# Deepest Brooklyn. At 11:00 a.m. On a Sunday. Are you out of your fucking MIND? **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [May 27, 2003, 2:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/deepest-brooklyn-at-11-00-a-m-on-a-sunday-are-you-out-of-your-fucking-mind/177768 "2003-05-27T14:22:15Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![culture](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/958977/32.png) [@culture](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/culture)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2003, 9:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/deepest-brooklyn-at-11-00-a-m-on-a-sunday-are-you-out-of-your-fucking-mind/177768/21 "2003-05-27T21:02:13Z")
I will never understand the common assertion that unless one can drink alcohol at a gathering, it is not worth going to. If it is that important to your life, you need to get professional help. ---
**Author:** ![Ludovic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7ab992/32.png) [@Ludovic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ludovic)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2003, 9:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/deepest-brooklyn-at-11-00-a-m-on-a-sunday-are-you-out-of-your-fucking-mind/177768/22 "2003-05-27T21:37:59Z")
but culture, **mimosas**! šŸ˜‰ I, personally, find New Yorkers to be more normal than average. While I think the attitude displayed in the OP certainly seems a bit selfish and whiny, it seems normal and is even something Iā€™ve engaged in time to time. Then again, they gain weirdness points just for living in NYC, so it all evens outā€¦ šŸ†’ ---
**Author:** ![Green\_Bean](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/green_bean/32/1760_2.png) [@Green\_Bean](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Green_Bean)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2003, 9:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/deepest-brooklyn-at-11-00-a-m-on-a-sunday-are-you-out-of-your-fucking-mind/177768/23 "2003-05-27T21:57:47Z")
**Oxy** , you know I worship the pavement you walk on, but Iā€™m with the others on this one. But then again, I live in Jersey, so what do I know about the civilized world? ---
**Author:** ![OxyMoron](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/e9a140/32.png) [@OxyMoron](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OxyMoron)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2003, 10:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/deepest-brooklyn-at-11-00-a-m-on-a-sunday-are-you-out-of-your-fucking-mind/177768/24 "2003-05-27T22:22:25Z")
\ Civilized world, indeed! šŸ˜‰ Iā€™d give quite a lot for a bit of uncivilization to come to Manhattan. Like a Target. Or a Costcoā€¦[dreamy look] I remember when I first came to New York being shocked when a friend mine suggested we get together for brunch - at 3. (In fact, Iā€™m pretty sure I had to ask whether he meant am or pm - both seemed equally likely!) But I got used to it very quickly. And in all honesty, Iā€™m likely to be up early enough anyway - even on the rare occasion when Iā€™m out particularly late I almost never sleep past 8 anyway. Itā€™s more the shock at thinking, which of her friends will be there anywhere near 11 am? Oh, and p.s.: think this is whining? You donā€™t _know_ from whining! Why, New Yorkers practically _invented_ whiners, only nowadays we call them ā€œcommunity activists.ā€ In fact, they have their own professional organization called the ā€œcity councilā€ā€¦ ---
**Author:** ![armedmonkey](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/d6d6ee/32.png) [@armedmonkey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/armedmonkey)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2003, 11:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/deepest-brooklyn-at-11-00-a-m-on-a-sunday-are-you-out-of-your-fucking-mind/177768/25 "2003-05-27T23:10:30Z")
Come on, **OxyMoron** , the solution is so simple you should have already thought of it. If the brunch is at a private residence, buy some champagne on Saturday. Slap a bow on the bottle (or bottle_s_) and grab some orange juice on the way to her house. If itā€™s a restaurant, that wonā€™t work of course, but Iā€™m sure you can hold out for 1 measly hour. **Ludovic** , what the hell does ā€œmore normal than averageā€ mean? ---
**Author:** ![vix](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/a88e4f/32.png) [@vix](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/vix)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2003, 1:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/deepest-brooklyn-at-11-00-a-m-on-a-sunday-are-you-out-of-your-fucking-mind/177768/26 "2003-05-28T01:04:59Z")
I understand what **Oxy** is saying. The timing of his friendā€™s party might not seem odd to some people, but in New York, itā€™s practically unheard of. First of all, Manhattanites are reluctant to leave their borough. That can be quite annoying to those of use who live elsewhere, but weā€™ve learned to work around it. Secondly, brunch really does start later here. Of the approximately 672 brunch-serving restaurants in my neighborhood, only two (2) are open before 11 am. Irritating to morning people, but again, we live with it. I guess what Iā€™m trying to say is ā€œknow your audience.ā€ You probably wouldnā€™t throw a six-year-oldā€™s birthday party at 10 pm on a school night, right? Neither should you invite NYers to do something in Brooklyn at 11 am on a weekend. Or if you do, expect to see a lot of these: :dubious: p.s. I threw my own birthday party and it was a BLAST. ---
