Port in a Storm's germaphobe-friendly door string
On my way into Port in a Storm the other night, I noticed a piece of white twine tied around the front door handle.
"What's this?" I said to myself. Or maybe I said it to jmgiordano. Could be either.
I used the string to open the door, instead of touching the grimy grungy dingy door handle with my spic and span hand.
I know more than a few germaphobes who would be pleased to have such an option. You see, the string is the new thing.
In all sobriety, it might not have been a conscious move on the bar's part, so much as a celebration of someone's birthday.
I noticed party fare (including a cake!) inside ...
Or maybe someone had the door tied open earlier. I just don't know, and I wasn't about to needle our friendly, portly bartender with unnecessary questions.
We enjoyed our ice cold $2.25 Buds (mine still had chunks of ice stuck to the outside of the bottle), and soaked in the scene. The bar is bigger than it looks at first glance, and square, which I love.
Last night, there were only a scattering of people inside, enough to fill one side of the place. The walls are wrapped in wood paneling, and, last night, pop songs from Justin Timberlake and Rihanna played overhead.
Port in a Storm is one of the city's few lesbian bars, and it's been there a while. I'm not exactly sure where "there" is. It's kinda in the no man's land between Highlandtown and Greektown, way out at 4330 E. Lombard St. Maybe that's part of the reason why it's lasted so long. Or maybe it's the vibe. I rolled in there with two other dudes, and we didn't feel left out.
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
Don't you still have to touch a string that other people put their dirty hands on too? Stupidity......
Posted by: Joe Smith | June 12, 2010 2:16 PM
That would just replace germy door handle with germy string.
If somebody wants to make the germ-phobes happy, invent a door handle for installation at the bottom of the door that can be operated by foot.
Posted by: harry | June 12, 2010 3:47 PM
Aaaaaaaarrrrrrr,,,,
Aye, that's why I like me hook hand. Works out well for me OCD
Posted by: Cap'n Scurvy | June 12, 2010 3:55 PM
Harry, ask and you shall receive...
http://www.stepnpull.com/
Posted by: Rube Goldberg | June 12, 2010 4:39 PM
my money is on it being there to tie open the door during the hellish summers (springs)
Posted by: ryan97ou | June 13, 2010 7:29 PM
this column numbs my mind. are you serious? do you get paid for this? i have been reading for while, but only because i like horrible things (like watching full house). this is like the waiting for guffman/best in show version of a nightlife/social happening blog, column, whatever.
Posted by: areyoufinished | June 13, 2010 10:36 PM
@Joe Smith, Harry and areyoufinished -- Sometimes I make these things called jokes. Some of them are silly, and others are sarcastic. I'm sorry that you didn't realize I was joking here. Maybe next time I'll clearly note that I'm joking, perhaps with an asterisk or, maybe, all-caps, so that there's no confusion on your part. Sigh.
Posted by: Sam Sessa | June 14, 2010 6:29 AM
Port in a Storm is one of the city's few lesbian bars, ... It's kinda in the no man's land
Zink
Posted by: Anonymous | June 14, 2010 7:49 AM
Thank you, thank you. I'll be here all day.
Posted by: Sam Sessa | June 14, 2010 8:42 AM
Sam, Sam, Sam. Please don't capitulate to the whiners, scolds, and killjoys. It's happened to other blogs. Don't let it happen to you.
Posted by: Laura Lee | June 14, 2010 10:42 AM
What I ought to do, Laura Lee, is not post comments pre-coffee.
Posted by: Sam Sessa | June 14, 2010 10:44 AM