Downtown Friday Night

Back in May (May 7, to be exact), we decided to try Friday night happy hour downtown. We went out anticipating hordes of eligible professional men lounging around looking for fabulous women to talk to. Read on for results.

Yono’s
CK: In an earlier post (actually reflecting a later date), I mentioned that we stopped into Yono’s to look for our friend the private dick. This was the night we discovered him. One would think this upscale place would be loaded with interesting professional men on a Friday night. One would be wrong. The one mildly attractive man at the bar turned out to be a real jerk (knocked a beer off the bar onto me and into DT’s bag, then offered one small paper napkin and made a beeline for the exit). In several visits to this place, I’ve been disappointed with the prospects.
DT: Most of the staff here are very attentive, but I do recall a certain waitstaff person (female) from whom service was almost intentionally slow. This is a nice place, mostly for those looking to hang out with old or existing friends, not interested in meeting new friends.

Victory Café
CK: I love the Vic. Used to play on their women’s softball team (circa 2000). Still love the Vic. Our friend the private dick met us there after he left Yono’s, and we were joined by our friend the shaman. It was like an episode from Cheers – we befriended they guy sitting alone at the bar and shared our food with him, played tunes on the Jukebox, and generally had a really good time. Can’t say I spied any eligible men in my range, but it’s not all about that, is it?
DT: Agree! This is a fun place with a sometimes good, usually friendly, mixed crowd (i.e., various ages). The jukebox is a bit difficult to figure out . . . but maybe not before the beer drinking starts! Haven't eaten there lately but I do recall from past visits that the food is good.

74 State
CK: We stopped in here because I like the upstairs bar and the view out of the picture window. There were exactly four people in the bar so we quickly turned around and left. We’ve tried this place a couple of times and we have never found single eligible men hanging around.
DT: Don't bother unless you want to drink alone in a swank place.

Savannah’s
CK: We thought we’d give Savannah’s another shot (more on this in a future post). We stood at the bar and were not offered any service. DT’s e-cigarette attracted the attention of a group of Dungeons and Dragons players (my take on them) so in the absence of a drink or anyone eligible at all to talk to, we left. Haven’t been impressed with Savannah’s but plan to try the "bandaoke" one Thursday soon.
DT: A lot of people seem to like this place (because it has been crowded on occasion) but I've yet to figure out why. The clientele is again varied age-wise but not a lot of them (except dungeon and dragonites) seem to be interested in meeting new people. Or maybe my companion and I look too intimidating or . . .

Jack’s
CK: Back in the day (the 80s), I used to go to the bar at Jack’s and there were fun, professional men there. It appears that those days are long gone?! We were approached by one elderly gent and DT approached two Grizzly Adams types at the bar. Other than that, Jack’s is kinda dead man-wise.
DT: Not much to say here. The men in the place seem to be there to close on some very important business deals over dinner. If you time it right you might get lucky and get to converse with one on the way in or out, or enroute to the bathroom. A new trick, which I must remember to use more often, is to tell the person you're interested in meeting that they must come closer to talk as your have a hard time hearing . . . whether it's true or not. It beats, based on experience, ordering men over to tell you a joke!! Although that has worked on occasion as well (more on that in a future post!)

Shooting Fish in a Barrel (Saturday in Saratoga)

We are getting great suggestions about where to go to meet men. The barge on Mondays, Barnes & Noble, golfing, the Ginger Man, Home Depot! Please feel free to add a comment & offer other suggestions. This post is about our night out in Saratoga on Friday, 6/4. In general, I’d say if you were looking to hook up and have a one night stand, particularly with a man from out of town, Saratoga is the place to be. Note: We did not take advantage of this opportunity!

9 Maple
CK: We started at this eponymous little place to see my friend’s jazz band. There was a small crowd, men with men and women with women (not saying anything . . .). We stayed for one set and bailed. We ended up back there at the end of the night and there was a bigger crowd but they seemed pretty young. They clapped when someone fell off her barstool! Jury is out on this place (plus they have no NA beer!).
DT: The bar itself is beautiful; the staff (male) seems more inclined to be friendly to, AND waive the cover charge for, young handsome men than 'mature' women. It's a small place but upscale and cozy. A friend of mine finds it extremely annoying that they measure the liquor. I didn't notice but it's worth noting. I hear if you like jazz in a cozy place, this is for you. Otherwise there are PLENTY of other options in Toga!

