This Week in the Mercury
Tuesday, July 7, 2009
Books Quiet Reading Time! At a Bar!
Posted by Alison Hallett on Tue, Jul 7, 2009 at 3:39 PM
Here's a Yelp posting about an effort to designate "Library Hours," ie quiet work time, at a local bar:
Hi!
Are you a night owl with a project? Are you a freelancer working from home all the time? An artist who needs to get out of the house? A book lover who wants to have a beer?I'm starting Library Hours, a night where an appointed bar will turn the music down, the lights up, and discourage drunk squealy people.
We get to bring our laptops, our books, our drawing supplies, our knitting, whatever your project is, and order a beer or snack, hang out and get in some quality time. Coffee shops are great for getting things done on weekends, why not have that atmosphere at night, with drinks? Plus you get the presence of other people as subtle support. Meet other people, or just do your own thang.
I've contacted a few initial bars, but I need to show support in numbers so they know it's worth their time. I could also use your suggestions for bars that might be open to this—think places that die down after happy hours on weeknights.
Join the Facebook group.
Good idea. I like that they're not trying to make me meet anyone. I'm about sick of trying to work/read at a bar and having the fact that I'm alone interpreted as an "open" sign. (Via)
1
Alison, you're an attractive young lady at a bar by yourself. It doesn't matter what you're doing, some drunk person is going to take that as an "open" sign.
And of course this is going to turn into a pick-up event for "creative-class" types. Who else feels the need to go out to be "alone"? If I feel the need to both drink and read, I have a very comfortable chair and a bottle of whiskey at home.
And of course this is going to turn into a pick-up event for "creative-class" types. Who else feels the need to go out to be "alone"? If I feel the need to both drink and read, I have a very comfortable chair and a bottle of whiskey at home.
2
Let's see, first we eliminate smoking, and now we eliminate the socializing, the music, and turn up the lights.
Now if we can just eliminate the alcohol, it will be like hanging out in auntie's parlor!
Now if we can just eliminate the alcohol, it will be like hanging out in auntie's parlor!
3
"And of course this is going to turn into a pick-up event for "creative-class" types. Who else feels the need to go out to be "alone"?"
WORD!
Not that I don't like this idea. Good luck finding a bar willing to host. I can't see this upping their revenue.
WORD!
Not that I don't like this idea. Good luck finding a bar willing to host. I can't see this upping their revenue.
4
This is alcohol abuse to the extreme.
Secondly - people who read books in bars are waiting to be hit on.
Secondly - people who read books in bars are waiting to be hit on.
5
Also, more reason why this won't work:
People who are by themselves tend to drink less than people in groups. There's no incentive for the bars to help out.
People who are doing this "working in a bar" thing tend to sit at tables by themselves. So that four-top just got squated by a single person who's going to nurse one or two beers for four hours. There's no incentive for the bar to help out.
Events that drastically change the ambiance of a bar drive away the regulars who spend hundreds of dollars each per year at the bar. There's no incentive for the bar to help out.
For once Blabby and I are in complete agreement.
There are numerous coffeeshops that sell beer and wine. Why don't these people just go to one of those and leave our bars alone?
People who are by themselves tend to drink less than people in groups. There's no incentive for the bars to help out.
People who are doing this "working in a bar" thing tend to sit at tables by themselves. So that four-top just got squated by a single person who's going to nurse one or two beers for four hours. There's no incentive for the bar to help out.
Events that drastically change the ambiance of a bar drive away the regulars who spend hundreds of dollars each per year at the bar. There's no incentive for the bar to help out.
For once Blabby and I are in complete agreement.
There are numerous coffeeshops that sell beer and wine. Why don't these people just go to one of those and leave our bars alone?
6
Honestly, I haven't always had luck working in coffee shops either. There are plenty of people having conversations and the barista generally wants to subject everyone to their questionable taste in music.
Still, good luck with your initiative Allison. F**k the haters (me)!
Still, good luck with your initiative Allison. F**k the haters (me)!
7
Please post the location(s). I am anxious to avoid them.
Reading/laptopping/working in public is unproductive histrionic attention-seeking.
There is a reason why we have different words like, "home," "work," and "bar" in our human talky-talk.
Reading/laptopping/working in public is unproductive histrionic attention-seeking.
There is a reason why we have different words like, "home," "work," and "bar" in our human talky-talk.
