It’s Official – Bars Are Not My Thing

Beers are overpriced

Beers are overpriced

I remember those college days when going out was a bit of a ritual.  I didn’t even start getting ready until 9-9:30 pm because “nobody goes out before 10 pm.”  I never really tried to look too sharp because that wasn’t really my style, but I always tried to look good thinking that maybe that day was the day when I was going to meet someone… or “hook up” with somebody like the youngsters say.  I got a few numbers but that day was never THE day.

Either way, I always had fun when I went out to bars, but I have come to a point in my life where going out to bars is really not my thing.

Boys Night Out

Because all of us are either married with kids, are engaged or in a committed relationship, finding time where all the guys can get together is sometimes difficult without prior planning.  So about a month ago, we decided to plan a boys night out because he hadn’t hung out together in a while.

We settled on this past Friday, which happened to be the day before my brother’s birthday.  It was a great opportunity to hang out and also celebrate my brother’s birthday by going out to dinner in New York and then having some drinks at a bar in Hoboken, NJ.

Vietnamese food Pho’ sure

Friday night was a rainy night so Christian recommended we go and have some Pho at Pho 32 & Shabu in Koreatown.

The restaurant turned out to be a great choice because it was inexpensive and delicious.  I had vermicelli because I’m not a soup guy, but everybody else had Pho and we all had a couple of summer rolls each.  Needless to say, we were all pretty happy with our food.

Our friend Nino has the biggest sweet tooth in the world so of course we had to get some dessert.  We ended up going across the street to a bakery and we got some delicious pastries.

Drinks in Hoboken

After dinner we hopped back on the Path and went to Hoboken for some drinks, which sounded like a great plan until we were inside the bar.

Now, there was nothing wrong with the bar.  There were no rowdy people, the bar wasn’t packed to the point where you couldn’t even get a drink, and the music wasn’t too bad, but it just felt like I didn’t belong there.

Since we all have significant others, I don’t really see the point of going to bars anymore – unless it is for happy hour or to watch a big event.

I just don’t like the fact that you can’t really have a conversation with your friends because the music is too loud.  I guess that was okay when you are talking to a girl that is okay with you invading her personal space – if that ever happens – but it feels weird talking to other guys that close.

It is also so much better and cheaper to find a place that let’s you BYOB and where you can actually have a conversation with your friends.  Not with just one person, but with everybody in the party.

Also I don’t know how I feel about paying $7 for a beer when I can get a six pack for about the same price.  But it’s not really about the money – okay maybe a little – it is about everything else that doesn’t really fit into my current lifestyle.

Early Night

Another sign that shows that bars are not for me anymore is the fact that I was ready to go home at midnight.  We all headed home at 12:15 am after only two beers.

That’s a little sad considering that I didn’t start partying until about 11 pm back in my college days.  Oh well, I guess I have different priorities now.

Are you still partying and bar hopping or are you old like me and prefer a night in?

 

14 Comments

  1. As soon as I started reading, I instantly though of the movie Hall Pass. LOL! I totally feel you though, man. Since I have a wife and 4 kids, I feel pretty weird at the bars. I went to south Mississippi for some military training a few months ago and we ended up going bar hopping one night. That’s what most people do in the military. Honestly though, I didn’t enjoy it. One guy passed out and another guy ended of getting sick. It made me feel like I was in college again and I felt pretty silly. It used to be for me, but not anymore. However, I do enjoy have a couple beers with some close friends, but that’s only occasionally, when I go back home.

    • Yes, I don’t mind having a few beers every once in a while, but I prefer if it’s some place where we can talk. Happy Hours are fine with me also because things are half price most of the time and the music is usually not too loud.

  2. Ha! I am totally with you!! I would prefer an evening in more than anything else now. It is not only cheaper to drink at home, but I can control the environment and wear what I want. It takes a lot now to get me interested in going out to bars and partying like I did when I was 22.

    • I love a night in, but I don’t mind hanging out at somebody’s house and enjoying time with my friends. I don’t really enjoy being surrounded by strangers and having to fight to get a beer.

  4. I have went from young man to old man in a blink of an eye. Priorities change, your body rejects what you used to think was a good idea. Sleep is required rather than optional. I’ll be yelling about the kids being on my lawn shortly i’m sure.

  5. I was out on business last week and had a few drinking sessions with customers. By 11 PM I was ready to call the night. Staying late just isn’t my thing anymore. Looks like you’re the same. 🙂

  7. I turn 35 in a few weeks. I occasionally do the bar thing, but it’s very rare. Maybe like 1-2 times per year. That’s plenty for me. Sadly, I prefer to drink at home in my pajamas.

  9. I’ve never been one for bars, especially since, as you said, you can never hear anyone talk. I’m very quiet by nature, and I don’t really like trying to shout over commotion. While I am a night owl, I’d rather be home than outside!

  10. TOTALLY agree on the noise level in bars (I hate having to yell into people’s ears just to be heard!) AND the depressing-ness of ordering two beers for the same price as a 6 pack. UGH. And yeah, how did we survive in college going out at 10 or 11?!?! mystery.

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