Barfly

No, I'm not talking about the 1987 film with Mickey Rourke and Faye Dunaway, I'm talking about my experiences at the bar and the things I observed. Look around and look closely and you can see a lot in a bar. So many little dramas unfolding right before your very eyes.

I was getting a little stir crazy sitting at home. No one wanted to go out. The reasons given were weak at best but no matter, I'll make this a solo mission. It's not at all unusual for me to roam around the streets of New Haven solo, jumping from one establishment to another. Back in my acting days it was a great way to find little bits and pieces of humanity to put together characters. People have so many quirks , ticks, gestures and mannerisms that tell a story. Some are interesting, others are not but an artist can't create in a vacuum.

So off to the bars I went. Actually, just one bar. You see, a fire was raging in one of the buildings on the street that I was driving on and it was a one way. In front of me were firetrucks that came to a dead stop blocking my path. Behind me, several more firetrucks came roaring in destroying any possibility of me trying to back out. To my left, a fire hydrant, fuck the parallel parking. But to my right was an overpriced parking garage. I hate these places but I had no choice. I pulled in and forked over the money after running to an ATM machine and letting them hold my keys as collateral.

The Bar

There is one place that I particularly enjoy that's downtown but sort of hidden away from it all. Let your attention drift and you may miss it. It's a swanky little martini bar with very modern but uncomfortable stools and chairs. But hey, looking good is feeling good, right?

I took my seat and ordered my usual Tanqueray and tonic. The owner, a very suave gentleman, works the room making sure everything is perfect while greeting the guests. He's done this before, it's effortless and minimal energy seems wasted. I would say he's African American but by his slight accent I'd say he's from one of the Islands. He recognizes me from prior visits and pats me on the shoulder and gives smile. He asks how I'm doing and before I can give an answer he's onto the next customer. Classy, slick, efficient.

To my left is a couple uncertain about things. Actually she seems to be. They're around my age and don't look like regulars. I think this is one of many stops at various bars for them. I overhear her conversation, she's not sure if she's going to be a good mother. I run the thought through my own head. Yeah, she may be OK , hard to tell. I can't decipher if the guy wants to have kids or not. He listens more than contributes. Or is he ignoring her? I think they are a couple but maybe not with the distance the guy is putting up despite his close proximity to her and physical contact.

To my right are 2 guys that resemble Lenny and Squiggy from the old show Laverne and Shirley. They have something smart to say about everyone but it's really just to prop up their frail ego. They wouldn't last very long in a bar more rough and tumble. They said a few snide things about me once they ran out of other people to berate. I thought of beating the both of them senseless, which wouldn't have been hard but I didn't feel like spending the night in jail. Neither of these 2 poor sods could hold up more than a few moments in a real scuffle. One was tall and lanky, the other was barely above 5 feet. The tall one got up to go to the bathroom, my turn to have a little fun. I followed, waited for him to exit the bathroom and I made my way to the bathroom and gave the bump and nudge along with a very evil look. Like, "Don't fuck with me, I have a gun." I don't have or own any weapons but the look worked. He nodded, backed off and quickly headed back to his seat. Sometimes the acting skills pay off in all sorts of fun ways. If he were more of a man I wouldn't have tried it, but heaviest combat this dude has seen was probably playing World of Warcraft. Therefore, advantage Ricardo without even throwing a punch. Just a look and a nudge. I'm not much of a brawler anyway and fighting isn't my thing. I don't provoke it, I don't seek it. But if I have to, I will and you will feel it the next day.

I headed back to my stool at the bar and noticed the cult film Vampyros Lesbos was on. I own this gem on DVD because of it's trippy early 70s sights and sounds and steamy lesbian vampire action. These things stimulate me. Also it features on of the most beautiful women I've ever laid eyes on, Soledad Miranda. A B movie siren who's life was cut short by a car accident. Life and death is not a fair game.

The Somber

Among the crowd were others sitting alone with blank looks on their faces. They weren't observing, they weren't reaching out. They were turning inward and letting the drinks speed the process. Would this be where I would end up one day? I hoped not. I wondered what went wrong. Were they just tired? Were they sick of it all? Had they given up. The best vibe I could get from them was a little of all of the above.

This was not the direction I needed to go in. I asked the bartender where she got the notion to put on Vampyros Lesbos. We began a talk about the film and my lust for the late Soledad. That prompted Lenny and Squiggy to chime in about her as well. They were under her spell. They asked me more about her films and where she was from. I gave them the rundown and the wise guy cracks tempered and they were talking to people instead of at them. But I'd still smile if I saw someone braking their fingers.

Behold the healing power of lesbian Vampires. The night belongs to me.

Coming up next.....

The beauty of long red hair.