#1850: Brats in Bars

Now, this is one of my major peeves! BARS ARE FOR ADULTS! Attention, O Lurking Breeders: if you can't or won't get a sitter, then STAY THE HELL HOME!

Some people do have brain cells, though. In Woburn, Massachusetts, they have an ordinance that says that only those who are 21+ can be in a bar or the bar area of a restaurant. We were sitting at the bar in the Uno's Chicago Grill there, when Catdaddy noticed the sign. Woburn is only a few towns away from us, so you can bet we now go there often for brat-free drinking and dining!

If I ruled the world, this would be the law EVERYWHERE! If you are not old enough to drink, you are not old enough to be in a bar or bar area. Period.

I don't go into Chuck E. Cheese and demand fine wine and a filet mignon, and complain when it is not forthcoming. So breeders should follow suit and stay out of ADULT places with their brats in tow!

A-MEN Catmommy! When I was growing up in GA back in the '70s, you couldn't even set foot in a bar if you were under legal age (18 then). Fortunately, mom was smart enough not to even try to take my brother and I into these establishments.

Here in the DC area, I've found that if you avoid the chain restaurants in the burbs and go downtown you get a really neat selection of ethnic restaurants and no chilluns. The only time when all bets are off is in the summer, when it seems as though EVERY family descends upon this town (probably because a lot of attractions here are free). During this time, my boyfriend and I dine out on my balcony by candlelight where we can peacefully enjoy good food (either my great cooking or take-out), good vino, and watch the deer snack on the shrubs. If you're ever traveling to the DC area, I've got a couple of recommendations for restaurants that I've frequented and not seen one kid present: (by the way, these places are all METRO accessible!)

Dupont Circle:
Tomate Bistro (best I-talian food this side of Sicily, where I lived for 2 1/2 years)

The Childe Harold (smoky bar downstairs, but cleaner air and finer food upstairs)

Zorba's--great Gyros this side of Crete.

One thing I've found about the Dupont Circle area is that most families avoid the place, since parking is a pain and most families out in the burbs don't want to have to pay for METRO/parking. That and it's considered the "gay" section of town and heaven forbid they or their kids actually see two guys or two gals holding hands! The gay/lesbian couples who I have seen out with children in the area have typically had the most well-behaved children I have seen. I just wish people wouldn't give them static about adopting children, since most of the gay/lesbian couples I've known to have children were more with-it than many of the "straight" couples I've known who had children.

I lived in the DC area back in the 80's. I LOVED hanging out at Dupont Circle. I have been to the Childe Harold many times, and I just LOVED Zorba's. I am so glad to hear that these places are still there. Catdaddy has never been to DC and he'd love to go sometime to see the museums and all. I'd love to be able to take him to the places I used to love back then.

Tomate Bistro, I've not heard of. Maybe it's something that came about after I left the area. But I will definitely check it out if we do go down there.

Oh, yes, I remember how it would be breeder hell in the summer. I used to hate the idiot breeder tourists who would act as if the Metro was solely a way for tourists to get around, with no consideration for those who used it to get to and from work.

And I remember Dupont Circle being gay-friendly even 20 years ago. I used to go to the Planned Parenthood on Q Street. They used to keep a basket full of different colored condoms on the table in the waiting room, just like it was a candy dish. They were free for the taking. I'd always see people, including gay guy couples, come in, grab a handful, and leave. No one thought anything of it. And I remember all of the gay bars on P Street.

I'm happy to hear that Dupont Circle hasn't changed much, and that it's still not full of breeders and brats.

Yah, this is my #1 pet peeve with breeders. Of all the questionable places to take a kid, "bar" is #1 on my list. Can't adults have one single place to themselves?

I was hovering over a pint of ale like a gargoyle one day and a toadler wandered into the bar area with its moo close behind to make sure it didn't get into trouble. I was in a bad mood. I looked at the toadler. Then I glared at the moo. She took the hint and escorted the toadler out.

When I was in nursing school, a gang of us would hang out at a local dive bar that nobody could ever call family-friendly. The place was filled to the brim with the usual assortment of students, barflies and a very blue collar crowd. The people were nice, the conversation always had an edge and the beer was damned cheap.

