Appalachia Year

The Dube is a Columbus mainstay. The pre-smoking ban Dube was a different entity altogether, the place was a constant peasouper of bluish tobacco smoke and the service was deplorable. Charlie used to say, "Think of it as a theme restaurant, where the theme is everyone hates you." The new Dube is good, too, just different. The food is still terrible but the drinks are cheap and the servers are smiley and you don't have to immediately take a shower upon leaving. Sure, sometimes you want to go where everybody knows your name, but you can achieve Regular Status at the Dube without also being an alcoholic. So that's nice.

Nick could eat there for every meal, and towards the end of college, I was beginning to wonder if he and I should start paying them rent. It became a little tedious for me. Think Liz's feelings toward the Winchester in Shaun of the Dead.

Now, when I'm in town, going there is like going home. I'm always overjoyed to settle into a booth, pluck suspicious hairs out of my salad, and finish a crossword with Nick.