With all the negativity of Mardi Gras and the way it was handled in the city, I thought I would give you a positive view: how I actually spent my Mardi Gras.
While most professionals were scared away from downtown (for good reason), my friend talked me into grabbing dinner at the Poor House Bistro on Autumn Street. Being that it is a New Orleans-style restaurant, we thought they would probably celebrate the holiday the authentic way—and we were spot on with that assessment.
A blues band was playing (which was surprisingly good), the bartender was serving mint juleps and hurricanes, and the place was decorated in the standard purple, yellow and green Mardi Gras colors. There were families with young kids, senior citizens donning traditional masks, and young people all in the same place, having a good time and enjoying the festivities. You can’t say that happens in many places in San Jose, can you?
After a few hurricanes, we had two fifty-year-old bikers at our table clinking glasses, four Santa Clara law students enjoying the fun and a few friends from the next table who had moved to the Bay Area from New Orleans. Then, before we knew it, the place erupted with people dancing, laughing, and having a good time. There was no flashing, no throwing rocks through storefronts and no trouble. Just the way it should be.
The only downside was that they had to shut down the band at 9 p.m. because they wanted to clear the place out by 10 p.m. so everyone could get out of downtown before any trouble started. It was sad because the party had only just begun!
So next year, when you are looking for something to do or the threat of hooligans keeps you in your house or apartment or out of downtown entirely, just remember: there are some gems out there—you just have to go find them.
And if it’s the Poor House, I will see you there.
9pm. sounds so exciting! see you on bingo night
SG said:“The only downside was that they had to shut down the band at 9 p.m. because they wanted to clear the place out by 10 p.m. so everyone could get out of downtown before any trouble started. “
Gimme a break—the place is difficult to locate, and there’s never any trouble that far WEST of “downtown”. Boy, are those owners gunshy, or what?
John Michael –
I agree, trust me! I didn’t want to stop the Hurricanes then either! I did not go home at 9PM but the fun ended at Poor House at that time. Where we went from there was only downhill.
Maybe the Poor House will stay open later next year…we can hope. If not, I guess I will see you at Bingo!
SG—my comment was really directed toward them, not you.
I suppose being overly concerned about one’s customers’ welfare is better than the attitude of the club owners who draw the thugs.
Single calls out an important market fact about what works, and what doesn’t in San Jose. Her description of a successful Mardi Gras commercial adventure highlights what marketeers call “mixed demographic targeting”—offerings which appeal to different groups at the same time: to families, to singles, to different ethnic and socioeconomic groups. San Jose is a wonderfully eclectic and diverse community, and we do best—culturally and economically—when we try to embrace that fact, instead of offering tightly targeted (singles only/families only/nightclubs only) services instead. I say mix it up!
I applaud the owners of the Poor House for putting the safety of their customers ahead of potential profits.
Although I’ve never been there I’m going to make a point of stopping in.
I see single gal writing back to some bloggers. Are you ever going to come out and tell us who you are? Does anyone know who you are? Are you hot or not?
I was watching news coverage of the Marti Gras festivities.
On their segment they were interviewing one individual who came all the way down from Oakland. He was a black male about in his mid twenties. He said he was a little concerned because there were so many police downtown, it made him feel uncomfortable.
Then a few minutes later, they interviewed a white femiale who happened to be of the same age range. She was a little concerned about going downtown and she was hessitant about comming but, she said when she saw the police she felt so much safer.
I thought that was kind of interesting.