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Carrie Nation is probably turning over in her grave.
A strong advocate for the Women's Christian Temperance Movement, Carrie Nation was opposed to alcohol in a very big way. History has it that she attacked dozens of bars together with a band of praying & singing women and eventually wielded a a hatchet to make her point. In fact, in later years this seems to have become her "niche market" as her newletter was called "The Hatchet". Though jailed some 30 times, she paid her fines with lecture fees and (believe it or not) the sales of small souvenier hatchets.
I suppose it is true that "actions speak louder than words". But it's also true that irony is one of the funniest forms of humor.
And so it is quite humorous indeed to most folks in Los Gatos that the town's most popular bar (and there's no shortage of them) is named none other than "Carrie Nation's". In case you don't know this colorful bit of history, the beveled glass in the main door portrays an ax. (If nothing else, it's a conversation starter!) Located at 8 North Santa Cruz Avenue (close to Main Street), Carrie Nation's is a fun place to stop in for a drink if you have a sense of humor and enjoy the old "fern bar" atmosphere.
Of course, I'm not saying that the folks who run the bar have a sense of humor themselves. Once, when my kids were small, we'd seen the Holiday Parade on a cold December morning and one of small our kids desperately needed to use a restroom. My office was too far down the street for practical purposes (that is, when the child says "I need to go" he or she usually means NOW). We went in the back door of Carrie Nation's, and zoomed down the stairs like folks on an urgent mission to the restrooms. There was no walking through the bar area or anything like that. When we emerged, two minutes later, there was a scowling employee waiting for us and quite ready to escort us out. You'd have thought we had pick pocketed our way down the stairs.
All I could think of was that the dour disposition of the gal for whom the bar was named had somehow been imparted on a unsympathetic employee. (That was a lot of years ago, and I imagine that person has since had children of his own and perhaps has learned to think about the urgency of a young person's need for a restroom.)
I have never been back since! But even so, I love that front door. It tickles me every time I see it.
There are many fine bars in Los Gatos. I was intent upon writing about them here until I found an excellent article in the San Jose Mercury News which did a beautiful job reviewing them. Depending on your mood and the circumstances, you may prefer Viva (at Los Gatos Blvd and Blossom Hill), Mountain Charlie's, The Black Watch, or Johnny's, or Double D's or any of the great sites in town from Steamer's or The Wine Cellar or who knows what. Read the article. If you have kids in tow, I do suggest Double D's (at Highway 9 and North Santa Cruz Avenue) or Johnny's Northside Grill (532 N Santa Cruz Ave)Both are most welcoming!
But whether you frequent bars or not, next time you are in downtown Los Gatos, take a gander at 8 North Santa Cruz and enjoy a chuckle at the image of the hatchet on the door there. Imagine what Carrie would have to say!
Blog entry by Mary Pope-Handy,
Los Gatos Enthusiast,
Los Gatos & Silicon Valley (San Jose area) Residential Real Estate Specialist and
Realtor, CRS, ABR, SRES, ASP, CNHS, RECS, E-Pro,
Intero Real Estate Services, 518 N. Santa Cruz Ave., Los Gatos, CA 95030
www.PopeHandy.com
Do not use without permission, please.
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Comments (5) :: Post A Comment! :: Permanent Link :: Email This Entry
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re: No Prohibition in Los Gatos
Posted by: Ned B
Date: Mar. 28, 2007
Hi Mary, yes, you are a fascinating storyteller - what a talent. I've bookmarked your blog so I can keep up with you and you've also motivated me to restart my long-comatose blogging efforts. Keep up the great work.
You know, I'm thinking, if I had a choice between being important and being fascinating, I'd choose the latter.
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re: No Prohibition in Los Gatos
Posted by: Brian
Date: Mar. 28, 2007
Don't forget CB Hanigans! A great bar with a big heart for community events and cheer!
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re: No Prohibition in Los Gatos
Posted by: Daniel Newell
Date: Jun. 12, 2007
Can someone tell me where CB Hanigans is located or how I can get a hold of them!? There is NO listing in the yellow pages, no listing on the ENTIRE world Wide web search or anything useful! Do they go by another name or something? Any help will be much appreciated. Please contact me at daniel@transaccess.org, if anyone has any info. Thank you!
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RE: No Prohibition in Los Gatos
Posted by: patrik
Date: Oct. 22, 2007
Hi Mary, my only comment regarding your Carrie Nation's bathroom experience and the scowling employee is that the Alcoholic Beverage Control (ABC) people are the ones without a sense of humor.
If undercover agents were in there at the time your son innocently passed through the bar, the restaurant would've been heavily fined.
There's no humor in that, unless you would have not minded paying the fine.
It's always funny until someone gets hurt, and then it's just hilarious.
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RE: No Prohibition in Los Gatos
Patrick, of course it's a problem if a child walks through a bar (or worse, lingers there). But that is NOT what happened here. The way Carrie Nation's is laid out, there is a back door adjacent to the staircase going down to the bathroom. From the back door, where we entered, it was a straight shot to the restrooms. We did not "pass through the bar". So you misunderstand the situation.
I don't think the fear of undercover agents had the slightest bit to do with it.... My impression is that they were unhappy with the parade crowd and didn't want to have to deal with the folks downtown who weren't paying customers. There certainly was no compassion for a child there, nor care for his welfare.
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