Cheap Nights and Cheap Trick

Eric and I finally stumbled into this billiards place across the street from our apartment Saturday night. Oh, it seems like yesterday that our relationship was blooming over games of pool and under thick clouds streaming off of other people’s cigarettes. Though we’ve traded our little hideaway in Holly Hill known as Brown’s, Clicks seems to win in this match up.

Not only did they serve decent priced liquor (I got 2 mixed drinks, a shot, and the tip for just under $17), but they didn’t charge a ton to play. But it wasn’t the fact that even though I haven’t played a good game of pool in a while and STILL managed to match Eric 4-4 that was the highlight of the night. As I perused the drink menu- though I tend to simply live on a bar diet of cosmos and dirty martinis- I came across this little gem: the Gingerbread Man. Or something like it. Anyways, its just Goldschlager, Baily’s, and butterscotch schnapps. Or, in my Bougie on a Budget case, Hot Damn cinnamon schnapps, Cream & Cask, and another generic brand of butterscotch schnapps. I would definitely recommend this as your drink of choice if you’re hosting a holiday party of sorts.

Sunday was pretty typical: Reading a good book in bed (I’m currently in the middle of The Memory Keeper’s Daughter), grocery shopping, and cleaning. Due to my humble position at a pretty well-known business here in O-Town, I was able to get some free VIP seats at the Cheap Trick show that was put on by WMMO. There was a party at a downtown watering hole called Ember, which I had been reading about lately in the latest edition of DRINK Magazine put out by Orlando Weekly. The bartender was really nice, and though the drinks were on the house she still managed to pour with a heavy hand. I grabbed a menu to look at while Eric and I hung out, and though nothing really screamed at me to try, I must say that the prices were pretty darn decent. Most of the fare was salads, flatbreads, and any other ‘food trends’ that are popular as well today. No deserts- I think this place is gearing mostly to those who are looking to have a few drinks and nibble on something. Either way, prices were generally between $7 and $12 bucks- not too shabby for a nice looking place downtown.

I ordered the calamari since Eric and I showed up about an hour early to the VIP party and we grabbed a table. I used to wait tables, so I know how frustrating it is to check up on someone over and over, they only order a water, and don’t bother leaving a dollar for your footwork. It wasn’t the best calamari I’ve had, but it definitely didn’t disappoint. The service made up for it- the waitress brought me an extra cranberry and vodka since someone changed their mind and she knew I was drinking them.

Once Eric and I meandered down to the concert, I got my kicks from the crowd around. The band that played some covers before Cheap Trick was Iced Down. They did a good job at getting the 40 year old women rocking out. I watched them waiving their hands around to the likes of The Rolling Stones and wondered to myself if in 20 years I’d be at a free show featuring Bullet for My Valentine. I’d be wearing my ankle-length denim skirt and sneakers, shouting, “Woo-hoo” when ‘Scream Aim Fire’ starts to play.

The best part was after Cheap Trick took the stage. Once they got to playing ‘Heaven Tonight’, all of the women started gyrating, like that was the jam to lose your virginity to back in the day. I also saw a woman who looked like she must have snuck in a few hours beforehand and saw the checkered flag motif that was the backdrop for the band- then found some tights that matched to put under her inappropriate-for-her-age-and-thighs denim skirt. Funny, she looked identical to the woman who lives below me with the little dog that never stops barking…