going out alone

so i've had the same conversation with several different women over the last week. the gist: they all wanted to try going out alone more often, thinking that it is the best way to meet people.

one friend wants to try restaurant bars, another wants to spend more time on the LES (that's the lower east side for non-gotham folk).

so i have a first interview for a new job (job stuff is CRAZY, will dedicate a post to it later). it was 5pm by the time i got out so i decided not to go back into work. i'm in soho. i text some people to see if they're out and about. i get a series of negatives in response. it looks like i'm on my own.

the weather was beautiful (or scary, depending on how al gore-ish you are) at 60 degrees. i bought myself a new pair of jeans at bloomingdale's and hit up a swanky restaurant around the corner. ordered a glass of champagne and a dozen oysters (at the happy hour price of $15 total, i win) and felt liberated to be going it alone. unfortunately, the bar was full of women. three single (sans wedding rings, at least) men saddled up next to me but after about three minutes of eavesdropping i realized they were idiots and resolved to finish up and try another place.

i head across the street to the bar that i've already decided will be the spot for my next birthday. it's perfect. BUT there was nobody at the bar. most people there were cuddled up in the ample booths and couches all over. so i order my g&t, make small talk with the bartender who has a bunch of friends trail in. we all converse, get shown pictures of bartender's gorgeous 2 1/2 year old boy. and just as i'm about to leave this flamboyant older english man pulls up, "hello darling, how are you?" "pretty good, sir." "well, you're not that good, you don't have anything left in your glass!"

so he orders me another drink, his friend shows up. they start talking nyc restaurant/bar real estate. because i'm a foodie/blog freak, i happen to have some information about places that they themselves didn't know about. C just sold a huge HUGE online real estate website and B, it turns out, owns two of the HOTTEST clubs in the city along with several restaurants. and i mean HUGE. so we're talking food, restaurants, bars. these are my kind of people. a few of their friends show up, they're nice as can be. we start bar hopping to some of the coolest places ever. i'm getting drunk. it's 3am. and then the english dude (who is def. at least mid 50's) kisses me!

i'm like, "what are you doing?!" "you're so lovely darling, i must have you!" "okay, seriously, i have to go. it's late, i have to go to work tomorrow." and then kind of run off. he did insist on taking my card though.

so when i woke up at 9:45 having slept through the 7:30 alarm that gets me to work around 8:30...i was severely annoyed. and then my phone rings from a restricted number. ooooh! news about the job, i'm hoping.

"hello?"
"darling, please tell me you made it to work on time. i'd feel awful if i found out you were late!"
"i'm late. and why are you calling me? i'm waiting for a job call back. i can't talk to you!"
"okay dear, we'll talk later!"
"bye!" i yelled, but i don't think i hid any of my exasperation with the fact i'm getting called by this dude.

only in new york kids, only in new york.