Irish Bowling and Chinese Beer

Posted Sep 24, 2006 by Sir Robert Davis

Updated Sep 24, 2006 at 06:40 PM

It starts slowly,  but do read on.

Thursday:

I ventured with Dave to Kaleisia so that I might begin the night with a Mocha Matte (iced,  lightly honey sweetened).  We chatted briefly with the delightful people there and I grew a little hungry and feasted on spring rolls. 

Upon leaving,  Cole and I discussed bowling on the phone and we decided to head over to University Lanes.  To pass the time (he and his lady were stuck in a rolling roadblock on 275),  my mini-entourage wandered into the Copper Top Pub on the way for a few dark beers.  I have passed it so many times without stopping in that curiosity finally killed the cat.  I’d describe the place,  but I’d rather reserve it for a future Friday Extra.  We sipped our pints and discussed European hash bars.

Afterward,  we rolled on to the bowling alley.  I hadn’t been bowling in a decade or so and I fully expected to be rusty.  We ordered a few pitchers of Miller (I don’t particularly like Miller,  but it’s better than Bud or Coors - the other options) and bowled a ton of games.  I won all but the last two (don’t be fooled - we were awful) and I developed some cute finger blisters on my delicate dandy digits.

My entourage grew weary,  so we called it a night.

Friday:

Shannon and I accompanied Bob and Katie to the Bombshell Gallery to soak in a little party dedicated to “Blow” - some sort of zine-type thing devoted to “adult fiction”.  I wound up with a bottle of champagne and the best parts of the event were seeing Gina finally well,  the playful discussions over stunning 70’s Bowie footage and the food table (the hummous was excellent!).

Blow itself was a disappointment and the people involved didn’t leave much of an impression on me.  Still,  they seemed to have the makings of a good idea and with some time and development it could become… something.

We spent an hour making our way to the Globe after the Bombshell party ended.  The Globe was rife with tender young weirdos (that the staff gently and kindly warned us of) and while outside smoking a #####,  Bob witnessed a beyond-drunk woman (who was by herself) stumble in front of a moving car.  He stopped the driver (so that she didn’t get completely run over and likely killed) and called 911.  He made statements for the police as we sat inside,  drinking delicious sangrias,  nearly oblivious to Bob’s situation outside.  We might have never known if it weren’t for the police lights through the window followed shortly after by Bob’s nonchalant depiction of the thing as it unfolded.

Once they closed,  we decided to call it a night.

Saturday:

Shannon and I joined Bob,  Nate and Sarah on another adventure - this time to Hyde Park.  Some of us “loosened up” at Nate’s house before embarking on our nightlife adventure.  Nate and Sarah had heard a rumor that Dubliner (a pub) was giving away free Guinness.  We were all in disbelief,  but decided to head out as such rumors should always be investigated!

As it turned out, they were giving away free Blue Moon for a half an hour at odd intervals.  We found out about one at 11pm and,  after a half hour of buying a few pints of the dark stuff,  hit it like the pros we are.  Bradley called and joined us just in time.  For those who have never been to Dubliners,  I’d describe it except that I intend to write about it for Fri Extra at some point and don’t want to spoil it for you. 

I will say that none of the patrons have any business dressing themselves and many of them are rude,  apish oafs (though some fellows were downright pleasant).  For those who don’t know what Blue Moon is,  I’ll put it this way:  it’s a cheap,  tasty-enough mockery of a decent Dutch beer.  A million times better than Bud and the like,  but nowhere near an authentic label from that part of the world,  it made this a seemingly worthwhile excursion.

Nate parked his truck in a lot that had a “no parking” sign completely obscured by trees and while we were inside,  it was towed.  He was told that it would cost him 190$ to get his vehicle back and we suspect that the towing company was called/owned by the 7$ pay lots and not by the owners for the lot in which he parked.  How criminally obscene!  Thankfully,  Bradley was with us and he gave us a ride to Nate’s house and spent some time with us playing the piano as well as sharing a league of laughs in our silly excesses.

From there,  I took the wheel of Bob’s van as he was a little too inebriated to drive.  We made our way to the Mema’s Alaskan Tacos in Ybor,  but not before returning to Dubliners to fetch my tab card from the bar.  Mema’s tacos are normally one of the best things about Ybor,  but tonight they were out of half their ingredients,  neglected to inform anyone when they were placing orders and simply excluded whatever was missing.  Shannon grew irate with her “shells with a puddle of cheese” and demanded a refund.  Mine were fine - I didn’t really mind not having the lettuce.  Katie joined us for a few minutes and we met and spoke with a handful of very fun,  interesting people - definitely the best crowd (outside of my entourages) of the night.

We weren’t finished snacking.

Next,  the 24-hour bakery on Florida called out to us and we snaked some guava pastries.

We wound up on Bob’s futon,  drinking Milwaukee’s best (like beer-flavored water,  really),  watching the Muppet Show on dvd and giggling in one final wheeze as the sun rose.

Tonight,  I’d like to go the charity fundraiser at the Independent,  but I have no idea which way fate is leaning.  Heck,  I’m not sure if The Seahorse Orchestra will have a rehearsal before the show this Friday (at the Bombshell Gallery - be there!  You have nothing better to do!),  but we’re good enough to rock you cold.

My life is a mess right now and I needed the drinks,  but I have faith that everything will work out.