J,

Any place you think that has been over looked that is deserving of being at the top of Sessa's dance card?

Complaints with no suggestions isn't exactly helpful in broaden Sam's horizons or column improving

I'd say review my favorite neighborhood joint,Henningers in Fells,but i don't want a bunch of strangers in my clubhouse :)...what a catch-22,i want the owner to do well but the local clientele is the reason i go.

Well put, GDA.

I'd throw in some suggestions myself, but I don't want my regular haunts to be over-run with rowdy crowds. I've had to drop too many old stand-bys over the years already, no need to encourage the stampedes!

BTW Sam, I liked the observation of the metal bar trough at Shaefers! Many old Baltimore bars had these, but I don't notice them as often anymore. A few years back in my I used to consider putting one to good use on my most drunken nights, but I'm not that adventurous and didn't feel like getting the boot. Wonder if anyone has given it a go in recent years.

“metal bar trough”

Are talking about a legendary antique or archaic convenience that once compensated for inability to make it to nearest men’s room, that’s assuming there was a men’s room on the premises?

Geez do you really think 1000 people will be flooding into your favorite bar just because sam went there?

It's like any other place, you gotta have a rotation. A contingency plan, err or something.

No, I don't think 1000 people will flood in because Sam went and reports on it, but word of mouth spreading over time...

I have about 5 regular bars in rotation depending on my mood or whatever. But on a Friday or Saturday night in Baltimore even these "unpopular" bars sometimes get packed, I don't want to encourage it.

Okay, I'll name Friends because it is NO "secret", everyone has been there at some point, people just don't go in droves and I like that.

Evan,

People have a tendency not to like change. The prospect of having the negatives of greater popularity* causes some people to remain mum on sharing except with a select few.

Nobody really likes to go with their second choice (or Plan B) when their expectations are already primed for their first choice.

* like the mass arrival of the dreaded Federal Hill Meatheads &/or Frat-tastic crowd.

yeah I agree with most things being said here. fortunately CD, Bmore is replete with the kind of bars you're describing. It sucks having to drop them when they get uh, successful, but whaddayagunnado

My favorite super 'secret' bar remains confidential however ;)

(hint: it has to do with a clock)

Ha! "has to do with a clock", I'll have to mull that one over. I won't report it if I figure it out, just buy you a beer when I see you there (which will never happen as we are basically anon here).

I agree though, what are you going to do about it... move on to a new spot of course! But it gets tiresome after 10 odd years of doing this. But, if I can do my part not to let TOO many folks in on my "hidden treasures", I do so. The Waterfront and Little Havana used to be two of my favorite spots, but in the past couple years have gotten so packed with young rowdy folks on weekends, I don't even bother. Great that people are enjoying those places and the businesses are thriving, but part of me wishes they'd just stick to power plant, green turtle, cladaugh, magerks, mothers, etc.

One of my recent ones in the past year or so was Lulu's, but that closed. I did just rediscover after many years, an old gem in Fells though to replace it, down the way on Fleet!

No sense of adventure?

Enforced change either in attitude or acceptance that everthing changes and make adjustments or the periodic search to discover more agreeable or novel locale conitinues.
That tends to happen to old loves.

...and the clock keeps ticking.