tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33211583.post2493488722315028141..comments2024-02-10T08:13:07.736+00:00Comments on Round-The-World Barstool Blues: Great Names for Bars (A new competition)Frooghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06738623732860210935noreply@blogger.comBlogger20125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33211583.post-4058187090690948182011-06-23T01:42:31.048+00:002011-06-23T01:42:31.048+00:00In this postyesterday, I recorded that a Japanese ...In <a href="http://thebarprop.blogspot.com/2011/06/new-option-in-soho.html" rel="nofollow">this post</a>yesterday, I recorded that a Japanese friend has just opened up a bar in Jianwai SOHO called <b>Shala</b>.<br /><br />I couldn't resist suggesting <b><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z2JFJ6B9xoY" rel="nofollow">Shama Lama Ding Dong</a></b> as an alternative. It's one of the numbers performed by Otis Day & The Knights in <i>Animal House</i> - check out the link to hear the song.Frooghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06738623732860210935noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33211583.post-11915553579117057812011-01-26T00:13:27.786+00:002011-01-26T00:13:27.786+00:00Not a bad suggestion, Dave.
I'm not sure we c...Not a bad suggestion, Dave.<br /><br />I'm not sure we could come up with a transliteration that mean anything appropriate in Chinese, but it would probably sound like SUR-LEE - which would again be amusingly apt for the English-speaking drinkers.<br /><br />Happy Australia Day!!Frooghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06738623732860210935noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33211583.post-82270835642984783562011-01-25T21:00:22.427+00:002011-01-25T21:00:22.427+00:00Un, not sure how this would translate into Chinese...Un, not sure how this would translate into Chinese characters; but am getting the impression that you prefer the slightly 'down-at-heel' so how about "Slee's Bar".<br /><br />PS; word verifaction 'troph'.Dave in Oznoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33211583.post-91953326644766600222010-07-28T05:56:30.708+00:002010-07-28T05:56:30.708+00:00A few days ago I posted a new list of bar name sug...A few days ago I <a href="http://thebarprop.blogspot.com/2010/07/game-of-names.html" rel="nofollow">posted</a> a new list of bar name suggestions, to try to get this thread energised again. I'll paste them below.<br /><br />Not <i>great</i>, but a reasonable illustration of the broad range of possible approaches...<br /><br /><br /><b>Elixir</b><br />(Another <i>cocktail</i> bar name!!)<br /><br /><b>100 Flowers</b><br />(A very apposite reference for China - though <a href="http://granitestudio.org/2008/02/27/marriage-counseling-and-mao-the-hundred-flowers-movement-of-1957/" rel="nofollow">not a very pleasant one</a>. And perhaps a tad obscure for those who aren't <i>au fait</i> with their modern Chinese history.)<br /><br /><b>Agincourt</b><br />(A playful jibe at the French component of <b>Room 101</b>'s original ownership syndicate! Ah, it would be a great name for an English restaurant.... <a href="http://thebarprop.blogspot.com/2007/07/service-in-china.html?showComment=1185081000000#c8970117927993027956" rel="nofollow">if such a thing could ever exist</a>!)<br /><br /><b>Cultureshock</b><br />(Hmm, I see this as being more of a studenty type of place up in Wudaokou - perhaps even a meat-market/disco like <b>Propaganda</b>.)<br /><br /><b>Rick's Café</b><br />(The only place I've ever come across somewhere that takes its name from Bogie's famous nightclub in Casablanca is Negril, at the western tip of Jamaica. Odd. You'd think that such a universally recognisable pop culture reference would have been exploited for marketing myriads of bars all around the world. I wonder if the Warner Bros. goons crack down on this kind of thing?? Not in China, surely?! I'd love to try and do a Rick's one day, somewhere; but I think my conception of the place - though it might include the jazz/cabaret of the movie - would be very different in lots of ways.)<br /><br /><b>Zebra</b><br />(This is the kind of name that is prompted primarily by the conceits of the interior design team rather than any other consideration: you can see that austere black-and-white theme, can't you? Not a completely terrible name; better than <b>Ginkgo</b>; but not great.)<br /><br /><b>The Workers' Flag</b><br />(".... is soaked in drink./ It's not as red as you may think...." Oh, how many times did I sing that in my far-off student days? An unusual name, but a very workable one, I think: fits in nicely with the locale in Communist China, immediately suggests a simple but catchy logo/symbol/gimmick.... and might possibly attract an amusingly outspoken clientele of would-be philosopher-revolutionaries.)<br /><br /><b>Destino</b><br />(One of my favourites from this little selection. For me, it would fit a restaurant better than a bar - but that was what Ginkgo was aiming to be. It's the Spanish for 'destiny' [the great golfer Seve Ballesteros used to invoke it a lot whenever his winning ways deserted him: "I feel I have many more victories yet in my destino."], so it might prove particularly attractive as a 'date place'.)