Have you got Rugrats? Do you drink beer?

Despite the (sometimes) anti-breeder vibe on this board, there are people among us who do have kids... they are parents so polite that they NEVER run people off the sidewalk with their massive strollers.

A bunch of these considerate parent/toddler combos are getting together for Happy Hour at SODA tomorrow, Thursday, Sept. 8, at like, 6:30ish. SODA, on Vanderbilt Ave. in Prospect Heights, has a huge lounge room that is usually empty around that time, and if the weather's nice, there is a decent sized patio out back. Most of the kids have been in the 0-3 age range.

Come out to take a break from baby talk... to score some new playdate partners... or just to gawk in morbid fascination at what might become of you, should your birth control fail.

Oh... and apropos of everything, there is a great AP article today about kids as young as 2 years imitating their parents' smoking and drinking habits:

http://drkoop.com/newsdetail/93/527776.html

PICTURED: Historical photo of Prospect Heights resident noisefootprint pretending to overdose on drugs and alcohol.

Mmmm...go to concert at last second or go out for drinks in neighborhood at last second...where do my loyalties lie?

ETA: DH, I can't believe that you would so cavalierly post pictures of your own child in a public forum!
Edit 2: Oh, nevermind. No one was going to believe it anyway.

Subject: I'm in

I should be there around 7pm with wife and spawn, ready to irritate the child-haters.

"Who's a good baby? Who's a good, good baby??"

:shock:

I don't have kids...but I do have scabies! 8)

Does that count?

Um...just kidding on the scabies. [scratches frantically]

It's a strange thing: I like kids. I like kids and I like dogs and they like me. I do not smoke. I hate smoke, actually, and reveled in the NYC smoking ban, until the kids started showing up at the bars I like to frequent. You know what it is? It's not that the kids are annoying--many aren't, although many really are (especially those of parents who do nothing but indulge their every whim and behave as though their child innovated upright walking). It's that the bar was in some sense the last refuge for adults in certain changing neighborhoods who wanted time away from everyone else's children, especially the stroller brigade. It's that I want an adult swim somewhere at some time. I know, I'm a jerk. Easy for me to say leave the kids at home and realize that having children entails sacrifices such as not spending so much time at the local watering hole--I'm childless. But until I manage some genetic offspring, I'm hanging on to thay malice for dear life. As my mom always said, there's a time and a place for everything. Yes, she sang with the Byrds.

Have I mentioned that I am avaliable to babysit? But only if your little ones are pleasant looking. An ugly baby can throw off my whole week.

Cupcake, before I was a corporate sell-out, I was a nanny.

Babies, scabies, it's all good

daveb wrote: I don't have kids...but I do have scabies! 8)

Does that count?

Um...just kidding on the scabies. [scratches frantically]

There are plenty of bars that still cater to adults only. Mooney's, O'Connor's and Freddy's come to mind in the immediate neighborhood.

It's too late for Soda though.

Personally, I like the "bar as public house" paradigm. And not just because I'm a poppa.

GuestChildless wrote: It's a strange thing: I like kids. I like kids and I like dogs and they like me. I do not smoke. I hate smoke, actually, and reveled in the NYC smoking ban, until the kids started showing up at the bars I like to frequent. You know what it is? It's not that the kids are annoying--many aren't, although many really are (especially those of parents who do nothing but indulge their every whim and behave as though their child innovated upright walking). It's that the bar was in some sense the last refuge for adults in certain changing neighborhoods who wanted time away from everyone else's children, especially the stroller brigade. It's that I want an adult swim somewhere at some time. I know, I'm a jerk. Easy for me to say leave the kids at home and realize that having children entails sacrifices such as not spending so much time at the local watering hole--I'm childless. But until I manage some genetic offspring, I'm hanging on to thay malice for dear life. As my mom always said, there's a time and a place for everything. Yes, she sang with the Byrds.

Muk wrote: There are plenty of bars that still cater to adults only. Mooney's, O'Connor's and Freddy's come to mind in the immediate neighborhood.

It's too late for Soda though.

Personally, I like the "bar as public house" paradigm. And not just because I'm a poppa.

Yeah, I like the bar as public house idea as well, but I get a little nervous because I'm a fashionably denuded caveman who tends to swear like a one-armed, goat-fucking derelict and flick ashes everywhere.

Those little knee-high buggers get right under my radar and the next thing I know, they're running up to their parents asking what "a motherfucking herpes-licking bastard" is and they have cigarette ashes all over their head. Then, I end up getting one of those "You horrid, evil man" looks that I've come to know all too well.

