charliebravo77
Well-known member
I don't know if it's at all the same kind of situation going on here, but it reminds me of a place I visited here in Chicago called Sportsman's Club. It's got mounts all over the walls, brick, lots of wood. This Yelp review from another confused patron says it all:
"As an experienced hunter I was thrilled to learn of Sportman's Club in Chicago. A place where I could gather with fellow hunters and fisherman to share our recent adventures. From the moment I walked in I felt at home with a hunting theme running from floor to ceiling. I looked around and saw plenty of flannel. Plenty of beards.
I pulled up a seat at the bar and started regaling the patrons with my recent bear hunting trip to the Upper Peninsula. I told them about a wonderful fishing expedition to Canada and some issues we ran into with Customs upon our return home. I was looking for the other Sportsman's Club patrons to share their similar stories but received none. Perhaps they were just shy? I prodded for more information but none could relate. They looked at me like I was crazy. Imagine that? An actual Outdoorsman being viewed as crazy for dining in an outdoorsman themed establishment by a bunch of city dwelling, hand sanitizer using twerps that have never taken down a full grown male moose charging them from 100 yards away.
I could only take so much. As a respected hunter and fisherman I needn't spend another second in such an inauthentic establishment. There is no difference between what Sportsman's Club is attempting to do versus what someplace like Rainforest Cafe is trying to do - essentially build a fake atmosphere for their patrons - 90% of whom will never actually partake in the real life activity.
You know who has a more authentic environment with just as good of beer and food? TGI Fridays. Go there instead."
Some places are all about the vibe and not the genuine appeal.
"As an experienced hunter I was thrilled to learn of Sportman's Club in Chicago. A place where I could gather with fellow hunters and fisherman to share our recent adventures. From the moment I walked in I felt at home with a hunting theme running from floor to ceiling. I looked around and saw plenty of flannel. Plenty of beards.
I pulled up a seat at the bar and started regaling the patrons with my recent bear hunting trip to the Upper Peninsula. I told them about a wonderful fishing expedition to Canada and some issues we ran into with Customs upon our return home. I was looking for the other Sportsman's Club patrons to share their similar stories but received none. Perhaps they were just shy? I prodded for more information but none could relate. They looked at me like I was crazy. Imagine that? An actual Outdoorsman being viewed as crazy for dining in an outdoorsman themed establishment by a bunch of city dwelling, hand sanitizer using twerps that have never taken down a full grown male moose charging them from 100 yards away.
I could only take so much. As a respected hunter and fisherman I needn't spend another second in such an inauthentic establishment. There is no difference between what Sportsman's Club is attempting to do versus what someplace like Rainforest Cafe is trying to do - essentially build a fake atmosphere for their patrons - 90% of whom will never actually partake in the real life activity.
You know who has a more authentic environment with just as good of beer and food? TGI Fridays. Go there instead."
Some places are all about the vibe and not the genuine appeal.