8
I don't think most people who bring a book to the bar demand absolute seclusion. You might meet someone who has something interesting to say about the book, and it gives you a way to discreetly ignore the average jackass rather than just sitting there and pretending they don't exist.
Plus, there are plenty of bars that have a few nights or times of day when most people are doing this kind of thing anyway. So if you had it every Tuesday at 8 or something, you might actually draw a few more people from somewhere else without scaring anyone off.
Plus, there are plenty of bars that have a few nights or times of day when most people are doing this kind of thing anyway. So if you had it every Tuesday at 8 or something, you might actually draw a few more people from somewhere else without scaring anyone off.
9
This is one of the many reasons why Yelp has become a joke. (Once a proud Yelp Elite member here) These people live in a delusional little world where things like "overhead" and "people other than YOU" do not exist.
The point has already been made. Campers/squatters and study groups are horrible customers. Just ask any local cafe owner/manager. They spend as little as possible all while monopolizing the maximum amount of space.
You know a place that has library hours?
The fucking library.
The point has already been made. Campers/squatters and study groups are horrible customers. Just ask any local cafe owner/manager. They spend as little as possible all while monopolizing the maximum amount of space.
You know a place that has library hours?
The fucking library.
10
Hey all, I'm the one starting this, thanks for your feedback. Even if you're hating on it, I bet some of you will show up. There's some key points you've brought up:
1.) Bar revenue. This wouldn't be on a Saturday night, obviously. The idea is to work with the bar to pick a night that's slow, like a Tuesday (Atomic, yep), and get more people in the door than they had before. And seriously, you don't think writing/reading and drinking go together? C'mon.
2.) Table squatting (Graham). Good point, I'll tell people to share tables once a bar is set.
3.) "People who are reading are secluded/should stay home/are attention seeking/want to be hit on." Um, fine, you stay home.
Groups, like knitting groups, would still be totally welcome. It's not like we're going to call Dirty Bird the minute you get in the door. Drunk frat boys are not welcome. See the difference?
1.) Bar revenue. This wouldn't be on a Saturday night, obviously. The idea is to work with the bar to pick a night that's slow, like a Tuesday (Atomic, yep), and get more people in the door than they had before. And seriously, you don't think writing/reading and drinking go together? C'mon.
2.) Table squatting (Graham). Good point, I'll tell people to share tables once a bar is set.
3.) "People who are reading are secluded/should stay home/are attention seeking/want to be hit on." Um, fine, you stay home.
Groups, like knitting groups, would still be totally welcome. It's not like we're going to call Dirty Bird the minute you get in the door. Drunk frat boys are not welcome. See the difference?
11
I put it on Yelp to get the people on Yelp.
If you prefer Twitter, here: http://twitter.com/LibraryHours
And wordpress, though there's not a lot there yet: http://libraryhours.wordpress.com/
If you prefer Twitter, here: http://twitter.com/LibraryHours
And wordpress, though there's not a lot there yet: http://libraryhours.wordpress.com/
13
"Reading/laptopping/working in public is unproductive histrionic attention-seeking."
What a weird statement. I'm generally more productive at bars and coffeeshops than at home; plus I read several books a week for my job. I don't want to hang out at home all the time.
While it's awfully heartwarming that Blabby and Graham have found some common ground on this one, I don't really see the problem. No one's gonna take your bar away from you, Graham. Ideally, this is a way for a bar to attract some new clients on a slow night, while providing a booze-fueled space for those of us who occasionally like to read alone in public in the hopes of attracting a man--I mean, read at bars. Sure, "coffeeshops that serve wine and beer" exist, until like 8 pm. The Press Club is the closest thing I can think of to a semi-late night, comfortable drink/work space, but they close at 10 on weeknights. Nothing else (booze serving coffeeshop open late) springs to mind.
Carissa, maybe the Side Door? They are often pretty dead on weeknights, and I can vouch for it being a comfy place to work.
What a weird statement. I'm generally more productive at bars and coffeeshops than at home; plus I read several books a week for my job. I don't want to hang out at home all the time.
