Our Saturday afternoon walk took us past the green bar on New Court Avenue.

Three Fat Guys was hopping on this sunny spring day. I told Ellie B, aka Dogamous Pyle, to be good as we approached from the north.

Motorcycles lined the Syracuse street. Motorcyclists were everywhere, black leather catching the sun just right to make it almost look like a glistening mirage.

Nope, a hundred or so bikers were there in real life. And that was only the ones I could spot outside Three Fat Guys. Some ate what looked to be finger-licking good barbecue food at a picnic table. Others stood next to an outdoor stage, filled with instruments but empty of musicians at this point.

A small bunch stood on the sidewalk as man and dog approached.

I asked if it was some sort of official party or just a happy accident that the bikers were gathered.

“Just a bunch of friends enjoying a great day,” the man answered.

I looked more closely at the jackets.

These friends were in a group called Sons of Sam.

They know how to have a good time on a great day.

Upon further review, Sons of Sam has a web page, although it looks stalled since 2009. It’s a motorcycle club with a focus on military support. Two bikers started the club after one of them was deployed to Iraq. Syracuse is the mother chapter.

Members include veterans, those in current service and civilians of like mind. They stand for “biking, brotherhood, freedom and supporting our troops.”

Bravo. I didn’t know.

The cool things you can find out about hometown while walking your dog on a warm sunny day.