Now...about the Lexington BBQ Festival the other day....a very good day out!
Got there early....watched the Wells Fargo Stage Coach take off with its first load of passengers and then off to stroll the Main Street of town and smell all the enticing aromas of BBQ, Burgers, Kettle Corn and the like.
Mind telling me why anyone would come to a BBQ festival and order Hot Dogs?
Things went well until we hit the Outfitter Coffee Shop...then the ol' Southern Hospitality took leave of Lexington.
After buying coffee, the four of us took a seat inside at a Window Table and savoured a mediocre cup of coffee while People watching. After a bit, a couple of us sensed a need to take a more detailed tour of the premises and sought out the Porcelain furniture in the Cafe reading room. Whatever were we thinking?
As we headed in the right direction we were accosted by a young whipper snapper who summarily barked "VIP's Only!" and barred our way. As we explained the purpose of our travels....he reiterated what became a litany...."VIP's Only!". Any attmept at explaining we were in fact "Paying Customers" and thus in the dire economy extant....should be considered VIP's....(that is Paying Customers)....the Chant continued.
We were told the Outfitter's definition of a VIP was anyone with a purple armband....signifying they had purchased a ticket to see the Bands playing that afternoon. That sounded all warm and fuzzy to me except for a couple of small details. It was Morning.....not Afternoon and there were not Bands playing....heck there were no Bands present even. Matter of fact....there was no one at all in the VIP Section or the VIP Toilets even.
An attempt to discuss the issue with a higher level of management resulted in a part of the ownership telling us.....yes...wait for it...."Restrooms are for VIP's only!" A discussion of what the State Law and trade custom had to say about the VIP Only stand resulted in a snotty female lady person declaring she was one of the Owners and would not be bullied by the likes of me. Any effort to suggest to her the dangers of keeping an Old Man from the Services fell upon very deaf ears.
Owing to the very polite company I was keeping that morning....I elected to seek alternatives to the crisis afoot.
The Lexington PD, recognizing a couple of our party, kindly offered us solace.
Since that time....my Letter to the Editor of the Winston-Salem Journal relating my account of the encounter with the not so kindly folks at the Outfitter....stroke a chord with the Editor. It shall be printed in the Halloween Day issue of that newspaper. He called to ask if I minded a few edits to the language to which I readily agreed. I care not to get into two piddling contests in a single week.
Interestingly enough....even the Davidson County Health Department was interested in the Outfitter's lack of concern for both the law and its paying customers. They suggested they would be visiting the Outfitter but would not be buying any coffee. I bet you a Dollar to a Doughnut....they will be treated as VIP's during their visit despite there not being a Band even scheduled today!
Now if you folks are looking for recommendations on places to visit in Lexington at any time.....feel free to hit the Outfitter so long as you do not care to get into a piddling pickle!
PS.....there was some good music....and some very good BBQ. The Sand Carving was plain amazing....a Space Ship full of piggys poking their porcine probiscus's out of every port and portal.
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