Literary Bars

One thing I've always liked about living in DC, is that it's a literary town. People here love to read. Everything, from political diatribes (This Town!), to mysteries, thrillers, science fiction, literary short stories, etc. It's not hard to go to almosr any bar here, and see someone with their head in a book. Yeah, I know, a lot of people have their head pouring over a screen glaring up at them from their Nook or Kindle. But that's something for an entirely different article. I'm talking about REAL books, the stuff that uses papyrus and pulp to print on. Yes, someday, those kind of things will probably only be found in the Smithsonian, but I don't think it'll be in my lifetime. Books and bars are like a marriage. Even in a noisy, maybe even rowdy bar, you'll see someone reading. They seem so ambivalent to what's going on around them. They're so absorbed in what they are reading. Kramerbooks and Afterwards, here in DC, is a great indie bookstore, and also has a cafe in the back, with a fully stocked bar. It's so nice to support the bricks-and-mortar bookstores, and also have a libation before leaving. Politics and Prose is another superb indie bookstore here. One of the best in the country, in my opinion. Although no fully stocked bar exists in the downstaits cafe, they do make excellent lattes! DC also has a marathon reading of "Ulysses" every June 16, on Bloomsday. It's usually held at a local Irish bar, but lately it seems as if the venue doesn't necessarily have to be Irish. It's so relaxing to sip on a pint of Guinness, and hear the beautiful prose of James Joyce being read. It's also nice to embellish that Guinness with an ornament of Irish whiskey on the side. A great cocktail book is "To Have and Have Another: A Hemingway Cocktail Companion" by local drink historian Philip Greene. A great read about Hemingway and his cocktails, including recipes. That's one book that will make you thirst for a classic cocktail (not something from the strawberrry matini family, but rather a real Martini, meaning made with gin, or perhaps a Rusty Nail or a White Lady). But after reading about Hemingway's thirst for alcohol, you'll either want another cocktail, or you'll swear them all off. There's no in-between! A bartender friend of mine recently moved to the west coast, LA in particular. He compared life in LA to life in DC: he remembered how everybody in DC is a reader. He told me that in LA, not many people read as they do here in DC. He mentioned to me how the people out there can't name a single Supreme Court justice, but they all know when Tom Cruise's daughter's birthday is! Personally, I'd rather read than do just about anything else. One of my favorite quotes: "When I get a little money, I buy books, and if there is any left, I buy food and clothes." ---- Desiderius Erasmus (1465 - 1536) As for me, just give me my books and beer!