Birthday Parties in Bars

 

birthday parties in bars

Don't get. me wrong, I love a birthday party in a bar. You cruise in when you want, you leave when you want, you order what you want. It's very accommodating to guest peccadilloes and god knows I have a few. 

Now, before anyone from out of town wonders how expensive it is for the host/hostess to arrange their birthday party in a bar, please do understand this is no open bar situation. It's a "celebrate a birthday at a bar where everyone has their own tab" situation. This is perfectly acceptable in New York City where we make our own damn rules of etiquette. 

Speaking of rules of our own damn rules of etiquette, I was talking to Helen yesterday about how she will not be attending a Bar Mitzvah she was invited to due to a conflict. She asked someone who lives in Maryland how much $$ she should send as her gift to the birthday boy along with her regrets. The Maryland person said to send "something like maybe $36." Helen asked someone from New York City the same question and was told "$180 would be the minimum."

So. yeah, we roll slightly differently in these parts.

Anyway, tonight is the fortieth birthday party of a Scandinavian. I attended her 35th birthday party in the same bar. I was reminiscing about how fast time flies and remembered that at the earlier party, I thought I'd go up to the bar and pay the birthday girl's tab for her. It would be nice gesture, right? 

When I got the receipt, I discovered that the birthday girl had enjoyed 12 beers. It was maybe 9pm. 

Note to self - When attending the birthday parties of Scandinavians, just bring a damn card.