About friggin' time, folks! Chicago has joined the land of the living and
passed a smoking ban. Of course it wouldn't be the Windy City if it wasn't done in a compromised, bullshit, half-assed, palms greased
sort of manner. Seriously, I would LOVE to see how many bars actually attempt over the next THREE YEARS to make their establishments the types of places where smoking is okay while maintaining quality air.
I've been to one downtown bar on multiple occasions over the last few weeks (don't wanna divulge the name), and they are small, on the seedy side, while still being a decent venue for local live music. I had an occasion to talk to the manager of the bar when I was preparing for a big get-together there. He couldn't have been more excited for the prospect of a smoking ban, and his customer base is majority smokers! I mean, this is the type of place you go if you LIKE to smoke, and he was done with it. I have the feeling that if he was of that opinion, a lot of other prominent places are ready to make way for cleaner clothes and fresher air.
Maybe it was because this time a year ago I was roommates with a full-time smoker, so I was used to it, but I personally CANNOT STAND how my girlfriend and I smell after virtually every single live show we attend. Without fail, the clothes come off immediately when we get home, no different than if we were caught in the rain or exposed to weapons-grade plutonium. It's officially gotten ridiculous. And while I have defended smokers rights in the past because last I heard it was still LEGAL, let's not kid ourselves, THEY are not making ANYONE healthier with their habit, yet they clearly set the tone at virtually every drinking and live music establishment to their terms. All of the sudden the term "Take back the night" takes on a whole new relevance thanks to this
smoking ban. They just need to get a move on. Healthy lungs don't grow on trees, you know.
