My old roommate Ali had just quite her job and decided she needed to get the heck out of Dodge for a few days, and where else to go then the chilly, windswept Bay Area? Marissa and I plotted fo the week before Ali's arrival on the what we should do with her. Having traveld together before, the two of us are known to go a little crazy when we try to take in the sights. Mainly, we try to take in ALL the sights all at once. I call it the blitzkrieg mode of travel. While an effective way to see a city, its not the most relaxing and can drive those around us up a freaking wall.
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| Sent from my phone to Marissa the day before Ali's arrival |
But through all of our back and forth, there was one thing that never changed, Friday night would be at the Forbidden Island. For all intents and purposes, Forbidden Island is my local bar, my Cheers, Maclaren's, or Ten-Forward if you will. Like all good watering holes, its a tiny place, with bar space and booths inside and a patio out back. Locals come in for drinks with friends after works, or for brief jousts with insanity on the weekends. Unlike most local dives, its tiki themed.
And they don't half ass the tiki theme. The walls are lined with beachwood. Nets, puffer fish lamps and signed dollar bills line the ceiling. The back wall is lined with 80 kinds of rum and the signature drinks include Navy Grog, Missionary's Fall, the China Clipper and flaming birthday Mai Tais. Actually there are several beverages served en flambe. Always a good idea around the rowdy Friday crowds.
The camp effect is in full swing, and you have to embrace it or be left behind. Luckily, most jump right aboard like a frat boy on freshman co-ed. But there is always the one couple in the corner who look like they are spectators at the zoo drinking long necks. You almost feel sad for them and there beer drinking ways.
I prefer to walk to the bar for a few reasons. First, I burn off some of the Grog calories on the way over and two, I have no chance in making a stupid decision at the end of the night. Plus the walk takes you past some of the oldest and grandest houses in town.
Ali and I set off into a rather dreary night, hoping coincide our arrival with Marissa getting off work. I could tell Ali was not impressed when we got there, and I totally understand, Forbidden Island is underwhelming from the outside. The best things that can be said about it is that its a lovely shade of brown.
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| Photos curtesy of Forbidden Island |
But when you walk in, the mood changes dramatically.
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| Yes, the Staff often dresses up |
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| Yes, the patrons often dress up |
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| No, I have never seen it this empty |
Goal, one is always to get a seat. A much harder feat in the winter when the back patio is closed. We were in luck though, almost as soon as my China Clipper, Marissa's Blood and Sand and Ali's Mai Tai appeared, a booth opened up behind us and Marissa dove into it. With that we settled into the very important work of tasting each others choices. Soon the flaming bowl party drinks started to come out of the kitchen heading to the groups around us, and of course we had to jump on that train.
First up, the house special, the Scorpion Bowl. Served on fire, each member of the group is issued a three foot long straw in order to assist in consumption. The resulting effect is that the booth takes on the look of your own private opium den. People lounge against the walls and sides taking sips whenever the mood strikes them. But, not to say the processe is easy, drinking with straws that long is a commitment. Its a good three seconds from deciding to drink until liquid traverses the distance from you to the bowl.
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| Pictured: Effort |
As we all reclined in our hard won booth with its flaming table decoration, a small Asian woman came up and cooed at it. Turning to her friend she demanded that they also get one and the three of us assured her that it was the best idea they would have all night. The pair drifted away and we went back into our own world.
That is until the pair was IN the both with us. But is was ok, they had brought this.
So the now five of us cuddled up in our booth with a Virgin Sacrifice for six. Our two new friends were Lisa and Elizabeth, two mom's out for the night on the town. We were flabbergasted when we found out that Elizabeth had a sixteen-year-old son! She looked early thirties at the oldest, but to be fair, the light off the burning alcohol was very flattering.
I ended up with Lisa, the small asian woman who had initially come up to our table on my side of the table. She was immensely friendly and after a drink, immensely determined to hook the three of us up with whomever was nearby. First, amongst the three of us, and then the waiter, and when that failed due to his girlfriend, the waiters friends.
To be honest, I am not sure what Elizabeth was talking to Ali and Marissa about across the table. I have trouble understanding people in bars and basically have to read lips. But I didn't need to understand the words to understand the constant laughter.
And through the whole night, god love them, they kept buying us drinks. All on fire.
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| FLAME ON! |