**Author:** ![Maeglin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/8baadc/32.png) [@Maeglin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Maeglin)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2003, 1:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/deepest-brooklyn-at-11-00-a-m-on-a-sunday-are-you-out-of-your-fucking-mind/177768/27 "2003-05-28T01:36:01Z")
Yeah, me too. Pit-worthy? I have no idea. But it is irritating in the way that small things are disproportionately irritating. Because it would have been so _easy_ to be more accommodating, the fact that his friend didnā€™t rather grates, especially since an awful lot of Brooklyn folks share the Manhattan lifestyle. I tend to get angrier at the cretin who doesnā€™t hold the elevator for me than certain calculating acts of rudeness. 11AM brunch just goes against the grain. If it doesnā€™t bother you where you live, thatā€™s wonderful. Though I suspect that is because the bars close at the risible hour of 2am, when things are just starting to get really _good_ downtown. ---
**Author:** ![Ukulele\_Ike](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/df788c/32.png) [@Ukulele\_Ike](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ukulele_Ike)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2003, 1:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/deepest-brooklyn-at-11-00-a-m-on-a-sunday-are-you-out-of-your-fucking-mind/177768/28 "2003-05-28T01:42:51Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by vix \* > \*\*Manhattanites are reluctant to leave their borough. That can be quite annoying to those of use who live elsewhere, but weā€™ve learned to work around it. \*\* Exactly. We plan all our **best** parties for times inconvenient to Manhattanites. ---
**Author:** ![Esprix](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/esprix/32/7899_2.png) [@Esprix](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Esprix)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2003, 6:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/deepest-brooklyn-at-11-00-a-m-on-a-sunday-are-you-out-of-your-fucking-mind/177768/29 "2003-05-28T06:42:33Z")
Oh, and the necessity of alcohol in order to have a good time is patently pathetic to me. YMMV. Esprix ---
**Author:** ![armedmonkey](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/d6d6ee/32.png) [@armedmonkey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/armedmonkey)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2003, 7:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/deepest-brooklyn-at-11-00-a-m-on-a-sunday-are-you-out-of-your-fucking-mind/177768/30 "2003-05-28T07:05:33Z")
Welcome to brunch, **Esprix** , you can leave the chip on your shoulder and your Temperance pamphlets in the closet by the hallway. You ever had a mimosa? Theyā€™re weak. Very weak, and just part of the standard brunch menu. You might as well say ā€œand if you have to have caffeine, youā€™re patheticā€. Whatā€™s with the holier-than-thou teetotaling driveby? ---
**Author:** ![Esprix](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/esprix/32/7899_2.png) [@Esprix](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Esprix)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2003, 7:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/deepest-brooklyn-at-11-00-a-m-on-a-sunday-are-you-out-of-your-fucking-mind/177768/31 "2003-05-28T07:14:42Z")
Um, agreeing with some of the sentiments stated herein? Isnā€™t that the point of a public message board? šŸ˜• And although I am a teetotaller, I donā€™t have a problem with people drinking, and I donā€™t have a problem with people drinking socially, but the _requirement_ of alcohol in order to have a good time is, IMHO, just pathetic, and calls to a possibly larger problem. YMMV, as usual. Esprix ---
