14.10.08

new column: what is cool? hint: it's not the edison bar

I shy away from using my column as a grinding stone for axes...pettiness isn't an attractive trait in a columnist, or anyone else for that matter. But every so often, something galls my gizzard enough to make me want to write about it. The trick is tying it into a bigger picture. In this case, a ridiculous incident at the Edison ties into the bigger picture of sexist double-standards in fashion:
The first time I was mortally offended while going out, I was 10 (give or take). It was an upscale restaurant in Old Montreal, an establishment called Chez Queue that is amazingly still there, and I had ordered a dessert of strawberries and vanilla ice cream. Only, I didn’t like vanilla at the time. So I asked for chocolate ice cream instead. The waiter pulled a face, a disgusted face, as if I had ordered the strawberries with relish and hot sauce or something equally weird. I was outraged. My parents were far from impressed, and we never went back. Oh, I look back and laugh now. But the incident, and the sheer absurd insult of it all, is the defining memory I have of that place. And that is pretty much how I feel about a recent experience at the Edison bar. Read the rest of What is Cool? Hint: It's not the Edison Bar.
As a postscript, it's worth mentioning that while wandering away from the Edison in search of drinks at a friendly venue, a fellow walking past me spontaneously complimented me on my sandals. Vindication!

3 comments:

Anonymous said...

Oh, yeah, THAT'S why I always hated club culture. :)

What you describe is a particularly egregious case, to be sure.

--Jaeger

Nick said...

We have the same problem here too. It's nothing new sorry to say. It's not the new 'standard' more likely has always been the standard. In a hot climate like Australia you'd think they'd be more flexible as well, but no. I stay way from clubs in general as I have no desire to go to them, call it getting old I guess. I rather a nice night out at a good restaurant if I want to get 'dressed' up.

Also if I wanted to gawk at (which I don't do) scantily clad women then I'll just go to the beach. It's simpler than a club and they're not normally drunk.

Nice gladiator style sandals by the way. Interesting name for the company, someone from NZ I assume?

Frederik Sisa said...

Well, that sort of attitude is not really the norm...clubs on Sunset Blvd are stuck up like that. But in general, things are a bit more laid-back. Oh well. There are plenty of other places to go to.

I don't know if Kiwi sandals has an NZ connection. Wouldn't surprise me. Or maybe the cobbler just like puffy flightless birds.