Over the weekend, a compromise was reached in that people who wanted to drink booze inside Washington Square Park, where the music could be heard, can. It's just that they'll be cordoned off in a special "Booze Section" so the hoi polloi don't have to mix with all the drunks and alcoholics.

No word on any sort of deal or compromise on the North Beach Festival booze ban. One wonders if it's because since one of the events is for "jazz," it gives it an air of class. After all, if one of the events in question was called "the North Beach Death Metal Festival", we doubt a compromise would even be considered. Maybe the people behind the North Beach Festival should give up on all the blues bands, throw an opera singer in there, and call it an "Opera" fest. Rich society types love the opera.