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Here is this week's nightlife column, about the Kitty Kat Bar in Remington.
I went back to the bar a week after I reviewed it to talk to the owner, a guy named Jeff.
Jeff wasn't there, and the bartender told me he didn't want to talk to me and he didn't want me to review the bar because he didn't want any yuppies to show up.
I really liked the quirky neighborhood bar, and hope that you check it out.
Especially if you're a yuppie.
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
Does that happen a lot Sam? It wasn't a bad review for the bar. I wonder why they wouldn't talk to you.
Posted by: Drew from Greektown | April 3, 2008 12:37 PM
The owner wasn't there and the bartender didn't have his phone number, which I was kind of surprised to hear.
It doesn't happen a lot, thank god. But I do get bar owners who are leery of talking to me once I tell them I'm a journalist.
I'll do a post about my first conversation with Jim Quigley, which was possibly the most awkward conversation I've ever had with a bar owner since I've been writing here.
Posted by: Sam Sessa | April 3, 2008 1:04 PM
You really didn't get any sort of vibe from the Kitty Kat (the scene, specifically, which I'm surprised you didn't mention) to give you a clue as to why they might be leery?
Posted by: gofreescout | April 3, 2008 1:34 PM
Yuppies, in Remington, yeah I don't think he's got much to worry about.
Posted by: Evan | April 3, 2008 2:18 PM
To the Kitty Kat Bar! gofreescout, I'll drive! C'mon!
Posted by: JTK | April 3, 2008 3:29 PM
No, that's cool -- I'm in pretty easy walking distance.
Posted by: gofreescout | April 3, 2008 4:34 PM
sam, we need a place to talk about happy hours that can be consistently updated. metromix and bmore live have them, but they are lacking in sessa cred.
Posted by: bill | April 3, 2008 11:44 PM
Bill, the problem is, it takes way too much time to stay on top stuff like that.
Even Midnight Sun's staff would be stretched thin to undertake such a daunting task.*
*The straight answer: I'll do it if they pay me more. But it's not fun calling bars all day. I'd rather be patronizing them.
Posted by: Sam Sessa | April 4, 2008 11:38 AM
Mike/Sam
Not to pimp my own site here but since it came up I guess I will. For the past couple months i've been working on www.baltimorespecials.com
Several bar owners/managers have been providing me with updates via the site. The rest I've gotten from visiting the bars and typing them in or from their respective web pages.
This is not a money making thing for me. I'm just trying to find where the specials are too.
Posted by: locust point man | April 4, 2008 1:43 PM
I was at the Federal Hill spring block party yesterday, and this kinda dirty hippie looking guy came up to a group of us with a Polaroid and wanted to take our picture. I thought "Eh, good way for him to earn a buck or two" - well he takes our picture and just says "JUST GIMMEE SOME BEER" and picks up a floater cup ...off of the ground, pours that beer out, takes some beer from my friends, and says "Hey thanks guys, come to my bar." Hands everyone a business card for the Kitty Kat Bar.
I couldn't make this up if I tried.
Posted by: Evan | April 28, 2008 11:21 AM
Evan, City Paper music editor Michael Byrne also had a weird run in with that guy.
http://www.citypaper.com/clubs/review.asp?rid=13171
Posted by: Sam Sessa | April 28, 2008 11:38 AM