Out for a smoke
MS reader Neal Shaffer is a genius.
He designed and printed little laminated cards smokers can use to mark their territory while they go outside for their fix.
Think about it, smokers.
No one will ever steal your seat again. Amazing!
You can get 12 cards for only $5 (plus $2 shipping/handling).
I call that a deal.
I'm thinking about getting some myself.
In New York, smokers mark their drinks by putting napkins or coasters over their beers.
Shaffer's cards are much classier.
"Everybody chuckles and says, 'Man, that's a great idea,'" Shaffer told me last week.
If you ask me, Shaffer is sitting on a gold mine.
These small rectangular cards could be his ticket to retirement.
I've been The Baltimore Sun's nightlife and local entertainment reporter for a couple years, and it's surprising how much the scene has grown in that time. Most of Baltimore's bars and clubs are unpretentious places with fairly cheap drinks and plenty of character. I like dancing and think this city needs more clubs, but nothing beats having a cold, locally brewed beer with friends in a comfortably full corner bar.
Comments
Sam-Leadbetters in Fells has had them for a while now..it even has the bar logo on it..
Posted by: Don | April 14, 2008 1:27 PM
Yeah, but for a girl, that would be like announcing, "Here's my unattended beverage. Please put a roofie in it."
Posted by: Estelle | April 14, 2008 1:36 PM
hola sam. i just got back from barcelona and i have to say, most of their bars and restaurants are non-smoking, too. the brilliant thing over there, though, is that bars can buy a smoking license to allow their patrons to smoke indoors. the ones that had it, advertised it on their windows quite tastefully. too bad i wasn't thinking ahead to take a photo of it. anyway, seeing as how the non-smoking bars seemed to be just as crowded as the smoking bars, it seemed like a pretty smart idea.
Posted by: dan thanh | April 14, 2008 1:46 PM
Wallet, check. Keys, check. Laminated smoking cards so no one will steal my drink while I go outside and get my fix... ah, no. If you think this is a bargain Sam, I got a small fixerupper in West Baltimore. Let me just put a napkin on my drink and we'll go outside and talk about it.
Posted by: g | April 14, 2008 2:19 PM
I'm more curious as to how many reports of people are "stepping out for a smoke" are in reality skipping out on their bill.
Posted by: Josh Hall (or jwiv) | April 14, 2008 2:34 PM
Thanks, Sam! There have been (predictably enough) a handful of skeptics/haters, but on the whole people have responded well. I'm not quite sure it's a ticket to retirement, but every little bit helps.
Posted by: neal s | April 14, 2008 2:49 PM
This really isn't a new idea. At all. (Nor is putting a napkin on top of a drink a New York idea.) Just FYI.
Posted by: notsomuch | April 14, 2008 3:00 PM
don -- leadbetters is sitting on a gold mine.
estelle -- good point.
dan thanh -- that does seem like a good idea. almost makes too much sense, doesn't it?
g -- about that house ...
Posted by: Sam Sessa | April 14, 2008 3:13 PM
Also, I don't think I ever claimed I'd be the only person to have this idea. But the cards themselves are quite nice, and quite functional, and a bit fun. Those were goals.
Posted by: neal s | April 14, 2008 3:30 PM
Not to take the glory away from a loyal reader, but a recommendation would be to take a note from these other cards that I've seen around :
The punch-out in the middle of these cards makes it easy to swing the card from the edge of the glass, although it's certainly less polite and charming than Neal's design...
Posted by: akg | April 14, 2008 5:20 PM
I think they're kinda awesome. Simple classy, functional.
I'd buy'm. They make good little gifts for smoker friends too.
Posted by: john | April 14, 2008 10:42 PM
or you could just not smoke....
Posted by: J.M. Giordano | April 17, 2008 4:50 PM