What an unproductive weekend! Friday was the last day for one of the analysts, a female, in our office. She had plans to go out drinking with the analysts from our group (finance) and the other group (real estate) around 4:00 p.m. One of our male analysts invited me along as well, though he showed up later, as he had to tend to some business with a client on a phone call. When everyone was there, it ended up being 9 guys and 3 of us girls at Sapphire. All I know about Sapphire is that it used to be Sol Y Luna, a restaurant/club that had salsa dancing in the evenings. Since then, it turned into some place that serves greasy Asian food during the lunch hour. I’ve been in there 2 or 3 times, but couldn’t bring myself to order any of the food; that’s how bad it looked. I wasn’t even aware that Sapphire had a Happy Hour. They had pitchers for $13.00 or $13.50, draft beers for $3.50 (0r thereabouts) and special pricing on appetizers (I think). The group of us had 3 or 4 pitchers, some had a few other drinks and everyone had sake bombs. Since a few of the guys refused the sake bombs, one of the other girls and I were forced to have two apiece! Our next stop was Tommy’s Joynt, a cash only place that’s a few blocks from my apartment. By then, the group had narrowed down to 6. They’re famous for being cheap with huge portions, although the food can range from mediocre to good. I ordered lasagna, though nearly everyone else ordered a sandwich. My lasagna was average, but I couldn’t finish the humungous portion. A., an analyst in our/my group, happily finished mine off for me! He also indulged a taste of a few of the other’s choices! Our next stop was McTeague’s, followed by Soda Popinski’s and ending (for me) at Kozy Kar. My drink tally was 7 or 8, which is nothing within the 7 1/2 hours from the time I left the office to the time I arrived home! A. always takes care of me, for some reason (i.e. buying me drinks, engaging me in “interesting” conversation and inviting me along with his friends and him when they decide to depart from the others). I wasn’t drunk by the time I arrived at my humble abode, but dead tired. Does that mean my glory days are soon to be behind me? Does that mean I can’t hang any more?! The horror! Hey, I had a good time hanging with the youngsters – all of whom were in their early 20’s. I try to maintain my level of party-ism, but it seems to be failing me as of late.
My Saturday was spent mostly in bed all day watching movies and recovering from Friday night! I got to see “The Hangover – Part 2” and “Midnight in Paris,” among others.
On Sunday late afternoon I wandered over to Pa’ina Lounge in Japantown for a few drinks. I ended up staying for the performance of DeAndre Brackensick. He’s from San Jose (?), made it on to the 11th season of American Idol and was probably the 3rd or 4th person voted off. My connection with him is that I’ve seem him perform at the San Francisco Aloha Festival since he was just a kid, from maybe 12 years of age or before (he’s now 18). Even as a kid, he was a VERY accomplished hula dancer, singer and ukulele player. To the Islanders, he’s always been known as Kamele. When he started out with some Michael Jackson on Sunday evening, I was prepared to be bored. He followed that up with Stevie Wonder, Beyonce, Bob Marley and plenty of Hawaiian songs, though, so I stayed till the end. As Patrick Landeza (the promoter) said, DeAndre is the most Hawaiian non-Hawaiian. I believe his ethnic mix is 1/2 African American, 1/4 Caucasian and 1/4 Filipino, but I could be mistaken. Whatever, that boy was BORN to sing Hawaiian falsetto; gives me chicken skin! He’s got that je ne sais quoi – that charm, that personality, whatever it is. He’s also cute, which is only a plus. He’s destined to be a star. I really believe in that kid.
That brings us to Musical Monday and DeAndre’s new single, “Her Crazy.” Watch history in the making ’cause, I tell you, this boy has hitched his wagon to a star!
“Her Crazy” – DeAndre Brackensick
Let me add to this Musical Monday that my friend, L., and I attended a financial presentation on retirement this evening, which culminated in a free dinner at Zingari. The restaurant has actually gotten bad reviews, but our dinner was very, very good. Both of us had a salad with pecans, frisee, blue cheese and what not, filet mignon with mashed potatoes and spinach, ending with tiramisu. When that was over, we stopped by Amelie for a glass of wine. Since they no longer serve Brin d’Amour by the glass, Freddo suggested something else for me. Whatever it was, something red, something Chateau Peyroux or something something, I enjoyed it. Can you really go wrong with a free filet mignon dinner, good company, a great bartender, great wine and some chill house music on a Monday night? I think not.