It’s been a while…I supposed because being a working woman and everything I don’t have a ton of time to blog. That’s not to say that I don’t want to, it’s just tough. So here’s my latest insight.
I celebrated my 22nd birthday last weekend. I did not get to the American Craft Beer Festival, as I had posted about, but I enjoy myself. My family came to town to spend some time with me and after we finished dinner, some friends and I headed to Bell in Hand Tavern down by Faneuil Hall and Haymarket in a very touristy area of downtown Boston. I had heard good things and had enjoyed myself at other bars in the same block, so what the hell!?
I was not terribly impressed. Bell in Hand boasts that it is the oldest tavern in the states. That is a pretty cool fact, regardless of whether I enjoyed myself or not. We got there very early (9:30) and walked right in. By “right in” I mean that I showed my ID and paid the $10 cover. I have issues with covers sometimes, particularly when the drinks are overpriced and the bar does not live up to the door price. Anyway, getting the first round, I ordered a Harpoon UFO and IPA (anyone surprised?). I was excited by the large pilsner glasses they served the beers in, but had to catch myself when the bartender asked for $13. Yes, I understand that it is a downtown bar and that it’s a large beer, but in my neighborhood bar, earlier that day, I enjoyed the same-sized beer for 4 dollars. Come on. I anted up and decided to drink bud light for the rest of the evening. (Even that was $4.50).
At 10:20ish, a couple more friends showed up…after waiting in line for 10 minutes. Not so bad, I guess you have to wait sometimes. But when I received a text from another friend a half hour later, she was at the end of a 4 block-long line that was not moving. I went out to meet my friend and was rudely greeted by the door staff. The big used-to-be high school football allstars ordered me back inside, without making eye contact. Listen, all I ask for is a little respect. I’m not someone to go out and plead or make a scene but not having the decency to look me in the face and say something is simply uncalled for. Needless to say my friend could not wait and left shortly there after.
I went back to my Bud Light and friends and the second set of a brilliant cover band who never quite made it out of the 90s. I enjoyed their particularly grungy rendition of the ACDC gem, “Shook Me All Night Long” while watching a classy (ehem wasted) bachelorette hoist her blow-up man-friend in the air. As the doll’s, um, endowment, grazed the spotlights, I couldn’t be too upset.
Bell in Hand might be better during the day when you can enjoy a decent beer at a tavern with actual history. It probably won’t get my attendance again anytime soon, but let me recommend the lesser-know The Point. It’s right next to Bell in Hand to the left and around the corner, and has provided numerous good times for my crew. Better cover bands, cheaper cover, better beer selection (had the seasonal Blue Moons before anywhere else), and, in my humble opinion, a better crowd. Plus, their bouncers looked me in the eyes as they invited me into the bar.
Cheers!
2 Comments
July 1, 2008 at 12:47 am
ohhh i’m so sad i missed your birthday laraunch, sounds like an adventure. don’t pretend like the blow-up doll wasn’t yours though. ain’t no shame in it.
August 14, 2008 at 3:56 pm
Fantastic post Cate. I think you should keep writing. I’ll let you know how the coors light tastes at Fenway!