A very hard place to find, but worth the search
This was my first time going to Table 50 and it is a very, very hard place to find, even if you have the address (643 Broadway, NYC). If you go there, here’s some advice because more than one person told me that they wandered past it before realizing where it was. Simply walk down the west side of Broadway and, just before you get to the corner of Bleecker, look for an unassuming doorway with stairs going down to a basement. That’s the place. If you’re lucky like me, there will be a rather large bouncer-looking type standing outside the door. Dead giveaway.
My friend Lisa had been feeling a bit glum lately so I invited her to this dual birthday party. I’m glad I did because we always have fun together. Our night actually started around 6:30 in Hoboken parking her car. Then we were off to the city. We ate at the Waverly Restaurant (385 6th Ave, NYC) where I had a remarkably good Swiss cheeseburger. There was this mysterious smell of urine that caught my attention from time to time. I thought it could have been from one of the patrons or (and this would have been gross) wait staff. When I went to pee, I found out what it was. The odor was so bad in the men’s room that my eyes were tearing. My theory is that this odor would temporarily cling on men’s clothing thus reaching me as they walked by.
After dinner we headed out to the party. My lousy sense of direction headed us off the wrong way at first. We ran into my friend Charles and his ever so bubbly dog George. A few friendly words and we were on our way to Table 50. It was a nice night for a walk that brought us all around the village. We went past a part of Washington Square that has some cool lights that look like giant lampshades. We also went by where the Bottom Line used to be. It still makes me sad. I would have tried to make it seem that I took this long way on purpose. Ya know … to enjoy the weather and whatnot. But Lisa is all too familiar with my piss poor inner compass.
Once we got there I realized how small the world of publishing really is. Ya see the party was being thrown for and by two people from Maxim magazine. One of them is my friend Carrie who I worked with when she was at Home magazine. The other was Josh who I didn’t know before this night. However, as I told people at the magazines where I work about the party, Holly–who works for Woman’s Day–said her friend Chantel used to work with Josh. So she came to the party. That was a very nice surprise. Then, while I was there I ran into Elke who I never ‘met’ face to face but also worked with when she was at Home.
Lisa and I had a great time people watching while sipping on the silly free drinks courtesy of Skyy Vodka. There was a ‘virgin’ theme to the event (hence the name of this entry) so the drinks had names like “Happy Hyman” (basically a screwdriver with a splash of 7-Up), “Cherry Popper” (Vodka & Cranberry with a cherry) and “Celibatini” (um .. a martini). Oh and there was a drink called “Everything but …” which was described as Orange Fanta. However there was a footnote that said something like “Orange Fanta not available” so I’m not too sure what that was all about.
The night continued the usual, comical way for us as Lisa made fun of people dancing while I made fun of various fashion statements. In particular on this night were the ‘collar-up’ guys. Really kids … what’s that look all about anyway?
Table 50 is a really cool place. A cavern-like spot that was dark but not too dark and a lot roomier than it lets on. The wood and brick hardness was nicely countered by the splashes of colorfully abstract wall hangings. Friendly staff (always a plus in my book). The one lingering question is … what’s up with the name? Table 50? I should have asked someone. Oh well.
Afterwards we went to Louise & Jerry’s in Hoboken. Lisa wanted to see that place I always end up at with my crazy fun bunch of friends. We didn’t stay too long. The smoke was getting to both of us and we were getting a little hungry. We left, walked up to my place and got some pizza. Oh and in typical Lisa fashion, we walk into Mofetta’s where she notices this guy she thinks looks like Fat Joe. She says, out loud. “Hey look it’s Fat Joe!” and starts laughing.
Now when she said it we were in the little doorway and I swear her words echoed like “…it’s Fat Joe …Joe …Joe …Joe …Joe …” because the entire table of guys turned and looked at us. We laughed later because honestly he did look like Fat Joe (maybe it was him … what better place to see him than at a pizza joint at 1:00 AM). At that moment though I thought I was gonna get my ass kicked. Ya know they’d never beat up the cute drunk girl, just the skinny ass white dork.
We ate our pizza and tried watching a movie, but sleep was creeping up on us. It had been a long night and Lisa still had to drive home. So by 2:00 we called it a night. I think I was able to lift her spirits a little though.
