all the businesses.”
The entertainment this year includes Old Dog New Trick and Dizzy River Band on Friday night; Blue Collar Band, Coyote River Band, and DB Riley starting at 1 p.m. on Saturday; and on Sunday afternoon, GRaviToNIK, a teenage band from West Hartford.
The GRaviToNIK teens have performed all five years. The performers were only 11 when Rob first hired them.
“I got a call and one of the parents wanted to negotiate with me, but I said I wanted to talk to the kids. So there I was, negotiating with an 11-year-old,” Rob says. “I guess you could say it was a learning experience for him.”
Rob, who grew up in Enfield, has been a chef his entire professional life. When he came to the Pattaconk, he took on a different role as general manager. He first visited Chester on a bicycle ride but it was a response from someone who saw his résumé online that brought him to the Pattaconk. A bad back means he doesn’t cycle anymore, but doubts that he would have time in any case. He lives in town, but even though he has a stove at home, he never does his own cooking. “I’m here all the time, every day,” he says. “I’ve never even turned the oven on.”
On race day, Rob has little time to watching the bobbing rubber ducks.
“I’m working my tail off,” he says.
There is a funnel at the end of the race so that only one duck can cross the finish line at a time. The proud owner of the winning duck gets a beach chair, a grill and a large cooler filled with wine, beer and gift cards from local merchants. “We want to make sure there are things for kids as well as adults,” Rob says.
Second prize is also a gift-packed cooler, but no grill and beach chair. And the prize for the very last finisher is also a cooler to take home—but it is empty.
Still, everyone is a winner and not just because they have contributed to charity. At the end of the race, all the ducks are put out on tables so purchasers can find theirs.
“Some people spend a long time looking through them,” Rob says.
And, if they find their own rubber ducky, it is theirs to keep, as a souvenir on the mantelpiece, or even to float once again in the bathtub.
Pattaconk 1850 Bar and Grille Music Festival and Duck Race
Pattaconk 1850 Bar and Grille hosts its fifth annual Music Festival and Duck Race Friday, April 27 to Sunday, April 29. For more information, visit www.pattaconk1850.com.
The Duck Race, sponsored by Chester Rotary, is at 4:15 p.m. on Saturday, April 28; all proceeds benefit local charities. Ducks on sale at the Pattaconk benefit the Rotary Club; ducks sold at Strut Your Mutt benefit Homeward Bound.