Rough Around the Edges

February, 2016

“Is that it?”
Ruta: “No, that’s Double Shift, Chatur.”
“Hhmm. Are you sure it’s in this area?”

Ruta: “Ya, I’m sure. I’ll check Google.”
Ruta: “Okay. Go straight, turn right and continue on 17th street. It’s on 17th and Campbell.”

Ruta: “Is this correct?”
“This is 17th and Campbell. So it ought to be here.”
“I can’t believe there’s a brewery here. Look, there’s Goodwill Industries over there. Tension Envelopes!”
Ruta: “It’s a super shady area.”
“Okay. We are hitting 18th street now. So it’s definitely not here. I’m turning back. Maybe we needed to go left after hitting Campbell.”

“Oh, there it is! It says Torn Label on that small sign.” 
Ruta: “Why does it have a huge ‘Studio Inc’ sign?”
“I don’t know. Are you sure they have a taproom? Maybe it’s just a brewery.”
Ruta: “Ya, I’m sure. It has 4 star rating on Google.”

“There are a bunch of cars there. Should I just enter the gate?”
Ruta: “Ya, try that.”
“If there’s nothing here, we’ll go to Double Shift.”

“What is this place, seriously? If there is a taproom here, they really don’t want you to find it.”
Ruta: “Haha. yeah. Just park there.”
“Is that a parking spot? There are no lines over there.”
Ruta: “There are no lines anywhere, Chatur!”

“Okay. Here we are. Let’s check it out. Hopefully we won’t get shot or mugged.”
Ruta: “That guy seems stoned.”
“Maybe there’s an employee happy hour thing going on. They probably just hang around on Fridays and drink till late.”
Ruta: “Maybe.”
Ruta: “No wait. It’s says taproom here.”
“Oh cool. I guess we just enter?”

Door opens.

“Ok. So it is a taproom after all!”
Ruta: “They really don’t want you to find this place!”
“Haha yeah. Let’s find a place to sit.”
Ruta: “It’s kind of…I don’t know…It’s a different vibe…”

June, 2005

“Dude, where is this place!”
Makhi: “I don’t know Chatur. I don’t know South Goa.”
Ashwin: “SUUUCCCKKKS! This place is too far Makhi! All the clubs are in North Goa!”
Makhi: “This is all I could get Ashwin!”
“Seriously, dude. Kidhar gaon me hai yeh jagah.” (This place is in a village!)
Ashwin: “I really don’t think there’s a beach closeby. We left the beach behind.”
Gautam: “I’m gonna ask that dude.”

Ashwin: “Gautam did you get my lighter?”
Gautam: “Ya here. The guy said that walk down this road for 5 mins and you’ll hit the beach to your right.”
“What’s the name of the beach again?”
Gautam: “Cavelosim.”
“Cavel…awesome?”
Gautam: “Yes Chatur. Cavel…awesome!”
Nachi: “The hotel is superb. If not North Goa, we can hang out here tonight. Machi order karte.” (Let’s order fish.)
“Ya but let’s rent bikes tomorrow. We gotta hit North Goa.”
Ashwin: “Yessshhh! Achcha hai yeh jagah but thoda sa sad hai.” (This place is good but its a little dull.)

Nachi: “Kidhar hai beach? Did we miss it?” (Where’s the beach?)
Gautam: “It should be ahead. Mike’s place…This looks interesting. Let’s come here for dinner.”
“Hhmm. I have quite a few recommendations for good places to eat. Souza Lobo, Infantaria, Mambos, Ti…”
Nachi: “Haan re Chatur! Jaayenge. Aaram se.” (Alright, Chatur! We’ll go. Take it easy.)

Ashwin: “I think this is the turn.”
“Here? Doesn’t look like it heads to a beach.”
Ashwin: “I don’t know man. Let’s check it out.”
Makhi: “I’m getting tired man. I hope this is it.”
Gautam: “It’s here for sure. I can hear the water.”

I ’m not quite sure what tide arose in my subconscious mind that paired these two events together. One was an early morning stroll in South Goa that ended in a virgin, white sand beach. The other was a somewhat confusing drive to a local brewery quietly tucked away in a dark corner of Kansas City. Completely different company, milieus, times of the day, corners of the globe, time in life, yet there is something that binds the two events together.

The destinations.

Cavelosim beach in South Goa is one of those beaches you wish no one would ever find. A pristine white sand beach in the heart of old Goa away from the maddening rush of wannabe North Goa hippies. It’s everything that Goa isn’t. But it certainly is what Goa was. To the average tourist, Goa usually equates to booze, beer, beaches and babes. People love the food. They love the, ahem ahem, Drugs. Gambling might be on the mind of a few, water sports perhaps. Cavelosim beach offers none of that. It’s a beach and that’s all that it is. It doesn’t over spill with shacks like Baga and Calangute. Water sports are non-existent. No one will draw tattoos on your arm here. If you’re looking for seafood, look elsewhere. All it offers is its simple untouched beauty with the calm of the ocean. Bring a book if you will. Take a dip. Maybe come at night and light a bonfire under the moonlight. Pure. Unadulterated. Nature.

Torn Label Brewing company is hands down the shiest business establishment I have ever been to. Sample this: It can house just about 20 people. It plays no music. It has one small TV. No food. No fancy ambiance to speak of. Two bartenders who don’t small talk. Just serve some really good beer. It’s one of those things in life that you didn’t even know you wanted until you see it. Now if you think that’s too romantic for a brewery, you’re right. It is. But for a person who likes his Friday evenings with good beer and without loud company, Torn Label is exactly what the doctor ordered.

You see, Friday evenings are a perpetual paradox of my existence. Stay at home and feel sad and dull. Go out and get exhausted by socializing with perennially excited people. But with Torn Label, one doesn’t have to choose.

And there in lies the beauty of these places. They aren’t cookie cutter. They cater to popular interests but don’t follow a laid out template. They don’t ask for attention. Just stand in a corner and do their thing.

They are pretty but also shy. Thin but not toned. Charming but not pleasing. Beautiful, not perfect.

Exactly how I like my surroundings. Exactly how I like my company.

I often wonder what more could be added to these places that would make them even better. What would make them even more popular? Maybe Torn Label could do with serving some hot wings and fries. Maybe Cavelosim would do well with a shack restaurant that catered to the needs of the young and the beautiful. Maybe I could shrug my Friday paradox off and just become a more social animal.

But I now know better.

Some things are better left being rough around the edges.