One day, some stupid Yupscum couple came walking into the bar with the duhddie wearing one of those baby-halter things. The fleshloaf was squealing and the moo and duhd goggle-eyed at the crowd. The moo said something like how dare everyone smoke, drink and swear in a family establishment loud enough for the bartender to hear. The bartender shot back with, "Hey lady...it's a bar...not a goddamn MacDonalds...this ain't no place for kids, you dumb bitch!" They turned tail and ran.

The dump burned down a few years ago, but would anybody ever think a neighborhood dive bar called Smokey's Bar would be a good place to take some squalling shitbag? Only a fucking stupid breeder would make that kind of ASSumption.

Although I do not drink, I do not mind eating my food at the bar in restaurants where that can be done. It may be a bit noisier due to the din of the TV and other people talking...but that is far better than being seated next to the family with the screaming baby or out-of-control toddler.

Last night I went to an event and IL's were there. My breeder SIL was there w/ her 10 year old, the only kyd at the ENTIRE event, but she was good except her clothes were really out of place.

Anywhoo, we all were invited to this bar afterwards to celebrate. Me and hubby declined as I had a lonnng day at work, had gone to this event for 3-4 hours and obviously had to work in the morning. Even if we went for one drink I estimate by the time everything was said and done I would get home after midnite. I get up at 4:30-5, and maybe the moos don't have jobs with real responsiblity where they have to look awake, but I do, and believe me, I can be a big partier, but I know when to just say no.

My neice didn't want to go, maybe didn't want to hang with the old folks I guess. My SIL made her! on a school night! (just wait till the kyd wants to do something on a school night, what is breeder gonna say?) at a bar! WTF is a kyd doing at a bar till midnite on a school nite? and breeders all like in the 'burbs, so her drive is even longer than mine.

This shows you that SAHMs don't really have TMDJITW b/c otherwise she couldn't do this

I swear I am on a real CF frenzy today b/c my childed friends and family are driving me crazy with their narcissism, stupidity, and all out breederisms. I could rant for pages today. I was on CFEZ and the post about being a CF in a forgien land totally fits my feelings. Once I get out of work, or my home, I feel like I left this planet.

Unfortunately, or maybe fortunately, I live in a state that is known world wide for it's excessive alcohol consumption and tavern based culture, so I grew up in bars. Of course, I also knew that when I was in a bar, I was in a place where adults go to do adult things and that it would be best for me to keep my mouth shut and stay out of the way. To this day, I have a hard time reading a book without the soothing din of conversation, televison and clinking glasses. Fortunately this "tradition" seems to be limited to rural areas where one will almost always see at least a couple kids especially if it's earlier in the day/evening, or deer hunting season. I'd say for the most part, these bar kids are older (4-10) and much better behaved than city kids.
In the city, however, I never noticed this being a problem until the past 5 years or so. Now, I really have to go to the scuzziest of dive bars, or a rock show, to avoid poorly behaved, loud and disruptive children of all ages in an adult drinking establishment. I've even seen a couple unattended toddlers in my favorite bar that used to be a motorcycle gang hangout and is "constantly renovating to serve you better" (as various pipes burst, drains clog, floor and wall segments disintigrate). Seriously, do I have to vomit on one of these kids to get their parents to learn that you do not take an uncontrollable crack monkey into a bar?

well, theres a pub called bird in the hand (in st helens) , and it has a sign saying NO kids allowed at all. and they stop them from entering, will post a pic of the sign. theres a few more in st helens with signs like that..



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I just post the stories, for interest.. for everyone

Lord, what fools these mortals be!
- A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Act III, Scene ii

Voltaire said: "Those who can make you believe absurdities can make you commit atrocities."

H.L.Mencken wrote:"The whole aim of practical politics is to keep the populace alarmed (and hence clamorous to be led to safety) by menacing it with an endless series of hobgoblins, all of them imaginary.”

Only two things are infinite, the universe and human stupidity, and I'm not sure about the former. Albert Einstein

Here's a good one. Sunday, SO and I were riding back from the PA Renaissance Faire. Just off route 78 is an old joint http://www.haagshotel.com we stopped at for a drink and some food. While sitting at the bar, enjoying the peace and quiet, in walks a moo about 40'ish with a 3(?) year old kid. She proceeds to SIT her ass at the bar and drink while the kid flings himself around on the floor in the midst of a tantrum/hunger strike. There are a few couches and chairs along the side near the windows so she tells the kid to sit there while "mommy drinks her beer." The owner behind the bar rolled his eyes and says to us, "She's in here ALL the time with that kid."