One Caroline
CK: Another place named for its address. We went in because we spied several men sitting at the bar. Many of them were on the young side (like they could have been our sons). The only prospect here was an older, white-haired gent who had obviously been golfing (and imbibing) as his face was quite red. He asked me out for dinner but suggested we go out in Saratoga the next night. Perfectly comfortable that I would have to DRIVE UP THERE! DT managed to distract him so we could bail. I’d say this place has potential but it wasn’t realized that night.
DT: I spied the chef re-entering the place when we were there . . . strikingly handsome. Too bad he disappeared into the kitchen. The 'children's' bar is rather odd -- if you like sitting 3 feet below the other bar flies (like the kids table at Thanksgiving) that's cool. We did sit there but were able to soon graduate to the big people's bar after the young men left. The bartender was friendly and it was a good, although light that night, mixed crown. Jury is out on this one.

Grey Gelding
CK: Now this is the place to be! We met many fun guys, all from out of town. One group (which included "Pie guy") was up from Connecticut to golf. Another was from New Hampshire and they were there to watch the Belmont at the Racino. Ooh, that’s another place we’re supposed to try. Anyway, Pie guy’s claim to fame was that he had baked pies for Aerosmith and Steven Tyler sang "My guy" to him but changed the words to "Pie guy." Also claimed to have baked a "bean pie" for Luther Vandross (with sugar . . .) . In addition to the man situation, the bartender was able to concoct a flavorful combination of non-alcoholic stuff for me and accommodated our request for an NA cosmo (which did not fool DT for a second). O.k. . . . My take on this bar is that it is a great, fun place for people our age. I’d go there again.
DT: Agree! OK, so the singer/guitarist was mediocre at best, but all were having fun singing along and requesting songs. A no-frills, no-pretense, place that is just plain fun . . . especially with the out-of-towners! Take note and be forewarned, it seems to me this is a great place for a married out-of-town man, and single out-of-town men for that matter, to hook up. You know, the kind where he and his wife have 'grown apaaat'. Not sure if SHE knows that. The staff are friendly, don't know if they measure the liquor, but it's more a beer crowd anyway. FUN place. Varied crowd age-wise but not much color.

Uptown Saturday Night April 17, 2010

CK: My sister told me not to go out without consulting her because she “knows” the bars in Albany. She recommended Junior’s. So we started there. As you’ll read, we’re no longer relying on her knowledge.

Juniors:
CK: Two things to say about this place. One: Juniors is an apt name since everyone in there is about 18. Two: The bartender should get a job that doesn’t involve working with people. Did not dig this scene.
DT: I wasn't even drinking yet but all I can remember is that it was dark and smelly and unfriendly.

Mahars:
CK: I could say even less about this place but it was so bad I will spill all my thoughts. First, the rank smell of stale beer on entering was only overwhelmed by the smell of a beer fart let fly by a gentleman at the bar as we passed. His companion was heard to say “Did you just drop a bomb?” There was some type of paperwork everyone seemed to be doing, a lecture being given by the guy we ended up standing next to (with a waxed mustache, no less), and we just weren’t part of the “in crowd” at this place (not a bad thing, in my opinion). An older gentleman did speak to my companion at the bar as she tried to get me an NA beer. What did she come back with? ROOT BEER! They don’t even have NA beer at this beer joint! Hated this whole experience.
DT: Beer Blowhards is more like it. The people there SEEM truly to care about nothing other than beer and their beer paperwork, much less basic manners. Disgusting!

Andy’s Place Sports Bar & Grill
CK: We decided after the two horrific places we’d been to go visit our new friend D (whom we had met a couple of weeks ago). At least he’s good for a grope – big muscles and a medium sized brain). We found him at Andy’s and got a wonderful hug. This place is for the young, beer is served in plastic cups and the only attention I seemed to attract was from the Al Qaeda operatives sitting at a table behind us. Not crazy about this place for me.
DT: If you like to look at young drunk men in assorted athletic gear, drinking perphaps since the big game ended at 3pm, this is the place for you. D is really the only attraction here...perhaps worth the trip for that alone.

Midtown Tap & Tea Room:
CK: After two horrific places and a grope, we were headed downtown when we spied Midtown Tap & Tea and decided to see if there was a crowd our age in there. There were a few people in the New Scotland entrance bar, a nice jazz duo playing and not much else happening. UNTIL . . . we spied Rico Suave, a very handsome man we both recognized from the 80s. We engaged him in conversation and I have two observations about him that stick with me. One: He was texting while talking to us and when asked why, he replied “This is time sensitive.” Two: He gave me his phone number but never asked my name in the half-hour we talked. I might try Midtown Tap & Tea again but need to know what is the best night to find good single men my age hanging out there.
DT: Yes, this place has some potential. A good assorted crowd, clean, and friendly wait staff. Too bad Rico never called back - we could give this never married (why?) gent some pointers!