现实版“斧头帮”：加拿大飞斧酒吧受热捧

Combining razor-sharp axes and alcohol sounds like a very bad idea, but it seems to be working for the Timber Lounge, a popular axe-throwing bar in Halifax, Nova Scotia.

把刀头锋利的斧子和酒水结合起来听上去是个非常糟糕的主意，但是似乎在“木材酒吧”却行得通。“木材酒吧”位于加拿大新斯科舍省哈利法克斯市，是一家非常受欢迎的“飞斧”酒吧。

The Timber Lounge offers patrons sick of urban sports like bowling, darts or pool a new way to unwind. Axe-throwing has long been a popular pastime among lumberjacks in Nova Scotia, and Darren Hudson, a fifth-generation sawmill operator from Shelburne County, decided to bring it to the masses. He partnered with fellow axe-throwing enthusiast Marc Chisholm and together they founded the city’s first axe-throwing lounge. Adrenalin junkies can get their fix by balancing sharp hatchets and double-edged axes over their heads before hurling them at painted wooden bullseyes. Between sessions, they can step into the lounge area to enjoy Nova Scotia food and craft beers.

“木材酒吧”给厌倦了保龄球、飞镖、台球等城市运动的顾客们提供了一种放松的新方法。掷飞斧长久以来都是广受新斯科舍省伐木工人欢迎的消遣娱乐活动。达伦•哈德森是谢尔本郡一家锯木厂的第五代经营者，他决定把飞斧运动推广到大众。他和另一个飞斧爱好者马克•奇泽姆一起创建了本市第一家飞斧酒吧。喜欢这种刺激运动的人会先在头顶平衡一下锋利的短柄小斧和双刃斧，瞄准位置，然后再向彩色的木制靶眼投过去。在一场游戏结束后，他们可以走进酒吧间，享受新斯科舍省的食物和精酿啤酒。

Beer and sharp axes don’t really go well together, but Hudson says safety is their top priority. The most important rule of the Timber Lounge is that no one throws axes when they’re too intoxicated. Coaches employed here give beginners quick lessons on how to handle and throw the axes and are also responsible with keeping an eye on patrons and making sure they don’t drink too much alcohol. Also, weapons are always stored safely away from the lounge area, which is separated by the throwing lanes by a wood and Plexiglass wall.

啤酒和锋利的斧头其实并不能友好相处，但是哈德森说安全是第一位的。“木材酒吧”最重要的一项规定就是任何人喝醉后都不得掷飞斧。这里还聘请教练给新手做速成培训，教他们怎样握持和投掷斧头，教练也负责盯紧顾客，确保他们不要喝太多的酒。并且，这些武器总是安全地存放在远离休息区的地方，中间隔着靶道，由一面木质和有机玻璃制成的墙壁隔开。

“Axe throwing is great because it’s for everybody,” Hudson says. “Within just one evening someone can get exceptionally good at it. This year I’ve seen six people throw a bullseye on their first throw, it’s such a gratifying feeling.” And judging by how popular the Timber Lounge has become in just a few months since its grand opening, it’s clear that locals have really taking a liking to it.

“飞斧是特别棒的运动，因为每个人都可以玩，”哈德森说。“不到一晚上的时间，人就可以非常好地掌握它。今年我已经看到有六个人第一次掷的时候就中了靶心，非常有满足感。”自盛大开业以来，“木材酒吧”在几个月之内就有了这么高的人气，从这一点来评判，很明显当地人真的非常喜欢它。

“The group bookings have been coming in steady and usually on Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights, we’re just packed,” co-owner Marc Chisholm says. “Typically groups range from eight to 14 people and we’ve had a few bachelor parties come through.” The pastime has become so popular that there’s now a local axe-throwing league being held at the Timber Lounge every Wednesday.

“团体预订正在稳步上升，通常周四、周五和周六晚上都订满了，”合伙人马克•奇泽姆说。“一般来说团体人数在8到14人，并且我们还成功举办过几次单身派对。”这项娱乐活动变得如此受欢迎，每周三都有当地的飞斧联赛在“木材酒吧”举办。

Axe-throwing at the Timber Lounge costs $25 to $35 for a 90-minute, two-lane session.

在“木材酒吧”，掷一场90分钟的飞斧、租两个靶道的价钱是25美元到35美元。

Vocabulary

unwind: 放松

adrenalin junkies: 喜欢刺激的人

bullseye: 靶眼