TVs in bars

I like having a few TVs in the bar, but I hate when the whole place is saturated with TVs. Way too distracting.

 

T.V. or music is fine as long as volume is low enough that you can hear the people your with. +1 for keno.

 

Yelp must have been referring to the wrigleyville location. Looks like west loop one is still open. Glad to see they are still promoting the smut and eggs

http://twistedspoke.com/smuteggs.html

 

My ideal bar atmosphere is relaxed, people conversing, background music that I don't have to raise my voice to talk over. Not a library by any means, I don't mind people having fun and laughing and getting a bit silly with their friends. But I also like to be able to find a table and have a casual conversation without having to yell.

TV's don't bother me as long as the volume is off or low. I just don't watch them. I don't own a TV, don't watch TV, rarely go to movies...But their presence doesn't offend me at all.

Live music actually pisses me off a lot more. And I think I'm the only person on the planet that hates live music in bars. I like music, and I like going to concerts and such. But when I see flyers up advertising live music and how excited I should be, I know exactly which dates to avoid that particular establishment and go somewhere else. I wouldn't mind it if it was just an acoustic performance in the corner that I can still talk over. But usually these whole bands are stuffed in a bar that wasn't designed for proper sound to begin with and it's cranked up to full blast. I hate that.

 

I watched Ancient Aliens at the bar with two of my friends and the bartender once. We were the only people there, and it was quite enjoyable. I find it pointless when the place is busy, and you can't hear anything. The only thing that's worth putting on tv at that point is sports.

 

My ideal TV situation is to show Live sporting events on mute. Turn them off is there aren't any live events on.
Scientific Journals at a bar, are you kidding me? somebody is trying way too hard to be pretentious with that one.

 

I, a science nerd and professional chemist, would be thrilled to find a science journal in a bar. It might be akin to a sports fan who found a sports magazine in a super unexpected girly place. I don't think science journals are pretentious...lots of people are genuinely happy to read them. Who cares if they aren't typically in bars. Maybe everyone who puts big screen TVs in their bars just to permanently leave them on muted Sports Center are trying too hard to be predictable.

 

I thought bars were a social event? You go to be around people, conversation, and socialize, no? I see no difference in ignoring the televisions as the science journals. Isn't reading and watching tv what you do at home?

 

My favorite local bar has no TVs and light music and I love it. I'm there for the beer and good conversation, I can live a couple hours without sportscenter in my face.

 

Absolutely. As much of a science nerd as I am, I would probably geek out over the fact that the bar has science journals...for a minute...and as soon as my beer was served, I'd probably forget about it and continue on with normal bar activities...talking and socializing.

That said, sometimes having a solo bar trip is kind of relaxing. Stop by after work, have a beer, zone out. I hate watching sports. I like science journals. Why is it normal and standard for people to zone out watching sports but it would be pretentious to have science mags available?

 

I can go either way. Per most of the really great European soccer pubs in the USA, most have good to excellent tap list and tons of TVs.

 

what is an intellectual type?

 

By pop culture standards, I guess the bar is low. Maybe someone who reads books.

Or doesn't watch TV all the time.

Can drink a beer while enjoying a book, chess, or something non-TV that requires thinking.

 

I like TVs in bars (sound low) it tells me who I won't be bothered to exchange pleasantries with if their eyes are glued to the screen.

 

good call on the hipsters, I can see them at your bar and telling everyone "TV's are so mainstream, this is more of an intellectual type place, you probably wouldn't like it."

 

Cannot stand TVs in bars. If going solo I prefer to talk to strangers, the bartender, people-watch, or just sit absorbed in my own thoughts.

 

Also, I don't like people who are pretentious or fashion plates, but is that what you guys are calling hipsters? Furthermore those speakeasy bartenders make better cocktails.

 

I don't care how good of friends we are, I do not want to talk to you every second I'm at the bar. TVs are the perfect getaway between "deep" conversations.

 

I like having local sports on at the bar because it facilitates comaraderie between strangers and makes some common ground to build on. A lot of my conversations with people start because of a bullshit call or round of touchdown high fives.

 

With a couple of caveats, I'm OK with TV's. I'm pretty much a loner, and what most people have to say is nonsensical drivel (me included), so I like having to distract me from most humans. My caveats: Sound off. No NBA, soccer, or golf. If you're showing a show with dialogue, put the freakin' captions on.