An ode to the early morning drinker
At 7 a.m. today, there wasn't much action on The Avenue.
A few cars whizzed by empty Hampden sidewalks as the morning sun began to burn off last night's dew. The shops were shuttered, and most of the restaurants deserted -- except for one.
The door to Zissimos hung wide open, an invitation for folks to skip the coffee and go for a stronger morning brew. But no one had taken the dive bar up on its early morning offer.
Zissimos sat empty, its bar stools begging for company. I wasn't about to oblige them. But it was nice to know that if I wanted to, I could trash today's plans and spend the morning with a few Buds.
Have you ever done a dawn bar crawl? Its been more than a year since my last one. Jmgiordano and I hit up Hogan's and the Locust Point Tavern at 6 am one weekday. It was an eye-opener ...
In my mind, these are guys who worked hard labor their whole lives, dreaming of the day they'd be able to sit on their butts and drink beer from sunup to sundown. So there they are, perched on bar stools, tossing back cold bottles of Bud Light while most people haven't gotten out of bed yet.
Do you get a hangover if you drink all day, every day? Or does your body accept a certain level of drunkenness -- that is, of course, before your liver gives out?
It doesn't take much to get a good buzz going if you start extra early. After only two Buds at 6:30 a.m., I was feeling just fine. Unlike the other early morning drinkers, I was back in bed by 8 a.m. My body wasn't set for swilling so early, it seems.
When I walked past Zissimos at 7:45 a.m., it wasn't empty any longer. A couple patrons leaned over the bar, relaxed and ready to greet the day.
(Photo by me)
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
As someone who enjoys watching soccer games that are televised live here in the US fairly early, I must say that I think morning drinking borders on the sublime.
Posted by: Josh | April 15, 2010 10:34 AM
Maybe we can have the next midnight sun social at 6am.
Posted by: jason Z | April 15, 2010 10:37 AM
Ah, the glory of FIRST call...
Posted by: Nikc | April 15, 2010 11:00 AM
Sam, remember:
You don't get hangovers if you never stop drinking.
Posted by: BC | April 15, 2010 11:06 AM
Back in the day when I lived around the corner from it I stopped into Butts & Bettys more than once pre-8am. Despite the negative connotation, a beer that early tastes damn good.
Posted by: Rich B | April 15, 2010 11:35 AM
lol...I was in Hampden this morning, too. I miss living there so much.
Posted by: NotableM | April 15, 2010 12:00 PM
Maybe the early morning Hampden swillers started around the corner at Griffith's the morning you went by. I like Sam's point about retired folks drinking all day. Another thing to remember is that there are a lot of folks in this town who work graveyard shifts in factories, at the docks, etc. Going to a bar at 7am is like happy hour to them.
Like Josh, I too enjoy morning brews when catching international soccer matches (counting down to the Cup!!).
I've always been tempted to buy the shirt at Max's that reads "You can't drink all day if you don't start in the morning," but haven't broken down yet!
Posted by: Dave the wave | April 15, 2010 1:20 PM
I can see the Zissimo's corner from my front porch. And I assure you, they do start early!
Posted by: incunabulum | April 15, 2010 1:41 PM
Best breakfast ever: Guinness in my Cheerios served in a frisbee. Go back to bed kids, Daddy's working.
Posted by: VoodooPork ■|:o) | April 15, 2010 1:43 PM
Stop by Sports Cafe across from the Canton Dog Park - they have rotating early morning happy hour specials. The crowd is usually the late night crew getting off work.
Posted by: Chris | April 15, 2010 2:06 PM
Dave the Wave,
Where will you be watching the World Cup?
Posted by: Josh | April 15, 2010 2:07 PM
One night, years ago, I was at a crappy bar on Ft Smallwood Rd. It closed at 2am so we all went to this one dude's house.
Til the bar re-opened at 6am and we went back.
That was awesome
Posted by: CalicoGal | April 15, 2010 4:10 PM
CalicoGal, were you at Rusty's?
Posted by: Trixie | April 16, 2010 9:45 AM
Josh,
I don't have exact locations nailed down yet, but will most certainly hit Slainte for at least 1 full day of games. One of the best times I've ever had watching a match out somewhere was the Italy-Germany match (during the last Cup) at Slainte. Pretty sure the A/C was broken so it was easily over 100 degrees in there. Great crowd & great game made the heat a side note.
Posted by: Dave the wave | April 16, 2010 1:34 PM
I live right by the bar Crossroads on Highland, and that place is a choice destination for the early morning drinker. According to their sign Crossroads is also "Famous for our Sour Beef and Dumplings."
Posted by: Corey | April 16, 2010 4:34 PM