At One Minnesota Bar, the Show's Over

Everyone - Here is an article about what happened to the Rock Night Club. This article has hit all the papers and is spreading rapidly. What appears to be going on here is simply an "abuse of power". Since the MDH couldn't scare us off...they are attacking the cities instead. Note that the city attorney couldn't be reached for comment...I wonder why. Will other cities cave? Let's hope they have some backbone and do not cave. One question to ask yourself, is why does the MDH just not issue a violation letter so we can take it to court? How long has it been anyways. Is it because they have nothing but THREATS to issue? We are continuing to investigate this matter but it takes time...we will let all of you know what we find out. In the mean time, if you hear of anything in your area let us know immediately. I have contacted my legislators about this matter and I would suggest that everyone else does too! Theatrical exemptions are legal...why all the threats??? If it was truly "illegal" why not a court of law instead of the threats?

We at Barnacles will go on with the show!

Sheila

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/03/14/AR2008031400699.html

Posted on Fri, Mar. 14, 2008
At One Minnesota Bar, the Show's Over
GREGG AAMOT
The Associated Press
MINNEAPOLIS - The show won't go on at The Rock, a hard-rock and heavy metal bar in suburban Maplewood that has been staging faux theatrical productions to get around Minnesota's smoking ban.
Owner Brian Bauman said the city attorney paid him a visit on Wednesday and told him The Rock's liquor license could be reconsidered by the City Council if the bar keeps up the acts.
"He told me we need to cease what we're doing out here immediately," Bauman said.
The Rock is one of about three dozen bars in Minnesota that began staging the fake productions to exploit a loophole in the law , which went into effect Oct. 1 , that exempts performers in theatrical productions. The state Health Department got wind of the shows and announced last week that it would begin cracking down on "theater nights" with fines of as much as $10,000.
A few bars have encouraged their patrons to dress in costume and attempt a little improvisation. Others, like The Rock, have done little more than print cheap playbills to tack over the entrance, listing the patrons as "actors" who are then entitled to smoke.
Several reported a boost in business since they began allowing smoking again.
Maplewood City Attorney Alan Kantrud did not immediately respond Thursday to an Associated Press call seeking comment.
John Stieger, a spokesman for the Health Department, said Thursday the agency didn't know how many bars had stopped putting on theater nights since the threatened crackdown. He said the agency hoped a combination of local law enforcement and the threat of fines would put an end to them.
Bauman said The Rock couldn't risk losing its liquor license, so its final "show" , dubbed "Before the Ban" , will be held Sunday, despite the risk.
"Then we'll go back to losing money," he said.