hot coffee girl

The Boy is going to kill me when he finds out that I did this to his dog... 

   There are some days you just need a hat. 

Tremont is a relatively dog-friendly neighborhood.

You can take your pup in all manner of places, and sometimes find some of the shops and galleries with their own dogs lounging around. Banyan Tree has a small poodle that wears a gray t-shirt and will greet you most days she isn’t snoozing on her own tiny couch. Ginko has an absolutely gorgeous creature named Bubba, a boxer/American bulldog mix who will bring you his toy and stomp his massive frame around the tiny little shop if he senses you want to play. Tucked underneath the bar stools at Edison’s, you are likely to find a pooch or two on any given night. As any lover of dogs big and small knows, it’s a nice feeling to be able to have your pup welcome in your favorite establishment.

With the trendiness of small dogs becoming more and more pervasive, it’s not an uncommon site to see the little things tucked under people’s arms, in cute bags, and riding along side their humans in special car-seats (yes, I have issues-we already know that-shuttup). And while I get that sometimes it would be inappropriate to bring your canine with you-the corner china store is not going to welcome your bull mastiff with open arms, for example, I don’t understand what the issue is with a small dog that is in a bag or leashed and held not being welcome in some places.

Case in point. This past weekend, I was jonesing for a sweet dessert. Lucky’s Café has some really excellent baked goods from Sweet Mosaic and they are just at the end of my street. Perfect. I suited up the pooch and we headed out. I couldn’t decided what I wanted on the way down there, so I planned to just pop in, make my choice, and have my companion (the boy, not the dog) make his selection and meet us outside on one of the picnic benches. The minute I walked in, the woman behind the counter gave me a seriously dirty look, and icily informed me that they do not allow dogs in here. I pointed at the brownie and said that I was just picking out the treat and walking back out. She continued to sneer and shook her head, ignoring my order. My diplomatic response? “Fuck this. I don’t want anything. I’ll see you outside,” said sharply to the boy. He saw the exchange and didn’t order anything, either.

Now I get that there are violations of restaurant codes in play here, but come on. I was in there for two seconds, and made it clear I wasn’t staying. What was the harm? To be fair, Lucky’s has not been known to me for their exemplary service. In fact, with the exception of Sunday Brunch (when the owners are around), I have found the service to be snotty and sub-par. I love Keith, the owner, and it’s a shame his staff is frequently so shitty to customers. But, I digress.

Here’s my biggest problem about not being able to take the pup in places. I could walk in somewhere with my 6 pound pal securely in a bag under my arm, and I am not welcome....In the same place where screaming, drooling, destructive little children are running around wreaking havoc. Oy vay. With the exception of her love of pissing on the floor at Petsmart (she loves to so this, I don’t know why), I would never allow Shasmecka to go anywhere where I thought that it would be a distraction, a destruction, or a violation of decorum.

So why am I being dogged? It’s ruff, I tell you.