While it's awfully heartwarming that Blabby and Graham have found some common ground on this one, I don't really see the problem. No one's gonna take your bar away from you, Graham. Ideally, this is a way for a bar to attract some new clients on a slow night, while providing a booze-fueled space for those of us who occasionally like to read alone in public in the hopes of attracting a man--I mean, read at bars. Sure, "coffeeshops that serve wine and beer" exist, until like 8 pm. The Press Club is the closest thing I can think of to a semi-late night, comfortable drink/work space, but they close at 10 on weeknights. Nothing else (booze serving coffeeshop open late) springs to mind.
Carissa, maybe the Side Door? They are often pretty dead on weeknights, and I can vouch for it being a comfy place to work.
14
"Drunk frat boys are not welcome."
Yeah, that's gonna work. I give you a maximum of one meet-up before some bored IRL trolls make this event into a circus. Have fun.
Yeah, that's gonna work. I give you a maximum of one meet-up before some bored IRL trolls make this event into a circus. Have fun.
15
Quiet, but lets you be with other people that will kinda sorta ignore each other, and don't want other people to approach you. Don't want to piss off the bar because you might take hours upon hours to sip a Wine Cooler.
Firing blanks here. (as always, thanks Dr V!)
Firing blanks here. (as always, thanks Dr V!)
16
Carissa, what about drunk frat boys who like to knit? Alison, one of the reasons I go to bars it specifically to be hit on, since I'm too cowardly to ask anybody out.
18
This is drinking without the cheer. Or working, without getting anything done. Either way it spoils two good things. Make up your mind. Multi-tasking always sucks. Always. Spruce up your place if you can't stand to be there.
19
How about you guys take your boring Loner-drinking book fest to one of the hotel bars on NW Broadway? They're dead. They're already brightly lit and all that stuff. And you can leave the more fun dive bars to us functioning alcoholics.
22
I don't understand what is so weird about enjoying a book with your booze. I tip well, I don't take up a table, I don't throw shit or start fights. How is this a problem for you?
23
Hey Graham, who said it had to be a dive bar? I think the people planning this are envisioning a place like the Side Street or the Basement, which are pretty much there already.
And lets be honest, you're not a functioning alcoholic if you can't find new ways to combine your legitimate work with your legitimate drinking.
And lets be honest, you're not a functioning alcoholic if you can't find new ways to combine your legitimate work with your legitimate drinking.
24
Alison, Side Door is a great suggestion, their salads rock and they were off my radar. I will ask them.
25
@atomic I work 9-5. That's my legitimate working. And my way combing the drinking is by nursing my hangovers on company time.
I've got a good bar suggestion actually. The Water Trough. It's already brightly lit, no loud music and it's rarely busy. And then I can easily walk from my bar and taunt all the nerds.
I've got a good bar suggestion actually. The Water Trough. It's already brightly lit, no loud music and it's rarely busy. And then I can easily walk from my bar and taunt all the nerds.
28
@wallstreet Jesus Fucking Christ! Can't you keep up with what's going on with this dumb fucking idea? Random Order Pie House has already turned down this travesty of a bar-night concept! FFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFUUUUUUUUUUUUU!
30
I don't think this concept is a travesty. Graham, maybe you're not looking at the big picture? Firstly, I think it would be safe to assume that there's a good chance that, once everyone is together, productivity will be more-or-less replaced by socializing. Secondly, I have friends who do "craft nights" at bars, and it seems to go well - they drink a lot, and knit and stuff, and the bars like them. Thirdly, people who are capable of reading and being productive in bar-settings (people not like me) don't expect a quiet setting, and so once things devolve, the dude who really needs to finish reading his chapter will still finish his chapter, and those folks who just want to gab about lit blogs and Buffy will do so, and it will be in the spirit of the event. I don't see this as being a whole lot different than, like, all the little pinball tournaments that my friends and I run at bars. We take over a corner, buy stuff, and do our thing for a few hours (and sometimes bars give us drink specials - because we request them ahead of time).
31
@ROM You seem to be reading more into this than what the organizers ever said.
"you get the presence of other people as subtle support"
"turn the music down, the lights up, and discourage drunk squealy people"
The stated intentions of this "Library Hours" idea for a bar is to make a bar boring.
Rom, your plan is instead to turn "Library Hours" into a Craft Night or something. I've gotten 0% against Craft Nights or Pinball Tournaments or any sort of other event that happens in a bar while still letting the bar actaully be a bar.
The only thing I can think of that even comes close to thise "Library Hours" travesty are trivia-nights. Usually the lights get turned up and the music off, but there is forced socializing and arguing and quite a bit of drunken squeeling and guffawing happening.
