You Mean We Have to Wait Until 2011
Dec 2nd, 2007 by Alex
Reading about that lingering bar smoke aroma that emanates from our clothes, it reminded me that I left Bateman’s Friday evening, my clothes reeking of stale cigarette smoke. I was only in there for 30 minutes and I didn’t see a single person actively smoking. It was all residual. This is a sharp contrast to the bars in Howard County, where you can be out all night and come home smelling the same as when you left.
I wonder when the rest of Maryland is going to get with the program. I know that lawmakers decided in April to a state-wide smoking ban back in April, but it still allows businesses to apply for a three year exemption if they can claim hardship. If you’re going to go to a bar, you’re going to go to a bar regardless of whether it allows smoking inside. Visit any county that has enacted a ban and see if they’re losing business. Hell, visit New York and see if the bars are still getting along. 2011 — the year in which all establishments will have to go smoke-free — doesn’t seem soon enough. In the meantime here’s a short list of smoke-free places in Maryland. This list isn’t too impressive, but I’m sure there are others that aren’t on there.
Update: In the “if there isn’t one already, do it yourself” spirit of things, I’ve started a list of smoke-free restaurants, bars, and entertainment venues that I’ll be adding to as I find them. I’d love help populating it.
NY State also had an exemption in their non-smoking law that allowed for hardship cases. You can count on one hand how many exemptions they have made. So don’t fear too much.
Oh and your smoke free list is horribly out of date, it still lists smoke free establishments in Montgomery County which is all smoke free.
Oh and if you want to go out in the city come to Hampden. The Hon bar is smoke free as is the bar at Golden West. Rocket to Jesus is smoke free until 9pm and Holy Frijoles is smoke free (if I read the sign right) until 11pm.
Also, DC is smoke free as well.
Hmmm… how do we get/maintain a current list of these places? That would be a handy list to have around, and it wouldn’t hurt if a few of us internet-folk promoted it. Thanks for the info, A.
Paul: Not my list, just one I found. I wasn’t able to find an address for Rocket to Jesus.
kpm: Hell yes.
Charissa: Through personal references, really. That’s the only way I’d think. I’ve decided to keep a list going of smokeless places in the area. Once it gets a bit larger, perhaps it’d be worth plugging.
oops my bad. Rocket to Jesus is an inside joke for what is actually Rocket to Venus at 3360 Chestnut Ave. Baltimore, MD 21211
exact non-smoking details are:
No Smoking 5 – 9pm
Smoking allowed (bar only) 9pm – 11pm
Smoking permitted 11pm – 2am