piano bar field ethnography

A few notes after a visit to The Redhead, my first Chicago piano bar:

1) Wow, it feels as though they took a piano bar back in time to about 1954: predominantly middle-aged het couples (seriously, I've never seen a piano bar so completely de-gayed in my life, and I've seen quite a few) in suits and dresses, sipping scotches and similar respectable-type drinks. I swear, I thought the pianist was about to break into "Tenderly."

2) Speaking of sartorial matters- I've never, ever been to a piano bar that, when I walked in wearing sneakers, made me change into a pair of black shoes. It felt for a moment like the world's most upscale bowling alley; I was tempted to request one of the Kenny Rogers/5th Edition songs from The Big Lebowski. Chicago: when they say business casual, they are not fucking around.

3) Huh, pianists only do three-hour shifts here. I suppose that makes sense: none of the other staff, nor any of the customers, got up to sing, so they're carrying the whole load there.

4) Before I left, I did- with the aid of my friend Mr. Jackson- get the pianist to sing "Lights", which made me miss San Francisco. (I was scared to request "Take Me Home, Country Roads"- I felt as though a hook would've come out and yanked me offstage.)

5) Cigars! (They also had custom matchbooks, which was charming.)

6) Before I leave, I'm going to check out Sidetrack; judging from the site, they have a, err, rather different atmosphere.

signal boost: runaway teen

bifemmefatale's daughter has run away from home:

"This is my daughter Morgan. She's 16 and she ran away from home yesterday. Friends say she hopped a Megabus to the Carbondale, IL area to attend the upcoming Rainbow Gathering Oct. 1. She may change her destination if she knows she is being looked for. She's supposedly traveling with 2 guys named Tim and Josh, both Caucasian, early 20s or late teens, one with a "cholo tear" tattoo near his eye. She's 5'5", 120#, reddish-blonde hair, long bangs and sidelocks, short in back, always wears her jean vest with studs and patches on it. She may be begging for spare change. If you see her, *please* contact me ( bifemmefatale@livejournal.com ) and the police! 16 is too young to be running around the country on her own. I'm very worried for her safety. Thanks in advance."

(no subject)

(More or less) DIY lightsaber.

(no subject)

Gilliam loses funding for Don Quixote again. AARGH!

(In happier news, I had the great pleasure of meeting humblepie this afternoon; she very kindly rec'd a piano bar that sounds a bit less... Eisenhower-y than the last one.)