So, last night after the Ice Caps game (we won 5-1!), we planned to go to a dance club but ended up just doing an impromptu pub crawl instead.
We tried Yellowbelly, Grapevine, Nautical Nellie's, Duke of Duckworth, Celtic Hearth/Talamnh an Eisc - and, FINALLY, we went to the Republic.
I've never gone to the Republic because it's on this awkward stretch of Duckworth that's just on top of the George Street stairs and, well, if you're that close, you might as well go to George.
Well, now I'll be going all the time.
I should have realized this based on its name but it's a separatist bar - for real. I had no idea it existed. The crowd seemed a little young for a pub (lots of first-year university types) but it was packed.
The decor is amazing. They have rugby jerseys, lots of pictures of St. John's prior to Confederation, lots of quotes from famous Newfoundlanders, lots of political cartoons from the 1940s, some interesting artwork, etc.
This wall was my favourite:
The white posters along the bottom are the full text of our Terms of Union with Canada, including what Canada would do with the financial surplus we were bringing with us.
On top are some of the Bank of Newfoundland coins and banknotes, Newfoundland stamps, political cartoons, a defaced picture of Joey Smallwood, the national anthem text, and some sad pictures of St. John's residents hoisting the tricolor in protest after the referendum results were announced, including one cover of the Evening Telegram with the caption "We let the old flag fall".
Some of the pictures were completely new to me, I'd never seen them before. And it's a pretty big bar, all the walls were done up like this. I can't believe I'd never happened inside before. Loved it! And my first night with my new tattoo... I thought they might give me a Guinness for free, but nope.