Seattle Smokers Still Smoking

Did you know that people are still smoking in bars in Seattle? Shocking, isn't it? That guy opening and closing his zippo at the bar and staring nails at you? He's waiting for everyone who's shocked to leave so the bartender can finally whip out the ashtrays. He's got you figured out. You rarely come in. You drink something besides PBR. Neither you or your friend have made any trips outside and you guys have been discussing your running regimes for an hour. It's not just him, though, the guys in the corner make a big production about going outside every 20 minutes. Even the bartender has offered you the check three times. C'mon, no one who voted to ban smoking in public establishments is still in a bar after midnight. Go home already. The natives are getting restless, but it's lost on you. "Oh, I used to think this place was a hole but it's so nice without the smoke." "Everyone's so rude, though!" "I know!"

The P-I has a piece today on what they call "smoke-easies" where smoking is ignored by bartenders and staff. The people who talked to them for the article apparently made them promise not to name any names and the paper makes good by leaving out the identities of any of the establishments in the piece.

And then they print a big long list of establishments that have been cited for smoking violations. Hm, wonder if there's any connection there?