Bloomsday! Bloomsday!

Bloomsday in Dublin!  A grand festival of all sorts.

Surely this is what the Civil Life will look like this Saturday. 

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Our esteemed bartender, Dr. Patrick Hurley (yes, he has a Doctorate in English) came to me a few months back with a great idea to celebrate Bloomsday in our pub.  At first, I thought.  What is Bloomsday? Then I thought, people don’t read anymore, but then I remembered the millions of people that go to our website every month and I figure if they are coming to our web-site they most certainly read (although we do have quite a few good pictures).  And as I think about it a bit more, if they are reading our web-site maybe they would every once in a while read something with substance, something maybe like a book.  Then I thought, people do read and they should read and often when I look around the bar I notice a few trusty regulars that are carrying the reading torch.  They show up to have a restorative pint with a book in hand.  

It has always been quite interesting to hear Patrick talk with our customers about the many books they are reading or the ones he has read. I have spent many a night over the past years (around 10 or so now) speaking with Patrick and when he decided to try on bartending shoes last August, I quickly realized we had yet another asset to our wonderful pub.  

So what is Bloomsday? 

Bloomsday in Dublin is a tremendous celebration.  Many pubs around the city will host readings of the entire Ulysses novel by James Joyce. The entire novel occurs on June 16th and the main character is a gent by the name of Leopold Bloom. Thousands of people partake and patrons/ James Joyce enthusiasts read sections of his novel throughout the day.  This is no easy feat mind you as reading it encompasses many hours beginning late the night before and heading into the day.  Thus it takes many people to read the entire novel or just one incredibly adept speed reader.  

Someday we hope to be able to present the novel in it’s entirety. For this our first Bloomsday, we thought we would take it in small portions like pulling up a chair at a pub and ordering a half pint.  If you would like to sign up to read please contact us at bloomsday@thecivillife.com Please stop by and Patrick would be more than happy to help you pick out a section to read.  We have several copies of Ulysses in our library.  Yes we have a library and yes it is, pardon my oxford english, (start accent now) it is superbly kick ass. (stop speaking funny now) 

We will be reading excerpts throughout the day from 12 noon till 10 pm on Saturday the 16 of June!  Please, stop in and please consider reading a section from Ulysses.  Whether it be for 30 seconds, 5 minutes or an hour!  I am having Patrick pick out a nice scene for me to read sometime during the evening so you probably will have to stay all night just so you don’t miss it.  Patrick will kick off the festivities around 12:30 pm just as our customers begin enjoying the first round of gorgonzola sandwiches (from Ulysses).  

Please sign up today and if you can’t read don’t worry about it, but how did you get so far down the page in this blog post?  Makes one wonder, especially me.  

bloomsday@thecivillife.com

Maybe imbibing in a trusty pint will get you reading again.  Stay tuned as big news about the Civil Life Book Club is coming soon.  We will begin meeting once a month beginning this August.  

Please forward this link to anyone you know who can read.  Even better forward to anyone you know who likes to drink and read.  

Cheers!