ignorant is as ignorant does

i've been called out in a comment to a recent post, suggesting john and lee streets to be the exclusive nexus of downtown bar-related violence, and bragging on the supposedly stabbing and brawl-free blue shamrock, and suggesting i'm being biased and unfair in my comments about that particular bar to the exclusion of others. (i think he or she used the colorful term "hard on" in their critique). their words:

"I will tell you what we can't find at the Shamrock. Stabbings and brawls. Lately, those take place closer to John and Lee streets, indicating to the untrained eye that the problems are arising at other establishments."

for starters, i will recall my last attendance to a music show upstairs at the blue shamrock (gemstones) last summer in which a patron received a broken nose in a brawl, and suggest that just because the ownership declines to call the police when such happens (as far as i know, save at the hospital, there is no record of the incident beyond the memories of those of us who were there to see it) does not make such a place a better-run joint than those who actively cooperate and coordinate with the police, as does, say, hookslide kelly's over there towards john and lee, which is fully to their credit, despite their proximity to the center of unlighted free parking in the downtown, and the people who park there. (i'd include paige on that list of streets, too, but who's counting). the fact that i actually spend time in the blue shamrock to be able to write about it is no shame to me, nor any surprise to those who know me. the fact that the commenter has not read enough of my stuff to recognize how frequently i go in there is i guess just an oversight. (i did a search on "shamrock" in my postings, and came up with 23 references to trips there. furey's got 22. the worthen is i think the winner with 45. hynes tavern got 10. voices rock club got 30. we could go on, but i'm sure you're bored already, too).

i happen to have to walk past the blue shamrock a lot, because i live across the street from it. maybe someone who lives across the street from some other joints can comment about those. but, from my first-hand experience, there are issues there, and i'm not repeating rumors and hearsay i've been told to explain why the trouble there never seems to make either the papers nor the license commission hearings. (ask some people sometime--you'll hear what i hear). i'm just telling you what i see with my own eyes.

i don't happen to ascribe to the "other people do it so it must be ok" school of thought. if beer pong tourneys are offered in other bars elsewhere in the city, i'm all for people in those neighborhoods speaking up about it, too. they're all violations of the liquor licenses held by those establishments, and they should all be taken to task. but i do mind that people would accuse me of wanting to turn downtown lowell into some sort of martini mart, because i don't, and i happen to think caffe paradiso was an overpriced clip joint, and, i think if you'll do a search on fuze in this blog, you'll see i have more or less the same opinion of its replacement. i don't go to the blue taleh. (i went once, that was enough). i don't go to centro. (same). i don't drink anything other than beer, and i prefer it out of a tap if at all possible because it's cheaper and better-tasting that way. i happen to like the back page a lot because they have music and harpoon ipa on draft. i guess that's hard on some people. i do just fine on the pbr's out of the tap at furey's, too, though if it's between that and harpoon in a bottle, like at the worthen, i'll take the bottle and not worry about it. i don't do light beer, and i don't do bud if i can help it. (tastes like crap--what can i say). i'm known to have a corona or two if all else fails. i am who i am and i go where i go and i write about it here so it's no secret. i guess i'm sorry that offends someone who neither lives here nor gets it, but ignorant is as ignorant does.

offer still stands--furey's next saturday. i'll be waiting for you (all) there. first pitcher of pbr is on me.

edited to add a mention of the "adult entertainment" restriction currently being proposed by the city manager and covered in today's paper. i've felt no reason to complain about gemstones' fetish nights, nor the savanna palace "exotica fridays", nor the under impact's various promotions back in their day, precisely because i have no problem with the premise of a business pursuing legitimate business. (which is to say, following rules for the dispensation of alcohol and providing for patron and public safety). in fact, i rather like the variety of things here downtown, because it keeps the martini bars at bay, which is a point, apparently, i have in common with my detractor. of course, i don't know how the anonymous complainer would feel about cross-dressing bumpers and grinders, but i expect from his or her comments to me about martinis that he or she would expect i'd be shocked and appalled, which i'm not, and against that flavor of nightlife, which i'm also not. i've been to drag shows at the 119 gallery and various other places in and outside this city, (that i'm guessing mr or ms anonymous has not), and i considered myself thoroughly entertained. (i especially liked the 119's version, because the rest rooms were clean). i've enjoyed punk shows and hip hop shows and all sorts of things i want to see more of here. i just feel it's too bad that some people's idea of "nightlife" is a filthy bar with no beer that can't seem to follow the same rules as we are asking of everyone else.