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Health & Fitness

Where Can I Get a Drink?

A look to the future...through beer goggles...

On the occasion my wife and I have a free night or babysitter, we often end up with a drink in our hands. Now, we like to be responsible and ideally would prefer to stay in town.  Problem is we cannot really settle in to the local pubs.  

Don't get me wrong...each bar in town has its own distinctive charms. Poor Herbie's has a nice pint of Guinness, quality food and a relaxed charm and character.  

54 Main has size, food and live music should you desire.  And Prospect is certainly the most aesthetically pleasing and pours a nice Guinness, too.

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Somehow between the three establishments one, high quality bar exists.  For most of the time we want a burger and a beer, we are heading out of town: Arthur's or Sona in Morristown.  Delicious Heights or Trap Rock in Berkeley Heights. Anywhere in NYC. For the record, I am tired of going elsewhere.

Can I request the three owners get together, buy the old Exxon station across from Gary's and build a two-, maybe three-story gem?  Poor Herbie's can become another Chocolate Store. 54 Main can be the first spot to attract a big retail store. You with me folks? Think smaller Westfield. Will the women of Madison shop at an Anthropologie or JCrew at that location? My bet would be yes.

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Prospect is pretty so maybe make that a nice tapas place/wine bar.  

The new superbar/restaurant can be multi-faceted. Downstairs would have a nice rathskellar feel to it. Think foosball, darts and peanuts on the floor. Maybe like the bar Rob Lowe and Jim Belushi shot mini hoops in "About Last Night."

Upstairs should resemble any one of the numerous places the Huntley group owns. Lots of dark wood, a fireplace and elegant fare. Ideally, there should be a Happy Hour and bar menu. A large dining room, without TVs, would serve the sophisticated diner. I am fine with a pretentious, smaller bar that would disallow hats and cursing. I am talking to you Trap Rock.

No live music.  The rathskellar has a supreme jukebox that will spin all the hits (as I see them.)  Be prepared for plenty of bands you have never heard of when I get my drunk on.  

A place for Madison folk of all kind. And I can stumble down Main St to my home... not worry about 78 West or Springfield Ave.  It exists in my imagination. Now, how can we make it happen.

And where will we find the staff? Ugh, that is an entirely different column.

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