Now THAT'S great pahrunting for ya!

I suppose this moo was there trolling for a new babydaddy or something. But the only men who would be interested in her, with brat in tow, would be some very, very skeevy guys who'd want nookie with anything remotely female.

That's why she can't just drink her beer at home!

We get the kiddies from time to time at my usual watering hole, http://www.wellingtonpub.com , but when I'm there the families have cleared out, or they are also part of the regular crowd with their exceptionally-behaved children. Now, I'm in there with the laptop after synchronizing my user files, reading PG-rated stuff like the Usenet newsfroup alt.slack, so my behavior might not be the best.

One Sunday night this summer, the waitress which I'll call Janet, had me as well as a large family seated at three tables pushed together. When they left, I saw Janet vacumming up all the crimbs from their little food-flingers in highchairs. I asked how small her tip was. It was small. She told me she hated dealing with patrons like that.

I did my best to make up for her shorted tip that night.

Gleepy...as someone who used to work in the restaurant business, I can assure you that the lack of tippage from breeders is a VERY common thing. The more annoying and demanding they are, the cheaper the tip.

Catdaddy and I go up to Maine a lot. There's this place on Route One in Wells called "Mainiax". We've driven past the place a thousand times, but never chose to stop to eat there. Why? Because, on the sign, it says in large lettering, 'CHILDREN WELCOME'. I'd rather gouge out my eyeballs with a rusty ice pick than even set foot in that place just to take a leak!

The other thing that I've noticed that more often than not, they have a HELP WANTED sign right under the main sign that says CHILDREN WELCOME. Hmmm...I WONDER WHY?????

Anyone who has worked for ten minutes as a restaurant server knows that breeders are the world's cheapest tippers. Therefore, the only ones who would want to work for a place like Mainiax must be pretty f-ing desperate for a job.

My mom is a server. She can attest that breeders are the worst tippers. They will run a server ragged for their sprogs every whiny command and leave the table a total mess only to tip so little.

If I told this story before, I apologize.

For a very short period of time I was a server at a Lonestar SteakHouse.

One day I was working the lunch shift when a couple is seated at my table with a sprog in tow. They all looked like they just got back from a Nascar event, with the toddler dressed completely in a camo type outfit, with a dirty face to match.

I greeted them warmly and asked them if they had ever been to Lonestar before (if they weren't we had a spiel about how the steaks are prepared, etc). The moo looked at me quizzically and asked "Where is the buffet table?" I replied that there we did not have one (She must have thought we were like a Bonanza Steakhouse, where you order your steak and then go up to the buffet table to pig yourself out, all for the low low price of $X.XX.

I took their drink order and asked if they would like anything for an appetizer. They ordered the cheese fries and I went back to the kitchen to put in their appetizer order and fill their drinks.

When I came back out, I saw that the table had mysteriously disappeared, so I rushed back to the kitchen to cancel the appetizer. As I was doing this, one of the managers asked me to come into the office.

She told me that my table left and they complained that when Moo went into the ladies room, she saw me from her stall leave the restroom without washing my hands. I explained that I didn't even GO to the bathroom in the past five minutes and then went on to explain that they were probably too proud to admit that our prices were a little high for their budget, as indicated by them asking about the buffet table.

Isn't that nice? They're too proud to admit they're cheap, so to cover their embarrassment, they try to get me fired. I wonder if management gave them anything for free out of the deal?

Unfortunately, managers will comp breeders like nobody's business. Lying to get what one wants is very common in all business sectors. Once my mom got a complaint by some cheap people who did not have kids with them. The couple blatantly LIED on the comment card. It did upset my mother even though management sided with her due to her exemplary record where she works.

NQS, your boss should be glad you treated these people well despite appearance. Often, the best-dressed customers can be the biggest jerks and the worst tippers while a very casual person is the one with the money and very generous. I worked retail Back in the Day for Nordstrom and Macy*s. Usually, the dressed-to-the-nines women were the cheapest and would bring back outfits after wearing them to an event. That cut into our commission. Yet, the middle-aged woman in simple clothing would be the nicest customer and very loyal.

NQS, what a nasty BITCH that moo was! I'm sorry this happened to you. The nasty moo probably does stuff like change the brat's diaper on the table, and not wash HER hands afterwards.

