The Drinking Park Post

Yesterday Bruce and I headed to SeaWorld to use our respective methods of getting into the park for free. Bruce being a Universal employee gets in whenever he likes, and I have a free pass good till the end of the year as part of a ‘Buy One Day- Come Back All Year’ ticket. We very much skipped the majority of the fish and rides and focused on the Anheiser Busch aspect of the park. After a fair few samples and a round of the tasting class we caught a show and a ride before heading out. Afterwards we met up with Henry and his friends up at the Wing House and put a dent in as many pitchers and wings as they where allowed to serve us. It was a fun day- if not a little heavy on the beers in retrospect.

The Short Bus Post

Friday night Bruce and I headed out to Cocoa Beach to hang out with Henry for his birthday. Henry has a condo right on the beachfront that overlooks the ocean, and has a lovely view. We met up with him and his buddy Red, the bouncer for the Cricketer’s Arm’s pub and good friend of Henry. After presenting Henry with his various alcohol-themed birthday gifts we headed off to get some grub at Hooters. Planning on avoiding driving all that night we called up a cab- to our surprise we where greeted by a mini-school bus instead of the standard cab. It felt like we where getting on the dreaded ‘short-bus’ and was a little embarrassing clambering off the thing when we got to where we where going, but the novelty of having our own ‘tour bus’ was pretty funny. We got the guy’s name and number and called him up throughout the night as we bounced from various different bars, clubs and establishments. Red is a character for sure- and not to discount Henry and Bruce, who are pretty charismatic drinkers too- but this guy was a definite treat to go drinking with.

If I had to describe Red I’d say he’s half Mr. Clean, the other half Mr. T. He’s a huge guy draped in gold with a lit cigar behind his ear at all times; tattoos all the way up his arms and a voice that can best be described as Darth Vader with a New York accent. He told me he drank 86 beers in a 24 hour period once. Which I scoffed at (‘I’m pretty sure that you’d be 50% alcohol at that point and very dead’- was my response) but he seemed VERY serious about that fact and not happy that anyone would second guess him. Needless to say I didn’t contradict him for the rest of the night. Climbing off a short bus following him was pretty amusing, and I got some funny looks from people waiting outside the clubs as our rag-tag group stumbled from place to place. The guy was a machine though. I ended up face planting my bed a good few hours before the rest of the guys did, but even then I went to bed around 2. They stayed up till 5 apparently. We where all woken up at 6:30 by Red who demanded breakfast. I couldn’t believe it, but didn’t want to argue- so I crumbled into some clothes and we drove over to a little diner for some breakfast. I was a bit of a mess and had a throbbing hangover- my shirt was inside out which I realized half way through my omelet and my hair looked like I had been electrocuted. Pretty sure I didn’t smell too great either.

After breakfast we headed down to the beach where Red immediately started pounding Heinekens. The mere sight of which made me feel lightheaded. Bruce and I where in disbelief that these guys actually wanted to be awake, but bumbled down to the beach regardless. Henry (who apparently wakes up at 6:00 no matter what) taught me how to surf-fish in the ocean which was pretty cool. He caught a fair few feeder fish, but I unfortunately didn’t catch anything. Lazing about in the water and in the sun definitely helped get over the hangover a bit, but unfortunately the damn thing wouldn’t leave me properly until 4 o’clock-ish. After hanging out for a bit Bruce and I headed back to Orlando. Fun night out with friends for sure, if not a very taxing one. Needless to say I slept very well the following night.

The Spatz 60 Post

Last night was a nice mix of downtown activities. Bruce and I met up at Spatz in Winter Garden for some beer, darts and a drastically oversized jalapeño burger to start the night off right. Henry met up with us and help trounce my measly dart scores in Cricket. I really want to be good at darts-not sure why- but it doesn’t look like that’s going to happen…well ever.

