現實版“斧頭幫”：加拿大飛斧酒吧受熱捧

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.
把刀頭鋒利的斧子和酒水結合起來聽上去是個非常糟糕的主意，但是似乎在“木材酒吧”卻行得通。“木材酒吧”位於加拿大新斯科舍省哈利法克斯市，是一家非常受歡迎的“飛斧”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”給厭倦了保齡球、飛鏢、檯球等城市運動的顧客們提供了一種放鬆的新方法。擲飛斧長久以來都是廣受新斯科舍省伐木工人歡迎的消遣娛樂活動。達倫•哈德森是謝爾本郡一家鋸木廠的第五代經營者，他決定把飛斧運動推廣到大衆。他和另一個飛斧愛好者馬克•奇澤姆一起創建了本市第一家飛斧酒吧。喜歡這種刺激運動的人會先在頭頂平衡一下鋒利的短柄小斧和雙刃斧，瞄準位置，然後再向彩色的木製靶眼投過去。在一場遊戲結束後，他們可以走進酒吧間，享受新斯科舍省的食物和精釀啤酒。

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.
啤酒和鋒利的斧頭其實並不能友好相處，但是哈德森說安全是第一位的。“木材酒吧”最重要的一項規定就是任何人喝醉後都不得擲飛斧。這裏還聘請教練給新手做速成培訓，教他們怎樣握持和投擲斧頭，教練也負責盯緊顧客，確保他們不要喝太多的酒。並且，這些武器總是安全地存放在遠離休息區的地方，中間隔着靶道，由一面木質和有機玻璃製成的牆壁隔開。

“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.
“飛斧是特別棒的運動，因爲每個人都可以玩，”哈德森說。“不到一晚上的時間，人就可以非常好地掌握它。今年我已經看到有六個人第一次擲的時候就中了靶心，非常有滿足感。”自盛大開業以來，“木材酒吧”在幾個月之內就有了這麼高的人氣，從這一點來評判，很明顯當地人真的非常喜歡它。

“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.
“團體預訂正在穩步上升，通常週四、週五和週六晚上都訂滿了，”合夥人馬克•奇澤姆說。“一般來說團體人數在8到14人，並且我們還成功舉辦過幾次單身派對。”這項娛樂活動變得如此受歡迎，每週三都有當地的飛斧聯賽在“木材酒吧”舉辦。

Axe-throwing at the Timber Lounge costs $25 to $35 for a 90-minute, two-lane session.
在“木材酒吧”，擲一場90分鐘的飛斧、租兩個靶道的價錢是25美元到35美元。

Vocabulary

unwind: 放鬆
adrenalin junkies: 喜歡刺激的人
bullseye: 靶眼