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The night started out simple enough ... and became a fun-filled
adventure. A bunch of us went to Mars
2112 (1633 Broadway) for some $2.00 beer and/or $5.00 drinks.
It's their special for Wednesday and Thursday Happy Hour. You
can either get into the bar/restaurant by paying an extra $2.00
and sitting in a theme-park style ride that makes you feel
like you're flying in space. Or you can take what used to be
called the Warp Speed entrance which is a hallway that bypasses
the ride and the extra charge. Well last night I noticed that
they changed the name to 'Zip Passage'. How lame is that? I'm
convinced was recently sued by Paramount since Warp Speed is
such a Star Trek thing. I could be wrong. Anyway, thankfully
all of the beer was cheap so I ordered a Murphy's Stout. This
faux red planet decor is not one you'd expect to find Murphy's
but I didn't complain.
I was talking to Mitch about the drama that was going on at
one of my magazines. The Publisher who'd been here for thirty
years left to go to a competitor. And for some reason the Creative
Director was let go. Other turmoil would follow the next day
including the second promotion of a man who has no talent or
clue but somehow manages to make the corporate heads think
he does. I guess ... that is his talent.
We also discussed our dubious at best technology. Not that
it's bad ... it just seems to be held together with paperclips
and band-aids. There are a few really talented programmers
who could get our system up to par in no time. However, due
to the red tape of any large corporation, this has yet to happen
and may never.
We moved on to Tonic (727
7th Ave) to meet a few other coworkers. Tonic is a giant, three-story
cavern of modern design with a volume level to match. I never
really liked this place but my friends are here and I'll have
fun. Plus I got to meet a handful of new people whose names
(of course) escape me now.
Mitch and I talked more about technology and how I need to
up the ante on my own website. I've been looking into getting
a Content Management System of my own. He said that he'd be
interested in building one and, since we both know what does
and doesn't work, we could build a killer system. Mike, who
is a designer I've worked with came by. In my head I'm picturing
a new business venture here. We'll have to discuss this further
without so much whiskey and beer.
At one point Ronny was trying to round folks up for some Karaoke.
Everyone was all into it. But in the few minutes it took me
to finish my last beer, they all copped out. Alli, who works
for Elle Magazine, was at the bar and said she had a birthday
celebration to get to. She asked if anyone wanted to tag along.
I said I did and we were off.
We walked over to Grand Central Station to a bar but we never
went in. So I don't remember its name. Instead we met a friend
of hers outside and we walked thru Grand Central to another
bar. This was the first time I ever walked thru the main part
of Grand Central. A fact which I found hard to believe as did
my friend Heather who was on the phone with me at the time.
It is a very impressive building indeed. I felt like a tourist
staring up at the zodiac ceiling. Did you know that it was
painted backwards in error? Oh the things you learn from public
television.
OK to be fair, I am not going to try and remember any of the
names of the people I met at this point. I was already pretty
toasted and I'm sure I'll mess it all up. So let me just say
that I met an interesting array of Alli's friends. There was
the birthday boy and his soon to be ex-girlfriend who was from
Poland. Yes I said soon to be ex ... apparently they had dated
for a few years and just decided recently to not live together
anymore. They still looked fairly lovey-dovey to me though.
Anyway, she could whistle louder than me ... and that is pretty
damn loud. There was the boy who they called doctor studying
to be a veterinarian. And I met a real live Radio City Rockette.
I met them all at a place called Whiskey
River (575 2nd Avenue). It's a place that looks just as
it's name sounds; like a large fishing cabin made of logs,
complete with a fire place, makeshift beer pong table and one
really wet barstool. I had the distinct displeasure of sitting
on that stool. Still everyone was so upbeat that a bit of wet
trouser was not going to spoil my night.
After several more drinks there, we went off to Banc Cafe (431
Third Ave) for what I was hoping would be some food. I was
concerned when I looked at the menu and only saw booze. Thankfully
the food was simply on a page I had missed. I ordered a burger
and switched to water as my beverage of choice. This is a posh
little place and the food was good. I was really enjoying the
company too.
Alas, it was time to go. I'm hoping to hook up with these folks
again and when I do ... names will be named (or at least remembered).
For now it was time to walk over to 33rd and 6th to get the
PATH home where another adventure sprouted.
As I sat on the train, two girls and a guy get on and sit by
me. The guy and one girl sat to my left, the other girl to
my right. We start chatting and the one girl asks what I do.
What I said was, "I manage websites for a bunch of boring magazines." What
they heard was, "I manage websites for a bunch of porn magazines."
"Porn!"
"Yes," I said playing along, "Porn. All sorts. Kiddy, animal
..."
"Like Donkeys?" asked the girl to my right.
"Oh yeah"
"That's sick!" said the girl to my left.
"We don't have donkeys where I'm from." said the girl to my
right.
"Where are you from?"
"California."
"Oh I don't know ... I've met a few jackasses in L.A."
"Oh shit! I'm gonna cut you!" threatened the girl to my left.
"You'd better watch out. She's a hairdresser and probably has
something to cut you with," warned the girl to my right.
We laughed and upon leaving the train and getting into separate
cabs I yelled, "Goodnight kids!" To which one of them replied, "Goodnight
crazy man!"
And this night that was to be an early one came to a close
at 3:00 AM. And yes ... I came to work late the next day.
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