Kevin Marshall's America
My brother Jack and nephew Caden
True story.
My brother, whose son Caden turns one year old next week (he is an adorable little monster), works as a bouncer at a bar down in NYC. For the purposes of this story, I need to reiterate: this place is a bar, not a bar/restaurant/pub/TGI Friday’s. Bands don’t perform behind chicken wire, but it’s not a place you’re going to take your grandparents for brunch, either. He was working the night before last. The night was hot, the music was loud, and a crowd of 7 people had baby with them at 9:30pm. My brother made a bold proclamation: no, you cannot bring that tiny little infant into the bar with you.
What a revelation. I didn’t know there were FASCISTS in my family.
The father and the six accompanying him were dumbfounded. None of them could understand or comprehend why this lanky, tattooed, bald Irishman with fierce eyes that bore a striking resemblance to an Upstate sex symbol and Times Union blogger was telling them that they couldn’t bring a baby of all things into abar with them while they got lit up.
The astonishment quickly turned to frustration and debate. The man holding the baby, presumably the father, tried to level with my brother.
“Well it just sucks when you have a baby and you can’t go out with your friends.”
Before he had a baby of his own, my brother probably would have just told him to f*** off, but Jack done gone soft. “I have a baby at home and there’s nothing that sucks about it.”
Meanwhile, 175 miles North of the altercation, I inexplicably threw up in my mouth a little.
"Not letting me in?! DO YOU KNOW WHO I AM?!"
After some more debate, he finally told the argumentative crew that they had to leave. I didn’t ask, but I imagine the baby had a laminated ID that you buy from those little tiny shops in Chinatown that said he was twenty-three years old.
Thing is, though, my brother is spoiled. He has a baby boy that started sleeping through the night fairly early, is a joy to be around, can actually entertain himself, and has a fantastic smile. Also, he and his wife have people that will babysit for them if they need it, not that they ever take advantage of it. They’re too busy being lame-o with their baby and not bringing them out to bar shows so they can get tore up with friends.
A week from Sunday is Caden’s birthday first birthday party. I unfortunately can’t make it down that weekend, as I’m in my busy season at work and I’ve already made arrangements to go down the following weekend after things settle down. So I won’t get to enjoy him blowing out the candles on his first birthday cake. Hopefully I’ll be able to make it up to him the following weekend.
I’m thinking I’ll take him to The Mercury Lounge.
IF YOU’RE DOWN IN NYC, my brother’s band So Hideous, My Love… is having their record release party on Monday, July 25th at the Charleston on Bedford Ave. with Risk and Toaster. Show starts at 8:00pm and is only 7 bucks.
BONUS: Caden’s first steps towards the night life.
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20 Responses to A Reader Asks: Why can’t I bring my freaking baby into the bar with me?
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He is adorable!
I absolutely loved your brother’s response to that dork.
He should have sent them to Schenectady. I know firsthand of an establishment there that allows babies at the bar. At first I thought I was so drunk I was having visions, but my companion confirmed it.
What? You have to be 21 to enter a bar. The loud noise is very, very bad for baby’s ears and the likelihood of injury, from falling, being bumped, or being dropped, is very high.
What the heck were these people thinking.
Most bars are no admission to the under 21 crowd after a certain hour, and well, an infant, is under 21. I could see questioning it if it is dinnertime and they serve dinner, but you said it is strictly a bar. They are out of gas. I ran into the same thing in Montreal with older children and we just went to find another establishment. This place served dinner though, and was not strictly a bar. We did not hassle them about it, we just turned around and found a place that welcomed families until later at night. Caden is absolutely adorable by the way, and his dad did have a great response!
In the second picture (the one with the angry face) your nephew looks like Chucky.
This is why Chuck E. Cheese needs to serve alcohol.
He is so cute and am so happy to have been there to video tape him taking his first steps.
I’m heading down tomorrow to NYC. Where does he work? I’d love to stop by and tell him he’s now a semi celebrity due to the blog.
Good for your brother! Was the guy going to get drunk and drive his baby home?
I’m just glad that they didn’t decide to leave him back in the Civic, or the apartment with Fido the dog.
Many people come out of bars who walk like Caden. So i can understand the confusion.
Who’s buying?
Great response by your brother.
If a place has/needs a bouncer, you don’t bring babies or children in. Period. No exceptions.
Couldn’t they just leave the kid in the car? crack a window- he’ll be fine ;)
Kim @ Don’t Kid Yourself – Just give ‘im a bag to play with!
WHAT THE HELL IS WRONG WITH THESE PEOPLE TO BRING A BABY TO A BAR, IT IS NO PLACE FOR A CHILD OF ANY AGE LET ALONE A BABY. I WOULD HAVE BEEN ON THE PHONE WITH NEW YORKS FINES POLICE DEPARTMENT AND CPS (CHILD PROTECTIVE SERVICES)
That reminds me of being at Northern Lights at an all ages show.
People were there with their infants & toddlers. Way to small to be at a
LOUD rock and roll show.
You know what? “All ages show” doesn’t mean don’t get a babysitter. It means you can attend if you are under 18. If you can’t afford a baby-sitter, don’t go out–it is very simple.
Oops–TOO small, that should be…..
The father is fortunate that the bouncer did not call Child Protective Services. A bar poses many danngers for a baby, like those pointed out by previous posters here. These do not sound like fit parents to me.