Re: [FairfieldLife] Re: Table for one? No problem.
Around here occasionally unless you want to wait for an open table they will ask if you want a table in the bar. This can be acceptable because most all bars in California no longer allow smoking. Bars also often have far more two seat tables. There are still some restaurants with counter seating like you have in diners. Those too are often offered when there are no tables open. I rarely dine out and when I do I avoid the lunch rush. On 07/07/2013 10:19 PM, turquoiseb wrote: Seating additional people at tables with room for them, if the place is crowded, is de rigeur for the Dutch. As you say, it can be a nice way to meet nice people. But every so often you've been with other people all day, and just want a place to sit and eat and unwind, and then this practice kinda gets in the way. So I appreciated the intent behind this place in Amsterdam. But I can't really complain about the group seating practice, either, because I met a previous girlfriend that way on my first trip to Amsterdam. It turned out to be a quick fling romantically, but we're still in touch, and still good friends. --- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, martyboi martyboi@... wrote: When I was younger I used to be self conscious about going to the movie theater alone...like everyone's eyes are on me and they know my social life is a complete disaster. I enjoy going alone now just to get away from my other half. About ten years ago while vacationing on Vashon Island, which is a short ferry ride from Seattle, a friend and I randomly selected a restaurant. It was explained by the greeter that we would be seated at our table with strangers - as this was their tradition. I was horrified, but too hungry to complain. Much to my relief, the place was empty when we were first seated. A few minutes later, however, four individuals were seated at our table. It made me very uncomfortable...until they uncorked a nice bottle of wine to share with us. Properly lubricated, I can hang with just about anyone. They turned out to be very interesting people. Two of them were professors from the University of Washington who had just returned from a photo safari in Africa where they had gone to film the mountain gorillas. It turned out to be quite a nice evening that I remember fondly to this day. As far as I can tell from a quick google, I believe the place is no longer there... so much for social engineering projects.
[FairfieldLife] Re: Table for one? No problem.
--- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, Bhairitu noozguru@... wrote: (snip) Around here it might even rare to get into a conversation with the table next to you. It's like everyone has some degree of socialphobia. That's been my experience too. It does happen, but it's rare. I don't know that it's socialphobia so much as respect for others' privacy. And I must say I've never been treated like a leper when I've eaten at a restaurant by myself. Nor, for that matter, have I ever been seated by someone so boorish as to say, No problem, as if anybody might think it *could* be a problem.
[FairfieldLife] Re: Table for one? No problem.
--- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, Bhairitu noozguru@... wrote: American strange. I don't think he understood I thought I was being considerate in giving him back his space. Elegant embedding of subordinate clauses seems to be one of the kewl features of English: I don't think [that] he understood [that] I thought [that] I was being considerate in giving him back his space.
[FairfieldLife] Re: Table for one? No problem.
When I was younger I used to be self conscious about going to the movie theater alone...like everyone's eyes are on me and they know my social life is a complete disaster. I enjoy going alone now just to get away from my other half. About ten years ago while vacationing on Vashon Island, which is a short ferry ride from Seattle, a friend and I randomly selected a restaurant. It was explained by the greeter that we would be seated at our table with strangers - as this was their tradition. I was horrified, but too hungry to complain. Much to my relief, the place was empty when we were first seated. A few minutes later, however, four individuals were seated at our table. It made me very uncomfortable...until they uncorked a nice bottle of wine to share with us. Properly lubricated, I can hang with just about anyone. They turned out to be very interesting people. Two of them were professors from the University of Washington who had just returned from a photo safari in Africa where they had gone to film the mountain gorillas. It turned out to be quite a nice evening that I remember fondly to this day. As far as I can tell from a quick google, I believe the place is no longer there... so much for social engineering projects.
[FairfieldLife] Re: Table for one? No problem.
Seating additional people at tables with room for them, if the place is crowded, is de rigeur for the Dutch. As you say, it can be a nice way to meet nice people. But every so often you've been with other people all day, and just want a place to sit and eat and unwind, and then this practice kinda gets in the way. So I appreciated the intent behind this place in Amsterdam. But I can't really complain about the group seating practice, either, because I met a previous girlfriend that way on my first trip to Amsterdam. It turned out to be a quick fling romantically, but we're still in touch, and still good friends. --- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, martyboi martyboi@... wrote: When I was younger I used to be self conscious about going to the movie theater alone...like everyone's eyes are on me and they know my social life is a complete disaster. I enjoy going alone now just to get away from my other half. About ten years ago while vacationing on Vashon Island, which is a short ferry ride from Seattle, a friend and I randomly selected a restaurant. It was explained by the greeter that we would be seated at our table with strangers - as this was their tradition. I was horrified, but too hungry to complain. Much to my relief, the place was empty when we were first seated. A few minutes later, however, four individuals were seated at our table. It made me very uncomfortable...until they uncorked a nice bottle of wine to share with us. Properly lubricated, I can hang with just about anyone. They turned out to be very interesting people. Two of them were professors from the University of Washington who had just returned from a photo safari in Africa where they had gone to film the mountain gorillas. It turned out to be quite a nice evening that I remember fondly to this day. As far as I can tell from a quick google, I believe the place is no longer there... so much for social engineering projects.
