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| Published May 30, 2005 at 5:10 a.m. |
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I contend that people in Wisconsin are different than people elsewhere. My favorite quote in this regard comes from a Wisconsin man who went to extraordinary lengths to save some sculptures from destruction. I asked him if he could pinpoint the impulse that drove him to take on what became a humongous quest. He replied, "If Jesus had come from Wisconsin, he would have nailed himself up on the cross."
This is why I am, once again, asking people in Milwaukee and the state for advice. I believe you have the "just do it" wherewithal to help me. And I have thick skin. You can let me have it.
My quandary today has to do with a Wisconsin behavior that I just don't understand. Wisconsin has a high number of bars per capita, and this is certainly true in Milwaukee. Milwaukee boasts of having one bar for every 1600 people, or second highest in the nation. (St. Louis, apparently, is the only city with more bars per person.) What is the point of bars? I'm hoping you OMC readers can help me figure this out.
Most bars are so loud that you can't hear what other people are saying, so I don't see how they are congenial for having a conversation. Some people go to bars to hear music, but with all the noise it's distracting. And forget dancing. Most bars don't have dance floors big enough to do anything more than wiggle your hips.
And why are bars so dark? You can barely see. Whether you smoke or not, you reek after half an hour in a bar. When you get home you need to take a shower and wash everything you wore to remove the stink of cigarettes.
I know I'm missing something, but what is it? Yeah, yeah, there's drinking. But you don't have to drink in a bar. I can't believe the attraction is to buy expensive booze in a social atmosphere to create the impression that you are connected with other people.
In contrast, coffee houses make perfect sense to me, even though I don't drink coffee. You get together with people on neutral turf where you can gab to your heart's content without spending as much money as you would at a restaurant-and such convenience. You can meet morning, noon, or night.
Gotta second? What's with Milwaukee and bars? Can you show me how to find pleasure in the bar groove?
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Posted by OMCreader on Aug. 20, 2005 at 6:11 p.m. (report)
Tom said: I'm with you Peg. Driving bus loads of people on bar hops means that sometimes I have to go into the bars. Sometimes I need to find the group, sometimes to grab a coke or use the mens room. The "hot spots" are a bedlam of noise, heat, and pressed bodies. Getting across the room is a chore. Talking to anyone means yelling in their ear. It's such a relief to get out, I wonder whay anyone would stay in. Different strokes, I guess.
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Posted by OMCreader on June 7, 2005 at 3:22 p.m. (report)
Funki said: Instead of calling this I'm asking for it: they should call it The Milwaukee ZZzzz..... instead of The Milwaukee Buzz. WHAT A BORE WHAT A SNORE!
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Posted by OMCreader on June 7, 2005 at 3:20 p.m. (report)
Funki said: I'm asking for it: is LAME! She's asking for it but its so boring she gets less comments than regular articles!
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Posted by OMCreader on June 7, 2005 at 12:53 p.m. (report)
PJ said: Oh C'Mon. Bars are the frat houses for the working man and frat house away from frat house for college student. You can go to a bar, get a little crazy without having to do it in front of your family and neighbors. You can meet people, have parties. Yeah it's a little bit of cultural diversity mixed together, but that's what helps attract everyone. I agree that one of the least appealing things about a bar is cigarette smoke. However, remember when your mom used to say If you're gonna be so rowdy, get outside and do that?" Well bars are the place for it (within reason of course). Not to mention that each bar has a different personna, different atmosphere, different smoke removal systems, etc. Some a rather enjoyable. Not all bars will be for everyone, and the fact that Milwaukee boasts a bar for every 1600 people is a sign of Milwaukee's diversity and let's face it, Milwaukee is famous for beer. Would it make sense to be famous for beer and advertise that we have a McDonalds for every 1600 people?
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Posted by OMCreader on June 5, 2005 at 12:57 p.m. (report)
George said: people (both locals and visitors) seem to think, that everyone in this area hang out in night clubs, taverns, and bars. If you think about the statistic that you quoted; when was the last time you saw 1600 people in one bar? Obviously the majority of the population isn't there. In the mid "70's, the city of Cudahy, was in violation of state law, having more than 1 bar for every 500 residents. Even there you would seldom find more than 30 or 40 patrons in any one bar. This got me thinking about your question, long before it was posed, and I found myself, going to bars to find out why everyone was there. For the most part, I found that most of them didn't know why they were there, or were fearful of being left out of something. Others went to see somebody else make an ass of themself. Some were there to try to meet their perfect mate. (which of course was someone who didn't hang out in bars). The rest I assume were alcoholics.
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