 
|
Audio Asylum Thread Printer Get a view of an entire thread on one page |
For Sale Ads |
|
|
Audio Asylum Thread Printer Get a view of an entire thread on one page |
For Sale Ads |
71.107.45.196
Ahoy again Bambi B,I did respond to a post that you made a few days back, but the way new posts pop up here, I thought you might not get to it, and so this post.
In response to your comment; I think your posts are absolutely fab - In fact they're among the best and most informative posts I've read here. Its really thoughtful of you to take the time to share your valuable experience with others, most of whom I'm sure really appreciate and need it, like myself.
Anyhu, I think I'm right in assuming that you live in the Santa Monica area (I seem to remember reading this in one of your posts in times past). I am local to the Santa Monica area also. I'd very much like to get together with you, perhaps at the King's Head where if you'll allow me to buy you a couple of pints of Britain's Best Bitter. Also, if your up to it we can discuss ARC and all things audio over a game of darts.
My email is adaosha@yahoo.com
Cheers Mate
Follow Ups:
It may be hard for us furriners to take in that the US may eventually be taking it's first steps to no longer be a cultural wasteland!...:o)
Bill.PS: I agree that Bambi B's postings have generally been both enjoyable and informative, and sometimes likely to have prompted reflection (for any individuals that may have that temperamental capacity)...
Gentlemen -your points are well taken. Despite the danger of being another 'theme-park', The King's Head in Santa Monica California is as close as one can get to an authentic British Pub away from the fair shores of Blighty. It is the primary watering hole and gathering place for many ex-pats from across Europe in general. It also attracts the patronage of many Americans who appreciate a good pint and a fairly decent menu. Its been around for more than thirty years so its got a bit of history and character about it. If your in the local area and looking for a decent British pub to meet some interesting people or chat up the birds, its not a bad spot at all.
shhheers (hiccup!!)
!
but quietly point out that the quality of product delivered from those units would define how significant a factor they may represent!...It think it likely that what might be regarded as "a pub" in the US would probably be regarded as "a theme-park caricature" by any in the UK who use "genuine" pubs and who avoid the similar UK-based "theme-park" abberations ("Irish Bars", etc.) by reflex...
There ARE genuine "cross-over" establishments scattered wherever the UK previously had an empire, which you will probably find if and when you travel to Australia, New Zealand, or Tasmania!...
Enjoy your travels!...
Bill.
The quality of pour from U.S. microbreweries and brew pubs is all over the map, excellent to barely adequate. Of course the U.K doesn't offer a universally wonderful pour either. I remember "Burts", I think I have that right, from the Isle of Wight which was very yeastly, flat and odd.
The American pubs that make an effort to be an "authentic English pub" usually fail miserably. The "theme-park" comment is well taken. I can remember being in village pubs where (unrelated) old-age pensioners, punks and 50-ish aging hippys were engaged in conversation together over their pints. You just don't see that in the U.S. Not only are we "divided by a common language" but our culture is also quite different. There does seem to be a creeping trend toward Americanization in Europe and England especially which I hope will be vigorously resisted. We tend to export the worst of culture and keep the many, very fine, aspects of America at home.
simply resulting from the relative size of both our nations... The UK is essentially simply a fairly large island, which means that those who wish to sample an excellent beer are not likely to have to go far to be able to obtain it! As an example, I live on the outskirts of Birmingham, and within the literally hundreds of pubs within a twenty-mile radius I certainly do not have to struggle to find countless options which combine a congenial atmosphere and the availabitity of a wide range of excellent beers..."Not only are we "divided by a common language" but our culture is also quite different."...
I would have thought that there would be lots of different cultures throughout the sheer size of the US rather than being of one consistent characteristic, but I suggest that having folk of different ages and interests being sufficiently relaxed in each other's company to chat together over a pint would be a situation worth emulating, whichever culture one happened to be in...
There will always be those (the young, etc) who are immaturely swept up by the novelty of various options, (Theme-park bars, MacDonalds, etc) irrespective of the indifferent product that they may ultimately deliver... However, whilst novelty fades, traditional virtues remain!...
Bill.
Maybe the US could have some welcome influence on the UK pub?Imaging wandering into the local Nag's Head.....
"A pint of best please"
"Would you like to go Supersize with that sir?"
Best Regards,
Chris redmond.
When I arrived at "The Pear Tree" in Nottingham for a dinner-time pint, those in the Lounge consisted of myself, the barman, one of my friends and his workmate...I looked at the top of the bar, where 24 pints of draught Guinness were waiting...
Les noticed my raised-eyebrow visual query, and said,
"What's the problem?... It saves queuing..."...
UK logic is hard to argue against...
Bill.
I didn't mean to suggest that there was a single monolithic American culture but there are some cultural continuities in the U.S. that seem to bridge our regional differences."...I suggest that having folk of different ages and interests being sufficiently relaxed in each other's company to chat together over a pint would be a situation worth emulating, whichever culture one happened to be in..." -I completely agree but that would be a very rare situation in the U.S.
Are those "cultural continuities" elements that naturally rise from each culture, or are they by-products of values presented by the media as being "expected" of citizens?...I would be interested as to your view of what constitutes those cultural continuities...
Although our media likes to feel that it defines reactions and attitudes, my experience is that reactions and attitudes in the UK are more often shaped by discussions in pubs, where sometimes unexpected perspectives may be delivered by some old codger (who may have sailed on the Murmansk convoys in WWII and lost the majority of his close friends in the process, etc) who HAS, in fact, "seen it all"...
Our pubs vary greatly both in character and who uses them, with the obvious consequence that pubs in areas with a strong sense of "community" tend to reflect those characteristics, whilst (city-based?) pubs that exist purely for a reasonably pleasant thirst-quencher at lunch-time or before going home tend to have rather different characters...
When the barmaids know both you and your dog by name, ask whether you want "Your usual?" and do indeed serve good beer, then IMO that is likely to be a "pub" worthy of the name...
Bill.
I spent a lot of time in the UK in a previous job. Being one who enjoys meeting new people and drinking fresh brews, I spent as much time as possible in pubs.
Once my ex and I visited her sister in Kensington. She spent the whole 10 days at museums and gardens. I spent ten days in the pubs.
NT.
This post is made possible by the generous support of people like you and our sponsors:
Top of Page ]
[ Contact Us ]
[ Support/Wish List ]
[ Copyright © 2024, Audio Asylum, all rights reserved ]