Happy Birthday BAh Humbug

[+ purplekow]

Recently was out to Prime at Barclay in Philadelphia. A very nice restaurant catering to a sophisticated and upscale clientele. Despite this, they did let me in for dinner. I must admit to having a pet peeve about being regaled with off key and half hearted versions of Happy Birthday at any restaurant. It is expected at some places, Chuckie Cheese I would presume as well as Lone Star Steak where the entired staff sings and does some sort of square dance. Some places it is a bit surprising, smaller restaurants which are not chains. I must say though I was surprised and not pleased with the Happy Birthday serenade at a restaurant some sources sited as the best steak restaurant in Philadelphia.

I love to sing and sing for my own enjoyment all the time, but this Happy Birthday ritual should not be going on in public restaurants. Anyone willing to join with me in my Fight against these serenadings?

[KMEM]

Always make me feel like I have blundered into a children's birthday party, a situation I avoid like the plague. Bascially it makes me want to get up and leave before they attack me somehow.

 

Best regards,

KMEM

[+ Charlie]

Oh, dear, the Barclay, of all places! I remember the good old days when I couldn't get into the lobby without a suit and tie, especially when Herbert Hoover was staying there. I hope they didn't bring you a cupcake with a single candle, which I find really tacky.

[KMEM]

Charlie-

 

I know we are all getting older but I don't think any of us actually is a contemporary of THE Herbert Hoover or is there another Herbert Hoover?

 

I wouldn't mind a lot of places requiring or strongly suggesting a bit of spruce up for patronage, but then, I am as old as dirt and have those old ideas.

 

Best regards,

KMEM

[+ purplekow]

Herbert Hoover died in 1964. It is possible that he was referring to J Edgar Hoover who hung around until 1975.

[KMEM]

PK-

 

Thanks for the update. I did not remember that. I certainly remember J. Edgar. I also am familar with the vacuum cleaner of the same name and possibly the brand that did you in.

 

Now, Charlie will be completely confused by all the posts after his. Not to worry, he will figure it out.

 

Best regards,

KMEM

[Guest zipperzone]

I love to sing and sing for my own enjoyment all the time, but this Happy Birthday ritual should not be going on in public restaurants. Anyone willing to join with me in my Fight against these serenadings?

 

I would love to but quite frankly I think that would be akin to fighting windmills.

 

There is a chain of steakhouses up here called "The Keg". Although they are only a chain it is next to impossible to get out of there with a bill (for two) of less than $100 and easy to get it to run much higher.

 

In this "rarefied atmosphere" one would expect to dine in peace and quiet. Alas, such is not the case. They seem to attract more birthday boys (and girls) than the norm. Every waiter/bus boy/bartender gather en mass to serenade every birthday celebrator with a very loud enthusiastic rendition of Happy Birthday. And it is not unusual for there to be 9 or 10 birthdays being so celebrated during the course of your dinner. The noise is continual and deafening.

 

It is a complete turnoff and for that reason I have stopped going there. Where is the uni-bomber when you need him?

[+ Charlie]

Although I am not really as old as dirt, I was referring to THE Herbert Hoover (not J. Edgar), who used to stay at the Barclay when he was in Philadelphia, and we did cross paths there once.

[KMEM]

Charlie-

 

Just to be perfectly clear (queer?) I did not say you were as old as dirt, only that I was.

 

Best regards,

KMEM

[+ Charlie]

I know that you referred to yourself as old as dirt, but if you couldn't imagine being "contemporary" with the 31st President, then how old must I be?! I believe it was sometime during the Kennedy administration (amazingly, Hoover actually outlived Kennedy) that we crossed paths, and I was a twink cruising in Rittenhouse Square at the time.

[Mark Gordon]

The Keg

 

There is a chain of steakhouses up here called "The Keg". Although they are only a chain it is next to impossible to get out of there with a bill (for two) of less than $100 and easy to get it to run much higher.

 

In this "rarefied atmosphere" one would expect to dine in peace and quiet. Alas, such is not the case. They seem to attract more birthday boys (and girls) than the norm. Every waiter/bus boy/bartender gather en mass to serenade every birthday celebrator with a very loud enthusiastic rendition of Happy Birthday. And it is not unusual for there to be 9 or 10 birthdays being so celebrated during the course of your dinner. The noise is continual and deafening.

 

It is a complete turnoff and for that reason I have stopped going there. Where is the uni-bomber when you need him?

 

The description you give is how I too remember The Keg. Fortunately however, they seem to have rethought this tradition, at least at some branches. Not having been there in years, last month I attended a birthday party at The Keg Mansion in Toronto, and neither we nor anyone else were serenaded. I was also pleased with the quality of the food, the cocktails and the service, which merited the premium price.

[+ purplekow]

Is Rittenhaus Square still a cruisers paradise? There seemed to be plenty of young athletic men walking their dogs, bicycling around and generally looking hunky. I of course was just waiting for my table.

[+ Charlie]

I really have no idea--I haven't tried cruising there in the last forty years.