Ink and Drink

Were my eyes deceiving me?

I hadn’t been in Running With Thieves in South Freo for a while but found myself there Saturday night after dark. The place was humming. Folk drinking, eating, all the way through from South Terrace to Marine Terrace deck. Kids playing games. Great family vibe.

And then my eyes became fixed on this adjacent scene. Was I in a tattoo parlour as well as a bar/eatery?

Turns out, I was.

Now, one might argue that the line between art and life is often blurred, but you have to say that on Saturday night at RWT, it was being tattooed right in front of you.

You get the picture. Here are the patrons, on one side, casually sipping on their craft beers and enjoying their fish and chips, while just a few feet away, others recline on reformer Pilates-type tables, steeling themselves for the needle’s touch. No screens, no barriers – just raw, unfiltered self-expression on display.

This fascinating pairing of ink and alcohol made me wonder. Is this the ultimate democratisation of art? Or perhaps a novel bonding experience, as friends toast to fresh tattoos? Whatever, this trend, if that’s what it is, seems to encapsulate the very essence of Freo today – a place where community and creativity collide in the most unexpected of ways.

Critics might scoff at the mingling of these two worlds, citing hygiene concerns or questioning the wisdom of making permanent decisions under the influence. Yet, for others, this setting no doubt represents freedom of choice and the celebration of individuality – and a living, breathing testament to Freo being Freo!

So, the next time you’re out for a quiet drink with a friend in Fremantle, don’t be surprised if you find yourself alongside an impromptu tattoo exhibit or some other equally mind altering event while you drink and eat away.

After all, that’s why folk love Freo, isn’t it – life’s canvas is always on display and, in Freo, it’s a long-running work in progress.

* By Michael Barker, Editor, Fremantle Shipping News

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