**Author:** ![armedmonkey](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/d6d6ee/32.png) [@armedmonkey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/armedmonkey)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2003, 7:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/deepest-brooklyn-at-11-00-a-m-on-a-sunday-are-you-out-of-your-fucking-mind/177768/32 "2003-05-28T07:40:58Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Esprix \* > \*\*Um, agreeing with some of the sentiments stated herein? Isnā€™t that the point of a public message board? šŸ˜• \*\* Allrighty, then _both_ you and **culture** can leave the chips on your shoulders and your temperance pamphlets at the door. Now, why donā€™t you run along to some Cafe Society thread about ā€œBuffy the Vampire Slayerā€ and post a driveby about how wanting to watch a TV show is pathetic. ---
**Author:** ![TeaElle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/8491ac/32.png) [@TeaElle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TeaElle)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2003, 8:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/deepest-brooklyn-at-11-00-a-m-on-a-sunday-are-you-out-of-your-fucking-mind/177768/33 "2003-05-28T08:12:22Z")
Oh come off of it, **Monkey**. One of the OPs rant points was the bitching about the woeful inavailability of booze for a bloody hour at the start of the party. _An hour_, in the company of friends, for a festive occasion, without liquor was something that the OP felt necessary to rant about. Thatā€™s either the OP reaching for something to bolster the selfish, petty complaint here _or_ indicative of a worrisome mindset which equates good time with alcohol consumption and cannot break out of that box even when surrounded with good people, presumably good food and the lack of drink is temporary. Mr. tlw and I do not have 11 a.m. brunch on Sundays because we are churchgoers, but we do invite a number of our friends to brunch at our home later in the day on Sunday every couple of months, and we do not serve alcohol. We do not drink and we donā€™t keep alcohol in our house. Though some of our friends do drink socially, theyā€™re more than happy to join us for our get-togethers ā€“ the company, the food and the conversation are all enough to provide a pleasant engagement even when everyoneā€™s sober. ---
**Author:** ![Green\_Bean](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/green_bean/32/1760_2.png) [@Green\_Bean](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Green_Bean)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2003, 11:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/deepest-brooklyn-at-11-00-a-m-on-a-sunday-are-you-out-of-your-fucking-mind/177768/34 "2003-05-28T11:55:14Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by OxyMoron \* > \*\*Itā€™s more the shock at thinking, which of her friends will be there anywhere near 11 am? \*\* Hee hee! Itā€™s not often that I get to accuse you of backpedalingā€¦but that sounds like backpedaling to me! šŸ˜› On one hand, common sense (and Miss Manners) would suggest that if youā€™re unhappy with the terms and conditions of an invitation, including the time of the affair, that the appropriate thing would be to just not go. On the other, common sense (and Miss Manners) would suggest that a person consider the customs of their guests and their group when issuing an invitation. If it is customary in that group to have brunch later in the day, then it is kind of rude to schedule a birthday party (an event that carries a bit more obligation to attend than a regular party) at a time that most of the guests would find inconvenient. Being a good host means trying to accommodate your guests, from the time of the event to the menu to the location. A host canā€™t necessarily accommodate everyone, especially if a guest has very particular needs. And sometimes, time, menu, or location is fixed. But a good host does the best he or she can to make things easier for the guests. And FWIW, **Oxy** does not require alcohol to have a good time. I think he was bringing up the ā€œno alcohol before noonā€ thing to explain why brunch before noon is not customary among his friends in NYC. Iā€™m a very light drinker, and I enjoy a mimosa with brunch too. ---
**Author:** ![OxyMoron](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/e9a140/32.png) [@OxyMoron](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OxyMoron)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2003, 1:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/deepest-brooklyn-at-11-00-a-m-on-a-sunday-are-you-out-of-your-fucking-mind/177768/35 "2003-05-28T13:31:27Z")
Thanks, **GB** , as usual youā€™re so sensible. Itā€™s a half-backpedal - I was doing the math to see when Iā€™d have to get up, got rather indignant, and when I realized that I would hardly be the only person in the same boat I felt ever more justified in my indignance. Itā€™s a vent, a whine, a whinge, and certainly I had no illusions Iā€™d get much sympathy - particularly since the New Yorkers here are a pretty small group. That said, I find it remarkable that my comment on when _restaurants_ can serve alcohol somehow morphed into the insulting and not-so-veiled suggestion that Iā€™m an alcoholic. That it comes from **Esprix** , who usually does a much better job of reading a thread, is particularly distressing. ---
