Fern bar
Encyclopedia
Fern bar is an American slang term for an upscale or preppy
(or yuppie
) bar or tavern catering to singles usually decorated with fern
s or other "fussy" plants, as well as such decor as fake Tiffany lamp
s. The phrase came into common use in the late 1970s or early 1980s.
An early establishment that many consider the world's first fern bar, not to mention the birthplace of the lemon drop
martini, was Henry Africa's in San Francisco, California
. The bar was started in 1970 at Broadway and Van Ness Streets by out-of-work veteran Norman Hobday, who by his own account "took the opium-den atmosphere out of the saloons" in favor of "antique lamps and Grandma's living-room furniture." By some accounts Hobday copied the concept from another restaurant, Perry's, which opened several months earlier and was made famous as a singles "meet market" by Armistead Maupin
's novel, Tales of the City
.
Hobday closed the establishment in 1986, and opened up another eclectic fern bar the next year, Eddie Rickenbacker's, where he displays dozens of vintage motorcycles, a half-million dollar collection of Tiffany lamps, old model trains, and antique guns, and where, until his death on February 25, 2011, he spent his days napping in front of a television with his cat on a recliner chair.
, Lemon drop
martinis, frozen daiquirís, Harvey Wallbanger
s, and piña colada
s. Franchises sometimes labeled "fern bars" include T.G.I. Friday's
, Bennigan's
, and Houlihan's
.
Fern bars were a gathering place for well-dressed "upscale" young men and women, initially during the sexual revolution
of the 1970s and later the yuppie era of the 1980s. Frequenters were pejoratively felt to be more interested in seeing each other and being seen than in simply drinking and talking, as might be expected in a more typical dive bar
.
Preppy
Preppy, preppie, or prep refers to a modern, widespread United States clique, often considered a subculture...
(or yuppie
Yuppie
Yuppie is a term that refers to a member of the upper middle class or upper class in their 20s or 30s. It first came into use in the early-1980s and largely faded from American popular culture in the late-1980s, due to the 1987 stock market crash and the early 1990s recession...
) bar or tavern catering to singles usually decorated with fern
Fern
A fern is any one of a group of about 12,000 species of plants belonging to the botanical group known as Pteridophyta. Unlike mosses, they have xylem and phloem . They have stems, leaves, and roots like other vascular plants...
s or other "fussy" plants, as well as such decor as fake Tiffany lamp
Tiffany lamp
A Tiffany lamp is a type of lamp with many different types of glass shade. The most famous was the stained leaded glass lamp. Tiffany lamps are considered part of the Art Nouveau movement.- History :...
s. The phrase came into common use in the late 1970s or early 1980s.
History
Lemon drop
A lemon drop is a sugary, lemon-flavored candy that is typically colored yellow and often shaped like a miniature lemon. They can be sweet or have a more sour flavor....
martini, was Henry Africa's in San Francisco, California
San Francisco, California
San Francisco , officially the City and County of San Francisco, is the financial, cultural, and transportation center of the San Francisco Bay Area, a region of 7.15 million people which includes San Jose and Oakland...
. The bar was started in 1970 at Broadway and Van Ness Streets by out-of-work veteran Norman Hobday, who by his own account "took the opium-den atmosphere out of the saloons" in favor of "antique lamps and Grandma's living-room furniture." By some accounts Hobday copied the concept from another restaurant, Perry's, which opened several months earlier and was made famous as a singles "meet market" by Armistead Maupin
Armistead Maupin
Armistead Jones Maupin, Jr. is an American writer, best known for his Tales of the City series of novels, based in San Francisco.-Early life:...
's novel, Tales of the City
Tales of the City
Tales of the City refers to a series of eight novels written by American author Armistead Maupin. The stories from Tales were originally serialized prior to their novelization, with the first four titles appearing as regular installments in the San Francisco Chronicle, while the fifth appeared in...
.
Hobday closed the establishment in 1986, and opened up another eclectic fern bar the next year, Eddie Rickenbacker's, where he displays dozens of vintage motorcycles, a half-million dollar collection of Tiffany lamps, old model trains, and antique guns, and where, until his death on February 25, 2011, he spent his days napping in front of a television with his cat on a recliner chair.
Description
Typical drinks served included wine spritzersSpritzer
A spritzer is a tall, chilled drink, usually made with white wine and seltzer or club soda.-Origin and variations:Spritzer is derived from the variant of the German language spoken in Austria, where the drink is very popular. It is used alongside the equally common form Gespritzter A spritzer is a...
, Lemon drop
Lemon drop
A lemon drop is a sugary, lemon-flavored candy that is typically colored yellow and often shaped like a miniature lemon. They can be sweet or have a more sour flavor....
martinis, frozen daiquirís, Harvey Wallbanger
Harvey Wallbanger
The Harvey Wallbanger is an alcoholic beverage or cocktail made with vodka, Galliano, and orange juice.-History:The Harvey Wallbanger is reported to have been invented in 1952 by three-time world champion mixologist Donato 'Duke' Antone , the brother-in-law of New York state Senator Carlo Lanzillotti...
s, and piña colada
Piña Colada
The piña colada is a sweet, rum-based cocktail made with rum, cream of coconut, and pineapple juice, usually served either blended or shaken with ice. It may be garnished with a pineapple wedge or a maraschino cherry or both...
s. Franchises sometimes labeled "fern bars" include T.G.I. Friday's
T.G.I. Friday's
T.G.I. Friday's is an American restaurant chain focusing on casual dining. The company is a unit of the Carlson Companies. Its name is taken from the expression TGIF...
, Bennigan's
Bennigan's
Bennigan's is an Irish pub-themed casual dining restaurant chain with locations throughout the United States, and in 14 countries and 15 territories outside the continental U.S...
, and Houlihan's
Houlihan's
Houlihan's is a Leawood, Kansas-based American contemporary restaurant chain. The first Houlihan's opened on April 1, 1972 on Kansas City's Country Club Plaza, and is now in 21 states...
.
Fern bars were a gathering place for well-dressed "upscale" young men and women, initially during the sexual revolution
Sexual revolution
The sexual revolution was a social movement that challenged traditional codes of behavior related to sexuality and interpersonal relationships throughout the Western world from the 1960s into the 1980s...
of the 1970s and later the yuppie era of the 1980s. Frequenters were pejoratively felt to be more interested in seeing each other and being seen than in simply drinking and talking, as might be expected in a more typical dive bar
Dive bar
A dive bar is a type of bar or pub. Dive bars generally have a relaxed and informal atmosphere—they are often referred to by local residents as "neighborhood bars," where people in the neighborhood gather to drink and socialize...
.