My first reaction: “What’s a pop-up bar?” I don’t know this because I’m old (for the purposes of this discussion), have never been particularly hip, and genially loathe the nearest major metropolitan area to me*. Anyway, Netflix found out that there was a Stranger Things-themed pop-up bar, and they managed to find a way to warn the owners that “the Netflix lawyers will rip them into a parallel dimension and suck the life from their bodies” (if the pop-up continues, unsanctioned) without actually sounding like jackwagons:
My walkie talkie is busted so I had to write this note instead. I heard you launched a Stranger Things pop-up bar at your Logan Square location. Look, I don’t want you to think I’m a total wastoid, and I love how much you guys love the show. (Just wait until you see Season 2!) But unless I’m living in the Upside Down, I don’t think we did a deal with you for this pop-up. You’re obviously creative types, so I’m sure you can appreciate that it’s important to us to have a say in how our fans encounter the worlds we build.
We’re not going to go full Dr. Brenner on you, but we ask that you please (1) not extend the pop-up beyond its 6 week run ending in September, and (2) reach out to us for permission if you plan to do something like this again. Let me know as soon as possible that you agree to these requests.
We love our fans more than anything, but you should know that the demogorgon is not always as forgiving. So please don’t make us call your mom.
This is kind of a neat trick, honestly.
Moe Lane
*OK, fine: Baltimore is, I suppose, a major metropolitan area. But I score all other cities against The City. And, frankly, Washington DC only gets to be a major metro area in that rating scheme because it is the capital of the greatest country.
Catch more flies with honey
That’s rather impressive, actually.
That is quite well done.
Also, when I first read “pop-up bar,” I thought it was a web browser thingy.