Yes, that’s a real American Bison (buffalo) nosed up to the bar at the Marlin Club! This is the day the real Harvey Wallbanger visited the Marlin Club.
Catalina Island is famous for our herd of American Bison brought to the island by Zane Gray for the 1925 film “The Thundering Herd”. But they are not the only famous buffalo that have been brought to Catalina. A few years back Jim Brown and Rusty Conley invited Collin ‘TC’ Thorstenson to bring his racing champion buffalo Harvey Wallbanger to visit us at the Marin Club.
After a relaxing stroll on the beach, TC and Harvey spent some time with us at the Marlin Club. Harvey is a notable star athlete who spent the better part of his career racing against thoroughbred horses. During his career, Harvey amassed an impressive 79-14 record. Weighing in at well over a ton, Harvey compensated for what he lacked in svelteness with a burning desire to win every race. For that determination, we salute Harvey Wallbanger!
Harvey got his name because when he was young he was always banging his body against the wall of his pen however, on the day he visited the Marlin Club he was a perfect gentleman. During his visit, Harvey only knocked over one drink which is far less than the average Marlin Club patron on a typical Saturday afternoon.
Catalina Island Buffalo Milk served daily at the Marlin Club
Marlin Club Buffalo Milk
Next time you are at the Marlin Club ask your bartender for a Buffalo Milk. This Catalina Island original drink may not be what TC bottle-fed Harvey as a calf, but it is a cool, creamy, and delicious libation. Buffalo Milk is the official drink of Catalina Island and was created by bartender Michael Hoffler in Two Harbors in the mid-1970s. It is made with Creme de Cocoa, Kahlua, Creme de Banana, Vodka, and Half & Half. This boozy-deliciousness is all blended together with ice, topped with whip cream, sprinkled with nutmeg, and garnished with a banana chip.
Basically, a Buffalo Milk is an adult milkshake and is a great way to commemorate Harvey Wallbanger’s visit to the Marlin Club. When you drink a Buffalo Milk at the Marlin Club you should raise a toast: “Here’s to Harvey Wallbanger, his legs were short and his hair was long, but when he got out of the gate, he could do no wrong!”
