Had a nice time Monday night with a group of Chicago web people (not this one, this one). Who was in attendance? At my table: Heather, Jes, Alicia, Shylo, Phineas, Paul, Naz; and at the upper table: Alex, Chris, Eulalia and Troy, Cinammon, Andrew, Leigh and Matt (thanks to everyone else for already posting easily copied lists). I enjoyed myself, although Lisa couldn't come because a) she had a class at the Old Town School, and b) she was too sick to go to class, so she didn't want to push it by going out with 16 people. Next time.
The food was good, the company was good, and there wasn't too much smoke in the restaurant, if any. This was in stark constast to Martyr's and the New Apartment Lounge, where I've spent some time over the past couple nights. And speaking of smoke...
I really, truly hope Chicago institutes a smoking ban. I've spent a fair amount of time out hearing and playing music since we moved here, and I'm starting to get very uncomfortable feelings in smoky clubs. Strangely, my stomach seems to feel it before my lungs, getting all queasy and almost achy. It's very strange, and definitely not comfortable.
All the arguments that I've heard about what will happen to Chicago's clubs and restaurants should smoking be banned are pretty vapid. Does any really believe that people are going to go running to the suburbs because they can smoke indoors? Have the restaurant or entertainment industries died out in other cities with smoking bans (hint: the answer starts with "no"). Now, I'll grant that during the winter the typical "go outside to have a smoke" thing isn't going to work as easily. But then again, anything that you can't stop doing for a couple hours while you're watching a band or eating your dinner is probably a problem that you need to evaluate.
Of course, the biggest legitimate concern is that of the restaurant workers, who are constantly subjected to tremendous amounts of second-hand smoke. It's almost as bad for musicians that play in these places, because we're there working our asses off, breathing that nasty air and taking days off our lives doing what we love. We should be protected.
There must be some way that everyone's needs can be accommodated. It's not like people who smoke are evil, or that they want to cause everyone around them to die earlier. I just know it gets harder all the time for me to go out, because I know I'm going to come home stinking of smoke, with a tight stomach and dirty lungs. It's a price I'm willing to pay now, but I'm not sure how much longer I'll be able to put up with it.