Lunch at Ad Astra, Strong City, KS
Ad Astra, Strong City, Lunch
We were invited to go to Ad Astra for a combined birthday celebration today. This was the first time Chris and I were able to sample it. My impressions: The food was good, the menu was varied, the beer list was good, with Boulevard on tap!, the help was friendly and happy. AND I probably won't go back! Unfortunately the place is noisy and it's the kind of noise that keeps on giving. The ceiling is tinplate and interesting. The floors are wood, and clean. The walls are stone. The bar is wrapped in steel. There is no sound deadening. Each surface reflects sounds very effectively. When we walked in the sound system was playing some kind of music. Conversation was not possible at our table without raising voices. Oh, and there were only three tables occupied.
After placing my drink order I left. I was already starting to be in pain from the noise. The pain in my ears gets to be about like having half a thumb tack on the seat, and no way to avoid it.
We keep a sound level meter in the car. I replaced the battery and had it with me when Chris came out to say that they'd turned off the music. During the balance of the meal the sound level ranged from about 65 to 75 dbA. 10 dbA below the recommended occupational maximum. Since the music was off by then, I didn't get a chance to measure the sound level with music. But it was louder.
So turning off the music helped, but didn't deal with the total problem. Remember the walls, floor, and ceiling? Well each word of conversation bounced off each of those surfaces and came back to be heard as reverb. So it was still not easy to have a conversation. And that type of sound gets on my nerves quickly.
Solutions: 1. I go to a dinning establishment to eat and enjoy conversation with friends, NOT listen to recorded music. I go to a concert to listen to music. If music is going to be a part of the dining experience make it live and acoustic.
2. Sound deadening materials could be easily added to Ad Astra without detracting from the decorating. A number of flags, like the state flag and seal, given the name, Ad Astra, would help.
3. Change the front of the bar to something that doesn't bounce sound around.
Hopefully, Ad Astra will choose to deal with their noise issues. Until they do it is a place I need to avoid as spending enough time in a high noise environment to eat a meal turns me into someone that is unpleasant to be around. I don't like it when folks don't want to be around me. And I'd like to go back to Ad Astra.
Frustrated,
David
We were invited to go to Ad Astra for a combined birthday celebration today. This was the first time Chris and I were able to sample it. My impressions: The food was good, the menu was varied, the beer list was good, with Boulevard on tap!, the help was friendly and happy. AND I probably won't go back! Unfortunately the place is noisy and it's the kind of noise that keeps on giving. The ceiling is tinplate and interesting. The floors are wood, and clean. The walls are stone. The bar is wrapped in steel. There is no sound deadening. Each surface reflects sounds very effectively. When we walked in the sound system was playing some kind of music. Conversation was not possible at our table without raising voices. Oh, and there were only three tables occupied.
After placing my drink order I left. I was already starting to be in pain from the noise. The pain in my ears gets to be about like having half a thumb tack on the seat, and no way to avoid it.
We keep a sound level meter in the car. I replaced the battery and had it with me when Chris came out to say that they'd turned off the music. During the balance of the meal the sound level ranged from about 65 to 75 dbA. 10 dbA below the recommended occupational maximum. Since the music was off by then, I didn't get a chance to measure the sound level with music. But it was louder.
So turning off the music helped, but didn't deal with the total problem. Remember the walls, floor, and ceiling? Well each word of conversation bounced off each of those surfaces and came back to be heard as reverb. So it was still not easy to have a conversation. And that type of sound gets on my nerves quickly.
Solutions: 1. I go to a dinning establishment to eat and enjoy conversation with friends, NOT listen to recorded music. I go to a concert to listen to music. If music is going to be a part of the dining experience make it live and acoustic.
2. Sound deadening materials could be easily added to Ad Astra without detracting from the decorating. A number of flags, like the state flag and seal, given the name, Ad Astra, would help.
3. Change the front of the bar to something that doesn't bounce sound around.
Hopefully, Ad Astra will choose to deal with their noise issues. Until they do it is a place I need to avoid as spending enough time in a high noise environment to eat a meal turns me into someone that is unpleasant to be around. I don't like it when folks don't want to be around me. And I'd like to go back to Ad Astra.
Frustrated,
David