A Haven for Wilde's 'Drinking Class'
There is an unspoken... well, 'rule' might be a strong word... an unspoken 'policy' that great literature and alcohol go hand in hand, in that the first might not exist without the second. It may be a specifically British policy (about which we might ask J.R.R. Tolkien and C.S. Lewis for confirmation), and it lends itself to a delightful confluence of events that is looking forward to the opening of an Oscar Wilde-themed bar in New York City. There are wonderful ironies included in the location and decor, including the fact that the bar occupies space that was once part of NYC's Bureau of Prohibition. The place is literally full of classical allusions along with marble statues; and the furniture and decorations are a clever and whimsical mix of pieces from around the world. All of this speaks directly to Oscar Wilde's intelligence & playfulness, as well as the complex, extraordinarily resourceful nature of his comedy and other writings. And, naturally, ...