What a bunch of teetotalers on Park Slope Parents.
I heard that there was a new brouhaha brewing on that Park Slope list-serve because Bar Toto, a restaurant that serves, gasp, wine and beer was opening a location not far from PS 107.
Heavens to Betsy. Can you imagine a restaurant that serves wine and beer (and possibly alcohol) opening near a school in New York City?
Think of the moral fiber of those poor children. They might see someone drinking a glass of wine. That could be so damaging to their tender sensibilities.
Come on, folks. Let's be reasonable. It's Bar Toto for christ's sake, a very popular local eatery. It's hardly a place to worry about your children being exposed to. It's a bistro. A restaurant/bar. Think steak frites, paninis, Caesar salad and yes, wine.
Those who got their knickers in a knot can rest assured. The New York State Liquor Authority has regulations about these sorts of things. You can't even get an on-premises liquor license if you are within 200 feet of a school. But you can get a restaurant beer and wine license. The distance is measured from the nearest entrance to the school actively used by students to the restaurant/bar.
Do you think one of those Puritanical PSPers actually got a ruler out and measured the distance from the entrance of the school to the new Bar Toto. I can just see it.
Why am I picturing a member of one of those turn-of-the-century groups like the Temperance Union or the Anti-Saloon Society out there with a prim hat and a measuring tape?
Apparently Bar Toto is going into the space that used to be Pumpkins Market (now that was an morally appropriate establishment). Quite a few people who live near to the school—and Bar Toto—are thrilled about the new establishment. One PSP member could not for the life of her see a problem with a first grader seeing her having a sandwich and a glass of wine at a late lunch. She also wrote that this popular restaurant "chain" is not some raucous sports bar but a lovely, child-friendly eatery.
Another member made the point that during these tough economic times, many restaurants are under so it's nice to see a new place opening.
Still another member reminded the group that she and her child actually pass many bars, restaurants, and businesses walking
home from school and her child doesn't seem to be damaged by the exposure.
"The only thing my 7-year-old cares about going and coming home from school is whether we can
immediately go to playground or if she can talk me into impromptu play
dates she arranges during her day in school behind my back."
Okay. So is everybody okay about the new Bar Toto?
.
yes it was ridiculous to get so riled up, but aren’t you doing the same? are they really going to make any effort to shut it down?
A “bunch” of teetotalers Louise???
One person made a stupid comment which clearly had an alterior motive and 10 people responded that he was being silly. Hardly a raging controversy!
Actually there was only one negative comment about the bar on PSP. The rest of the comments basically shot that poster down and said the same thing you’re saying.
wow. i have to say, this is a complete misrepresentation. what actually happened? ONE person wrote a heavens-to-betsey-won’t-somebody-think-of-the-children type post, and many, many responses poured in pointing out the ridiculousness of his objection and expressing joy about the new establishment.
“bunch of teetotalers on Park Slope Parents”??? “one of those Puritanical PSPers”???? then why has there not been a single post agreeing with the original poster?
ONLY one person (the original poster) had a problem with the new establishment and the 12 other responses that were posted on the list are supportive of it.
So making this a “bunch of teetotalers” instead of one poster (you say “those who got their knickers in a twist”) is just not accurate. One of the great things that doesn’t get covered by blogs is that the list is self-correcting; if someone posts something outrageous, other people tend to set things straight. Thus was the situation here.
C’mon Louise– you’re on the Park Slope Parents list– this post is making a mountain out of a molehill. This isn’t like you.
Susan Fox
Founder, Park Slope Parents
How about reading the list-serv instead of reporting on it second hand?
One person basically raised the issue (probably because they don’t want the noise as they live close), and everyone else said what you said.. so no need to dump on the PSP readers, who are basically the same people who read your blog.
so many grammatical errors I don’t know where to begin, but for starters, beer and wine have alcohol in them, I believe the word you were looking for was liquor.
One person raised an issue with the new establishment by the owners of Bar Toto. All of the responses have opposed the original poster. I think it is safe to say that the “teetotaler” was limited to a single post. Seems unfair and, fankly, inaccurate to paint the whole list with that brush.
From what I saw on the PSP list, there are few opponents and many supporters. In fact, I may be missing something, but I only saw one – the original – post that encouraged people to call in complaints. The rest of the postings were supportive, even excited about the new spot for lunch and wine. I haven’t been reading the list too closely lately, so perhaps I skipped over it.