Trippy flowers vs. ESPN
I thought this was an interesting e-mail from Kris. Nothing against Vin, which is just trying to make its customers happy; and nothing against ESPN, which in my family would be like being against the Bible:
We live in Rodgers Forge and go to Vin not infrequently, mainly for martinis. The last few times my husband and I have gone, those TV screens behind the bar have not had videos of flowers anymore; they are of sporting events. We went there last night and it was sports again. I asked the waitress what was up, and she said the customers are about evenly split between wanting sports and not.
This upset me, probably more than it should, because there are so few neat restaurants in Towson and there's no shortage of sports bars. What's the point of having such great ambiance only to ruin it with TV? It's even more disconcerting because all those booths face the screens and people look like zombies eating their $30 steaks while staring at the tube.
So, that's my rant. Just thought it might interest you.
Here's what I said in my review a couple of years ago: ...
Vin has a lot of pizazz in a techno-hip, sometimes-I'm-too-whimsical-but-I'm-likable-anyway sort of way. Once you get ensconced in your lipstick-red booth in front of the long, zebra-patterned bar, watching flowers slowly unfolding on all the TV sets over the bar (instead of ESPN), and the trippy music is throbbing in the background, and you're sipping your very expensive merlot by the glass -- well, you'll see what I mean.
I guess my one question would be: If the customers are evenly divided, why not stick with what makes you different from the other bars in the area? I can't think of any other wine bars in the Baltimore area that even have TVs, but maybe in Towson you just can't get away with no sports.
(Barbara Haddock Taylor/Sun photographer)
Comments
I was in Vin a few weeks ago and sat in said red booths facing the bar. When I finally glanced at the TVs, half had on ESPN and the other half were the "trippy flowers". I should point out that I only glanced at the TVs when we were putting on our coats to leave. The wine and the company were enough for me!
Posted by: 21224 | February 21, 2008 3:33 PM
I agree with Kris. TVs tuned into sports in a more upscale restaurant will definitely keep me from going there. A TV while I'm tipping back a Miller Lite and munching on a buffalo chicken wing...OK. Even if you are dining out with engaging conversationalists, TVs are distracting.
Posted by: leeann | February 21, 2008 5:09 PM
21224 must be a woman.
As a man who enjoys sporting events (especially football, aka America's Game), the call of ESPN is almost impossible to resist.
It's like the tray of bacon at a breakfast buffet.
Posted by: Sam Sessa | February 22, 2008 7:50 AM
I'm sorry to hear this. My two visits to VIN were very nice and featured just the trippy flowers on the wall that you could pay attention to or not as you wished.
I'm not a big sports fan so my opinion holds that bias, but I agree there are enough sports bars around.
VIN loses the quirkiness that makes it unique and fun if ESPN is all over the walls.
Posted by: Janet | February 22, 2008 7:53 AM
Oh, Sam ... poor, lost Sam. Has no one ever pointed out that there is more to life than sports, televised or otherwise? Wait ... the analogy is strangely compelling, especially since I eschewed the bowl of fresh fruit in favor of the tray of bacon.
Nevertheless, televised sporting events in dining establishments equipped with monitors will continue to be as ubiquitous (and annoying) as cell phones, crying babies and bottled salad dressing regardless of the price of the entree.
Posted by: Piano Rob | February 22, 2008 8:24 AM
I am a woman, but that doesn't automatically exclude me from the draw of ESPN, especially football.
For full disclosure, the Pro Bowl (zzzzz) was on TV, which could have explained my lack of interest. I would have had the same reaction to an NBA game as well. College BBall may have grabbed my attention, but really, the screens are not big enough to really see what's going on unless you are sitting right at the bar, which we were not.
More accurately though, we were there for the cheese and cabernet, not for what was on the TVs, trippy ESPN flowers or no.
Posted by: 21224 | February 22, 2008 8:56 AM
Aauugh!!! Not the dreaded bottled salad dressing!
Posted by: Hal Laurent | February 22, 2008 9:19 AM
I must be missing that particular male chromosome to which Sam Sessa refers. If I want to watch sports (and I only like football and soccer to begin with), I'll stay home and watch sports. If I want a nice dining-out meal, I do not want ANY TVs as a distraction in the restaurant.
I'm sorry to hear that Vin is bowing to the will of the hoi polloi.
Posted by: Flipkid | February 22, 2008 10:31 AM
"the hoi polloi" is redundant. ("hoi"="the" in Greek)
Posted by: Greek Mike | February 22, 2008 11:13 AM
It's all Greek to me.
Posted by: Sam Sessa | February 22, 2008 11:33 AM
Gee, Sam, my hubby is a man and while he could never resist the call of the tray of bacon at a breakfast buffet, he cares very little for sports and has no interest in watching ESPN.
However, I don't think the bacon thing is limited to men since I can't resist that particular call either.
Posted by: Janet | February 22, 2008 12:33 PM
Oh Sam Seesa with your Americain foot ball, please and your bacon too, I steal your girlfriends at my wine bar with some smooth talk and Vignonier while you and your ESPN re happy! woosh!
Posted by: Pierre A. | February 25, 2008 7:31 AM
Where is your wine bar Pierre A.?
Posted by: terriermom | February 25, 2008 10:31 AM