Sunday, November 14, 2010
1st story will be...
A sort of feature/introduction to my listening post, Peg's Pocket to get a history of the place, its people and its purpose. Who began the pool hall? Who owns it? Why did they start it? How is business? Are there better times than others, financially? Who is the target demographic, and is that who comes there?
Monday, November 8, 2010
visit #2
I finally braved my fears and hectic schedule, and went back to Peg's Pocket. Tuesdays and Thursdays are "free beer nights" so I went Thursday eve, at what I was hoping was a better time to meet people, and.....
There were actually people there this time! While slightly disappointed because now I would actually have to talk to strangers, I was glad that maybe I wouldn't fail this project after all.
It's still freaky walking in, because the windows are all blacked out, so you literally have no idea what you will see when you walk in. This time, I saw some people playing pool, some standing around, sticks in hand, waiting for their turn, and some sitting down at the bar, sipping beers. After a quick canvass of the area, I went and sat down at an empty stool next to a guy and a girl that wre talking to each other.
At first, I studied the signs and waited for the barkeep to come over, as he was busy with other customers. After a minute or two, he came over and asked to see my ID (before I even said anything!) I showed it to him, and then he asked if I wanted Budweiser or Budweiser light, and as it was Free Beer Night, it was on the house. (Of course they would serve domestic drinks for free, and not my favorite Imported brands). I replied Bud light, because after all, it is free beer.
I then turned to the girl next to me and said "hey." She said "hey" back, and i launched into my introductory spiel.
"So I'm a journalism student at FIU, and I have to do a project for a class that involves me going out to a place and getting to know some poeple there. Could I talk to you about this place and whatnot?"
Girl: "Uhhh, sure. I don't go here that much, though," she said between sips of her free beer.
The waiter guy then gave me my cup of Bud light. "Thanks," I said to him, before turning back to my target.
"That's ok, about how many times have you been here?" I asked the girl.
"A few, usually just when we don't know what to do at night. We came for the free beer." "uhh, why else would anyone come here?" I joked.
She laughed, "exactly!" but then pointed out some people that she's seen here most whenever she does come.
What's your name, by the way?" "Emily." "I'm Suray." "What?" "Sue-die" "Suray?" "Yeah." "Oh, that's pretty." (LIE)
Emily then pointed out some people, including the guy next to her, Daniel, which they are "just friends" but I can clearly tell she likes him, along with another friend with them, Brandon. They were all mid-20s, white, working, all friends who like to hang out places, especially cheap ones.
They were deciding whether or not to play a round of pool, but with 3 peopl in their party, it was kind of awkward.
"Oh, well, would you mind if I played with you guys?"
And an epic girls vs boys game of pool was born.
"oh, that would be perfect!" said Emily, with Daniel and Brandon nodding in agreement that it would be ok.
While I'm not excellent at the game, I figured I wouldn't be horrible, and besides, I made their teams even. Plus, I really like playing pool so I was super happy.
We chalked up and triangled the cue balls. Ladies first, so Emily broke. No balls went in, so the boys went. Daniel got one in, first try, making them Solids. He hit again, but missed. "yess" from the girls. My turn. Daniel gave me a pretty good set-up for me to hit a striped ball into the corner left pocket, "yeahhhh!" I went again, missed. Brandon next: missed. Emily next: missed. Daniel: two more solids gone. Back to me: One more stripe bites the dust.
Emily: "woow, you're good." "I'm really not," I say as I miss again. "See??" All four share a laugh.
As the game continues, I talk to Emily about the people she'd pointed out before. "So tell me about these people you see here." "I don't really know them, I just know they come here a lot." "ok, maybe i'll go talk to them later." "they're usually here when we come, and they're still here when we're leaving. "Ok perfect, i'll go talk to them later."
For the time being, us girls have a game of pool to win.
Throughout the game, I learn more about Emily. She is 26, divorced, a high school French teacher, has a twin sister in Tennessee, and a cat named Isis. She really loves her cat.
I shared about the same level of info: "I'm 22, hoping to graduate in the spring. I have a cat too! Cafall. I live around here, too, but my campus is way up north, it really sucks, but what can I do?"