"you get the presence of other people as subtle support"
"turn the music down, the lights up, and discourage drunk squealy people"
The stated intentions of this "Library Hours" idea for a bar is to make a bar boring.
Rom, your plan is instead to turn "Library Hours" into a Craft Night or something. I've gotten 0% against Craft Nights or Pinball Tournaments or any sort of other event that happens in a bar while still letting the bar actaully be a bar.
The only thing I can think of that even comes close to thise "Library Hours" travesty are trivia-nights. Usually the lights get turned up and the music off, but there is forced socializing and arguing and quite a bit of drunken squeeling and guffawing happening.
32
All I know is that the only thing that made my Joyce class tolerable last semester was being able to read in bars. Also, themme, Alison's right -- libraries have library hours until, like, 6 pm, and most cafes are closed by 8. Bars wouldn't lose money because people would patronize the bar specifically for library hours, just like there are some bars I only go to (and buy drinks from) because bands or DJs I like are playing there. As for just staying at home: some people have kids, or live in noisy apartments or dorms, or just like a revolving roster of mixed drinks and microbrews on tap while they read a good book (which, unless you're a dysfunctionally avid alcoholic, you shouldn't have on hand at home). There was a funny article about this in The Stranger a few years ago: http://www.thestranger.com/seattle/Content…. In the words of another Stranger writer, on reading in bars: "I'm not being antisocial. Staying home and reading would be antisocial."
34
Graham, you are right. But, in my defense, I am trying to factor in the harsh discrepancy between optimistic ideals and freaking reality. I think they will compromise, and I think the setting will demand devolution!
35
I like how this has turned into a hill to die on. And why not? After we defeat the opposition here, we can institute "Middle School Dance Night" where members of the opposite sex are not allowed to talk to each other.
Or, you know, just turn the lights up in one bar on one night from the time most cafes close to the point where it becomes unmanageable. I feel like that probably wouldn't ruin all the bars in Christendom.
Although it is a good point that asking the drunk frat boys to leave probably isn't going to work. I think you have to create the right atmosphere and hope everything else falls into place.
Or, you know, just turn the lights up in one bar on one night from the time most cafes close to the point where it becomes unmanageable. I feel like that probably wouldn't ruin all the bars in Christendom.
Although it is a good point that asking the drunk frat boys to leave probably isn't going to work. I think you have to create the right atmosphere and hope everything else falls into place.
38
Hey Tiff, welcome to my place of arguing with people. Haven't ever actually seen you comment here before.
39
Graham hangs out at bars on Hawthorne and then whinges about craft nights and shit like this. Typical.
40
@jake What exactly is typical here?
That I hang out on bars on Hawthorne? Well shit, I live on Hawthorne. It only makes sense to hang out at bars I can easily walk to and from.
That I complain about craft nights? Um, you're a fucking idiot. To quote me, "I've got 0% against Craft Nights".
So... I'm not sure if you actually have two brain cells to rub together, but if you do, please kindly explain your dumb-ass ramblings.
That I hang out on bars on Hawthorne? Well shit, I live on Hawthorne. It only makes sense to hang out at bars I can easily walk to and from.
That I complain about craft nights? Um, you're a fucking idiot. To quote me, "I've got 0% against Craft Nights".
So... I'm not sure if you actually have two brain cells to rub together, but if you do, please kindly explain your dumb-ass ramblings.
41
Sorry. Graham, since you sure do know a lot about dumb-ass ramblings, I'll defer to you there.
You live in a trendy part of town. Nothing wrong with that, it's a nice and convenient area. Going to the bars there and complaining about bullshit like this though, is fucking idiotic. That, is typical.
However, I do agree with your original point.
You live in a trendy part of town. Nothing wrong with that, it's a nice and convenient area. Going to the bars there and complaining about bullshit like this though, is fucking idiotic. That, is typical.
However, I do agree with your original point.
42
I read at bars nearly every day (read: alcoholic?). I usually sit at the bar or single table and don't really expect to be hit on (not that it doesn't happen, but it's not the reason). I need a little background stimulation going on to concentrate on a book, weird huh (not really)? I'm totally down for this when it happens, though to be honest I generally like to go out by myself. Good luck.
