I have been pondering an article from the December 18th edition of The Economist for awhile now. The piece tracks the decline of pubs in England with the usual, insightful Economist commentary as to the effect. "Since 2005 more than 6,000 pubs have closed" in England. The indoor smoking ban, high prices due to tied houses having to buy from the brewery that owns the pub, and high taxes all contribute to the decline. On Super Bowl Sunday, I would add the rise of HD TV and DVRs make the best view of the game the one from our couches. The effect?
...the vanishing of a pub means, by common consent, the loss of the beating heart of a community, in town or countryside. In the pub he met his fellow men and, with them, formed a society of musers and drinkers. He mingled with people he might not otherwise meet, and had words with them, was obliged to take stock of their opinions.
The Voice has noted the passing of a few great pubs in B'game. We were there when Moon McShane's and La Pinata closed. The original print edition ran "man on the barstool" quotes on the losses. Towle's bar was vibrant while it lasted. Hola! is upholding the Bit of England tradition as well as can be expected. It's a big responsibility since that is liquor license #1 in the County issued after Prohibition.
Perhaps things aren't all bad since Il Piccolo, Starbuck's and Peet's fulfill a bit of the same function, but coffee's different. People are less social as they wait for the caffeine to kick in. Some would point to the American Bull as a still-beating heart, but I would have to say Behan's is our best approximation in town. The next time you have an hour to spare, stop in and have some conversation and perhaps a different opinion.
The beating heart of Burlingame is the Burlingame Avenue train station and it's about to go into cardiac arrest.
Posted by: fred | February 07, 2011 at 10:58 AM