Dec 16-19 Martini Nights and Friends from All Over

We work so hard and then we play hard too. Its all good as long as you have partners ready to hang and places to run to. Thursday got off work and took the PATH into the city. Instead of heading downtown I headed uptown and got off at 14th Street. Picked up a Popeyes dinner and then headed over to Splash to see what the guys were doing. Pais was at another office party so I was staying in town so we could meet up before heading back to BK. This Thurs. I got into the place before 10pm so no 5 dollar cover for me. I said hi to one of the guys hanging out in the lounge and he asked me if I was going to dance upstairs, I said I would probably make an appearance but soon headed over to the bar to start off the night with a Smirnoff Ice. I hung out with barman Brett and he told me how he was still enjoying the CD gift. I knew the music was going to be a hit and still like it myself. A drink later I was joined by Pais and I decided that before we would leave I would check out the dance floor. I headed upstairs and danced on the mostly empty floor. Only the dancer on the box and about a dozen people were taking advantage of the floor but the beat was good so I danced out the tune and then returned downstairs to retrieve my coat and we stepped out into the night. Unlike the week before when the taxi situation was desperate we were able to get a car over on 5th Avenue (even though two girls from across the street had the nerve to ask if we wanted the taxi, as if we would hold the door for them across the street). Directed the cabbie back to BK and the first night of my weekend was a wrap.

Friday I did not have to work but woke up anyway. I was making use of my funpass and doing some shopping. After hitting 5 different locations I decided I really did not need a DS before Xmas and would wait until the supplies picked up after the gift rush was over. I did make the trip worth it however by stopping at Modells and picking up some kiddie tracksuits for family gifts and even a gift shirt for a friend. They really are pushing the Modells credit card this year but I avoided their charms and remain store card free. I headed back into the city and arrived downtown in time to have lunch with Pais at the Wendy's on Nassau St. After lunch I did a quick run through of the Century 21 but despite the rush of tourists looking for something to get I saw nothing I desired. Picked up some stuff that Pais wanted and then we headed back to BK. A rest up, then a work out and then some video games as Pais made another Holiday party appearance. I stayed back in BK, redid the haircut, cleaned up, and then headed in on mass transit. Unlike my usual easy trip into the city, the train halted on the way in and stayed in the tunnel making the trip more tedious than usual. At least I had something to read. Anyway I arrived in Chelsea and made my way up the street. I said hi to the doorpeople and the cashier and headed downstairs. Who did I spy on the coat check line but Pais who had arrived only moments before myself. I checked the coats as he got our first drinks over at the bar. We hung out downstairs for a while as Splash DJ Alex Lauterstein let the party start slowly. I chilled and chatted with Pais and our friend David talking about music and hanging out and the funny people we saw downstairs. For some reason we kept on getting strange smells in the area but we chalked it up to the funny people. Anyway I eventually headed upstairs and hung out with the dancing crowd for a bit. When it was time to head up to the stage I lit the hands and proceeded to dance at full speed. When that was not enough I extinguished the lights, crossed the floor and stepped up onto the box (something I had not done in quite a few months). As I was able to dance up there for a whole song and have fun at the same time it was all good if I do say so myself. Afterwards we put the wraps back on and stepped out to the curb. The taxi waiting right out front brought us back across the Manhattan bridge and all the way home.

Saturday I got up and had a breakfast of eggs and bacon on a roll and watched TV. In between football games and videos on VH1 the afternoon was kinda lazy. We eventually left the house to have pizza at Lenny's before going shopping but the slices were not up to par with what we usually get and weighed heavily on the stomach for a few hours. We visited the Century 21 in Bay Ridge but the heavy crowd of holiday shoppers and the lack of variety meant that Pais just found a few hats and I left empty handed. No biggie, I guess I'll just have to wait for next season for the stock to turn over. As evening arrived dinner was ordered and consumed and it was time to clean up and prepare for an eve with friends.

Our friend Steve was in town visiting and we planned on meeting up at the Rox. We headed into the city with the full crew and arrived with not a moment to spare and found a parking space right next to the lot. The line was short and the way in was clear as we made our way inside. We found out that Barker was at the back bar for the eve so after we gathered together we headed to the back and started out our eve. Before I could finish my drink ordering I was surprised by Steve and also got the surprise that he had dragged Ernesto along and into the club. So not one but two extra friends were in attendance. Ernesto made do with seltzer water but the rest of us got started on the first drinks of the night. Before I could start another drink DJ Manny Lehman started into "Lola's Theme" at around 12:40. The place was filling up slowly but the music was very upbeat with a nice mix of classic and new. I circulated between my friends and the dance floor throughout the night. The crowd never really packed into the place (maybe drawn off and resting up for the party at Crobar at 5am) but the lights and the music kept it fun. Barker loved the shirt and the crowd at the back bar loved when he modeled it for us. Everyone had a good time. It was too cold to spend any time in the smoking section outside but people were out there any way. Two speaker appearances a dancefloor walkthrough and several rounds for the crew and the night passed along as it should. We stayed in the place until about 4:30. A short walk in the night and then we arrived at the diner around 4:40 and Steve joined us soon after as we had a late night burger (it just tastes so good). We got a taxi ride home soon after and made it back to BK nice and easy.

I awoke on Sunday to the watching of football and ordering in a breakfast of a bacon omelette. We hung out for a while and waited for the arrival of The Jimmy so we could head over to our friend Larry at his house in NJ. We left after 4pm and headed into the city. We picked up our friend Daren downtown and continued up to the Lincoln Tunnel. The traffic for a while was ok but as we passed Giants Stadium we picked up heavy congestion all the way until right before we were about to get off the highway. The traffic had been caused by an accident involving trucks but the RainX on the windows left our sight of the road clear and we arrived safely despite the delays. The house was nice, the food was great the company was better. We hung out, me and Donnie made an ice run after we used up all of the refrigerator ice. The neighbor walking outside warned us about the ice and then returned as we sat in the car to scare me as he asked if we needed anything for the party. Donnie warned me that we weren't in the city anymore so I didn't have to be so jumpy but I always think the exact opposite. Suburbs are always a little too quiet but I guess its the city in me. During the course of the eve we watched snatches of The Wizard of Oz as well as Desparate Housewives. Eventually around 10pm it was time to head back home to the city and we said our goodnights. The trip back home was much easier to manage than the trip out and we got back to NYC and then to BK most quickly. We bid goodnight to the Jimmy and drew our weekend to a close.

As always a great time and good friends make the nights and days all good. However I will endeavor to leave the martini drinking to Pais. Those Belvedere martinis are too strong and do not mix well with the other easier to deal with drinks I like. I'll take the more colorful mixed drinks any day. Even Barker stated to never let me drink the martini again. I will be a good boy. I promise... Until next weekend.