43
@jake Maybe I'm just as fucking retarded as you are, but I can't seem to make the logical leap that you're making here, "Going to the bars there and complaining about bullshit like this though, is fucking idiotic. That, is typical."
Imagine that I'm Kiala and that I need things explained to me like I'm five years old.
Imagine that I'm Kiala and that I need things explained to me like I'm five years old.
45
It's not difficult Graham, especially for a genius like yourself. Or maybe you are just as fucking retarded as I am.
46
@jake YES IT IS DIFFICULT BECAUSE I CAN'T MAKE FUCKING HEADS OR TAILS OF IT. I do not see what is typical here. What am I typical of? Explain these things to me like I'm five years old.
50
Continuing the Del's tangent, have you tried the "make it in your freezer" kit that they sell online? I can't imagine it could replicate the real deal, but if it comes close it might be worth it.
51
I love that this has struck a chord. I'm not out to take away your drinking scene, like that's even possible in Portland. There are plenty of bars who could profit from having a bunch of people come in on a dead weeknight, and those are probably not the same bars that you drinkers are defending.
The original post may have made Library Hours seem too anti-interaction, the point there is that it's not a networking event. The immediate questions I got in the early stages (all of last Sunday) were about how people could use this to network, so I emphasized letting people work or read to put the kebash on folks showing up with their business cards.
As for questioning who feels a need to go out alone and bring something with them, well, we'll see. We're a city of full of readers, freelancers, artists, people with side projects, and I think some of us would like a drink in an atmosphere that is both creatively stimulating and possible to work in...plus I know I do my best thinking at night.
There's a lot of energy that comes from a group of people working in the same space, even on totally different things, and I think the mood will establish itself based on that. Maybe it will be a creative class meat market by midnight, as many have warned, but from 8-12 it could be a great place to hang out and power through 50 pages of Infinite Jest.
The original post may have made Library Hours seem too anti-interaction, the point there is that it's not a networking event. The immediate questions I got in the early stages (all of last Sunday) were about how people could use this to network, so I emphasized letting people work or read to put the kebash on folks showing up with their business cards.
As for questioning who feels a need to go out alone and bring something with them, well, we'll see. We're a city of full of readers, freelancers, artists, people with side projects, and I think some of us would like a drink in an atmosphere that is both creatively stimulating and possible to work in...plus I know I do my best thinking at night.
There's a lot of energy that comes from a group of people working in the same space, even on totally different things, and I think the mood will establish itself based on that. Maybe it will be a creative class meat market by midnight, as many have warned, but from 8-12 it could be a great place to hang out and power through 50 pages of Infinite Jest.
53
@Graham I was wondering of that was you.
@jake Are you a real limey?
@robbie No. I am the same way. I can't do one thing at a time. I need background noise.
Also, this is still the worst idea ever. BTW. It's a shame Cubespace is defunct. I, uh, have the feeling this is what it was for.......
@jake Are you a real limey?
@robbie No. I am the same way. I can't do one thing at a time. I need background noise.
Also, this is still the worst idea ever. BTW. It's a shame Cubespace is defunct. I, uh, have the feeling this is what it was for.......
54
Hannah, Del's is a summery (or year-round, should you be hardcore) indulgence that is half-way between a lemonade and a cup of Italian ice. You're probably picturing a slushy-type drink, BUT IT IS SO MUCH MORE.
I'll make you a promise: When I finally make it to trivia night, I'll bring some of the home-made-via-the-internet version for you and me and jake. Hopefully it'll be awesome.
I'll make you a promise: When I finally make it to trivia night, I'll bring some of the home-made-via-the-internet version for you and me and jake. Hopefully it'll be awesome.
55
@s&r
You forgot the frozen chunks of lemon. So good, walking around Providence in the blazing heat and getting a cup of that sweet icy nectar.
I have had the home-made stuff. It's ok, but definitely not the same.
You forgot the frozen chunks of lemon. So good, walking around Providence in the blazing heat and getting a cup of that sweet icy nectar.
I have had the home-made stuff. It's ok, but definitely not the same.
56
I was going to leave the lemon rind bits as a surprise!!! I'll still prolly get some of the home-made stuff; I'll give everyone a solid heads up so we can have a Buddy Cianci/Del's/NY System-fanclub meeting during trivia night.
57
I never though I'd see the day that A Cat offered Blogtown surprise lemon rind bits. How flummoxing. And delicious-sounding.
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