This is why I try to avoid places that have a buffet table. I have NEVER been to one that wasn't infested with trashy breeders and their equally obnoxious sproggen. Also, they are often putting their grubby paws all over the food, and who wants to eat it after THAT? Gack!

And Bonanza is effin' NASTY, as well!

I've been to Lone Star Steakhouse...there used to be one around here, but it's not there any more. Too bad, because we liked it. It was in another town that had a law against brats in the bar area, so that's where we always sat. Anyway, if that place is too expensive for the Breedersons, they'd just best stay home and eat. I didn't think it was that expensive at all. But we did know to NOT go in there on Tuesdays, as they had a Brats Eat Free thing on that day.

But anyway, it was probably for the best that these losers left, as they would have ran you into the ground with demands, and not left a tip.

How sad. And I'm sure these values are the same ones she will be teaching her offspring, as well. There's banner pahrunting for ya!

Did anyone see the documentary on heavy metal music on VH1? Anyways, there is a Germany thing called the Wagcon (sp?) Open Air, where the Heaviest Metal band play. A place to bring toadler? Sure hell why not! Some clueless duh had toadler trying to make the "metal sign". Yeah a metal venue is the best place for brats!! Maybe they'll get trampled in all the fun!

I've seen the heavy metal documentary. Besides the clueless duh, the documentary was very interesting.

I used to be a server in a pizza reaturant and I can tell you that the breeders with their screaming shitloaves,and big groups that would come in after church were the worst.

Our restaurant has a policy that if a kid was under 12 or could fit in a high chair they could eat buffet for FREE.Many times I was entertained by some dumb asshole trying to stuff a 6' tall 13 year old in a high chair so they could eat FREE.(OK you know I am exaggerating but when the damn kid's legs dangle down and almost touch the floor,he is too big for the fucking high chair)CHEAP, CHEAP BREEDERS TRYING TO SAVE A COIN OR TWO.

Next,the church groups,mostly famblees.They would come in in a group as big as a small country,bitch and moan if 15% tip was added to the bill for groups over 8 on one check,compalin to the manager to have the bill split up as much as possible to avoid the 15% tip and then the cheap bastards would leave a church bulletin/invitation to attend their church in lieu of any money!!!! I still had to clean up a fantastic fucked up mess,break apart and clean tables and chairs,haul dishes,cups,plates,napkins,silver ware,half eaten food and vaccuume the carpet for nothing extra after running back and forth to tend to their every whimper.I made $2.50 an hour back then,plus tips,but was taxed on 8% of every customer's food bill.I got taxed and didn't even make any money on them.I am sure God blessed them for that.

And last,the Worst,Most Ignorant Breeder Award-
A woman changed her kid in a booth one day and called me over to the table.She thrusted out her hand,which contained a rolled up shit-filled diaper,and said "Can you take this for me?''.
I said "No,I don't get paid enough to handle dirty diapers,and you can take that to the bathroom and throw it away yourself."I then walked away not giving a shit if I got fired for that comment or not.

Just when I think I have heard it all, there's your diaper incident, Rapunzel. Most breeders will just leave the filthy shitrag any old where, but actually asking YOU, someone who was serving food, to handle it is beyond disgusting!

Why in the hell can't these breeders change diapers in the RESTROOM? Most public restrooms have changing tables, and if they don't, it's probably a hint that it's not a place for loaves, anyway. I have asked Catdaddy about this, and he says that men's rooms have changing tables, as well.

Another thing that grosses me out about this diaper-changing thing: if they are not doing it in a restroom, HOW can they wash their hands? They are handling piss and shit, and then touching food and other things with those hands. Then they'll get e coli or something, and try to blame the restaurant for it.

I know that if I was ever in a restaurant, and I saw a server handling a dirty diaper, I would complain to the manager, and never eat at that place again. You were right not to have anything to do with it!

The overgrown brat in a high chair thing doesn't surprise me. I've seen kids riding in strollers who were clearly too big to be doing so, and there wasn't anything physically wrong with them. If there was, wouldn't they be in a wheelchair, anyway?

I won't go to any place that has a buffet or any "Kids Eat Free" crap, and I feel sorry for anyone who has to work in such places.

catmommy9 Wrote:
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Most breeders will just leave the filthy shitrag any old where

That is so very true. I've told this before, but some breeders who rented a limousine for a christening before my wedding left one in a bag hanging on the church's fence, near where we all stood for a group picture.