Out and About
Businesses That Deserve Shameless Promotion
A Personal Reflection on Zig's Bar in
Downtown Sudbury Ontario
I gotta tell you, I really don't "do"
bars anymore. I used to do bars, when I was much younger. I've done discos in Detroit, country
bars in Chicago, blues bars in New Orleans, the meat markets in Florida,
I've done cabarets in British Columbia, I've gone clubbing and pubbing
in Toronto, and even spent a short time hanging out at a biker bar
hideaway owned by a friend of mine in way out back Ohio.
Then I got bored. One night in some bar I
can't remember in a town I can't remember, I closed my eyes and realized
that from conversation alone, I could not tell where I was. Some places
might exchange "football" for "hockey", but it was very much the same old
pick up lines, the same old thing about who won what game, the story
about the big drunk last weekend, and who was doing whoo whoo with who.
And I realized I no longer cared. Maybe I was growing up (heaven forbid,
I've avoided that so strenuously) or maybe... I was just getting a life?
At any rate... I quit.
Which was too bad in some ways. I like
socializing. Sometimes. I like music and dancing. Pretty much always. I
even like the occasional drink with high fat finger foods to snack on.
I've been
told for a number of years by friends who know me that I'd enjoy Zig's
Bar in Sudbury. Zig's is a gay bar. I'm not gay that I've noticed, so I
didn't pay much attention to these friendly suggestions. After all, why
would I want to go there?
Then one night a group of friends I was
going to meet at a local coffee shop decided to visit nearby Zig's instead. I
went along, wondering if I'd spend the evening having to watch leather
clad men making out in dark corners. (Should I apologize now?) Instead
of blatant Hollywood versions of gay sexuality, or, the same old pick up
lines I'd grown so weary of, I found polite, friendly, and accepting
people off all ages, sexes, and I presume, sexuality. I couldn't
actuality tell much about that last though, no one wore signs or acted
"that way", so who knows?
The
bar staff was welcoming, friendly, and offered wonderful service. The
place was scrupulously clean. No one, of either sex, was obnoxious or
annoying to me, I didn't see one fight or argument all evening. But, many people did
drop by my table to chat, sit down to stay awhile, and ask me to dance. I had a
wonderful time! Perhaps the best time I'd had in a bar in more years
than I am willing to admit to living through in the public pages of this
site.
The
music was extremely varied and interesting. Lots of people danced. I ate enjoyable food and
had drinks delivered to me quickly with many smiles.
Had I found the perfect bar?
I have gone back to Zig's on occasion,
not a lot, I am still not much of a bar fly anymore, but have always
enjoyed each and every visit. And I have noticed something over the
course of these visits, something pleasing and unexpected to have
discovered. Zig's makes everyone feel comfortable and welcome.
Are you gay, shy, goth, disabled, married
Catholic couple, from out of town and by yourself business man, a
group of office workers having a night out, meeting your mom for a drink, just
want to have some fun, meet some new people, relax, and let your hair
down a bit? You could do worse than visit Zig's.
You will be welcomed because you deserve
to be. You will be treated with kindness, decency, and respect. I've
been impressed with this "gay bar", and find I prefer it to the other
bars around, where fights are a too regular occurrence, intolerance of
anything "different" often the norm, and where I often leave feeling
more like a commodity than a human being with inherent dignity.
I must agree with the quote over there to
the right, I find it surprising that people least accepted have been
found to be the most accepting of others. I'm still not gay, still don't
intend to be, but I still like going to Zig's.
Back to top
This is Not a paid advertisement.
