The Modern | Linen District, Boise ID

If Chandler’s is the swankiest, then The Modern is the hippest.  It’s a favorite of one of my friends who’s an interior designer and it looks just like its name.  The bar is small and can be loud as hell.  You’re either sitting or standing at the bar, sitting in the lounge area just to the side of the bar, or standing in this boutique hotel’s small court yard underneath patio heaters and around fire pits.

Everyone looks like they’re between the ages of 27 and 37, even if they’re not.  There’s at least four guys wearing neckties, girls in dresses, but some well coordinated ripped jeans types here as well.  Most everyone seems to be loudly and happily getting buzzed.  The cocktails are really well done, good wine list, all of the beer comes in bottles unless you want a Hamms for a couple of bucks, and then that’s in a can.  Outstanding.  Our bartender has a French accent.  Everyone seems pretty laid back.

I tried to make my way to the bathrooms, which act as a sort of barrier between the front desk and the packed bar, and my path gets blocked by some girl in a red dress.  It’s still loud, and she says something that sounds to me like: “I’m Jenn from Mummphmmmhppphlhmm!  Now you can tell everyone you’ve met Jenn from Mummmphlkkklackhhhlumphm!”

I smiled and told her what a pleasure it was to meet her and she gives me a hug.  I finally get to the bathroom where there’s a line two guys deep, and just one woman waiting for the women’s.  We all talk about how unusual it is for the guys bathroom line to be longer than the women’s, and 5 minutes later some dude and his date, holding hands, both walk out of the men’s room at the same time.

When I finally get in there, there’s a small turntable in the corner playing a 45 of Mack the Knife by Bobby Darin.  There’s a stack of 45s on a shelf next to it.  Maybe they were just listening to some music.

On the way back to the bar red dress Jenn says: “I’m Jenn from mmphlhlhmmmmehwhlwhhh!”  I told her that it was really nice to meet her.