When you've had it with bored stares and appraising glances, head to Ireland's Four Provinces, a convivial Irish bar with the feel of a neighborhood pub. Guys are in baseball caps and sneakers, gals in ribbed V-necks or bulky Irish fisherman sweaters. The mood is buoyant. Eye contact is made. The guys edge over to the women.
People drop in, sidle up to the bar, have a pint, and take in the scene.
On weekends, the place is packed. In the dining room, things are more subdued. There older couples hold hands, mothers shush the occasional toddler, and foursomes sip Irish coffee. The air is expectant. A stocky fellow with a thick moustache steps onto the stage with his juiced-up acoustic guitar.