The Taylor Swift Themed "Breakup Bar" Pop Up Makes Swifties Look Bad
Food and Wine - Valentine’s Day is coming. And if you’re broken-hearted or otherwise disengaged with the greeting card holiday, then this Taylor Swift-inspired pop-up experience is for you.
The events company Bucket Listers is putting on Bad Blood: a Taylor themed Break-Up Bar, an homage to Swift’s 2014 song “Bad Blood." The pop-up will run between January 27 to February 26, ensuring that everyone has a place to hang out during what it calls the “Anti Valentine’s Day Season.”
“Whether you want to sing about your lover, those who were never yours, those you’re never getting back together with, or those who still have your scarf, this is the perfect place for you,” the pop-up's website reads. At the pop-up, guests can “get bejeweled for photo opportunities and ready to engage in some champagne problems,” or “get a glimpse into your future with our tarot card readers on-site.” Visitors can even spin “the Shake It Off Wheel of Cocktails for your drink of choice.”
Everyone who knows me, knows I will ride for anything Taylor Swift in most scenarios. In truth, this event complete with Tarot card readers and girly themed cocktails sounds right up my alley. Yet, I can't imagine a more embarrassing event to attend.
I understand the bitterness that surrounds Valentines Day. I haven't had a boyfriend in 5 years. All of the over the top "love" stuff used to feel like a slap in the face, until I grew up and changed my mindset. As Taylor Swift fans, like it or not, we are automatically assumed to be crazy, angry, and "undatable." "Men" don't like when women blame them for their dating problems (though the "men" who think this way are almost certainly the problem). Why do we continue to perpetuate the stereotype? Taylor Swift HERSELF doesn't even like to be known as "the girl who went through a million breakups." She writes songs about her life experiences and it helps people get over their own, because Taylor puts into words what we can't.
Does that mean that we all need to get into a room and have one big pity party for ourselves? No. Will there be a single straight man at this party? No. (Well actually, Feitelberg replied to my story saying he loves the idea and would go. But I suspect he only would do this to people watch.) Maybe that doesn't make me "for the girls," but sometimes a girl needs a wake up call. This whole thing screams "desperation" to me and that, is something I refuse to be. Desperate for a man's affection.
To prove I am simply not a fan of "anti-valentines day" activities, I'll admit something sacrilegious for a Pop Culture girlie - I don't even like the movie Valentines Day. I hated Jessica Biel's weird Anti-Valentine's day party, it gave me pathetic vibes and while I did laugh and appreciate Jennifer Garner's character getting her comeuppance and showing up last minute to support her friend, the fact it existed left a sour taste in my mouth. We aren't wounded animals! We just aren't attached! Are people so afraid of spending time with themselves that they have to reject the idea of love? What screams "unapproachable and damaged" louder than a party where everyone is crying over the fact they aren't in a relationship? I refuse to be put into that box.
On the flip side, if you ARE a single man/woman looking to be on the prowl for vulnerable people, this is the place for you. I'd imagine you could hang out at the sports bar next door and watch the drunk girls with their eyes blacked out like sharks file in as the night grows older. They'll be looking for anyone to make them feel less alone, apparently.