less high, more highfalutin on Polkestrasse

I miss the Lush Lounge.

Sure it's there, but only in name and bricks and not spirit. I will credit Kenny and his band for almost singe-handedly gentrifying Polk Street, and as much as I appreciate the lack of crime and grime but there are many days I miss the slightly seediness and unabashed unabashedness of Polkestrasse. Last year Barney had to keep me from verbally decimating a snooty English girl in the Lush one night who was throwing off far too much attitude for a bar she clearly knew nothing about. And pissy little girls should not pick a fight with a bar fag in the Lush. When she demanded that all women here be referred to "ladies" I gladly educated her that the only ladies on Polk Street were hiding their candy. And we that much preferred their company as it was more genuine.

It feels that outside of the Cinch and the Red Devil, Polk Gultch is all Marina tourists now. Only a slight edge, and an abundance of noodle restaurants, remain of what we once knew and loved.

At least the most egregious offender has failed. The über-Marina/Disney/Opryland corporate concept bar O'Reilley's Holy Grail has closed——and has been reborn with at least stylistic improvement as "Midpoint."

From the looks of things, it promises to be a nice bar and restaurant. But again, far too fancy schamncy for how I like my Polk Street. With California Cuisine, an extensive wine list, deep mahogany and comfortably curtained corners, this may be the next hot spot for fine winer/diners who still feel too young, too hip, or too anti-Republican to become regulars at the likes of Post Rio, Farralon, or Garibaldi's. (Expect Midpopint's prince point to be at some point below those just mentioned but significantly higher than what one would expect on Polk Street.)

I can't go this Thursday night, but y'all can go check it out on the cheap. There are making their grand opening (although they have been serving for a couple of weeks now) a hat-themed night. Wear a hat and enjoy a three-course prix fixe menu from 5:30 to 10:00, and bar specials include discounts on draft beer and well drinks. For the chicly chapeaued, they will have a hat contest too.