Kids in Bars?
New York weighs in on drinking with the wee ones.
Posted by: Jessica Voelker on Jan 20, 2010 at 04:00PM
5 Comments
Should parents bring small children to bars? Risa Chubinsky thinks not. Her New York Times article from January 15 complained about young Park Slope parents who bring their tots out for drinks generated 362 comments (and counting) on the Times’ web site.
Writes Chubinsky:
No matter what breeders might think, bars are not family-friendly. If I am out drinking and sobbing about a bad breakup, I don’t want my cries to compete with those of an infant sitting next to me. If I go to the bathroom to correct my wayward mascara at the end of a long weekend night, I don’t want to watch a baby being wiped down on the soggy sink counter.
One commenter seconded the piece:
Adults have no rights anymore, only kids have rights.
Another disagreed, and had a suggestion for the writer:
There are probably bars for grouches and prudes also.
Then there were the commenters in the middle:
A yuppie complaining about yuppies. I don’t know which side to take.
It seems that city is divided. Around these parts, we hear more complaints about dogs at places like Summit Tavern on Capitol Hill and Norm’s in Fremont than kids at the bar. Strictly speaking, bars aren’t allowed to allow anyone under 21. But there are plenty of kid-allowing “restaurants” where drinking is the main activity—beer-guzzling destinations like Madrona Alehouse (where there are even toys in the back) and Naked City come to mind.
Does anyone care? And are Seattle parents bringing kids anywhere where they shouldn’t be?
Tags: Beer, Dogs, Bar Etiquette, Fremont, Madrona
I love the picture. I don’t mind dogs in bars but that picture makes me want to change my mind. I don’t think I’ve ever seen kids in a bar.
Montlake Alehouse has a gladiator kid pit in their bar – it’s a big round pit with toys that parents sit around with their beers, watching the game and ignoring their children. Obviously it’s not IN the bar, but it’s not separate, either. I’m conflicted because while a screaming toddler is NOT what I want to hear in a bar, I also have friends who couldn’t go out if these places didn’t exist. I think there’s enough non-kid bars around for the non-kid-having people.
I’ve recently became a parent. Pre-kid, I often frequented bars and honestly, there’s no place for kids there. Post-kid I’ve discovered there are “family friendly” esablishments that have a bar feel in Seattle in which I feel comfortable taking the kid (like the Pig-n-Whistle in Greenwood). I understand the need to get out and be social but if you want to drink amongst adults, get a sitter. Otherwise, grab a drink at a restaurant. Kids don’t need to go everywhere you do.
Ps. Now that I know about Naked City, it’s on my list of places to visit. And when I say, “drink amongst adults” I’m talking about hours of drinking late at night or at happy hour not just a beer or two with dinner.
I’ve noticed kids at the Elysian but probably due the large space it hasn’t been a hassle. But in smaller places like Naked City (who sponsors my soccer team!) I like to let the expletives fly and I don’t want to have to worry about the children’s innocents being tainted.