On the Town in Andover

Spring                                                   Bee Hiving Moon

Saw Hunger Games tonight.  This movie hits the right notes, keeps the tension on and has a hard, unblinking bravery.  They didn’t go ironic with it, nor did they CGI it to death.  It was a grim story, told honestly.  I agree with the person who compared it favorably to Last of the Mohicans, though placed it on a lower level.  It has a distinct American feel while being dystopian to the core.

Kate and I went out afterwards to Pappy’s Bar in sort of downtown Andover.  We saw the movie in Andover then had burgers at Pappy’s.  Relatively new, Pappy’s is an adjunct to Pappy’s Cafe, a very downhome joint.  So’s the bar.

I witnessed a phenomenon, I imagine common, that I had not seen before.  People went to a pull tab counter, bought the pull tabs, picked up a small plastic tub which they took back to their table and their Budweisers.  Then, at least the two couples I watched would drink beer, watch gymnastics on TV and open the pull-tabs, throwing the losers in the plastic tubs.  After a while, they’d get up and repeat.  The men bought the pull tabs, but the women shared in the opening and discarding.

Meanwhile four fairly large middle-aged women sat on bar stools and poured’em back one after another.  “We’ll be back another time.  If we get home.”

Big doin’s in Andover.