But in my defense, if you people didn't grow them so damn short, I'd at least notice them and try to clamp my mouth shut. Grow tall babies; please. Or, at least consider training them on stilts. Which brings me to my next proposal: We should tie mini flagpoles to the backs of children that say CHILD!!!, that way I can see them over the tops of tables and above my alcoholic swoon and act appropriately.

I hear ya. Frankly, I have been indifferent about the cursing thing. And yes, I know I will pay for it when Muk Jr. goes up to her grandfather one day and calls him a douchebag.

daveb wrote: [quote=Muk]There are plenty of bars that still cater to adults only. Mooney's, O'Connor's and Freddy's come to mind in the immediate neighborhood.

It's too late for Soda though.

Personally, I like the "bar as public house" paradigm. And not just because I'm a poppa.

Yeah, I like the bar as public house idea as well, but I get a little nervous because I'm a fashionably denuded caveman who tends to swear like a one-armed, goat-fucking derelict and flick ashes everywhere.

Those little knee-high buggers get right under my radar and the next thing I know, they're running up to their parents asking what "a motherfucking herpes-licking bastard" is and they have cigarette ashes all over their head. Then, I end up getting one of those "You horrid, evil man" looks that I've come to know all too well.

But in my defense, if you people didn't grow them so damn short, I'd at least notice them and try to clamp my mouth shut. Grow tall babies; please. Or, at least consider training them on stilts. Which brings me to my next proposal: We should tie mini flagpoles to the backs of children that say CHILD!!!, that way I can see them over the tops of tables and above my alcoholic swoon and act appropriately.

Muk wrote: Personally, I like the "bar as public house" paradigm. And not just because I'm a poppa.

Me, too. I love going to Kirchweihs and various festivals in Germany and seeing whole families hanging out together.

I'm "in" in principle but I don't know if I'll make it by 6:30. How long will you guys be there?

I'm looking at 7-8pm, but surely others will be there longer (?).

EmilyM wrote: [quote=Muk]Personally, I like the "bar as public house" paradigm. And not just because I'm a poppa.

Me, too. I love going to Kirchweihs and various festivals in Germany and seeing whole families hanging out together.

I'm "in" in principle but I don't know if I'll make it by 6:30. How long will you guys be there?

Last get-together was almost a disaster because no one knew each other. PensOdessey and I sat next to each other, grumbling into our drinks and not making eye contact, except with our watches for about an hour till we figured out we were both from DH. The time before that, Jamesonvande and I shared a similar moment from opposite ends of the bar. It was joy, pure, seething joy.

Is Andy going to wear the Beef Button?

Just look for the tiny humans.

I won't have time to change into acceptable attire of jeans and extra small possibly ironic t-shirt, so look for me in biz dork casual: black pants and polo shirt.

daveb wrote: Last get-together was almost a disaster because no one knew each other. PensOdessey and I sat next to each other, grumbling into our drinks and not making eye contact, except with our watches for about an hour till we figured out we were both from DH. The time before that, Jamesonvande and I shared a similar moment from opposite ends of the bar. It was joy, pure, seething joy.

Is Andy going to wear the Beef Button?

dailyheights wrote: Just look for the tiny humans.

I'm always looking for the tiny humans...oh, you mean children...right. :roll:

I'll try to pop in for a second but can't guarantee anything. Kidlets are funny.

I agree with GuestChildless...I view bars as the last bastion of adult space and now some of those bars have been inundated with the stroller set. Muk says that Mooney's, O'Connors and Freddy's are good alternatives...I thoroughly disagree because all three of those bars are stinky, have disgustingly dirty bathrooms and worst of all a horrible selection of beer. I want a light and air filled bar that offers a good range of beers and great cocktails (just without the rugrats) and don't want to spend my time in dives like Freddy's, O'Connors and Mooney's.

The thing about kids in bars is that they go home after a certain, relatively early hour. Also, they tend to be really young; I think people are more likely to bring a sleeping infant to a bar than a hyperactive 9-year-old. Kids in restaurants annoy me more, when they're badly behaved, because there's a limited window of time when eating dinner is reasonable. Seeing kids in bars is, for me, a hearty reminder that it is still possible to have kids and not be sentenced to a life of baby yoga and pureed organic vegetables. It just can't be healthy to be that wholesome.

dennisobell and I will be there, fresh from our triumphant 3 hours spent alone with Lockjaw last week, which both she and us seem to have survived.

