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		Entertainment 1/12/2009 New Pub Opens In Portage Mall By Panorama Magazine There is something special about the old neighborhood bar. One of my favorite customs brought from Europe to America. Originally these establishments had a sign, “Public Welcome.” Today, we call it a pub. A pub is a place for everyone to gather, eat, and enjoy the spirits and share stories and opinions. In the pub, we got local news and gossip. We made friends and found partners for life! We laugh and cry together while sharing good memories and heartaches. With the power of television, in the pub, we cheer our favorite team to victory. Be it the jukebox, a DJ or live music, we can sing the night away. Going to the pub is like going to a party without messing up your house. After a long day at work, going to the pub created “Happy Hour.” Historically, that happy house was so much fun that many men didn’t come home and spent their paychecks in the pub, thus creating prohibition. Thank goodness that didn’t last too long. There was a time that only “loose women” went to those places. In Indiana, women weren’t allowed to even sit at the bar! Thanks to equality, we can ALL enjoy the comforts and fun. Women got more educated and could keep up with the talk of politics and business, and even sports. Today, it is well accepted for a woman to “belly-up.” At the Stonequarry Lounge, in the Old Portage Mall, (at 2596 Portage Mall) is such a place. The owner described it as a “good old-fashioned neighborhood bar.” The food is good and has modest prices. They have special food spreads once in a while to the people who frequent regularly. With free pool on Sundays, it’s a good day with the Bears and Billiards! You can bring a friend or find a new one at the Stonequarry Lounge. The people that go there are ready for conversation. You may not know it but the new drinking laws and the laws becoming more strict has made it very difficult for a lot of pubs to stay in business. They do provide a place for our young adults to hang out at and other amenities that are good for the community. Yes, it is possible to drink responsibly and have a good time. How? Eat when you drink. Keep a glass of water on the side for when you are really thirsty and want a good chug. There are a lot of non-alcoholic drinks – which has become a popular trend in California. Above all, the point is, to get out of the house and enjoy the company of others. If you drink too much, you are not good company anyway. It is a misconception that you have to drink alcohol when going to the pub. The idea is to gather with friends and meet new people.  To call for more information or find out what the day’s special is, call 762-5812. Here we are, another place to go, but if people don’t get out of the house and patronage their own neighborhood bar, the neighborhood pub could become another part of history lost forever!