A Roaring '20s Speakeasy - Bethlehem, PA

As modern Americans we take many freedoms for granted.  Among those freedoms is the simple right to bring a glass of alcoholic beverage to one's lips without the threat of being jailed for it.  America wasn't always so free, and tonight we'll relive an age when such a basic freedom was infringed upon by the Prohibitionists.

It was on January 16, 1919 that the 18th Amendment to the United States Constitution was ratified, prohibiting the manufacture, sale, transportation, importation, or exportation of intoxicating liquors into the United States.  The Amendment was followed in October of the same year by National Prohibition Act, also known as the Volstead Act, which provided a further definition of the "intoxicating liquors" mentioned the the amendment, specified penalties for violating Prohibition, and authorized federal officers to enforce the ban. Thus, alcohol became illegal until the repeal of the 18th Amendment in 1933.

Prohibition wasn't particularly popular, especially among those who were tasked with enforcing the laws against relaxing with a cold brew or enjoying a fine wine with dinner.  In fact, the police in many cities were well aware of establishments that continued to serve alcohol after the ban, and some turned a blind eye to the activities going on out of respect for their fellow citizens... or they were handsomely bribed for their inactivity.  Either way, a "speakeasy" could be found in nearly every town across America, if one knew where to look.

The Bookstore in Bethlehem, Pa is a recreation of such a 1920's speakeasy.  Please don't repeat to the authorities what I'm about to tell you, but there is something more than the sale of literature gong on here.  Enter through the door from the street, and all you'll see is a small book seller's establishment, complete with a with a young lady behind the counter.  Ask the lady where you might be able to find a drink, and she'll likely direct you behind a curtain in the back corner of the shop and down a dimly lit corridor.

As your eyes adjust to the dim light of secrecy maintained here, you'll notice tables and lounge areas faintly illuminated by the glow of oil lamps.  A hostess will direct you to a table where you can... ummm.. read.

At each table is a stack of books.  Pick up any of these books and you'll notice the first few pages are pasted over with a menu of drinks and snacks.  From here you may order whatever takes your fancy, but please close the book and pretend to be discussing literature if the place gets raided.

Drinks are not the modern bar fare, but instead are old-time classic cocktails from the 1920's which seem exotic by today's standards.  An entire page is devoted to drinks based on absinthe which, itself, has remained unavailable in this country until very recently.  Snacks include sweet pototo chips with smoked onion dip, kobe beef sliders, mini barbeque  tacos, and chick pea popcorn.

Jazz music is heavily featured, and live performances can often be heard on the weekends.  The Bookstore occasionally hosts formal meals and special events.  See their website for a complete menu and list of coming events.