Domain: tiger-web1.srvr.media3.us The concept of the "neighborhood" bar - and its demise | Food and Drink
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The concept of the "neighborhood" bar - and its demise

Posted on 3/23/11 at 11:14 am
Posted by Y.A. Tittle
Member since Sep 2003
110138 posts
Posted on 3/23/11 at 11:14 am
Since we're talking bars, I'd like to go on another tangent.

Neighborhoods that were developed around 100 years ago or so, always had little watering hole type places every few blocks. The old neighborhood I live in, has 4 such places within easy walking distance of no more than three blocks from my house. Any sort of recent residential development would see such a thing as totally and completely abhorrent, with folks railing against what it would do to the "family" nature of the neighborhood and the disruption such places would cause to the "quality of life." Funny thing is, unless I want to walk into one and have a beer or listen to a band (yep, one even does live music), I wouldn't even know these places are there, and they cause absolutely NO disruption to my quality of life, or in any way make me nervous to raise my family within the close vicinity of them.

I'm actually, comforted in the fact of knowing that I live somewhere, where if I want to walk around the corner and get a beer, I can easily do so -- and it's not even that I really do that all that often. In other words, I'd say if anything, these places IMPROVE my quality of life.

Does anyone else think more modern neighborhoods should allow for little watering holes within easy walking distance? Why is such a concept so seemingly abhorrent to so many people?
This post was edited on 3/23/11 at 11:18 am
Posted by Seashell Things
Louisiana
Member since Mar 2011
75 posts
Posted on 3/23/11 at 11:16 am to
There is a fun bar a few blocks from my house that I walk to more than I drive to, and I don't really live in the heart of the city. Nothing wrong with it, in my opinion.
Posted by Guzzlingil
Baton Rouge
Member since Dec 2003
2221 posts
Posted on 3/23/11 at 11:18 am to
yes I think it is a good idea...there are no bars within walking distance from my house...
Posted by bayoudude
Member since Dec 2007
25864 posts
Posted on 3/23/11 at 11:19 am to
I don't see anything wrong with it. It would seem to be a better fit in an urban setting than a planned subdivision in suburbia.
Posted by LSUBoo
Knoxville, TN
Member since Mar 2006
103712 posts
Posted on 3/23/11 at 11:20 am to
It's a fantastic idea.

I can walk to at least 7 bars, and I go to them way more than I drive to others.
Posted by Early Cuyler
Member since Jan 2009
4291 posts
Posted on 3/23/11 at 11:20 am to
Uptown New orleans is as close as I have come to seeing the "neighborhood bar" area.

I'm all for it but the religious types will never allow it.
Posted by TigerinATL
Member since Feb 2005
62446 posts
Posted on 3/23/11 at 11:22 am to
quote:

Does anyone else think more modern neighborhoods should allow for little watering holes within easy walking distance? Why is such a concept so seemingly abhorrent to so many people?


Move somewhere else, you aren't welcome in the suburban bubble people are constructing around their kids who are destined to over indulge in every bad habit available to them ironically because of the overly permissive bubble parents are building around them to protect them from the "evils" of the world.
Posted by LSU fan 246
Member since Oct 2005
90567 posts
Posted on 3/23/11 at 11:24 am to
quote:

Does anyone else think more modern neighborhoods should allow for little watering holes within easy walking distance?


New neighborhoods arent going to have this because they are usually on the outskirts of a city. Think of NOLA for example. There is a bar within walking distance pretty much anywhere in downtown,uptown,mid city, and the warehouse district. These bars are hard to find in metarie,kenner, or the wank.

quote:

Why is such a concept so seemingly abhorrent to so many people?


no idea, i love the neighborhood bar concept
This post was edited on 3/23/11 at 11:50 am
Posted by GeauxldMember
Member since Nov 2003
5601 posts
Posted on 3/23/11 at 11:25 am to
I think as much as anything, movement away from the city and into suburbs is a factor here. Not only the bars, but the neighborhood markets, restaurants, and other mom and pop establishments-- not to mention the neighborhood concept overall-- have all suffered because of this. In most suburbs, there's just not likely to be the population within walking distance to sustain these bars.
Posted by Walt OReilly
Poplarville, MS
Member since Oct 2005
124694 posts
Posted on 3/23/11 at 11:27 am to
I wish my neighborhood had a watering hole within walking distance
Posted by LSUdm21
Member since Nov 2008
17486 posts
Posted on 3/23/11 at 11:27 am to
There is still a lot of these places in Old Gretna, Algiers and Uptown NOLA.
Posted by Dallas Tiger
Dallas
Member since Mar 2006
15080 posts
Posted on 3/23/11 at 11:27 am to
quote:

Does anyone else think more modern neighborhoods should allow for little watering holes within easy walking distance?


Modern neighborhoods discourage walking. And they discourage any type of retail/restaurant/business near the neighborhoods. This is why New Urbanism is in vogue...i.e. Seaside and the Disney thing in Florida.
Posted by Y.A. Tittle
Member since Sep 2003
110138 posts
Posted on 3/23/11 at 11:29 am to
quote:

New neighborhoods arent going to have this because they are usually on the outskirts of a city.


Sure, but I guess my point is, all these old neighborhoods were "new" at some point, and when they were developed it was seen as perfectly natural to stick little watering holes smack dab in the middle of them.

Why did such a concept become to be seen as completely outrageous for recent developments?
Posted by TheOtherOne
New Orleans
Member since Jan 2009
462 posts
Posted on 3/23/11 at 11:29 am to
It's why I love mid-city. My favorite is the farthest, but I am able to walk to 3 without going more than a few blocks.
Posted by LSUBoo
Knoxville, TN
Member since Mar 2006
103712 posts
Posted on 3/23/11 at 11:30 am to
quote:


Sure, but I guess my point is, all these old neighborhoods were "new" at some point, and when they were developed it was seen as perfectly natural to stick little watering holes smack dab in the middle of them.

Why did such a concept become to be seen as completely outrageous for recent developments?


Probably the rise of the automobile primarily. Now it's normal to have to drive to do ANYTHING, let alone hit up the neighborhood bar.
Posted by VOR
New Orleans
Member since Apr 2009
68065 posts
Posted on 3/23/11 at 11:36 am to
I live a block of Magazine Street. I can walk up to the corner and turn in either direction and find what I would call a neighborhood bar in five minutes or less. They aren't disruptive and are well mainainted. At a couple of them I'll know most of the people in the place. They are a comfort to my soul.
Posted by glassman
Next to the beer taps at Finn's
Member since Oct 2008
117974 posts
Posted on 3/23/11 at 11:47 am to
quote:

There is still a lot of these places in Old Gretna, Algiers and Uptown NOLA.


Add Mid-City as well.
Posted by bee Rye
New orleans
Member since Jan 2006
34473 posts
Posted on 3/23/11 at 11:47 am to
and Old Metry
Posted by glassman
Next to the beer taps at Finn's
Member since Oct 2008
117974 posts
Posted on 3/23/11 at 12:14 pm to
Lou and Bob's for the win.
Posted by TheOtherOne
New Orleans
Member since Jan 2009
462 posts
Posted on 3/23/11 at 12:16 pm to
quote:


Add Mid-City as well.


Every checked out the bar at Katie's?

I have found myself sitting there for an hour or two on multiple occasions.
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