Sometimes it's nice to see how the other half lives. And by the other half, I mean those folks who go out and enjoy themselves without imbibing liquor. You know, weirdos. I suppose many of them go to the movies or Starbucks or something. But a segment of the sober population seems to be partaking in this whole "tea lounge" phenomenon. A tea lounge is like a bar but without the fun, as near as I can tell. No one drinks too many lapsang souchongs and goes home with the busboy, there is no such thing as "green-tea goggles," and you don't get a T-shirt for "drinking the wall of pekoe." However, tea rooms and barrooms do have one thing in common — a busy toilet. I must've peed 12 times during my visit to Samovar Tea Lounge on... More >>>