Fab Five Friday
Whether you were for or against the smoking ban, you're going to have to accept it now.
And though it's forced smokers to stand out on the street for their fix, the ban has also made some bars much more tolerable.
So here's my list of the bars I like visiting better now that smoking is prohibited inside.
1. Liam's Pint-Size Pub, 911 N. Charles St. (pictured)
It was hard to breathe in Liam's before its self-instituted smoking ban Jan. 2. I'm so glad the bar made that decision. My eyes used to burn in there.
2. Light Street Station, 1400 Light St.
A curtain of smoke used to hang in this place. Sure, that was part of its charm. But I'm kind of glad it's gone.
3. Frazier's on The Avenue, 919 W. 36th St.
Karaoke is easier to sing when there's no smoke in your face.
4. Walt's Inn, 3201 O'Donnell St.
Again, karaoke is easier to sing when there's no smoke in your face.
5. Sidebar Tavern, 218 E. Lexington St.
I always thought the Sidebar was too small for the number of smokers who piled in there on Friday and Saturday nights. So I'm glad it went smoke free before the ban. It's better now.
Erik Maza is a features reporter at the Baltimore Sun. He writes for several sections of the Sun paper and contributes weekly columns on music and nightlife. He also writes and edits the Midnight Sun blog. He often covers entertainment, business, and the business of entertainment. Occasionally, he writes about Four Loko, The Block, the liquor board, and those who practice "
Comments
without the smoke frazier's is now high definition style and that is not quite comfortable. another shot is now necessary to make sure its back to its required hazy self.
Posted by: csl | February 15, 2008 11:39 AM
Nevin's!
Posted by: Tyler | February 15, 2008 1:50 PM
Oh god yes Walt's Inn - I left my keys there a few weeks ago and went in the next day to get them for literally 2.5 minutes and almost choked to death.
Posted by: Evan | February 15, 2008 2:28 PM
Nevins ... heh ... possibly the sloppiest, dirtiest, most hilarious karaoke spot in town. I ought to write a nightlife column on that place.
Walts was a no-brainer. That place gets jammed, and the smoke in there was so thick in there sometimes.
Posted by: Sam Sessa | February 15, 2008 2:45 PM
Brewers and Max's are MUCH better without the smoke.
Oh yeah, and some friends of mine went to Pur and a had a great time! There was no cover and the drink prices were very affordable!
Posted by: jmgiordano | February 15, 2008 3:00 PM
I second Brewer's. Those back rooms were ridiculous. I felt like I was selecting the presidential candidate at the 1928 Democratic Convention.
Also, Pickled Parrot. Its small and got way smoky.
Posted by: F. Pants McFadden | February 15, 2008 3:57 PM
Almost every single story I have from my weekends spent in the city end with "So we ended up at Nevin's and..."
Tom Nevin 4 Lyfe
Posted by: Anonymous | February 15, 2008 4:44 PM