Time Goes By

When this blog was initiated in December of 2005 it centered around the culture of a small rural 17th century Virginian town that was feeling the interface of growth from the Washington Metro area. A local tavern seemed to bring all of the factors behind this environment together in a blend of cultures that was a mix of commuters to the metro area, local service workers, businessmen and women, and many recently- turned-21 party people who were just beginning to feel their oats. Each evening there would be a mixed population wearing business clothes, scrubs, service work shirts, and Redskin tee shirts-all joking and enjoying themselves in discussions that crossed both age and social barriers.

Sadly, a convergence of forces became effective that gradually separated these groups. By the spring of 2007, the mix had changed to only a reduced number of local workers and young party people. The social and economic diversity disappeared. The tavern could not operate with that the only customer base. August 10 was its last day of operation.

The closing marked the end of an era. The change was seriously discussed on that last night. Although there were certainly many reasons for its demise the primary mover was that the town was now inside the Washington Metro area. Its citizens now have the increased choices associated with an urban environment. The number of new restaurants and bars has made it possible for anyone to spend happy hour at an establishment largely filled with people of their own age and social/economic status. The diverse mix that made the small town tavern so interesting has been separated into several groups with more focused backgrounds and tastes.

Those of us who have hung on to the end must now make a crossroads choice. Some of us intend to go to the west where the honky-tonk neighborhood bars are still found, while others intend to go to the new and more expensive places in town or to the east. In spite of the exchange of e-mail addresses and cell phone numbers, we, like the other customers, will end up in several separate reformed groups.

Hopefully, there will still be the warm feelings of friendship which were developed over the years at the small town tavern.

We do intend to keep this blog active.