Friday, July 29, 2005

WHAT A NIGHT FOR REUNIONS....

Imagine my surprise as I opened up yesterday's NY Daily News to see one of our own in an action photo during an intense moment! There was a beach tragedy in Rockaway yesterday; apparently someone wandered off into the water at one of the "NO SWIMMING" areas of the beach. A large contingent of lifeguards scrambled into the water to save the individual, but it was too little, too late. The photo in question shows one of my barbacks, MR. LIFEGUARD emerging from the ocean, tired and dejected. (he's wearing the not-so-flattering pink shorts in the middle of the photo) Now I've always known him to be a lifeguard during his summer months. But the stories that always hear from him are ones where he's hanging out in his "official" chair and catching rays. I never thought that he'd actually get out of the chair and do something strenuous, let alone try to save a life. That must be an intense feeling, knowing that you may be the final link between life and death. I must say, I'm pretty impressed. It's pretty safe to say that he looked a bit pooped last night, so I didn't bust his balls too much.

Thursday night was another busy night for the gang at Third and Long. Happy Hour started out like gangbusters with a lively group of employees of a small company, celebrating the last day of work for one of their own before she moved away to San Diego (damn, she was cute). Then there was the mysterious reappearance of one MR. GOOD SAMARITAN. Now he's been a bit vacant from the scene the last couple of months, tending to some personal matters. Whatever he did, it looks as if its had a pretty good affect on him. He looks relaxed, shed a bit of weight; and from what he's told me, he's looking to re-emerge back into the city. We wish him the best, of course, and he knows that he always has a place here.

As the evening went on, the bar became busier and busier; at that moment I noticed another "blast from the past".... this time, by way of a couple of former employees and very close members of the Third and Long family: CHEF TELL and MR. UNIBALLER. Now I go way back with these two...all the way back to the glorious beginnings of the bar, back when Third and Long was the only game in Murray Hill. We're talking 13-14 years here.
I've watched these two grow up into mature, successful young men and I am always proud to call them close friends. One's moved on toward a pretty successful career in the financial world, while the other is slowly but surely, making his mark in the culinary world as a chef. It's always a pleasure to see them when they stop by, and last night was no different.

Even later in the evening I was surprised by a visit from the RUTGERS BOYS. They are two brothers who found success at a young age in the real estate world. While most guys their age concentrated on partying and sowing their oats, these two instead channeled their energies into tackling the real estate world (in N.J. anyways) and after a few years of hard work, reaped the fruits of their labor. They just returned from a long overdue cross-country vacation, looking tanned and relaxed- probably for the first time since I met them years ago. They regaled me with their stories of the trip and I found myself living vicariously through their adventures.

While this was taking place, I found myself being approached by yet ANOTHER familiar set of faces; this time the faces belonged to two of my former students (for those of you out of the loop, I was a former academic advisor for a program for "at-risk" students at a local college in the area). These two former students I was particularly fond of because of all they had been through to graduate college. It's been over ten years since they graduated from college, yet they always find time to seek me out and catch up on old times.

So with all of the "reunions" taking place, you would think I wouldn't have any time to do any work! At the end of the night, however, it was business as usual. The bar had another good night; everyone seemed to have a good time and it was particularly a good night for me as I got the opportunity to see a lot of familiar faces. You'll get no complaints from me.

Tonite you will be blessed with two of our favorite female bartenders: TEACHERS PET and SEXYBLONDE. We will also have a DJ on track tonite as well as $3 Domestic Drafts and $5 Cosmos/Appletinis/Margaritas from 5pm-9pm.

I've rambled on enough for one day. I'll report again soon.

NUFF SAID