Sunday Smiles

What do you do with a Sunday night? It's part of the weekend, so you want to have some fun, but if you have too much fun, your case-of-the-Mondays might be fatal.
In the past year, I have discovered a Sunday night habit that is a near-perfect solution: ASSCAT. Those of you who are unfamiliar with the show likely think that a strange title. Allow me to explain:
ASSCAT is a show at the UCB theatre. It is improvisational comedy. It performs every Sunday at 7:30 and 9:30pm. Amazing component #1-- The best of the best perform (cast members from SNL & 30 Rock are regulars). Amazing component #2-- The 9:30 show is free. The catch: If you want the free tickets, you have to wait in line.
I like the show enough that I have sat through my fair share of freezing sunday nights to catch it. But in the summer, when there's nothing else to do and it's beautiful outside... why not?
This week TK accompanied me. We arrived at the theater at around 7:30, bought a 6-pack and proceeded to play games. Botticelli has become a favorite of my Graight associates. I mentioned the game in a previous post, noting how bad I was at it. But this week I surprised even myself with my lack of talent. Really Artesia? You can't get Julius Caesar? That's just plain sad. Despite my perpetual failure at said game, I had a great time waiting in line. It was fun, relaxing, and involved 3.5 beers-- a nice amount for a Sunday.
And then there was the show. Amy Poehler and Horatio Sans opened things up, so already I knew it was going to be a good show. The guess monologist was a guy I had never heard of, but was really funny and really cute...and gay? Not sure. TK and I tried to figure it out throughout the course of the show but didn't come to a definitive conclusion. The show, as usual, was very very funny-- I particularly enjoyed a recurring bit in which middle-schoolers watched the Miracle of Life video, repeatedly fainting.
As someone who used to do comedy, I am very picky about what I like. I've seen few stand-up comedians in my life who I think are worth the 2 drink minimum. I've seen improv so uncomfortably bad that I had to leave. Yet, ASSCAT rarely disappoints.
After the show, TK and I walked home and enjoyed the summer night. Full of laughs and some coors light, I was ready to embrace the week...or at least the 2 days of week I had until the 4th.



UCB Theater:
307 W 26th StNew York, NY10001
Phone: (212) 366-9176 . C, E at 23rd.

ASSCAT:
Sunday @ 7:30-- $8 (still cheaper than a movie and no waiting in line for this show)
Sunday @ 9:30-- Freeeeeee! But be willing to wait 2-3 hours

http://www.ucbtheatre.com/schedule/

Vintage clothes sometimes don't fit, but the bar did

Feeling particularly feisty for a weekday night, my friends and I decided to try a new bar. Now, I have nothing against expanding horizons, especially when it's in the name of drinking, but I like feeling at home when I drink (I also like to drink when I'm at home). There are definite perks to having your regular bar-- being aware of the price range, finding the bathrooms with ease, y'know, going where everybody knows your name. Yet, despite its newness, I immediately felt quite comfortable at Vintage. A lot of this could have been due to the fact that we were able to grab some cushy chairs in the back-- a *must* if this is where you choose to booze.

The atmosphere at Vintage is not particularly swanky, but not cheap looking either. It felt cozy. I would give the clientele a similar review-- not swanky, but not cheap...I don't know if clientele can be cozy, but fine, they were cozy too. After a good look around, it was time for my first drink of the night. Well, I mean, obviously it wasn't my first first drink. But it was my first drink at this particular venue. I went to the bar and ordered my signature rum and diet, to which the friendly bartender responded, "What kind of rum?" This took me aback, as such a query is not typical of my ordering dialogue. I guess I'm not usually in bars where it matters. A modest lady, I responded with "whatever's cheap." Yet, given that I was asked for rum-type at all, I started to fear that Vintage might be out of my desired price range. Wrong! Just $5 for my R & D. Phew.

Satisfied with both the price and potency of my drink, I cozied myself into a chair and entered into a game of Botticelli (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Botticelli_%28game%29 --not a drinking game, per se, but fun to play while drinking). Despite the fact that I am horrible at said game, I had a great time. Enjoying myself while doing something I'm bad at?...a rare occasion indeed. I can’t help but conclude that Vintage played a part in my cheery mood. Thusly, I must recommend, it’s a pretty graight bar.

Vintage
753 9th Ave
Between 50th & 51st
(212) 581-4655

http://www.vintagebar.net/

Bar Notables:
*Waitress service for drinks if you're in the back (not mandatory)
*MANY MANY varieties of beer (nothing on draft though); definitely worth a go for beer lovers
*Also a large list of specialty martinis (with specials)
*Cute menu for bites
:( Not Graight service-- waiters are spacey and slow, but everyone is nice

Subways:
C, E at 50th, 1 at 50th...or there's every subway and the tube at 42nd