<br /><br /><b>The Blackout Bar</b><br />(This was in fact a suggestion from my erstwhile drinking companion, the determinedly eccentric young American boozehound <a href="http://thebarprop.blogspot.com/2008/07/bon-voyage.html" rel="nofollow">Crazy Chris</a> - inspired by his experiences in Korea, where he was never able to remember the name of his favourite late-night drinking den.)<br /><br /><b>A-Train</b><br />(Now, this could definitely work! A New York cultural reference that will beguile the Chinese punters, and one that comes complete with its own - incomparably groovy - <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EbUklDXdH2o" rel="nofollow">theme song</a>. Oh yes, someone should do this.)<br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Oh, of course, I suggested <b>Fubar</b> as <a href="http://thebarprop.blogspot.com/2009/02/perfect-name-for-chinese-bar.html" rel="nofollow">an ideal name for a bar in China</a> on here long, long ago..... but someone has done that now. (I'm still waiting for my royalties.)Frooghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06738623732860210935noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33211583.post-50026320663108126982010-07-28T05:37:12.617+00:002010-07-28T05:37:12.617+00:00Smoke and Barley sounds too much like a whisky bar...<b>Smoke and Barley</b> sounds too much like a whisky bar - and I don't approve of <i>those</i>.<br /><br /><b>Church</b> sounds more like a nightclub. In fact, it is - or was - the name of a club in the King's Cross district of London.<br /><br /><b>Froog's</b> would risk blowing my cover, wouldn't it?<br /><br />And <b>L'Internationale</b>, really? I can see that being a restaurant, or maybe a cocktail bar, but never a <i>bar</i> bar.Frooghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06738623732860210935noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33211583.post-53789662620659840432010-07-22T10:02:33.201+00:002010-07-22T10:02:33.201+00:00If you can overlook the Frog connotations....
1. ...If you can overlook the Frog connotations....<br /><br />1. L'Internationale<br /><br />Pretentious, Topical, Cosmopolitan, International...not unlike myself.<br /><br />2. Smoke and Barley<br /><br />Keep it simple.<br /><br />3. Church.<br /><br />Simple AND sacrilegious. <br /><br />4. Froog's<br /><br />Hell, why not?Man in Blacknoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33211583.post-14010466909410765002009-06-15T23:28:45.372+00:002009-06-15T23:28:45.372+00:00I hear a rumour that there is a Fubar about to ope...I hear a rumour that there is a <b>Fubar</b> about to open in Beijing. I should charge royalties, or consultancy fees, or something!<br /><br />More recently, I have come up with the concept of <a href="http://thebarprop.blogspot.com/2009/05/new-concept.html" rel="nofollow"><b>Carbon Bigfoot</b></a> - the most environmentally <i>un</i>friendly bar in the world. I think it's an idea the locals might go for in a big way.Frooghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06738623732860210935noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33211583.post-39209935469336453322009-02-26T02:25:00.000+00:002009-02-26T02:25:00.000+00:00I'm living in Nanning (Guangxi) and i spend few mo...I'm living in Nanning (Guangxi) and i spend few month in Yangshuo (THE famous tourist place or tourist trap, i don't know really). There is a bar owned by an australian named 98, which means simply bar in chinese if u translate it. Simple but it works...Abadidonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11581019513752037832noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33211583.post-78400994043239224932009-02-08T09:21:00.000+00:002009-02-08T09:21:00.000+00:00I recently explained why FUBAR would be the perfec...I recently explained why <B>FUBAR</B> would be <A HREF="http://thebarprop.blogspot.com/2009/02/perfect-name-for-chinese-bar.html" REL="nofollow">the perfect name for a Chinese bar</A>.Frooghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06738623732860210935noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33211583.post-28363248628612003252008-10-11T05:34:00.000+00:002008-10-11T05:34:00.000+00:00I hope you suggested that to them, Tony.I remember...I hope you suggested that to them, Tony.<BR/><BR/>I remember the great Jeffrey Bernard once suggested that there should be a refuge for errant males ejected from home by their long-suffering womenfolk called the <B>Gone-Too-Far Bar</B>, which would offer early evening discounts during its "Unhappy Hour".Frooghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06738623732860210935noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33211583.post-8966846954861408252008-10-10T09:08:00.000+00:002008-10-10T09:08:00.000+00:00Bit late to add a comment here but I must. To unde...Bit late to add a comment here but I must. To understand it you need to have some English friends who are criminally insane:<BR/><BR/>I once stayed in a hotel in Colorado Springs called The Broadmoor and discovered to my surprise that they hadn't thought of calling their bar Her Majesty's Pleasure.<BR/><BR/>I don't remember whether it was a nice bar or not.