SAN FRANCISCO, Ca., February 5 — You love being social and chatting over your favorite drink, but you and your friends agree that all the local bars leave you feeling smoky, fondled, or broke. Guess you’ll have to become a recluse or rely on the occasional Super Bowl party for fun catching-up time, right? Wrong.
How did ancient religions and angry mothers put a party in your parlor? In the Beginning. Alcoholic beverages have been around since the Stone Age — they found the beer jugs that prove it — and stout fellows like Noah (of ark fame) and Bacchus (the original frat boy) carried merrily forth the tradition of recreational drinking for relaxation or euphoric pleasures. And it’s not just for the hedonists; many religious ceremonies, from communion to Shabbat, have traditionally placed alcohol at the center of the reverential proceedings. With such a huge audience, naturally the scope of public drinking establishments — taverns, saloons, clubs, inns, Elk Lodges, Holiday Inn piano lounges, what have you — blossomed to match.
Innovations
The whole drinking + driving = bad move idea took shape in the 1800s, when the railroad industry began enforcing rules that prevented folks from operating vehicles under the influence. Scientific studies showing alcohol’s exact physiological effects began coming out in the early 20th century, and stricter and stricter laws have been passing ever since, with groups like MADD (Mothers Against Drunk Driving) and SADD (Students Against Drunk Driving) helping achieve widespread public awareness and outrage on the matter. One great solution to the problem of how to make a good time available (responsibly) to the entire group was home bars, which took the party off the roads and into the coolest parlors and rec rooms around.
What’s In It For You?
Social graces. Well, there’s one good way to ensure you’ll get invited to the party — have it at your house.
Safety. We’re not advocating binge drinking here, but if you’re among the majority of people who enjoy a good cocktail or glass of wine from time to time, it makes a whole lot of sense to do it in your home and take driving out of the equation.
Style. Some of these are pretty enough to build a room around — but assuming you’ve already got the space picked out, we’ve got pieces to complement any décor, from tropical chic to Edwardian banker to trendy uptown club
Savings. Okay, so although we offer plenty of models that won’t break your bank, they aren’t cheap — until you start factoring in all the money you’ll save in bar tabs and gee-that’s-one-cute-bartender tips.
Meet your match:
What would look better in your rec room — black or cherry? Granite or marble? Curves or half-moons or rectangles? Looking for stools to match? Want to evoke grand foyers or tropical breezes? Or maybe you’d just like to know what we like:
| | Save & Share |  10% off on $1,000!
Take 10% off any home bar over $1,000. Enter coupon code HMBAR at check out. Coupon valid through 2/15/2007 at | | |
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