EmilyM's point is valid. Most of our kids are in bed, or getting ready for bed by around 9pm, so it really is only the early evening hours when the "stroller set" peaks.

Ouch, so much hate for the dive bars. I think that all three bars bring tremendous color and life to our neighborhood. When I first moved to PH, Freddy's had the best beer selection around. Ok, maybe tied with Tavern on Dean. Memory fails me...

Chimay7 wrote: I agree with GuestChildless...I view bars as the last bastion of adult space and now some of those bars have been inundated with the stroller set. Muk says that Mooney's, O'Connors and Freddy's are good alternatives...I thoroughly disagree because all three of those bars are stinky, have disgustingly dirty bathrooms and worst of all a horrible selection of beer. I want a light and air filled bar that offers a good range of beers and great cocktails (just without the rugrats) and don't want to spend my time in dives like Freddy's, O'Connors and Mooney's.

eh, I'll try to make it, and remain relatively sober (unlike of last time, when I thought drinking vodka seltzers in pint glasses for 3 hours would be a *great* idea)
I should bring the kitten, but I don't want to get arrested after she mauls the babies.

OOOOOOOOOH!!! Kitten! Does your kitten like to go out? Ours is scared of anywhere outside the apartment, but I think it's the traffic noise.

Muk wrote: EmilyM's point is valid. Most of our kids are in bed, or getting ready for bed by around 9pm, so it really is only the early evening hours when the "stroller set" peaks.

Ouch, so much hate for the dive bars. I think that all three bars bring tremendous color and life to our neighborhood. When I first moved to PH, Freddy's had the best beer selection around. Ok, maybe tied with Tavern on Dean. Memory fails me...

[quote=Chimay7]I agree with GuestChildless...I view bars as the last bastion of adult space and now some of those bars have been inundated with the stroller set. Muk says that Mooney's, O'Connors and Freddy's are good alternatives...I thoroughly disagree because all three of those bars are stinky, have disgustingly dirty bathrooms and worst of all a horrible selection of beer. I want a light and air filled bar that offers a good range of beers and great cocktails (just without the rugrats) and don't want to spend my time in dives like Freddy's, O'Connors and Mooney's.

Dive bars rule! Fuck meat markets.

EmilyM wrote: OOOOOOOOOH!!! Kitten! Does your kitten like to go out? Ours is scared of anywhere outside the apartment, but I think it's the traffic noise.

on the way to the vet last week she wanted to jump out of the bag I had her in. granted, I put her in a tote bag which was easy for her to scale with kitten-needle-claws. paying the cab driver was a real trial because everytime I put her down she'd try to climb out. not sure how she'd handle a bar. but she had fleas and I've de-flea'd her (with safe stuff for kittens, no worries), so I'm not sure taking her out is worth the risk.
maybe I should leash-train her ...

alafairnadia wrote: maybe I should leash-train her ...

Oh. No. Don't be one of those "cat on a leash" people!

I was walking down Sterling and there was this lady with her cat on a leash having an identity crisis. Then again, maybe it was one of those strange hybrids because that thing was pretty big for a housecat.

Pro-kid. Anti-kitten. Pro-dive bar.

Hope to pop in to meet spawn of Daily Heights, wow the Deutsch speaking Kindern with my rendition of "Head Shoulders Knees and Toes" in German and hopefully pick up some babysitting gigs.

Oh, I guess she shouldn't come to a bar then. Too bad, she would make a good mascot!

Candicissima wrote: [quote=alafairnadia]maybe I should leash-train her ...

Oh. No. Don't be one of those "cat on a leash" people!

I was walking down Sterling and there was this lady with her cat on a leash having an identity crisis. Then again, maybe it was one of those strange hybrids because that thing was pretty big for a housecat.

I don't think I'd ever really leash-train a cat. Really, it's more one of those whack fantasies devout cat-ladies tend to entertain.

EmilyM wrote: Oh, I guess she shouldn't come to a bar then. Too bad, she would make a good mascot!

yeah, probably best. if I ever get my shit together I'll have a 'horray, I bought my apartment' party and y'all can come by and meet her.

Props to the DailyHeights for planning this. Hey you anti-breeders: Come to the next one and we will melt your hearts with some cute kids and what not. Save that: We'll stand rounds.

Subject: Rugrats and Beer

You folks should take the little monsters to the Brooklyn Brewery Happy Hour on Friday nights. Kids run amok... It is actually worse the the Union Street Tea Lounge.... More amokness and thousands of little monsters!