Friday, January 31, 2014

On the menu at the Spokane Downtown Daiquiri Factory: 'Date Grape Koolaid'

Posted By on Fri, Jan 31, 2014 at 11:15 AM

click to enlarge On the menu at the Spokane Downtown Daiquiri Factory: 'Date Grape Koolaid'
Spokane Downtown Daiquiri Factory Facebook

The Spokane Downtown Daiquiri Factory opens this weekend and, judging by the place's Facebook page, there's a dedicated group of people who can't wait for this very Slurpee-esque new addition to downtown. And while the candy-colored aesthetic may not be for everyone, most people can get behind a new business filling a vacant space and giving the people what they want. But will that change if said business makes a rape joke? It seems we might find out.

A menu posted on the Daiquiri Factory's Facebook page this week includes, among a handful of other, mostly locally themed puns, this: "Date Grape Koolaid."

Yikes.

So far, one Facebook commenter has pointed out the questionable nature of the name, but most people just seemed stoked to be hitting the dance floor with a Spokolada/Spurricane River/Berry Red Wagon in hand. Elsewhere, at least one other business, a pub in Tennessee, faced some pushback for using the same pun. Spokane's own Dawn of the Donut changed the name of one of its donuts, originally called the "Fudge Packer," last year after customers complained.

We went searching for some explanation of why this might be considered OK. Urban Dictionary tells us the kids these days might be using "Date Grape" to describe hooking up after getting wine drunk, but remember, this is a daiquiri factory. The drink doesn't have any wine in it. (UPDATE: Urban Dictionary has apparently removed the "Date Grape" definition and protesters are discussing that over on the boycott page.)

Jezebel has this explainer on how to make a rape joke (not like this). Then there's this MADtv sketch:


We reached out to the bar for comment, but haven't heard back. We'll update this post if we do. In the meantime, since it's clear the people behind this venture like puns (even at the expense of decency) we thought we'd give them a few less-rape-themed alternatives. Here's what my pun-loving coworkers came up with: The Grape Northwest, Grape Escape, Grape Minds, Goodness Grapecious Grape Balls of Fire.

Now, that wasn't so hard. What would you add?

UPDATE: The Spokane Downtown Daiquiri Factory still hasn't responded to our call or email, but they've been addressing the issue on their Facebook page, sort of, and do not seem to be considering changing the name. Here's one response; others are in the comments on the post embedded below:

It's The Name Of A Drink.. Not meant to offend.. for you to overuse your imagination! Just like everything in life.. your either going to like it or don't.. We all can look for something to make a big deal about.. There is a thing called fun.. and a thing called.. reading way off and beyond the lines.. That's where your imagination took you.. We didn't! Failure is not a option.. but easily achieved from people that Think negative.. and are smart enough to show it!

UPDATE 2/1: We've added new information in a post here.


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Heidi Groover

Heidi Groover is a staff writer at the Inlander, where she covers city government and drug policy. On the job, she's spent time with prostitutes, "street kids," marriage equality advocates and the family of a 16-year-old organ donor...