Afterwards we headed downtown to Sky 60 to catch some of Buck’s spinning. I always like heading to Sky when he plays mainly because being on a rooftop, there is always a breeze, and considering how packed the place gets, that’s a very good thing. Also getting the ‘secret password’ to get in will never get old, even if they tend to be a tad ridiculous. After hanging out there for a while we dipped off to the streets to wander before last call. Ended up on Wall Street watching the live band there. Band was pretty abysmal, but the stage setup was notably elaborate and rather impressive. I don’t know how a band so bland deserves such a swanky tour bus… but whatever, good for them.

I had a good time, which is further evidence that I need to spend more time downtown and venture out of my comfort zone near the apartment more often than I do.

The Cinco Cinco Post

Cinco de Mayo landed on a Monday this year so I assumed that it would be a low key night downtown, or maybe all the events would be bumped up to the weekend. Bruce, Henry and I headed down to the Wall Street area of downtown last Monday and I was pleasantly surprised to see the place teaming with people. I had never been to Wall Street before but will definitely be heading back. The area has about 5 or so multilevel bars lining a short street in the center of downtown. Streamers, lights and flags hung across the courtyard area from bar to bar and a stage was down one end with live local bands playing. The area is all run by the same guy so you can wander from bar to bar without ever needing to get away from the party. Inflatable margarita bottles and beads where flying off of balconies and people where wall to wall throwing back margaritas, tequila shots and the obligatory Coronas. I was determined to get a picture with a Mariachi band during the course of the night but was unable to track one down, so I decided that finding an elaborate sombrero would suffice.

It was also made a bigger night due to the Orlando Magic playing in the playoffs, so all the tvs where tuned and roars of madness would flow down the sea of people whenever they scored. It was a decidedly convenient way to keep track of the game without having to sit through it. I had a great time, and look forward to going back. Didn’t have such a great time Tuesday at work though. I was feeling the festivities for longer than I would like afterwards due to my inability to drink tequila and not feel like the living dead the next morning. I need to work on that I reckon.

The Tyson Christmas Post

Last weekend I was invited to Henry’s holiday party which was sort of the unofficial company Christmas party this year. Having never headed out to Henry’s place before I copped a ride with Buck and Lola who stopped by to check out the apartment before hand. After realizing I was underdressed for the occasion and a prompt wardrobe change I was ready to ride. The party was a lot of fun and very festive feeling. Quite a few families from work where there as well as a few others I hadn’t met before. I ran about a bit snapping the odd shot here or there, lost horribly to Sue at 9-ball and spent a lot of time drinking beer and doing Yager shots with Henry at the T-Bar™. The ‘Jungle Room’ Henry has set up is pretty awesome, and would easily trump any hangout room I’ve been in recently. With a big screen, pool table and Henry’s homemade bar in the corner I felt right at home. The uber comfortable lounge couches didn’t hurt any either. Sue and Arnold where nice enough to give me a ride home after a stop off downtown to see Buck spinning at Sky 60. Very fun night, defiantly got me in the Christmas spirit. Now if only I can think of something clever to write on a dollar to put up on the back wall...

The Cricketer's Arms Post

Last night I met up with Henry and his friends Mark and Red at the Cricketer’s Arms to celebrate Red’s birthday. Apparently this is round two of celebration for them at Crick’s as they where there last night too. I like the place a lot, though apparently the original location was a thousand times better. (They moved from the Universal area of Kirkman a few months back). It’s a typical Brit-Pub place with good food and a nice atmosphere. My only issue is that it’s a pain to get anywhere once you are inside. Though the patio and outdoor bar work well the way the inside is laid out leads to bunching at the bar and boxing in for anyone at a table by people trying to see the stage. The Monsters from Real Radio where there last night which was kinda cool. Sarah and I had seen Bubba (one of the Monsters crew) there last time we stopped by, so I assume they are regulars. Being that the place is so close to my new apartment complex I think I’ll be visiting more often, even if hanging out there requires a little more effort than other area bars.