What does a one armed pool shooter, a lesbian “6 Mile” contest, a bar with a serious slant in the floor, and a plate of chicken and waffles have in common. Me. That was my Friday night. I decided to explore my surroundings last night. I started my evening by driving around Jack London Square searching for something to do. I could not decide where to start my evening, so I parked my car and started walking. I ended up at the Jack London Bar – “You’re First and Last Chance.” For what I am not sure. This is a very small place right on the docks. It has four tables and six bar stools. It has been around pretty much since Oakland has been around. The place is sinking and is on about a 30 degree slant from one end of the room to the other. If you show up drunk, you are likely to find yourself falling to the other end of the bar. I hung out there for a few cocktails and decided that there must be something better than this place and the five drunks in it. So off I went in search of, well I'm not actually sure, but searching nonetheless.
I walked by another bar, with a level floor, and decided to give it a try. This place was more crowded but I was definitely the minority in the place. Being just one of three white folks in a bar is not something that bothers me. I look at it kind of like being one of six men in the bar (explained later)…you know, who cares. I tend to make friends anywhere anyway and besides, they had a pool table. I put my name up and waited. After the excruciating pain of watching some amateurs play a few games, I got my chance. I easily dispatched with my first competitor. The next few were no better. Then the one armed man walked in. Now he did not actually have just one arm, but he shot pool with just one arm. I beat him easily the first game, but them he basically waxed my ass the next two. That was when I decided it was a little too embarrassing for someone with my talents to get beat by a guy who was just using one arm. Not as embarrassing as the time the Chief beat me with a mop, but pretty damn close. I decided to find my fun elsewhere.
I walked back toward my car and decided to go into The Fat Lady for a nightcap. It is a little restaurant, but the bar looks nice and they had some live music going. The music was good, as good as it can be for two guys playing guitars, and I hung out until they ended their set. I chatted up a nice lady, whose birthday it was and when they called last call, I was on my way.
I wasn’t quite ready to go home yet, so I drove around a bit and parked near a club that was still jumping. I walked up to the door and asked if they were still letting people in. The door woman looked at me a little funny, but said yes and proceeded to charge me a cover. A cover at 1:30 in the morning? OK. I walked in, got a cocktail and realized I was in the middle of a scene from 6 Mile. There were two women on the stage and they were basically in the middle of a rap contest. One of the girls was good. Damn good. I was listening to her when I started to look around. There were a lot of women in this place. I wondered why I didn’t start my evening here. Then I thought, there are a few too many women here. Yep, it was a lesbian party. There were about six guys in the place, and I am including the two bartenders. Just my luck. I chatted with one girl. Danced a little. You see, I can even have a good time ina room full of lesbians, but who can’t? The lights came up and I was off once again.
I was walking back to my car when I decided that food might be a good option. Now normally, I might have chosen to go to Nations as they make one kick ass hamburger and breakfast. But I walked by a place that proudly stated that it was the home of the famous Waffle and Chicken Plate. Waffles and chicken? OK, I will try anything once. I went in and sat at the counter, ordered my waffles and chicken and had a pleasant conversation with my fellow “it’s 2:30 and I’m hungry for waffles and chicken” patrons. I have to admit that the waffles and chicken were pretty good. It could just have been the fact that anything is good at that time of the morning. One strange thing though, my waiter made me pay the bill before I got my food. Who does that? Well besides McDonalds. Do I look like someone who is going to skip out on the check? I mean I was one of like six white people in the place, what are the chances I can leave unnoticed. Anyway, I paid the bill, ate my food and decided to call it an evening. I mean what else can you do at 3:30 AM besides go home and crash. No really, what else can you do? I need to know for next weekend.
So it was a pretty good first adventure. More to come.
"...and you friend tried to make it with the cow. I want to party with you." Bill Murray - Stripes
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