Backlash Against Child-Toting Bar Hoppers
As Brownstone Brooklyn becomes increasingly overrun by the stroller set, certain people have had enough, especially as the last sanctuary of grown-up decadence and childlessness has been invaded: In the arty, stroller-infested Brooklyn neighborhood [of Park Slope], the nearly 3-year-old smoking ban has had an additional effect beyond vexing nicotine addicts: It’s made bars more…
As Brownstone Brooklyn becomes increasingly overrun by the stroller set, certain people have had enough, especially as the last sanctuary of grown-up decadence and childlessness has been invaded:
In the arty, stroller-infested Brooklyn neighborhood [of Park Slope], the nearly 3-year-old smoking ban has had an additional effect beyond vexing nicotine addicts: It’s made bars more welcoming for young parents and their offspring. And while that may be a welcome development for thirsty moms and dads, it’s an affront to those, like Andy Heidel, who see bars as a last refuge from the kids who overrun local restaurants and cafes. “A bar is a place for adults,” Heidel, a 36-year-old writer, says flatly. “It’s not a playground for your child. What the hell are these people thinking?”
We’re guilty of bringing the young ‘uns along with us to an occasional early dinner out but can completely understand why there are those who would prefer to drink in peace.
Lowering the Bar [NY Post]
And take all of your kids to watch porn with you at MonkeyTown, which is clearly a restaurant, and not a bar.
Once and for all, hire a babysitter and leave the brats at home!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
uhhhh? lostinbrooklyn, I think you might be lost in the head. Parents and their kids are allowed in restaurants/bars so given that, you might want to go to a different bar or nabe. Its not like people don’t travel all over the city for different vibes. Some people love/hate the williamsburg scene. Plenty of people live on the upper west side but go downtown to bars because they “like” the scene better. People with kids move to park slope for a reason, because its generally more family friendly than other nabes. And again, its not like you’re in the burbs at the pizza parlor after the kids soccer games. Give me a break, I think you can find a bar without kids after 8pm. Stop you’re whining.
The only toddlers here are the last three posters. WHINE WHINE WHINE. Again, I think there are enough bars to find one without kids and on a relative basis most do not have kids there. I would gather 90% after 7 pm thoughout the city. Go somewhere else. Parents with children have just as much a right to be there as annoying adults.
And to the poster at 9:37 who still believes keeping children out of a bar is the classy thing to do. Ever wonder why this country with its 21 year drinking age and so called morality about kids in bars has the MOST binge drinking on campuses, alcoholics, and every other addiction per capita? Maybe if there were more kids in the bar…stupid hammered 20 somethings and older wouldn’t feel so obliged to have 12 drinks. Just a thought.
And if the kids are behaving badly than I also think parents should either correct the problem or leave, but that has nothing to do with whether they should be able to bring their children to a bar.
It’s not a Brooklyn thing – It’s a selfish – I can do anything I want and to hell with you thing.
No, it is not a Brooklyn thing. Primarily a Park Slope thing. Where parents think their kids should have no boundaries. Keep the kids out of the bars where adults go to converse with other adults.
I posted earlier that I disagree with bringing your kids to a bar, but I can see the point about the early dinner with activities – especially in a town or neighborhood that is family oriented. There’s nothing wrong with that.
However, I disagree with the poster who apparently believes that bringing their kids to a bar teaches them that alcohol is just a “beverage” and that those who don’t have binge drinking kids – the last thing I want my kids to see is the way OTHER people handle their alcohol. I was around alcohol from a very young age (although my parents had enough class not to bring me to a bar) and I learned enough at home about alcohol. That’s where such lessons belong – don’t expect drunken strangers to provide your kids lessons with how to handle their alcohol.
Funny, I’ve never noticed young kids in bars in Manhattan or in the suburbs, where I grew up. I wonder if it’s a Brooklyn thing.
The problem with sleeping babies in restaurants/bars is that eventually, they wakeup, CRYING. By then mom and dad are well settled in for a nice meal/drink and the last thing they want to do is leave the place to calm a screaming child. I have two kids ages 5 and 8 who’ve been going to restaurants from the get go. We only do early dinners and they’re normally pretty well behaved. Having a quiet activity for the child always helps–leapster, drawing pad, etc.
I brought my 4 year old to a bar just last weekend.
She knocked over someone’s drink while playing with a slinky.
The person gave her a rude look.
She ripped his balls out with her teeth.