iverside/Leslieville will explode into early-century (this century) cool within the next couple of years. Cafes have sprung up, the per-capita jean tightness has increased, West-ers have migrated, and buildings have been razed and revamped. The area effuses a subtle, hopeful, will-be air. As striped-shirt proliferation continues to assimilate West Queen West, driving real estate prices Pete Doherty high, restaurateurs and proprietors have begun to look east. This attitude is quite adverse to the Go West North American myth that plagued our country's forefathers, but we're not at that level of retro just yet.

Michael Summerfield (Eau, 606), a West side ex-pat, noticed the area's lack of casual drink and dine spots (Jilly's doesn't count). He hopes to fill that niche with his neoteric venture. Originally dubbed Booze Emporium, a spat with the ironically anti-booze-promotion government forced a name change. The moniker aptly became Prohibition.

At 6800 square feet, Prohibition is quite large, yet not ostentatious. The infant resto has a noticeable malleability, imperative for a big room. Summerfield designed the space, fitting it with apropos prohibition-era photo wallpaper, black banquettes, tableside light switches (to signal servers, airplane-style), booze-sponsored nooks (like the Jack Daniels booth), and classic polished-wood floors. The walls house works from local artists, changing on a quarterly basis. Soon those arty Park(dale) people will come a calling.

A central wooden bar loosely divides the main room, straddling the border between the front dining room and main bar area. Maintaining the booze emphasis, the keg room, glassed in and centrally located, lets patrons see the cylindrical pre-mouth home of their suds. An embodiment of fluidity, the still-developing basement will act as a multi-purpose art room, housing fashion photography, film screenings, and various other exhibitions. Also, plans are in the works for a large back yard - well, back parking lot - patio. Its multi-faceted nature makes it hugely accommodating and therein lies much of its appeal.

With a higher-end neighbourhood hangout vibe, Prohibition has the requisite televisions (13 in total, many in-booth), piano, and pool table. In keeping with the fluid spirit of the place, the pool table could later move to make room for a dance floor, again depending on prevalent inclinations.