**Author:** ![OxyMoron](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/e9a140/32.png) [@OxyMoron](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OxyMoron)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2003, 1:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/deepest-brooklyn-at-11-00-a-m-on-a-sunday-are-you-out-of-your-fucking-mind/177768/36 "2003-05-28T13:38:22Z")
And p.s., I owe **Vix** a drink (ooo, that makes us both alcoholics, doesnā€™t it? ;)). I had _totally_ forgotten about her BDay, which obviously didnā€™t bother me at all! ---
**Author:** ![Eonwe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eonwe/32/240_2.png) [@Eonwe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eonwe)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2003, 1:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/deepest-brooklyn-at-11-00-a-m-on-a-sunday-are-you-out-of-your-fucking-mind/177768/37 "2003-05-28T13:59:12Z")
**Oxy** , I think the thing folks are thinking (or at least _I_ am thinking), is this: Itā€™s your friendā€™s birthday. She wants to celebrate it with friends. Her SO has something at 2:00, so sheā€™s holding the party at 11. Is there really anything wrong with this? If you and the other guests are all working until 2 or 3 in the AM, then Iā€™d agree with **Green Bean** and say that the host has failed in her duties to accomidate the guests. But, if the real issue is that you and the other guests will be out on the town until the wee hours, then thatā€™s your own problem, not hers. Iā€™ve got all sorts of conflicting events in my life, and sometimes I have to pass on one thing to do another. Itā€™s your friendā€™s birthday. Maybe celebrating it with her is worth giving up a night of partying, maybe not. Iā€™d hope my friends would be able to curtail their regular partying enough to make it to my birthday. ---
**Author:** ![RTFirefly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c77e96/32.png) [@RTFirefly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RTFirefly)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2003, 2:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/deepest-brooklyn-at-11-00-a-m-on-a-sunday-are-you-out-of-your-fucking-mind/177768/38 "2003-05-28T14:46:34Z")
I donā€™t get it either, **Oxy** , even after all the discussion. First of all, the getting-up part. Even if youā€™ve been out partying until 2am Saturday night, getting out of bed by 9am isnā€™t exactly a challenge, once youā€™re a bit past your growth-spurt years. And what you do past 2am the previous night isnā€™t really something your host needs to factor in, unless itā€™s work-related, which itā€™s not in this case. Second, is it the norm in NYC for guests to be ā€˜on timeā€™ for parties? Itā€™s the exception elsewhere in the civilized world, even if this makes no sense. (Show up 10 minutes _early_ for a party at someoneā€™s home, and the hosts are likely to still be pulling their clothes on.) So if 11am disturbs you, show up ā€˜fashionably lateā€™ at 11:30, and have a cup of java to tide you over until that first mimosa. Iā€™m aware that this event is at a restaurant, which puts the lateness angle in a somewhat different light, but Iā€™ve been at enough gatherings at restaurants where some of the guests were nontrivially late. Itā€™s really no big deal - out in the hinterlands, anyway. And if brunch before noon is such a major breach of etiquette in NYC, I doubt that theyā€™ll have trouble holding your seats at the restaurant until 11:30 or 11:45. Third, there is no number three in this list. Even though I think itā€™s fine to send out invitations to your own party, even if itā€™s a birthday party. If itā€™s a good enough custom for Bilbo Baggins, itā€™s good enough for me. šŸ™‚ ---
**Author:** ![j.c](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/73ab20/32.png) [@j.c](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/j.c)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2003, 3:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/deepest-brooklyn-at-11-00-a-m-on-a-sunday-are-you-out-of-your-fucking-mind/177768/39 "2003-05-28T15:10:35Z")
Perhaps the hostess scheduled brunch because some of the guests have children and these guest are more comfortable having a sitter during the day. Or maybe, I dunno, the birthday girl wanted to have some friends get together for brunch. ---
**Author:** ![Esprix](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/esprix/32/7899_2.png) [@Esprix](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Esprix)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2003, 4:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/deepest-brooklyn-at-11-00-a-m-on-a-sunday-are-you-out-of-your-fucking-mind/177768/40 "2003-05-28T16:15:21Z")
Actually, when I was writing about alcohol, I was thinking of **gobear** ā€™s remarks. And **Monkey** , you are cordially invited to go fuck yourself at 11:00 a.m. this Sunday. :rolleyes: Esprix [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/deepest-brooklyn-at-11-00-a-m-on-a-sunday-are-you-out-of-your-fucking-mind/177768.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/deepest-brooklyn-at-11-00-a-m-on-a-sunday-are-you-out-of-your-fucking-mind/177768.md?page=3)