Daniel and Brandon kept up a bit of chatter, too, but not quite as much as Emily and I, of course, but I do know they are 26 and 27 years old (I forget who is which age)
While I felt comfortable talking to Emily from the get-go, by the end of the game we were the best of friends. We exchanged numbers, and plan on hanging out again soon.
There were actually people there this time! While slightly disappointed because now I would actually have to talk to strangers, I was glad that maybe I wouldn't fail this project after all.
It's still freaky walking in, because the windows are all blacked out, so you literally have no idea what you will see when you walk in. This time, I saw some people playing pool, some standing around, sticks in hand, waiting for their turn, and some sitting down at the bar, sipping beers. After a quick canvass of the area, I went and sat down at an empty stool next to a guy and a girl that wre talking to each other.
At first, I studied the signs and waited for the barkeep to come over, as he was busy with other customers. After a minute or two, he came over and asked to see my ID (before I even said anything!) I showed it to him, and then he asked if I wanted Budweiser or Budweiser light, and as it was Free Beer Night, it was on the house. (Of course they would serve domestic drinks for free, and not my favorite Imported brands). I replied Bud light, because after all, it is free beer.
I then turned to the girl next to me and said "hey." She said "hey" back, and i launched into my introductory spiel.
"So I'm a journalism student at FIU, and I have to do a project for a class that involves me going out to a place and getting to know some poeple there. Could I talk to you about this place and whatnot?"
Girl: "Uhhh, sure. I don't go here that much, though," she said between sips of her free beer.
The waiter guy then gave me my cup of Bud light. "Thanks," I said to him, before turning back to my target.
"That's ok, about how many times have you been here?" I asked the girl.
"A few, usually just when we don't know what to do at night. We came for the free beer." "uhh, why else would anyone come here?" I joked.
She laughed, "exactly!" but then pointed out some people that she's seen here most whenever she does come.
What's your name, by the way?" "Emily." "I'm Suray." "What?" "Sue-die" "Suray?" "Yeah." "Oh, that's pretty." (LIE)
Emily then pointed out some people, including the guy next to her, Daniel, which they are "just friends" but I can clearly tell she likes him, along with another friend with them, Brandon. They were all mid-20s, white, working, all friends who like to hang out places, especially cheap ones.
They were deciding whether or not to play a round of pool, but with 3 peopl in their party, it was kind of awkward.
"Oh, well, would you mind if I played with you guys?"
And an epic girls vs boys game of pool was born.
"oh, that would be perfect!" said Emily, with Daniel and Brandon nodding in agreement that it would be ok.
While I'm not excellent at the game, I figured I wouldn't be horrible, and besides, I made their teams even. Plus, I really like playing pool so I was super happy.
We chalked up and triangled the cue balls. Ladies first, so Emily broke. No balls went in, so the boys went. Daniel got one in, first try, making them Solids. He hit again, but missed. "yess" from the girls. My turn. Daniel gave me a pretty good set-up for me to hit a striped ball into the corner left pocket, "yeahhhh!" I went again, missed. Brandon next: missed. Emily next: missed. Daniel: two more solids gone. Back to me: One more stripe bites the dust.
Emily: "woow, you're good." "I'm really not," I say as I miss again. "See??" All four share a laugh.
As the game continues, I talk to Emily about the people she'd pointed out before. "So tell me about these people you see here." "I don't really know them, I just know they come here a lot." "ok, maybe i'll go talk to them later." "they're usually here when we come, and they're still here when we're leaving. "Ok perfect, i'll go talk to them later."
For the time being, us girls have a game of pool to win.
Throughout the game, I learn more about Emily. She is 26, divorced, a high school French teacher, has a twin sister in Tennessee, and a cat named Isis. She really loves her cat.
I shared about the same level of info: "I'm 22, hoping to graduate in the spring. I have a cat too! Cafall. I live around here, too, but my campus is way up north, it really sucks, but what can I do?"
Daniel and Brandon kept up a bit of chatter, too, but not quite as much as Emily and I, of course, but I do know they are 26 and 27 years old (I forget who is which age)
While I felt comfortable talking to Emily from the get-go, by the end of the game we were the best of friends. We exchanged numbers, and plan on hanging out again soon.
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