THESE HOOKAH NIGHTSTina

Mekharian Anthropology 102Dr. Leanna WolfeSept. 20, 2009

A hookah : [شيشة] - is a single or multi-stemmed water pipe for smoking. The concept of filtered smoke through a pipe originated in India and later developed into Iran. The hookah operates by water filtration and indirect heat. It is used for smoking tobacco fruits.

A Hookah Lounge is the prefect place for friends and family to come together to relax, study, meet new people and have a stress free good time. You can choose to either sit outdoors or indoors, whatever your heart desires.

Hookah service

Hookah Lounges usually have a middle eastern menu, because hookah is derived from Indians, Arabs and Muslims, which serves cold or hot appetizers, soups, gyros, shwarmas, Greek salads and Armenian coffee. They also proudly serve fresh brewed Starbucks coffee and frappuccinos. They serve many different kinds of alcoholic beverages as well.

A variety of hookahs and hookah flavors are mandatory in order to give the customers a choice to what flavor they would like to smoke. Smoking hookah usually relaxes a person and makes them more carefree.

When a customer finally chooses the hookah flavor they want, workers have to pack the hookah head with the precise amount of flavor and just the right amount of holes on the aluminum that covers the head. This allows the smoker to enjoy the flavor and relax their body. Overall, a hookah lounge is a place to relax and forget all your problems and with a hookah in your hand you’ll get just that.

It’s essential for the cook to have all the right utensils and ingredients in order to prepare all the meals. They have a refrigerator with all the fresh vegetables and breads/pitas. And it’s equally important make sure that all the utensils are properly cleaned so they have disinfecting liquids, multiple liquid soaps, abrasive sponges, comet and much more. The environment of the lounge is clean, organized and tranquil.

There is a safe surrounding and atmosphere where people usually smoke hookah, cigarettes, cigars, play cards, backgammon and all sorts of games. It’s a way to disconnect from work, school, problems and everything else you just need to get away from. They have a stack of cards just in case you don’t have one yourself.

If you’re ever in the mood to dance, listen to great music or you just want to watch the game or some television show, you’re more than welcome to go inside, grab a seat and have a good time. The inside, which has only dimmed lighting, is painted with warm, dark colors to give a more sensual feeling. Decorated with couches and pillows, some brass tables, poufs, wooden chairs and tables and lanterns.

They also have a very secluded area for couples, the V.I.P. section. This gives the customers more privacy and space. It’s a great place for people to feel comfortable and alone. Friends also reserve this area for celebrations and mini parties. They decorated the area with Moroccan lanterns, Moroccan brass tray table, silk like pillows and curtains. They did a very good job keeping up with the Middle Eastern cultural style.

Unlike other places, this lounge keeps the cultural theme from the outside all the way to the inside of the restrooms by using a warm orange painted wall and designed cream colored tiles. They also have a board that advertises some of the alcoholic beverages that they serve, which is a way for them to introduce others’ to a new culture and their drinks.

After all your worries seem to have vanished and your night is coming to an end, you either pay your check at your table or in the main room. Most of the time the waitresses come to you because in most Middle Eastern countries, their culture is, that the women serve their husbands and any family guests. And in this case, us customers are the guests.

{we decided to pay upfront.}