Ah, Baker. Why you gotta be this way.
Dan and I went to the brewpub last night for a couple of pints and then were going to seek out some Chinese. As we took seats at the bar (there weren't two together, so I took a seat and Dan stood on the end of the bar. Fairly standard New York procedure), the couple next to me struck up a conversation. Well, first they asked if we wanted them to get Dan a chair (from where? Way the hell at the other end of the crowded bar, where he could have carried one himself if he'd wanted to bang a few people in the ribs?), but then started in on the where-you-from what-you-do small talk. Which was fine. Weird. But fine. I did mention that people are scary nice here. Talking to strangers? Tsk.
Anyway, we had a couple pints--after someone closer to us moved away, our new friends got another pair of guys to scoot down with everyone so Dan could have a chair--and left for dinner at 7:30. SEVEN THIRTY. We got to the "good" Chinese place at 7:45. They were closed. I know it's Thursday, but what the fuck Baker, seriously. We could have gone back to the pub, but that's the only place we've eaten in town and we wanted to try somewhere else. We went to the wine bar, which we've heard has good food. They're open until 9:00, but there was not one single living human in the whole place. We didn't actually go in--I assume there were a couple of employees in the back, getting high and counting down the hours--but we decided it was too creepy and left. Although now--having patronized the equally-creepy deserted Chinese place below--I wish we had gone there, if only to reward them for being open so late. Nine o'clock! Good for you, wine bar.
So we went to the second-best Chinese place in town (I hear), which was also mostly deserted. Over in the "lounge" section, there were the remains of a buffet with a couple of people picking at it, and a couple of hicks playing video lotto. Dan realized that one of the people eating was a waitress, and got her to take our order. To go. Because, yeah creepy. The food was pretty ok. Good fried rice. Spring rolls were way too salty.
But seriously, Baker, if you want to get more tourists--and you do, don't you, you want to be like big brother Bend and get all the tourists and young people and the outdoorsy hipsters--you really need some restaurants that are open past 8. And bars that are open past 9. Yes, on weekdays too. I'm sorry, but that's just how it is. I know it's hard, and no one is patronizing the restaurants late, but if you cook it they will come. People will realize that they don't have to eat at 5:30. You won't get one huge dinner rush and then nothing. People will spread themselves out all evening. I promise.
Anyway, we had a couple pints--after someone closer to us moved away, our new friends got another pair of guys to scoot down with everyone so Dan could have a chair--and left for dinner at 7:30. SEVEN THIRTY. We got to the "good" Chinese place at 7:45. They were closed. I know it's Thursday, but what the fuck Baker, seriously. We could have gone back to the pub, but that's the only place we've eaten in town and we wanted to try somewhere else. We went to the wine bar, which we've heard has good food. They're open until 9:00, but there was not one single living human in the whole place. We didn't actually go in--I assume there were a couple of employees in the back, getting high and counting down the hours--but we decided it was too creepy and left. Although now--having patronized the equally-creepy deserted Chinese place below--I wish we had gone there, if only to reward them for being open so late. Nine o'clock! Good for you, wine bar.
So we went to the second-best Chinese place in town (I hear), which was also mostly deserted. Over in the "lounge" section, there were the remains of a buffet with a couple of people picking at it, and a couple of hicks playing video lotto. Dan realized that one of the people eating was a waitress, and got her to take our order. To go. Because, yeah creepy. The food was pretty ok. Good fried rice. Spring rolls were way too salty.
But seriously, Baker, if you want to get more tourists--and you do, don't you, you want to be like big brother Bend and get all the tourists and young people and the outdoorsy hipsters--you really need some restaurants that are open past 8. And bars that are open past 9. Yes, on weekdays too. I'm sorry, but that's just how it is. I know it's hard, and no one is patronizing the restaurants late, but if you cook it they will come. People will realize that they don't have to eat at 5:30. You won't get one huge dinner rush and then nothing. People will spread themselves out all evening. I promise.