Looking for party powerbrokers holding court in the corner of a smoky tavern?

Forget about the Royale: the South Kingshigway bar, a favorite with the city’s political set, has announced it will go smoke-free on April 1. (No foolin’.)

Proprietor Steven Fitzpatrick Smith says smokers are still welcome at the pub - they just have to keep their butts on the patio.

Granted, the Royale clientele leans closer to Howard Dean Democrats than Richard Daley ward bosses, but it may be a sign of the times.

Though Kurt Odenwald’s best efforts failed to pass a smoking ban in the county, smoking was recently banned in all Illinois bars and casinos.

There is a grass-roots movement to get a similar prohibition passed in St. Louis. And although the plan could be a tough sell at City Hall - there members of the Board of Aldermen operate taverns - at least now the group has somewhere new to meet.  

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Via PubDef, a mock caucus at the Royale earlier this year