Secrets of the City

Why is it called a whiskey bar? Most bars serve whiskey. That’s what bars do.

The answer to that question is more interesting than you might expect, but first you have to know that it was a Kurt Weill/Bertholt Brecht song from 20s long before the Lizard King was even an eft princeling. The opera it comes is Mahogany, and (like much of their work) involves criminals and prostitutes. The song is sung by a German prostitute in English, even in the German original, and the lyrics are intentionally clumsy and simplistic and a bit meaningless because she barely knows English, just enough to say the most important things, like get me to the booze stat.

/went on a big Kurt Weill kick a few years ago.

Opera to The Rat is like finger nails down a blackboard.

Weill and Brecht are nothing like what you would typically think of as “opera.” It’s more like cabaret music — think “Mac the Knife” (and sung a lot more menacingly than Bobby Darin did it.)

Hey, the opera is pretty damn cool, Rat!

Most bars serve whiskey. That’s what bars do.

Most bars serve a bar brand, Jack Daniels and/or Jim Beam. Maybe Wild Turkey. That’s it.

A Whiskey Bar offers a wide selection of whiskey, all types and countries of origin. Sort of like what the Happy Gnome does for beer.

Opera to The Rat is like finger nails down a blackboard.

I’m starting to wonder if there’s anything that ISN”T like fingernails down a blackboard to the Rat.

“Und der Haifisch, der hat Zähne und die trägt er im Gesicht und Macheath, der hat ein Messer, doch das Messer sieht man nicht.”

Speaking of whiskey, does anyone over the age of 21 like Canadian Club? If so, would you like a certificate for a $7 rebate on a bottle?

CC is a whiskey of last resort. I got a bottle as a Christmas gift, I managed to finish it off in a scant 4 years.

Canadian Club is making a big ad push recently. Some of the spots are pretty humorous.

The opera angle is fascinating. Thanks, Kurtis.