disorientation & crappy pubs
Two weeks ago I caught up with my school friend K, and parcelled her in with a regular catch up with Duckworth. He piggybacked on our pre-planned engagement AND managed to dictate the location-fine work for someone who had to rally from his sick bed to come out drinking. I was happy with his location though: Aces Bar and Bistro in the Central Markets.
There isn't anything particularly redeeming about this pub other than
a) it has a cheap food menu (not that we wanted to eat any of the food) and
b) it has not changed since the mid 90s.
Other crappy mid 90s pubs: Henley Hotel, Orient Hotel on Magill Road and so forth have all been done up. Some have been done up in ways I agree are a vast improvement. K and I ended up the evening at the Benjamin Franklin pub, formally the Flagstaff Hotel. I've attended a 21st there, on the hottest January day in 1996, one of those post New Years days when you don't see a soul in the city. I'd walked from the bus stop to Franklin Street, melting in boots and a dress (funnily enough K spent the evening reminiscing about wearing boots and dresses in the 90s-I'd actually forgotten about it until now). I think the 21st may have even been at some nebulous time of the day where you drink and nibble but it's not a meal time. Back then the pub had a front bar and a cheap dining section and not many customers other than bar flys.
Back to Aces. So K and I got there and Duckworth's friend Duffy was there and we swapped notes on Duckworth whilst we waited for him. All in all it was a good evening, good company with Duckworth's friends, we ate Korean and had a short stroll around. I think I like the markets best when I feel underdone, as though I haven't had long enough there, there is still a part of it unexplored. My favourite time to visit? Friday evening I think, about 5-6pm. A little earlier can be good, to catch the shops in the adjacent streets.
There isn't anything particularly redeeming about this pub other than
a) it has a cheap food menu (not that we wanted to eat any of the food) and
b) it has not changed since the mid 90s.
Other crappy mid 90s pubs: Henley Hotel, Orient Hotel on Magill Road and so forth have all been done up. Some have been done up in ways I agree are a vast improvement. K and I ended up the evening at the Benjamin Franklin pub, formally the Flagstaff Hotel. I've attended a 21st there, on the hottest January day in 1996, one of those post New Years days when you don't see a soul in the city. I'd walked from the bus stop to Franklin Street, melting in boots and a dress (funnily enough K spent the evening reminiscing about wearing boots and dresses in the 90s-I'd actually forgotten about it until now). I think the 21st may have even been at some nebulous time of the day where you drink and nibble but it's not a meal time. Back then the pub had a front bar and a cheap dining section and not many customers other than bar flys.
Back to Aces. So K and I got there and Duckworth's friend Duffy was there and we swapped notes on Duckworth whilst we waited for him. All in all it was a good evening, good company with Duckworth's friends, we ate Korean and had a short stroll around. I think I like the markets best when I feel underdone, as though I haven't had long enough there, there is still a part of it unexplored. My favourite time to visit? Friday evening I think, about 5-6pm. A little earlier can be good, to catch the shops in the adjacent streets.
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