The Lost Era of Nightlife

Even up until the late '90s, we had a spot that was "our own." Everyone knew they could go there and have fun until morning. I used to rush straight there after work on Fridays, and it was the best feeling and the best time of anyone's life.

Knowing you had a place that felt like your own, and that your gang would be there, made it even more sincere and familiar...

That kind of regularity and belonging doesn't exist the same way anymore. Everything is event-based, app-mediated, or monetized. You don't just "have a place." You book a table, check the lineup, hope your friends confirm.

The casualness is gone. And with it, a certain kind of spontaneity and community.