The Hazards of Sidewalk Drinking During a Pandemic
Outdoor eating and drinking are thankfully permitted at bars and restaurants. Some people still aren’t comfortable, however, sitting unmasked at tables less than six feet wide with people they do not live with. I am one of those people. We all love our friends. However, our friends have other friends that they see and they have other friends and we have no idea how the entire chain of people are dealing with the pandemic.
The remedy, for some, is sidewalk drinking with friends in front of someone’s house.
You can still grab takeout drinks to support your local watering holes and bring them to your designated sidewalk. A cooler is helpful. I grabbed a cheap $12 one from Target to keep my beers cold.
A television hook-up adds a nice touch.
As great as this is, don’t be fooled. There are inherent risks and dangers with any worthwhile activity and sidewalk-drinking ain’t no different.
DOGS
If you have a fear of dogs or an allergy to dogs, be prepared. Philly is an extremely dog-friendly city and dozens of dogs pass by Philly sidewalks every night. If you’re cool with dogs be prepared for a night of continual dog petting as each night feels like a dog parade. There is the additional risk of sitting next to a pole or fixture that dogs tend to mark and the smell of urine ruining your evening.
TRASH
Philly’s trash problems during the pandemic are well known. I highly recommend you listen to the podcast we did over at The Philly Blunt with Ya Fav Trashman for the inside dirt on the Sanitation Department’s struggles. They are real, especially the lack of PPE while being crammed into the front of a truck with coworkers.
On a steamy, humid summer night, trash stinks. On a steamy, humid summer night, trash left out on the street for days or a week is an olfactory assault that is best avoided. Make sure you do not sit downwind of the trash.
CARS
You’re on the sidewalk so you’re probably safe but beware. Some folks, me included, have stood or sat in between parked cars when social-distancing isn’t available on the sidewalks. Smokers tend to do this, as well. Do not do this.
Why, you ask? Because this happens.
That’s my chair. While enjoying a beverage, a loud screech and multiple bangs rang out behind my ears jolting me out of my chair. It sounded like an explosion of crunching plastic. A woman, distracted by her phone, slammed into parked cars pushing the cars directly behind me into each other. Had I been sitting between the two, I would most likely be able to type this article today.
Ya don’t think it can happen, but it happened and luckily no one was between the cars or there would’ve been a pelvic disaster for someone.
Be smart. Be careful. Be kind to one another.