Them Good Bars Go Bad

During an earlier attempt at blogging, I had hoped to write stories around the theme of change. In college I was one of those girls who had a poster proudly taped to her wall with the inscription, "If nothing ever changed there would be no butterflies."

This was my way of embracing the inevitable and pretending that I was happy about it. Well, let me tell you readers, I am not happy about the changes made to Moonshadow Tavern in the Commons of Ithaca, NY.


As a result of an unfortunate accident that closed off I80 for the better part of Sunday afternoon, I had plenty of time to think about the reasons Moonies used to be awesome, currently sucks, and should be restored to its former glory immediately if not sooner:



PAST: Moonies boasted the best Friday afternoon Happy Hour. There was no better way to get the weekend started than drinking your own pitcher (with a straw) and collecting a few tokens for the next time you were there and had no cash. Not to mention they provided free, albeit not gourmet, pizza and subs.


PRESENT: No one shows up at happy hour. There is no free pizza. 3-1 token specials are obsolete.


PAST: The booths and tables were so awesomely arranged that you knew exactly where you could find your group of friends when you walked in the door. Familiar faces could most notably be found in the window table up front, or the "VIP" table separating the front from the back - where ICers perched themselves atop the booth for a birds eye view of the entire bar.


PRESENT: Both seating arrangements have been removed, forcing one to awkwardly stand or walk all the way to the back dart board area in order to find a place to sit.

PAST: The TouchTunes jukebox had been so over-patronized by the same people that the top 10 requested songs were played ad nauseum with absolutely no complaints. It didn't matter if we heard Since You've Been Gone or Don't Stop Believin' 14 times in one night, we sang with the same enthusiasm each time.


PRESENT: TouchTunes has been replaced by a "dance floor" and a "DJ Booth" in the window. Good luck trying to hear Kelly Clarkson or Journey at 'Club Moonies.'


PAST: Dim lighting and the perfect amount of LaBattBlue Light was the stuff one-night-stands were made of.


PRESENT: The current light show is like a disco ball on crack... rather than create a chill atmosphere, it threatens to induce a seizure.


PAST: There was no need to advertise or market any of Moonshadows' specials. Affectionately referred to as Moonies, this bar sold itself.

PRESENT: The new ownership uses Facebook for promotions and bouncers and bartenders parade around in (and try to sell) clothing with the the following logos. Yuck.


There is much to be appreciated about dive bars which is why I'm convinced that these changes are to the detriment of the establishment. Then again, what do I know about "kids today?" At least I am comforted by the belief that I attended Ithaca in its prime.