Faux Swanky.

When I first saw that sign, I thought "Martini's? I thought Black Woods was in there- not some place called Martini's!"

That's HORRIBLE!

And then there's the Co-op, "open everyday."

I believe the handrails at the Norshor also made best phallus one year. Funny stuff.

Isn't torke weihn -- you know, the chocolate place that closed on Superior Street -- isn't it a caf'e?

On the plus side, at least it isn't written in Papyrus.

Torke Weinachten was a Christmas/import store that also sold specialty chocolates.  It closed about a year ago after one of the owners passed away suddenly.

Drifter - Yep, it was. But the punctuation was correct because the bar was named for the owner.

More phone messages!

HR: Punctuation isn't a big deal in emails and informal notes, blog posts, etc. But as far as I'm concerned, when you are  advertising your company, everything you put in print reflects on it: So the apparent lack of care or attention to detail in punctuation could be inferred--consciously or unconsciously--a lack of care in all other areas, such as the products or services one sells or produces. If Blackwater doesn't  care enough to have a properly punctuated sign, I can only assume they probably don't give a damn about the quality of the drinks and food they serve. But hey, that's just me. It's kinda like the menus at Chester Creek Cafe: the design says "greasy spoon" but the prices say "trendy artsy cafe."

The Red Star is faux swanky.  At least the Black Water doesn't try to do the Roxbury bit in Duluth effing Minnesota.

'Let's eat Grandma!' or, 'Let's eat, Grandma!' Punctuation saves lives.

Good point, Barrett. I guess to me "actual swank" means an establishment does not have to "try" to be swanky; it just IS due to it's history, style and "classiness"...Manny's Steakhouse comes to mind.

I personally feel that Blackwater set out to create the appearance of swank, which doesn't work. It just feels cheap to me. The unfortunate apostrophe underscores this feeling.

Arrowhead Supply in the West End specializes in "kitchens and bath's" according to their sign.  

Lee's Pizza, also in the West End, used to have "Hmm... good" on their awning (I may be misremembering the ellipses).  That always amused me because it implied you had to think a minute before declaring their pizza good.

^ for drifter & barrett.

Last time I went to the Blackwater I got thrown out for hassling George Kessler.  I had fun there though.

I still wear my Starter jacket every once in a while. Carolina Panthers.

It's about as swank as you can get, when you're owned by the same people as the Perkins across the street.

Black Water used to have a doorman -- don't know if they still do.

There you go vicarious--its does NOT have an apostrophe when in posessive.  For some reason.  This is an annoying rule but even more annoying when it's (contraction) broken. This is Fourth grade grammar, people.  If you want to hear bad semantics turn on Channel 6 News any time.  get a glance of this or a glimpse at that.  Once I could not even tell who did what--ta whom?  Wish I'd written that down, don't quite have no life enuf.  So when did it change that there is a chance "for" rain rather than a chance of.  The rain is not the gambler. ANYway the apostrophe-s should just be banned in all cases also the word then (misused instead of than").  See article about endangered adverbs.