Sip, Sip, Hooray for Local Bars

Like the song says, “Sometimes you wanna go where everybody knows your name, and they’re always glad you came.” But sometimes you would rather go where no one knows you at all. There is a special joy to being out in some other part of town (or even better, in some other town entirely) and walking into a bar you’ve never been to before, full of people you’ve never met. Bars are social dynamos, and they’ve played a key role in the evolution of journalism itself as an art form and an industry. That’s true for Northeast Florida, as well.

The bar-going experience has changed dramatically over the past decade or so, but the key ingredients are still the same: alcohol and atmosphere. A good bar has its own personality, and regular patrons take pride in playing their part in that. Whether it’s the smoky darkness of a dive bar or the rarefied air of new-school speakeasy, you just know when you have found the spot that’s right for you. You can smell the ambiance, or lack thereof, from that first step through the door. Sometimes you can even taste it, and that may or may not be a pleasant sensation; we are not here to judge, or to be judged.

Florida loves to drink, and the mixology market has evolved to reflect the refined palates of its customers. The craft beer scene rages on, like a wildfire that has only begun to slow, while new distilleries continue to emerge on a regular basis. The pandemic has sharply curbed what was surely slated as another boffo year for the business, but there is a vaguely bright side to the crisis: Legalizing sales of to-go cocktails has allowed many bars to really strut their stuff on a higher level, opening the door for even greater creativity. Patrons can now bring their favorite drinks home with them, recreating familiar settings while showing everyone else what all the fuss was about. Many a working stiff has come home toting a pint or quart of fresh libations with the swagger of a conquering hero. One hopes that the practice remains legal even after things get back to normal. After all, this IS Florida, so they’re probably going to do it anyway.

As customers adapt to new ways of socializing, let’s raise a glass to all those neighborhood watering holes who also evolve and rethink how we partake in spirits and spirited interactions.