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33211583.post-64484853315124245052008-07-11T08:19:00.000+00:002008-07-11T08:19:00.000+00:00Brendan, control yourself! The Pun Police may hav...Brendan, control yourself! The Pun Police may have to pay you an intimidatory visit. Are you back from your visa run now?<BR/><BR/>But that reminds me - <B>Paddy Field's</B> is actually a pretty funny name for an Irish bar in China.<BR/><BR/>(We do have one such here in Beijing, but it's not really a very good bar.)Frooghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06738623732860210935noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33211583.post-25134481343596107812008-07-11T03:56:00.000+00:002008-07-11T03:56:00.000+00:00Not exactly a bar, but I always thought someone sh...Not exactly a bar, but I always thought someone should open a pub/restaurant with an outdoor deck and call it "Paddy O'Dining."Brendanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17829838343050554709noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33211583.post-54546932980290153322008-07-11T01:19:00.000+00:002008-07-11T01:19:00.000+00:00I think the best bar name in Beijing currently is ...I think the best bar name in Beijing currently is - alas - <B>The Den</B>.<BR/><BR/>Or maybe <B>Huxley's</B>. I like bars named after the owner; it gives them more <I>personality</I>.<BR/><BR/>I suppose <B>Sammy's</B> rates a mention on that basis. I particularly like that <I>everybody</I> calls it that, even though its name is supposedly <B>The Sunset Grill</B>.<BR/><BR/>Is Sammy open for business again yet??Frooghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06738623732860210935noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33211583.post-20956320075238671492008-07-11T01:10:00.000+00:002008-07-11T01:10:00.000+00:00Hmmm, well, I always found the larger, 2nd incarna...Hmmm, well, I always found the larger, 2nd incarnation of 5:19 to be deeply charmless (although I'd known Dave & Stasi for ages, and always tried to be supportive). Upstairs it often stank off-puttingly of sweat (particularly after a darts night); downstairs, of mildew. And, other than on a darts night or a Hash night, it was always deserted.<BR/><BR/>The <I>original</I> 5:19, however, (taking over from Artefacts, a little bar hidden away above the laundry next to Green Lake Gardens) now that was a great little place. Sadly short-lived, as is so often the case in Beijing.Frooghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06738623732860210935noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33211583.post-91649667165337848292008-07-11T00:06:00.000+00:002008-07-11T00:06:00.000+00:00I actually miss 5:19. THAT was a great place to h...I actually miss 5:19. THAT was a great place to hang.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33211583.post-838905955351589532008-07-10T03:14:00.000+00:002008-07-10T03:14:00.000+00:00Not 'Suds & Buds'???There used to be a bar here in...Not 'Suds & Buds'???<BR/><BR/>There used to be a bar here in Beijing called <B>5:19</B>, which began its evening 'happy hour' at that time. Not a very interesting name in English, but in Chinese - being the <I>crazy</I>, pun-prone language that it is - the numbers 519, <I>wu yao jiu</I>, sound very like the phrase for "Give me a drink!"<BR/><BR/>Did you ever go to <B>Garlicky Shots</B> in Soho? Not a great name, but...... <I>it does exactly what it says on the label</I>. The snack menu was garlic-heavy; the drink list was vodka-heavy; and I think they had some garlic-flavoured vodkas. It was run by this mad Icelandic guy. I haven't been in over 10 years, and I suspect it's not still going (I suspect <I>he</I> isn't still going). One of the sleaziest places I've been in - hence, kind of fun!Frooghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06738623732860210935noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33211583.post-84891093259236776992008-07-09T13:15:00.000+00:002008-07-09T13:15:00.000+00:00Don't check it out. It sucks balls, is expensive, ...Don't check it out. It sucks balls, is expensive, and is populated by DC yuppies.<BR/><BR/>My fondness for it extends as far as the name.<BR/><BR/>There was a fine laundromat/bar combo in Chicago called Suds & Duds.The British Cowboyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00439277300657927816noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33211583.post-51674760663069039612008-07-09T01:11:00.000+00:002008-07-09T01:11:00.000+00:00I'l have to check that out next time I'm over.Grea...I'l have to check that out next time I'm over.<BR/><BR/>Great name - but rather location-specific!Frooghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06738623732860210935noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33211583.post-88726405832044996202008-07-08T21:24:00.000+00:002008-07-08T21:24:00.000+00:00I have a definite fondness for a bar in DC, in the...I have a definite fondness for a bar in DC, in the (oh so annoyingly trendy and hip) Adam's Morgan neighborhood called Madam's Organ.<BR/><BR/>It's a crap bar though, which is not suprising seeing as it is in DC.The British Cowboyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00439277300657927816noreply@blogger.com