Folk singer raps motives of New Brunswick eatery

Home News Tribune Central Jersey ^ | 3/11/03 | By LISA INTRABARTOLA

[xp38]

NEW BRUNSWICK: The Old Bay Restaurant's owner lashed out at France on Friday -- flushing nearly $1,000 in French wine and champagne down a toilet to protest the country's lack of support for the United State's position on Iraq.

In response, local folk singer Spook Handy is spearheading an Old Bay Boycott.

"The Old Bay is for the war and is apparently willing to attack any party that disagrees," he wrote in a mass e-mail distributed yesterday.

Owner Anthony Tola had no comment yesterday about the proposed boycott.

Handy of Cranbury urged bands and patrons alike in his e-mail to stay away from The Old Bay for "at least one year" and call to complain to Anthony Tola about his actions.

"I don't think that American citizens should start fighting with the French because there's a disagreement over how to handle this problem with Iraq," Handy said. "It's ridiculous to try to make enemies with those who disagree with the president's policies. Even the president says we want to avoid as many collateral casualties as possible."

As of yesterday evening, Handy had no commitments from area bands or restaurant patrons to participate in the boycott.

"I've had over 100 responses within two or three hours, 98 percent of which have been positive," he said. "I think it's going to have more of an effect on the consciousness of the New Brunswick community to realize this is not the kind of example that we should be setting."

So far, Handy has not convinced Highland Park resident and The VooDUDES leader, Andy Bernstein, to take part in his protest. Bernstein said he had no knowledge of the boycott until questioned for this article.

"My own take on all this is people are entitled in this society to express themselves in any way they want. It also happens to be good for business owners to be a patriot these days," Bernstein said. "If Tony wants to dump out his French wine and make a statement against the French, it doesn't mean he's a warmonger."

The VooDUDES, former house band of The Old Bay Restaurant for a decade, last played the bistro's Mardi Gras Bash on March 4. Bernstein, a self-described "militant moderate," said at this time he and his band are not joining the boycott, and will play next month's crawfish festival there as planned.

"We have five guys with five different political opinions. It wouldn't make sense to me to make a unilateral decision for all my guys anyway," he said. But he added, "If Spook wants to try to make an arguement to me about it, I'd certainly listen to him."

Lisa Intrabartola: (732) 565-7346; e-mail lisai@thnt.com.

[Living Free in NH]

I predict this restaurant will enjoy a waiting list from now on.

[Betteboop]

bump

[HHFi]

I've got a better idea: eat at the Old Bay and boycott folk music. You'll be much happier in the long run.

[RightWhale]

Saw a huge snowy owl perched on a fire hydrant right downtown one August morning in 1963 about 6 AM. No traffic, of course, no people about, except myself. Saw that the bird had about a 5 foot wingspan when it took flight down the middle of the street at low elevation. Biggest bird I ever saw in New Brunswick.

[Ben Ficklin]

Spook Handy.com

[xp38]

Next time I visit I'll look for it.

[SouthParkRepublican]

Cool little Cajun place. Nice atmosphere and not too pricy. It is right across the street from the front door of the Hyatt hotel. I will be making a point to eat there more often and hope other area restaurants follow suite.

[RippleFire]

"Spook Handy"?

[Cable225]

I can't picture where it is. New Brunswick isn't a very long drive for me (Keyport) and I'd love to throw a few bucks at this guy for his gesture.

I might even send "Spook" a note telling him how much I enjoyed the meal.

[Dane]

"The Old Bay is for the war and is apparently willing to attack any party that disagrees," he wrote in a mass e-mail distributed yesterday.

Attacked? All the guy did was throw some rot gut french wine down the toilet.

Whew libs love their hyperbole.

[Coleus]

Thanks, maybe we all should go there and support the patriotic owners of this restaurant.

[spectre]

Folk music?

People actually pay to hear folk music?

That is so 60s.

[Fintan]

"My own take on all this is people are entitled in this society to express themselves in any way they want. It also happens to be good for business owners to be a patriot these days," Bernstein said. "If Tony wants to dump out his French wine and make a statement against the French, it doesn't mean he's a warmonger."

 

Nothing will piss off an unemployed "folk singer" more than a reasonable statement.

Gee, imagine a world where the First Amendment applies to every point of view...

This is Spook.

Run, Spook, run...

[weegee]

So this folk singer doesn't believe in free speech and is supporting a blacklist of a business just because someone made a political statement in support of the government?

What would Hollywood/Martin Sheen say? < /sarcasm >

[weegee]

It need not be said because it will only generate the asking of "Who???" but Boycott Spook Handy.

[weegee]

The man was boycotting French w(h)ine. Why is it okay for "Spook" to plan a boycott, but not this business owner?

Double standard?

[dead]

The Old Bay is a great restaurant. I haven't been there in years though, since I stopped working in the area.

The food was great, and they used to have great bands playing there, including a former coworker's band (Arnold the Pig).

Cajun food, and a variety of music from jazz to funk to rock.

I have season tickets to Rutgers football (don't even ask me why) and the stadium's just across the river. I'll definitely be stopping in next season, and I'll ask to meet the owner. By then, we should know the real reasons France is so against this tyrant's overthrough. Hopefully a few of those enabling and supplying bastards will be in the dock for their war crimes.

[Tokhtamish]

I predict this restaurant will enjoy a waiting list from now on.

It always did. It is one of my favorite eateries. I haven't been there in a while since Crossroads theater closed down. I think I might go there this weekend.

It is off the main drag in downtown New Brunswick, near the highways in the theater district. New Brunswick, for those who don't know, is where the main campus of Rutgers is. College towns will always have good restaurants.