It's official - I've changed bars

Last Friday, I thought I'd stop at my old bar. Because of the holiday, I figured some of the punks that normally hang out there would leave town because they are too young to spend the holiday on their own. I was right. When I strolled into the place it was deserted. A couple regulars were sitting at the far end of the bar, and there were four people sitting at a table in the corner waiting on the karaoke to start.

The two bartenders, JR and Leah, were leaning against the cash register, looking dejected because they had to work the day before Christmas Eve.

I walked up to the bartenders, and without me ordering, Leah turned and got me a Rolling Rock. I said, "Hello, how are things going?" But I got silence in return. Not even any eye contact.

I walked around to find a good spot to sit. Finally, after circling the entire bar, I sat at the front of the bar where I normally sit. It has the best vantage point for people watching during karaoke, but there is a downside... I would be sitting near the surly bartenders.

Normally when I go into this bar, even if there is a crowd, one of the bartenders would try to start some small-talk. Why not? They work mostly on tips, so they need to butter up their patrons.

I sat there just a few feet from the bartenders, and they didn't say a word. They didn't even glance at me. I did catch Leah checking my beer out to see if I needed another one, but that was it.

When I started hanging out at this bar about nine years ago, it was a friendly, dimly-lit, neighborhood dive bar. Now it has become a pretentious, well-lit, somewhat renovated joint where all the young hipsters want to hang out. The only time I see any of the neighborhood old-timers is before 8pm, or if there is a reason that the hipsters won't be there (like a holiday).

I didn't want to be there anymore. I finished my beer and went over to the old-folk's bar. The place wasn't packed, but there were more people there than at what had been my regular bar. There was only one empty barstool left at the bar, which I took. Denise the bartender said, "Hey, Scott! Good to see you," as she sat a Bud Light in front of me.

I sang a few karaoke tunes. Denise bought me a beer. I got hit on my some older chick.

I thought about it as I made my way home later that night. There is no longer any question...Yes, the old-folk's bar would officially be my regular bar. I might stop at the other place once in a while simply because I've been hanging out there for so long, and because I know several people who hang out there, but it would no longer be my first choice. Goodbye, Grandview Heights, it was fun, but it is time for me to move on. Thanks for the memories... or not.